Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 26, Issue 24, Nov. 16, 2018 by Neighborhood News

Volume 26

WESLEY CHAPEL

Inside:

NEWS

Did The ‘Blue Wave’ Reach Wesley Chapel? See page 11!

Issue 24 November 16, 2018

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LET’S PLAY!

Pasco County’s tourism department is rebranding the county & going hard after the sports market; Wesley Chapel will be a major player in that effort.

Pasco County is changing. Once sleepy, it is now wide awake. Once quiet and serene, it is now bustling. Once regarded mostly for nature, it is now being rebranded. “Let’s Play!” That will be the new slogan that drives the county’s evolution from Nature Coast to Sports Coast, as Pasco looks to capitalize on a number of sports offerings it feels will, if marketed properly, bring in millions of dollars annually to local businesses and hotels, and much needed tax dollars for the county. Pasco’s tourism agency, Visit Pasco, is expected to rebrand the county as “Florida’s Sports Coast” after January 1, 2019. It has a $326,000 contract with The Zimmerman Agency to help with the rebranding and marketing. “This is a destination that is changing and changing,” says Adam Thomas, Pasco’s tourism director. “We are charging ahead to become that premier sports destination: Florida’s Sports Coast.” Thomas emceed the East Pasco Economic Development Summit on Nov. 2, which brought together government officials like District 2 commissioner Mike Moore and county administrator Dan Biles, as well as heavy hitters in the sports tourism market like Jason Aughey of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Pat Ciaccio of Saddlebrook Resort, Richard Blalock of RADD Sports and Gordie Zimmermann of Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI). The summit was held at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter campus in Wiregrass Ranch, and the message, emphasized by keynote Pasco County tourism director Adam Thomas made the announcement that Pasco County will be speaker Carolynn Smith, was simple: rebranded as “Florida’s Sports Coast,” with Wesley Chapel’s sports facilities playing a major role.

See “Sports Coast” on page 4.

‘Wiregrass Wobble’ To ‘Trot’ Again Thanksgiving Morning! If you’re looking to burn off some calories before your guiltridden date with that third slice of pumpkin pie later in the day, the Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 5K, sponsored by the Rotary Club of New Tampa, might be just for you. The sixth annual event is once again scheduled for Thanksgiving morning at the Shops of Wiregrass mall on S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Although the 5K (3.1 miles) is the centerpiece and the most competitive race, the Wobble has

a number of different events you can enter, the 5K’s corporate and school team competitions. Last year, 1,697 total runners took part in the 5K race. There also is a Friends & Family 5K, and a 1-mile Fun Run (though we have it on good authority that doing only one mile mathematically entitles you to just one extra piece of pie for dessert after your turkey dinner.). Race time for the 5K is 7:30 a.m., while the 1-mile run begins at 8:30 a.m. Post-race festivities with free food and awards follow.

Registration is $35, or $40 the day of the race. Those who sign up receive a tech shirt and a medal for finishing. In addition to the Rotary Club, this year’s Wobble sponsors include the New Tampa YMCA, FITniche and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The event has raised more than $140,000 for distribution to local charities since the inaugural Wobble in 2013. For more information or to register, visit WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot.com.

News:

Business: News: Sports: News, Business & INSIDE S.R. 54 Looking A Busy Year BG TennisWharton Takes The Pressure Out Surprise! Bruce B.At Downs (BBD) Former High Football Also Inside INSIDE Of Updates Teaching Beginners. Blvd.OfIsNew Our Development. Area’s Worst Road Players Declare for NFL DraftEducation Page 3-17 8-9 This Issue:Pages

Pages 22-23 34-37 Pages 3-32

Neighborhood Magazine: Neighborhood Magazine: Wesley Chapel Youngster The Readers Have Spoken! Balances & Karate Here Are Dance Their Favorites! Pages Page39-52 39

The Ever-Changing Landscape In The Chap; Plus, My Take On ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ An editorial by Gary Nager For those of you who remember (as I do) when Wesley Chapel’s “hotel scene” was Saddlebrook Resort and no others, and the restaurant scene included only Denny’s (which actually was located inside a motel), Waffle House and Brewmasters, it’s easy to get caught up in the hype that is “The Chap” these days. Yes, almost all of the new restaurants that have been opening on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) and S.R.s 56 & 54 are chains, but many of them are at least chains I had never tried before — including MOD Pizza, Bubba’s 33 (see pg. 8), Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar (pg. 42) and even our under-construction Earth Fare grocery store — and the hotel scene continues to add not just more hotel rooms but some really nice, upscale, tourist-friendly places to not only stay, but also enjoy some really great food. The North Tampa Bay Chamber “Celebrating Excellence in Business” awards gala (see pg. 14) at the new Hyatt Place Hotel & Sierra Conference Center was the first time I sampled the hotel’s catering fare and it was pretty good. I enjoyed the crusted fried chicken on the bone, grits and collared greens, as well as both the salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing and the muffin-cupsized mousse for dessert, which was available in both chocolate and strawberry. Even better, however (at least in one editor’s opinion), is the Garden Grille & Bar at the new Hilton Garden Inn (located across both S.R. 56 and I-75 from the Hyatt Place), which celebrated its official Grand Opening on Oct. 7, with everything from housemade egg rolls and fried wontons to a beef tenderloin carving station and most impressive

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Senior Video Producer/Photographer Gavin Olsen WCNT-tv Video Production Assistant Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Stephanie Vokes Flischel Billing Assistant Jannah McDonald Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 26, Issue 26, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, December 3, 2018. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

of all, a pasta station featuring four delicious offerings — one with ground sausage and spinach, another a putanesca style, one a unique primavera and the last was fettuccine with white clam sauce. The clams (thankfully, I’ve never had my shellfish allergy to them, at least not yet) and the sausage pastas were my favorites, but all four were served al dente and they were all excellent. Really. That gives me even more hope for the next major hotel with a restaurant on the horizon — the Marriott-branded Residence Inn that hopefully will soon begin construction off S.R. 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, adjacent to the new RADD Sports indoor sports complex (see page 1). The Residence Inn will not only have a full-service restaurant, but also Wesley Chapel’s first rooftop bar. The hotel is being developed by the same Mainsail Lodging & Development folks who developed not only the Epicurean Hotel in South Tampa, but also recently renovated the beautiful-again and historic Fenway Hotel in Dunedin, which now features the Hew Chophouse that Jannah and I will be sampling sometime soon. In other words, the dining scene in Wesley Chapel is going to continue to evolve and will give those of us who live and/or work here a lot more reasons not to leave The Chap.

neighborhoods like the West Village and others. But, the thing that really turned my attitude towards homosexuals around was the rock music of that era. If geniuses (please don’t even try to argue that fact) like David Bowie, Mick Jagger and Elton John (I was never a fan of the latter) were reputedly at least bisexual, I was willing to stop judging those who loved the same music I did who also happened to be gay or bi. So, when it was first announced that the late Freddy Mercury of the rock group Queen had AIDS, I was as heartbroken as I was when L.A. Lakers star Magic Johnson (who is still alive today) announced that he was HIV-positive. As chronicled in the Oscar-worthy new movie “Bohemian Rhapsody,” Freddy (portrayed by Rami Malek, right) was another musical genius who at first tried to pass himself off as hetero. But, Mr. Mercury truly was more than just

another gay rock star. His music forced millions of heteros who were literally dancing in the aisles at Queen concerts to accept that just because someone was gay, it didn’t mean they didn’t have talents and abilities that could transcend the hatred so many automatically felt towards them, if those folks didn’t think their sexuality alone made them bad people. I hope those who are still certain that everyone who is LGBTQ is “diseased” and “all going to hell” will see the movie, sing along to Queen’s hits with Malek and at least try to understand that someone would have to have other serious mental problems to choose that life.

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I was living on the Upper East Side of Manhattan in the 1980s when I first really saw with my own eyes how many men and women there are sharing this planet with us who were attracted to people of the same sex. I’m not going to lie, I was shocked when I first saw two men kissing on the street, as well as some of the flamboyant “costumes” and makeup some of them wore. I even assumed that lifestyle was actually a creepy “choice” they made. Even more shocking to me around that same time was when I found out I had not only friends, but also members of my family, who were gay. Worst of all for me (and many other heteros) was that also was when the AIDS epidemic first took hold in the U.S., primarily in the homosexual male population. So, it was easy for some people to hate on those we blamed for turning the “Free Love” generation of the late-’60s and early ’70s into the “must use condoms” generation of the ’80s in one fell swoop. My sister Bonnie was working as an intensive care Registered Nurse at Lenox Hill Hospital in Manhattan from 1982-85, when the first AIDS patients, largely in New York, San Francisco and other major cities, began dying from it. It was a scary time and it was easy to blame the gays, even though they also were fully responsible for re-energizing previously blighted

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Table of Contents

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

FHCI To Change Its Name, But Little Else..............6 Business Notes: Publix Ready For A Big Move...8-9 Pasco County Remains Red In 2018 Elections........11 Closings In New Tampa Draw Attention.............12 North Tampa Bay Chamber Picks Best Of 2018...14 So, This Is What 106 Years Old Looks Like?..........16 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.........................18

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

Massage Envy Offers Relaxation, Healing...................22 Creativity Unpinned Is Filled With Unique Gifts.....24 Florida Orthopaedic Institute Is The State’s Largest.........26 Spray Tans By Lulu Will Have You Glowing!.........28

Local School & Sports Updates..32-38 Cypress Creek Middle School Breaks Ground........32 Carin Hetzler-Nettles Is Principal Of The Year!......34 BG Tennis Offers A New Approach To Teaching.....36

Neighborhood Magazine

Wesley Chapel Boy 1st To Dance An Arangetram...39 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........42 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds..........44 @NTWCNews

