New Tampa Neighborhood News by Neighborhood News

Volume 21 Issue 23

Inside:

Are You Feeling Like A Little Greek?

November 9, 2013

See Neighborhood Magazine!

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

City Council Approves Tampa Palms Area 3 Commercial Development By Matt Wiley Restaurants and other potential commercial uses are on the horizon in Tampa Palms Area 3, as the commercial development of several parcels bordering on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. recently were approved on a “first reading” by the Tampa City Council. Approved unanimously at the Council’s October 10 public hearing, the change hopefully will bring more restaurants and other potential commercial development to three areas in Tampa Palms Area 3: one parcel in the Market Square shopping plaza (located at Commerce Palms Dr. and BBD and anchored by B.J.’s Wholesale Club and Bed, Bath & Beyond), as well as two parcels adjacent to (and across Cypress Preserve Dr. from) the Chase Bank on BBD, as well as one south of the Lowe’s Home Improvement store. “This sounds very involved, but the changes we have requested are really quite simple,” said attorney Andrea Zelman, who represented Tampa Palms Area 3 developer and New Tampa, Inc., president Warren Kinsler at the meeting. Zelman explained that the requested addition of more than 116,000 sq.-ft. of commercial space in Area 3 has been al-

lowed since 1982, as part of the original Tampa Palms Development of Regional Impact (DRI) Development Order (DO), which allows for 700,000 sq. ft. of commercial entitlements. Once the approved entitlements exceed 441,500 sq.-ft., Zelman explained, a traffic study had to be conducted, which meant that the addition of more commercial development would still have to be approved by the Council. The Hillsborough County CityCounty Planning Commission, represented by David Hay, found that the Council’s approval of the proposed commercial development was in agreement with the Planning Commission’s long-range plan for the New Tampa area. The approval did not come without some public opposition, however, most of it coming from Buckingham at Tampa Palms residents who worried that the development would be built too close to their homes on Tampa Palms Blvd. However, the planned commercial construction only would be between BBD and Compton Dr., and Buckingham is located well east of Compton Dr. Some confusion sprang from the multitude of signs announcing the public hearing. Zelman explained that the signs have to be placed to raise public awareness of the meeting for

residents and property owners located within 250 feet of the property to be developed (per Tampa City Ordinance 2011-12) and were not placed where the planned development would actually take place. Kinsler said that he hopes to bring three restaurants to the Market Square area, one next to Lowe’s and one across Cypress Preserve Dr. from Chase. The plot of land behind Chase also could be used for a restaurant or for other commercial uses. The areas in bright green are the parcels in Tampa Palms “We haven’t really Area 3 that recently were approved for commercial use. explored what restaurants could come to the area, yet,” Kinsler residences already are allowed under the existing Tampa Palms Area 3 DO. explained. “But, we’re all ears.” “Assisted living facilities are possible in In addition to restaurants and other commercial uses, Kinsler said that he wants the future,” Kinsler explains. “As our area to add assisted living facilities to the ap- (continues to) age, it will be a compatible proved uses in the residential areas of use (for the land).” See “TP Area 3” on page 10. Tampa Palms Area 3, where multi-family

I-75 Northbound Overpass Open To Traffic, Work To Begin On BBD Below

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE

Planning Commission Redistricting City ‘Festival Of Flight’ Draws A Crowd, New Tampa Council Districts, Freedom’s Swimmers Mother & Daughter Are Finalists In Pillsbury Advance To Regionals, Lots Of Local Business Bake-Off, WC Woman Appears In ‘12 Years A Features & Much More! Slave,’ Plus Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!

Pages 1-44

Pages 45-64

ECRWSS

NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION UPDATES

mer of 2014,” McShaffrey says. Although the new lanes on I-75 are open, construction is continuing on the northbound BBD entrance and exit ramps, which are not complete. The exit from I75 is now located a little further north than before and the merge lane onto I-75 from BBD has a temporarily short merge lane, but will expand as construction continues. “The (I-75-widening project from Fowler Ave. to south of S.R. 56) is currently well ahead of schedule and tracking towards completion by the fall of 2014,” McShaffrey says. PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 2801

Also Inside This Issue!

Blvd. and Doña Michele Dr. FDOT spokesman John McShaffrey says that the temporary Acrow bridge— which was used to divert traffic during the construction of the new overpasses—will have to be removed before the widening of BBD between just north of Commerce Palms Blvd. north to Dona Michelle Dr. can really pick up steam. McShaffrey says that the contractor, Prince Contracting, LLC, plans to have the bridge removed by early December, which it will then have to clean, disassemble and return to FDOT for use in other projects around the state. Currently, the foundations for the temporary bridge are preventing the BBD widening construction from beginning. “Most of the (BBD) work is expected to be completed by late spring to early sum-

Dated Material Please Rush!

New Tampa drivers are now just months away from being able to rejoice, as the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. bottlenecks under the I-75 overpasses are one step closer to becoming a faint traffic memory, although they still will be around for the next few months.

According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), two of the new northbound lanes of the widened I-75 overpass above BBD opened to traffic on October 25. As we previously reported, the overpass-widening project was holding up the widening of BBD underneath the overpasses, where there are still only two lanes in each direction between Palm Springs

Postal Customer

By Matt Wiley

Saying Goodbye To One ‘Old Friend’ & Thanking Another An editorial by Gary Nager When I started writing and editing professionally in New York back in 1982, I never had just one writing or editing job. Although I almost always maintained a full-time position while I did freelance sports, entertainment and business writing, I spent a lot at time at home, behind one of the earliest personal computers available. I’m sure you’ve heard of Epson printers? My first “PC,” purchased in 1984, was a $7,000 Epson computer that was obsolete from Day One, and no longer being made just two years later). I wrote everything from feature film treatments to freelance computer software articles at that time. So, to go with my overpriced, worthless computer, I had to have a chair I would be comfortable sitting in for long periods of time. To that end, I went to a local office furniture store in Manhattan and found the Krueger Vertebra office chair for, I believe, $199, which was a little pricey in ‘84, but I knew I had found my chair. It was described in the company’s literature as, “Elegant, yet remarkably comfortable. Immediately responsive to each subtle shift of the occupant's position. Throughout Europe and America, the Vertebra chair has been proven to be the premier seating solution for good posture and optimum productivity.” And it worked. No matter how many hours I spent in my Vertebra chair, my butt was always happy and my back never hurt. So, when I moved to Florida in the summer of 1993 and took over an elevenmonth-old news publication in February of 1994, my chair, of course, came with me. And somehow, the already-old gal still kept my back and my butt happy and never let me down, although in the nearly 20 years

New Tampa Neighborhood News

15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Fax: 910-2483 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Publisher & Editor Gary Nager General Manager Nikki Bennett Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondents Benjamin Carter • John Majeski • Bonnie Mason Lauren Saslow • Kathleen Schiop Senior Graphic Designer Porsha Lemos Advertising Sales Rep Taylor Gardner Advertising/Marketing Assistant Jared Nager Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 21, Issue 25, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, November 25, 2013. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. © 2013 JM2 Communications, Inc.

Neighborhood News

since then, she had taken a serious beating, especially during our stressful deadline weekends. Although the seating area of the chair was still in perfect, albeit somewhat worn out, condition (everyone else who ever sat in it said, “This is awesome on my back, but how come it doesn’t seem to fit the contours of my butt?”), the wheels took the brunt of everything. The first wheel broke in the early 2000s, but although I could still wheel around on three, the integrity of the base was compromised and other wheels started to break or give out, too. Despite my efforts to have mechanic-types (I don’t fix anything) attach an entire set of new wheels to the base, the chair wasn’t designed with detachable wheels, so the husband of one of our former art directors, whose worked as a wood craftsman for a maker of religious artifacts, attached wood blocks in place of the two (at that time) missing wheels. So much for wheeling around, although I still tried — often with really, really noisy results. That is, until one of the wood blocks fell off a couple of years ago. I’d still sit in my chair on deadline, but I really had to stay stationary — and everyone here in our office begged me to get rid of...her. Well, that day finally came two weeks ago, as we began disposing of/donating a few large, broken or obsolete computers and printers (no Epsons, though) that had been taking up too much space in our production area. I loaded up the old gal on the back of sales rep Taylor Gardner’s truck and quickly closed the door behind me so I couldn’t change my mind before he drove off. So, I did find a chair I like...at Staples...and my but and back are at least somewhat happy again. But, even so, after 30 years...I miss her.

Val Hosts Another Successful Fisher House Golf Classic!

Congratulations to my dear friend Valerie Casey and her outstanding committee of volunteers on yet another hugely successful Fisher House Golf Classic, which was held for the first time at Pebble Creek Golf Club on October 25. Val once again had a full field of 144 golfers and had a few additional folks on standby to play in this year’s golf classic to benefit the Fisher House located on the campus of the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of Fletcher Ave. And, although she hadn’t worked out the final total she raised this year, Val hopes to match last year’s $25,000 raised through not only the tournament itself, but also the live and silent auction at the post-tourney Awards Ceremony. In the now-seven years she has been working to benefit this outstanding residence — where the families of the injured soldiers in the VA Hospital receive room and board at no charge — Val says she and her team have been able to donate more than $150,000 directly to the Fisher House. So, although I didn’t play in the tournament, I was on hand for the Awards Ceremony and the delicious BBQ banquet provided by the “Meat Monkeys” from St. James United Methodist Church. Also donated for dinner was tasty pasta from the New Tampa Romano’s Macaroni Grill.

(Standing) Tampa Fisher House manager Paula Welenc and Valerie Casey welcome (seated, l. to r.) Operation Helping Hands director Bob Silah, Sgt. Joel Tavera and his father José to the seventh annual Fisher House Golf Classic at Pebble Creek Golf Club. But, the highlights for me were getting to meet — and thank — just about all of the 18 Purple Heart recipients on hand and getting to again talk to Fisher House Foundation Trustee, New Tampa resident and Ret. U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Gen. Martin Steele, who actually sought me out to thank me for all I do not only for Val’s golf tournament, but for the New Tampa community. This guy served 35 years in the Marines, including tours during Operations Desert Storm and Desert Shield, and now is one of the top brass nationally at the residences serving the family of injured service men and women...and he’s thanking ME? No, Gen. Steele...thank you!

Table of Contents

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, EDUCATION & SPORTS UPDATES..............................Pages 1-44

Planning Commission Redistricting City Council Districts..................4 Beware Of Gators In New Tampa’s Ponds............................................6 New Tampa News Briefs...................................................................8 Grace Episcopal To Sell Land On BBD To The County Woman Dies In I-275 Crash Near New Tampa TPD Releases Holiday Shopping Safety Tips Wing-Walker Dies During ‘Festival Of Flight’ Suspect Tries To Steal ATM On S.R. 56 With Forklift Freedom Honors Fallen Grad; Injured Wharton Player Is Home.....10 New Tampa Community Calendar...................................14

Local Business Updates.................................18-39

WSICA Can Bring Your Computer Back To Life....................18 North Tampa Behavioral Health Hosts Grand Opening.........22 Trust Your Eyes To The Eyecare Professionals!........................26 Florida Mortuary Funeral & Cremation Services.....................30 Bonnie & Colleen Of Sola Salon Will Help You Relax.............32 Women’s Care Introduces Weight-Loss & Wellness Center.....36

Local Sports Updates....................................40-41

Freedom Swimmers Advance To Regionals..........................40 Local Teen ‘Ironman’ Is The Real ‘Karate Kid’........................41

Neighborhood Magazine

Inaugural ‘Festival Of Flight’ Takes Off, Draws Crowd......... 45 WCCC ‘Fall Festival’ Another Success At The Grove..............46 Wesley Chapel Woman Appears In ‘12 Years A Slave’..............50 Local Mother & Daughter In Pillsbury Bake-Off Finals..........51 Little Greek Brings A New Taste Of Athens To New Tampa...54 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes’...............................58

NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSIFIEDS....................62

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Redistricting Plan Unlikely To Move New Tampa Precincts Out Of District 7 By Matt Wiley

rently has the largest population of all of the single-member districts, at 91,982, nearly 4,000 more people than in April of 2010, so adjustments must be made to make our district more equal with the other three. However, there are several District 7 voting precincts located south of New Tampa, so those would be the most likely to be relocated into another Council district. The large amount of growth in New Tampa is attributable in large part to the ongoing development of the K-Bar Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI), including the Easton Park community, along Morris Bridge Rd.

Although the 2015 Tampa City Council elections are still more than a year away, the redistricting process is under way to even out populations in each Council districts, including New Tampa’s District 7, represented by Councilwoman Lisa Montelione. However, New Tampa residents shouldn’t be too worried about their voting precincts being moved into another Council district. By Florida law and as part of the city’s charter, prior to each City Council election, district populations must be shifted to make them as equal as possible. The Tampa City Council has seven seats — four single-member districts and three seats that are elected citywide. The Hillsborough County Planning Commission (HCPC), the independent agency that is in charge of redistricting for the City, reports that as of April 1 of this year, Tampa’s population is nearly 342,000, which means that the four single-member districts should each have as close to 85,500 people as possible. Tampa’s population has grown by about 6,000 since the Although the Tampa City Council districts are being 2010 census, with most of that altered, New Tampa residents aren’t expected to have growth being in our area.. any of their voting precincts moved out of District 7 New Tampa’s District 7 cur(pictured above in orange). Map: City of Tampa

“Most political jurisdictions — cities, states, etc. — do their redistricting immediately after the release of census data,” says Terry Eagen, project manager for HCPC. “Tampa is a little different in that the city does it within the year leading up to a municipal election. We (redistrict) every four years, as opposed to every 10.” The redistricting map must be completed by HCPC and submitted to Hillsborough supervisor of elections Craig Latimer to be proclaimed as the new Council Districts by April of 2014, one year before the 2015 City Council elections. HCPC is tasked with moving as few people as possible, while keeping voting precincts in tact in the process. “There are lots of rules and criteria that you have to follow when redistricting,” Eagen says, adding that in some Districts with smaller populations, moving precincts can drastically affect voting demographics. HCPC has prepared six alternatives to evenly distribute Tampa’s population to make the four single-member districts as close as possible to one another without splitting precincts. However, none of the moves should affect any of New Tampa voting precincts (#s 355-367). If any District 7 precincts are moved into another district, they most likely will be precincts located south of Fletcher Ave. “The (New Tampa) part of District 7

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

never really changes,” Eagen explains. “The way that the area grew and was annexed, it’s virtually impossible to move any of those precincts out (of District 7) because it’s such a narrow isthmus of land that jumps across the University of South Florida. Pretty much everything north of Fletcher Ave. (within the city limits) is always going to be in District 7.” Public hearings will be held prior to the approval of any redistricting maps and will be held sometime in February. They will be advertised in January, but those dates have not yet been set. For more information, please visit PlanHillsborough.org/redistricting.

