New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 25, Issue 23, Nov. 3, 2017 by Neighborhood News

Volume 25 Issue 23 November 3, 2017

Inside:

What’s New At Little Italy’s? A Lot! In Neighborhood Magazine

Remember To View, Like & Share Every Episode Of WCNT-tv On YouTube & Facebook! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 50!

County Making Moves On New Tampa Cultural Center & Local Parks

Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates Why The Kinnan-Mansfield Connection Needs To Be Made; Bumpy Brookron Dr. Due For A Makeover; S.R. 54 Is A New Hot Spot For Development; Most New Tampa Parents Happy With New Bell Times; Wharton Cros Country Star Chases School Record; Plus, Multiple Local Business Features!

Pages 3-36

Neighborhood Magazine

Wesley Chapel Singer Bumped From ‘The Voice;’ Enter Our New & Improved Reader Survey & Contest!; Little Italy’s Redecorates & Adds Beer & Wine; Plus, More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 37-52

Branchton Park Project Another P3 Possibility?

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john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The long-proposed New Tampa Cultural Center (NTCC), which will be built across the street from Hunter’s Green on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., could receive a financial boost from the state under a new idea that could see it transition into being built to serve not only as a home for the arts, but as a hurricane shelter for special needs evacuees, too. “We made the decision, we’re going to a hardened hurricane shelter for special needs evacuees,’’ said District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist, who has spearheaded the project for years. “There is a regional need for that kind of facility.” According to Comm. Crist, the shelter would serve as an evacuation spot for Tampa General Hospital and other hospitals in Pasco and Manatee counties as well. He cited hospital evacuation issues in Manatee County when Hurricane Irma came through in September “It’s on high ground, it’s close to a medical hub and it’s on a major roadway,’’ Crist says. “It will be built at a very high wind standard.” Crist says the county is contributing $5.8 million to the building of what is expected to be a 30,000-sq.-ft. NTCC, and the developers of the adjacent public-private (P3) Hunter’s Lake project are contributing $2.5 million. The county will ask the state for matching funds of $7.5 million, getting the NTCC to the $15-million figure Crist has said would be required to build a state-of-the-art facility that can serve the entire Tampa Bay arts community from the beginning.

“The state has made it clear they will be focusing on hurricane and natural disaster preparedness,” Comm. Crist says. Developers of the site are proceeding with permitting, so the pad on which everything will be built can be finished, although it has recently asked for a 90-day extension as it waits for U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approval. “They still plan to deliver the pad by October of 2018,” says Josh Bellotti, the county’s real estate & facilities services director. Ground would be broken on the NTCC project shortly after that.

By JOHN C. COTEY

Hillsborough County recently closed on a deal to purchase these four parcels totalling 10 acres for $1.2 million.

Hillsborough County completed a land purchase that could lead to new development in New Tampa. (Map: Blake Beatty)

Hillsborough County also cleared the way for another possible P3 project down the road, completing the acquisition of 10 acres of land in the Branchton Park area off Morris Bridge Rd. and Cross Creek Blvd. The county paid Jimmy Gardner $1,175,000 to acquire the four parcels, totalling 10 acres. The land was appraised at $800,000, and Gardner was asking for $2 million. The closing on the purchase helps the county com-

plete a long-sought-after deal to complete its holdings in the Branchton Park area. The county had purchased three parcels of land totaling 13.18 acres for roughly $3.1 million in 2005 to expand Branchton Park. Attempts then to acquire the 10 acres owned by Gardner were unsuccessful. The property, which fronts Morris Bridge Rd. and is surrounded on three sides by the park, became available again and the county re-engaged and was able to close the deal.

“It completes the assemblage with the adjacent property and looking ahead, we are now able to do some kind of P3 (public-private partnership),” Bellotti said. Bellotti said the county has no specific plans for the property, but will play a role in how it is developed. Hillsborough will send out a request for proposal (RFP) to see if there are any interested developers. Bellotti said the project could be something similar to Hunter’s Lake which, in addition to the NTCC, is also adding apartments, a green grocer, a restaurant, a shopping plaza and a dog park. District 5 County Commissioner Ken Hagan said that in addition to Branchton Park, the county also is working on a park project in K-Bar Ranch. “We’re excited about both,’’ he said. “We’ve made significant strides in bringing both in for a landing.” The 55-or-so acre K-Bar park project has been in the system for years, but a deal is getting closer for what would be the first-ever colocated county-city park, Hagan says. The specific amenities haven’t been determined, but Hagan says he is confident the partnership between the city and the county will finally yield positive results, soon. “There’s a little more work we need to do there,” Comm. Hagan says. Hagan and Dist. 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera will host a New Tampa Town Hall on Thursday, November 16, 7 p.m.-8 p.m. at The Venetian on the grounds of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church at 9724 Cross Creek Blvd.

U.S. Women’s Hockey Kicks Off Four Nations Cup Next Week At FHCI By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The U.S. women’s hockey team has a busy winter schedule planned, and much of the activity will take place right off I-75 at Florida Hospital Center Ice, including the Four Nations Cup, which drops the puck next week. Formerly known as the Three Nations Cup before Sweden joined the United States, Canada and Finland in 2000, the tournament has featured the top national teams in women’s hockey since 1996. In the single round-robin tourney, the U.S. will play three games at FHCI, meeting Finland (Tuesday, November 7), Canada (Wednesday, November 8) and Sweden (Friday, November 10). On Sunday, November 12, the first- and third-place games will be held at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa at noon and 3:30 p.m. The match against Canada, winner of the women’s hockey gold medals at the last four Olympics, will pit the two top teams in the world. The U.S. has split games with Canada, winning 5-2 on Oct. 22 in Quebec City, and

U.S. women’s national ice hockey team defender Monique Lamoureux-Morando looks for a teammate duirng an exhibition win over the University of Tampa’s men’s team last month. losing 5-1 in Boston on Oct. 25. Although Canada won 11 of the first 15 Three/Four Nations cups, the U.S. has won four of the last six, including the last two. See “Four Nations” on page 12.

Why Those Against Connecting Kinnan St. To Mansfield Blvd. Are Wrong

An editorial by Gary Nager In our last issue, assistant editor John Cotey told you that Hillsborough County had anted up $250,000 in an effort to end the long-time stalemate involving the City of Tampa, Hillsborough and Pasco counties regarding connecting Kinnan St. in New Tampa to Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe II at the Hillsborough/ Pasco county line. District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, a New Tampa resident, called the county’s move to set aside funds to build the 60-foot-long connection “a game changer.” However, on the Pasco County side, Dist. 2 County Commissioner Mike Moore, a Seven Oaks resident, told Cotey that “70-80-percent” of his constituents who have contacted him about him about the connector have been opposed to it. I have become friends with Moore over the last few years, but after Cotey’s story came out in our last issue, I called Moore to explain to him my issue with what he said, as well as with anyone who opposes making this long-awaited, much-needed connection. “You shouldn’t base whether or not to support the Kinnan-Mansfield connection on how many people contact you about it,” I told Moore on the phone. “You should base whether or not to support it on whether or not making the connection is a good idea for your county, for your constituents — and I know it is.” Now, I’m not a transportation engineer, but in the nearly 24 years I have owned the Neighborhood News , I have attended literally hundreds of city, county and Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meetings and I still edit every word of every one of John’s transpor-

New Tampa Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Marketing/Advertising Representative Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Video Producers/Editors Gavin Olsen • Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 25, Issue 25, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, November 20, 2017. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

tation stories and provide insights to him about the history of most of these situations. Although Kinnan St. is primarily located in the county, it jogs into Tampa’s city limits near the Pasco line, which means that all three governmental entities would have to come to an agreement in order to make the connection. Moore says he is waiting until after Pasco’s traffic study of that area is completed — which is expected to happen later this month — before deciding which side to support. He says virtually no one is opposed to connecting Meadow Pointe Blvd. (about a mile-and-a-half to the east of Kinnan-Mansfield) to K-Bar Ranch Blvd. in New Tampa, but I don’t believe that connection would be close enough to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to provide any relief when the only current north-south connection between New Tampa and Wesley Chapel gets backed up — as it does all the time these days, while BBD is being widened between Regents Park Dr. in Pebble Creek and the county line. The biggest argument the folks in Meadow Pointe II have against making the connection is that Mansfield Blvd. is only a two-lane road that serves four schools — Wiregrass Elementary, John Long Middle School, Wiregrass Ranch High and Pasco Hernando State College. They say that connecting Mansfield to Kinnan would bring additional traffic and increase the danger to students going to and from school. Sorry, but I call B.S. Long, the closest of the schools to the possible connection, is located one full mile north of the county line. Vehicles coming from the Cross Creek/Live Oak area would be able to turn right (east) onto Beardsley Dr. to access Meadow Pointe Blvd. and, ultimately, S.R. 54 heading towards Zephyrhills — within 0.3 mile from Kinnan St. Those same drivers also could turn left (west) onto County Line Rd. and hook back up with BBD at Aronwood Blvd. or County Line Rd. a half mile north of Kinnan. It doesn’t make traffic flow sense that anyone from New Tampa would choose to drive north past four schools during school hours (when there are always crossing guards slowing you down), unless it was their only choice because of a traffic situation on BBD or they were planning to go to the Shops at Wiregrass or some other business on S.R. 56 east of BBD. In other words, most of the traffic coming from New Tampa heading north would do so in the evenings and on weekends, when there are no students heading to and from school. It reminds me of New Tampa’s long-time battle for an East-West Connector Road (E-W Rd.). I remember that the people who were screaming the loudest against it were those living along the planned route, in West Meadows

and Tampa Palms Area 3. Those folks didn’t appreciate my unconditional support of that connector, even though that road still isn’t built today and seemingly never will be. Today, many of those same anticonnector New Tampa residents don’t know how they could survive Some people who live in Meadow Pointe II, on the Pasco side of the if the so-called Gateway barrier to Kinnan St., say they don’t want the two roads connected. Bridge — the first leg of the E-W Rd. — had never been built connecting West Meadows to Tampa Palms. Likewise, I’m certain that it’s actually the people in Meadow Pointe II who will get the most benefit from the Kinnan-Mansfield connection. I also can’t believe that they would prefer to see it continue to be piled high with garbage (photo) than allow that tiny connection to become a reality.