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‘Sports Coast’

Continued from page 1 “You need to be ready,” Smith said. Smith, a former college basketball standout at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville who now owns 7 Marketing & PR, stressed to local businesses the importance of preparation for an influx of new customers. She said to look at the schedules at the local sports facilities, be staffed properly when big events are in town, and ready to capitalize. The panel drove home a similar message. The heart of the engine that will drive much of the transition from nature outpost to sports destination is right here in Wesley Chapel, with the soon-to-be-built $44-million Wiregrass Sports Complex, the booming FHCI facility and popular Saddlebrook Resort expected to attract hundreds of thousands of touristswannually. Aughey, who has helped bring Super Bowls and NCAA Football National Championships and men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Final Fours to Tampa, says that sports tourism had a $57.4-billion impact on the national economy last year. But, it is youth and amateur sports, he says, “that are truly the bread and butter” of sports tourism. One reason: they are recession proof, according to Aughey. No matter the economy, he says, parents are not likely to cut out their children’s sports because they provide physical and social benefits as well as college scholarship opportunities. In fact, according to U.S. News

(L.-r.) Richard Blalock of RADD Sports, Pat Ciacci of Saddlebrook Resort & Jason Aughey of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. to 1,300 players and just as many parents & World Report, a 2009 study by the needing hotel rooms, places to eat and National Association of Sports Commisthings to do in their downtime, like shop. sions and Ohio University showed that Zimmermann said that events like that participation in youth sports travel still increased from 2008 to 2009 despite the at FHCI are commonplace almost every weekend, and often are much larger. Great Recession. Aughey added that back in May, “Regardless of the economy, sports Tampa hosted a cheerleading competition is going to continue to pull through,” that filled 22,000 rooms over two days. A Aughey said. Ciaccio, the general manager at Sadvolleyball tournament this year brought dlebrook Resort, said that is good for eve900 teams, resulting in 10-20,000 visitors. The Wiregrass Sports Complex being ryone in Wesley Chapel. “Everyone benefits developed by RADD Sports is expected from the ancillary benefits,” he said, citing everything from walk-in clinics to local to handle large indoor events like that, mom-and-pop shops, sign makers, restauhosting hundreds, even thousands of athrants and retail and grocery stores. letes and their parents every weekend, all “There’s a little niche for everylooking for ways to spend their money. body,” Ciaccio says. “You have to see how It’s no wonder there has been a rush you can benefit, and find your place.” to build new hotels in Wesley Chapel. FHCI has already made its mark with The popularity of youth and amateur more than 1 million visitors since opening sports is only going to grow bigger. Acin 2017. Most recently, the complex host- cording to the National Association of ed a 68-team event, which can translate Sports Commissions State of the Industry

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report in 2017, visitor spending associated with sports events was $10.47 billion in 2016, a 10 percent increase from the year before. But, Pasco County’s rebranding goes beyond just the sports tourism market in Wesley Chapel. It also includes things like the sand volleyball courts at Sunwest Park in Hudson, zip lining at Treehoppers in Dade City, and fishing and boating on the Gulf coast. “Show me any place (else) around where, on the same weekend, you can have a beach volleyball event going on at the same time as an ice hockey tournament is happening,” said Biles. “You can go scalloping, you can jump out of a plane (in Zephyrhills), you can go biking on trails….how many destinations offer that kind of variety?” And, there’s still more to come. While the RADD Sports facility broke ground earlier this year, it won’t be ready to host events until late 2019. There is talk of a large aquatics facility being negotiated in Land O’Lakes and a new tennis complex is scheduled to be built in Zephyrhills. “We have a lot of assets, and more will come because they will follow,” said Moore, comparing it to Orlando, where DisneyWorld was the first amusement park, but not the last to build in that area. Commissioner Moore even had his own suggestion for anyone interested — equestrian facilities for those who like to ride horses. “We aren’t going to build it, but you can,” he said, to laughter. “You gotta figure out a way to get in the game!”

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New Year Will Usher In A New Name By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) will be getting a new name for the upcoming new year, but that’s all that will be changing at the popular ice skating and hockey facility located off S.R. 56. As we previously reported in these pages, Florida Hospital announced in August that come Jan. 1, it would be changing its name to AdventHealth, and will continue to have the naming rights for FHCI, which will soon be going by Advent Health Center Ice. FHCI general manager Gordie Zimmermann says that other than the work and cost required to change the name on a number of different things — uniforms, the outside sign, the dasher boards, the ice, the FHCI website — little else will be different under the same agreement the facility has always had with the healthcare giant. “Everything has been very positive,” says Zimmermann, whose center continues to be the top attraction in Wesley Chapel (see pg. 1), drawing over 1 million visitors to date. “They want to help us the best way they can, and bring a little more attention to the building. They have been great to work with.” The new logo is mostly the same color scheme as the old one, predominantly blue. Naming rights, depending upon the size of the facility, generally bring in hundreds of thousands of dollars for the facility (or in the case of larger sports stadiums and arenas, millions

of dollars) in exchange for the brand awareness that is so important to big companies. It also is considered to be good business for companies like Florida Hospital to be involved in events and facilities that are popular and attended by so many in the community. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, for example, signed a 10-year agreement that renames One Buc Place, home of the team’s training facility and business offices, to the Advent Health Training Facility. Zimmermann says he doesn’t expect the name change to be too difficult for locals to adjust to, especially hockey fans who have already been through Amalie Arena’s rebranding from the Ice Palace to the St. Pete Times Forum to its current name. “I think everyone in this area knows what we are, and that’s a sizable group,” says Zimmermann, who estimates it will cost AdventHealth about $250,000 to make all of the changes needed to rebrand FHCI.

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Business Notes: The Latest On Publix, Quail Hollow, Steak ’n Shake & More By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneightborhoodnews.com

The S.R. 56 corridor in Wesley Chapel, while still changing almost daily, has undergone a dramatic transformation over the past few years. And, it looks like S.R. 54 might be next in line for a whole new look. A host of new projects — Wawa, Chick-Fil-A, RaceTrac and some strip complexes with as-of-yet-unidentified retailers and restaurateurs, are currently under way. But, the biggest of all the projects is finally beginning: the Hollybrook Plaza Publix Super Market is expected to move from the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and S.R. 54 to behind the Walmart located right down the street. Construction plans have been filed with the county to begin work on the $4.4-million parcel in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI). Publix closed on its $3.3-million purchase of its share of the parcel in June. There also are plans in the county system to connect Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., which runs north and south through the DRI, to S.R. 54, where the road current ends at the Walmart. Also, just north of the future site

Construction has begun on S.R. 54 of a site that could be the future home of two new restaurants.

of Publix, construction has begun on a 12,600-sq.-ft. strip center (see picture) that West Palm Beach-based commercial developer John Dowd hinted at way back in May of 2016 at a Wesley Chapel Economic Development meeting. Dowd said at the time the that two restaurants had already signed up, but they are not named in the county filings, which list 5,610- and 6,995-sq.ft. spaces both labeled for future retail/ restaurant.

Club, but Pasco commissioners okayed the plan for proposed new homes in July 2017, and now construction plans have been filed with the county. The project will be called Siena Cove, and plans call for 379 single family detached homes to be built in five phases on 174 acres of what were formerly fairways and greens off of Old Pasco Rd.

PLAY BALL: Another sports bar is headed to Wesley Chapel. Just a few weeks before WalkFORE!: For more than a year, local On’s Bistreaux & Bar broke ground residents fought a proposal by owner (see pg. 42) in Cypress Creek Town Andres Carollo to build homes to reCenter North on Nov. 3 (across S.R. 56 place Quail Hollow Golf & Country

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from the Tampa Premium Outlets), representatives from Bubba’s 33 filed preliminary plans with Pasco County hoping to build right down the road, according to the Tampa Bay Times.. Bubba’s 33 will be located on Silver Maple Pkwy., off the south side of S.R. 56 and the east side of I-75, near the Texas Roadhouse that is already there. The founder of the Louisville, KY-based Texas Roadhouse, Kent Taylor, also started Bubba’s 33 in 2013. Boasting wall-to-wall televisions and a garage-like feel, Bubba’s 33’s menu offers your typical sports bar fare -- burgers, wings, pizza and beer -- but with housemade burger buns and pizza dough. It also serves a special burger blend with 33-percent ground bacon. GO TEAM!: Another sports-related business moving towards opening in Wesley Chapel has officially filed its site plans with the county. Main Event Entertainment, which will be located on the south side of S.R. 56 between the Tampa Premium Outlets and I-75, submitted construction plans on Oct. 9 to build a 49,608-sq.-ft. center that will feature state-of-the-art bowling, multi-level laser tag, gravity ropes adventure courses, billiards, video games and other enter-

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tainment, as well as a restaurant. Main Event Entertainment representatives initially met with the county on April 24, filing preliminary plans to build Main Event’s third Florida location, joining centers in Jacksonville and Orlando on International Dr. Main Event, which the company claims serves more than 20 million guests annually, also will offer full-service catering with private rooms that will appeal to large group events, and also is expected to bring roughly 150 full- and part-time jobs to the area. HOW CONVENIENT: First, it was a run on shopping, then restaurants, and then storage centers. Now, developers can’t seem to build gas station and convenience stores fast enough. There are at least four convenience stores that have submitted plans with the county that already have begun work in Wesley Chapel, most notably the Wawa on the northeast corner of S.R. 54 and BBD next to Walgreens. Wawa began construction last month. The others in the process include a RaceTrac on S.R. 54 at Vandine Rd., across the street from Freedom Plaza and approved last month, and a Circle K a little further east on S.R. 54 at Meadow Pointe Blvd., which was approved Nov. 7. A 7-Eleven on BBD is currently under construction at Vanguard St., just

south of the Shops at Wesley Chapel plaza across the street from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. SHAKES AND MORE: A new Steak ’n Shake has been approved for construction on S.R. 54 between the Palms Car Wash and the Ker’s Wing House of Wesley Chapel, and a Twistee Treat is headed to the Wesley Chapel Village Market just south of the Burger King on BBD at S.R. 54 Steak ’n Shake, founded in 1934 in Normal, IL, pioneered the concept of burgers — or, in its case, STEAKburgers — and milkshakes, according to its website. There are roughly a dozen locations in Tampa Bay, including one in New Tampa, but the Wesley Chapel location will be only the third one in Pasco County, joining locations in Port Richey and Trinity. Twistee Treat, which serves softserve ice cream, shakes and sundaes, is known for its 25-foot tall ice cream cone shaped building.