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Beware: Pets Can Fall Prey To Alligators In New Tampa Ponds By Matt Wiley At some point in their lives, it is not unusual for animals in the wild to fall victim to the harsh reality of the food chain. Although natural predators, like the Florida alligator, are known for snatching up their prey in the wild, gators don’t really recognize residential areas as being anything different than the wild here in New Tampa, most of which borders on various bodies of water. A few weeks ago, the New Tampa Neighborhood News received a call from a reader whose dog was out in the yard of her Richmond Place home — which borders a pond in the community — to go to the bathroom, as it had done each day for years. During this particular instance, however, the owner’s dog was running around and very close to the water. The caller said that, in a matter of seconds, an alligator came out of the pond, clamped its jaws on the 40-pound dog and pulled it under the surface of the pond. Our thoughts go out to that reader and her family. However, the caller said, she was not calling to have a story written about how she lost her dog, but to raise awareness that the gator’s victim could not only have been someone else’s pet, but could have even been someone’s child.

Following the incident, the Richmond Place resident said that members of Florida’s Statewide Nuisance Alligator Program (SNAP) came and removed two large alligators from ponds inside the community. A “nuisance” gator is an alligator that exceeds four feet in length that poses a direct threat to people, their pets, or their property. According to the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC), more than 7,000 gators are rounded up by SNAP each year. Although the American alligator is a “threatened” species and federally protected, the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service does allow stateapproved management and control programs, like SNAP, to remove these nuisance gators. “It’s so important to never feed gators,” says Beryl Martin, an officer of FWC. Martin explains that gators will regularly return to areas where they have been fed and will begin to associate people with food. FWC also advises not to let pets — especially dogs or cats because of their similarity in size to an alligators’ natural prey — play or swim near areas where gators may linger, which usually is any body of fresh or brackish water, much like the retention ponds in many New Tampa and Wesley Chapel communities. Also, al-

ligators are the most active between dusk and dawn, so FWC advises against swimming at night. However, alligators are most active during the warmer months. To report nuisance alligators, call 866-FWCGATOR (866-3924286). For more information and additional alligator safety tips, please visit MyFWC.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 21 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

N EW T AMPA Grace Episcopal Settles With County On BBD Land

Preparations are under way for the next segment of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. widening, between Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms and E. Bearss Ave. But, before that “Segment A” widening can begin, Hillsborough County is in the process of obtaining the land it needs to widen the busy roadway, including a triangular-shaped parcel it just purchased from Grace Episcopal Church in Tampa Palms. According to court records filed on October 23, the County will pay Grace Episcopal (which is located on a parcel of land that connects BBD, Tampa Palms Blvd. and Amberly Dr.) $4,495,440 for the vacant parcel located adjacent to the church itself at the corner of Tampa Palms Blvd. and BBD. Eric Watkins, a senior land agent with Hillsborough’s real estate services department, says that the 5.92-acre piece of land, which has frontage on BBD, will be used as a storm water retention pond for the BBD widening. “We’re fairly close to having all of the land we need for the Segment A Widening,” Watkins says. “There are just two parcels still in negotiations.” Rev. Benjamin B. Twinamaani of Grace Episcopal says to commemorate the sale of the land, which was used as the site of the annual “Pops in the Park” concert series, the church and Tampa Palms resident Mary Wendelken’s Tampa Piano Studio (a tenant of the church) will be hosting a black-tie musical recital and auction to benefit Metropolitan Ministries on Saturday, November 16, beginning at 4:30 p.m. with a children’s concert, followed by a formal reception and “adult” concert at 6 p.m.

Woman Dies In I-275 Crash Near New Tampa

A woman is dead, following a traffic crash on I-275 near New Tampa. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports that around 8:40 a.m. on October

News Briefs 24, Laura Ellen Greco, 54, of Ocklawaha, FL, was traveling southbound on I-275 in her Chevy Blazer in the inside lane at a high rate of speed south of S.R. 56 and the I-275/I-75 split. At the same time, the FHP report says, James P. Snyder, 59, of Zephyrhills, was driving south on I-275 in his Hyundai Elantra in the outside lane. For unknown reasons, Greco lost control of her vehicle and merged into the outside lane and hit Snyder’s vehicle. FHP states that both vehicles traveled off the interstate and overturned several times, striking several trees in the process, and came to rest upside down. Both drivers were wearing seatbelts, but Greco died of her injuries at the scene. An alcohol test on Greco still was pending at our press time, but was determined not to be a factor for Snyder.

TPD Releases Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

As the holiday season approaches, New Tampa residents are sure to spend a good amount of time shopping and traveling. However, this busy time of year also is one of the easiest times to get ripped off by criminals. To help combat crime during what should be a joyful time, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) has released a list of safety tips to protect New Tampa residents and their property during the busy winter season of shopping and travel. TPD’s list begins with discussing the dangers and necessary precautions if having packages delivered to doorsteps, a commonplace occurrence during the holiday season, as online shopping sometimes is much more convenient than shopping at a store. If a package is scheduled to be delivered at a time when you won’t be home, it’s important to make sure that someone knows to expect it. Just because a package is delivered to your doorstep doesn’t mean that it’s impervious to thieves, TPD explains, especially if it’s left out in the open. “If you are expecting a package, let a trusted neighbor know so they can collect

it for you,” the TPD list advises. TPD also has several tips for holiday shoppers, who sometimes can fall victim to parking lot robberies if they let their guards down. TPD advises to always shop with a companion, especially during the evening hours, and to be alert to your surroundings when walking to and from a vehicle in a parking lot. But, never fear, there will be an increased police presence at malls and shopping destinations throughout the holiday season. “We’ll have our annual mall operation taking place, which includes beefed up patrols at the (City of Tampa’s) malls and shopping district areas,” says TPD spokesperson Janelle McGregor. The TPD list also states that it is important to park in well-lit areas away from large plants and shrubbery, where criminals can and often do hide. When vehicles are parked, it also is important to make sure that any valuables in the vehicle are hidden from sight. If traveling, this also is a good idea for your home. Make sure that no valuables are visible from any of your home’s windows. The TPD list states that traveling light while shopping also is a good idea. “Only take the credit card, or number or checks you plan on using,” the list advises. After making purchases, TPD says it is wise not to advertise those purchases by disposing of boxes or containers that the store may have packaged them in, especially if those boxes or containers show the name of designer and electronics brands that may be targeted by criminals. Most importantly, shoppers are reminded to report any suspicious activity by dialing 9-1-1. Stay safe and happy shopping!

Lutz (just west of Weslery Chapel) on October 19. Curto’s parachute did not deploy and his body landed in the backyard of a home on McBrine Ct. in the Grand Oaks community, located across S.R. 54 from the single-runway airport. The pilot landed safely back at the festival. Kathleen Bergen of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) says that the accident is still under investigation. No additional information was available at our press time.

Suspect Tries To Steal ATM With Forklift

The plan to rob a bank using a forklift probably looked better on paper. According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), at around 12:05 a.m. on October 5, an unknown suspect attempted to remove an ATM machine from the TD Bank branch at the intersection of S.R. 56 and Silver Maple Pkwy. in Wesley Chapel. When deputies arrived, the suspect had already fled and there was structural damage to the building. However, the suspect failed to steal any money or gain access to the bank, PCSO reports. The forklift itself was left at the scene. “This is the first time this kind of incident has happened in our jurisdiction,” says PCSO spokesman Kevin Doll. No additional information was available at our press time. — Matt Wiley

Wing Walker Dies During Festival Of Flight

An entertainer who walked on the wings of airplanes miles over the heads of spectators has died following an accident during a local air show. According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Curto, 62, died after falling off the wing of a World War II-era biplane during a stunt, as part of the inaugural Festival of Flight (see page 45) at the Tampa North Aero Park on S.R. 54 in

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 21 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Freedom Remembers Jordan Harris, Wharton’s Sean McNamee Goes Home It’s been a tough few weeks for students at both Freedom and Paul R. Wharton High in New Tampa, as a former Freedom student has passed away and a Wharton football player was in a coma for more than a week.

Jordan Harris

Jordan Harris, a former Freedom student who graduated this past spring, lost his two-year battle with brain cancer on October 16 at the too-young age of 18. A vigil was held for the former Freedom soccer player at the Freedom stadium on the same day as his passing, a vigil that was attended by more than 500 people, according to published reports. A Facebook. com page entitled “Snapback Against Brain Cancer, Jordan Harris Cause” that was started in November 2012 now has more than 720 “Likes” and serves as a place for friends to post memories Jordan Harris and pictures of their late classmate. Our thoughts and prayers here at the New Tampa Neighborhood News are with Harris’ friends and family.

Sean McNamee

Meanwhile, about three weeks after a head injury sustained before football prac-

tice resulted in him being put into a medically-induced coma, 16-year-old varsity linebacker and Wharton junior Sean McNamee has returned home, according to published reports. Sean McNamee McNamee had Photo: Mojo Studios awoken from the coma on October 18, more than a week after the Oct. 9 accident. Published reports state that McNamee hit his head on a paint machine without a helmet before football practice that day after jumping for the ball while playing catch with teammates. A statement from the Yerrid Law Firm, which is representing the McNamee family in the case, states, “We have requested copies of all of the relevant footage and the attorneys for the School Board have agreed to provide those video copies.” The statement adds, “We have interviewed a number of Sean's teammates, many of them eyewitnesses to critically important events of that day. I am certain the School Board and its attorneys will assist us in seeing to it that all of the facts are made known about the events of that day.” Hillsborough School District officials would not comment or confirm any details of the accident because it was still under investigation at our press time. — Matt Wiley

“TP Area 3”

Continued from page 1 Despite the opposition voiced at the hearing, Kinsler said the majority of the feedback he had heard about the development leading up to the hearing had been positive. “We have been good stewards of our land,” Kinsler said. “Plus, there won’t be any curb-cutting and all of the development is (between BBD and Compton Dr.).” By “curb cutting,” he means that the future development will not mean new intersections along BBD and all new developments would be accessed by the existing roadways, either through the parking lots in the shopping plazas or from Compton Dr. itself.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Along with commercial development, the hearing addressed the eventual development of a five-acre park site that is going to be donated to the City of Tampa inside Area 3 near I-75, as well as the relocation and construction of a permanent Hillsborough Area Rapid Transit (HARTLine) “Park-and-Ride” location to replace the existing, temporary facility at Lowe’s that takes riders to downtown Tampa. This new location would not be added until the commercial development is under way, Kinsler says. “It’s good to finally see the development of (Tampa Palms) Area 3 articulating,” said Maggie Wilson of the Tampa Palms Community Development District (CDD). “This development has been on the books for years and I’m happy to finally see it.”

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

November 2013

MOMS Club Of New Tampa - The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of New Tampa is currently open to new members in the New Tampa area. The MOMS Club offers a variety of daytime activities for mothers and their children, opportunities for Moms’ Nights Out and many more benefits. For more info, or to join the club, email MomsClubNewTampa@gmail.com.

Sunday, November 10

Zen Meditation Group - Enjoy meditation? Looking for a new way to relax? Check out the FREE Zen Meditation Group that meets Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Arbor Greene Community Center (18000 Arbor Greene Dr., off Cross Creek Blvd.) Aerobics Room. People of all faiths are welcome. You only need an interest in meditation and a more peaceful and relaxed mind and life. For more info, call Jeremy at 528-6285. “Sunset At The OASIS” - Outreach Assisting Students in Schools (OASIS) Network will present “Sunset at the OASIS,” a FREE family movie night beginning at 4:30 p.m. and featuring fun and games and the film “Dolphin Tale” at the Louis Benito Middle School (10101 Cross Creek Blvd.) soccer fields. This family-friendly event is free to attend, however tax-deductible donations (monetary or in the form of new or gently-used children’s school clothing) will be greatly appreciated. For more information about “Sunset at the OASIS,” call (727) 520-6390 or visit OASIS-Network.Org.

Monday, November 11

Community Acupuncture - A Monday night community acupuncture and discussion group is forming at Ion Medi-Spa (8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 130), 6:30 p.m. Topics include needle-free acupuncture, facial rejuvenation and stop smoking and customized weightloss programs. For more info, call 960-8833 or visit IonMediSpa.com.

Tuesday, November 12

New Tampa Tri Club - The New Tampa Tri Club is open to runners, swimmers, cyclists and triathletes across the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. The club hosts group bike rides/runs at Flatwoods Wilderness Park (13330 Morris Bridge Rd.) every Tues., Thur.y and Sat. at 7:30 a.m. For more info, join the Facebook group or e-mail NewTampaTriClub@gmail.com. GriefShare - This video-seminar-support group is for anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one. The cost is $20 for a workbook and 13 sessions, begin any week to find healing and hope. The group meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Lake Magdalene Methodist Church (2902 W. Fletcher Ave., Room 310). For information/registration, call 963-1555.

Wednesday, November 13

BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets every Wednesday at Pebble Creek Golf Club at 7:15 a.m. (10550 Regents Park Dr., off BBD Blvd.). The $13 meeting fee includes a hot breakfast. Contact Lisa Jordan at 621-6015 for more details. Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their respective businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Morris Bridge Rd.). For more info, call Ed Gleason at 299-4475. New Tampa Noon Rotary - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wednesday for lunch at noon at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). Guests are always welcome. New Tampa Evening Rotary Club - The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club. New members are always welcome. For info, call Liz DeAmbrose at 956-6487 or email homenet@gte.net. Tampa Toastmasters - Great speeches & great topics. Come hone your public speaking skills. Tampa Toastmasters meets every Wednesday 7 p.m. at Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.) New guests are always welcome. For more information, call 428-6356.

Thursday, November 14

CBC Networking - Come together with like-minded professionals at the Christian Business Connections (CBC) Networking group, which meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (located at 5338 Primrose Lake Cir. near the New Tampa Community Park in Tampa Palms) for a “meet & greet,” followed by a meeting. For more info, email Shawn@TPACorp.com. English As A Second Language (ESL)(ESL) This group meets Thursdays at Tampa

Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 BBD Blvd.), 9 a.m.-11:45 a.m. Classes are taught by a native English speaker using several ESL and Bible study resources. The cost is $20 each quarter, for the workbook & class materials. For info/registration, call Heather at 753-8567. Northeast Tampa Women In Business Meeting - The Northeast Tampa Women in Business group meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). Visit NETWIB.org or call 843-2354. Food Addicts In Recovery Anonymous (FA) - Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous is a support group without any dues, fees or weigh-ins and is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. FA meets at Florida Hospital Tampa at (on BBD) in the Camelot A room at 7 p.m. For additional information, visit FoodAddicts.org or call Roz at 355-4197.