Table of Contents

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

Residents Want Bumpy Brookron Dr. Fixed.............4 Hillsborough Working With Pasco For Fire Service?....6 S.R. 54 Development Ramping Up.....................10-11 FHWC Fetes 5 Years & Opens ‘Inspiration Place’....14 New Tampa Community Calendar..............................16

Local Business Updates..............20-32

la Pink Caters To New Tampa’s Fashion Sense....20 Carats & Cents Offers Unique Jewelry & More.......22 Attorney Matthew Jowanna Is A Loyal Bulldog.......24 Riverchase Dermatology Now In Tampa Palms......28 Dr. Korivi Makes Medical Care Personal................30 SPOTLIGHT ON: Beach House Assisted Living......31

Local School & Sports Updates...34-35 New Tampa Parents Approve Of New Bell Times........34 Rivers Has Wharton XC Record In His Sights............35

Neighborhood Magazine

Wesley Chapel’s Alexandra Joyce On ‘The Voice!’...37 Win Free Dining In Our 2017 Reader Survey!...........38 Little Italy’s Adds Beer & Wine To New Décor!......40 Happy Cow Offers Satisfying Desserts...................42 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........46 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds...........48 @NTWCNews

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Rife With Potholes, Is Brookron Dr. In Cross Creek In Need Of A Makeover? By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Is Brookron Dr. falling apart? The one-mile circular local road — which is located off Cross Creek Blvd. (across from the entrance to Cory Lake Isles) and winds itself past the Pinehurst, Magnolia Trace, Meadow Creek and Creekwood neighborhoods of Cross Creek to Kinnan St. — looks in certain parts as if it is being held together by patches of black asphalt. Lots of patches. In fact, more than 50 patches, and dozens of other cracks and dips in the 18-year-old road, which is used by most of the Cross Creek II community’s 1,236 households, as well as by residents of the Addison Park and Andover Place apartment communities. With the county willing to put up $250,000 to connect Kinnan St. to Mansfield Blvd., at least one local resident wants to know why repaving what is a heavily-trafficked stretch of road isn’t also on the list of county road projects that need to be done. “It is appalling that Hillsborough County Commissioners would approve $250,000 to build the Kinnan-Mansfield connector, while Brookron Drive in New Tampa, a connector from Kinnan to Cross Creek, is worse than many a third-world road,’’ wrote Pinehurst resident Sasenarine Persaud to county commissioners last month. Persaud went on to describe the road as, “a motley (collection) of patches, ridges and depressions, with a new pothole opening every week” in his email. “It has not been resurfaced in eighteen years — yes, 18 years! There is no justification

Areas like these, which have been patched over multiple times, are a common sight on Brookron Dr. in New Tampa, and there are many parts of the road that still need patching. (Photo: John C. Cotey) for the county allocating $250,000 to build a lack of funding, but notes that they are slowly road that would primarily benefit residents in catching up on repairs, after the commissioners another county, while neglecting roads in its agreed in 2016 to set aside $600 million over 10 own county.” years for projects that focus on safety improveDistrict 5 County Commissioner Ken ments, road widening and resurfacing and sideHagan does not disagree that the road, which walk maintenance. he has traveled often as a former resident of Brookron Dr., however, is not on that list. Creekwood, is in some disrepair. “We’re aware But, Hagan says he is going to look into getting of it,’’ Hagan says. “It has been patched far too it included. “We’re trying to have that road remany times. I’ve seen it for myself. It certainly classified from local to collector, to help accelerhas deficiencies.” ate the resurfacing of (Brookron),” Hagan says. Mike Williams, the county’s director of The estimated cost of resurfacing Brooktransportation planning and development, says, ron Dr. is $500,000, according to the county’s simply, “It’s a money issue.” public works department. Williams acknowledges that the county Gary Mosby, who works in the county’s has fallen behind on road maintenance due to customer resolution unit, confirmed that Per-

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saud’s complaints about the condition of Brookron Dr. are shared by others. He said there have been several complaints about the road, and that an engineer has been dispatched to do a full inspection of it. He said that since the beginning of the year, the county has received at least eight emails requesting potholes be repaired. He also says that most of the emails come from Jo-Ann Pilawski, the head of property management for the Cross Creek II community, “I keep calling them every time we go over a pothole,’’ Pilawski says. “Every time I’m talking to one of residents, they will mention how bad it is and ask if they are doing any kind of repaving. When I email the county, they just keep coming out and filling the potholes. Everybody is definitely not happy about it.”

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Unincorporated New Tampa May Have To Get Emergency Services From Pasco After nearly 20 years of emergency services from nearby Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) Station No. 21 on Cross Creek Blvd., residents in Pebble Creek, Live Oak Preserve, Cross Creek and the other communities located in unincorporated Hillsborough County may soon be looking across county lines for service. While representatives from Hillsborough County would prefer that county residents in New Tampa continue receiving City of Tampa services, county officials are unwilling to pay the $1.1-million annual price tag Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is seeking. “The Mayor is looking at where he can pull in new revenue, and that’s fine, but he needs to be fair about it,’’ says District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist. “The deal isn’t fair.” Comm. Crist says the county is looking into other options, namely cutting a deal with Pasco County Fire Rescue and its Station No. 26 in the nearby Meadow Pointe Community of Wesley Chapel. “The county is looking at all the options we have available, and what they will cost,” Crist says. “That’s not the only fire station up there that can serve us. We can cut a deal with the Pasco County Fire Department to provide the same services in the same frame of time.” Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 26 is located close enough to unincorporated New Tampa to provide service, says Crist, adding that the county has already looked into the logistics of being serviced by Station 26, and have found them to be satisfactory. The station is 1.6 miles from the entrance

The City of Tampa is facto Live Oak Preserve, 1.9 Rd. ing more than $50-million in miles to the Pebble Creek ine L y nt debt, due to a pair of bonds Golf Club, 2.5 miles to the Cou stemming from deals made in intersection of Cross Creek the mid-1990s that are coming Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs due, with payments of roughly (BBD) Blvd., and roughly $14 million beginning in 2019. 5.5 miles from the Kinnan St. Pasco Fire Rescue No. 26 On Sept. 28, the Tampa area. City Council reduced the tax To reach those easternincrease Buckhorn was asking most areas of unincorporated for, further reducing future New Tampa, rescue units revenues. Live Oak Preserve would have to cut through “The City is facing a lot of Live Oak or travel south on debt that’s coming on quickly,” Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Comm. Crist says. “The City before turning east on Cross Council did not vote to give Creek Blvd., as there are few him his tax increases. So now, options to get there faster. he’s holding the county hostage “It’s relatively the same,” Cross Creek for it, and it isn’t the right and Crist says. “The quality of the Pebble Creek fair thing to do.” equipment, the quality of the Crist says a deal with Pasco service, the response time County could cost the county will all be relatively the same. 25-50 percent of what the City (Residents) will see no differTampa Fire Rescue No. 22 Cross Creek Blvd. of Tampa is asking for. Whether ence.” that gets the county and city Hillsborough County Tampa Fire Rescue No. 21 back to the negotiating table has been paying the city bers, but I (haven’t gotten) anything.” remains to be seen. $218,000 a year, but since Sonya Little, Tampa’s Chief Financial Of“As of right now, there’s no more connegotiations began in January, the county has paid an additional $300,000 in adjustments ficer, says the city’s numbers were derived from versation,’’ says Ashley Bauman, the director a simple Pro Rata share, based on proportion. of marketing and communications for the related to the Consumer Price Index (CPI). So, instead of Buckhorn’s initial request to According to Little, Fire Station No. 21 provid- City of Tampa. “But that’s not to say there raise the price to $1.46 million, the total sought ed 7,309 hours of service in 2016, and 2,926 won’t be.” of those hours, or 40 percent, were provided Otherwise, Crist says a deal with Pasco by the city is now $1.1 million. That’s still more than twice what Crist says to the Pebble Creek, Live Oak and Cross Creek County could be forthcoming. communities. “We’ll put a deal together with Pasco a deal Pasco County would cost. Since the operating cost of Station No. County, and tell the city this is what Pasco is “I’m not really sure how they got (that price),” Crist says. “I think they just pulled 21 was $3,652,432, Buckhorn said origi- willing to do it for, take it or leave it,’’ he says. numbers out of the air. I have asked them nally the county should pay 40 percent, or “The bottom line is, were not going to significantly overpay for the service.” to show me the rationale behind those num- $1,460,973 dollars. Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

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

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

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

of the year. Nye says he already has Crystal Lagoons in contracted with a nail and hair salon, and the new Mirada and plans to add a restaurant as well. He also Epperson Ranch says that the 14,000-sq.-ft. plaza, where housing develophis business also will be based, could acments. commodate as many as eight tenants. The Connected Nye also says other projects — like City is expected to add thousands of new a Racetrac and Bay Breeze Car Wash on S.R. 54 at Vandine Rd., as well as the residents, and many businesses and jobs to CubeSmart Self Storage nearing completion on the southwest corner of S.R. 54 the Wesley Chapel/ San Antonio area over and Wesley Chapel Loop — are signs that the stretch of S.R. 54 from I-75 to the the next 20 years. entrance to Meadow Pointe will soon beWhile this stretch of 54 has been come populated with new businesses, inStarbucks and Pizza Hut are under construction at this site on S.R. 54. anchored by Publix cluding the new Lexus of Wesley Chapel, which is expected to open in December. and recently added a now 27 restaurants located in the S.R. “I think this is the next area you will Wal-Mart Supercenter, the influx of new 56 corridor between Wesley Chapel see a lot of growth in,’’ Nye says. “You businesses will find plenty of customers Blvd. and Mansfield Blvd., and “it’s a are already seeing it.” located within a 10-mile radius. natural progression” for developers to That, along with the widenlook for other areas more ripe for new ing of S.R. 54 east of Curley Rd. development. — expected to begin this year Lohry is involved in a project or early 2018 — makes this area bringing a 4,000-sq.-ft. Heartland of Wesley Chapel an attractive Dental office to the north side of S.R. target for potential businesses. 54, between the Walgreens and Wesley “It’s most certainly a prime Chapel Nissan, as well as a 4,200-sq. area for development,” Allen ft. free-standing building which will share parking with the dental office. She says proudly. says she has already fielded a number of “I sure hope so,’’ says inquiries from potential tenants. developer Brent Nye of Nye Much of the area currently beginCommercial Advisors, whose ning a developmental phase lies south of retail strip center on BBD just Nye Commons on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. south of S.R. 54 could be home to a new restaurant in the area, as the so-called “Connected City” project, south of the Wells Fargo bank well as up to eight other tenants. including Florida’s first two lagoons by is expected to open by the end

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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‘Four Nations’

Continued from page 1 Nations Cup, what is really driving the U.S. women is erasing the memory of the 2014 Sochi Olympics, where they lost a 2-0 lead in the final four minutes to Canada in the gold medal game before falling 3-2. The U.S. women have reasserted themselves as arguably the best team in the world, winning every world title since then, and seven of the last eight. “The way we see it, pressure is a privilege,’’ says forward Meghan Duggan, a former University of Wisconsin Badger who won the Patty Kazmaier Memorial Award, given to college hockey’s best female player, in 2011. “We are coming off three world championships, so we’re feeling pretty confident. I’m proud of this team, and we’re looking forward to showing the world what we have in this next tournament.” That talent will be on display all winter long at FHCI, as the team continues to train at the not-even-one-year-old facility in preparation for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. So far, the members of the team are happy to have landed in Wesley Chapel. “Honestly, it’s been fantastic,’’ said Duggan. “I think Wesley Chapel and a lot of the different pieces of the puzzle coming together for us is a big reason why we’re down here.” Those puzzle pieces include an area that is ripe with off-the-ice activities that have included lots of golf, shopping and hanging out at the pool (and outstanding accommodations) at Saddlebrook Resort, plus a new hockey facility that Duggan says is state of the art. The experiences in Wesley Chapel haven’t been limited to hockey and hanging out, either. The U.S. team, like the rest of us in the area,