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Once the Pasco MPO gets a look at the options (red circles), Wesley Chapel and other Pasco County residents will have their say about which of these connections they would like to see, if any.

Pasco MPO To Get A Look At Possible Meadow Pointe Connections In December By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneightborhoodnews.com Following a few months in stagnation, the long-running debate about which, if any, roadway connections to make between the southern portion of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa’s K-Bar Ranch area will be renewed Dec. 13 when Pasco County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meets in Dade City. At the scheduled Pasco MPO meeting, its nine Board members will be presented a scaled-down version of the findings of the Wesley Chapel Roadways Study, which was presented to roughly 75 local residents on May 29. Ali Atefi, Pasco County’s transportation engineer, said originally the MPO was supposed to receive the report, compiled by consulting firm AECOM, in August, but a crowded agenda forced it to be postponed until next month. Once the MPO is presented the findings of the study, a citizen survey will be scheduled, likely for early spring. The online survey will be for Pasco County residents only, and will present the options for yes or no votes for various connections. The study looked at four potential solutions to connecting Wesley Chapel and K-Bar Ranch: (1) connecting Kinnan St. in New Tampa with Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe and K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to Meadow Pointe Blvd. (2) connecting only K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to Meadow Pointe Blvd. (3) doing all of the possible connections: Kinnan-Mansfield, K-Bar Ranch Pkwy.-Meadow Pointe Blvd., and Wyndfields Blvd. to K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. All three proposed connections, which are shown with red circles on the map above, have been in the county’s Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) for many years. There was also a fourth option — a 10

no-build option — that would put up a gate for emergency vehicles, which was very popular among constituents on both sides of the county line, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations at Kinnan-Mansfield, but no motor vehicle connection for general public use. Connecting Kinnan to Mansfield — with those two streets still separated by a 30-foot-or-so patch of dirt and bushes and whose linking has been a point of great contention between the two counties — was considered an alternative, but only in conjunction with the other connections The Roadways Study report states that Kinnan-Mansfield was not evaluated as a standalone connection. When presented this information, members of the public had a month to weigh in with their opinions, either with forms at the workshop or online. The responses, all of which were reviewed by the Neighborhood News, don’t offer many surprises. There were 12 forms filled out at the May presentation, with only one in favor of the Kinnan-Mansfield connection. Of the 175 emails we reviewed, 100 of them were actually forwarded responses from a Change.org petition. Among the remaining 75 emails, there were a number of duplicates, but 36 emails were clearly opposed to connecting Kinnan-Mansfield (though many were open to other connections) and six emails were in favor of connecting the two roads. Of course, these are the Pasco County responses only. Since the Wesley Chapel Roadways Study was finalized, the City of Tampa approved a rezoning that will permit M/I Homes to proceed with building 700 new homes in K-Bar Ranch, which borders Meadow Pointe directly to the south. The Pasco MPO is expected to make its recommendation in May, which would then place the final decision in the hands of the Pasco Board of County Commissioners for a potential vote in the summer.

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As Usual, Voters Deliver A Red Wave In Pasco & Wesley Chapel By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneightborhoodnews.com

The 2018 midterm elections were held on Nov. 6. The question as we went to press was: when are they actually going to end? While Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley once again showed why he is one of the best around — Pasco was the first one to produce completed voting results on election night — some of the other 66 counties in the state weren’t as fortunate. Reminiscent of the 2000 general election, officials in Broward County once again fumbled their vote tallying, helping to trigger massive recounts to decide the winners of the race between incumbent Democratic U.S. Senator Bill Nelson and his Republican challenger (and current Florida Governor) Rick Scott, and the governor’s race between Democrat Andrew Gillum and Republican Ron DeSantis. You get a recount and you get a recount and you get a recount! Although it appeared on election night that both Republican candidates had won by slim margins, at our press time, three days later, both races were too close to call. In Pasco County, however — where the voter turnout was a whopping 60.58 percent — they weren’t nearly as close. In the race for governor, DeSantis beat Gillum 57-41 percent, or 120,657 votes to 86,273. In the senatorial race, Scott was the choice by a similar margin, winning 57-42

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his District 4 seat, defeating Democratic challenger Brandi Geoit by a 63-37 percent margin. Meanwhile, in the race to be the State RepMike Moore & his family celebrate his win at Florida Hospital Center Ice. resentative percent, or 121,086 votes to 89,311. for Florida’s And, most of our local elections House District 38, which represents eastdelivered similar results, as District 2 com- ern Wesley Chapel at the state level, was missioner Mike Moore, a Republican, won retained by incumbent Danny Burgess by his re-election bid by winning the same 66-34 percent over David TK Hayes. percentage of votes, 59, that he did when In addition, the expected tough race he first won the seat back in 2014. for Republican Congressman Gus Bilirakis Moore captured 123,101 votes to never materialized, as he easily coasted 83,759 for Smith, a political neophyte past Democrat Chris Hunter to keep his running for office for the first time. spot as the U.S. Congressional Rep. for The votes for all county commisU.S. House District 12. Bilirakis won with sion seats, even though the candidates 58.1 percent of the vote. represent certain districts — in Moore’s Pasco has been a Republican strongcase, his District 2 includes most of Wesley hold for years, with Republicans holding Chapel— are cast countywide. a large lead of registered voters. In fact, Surprisingly, Smith did particularly Pasco County voters favored every Repubwell among voters actually voting in Wes- lican on the lengthy ballot. ley Chapel’s 13 precincts. In Wesley Chapel’s 13 precincts, Moore only defeated Smith 51.8 per- however, voters leaned slightly left, chooscent to 48.1 percent, and Smith actually ing Gillum and Nelson in their respective won five Wesley Chapel precincts. races, albeit by small margins. Fellow Republican incumbent county Gillum received 16,013 votes of the commissioner Mike Wells easily protected 31,915 cast, or 50.1 percent.

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DeSantis received 15,478 votes, or 48 percent. Gillum won seven of the 13 Wesley Chapel precincts. He had his biggest margins in the precincts that voted at the Northwood Community Center (+412 votes), those who voted at the New River Branch Library (+410), at Meadow Pointe III’s clubhouse (+363) and at Bridgeway Church on Wells Rd. (+296). DeSantis was nearly a 2-to-1 choice in Precinct 62, which votes at the St. Reweis Coptic Orthodox Church near Quail Hollow, picking up a 1,924-1,090 vote advantage. The numbers were similar between Scott and Nelson, with the incumbent faring very well in New River and the southern part of Wesley Chapel, near Meadow Pointe and Northwood, while Scott received more votes in the north. Voters in Pasco County also overwhelmingly voted to support three referendums for new fire stations and library and park improvements, and narrowly approved expanding the county jail by 1,000 beds. More than 70 percent of voters agreed to higher property taxes to help pay $70-million to the fire department, $18.6-milion to remodel libraries and $20-million for park improvements. However, the $132-million plan to expand the jail for Sheriff Chris Nocco also passed, but by only 1,546 votes of the 196,576 cast.

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New Tampa Residents Ask ‘Where Is Everybody Going?’ As nearby Wesley Chapel flourishes, New Tampa struggles with small & large businesses closing their doors. By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The shelves inside the Bed, Bath & Beyond store in Market Square at Tampa Palms, once filled with kitchenware, bed sheets, towels and candles, have been laid bare. Yellow papers were hung in the final days, declaring that what once occupied the shelves were now 50- or 75-percent off (see photo on next page). All that remained, it seemed, were cell phone chargers and knickknacks destined for your junk drawer. But now, it’s all gone. Another New Tampa store, another big business closing. In recent months, a number of highprofile and seemingly popular local stores have closed up shop in the 33647 zip code. In stark contrast, a few miles to the north, across the Hillsborough-Pasco county line, Wesley Chapel continues to grow and expand at a breakneck pace. So, what’s happening in New Tampa? Or rather, what’s not happening? At Market Square — which is still anchored by BJ’s Wholesale Club and located on Commerce Palms Dr. — three “big box” stores have closed in the past two years alone. HH Gregg, Staples and now Bed Bath & Beyond leave behind 79,471 square feet of now-vacant retail space. Elsewhere in New Tampa, restaurants like Casa Ramos in Tampa Palms, Ruby Tuesday and Dairy Queen on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. have closed in the last year, and right next to the old Dairy Queen, Oakley’s Grille has been sold twice. While the Dairy Queen space is reopening soon as a Jamaican restaurant, other local businesses have not been so quick to turn around. The old Romano’s Macaroni Grill site has twice been reborn as a Mexican restaurant, but neither lasted a year. Behind Oakley’s Grille, the old Sweetbay Supermarket (next to Home Depot) has been vacant since 2013 and is now merely an eyesore with a parking lot that serves mostly as a motel for semi tractor trailers. Further north, Beef O’Brady’s on Cross Creek Blvd. at Morris Bridge Rd. is empty two years after closing, and the old MidFlor-

