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Volume 18 Issue 23

Inside: Win A Cruise In Our Annual Dining Contest!

November 6, 2010

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

Wharton Wins The Annual ‘Battle Of Bruce B. Downs’ By Michael Smith The excitement began building almost before dawn on the campus of Freedom High in Tampa Palms on October 22, as the school received an early-morning visit from the Fox TV (Channel 13) prep sports crew for a pep rally in anticipation of that evening’s homecoming football game against the Patriots’ neighborhood and (Class 5A-District 7) rival, the Wharton High Wildcats. Unfortunately for the Patriots, however, the Wildcats were more than happy to spoil their fun, coming away with a 36-14 victory that not only put a damper on the homecoming festivities, but also dashed the Pats’ hopes for postseason play. As always, the “Battle for Bruce B. Downs” drew a capacity crowd to both sides of the stands, and it looked as though they were going to be treated to a close game, as each team man-

of a holding penalty). aged to find the end Midway through zone in the first the fourth quarter, quarter — the WildFreedom got a spark cats on a 7-yard of life after an interscramble by QB ception by Bobby Ryan Hatter and the Jackson, who Patriots via a 19returned the ball to yard pass from the Wharton 13-yard Dominic Marino to line, and the Patriots Robert Lohnes. capitalized on the The Wildcats very next play when broke the game QB Jonathan open after that, Economou hit tight though, as Hatter Wharton High running back end Dustin Rauh for hit wide receiver David Larry takes the hand-off the score. The PatriMarvin Murray for a from QB Ryan Hatter. ots then attempted an 53-yard TD strike to onside kick-off, but it was recovered bring the score to 14-7 at the half. by the Wildcats, and they found the Wharton then added two more end zone once again as back-up QB scores in the third quarter, a 4-yard Chase Litton hit Murray on a 29-yard run by David Larry (with a successful pass for the game’s final score. 2-point conversion) and a 13-yard run Murray finished the game with by Jonathan Mahan. (Larry also had a three catches for 87 yards and two 30-yard touchdown run in the third scores (as well as the 2-point converquarter, but it was called back because

sion), while Larry accounted for 124 of the Wildcats’ 200 total rushing yards. Wharton head coach David Mitchell said his team had no trouble getting fired up for the big game. “We had one of the best practices we’ve ever had on Wednesday, and I told them to ball that up and bring it over to Friday,” Mitchell said. “And tonight, everyone definitely came out and did what they needed to do.” Mitchell added that winning bragging rights in New Tampa was nice, but it was of secondary importance to the momentum that the victory would give his team as they prepared for their next District battle against favored Tampa Bay Tech. “[This game was] important to some of the players, because they live close to each other and know each other,” he said, “but more importantly, it should give us great motivation going into the playoffs.” See “Battle” on page 6.

Tampa Man Indicted For Allegedly Robbing Six Banks In Two Weeks

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!

Army Corps Appeals Cypress Creek Town Center Ruling, Plane Crashes In Wesley Chapel, Your New Tampa Chamber Of Commerce Newsletter & More!

Wesley Chapel Fall Festival & ‘Arts & Crafts Under The Palms’ Wrap-Ups, Win A Cruise In Our Dining Survey & Contest, Olive Branch Deli Opens & Much More!

See pages 3-46!

See pages 47-60!

ECRWSS

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION

his home to the bank in Pinellas County and arrested him as he exited the bank after allegedly holding it up. Algood, who has a lengthy history of arrests for robbery, drugs and other charges, pleaded not guilty to all six counts as alleged in the indictment, but if he is found guilty, he could face up to 20 years in prison for each, prosecutors said. In addition, the indictment calls for Algood to repay the total amount he allegedly stole, $13,663, or to forfeit personal property in an equal amount, if found guilty. The date of his trial had not been announced at our press time.

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robbery the next day, when Algood allegedly made off with approximately $1,000 from the Regions Bank on S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes. After that, the indictment alleges that Algood robbed the Bank of America branch on S.R. 54 in Land O’Lakes of nearly $3,000 on August 25, the Bank of America branch on Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms of approximately $2,000 on August 30, the SunTrust branch on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. of $599 on September 2, and finally, the BB&T bank on Walsingham Rd. in Seminole (Pinellas County) of more than $5,800 on September 3. By that time, however, Algood had been identified by a tipster as the possible suspect and he was under surveillance by officers with the Tampa Police Department and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, who followed him from

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A 33-year-old Tampa man faces an extended stay in federal prison after being indicted for a half-dozen bank robberies that took place in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties during August and September. According to the indictment,

which was handed down by a federal grand jury in U.S. District Court in Tampa on October 13, Kevin J. Algood began his robbery spree on August 23, when he allegedly robbed the SunTrust Bank branch on Nebraska Ave. (U.S. 41) in Lutz, where he got away with approximately $1,350. That was followed by a second

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Despite The Rays’ Loss, It’s A Great Time To Be A Sports Fan! First the bad news: By the time you receive this edition in your respective mailboxes, Florida will have a new governor and a new state senator and Hillsborough County will have elected three county commissioners and you won’t read a thing about it in these pages. The scheduling demons had us going to press before the Nov. 2 election and not coming out until Nov. 6. All I can say about it is we’re sorry. The really bad news is that our suddenly beloved Tampa Bay Rays were eliminated in the first round of the Major League Baseball playoffs by the World Series-bound Texas Rangers and a very tiny window of opportunity for the Rays to win a World Series title may have closed...but we’ll see. Even though I’ve become a true Rays fan, as a long-suffering (more than 40 years) San Francisco Giants fan, I was thrilled that my Jints had made it back to the Big Show and actually led the high-flying Rangers two games to one as we went to press with this issue. The Giants have never won a Fall Classic title since moving to San Fran and have only made it to the Series four times in my lifetime — in 1962, when I was too young to be a fan; in 1989, when they were swept by their Bay-area rivals, the Oakland A’s, in the only Series ever interrupted by an earthquake; in 2002, when even I was rooting against my own team because they were led by one Barry Bonds, the arrogant poster child for the steroid era;

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An editorial by Gary Nager and of course, this year, when they came out of nowhere to beat the favored defending world champs, the Philadelphia Phillies, to advance to baseball’s Big Dance. But of course, I can’t gloat in these pages about the results of the World Series because it was still going on as I finished this issue, but I am once again proud to be both a Rays and a Giants fan as the 2010 season draws nearer to its ultimate conclusion. I also can’t do much crowing about the Tim Tebow-less Florida Gators, who somehow were still in the hunt for an SEC East Division title — despite having lost three straight SEC games — after the Gainesvillians beat an equally hapless Georgia squad in OT as we finished this issue. Of course, whether Alabama or Auburn wins the SEC West, the Gators will be heavy underdogs if they beat the Steve Spurrier/Stephen Garcia-led South Carolina Gamecocks and somehow advance to the SEC title game in December. On the other hand, the truly surprising Tampa Bay Buccaneers may be 5-2 and have a real chance to make the NFL playoffs as you receive this issue. I give second-year coach Raheim Morris a lot of credit for putting his still-veryyoung team in position to win week

after week, even though his defensive line and linebackers don’t appear to be playoff-quality and an undrafted running back from the University of Oregon named LeGarrette Blount has taken the keys to the running offense away from a beat-up Caddy. If nothing else, the Bucs are pretty entertaining (although virtually no one gets to see them play at home because all their games are blacked out by non-sellouts) when they’re not getting stomped by superior competition (Pittsburgh and New Orleans so far) and Morris may be pumping up his team just enough to get them to sneak into the postseason.

Considering how big hockey is here in New Tampa, the team we should really be excited about is the Tampa Bay Lightning, who haven’t been this high-flying since the Stanley Cup season of 2003-04. Led by young superstar Steven Stamkos and powerhouse veterans Vincent Lecavalier, Marty St. Louis and former Philly Flyer Simon Gagne, firstyear coach Guy Boucher’s team had the best record (7-2) in the NHL at our press time and veteran goalie Dan Ellis had taken over from Mike Smith as the top goalie. So, go Lightning! Go Bucs! Stay Rays! See you in about 30 days!

Table of Contents LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, EDUCATION & SPORTS UPDATES................................Pages 1-46 New Tampa News Briefs........................................6 Student Pilot’s Plane Crashes In Wesley Chapel Residents Forced To Boil Drinking Water Council Delays Vote On Proposed Cell Tower Battle for BBD (cont. from page 1)............................6 New Tampa Community Calendar..................10-11 Gateway Bridge Debate Revisited.........................14-15 New Tampa Chamber Of Commerce Update.......16 Fund Raisers Support Worthwhile Causes.............18-19

New Tampa Business Updates.................22-39

Strive Fitness..............................................................22 Rainbow International...............................................23 USA Gold Buyers......................................................23 New Tampa Business Briefs........................................26 Paul Davis Restoration..........................................28-29 New Identities Salon............................................34-35 Max Muscle..........................................................38-39

New Tampa Education Briefs........................42 HGE Chess Team Finishes Fourth At Competition Clark Fall Fund Raiser Brings In More Than $10K Clark Elementary Begins Canned Food Drive Turner Students Complete Holiday Food Drive

New Tampa Sports Briefs..............................43 Wharton High Baseball Team To Host Golf Tourney Jingle Bell 5K Run To Benefit HALO Academy Wharton Swimmer Named Scholastic All American

Neighborhood Magazine Wesley Chapel Fall Festival Draws A Crowd.........47 Residents Enjoy Fine Fall Events..........................50-51 Stars Are Born At America’s Ballet School............52-53 Neighborhood Nibbles........................................55 Olive Branch Deli Opens In Tampa Palms.................56 Win A Cruise In Our Dining Survey & Contest...57 . . NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSFIEDS...............58

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA Student Pilot’s Plane Crash Lands In Wesley Chapel

Typically, when a student driver has a mishap while attempting to learn how to operate his vehicle, the most he has to worry about is a bit of scraped paint or maybe a dinged fender. The damage was just a bit more extensive, however, when a student pilot lost control of his aircraft, which then skidded off of a runway at a small local airport, leaving the plane perched atop a pair of cars in an adjacent parking lot. According to reports, 60-year-old Gregory Daryl Johnson of Tampa was trying to take off on his second-ever solo flight at the Tampa North Aero Park in Wesley Chapel on October 28 when he began having trouble. He tried to re-land the single-engine Cessna, but the plane left the runway and somehow ended up on top of a pair of cars that were parked at a medical equipment company whose office is next to the airport. Fortunately, Johnson was able to walk away from the crash, and no one on the ground was injured, either. At our press time, the Federal Aviation Administration was conducting an investigation into the cause of the crash.

BBD Work Stirs Up Muddy Water For Local Residents

Residents of several New Tampa communities were forced to boil their water before using it for cooking, bathing or drinking last month, after construction related to the widening of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. allowed mud and silt to enter the City of Tampa’s water system. The Tampa Water Department issued the boil order for residents of the Pebble Creek, Arbor Greene, Hunter’s Green, Cory Lake Isles and Cross

News Briefs Creek communities on October 19 after the department began receiving reports of brown water coming from spigots in those neighborhoods. According to Water Dept. spokesman Elias Franco, the discoloration was caused by dirt, mud and sand that got into some pipes that were laying in a ditch in the construction area alongside Bruce B. Downs Blvd. near the intersection of BBD and Cross Creek Blvd. Once the pipes were connected to the water system, the debris was then distributed throughout the neighborhoods located to the east of the intersection. Franco said that it isn’t known exactly how many homes and businesses were affected by the contamination. “Evidence was found in all of the communities (that received the boil order), so the worst-case scenario was that it could have affected every house,” Franco said. Franco said the problem was cleared up within two days, after crews worked around the clock to flush out the lines, and lab testing conducted by the Hillsborough County Health Department showed no further evidence of contamination.