Friday, November 15

New Tampa Rotary Club - The original New Tampa Rotary Club meets for breakfast at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). The guest speaker will be Dr. Jonathan Phillips, MD, speaking about concussions. For more information, call Eric Longphee at 202-1105.

Saturday, November 16

New Tampa Dog Pack - Do you have a dog? Enjoy scenic nature walks? Join the New Tampa Dog Pack on Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m at Flatwoods Wilderness Park (at the 18205 BBD entrance) and on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at Compton Park (16101 Compton Dr., Tampa Palms). For more info, please visit MeetUp.com/New-Tampa-Dog-Pack. ‘We Work’ At Lifepoint Church - “We Work,” meets at Lifepoint Church (8702 Hunter’s Lake Dr.) at 8:45 a.m. and is designed to help you search for jobs, improve interview skills, write a resume, negotiate a job offer, improve your attitude, develop networking skills and discover your gifts. For info, visit LifepointChurch.tv/WeWork or call 907-9818 ext. 14.

Tuesday, November19

NAMI Support Group Meetings - The Pasco County Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a support group for friends & family of those with mental illness the first and third Tuesday of each month at North Tampa Behavioral Health (29910 S.R. 56). For more info, call (727) 992-9653.

Thursday, November 28

Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot - Thanksgiving morning at 7:30 a.m. is the perfect time to take part in the Rotary Club of New Tampa’s Turkey Trot at the Shops at Wiregrass Mall. The event will feature a timed 5K race and 1-mile “fun run.” Proceeds from the race will go toward Feeding America of Tampa Bay and other local charities. For more info, please visit WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot.com.

Sunday, December 8

NTDT Annual ‘Sugar Plum Tea Party’ - New Tampa Dance Theatre's nonprofit company, Dance Theatre of Tampa (DTT), celebrates its ninth annual community fundraiser, the “Sugar Plum Fairy Tea,” at 2 p.m., at the USF Gibbons Alumni Center (4202 E. Fowler Ave., ALC 100). Appetizers, sandwiches, salads & scrumptious desserts, including a chocolate fountain and the “Land of the Sweets” sundae buffet by Bruster’s Real Ice Cream, will be served. Tickets for the Tea may be purchased at the New Tampa Dance Theatre, and cost $35 for adults, $25 for the first child (ages 3-12), and $20 for each additional child. For more info, please contact the New Tampa Dance Theatre at 994-NTDT(6838).

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Jeffrey Blank Of WSICA Can Breathe New Life Into Your Computer! By Matt Wiley The dread and terror that come with the spinning hourglass icon, followed by a blue screen, when using a Windows-based personal computer are the things of nightmares that can make even Freddy Krueger himself squirm. Instead of screaming your lungs out and shaking your computer screen, there is a simple solution right here in New Tampa. Slow start-up times, networking issues, getting rid of viruses, spyware and malware, as well as general computer maintenance, are the specialties of Jeffrey Blank’s WSICA (We Save Individuals Computer Assistance), which started offering computer services in our area nearly two years ago. “The business has been growing,” Blank says. In fact, he says that his business, which he started from scratch in the New Tampa area after moving to Grand Hampton (located off of County Line Rd.) from Vernon, NJ, in 2011, has close to 100 customers, or about triple the amount of people who took advantage of WSICA’s services at this time last year. However, in addition to the time he has been working on computers in New Tampa, Blank also has more than 25 years of experience in the industry that he gathered while taking care of more than 600

customers in Vernon. And, it actually all started as a hobby. Blank says that he would help friends and neighbors with their computer issues before his wife Laura suggested that he begin a part-time business. Eventually, it became full-time, which he hopes it will one day become here in New Tampa, too. One thing Blank says that he has noticed in the past year is resistance from many of his customers to use the latest Windows operating system, Windows 8, which completely changed its look when it was released in the fall of 2012. One of the new services that Blank has been offering customers who have been feeling overwhelmed by the new look and maneuverability of Windows 8 is installing a program that helps take away some of the anxiety. Blank says that he has been installing “Classic Shell” for people who are running Windows 8. The “shell” program makes the new operating system look more like Windows 7, which had a more “classic” Windows look. The shell program is offered for free online and allows users to tweak settings over time and decide how many of the new Windows 8 features they want to use. “This lets them move to Windows 8 more gradually,” Blank explains. Although he is familiar with software

for Apple computers, too, Blank says that his Apple services, which he did previously offer, have really gone by the wayside, due to a lack of customers calling him with issues with the computers and the difficulty of working on Apple hardware. “(Apple) intentionally builds (its products) to make them nearly unserviceable, so you really have to bring them to Apple,” he says. In addition to the few, if any, Apple computer issues he sees, Blank says that he also has seen a sharp decrease in the amount of internet networking and wireless issues than he has in the past. “Because wireless Internet has beJeffrey Blank of WSICA can get your come so big and people rely on it so computer back up and running smoothly. much, companies are making routers that pretty much self-install,” Blank explains. Blank handles all of the repairs and “So, those problems are really starting to maintenance for his growing customer fade, but malware problems are definitely base, while Laura manages the phones still growing.” and ensures that customers get a quick Blank attributes the rise in “malware” call back about any issues, no matter how — or “malicious software” known to small the problem. In fact, even though cause viruses and disrupt the way a comWSICA charges $75 per hour for most reputer operates — to malware writers and pairs, Blank will answer questions free of creators getting smarter and writing procharge once you become his customer. grams that are more difficult to combat. “(My customers) like that,” Blank “You’ve got to keep a good anti-virus says. “They don’t have to sit on hold with program instealled (and updated) on your a call center in another country for an excomputer,” Blank says. “And, the all-imtended period of time to get a simple portant thing to remember is to always question answered.” back-up all of your information.” Another benefit of using WSICA is

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

not having to pack up the computer and take it to a shop to get worked on. Blank says he will visit his customers’ homes or businesses and will do most repairs onsite, unless, of course, the issue is something that will take several hours. For example, he explains that loading software is what takes the longest and that if a system has to be completely reloaded on any computer, it may be a situation where he would continue to work on the computer from home. Blank explains that he will advise the customer whether or not their computer should be replaced, instead of repaired. “If you’re not sure, I’ll let you know,” Blank says. “I don’t sell comput-

Neighborhood News

ers, so I don’t benefit from you replacing the one you have.” Cathy C., of Zephyrhills, found out how helpful WSICA can be when her computers began to not run smoothly. “I'm so glad that I found WSICA,” she says. “I was having problems on my laptop and my desktop computers. I took them to another business twice and they couldn't fix the problems. I saw a WSICA ad and called. Jeff fixed both problems in a few hours.” Tired of your computer running slowly? Give WSICA a call at 9734507 or send an email to WSICA@ WSICA.com. For more information, you also can visit WSICA.com.

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

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

FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY 20441 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (across the street from Wharton H.S., in front of Live Oak)

“Let Our Family Be Here For Yours”

866-9913

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

North Tampa Behavioral Health Holds Grand Opening With Wesley Chapel Chamber ing as the only psychiatric hospital in eastern Pasco County, the 53,000-sq.-ft. NTBH facility offers inpatient, partial The 6’-6” former All-Star baseball hospitalization, intensive outpatient care player, Darryl Strawberry — now age 51 and mobile assessment services (a team — is known to fans because of his imthat can travel into the community and pressive 16-year career as a right-fielder provide assessment and referral services, and power hitter for four Major League as well as issue a “Baker Act” (see below), Baseball teams: the New York Mets, New if necessary, to adult and geriatric patients York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and in the surrounding region. The 75 inpaSan Francisco Giants. However, Strawtient beds at NTBH are evenly divided berry’s professional career was often overamong three separate wings, which proshadowed by his struggle with alcohol, vide treatment to adults and seniors with drug abuse and multiple arrests. mental health and co-occurring issues, Strawberry spoke at the Grand such as an addiction. Currently, only one Opening and joint ribbon cutting with wing is in use, but another can be opened the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of if the need arises, based upon the number Commerce (WCCC) and the Central of patients at the facility. Pasco Chamber of North Tampa BehavIn general, inpatient treatment at ioral Health (NTBH), located on S.R. NTBH targets the needs of adults and 56, two miles east of the Shops at Wireseniors suffering from disorders such as grass mall in Wesley Chapel, on Oct. 24. post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), The former player was on hand at the postpartum depression, severe grief, seChamber event to speak in support of the vere anxiety, panic attacks, bipolar disornew psychiatric hospital. der, early dementia, depression and other “The disease (co-occurring mental serious illnesses, which often are accomillness and addiction) is real,” Strawpanied by a co-occurring addiction. The berry’s voice resonated through the outpatient wing at NTBH, which can brand new gymnasium of the facility. serve more than 30 patients, has its own “We’re here to help people get well. separate entrance, parking lot and also That’s the most important thing. Today can provide transportation to and from is a great day for this community and for treatment. this [NTBH] team....When [patients] NTBH’s medical staff consists of walk through that door, our number one several psychiatrists, including medical goal is to get them well.” director Barkat Khan, M.D., who previAfter years of treatment for his own ously served as medical director of the addictions and suicidal tendencies in mulSenior Behavioral Care Unit at Florida tiple treatment centers, Strawberry told Hospital Zephyrhills; director of nursing those in attendance at the ribbon-cutting Denise Montgomery; director of clinical that he now focuses his life on his services Angela Jack, and internist “Strawberry Ministries” with his wife, Salman Ahmed, M.D., as well as hospiTracy, as they both are now ordained talists Krishna Tewari, M.D., and Moministers, as well as recovering addicts, in hammad Munir, M.D., who also work at St. Peters, MO. The Strawberrys also crearea hospitals, including Florida Hospital ated the Darryl & Tracy Strawberry Zephyrhills, and Pasco Regional Medical Christian Recovery Program, which has Center in Dade City. . three locations, including one in OrPatients may be admitted to NTBH lando, and they both travel extensively to voluntarily or through the Baker or the speak to others about empowering their Marchman Act. The Baker Act ( also lives through the process of change. known as the Florida Mental Health Act) is a Florida Statute which provides legal A State-Of-The-Art Facility procedures for mental health examination Open since October 1, and functionand treatment, including voluntary admission by the patient, involuntary examination, involuntary inpatient placement (IIP), and involuntary outpatient placement (IOP), all of which may be initiated by Dozens of Wesley Chapel and Central Pasco Chamber members helped North Tampa Behavioral Health CEO Jim Harris (with scissors) cut the court order, ribbon on our area’s first-ever mental health residence, located on S.R. 56. by a law enBy Lauren Saslow

forcement order or by a physician, clinical psychologist, psychiatric nurse or clinical social worker. The Marchman Act, on the other hand, is a Florida Statute that enables family members to obtain assistance for a loved one who is unwilling to seek substance-abuse services voluntarily. NTBH chief executive officer Jim Harris says that oftentimes, the patient’s insurance will pay for his or her treatment or patients may pay out-of-pocket. If admitted under the Baker North Tampa Behavioral Health CEO Jim Harris (left) or Marchman Act and insured, a was proud to have former big-league baseball star Darryl patient’s insurance company can, Strawberry speak at the joint Wesley Chapel & Central in many cases, be billed for the Pasco Chamber ribbon cutting event at NTBH on Oct. 24. treatment, Harris explains. tribute to their physical health, creating a However, insured or not, NTBH will more holistic approach to their recovery. treat patients brought to the facility The unit lobbies also are a muted sea under the Acts. green, offering a comforting environment so that patients are not distracted Designed For Safety & from their treatment. Three separate Comfort group rooms and an outdoor patio are At the opening event, Harris, who is available for patients to meet for therapy, originally from Philadelphia and is a recreational activities and psychoeducagraduate of the Fordham University tional training, during which mental School of Social Services in New York health professionals help patients learn to City — said that he has a vision for the cope with their diagnosed illnesses. new hospital to be a safe haven for paThe safety of the building is clear tients while also creating a “warm, welboth inside and outside of the facility. coming, non-institutional feel.” He says Twelve-foot-high fences surround the that the decision to open NTBH in Wespremises, and multiple layers of magnetic ley Chapel originated years ago, due to locks secure each wing from interior to the lack of mental-health services in the exterior doors. Every piece of furniture in surrounding areas. NTBH’s central locaeach patient’s room is screwed to 20tion off S.R. 56, near Bruce B. Downs gauge metal plates behind the furniture Blvd., I-75 and I-275, allows it to help in the walls. patients in Pasco, as well as HillsborEven the potential for a patient to ough, Hernando and Polk counties. attempt to hang themselves or “tie off ” Although the facility is not yet a anywhere in the rooms or bathrooms has completely finished product, it is evident been minimized: the window shades are that the design, engineering and conrip-resistant and cordless, the shower curstruction were considered with extreme tains are Velcroed from the top, no attention to detail. Harris, a Licensed plumbing is exposed and vents are seClinical Social Worker (LCSW), explains cured shut. The doors swing in and out that there is, “a fine line between comfort to prevent patients from being able to and the safety of our patients,” but that barricade themselves in their rooms. Harthe facility was constructed to minimize ris says that every detail of the design and the patients’ ability to harm themselves engineering has the safety and security of or others. NTBH offers an environment the patients in mind. conducive to comfort, without comproNTBH community liaison Deborah mising health and safety.” Densmore agrees. She explains, “(Harris) After the WCCC ribbon-cutting really cares about the well-being of ceremony — which included a smorgas(NTBH) patients. He walks the unit bord of food prepared in NTBH’s enorhimself every day and regularly talks with mous kitchen — visitors were offered a the patients asking them about their contour of the open areas of the facility. It is cerns or suggestions.” apparent when you walk through the Architect Stephanie Pielich (an front doors into the lobby that the American Institute of Architects & Conlobby’s stone tile and the unit’s wood struction Documents Technologist) of laminate flooring, wood grain doors, and Nashville, TN, is credited as the leader of warm color palette all contribute to an the Johnson Johnson Crabtree Architects inviting ambiance for patients and their (JJCA) team for the project, while the DeAngelis Diamond Healthcare Group families. (DDHG), under the supervision of suHarris says the ceilings were built inperintendent Billy Hawkins, is credited tentionally high for a more airy, open for NTBH’s construction. Both compafeel. Additionally, dozens of large, framed nies specialize in medical facilities. nature photographs line the walls of the For more information about hallways, each specifically selected beNTBH (29910 S.R. 56 in Wesley cause of their calming effects. The on-site Chapel), please call 922-3300 or visit gymnasium, painted a shade of muted NorthTampaBehavioralHealth.com. green, is available for patients to con-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