ida bank in front of the same plaza has laid dormant even longer. Even non-chain restaurants, like popular Spanish restaurants Café Olé and Las Palmas, have shut down over the past six months. “It’s not a joke,” says Said Iravani, an engineering and environmental consultant who has lived in New Tampa for 17 years. “I think there are a few problems.” One of the most prominent, he says, is a lack of collective spirit, that begins in the local neighborhoods but extends to the commercial areas. New Tampa’s offerings also may be growing stale, he says, thanks to poor design and a lack of connectivity. With the exception of popular smaller chain restaurants like Glory Days, Ciccio Cali and Stonewood Grill & Tavern, and the popular Fat Rabbit Pub, Iravani thinks better choices for a day of shopping or a night out for dinner currently exist across the county line in Wesley Chapel, which wasn’t always so. “We seem disjointed,” says Iravani, who also thinks a lack of a town center, poor street exposure and lack of a destination such as a mall or something comparable to Florida Hospital Center Ice has created a series of one-stop-and-go plazas along BBD. District 7 Tampa City Council member and New Tampa resident Luis Viera, who has long argued for a less fragmented community and business district, agrees. “You don’t see (as many failing businesses) necessarily in South Tampa,” Viera says. “It’s a problem we need to address. This is a place with significant purchasing power. So why are retail and commercial not lasting here? We should try to get to the root of that.” Viera is quick to acknowledge that bigbox stores around the country are struggling in the face of the growing trend towards e-commerce. Businesses like Ruby Tuesday, Staples and HH Gregg aren’t just closing in New Tampa, they are closing hundreds of locations nationwide. Others, like Macy’s, JC Penney and Target, to name a few, have struggled as well in the face of the juggernaut called Amazon and other online sites. Viera, however, doesn’t think a “Oh-it’snot-just-us” approach is sufficient. He would like to seek out more ways to boost commer-

Among the major businesses that have gone dark recently in New Tampa are (clockwise from top left) Office Depot, Bed Bath & Beyond, Ruby Tuesday and HH Gregg. cial and retail vibrancy in New Tampa. entrance to the Hunter’s Green community “We need to be able to lure pioneers (only 3 miles south of the Pasco County out to New Tampa,” he says. line), is expected to include a New Tampa Long-time Tampa Palms resident and Cultural Center, New Tampa’s first (still now-former District 2 Hillsborough County unnamed) “green” grocer, a retail shopping Commissioner Victor Crist says it’s not time strip with restaurants and a community park. “Unfortunately, we have seen some to sound any alarms. He says the spate of traditional brick-and-mortar businesses closings in New Tampa is just part of the close or move north recently,” Comm. evolution of business and the economy, and Hagan says. “Much of this is due to brighter days are ahead for the area. He cites competition from e-commerce and shifting specifically the Hunter’s Lake project he and consumer behavior. That is why investing fellow commissioner Ken Hagan have championed for more than a decade, which could in a New Tampa cultural arts center could be the impetus for a New Tampa renewal. not occur at a better time.” “Our economy right now — in the counThe Villages of Hunter’s Lake has been try, in the state and in Hillsborough County — described as a potential downtown or town is very strong,” Crist says. “Those restaurants center area for local residents. “It will be new and different,” Comm. and businesses will soon be replaced by new ones that will come along and want to tap into Crist says. “I have been working with the developer and the county to attract new and our lucrative customer market. And, the new different businesses that New Tampa residents project will do exactly that.” The Villages at Hunter’s Lake, which want and would enjoy.” Crist, Hagan and Viera have all voted will be located across BBD from the main

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for the project at every opportunity. It is expected to break ground later this year or in early 2018. “People are putting a lot of hope in Hunter’s Lake, and I hope it moves the needle,” Viera says. The store closings in New Tampa also may appear more dire in the face of the unimpeded growth of Wesley Chapel, as new malls, town centers, hotels, restaurants and entertainment centers — like FHCI — are being added at a dizzying pace. Pasco County residents have fewer reasons to drive down BBD as they did even five years ago. But, is growth in Wesley Chapel responsible for causing New Tampa-area businesses to pack it in? “I would say no,” says Hope Allen, the CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, which serves the businesses in both communities. “I think a lot of these closures are not just happening here locally; they are happening everywhere. Retail is evolving and big box stores are trying to adjust. I don’t think Wesley Chapel has an impact on that.” Crist says that while Wesley Chapel may look like the more desirable location to spend your money these days, it’s only a matter of time before New Tampa adjusts to the changing landscape. “There’s definitely competition between the Hillsborough side and the Pasco side of Bruce B. Downs,” Crist says. “They are fresh, they are new. But, it’s just a matter of time before we retool and compete and push back. It’s all part of the process. The economy and the patronage is there in New Tampa to compete.” Allen agrees, and thinks that some out-

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There was a final feeding frenzy at New Tampa’s Bed Bath & Beyond store, which then closed its doors last month. with-the-old-and-in-with-something-new momentum could give New Tampa a new economic shine. “This is an opportunity to come out bigger and better, with something more relevant to the people that live there,” Allen says. “They should take a page out of the Wesley Chapel playbook.”

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North Tampa Bay Chamber Celebrates Excellence At The New Hyatt Place! Although I still don’t know how my fiancée Jannah McDonald ended up not winning the Volunteer of the Year award at the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) of Commerce’s annual “Excellence in Business” awards gala on Nov. 8, the gala held inside the beautiful Sierra Conference Center at the new Hyatt Place hotel on the north side of S.R. 56 was another amazing tribute to local businesses and business leaders. Damaris Rios, a retired NYPD officer who attends virtually every NTBC event and works at Pinot’s Palette, was able to beat out both Jannah and my former WCNT-tv partner Craig Miller for the Volunteer honors and there were a few other Wesley Chapel-based folks also grabbed awards during the gala, which was hosted by “ABC Action News” reporters Wendi Lane and Eric Waxler. Buttermilk Provisions (located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), which hosts monthly coffee socials for the Chamber, took home the Small Business of the Year honors, beating out 900º Woodfired Pizza at the Shops at Wiregrass (see ad on pg. 41) and Kona Ice. (Clockwise from above left) Dana Morris of Buttermilk ProDr. Kevin O’Farrell, the Provost of Pasco visions, Dr. Kevin & Dr. Mark O’Farrell, Damaris Rios & Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at former Pasco County administrator John Grant Wiregrass Ranch, took home the Business Leader Cheval Golf & Country Club and former Wesley Chapel of the Year award, beating out not only his faChamber chair Jeff Novotny’s American Consulting Engither, Dr. Mark O’Farrell of Trinity College, but also Chamneers, which owns the patent on and designed the Diverging ber Board member Roberto Saez of Design & Construction Diamond Interchange that will begin construction soon at Innovations (DCI), Inc. the S.R. 56 off of I-75. But, as the Chamber now also serves not only Wesley Former Pasco County administrator John Gallagher Chapel, but also most of Pasco and parts of Pinellas and won the Dorothy Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award Hillsborough counties, not all of the winners were “locals.” (which previously had been an award given by the Greater The New Business of the Year honors were grabbed by Pasco Chamber which became part of NTBC in January). the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in the Trinity area, beating Outgoing Board chair Jennifer Cofini also gave her out Chamber ambassador Kyymara Rosey’s Esthetics813 and Chairman’s award to O’Farrell and her Board Member of Noble Crust in the Shops at Wiregrass. the Year award to CPA David DeWeerd. — Gary Nager, The Large Business winner was the Shriners Hospital photos by Steve Miller of Stephen John Photography (see pg. 46). for Children on the USF Tampa campus, which beat out

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Legacy At Highwoods Preserve Resident Celebrates Her 106th Birthday In Style! By Gary Nager My mother’s mother lived until three weeks before her 92 birthday and my beloved Nana’s older sister lived until a week before her 100th birthday, so long life thankfully runs in my family. Even so, both my Nan and Great Aunt Molly were still quite a few years younger when they passed than New Tampa resident Frances Brassey, who just celebrated her 106th birthday last month. Frances is a resident of The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve Assisted Living & Memory Care (a Lifewell Senior Living community), located at 18600 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. (where West Meadows meets Richmond Place in New Tampa) who was born on October 4, 1912 “the same year the Titanic sunk,” Frances reminded folks in attendance at her birthday party at The Legacy. Frances got to celebrate her 106th birthday with her son Wayne and her daughter-in-law Dorothy at an event attended not only by her family and the other residents and staff at The Legacy, but also by then-District 38 State Rep. Shawn Harrison and then-District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist (both were denied re-election on Nov. 6; see page 8), who not only posed for pictures and chatted with Frances and her family, they also each brought a framed item for Frances to keep. Comm. Crist’s was a proclamation, signed by all seven commissioners, that said, “The Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners is pleased to recognize Frances Brassey on the celebratory occasion of her 106th birthday, and applauds her for uplifting, inspiring and sharing knowledge with people throughout her well-traveled life.” Meanwhile, Rep. Harrison brought a framed letter he wrote to Frances that said, “It’s good to be able to celebrate with you again. I’m so happy to share this special day with you. You are a great inspiration, and I’m sure your full life has impacted many people in many positive ways.” Although I didn’t get to talk to Frances because

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I got there a little late, as the party went into it’s third hour, I could see how much Frances loves The Legacy and her fellow residents. And, when asked about the secret to her long life, Frances said, “drinking a Coke a day,” which is not only a pretty decent testament to Coca-Cola, it also reminded me of something said at a luncheon following my Great Aunt Molly’s funeral, which was held at a Jewish delicatessen in North Miami. My cousin Arthur, the younger of Molly’s sons, asked everyone to raise their sandwich as he said, “Mom, you always said the salted, cured meats and French fries were the secrets to long life, and after almost 100 years of life, who could argue with you?” I’m pretty sure no one’s arguing with Frances, either. The Legacy also recently welcomed two new toplevel staff members — executive director Virginia Rice and chef Dennis Millet. For more information about or to schedule a tour of The Legacy, see the ad on pg. 17 (right), visit LegacyatHighwoodsPreserve. com or call (813) 375-9858.