Four Nations Cup Schedule

Round Robin at FHCI Tue., Nov. 7, 3:30 p.m. Canada v. Sweden Tue., Nov. 7, 7 p.m.-USA v. Finland Wed., Nov. 8, 3:30 p.m. Finland v. Sweden Wed., Nov. 8, 7 p.m.-USA v. Canada Fri., Nov. 10, 3 p.m.-Canada v. Finland Fri., Nov. 10, 6:30 p.m.-USA v. Sweden Semifinals & Finals at Amalie Arena Sunday, Nov. 12, noon-3rd-place game Sunday, Nov. 12, 3:30 p.m.Championship game *-Tickets are available for all games

got to experience its first hurricane when Irma swept through town last month. Bad weather is nothing new for players from the snowy and cold north, but a hurricane was altogether different, as Irma’s approach made for some nervous hockey players. “I’ve never been through anything like that, where trying to get water and stuff was difficult,’’ said Jocelyne Lamoureux. “That raised the anxiety a little.” The team spent less than 24 hours in a shelter at Saddlebrook, which was only subjected to windy conditions that reminded Lamoureux of the straight-line wind storms she’s experienced in her home state of North Dakota. Hurricanes aside, Duggan says Wesley Chapel has been an ideal spot for the team. “We scoped (the area) out in April and May with wide eyes and excitement,’’ she said. “It’s going to be hard to leave after the Olympics to go back to our colder climates.” For additional information, please visit TeamUSA.USAHockey.com.

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FHWC Fetes 5 Years & Opens The ‘Inspiration Place’ Women’s Center! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

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

The hospital hosted a community celebration on October 1, with family activities, food trucks and community partners from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Pasco County Fire Rescue. The hospital also showcased its new ambulance, which will transport patients from a new offsite emergency department in Land O’Lakes (opening in January) and transport patients between FHWC and the other local hospitals in the Florida Hospital/Adventist Health Care family when necessary. “We are blessed and proud to have served our community for the last five years,” says FHWC president and CEO Denyse Bales-Chubb. “Our expansion reflects the community’s trust in our care and the awards and recognitions we have received are a testament to the expertise and (Above, left): Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel celebrated its five-year anniversary on Oct. 1, compassion of our staff and physicians.” with activities for the whole family. (Above, right) FHWC president & CEO Denyse BalesShe adds, “But, we’re not done. We Chubb hosted the VIP event for the hospital’s new “Inspiration Place” on Oct. 24. continue to add services to better meet the stetrics and prenatal care, along needs of our community.” with primary care services, wellness services and more. True Inspiration! Inspiration Place also inA $2.8-million dollar women’s health center, called “Inspiration Place,” opened cludes a spa, for services such in the FHWC Wellness Plaza on October as massages and skin care treat23, offering comprehensive care for wom- ments. There’s even a coffee bar. All I can tell you is that I en at every stage of life. The next day, FHWC hosted a VIP heard lots of “oohs” and “aahs” event attended by hundreds of locals at In- during the VIP event tours of spiration Place. Bales-Chubb was excited Inspiration Place, and quite a to unveil this unique, 12,000-sq.-ft. center few women who were booking created, she said, “To do something truly appointments. Appointments can be special for the women of Wesley Chapel.” Services available at the beautiful In- booked now at FHInspiraspiration Place include gynecology, ob- tionPlace.org.

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NOVEMBER 2017 Saturday, November 4

Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food for needy families. Open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive at 20300 Trout Creek Dr. (off BBD). For more info, visit BayChapel.com/foodpantry. Heartwood Preserve Turns One - Heartwood Preserve, a conservation cemetary in Trinity will host a birthday celebration from 3-7 p.m. with refreshments and cake, plus activities for the family. Please RSVP to 727-376-5111. More info at HeartwoodPreserve.com.

Sunday, November 5

Free Yoga - Join Della Ruth Marsan, RYT 200, noon-1 p.m. for a free, flow-based yoga class for all levels. Held at Jansen Dance Project, 5330 Primrose Lake Cir. Bring your own mat & water bottle. Visit DellaRuthMarsan.com. Meditation Group - All faiths and all levels of meditation experience are welcome at this free meeting at Sanctuary Wellness Center, 8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 120, 10 a.m-11 a.m. For more info, search “The Sanctuary Wellness Center in New Tampa” on Facebook or “New Tampa Intuitive Development Center” on Meetup.

Tuesday, November 7

Keep It Local - This seat-specific networking group emphasizes small, local businesses. Keep it Local meets every Tues., 11:30 a.m., at GrillSmith at The Shops at Wiregrass. For info, call Marino Cecchi at (813) 513-9001.

Wednesday, November 8

English As A Second Language (ESL) - The ESL group meets Wednesdays at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 BBD Blvd. in Pebble Creek), 9:30 a.m.11:30 a.m. Classes are taught by native English speakers. The cost is $40 each semester for the workbook & class materials. For info, call Holly at (813) 360-2077. BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets Weds. at Heritage Isles Country Club (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.), at 7:15 am. $13 to attend includes hot breakfast. Call Lisa Jordan at (813) 621-6015 for info. Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business pros dedicated to helping their member businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at Mulligans inside Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.). Call Rob Montgomery at (813) 679-6446. Partners In Network (PIN) - Partners In Network is a group of professionals, one specializing in each area of business. Meets Weds. for lunch at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, 11:30 am. Call Georgianna Strickland (813-477-7306) or Ken Fernandez (813-334-6000) or email georgianna@strategicmarketingarts.com. Rotary Club Of New Tampa Noon - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at Mulligan’s Irish Pub (in the Pebble Creek Golf Club). Guests are always welcome. For more info, search “New Tampa Noon Rotary” on Facebook. Tours of The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve for Veterans See ad on the opposite page.

Four Nations Cup Women’s Hockey Tournament - See story on pg. 1!

Friday, November 10

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

Saturday, November 11

Shops at Wiregrass Symphony In Lights - Santa arrives and this year’s show will premiere at 5 p.m. Synthetic ice skating and photos with Santa will be available, too. For more info, visit ShopsAtWiregrass.com/events.

Tuesday, November 14

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Inspiration Place Open House - See story, p. 14.

Wednesday, November 15

GFWC Woman’s Club - The GFWC Woman’s Club of New Tampa meets at 1 p.m. at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). More info at GFWCWomansClubNewTampa.com. Shops at Wiregrass Fall Fair - Runs through Sunday, November 19. Carnival rides, games and family fun. $20 armbands. Hours and info online at ShopsAtWiregrass.com/events.

Thursday, November 23

Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot - See story on facing page.

Monday, November 27

New Tampa Democratic Club - The New Tampa Democrats meet the 4th Mon. of every month at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). For info, email newtampademocraticclub@gmail.com or call (813) 563-0845.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Will You Be At This Year’s ‘Wiregrass Wobble’ 5K?

The Rotary Club of New Tampa, FITNiche at the Shops at Wiregrass and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel are excited to present the fifth annual Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 5K (and 1-mile fun run), starting at the Shops at Wiregrass on Thanksgiving morning — Thursday, November 23, 7:30 a.m. This year’s Wiregrass Wobble is presented by the Pioneer Medical Foundation. With the help of the event’s sponsors and more than 7,000 participants total, more than $110,000 has been raised and distributed to local charities since the inaugural Wobble in 2013. This year’s event will again feature:

• Race number bibs w/integrated timing chips • 2017 tech shirt for all runners. • ‘Ornamedal’ medals for all 5K finishers. • School team competitions. • Corporate & Friends & Family competitions • 1st, 2nd & 3rd place awards for all 5K age groups.

• 1-mile Fun Run with finisher medals.

New in 2016 were our Friends & Family and Corporate Cup team competitions. Both are based on most participants with the winners being awarded a cup-style trophy. See the team pages for more information and start recruiting your friends, family, and co-workers.

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Wiregrass Ranch High won last year’s boys fastest time for the second year ($350) while Wharton High won the girls fastest time, also for the second year ($350). The Lutz Elementary Lizards had the most participants ($350). The new Corporate Cup team competition (most participants) was won by Advanced Telecom Systems. The Friends and Family Cup team competition (most participants) was won by Moms/She Runs this Town. And, stick around for an expanded postrace celebration with the help of The Brass Tap at The Shops at Wiregrass again this year. All proceeds from the Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot events go to local charities, including FITNiche Foundation, Feeding America Tampa Bay, the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Tampa Foundation, which provides funds for 25 local charities. For info or to register to participate in the event visit WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot.com. To sign up to volunteer for the event, visit signupgenius.com/ go/10c054cafae22a7f94-volunteers1 or call Jennifer Cofini at (813) 907-7800.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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la Pink Celebrates More Than A Decade Of Unique Clothing & Gifts For Women! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Local shoppers know that la Pink Boutique is a fun, charming place to shop for unique clothes and special, one-of-a-kind gifts, primarily for women. It’s been located at The Walk at Highwoods Preserve shopping center, off of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd, in New Tampa (in the outparcel next to Men’s Wearhouse) since it opened in 2006. Owner Amy Crumpton says that everything she carries in the store, “has to be different and special.” That’s because she’s well aware that in the nearly 12 years since la Pink opened, people are doing more and more shopping online. But, she says, online shopping is a poor substitute for stopping by a unique, local shop, where everything in the store has been hand selected, so you know whatever you choose will be a great find. “That’s why people shop here,” Amy says. “They know they’re going to find something unique that no one else will be wearing. When it’s gone from the store, it’s gone. I don’t reorder styles when they sell out.” Plus, she says, when you leave the store, you know you won’t have to worry about the hassle of sending something back or the disappointment of it not looking as great as you hoped it would. “I’m a hands on person,” Amy says. “I want to feel and touch and know that what I buy works before I leave the store. Will it fit? Is it the color I think it will be?”

Dreams Pajamas, a line of super-comfy pajamas and slippers that is based out of Ybor City. Speaking of comfy, la Pink was the first boutique to feature Lutz designer Tees by Tina, a line of flattering t-shirts, leggings, camis and other casual fashions. “We try to look for stuff that’s made locally at a good price point and bring it into the store,” she says. While la Pink is primarily a clothing shop, Amy does also carry plenty of items that make great gifts, including Tea Forte, which is marketed as “extraordinary teas meet unparalleled presentation for an exceptional experience that could only be Tea Forte.” At la Pink Boutique, located in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve shopAmy says that among ping center, owner Amy Crumpton shows off the store’s popular Erim- her most popular items are ish “bracelet bar.” The store also features designer clothing & more. a line of bracelets known While many items in the store reflect as Bourbon & Boweties. Amy’s favorite color and the store’s name“These bangle bracelets are made locally sake, there’s a lot more to la Pink than just in Brandon by an artist who has collected the color pink. stones over many years of travel and began Clothing lines at la Pink include KUT fashioning them into gifts for her friends. from the Kloth Denim, Escapada and Isle. She started out making bracelets in her Amy recently began offering Faceplant garage and is now selling to Nordstrom’s.”