TWIN LAKES

STONEGATE

Spectacular Spectacular Southern Southern Crafted Crafted home home bbuilt uilt in Community 2011,within Beautiful 2011,w within tthe he B eautifful Gated Gaated Community off SStonegate looking o tonegaate has has eeverything ver e ything yyou’re ou’re lo okin i g ffor! or! Great Curb Appeal, Manicured Landscape nd G reat C urb A ppeal, Manicured Landscape aand Boasting Bedrooms, Baths, Car edrooms, 4 B ar Boasting 3,389 SSF, F, 4 B aths, 3 C Garage plus Bonus Media You’ll Garage p lus B onus aand nd M edia rrooms. ooms. Y ou’ll love lo ove Eat-In Kitchen with Appliances, tthe he E att-In K itchen w ith Stainless Stainless A ppliances, Gas Counters, Tile Tile Backsplash, Backsplash, Gas SStovetop, toveetop, Granite Graniite Counters, Cherry Pool ool Cherry Cabinets, Cabinets, and and Breakfast Breakfast Bar. Bar. Custom Custom P with byy P Privacy w ith Brick Bricck Pavers Paveers surrounded surrounded b rivacy Fence. Fence. Close and Easy Easy Access Access Close to to Shopping, Shopping, Restaurants Restaurants and to has home h as iitt aall! ll! Please Please to Major Major Highways Higghwaayys this this home call 813-784-1634 call Cynthia Cynthi t a Filippi Filippi aatt 81

Angela Mora, CIPS, CDPE, SFR 813-784-1634 Hablo español también! Relocation Certified cfilippi@prutropical.com 813-482-1452 CynthiaSellsT TampaHomes.com amora@prutropical.com AngelaMoraRealEstate.com Cynthia Filiippi

NOT OR BANK OWNED N OT A SSHORT HORT SALE O RB ANK O WNED AND NO CDD! N O CD D! SSituated ituated on on a corner corner lot lot with with large large shade shade one Family Friendly ttrees, rees, this this wonderful wonderful o ne sstory tory F amily F riendly home boasts Bedrooms, h ome b oasts 1,538 SSF F ooff liliving vin i g sspace, pace, 3 B edrrooms, Full and a 2 Car open 2F ulll Baths Baths and Car Garage. Garage. A bright brigght open floor plan, ceilings Formal flo or p lan, cei lings with nd F ormal with Plant Plant Shelves Shelves aand Living and Dining Dining Rooms L iviing and Rooms and and an an Eat-In Eat-In Kitchen Kitchen with Bar. Thee F Family Room w ith Pantry Pantry and and Breakfast Breakfast B ar. Th amily R oom has doors leading yard. For or eeasy asy h as ssliding liding do ors le ading tto o tthe he bback ack ya rd. F Ceramic Tile flooring ccare are you’ll you’ll love love the the C eramic T ile flo oring tthroughhrrougghout home. Located Twin Lake Commuhe h ome. L ocated in tthe ake C ommuo ut tthe he T wiin L nity Major Pool and and Playground, ni ty with with Pool Playg y round, aand nd cclose lose tto oM ajor Highways, Restaurants For more H igghw waayys, R estaurants aand nd SShopping. hopping. F or m ore information Mora inf formaattion call call Angela Angela M ora 813-482-1452

WEST MEADOWS

LIVE OAK

Ronnie Preusch

3 Bed, Bed, Den, Den, 2 Bath, Bath, 3 Car Car Garage Garage Pool Pool home home in a gated comm. on conservation mm. o n a ccul-de-sac ul-de-sac co ga ated co nservaation ffenced eenced lot. lot. 2042 sqft sqft with with Hardwood Hardwood floors floors in most most rooms, Move Close rooms, SS aappl. ppl. M ove in Condition. Condition. C lose to to shops Hwys Call Ronnie shops aand nd H wys $262,000. C onnie Preusch Preusch all R more info ffor or mo re inf fo 813-361-9595 813-361-95

813-361-9595 rpreusch@prutropical.com rpreusch.prudentialtropical.com

Sharo on Coleman

813-995-5579 scoleman@prutropical.com

SEVEN OAKS

Gaated co Gated community mmuniity offers off ffeers 3464 sq sq ft., 4 bedrooms, bedrooms, plus office bonus, baths, nd 3 ccar ar plus o ffice aand nd b onus, 3 ffull ull b aths, aand garage. Located on a pond, pond, conservation garage. L ocated on conservaation home home site. Hardwood floors ,granite ors ,g si te. H ardwood flo ranite countertops, countertops, large large covered new interior paint. Offered nd n ew in co veered llanai, anai, aand terior p aint. Off ffeered aatt $349,900 Debbie Debbie and and Robert Ro obert Marvin Marvin 892-3917

Robert Mar vin & Debbie Mar vin 813-892-3917 dmarvin@prutropical.com DebbieSellsT Tampa.com

Lovely corner home highly desired, gated L ovely co rner h ome in tthe he hig ghly desir red, ga ated Live Oak Preserve. open floor plan with L ive O ak P reserve. SSpacious pacious o pen flo or p lan w ith 4 bedrooms b edrooms aand nd 3 ffull ull baths. baths. Upgraded Up pgraded kitchen kitchen with with beautiful countertops. Wood b eautifful granite graniite island island aand nd co untertops. W ood entertaining patio ccabinetry. abinetry. Great Great en tertaining sspace. pace. SScreened creened p atio with has hiss aand Brigght master master ssuite uite h as hi nd w ith large large yard. yard. Bright hers walk-in sinks, h ers wa lk-in closets. closets. Master Master bath bath has has double doub ble sin ks, garden bedroom separaate shower. ga rden tub tub and and separate showerr. Second Second b edrroom en-suite perfect Great iiss aan n en-s uite aand nd p erfect ffor or guests. guests. G reat aamenimeniswimming, g, ttennis, ennis, bbasketball asketball and and tties ies including, including, sw wiimmin im new putting reen and n ew p utting ggreen and range. range. Great Great home home in ggreat reat community. major co mmunity. Close Close to to schools, schools, shopping shopping aand nd m ajor Contact Coleman rroutes. outes. C ontact Sharon Sharon Thornburgh Thornburgh hC olemaan (813)995-5579

Delivering A World Class Experience ... One Client At A Time

Your Y oour F Full ul ull Service Servic ice Real Real a Estate Esttatte Provider Proviider (813) (81 907-8200

Residential R esi siden ential - Commercial Commerrci cial - P Property roper erty Management Managem g ennt - Mortgage Mortggaage ge - Title Title - Insurance Ins nsurance - Home Home Warranty Warranty t - Building Building and and M Maintenance ainteennance

Serving Ser ving i N New eew T Tampa aampa am & W Wesley eesley Chap Chapel pel e

The Shoppes Shoopp p es off N New ew e T Tampa aampa 1830 B Bruce ruc uce B Do Downs, wn ns, W Wesley eesley esle Chap Chapel, el, l, FL 33544 Additional A dditional Languages Language ges SSpoken: pokeen: Español Esp Español – Portuguese E Portuguese – Tagalog T Taaagga galog o –H Hindi indi – P Pelugu elugu - M Mandarin andarin Ch Chinese hinese

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Trust Your Eyes To Dr. David Scamard’s Eye Care Professionals On S.R. 54! By Gary Nager I have known Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) David Scamard since he opened his first optical office — known as Eyedeal Optical — on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa in 2002. Although he sold that original practice and has since opened and closed another office (the Eyeglass Factory & Showroom) on S.R. 54 in Lutz (only about a mile west of where S.R. 54 meets S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel), “Dr. Dave,” as I like to call him, moved his office a couple of blocks further west, in the Eagle Plaza at the intersection of S.R. 54 and Oak Grove Blvd. The new office is called Eye Care Professionals of Tampa Bay, LLC, which has been open since April of this year and celebrated its Grand Opening with a Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 17. The Grand Opening event featured great food from Raa International

(also in the Eagle Plaza) and Wright’s Gourmet House & Market and great music by Los Dos, as well as outstanding raffle prizes with all raffle proceeds benefitting both the Wounded Warriors Project & the USO. “We opened this new office with the intention of making it more of a doctor’s office and less of a showroom, although we

obviously also still have a showroom with a great variety of designer frames for eyeglasses and sunglasses here, too.” In fact, Eye Care Professionals eyeglass sales rep Kay Edwards says that, for the remainder of the year, the office is having a great end-of-year sale, with up to 70-percent-off select designer frames. “We carry most of the biggest names, including Vera Wang, Callaway, Gucci, Silhouette, Bebe, Marc Ecko and many more,” Kay says.

Outstanding Optical Service

Despite the impressive, larger showroom, Dr. Scamard says the focus at the Eye Care Professionals is on outstanding optical services. Scamard, a Tampa native who attended the University of South Florida but earned his B.S. in Vision Science and his O.D. degree from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, is a great health care professional who always has a winning smile and always shows compassion for his patients both young and old. “One of the things we hear all the time from our patients is how much more comfortable the new office is,” Scamard says. Receptionist Sonya Brogben, who always greets each patient with a smile, adds, “Our ‘dilation lounge,’ which is more softly lit for the comfort of our patients whose eyes have been dilated for their eye exam, features two big-screen

Although the office has been open since April of this year, Dr. David Scamard, O.D., and his friendly, professional staff celebrated the official Grand Opening of Eye Care Professionals of Tampa Bay, located in the Eagle Plaza on S.R. 54 in Lutz, with a Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on August 17. TVs and we always have coffee and other refreshments available. We’ve had many patients actually fall asleep in there because it’s so relaxing,” Sonya says. As if on cue, someone waiting for a patient in the lounge was indeed asleep as I left the office.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Among the services provided by Dr. Scamard and Eye Care Professionals are eye health examinations, including physicals for sports teams, contact lenses, pediatric and geriatric eye care, sports vision, diabetic eye exams, dry eye and allergic eye care, low vision rehabilitation, vision

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

therapy and lasik evaluations. “We’re a full-service optometric office,” says Scamard, whose sister Kelly is the office’s insurance specialist who can help answer your insurance questions. “We hope people who live in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel will realize we’re only a few miles from them and will come to see us in our new office.” For appointments with Dr. David Scamard and more info about Eye Care Professionals of Tampa Bay (24412 S.R. 54, Lutz), call 949-7274. The office is open Tues.-Fri., 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and 9 a.m.-2 p.m. on Sat. And, ask how you can get $20 off a comprehensive eye exam.

Neighborhood News

David Scamard, O.D., of Eye Care Professionals, uses state-of-the-art equipment to give his patients through eye exams.

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Florida Mortuary Funeral & Cremation Opens ‘Arrangement Center’ By Kathleen Schiop One of the most traumatizing events in our lives is the loss of a loved one. No matter how emotionally prepared we think we are, it’s still difficult to reconcile with never having that person in our lives again, which is why making funeral arrangements for our family members who have passed can be so difficult. Finding the right people to guide you through those always emotional decisions can be challenging, and with more and more choices available, also confusing. This is where the Florida Mortuary Funeral & Cremation Services (FMFC) “Arrangement Center” in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (a mile south of the Pasco County line) can help. Unlike the many corporate-owned funeral homes in the Tampa Bay area, FMFC is a local, familyowned business which has been providing compassionate, comprehensive and reasonably priced funeral and secure cremation services in the Tampa Bay area for more than a quarter of a century. Long-time New Tampa resident John Loyless is the owner of not only FMFC (which also is the name of his original location in Seminole Heights, which opened in 1987), but also of the Loyless Funeral Home on U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes,

which opened in 1994. Loyless stresses to local residents that the New Tampa location of FMFC, which opened in August of this year, is only an “Arrangement Center,” where you can go and see all of the services his company can offer at his three locations, even though no burials, cremations or memorial services will ever be held at the BBD location.

A Little History

Loyless says that he was motivated to make mortuary service his career choice while in college. “I graduated from the University of South Florida,” he says, “and I took a part-time job while in school at a funeral home in Tampa, where the father of one of my good friends was a funeral director.” When he graduated from USF, Loyless then earned an A.S. degree in Mortuary Science from MiamiDade College, before returning to his native Tampa. He served his state-required, one-year internship with another local mortuary before opening his first FMFC on N. Nebraska Ave. in 1987. “There are no funeral homes in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel at all, so having a local office close by is convenient for the residents here,” he says, adding that one of the major differences between FMFC and most other funeral homes in the Tampa Bay area is that his business is completely locally owned and operated —

as are all of his facilities needed for things like the embalming or secure cremation of your loved one’s remains. He believes that the BBD Arrangement Center, with its tasteful and calming environment, can make a significant difference in the quality of care New Tampa-area residents and their family members receive from his company. “People in New Tampa know me as a neighbor and a friend,” says Loyless, who has lived with his family in Hunter’s New Tampa resident John Loyless is the owner of the Green since the early 1990s. Florida Mortuary Funeral & Cremation Services “That allows me to give them a “Arrangement Center” in the Pebble Creek Collection. more personal experience in helpthose who choose traditional burial and ing with arrangements for their loved other options, such as being able to transones who have passed.” fer the body if the deceased already owns a burial plot in another part of Florida or Changing With The Times even another state. Loyless says that the funeral/mortu“In other words, all of our services ary business has changed substantially can be arranged right here,” he says. He over the last several years. “More people, adds that the State of Florida strictly reguby far, are selecting cremation than burial lates the mortuary business, “So, even these days, whereas only 10 years or so though we don’t handle bodies or cremaago, most people were still burying their tions here at the Arrangement Center, this loved ones,” he says. facility is still a fully-licensed funeral home, At the Arrangement Center, an FMFC representative can show you a vari- as if we were doing everything here.” As an example, a family may decide ety of cremation urns and other vessels, as well as videos and brochures of everything to do everything in-house at any of the from caskets to where the company buries three FMFC-owned locations (Loyless

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

has five other licensed morticians and a total staff of about 30, making FMFC one of the largest independent mortuary companies in the Tampa Bay area). Or, they can choose to use only FMFC’s embalming or crematory services and then hold their memorial service at their church or even at a club where they are a member. “Our Seminole Heights location is the only licensed on-site crematory in Tampa,” he says, adding that even with a cremation, FMFC can rent a casket to those who want a traditional viewing of the body or wish to hold a memorial service with the body present before cremating the remains. Although the FMFC Arrangement Center in Pebble Creek has only been open a short time, Loyless notes, “We’ve already had a family who lives in Pebble Creek who did a memorial service at St. Mark Church on Cross Creek Blvd. who had made pre-arrangements with our Loyless Funeral Home in Land O’Lakes, but ended up finalizing all of their arrangements here at the Arrangement Center. It made everything a lot more convenient for them.” A testimonial written by the Larson family of New Tampa says, “The funeral directors are compassionate, detailed, considerate, intelligent, helpful, professionally dressed and timely. The staff is trained well and works well together. The funeral home (Loyless) itself is well kept with a nice décor and the ceremony was tailored to meet our needs. Loyless Funeral Home

Neighborhood News

provided a positive experience during this sad and difficult time.” Loyless says, “We are always conscious of the family’s budget and other needs and because we can do everything in-house, we usually are more cost-effective than our competition,” he says, noting that a mortuary which has a large parent company located in another state dictating things like costs of services usually doesn’t allow the local funeral home the option of reducing costs based upon need. FMFC also can handle arrangements for people of any religion and has connections with many local churches, temples, etc., as well as access to grief counselors, local hospice organizations, probate attorneys, flowers and more. According to Loyless, only about 10 percent of families these days already have prearranged funeral/mortuary services. “Certainly, the passing of some people may be completely unexpected,” he says. “But, some people have trouble making those plans for a loved one in advance, even when they know the end is inevitable. We do appreciate the people who make their arrangements ahead of time, but whenever you know you need the services we provide, we’ll still make sure everything gets taken care of properly.” He adds, “We never want you to feel like you just sign a contract and that’s all we do. We always follow up with every family we serve to make sure they were satisfied with our services. We strive to provide the finest, most compassionate

@ntwcnews

care to each and every family we serve.”