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NOVEMBER 2018

Friday, November 16 - Wednesday, November 21

Stano Foundation & Avalon Park West Donations for the Troops! - The Stano Foundation is partnering with Avalon Park West to help send 750 care packages to our troops overseas by Christmas time and they need your help! Donations can be dropped off at the Stano donation box located at the Avalon park West Information Center at (33613 SR 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543), or by visiting Stano.org/donate.

Friday, November 16

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets the 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month, 7:15 a.m., at Happy Hangar Cafe( 4241 Birdsong Blvd.). For info, call Kathy Schenck at (813) 956-4436. Drive-Thru Prayer - Every Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). You will find us in front of the church, under the portico. Trained members of our Caring Ministry Team are available to share your cares and concerns in prayer while you stay seated in your car. Everyone is welcome.

Saturday, November 17

Community Parking Lot Sale - At Florida Medical Clinic (38135 Market Square, Zephyrhills), you can come sell or shop just in time for the holidays! Free to attend or shop. To reserve a 15’x20’ space for $2, please visit fmcfoc.org. For more information, contact the FMC Foundation of Caring at foundation@fmcfoc.org or call (813) 406-4499. Third Annual Sean Bartell Memorial Foundation Quarter Auction Fund Raiser - Join the Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel (33425 S.R. 54), 5 p.m.-8 p.m., for the 3rd annual Quarter Auction Fund Raiser! $10 admission includes dinner and your first bidding paddle; additional paddles are available for purchase. For more information, contact spbfoundation@ hotmail.com, p_bartell@Verizon.net or call Paul @ (813) 416-9238.

Sunday, November 18

Best Of The Best Car Show - From 8:30 a.m-11:30 a.m., come down to the Shops at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.) for Mason Dixon’s 18th Annual Best of the Best Car Show! Bring your old car and help raise funds for needy Tampa Bay families. The show is free to the public! To register for a space, or for more information, visit ChristmasWishTampa.com or call Mark at (813) 417-2483.

Monday, November 19

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

principles. Dinner & free childcare available. Call (813) 907-1313. Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 2018 - The Rotary Club of New Tampa presents the 6th annual Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 5K. See page 1 for more info.

Friday, November 23

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

Tuesday, November 27

Wesley Chapel Lions Club - The Wesley Chapel Lions meet every 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m., at the Lexington Oaks Community Center (26304 Lex. Oaks Blvd.). For info about volunteering, community efforts, meetings, helping the vision impaired & more, visit WesleyChapelLionsClub.com or the club’s page on Facebook. East Pasco Networking Group - Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 a.m. at IHOP, 13100 US 301, Dade City. For info, contact Nils Lenz, 813782-9491 or nilslenz@gmail.com.

DECEMBER 2018 Saturday, December 8

Avalon Aglow - Enjoy a magical night of fireworks, pictures with Santa, bounce houses, community performances and much more! Located at 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive, Wesley Chapel, FL 33545 from 5 p.m-8 p.m, Avalon Park West’s Avalon aglow is free and fun for the whole family.

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Wednesday, November 21

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

Thursday, November 22

BNI Networking Meeting - Business professionals are invited to attend this networking organization’s meetings on Thursdays, 7:30 a.m., at Savannah Church (3758 Maryweather Lane, off BBD Blvd., behind Dunkin’ Donuts). For more info, call Kyle Flischel at (813) 815-0250. RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for networking at GrillSmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch is noon-1 p.m. For more info, visit RGANetwork.net. Celebrate Recovery - Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bridgeway Church (30660 Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based 18

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Massage Envy Is Celebrating Nearly A Decade Of Making Wesley Chapel Feel Better! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Massage Envy Wesley Chapel has so much more to offer than just Licensed Massage Therapy (LMT). With Massage Envy’s many skin care options, members and guests can enjoy a facial, add total body skin care to their massage, or combine the two for one incredible “spa day.” Located just south of S.R. 56 on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (in the same plaza as Nutrition Smart), Massage Envy has been helping the residents of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel feel better since it first opened back in 2009. The Wesley Chapel location owned by Bobbi Royak is part of a national franchise based in Scottsdale, AZ. Founded in 2002, Massage Envy today has more than 1,170 franchised locations in 49 states that have together delivered more than 135 million massages and facials. “We’ve been in the Wesley Chapel market for (almost) 10 years,” Bobbi says. “One thing we try to do better than anyone else is customer service. We have some customers — and therapists — who have been with us since we opened.” With about 35 licensed massage therapists on staff, Massage Envy offers both earlier and later hours than most of its competitors — until 10 p.m. most nights — so you can make an appoint-

ment for your massage at the most convenient time for your schedule. “We offer memberships, which most people do because the cost is much lower than the non-member rate, especially to come on a regular basis,” says Sondra Davis, the Wesley Chapel assistant manager, adding that the cost of membership includes one massage per month, with a discounted price for additional massages the same month. While Massage Envy has a large staff, Sondra and fellow assistant manager Carissa Epstein emphasize that when customers come in, the entire staff makes it feel personal for each client. “Our therapists treat Whether you simply want to relax or you need help with everyday aches everyone like family,” says Carissa. “They really and pains, check out Massage Envy on BBD Blvd., just south of S.R. 56. get to know their clients’ feeling good and knowing someone cares bodies, and can give advice and (create) about them.” customized plans.” Bobbi explains that while some peoSondra agrees. ple who come in for a massage just want “We aren’t just the ‘big chain’ that to relax, others are dealing with injuries. people think we are,” she says. “Our “Our therapists are well trained in all guests and members leave here both of the different modalities to target the

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needs of each customer,” she says. “Every customer is different and has different needs, whether it’s massage or skincare, and we have a service to help them.” All massages are customized for the individual. “You pay for the duration of your massage,” says Carissa, “not the type.” You could choose a sports massage or deep tissue massage, for example, or a combination of both. Other massage types include Swedish, prenatal and geriatric massages and trigger point therapies. Many people don’t necessarily know what type of massage they want. That’s okay. When you call to make an appointment, the front desk staff will take the time needed to match you with the right therapist, based on what you’re looking for and the therapist’s specialties. Whether you’re looking to relax or to relieve pain from arthritis, tension headaches, everyday aches and pains or something else, Massage Envy can customize a program to help you. “Our goal is to make you feel better,” says Carissa.

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Bruce and Linda Danzis are Meadow Pointe residents who discovered Massage Envy more than eight years ago. “I suffer from MS (multiple sclerosis) and my walk isn’t the best,” says Bruce, “so I was always getting knots in my back. I saw a chiropractor for 25

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years, and that did nothing.” Then, an acquaintance suggested he try his first deep tissue massage at Massage Envy. “I went to try it and it was phenomenal,” says Bruce, who now gets a deep tissue massage twice a month and says most of the time, he stays pain-free. “Deep tissue massages have helped me unbelievably.” Bruce says that over the years, he’s had deep tissue massages from several of the LMTs at the Wesley Chapel Massage Envy, and all have provided a quality massage that has relieved his pain 100 percent. “They always ask me how it feels,” Bruce says, “If my lower back is not good, they continue to work on it until it’s satisfactory.” Bruce loved Massage Envy so much, he encouraged his wife to get a massage, too. Linda saw the difference it made for her husband, and decided she would give it a try. Linda says that before she went to Massage Envy, she was never even interested in having a massage. “I thought it was a luxury thing,” she says. “But now, doing it, I understand it more and it really is a necessity. It makes your body feel so much better.” Not only does Linda feel more relaxed and calm after a massage, she says that it has helped with pain relief for her, as well. “One time I threw out my back and couldn’t walk,” she says. “My massage

you,” he says, “From the people at the desk to the manager, everyone there is beyond nice. They are so accommodating and couldn’t be any nicer if they tried. They take care of us and are just excellent.” That’s what Bobbi, the franchise owner, always wants and expects to hear. “We focus on wellness and making a difference in people’s lives,” Bobbi says. “People ask me why I got into this business. I got into it because it helps people who want to get massages and those who need to — and we cater to both.”

Don’t Forget About Your Skin

Not only does Linda now get a massage each month at Massage Envy, she says she gets facials there now, too. Among Massage Envy’s Massage Envy’s Licensed Massage Therapists are available most popular skin treatment options are microderm infuon your schedule and offer a variety of treatments. sion, an exfoliating treatment therapist got me feeling better. Anytime that adds serum into the skin, anything happens, you think you might as well as chemical peels. go to the doctor or pop a pill or go to a There also are enhancements to chiropractor, but I go to Massage Envy.” your full body massage, such as Cy-Me Bruce also appreciates the warmth (pronounced “see me”) boosts, which of the staff. are Massage Envy’s exclusive serums that “The best part of it is when you are infused into the massage lotion to walk in, everyone is so happy to see treat the whole body, in formulas such as

hydrating, firming and clarifying. Other massage enhancements available at Massage Envy include total body stretching. Carissa says it’s an assisted stretching program that includes breathing techniques to help clients relax. “It’s good for athletes,” Carissa says. “Golfers and tennis players especially love it, either in conjunction with their massage or on its own.”

Got To Have ‘Percussion?’