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Amy explains that the bracelets include stones, coins, pearls and other decorations. Because they are handmade, each one is unique. “If you’ve traveled and have coins from the places you’ve visited, Bourbon & Boweties can make them into a bracelet for you,” Amy says. “A couple of our customers have brought their items into our store and done just that.” While she’s carried the Bourbon & Boweties line for a few years now, she’s just added a new line of bracelets from Erimish. “It’s our bracelet bar,” she says, showing off dozens of styles of Erimish bracelets, sold at very affordable prices to be “stacked” together. Another popular jewelry line is the charm bar by Moon & Lola. Customer favorite Tyler candles, which are made in Tyler, TX, also are available, and Amy has recently added products from Baudelaire Body Care.

The Business Of Giving Back Giving back also is a priority for Amy, who tries to stock products that do more than make a profit. For example, 31 Bits is a company that sells beautiful necklaces and bracelets made by women in Uganda to help them make a living. Other brands have helped send Thai children to school and set up water purification systems in Haiti. In addition to these global impacts, la Pink is dedicated to supporting local schools. “We donate to schools pretty much whenever we’re asked,” Amy says.

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“Mostly, we provide items from the store to be used in supporting events, silent auctions and raffles.” Her employees are people Amy invited into the business because of a personal connection she felt with them. Judi Kusha is a neighbor; Lori Hairston was a customer with whom Amy got along so well that she asked for her number and told her she’d call when she had an opening. Judi and Lori have both worked at the store for about 10 years now. With that kind of longevity, they are very much in sync when it comes to both knowing the products and serving the customers. Emily Wingate is the store’s social media specialist, keeping its products and specials front and center for customers who follow la Pink’s social media accounts. “We’re on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter,” Amy says, “and we’re constantly updating our social media to post a lot of pictures of items available in the store.” Amy is a long-time Hunter’s Green resident. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Management from the University of Tampa in 1990. After opening la Pink in its current location in 2006, she expanded it in 2010, taking over the vacant space next door to approximately double the store’s size to its current 2,000 square feet.

Black Friday Specials

With the biggest shopping day of the year approaching soon, be sure to make la Pink part of your plans. The store will post have its Black Friday specials posted on its Facebook page (search “la

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Pink Boutique Tampa”). The store will be open regular business hours on Black Friday, November 24, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. While she feels confident you’ll find the perfect gift in her store, if you’re not sure – or you want to let the special lady in your life pick exactly what she wants – Amy reminds you that la Pink gift cards always make wonderful gifts, too. For more information about la Pink Boutique (18035 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., in the same plaza as Best Buy), call (813) 972-2862, “like” the “la Pink Boutique Tampa” page on Facebook or see the ad on pg. 8. The store is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.6 p.m., and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Satur- Among the unique items available at la Pink boutique are (clockwise, from top left): Faceplant Dreams Pajamas, the Tea Forte collection & some of the store’s hot fall fashions. day. It is closed on Sunday.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Carats & Cents For One-Of-A-Kind, Custom-Designed Jewelry & More! By ANDY WARRNER

When Carats & Cents owner Adeel Karim moved to Tampa Palms in 2010 from Leesburg, FL, his client base was already growing. The move not only put Karim closer to his clientele, it also put him closer and with easier access to both Tampa (TIA) and Orlando International airports, where he conducts a lot of his international travel. For a guy in search of the very best jewels around the world, it was an important move. His physical store location on N. Westshore Blvd. is just minutes from TIA and serves as a showroom/design center where Karim hosts clients. There’s no glittering marquee on the street, no gaudy signage on the building. The store is actually quite simple, subdued and discreet. Karim works on an appointment-only basis. There aren’t any posted store hours or pushy salesmen. There is plenty of inventory to look at, but Carats & Cents specializes in custom-made jewelry. “Nearly 100 percent of our business is custom design,” Karim says. “We don’t carry (the standard) bridal lines; we want to focus on creating something unique for every one of our clients. You won’t find our designs anywhere else.” And, that’s not hyperbole. While he does have several handsome pieces of quality jewelry on display at his store — he calls them “statement pieces” — he says that quite a few of those pieces came from the imagination of a client.“I work with designs

Tampa Palms resident Adeel Karim of Carats & Cents in the Westshore area of Tampa wants to create a unique piece of jewelry for your special someone this holiday season. that our clients come up with, along with my own creations,” Karim says. If the custom piece doesn’t meet 100 percent of the customer’s satisfaction, it’s either addressed by a local artisan or it’s kept for display. “If a piece has a really cool design and it’s too much of a change to fix here, I’ll keep it for inventory,” Karim says. “If I don’t like it, I’ll melt it down and make something else.” Minor alterations are sourced locally

but Karim says his design facility is actually located in Dubai. It’s there that Karim and his partner and brother-in-law have recruited some of the top craftsmen and artisans from all over the world. Karim learned diamond grading at the Gemological Institute of America (GIA). Diamond grading is outlined by the four “Cs” — Cut, Color, Clarity and Carat. He travels the world seeking out elegant pieces and sometimes will track down a local

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artisan whose work appeals to him. Karim often finds talented craftsmen working in sub-standard conditions for low pay. He says that his artisans are given an offer to re-locate their family to Dubai, where they earn better pay and work in much improved conditions. Over the last five years, Karim says he and his brotherin-law have recruited at least 10 artisans to their workshops in Dubai. “Some of the talent you see when you go to these places is unbelievable,” Karim says. “Their skills have been passed down over generations. We have a concept that we want to support third-world artisans, educate them and set them and their families up to help showcase their artistic talents.” He says the result has been the creation of some of the most unique, custom designs that can be found anywhere. Karim revealed a certain piece that contained 323 hand-set diamonds. Pieces are created from wax molds from either 18K (carat) gold or platinum, and can take up to 45 days to create, depending upon the complexity of the design. “As a jeweler, the most joy I get is to see someone wearing the jewelry and they love it so much, they refer me to their friends,” Karim says. “I want you to have that feeling that everytime you look at the piece, it takes your breath away.”

Unique, Quality Designs

Diamond engagement rings aren’t the only items Karim showcases, either. While he doesn’t custom make them in Dubai, he carries the Lashbrook line of men’s wedding

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Above is a small sampling of the unique jewelry designs available at Carats & Cents. bands. Lashbrook creates unique designs borne from carbon fiber, cobalt chrome and even meteorite. “Gone are the old days when a guy would just get a band and call it a day,” Karim says. Custom designs include accents portraying baseball stitches, basketball leather, tire treads, even camouflage. Karim says he has several clients in the Tampa area who are prominent professional athletes. Carats & Cents also deals in Swiss time pieces, including Rolex, Cartier and Patek Philippe. The store is not an authorized dealer of new watches, but Carats & Cents has a large inventory of used watches and everything they sell has a one-year minimum warranty and a five-year warranty on mechanical movement. “I purchased a high-end timepiece from Carats & Cents and they are fantastic to do business with,” said client Ronny Kalash. “Adeel is not only extremely knowledgeable about both jewelry and watches, but also extremely professional. He applies his knowledge base to help find the best fit for you, works hard to find you a reasonable price, never applies unreasonable sales pressure and delivers his products quickly and in flawless quality.” Carats & Cents has both new and used pieces and is an authorized dealer of Everest Horology products. Everest products offer a different look for your Swiss time piece, whether it’s a new band or a new diamond bezel. Everest products, “look like they came from the original from a fit and finish standpoint,” according to Karim. With such a wide selection of luxury items, Karim could very well have a storefront brimming with customers. But, that’s not the way he likes to do business. “When a client comes in, it’s confidential and no pressure,” he says. “I’m okay with clients not streaming in and out. Our customers expect an ambiance that is high-end and with an international flavor. They get the feeling they’re seeing pieces that would be found in an auction in Hong Kong or Thailand.” Asian influences incorporate colored gemstones like peridot, but much of the work circles back to diamonds. Karim sources all of his diamonds according to the KimNeighborhood News

berly Process Certification Scheme (KPCS), which was established in 2003 by the United Nations to prevent so-called “conflict” diamonds from reaching the mainstream rough diamond market. “It’s one of the reasons I was okay with getting into the business,” Karim says. “Part of my business has to do with giving back to communities, whether it’s in Tampa or Dubai.” Karim’s humanitarian side extends beyond relocating artisans and seeking conflict-free diamonds. He also manages Tampa Bay Cares, a public Facebook group that helps with refugee resettlement, and other charitable causes. Karim is active in the New Tampa community. He is on the community board of the Windsor at Tampa Palms Neighborhood Association and has been amazed at the rapid growth in the area. “The growth in New Tampa has been remarkable,” Karim said. “It’s become an affluent area. I remember, years ago, it was cow pastures.” As the area has expanded, so has Karim’s business. “When people say, ‘I know a guy,’ I want to be that guy,” he says. Carats & Cents is located at 1111 N. Westshore Blvd., Suite 105. For more info, call (813) 343-4653, visit Carats andCents.com, or see the ad on pg. 20.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The Law Office Of Matthew J. Jowanna Serves Clients With Tenacity & Loyalty By BRAD STAGER

Visitors pass by a shin-high stone statue of a bulldog when entering Matthew J. Jowanna’s law office at the Windfair Professional Center, located across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The carved canine reflects Jowanna’s personal appreciation of the breed, which the domestic animal website VetStreet.com, among many, says is, “admired for the qualities of loyalty and determination;” characteristics Jowanna considers to be basic to his firm’s handling of clients’ legal concerns. “A client hires you to be a champion, and you are for them,” Jowanna says. “The client comes before everybody.” Jowanna lives in Tampa Palms with wife Camille and a bulldog (who, he says, also serves as a “paw clerk” in his firm) named Angelica “Geli” Bulldog Jowanna. “Angelica’s an ice-breaker,” says Jowanna. “Geli” succeeds her sister, Brittany Bulldog Jowanna, as office mascot, after Brittany passed away last year. Our editor says that Angelica is the sweetest bulldog ever, but that alone isn’t reason enough to hire Jowanna. The law firm handles personal injury cases, bankruptcy filings, family law issues, insurance disputes and coverage representation, as well as estate matters such as writing wills and establishing and managing estates through the probate process. Jowanna says his firm does not handle criminal cases. Law is a second career for Jowanna, who earned his B.A. in Mass Communications from the University of South Florida in

cast media professional to a second career as an attorney was made smoother by commonalities between the two professions — such as the need for excellent research skills and the ability to communicate and connect with people, such as jurors. According to Jowanna, anyone interested in practicing law “should be a theatre major,” to be an effective litigator in a process he describes as, “essentially a show of conviction, and convincing.” While Jowanna already had the delivery and presentation skills of being a lawyer, he needed the academic credentials to take the bar exam, so he earned Attorney Matthew Jowanna & paralegal Leah Shalna review a case. his J.D. (Juris Doctor) degree from Nova Tampa and worked in the local broadcasting Southeastern University Shepard Broad industry as a television news assignment College of Law in Davie, FL. editor and on-air radio personality. His occaJowanna eventually also received his sional media-related trips through the local Master of Laws (LL.M.; Legum Magister) courts led him to an observation. from Notre Dame Law School, in Notre “I saw a lot of 65-year-old lawyers Dame, Indiana. around the courthouse but I didn’t know Before opening his own office in 2006 too many 65-year-old guys on the radio,” to serve Wesley Chapel- and New Tampa-arsays Jowanna, whose transition from broadea residents, Jowanna worked his way up in