A Family Name You Know

Loyless has been married for 27 years to his wife Starr, who also works for the company in the Seminole Heights location, as does their older daughter Brittni, who graduated from Florida State University (FSU) in Tallahassee. Younger daughter Alexia also graduated from FSU and is starting medical school in May. Both girls attended Hunter’s Green Elementary, Louis Benito Middle School and Paul R. Wharton High and the Loyless family belongs to Hunter’s Green Country Club, where John plays as much golf as he has time for, although he says he also enjoys fishing in his spare time. Florida Mortuary Funeral & Cre-

mation Services proudly serves families in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Manatee and Polk counties and provides secure cremations to families throughout the Tampa Bay area at its three locations — which are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week: The FMFC Arrangement Center at 19651 BBD Blvd., Suite E-2 (call 9917500); the FMFC Main Office, Crematory & Chapel (4601 N. Nebraska Ave., 237-2900); and Loyless Funeral Home (5310 Land O’Lakes Blvd., 996-6610). Visit FloridaMortuary.net for a comprehensive list of all available services, including special services offered for U.S. military veterans.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Bonnie’s BodyWorks & Colleen’s Custom Skincare Now Available At Sola Salon By Bonnie Mason You don’t have to look any further than the Sola Salon Studios® in the Highwoods Preserve area of New Tampa to get the treatment you need to feel totally pampered and stress-free. Whether you want an invigorating massage or a rejuvenating facial, Sola Salon, located in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve shopping plaza at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in New Tampa is where you will find long-time co-workers and salon professionals Bonnie Whitaker, owner of Bonnie’s BodyWorks, and Colleen Frasca, owner of Colleen’s Custom Skincare. Sola Salon Studios® is a nationwide chain of more than 100 salons that provides a salon model facility in which experienced hairdressers, aestheticians, nail stylists, massage therapists and other salon professionals run their own individual businesses together under one roof. The professionals rent their “booth” space within the Sola Salon location and maintain their individual businesses as they wish, setting their own appointments and hours and managing their own time. The Highwoods Preserve location currently has 21 such tenants.

Bonnie’s BodyWorks

Bonnie Whitaker, of Bonnie's BodyWorks, has been a Licensed Massage Therapist (LMT) for 13 years. Prior to becoming an LMT, Whitaker worked for a local pharmaceutical manufacturing company, where

long hours were not uncommon and stress always ran high. “I was always the bearer of bad news when the company determined the staff would need to work overtime and I always wanted to help ease their stress," says Whitaker. Happy to help others, often massaging the tension out of her co-workers’ aching necks and shoulder muscles, Whitaker says she found her calling. She graduated from the Humanities School of Massage (now named Cortiva Institute) in Tampa in 1999 and has studied and offers many licensed massage therapies, or “modalities,” including sports, myofascial release, stretching, neuromuscular, deep tissue, Lomi-Lomi, hot stone, traditional Thai massage and many more. Prior to landing at Sola Salon and opening Bonnie’s BodyWorks, Whitaker worked in several local spas and salons in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area, including Spa Malia, which was located in the former Hunter’s Green Model & Visitor Center on BBD until it closed in February of 2003. She also owned her own mobile massage business for ten years. “I really have a passion for what I do,” she explains. “I get great satisfaction from helping others.” Whitaker says her specialty is deep tissue therapeutic massage. “I know my clients are happy when I can see the difference in (their body language) after,” she says, adding that her deep tissue therapeutic massage can usually get to the root of the

Licensed Massage Therapist Bonnie Whitaker of Bonnie’s BodyWorks... client’s problem. The body work is performed on specific target areas in the superficial and deep layers of the muscles where they attach to bone (aka, the connective tissue). Whitaker warns that, for some, deep tissue massages can be somewhat uncomfortable; however, it is most often the best option for clients with chronic conditions, particularly muscular-skeletal disorders, as well as for clients who experience chronic pain, or physical injury. Henry, a Wesley Chapel resident, told Whitaker, “You have magic hands; you're a true healer!” And, New Tampa resident Linda Darrah raves, “I have been using Bonnie's massage services for close to 10 years and that speaks for itself. She is very knowledgeable about the human body and knows how to focus on areas to ease pain and trigger relaxation.” Whitaker makes each massage fit the

individual's needs, often incorporating more than one modality to help a client feel the most results. She says everyone should be getting massages—whether it is once a week or once every six weeks—because it is good maintenance for the body. “Clients are more in tune with their bodies these days and notice signs that their bodies are giving them,” says Whitaker. Other benefits of massage include increased circulation, a boost in metabolism, enhanced range of motion; stress-reduction and it also helps the body release hormones that benefit the body as a whole. Whitaker is originally from Long Island, NY, although she and her family moved to Cape Coral, FL, where she spent most of her childhood. Now a single mother, she lives in Tampa with her 10year-old daughter. She offers flexibility for her clients, with appointments available in the morning, afternoon, and two evenings a week. She also has Saturday hours and some Sundays available. Treatments can be as short as a half-hour or as long as three hours, depending upon the magnitude of the problem or modality that is best for the client. Bonnie’s BodyWorks offers first-time clients a 20-percent discount, so be sure to mention you’re a first-timer and that you read about Bonnie’s healing hands in the New Tampa Neighborhood News, too!

Colleen’s Custom Skincare

Licensed Aesthetician Colleen Frasco,

who also is a member of Associated Skin Care Professionals and owner of Colleen’s Custom Skincare, also has a space in New Tampa’s Sola Salon) and she is proud to annouce that, just in time for fall, she has added a new, all-natural Pumpkin Peel Pro that promises glowing results! “This (Pumpkin Peel Pro) is a multifaceted peel that helps induce cellular renewal, improve elasticity and skin radiance, and promotes healing of acne,” explains Frasco. The product also aids in reduction of fine lines, wrinkles, and hyper pigmentation. Frasco says the Pumpkin Peel Pro is good for all skin types, except those with rosacea and those with highly-active acne. The peel also provides amazing antioxidants for the skin, adds Frasco. Frasco found her way to becoming an aesthetician after working for seven years at University Community Hospital (now Florida Hospital Tampa on E. Fletcher Ave.) in the fast-paced emergency room admissions area. She received her certificate in aesthetic skincare from the Tampa Bay Career Academy in Brandon, with the intent of working with her sister and brotherin-law, once he finished medical school to practice plastic surgery. But, she decided not to leave her Tampa home for Miami, where her brother-in-law opened his practice. Instead, she found work at various positions in local spas and also worked for a plastic surgeon in South Tampa. Like Whitaker of Bonnie’s BodyWorks, Frasco also landed at the nowclosed Spa Malia, where the two worked side by side for several years.

...and Licensed Aesthetician Colleen Frasco of Colleen’s Custom Skincare are both located at the Sola Salon Studio® in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve plaza off BBD Blvd. Colleen’s Custom Skincare uses only natural skincare products by Pevonia — a world-renowned company that creates incredible products for every skin type and provides naturally beautiful and noticeable results, Frasco says. The Pevonia products also are free of paraben, alcohol, lanolin, mineral oil, PABA and contain no artificial colors, formaldehyde or sodium lauryl sulfate. Many clients appreciate Pevonia’s ecopackaging and animal cruelty-free policy. Acute Derm is another product Frasco uses for acne and anti-aging treatments, in addition to her most recent addition of Nature of Beauty natural body butter and back acne soaps she has available for purchase. Frasco also has created her own customized facial to deeply hydrate and tone the face and neck. She uses pure Collage and Elastin along with pure rose water. She also recommends an add-on lip treatment

to soften and smooth the lines around the face and mouth area, especially for those who smoke. She also specializes in antiaging treatments, including advanced facial masks, massage and facial techniques for instant skin plumping and rejuvenation, ultrasonic therapy for firming and smoothing lines, as well as stimulating blood and lymph circulation. A New Tampa resident for 26 years, Barbara Shever says one of her best joys in regards to a skin care service has been finding Colleen. “She pays such great attention to every detail in my skin, noticing the slightest change,” Shever explains, adding that Colleen adaptsher facial to the uniqueness of Shrever’s skin. Frasco notes that her number one facial currently is an anti-aging facial using freeze-dried Collagen with Elastin using an ultrasonic spatula. Other services she offers include acid peels, eye treatments, acne treatment for teens and adults, face and body waxing and brow and eyelash tinting. Frasco has also helped train other aestheticians in her previous places of employment; in fact, she was the head aesthetician at Spa Malia prior to its closing. “I have a love of teaching,” Frasco says. “I am always ready to learn about new findings and treatments on how to help my clients attain healthier skin.” She adds, “It's because of my husband Mark, who recently retired from Verizon, that I was able to launch my business in Sola Salon.” Colleen and Mark live in Temple Terrace and have two adult sons and a 4-year-old grandson to entertain them.

Frasco says the best part about owning her own business is that she can always dedicate the time needed to get the results each client expects and deserves. “I don't have to rush through a procedure and I’m never overbooked,” Frasco says. At the same time, Colleen says she believes in making every facial visit an incredibly unique and relaxing experience. Her space also features a comfortable, heated therapeutic bed-table that enhances the effects of her treatments — helping her patients’ stresses melt away. Frasco adds that she is thankful for the friendships she has developed over the years and grateful that she can truly help her clients feel rejuvenated and beautiful. Ruth Brown, who has been Frasco’s client for nearly 10 years says, “Colleen takes such good care of my skin. She is an expert at making my skin look and feel younger!” Frasco also is hopeful that other clients who are looking for her will find her by reading the New Tampa Neighborhood News. She also offers first-time clients 20percent off their first visit. To give yourself the gift of a stressfree day, or to get to the root of your muscle aches and pains, call Bonnie Whitaker at 310-7473 to schedule your massage therapy appointment at Bonnie's BodyWorks today! To take advantage of Colleen’s Custom Skincare, call 417-1734 or visit her website at Colleen.SkinCareTherapy.net. Sola Salon Studio is located at 18061 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., in the same plaza as HomeGoods and BestBuy.

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Women’s Care Florida Introduces Weight-Loss & Wellness Center By Matt Wiley As the holiday season fast approaches, with its high-calorie, multiple-course meals, why not shed some pounds to make room for an extra turkey leg or slice of pumpkin pie, come November? And, why not get your slimming tips from medical doctors with experience at Women’s Care Florida? Since March of this year, the Women’s Care Florida obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn) office of M.D.s Richard Dillon, Brian McNulty, Vicar Qureshi, Kristen Segall, Gem Ashby and Tiffany Patrick has been offering new services as part of their new Weight Loss & Wellness Center at the Wesley Chapel location of Women’s Care in the Cypress Ridge Professional Center, located just off Cypress Ridge Dr. and S.R. 56. And, the practice plans to expand the new program to its two other offices in Carrollwood (on W. Bearss Ave.) and North Tampa (on E. Fletcher Ave. at BBD). Drs. Dillon, McNulty, Qureshi, Segall, Ashby all are Board-certified by the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology and Fellows (Dr. Ashby is a Junior Fellow) of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology (ACOG),. Dr. Patrick also is a member of ACOG and the American Medical Association. Part of a physicians group that has offices across the state, Women’s Care Florida specializes in providing medical care which caters exclusively to women. Dr. Segall says it is for this reason that opening the Weight

Loss & Wellness Center seemed like a natural expansion for the medical group. “(Many of) our patients are constantly upset about weight and not being able to lose it,” says Dr. Segall. “So, the target audience was there. We decided that instead of sending patients to other people, why don’t we bring that service to our office? And, we plan to expand those services to all three locations.” The new service, offered by Drs. Ashby, Segall, Patrick and McNulty, helps women shed unwanted pounds by looking not only at their diets and lifestyles, but also into their personal and family histories.