Council Cell Tower Vote Continued Into November

In October, the members of the Tampa City Council agreed to postpone a vote on a rezoning request for a cell phone tower that has been proposed to be built on the property of a Tampa Palms church. Representatives from Grace Episcopal Church, located at 15102 Amberly Dr., and T-Mobile went before the Council on October 14 to ask that a little more than four acres of the property that belongs to the church (which is bounded by Amberly Dr.,

“Battle”

Continued from page 1 The victory kept the Wildcats’ playoff hopes alive, as they moved to 1-1 in the District (and 3-5 overall). They managed to maintain that momentum with a 35-21 victory over East Bay on October 29, and are

scheduled to face division-leading Tampa Bay Tech on November 5. The Patriots, meanwhile, were eliminated from playoff contention with the loss, which left them with a District record of 0-2 (and 2-6 overall). They did get a 10-0 win over Leto on October 29 and will play their final division game at Brandon on November 5.

Wharton defenders converge on Freedom running back Keith Lewis (8). Tampa Palms Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) be rezoned from its current designation, which allows for church-related usage only, to allow for the construction of a proposed 100foot cellular phone tower. Despite the fact that the tower would be designed to look like a cross, several residents and representatives of the Tampa Palms Homeowners Association also attended the meeting to oppose the rezoning, saying that it would spoil the appearance of their community and also potentially open the door for further commercial development on the rest of the property owned by the church. In addition, there is the matter of a retention pond that Hillsborough County officials want to build on the same piece of property. According to Reg Alford, who is the project manager of the BBD widening project for Hills-

borough County, the location of the cell tower is the same as the proposed 5.92-acre retention pond. Alford says that the T-Mobile representatives were apparently unaware of the county’s plans to purchase the land for the pond, which is why they requested the continuance from the City Council members, to explore other possible locations for the tower. We could not reach church or TMobile officials for a comment, but at our press time, the matter was scheduled to be re-heard by the City Council members at their meeting on Thursday, November 18. Alford also said that county officials would be attending the Tampa Palms Community Development District meeting on Wednesday, November 10, to provide the CDD Board of Supervisors with an update on the status of the BBD widening. — MS

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Army Corps Files Appeal In CTCC Permit Lawsuit By Michael Smith Last month, in the ongoing saga of the Cypress Creek Town Center in Wesley Chapel, we received word that lawyers representing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers have filed an appeal of the judge’s ruling in the lawsuit challenging the Corps’ issuance of a permit allowing the construction of the controversial shopping mall to commence. As you may recall, it was in June that Judge Royce Lamberth of the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., ordered Corps officials to go back and re-examine the permit that they issued allowing the Richard E. Jacobs Group of Ohio to begin work on the 1 million-plus-square-foot retail complex at the intersection of S.R. 56 and I-75. The judge also ordered that the Corps work with the developer to resolve the environmental issues that had been raised in the lawsuit, which was filed by the Sierra Club and other groups who had been opposed to the plan for the mall since it was approved by Pasco County officials in 2007. Among those issues were the

potential for damage to the Cypress Creek watershed area, which is a main tributary of the Hillsborough River, a primary source of the City of Tampa’s drinking water supply. The suit also alleges that by issuing the permit, the Corps ignored numerous procedural requirements for such permits as required by the National Environmental Policy Act and the Clean Water Act. The judge’s order gave the Corps and the developer 20 days to come up with an action plan to address those issues, but after numerous other motions and requests had been filed by attorneys on both sides, the final deadline for filing a notice of appeal of the June ruling had been extended to October 19 (or after this issue went to press, but before it is set to hit mailboxes on October 23). According to activist Clay Colson, who has been closely involved with the case (and who is now running as a candidate for the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners; see page 1), the notice that was filed on October 15 is not a full appeal, but rather what is known as a “protective notice,” which he says is simply a

notice of intent to file an appeal that allows the Army Corps of Engineers to reserve the right to file a full appeal at a later date. Meanwhile, the modified permit now only allows the developer to maintain the stormwater management system at the site in order to avoid any further problems with run-off into the surrounding wetlands and to continue work on extending S.R. 54 southward through the site, but not to move forward with the construction of the Cypress Creek Town Center mall

itself, which is also supposed to include residential, office and other components. A spokesman for the Corps declined to comment on the case, citing the pending litigation, and a spokesperson for the developer was not available for comment, but Jacobs Group spokespersons have previously said that they remain committed to the project, despite the fact that the case has seriously delayed the opening of the mall, which was originally scheduled for this year.

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N EW T AMPA

Community Calendar

Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Food Drive

Monday, November 7-Tuesday, November 23 – St. James United Methodist Church (16202 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) will once again serve as a drop-off location for the annual Metropolitan Ministries Holiday Food Drive. Donations may be dropped off at the tent from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. daily. In addition, beginning Sunday, November 14, free tickets will be available at the church for its Christmas production, “Our Savior… Emmanuel,” which will be presented the weekend of December 10-12. For more information, call 971-4790 or visit StJamesTampa.org.

Workshop For Job Seekers

Monday, November 8 – The New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) will host a free workshop for job seekers, beginning at 7 p.m. Participants will learn how to prepare resumes and effectively ask and answer questions during a job interview. For more information about

this and other programs offered at the library, call 273-3652 or visit HCPLC.org.

New Tampa Noon Rotary Club

Wednesday, November 10 – The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at noon at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr., off BBD Blvd., inside the Hunter’s Green community). The New Tampa Noon Rotary recently completed its annual cleanup of Branchton Park (at Cross Creek Blvd. and Morris Bridge Rd.). For more info, call 910-2575.

Business Networking International

Wednesday, November 10 – Business Networking International (BNI), a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Cross Creek Blvd.). For additional information, call

Jal Irani at 451-8229.

Civil Air Patrol

Wednesday, November 10 – The Wesley Chapel Civil Air Patrol squadron meets every Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., at Tampa North Aero Park (4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel). For more information, visit WesleyChapelCAP.com or call Cheryl Spence at 973-7270.

New Tampa Evening Rotary Club

Thursday, November 11 – The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Thursday, 6:30 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). For more information, call Sherri Ferguson at 892-9782.

NE Tampa Women In Business

Thursday, November 11 – The North East Tampa Women in Business (NETWIB) meets at 6 p.m. at Hunter’s Green County Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). The group’s guest speaker on November 11 will be Lunelle Siegel of Corporate Funding, and her topic will be “Five Things Business Owners

Need To Know About Financing.” Guests are welcome, but registration is requested. To register, or for more information, call president Kay Dunn at 841-5932 or visit NETWIB.org.

Computer Workshops At New Tampa Library

Thursday, November 11 – Every Thursday,, the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) offers computer workshops for adults, beginning at 12:15 p.m. The workshops focus on computer techniques and a variety of software programs. Registration is required in person, no earlier than one hour before the beginning of the workshop. Call 273-3652 for more info, or, for a complete list of activities offered at the library, visit HCPLC.org.

New Tampa (Breakfast) Rotary Club

Friday, November 12 – The New Tampa Rotary Club meets every Friday for breakfast, 7 a.m., at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). For more information, visit NewTampaRotary.org or contact

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Karen Frashier at 375-2663.

Holiday Food Drive

Saturday, November 13 – Once again, Bigel Music (20435 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in front of Live Oak Preserve) will hold its annual Holiday Food Drive, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., to benefit the America’s Second Harvest Food Bank. Those who donate two (or more) non-perishable food items will receive a free set of D’Addario strings for your choice of an acoustic or electric guitar. For more information, call 907-6363 or send an e-mail to BigelMusic@yahoo.com.

Community Garage Sale

Saturday, November 13 – The residents of Equestrian Parc at Highwoods Preserve (18201 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.) will hold a community-wide garage sale, 8 a.m.-1 p.m. Call 631-8964 for more info.

‘Stop Hometown Hunger’ Food Drive

Monday-Friday, November 1519 – The Hillsborough County Family and Aging Services Department will hold a “Stop Hometown Hunger” food drive to stock local food pantries and help local families and children.

To help, residents are asked to bring donations of peanut butter to the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). For more information, visit UnitedWayTampaBay.org.

Rotary Clubs Host Successful Casino Nights

ACS ‘Relay For Life’ Kick-Off Party

Tuesday, November 16 – The organizers of the New Tampa Relay for Life, which will be held on May 67, 2011, will hold a kick-off party for those who are interested in putting together a team, 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m., at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). Reservations are requested by Friday, November 12. For more information, call 319-5906 or send an e-mail to lauren.mcqueen@cancer.org.

Women-N-Charge

Friday, December 3 – WomenN-Charge, a group that offers education and support for business women, meets on the first Friday of every month at 11:30 a.m. at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.). For more information, visit Women-n-Charge.com or call Sue Davis at 435-5128.

The Rotary Club of New Tampa’s 5th annual Casino Night at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club on October 22 was another smashing success. Photo courtesy of Thompson Photography Studios 994-2000.

The toughest economic conditions since the great depression did not seem to deter more than 200 people from attending the two recent separate Casino Nights held by two of our area’s three Rotary Clubs. The original Rotary Club of New Tampa, which meets Friday mornings at 7 a.m. for breakfast at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC), held its fifth annual Casino Night at TPGCC on October 22, while the New Tampa Evening Rotary Club, which meets Thursdays

at 6:30 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club (HGCC), held its second annual Casino Night on September 28 at HGCC. New Tampa Evening Rotary president Sherri Ferguson credits member Charlotte Mutascio for this year’s success, although both events were considered smash successes by their respective club members. I was supposed to attend both Casino Nights, but wasn’t able to attend either, but I plan to make amends next year. — GN

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Hoping To Spark Both Sides Of The Gateway Bridge Debate By Diana Elizabeth I have been following all of the recent articles that have been written about the New Tampa Blvd. “Gateway Bridge” and I was becoming a little confused about the many conflicting statements. Many facts have been stated on both sides of the argument recently in the Neighborhood News and I believe some of them have been exaggerated. I am not a lawyer but I decided to do some research on the subject and here is the information that I was able to find (which I hope will clarify some of the information). Previously, it has been stated by the attorney who has brought the lawsuit against the Gateway Bridge that only one school bus from Freedom High travels (actually North & ) East on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. past I-75. According to the Hillsborough County School District’s website on bus routes, however, there are actually five buses with students that travel East on BBD (buses #4462, 3819, 4467, 4017 & 3394) from Freedom. If you go to the corner of BBD and Tampa Palms Blvd W., you can observe these buses turning left. Four of these buses actually service the north/east side of I-75 and that does

not take into account all the faculty members and students who drive to Freedom from north and east of I-75. Having the bridge would make it easier for many students and teachers to access Freedom and to evacuate the school, if that becomes necessary. The potential for an increased traffic load in the communities adjacent to the bridge also has been written about and the numbers reported were very large. The problem with the numbers is that they were taken from a 2006 study that included 4 lanes on New Tampa Blvd. and the completion of the New Tampa East-West Connector (E-W Rd.). According to the city’s 2010 traffic study, “neither of these assumptions are programmed in the City’s budget.” The E-W Rd. is not being pursued because of lack of funding and there are only going to be two lanes on New Tampa Blvd. when the bridge is built, so that study is not longer relevant — which makes the traffic figures grossly overstated. Also, when you compare numbers, you cannot compare future traffic with the bridge vs. current traffic without the bridge, as traffic will continue to increase because of new development regardless of if the bridge is built. Traffic in

the area would be as follows, according to the May 2010 New Tampa Traffic Safety Study from the city:

2025 Traffic Volumes–New Tampa (NT) Blvd. Bridge

Segment BNB BB BBD-NT Center 16,900 19,000 NT Center-Timber Reach Rd. .......... ...............................10,400 13,000 Timber Reach-Highwoods Prsv. Pkwy. .................................3,500 11,700 HP Pkwy.-Commerce Park Blvd. ...... ...................................NA 8,500

Key:

BNB-Estimated 2025 Traffic volume if the Bridge is Not Built BB-Estimated 2025 Traffic volume if Bridge is Built (Estimates provided by City of Tampa) NT Center- New Tampa Center is the Publix shopping plaza at the intersection of New Tampa Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (BBD) Highwoods Prsv. Pkwy.-Highwoods Preserve (HP) Pkwy.