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the local legal field from associate attorney at a private firm to becoming a partner at another, while learning the ins and outs of personal injury and insurance-related law. He says that background gave him the tools he needed to serve his clients well in a courtroom when called upon to do so. “When you go down to that big law firm you see on TV, you’re not going to see that lawyer, they’re going to shuffle you off to a case handler,” says Jowanna. “When you come here, you’re going to meet the lawyer. We give the benefit of a big-firm lawyer with the comfort of being in your neighborhood.” Jowanna adds that his firm’s eleven years of service have given it a bit of seniority within the local legal community. “That makes us one of the oldest law firms in Wesley Chapel,” he says, proudly. Jowanna also says his experience of working at a firm with more than 100 lawyers also taught him what not to do. “A lot of lawyers tend to be robotic,” he says. “People don’t pay me to follow a checklist; people want a lawyer who thinks and is original.”

Communication The Key To Client Satisfaction

One principle Jowanna abides by is to always keep his clients informed. “My number-one goal is client satisfaction and the best way to get that is through communication,” he says. One client who appreciates how Jowanna combines commitment and communication is Glenn Eckoff, who retained the firm for a personal injury case when he was hurt in an auto accident. Eckoff says the expe-

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cation of children born outside of a marriage, dealing with divorce, child custody, wills, trusts and probate matters. As his practice has grown, Jowanna has brought on board Elyssa M. Harvey as managing attorney and to handle many of the family law cases. Harvey, who earned her J.D. degree from Western Michigan University Cooley Law School’s campus in Riverview, FL, says family law can get emotional and legal situations like divorce cases go better when civility can be maintained. “If people can at least be polite to each other and work together, it can Angelica “Geli” Bulldog Jowanna is both a “paw clerk” and the keep things from getting most adorable customer service rep at the Jowanna law firm. dragged out,” she says. Whatever the specifics rience went well from the moment he met of a case may be, Jowanna Jowanna for a free consultation to discuss has developed a standard that applies to the his case. work his firm does. “He was on time, he welcomed me “There’s the law and the rules of law, with a smile on his face and he was straightand one must stay within those rules (while forward,” Eckoff says. “From that day on, still doing) the best for a client,” he says. Matthew Jowanna was nothing less than a Another way Jowanna tries to serve his spectacular representative of my case.” clients is through a personal injury/acciEckoff notes that he never had to wait dent app that is available via Jowanna.com, for a return call from the law office, and that with versions for both Apple and Android Jowanna would personally call him with case smartphones. updates. The Matthew J. Jowanna Accident App He adds that he also was pleased with was developed to capture and organize basic how Jowanna handled the legal opposition information from an accident scene, such as en route to what Eckoff calls, “a very nice photos, video, witness contact information settlement.” and GPS location, as well as where nearby “During the deposition, he was very medical and repair facilities are located. much on my side; he didn’t let me get For readers who may be considering bullied and made sure that the other parties scheduling a free consultation with the Law were fair,” he says. “Not only did he have a Offices of Matthew J. Jowanna, the firm’s smile on his face, but he was a warrior.” paralegal, Leah Shalna, recommends writing Working on insurance-related litigation down relevant questions before arriving to on behalf of consumers and insurance industry get the most out of the visit. clients has given Jowanna a perspective he says “Sometimes, they’ll get halfway home helps him deliver outcomes that satisfy whoev- and think of something they wanted to ask,” er he is representing in a particular case. she says. “Having worked both sides of the fence The Law Office of Matthew J. is an advantage,” he says. “When I represent Jowanna is located at 2521 Windguard a carrier, I can give them the insights of what Circle, Suites 101 & 102. You can find the average “insured” (person) is thinking. out more about the firm’s services and When I represent an insured (person), I schedule a free consultation by visitcan give them the insights of how insurance ing Jowanna.com or by calling (813) companies really work.” 929-7300. The firm also has a toll-free Family law practice serves client needs number: (855) 2-MJJ-LAW, or see the ad such as establishing legal paternal identifion page 41 of this issue.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Riverchase Dermatology Expands Again With Its New Tampa Palms Office “I’m out of there in a matter of 15 or 20 minutes.” Elaine Stewart also is a former patient of Dr. Hanno’s who is now happily seeing Dr. Pothiawala. “You know how difficult it can be to change doctors, but I was so pleased,” she says. “She put me at ease right away. I’ve already recommended her to a couple of my friends.”

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Riverchase Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery, a regional practice with 27 offices throughout Florida, acquired Tampa Palms Dermatology in March of this year. Along with Board-certified physician assistant Kimberly Siders, PA-C, who has been there since 2014, Riverchase Dermatology has added two practitioners — Milan Lombardi, M.D., and Salma Pothiawala, M.D. Located in the Palm Lake at Tampa Palms office building off of Amberly Dr., Riverchase Dermatology promises to offer the same quality dermatology services patients have come to know and trust from Tampa Palms Dermatology, which was founded 30 years ago by Ruth Hanno, M.D. “Dr. Hanno built an incredible practice and, along with Kimberly Siders, they have established an excellent reputation in the community,” says Andrew T. Jaffe, MD, FAAD, who is the founder, CEO and Chief Medical Officer of Riverchase Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery. Riverchase was founded in 2000 in Naples, getting its name from the street where that first office was located. In Tampa Palms, Dr. Hanno has retired from private practice and has shifted her focus exclusively to dermatopathology, while Siders has joined the Riverchase team and will continue to see her established patients and welcome new ones. Siders has more than 10 years of experience. She started her medical career at the University of Florida in Gainesville, where

New & Expanded Services

Since Riverchase Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery aquired the former Tampa Palms Dermatology in March, the practice now offers cosmetic procedures, such as Botox and dermal fillers. she received a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Nutritional Sciences in 2003. In 2006, she earned a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Health Sciences/Physician Assistant Studies at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine in Philadelphia, PA, and began specializing in dermatology. For Dr. Hanno’s former patients, the transition has been seamless. “My wife and I were previously patients of Dr. Hanno

but (we) have been seeing Kim Siders for about a year and a half,” says Bob Dolan. “We both find Kim extremely thorough. She follows through very carefully if there are any issues during an exam.” Bob also appreciates how quickly he gets in for his appointments, which are every few months. “I never have to wait more than 10 minutes from the time I get there until the time she sees me,” he says.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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The addition of Dr. Lombardi and Dr. Pothiwala to the office expands the offerings available to patients. “Now, we have more services,” says Siders. “With Dr. Lombardi, we have a surgeon, so we don’t have to send patients offsite for Mohs surgery (Note-see below for an explanation of Mohs surgery and information about cosmetic procedures available at Riverchase Dermatology.) And, Dr. Pothiawala does cosmetic procedures, so we can offer a lot more than we used to.” Dr. Lombardi specializes in Mohs surgery for skin cancer. He joined Riverchase Dermatology & Cosmetic Surgery in 2016, after graduating in 2008 with his M.D. degree from Cornell University Medical College in New York City. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Physics from Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY, which he earned in 2004. His postgraduate medical training included Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City and Stanford University Hospital in Palo Alto, CA. He also worked as a research fellow at Cornell University Medical College, studying the

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immune system of the skin. Dr. Lombardi then completed his residency in Dermatology at the Washington University School of Medicine-Barnes Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, MO, and also received extensive training in both cutaneous surgery and laser surgery. “Mohs surgery is a method for certain skin cancers to be removed based on the type of cancer, how aggressive it is, or the location of it,” explains Dr. Lombardi. “The purpose is to make sure you get the entire cancer out with a high degree of accuracy, while taking the smallest amount of (healthy) tissue.” He also explains that the procedure starts with him removing what is visible to the naked eye, then the patient waits while he checks that tissue under a microscope. He then takes additional tissue, if needed, and checks again. He says it takes a couple of hours — up to half a day — but patients leave knowing the entire lesion has been removed. “It’s a very efficient way of clearing skin cancer,” Dr. Lombardi explains, saying that it is performed “anywhere the conservation of tissue is important,” especially on the patient’s face. Claudia Candella recently saw Dr. Lombardi for this type of procedure. “He was very personable with a great bedside manner,” she says. “He was very concerned about getting it right.” Dr. Pothiawala joined Riverchase in 2017. She completed the combined B.S./M.D. program at the University of South Florida in Tampa, where she earned a B.S. degree in Biomedical Sciences as well as her Doctor of Medicine degree in 2009. She then moved to Boston to study at the Harvard School of Public Health and received

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tients for their general dermatology needs, and expects that will continue to be most of her practice. However, she wants to be sure to get the word out that cosmetic procedures are now available at Riverchase. “I think it’s really important to know that if you come to us for cosmetic procedures, you’re getting it done by a Board-certified dermatologist, who has been trained for years in this type of practice,” she says. “You’re going to someone who’s had formal medical training, as opposed to someone who’s just done weekend courses.” Riverchase Dermatology in Tampa Palms is located at 15310 Amberly Dr., Suite 150. For more information, see the ad on page 41 or visit RiverchaseDermatology.com. To make an appointment, call the office at (813) 978-8888.