Getting Started

“At the first initial visit, we do a detailed history and physical,” Dr. Segall explains. “We try to find out about a patient’s individual background and what their history and struggle has been with their weight. Then, we do lab work (comprehensive blood test, metabolic panel, lipid panel, blood count and thyroid gland test) and an EKG (electrocardiogram) to make sure they are healthy enough to start the program.” Dr. Ashby explains that the program is made up of a specific diet program that is customized for each individual and lots of nutrition/weight loss education. Patients also are given a multivitamin, a ProTrim weight-loss supplement and a prescription appetite suppressant. According to the Women’s Care website, the prescription appetite suppressants, which have been deemed safe and effective

by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA), block hunger, while the provided food guidelines re-train the body to crave healthy foods. The exercise recommendations from the doctors, combined with the nutritional supplements, help to boost energy. “After a week of adjusting to the program, we encourage (patients) to start exercising,” Dr. Ashby says. “We then schedule weekly visits to check on each patient’s weight and make sure that (the patients) don’t have any questions or concerns.” Many of the practice’s weight-loss patients have seen significant results with the Kristen Segall, M.D., & Gem Ashby, M.D., innew program, Dr. Ashby explains, and many vite you to try Women’s Care Florida’s new of them have been Women’s Care patients Weight-Loss & Wellness Center in the Cypress for some time. Ridge Prof. Center off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. “I think there is a level of trust there,” Dr. Segall says. “They feel comfortable, both the weight back on,” Dr. Ashby explains. “We let them know that if they’re going to with us and with our recommendations.” eat ice cream one night, they have to make Dr. Ashby, who has lost more than 30 up for those calories the next night.” pounds herself using the program, says that Lutz resident Julia Crawford says that what sets the Women’s Care program apart the “super supportive staff” at Women’s from others in the area is the educational asCare make it a comfortable environment to pect of dieting — the doctors actually teach learn healthy ways to lose weight, such as the patients how to be on a diet, but still be healthy food shopping lists. able to periodically enjoy foods that typically Crawford, who has lost nearly 50 wouldn’t be part of their nutritional regipounds on the program, says that it is much men. different than trying to lose weight on your “What’s different about our program is own or with a personal trainer. that we start to gradually add foods back in “I wanted to lose weight in a healthy (to their diet) and we show (them) how to way,” Crawford explains. “I know some exchange foods in and out of their diet, so people go to drastic measures to lose weight, that when they’re done with the (weightbut that’s not the case (at Women’s Care). loss phase) of the program, they don’t add

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

They ask you questions about your weight, but make you feel comfortable about talking about it.” In addition to the Weight Loss & Wellness Program, Women’s Care also provides extensive gynecological and obstetric services, including infertility evaluations, counseling and treatment, prenatal and preconception care and services, all aspects of labor and delivery, as well as general women’s health care, which includes menstrual issues, cancer testing and screening, contraception, urinary issues, sterilization, hormone therapy and more. Many surgical procedures can be done in-office, including tubal sterilization, a permanent birth control method that does not require incisions or a local anesthetic. Women’s Care also offers in-office three-di-

Neighborhood News

mensional (3D) and even 4D ultrasounds, which offer an entirely new way to look inside the human body and determine not only the sex of an unborn baby, but also give a detailed look at fingers, toes and facial features. The practice even offers an in-office alternative to a hysterectomy called an endometrial ablation, which helps to treat painful menstrual cycles and requires no incisions, along with less than 48-hours of recovery time. For additional information, visit WCF.me. Women’s Care Florida has locations at 26823 Tanic Dr. in Wesley Chapel (929-7377); 13601 BBD, just south of Tampa Palms (972-9300); and at 3321 W. Bearss Ave. (269-2528) in Carrollwood.

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Freedom High Swimmers Adance To Regional Championships! The Freedom High boys and girls swim teams has turned the heat up to boiling levels, as 11 athletes qualified for the Class 3A, Region 3 Championships on November 9 at the Class 3A District 7 meet on Oct. 30. The Freedom girls came in second overall in the District, behind Sickles High, while the boy’s team finished third behind King and Hillsborough High. Senior Marc Berson earned a ticket to Regionals in both of his individual events by taking first place in the District in the 200yard individual medley at 2:00.58 and the 100 butterfly at 54.13. Berson was also a first place winner in the 200 free relay, alongside teammates Brennan Noll, Logan Freedman and Jordon Shollenberger. Berson, Freedman and Shollenberger also qualified for Regionals with Michael Carter in the 200 medley relay. Noll earned the title of District Champ in the 200 freestyle with a personal best time of 1:53.67. Shollenberger will compete at Regionals in the 100 breaststroke. According to head coach Rene Piper, the boys team is peaking at the right time and has a shot at qualifying for the State Championships in the 200 free relay. The Freedom girls are swimming at an equally high level. Morgan Harkness took first in the 200 individual medley at Districts by clocking in at 2:25.25. Harkness also will compete in Regionals in both the 400 free relay and the 200 medley relay, alongside Caitlin Slater, Moira Espinosa, Kaitlyn

Shumate, Emma Ernst and Miranda Lippus. Lippus, a freshman, posted a personal best time of 1:06.74 in the 100 backstroke, to qualify for Regionals in the event. The team’s major victories, including an outstanding win over New Tampa rival Paul R. Wharton High in Freedom’s ‘Senior Day” and final home dual meet of the season earlier in October, held at the West Meadows Community Center pool. Piper has made outstanding strides with the team in her first year as head coach and she is dedicated to the proper training of young athletes. The Region 3A-3 meet will be held on November 9, or the day you receive this publication, at the St. Petersburg Aquatic Center. Look for results of that meet at NT NeighborhoodNews.com.

A Formula For Success

Piper says that next year’s girls’ team will have plenty of talent to continue as a dominant force in the District. She admits, however, that the Freedom boys will have a more difficult time remaining contenders in 2014. The Freedom girls are only graduating two seniors this year, while the Patriot boys are graduating 10. Piper remains optimistic despite the serious issue of replacing key personnel. She explained that of the 10 senior boys, seven started swimming when they were juniors. When she took over the program in December 2012, many of the boys

struggled with slow times and improper technique. Since then, the boys have shown dramatic improvement, as evidenced by their performance in the District meet. The Freedom coach remains active in her swimmers’ lives outside of school as well. Many of the Pats’ swimmers train year-round with the Tampa Bay Aquatics (TBAY) team. Piper and her husband and fellow coach, Patrick Piper, took over the running of the New Tampa and New Port Richey branches of TBAY, which is a competitive, year-round swimming program that is open to swimmers ages 4-18, at the beginning of the year. “From January of this year, we (TBAY) went from 11 swimmers to over 100 in October,” Patrick said. Through their work with TBAY, the Pipers hope that young talent from across New Tampa and Wesley Chapel will feed into Freedom’s swim program. Rene explains that starting early is the key to the Patriots’ success in the future. “(TBAY) has to be a feeder program,” she said. “Starting them young with lessons and getting them interested… making it fun [and] keeping them in the sport without them burning out.”

Beyond School & Into The Community

Piper says the success she and her athletes enjoy in the pool would be impossible without the support of local business own-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Freedom High senior Marc Berson won the District title in the 100-yd. butterfly after winning the event on Senior Day against Wharton at the West Meadows pool. ers and the community. The practice facility for both TBAY and the Patriots (at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) is too shallow for swim meets, according to the Florida High School Athletic Association, so the team has to raise money to rent the West Meadows pool for its home meets because it is the only local pool with proper starting blocks and because the team receives no financial support from the school. Patrick and Rene emphasize their gratitude for the support the Freedom team has received from the community. The Pipers are as committed to promoting their contributing businesses and giving back however they can as they are to improving their team’s performance in the water. To sponsor of the Freedom High Swim Team, contact Coach Rene Piper at coachpiper@yahoo. com. For more information about TBAY, visit TampaBay Aquatics.com. — Benjamin Carter

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Local Martial Artist, 13, Raising Money To Return To World Games By Benjamin Carter A shy four-year-old sits on his mother’s lap refusing to join the other kids because the martial arts class is simply too intimidating for the young boy. But, after some encouragement from his instructor, he is suddenly participating with the others. Within five minutes, he’s hooked. Today, Land O’Lakes resident Ethan Dillon, 13, studies a plethora of martial arts fighting styles. He has achieved high ranks in several different disciplines, including two second-degree black belts in karate and mixed martial arts, as well as a first-degree black belt in Krav Maga, the official self-defense training of the Israeli Defense Forces. “I train 4-6 hours a day,” Ethan says. Ethan was good enough to make the U.S. Martial Arts Team and compete in the 2012 World Martial Arts Games in Bregenz, Austria. He says it was an experience like no other. “It [was] exciting and intimidating at the same time,” he recalls. “It was my first time on an airplane, my first time out of the United States and my first time meeting the rest of the team.” Normally, athletes in Ethan’s age group compete in a maximum of three events at the World Games. So, it was impressive that Ethan took on the daunting task of competing in seven World Games categories. In fact, Ethan’s heavy competitive workload earned him the nickname “Ironman” among his peers. He earned a medal in six of the seven events he competed in during

Neighborhood News

the 2012 World Games, including three world titles — in Brazilian jiu-jitsu (also known as “ground fighting”), “no gi” jiujitsu (also known as “submission wrestling”) and mixed martial arts fighting. His jiu-jitsu coach, Roger Kessler of Core Martial Arts in the Pebble Creek Collection in New Tampa, says it is Ethan’s determination and love for his craft that sets him apart from his peers. “He is a real martial artist,” Kessler says. “He has a passion for the martial arts and because of that he is at a different level than other kids his age.” Core is one of several dojos where Ethan trains in the different disciplines. He also studies at Lugo’s Martial Arts & Wellness in Odessa, Champions MMA in Lakeland and with the U.S. Martial Arts Team at the Suncoast Karate Dojo in Sarasota.

Fund-Raising Efforts

The Dillon family is trying to raise enough money for Ethan to return to the World Martial Arts Games in 2014 — which will be held in Richmond, British Columbia — to defend his titles. He and Melony were the featured speakers at the October 9 Wesley Chapel Rotary Club as part of those fund-raising efforts. Ethan even demonstrated his expertise in several disciplines to the Rotarians. “That is one strong 13-year-old,” said “volunteer” Ben Alexander, who sings “God Bless America” at the beginning of every Rotary meeting. “I was afraid he was

@ntwcnews

going to crush my larynx.” To date, Ethan already has raised $2,000 in sponsorship funds, but remains $4,000 short of his goal. The sponsorship dollars will go toward his transportation and accommodations (as the U.S. Martial Arts team provides no funding at all) for Ethan and his mother and will help to provide the necessary equipment for his various competitions. Ethan’s uncle (and Hernando County Sheriff’s Deputy) Stephen Dillon plans to make the 2014 trip to support his nephew and to lighten Melony’s workload. While Ethan’s athletic accomplishments are impressive, Melony says it’s a miracle that he is even alive. Three months into her pregnancy, she sustained a serious injury that left her with three herniated discs. Every day, she felt excruciating pain, caused by Ethan resting on her injured spine. Six months into the pregnancy, Melony’s doctor expressed concerns for her health and recommended more than once that she have an abortion. “But, at that point in the pregnancy, I’ve seen [Ethan],” she says. “I’ve felt him. I walked out of the doctor’s office saying, ‘No, we aren’t going to do this.’” After a couple of more days, however, Melony’s pain began to subside, as Ethan shifted off of his mom’s injured discs, allowing her to carry him to term. Today, Melony supports her son’s rigorous training schedule by homeschooling him and his 6-year-old, autistic sister. As a single mom, she often wonders how she manages to support Ethan’s training and ed-

Ethan Dillon, now 13, with his medals from the 2012 World Martial Arts Games. ucation along with a home life. She says she receives a lot of help from her mother, Betty Dillon, who lives at home with the family and looks after Ethan’s sister during his practices and competitions. “My mom is really good,” Melony says. “I don’t know how I would have done it, trying to balance both of them.” She adds that Ethan’s late grandfather, Kenneth Dillon, taught him the importance of representing his nation during a global event. “My dad served 28 years [in the] military,” Melony says. “So, for Ethan to represent the U.S. was a really big deal to him.” To make a donation to support Ethan’s planned trip to the 2014 World Martial Arts Games, visit usathlete-ethanironmandillon.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

The First-Ever Festival Of Flight Takes Off & Draws A Crowd! If you missed the first-ever “Festival of Flight” at the Tampa North Flight Center (off S.R. 54 in Lutz, just west of Wesley Chapel) three weeks ago (Oct. 19-20), you missed something truly special. In fact, my pics simply don’t do the event any justice. Although it ended up being marred by a truly tragic death on Day One (see page 8 for details), the Festival started bright and early in perfect weather on Saturday morning, with a launch of about a dozen hot-air balloons, as a crowd of several hundred people gathered to watch them land. Many of those on-hand enjoyed breakfast at the snow-nine-week-old Hangar Café at the single-runway airport and one server at the café admitted, “It’s by far the busiest day we’ve had since we opened.” The same could be said for the airport itself, as the crew from Tampa North signed up quite a few people for flight instruction, several attendees went up in “ultralight” planes and several World War II-era aircraft took off and landed all weekend, a weekend

(Clockwise from top left)The variety of balloons included tethered rides by Re/Max Realty; Tampa North Flight Center’s Josh, Chuck, Cindy & Dave; there were plenty of “ultralight” vehicles taking off all weekend; a World War II-era biplane takes off; the smoke was part of the show; WingHouse’s balloon gets fired up; the beautiful “balloon glow” lit up the audience, as well as the night.

which included music, a spectacular “balloon glow” on Saturday night, a variety of great vendors and more wide-eyed kids of all ages than you can even imagine. For even more pics & info, visit NTNeighborhoodNews.com, TampaNorth.com or call the Tampa North Flight Center at 973-3703. — GN

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Chamber Hosts Another Successful Fall Festival; Plus, Rotary Happenings! My heartfelt congratulations go out to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC), which hosted its most successful Wesley Chapel Fall Festival ever at The Grove shopping center Oct. 12-13. The weather was perfect, although a little warm, but the weekend of live music, food (including the annual “Wing Battle”), arts & crafts, hayrides, adoptable pets and signature events like the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (Noon)’s annual Little Miss & Mr. Pumpkin Patch Pageant again attracted thousands of people to the parking lot of the popular shopping center. On this page and page 3, instead of my usual editorial, I decided to showcase the Chamber’s latest fall extravaganza, as well as recap the WC Rotary Club’s incredible picnic with the kids from the Everyday Blessings children’s shelter. The Fall Festival’s annual Wing Battle, sponsored by Cornerstone Air Conditioning & Heating, saw lots of winners, including Beef O’Brady’s on S.R. 54, which won the “People’s Choice” award, and to the new Ker’s WingHouse on S.R. 54 and Lexington Oaks Golf Glub, which was awarded two of the titles by the day’s judges. The crafters on hand offered everything from homemade steel drums to pumpkinthemed clay

pots to a wide variety of artisan-created jewelry and clothing. Among the more popular events of the weekend was the Wesley Chapel Lion’s Club’s Parade of Pets and all of the musical acts, including the Cypress Creek (Above) Beautiful weather attracted a big crowd to the Greater Wesley Dixieland Band, Bryan EdChapel Chamber of Commerce’s annual Fall Festival on Oct. 12-13 at wards, the Time Bandits, The Grove, especially at the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club-sponsored annual Nunes at Night and the Little Miss & Mr. Pumpkin Patch Pageant (right), where Rotarians and Stone Grey Band. pageant hosts Jennifer Cofini (left) and Kelly Mothershead (right) anThe Fall Festival was nounced the names of the winners . Adoptable pets (bottom right) and sponsored by The Grove, adorable, happy kids (below) were on hand both days of the Festival. Wesley Chapel Nissan, Pasco County and Digitaltap.tv, with children’s bounce houses and activities sponsored by Victorious Life Church. Great job!