Massage Envy also offers a technique called percussion, which uses a vibrating massage device prior to your massage, with the client fully clothed. Carissa says 10 minutes of percussion, which is meant to be a massage enhancement, is equivalent to 30 minutes with the massage therapist using his or her hands. Massage Envy is involved in the community, too. “We donate a lot of massages back to the community for school auctions and events,” says Bobbi. “We are very involved in those kinds of things; we like to be part of the community.” Massage Envy Wesley Chapel is located at 1821 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 124. It is open Monday.-Friday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m., from 9 a.m.–9 p.m. on Saturday and 9 a.m.– 8 p.m. on Sunday. For more information or to make an appointment, visit MassageEnvy.com, call (813) 948-5600 or see the ad on page 16 of this issue.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • November 16, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Creativity Unpinned Offers Unique Gifts, Artisan-Created Crafts & More! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Bracelets made from recycled t-shirts. Moving, metal art made from nuts and bolts that look just like a dog, a scuba diver and even a Minion from “Despicable Me.” There also are margarita glasses that seem to belong in a chemistry lab. There’s something special about the kinds of hand-made, artisan-created treasures you can find at a weekend craft fair. At Creativity Unpinned, you don’t have to wait for the weekend or take a long drive to find unique gifts. Owner Wendy O’Neill says that it’s like the craft fair comes to you, all in one convenient place, available whenever the mall is open. Creativity Unpinned is one of the newer stores at the Shops at Wiregrass, and is located in the space that was formerly occupied by the Gymboree store. It opened in April, and since then, Wendy says more and more customers are discovering her many one-of-a-kind items that are either the perfect gift — or even the perfect find for themselves. At Creativity Unpinned, 56 different artisans currently rent space to share their hand-crafted treasures. “Everybody’s stuff is different,” Wendy explains, saying that all but three of her artisans are local. She also explains that 80 percent of what’s in the store is hand-made, while the other 20 percent is a collection of unique lines of items, such as Mozi rings, or their glow-in-the-dark counterparts, Glozi rings. “They are crazy fun,” Wendy says, showing off the unique contraption that is somewhat reminiscent of the old Slinky, but instead rolls up and down your arms and can be passed from person to person. “We like to be interactive,” she says, so she hands the toy to anyone who wants to try it in the store. Creativity Unpinned is filled with handmade items so that everyone can find something special, such as tooth fairy pillows, hand-drawn artwork and cards, stunning photography, doll outfits and hand-painted glassware. There’s a Christmas section with the eye-catching and fun Deb’s Tacky Sweaters. “They are hilarious,” Wendy says, showing off sweaters, sweater vests — even

a dress — decorated with outrageously tacky ornaments, sure to be the talk of any Christmas party. Many other Christmas-themed gifts are available, too, such as dish towels and “Santa Cam” ornaments. Wendy also says that items throughout the store reflect popular themes, such as unicorns or mermaids, which are hot sellers right now. Book pillows are a popular item, she says, with a pocket sewn into the pillow that you can tuck a book into. The vendor who makes the book pillows even provides a free book of the customer’s choice with the purchase of a pillow. See something you like but it’s not exactly right? Because most of the store’s items are handmade, nearly anything at Creativity Unpinned can be custom-made, such as a book pillow customized to complement your child, grandchild, niece or nephew’s favorite bedtime story. Wendy says her customers love their pets, and items throughout the store with pet themes also are popular. Plus, you can order a personalized caricature of your pet, or pick out handmade clothes for your pooch — anything from a leather jacket to a bathrobe. Creativity Unpinned also features a wide variety of price points, since vendors set their own prices. There’s even a line of kids’ items that is priced intentionally so kids can choose something they can

buy with their own allowance money. Wendy says there is room for about 75 vendors in the store, but that there is a waiting list for several types of artisans, such as those who create jewelry. “We want a nice variety of jewelry,” says Wendy, which she says she now has with different artistic influences from countries such as Venezuela and Mexico, a variety of materials from natural items such as flowers and leaves to Italian glass. “But, we don’t want to become a jewelry store.” She says she looks for high quality, and she has turned vendors away whose quality wasn’t up to her standards. “We give creative entrepreneurs the opportunity to own a business,” Wendy says. “It amazes me what our artisans come

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • November 16, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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up with. They really blow me away.” Creativity Unpinned sometimes does classes and special events, such as the class on making shadowboxes that was taught after hours one Sunday evening.

Fund Raisers, Too!

A recent fund raiser allowed each vendor at Creativity Unpinned to choose a charity they would like to support. Shoppers voted for their favorite one, and the winning charity – Trinity Outreach – will receive $500, the proceeds of a special sale

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of items donated for the event. “It raised awareness for charities,” explains Wendy, “and people had fun with it.” Creativity Unpinned has three employees, and like Wendy, they are all dedicated to top-notch customer service. “We’ll point out things to you and tell you the back story that makes an item even more interesting,” Wendy says. “We can do that because these items aren’t mass produced.” She emphasizes that she wants customers to come in and touch and smell and feel the products, which is something her vendors appreciate. Fir example, there is Rhonda McDaniel’s line of artisan soaps, called A Caring Touch Skin Therapy.

“I love being a vendor at Creativity Unpinned because my products are available to customers at the mall,” Rhonda says. “I like shopping there myself.” While she mostly sells her products online, she likes that her website now tells people they can visit Creativity Unpinned to see her products in person. Rhonda says she loves interacting with the customers who are interested in her artisan soaps. “When I go in the store, I can see their excitement about the product and answer their questions,” she says. Creativity Unpinned is located at 28163 Paseo Dr., #180. For more information, search “Creativity Unpinned” on Facebook, call (813) 575-9605, or see the ad on page 30.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • November 16, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Let The Specialists At Florida Orthopaedic Institute Relieve Your Aches & Pains clinical and physical therapy space. The practice’s physicians currently include not only Dr. Baker, but also Brian Palumbo, M.D., Timothy Epting, D.O., and Adil Samad, M.D. To learn more about each of the doctors’ specialties, training and education, visit the practice website at FloridaOrtho.com.

BY CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

The Wesley Chapel office of Florida Orthopaedic Institute is expanding to meet the needs of our community. Located in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., directly across BBD from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC), the local office opened in 2015 and is part of the largest orthopaedic practice in Florida, which originally opened in North Tampa nearly 30 years ago. The practice has since grown to serve patients in 10 offices in the Tampa Bay area: Bloomingdale, Brandon, Brooksville, Citrus Park, North Tampa, Northdale, Palm Harbor, South Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Sun City. Two of the practice’s facilities — North Tampa (off E. Fletcher Ave.) and Citrus Park — house specially-designed orthopaedic surgery centers. Surgery also can be performed at one of 25 affiliated hospitals, including FHWC. With 150 providers on its staff, including 40 Board-certified and fellowship-trained physicians and orthopaedic surgeons, Florida Orthopaedic Institute has medical professionals to treat any orthopaedic issue, whether it involves your bones, muscles or joints. The Wesley Chapel office offers physician services, as well as physical therapy and X-rays. Because all doctors at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute are both Board-certified and fellowship-trained, they are all specialists with additional training, not just generalists in orthopaedics.

Injuries & Pain

All of the orthopaedic physicians at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute office in Wesley Chapel, including Dr. Timothy Epting (right), are Board-certified and fellowship-trained. They can treat any orthopaedic issue, from sports injuries to the aches and pains associated with aging.

“This additional training is just part of what sets us apart,” says Christopher Baker, M.D., one of the practice’s specialists who works at the Wesley Chapel office. “Especially when the sophisticated work of joints is involved. In order to keep our patients active, the precision of the treatment is paramount to success.” Board certification is an extra step

requiring the certification of the skills in each doctor’s specialty by a Board of their peers. Surgeons are fellowship-trained for an additional year in their orthopaedic sub-specialties, which may include shoulder, spine, foot, ankle or trauma. Currently, the Wesley Chapel office has four physicians, although the local office is being expanded to include additional

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • November 16, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Whether it’s a strain, sprain, slip-&fall or sports-related injury that causes you to need the care of an orthopaedic physician, when these injuries occur, the doctors at Florida Orthopaedic Institute encourage you to consult with one of them for all of your post-injury treatment and care. Not only does Florida Orthopaedic Institute have the largest group of physicians and surgeons in the orthopaedic field in the entire state of Florida, the doctors also use state-of-the-art equipment and cutting-edge techniques to aid in your recovery. While the group is made up of many, varied providers, they all share the same focus. Their first goal is to provide excellence in clinical outcomes — in other words, to be sure that their patients recover from their injuries as quickly and well as possible. In addition, these orthopaedists strive to provide an exceptional patient experience in an environment that fosters growth through teaching, education and research in all aspects of musculoskeletal medicine.

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SPOTLIGHT ON...Andy OnCall Tampa Bay!

With 150 providers on staff at its ten offices, Florida Orthopaedic Institute is the state’s largest orthopaedic practice. Dr. Christopher Baker (left) and Dr. Brian Palumbo (right) are two of the specialists at the group’s Wesley Chapel office, located across BBD from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

With patient care as their primary focus, Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s skilled medical professionals can provide the best orthopaedic solutions for all bone, joint, ligament and muscle injuries. Educating patients is a core philosophy for the entire practice, with surgeons who encourage patients to seek out options to ensure that they are getting a doctor who is experienced in treating their particular type of injury. Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s philosophy is to first employ all non-surgical methods to increase mobility and function, including medication, bracing, injections, physical/occupational therapy, and in-house chiropractic treatment. Surgery is the final solution when all of these other options prove ineffective. “There are a lot of options other than surgery,” says Dr. Baker. “Our mission is to do what is best for each individual patient.” Those individual patients may come to Florida Orthopaedic Institute because they have experienced a sports-related injury. For families with student athletes, kids who experience an injury, or weekend warriors, these doctors know just how to care for bones, joints, ligaments and muscles that are injured during athletic pursuits. The practice touts its sports medicine program as the largest and most advanced in the entire Tampa Bay area.

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Florida Orthopaedic Institute physicians treat hundreds of patients every week. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Lightning, Mutiny, Rowdies and Storm — as well as many local schools and universities — have used doctors affiliated with the practice for their own team physicians. Other patients who find care and relief at Florida Orthopaedic Institute are those who are experiencing pain and discomfort related to aging. There’s a myth that as people age, they have to live with pain. However, Florida Orthopaedic Institute treats patients who have pain stemming from aging or injury, including foot, ankle, hip, knee, hand, wrist, shoulder or elbow pain. The practice’s doctors provide hip and knee arthritis management, joint replacement surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery, when those other options are needed. As these needs are already prevalent in our community and will continue to grow, Florida Orthopaedic Institute continues to grow its Wesley Chapel office to serve the residents of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Wesley Chapel office is located at 2653 BBD and is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. The North Tampa office is located at 13020 N. Telecom Pkwy. For more info, visit FloridaOrtho. com, call (800) FL-ORTHO (3567846), or see the ad on page 5.

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To-do lists are a lot more fun when you can find someone else “to-do” them. Enter Andy OnCall, a licensed, bonded and insured one-call solution for home improvements, maintenance and remodels. Sometimes, it’s just small, nagging repairs that you just can’t get around to or can’t quite find the right part for at the local “superstore.” In both cases, Andy OnCall can help. Even with something as simple as hanging picture frames, hanging some shelves or installing a pet door, a screened and certified craftsman will come to your home and leave you with a completed job and a one-year warranty on the labor. Andy OnCall craftsmen prefer to finish jobs, too. Taking into consideration large projects that take a little longer — like say, a whole new kitchen, or extensive plumbing work — co-owner Reggie Morgan estimates that 80 percent of the jobs his Andy OnCall handles are completed in a matter of weeks, days or even (in some cases) hours. Andy OnCall covers the entire spectrum of home repair, even if it’s not one of their craftsmen handling the job. “We don’t physically do roofs but we have roofing contractors that work for us,” Morgan says. “If we can’t do it, we will find someone who can. Rather than you calling five different people, we can do that (for you). We are a one-stop shop.” Morgan says his employees aren’t only equipped for typical handyman tasks; they also are skilled enough to allow Andy OnCall to expand into remodeling, particularly bathrooms and kitchens. “Just call us for a free consultation,” he

says. “We can help create your dream package.” Andy OnCall doesn’t just hire anyone. “Most guys have a minimum 10 years of experience when they come to us,” Morgan says. “That’s 10 years, verifiable, with their own truck and tools.” Andy OnCall carries insurance that covers the company’s employees, including their employees’ vehicles, while they are on the job, and is licensed for electrical, plumbing and air-conditioning (HVAC) work. Craftsmen split the rates set by Andy OnCall with the company and are paid by the job and not by the hour. And, Andy OnCall offers free estimates for jobs. “We will actually go out to the site to evaluate your needs,” Morgan says. “There’s no obligation but we don’t give estimates over the phone.” If you’ve been putting off a repair or need someone to tackle your to-do list, call Andy on Call at (813) 9612600 or swing by the office at 5008 W. Linebaugh Ave., Suite 35, Tampa, to set up an appointment for service or a free estimate. The office is open Mon.Fri., 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.. Visit AndyOnCallTampaBay.com or see the ad on page 45 for more information.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • November 16, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Lulu Brings Her Mobile Spray Tans To Your Home — It’s Fast, Safe & It Works! By Gary Nager; Photos by Gavin Olsen

So one day, I get a call at the office from a guy who was interested in advertising. That’s not unusual — we get half a dozen or so such calls every day — but this one was particularly intriguing to me because my fiancée Jannah had asked me literally the day before if I knew anyone who did spray tans. Well, it just so happened that the gentleman who called was Robert Shanstrom, whose wife Luisa goes by Lulu, and they were interested in advertising their mobile spray tanning business. Maybe it was just a coincidence, or maybe it was fate, because Jannah has now gotten a spray tan from Lulu, a 12-year, master custom-airbrush technician, about twice a month for the last three months, and we’ve all become friendly, in part because of the amazing work that Luisa does. After Luisa and Robert got married in 2005, they opened a very successful tanning salon in South Tampa. But today, the Shanstroms live in Wesley Chapel and wanted to do something closer to home. When they got married in 2005, Lulu and Robert opened their tanning salon with both tanning beds and spray tan machines. “The actual spray-gun technology hasn’t changed much since then,” Lulu says. “It’s a lot like what my dad used to use to spray paint our cars in our garage. What’s changed a lot are the products used. The products we have today give you a tan that really looks natural, with a brown glow,” rather than the orange color made famous by celebrities like Alex Rodriguez and even President Trump. “The browner, more natural-looking

products, called Swoosh, were first developed about six years ago,” she adds, “and I actually started testing them as far back as 2008-09. I really have seen it all in this business.”

It’s A Process...

Before Lulu visits your home to give you your spray tan, she has you watch a couple of videos that show you how to properly prep for your tan. She says the preparation is important if you want her to be able to provide you with the best possible results. Then, from the moment Lulu arrives at your door (you can follow the sequence clockwise from the top left photo above; and no, that is not Jannah in the pics), the entire process takes only about 20 minutes. She comes in and talks with you about how dark you want or think you should get, and then sets up her spray tan tent (it’s the pink background in the pics on these pages) in a matter of a few seconds and preps you for your tan with nose plugs. Then, she sprays you front and back, making sure to evenly cover all exposed areas (you can, but don’t have to, wear a bathing chose (and it gets darker throughout that day), suit for the process, for those who want a truly she takes down the tent and leaves you looking all-over tan) and within minutes, your pale skin and feeling better than when she arrived. is the agreed-to available shade of brown you And, speaking of convenience, Lulu says that by being mobile, she is able to help young moms who can’t or don’t want to have to bring their young children to a tanning salon. Jannah adds that Lulu is “super-sweet and very professional, easy to work with and, so quick that she really makes it easy to fit a spray tan into a busy schedule.” The key, of course, is to have enough time after the spray tan to let it dry properly for the best results, but everyone notices Jannah’s deep, even tan every time she gets one and the full effect lasts for a week to ten days, so Jannah regularly schedules her appointments about two weeks apart.

OK, But Is It Safe?

Lulu says that safety is most people’s biggest concern when it comes to tanning, whether outdoors, in a tanning bed or a spray tan, “but the spray tans being used

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today are very safe. First of all, the product is applied to the top layers of the skin and isn’t absorbed all the way to your bloodstream.” Even so, according to a number of recent news reports about spray tanning, that active ingredient, known as DHA (Dihydroxyacetone), is really a sugar and has been evaluated by the FDA in external applications, but not when you get the product in your mouth or nose (which is why she has you keep your mouth closed and provides clean nose plus for each client). The FDA also does not recommend spray tanning for those under the age of 15, but currently has no position about its safety for adults, especially if you don’t get it in your mouth or breathe it in. So, if you want to look your best, whether all the time or to look even better in that special dress or outfit, I hope you’ll give Lulu a call today, and please tell her I sent you because you’ll get $10 off your first session! To schedule an appointment, call (813) 549-9108, visit SprayTanbyLulu.com or see the ad on pg. 25 of this issue.

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Construction Of Cypress Creek Middle School Is Under Way; Plus, Hurricane Help By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

At its meeting on October 16, the Pasco County School Board approved a contract for Ajax Building Corporation to begin construction on Cypress Creek Middle School. The school site is located adjacent to the current Cypress Creek Middle High School on Old Pasco Rd. Construction is expected to be completed by June 2020, and the school will open to new students in grades six through eight that fall for the 2020-21 school year. When Cypress Creek Middle opens, the current Cypress Creek Middle High will be converted to a high school only. That school’s younger students will transfer to the new middle school campus next door. Mike Gude is director of construction services and code compliance for Pasco County Schools. He says the school is being built with the continuing growth of Wesley Chapel in mind. “There will be 1,600 student seats,” he says of Cypress Creek Middle School. “That is larger than the middle schools we’ve built in the past because of the area it’s in.” The school will include a three-story classroom building of nearly 80,000 square feet, plus a multi-purpose building of more than 55,000 square feet, a 24,000-squarefoot gymnasium, and a two-story administration building of 33,0000 square feet. “In addition to typical school spaces,” Gude says, “the fine arts wing will include not

only band and music and chorus rooms, but there will also be a small black box theatre that will be for students to learn performing arts and technical aspects like lighting and theatre rigging.” Cypress Creek Middle School will cost $40 million to build. While the school site is adjacent to Cypress Creek Middle High, Gude says the construction won’t affect those students. “We won’t even use the entrance to the existing school,” he says. “We’ll come onto the construction site from a different entrance.” Pasco County Schools has worked with the Oldsmar-based Ajax Building Corporation before. Gude says the last school they con-

structed was Sanders Memorial Elementary in Land O’Lakes, which was completed in 2015. Pasco County Schools doesn’t typically do groundbreaking ceremonies, but a dedication ceremony will be held once the school has been completed.

Pasco Employees, Buses Help With Hurricane Recovery After Hurricane Michael devastated Florida’s panhandle on October 16, employees from Pasco County Schools stepped in to do what they could to help. The district gave 20 buses (photo) to the Bay County school district, which includes Panama City. On November 1, school bus drivers

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • November 16, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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from Bay District Schools traveled to Pasco County, where they each drove a bus back to Bay County. Pasco’s Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning was on hand to welcome the bus drivers. He thanked employees who collected donations to fill one of the buses with supplies for the people of the area, such as bottled water. In addition, Pasco County Schools sent 21 maintenance employees to Bay District Schools for a week of work to prepare the schools to reopen to students on Nov. 12. The crew, which left on Nov. 3, included laborers and experts in site development, tree trimming/heavy equipment, electricity, HVAC, carpentry, plumbing, and mechanics. “I can’t imagine what our colleagues are going through in the Panhandle, and we just wanted to give them the same kind of support I know they would give to us if we were in the same situation,” said Browning. It appears at least some of those affected by Hurricane Michael have taken notice. “You all are awesome,” posted Susan Holt Stanley on Facebook. “Thank you so much for all your county has done to help us in the Panhandle.” Another Facebook user, Kellie Banks, posted, “I have a child in Pasco County Schools and a child in Bay District Schools. I can’t begin to express the gratitude of how much compassion and help I’ve seen from Pasco to my hometown of Bay County.”

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Spend less time recovering and more time

rediscovering life. Get back on your feet faster with minimally invasive knee or hip surgery Don’t let knee or hip pain sidetrack you from getting the most out of life. Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel offers advanced, robotics options for a wide range of common surgical procedures. For example, our MakoTM robotic arm-assisted orthopedic surgeries offer many benefits including smaller incisions, less scarring, less pain and a more rapid recovery. We’ll help you pick up the pace to recovery with advanced, minimally invasive surgery at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

Explore MakoTM assisted surgery options:

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Find an orthopedic expert at FloridaOrthoExperts.com | (844) 85-ORTHO For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 24 • November 16, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Pasco County’s Principal Of The Year Is Cypress Creek’s Carin Hetzler-Nettles! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Cypress Creek Middle High School principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles was vacationing in Europe on Nov. 4, when she got an unexpected video call from Kurt Browning, the Superintendent of Pasco County Schools. “Hey, Carin,” Browning said, “I know you’re in the middle of vacation, but we wanted to let you know that you are Pasco’s Principal of the Year.” Hetzler-Nettles was chosen to represent Pasco County Schools as its nominee for Florida’s Principal of the Year. “Carin’s colleagues nominated her from among all district principals,” says Linda Cobbe, public information officer for Pasco County Schools. “The nominations were narrowed to three finalists, based on the number of votes each received, and then we had a vote among all administrators for District Principal of the Year, and she won.” School Board chair Cynthia Armstrong and School Board member Colleen Beaudoin joined Browning on the call, which was posted on Pasco County Schools’ Facebook page, and offered their congratulations. “We’re excited for you,” Browning said. “You’re a great principal. We’re excited about what you’ve done in the district and what you’re doing at Cypress Creek.” “Thank you so much,” HetzlerNettles responded, smiling. “I appreciate it. I’m very humbled.” Hetzler-Nettles, “embodies what a

(L.-r.) Pasco School Board chair Cynthia Armstrong, School Board member Colleen Beaudoin and Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning tell a vacationing Carin Hetzler-Nettles that she has been named Pasco County’s Principal of the year via Facetime. leader is,” said the nomination. “She drives the learning community forward in every way, while supporting staff growth. She always places kids first.” “She’s an awesome teacher, mentor and friend,” says Tim Light, an assistant principal at Cypress Creek who has worked with Hetzler-Nettles since 2011. “I’m the administrator I am because of her.” Light says that Hetzler-Nettles is deserv-

ing of the designation because of her hard work and commitment to opening Cypress Creek, which opened in the fall of 2017, and her dedication to building the community within the school and all of its stakeholders. It was no easy task, say those who laud Hetzler-Nettles for her success. She had to find the right balance and build unity at Cypress Creek with students — not all of whom were happy to be switch-

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ing schools after the rezoning process — from three high schools, three middle schools and several elementary schools. Hetzler-Nettles was not only tasked with bringing these diverse groups together, but with it being a brand new school, also was responsible for things like figuring out furniture to coming up with a mascot for the school. “She was charged with…creating its mission and motto, and getting a staff on board to live and breathe the mission and motto every day,” Light says. “She took a very difficult job and got the buy-in from all the stakeholders and created the culture here that is like no other. That’s why she got the award and why she deserves it.” Hetzler-Nettles was previously the principal at Wesley Chapel High. Dee Dee Johnson succeeded her as principal when HetzlerNettles was chosen for Cypress Creek. “She had a lot of work ahead of her,” Johnson says. “She started as a team of one, went in there full steam ahead, and knew she would go in and do what’s best for kids, and make the school great.” Her focus is on making the experience of learning enjoyable for the students, Johnson and Light agree, and building a staff that can accomplish that. With any new school, developing traditions and pride — like creating a code of personal behavior called “The Coyote Way” — can go a long way towards making that school successful. “I feel very fortunate that I was able to work for her for several years and learn from her,” Johnson says, “She’s very deserving.”

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BG Tennis Focuses on Teaching Young Players With Low-Compression Balls By JOHN C. COTEY

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Occasionally, a younger tennis player will come along with the natural ability to accurately and correctly hit a regulation yellow tennis ball. Most often, however, that is not the case. Newer tennis players, especially those that are younger, struggle with the bounciness of the tennis ball, the weight of it, and lack the ability to control it. They resort to using any means necessary to strike the ball, which usually leads to hurried, out-of-sync and technically-flawed swings of desperation. Tennis professional Bobby Gillespie, who runs BG Tennis at The Ridge and Estancia communities in Wiregrass Ranch, as well as at Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa and at Lake Jovita in Dade City, says he has seen young, overmatched beginners just trying to survive against the yellow balls too often, which is why he emphatically extols the virtues of using low-compression balls, and shorter courts, to properly teach them the game. Most parents who get their children into tennis only know one kind of tennis ball, but Gillespie is quick to introduce them to red-, orange- and green-dot lowcompression balls, which he calls revolutionary teaching tools. The red-dot ball has 75 percent less ball speed than a regular yellow tennis ball, while the orange-dot ball is 50 per-

Let BG Tennis coach Bobby Gillespie teach your kids how to play tennis properly, using low-compression tennis balls that aren’t as bouncy as standard yellow tennis balls.

cent slower and the green-dot ball is 25 percent slower. The allows younger players to focus on technique, footwork and properly addressing each shot, not just hitting a ball back over a net. They can take full swings, as the ball is designed not to bounce as high or travel as far. Gillespie says that a beginner’s full swing at a yellow ball is

likely to send it into the nearest fence. “Whenever I have the opportunity, I try to sell the concept of these low-compression balls. It is something I am very passionate about,” says Gillespie, a former junior champion where he grew up in Shropshire, a county in England, and later a national university champion at Loughborough University in Loughborough,

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England, where he also earned a degree in sports management. While Gillespie says he didn’t need low-compression balls as a youngster himself because he was naturally gifted, very few beginners can claim that. “I’ve been here since 2005, and when I got here, no one was using them,” he says of the low-compression balls. “All the tennis coaches were using just the yellow balls, and you had to just deal with it. I was a bit confused why we were doing that.” Gillespie was the head tennis pro at Cheval Country Club and later at Lake Jovita Country Club before starting BG Tennis in 2008 and developing what he says is a proven teaching formula to develop the proper tennis strokes in beginners while also making it fun. Mixing a career of tennis knowledge with likability and a sense of humor, Gillespie teaches roughly 120 kids every week, as well as 80 or so adults. His progressive clinics are once a week, and affordable by tennis standards at just $65 a month – which is the price a one-hour lesson will cost you at most country clubs.

Get Them Started Early

Ideally, Gillespie says, kids in first through fifth grade are at the best ages to begin learning tennis. Joe Caswell, who is nine years old, and his brother, six-year-old Max, have been with BG Tennis since August. They competed against each other on a recent Tuesday night at The Ridge, as

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INSTEAD OF SOME BORING AFTER SCHOOL PROGRAM, WHY NOT GIVE YOUR CHILD A BOOST IN THEIR BASEBALL TRAINING?

their younger brother Luke, who is five, helped pick up balls. “I feel like they have made a ton of progress since we’ve been here,” says their mother, Amanda, who lives in Meadow Pointe III and has tried other coaches in the area. “I’ve seen a huge difference in their play. I just think they are so much more consistent, and (coach) stays on them about the little things.” Amanda says she is a fan of the lowcompression balls. They allow her sons to move to the ball, position their feet, set up and deliver the proper stroke. In the past, it was easier to develop bad habits adapting their swings to the harder-tohandle yellow balls. More important, she says, is that the low-compression balls also stay on the court, which is marked off to a shorter length of 60 feet, and allow her boys an opportunity to rally and play out points. “It’s more of playing the actual game for them than before,” Amanda says. “They can hit it back and forth to each other and play points (instead of just chasing balls around).” That’s what Nikki Lang, who is eight, enjoys most. She teamed up with Gillespie during a mini-game at The Ridge, earning a high-five from her coach after they beat the Caswell boys and 11-year-old Sloane Guinn. “I like being able to hit the balls,” she says. “It is easier, and makes it fun to play tennis.” Gillespie holds local tournaments with the low-compression balls, and starts each point by feeding the ball to one of the players as opposed to having them serve to one another. Serving is a skill that Gillespie says is generally too advanced for younger players to learn right away and slows play down. He says that his last tournament in October drew 80 players, and he also produces local rankings for his players to use to measure their improvement. “The goal is to get them to a rallying situation as soon as possible, because as soon as they start rallying, then the game becomes far more dynamic for them,” Gillespie says. Gillespie, rated an Elite Professional with the United States Professional Tennis Association (USPTA), says he is choosy about who he hires to help him coach at BG Tennis. Neighborhood News