The staff of Riverchase Dermatology, located in the Palm Lake at Tampa Palms office building off of Amberly Dr., includes Board-certified physician assistant Kim Siders (front left) and Baord-certified dermatologist Dr. Salma Pothiawala (front right). a Master of Public Health degree in 2010. and used the latest techniques. Some of that Dr. Pothiawala then spent four years at USF, is now available at Riverchase, and some of that we’re going to add going forward.” completing an internship in Internal MediShe says that some of those cosmetcine and a residency in Dermatology, which ic procedures that are now available at she completed in 2014. She then moved to New York City, where she practiced for two Riverchase Dermatology, include Botox, years, before returning home to the Tampa injectable fillers and microneedling (a type Palms area. of skin rejuvenation procedure that increases “I was in a practice in Manhattan that collagen and plumps and smooths the skin). was very focused on providing cosmetic ser- “We are expanding our services,” she says, vices,” Dr. Pothiawala explains. “That was “so our office is a good place to come to the majority of my work for those two years. take care of all of your dermatologic needs.” The practice had cutting-edge technology Dr. Pothiawala says she also sees pa-

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

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

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

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

Quality Care; Familiar Faces

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

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

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

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make decisions,” Dr. Korivi says. “Ours is a practice where we are free from interference from outside sources and can make decisions based on individual judgment.” He adds that his background in psychology helps in this regard. “Mental health is very under-diagnosed and underfunded,” he says. “My background in psychology gives me a unique perspective into those situations.” Dr. Korivi has received high marks (4.5 stars out of 5 overall) on Zocdoc.com, a website that helps people find doctors and provides rankings for everything from scheduling and response time to rapid registration. He says his Zocdoc “awards” are a testament to his desire to strengthen the doctor-patient relationship. Dr. Korivi’s profile on Zocdoc.com has verified patient reviews where the majority are extremely positive. He has been praised for his office environment, being a great listener and getting straight to the point. “I appreciated his professionalism and willingness to work with me for my personal wants and needs,” Shannon wrote. “He’s a very flexible and understanding doctor.” Dr. Korivi’s profile has been on the site since 2015 and, on it, patients can review openings in the schedule, descriptions of accepted insurance plans, his practice’s philosophy and even directions to the office. The office of Dr. Praveen Korivi is located at 2304 E. Fletcher Ave. in Tampa. Office hours are Monday-Thursday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday. An answering service is available after hours. For more information, call (813) 615-CARE (2273), visit MedClinicFL. com or see the ad on pg. 47.

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

that the activities at the Beach House are chosen by the residents, as well. “We don’t do cookie cutter activities,” she says. “We don’t just do BINGO. We have a preliminary schedule, but it changes along with the audience it serves. If no one wants to play BINGO, we’ll do something else.” Mena adds that every aspect of care is designed to meet the needs of each individual person who chooses to call Beach House his or her home. “We offer resident-centered, focused care,” Mena says. “From our dining menu to meeting (our residents’) clinical needs to socialization, we personalize every aspect for each resident.” Mena invites people looking for assisted living for themselves or a loved one to visit the Beach House offsite sales office at 2754 Windguard Circle, Suite 101 (located across Bruce B. Downs Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) to see the current pre-construction promotions. For more information, see the ad on pg. 42, call (813) 358-0554 or visit BeachHouseWiregrass.com.

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Most New Tampa Parents Happier With New Bell Times For 2018-19 School Year CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com When the 2018-19 school year kicks off in the fall of 2018, all New Tampa schools will have new schedules. District officials say the new schedules will allow school buses to run more efficiently, resulting in more bus-riding students getting to school on time each day. It should also allow bus drivers who currently only take two “tiers” of students to be able to do three — elementary, middle, and high schoolers — resulting in a cost savings to the Hillsborough County School District of at least $2.5 million. With the new schedule, elementary schools will start at 7:40 a.m. and finish at 1:55 p.m., which is 20 minutes earlier than the current school year and keeps the same amount of instructional time for students. Middle schools will start at 9:25 a.m. and finish at 4:20 p.m. This means they start 25 minutes later, but end only five minutes later. High schools will start at 8:30 a.m. and finish at 3:25 p.m. They begin nearly an hour later than the current start time and end 25 minutes later. In our area, the most dramatic time change will happen at Turner/Bartels K-8 School, which currently starts at 9 a.m. and ends at 4 p.m. Next year’s schedule has school starting at 7:40 a.m. and finishing at 2:35 p.m. “It’s a drastic change,” says principal Cindy Land, “But, I’ve gotten mostly positive feedback from parents.” She says many parents don’t like the current schedule, which was adjusted this school year to be an hour later than in 2016-17.

“Right now, kids who play sports or go to activities at the New Tampa Rec Center or other places don’t have any time after school,” Land says. “In that regard, it’s very challenging. Now, parents can drop off earlier and won’t need morning daycare, so I think it Turner/Bartels K-8 will be a good thing School principal Cindy for our school.” Land says the new bell She also suptimes will be a drastic ports the district’s change, but she has main reason for makgotten mostly positive ing the change. “It will be good feedback from parents. to have a bus schedule where the kids get picked up by their buses on time,” Land says, “so we’re not waiting on two or three buses every morning.” Land also notes that the significantly earlier start time will make one big impact on kids’ mornings. “My biggest concern is that at the beginning of the (2018-19) school year, kids will be at the bus stop in the dark,’’ she says. “We have a lot of kindergärtners who ride the bus. Parents are going to have to rally together to make sure they’re safe, and then we have to get together as a community and be vigilant and be sure to be watching out for the little kids.” Parents can’t say they didn’t see this coming. After negative backlash last spring to its first proposal for a revised bell schedule, the Hillsborough School District created options

for parents, teachers, students and community members, who were invited to vote for new bell times. The district was aggressive in communicating via text, phone and email that surveys were available, and reports that 57,000 people across the county responded to the survey. The new schedule is the most popular option that was selected by survey District officials believe the new bell times will help keep school buses on schedule. have added instructional time at the elementary participants, albeit adjusted slightly. school level. For example, the schedule that was voted “I do wish they would have made the day on had elementary school starting at 7:30 a.m., but district officials studied the option and real- longer,” she says, “because it seems hard to fit in everything they’re mandated to do, includized buses could still run on time if elementary ing the 30 minutes of recess every day.” school started at 7:40 a.m. instead. As for lost time at middle and high This option was preferred by many people schools, a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) who cite the American Academy of Pediatdocument on the district’s website addresses rics in saying that high school shouldn’t start it this way: “Students may lose a few minutes before 8:30 a.m., because insufficient sleep is a from middle and high school periods, which serious problem for teenagers. would be decided at the school level.” Most parents seem to be taking it in stride. “It’s not a big deal,” says Ashley Cantin, Also, “The new schedule still exceeds a Hunter’s Green resident whose two daughstate’s requirements for time spent in class and ters are in elementary school and will head to still allows our district to offer a seven-period school a bit earlier. “It’s 20 minutes, so it’s not day with more opportunities for advanced the end of the world.” courses…and electives.” For more info, visit Cantin says she wishes the district would SDHC.k12.fl.us.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Nehemiah ‘Tre’ Rivers: Running Out Of A Tall Shadow Towards A Wharton Record ANDY WARRENER Like any good cross country runner, Wharton High junior Nehemiah “Tre” Rivers is always chasing something. For most of his life, it was older sister and former star Wharton runner Bryanna. Then, it was his first meet title, along with all the others that followed. Now, he has his sights set on the Wharton school record for the 3.1-mile distance. Nehemiah and his Wildcats teammates head into the Class 4A, Region 2 meet at Holloway Park in Lakeland today looking to qualify for next week’s State 4A meet, and maybe make a little a history in the process. Nehemiah is certainly primed and ready. At the Class 4A, District 6 meet at Al Lopez Park in Tampa on Oct. 25, he won his second straight individual district title in 16 minutes, 12 seconds. Just the week before, on the same course, at the Hillsborough County Championships meet, he had taken second in 16:10.40, a new personal best. The 2017 Regional and State meets loom large now for Nehemiah. The Wharton boys school record is 15:55, set by Ryan Courtoy in 2006 at the Foot Locker South Regional, and Nehemiah has beating that mark as one of his current goals. Can he get it? His coach think so. At the county meet, Nehemiah paced off of Citrus Park Christian’s Trevor Foley, who has the second best cross country time in the state this season (15:20). At county, Foley ran a 16:05.60 and pulled Nehemiah along to that 16:10 personal best. “Tre was going to keep it close with Foley,” Wharton boys track and cross country coach Kyle LoJacono says. “I feel like if Foley

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Wharton runner Nehemiah “Tre” Rivers has run out from the shadow of his older sister Bryanna and towards the boys cross country and track record books for Wharton High. (Photo: Andy Warrener) peated as District champ on October 25. Both ran a 15:50, Tre would have ran a 15:55.” LoJacono plans to enter Nehemiah in this LoJacono and Rivers are hoping that the peak is year’s Footlocker South Regional on Nov. 25 in right around the corner. Charlotte, NC, and if the school record survives All In The Family Regionals and States, it’s there that the record Rivers ran in the long shadow cast by his could very well fall. older sister Bryanna his first two years of high LoJacono says he has Nehemiah on an overload cycle, a training method that stacks on school cross country and track. Now a collegiate runner at the University miles over the course of about a month. Runners tend to be a little sluggish during overload of Massachusetts in Amherst, Bryanna was one period, but when they get off of it, it’s a lot like of the most accomplished Wharton runners ever. She set the school record in the 800 metaking the weighted donut off a baseball bat. ters, and amassed 11 state medals in her four Nehemiah was in Day 23 when he re-

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years at Wharton, the most for any track athlete, boy or girl, in the school’s 20-year history. She’s only the second girl in Wharton track and field history to sign a full-ride college scholarship. They say you run faster when you have someone to chase, and Tre grew up chasing Bryanna. She always had the edge, but he was getting close to his sister by 11 years old, until a problem with a growth plate in his foot derailed the effort. At 13, Nehemiah finally caught up to his big sister, beating her in an 800-meter race. He hasn’t looked back since. “I see us as equals now,” Nehemiah says. “We both push ourselves to get stronger and rise up to the next challenge.” Rivers is seizing the opportunity to shine. “We knew coming in what he could be,” LoJacono says. “He missed time with the foot injury, but we knew it would only be a matter of time before he came along.” Tre’s ascent has been strong and steady. He actually won his first high school meet, the Central Hillsborough Invitational, in 2015, but failed to advance past the district meet. However, his improvement from year to year has been staggering. He slashed three minutes off that first victory by the end of his freshman season, qualified for the state meet as a sophomore with a time 16:49, and then ran a personal best of 16:16 at States. “When he came out to run his freshman year, it was a fight just to get through Districts, and he didn’t make it,” LoJacono says. “He remembered that the whole year, and it motivated him to have a great sophomore year. Now, he’s established himself as the top runner in the district.”

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New construction at affordable prices in the heart Jimmy Cosentino of Zephyrhills. 1,740 sq ft, 3 bedrooms 2 baths 2 car 813-949-3676 garage. $217,640 Conveniently located off Rt. 54

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BRAND NEW 4 Bedrm+Den, 2.5 Bath, 2400+ sq ft, 2 Story home with all bedrms and laundry rm upstairs. ALL appliances incl washer and dryer, 2" faux wood blinds, double sinks in both full baths, walk-in pantry, tile in all wet areas, huge master suite. New 1/2/10 yr warranty. Incredible Value at less than $210,000.