(Above left) Not all of the animals on hand at the Wesley Chapel Fall Festival, including this coyote, were available for adoption. (Above) The crafts on display at the Festival included these unique pumpkin clay pots. (Below) Chamber executive director Hope Allen (left), with “People’s Choice” Wing Battle winner Michelle from Beef O’Brady’s of Wesley Chapel.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Wesley Chapel’s Vivian Fleming-Alvarez Appears On Big Screen In ‘12 Years A Slave’ By Matt Wiley Already abuzz with raves from film critics and rumored to be a major contender for the upcoming film awards season, Fox Searchlight Pictures’ BritishAmerican historical drama “12 Years A Slave” has some ties right here in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. Appearing on the big screen in a film with the likes of stars Chiwetel Ejiofor (“Salt,” “2012”), Brad Pitt, Michael Fassbender (“Prometheus,” “X-Men: First Class,”), Michael Kenneth Williams (HBO’s “Boardwalk Empire”) and Paul Giamatti (“Sideways”) in her first speaking role in a feature film is Seven Oaks resident and former Tampa Bay Buccaneers cheerleader Vivian Fleming-Alvarez. Fleming-Alvarez also has appeared in “The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn-Part 2” and “Springbreakers” in non-speaking roles, and also was on the Lifetime TV show “Army Wives.” The film, directed by Steve McQueen (not the legendary late Hollywod actor), who also was the director of 2011’s “Shame” (also starring Fassbender) and produced by Brad Pitt and Dede Gardner (“World War Z,” “Killing Them Softly”), tells the true-story of Solomon Northup, a free black man from New York who was kidnapped and sold into slavery in 1841

to a plantation in says that she Louisiana, where was in an acthe remained a ing class here slave for 12 years. in Tampa Ejiofor stars as when she reNorthup. ceived a text Fleming-Alfrom her New varez’s role is that Orleans agent of the “Mulatto asking if she Woman,” a fawanted to auvorite of the capdition for the tain of the slave part. She says ship that transthat she went ports Northup to home and did Louisiana, which Vivian Fleming-Alvarez(right) with “Boardwalk Em- some research allows her to not pire” star Michael Kenneth Williams on the set of the about the role feature film “12 Years A Slave” be shackled during and the time the journey. period, went out and bought a hoop skirt “(My character) lives a privileged life and large dress and actually filmed herself on the ship,” Fleming-Alvarez explains. acting out how she thought the woman “She gets to walk around freely. She’s not would act on a slave ship and emailed it to chained.” the producer. Fleming-Alvarez says that her lines in“I sent out the audition tape and volve calming an enslaved, distraught went to see the movie ‘Prometheus,’ woman who is on the ship with her chilwhich also has Michael Fassbender in it, dren, in order to try to keep the woman the same night,” she says. “I thought, from being punished. ‘Wow, there’s a chance I might be in a “You learn why she is distraught movie with him.’ I got home around 10 throughout the story, so I really don’t p.m. and got a message on my phone saywant to give anything away,” Fleming-Aling that the casting director (Meagan varez explains. Lewis) wanted to meet with me in New Fleming-Alvarez says that the process Orleans the next day. I booked a flight of getting the role was a hasty one. She that night, rented a car, flew out, met with

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

the casting director and flew home the same night.” She got a call to tell her how she did from her agent, who told her that she had gotten the part. “I filmed in August of last year in New Orleans in full period costumes,” she explains. “It was a beautiful experience.” Fleming-Alvarez says that she got to meet with several stars, including Williams, who many will recognize from HBO’s “The Wire” and as Chalky White on “Boardwalk Empire.” “You don’t get to do too much idle chit-chatting because the film is so character-driven and everyone is in their process,” Fleming Alvarez explains, “but I did get to socialize with everyone during the wrap party. I’m proud to have been a part of the project and I’m relieved that my performance didn’t land on the cutting-room floor. This lets me leave a legacy for my two sons. Being part of this story that needs to be told is very impactful for me. I’m humbled.” Be sure to look for Vivian Fleming-Alvarez in “12 Years A Slave,” which currently is playing at both the Muvico Starlight 20 off Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in New Tampa, and the Cobb Theaters Grove 16 in The Grove shopping plaza off Oakley Blvd. in Wesley Chapel.

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

New Tampa Mother, Daughter Both Finalists In 2013 Pillsbury Bake-Off Contest In Vegas! By Matt Wiley Imagine a giant banquet room filled with 100 people baking their own recipes that, if chosen, could be worth $1 million dollars. This is reality for two New Tampa residents, as they take their cooking skills to Las Vegas to compete in the 46th annual Pillsbury Bake-Off Competition November 10-12. JoAnne Tucker, 61, and her mother Anna Zovko, 80, both were chosen as finalists for their recipe entries into the 2013 Pillsbury Bake-Off Competition and will be competing against 98 others in three categories for the top prize: JoAnne Tucker (right) & her mother Anna Zovko are “Amazing Doable Dinners,” “Simple both finalists in the 2013 Pillsbury Bake-Off contest. Sweets & Starters” and “Quick Rise & a GE appliance and $125 in cash. Shine Breakfasts,” each of which can be Tucker and Zovko each are finalists entered during a different time of year. in the “Quick Rise & Shine Breakfasts” Recipes are voted for online and the ones category, with Tucker’s “Chewy Oatmeal with the most votes make the finals. During the finals, the finalists in each category Raisin Breakfast Bars” and Zovko’s “Chicken Alredo Brunch Pizza,” respeccompete against one another in an effort tively. “My mother and I have been enterto win the $1 million top prize. ing the Pillsbury contests for the past 11 Recipes can only consist of seven inyears,” says Tucker. “Being finalists togredients, must contain at least two Pillsgether is a dream come true!” bury products and require less than 30 Zovko actually made the finals once minutes of preparation time. In addition to $1 million, the Grand Prize winner also before in 2002 and won “Honorable receives $10,000 in General Electric (GE) Mention” for her bacon spinach pizza recipe. She believes that her previous exappliances. Each of the 100 finalists alperience in the finals will help her have a ready has won a free trip to Vegas, with leg up on the competition. airfare and accommodations, at the Aria “I think (the Chicken Alredo Brunch Resort & Casino paid in full, daily meals,

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Pizza) will be a big hit,” Zovko says. “Everyone loves pizza.” Tucker says that the contest provides a lot of incentive to come up with some creative recipes. The two entered the “Simple Sweets & Starters” section in April, but didn’t make it to the finals, which, Tucker explains, is partly due to not being plugged in to social media to help generate votes. Tucker decided to enter again with her “Chewy Oatmeal Raisin Breakfast Bars,” an idea that came from her love of Pillsbury’s Oatmeal Raisin Cookie Dough. “My husband and I are always buying

breakfast bars,” Tucker says. “So, I thought, ‘why not make one?’ I’ve always loved messing around in the kitchen.” She convinced Zovko to enter again with her “Chicken Alfredo Brunch Pizza,” plugged them both into social media to help spread the word and both ended up becoming finalists. “The fact that my mother and I are both in this together, that for me is reward enough,” Tucker says. “If I win any other prizes, that’s just icing on the cake.” For more information about the Pillsbury Bake-Off, please visit Bakeoff.com. Good luck, ladies!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Little Greek Restaurant — Lunch? Sure, But Try It For Dinner, Too! By Gary Nager Although there already are several Greek and Middle Eastern restaurants I really enjoy in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, I have to tell you I’m a big fan of the new Little Greek Restaurant, which is located in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center shopping plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the space that previously had been occupied by Firehouse Subs. Despite the fact he’s only been open in our area a few months, owner Percy Rosemurgy, a long-time Tampa native who spent a lot of time in the North Tampa area during his youth, has already developed quite a following at Little Greek, both for the restaurant’s food and in the community. Despite opening about six months later than originally planned, Percy participated both in this year’s Taste of New Tampa in March and in the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Business Expo in September. But, no matter how nice a guy Percy may be, if Little Greek — which is a smallbut-growing chain with 11 Tampa Bay-area locations, three in Texas and one in Arkansas — didn’t have great food, with some options you can’t find at any of the other places in our area, he wouldn’t be packed every day at lunch time. Best of all, even with the lunch crowd, Percy’s outstanding team keeps the traffic moving with no problem. Little Greek’s menu is the same for lunch or dinner, but many of the menu items are platters (starting at just $8.99) that

offer enough food for lunch for two people or more than enough for one for dinner. Speaking of platters, if you really want to try a nice sampling of Little Greek’s Mediterranean fare, one of the newest items on Little Greek’s menu is the Sampler Platter ($14.99), which also happens to be one of my favorites. The platter is definitely shareable and includes a sizable Greek salad, a small side of hummus with pita chips, one dolmades (stuffed grape leaves), one small slice of spanakopita (spinach pie), one tender, terrific, fire-grilled lamb kabob, one perfect grilled chicken kabob and a nice-sized portion of Little Greek’s delicious lamb gyro meat, all on a bed of savory Greek-style rice. I’m also big on Little Greek’s unique steak pita sandwich and, especially, the steak kabob platter, which immediately brought me back to my days in New York City, where many of the mobile hotdog carts also offered delicious, grilled steak kabobs. But, unlike the kabobs of my NYC memories, it’s obvious Percy uses real Grade A beef. If you feel like a Greek salad (regular for $6.49 or mini for $4.99), but don’t actually love all of the ingredients usually in-

cluded in the salad, Little Greek offers a make-your-own Greek salad you can customize with your favorite veggies and even (Clockwise from top left): The Greek salad with grilled chicken, Sampler Platter and hummus catering platter are all favorites at the new add grilled chicken, Little Greek Restaurant in the New Tampa Center plaza on BBD. gyro meat, a shrimp skewer, a steak skewer or grilled salmon (for $2.49-$4.49 additional). Although I’m not a big lemon soup fan, I’ve heard raves about Little Greek’s avgolemono soup ($2.49 for a cup, $3.49 for a bowl) and I can tell you that the hummus, spanakopita and dolmades are all top-notch. Sandwich options ($5.99-$7.99) include a homemade falafel pita, veggie, lamb and Olympian pita (with chunks of chicken and gyro meat) and even a nice-looking pita burger I plan to try on my

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

next visit. You can add a side Greek salad. hand-cut fries, potato salad, rice, Greek-style potatoes or a cup of soup for only $1.99 more. Need something sweet to finish off your meal? Little Greek has baklava, rice pudding, tiramisu and my three favorite desserts so far are the cannolis, baklava cheesecake and chocolate kok. There’s also a nice “Little Greeks” menu ($3.99-$4.99), soft drinks, delicious catering platters and even opportunities to purchase Little Greek franchises. And, with the coupons in Little Greek’s ad on page 57, you can get 20-percent off your next purchase or off any catering order! Little Greek (19022 BBD Blvd.) is open every day, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. For more information, call 972-0707 or visit MyLittleGreek.com.

Photos on this page by Matt Wiley

Other favorites of ours include the steak kabob platter (with additional kabob), the Olympian pita and (l.-r.) baklava cheesecake, cannoli and chocolate kok.

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

Bobbie Rose Boutique Now Available Online

Hand-me-downs can be a great thing— especially for parents who need to save money on clothes. Bobbie Rose, the youngest of three girls in her family, had to live with hand-me-downs from her two older sisters for most of her childhood. But, Bobbie’s mother taught her how to sew and crochet at the age of 12 and that's how the Bobbie Rose designer label got started. Started in the early 1990s, the Bobbie Rose of Florida label has become known for ready-to-wear clothing. After signing a short-term, temporary lease in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza (between Publix and Bealls), she decided to instead sell her designer label and other products (see below) in her online boutique. In 1999, Bobbie started a bath and body product line for people with sensitive skin and allergies to the big-store lines, driven by her own sensitivity to products. "My goal is to produce a hair product line for all nationalities," she says. Her online boutique gives shoppers a variety of products to choose from, including not only her Bobbie Rose label (photo, above), but also other lines of clothing, which offer sizes 0 - 24; unlike other boutiques, which often stop at size 12 or 14. Although she lives in Town & Country, Bobbie says a lot of her customers are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents who got to know her at her storefront location. To order or for more information, visit BobbieRoseBoutique.com.

Exclusive Clientele Salon Now Open On Cross Creek Blvd. Congratulations go out to Christy

Johnson, the owner and one of three Master Stylists at the new Exclusive Clientele Salon, located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St. “Our team is familiar with all of the latest hair techniques & styles,” Johnson says of herself, fellow Master Stylist Nica and Master Colorist, Stylist and Educator Crystal. “The skills we have acquired has allowed us to do hair for several national events and shows. Our experience taught all of us how to provide exceptional customer service. All of the stylist are licensed in several different cities and states including Pennsylvania, Maryland, California, Georgia and even the U.S. Virgin Islands. Exclusive Clientele — where “The Passion of Beauty is Celebrated through Style & Elegance” — is a beautiful salon which offers precision cuts, “up dos," color, high & low lights, relaxers, body perms and even weaves for any type of hair. But, although the salon is new, Johnson has been in the hair-care business for more than 30 years and previously had her Exclusive Clientele location in North Tampa? For appointments and more information, call Exclusive Clientele Salon (10026 Cross Creek Blvd.) at 994-2393. Also, see the ad on page 37 for a coupon for $10 off any service for new customers.

New McDonald’s Opens On BBD In Wesley Chapel

Congratulations to the Frost family — father Jack (not a misprint) and sons Chris and John (photo above right), for the opening of their fourth McDonald’s franchise in our immediate distribution areas. The Frosts, who already have McDonald’s locations in Tampa Palms, in the New Tampa Center and on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, opened their third restaurant at 1733 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., next to PNC Bank, in front of Nutrition S’Mart on BBD (just south of S.R. 56), with a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon cutting on Oct. 31. At least 50 WCCC members were on hand at the sparkling new, very upscale-looking “Mickey D’s,” which doesn’t have a children’s play area but does have large menu boards warning you that those McNuggets you love have more than 1,000 calories. I have known the Frosts since they opened their first Tampa Palms location in the City Plaza shopping center 18 years ago. The family has always been an amazing community partner and we are proud to feature the front-and-back full-page ads, with lots of

great coupons (valid at all four of the local Frost-owned McD’s), on pages 43 & 44, although the ads also outline the Daily Specials available (for a limited time) at the new BBD store — like any size coffee for only $1, any Happy Meal for only $2.19 and more — and you don’t even need coupons to get these great deals! The new open-24-hours restaurant also will host an even bigger Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, November 23, beginning at 11 a.m., with a visit from Ronald McDonald himself, face painting, a prize wheel, great giveaways and a balloon artist.

Peabody’s Welcomes Back The Deacon Blues Nov. 22!

After packing the house at Peabody’s Palms Lounge (15333 Amberly Dr., Tampa Palms) on Sept. 28 for a Leukemia

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Society fund raiser in honor of Busch Gardens dance captain Marlana Lacivita, the Deacon Blues Band (TheDeaconBlues. com) will return to Peabody’s on Friday, November 22, 8 p.m., with a canned food drive concert to benefit Metropolitan Ministries (MetroMin.org). The cover charge is $5 per person, and every paid admission who also brings a canned or non-perishable food item will receive a free drink card. All food donations will benefit Metropolitan Ministries. The Deacon Blues always rocks the house, so we hope you’ll be there, too! Also appearing at Peabody’s, the week before the Deacon Blues, on Friday, November 15, is Synergy in a Cup, Tampa’s hottest new soul, funk and blues band. For more info, call Peabody’s at 972-1725 or visit PeabodysTampa.com.

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

New Tampa Plastic Surgery Opens On BBD

We are very proud to welcome New Tampa Plastic Surgery (2541 Windguard Cir., behind Dickey’s BBQ on BBD in Wesley Chapel), the office of G. Peter Fakhre, M.D., to our ever-growing roster of outstanding advertisers.

Dr. Fakhre is a Board Certified Plastic and Reconstructive surgeon who has worked with some of the most respected cosmetic plastic surgeons in the country. He is one of only a small number of plastic surgeons in the Tampa Bay area to be double Board-certified by the American Board of Plastic Surgery as well as the American Board of Surgery. Dr. Fakhre is best known for his technical skill, his eye for beauty and his aesthetic treatments of the face, breasts and body. Dr. Fakhre earned both his undergraduate degree in Biology and his M.D. degree from the University of South Florida. He completed his surgical training at the world-renowned Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, where he was awarded the Excellence in Teaching award by the Mayo Clinic Medical School and served as Chief Resident in Surgery his final year of surgical training. Dr. Fakhre then completed his Plastic Surgery training at the prestigious Methodist Hospital, where he trained with members of the original group of plastic surgeons that invented the breast implant as well as facial and body plastic surgeons whose surgeries have been featured on the Discovery Channel.

Neighborhood News

For appointments and more info, visit NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com or call 813-PLASTIC (752-7842).

D’Alessio’s & OTB Café To Open Across From FHWC

Two new restaurants are poised to fill the voids in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel shopping plaza, which is located directly across BBD from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) and already is home to Dickey’s BBQ, The Hungry Greek & the Latin Twist Café. Moving into the space vacated by Baja Fresh is D’Alessio’s Restaurante, which will be a casual fine dining Italian restaurant and gourmet pizzeria. Owner Dom D’Alessio says his brother owns Francesco’s Pizzeria in Dade City, which has been very successful, “but this will be a little more upscale, with fine wines, beer and a unique Italian menu.” Dom says D’Alessio’s should open sometime this month. In addition, according to a flier posted on the window, Only The Best (O.T.B.) Delights Café will be moving into the space vacated by The Brewhouse coffee shop and Buddy’s Hot Dogs“We will be up early to provide you, our guest, a savory breakfast to start your day,” the flier reads. “We are working hard to open soon and can’t wait to see you!” The flier says that the restaurant will focus on using local ingredients that don’t include unnatural nitrates, antibiotics or hormones and try to use as little processed food as possible. No additional info was available at our press time. — GN & MW

@ntwcnews

Advanced Hand & Plastic Surgery Center Cuts Ribbon Most people don’t realize how important their hands are to daily living until something bad happens to those extremities. Trauma from motor vehicle accidents, fractures and other incidents can have debilitating effects. That’s where the specialists from the Advanced Hand & Plastic Surgery Center can help. The office, which has been open for about a year in the Cypress Ridge Professional Park off S.R. 56, celebrated on Nov. 1 by hosting na Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon-cutting event (photo). “We’re really glad to be in this area of Wesley Chapel and to let people know of our services,” said Roy Sulma, a registered/licensed occupational therapist and certified hand therapist (OTR/L and CHT) at Advanced. The office — headed by M.D.s Luis A. Laurentin-Perez, Francisco A. SchwartzFernandes and Scott Gargasz — handles injuries, deformities and disorders concerning the hand, wrist and upper extremities. That includes anything from amputations and nerve damage to trigger fingers and cysts. “The hand is so intricate and complicated and can have a big impact on functions,” Sulma said. The office, which accepts major insurance providers, also sees patients for plastic

surgery for aesthetic purposes. Following a ceremonial snipping of the ribbon Nov. 1, staff members gave a tour of the office’s technology and its newer (see below) digs. “Welcome to Wesley Chapel,” Cindy Freeman, membership coordinator for the WCCC said at the ribbon-cutting. Freeman added that the office has brought an estimated 30 jobs to the community. Advanced has an original location on Habana Ave. in Tampa that the practice had outgrown. Dr. Laurentin-Perez said the opening of the Wesley Chapel office made sense since some of the medical staff already lived in the Wesley Chapel area. “We are thrilled we are here,” he said. For more information about Advanced Hand & Plastic Surgery Center (2318 Greenbranch Drive, Building 2), visit AHAPSC.com or call 866-4426. — John Majeski

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL

W A N T E D FITNESS & WELLBEING

H E L P

PHYSICAL THERAPIST – An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080 HELP WANTED – Full Circle Pizza & Grill is looking for an EXPERIENCED pizza maker/line cook. NO phone calls. Walk-ins with resumes ONLY. 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite B2, Mon-Sat, 11 a.m.– 8 p.m. Ask for Ron. HELP WANTED -Looking for hairstylists with established clientele. -Relaxing contemporary environment. -Busy shopping center in new tampa -Booth rental available $175/week -Newly furnished private suite w/ shampoo bowl for $225/week -First week free !! Contact Ms.Johnson @ 8139942393 or johnson.christy08@yahoo.com HELP WANTED - Nurse- Part-time. Allergist office. Fax 813.558.9421. USF area. HELP WANTED - Floral Delivery Driver & Floral Designer needed. Designer MUST have EXPERIENCE. Please call 813.979.9453. HELP WANTED - Are you well organized and service oriented? New Tampa dental office seeking friendly, reliable front office personnel. FT/PT. Opportunity for advancement. Experience a plus but not mandatory. Email resume to: newtampadds@gmail.com HELP WANTED - New Tampa dental office seeks well organized & service oriented front office personnel. FT/PT. Experience a plus but not required. E-mail resume: newtampadds@gmail.com HELP WANTED - Attractive, Personable Sales Person sought by new restaurant located on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel. Experienced or we can train. The position calls for the person to contact large local businesses about their catering needs. Apply in person, with resume, at CityGrill (5429 Village Market, S.R. 54 between I-75 & BBD) between 11 a.m.5 p.m. & ask for Gerry.

FOR RENT - exington Oaks Golf Community; Pimlico Village: 2/bedroom 2/bath with office/den. 2/car garage 1500 sqaure feet. Gated/maintenance free Appliances included. wood floors. window treatments custom cabinets and master closet. Ceiling fans. community pool and fitness center. $1,300/ month. Want to hear more? Please call Alan at 813.917.3686.

L O S T

F O U N D

LOST - Chain Bracelet - lost during Hunter's Green Yard Sale: Sentimental & small reward for return. Call 813-994-5209 & leave message.

EDUCATION

BABYSITTING

PIANO LESSONS/TUTORING - Located in Live Oak Preserve for children, teens, and adults. I am a highly qualified/certified Florida teacher specializing in piano, music theory, language arts, reading, writing, geography, elementary math, beginning Spanish, and FCAT/test preparation. Mention this ad and receive your first session for FREE! Now scheduling for the new 2013-2014 school year! Contact Mrs. Daley at 813-468-1424 to reserve your spot!

Classifıeds TAI CHI CLASSES - open to the public at the Club Tampa Palms. Benefits: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Focus and reduced stress. New Beginner 6 week courses starting every few months. Adults Course: Thursday evening’s 7-8 pm. Seniors Course: Tuesday afternoons 12-1 pm. Space is limited! Also personal instruction in Tai Chi, Kempo Karate, Boot Camp Fitness training and more. With more than 30 years of training and teaching experience. Please contact me for more details or go to: chuan-fa.org. Peter #787-7560 or e-mail peter@chuan-fa.org

H O M E

I M P R O V E M E N T C L E A N I N G

DRY WALL SPECIALIST - Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for a free estimate (813) 784-5999

M.Y. CLEANING SERVICE - Offering Residential cleaning, complete bath & kitchen cleaning, as well as dusting & polishing furniture. We provide our own supplies. Free estimates! Your satisfaction is our priority! With 5 years of experience, we guarantee meticulous cleaning! Call Mila: (813) 516-3554.

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.

DISCOUNT JUNK REMOVAL!!! - No job to big or to small! Same day service. Senior discount. Servicing the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, as well as surrounding areas for over 11 years. Furniture, yard debris, garage clean out, & any other items. Call Lamar Today – 813.285.4674.

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

LICENSED MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPIST Available seven days a week, 9am -9pm. $55 for 1 hour! Types of massage available: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aroma Therapy, Hot Stone, Corporate Seated, Pregnancy, Sports & Injury Rehab. References available. www.barkdollmassagetherapy.com CALL (727) 372-6389 Lic #MA47546.

RAYMOND PAINTING – Interior & Exterior pressure washing, paper hanging, plaster, stucco, tiles, clean & seal pavers, roofing leaks, etc. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free Estimates. Your Neighborhoond Arbor Greene Resident. We work 7 days. Call 9945124.

INDIVIDUAL & COUPLES COUNSELING - Over 90 years of personable & experienced therapy & testing services. Better Business Bureau Accredited. With 6 clinicians, we’ll find the best therapist for you. Call (813) 418-7188 or DrP@phonepremier.com. Website: www.Tampa-Therapy.com

DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING - Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional and personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. (813) 215-1177

COMPUTER SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT – in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 20 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. Remote assistance available. References available upon request. Call 957-8342 for free estimate. DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? - WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Servicing residential & businesses, w/ over 25 years experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank (813) 9734507 today! www.WSICA.COM; Wsica@wsica.com

M I S C E L L A N E O U S NO TIME - NEED TO RUN ERRANDS or STRANDED? Call 813-263-4244 for: Professional Assistance, Concierge Services, Confidant/Companion,Transportation, Errands, Personal and Professional Care. Hourly, Daily & Long Term Rates Tampa Palms/New Tampa Area TRUSTWORTHY, RELIABLE, FRIENDLY Fictitious Name Notice: - Notice is hereby given that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of KC2 Kreations at the address of 27842 Green Willow Run, Wesley Chapel FL 33544 intends to register said name with the Secretary of State, State of Florida in compliance with the section 865.09 (Chapter 90-267) Florida Statutes. Wesley Chapel, Pasco County, Florida. Sept 25, 2013. Kandi L Custer Turn your clutter into cash! - Garage & estate sales, inventory liquidation,& appraisal services. We'll sell it for you online! We evaluate & appraise your products then get you top dollar. We do the work you get the cash. Ask me how, contact Mary at 813-428-5793

SERVICES

WEST COAST FLOORING INC - Hardwood, Laminate, and Carpet; Over 25 years experience in sales and installations; Repairs: Large and small jobs; We even do exterior pavers; Free estimates Call Doug at (813) 215-4817 D & D PRESSURE WASHING - licensed and insured. We clean driveways, sidewalks, homes, pool decks, screen enclosures, fences and other items. Free estimates. Call Dina or Doug 813-949-5131 www.ddpressurewash.com UPHOLSTERY - All types - sofas, chairs, stools, pillows, select window treatments, etc. For information and pricing, call Glen or Sheryl 813-245-9719. HOME IMPROVEMENT - Performing all of your home repair needs and more! Pressure washing, carpentry, painting and drywall, electrical repairs, plumbing repairs, concrete work, fencing, flooring, tile work, doors and windows. Free estimates. Call Dennis at 813.422.9260.

TAMPA CAT LADY- Professional Cat-Sitting Service. Cats are happiest in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, & smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle, & play with your kitties & clean & dispose of litter. Insured, bonded, & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. Call 813-994-9449 or visit www.TampaCatLady.com DOG WALKING; PET CARE - 24-hour emergency visits for existing clientele; Pet Taxi and MORE. Paws in the Palms provides pet care services that fit your lifestyle. We recognize that no two pets are alike and will accommodate his or her unique needs (medication requirements, exercise, food instructions, etc.). Familiarity and consistency are key to a happy, healthy pet and a happy, reassured YOU! Let Paws in the Palms makes traveling paws-ible! (813) 252-5577 PawsinthePalms@gmail.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 23 • November 9, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Squeaky Clean Home Services - is a residential cleaning company offering weekly, biweekly, and monthly services. We also specialize in move-in/move-out cleanup. All supplies & equipment provided. We are an Owner Operator company w/ over 20 years experience. "If it Needs to be Clean, We're your Team! Call us for your free in home estimate today! 813-625-6045 D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE - We have our own supplies & more than 300 clients in New Tampa! For more information, Call 758-9710. CLEANING, LAUNDRY, YOU NAME IT! $68.00 introductory special, Mon-Wed. Make your list, put us to work! Anna's Housekeeping A BBB Accredited Business Servicing Florida since 1991. We have private housekeeper rates with agency backup coverage! Licensed and all housekeepers are background checked. Call 813.985.1150.

P O O L

S E R V I C E S

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE - New Tampa owned & operated. Gareat Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! New customer’s ONE MONTH FREE! Call Chris Today @ (813) 857-5400 or visit www.TranquilityPoolService.com AQUATEC POOL SERVICE - keeping pools clear & swim safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call (813) 312-5694 TODAY and get 1 MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FOR FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING - Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL! FREE ESTIMATE! (813) 420-4465 AMERICAN PRIDE LAWN CARE- A weekly full service lawn maintenance company. Services include; professional mowing, edging, trimming, blowing of debris, tree & shrub trimming, yard cleanup, yard enhancements. Owner Operator Company Built on Service & Trust! Licensed & Insured. Affordable prices, call today for your free estimate. 813-458-4778

C A R

S E R V I C E S

CAR SERVICES – Don’t Have a Ride? Don’t Want to Leave Your Car? Shouldn’t Drive? We Drive You and Your Car Home! Night Clubs, Corporate Events, Sporting Events, Concerts, Appointments, Airport or Stranded..Call Jay at (813) 966-1530. Neighborhood News

@ntwcnews