It’s easy to play with numbers to make a point, but it is important to present accurate numbers. As you can see, none of the numbers are as large as has been previously stated, with the largest being an increase of 8,2008,500 cars on two segments (not the

24,000 cars previously stated). Emergency Response Times - I contacted the Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) Department regarding this. What I was told was the calls to the fire department are assigned to fire stations based on their proximity to the emergency. This is however based on “as the crow flies” distances, not on the actual roads available, so Station #20 in Tampa Palms can actually be closer to some homes in West Meadows than Station #21 on Cross Creek Blvd. l also was told that most times, TFR can get the first unit out in good time but because of the lack of infrastructure, the same cannot be said for follow-up units. When the fire department submitted its grant proposals to the federal government (so that local taxes would not have to pay for staffing of new fire stations), their response times were based on the bridge being there. According to TFR, the bridge would “greatly enhance their response times” in getting the “required resources to the site.” I was also told that since BBD, their current major response route, is very backed up during morning and evening rush hour and there are no other routes in the event of local emergencies, TFR does not have

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

any other alternatives when attending to emergencies in New Tampa from either fire station. Station #21 has been mentioned several times in previous discussions about the bridge. But, Station #21 serves not only West Meadows but is also the primary station for Pebble Creek, Cross Creek, Hunter’s Green and, until Station #22 (at Cross Creek Blvd. and Morris Bridge Rd.) is built and staffed, the other communities on Cross Creek Blvd. going towards Morris Bridge Rd. So, if Station #21 is busy elsewhere, the units responding must come from other fire stations in the area, including #20 and Pasco Fire Rescue Station #26 in Meadow Pointe, both of which have to use BBD to get to other parts of our area. In a perfect world, only one accident, fire or emergency would happen at a time, but that is not reality. If there is a big emergency arequiring several fire units, then access is a problem. A previous article stated that the Gateway Bridge would only make a 20-second difference. I am not sure how that number was derived but, if it is your loved one that has stopped breathing, even 20 seconds can be vital. There also have been points made about the bridge only shortening the trip on a school bus by 1,500 feet. But, the travel distance for buses that

pick up students in West Meadows would actually be greatly reduced — in fact, for bus #3394 that picks up on Duquesne Dr., the bridge would reduce their travel by more than four miles (not 1,500 feet as previously stated). However, the most important point is not the distance saved but the ability to have a second route to get around New Tampa when needed. The 2008 gas main leak at the I75 interchange, when everything came to a standstill for hours, also has been mentioned as proof that the bridge is NOT needed. How can that be? It’s obvious that having the bridge would have been one solution to that traffic problem. There needs to be a plan for all possibilities. Another point that has not been addressed is that by the time the bridge is built, the widening of Bruce B. Downs will have been completed on both sides of the planned bridge. This will alleviate the issue of people “cutting through” communities to avoid the construction on BBD. According to the city’s traffic study, “The bridge will not be opened to traffic while the other construction project is ongoing.” When I contacted the city regarding the bridge, the officials I spoke with said that a lot of effort was put into the aesthetics of the bridge, so that it would not look out of place in

the community. The bridge itself is being built with four lanes, but New Tampa Blvd. will remain two lanes — and only two lanes — from each direction (New Tampa Blvd. and Commerce Park Blvd.) that will connect with the bridge. A traffic light will be installed by the high school to make sure it is safe and continuous traffic studies will be made to monitor traffic after the bridge is built. The bridge is completely funded and the only hold-up is the lawsuit by some homeowners opposing the bridge. City officials also told me that without the bridge, West Meadows likely would not have been built. It was part of that community’s plan (the East-West Rd. was added later as a second project, separate from the bridge). The bridge was approved in 1988 and anyone who bought or built in the area after that should have known about the bridge being built. Although there are claims to the contrary by West Meadows homeowners, it is common practice for realtors to provide purchasers with a disclosure statement regarding any future development in the area and those who have lived in West Meadows since it opened have seen the articles in this and other newspapers about both the bridge and the E-W Rd. A majority of the people I have spoken with who live or work in the area of

the bridge say they want it built but do not want to deal with the animosity being generated by the opposition. I have spoken to a lot of residents, business owners and employees who are for the building of the bridge. They are always surprised that there is an issue. “I thought this was funded and ready to be built” is the most common response. But, rather than dividing communities, I believe the bridge will bring two communities together and it will allow better access to public parks and recreation. It will also allow people in the area to have another outlet to BBD and, most important, it will add to the infrastructure that New Tampa is lacking. So, let’s get away from “lawyer speak” and have the real facts presented. That way, everyone who lives or works in New Tampa can make a fair and rational decision on the bridge. Diana Elizabeth works in New Tampa and has friends who both live and work in our area. She took on the task of supporting the bridge because so many local residents have told her they are uncomfortable with placing themselves in the middle of this heated debate. We welcome your opinions on both sides of the issue. Please visit NTNeighborhoodNews.com or email us at NTNNedit@yahoo.com to voice your opinion.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Inc.

2010-11 NTCC Board of Directors President-Rachel Haviland

Board Members:

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

VP-Said Iravani Treasurer-Lesley Zajac

Secretar y-Connie Bladon

Non-Of fi ficcers:

Website: NewTampaChamber.Org

Regina Ramalheira

Seema Jain Matt Palmer Craig Miller Nick Kline Judy Silvasi-Patchin

Administrator: Karen Frashier

New Tampa Chamber Thankful For Eleven New Members The Thanksgiving holiday season is the perfect time for me to thank our nearly 200 New Tampa Chamber members and welcome those who have joined us in September and October. They include: Palmside Barbershop of Tampa Palms, AJA Wiregrass, County Commissioner Ken Hagan, Ventureline USA, GPS Fleet Solutions, Zion Travel Foundation, Childers Painting Corporation, Vista Grande of Tampa Palms apartments; Fairfield Inn & Suites, It’s Clean Maid Services, Judith Silvasi-Patchin and Charles Jewelers. Thanks also to our renewing members: Said Iravani; Hanna, Lemar & Morris CPAs; GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club; New Tampa Hospitality Group (Wingate by Wyndham Hotel, Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites and Hampton Inn on S.R. 56); Lesley Zajac; New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News; Seema Jain, CPA: James Kist, CPA; Marimark Mortgage; WWW Weight Loss Inc.; Dunndeal Publications; Crown Trophy; Great Trip Tickets; and Spinner Law Firm. I also want to thank our volunteer Board of Directors and all of the wonderful Chamber members who volunteer on one of our committees. Our young Chamber is growing because many of our members take personal responsibility for public relations, events like the Taste of New Tampa®, membership, ribbon cut-

tings for new members and so much more. We’re working with our members to add events, increase networking and improve training, which will build a strong and vital business environment in New Tampa.

Grand Openings Galor e!

The Chamber recently celebrated a Grand Opening & Ribbon Cutting for Dr. Ryan Adami, a pediatric and internal medicine specialist with the Florida Medical Clinic. Dr. Adami’s double specialty means he’s highly qualified to care for children and adults. His office is located behind the Bank of America at 15303-A, Amberly Dr. and it is our pleasure to welcome him to New Tampa and the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce. To find out more, see the photo and story on page 26. Business is booming in the New Tampa area and we invite you to join us at two Grand Openings for: • Snap Fitness in the Shoppes at Pebble Creek (19402 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) on Thursday, November 11, 5:30 p.m. • Fairfield Inn & Suites (12260 Morris Bridge Rd. at Fletcher Ave.), Thursday, December 2, 3 p.m. Do you have a new business in or near New Tampa? The New Tampa Chamber would like to support the launch of your business and we welcome requests for grand openings for new businesses in the area. Please contact us for more information about how to become a member.

Upcoming New Tampa Chamber Events:

Monday, November 8, noon-1 p.m.: Chamber Luncheon, “Leads Generation & Growing Your Business” — at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., across BBD from Super Wal-Mart). Wednesday, November 17, 3 p.m.-6 p.m.: “Networking on the 9s” — 9 Holes Of Golf & Networking — at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., across BBD from Super Wal-Mart). There will not be a Chamber breakfast or an After Hours “Connections” Networking event at Stonewood for the month of November. For more information about these and other upcoming New Tampa Chamber events, visit NewTampaChamber.org or call the Chamber Hotline at 293-2464.

Please visit our website at NewTampaChamber.org for details on these Grand Openings and other upcoming events.

Help Us With The Taste!

The Chamber is in the early planning stage for the 18th annual Taste of New Tampa® in Spring 2011. This is the premier annual event in New Tampa to promote your business or restaurant! We will be announcing the date and location in next month’s issue of the Neighborhood News. Chamber members and members of the community are encouraged to volunteer as we organize the event. Please contact Karen Frashier at info@NewTampaChamber.org or call 293-2464 to be added to the email list for Taste of New Tampa® event information or to volunteer for the planning committee.

Don’t Miss This Luncheon!

We invite you to join us at our

chamber lunch on Monday, November 8. We are excited to have Caitlin Baker with the Tampa Bay Business Journal speak on “Leads Generation and Growing Your Business.” You’ll hear ideas about growing your business by generating new leads and finding networking opportunities all over the Tampa Bay area. Learn how to get free publicity for you and your company. Ms. Baker is an expert in using local information to grow sales. She will show you the tools she uses every day to maximize the results for your business. Please register for the event online at NewTampaChamber.org. Join our Facebook page to receive regular updates on Chamber news. Simply visit Facebook.com/ NewTampaChamber and click on the “Like” button to join us! We wish you and your families a Happy Thanksgiving! Rachel Haviland New Tampa Chamber President

Temple Ohev Shalom of New Tampa

6460 Tampa Palms Blvd. Tampa, Fl. 33647 813-632-9900 Mailing Address: P.O. Box 46155 Tampa, Fl. 33647

Somerset Professional Park - 15283 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Tee It Up For The Troops’ & FHZ Gala Coming Soon! Even those who oppose the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq can surely agree that those who are injured while serving in our military deserve the best treatment we can possibly give them, and the Fisher House Foundation provides such a safe haven a few minutes south of New Tampa. The Fisher House at the James A. Haley Veterans Administration Hospital — the 38th Fisher House established in the U.S. (est. 2007) — provides this home away from home for the families of the wounded servicemen and women being treated at the Haley VA Hospital. For the fourth year in a row, a group of New Tampa residents is raising money to benefit the Haley Fisher House with a charity golf tournament. The first three tournaments were held at the golf course at Macdill Air Force Base in South Tampa, but this year, the “Tee it Up for the Troops” golf tournament will be held at New Tampa's Heritage Isles Countr y Club (located off Cross Creek Blvd., in the Heritage Isles community) on Friday, November 19, with golfer registration beginning at 11:30 a.m. and a shotgun start at 12:30 p.m. The objective of the tournament is to not only raise money to benefit the local Fisher House, but also to raise

awareness of the Fisher House Foundation and the important service the Fisher Houses across the U.S. and around the world provide for our heroes. The lead sponsors for the 2010 tournament are PaverWorks, Operation Helping Hand and the Seminole Tribe of Florida. Additional 2010 sponsors include Romano’s Macaroni Grill, St. James United Methodist Church’s “Meat Monkeys,” BJ's Wholesale Club, CocaCola Co., The Mobile Cigar Lounge, Starbucks Coffee, Trenam Kemker Attorneys, Timothy Muscaro, D.D.S., Dallas 1 Corp., MillerCoors Brewing Co., C D Thin Pavers & Coping, Lexmark, Florida Air Services, Doan Electric and this publication. “Tee It Up” sponsors receive a foursome of golf, their company name displayed at a tee box, mention in the tournament awards program and featured in radio, magazine and other tournament announcements. The major sponsorship cost is $1,000, although other sponsorship levels are available. The tournament organizers also will accept cash donations (you can even donate “In Honor Of” or “In Memory Of” someone), as well as donations of silent auction and raffle prizes. All checks should be made payable to “Operation Helping Hand”

with “Fisher House Tampa” written on the memo line. All donations are taxexempt and all net proceeds of the tournament will directly benefit the Haley Fisher House. The cost to play in the tournament is $125 per golfer or $500 for a foursome. The Fisher House program is a unique private-public partnership that supports America's military in their time of need. The program recognizes the special sacrifices of our men and women in uniform and the hardships of military service by meeting a humanitarian need beyond that normally provided by the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs. To sponsor, make a donation or play in the 2010 “Tee it Up for the Troops” charity golf tournament, contact Valerie Casey at 317-8886 or e-mail valcasey3@aol.com.

Hough To Perform At Gala

Officials with Florida Hospital Zephyrhills (FHZ) have announced that multi-talented singer, dancer and actress Julianne Hough (photo) will be the headline performer at the hospital’s annual fund-raising event, which will be held at the Grand Pavilion at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel on Thursday, November 18.

The annual gala, which begins at 5:30 p.m., benefits the FHZ Foundation, and this year will specifically support the Julianne Hough hospital’s new Comprehensive Breast Center, according to Foundation chairman Gene Whitfield, who says, “The new FHZ Comprehensive Breast Center will give patients the ability to get the care they need close to home.” In addition to being a two-time champion on the hit ABC-TV show “Dancing With The Stars,” Hough also recorded a No. 1-selling country music album in 2008 and is an active advocate for many charitable organizations, especially those dealing with breast cancer research and treatment. In addition to the Gala itself, this year’s celebration also will include a golf tournament and tennis clinic/tournament, both of which will be held at Saddlebrook Friday, November 19. Tickets to the Gala cost $150 per person. Sponsorship opportunities also are available. For more info, call the Foundation office at 7836144 or visit FHZeph.org.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa YMCA’s Annual Fund Raiser Helps Those In Our Community By Melissa O’Brien Celebrating the spirit of sports and community is the key to the annual New Tampa Family YMCA fund raiser, “Saturday Night Lights,” which benefits the Y’s “Building Strong Kids” campaign. The 2010 edition of the football- and sports-themed fund raiser (the photo is from last year’s event) will be held on Saturday, November 6, 7 p.m.-11 p.m., at the New Tampa Family YMCA on Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms, and community members and local businesses are invited to participate and attend a gala evening that has become a signature affair in New Tampa – an event that gives back 100 percent of its proceeds to children and families in the New Tampa area. “This is a fun and exciting event where the people attending and contributing can have a direct impact on kids and families in the New Tampa area and our surrounding communities,” says New Tampa Family YMCA executive director Tom Goode. “The proceeds raised from this night will provide scholarships for children and families with special physical and financial needs who otherwise cannot afford the benefits of the YMCA.” “Saturday Night Lights” features an evening filled with dinner, cocktails,

entertainment, and a silent auction, and guests are invited to dress in their favorite team apparel and enjoy exciting televised football games on big screen TVs while dancing the night away. Food and refreshments at the event will be provided by the following restaurants: Ciccio’s/The Lodge, Stonewood Grill & Tavern, Beef O’Brady’s, The Brass Tap, Bella Vita Ristorante, Firehouse Subs, Wood Fired Pizza & Wine Bar and Chick-Fil-A. Individual tickets and MVP tables (ten seats per table) and sponsorships are still available (see below). There also will be a special appearance by the University of South Florida cheerleaders and their mascot, Rocky the Bull. “All of our scholarships allow young people to participate in our youth and team programs,” says Goode, who adds that about 35 percent-40 percent of the kids who take part in local Y programs receive some level of scholarship. “Our goal is to never turn a youth or teen away because of an inability to pay.” Goode says that most of the YMCA programs focus on building kids’ self-esteem. “For some kids, this may be their only opportunity to participate on a team,” he says. “Some may not get that opportunity at school. And, for some children, this is their

only opportunity to receive swimming lessons – a lifesaving skill. This is especially important in Florida, where drowning is a leading cause of death among young children. It is a huge priority of the YMCA to reverse that trend and it is great to be able to help kids and families enjoy water activities.” Emily Manwaring, the New Tampa YMCA’s community development coordinator, says she is hoping to have 250–300 people attend the event. “That is what we have maintained for a couple of years now,” says Manwaring. “Each year, we hope to reach a financial goal of around $35,000 raised through this campaign.” The local YMCA’s commitment to children is seen through the many programs it offers to young people in the community. One of those programs has made a huge impact for Kingshyre at Cross Creek resident Stan Hulett, and his son, Logan. The Huletts moved to New Tampa in 2000, when Logan was eight years old. Logan, who is autistic, learned how to swim through the Y’s adaptive programs (programs that assist physically or intellectually challenged individuals and help them adapt to mainstream society). Today, Logan participates on three swim teams, including his high school team at New Tampa’s Paul R. Wharton High.

“The adaptive swim program is open to anyone who needs it, from disabled veterans coming home from war to car accident victims and students like Logan,” says Hulett. “It is available at no cost and it has a tremendous impact upon those who participate in it. For Logan, it has helped him to feel more like a part of his age group and part of a team. The YMCA offers many of these types of programs for families who might not otherwise be able to afford to participate.” “Saturday Night Lights” will be held Sat., Nov. 6, at the New Tampa Family YMCA (16221 Compton Dr., Tampa Palms. Tickets are $50 per person in advance and $70 per person after Oct. 30. A limited number of MVP packages are available for purchase at $750 per table. This includes “club box” reserved seating for 10 people, a private table host, and priority auction check-out service. For more info, call Emily Manwaring at 866-9622 or visit YMCASaturdayNightLights.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Strive Athletic Club Will Help You Strive To Be Your Very Best! John Passafume, the president and owner of the new Strive Athletic Club, located in the Medallion Corporate Park off S.R. 56 (behind the Goodwill Thrift Store) in Wesley Chapel, says although he stocked his club with top-notch certified trainers and state-of-the-art equipment, “Strive is a step away from the big, impersonal corporate gyms.” Passafume, who previously worked in law enforcement, definitely has given his club a different look and feel than any gym you’ve ever been to before. All of the cardio machines are equipped with individual flat-screen TVs and the circuit and free-weight equipment features the best brand names in the world (such as Hammer Strength, etc.), but Passafume and general manager J.C. Vargas agree that what sets Strive apart is its people — and its variety of training options. “All of our trainers have years of experience and different specialties,” says Vargas. “Shelley can prepare you for bodybuilding or figure model competitions, Raschad specializes in weight loss and overall conditioning, Jason offers metabolic typing and is a holistic health practitioner and my

At Strive Athletic Club (in the Medallion Corporate Park off S.R. 56), you’ll find more than just state-of-the-art circuit, free weight and cardio equipment (left). There’s also personal trainers and metabolic consultants Shelley, Jason, Raschad and GM J.C. Vargas. specialty is core strength training.” You always have the option to work out on your own at Strive, but Passafume says, “Whether you’re a pro athlete or just getting started, the oneon-one focus here can take you further than the big gyms ever will.” Plus, Strive offers everything from $6-per-session Zumba classes to Muay Thai training, cardio kickboxing, TRX classes, Strive Fit Camp, Strive Pump (toning) classes, spinning, Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) training and more. For more info about Strive Athletic Club (2626 Cypress Ridge Blvd.), call 428-6973 or visit Strive members can work out with the help of certifed trainers like Shelley (left) or practice on the heavy bags by themselves (right). StriveAthleticClub.com. — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Rainbow International Can Help Restore Your Home/Business Steve Dumas, the owner of the Rainbow International Restoration & Carpet Cleaning franchise in Wesley Chapel, provides a variety of services for your home or office. “Rainbow is the third largest company in the U.S. offering comprehensive residential and commercial water, fire, smoke and mold restoration services,” he says. “We also provide carpet, tile and grout cleaning services. And, the two facets of our business definitely go hand in hand.” Rainbow can help a family suffering from water or smoke damage following a hurricane or fire get back into their homes faster by using the latest restoration technology one day, “and we can clean your carpet following a punch bowl disaster at a toddler’s birthday party the next,” says Dumas. “Home and business owners across the country trust Rainbow International because we give accurate estimates, have fair prices and get the job done right.” Even though Rainbow is a national company, Dumas says the services he provides are still affordable for everyone. “This business is about building relationships,” he says. “We answer all calls with a live voice, instead of a machine recording with endless number-punching options to follow. Everything we do is about taking care of you.”

Need Holiday Cash? USA Gold Buyers Can Help!

Rainbow is a preferred vendor for many hotel chains (including La Quinta hotels and Saddlebrook Resort), insurance companies (like Liberty Mutual) and property management companies. Dumas attributes this reputation to, “Our ability to help our customers minimize their losses following major and minor disasters and our goal of always exceeding your expectations.” He adds, “Plus, we are certified, bonded and insured and our employees are uniformed and wear ID badges, so our customers know they are dealing with professionals. For our carpet and tile cleaning services, we use our ‘Rapid Structural Drying Process’ with the latest technology and equipment — and technicians who are properly trained and have plenty of experience.” To contact the local office of Rainbow International, which serves the entire Tampa Bay area, call 9070503 or visit RainbowIntl.com/ WesleyChapel. — GN

“Need holiday cash?” For most people in the Tampa Bay area, the answer to that question is a resounding, “YES!” Unfortunately, during these tough economic times and with another holiday season fast approaching, many people are wondering how they will be able to afford those special items and gifts this year. But, the solution to save your holiday season could be sitting right in your jewelry box! The value of gold, and even silver, has soared to an alltime high recently. As gold continues to hold strong at well over $1,300 per ounce, a few old necklaces, broken bracelets and an unmatched earring could rescue your holiday season! Fortunately for New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents, the company that guarantees you the maximum amount for gold, silver and platinum is right in your neighborhood! USA Gold Buyers is located at 28107 S.R. 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd.), near I-75. “It’s pretty much impossible to get a better price than you will at our store,” says David McIntyre, owner of USA Gold Buyers’ nine Bay-area locations. “We’ll beat any competitor’s prices by 10 percent.” USA Gold Buy-

ers specializes in gold, silver and platinum, but is not a retail jewelry store or a pawn shop. USA Gold Buyers is exclusively a buyer and deals directly with the largest US Refinery, which ensures the highest cash payback to the consumer. “We pay 92 percent of spot on tradable gold coins and bars,” says McIntyre. “We update our pricing hourly based on the New York Stock Exchange, so our customers get the most current price and the most cash for their gold in the market.” “I got $2,053 for my handful of gold jewelry I hadn’t worn for years,” says Lora Christensen of New Tampa. “I was shocked. I thought it was only worth a few hundred dollars.” “Unlike other businesses, here you deal with one person who sits down with you and goes through the entire process with you as you watch. We spend a lot of time training our employees to make selling your gold very personable and professional.” USA Gold Buyers is a member of the Better Business Bureau. Store hours are Mon.– Sat., 10 a.m. – 7 p.m. and 11 a.m. – 6 p.m. on Sun. Please call 434-4222 or visit TopUSAGoldBuyers.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA

Business Briefs

Wesley Chapel Toyota Supports Breast Cancer Research & Treatment With $35,000 Donation

Dr. Adami Cuts The Ribbon At Florida Medical Clinic Office

On October 27, the employees of Wesley Chapel Toyota dressed in pink for Breast Cancer Awareness Month, while owner David Williams (center) presented a check for $35,000 to a representative of Tampa’s H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Insitute.

The Florida Medical Clinic (FMC) and Dr. Ryan Adami, D.O., have celebrated the Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting of the FMC office located in the Palm Villa Center on Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms (the office plaza located adjacent to The Shoppes of Amberly retail center). Dr. Adami (with scissors in photo), who is Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics, was joined at the October 21 ribbon-cutting and “Harvest Wine” event by members of both the New Tampa and Temple Terrace Chambers of Com-

merce, as well as by a crowd of nearly 100 people, including several FMC doctors and administrators, all of whom enjoyed a variety of fine wines and heavy hors d’oeuvres (including incredible sushi, pasta, wrap sandwiches, chicken skewers and more) provided by Ciccio’s/The Lodge in the nearby City Plaza shopping center. The FMC Internal Medicine/ Pediatric of fi ficce of Dr. R yan Adami is located at 15303 Amberly Dr. For appointments and more information, call 978-3869 or visit FloridaMedicalClinic.com. — GN

October was Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and that’s why the color pink could be seen everywhere, from NFL gridirons to Wesley Chapel Toyota, where owner David Williams showed his support for breast cancer treatment and research by donating $35,000 to the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute in Tampa. Williams said that the money represents a portion of the proceeds from each vehicle that was sold at the dealership over the past year. Since he has had family members who have been affected by cancer, Williams said he felt that it

was only natural to support the wonderful work done at Moffitt. “We like to stay involved in the community, and we couldn’t have found a better partnership than with Moffitt,” Williams said. He added that the fund raiser will be an annual event, and he hopes to be able to donate $50,000 next year. Wesley Chapel Toyota is located at 5300 Eagleston Blvd. (of f S.R. 54 & Br uce B. Downs Blvd.). For more info, visit WesleyChapelToyota.com or call 973-8888 and please tell them we sent you! — MS

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Paul Davis Restoration Can Rebuild Or Remodel Your Home By Michael Smith Whether you need emergency home repairs following a fire, flood, or other catastrophic event, or if you’re just looking to do a little remodeling in your kitchen or bathroom, there’s one company that can do it all – Paul Davis Restoration (PDR). PDR got its start as a small remodeling business that was founded in Jacksonville in 1966, and now includes more than 200 namesake franchises nationwide. According to New Tampa resident Darren Impson, who is the owner and president of the PDR of East Tampa franchise, the core activity for the company is the restoration of homes and businesses following disastrous events, and PDR’s reputation for responding quickly in emergency situations and providing reliable customer service has made it a preferred vendor for many of the largest insurance companies in the country. However, since restoration can involve everything from simply cleaning up smoke or water damage to completely rebuilding a home that has been destroyed, Impson says the expansion to include remodeling services was a natural for the company. Impson says, “It’s the difference between planned vs. unplanned work.”

Hunter’s Green resident Michael Hamrac’s kitchen was transformed from ordinary (left) to extraordinary (right) with the remodeling services available from Paul Davis Restoration. wife Kelly, who operates a separate means we handle every detail, and try In the case of a restoration job, the key is to get the ball rolling as soon to make it as convenient as possible for interior design business. And, to help our customers.” with financing, Impson says that the as possible so that the family can get company recently entered into an When it comes to materials, Impback into their home, but when it agreement with GE Money, which procomes to remodeling, the company son says that PDR has working relationships with manufacturers and venvides special flexible payment options assigns a remodeling consultant, who specifically for home design and dors that offer only the highest-quality works with the client from start to finremodeling projects. products, such as Ferguson lighting ish. Together, they sit down and come “Right now, with the real estate and plumbing, and Tru-Wood and up with a “wish list” for the project Master Brand cabinets, or they can cus- market the way it is, it’s tough for peothat includes not only a complete price ple to sell their house, and they can’t estimate, but also a realistic timeline for tom-build to match a customer’s exact buy their dream home without selling, specifications and needs. Also, if the completion of the work. so we can help them make the house customer isn’t sure exactly what they “We plan as much as possible up they have into the dream home they want, PDR of East Tampa can offer front, and then we provide a complete always wanted,” Impson says. “Plus, design assistance provided by Darren’s turnkey service,” Impson says, “which

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

the work they do now will also add value when the market does recover.” Michael Hamrac, who lives in Hunter’s Green, recently hired PDR to do a complete floor-to-ceiling remodeling job on his kitchen, which he had been unhappy with since he bought his home in 2005. “It was old and hideous,” Hamrac says. So, he called in PDR, and they gutted the entire kitchen down to the bare walls before installing new flooring, new cabinets, granite counter tops, and even put a custom wine cooler in a space that had formerly been a pantry (photos, left). Hamrac says the job took a couple of months, but he was happy with the results, and with the

service provided by PDR’s contractors. “They did an awesome, professional job,” he says. “They ended up being right on estimate, and everything was done in the time that they said it would be. I would definitely recommend them.” Paul Davis Restoration of East Tampa provides residential and commercial remodeling services in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas. Their offices and showrooms are located at 8812 Venture Cove, in the 301 Industrial Park (just north of the Florida State Fairgrounds). To learn more, or to schedule a consultation, call 984-2700 or visit PDRTampa.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Cory Lake Isles “Buyer Tour of Homes Top Pick”- Gorgeous 2 story, 4/4.5/3 located on an oversized (not zero lot line) conservation lot. Separate formal living and dining w/ decorator niches & custom draperies. Plantation shutters. Downstairs master with his & hers closets, the master bath has his & hers vanity areas, spa jetted tub, separate shower and bidet. Whole house intercom system. Kitchen has 42” glass front and solid maple cabinets + wine cooler. The Pool package includes a custom paver deck, screened, heated pool and spa PLUS Outdoor kitchen. The second floor features 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, loft area and sequestered office space. The three car garage provides tons of storage space in the custom cabinetry. Perfect Home forEntertaining!!

FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO SEE THIS PROPERTY CALL JUDI BECK (813) 380-3866

Live Oak Preserve - Great Price! 4 bedroom/3 bathroom grand home on cul-de-sac and pond with two bonus rooms & master suite upstairs. 3,120 sq. ft. $230,000. Ready to close immediately!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Identities Hair Studio Celebrates A Decade Of Beauty By Gary Nager Although I had never met New Identities Hair Studio owners Kelly and Marc Rockquemore before they opened their first salon in our area ten years ago last month, I have to say that today, they are among the closest friends and business associates we have at the Neighborhood News, and not just because their original salon is still located in the same Shoppes of Amberly plaza where our office has been for the same decade. Nor is it only because Marc and Kelly have been such wonderful customers — people who not only pay their bills, but who also believe in the power of this publication and who have consistently run ads with us since they opened — or the fact that they have continuously operated one of the most upscale salons in New Tampa, with some of the best-trained stylists and color specialists in the beauty biz. All of that is true, but the other reason I appreciate the Rockquemores so much is because of how much they give back to not only the New Tampa community, but to the entire Tampa Bay area as well. Locally, the Rockquemores have been one of the strongest, most consistent supporters of the annu-

al Taste of New Tampa, but the management and staff of both New Identities locations (the other is in the “South Shore” Riverview/Apollo Beach area) also continue to give back by supporting a variety of local charities, with multiple charitable events being held at both of the Rockquemores’ salons. In order to not only weather the storm but thrive in the face of the recent U.S. and local economies, you have to be doing something right — and Marc and Kelly surely seem to have a winning formula for their salons, which now total nearly 50 employees, more than 20 of which are stylists, many of whom (like shareholder Cindy Walters, photo) have been with the company for five, six or more years. “New stylists at our salons go through a ten-month training program, where they shadow our top stylists,” Marc says. “They still get to cut hair while they’re training (and their clients can get significant savings for utilizing stylists-in-training), but they also are learning the latest styling and coloring techniques from some of the besttrained stylists and colorists in the business. Hair coloring and highlights are definitely our biggest focus here.” Speaking of training, Marc says even the top stylists and color specialists

at both New Identities salons regularly travel to training seminars and notes, “We also have what are known as ‘national Redken artists’ visiting the salons at least three times every year. If there’s a new cut or color that is all the rage in New York, L.A., London or Milan, our people will be able to reproduce those techniques here.” In fact, New Identities has been the salon of the Cindy Walters is a stylist and shareholder who Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ cheerhas been with New Identities Hair Studio in leaders since 2003 and has Tampa Palms for nine years. been featured on national TV year.” Marc, who previously was in the shows such as Fox-TV’s “Ambush Makeover,” MTV’s “True Life and The financial industry, says he has brought the best of his corporate experience to Learning Channel’s “A Wedding the salons. “We have health and other Story,” as well as many national and local magazines. New Identities also has benefits most salons never provide,” he says, “ but this is by far the best job I been the exclusive salon for “Fashion have ever had because we have happy Week Tampa Bay” since 2008. employees who make sure we have In addition, New Identities was happy clients.” one of five finalists for the Greater Even so, Marc adds, “Probably the Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s biggest misconception is that because of “Small Business of the year” award for the training our stylists get and the businesses with 25-50 employees for national attention we receive, that we’re 2010. According to Marc, roughly 1,000 businesses apply for the awards in too expensive for some potential customers. But actually, we do have cuts the various categories, “and no salon and colors to fit just about everyone’s had ever advanced as far as we did this

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

budget.” Speaking of budgets, Marc says New Identities is definitely trying to expand its men’s hair-cutting business. “Our business has always been 8090 percent women,” he admits. “But, with our new $19.99 men’s haircut special, men can enjoy truly professional styling and a much more relaxing experience here than they get at the assembly line hair cutting shops.” And guys, be sure to mention that you saw the men’s haircut special in the Neighborhood News when you make your appointment.

Charitable Efforts

Whether it’s cutting and donating dozens of pony tails for the “Locks of Love” charity, supporting breast cancer awareness causes or providing free hair cutting and makeover services for local women who have been the victims of domestic violence, New Identities has been a consistent supporter of charitable causes in the Tampa Bay area. The most recent event, although it was held at New Identities’ South Shore location, was the salon’s first annual Breast Cancer Awareness Expo, which featured many local organizations and more than 200 attendees who helped raise more than $2,500 to support breast cancer-related charities for October, which is National Breast Can-

cer Awareness Month. “Most of our clients are still women,” says Marc, “so we like being able to support the organizations who help fight the most prevalent form of cancer affecting women.” Both New Identities salons also have provided Valentine’s Day makeovers for women who live in Bayarea domestic violence shelters, such as The Spring, Alpha House and Mary & Martha House. “Women who have been victims of domestic violence often have self-esteem issues,” Marc says. “Our employees get such a great feeling from helping those women feel a little better at least one day each year.” And, as we’ve reported in previous issues, New identities also has been a supporter of the nonprofit “Locks of Love” charity, which provides human hair pieces for young cancer patients. Between the two studios, New Identities donated 125 ponytails of at least 10 inches in length each last year. And, December 1-19, New Identities will donate a portion of all proceeds to The Heart Gallery of Tampa to benefit Hillsborough Kids. Contact the salon for details.

ner. In addition to the $19.99 men’s haircut special, the salon will give you 10-percent off three consecutive styling/coloring appointments if you book all three at the same time. “So you never have to pay full price again,” says Marc. “We know how loyal most women are to their stylists. If you know you’re going to return three times, why not book all three now and save a little money?” In celebration of the Tampa Palms salon’s 10-year anniversary, New Identities also is offering a “Smooth Deal” — the Keratin Hair Smoothing Treatment for only $199 (regularly $400). And finally, for those who love to give gift cards for the holidays, for every $100 gift card you purchase from now through December 24, the purchaser will receive a $25 gift card for themselves, too. In other words, for quality hair styling and coloring and a business that supports the communities it serves, you

Kelly & Marc Rockquemore at New Identities’ recent Breast Cancer Expo. can’t beat New Identities! The Tampa Palms New Identities Hair Studio is located at 15307 Amberly Dr., next to Cotney’s Cleaners. For appointments and more information, call 979-0760 or visit NewIdentitiesSalon.com. For New Identities’ South Shore location, call 741-1177.

Special Offers

New Identities has some great offers you should take advantage of, with the holidays right around the cor-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Max Muscle Sports Nutrition Can Help You Reach Your Fitness Goals By Melissa O’Brien Getting fit is the most important gift you can give to yourself and your family. Whether your goals are simply to feel and look better or to eventually run a marathon or participate in a fitness contest, it is always a positive step to implement a healthy nutrition program and to start exercising (as long as your doctor says you are healthy enough to begin exercising, of course). And, the Max Muscle Sports Nutrition store, located in the Wesley Chapel Towne Center plaza (at the intersection of Wesley Chapel Blvd. and Old Pasco Rd.), can help people who want to obtain a healthier lifestyle. “We are recognized by the fitness industry as the largest sports nutrition franchises in the country,” says owner and nutrition expert Fernando Salas. “From soccer moms to athletes of all ages, we are committed to improving the health of people from all walks of life. Sometimes there is a misconception when you see our name that we are just about body building, but actually, we are here for the everyday person – the individual who may just wants to get rid of excess fat, or get healthy and achieve their own fitness goals.” Salas says that Max Muscle not only offers nutritional supplements but also personalized, one-on-one service for each individual. “First, we find out what your individual goals are,” says Salas. “We are not a one-size-fits-all place. The more details we can have about a person’s lifestyle, their personal goals and their current level of fitness, the better we will be able to put together the right supplement program for you.” Salas says that Max Muscle’s sports nutrition supplements are renowned in the health and fitness industry for their high quality and level of purity. The franchise also provides expert advice through its monthly magazine, Max Sports and Fitness, and a program called the “MaxFormation Life Challenge,”

where anyone who uses Max Muscle products can participate in an online fitness challenge and have a chance to win $25,000. Salas says there also are online forums where people can encourage each other. “We are a very open and personable store,” says Salas. “A lot of our clients come in here every week just to talk. If we can help people start feeling good and teach them how to live a better, healthier life, that is our goal. We are not trying to ‘sell’ anything; we are offering people solutions. Because we are certified sports nutrition specialists, we can offer sound advice and provide a plan that suits each individual.” Salas, who lives in the Northwood community in Wesley Chapel, was born and raised in Cuba, where he was a high-performance swimmer. He graduated from Manuel Fajardo University of Sports Science in Havana and was an assistant professor in both the Physiology of the Human Body and in Physical Education. He came to Florida as a political refugee and then taught seven years as a P.E. teacher in Hillsborough County, while also working as a personal trainer for a national fitness center. “While I liked teaching, I was looking for a business opportunity,” says Salas. “Some friends introduced me to Max Muscle and thought it would be a good match for me. I really enjoy it because of the great interaction I get to have with people. A lot of people just come in to talk about health and fitness or come in just for fun.”

As a result, Canals says he has now lost 25 pounds. “I have not been in this kind of shape since I was 20,” he says. “Fernando is very knowledgeable with his products and he is a very nice guy to deal with. I am no longer on the blood pressure medication and I am now in the gym six days a week. I am ecstatic with where I am right now and have taken my family, friends and neighbors to Fernando. I would like to take a bus full of people over there to show (L. to r.) Leticia, Alex, Fernando and Sabrina Salas them what can be accomof Max Muscle of Wesley Chapel were joined by IFBB plished.” Pro Fitness Athlete Tanji Johnson earlier this year. Chris Chisholm, who lives in Meadow Pointe, has Chisholm says he started with Max had such great results with Max Muscle Muscle and an exercise plan in Novemthat he actually placed third out of ber of 2009. “I have lost a total of 125 8,000 participants in the MaxFormapounds,” he says, “and, by setting my tion Life Challenge. goals, I got into good enough shape to “I was turning 40 and was done compete in a bodybuilding competimaking excuses,” says Chisholm, who tion. Placing in the Max Muscle comalso first found out about Max Muscle petition came as a surprise. You start from its magazine in a local physical the challenge at the end of December therapy office. “I went to other places, and submit online photos for six but found that Fernando was more months. There is online voting and than happy to take the time to talk to then in May of this year, the corporate me. We spent hours talking about the called to tell me that I had made the best base diet plan and the best suppletop 20. I was shocked, to be honest, ments for me to use.”

Satisfied Customers

One of those customers is Jay Canals, who lives in Sable Ridge in Land O’Lakes. “I have struggled with high blood pressure,” says Canals. “I’m 45 years old and while my weight gain was nothing drastic, it was a hindrance. I tried other supplements and diets and always ended up in the same place, but I came across a magazine at a karate school and signed up for a meal plan using Max Muscle’s supplements.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Meadow Pointe resident Chris Chisholm credits his miraculous weight loss and body transformation to Fernando Salas and Max Muscle. and did not know that the corporation even picked a second and third place winner. I can’t say enough about Max Muscle and the results I have had. I do weight training now, play racquetball and I am very active with my kids and my dog. Fernando is an incredible wealth of knowledge. He and Max Muscle saved my life.” Salas says that his Max Muscle franchise is very community-oriented and, on Saturday, October 23, the store will have an Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) Mixed Martial Arts fighter visiting and 5 percent of the store’s proceeds that day will go to Veterans Elementary (off S.R. 54 across from Lexington Oaks) for the school’s covered play court. Earlier this year, the

Salas hosted International Federation of BodyBuilders pro and 2009-10 Ms. Fitness Olympia Runner-up Tanji Johnson to benefit an area boy who needed a liver transplant. Salas says he also has spoken at several area schools for the Great American Teach-In, where he talks about the importance of fitness and a healthy diet. Max Muscle is located at 27245 Wesley Chapel Blvd., in the Towne Center at Wesley Chapel plaza, next to the Sweetbay Super Market. It is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more information about Max Muscle, visit MaxMuscle.com or call 973-9074.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA

Education Updates

Turner Students Celebrate The Spirit Of Giving!

HGE Chess Rocks!

The St. Pete Regional Scholastics Chess Championships were held on October 2, and 26 area schools were represented by more than 140 enthusiastic chess players, ranging from kindergartners to 12th grade veterans. Despite having only four players at the tournament, the team from New Tampa’s Hunter’s Green Elementary tied for fourth place, beating out 23 other elementary school teams. In the K-5 Division, Meixiang Wang took second place with a score of 4.5 out of 5, and his brother Jiayan Huang finished in third place with a score of 4 out of 5. We offer our congratulations to the team and wish them good luck at the next competition, which will be held in November.

Clark PTA Fund Raiser Earns More Than $10,000

The Clark Elementary PTA group “wrapped up” its highly successful annual Fall Fund Raiser in October. Sales of Charleston Wraps catalogue products raised more than $9,500, and generous supporters also gave $2,200 in cash donations during

The trophy-winning HGE chess team finished fourth at the Regional Chess Championships in October. the campaign. Proceeds from the fund raiser are used to puchase equipment, technology, and other materials so that all of the students at Clark can enjoy a successful and productive school year. The PTA leaders want to give a hearty “Thank You” to all the families that helped to support this worthy cause.

Clark’s Canned Food Drive

Throughout November, the students and staff at Clark are holding

In October, the students at Turner Elementary in Live Oak Preserve hosted a holiday food drive to benefit Metropolitan Ministries. In all, the school collected over 600 food items and the two classes with the highest participation, Karen Toselli’s first-grade class and Regina Gordon’s thirdgrade class, were rewarded with an ice cream party.

their annual holiday canned food drive to assist both Clark and other local families that are in need. To contribute, drop off canned food donations at the main school office,

which is located at 19002 Wood Sage Dr. in West Meadows, during school hours. For more information, call the school office at 631-4333.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

N EW T AMPA

Sports Briefs Wharton Swimmer Receives USA Swimming Honor

Wharton High Baseball Golf Tourney At Heritage Isles

in support of a great cause at the Second Annual HALO Jingle Bell 5K, Fun Run & Kids Dash. The event will be held on Saturday, December 4, starting at the Hunter’s Green Tennis & Athletic Center (18050 Hunter’s Oak Ct., off Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the Hunter’s Green subdivision), at 8 a.m. Walkers and strollers will start 5 minutes after the runners. All adult participants will receive a free T-shirt, and prizes will be given to the top three male and female adult 5K finishers. Plus, every child who participates will receive a medal! All proceeds will benefit the HALO Academy, Inc., a school for special needs children, including those with communicative disorders, physical disabilities, learning disabilities, hearing impairments and more. HALO Academy is located at 15102 Amberly Dr., at Grace Episcopal Church in Tampa Palms. For more info about the event or the school, call 316-6171 or visit HaloAcademy.com. — MS

Jingle Bell 5K & Fun Run To Benefit HALO Academy

To promote your organization’s upcoming event, email us at NTNNedit@yahoo.com.

The Wharton High baseball team will hold its 2010 Fall Fund Raiser & Golf Tournament on Saturday, December 4, at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club (10630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Cross Creek Blvd., in the Heritage Isles subdivision). The tournament will get under way at 8 a.m., and any golfers who want to support a great program are welcome to play. In addition, the team is also looking for raffle items and $100 Hole Sponsors — which is a terrific way for local businesses to show their support for the team and to get the word out about their businesses with signs that will be displayed both at the tournament and at the team’s 2011 home baseball games. All of the proceeds will benefit the Wharton High baseball program. For additional information, contact Wharton head baseball coach Scott Hoffman at 546-1383.

Come out and stretch your legs

We congratulate Wharton High’s Blair Kuethe (photo) who was recently named to the USA Swimming Scholastic All-America Team for 2010. Each year, USA Swimming recognizes its members who excel both in the classroom and in the pool. To earn a spot on the Scholastic All-America Team, the high school studentathletes must have a grade point average of 3.5 or higher and also achieve the required USA Swimming Scholastic All-American Blair time standard in a single Kuethe with her coach Dave Gesacion. event. With a GPA of Kuethe is a senior at Wharton who 5.75 and qualifying times in the 100also swims for the TBAY Brandon and 200-meter freestyle events, Blair is Swim Team at River Hills Country one of only 58 swimmers from the Club in Valrico. Next year, she will state of Florida who made the team. “This honor exemplifies who Blair attend the University of Kentucky in Lexington, where she rhas earned a is — the ideal student athlete,” says swimming scholarship. Kuethe’s coach Dave Gesacion.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Chamber’s Fall Festival Brings Another Crowd To The Grove! Following on the heels of last year’s smash success of the Wesley Chapel Craft Fair, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) recognized a good thing when they saw it and decided to offer an expanded weekend of crafts, food, entertainment and fun and renamed the weekend the “Wesley Chapel Fall Festival,” sponsored by Hyundai and Mazda of Wesley Chapel. Perfect weather and expanded lineups of crafters, “Restaurant Row” food vendors, performers, children’s activities and other new additions to the Festival, which returned to The Grove at Wesley Chapel, has all-but ensured that next year’s weekend will be even bigger. An obviously proud, but exhausted WCCC executive director David West and the dozens of Chamber volunteers who helped everything run smoothly agreed that the Festival “will continue to be Wesley Chapel’s signature event for years to come.” This year’s Festival featured another great “Battle of the Wings,” which offered only two prizes this time around — the “People’s Choice” award, won by Santo’s Italian Grill on S.R. 54, and just one winner selected by a panel of judges (which included such dignitaries as Pasco County commissioner Michael Cox, Tampa Tribune Pasco columnist Tom Jackson and five others) — Lexington Oaks Country Club, located inside the Lexington Oaks community off S.R. 54. Not being a big wing fan myself

(which is probably one reason why I wasn’t asked to again help judge this year’s Wing Battle), I was thrilled with the other food for sale on the expanded Restaurant Row — from the Bratwurst sliders offered by Saddlebrook Resort, pizza and subs sold by Santo’s, the always-refreshing-and-deliMadison & Ken Santo of Santo’s Italian Grill accepted the cious Boardwalk Frozen Ferengata was one of eight bands that “People’s Choice” Battle of the Wings award, while Patrick Custard, bbq ribs served performed throughout the weekend at the & Michael of Lexington Oaks Country Club took the by Texas Roadhouse and Wesley Chapel Fall Festival at The Grove. Judges’ Award for the “Best Wings In Wesley Chapel.” unique “fair fare” such as the coolest fried potato concoction ever called Chipstix (you have to see and taste it to believe it), plus steak and chicken on a stick, fried fish sandwiches and seafood combo baskets and so much more. In addition to amazing crafts, from every type of jewelry imaginable to unique garlic graters, handcarved wood Gator logos, the thouThere were a lot of beautiful vehicles displayed We’re betting that many coffee drinkers sands of attendees (I had to go to during Ronnie Setser’s Custom Car Show, but our who took a whiff of any of the nearly three press before the Sunday of the Festifavorite was this awesome Excalibur roadster. dozen different teas offered for sale by val, but I believe thousands attended Kokomo Tea became tea drinkers. on Saturday) also loved the Ronnie made the first Wesley Setser Custom Car Show, the bounce Chapel Fall Festival a houses and face painting opportunities smashing success! for the kids, the Wesley Chapel Rotary To join the Club-sponsored Pumpkin Patch, the Wesley Chapel top-notch live bands who performed. Chamber, call 994In fact, I didn’t hear a single comLuis Acevedo of Big Frog Custom T8534 or visit Wesley Multiple faceplaint the day I attended! Congrats to painting booths Shirts was among the dozens of busiChapelChamber. everyone at the Chamber and all of the were fun for kids. nesses & crafters selling their wares. com. — GN sponsors, vendors and crafters who

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

WELCOME TO FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi

• Cleanings (Ages 4 and up) • Crowns, Bridges and Implant Crowns • Veneers • Zoom & Take Home Whitening • Root Canals & Extractions

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866-9913

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Residents Enjoy Beautiful Weather At Fall Community Events In October, plenty of local residents took advantage of the beautiful, mild weather to get out and enjoy the wide variety of community events that were offered all around the New Tampa area. Here, we present photos from two of the most popular — the Tampa Palms Women’s Club’s annual “Arts & Crafts Under the Palms” show & sale, which was held at the newly remodeled City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center on October 23-24, and the Family of Christ Lutheran Church’s “Octoberfest,” which was held on October 15-16 at the church on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Tampa Palms. As we enter the holiday season, there are sure to be plenty more fun and family-friendly events that will be taking place, including some that will help to benefit a number of worthy charitable activities and organizations, so be sure to check out our Community Calendar (pages 10-11 in this issue) and the events on pages 18-19 and 42-43 to make plans to attend with your family and friends. We’ll see you there! — MS

On this page are photos from the Tampa Palms Women’s Club’s annual Arts & Crafts Under the Palms Show & Sale; and at right are some snapshots submitted to us from the Family of Christ Lutheran Church’s Oktoberfest.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

America’s Ballet School: Where Young Stars Are Born By Michael Smith As a teenage ballet dancer, Paula Nunez traveled the world, performing on stages from her native Venezuela to New York, Paris and beyond, so she knows about the dedication and hard work that it takes to reach that level of success, and that’s what she tries to impart to her students at America’s Ballet School (ABS) in Tampa Palms. Nunez originally opened the school in a small space in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza in 2002 and moved into a new, larger, studio in the same plaza two years ago, as word of the school began to spread and more and more students wanted to learn how to ply their craft there. America’s Ballet School offers instruction in classical ballet for students from three years old to adults, but it is the school’s pre-professional program, for high school students and young adults, that has earned it a reputation as one of the best dance schools in the entire country. That has been demonstrated by the fact that ABS has won the title of “Outstanding School” in the Youth America

Grand Prix (YAGP), which is the world’s largest student ballet competition, for the past four years in a row. In fact, in October, the 2010 YAGP Regional Semifinal competition was held in Tampa for the first time ever, partly in recognition of the achievements of Nunez and ABS. In addition to the overall school award, several of Nunez’ students have won individual awards at the YAGP as well. In this year’s competition, for example, 13 ABS students placed among the Top 12 in their respective categories, and two, Cameron Suder and Brandon Carpio, placed in the Top 3, which means that they automatically received an invitation to perform at the YAGP finals, which will be held in New York City next spring. Brandon’s older sister Stephanie also received a special invitation to the finals after placing in the Top 12 in two different categories, as did five of the different ABS duos and ensemble groups who performed at the Regional Semifinal competition. Besides giving the dancers an opportunity to compete in the finals, however, a good showing at the

Paula Nunez (in black) directs some of the students in her pre-professional program at America’s Ballet School in Tampa Palms. YAGP also can have other benefits for them as well. That’s because not only are $250,000 in scholarships awarded to the top participants each year, but the competitions also are closely watched by professional scouts and representatives of some of the most prestigious schools and dance companies in the world. Last year, after placing first in his division at the YAGP semis, Brandon Carpio was invited to audition for the leading role in the

Broadway production of “Billy Elliott: The Musical,” and another ABS student, Olivia Kabat, received an invitation to attend the exclusive Ellison Ballet School in NYC after placing third in her division. Nunez says that the biggest reason for the success of her students is that the ABS program places such a heavy emphasis on the basics of classical ballet. “Classical ballet provides the basis

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

on December 9-12 at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel (30651 Wells Rd., on the campus of Wesley Chapel High). Call 794-8772 for ticket prices and other information. The live performances are part of Nunez’ DanzAmerica Project, a nonprofit program that Nunez says has a two-pronged goal: one, to raise awareness of the ability and talent of dancers in the Tampa Bay area; and two, to help nourish and support those dancers through charitable donations, scholarships and sponsorships, either of individual dancers or

for programs like “The Nutcracker.” Students are required to audition to be a part of the DanzAmerica Project, and only the best of the best are invited to perform in the biannual performances and other shows. Prospective students also are asked to audition for the ABS preprofessional program, but the other divisions, including pre-ballet (for ages 3-6), student division and open division (adults) are open to all students. For more information about ABS or the DanzAmerica Project, call 5580800 or visit AmericasBallet.com.

Here, one of the ensemble groups from America’s Ballet School performs at the Youth America Grand Prix Resgional Semifinals. for all other types of dance,” Nunez beyond the stage as well, Nunez says. says. “That’s why we work so hard on “Your flexibility and posture are developing specific muscles and techimproved, along with your body conniques.” trol,” she says. “Students also learn to Nunez adds that her staff memhave an appreciation of music, dance bers, all of whom are former profesand the arts in general.” sional dancers and/or certified The best students also learn how instructors, also provide close individto handle the pressure of performing ual attention to each student. live, too, as Nunez puts them through Although the ABS program is their paces in two major performances geared towards students who would each year, including a spring show and like to go on to have professional the annual holiday classic, “The Nutdance careers, there are benefits cracker,” which will be staged this year

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood Nibbles — PizzazZone, Bullseye Saloon & More Fall Into The Jerk Pit

You know I’m always on the hunt for great food at a great price and the Jerk Pit, a new, authentic Jamaican eatery in a new plaza on E. Fletcher Ave., a half-mile west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., is a real find. The Jerk Pit has the best Jamaican jerk chicken I’ve tasted in Tampa, served with owner Marven’s perfect “signature” sauce. Of course, For some of the best jerk chicken in Tampa, there’s plenty of other choices on the visit the Jerk Pit on E. Fletcher Ave. Jerk Pit’s menu, including jerk sliced PizzazZone Now Open pork, Jamaican-style pan-fried red Although New Tampa already has snapper and “Mama’s Dutchpots” with curry chicken or goat, oxtail stew quite a few very good pizza places, the new PizzazZone in the Shoppes at or brown stew chicken. There’s also The Pointe plaza (next to Stonewood fresh salads, jerk patties and wings, Grill & Tavern and behind Olive Garwrap sandwiches, sides like rice with den) in Tampa Palms is still a welcome red peas, fried sweet plantains, fried addition. dumplings and more. You can even Serving brick-oven-baked pizzas sample authentic Jamaican sodas and with a New York-style homemade homemade desserts! crust, PizzazZone is a takeout-only Stop into the Jerk Pit for lunch and try the awesome $4.99 jerk chick- (they will deliver large orders of at least five pizzas) locale that also feaen special, served with those yummy tures baked panini sandwiches, delirice and peas — and please tell Marcious-looking wings, unique pesto and ven and company we sent you! cheese muffins (sort of like calzones), The Jerk Pit is located at 1939 E. Fletcher Ave. For more info, call soups and salads. The pizzas range 971-2121 or visit JerkPits.com. from traditional favorites like the

Margherita (with fresh tomatoes, mozzarella, parmesan and fresh garlic) and pepperoni pizzas to more unique options like California-style veggie (with fresh broccoli, artichoke hearts, red and yellow peppers and black olives) and even Tex-Mex (with jalapenos, green onions, garlic, cilantro, avocado and cheddar cheese). In other words, you should definitely give PizzazZone a try — and please tell Boris, the owner, that we sent you! PizzazZone is open ever y day, 11 a.m.-11 p.m. Call 978-1048 or you can even place your order online at Pizzazzone.com.

Comings & Goings

Unfortunately, many of your favorite restaurants — and some of mine — continue to exit the area. The good news is that new places continue to come in to replace those that leave. For example, I was stunned when Cody’s Roadhouse in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave. closed and, seemingly the next day, the sign for the new non-chain Bullseye Saloon went up. I’ve only eaten at the Bullseye once, but I had a very

nice lunch top sirloin, and the menu has more to offer than just steaks. We also have been told that there will be lots of entertainment at the Bullseye. The Bullseye Saloon is located at 2836 E. Bearss Ave., 1/4 mile west of BBD. Call 374-0135. We also received word that the Beef O’Brady’s Family Spor ts Grill in the same plaza will become Big Daddy’s BBQ. We don’t know when the new restaurant will open, but look for an update in a future issue. Perhaps even more surprising than the closing of Cody’s, at least to me, was the recent closing of the Louis Pappas Market Café in the Oak Ramble Plaza on BBD, just south of Tampa Palms. Although there are still other Pappas Market Café’s open in the Tampa Bay area, the New Tampa-area location was likely affected by the success of Acropolis, which also features Mediterranean food and has the added draw of entertainment and late-night dining, in the same plaza. We do know, however, that Joy of Tokyo Sushi & Japanese Restaurant is expected to open in the Pappas location before the end of November. We’ll keep you posted! — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Olive Branch Deli Opens In The Shoppes Of Amberly If it was up to John Ogla and his family, the new Olive Branch Deli in the Shoppes of Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms would have cheeses, salamis and other Italian specialties hanging from the ceiling, as they were in Ogla’s delis in Yonkers and Poughkeepsie, NY. Unfortunately, Florida health codes don’t allow any food s to hang, so Ogla and his family have to be content with serving great sub sandwiches and homemade pastas and sauces at the Olive Branch, which opened recently in the space once occupied by Quizno’s Subs in the Shoppes. “We like the plaza and the neighborhood,” John says. “Hopefully, the locals will recognize the difference between us and the other sandwich shops in the area.” John and his wife Jamila and their five sons, four of whom work at the deli, are proud of the family’s tasty homemade tomato sauce, which is generously added to many of the Olive Branch’s hot subs, including the yummy chicken and homemade meatball parmigiana subs I’ve sampled so far. The sauce also gives a wonderful sweetness to the homemade baked ziti, stuffed shells and meatball tortellini pasta dishes, which are large and hearty enough to serve two or more people

for lunch, or a family of four as a side dish for dinner. “We bake the pasta dishes fresh every day,” John says. “This is a third-generation, Italian familyowned-and-operated restaurant and we believe this community will really enjoy our homemade pastas and sauces.” I will admit, however, that my favorite sandwich so far at the Olive Branch is the homemade chicken salad sub. The Oglas use only white breast meat and add just enough mayo and seasoning to make the chicken salad a must-try. There are plenty of other hot and cold subs worth sampling on Olive Branch’s menu, including the ever-popular Italian combo, with Capicola ham, Genoa salami, pepperoni, provolone cheese (you can get it melted, if you prefer it that way), banana peppers, onions, lettuce, tomato and Italian dressing. There’s also a zesty steak &

Among our editor’s favorites at the Olive Branch Deli are the (top left) chicken parmgiana hero and stuffed shells and chicken salad hero (left). (Above) The Ogla family (l. to r.) Matthew, Chris, Patrick, Jamila, Peter and John. cheese sub, an excellent bourbon chick- free sub when you buy one at the reguen sandwich and even an authentic lar price (or get a free side dish and Reuben with fresh-sliced hot pastrami, fountain drink with your sub), and a sauerkraut, Swiss cheese and thousand $4.99 pasta special with garlic bread island dressing. and a fountain drink. Catering is a speAlso on the menu are wrap sandcialty and there’s even a great kids wiches, authentic gyros (which got a menu, bottles beverages, Joffrey’s cofrave review while I was visiting the fee, Little Debbie snack cakes, ice Oglas the other day), soups, salads, cream and more. For more info, visit the Olive wings and desserts, plus side dishes like Branch Deli at 15311 Amberly Dr. cole slaw, macaroni and potato salad. (or at TheOliveBranchDeli.com) or Look for Olive Branch’s ad in this issue, with coupons for your choice of a call 977-1231. — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Win A 4-Day, 3-Night Cruise In Our 2010 Dining Survey & Contest! The good news is that there’s still time to enter our annual Neighborhood News Reader Dining Survey & Contest, which is your annual opportunity to tell us your favorite restaurants and beverage establishments in our area — and to win some great prizes! The even better news is that, thanks to our friend Kirk Kirkland at Ameribest Flowers & Cakes (formerly Flamingo Florist) and AmeriQuest Travel in Tampa Palms (971-9466), this year’s Grand Prize is a 4-day, 3-night cruise for two valued at more than $900! The second prize is a $100 gift card to the restaurant our winner chooses as his or her favorite in the area! We’ll also give away at least 10 other dining prizes valued at no less than $20 apiece! Submit your entry by U.S. Mail, fax or e-mail (you also can download the form from our website) no later than Friday, November 19, 2010, to be eligible to win any of the prizes named above. I believe this is our most user-friendly Dining Survey & Contest ever, so please fill in as many spaces as possible on BOTH sides, but please let us know what you think!—GN

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

My 5 Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel! 1. __________________________________________________________ 2. __________________________________________________________ 3. __________________________________________________________ 4. __________________________________________________________ 5. __________________________________________________________

NOTES - “New Tampa” (NT) is any place in zip code 33647 (Bruce B. Downs Blvd., from Bearss Ave. to the Pasco County line & all of Cross Creek Blvd.) and “Wesley Chapel” (WC) is anyplace in zip codes 33543-45 (BBD from the Pasco County line north to S.R. 54, east to Lexington Oaks, west to New River Township and all of S.R. 56). Votes for Wesley Chapel restaurants as one of “My Favorites in New Tampa” or New Tampa votes for restaurants in Wesley Chapel will NOT be counted! Votes for restaurants located outside of these boundaries (e.g., Benedetto’s, Amici Pizza) will not be counted. Votes for Circles New Tampa Bistro, which is now called Bella Vita, will be counted as being a vote for Bella Vita, even though the ownership and menu have changed. — GN

My favorite Asian restaurant in NT or WC (Chinese, Japanese or Thai) _________________________________________________ My favorite Coffee, Tea or Smoothie shop in NT or WC _______________________ My favorite Italian restaurant in NT or WC __________________________________ My favorite Pizza place in NT or WC ________________________________________ My favorite Sandwich or Sub shop in NT/WC________________________________ My favorite Bar or Tavern in NT/WC ______________________________________ My favorite place for Dessert/Ice Cream in NT/WC __________________________

Your Name_________________________________________________ Mailing Address___________________________________________ Community (West Meadows, Heritage Isles, etc.) ____________________ Zip Code______________ Daytime Phone Number _______ Valid Email Address _________________________________ Please include all information requested above on your entry form to be eligible, whether you enter by fax, U.S. mail or e-mail. You must submit your entry form by U.S. mail, fax, or email no later than Friday, November 19, 2010, to be eligible to win prizes!

New Tampa Neighborhood News 2010 Dining Contest 15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Fax: (813) 910-2483 E-Mail: NTNNedit@yahoo.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL H E L P

W A N T E D

Join OrthoTechnology’s Winning Team! Ortho Technology, an international orthodontic supply distributor located in New Tampa, is seeking talented energetic candidates for the following full-time positions: Distribution Associate: High energy individual needed to receive, restock, pull & pack customer orders. Fast paced environment. Basic math & computer skills, ability to stand/walk for entire shift & lift up to 50 pounds required. QC Inspector: Entry level position responsible for accuracy of outgoing orders. 1-2 yrs exp w/QC responsibilities. Ability to stand/walk for entire shift, close vision, basic color differentiation and basic math req’d. Small parts/med device experience a plus. We provide a great work environment, excellent benefits package and growth potential. Submit resumes to careers@orthotechnology.com. PTA position available. Part-time (Tampa Palms clinic). Fax Resume to: 813-994-3080 Now Hiring! LICENSED PHYSICAL THERAPIST ASSISTANT. Part time. Outpatient Clinic. Fax Resume to 813-994-3080 or email to Travis Monday @ travis@myf4l.com. Part time Medical Assistant. Must have lab/blood draw experience. Wesley Chapel office, family medicine. evening and Saturday hours. Fax resume to 813-994-0085. Hiring prep cooks immediately for our fast growing barbecue business. Bring a resume, come dressed for success and have a great attitude. NO PHONE CALLS OR EMAILS. Interviewing M-F 2:00-4:00 at the bistro 10865 Cross Creek Boulevard, Tampa 33647. Top money paid for top people.

COMPUTER SERVICES Professional Tech Support in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 15 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. References available upon request. Call 957-8342 for free estimate.

HOME

IMPROVEMENT

Need home maintenance? Almost any job, large or small, ext/int, fencing , screening, sm. concrete, sprinklers, painting, repairs, int. doors, locks, sheet rock, windows, paint, caulk, grout, trim, shelving, garages organized. Installations, removals, pressure washing, wood restoration & more. Call Dale’s Home Maintenance @ 973-0194 or 727-2582. RAYMOND PAINTING. INTERIOR & EXTERIOR, PRESSURE WASHING, PAPER HANGING, PLASTER, STUCCO, TILES, CONCRETE, CLEAN & SEAL PAVERS. LICENSED & BONDED. REFERENCES AVAILABLE. FREE ESTIMATES. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARBOR GREENE RESIDENT. WE WORK 7 DAYS. CALL 994-5124. Greg’s Paperhanging. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed & insured, clean, quick & reasonable. Call 973-2767 for free estimate.

CLEANING SERVICES D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE. We have our own supplies & more than 200 clients in New Tampa! For more information, call 758-9710. Isn’t life busy enough? Save time. We can help. Your satisfaction is our first priority. Guaranteed, affordable, reliable, quality domestic svcs. Free estimate: Chelsea Maid Company @ 994-6662.

Classifıeds

These are the Color Classifieds Your Neighbors R E A D! Call Dave @ 910-2575 to order your ad today!

A+ Cleaning Service. FSU grad, honest & dependable. Moving very successful business to Tampa Palms area to be near first grandchild. My Tallahassee clients included FSU coaches & professors. For a FREE estimate & references call Randi at (cell) 850-509-6615. Yes, I do Gators, too.

P E T

CYD PROFESSIONAL CLEANING SERVICES Residential & Commericial - Weekly, Bi-Weekly & Monthly Rates - Flexible Scheduling - Quality Cleaning at Affordable Prices/5 years Experience You’ll have the same cleaning professional every time!!! Call Catherine at 813-965-4162. (English/Spanish)

Professional Pet Care. Exp’d. Pet sitter. We walk, play, feed & administer medicine, all in the comfort of your pet’s home. We also bring in mail, water plants & help maintain home security while you’re away. Bonded, insured & trained in Pet First-Aid & CPR. Call For The Love Of Pets at 545-8406 or 4163126 or www.FortheLoveOfPetsOnline.com.

Foreclosure Homes & Bank REO listings by email at www.TampaForeclosuresToday.com. Team Bohannon, Coldwell Banker 813-982-7512

Tampa Cat Lady Professional Cat-Sitting Service. You say goodbye - we say hello. Cats are happiest when in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds & smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle & play with your kitties & clean & dispose of litter. We help deter crime by bringing newspaper/mail & rotating lights/blinds, giving your home that lived-in look. Licensed, bonded & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. Call 994-9449 or visit www.TampaCatLady.com.

I N V E S T M E N T

Images Cleaning Svc. Pressure Washing Commercial/Residential, driveways, walks, decks, enclosures & homes. Gutter cleanout, trash removal, move in/out cleaning. 30 years of experience. Starting @ $50. Call Robin @ 813.240.1981. Bright Cleaning of Tampa Inc. Residential and Commercial. Free Estimates. We are family owned and operated. Good References upon request. Lowest prices Please call us at (813)562-6772.

L A N D S C A P I N G Everyday Gardener’s Club. Full-service property maintenance available for residential & commercial. One-stop shopping with licensed, insured professionals. Specializing in landscape design with conceptional drawings & renderings available. Let your imagination & our professionals come together to create dreams that will last a lifetime. Call 933-1120 or visit www.EverydayGardenersClub.com

LAWN MAINTENANCE Enjoy your time & let A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service do the work for you. We provide landscaping, lawn maintenance, clean-ups, tree & hedge trimming, sodding, sprinkler repair & fertilization. Other services also available. 907-LAWN Lawncare. Residential/Commercial We are a Father and Son Business. Licensed and Insured. Affordable pricing for all. Per cut or with a contract up to you.Call Patrick or Dora anytime. (813)907-1234 (Hauling Service too!) NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. Sprinkler repair, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available. Licensed & Insured. Call Bill @ 973-3825.

P O O L

S E R V I C E S

Tranquility Pool Service. New Tampa Owned & Operated! Great pricing w/outstanding customer service. Relax & enjoy while we keep your pool in pristine swimming condition! Licensed, Bonded & Insured. Call Chris today for a free quote @ 857-5400 or visit us at www.tranquilitypoolservice.com to see why we are New Tampa’s #1 choice! New customers mention this ad & receive one month FREE!

S I T T I N G

New Tampa Pet Sitting Service. Lots of love & care for your pets. Great experience & references. Recommended by Angie’s List. Licensed, Insured & Red Cross Certified. Call Maria @ 416-5301.

B U Y I N G

G O L D

NEED EXTRA MONEY…We can turn your unwanted, old or broken gold jewelry into CASH! Take advantage of high gold prices which may not last long. Don’t sell to the fly by night companies. Take it to Tampa Palms Hometown Jeweler. Jeweler on staff w/ 35 yrs. exp. Charles Jewelers, 972-4653 (next to Stein Mart on Bruce B. Downs).

Licensed Mobile Massage Therapist. 9am 9pm, Mon, Tues & Wed. $50 for 1 hour! Types of massage available: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aroma Therapy, Hot Stone, Corporate Seated, Pregnancy, Sports & Injury Rehab. References available. www.barkdollmassagetherapy.com CALL. 727-372-6389 Lic # MA47546.

R E A L

E S T A T E

Avoid Foreclosure, We can help! www.TampaShortSalesToday.com Team Bohannon, Coldwell Banker 813-982-7512

SEEKING INVESTOR/PARTNER Experienced restaurateurs interested in acquiring an existing successful restaurant in Sarasota/ Bradenton area. Total purchase price: $120K. Monthly lease: $4K. We have the 20% down payment. Seeking $100K-$150K. Serious inquiries only, please. Call (941) 377 3125 or email goldbergkerstin@yahoo.com.

T A I C H I L E S S O N S Tai Chi Classes open to the public at the Club Tampa Palms. Benefits: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Focus and reduced stress. Class Times, Tues. Seniors 2:30-3:30 pm and Beg. 7-8 pm. Also New 6-week Beginners courses starting every few months. Space is limited. Contact me for more details. Also personal instruction in Tai Chi, Kempo Karate, Boot Camp Fitness training and more. With more then 30 years of training and teaching experience. Call Peter today #787-7560 or E-Mail me at chuan-fa@tampabay.rr.com

O F F I C E

S P A C E

Tired of working out of your house? Is a long commute getting to you? Need space in New Tampa? Cory Lake Professional Center. Office suite available. 950 sf. Call David – 813-494-8654

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Aquatec Pool Service **Special Offer: New customers get 1 Month FREE!** We follow strict National Swimming Pool Foundation (NSPF) standards - We do pools right. All technicians are in uniform, drug-free, and background checked. Quality, professional service. Licensed & Insured. Call Today 780-8616 or visit our website www.aquatecpool.com to see why you should choose us! ENJOY YOUR POOL, WHILE WE MAINTAIN IT. KJ POOL SERVICE. Servicing pools for over 6 years. FIRST MONTH FREE, PLUS FREE EVALUATION AND QUOTE Owner and Operator. LICENSE, BONDED & INSURED. Office Number: 813.909.9466 Cell Number: 813.748.9817. Email: kjpoolservice@yahoo.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 23 • November 6, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com