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1830 Bruce B Downs Blvd. Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

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Spanish/Mediterranean Executive home in the Gated Kim Hilliker Toscana Village within Wesley Chapel’s Exclusive & Community of Estancia. 5,188 Sq. Ft., on .37 Acre corner lot, 5 Beds, 4.5 Baths, Gourmet Kitchen, XL Tammy Hellman Media Rm, 1st Floor Master Suite & Spa like Master 813-451-8159 Bath, 3 CG. Offered at $744,900

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Wesley Chapel Resident Alexandra Joyce Loses Her ‘Battle’ On ‘The Voice!’ By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Wesley Chapel’s Alexandra Joyce’s whirlwind moment in the singing competition sun ended last week on NBC-TV’s “The Voice,” when she was ousted in the first Battle Round (photo) by teammate Jeremiah Miller. But, it is the journey she will remember the most. It began earlier this summer at auditions in Baltimore, MD, and led her right to your TV screen a few weeks later from Los Angeles. Standing backstage just moments before she would begin singing Taylor Swift’s “Wildest Dreams” on ”The Voice” auditions in June, Joyce says she “didn’t have a care in the world.” The 16-year-old Wiregrass Ranch High junior had prepared for that moment since she was a little girl. She was in the All-State chorus in the fourth grade, competed in talent shows at John Long Middle School, taught herself to play the ukulele and guitar in high school and a day doesn’t pass without Alexandra showing off her pipes. “I don’t think there has been a single day of her life that music hasn’t been an important part of for her,” says her mother, Adrienne Reed. So, Alexandra had convinced herself this was just another performance. “I felt a lot of pressure on me, for sure,” she said. “An immense amount of pressure. I had to prove something to myself.” “But,” she added, with a laugh, “right before I went on I was cool as a cucumber, I was chilling.” Then, the doors opened and everything changed. Her heart stopped, she says, and her breathing grew heavy as she walked towards the backs of four large red chairs. “Nothing really prepares you for that moment,’’ she admits.

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After quickly composing herself, Joyce began singing, trying not to focus on the chairs in front of her. Then, one chair turned — “You could hear a little excitement in my voice,’’ she confesses — followed by two others. She finished her audition with three judges smiling back at her — Academy- and Grammyaward winner Jennifer Hudson, Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine and country crooner Blake Shelton. Whew. While Levine and Shelton offered some encouraging words while mentioning pitch issues (due to nerves), Hudson didn’t say much. Her nerves now settled, Alexandra wanted to know why. “She (Hudson) just kind of said to me like, you know, ‘I can’t really compete with the other coaches, so good luck,’’’ Alexandra says. “And I ended up calling her out and kind of saying, ‘Well, you haven’t said anything to me.

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What do you have to offer to me?’” Hudson perked up and told Alexandra that she saw the drive in her, and the passion. She told the young Wesley Chapel resident that no matter who she chose as her coach, she had the right stuff to succeed. “Right when she stood up and really started to get passionate about it, that’s when I knew that was where I needed to go,” Alexandra says of joining Hudson’s “team.” Alexandra’s audition only aired as part of a montage, as did her Battle Round, which finally aired Oct. 23 after weeks of keeping her friends and schoolmates in the dark. “They don’t tell you when the show will be on, they just tell you to watch,’’ said Adrienne, who took her daughter to the initial audition for the show in Baltimore. Adrienne, who runs a yoga studio in Land O’Lakes, says the experience has been memorable for her daughter, who sent in a video submission to get the invitation to Maryland. While she was there, Alexandra auditioned and was given a “maybe” by the show’s producers. Two weeks later, she received an email telling her the show was going to pass on her this time, but would keep her in mind for the future. Two weeks after that, there was another call — shockingly informing Adrienne that her daughter was not only getting another chance, but that it would be at the blind auditions in

Los Angeles.“Is this a prank call?,’’ Adrienne asked the caller. But, it wasn’t a prank, and when Adrienne called Alexandra, she told her to sit down before she broke the news. “There was a lot of screaming and jumping around,’’ she says. Adrienne said appearing on a music competition has been a long-time dream for Alexandra, who would often as a child come singing and sliding down the foyer in socks and into her mother’s home office ready to put on a performance. “We used to watch those shows when she was little,’’ Adrienne says. “When she turned 16, the (young) age limit for the show, she decided she wanted to go ahead and do it.” Alexandra, a junior at WRH who will graduate early next spring, describes her style as “folk indie,” but she says she can sing a little bit of everything. Ed Sheeran is one of her biggest musical influences, inspiring her to teach herself the guitar at the age of 13. And of course, there’s Adrienne, who encouraged Alexandra every step along the way. “I’ve never really had a music teacher,” Alexandra says. “If anyone, my mother has been the biggest rock for me. When I first started playing guitar, initially I didn’t think I was good enough, but she said ‘Yes, you are.’ She built me up, I really owe that to her.” Alexandra says that the experience of being on ‘The Voice’ has been awe-inspiring. “I think its definitely been kind of a stepping stone for me,” she says. “I know I have this assurance that I can do this. I have a single on iTunes; I never in a million years thought I would have a single on iTunes.” Alexandra says her favorite part has been the people she has met on this journey, which has been highlighted by being coached by the likes of Hudson. “That’s just freaking insane,” she says. “Absolutely freaking insane.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

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

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

1. Best Restaurant

16. Best Primary Care Dr.

2. Best Mexican Rest.

17. Best Plastic Surgeon

3. Best Thai Rest.

18. Best Chiropractor

4. Best Sushi

19. Best Dentist

5. Best Chinese Rest.

20. Best Urgent Care/Walk-in

6. Best Breakfast

21. Best Veterinarian

7. Best Lunch

22. Best Gym/Fitness Center

8. Best Burger

23. Best Golf Course

9. Best BBQ

24. Best Hairstylist/Salon

10. Best Pizza

25. Best Nail Salon

11. Best Bar

26. Best Auto Dealership

12. Best Karaoke Show

27. Best New Business

13. Best Bakery

28. Best Neighborhood

14. Best Frozen Yogurt

29. Best Local Publication

15. Best Ice Cream

30. Worst Intersection

Name: Email: What Community do you live in? (Tampa Palms, Grand Hampton, etc.)

Mailing Address: Daytime Phone #:

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘A Bottle Of Red...A Bottle Of White’ & Veal Parmigiana Come To Little Italy’s! By GARY NAGER

THOSE OF YOU

who have been reading this publication since the opening of Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering on S.R. 54 in Lutz a couple of years ago know that not only do I love Little Italy’s food, but also owners Jessica and Carl Meyers. So, I was thrilled when Jessica — aka “The Boss” — and Chef Carl said they were finally getting a beer and wine license. Not that I can’t enjoy a great meal without alcohol, but Italian “comfort foods” like everything I love at Little Italy’s just beg for Billy Joel’s “Bottle of Red...Bottle of White” or an ice cold Peroni beer. Pasco County had awarded Jessica and Carl their beer and wine license shortly before we went to press with this issue and they should be serving red and white wine (by the glass, carafe and/or bottle) and bottled beers by the time this issue reaches your mailbox. But for me, that’s not the big news at Little Italy’s, which also got a makeover a few months ago. The delicious news is that Jessica and Carl — thanks to multiple customer requests (not just from me) — have now added tender, delicious veal parmigiana to the menu, as well as veal saltimbocca and piccata, plus a couple of new shrimp dishes I can’t try because of my (ugh!) shellfish allergy. Even so, I always include a couple of seafood pics from Little Italy’s on these pages because so many of you love shrimp, clams and mussels (I’ve never gotten my reaction from clams, for some reason, and Little Italy’s linguine with white clam butter sauce is among my favorites in our area). But, let’s focus on the veal for a second. Jessica and Carl don’t pound their veal (“It breaks down some of the natural flavor and texture of the meat,” says Chef Carl), but it still cooks up nice and tender and the flavor? Well, let’s just say that for my money, there is no chicken parm that tastes as delicious as good veal parm — and Jessica’s red sauce and outstanding mozzarella definitely put Little Italy’s new veal dishes at the top of my list among all Italian restaurants and pizza places in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. And, even though I can’t eat shrimp, Little Italy’s new grilled shrimp appetizer features extra large-to-jumbo-sized shrimp that got some rave reviews during mine and Jannah’s most recent visit last week. Another new menu item at Little Italy’s

which I haven’t sampled yet, but can’t wait to try, is Jessica’s homemade potato gnocchi, which you can order with Alfredo sauce and shrimp, meat or marinara sauce. “Gnocchi was another big request we’ve been getting,” says Jessica “And everyone who’s tried it so far has raved about it to us.” Other starters we love at Little Italy’s are the bruschetta, the garlic bread, the homemade meatballs that made Jessica and Carl’s former food truck famous, and the crisp, but tender calamari. My favorite salad is the Caprese salad, with beautiful, sliced tomatoes layered with slices of fresh mozzarella, all topped with a balsamic glaze reduction that isn’t as sweet as some balsamic reductions I’ve tasted. As I’ve mentioned many times in these pages, I’ve never been the biggest calzone fan, but Little Italy’s calzones are so huge that most people who order them end up not only taking pictures of them, but also taking a large portion of their calzone home with them. And, although Little Italy’s isn’t a “pizza place” per se, the homemade Sicilianstyle pizzas are great for sharing for three or four people because no human being could possibly eat an entire rectangular pie by themselves. As for the main courses we love, in addition to the veal and chicken parm and the linguine with clams, the spaghetti with those aforementioned (but worth mentioning again) meatballs, the chicken piccata, the baked penne, the so very yummy lasagne, as well as Jessica’s awesome eggplant rollatini or parmigiana. If you’re looking for something vegetarian, substantial and delicious, you can’t beat her eggplant. I also highly recommend the meatball parm “grinda” sandwiches, served on some of the best Italian bread in the area. Seafood lovers also will go crazy for Little Italy’s fresh cioppino (with mussels, shrimp and clams), as well as the authentic New England “Lobsta” ravioli.

NEW! Veal Parmigiana

Caprese Salad

Linguine with clams

Little Italy’s For The Holidays?

Little Italy’s also is famous for its catering, including for virtually every Neighborhood News/WCNT-tv party since I first walked into this nondescript looking place a couple of weeks after Jessica and Carl first opened. Jessica says you can rent the entire restaurant out for up to 35 people for your holiday office parties and large family events. “We’re also going to be open Christmas Eve day (Sunday, December

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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NEW! Homemade potato gnocchi

Homemade meatballs

24), noon-5 p.m., so you can pick up your order that can be baked for your Christmas Day festivities,” she says. “Italian people also have to have lasagne or ziti and definitely meatballs with their Thanksgiving meals — doesn’t everyone? — so please order early.” Little Italy’s, which also has a nice “Little Goombas” menu, also will be featured on an upcoming episode of “90 Day Fiancé” on The Learning Channel (TLC). “I can’t give more information about the show until it airs,” she says. “But it was pretty cool.” Jessica and Carl also were featured on a recent episode of WCNT-tv with yours truly. Little Italy’s (24436 S.R. 54, Lutz) is open every day (except Mon.) for lunch (at noon) & for dinner. It stays open until 8 p.m., on Sun. and Tue.Thur., and until 10 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more info, visit LittleItalyFamily Restaurant.com or their Facebook page or call (813) 909-2122.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Happy Cow Is So Much More Than Just Great Frozen Yogurt!

By GARY 00

HERE is little doubt that there are a lot of ice cream and frozen yogurt shops in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and several others that have come and gone the last few years. So, how does a single location (a second location has opened on Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills) of a (so far; see below) non-chain that opened next to Bonefish Grill in a crowded, Wesley Chapel shopping center in 2013 continue to distinguish itself from its competition? Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt co-owner Ray Perez says that, at his brightly colored dessert shop, “Our products and unique, Disney-like environment and customer-first attitude are only the beginning. We are still service-based, even though the product itself is self-serve.” For example, he says, that every staff member is taught to bring high chairs for parents toting babies and toddlers and to bring napkins when they notice that a customer forgot to grab some. Happy Cow offers up to 16 flavors at once (Ray says there are at least 100 being rotated), and not all of them are frozen yogurt. “We’re a true dessert shop,” he says. “In addition to frozen yogurt, we have soft-serve ice cream, soft serve gelato, sorbet and we always have gluten-free, no-sugar-added and fat-free options. We also offer 60 different toppings, 7 sauces, freshly baked cookies and brownies, waffle cones and fresh fruit. We even recently added amazing milkshakes and even ‘epic shakes’ like Cookies & Cream Craze.” And, despite being up against any number of chain frozen yogurt shops across the Tampa Bay area, Happy Cow was voted “Best in the

Bay” by Creative Loafing readers for 2016. It also has been the Favorite Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt Shop” of Neighborhood News readers entering our annual Reader Survey & Contest (see pg. 39 of this issue) the last three years in a row. “We’re proud that the people who read those publications love us,” Ray says. Ray, whose wife Kristi helps out at the two current locations on weekends, also is partners with Connie and Bill Rogers in the Happy Cow corporate entity, which is now beginning to sell franchises — and not just for locations in strip shopping plazas. “We’re looking to put Happy Cow kiosks in malls and even schools.” And, although he can’t yet announce anything in terms of franchises that already are sold, he says, “There is a lot of interest from the public in our brand. I should be able to make some announcements soon.” He also says that catering is a popular part of the Happy Cow experience, especially in family-oriented, growing Wesley Chapel. “We brought in one of our mobile machines to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel for an event and served 600 members of the hospital’s staff,” he says. “And, everyone went home happy.” Personally, my favorite flavors are peanut butter and cake batter and I usually start with one of Happy Cow’s chewy, fudgy brownies as a base. I also always have to have the hot chocolate fudge, peanut butter fudge and/or marshmallow cream toppings. The good news is that if you don’t like what I enjoy, Happy Cow’s variety of toppings and sauces will surely include something you love, too. Ray says that Happy Cow also is the only yogurt shop that delivers through Uber Eats to a limited area, including to Meadow Pointe,

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Happy Cow Owners (l.-r.) Kristi & Ray Perez & Connie & Bill Rogers

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Seven Oaks and even Grand Hampton in New Tampa, “and it’s taken off more than I expected, without marketing it to our 17,000 Facebook and Instagram followers.” Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt also has a user-friendly “C’mon, Get Happy” Rewards Club with “no passwords, no cards, just fun.” And, if you mention that you read about the shop in the Neighborhood News, you’ll get 15-percent-off any product at Happy Cow. Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt (1646 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) is open at 11 a.m. every day and stays open until 10 p.m. every weeknight and until 11 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more information, visit Happy CowFroYo.com or call (813) 428-5929 and please tell Ray and the crew you read about them in the New Tampa Neighborhood News!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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SUNSHINE CLEANERS Top Quality...Great Prices

$5 Oﬀ Any Size Comforter $2.79 Press Only* $3.49 Drycleaning & Press* $1.59 Men’s Business Shirts * Some garments incur additional charge. Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

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

I want to give a shout out to the New Tampa Rotary Club’s first-ever “Rotary Means Business” networking event, which is being held the day you’re receiving this publication in your mailbox — Friday, November 3, 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. The networking event is being sponsored and hosted by Parks Lincoln (10505 N. Florida Ave., Tampa). At the Rotary Means Business event, you can network with high-level decision makers, expand your referral base, meet local business leaders, learn more about the Rotary Means Business network, enjoy free food and beverages and enter a free drawing to win a Date night in a beautiful, new Lincoln! For more info, visit NewTampaRotary.org or call Craig Miller of Full Throttle Intermedia at (813) 624-3674. And, don’t forget to see the story on page 17 of this issue about the New Tampa Rotary’s upcoming 5th annual Wiregrass Wobble 5K on Thanksgiving morning — Thursday, November 23, 7:30 a.m.!

Pet Paradise Is A Great Reason To Get A Dog! I’m currently between dogs in my life,

(Left, l.-r.): At the Grand Opening & WCCC ribbon cutting at the new Pet Paradise off S.R. 56 on Oct. 24, Karen Ryals of the Humane Society of Tampa Bay accepts a check for $5,000 from Pet Paradise Resorts Pres. & CEO Fernando Acosta-Rua and Pet Paradise Wesley Chapel manager Zandra Straple. (Right photo): Mike Schultz, president and CEO, Florida Hospital, West Florida Division (with scissors, left), and Dr. Pete DeBusk, chairman of the board, Lincoln Memorial University (to his right), prepare to cut the ribbon surrounded by inaugural class members at the grand opening of the Caylor School of Nursing, LMU Tampa Campus at Florida Hospital Tampa Health Park on Oct. 24. but after attending both the VIP pre-opening cat will be comfortable at a “resort” with doggie daycare facility. I mean, I haven’t seen and the Grand Opening and Greater Wesley indoor-outdoor “condos,” a dog bone-shaped even one snarl or “warning snap,” even from Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) rib- pool, 24-7 video monitoring and lots of other multiple “alpha” dogs. When I have had dogs, bon cutting of the new Pet Paradise Wesley dogs (and yes, cats, too), all I can tell you is boarding them did sometimes make me a Chapel, located off S.R. 56 behind the Gate that, while I’ve never owned a cat, I’ve yet little anxious, but Pet Paradise Wesley Chapel gas station, I’m almost tempted to go out and to see a dog unhappy, sitting off by itself or manager Zandra Straple, who has a Bachelor get me a new puppy, just so I can watch him not engaging in the seemingly-all-day, all-out of Science (B.S.) degree in Animal Science or her play at the coolest pet resort ever. play sessions with other dogs of all breeds from the University of Florida in Gainesville, For those who wonder if their dog or and sizes at this amazing new boarding and and her awesome staff definitely have a winner

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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opening on Oct. 19 of their amazing, new Transformation Aesthetics & Surgery Center (located a 1/4-mile north on Cypress Ridge Blvd. in Wesley Chapel from Pet Paradise). The state-of-the-art, freestanding building offers not only the dermatology and skin care services of 360 Dermatology, but also the cosmetic plastic surgery of Ambay Plastic Surgery. Best of all, Dr. Raj can perform his plas(L.-r.): Dr. Raj & Dr. Aparna Ambay welcomed Greater tic surgery magic and Dr. Aparna Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce members — including (both have been named among WCCC Board chair Jennifer Cofini of the Parks Auto Group “America’s Top Doctors” by & membership director Jennifer Tussing — and the local com- Castle Connolly Medical Ltd.) munity to the Grand Opening & WCCC ribbon cutting on Oct. can do skin cancer surgeries in 19 of their new Transformations Aesthetics Center, located off the Transformations Aesthetics Center’s on-site surgery center. S.R. 56 and Cypress Ridge Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. The opening and WCCC on their hands here in “The Chap.” ribbon cutting on Oct. 19 attracted hundreds And more great news, my friends at of locals, including several other local health Seven Oaks Pet Hospital, located less than care professionals, as well as WCCC members a half-mile from Pet Paradise on 56, provides and many of the current and former patients on-call veterinarian services for the resort. of these Top Docs. Don’t forget to mention to Zandra Dr. Raj, who has served as a Lt. Colonel and assistant manager Brianna Bermuin the U.S. Army and Special Operations dez that you read about Pet Paradise in (Green Beret) in both Afghanistan and Iraq, the New Tampa Neighborhood News!. Pet also is trained in trauma surgery, oral surgery Paradise is located at 2270 Cypress Ridge and dentistry. During the Grand Opening Blvd. For more info, visit PetParadiseReevent, you could see the joy on his face and sort.com or call (813) 778-0337. hear it in his voice as he called the ribboncutting at this unique medical and aesthetic The Drs. Ambay Open Their facility, “the fulfillment of a long-time dream.” Transformations Center! For info about the Transformations Congratulations to Dr. Aparna Ambay Center (2441 Oak Myrtle Ln.), visit Tamof 360 Dermatology and her husband, Dr. paBayTransformations.com, call (813) Raj Ambay of Ambay Plastic Surgery, on the 563-1144 or see the ad on pg. 24. — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING. Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL & FREE ESTIMATE! For more info, call (813) 420-4465. HOMETEAM LAWNCARE LLC High-quality professional Services: Weekly or bi-weekly year-round full-service lawn care starting at $90/month: Mow, edge, trim, blow, mulch-bed maintenance, hedge and low-tree trim. Additional Services: Sod, Mulch, & Rock Placement; Hedge Trimming, & Tree Trimming; Landscape Installation; Fall/Spring Clean-Up. Family Owned & Operated, Licensed & Insured, Background Checked, Call or Text (813) 817-9554.

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

HELP WANTED ROHE TWYMAN, an established and growing family law firm, with offices in Lake, Orange, and Sumter Counties, is expanding into the Pasco and Hillsborough area and is in immediate need of an experienced paralegal for its Wesley Chapel office. Ideal candidates possess three years’ experience in family law, however all applicants considered. Send resumes to Cindy Terry, at cindy@rohetwyman. com or call 352-742-0583. CNAs/HHAs NEEDED: Established Senior Homecare Service is seeking CNA’s and Home Health Aids to work with our company. Contact (813) 9851200 for more information. HIRING PERSONAL TRAINER. Private Women’s Studio with Boot Camp & Personal Training in Wesley Chapel & Land O’ Lakes owned by Samantha Taylor. Please no phone calls or walk ins.To apply part time: www.lolfitbodybootcamp.com/hire-pt. PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT). An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide custom, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080.

PET SERVICES CAT SITTING Tampa Cat Lady Professional CatSitting Service. Cats are happiest in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds and smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle and play with your kitties and clean and dispose of litter. Insured, bonded, and Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. You may visit TampaCatLady.com and submit a service inquiry or call 813-994-9449.

POOL SERVICES TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call Chris today @ (813) 8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com Highest quality salt and ozone generators, pumps, motors, filters. Marcite, quartz and pebble finishes. Pool cleanups and acid washes, paver and river rock sealing. Paver decks and driveways. Mention this ad for $69 pool service. Call or text 813-244-7077. Visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com

SPACE AVAILABLE SERENITY SALON & SPA SUITES Wesley Chapel. Booth rental for Stylist available. Can be either full time or part time. Give us a call!: 813-3125247 or 813-997-6302.

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COMPUTER/BUSINESS SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech with 20 years exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained. Remote assistance available. References available. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate. DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & businesses, more than 25 years exp. Contact Jeffrey Blank at (813) 973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 23 • November 3, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews