New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 24, Issue 25, Dec. 2, 2016 by Neighborhood News

Volume 24 Issue 25

Inside:

Fushia Adds Chinese Hot Pot Buffet!

December 2, 2016

See Page 50!

Now The Only Neighborhood News Publications Serving Hillsborough & Pasco Counties! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 54!

Crist Announces New Tampa Cultural Center Delay & New Partnerships By John C. Cotey The New Tampa Players (NTP) non-profit community theater troupe unveiled its 201718 schedule on Nov. 18 at the Hunter’s Green Country Club clubhouse, but not before receiving a little bad news to kick off the festivities. District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist, who represents New Tampa’s District 2, speaking before the group of local actors and supporters, said plans to finally get NTP its new home — the New Tampa Cultural Center (NTCC), to be built across the street from Hunter’s Green on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. — had hit a speed bump. “There’s good news and there’s bad news,’’ Crist told an audience of about 50. “The good news — I got the money. The bad news — I don’t like the timeline.” Crist says that the county is now looking to have the foundation for the NTCC in place by April of 2019, meaning the center likely won’t be ready to open until 2020. The news drew a collective groan from the audience. “I am going to go back and work on that schedule and see what I can do to speed it up,’’ Crist said. Until then, the NTP will put on its 2017 season at the University Area Cultural Development Center (UACDC) on N. 22nd St., where so many of the troupe’s previous shows have been performed. Next year’s slate of performances includes “Jesus Christ Superstar” (in Mar.-Apr.), “The Wiz” (July & Aug.) and “The Addams Family” (Oct. & Nov.). The NTCC will be part of the tenativelynamed Village at Hunter’s Lake development, which is being built on 17 acres of land by Harrison Bennett Properties, LLC. In addition to the cultural center, the project was approved

Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates It’s Davison vs. Viera On Dec. 6 For Tampa’s District 7, New Tampa Liked Hillary, Florida Hospital Center Ice Readies For Opening, LPGA Golfer Dawn Coe-Jones Leaves Her Mark, Rotary District 6890 & Wesley Chapel Chamber Celebrate & New Adventist School Coming; Plus, Basketball Previews & Lots Of Local Business Features!

Pages 3-38

Neighborhood Magazine

First-Ever Film Fest A Hit At The Grove, Wesley Chapel Fall Festival Draws 10,000, Little Italy’s Restaurant Adds Amazing New Lunch Items & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 39-56

in Dec. 2014 by the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) by a unanimous (7-0) vote to include a three-acre dog park, a green grocery store, shops, restaurants and 100250 condos, townhomes or boutique apartments. Land-use, permitting and rezoning issues have slowed the project. David Harrison, who runs Harrison Bennett Properties, was hoping the inspection and approval process would end by Apr. 2017 so construction could finally begin. On Nov. 18, Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist “The City of Tampa updated the New Tampa Players on the progress of the New is giving (the developers) Tampa Cultural Center at Hunter’s Green Country Club. a difficult time and that’s The hope is that the notoriety provided where I think I might be by such partnerships will help lure the deepable to help,’’ Crist said. He also said that because the NTCC has pocketed residents of South Tampa north for to be self-sustaining, he is working on bringing additional cultural opportunities. Crist also said in multiple partners who will be able to create that he sees that relationship as being reciprocal. Crist also announced a third partner, the those revenue streams. While stressing that the NTP will be the primary resident of the NTCC, Prodigy Cultural Arts Program, which reaches Crist said he has negotiated a deal to bring the more than 3,000 Hillsborough County youth David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing annually who live in high-risk neighborhoods Arts and the Patel Conservatory on board as or have been diverted from the Juvenile Justice well. He said the NTCC would serve as an an- System. And, while Crist told the NTP that he nex for Patel in North Tampa. doesn’t want the NTCC to be a place where “This will be Patel North,’’ Crist said. That is a huge partnership, Crist added, people just walk in off the street, he stressed that because, “it brings ethos, huge credibility to the it needs to be inclusive, not exclusive. The NTCC itself will still be a facility and elevates it from just being a neighborhood cultural clubhouse to a real, high-scale, 25-35,000-sq.-ft. facility that will cost $10-million (according to the county), although Crist quality arts-based programming center.”

thinks the figure should be closer to $15 million. He said the county currently has $5.5-million to spend, and is looking for the rest. “Let me assure you, it is going to be something you’re very proud of,’’ Crist said, even if it gets built in stages. Crist noted that when he was spearheading the construction of the UACDC, where NTP currently practices and performs, it was built in five phases, while he raised money throughout the three-year construction phase to get it finished. As for where he will get the money, Crist simply said: “I’ll find it.” One of the only concerns raised during the 15-minute presentation was how the partnership with the Straz and Patel centers at the NTCC would impact local dance studios like New Tampa Dance Theater and America’s Ballet School. Crist, however, said that he thinks there are more than enough aspiring performers in New Tampa to support everyone. And, Adam Shoemaker, one of the NTP performers, asked if once the NTCC is completed, will his group of local thespians finally have their own home to practice and perform on their own schedule? Crist wrapped up his comments by promising him they would. “You are a guest at the UACDC, a second thought,’’ Crist said. “It was built for Prodigy. But, this will be your permanent home. You will be the lead tenant in that space, and anybody else would have to work around you.” That final line drew the loudest applause of the night. For additional information about the NTP and their schedule for 2017, visit NewTampaPlayers.org or Facebook.com/ NewTampaPlayers.

Another Big Field Highlights The 4th Annual ‘Wiregrass Wobble’ 5K! Before presumably indulging themselves with turkey with all the “fixins” and pie for dessert, nearly 1,7000 local runners started their Thanksgiving Day with a little exercise, kicking off the 4th annual “Wiregrass Wobble” 5K at the Shops of Wiregrass. The 5K race drew another spirited crowd, with 1,690 registered for the event. Runners as young as 5-year-olds Amelia Baldwin of Tampa and Isabella Saa of Lutz and as old as 83-year-old Mary Toulan of Land O’Lakes all competed, with some runners dressed up as pilgrims, some wearing turkey hats on their heads, and others just there to get in some serious racing. Michael Poole of Lutz was the top overall finisher, winning with ease. The 25-yearold finished the 3.1-mile course in a brisk 16 minutes, 14 seconds. Ray Friedman of Tampa, 41, finished second, 16 seconds behind Poole, in a time of 16:30. Wesley Chapel’s Joe Salerno, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High, was third in a time of 16:34. The top women’s finisher was again Jenn Walton, also of Wesley Chapel. Walton,

30, was the 16th overall finisher and completed the course in 18:06. That was 32 seconds faster than last year, when Walton was also the top female. Tampa’s Micaela Torres, a senior at King High, was second in 18:16. Pioneer Medical Group in Wesley Chapel was the presenting sponsor and the race was again put on by the FITNiche store at the mall and the Rotary Club of New Tampa. The proceeds of These folks may not have won the 5K race, but this was definitely a the 2016 Wiregrass Wob- winning picture! Photo courtesy of Facebook/WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot ble — which has raised more than $75,000 since the inaugural run in 2013 — will support the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Foundation, FITNiche Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Tampa’s selected charities The Brass Tap hosted the post-race festivities. — John C. Cotey

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WCNT-tv Hits Two Milestones & A Taste Of New Tampa Update An editorial by Gary Nager As I was finishing this publication the night before Thanksgiving, I reviewed the analytics compiled by my production and sales assistant Gavin Olsen of the first eleven episodes of WCNT-tv — Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Television — and I’m proud to say that we’ve reached two milestones a lot faster than I had expected when my partner and producer Craig Miller (of Full Throttle Intermedia; see ad on pg. 46) started our YouTube-based TV show almost exactly five months ago — Episode 1 of WCNT premiered on June 23 of this year. After posting a new episode every two weeks since that debut, we took one week off — so Craig and I, Gavin, my news co-anchor Susanna Martinez, the host of our exclusive Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) Featured Business segment Mollyana Ward and director/cameraman Brad Hall (of Brad Hall Studios; see some of Brad’s pics on pg. 15) and everyone involved with the show could enjoy Thanksgiving and Black Friday with our respective families. The good news is that the 11 episodes of WCNT-tv and all of the individual segments we’ve released have now reached more than 223,000 people on Facebook and will definitely break 100,000 total views of all of our full episodes and individual segments — on YouTube and Facebook combined — when Episode 12 debuts the same day this publication arrives in your mailbox (Fri., Dec. 2). The even bigger news is that Episode 12 will feature the first of several segments about Florida Hospital Center Ice (see story on page 10 of this issue), aka the largest skating facility south of New York, which won’t be fully open

New Tampa Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543

Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Advertising Sales & Office Manager Mary Dorey Billing Manager Stephanie Smith Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Anu Varma Panchal • Brad Stager • Andy Warrener Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael WCNT-tv Sales & Production Assistant Gavin Olsen Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 25, Issue 1, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Friday, December 16, 2016. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

until early January 2017. We used some of that footage shot inside the facility for Episode 12, but we also will release several individual cuts from that interview and add new footage every time something new happens at FHCI. This episode also will feature a unique local wellness center (Intrinsic Wellness Clinic in Wesley Chapel) as the WCCC Featured Business, the three restaurants chosen by more than 700 of our readers as their favorites in New Tampa in this year’s Neighborhood News Reader Dining Survey &Contest and a unique entertainment calendar, which will provide you with an update on the upcoming Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel (more on that below). I also hope you’ll check out my second big celebrity interview on WCNT-tv — following on the heels of our extremely popular segments with actor/director John Schneider of CineFlix Fest (and of course, “Dukes of Hazzard”) fame. This time, I got to interview the great Mariette Hartley (still best known to me for her eight-year run in Polaroid commercials with the late James Garner) and her young co-star Colton Tapp from the independent film “Three Days in August,” which also will debut tonight (Friday, December 2) at the Studio Movie Grill at the University Mall on E. Fowler Ave. “Three Days” also stars the great Barry Bostwick (perhaps most famous for his role as the silver-haired Mayor on “Spin City” with Michael J. Fox) and looks like it should be a great film. Like we did with the Schneider interviews, we have been releasing individual cuts from the interview every day this week leading up to tonight’s nationwide debut of the film. In future episodes of WCNT-tv, we will provide you with an exclusive look inside the 100,000+-sq.-ft. expansion of our Studio Sponsor — Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) — and provide you with the fastest updates available on all of the restaurants and businesses opening in our area over the next several months. So, if you haven’t yet checked out WCNT-tv, go to YouTube and search “WCNTtv.” It may show you results for “WNCT-TV” and ask if you really meant “WCNT-tv.” Click on that link and you’ll have access to all of the full episodes (all between 7-10 minutes each) and individual segments we’ve released to date. Please feel free to “Like” and “Share” as many of those segments as possible. Next stop (I hope) — a total reach of 1 million people!

If you’re interested in having your business or restaurant featured on WCNTtv, email Gavin at ads@WCNT-tv.com or call our office at 910-2575.

This ‘Taste-y’ New Logo Is Just The Beginning!

Congratulations go out to my WCNT-tv partner Craig Miller for designing the new logo (above) for the Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, which (as we’ve been reporting) will return after a three-year hiatus and be held inside FHCI on Saturday, March 18! One thing I can promise is that the Taste will be

bigger and better than ever before in the best venue ever to host it! Karen Frashier, the president-elect of the Rotary Club of New Tampa (which meets Fridays at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) who is chairing the return of the Taste for the club (in partnership with the WCCC), has held two excellent organizational Taste meetings to date, but those of us who are on the committee know that we can’t take the entire holiday season off if we want the event to live up to its full potential. As the guy responsible for getting what I hope will be between 30-50 food and beverage providers, I need help right now. I already have three volunteers but need at least two more to get the word out to those potential providers. Wanna help? Send an email to Gary@ NTNeighborhoodNews.com ASAP!

Table of Contents Local News Updates.....................3-18

Viera & Davison Head To District 7 Runoff...........4, 6 New Tampa Was Clinton Country...........................8 Florida Hospital Center Ice Close To Opening.......10 Dawn Coe-Jones Leaves A Lasting Legacy In TP....14 100 Years Of The Rotary Foundation Celebrated....15 WCCC Honors Excellence In Business..................16 New Adventist School Breaks Ground..................18 New Tampa Community Calendar..............................20

Local Business Updates..............22-33

Moody Group Real Estate & Property Mgmt.........22 A Massage Green Spa Membership Has Perks..........24 GL Homes To Open Clubhouse At The Ridge............26 Dr. Jasthi & The Power Of A Winning Smile.........28 Florida Orthopaedic Institute Celebrates Year 1.......30 Kids Park Offers Unique Daycare Services...............32

Local Sports Updates.................34-37

Wharton Boys XC Team Posts Best Finish Ever.......34 Hunter’s Green CC Tennis Heads To Sectionals.....35 Wharton, Freedom Boys Hoops Preview.................36 Wharton, Freedom Girls Hoops Preview..................37

Neighborhood Magazine

Schneider’s First Film Fest Is A Winner...................39 WC Fall Fest Draws Record Numbers...............42,54 Mama Mia! Little Italy’s Hits Home With Lunch......46 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........50 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds.........52 @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

And Then There Were Two: Davison Faces Viera In Dec. 6 Runoff Race Story and photos by John C. Cotey After spending months just trying to get voters familiar with their names in a crowded six-person race, Hunter’s Green residents Jim Davison, an emergency room doctor, and Luis Viera, an attorney, are ready to start talking about issues and getting voters who live in the City of Tampa to the polls one more time — on Tuesday, December 6, in case you didn’t know. “I think the name recognition part is pretty much over,’’ said Davison. “Now it’s about turning out the people that you think are going to vote for you.” After taking the top two spots at the Nov. 8 General Election, Davison and Viera are headed to the Runoff Election on Dec. 6 to decide who will replace Lisa Montelione and serve her final 16 months representing District 7, which includes all of the citybased Neighborhoods in New Tampa, on the Tampa City Council. District 7 is a large and diverse area which runs north from Waters Ave. to County Line Rd., and includes Forest Hills, Terrace Park, New Tampa and the University of South Florida area. Early voting for the runoff continues today through Sunday, December 4. Despite entering the race last and raising only $14,000 for his campaign — easily the least of the all the candidates — Davison received 9,158 votes in the general election, or 30.6 percent, winning 13 of the 20 precincts that cast ballots on Nov. 8. He was second in five others. Davison, 62, celebrated his win on election night with chicken wings at the Hunter’s Green Tennis & Athletic Center.

Here are some of the issues both candidates say they will focus on if elected: TAXES: Davison says the biggest difference between he and Viera is their position on taxes. “I never saw a tax Luis was not in favor of,” Davison says, adding that (Left, l.-r.) Avis Harrison, Jim Davison & Cyril Spiro. (Right) Luis Viera. he would work Viera, who has raised more than to roll back the millage, or property tax rates, $80,000, far more than any other candidate in New Tampa. He claims they haven’t been in the race, finished with 6,689 votes, or rolled back since 2008, and ad valorem taxes 22.3 percent, to advance to the runoff. Viera will set a record in 2018 to offset any cuts. did not win any precincts but was second in Viera, 38, says he is in favor of a robust 10 of them and third in eight others. development of District 7’s communities. “It was a difficult race,” Viera says. “We But, he says it is foolish to expect that those fought for every single vote.” things can be accomplished simply by rolling Arbor Greene’s Avis Harrison, a former back taxes. school teacher, was third (4,781), followed “We certainly cannot, given the develby former police officer and Copeland Park opment we need in this city and our comresident Orlando Gudes (4,218), Cory Lake munities, just frivolously lower taxes,’’ Viera Isles resident Dr. Cyril Spiro (3,719) and La says, adding that he isn’t pro-tax, but, “I Gaceta editor Gene Siudut (1,319). haven’t seen a tax reduction that Jim is clamNow that the race has been whittled to oring for that will benefit the community.” two candidates, Davison and Viera say they Both candidates agree that New are eager to start focusing more on issues Tampa should receive a larger piece of the that were overshadowed during the last cam- pie made with its tax dollars, in the form of paign, due to the number of candidates and the same community enhancements being the overwhelming presence of a nasty and made in west and south Tampa’s parks, as contentious presidential election. well as downtown. “Downtown needs to

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

be spruced up but not at the expense of its neighborhoods,” Davison says. Viera has long-referred to New Tampa as a “donor district,” and also does not agree with the way tax monies are dispersed. “We give way too much of our money to downtown Tampa without proper development of our neighborhoods (in North Tampa),” Viera says. TRANSPORTATION: Davison has been a transportation activist in New Tampa for nearly two decades. He adamantly opposed government initiatives like GO Hillsborough, which sought a half-cent sales tax to pay to fix and maintain existing roads, relieve congestion and build new roads. Davison says those promises were lies, and that the money is already available in future budgets to help with transportation without more taxation. That has been a theme of Davison’s in this campaign — that government officials aren’t being honest with the numbers. He says the city claims the half-cent tax would raise $3.5 billion over 30 years. Davison says that figure is actually closer to $6 billion, creating essentially a slush fund for the city. He says he has stacks of papers that prove it. “Lets just say this: Jim is skeptical of a lot of things,’’ Viera says. “This goes back to the issue of being able to work with others. When you presume they are liars, you say they are lying to you.” Viera says Davison is making “unfounded accusations” and, “to the best of my knowledge, I’ve never seen anything to prove that the mayor’s office is lying to us.”

Neighborhood News

See “Runoff” on page 6.

@NTWCNews

‘Runoff’ Continued from pg. 4 Davison is in favor, however, of the ongoing Tampa Bay Express (TBX) project, which will primarily widen I-275, I-75 and I-4 with 91 miles of express or toll lanes. “Without more lane capacity on 275, that will strangle District 7,’’ Davison says. Viera was in favor of both GO Hillsborough and TBX. He says transportation is a huge issue and an important need, with $8-billion in needs in the coming years that need to be paid for. Realistic solutions, he says, cannot be implemented unless there is funding to pay for them. COMMUNITY NEEDS: The 2017 budget unveiled earlier this year by Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn has $4.72 million in it for Fire Station No. 23, which will be located at 20770 Trout Creek Dr., behind the AutoZone and Christian Brothers Automotive off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Also in the budget but unfunded — and opposed by Davison — are plans for another fire station, No. 24, earmarked for the K-Bar Ranch area off Morris Bridge Rd. Davison says that as someone who has spent much of his career in the emergency medical field, he doesn’t think New Tampa needs another fire station as badly as it needs more paramedics, as he claims 80-85 percent of 9-1-1 calls in New Tampa are for medical reasons. Davison adds, however, that he would like to a see a police station built in our area and an expansion of the New Tampa Recreation Center, which has been promised twice and never delivered by city officials. Viera says he thinks a firehouse in K-Bar Ranch is necessary, especially as the area grows and expands. And, he wonders if Davison is for community development, how can he expect to pay for such enhancements? “You’re going to have more parks and rec centers, but you’re also going to cut your taxes?,” Viera asks. “Voters should be suspicious of that. You can’t serve both sides. It’s math: 2+2 equals 4, and Jim is for the 4, not the 2+2. I am for the 2+2. It’s a reality that if you make investments, you need revenue (to pay for them).” KINNAN-MANSFIELD: New Tampa’s 100-foot stretch of unconnected road continues to befuddle local politicians. Despite some movement earlier this year — as Montelione and Pasco County District 2 Commissioner Mike Moore tried to force the issue — the connection

of Kinnan St. in New Tampa to Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe remains in limbo. Both candidates say they want the roads connected. Davison says the city should pay the $500,000 for a traffic study that Pasco County is requesting in order to move the connection along. Viera says the link should have been made long ago. He says it is, “symbolic of the kind of respect we don’t get in New Tampa. If this happened in South Tampa, it would be fixed immediately. We need a sense of urgency on it.” GETTING THINGS DONE: Because Viera has a long list of endorsements from high-ranking local Democrats like U.S. Congresswoman Kathy Castor and City Council chair Mike Suarez, as well as Montelione, Davison says Viera will just become part of the problem on a City Council already filled with Democrats. “Luis is a nice guy but has fallen into that same political trap of telling people what they want to hear,’’ says Davison, whose most recent endorsements have come from former opponent Avis Harrison and District 63 State Rep. Shawn Harrison. “That upsets me about him. I thought he was better guy than that. That’s disappointing.” Viera says Davison, a registered Republican and Donald Trump supporter who relishes his role as an outsider, lacks the temperament to work with others and get things done. On a Council with six other members, Viera says diplomacy will get more things accomplishment for New Tampa. “I think that issues of temperament are important,’’ Viera said. “I believe you achieve results with vigor, and by being resolute, not by being the type of person who will make accusations and be a loose cannon.”

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How New Tampa Voted For President & Local Offices On November 8 By John C. Cotey Florida’s State House District 63, which has typically swung to the Democrats in years a presidential election has been held, didn’t swing this time. Republican incumbent and Hunter’s Green resident Shawn Harrison edged out Lisa Montelione on Nov. 8 to hang on to his seat in an hotly-contested race. Harrison captured 50.9 percent of the 73,731 votes cast, picking up 37,547 votes to Montelione’s total of 36,168. It is the third time Harrison has won the House District 63 seat, which represents parts of New Tampa, Lutz, Carrollwood and the University of South Florida area. He won it in 2010, lost it to Democrat Mark Danish in 2012, and then regained the seat in 2014, when he took it back from Rep. Danish. Another Republican, Jim Davison, also fared well, finishing first in a six-person race to replace Montelione, who resigned her position on the Tampa City Council to the run for Harrison’s seat. Davison will face second-place finisher Luis Viera in a run-off on Dec. 6 (see story on page 4). Harrison, who beat Montelione by 1,363 votes, held a big 7,195-4,130 advantage on the ballots cast in Lutz. He also can thank his neighbors in Hunter’s Green, who helped offset New Tampa’s preference for Montelione by voting 1,511 times for Harrison, compared to just 954 for the former councilwoman. The loss was stinging for Montelione, considering she was running in a Democrat-

leaning district, the wide advantage Hillary Clinton held over president-elect Donald Trump in Hillsborough County (58-38 percent), as well as Democrat Patrick Murphy’s local success at the ballot box against Republican incumbent Marco Rubio.

New Tampa Picked Hillary

Of the 13 precincts in New Tampa’s 33647 zip code, Clinton, the former Secretary of State and First Lady, ran the table, winning every one, many by surprisingly decisive margins. In New Tampa’s 13 precincts, Clinton grabbed 58 percent of the 32,843 votes cast for U.S. President, compared with 38 percent for Trump. Early voters and those who mailed in ballots accounted for 14,400 of Clinton’s votes, compared to only 8,989 for Trump. Clinton also held a 700-vote edge amongst Nov. 8 voters. That wasn’t enough to help Clinton blunt Trump’s surprising win, however. Despite a nearly 1.5-million popular vote advantage nationwide (62,829,83261,488,190 as of our deadline), the New York real estate developer and former reality-TV star pulled off what was supposed to be an unlikely trifecta by sweeping Florida, Pennsylvania and Ohio to pick up enough electoral college votes for a 290-232 edge, with Michigan still counting votes until after our press time for this issue, but with Trump expected to grab Michigan’s 16 electoral college votes. Clinton’s 20-point advantage in New Tampa was buoyed by big voting advantages in some of the precincts.

In precincts 362 and 363, where 6,934 presidential ballots were cast at the Cypress Point Community Church on Morris Bridge Rd., she won 60-36 percent. Of the 6,072 voters in Precinct 367 casting their ballots at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church, it was Clinton over Trump, 59-38 percent. And at Lake Forest’s clubhouse, in precincts 583 and 584, Clinton held a 65-30 percent advantage among the 2,295 voters. The New Tampa Regional Library hosted voting for two precincts that voted very differently. In Precinct 673, which encompasses the area north of Cross Creek Blvd. to the east and west of Kinnan St., 2,647 votes were cast, with 60 percent going for Clinton and 35 percent for Trump. Meanwhile, in Precinct 361, which is mostly Hunter’s Green, Clinton was still the choice, but only by a 49-48 edge, or 26 votes (with 2,541 cast). It was the closest vote with the exception of Precinct 355, which votes at the New Tampa Family YMCA in Tampa Palms, which went for Clinton 142 votes-140. Voter turnout in Hillsborough County was 71.56 percent compared with just 56.8 percent nationwide. However, turnout was down from both the 2012 (73 percent) and 2008 (73.5) presidential elections. In New Tampa, voter turnout was 73.7 percent, with Precincts 361 and 358 (Compton Park in Tampa Palms) having better than 78 percent participation. Many voters, according to various media reports, also may have just been plain disgusted by both candidates — or perhaps an election season filled with negative politi-

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cal ads, name-calling and scandals — and didn’t bother to cast a vote for either candidate, despite going through the trouble of finding a polling station, standing in line and filling out a ballot. In Hillsborough County, there were 1,388 undervotes, or ballots cast where the voter elected not to make a choice for president, more than twice the 616 undervotes in 2012. The number of undervotes in many other places also was more than twice what it was in 2012. In Michigan alone, for example, more than 87,000 undervotes were tabulated. In the U.S. Senate race between Rubio and Murphy, it was the incumbent winning comfortably overall with 4,822,182 votes, or 52 percent. Murphy received 44.3 percent, or 4,105,251 votes. In New Tampa, though, Murphy was the choice by 54-45 percent. In other races, Lynn Gray captured the District 7 Hillsborough County School Board seat by defeating Cathy James 50.149.8 percent, or a mere 1,233 votes out of almost 475,000 cast.

CDD Results

A number of Community Development District (CDD) supervisor races were held as well, and winners were Paul Meier (Easton Park CDD, Seat 2), Joe Farrell (Grand Hampton CDD, Seat 4), Stephen Stark (Heritage Isles CDD Seat 1), Frank Morales (K-Bar Ranch CDD, Seat 3), Jessica Vaughn (Tampa Palms CDD, Seat 5), Brad van Rooyen (Tampa Palms Open Space & Transportation {OST} CDD, Seat 4) & Maria Lepage (Tampa Palms OST CDD, Seat 5).

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Florida Hospital Center Ice Inches Closer To Its Opening By John C. Cotey As the Grand Opening of the $20-million Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) fast approaches, not a day goes by that Gordie Zimmermann isn’t asked about when that will be. He is asked in the grocery store and while walking around anywhere in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa and his phone never seems to stop dinging with text messages and ringing with eager callers. “Everybody is excited about it,’’ Zimmermann says. “I got hammered all weekend with phone calls, people asking when it will be open and when can they book a birthday party and what are some of the great events coming in? This is such a big community in Wesley Chapel, they can’t wait.” They won’t have to much longer. Zimmermann says the 150,500-sq.-ft. FCHI, which is located along Cypress Ridge Blvd. on the northeast corner of the I-75/S.R. 56 interchange in Wesley Chapel, is looking at a soft opening in December to test out some final details. He says there are plans for an official Grand Opening in January. A tentative date has been set, but he still can’t reveal it. A tour through the facility on Nov. 9 revealed that it won’t be long. One rink is all but finished, framed by completed dasher boards, glass and scoreboards. Once it is cleaned up, the ice will be ready to go in. A second rink is right behind, as the protective glass was carefully put in recently by workers. A third rink, as well as the main NHL-sized rink, are taking form, too. “We’re working as fast as we can to get all the kinks out,’’ says Zimmermann, a developer for Z Mitch, LLC. “Everything has to be just right.” As we went to press with our Nov. 18 Wesley Chapel issue, the electricity was turned on, lighting up the interior. Zimmermann said the demand for the new facility has already far exceeded what he expected. “It’s already basically booked into the summer,’’ he says. “And, we haven’t even gotten to our fall schedule yet.” Zimmermann says FHCI is about 85 percent done. The seating and kitchen for the Top Shelf Restaurant & Bar, which will overlook the rinks below, and seating areas for fans are now easy to visualize. Sometime later this month, Zimmermann says the palatial new complex will be open for some public skating, pick-up hockey games and skate-and-shoot sessions. Learn to Skate USA classes also will be offered sometime in the future.

Come January, those in charge of getting the facility up and running will be on a power play. Zimmermann says some events are already scheduled with the Tampa Bay Lightning, including a street hockey tournament (on FHCI’s multi-sports pad) followed by a skills camp put on by former Lightning players. Zimmermann says the Lightning, who also may hold occasional practices at the facility, will release those details if and when the plans with the team are finalized. Gordie Zimmermann stands on one of the all-but-completed rinks at Florida Hospital Center Ice, which is expected to “soft open” sometime this month. Better Book The eagerly-anticipated facility, which Now! will be the largest skating complex south of Some of the non-sports events already New York the day it opens, will feature three booked include the Taste of New Tampa & NHL-sized hockey rinks and one larger, Wesley Chapel, which is being revamped by Olympic-size rink, as well as a 17,000-sq.the New Tampa Rotary Club (see story on pg. ft. multi-sports pad that can accommodate a 15) — on Saturday, March 18 — and an as- number of other sports, including basketball, yet-unnamed (by Zimmermann) 250-person volleyball and even lacrosse. corporate roundtable discussion. In addition to the rinks and restaurant, On June 17, Skate For Hope, which will FHCI will have a sports performance center, feature many of the world’s top figure skaters fitness room and plenty of room for yoga, and will benefit cancer research, will be held at Pilates and dance classes, as well as corporate FHCI. Also in June, there will be a National outings and parties. Roller Hockey Tournament that Zimmer“Everything is going smoothly,’’ Zimmann says will feature 200 teams playing for 10 days on three of the FHCI rinks. USA Hockey adult leagues for age groups ranging from 40+ to 70+ also are coming, and Zimmermann says Tampa Bay Lightning High School Hockey League games will be played at the rink beginning Jan. 4, with the Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) team Zimmermann coaches getting the opening night honors, highlighting a doubleheader (and potentially a triple header), along with a to-bedetermined opponent and 2-4 other teams. High school ice hockey players from WRH, Wesley Chapel, Freedom and Wharton (which currently does not have a team but has in the past) high schools will use the rink for practices and games. And, on Wednesday, January 18, Spectrum Sports (formerly Bright House Sports Network) Channel 47 will televise a live high school hockey game from FHCI.

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mermann says, “and when we open, it’s going to be good.” The most important aspect of the facility — the 65 miles of refrigerated pipe laid in by Toronto’s CIMCO is being tested thoroughly as the big motors that will eventually keep the ice for the various rinks at a cool 22-28 degrees (or so) Fahrenheit are revved up, and the final touches are being carefully addressed. Florida Hospital Center Ice also is seeking businesses interested in advertising at the facility itself. For more info, including schedules, more details and advertising opportunities, visit FloridaHospitalCenterIce.com or see the ad on page 27 of this issue. You can even set up an account at the site to stay up on the latest news from FHCI.

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The Passing Of LPGA Great Dawn Coe-Jones Leaves A Void At TPGCC By John C. Cotey

One day, when Deanne Farrow was unable to get out of work to pick up her daughter Grace from school, Dawn CoeJones was there. The former Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) standout, a golfing buddy of Farrow’s, hopped in her red convertible and scooped Grace up from her carpool drop off at the Publix in Tampa Palms, and immediately snapped a picture of her and the Tampa Prep student and texted it to Deanne. “I have the package,” it read. A few minutes later came another picture, this one of Grace enjoying a frosty drink. “Her first Slurpee,’’ Farrow recalls. From that day forward, it became a tradition — whenever Coe-Jones picked up the now-14-year-old Grace, it was off to 7-Eleven for a Slurpee. It’s moments like these that still wet the eyes of Deanne, when she looks back on the imprint Coe-Jones left on the lives of so many golfers at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC). “That’s the kind-hearted person she was,’’ Farrow says. “I hope that’s what we can all take from her. How she treated Grace is how she treated everybody.” On Nov. 12, Coe-Jones, a member of the Canadian Golf Hall Of Fame, passed away in hospice after a battle with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, an aggressive bone cancer. It was discovered in March, and required full knee and partial tibia replacement surgery. And, even though her golfing days ended after the surgery, she would still occasionally hop in a cart and ride along for a few holes with her Friday morning group at TPGCC, cracking jokes and cheering them on. “She was a great friend,’’ said Pat Rogers, who also played in that same Friday morning group. Coe-Jones was 56 years old when she died. She is survived by her husband Jim, whom she married in 1992, and son Jimmy, a former standout golfer for Freedom High School, as well as her brothers Mark and John Coe. Jimmy played golf at Freedom High, as well as, naturally, hockey. His mother grew up as a big Montreal Canadiens fan in British Columbia (before converting

to the Tampa Bay Lightning). Jimmy followed in his mother’s footstep on the golf course, winning the district golf title as a sophomore in 2011. He attended Florida Southern College for two years (where he was a semifinalist for the Division II Jack Nicklaus Player of the Year award earlier this year) before transferring to the University of South Florida in June. Born on Oct. 19, 1960 in Campbell River, British Columbia, Coe-Jones won the 1983 Canadian Women’s Amateur Dawn Coe-Jones’ son Jimmy Jones posted this picture on his Instagram acbefore embarking count after his mother passed, writing, “Can’t even put it into words how on a nearly-25-year much I will miss you. You are the greatest mom a kid can ask for! The DCJ career on the LPGA name will be remembered and won’t ever change! Give your loved ones a Tour. She won the hug cause you never know when they will be gone. Love yuh mum.” 1992 Women’s Kemper Open, the 1994 Palm Beach Classic who best exhibits the tenacity, determination and never-give-up attitude that Walker and the 1995 Tournament of Champions, and finished in the top 10 in 41 other tour- demonstrated throughout her life and career. Walker, who won nine times on the naments. For her career (1984-2008), she LPGA Tour, died of cancer in 2012. earned more than $3-million. Coe-Jones was known by many on Her best finish in a women’s major championship was third at the Women’s LPGA Championship in 1990 and at the du Maurier Classic in 1993. A former college All-American at Lamar University in Beaumont, TX, CoeJones was inducted into the Canadian Golf Hall of Fame in 2003 and later played on the Legends Tour, the LPGA senior circuit. Coe-Jones was honored as the recipient of the 2016 Colleen Walker Spirit Award during the inaugural Dawn CoeJones Golf Classic at Tampa Palms on Oct. 14, a golf fund raiser for the Amandalee Fund, which benefits Sarcoma Research at Moffitt Cancer Center. The Amandalee Fund has hosted two tournaments every year, and this year’s event raised a record $51,000. The Colleen Walker Spirit Award is presented yearly to a Legends Tour Player

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tour for her kind heart, especially for the Canadian players she would often take under her wing. “She treated everyone equally,” Lori Kane told Golf Week magazine. “Being on tour and walking the fairways with 144 women each week, there’s not many that you can say treats everyone the same. But Dawn Coe-Jones did that.” It was that humility that helped win Coe-Jones friends at TPGCC, where she became a fixture. Farrow says that when she met CoeJones about four years ago, all the LPGA golfer wanted to do was make friends and play golf. “You would never have guessed she was a professional golfer,’’ Farrow said. “She was just one of the girls.” She became part of a group of golfers referred to as the “Tampa Palms Girls,” and the members exchanged texts with each other all week in between rounds. When Coe-Jones was diagnosed with cancer, Farrow said it was never discussed. “We didn’t really talk about it because we didn’t want to believe it,’’ she says. But, month after month provided more and more bad news. “It was heartbreaking,’’ Farrow says. Rogers says she met Coe-Jones three years ago, but it was 20 years ago, after being transferred to Saskatchewan for work, that she would read about the Canadian golf legend in the newspapers there. She told Coe-Jones this after a few holes of golf one morning. Duly impressed by her game, Rogers simply said, “No wonder they wrote about you.”

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Rotary District 6890 Celebrates 100 Years Of The Rotary Foundation Rotary District 6890 of West Central Florida, which includes two New Tampa Rotary clubs, recently gathered to recognize the 100th birthday of the Rotary Foundation, the charitable arm of Rotary International, the world’s largest service organization. The event was held Nov. 14, at the TPepin Hospitality Center on N. 50th St. in Tampa, for 282 guests from the District’s 40 Rotary Clubs, and raised more than $8,000 for the Rotary Foundation’s efforts to eradicate polio from our planet. Joyce Gunter, a long-time member of the Rotary Club of New Tampa, is the current District 6890 Governor. “It was a really great event,” she says. “We had birthday cake and sang happy birthday to celebrate (the Rotary Foundation’s 100th birthday).” The cost to attend was $26.50, which is the exact amount of the first donation that was made to start the Foundation 100 years ago. Gunter says the District was able to donate the entire amount paid by guests at the event was donated to the Foundation, thanks to the generosity of sponsors. “Use of the venue was donated to us, along with food, and beer and wine from many generous donors,” Gunter says. A Florida Orchestra string quintet provided entertainment. Both the New Tampa “Breakfast” (which meets Fri.. at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) and Noon (which meets Wed. at noon at Pebble Creek Golf Club) Rotary Clubs received an award for 100-percent participation by their members for donations to the foundation. Both clubs also were honored for having 100-percent

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(Above) New District 6890 Governor Joyce Gunter; (top right) The Florida Orchestra quintet; (bottom left) New Tampa Rotary president Brice Wolford & his wife Christina; WCNT-tv’s own Dee & Craig Miller. participation as Paul Harris Fellows, for people who have donated $1,000 or more to the foundation. In addition, New Tampa Noon member Belvai (“Vinnie”) and his wife Radha Kudva were honored as part of the Arch Klumpf Society Trustee’s Circle for contributing more than $250,000 to the foundation! “One of the main focuses of the foundation is the PolioPlus campaign to end polio around the world,” says Karen Frashier, current president-elect of the New Tampa Breakfast Rotary. District 6890’s 40 clubs and nearly 1,700 members in Polk, Highlands, Hardee, and Hillsborough County. For info, visit Rotary6890.com, or the Facebook pages of either New Tampa Rotary Club.— CM

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Photos on this page provided by Brad Hall Studios

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Recapping The Wesley Chapel Chamber’s ‘Excellence In Business’ Awards Tampa Premium Outlets & The Porter Family Among Those Honored

Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) CEO Hope Allen called it, “the top event of my 15-year Chamber career” and I don’t believe that anyone who attended the WCCC’s “Celebrating Excellence in Business” awards (held, for the first time, at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, hosted by New Tampa Rotary Club member/entertainer/photographer Bob Thompson and sponsored by Terry Mullane (both in bottom right photo) and the Parks Auto Group, would even try to could argue with her. Congrats to all of the evening’s award winners (clockwise from top left) — Stacey Nance of the Tampa Premium Outlets, which won Large Business of the Year honors; Business Leader of the Year Jay Rosario of Wesley Chapel Nissan; Small Business of the Year Brandon Legal Group; Volunteer of the Year Jennifer Cofini of the Parks Auto Group, Quinn Miller (left) of the Porter Family, which took home the Chamber’s 2016 Legacy Award (shown with Board chair Tracy Clouser of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel); & Cam Caudle of Shred 360, which won the first “New Business of the Year” award.—GN

Some photos on this page provided by Steve Miller of Stephen John Photography

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New Adventist Private School Breaks Ground On County Line Rd. By Celeste McLaughlin New Tampa families looking for a private, Christian education for children in grades pre-kindergarten (Pre-K) through high school will soon have another option — thanks to the Florida Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists. Scheduled to open for the 2018-19 academic year, the still-unnamed school will be located on County Line Rd., on the New Tampa (south) side of the road. A groundbreaking ceremony for the school was held at the school’s future location on Nov. 6. The Florida Conference of SeventhDay Adventists has hired Georgia-based School Growth to manage all aspects of the school’s opening, aside from the design and construction of the building. “We work with the Department of Education and the Florida Conference to design everything from the structure of the school, its operation, brand, and curriculum, to human resources strategies,” explains Scott Barron, the founder and CEO of School Growth. The campus will occupy about 43 acres of land. In the fall of 2018, it is expected to be open to students in pre-kindergarten through eighth grade, although Barron says the school would enroll a ninth grade class if there is enough demand for it. Higher grades will be added in subsequent years. “We expect to attract families looking for a more personalized approach to learning,” says Barron, who explains that the school will emphasize project-based learning and will provide, “awareness and

A private, Christian Pre-K-through-high school will open on County Line Rd. in New Tampa for the 2018-19 school year. Photos provided to NTNN support for each student as an individual.” an estuary and outdoor classroom, and organization of the Seventh-day Adventist Barron says his company works with Church, is supporting the school by providtake advantage of retention ponds on the public and private schools all over the world property, so that students will be able to ing resources for its development. and can take best practices from these Architects for the project are Fieldlearn about birds and other wildlife that schools — as well as the best professional ing Nair International, a global firm that are attracted to the campus. development strategies — to implement one “We can do this in a way you can’t in builds schools worldwide, which has an of the most advanced schools anywhere. many other locations,” says Barron. “First office in Lutz, and St. Petersburg-based “It’s kind of like a dream school,” he says. of all, because of the weather, and then also Wannemacher Jensen Architects, Inc. because of the natural features of the land.” The new school will be located at The school will integrate outdoor Barron says Florida Hospital Wesley 5814 E. County Line Rd., Tampa. For learning as an essential focus of its curmore information, visit SchoolGrowth. riculum. Barron says his company is work- Chapel, which is owned by the Adventist Health System, part of the worldwide com/tampa-new-school. ing with an ecological architect to create

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DECEMBER 2016 Saturday - December 3 - 7:30 AM

New Tampa Tri Club - The New Tampa Tri Club is open to runners, swimmers, cyclists & triathletes across the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. The club hosts group bike rides/runs leaving from Flatwoods Wilderness Park (13330 Morris Bridge Rd.; not from the BBD entrance) every Tues., Thur. & Sat., 7:30 a.m. For more info, join the Facebook group or e-mail NewTampaTriClub@gmail.com.

Saturday - December 3 - 9:30 AM

Baychapel Food Pantry - Free food for needy families. Open every Saturday from 9:30 - 11:30 a.m. behind Christian Brothers Automotive at 20300 Trout Creek Dr. (off BBD). For more info, visit BayChapel.com/foodpantry.

Monday - December 5 - 6:30 PM

Wesley Chapel Speaks - The Wesley Chapel Toast Masters meet on the first and third Monday of every month at 6:30pm at Wesley Chapel Hyundai (2700 State Rd 54) to teach the community public speaking and leadership skills. Arrive at 6pm for networking opportunities. For more info, call Martin at 813-693-0969.

Tuesday - December 6 - 9:30 AM

English As A Second Language (ESL) - The ESL group meets Tuesdays at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 BBD Blvd. in Pebble Creek), 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Classes are taught by a native English speaker. The cost is $40 each semester for the workbook & class materials. For more info, call Heather at 753-8567.

local businesses. Meets meets every Wed. at Dash of Salt ‘N Pepper, 10353 Cross Creek Blvd. For more info, call Marino Cecchi at 513-9001.

Wednesday - December 7 - 11:45 AM

Partners In Network (PIN) - Partners In Network is a group of professionals, one specializing in each area of business, who form a connection for the joint effort of networking to share business referrals and attain business prosperity. Meets every Wednesday for lunch at Stonewood Grill, 11:30am. For info, call Georgianna Strickland 813-477-7306 or Ken Fernandez 813-334-6000 or email gstrickland@stragicmarketingarts.com.

Wednesday - December 7 - Noon

New Tampa Noon Rotary Club - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wed. for lunch, noon, at Mulligan’s Irish Pub at Pebble Creek Country Club. Guests are always welcome. For more info, call Valerie at 317-8886

Friday - December 9 - 7 AM

Rotary Club of New Tampa - The original New Tampa Rotary Club meets every Friday for breakfast at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). For additional information, contact Kim Payne at 388-6299 or visit NewTampa Rotary.org.

Sunday - December 11 - 1, 3:30 & 6 p.m.

New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy - Join us at the New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy as our students perform their first recital of the school year! There will be three performances: 1:00 p.m., 3:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. The recital will take place at the Academy (10701 Cross Creek Blvd). For more info, visit NewTampaPPA.com.

Tuesday - December 6 - 7:30 PM

Monday - December 12 - 6:30 PM

Wednesday - December 7 - 7:15 AM

Friday - December 16 - 3:30 PM

Zen Meditation Group - Looking for a new way to relax? Check out the FREE Zen Meditation Group that meets Tuesdays at 7:30 p.m. People of all faiths are welcome. For info, visit MindfulnessSangha.com or contact Parker at 813-382-2216 or mindfulnessmeditation@verizon.net. BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets Weds. at Heritiage Isles Country Club (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.), at 7:15am. $13 to attend includes hot breakfast. Call Lisa Jordan for info.

Wednesday - December 7 - 7:30 AM

Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business pros dedicated to helping their member businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (10441 Cory Lake Dr.). Call Bill Sullivan at 994-1143.

Wednesday - December 7 - 11:30 AM

Keep It Local - This new seat-specific networking group emphasizes small,

GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club - The GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club meets the second Monday of every month at the New Tampa YMCA at 16221 Compton Dr. For info, visit GFWCNewTampaJuniors.org. Holiday Concert and Sing-Along- St. Mark Music Ministry Concert Series presents the Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble performing the favorites of the season. Enjoy a Sing-Along, Holiday Sweater Contest and Refreshments with your family and friends. Tickets at the Door $10 Adults, $8 Students/Seniors, Children under 10 Free. More info at StMarkTampa.org/music-ministry.

Visit NTNeighborhoodNews.com to add your upcoming events that are open to the public to our online calendar. Once approved, they appear in the “Events” section on our home page. With enough advanced notice (at least 3-4 weeks), events that happen in our readership areas may also appear in print, as space allows.

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The Moody Group Is Your One-Stop For Real Estate, Mortgages & More By Brad Stager Owning a home in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel can be a source of joy, but it also can be a burden when there’s a change in your employment or lifestyle. As a one-stop real estate resource, The Moody Group Real Estate Sales & Property Management — located just south of County Line Rd. at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Oak Joy Ct. between the Walgreens and The Tire Choice (in the same building as Central Bank) — can manage the property of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents who quickly need to move on to other places. The office also can help newcomers to our area find a place to live. The Moody Group specializes in home sales, rentals, property management and investment property services in the neighborhoods located in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas. For Leon Moody, the basic principle guiding the organization that bears his name is one that reassures its customers. “People are our business, real estate just happens to be our product,” says Moody, who was born in Dade City and, as an outdoorsman, spent a good bit of his early life enjoying the wilderness of what is now Wesley Chapel. As a real estate professional, Moody has more than 30 years of experiences to draw upon and back up his candid assessments of situations when doing business. “The truth is the truth,” he says. “Just because you built those cabinets doesn’t make your house worth $50,000 more than the market.” That straightforward approach applies,

The team at The Moody Group includes (back row:, l.-r.) Erika Mendieta, Marcelo Mendieta, Leon Moody & Sherlyn Clark. (Front row, l.-r.) Haydee Irribarren, Vanessa Gallucci & Mitzi Hess.

whether a customer needs to rent out their New Tampa estate for $3,000 a month when a far-away career opportunity arises or a family on a tight budget is starting a new life in the Sunshine State and needs to find a place costing less than $1,000 a month. For those whose credit rating may have taken a heavy hit during the recent recession (making it difficult to buy or rent housing in the neighborhood of their choosing), there may be a second chance at the “Good Life” available by working with The Moody Group. “We’ll look at the whole person,” says Moody. “We may want to know more about you and get the last month’s rent, but we’ll try to help you.”

Assisting Moody in his work is a team of professionals who contribute their expertise and energy toward the company’s success and the care of its customers. Buying and selling property is at the core of any real estate business and The Moody Group’s approach is to combine a high level of customer service with educating clients so transactions are successfully completed. Many client relationships involve a homeowner who may be facing a corporate transfer or military deployment and is unsure whether to rent or sell his/her home. Marcelo Mendieta is a real estate agent with The Moody Group who says making that choice begins with a good look at the

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numbers, and the people involved. “We do a market analysis to see if it’s better to rent the house or sell it and guide our client in the right direction,’’ Mendieta says. ”I like to sleep at night, so we treat people with respect.” He adds that extending that respect involves communicating honestly with clients, especially when a deal encounters problems. “We like to give people bad news right up front,” Mendieta says. “We’re straightforward and that’s what keeps people referring us.” Being on top of problems is one of the positive attributes Google reviewer and condominium owner Lan Rice cited in his fivestar testimonial about The Moody Group. “The Moody Group has been managing a condo I own in Tampa for about a year now,” Rice wrote. “The few problems that have arisen with the condo have been handled quickly and professionally. The Moody Group has been very good about keeping me informed and they process the rent payments quickly and accurately.” Russ Latimer moved with his family to Tampa from Maryland and expressed his appreciation for the efforts of The Moody Group in ensuring a smooth transition for his family in his online review: “The pictures on the web showed a very nice house in a gated community with a pool and hot tub.,” Latimer wrote. “Unfortunately, the previous tenants, upon their departure, left the house in need of many repairs. The Moody Group kept us informed about the status of the property and did an outstanding job of correcting the many issues left by the previous tenants.”

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Renting private homes in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel requires extensive knowledge of the area’s communities and the covenants and restrictions each of their Home Owners Associations (HOAs) and Community Development Districts (CDDs) have. Making sure a potential tenant is a good fit for a community in terms of comfort with its rules, or lack of them, is a big part of the work routine for Vanessa Gallucci, who is The Moody Group’s property manager. “I get customers who say, ‘I don’t want to be in an HOA,’ while others like the restrictions,” says Gallucci, who also is the go-to person for many of the issues that arise in the course of conducting business. To her, the tougher the challenge, the greater the motivation to make things right. “I love having an irate customer because I can put myself in their position and say, ‘Let’s figure out how to make you

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happy,’” she says. “At the end of the day, we want to earn their trust.” For people who might consider using The Moody Group to buy a home, real estate agent Sherlyn Clark has one essential piece of advice. “First and foremost, buyers must be pre-approved,” says Clark, who adds that one of the ways The Moody Group plans on growing in 2017 is by establishing a working relationship with a mortgage company so the mortgage approval process can be handled in-house, easing that burden for potential buyers. “Customer service is our number one goal,” she adds. For more info about The Moody Group (20701 BBD), visit LeonMoody. com. The Moody Group Facebook page features listing highlights and articles of interest. You also can call 994-0123 or see the ad on pg. 37. The office can communicate in English, Spanish and Creole.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa’s Massage Green Spa — Where Green Is More Than Just A Name! By John C. Cotey Todd Phillips was the chief operating officer (COO) of a medical practice in Pinellas County when his attention first turned to overall wellness. The doctor in the office, a young, forward-thinking physician, began focusing on wellness, and the last project he and Todd worked on together was a 10,000-sq.ft. wellness facility that included a variety of services, including massage therapy. “When I started to see some of the benefits of a more proactive approach to self care and wellness, it piqued my interest,’’ Todd says. “When my experiences started moving in that direction, that’s when we decided this would be a good move for us.” Todd’s wife Kelly also was very interested in wellness, from her experience working as a registered nurse (RN) at Tampa Community Hospital in Town & Country. Together, the former New Tampa residents opened Massage Green Spa this summer in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at New Tampa Blvd. So far, the Phillips’ say the spa has been a hit. They benefit from a great location (its proximity to Publix) and a huge amount of daily traffic, and believe they offer a great product that has created positive word-ofmouth, swelling the membership ranks at Massage Green Spa. Kelly spearheads the spa’s aggressive approach on social media. “The response we’ve gotten from that (social media) has been amazing,’’ she says. “The biggest thing is that people are coming in. And, when they come in, we make

Kelly and Todd Phillips opened their first Massage Green Spa in the New Tampa Center this summer, and they say locals are finding the membership-based pricing and options to their liking. can afford, and see the benefits of wellness sure they have a good experience.” The concept is simple, but everyone at in their lives, I think that’s a great thing. It Massage Green Spa works hard to perfect it: shouldn’t be an exclusive service.” create a fresh, clean environment and beauti“Green” is more than just a word at fully designed waiting room; while offering Massage Green. The spa was built with requality massages, infrared heat therapy, facycled cellulose drywall and decorated with cials and aromatherapy. The spa also includes hand-cultured stone. Part of the Massage options for couples — the couples massage Green Spa mantra, in fact, is “Healthy Bodroom is warm and inviting — and offer a ies, Healthy Buildings.” discounted introductory price to go with The equipment, like the Sunlighten membership pricing that includes a number infrared sauna, is the highest-rated in terms of different, affordable combinations. of efficiency, Phillips says. The products used “The concept is affordable luxury,’’ are all natural. Heck, you can even save a Todd says. “For a business to offer these tree by having your receipt emailed to you. kind of services at a price point more people “All organic, no additives,” Phillips says. “We take it seriously. It’s an important

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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part of what we do. We try to leave as small an environmental footprint as we can.” Massage Green Spa is a membershipbased spa, although non-members also are welcome. You’ll get a better price with a membership, with a variety of different combinations to choose from. And, if you’re unsure about joining, the spa offers introductory pricing for your first visit only. “We think our price points are a little bit better than our competitors,” Todd says. “And, although it is still a subscriptionbased model, it’s a little less around-thethroat aggressive than some others. It is truly a month-to-month commitment. At other places, if you want to leave after two months, you’re still paying for another 10. Not here.” Pro tip: I treated my wife to a massage at Massage Green Spa two weeks ago, and she couldn’t stop raving about the work Latoya, a licensed massage therapist (LMT), did on her. And afterwards, she was so relaxed she fell asleep during her infrared therapy session. Latoya and fellow LMTs Keesha, Devonia, Malik, Nicole, Jose, Lynda and Clifton have all received similar reviews from their clients, Todd says.

About That Infrared Therapy

What Todd says truly sets Massage Green Spa apart from others is its Full Spectrum Infrared Therapy, powered by Sunlighten. “It’s an amazing adjunct to licensed massage,” Todd says. The benefits of heat therapy have been around forever, in Finnish culture and in Asian culture for literally

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utes of infrared therapy burns 600 calories. It is also known to lower your blood pressure and increase blood flow — which has a ton of health benefits, including helping to reduce muscle soreness and even arthritis pain. “The cardiovascular program is proven to lower your blood pressure,” says Kelly, citing a 2005 clinical study at the University of Missouri-Kansas. “Selfcare is very important for everyone.” The couples massage room at Massage Green Spa provides affordable, Todd says the licensed couples massages in an intimate setting. infrared sauna and masthousands of years. “Infrared is simply just sage go hand-in-hand many times. Many of a more efficient way of delivering the heat. Massage Green Spa’s clients use the infrared The same technology has been used for a sauna afterwards to help with some of the long time in hospitals and neonatal wards residual soreness from a deep-tissue massage. to warm babies.” And for those who have trouble relaxing on While the idea of a sauna may not be a massage table, the infrared sauna can be pleasant to many, due to the stifling heat, taken before to help with relaxation. the sweating and the boredom, infrared If sitting still for 30 minutes to an hour therapy offers a different experience. in the heat is too boring, the saunas are “I’m a big guy,” Todd says. “If you put enabled with a wifi-enabled touchscreen, me in a traditional sauna, I’m running for allowing you to pull up Netflix or Pandora the door in 10 minutes,. I feel like I can’t or even check your Facebook page. There breathe; it’s almost claustrophobic. Because is even an app that will sync your health of the efficiency and the way the way the indevice, like a Fitbit, to the computer. frared heats, it doesn’t feel as hot but you’re Customers can purchase Infrared still getting all of the health benefits.” Therapy memberships (or come in and try Todd says that infrared therapy aids in it once at a $19.95 introductory price). detoxification and dissolving toxins in the In fact, Todd says one client who recently blood, helps with fat loss, chronic fatigue signed up only comes for the sauna. and skin disorders. He notes that 30 minMassage Green Spa also has two

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licensed aestheticians on staff, Christina and Katrina, and the offer a number of different European spa facials. A typical one-hour session includes extractions, mask and a neck/ shoulder. Massage Green Spa also uses Skin Script, an all natural-enzyme based product line. The spa does not offer microdermabrasions or peels, but it does offer aromatherapy with doTERRA essential oils, hot stone treatments and if you’re short on time, try a 15-minute chair massage for $15. Massage Green Spa, which is Michigan-based, has 80 locations nationwide, including one in Jacksonville and four in the The Sunlighten infrared sauna offers a number of health benMiami area. The New Tampa efits...and Netflix, too! location is the first of three Freedom High football team, the Freedom franchises that Todd and Kelly PTSA and Clark Elementary PTA, and even plan on opening in the Tampa Bay area. offer discounts on Tuesdays to teachers. They know the Massage Green Spa “Even though it’s a franchise, we have CEO, Allie Mallad, through Kelly’s father a real commitment to the community and Keith Sirois — the current CEO of Big Boy doing business with other small businesses,’’ in Michigan and former CEO of TampaTodd says. “That’s the way it should be.” based Checkers Drive-In Restaurants, Inc. Massage Green Spa is located at — who also is a Massage Green franchisee. But, don’t be fooled by the word “fran- 19040 BBD Blvd., next to the Publix supermarket in the New Tampa Center and chise.” Kelly says she and her husband go is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-9 p.m., out of their way to make sure their location always has that hometown feel. One of them and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sunday. Massage Green Spa has introductory prices on all is always working behind the counter, and of its services, as well as monthly memthey are active in the community. berships. For more information, visit Massage Green Spa sponsors teams MassageGreenSpa.com or Facebook/ in the Police Athletic League Pop Warner MassageGreenTampa, call 333-7703 or football and North Tampa Athletic League see the ad on page 21. baseball programs. They sponsor the

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

GL Homes’ The Ridge At Wiregrass Ranch To Add Clubhouse Soon By Celeste McLaughlin On S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, a couple of miles east of the Shops at Wiregrass, behind a stunning entrance with an eyecatching waterfall feature, a brand new community called The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch is taking shape. Families who want to enjoy the best possible Florida lifestyle in luxurious, custom homes began moving into the community earlier this year. Of the more than 180 homes that have been sold in the community so far, 50 have been completed. The Ridge is expected to eventually include 562 homes. Homes in The Ridge are priced starting from $295,000 to $615,000, with sizes from just under 2,000 sq. ft. to more than 5,000 sq. ft. Most homes back up to ponds or conservation areas, and the few homes that back up to another home feature deeper lots and green space in between. The Ridge is being developed, built and sold by Sunrise, FL-based GL Homes. GL Homes is a privately owned company that has been in business for more than 40 years. It started in Palm Beach and Broward counties and has grown to include communities throughout Florida. The company is different from many community developers, because it also is the builder. “We purchase the land, work with engineers to create a site plan, go through the approval process, develop each home site and build each home,” says Marisa Lufkin, project manager for The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch. Although Marisa just recently began

This beautiful 12,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse and other amenities at GL Homes’ The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch are expected to be completed and open by February 2017. working at The Ridge, she says she has been with GL Homes for 17 years, most recently at Valencia Lakes (the only other GL Homes community in the Tampa Bay area), which is for adults ages 55 and older and located in the Sun City Center area of southern Hillsborough County. She explains that being both the developer and the builder has its advantages. “We control the standard of the overall aesthetics,” Marisa says. “We start with the entrance and follow through with the elevations of the homes. We tie it all together, from the guardhouse to the landscaping, to the exterior of the clubhouse and the homes themselves.” The elevations of the homes in The Ridge all include concrete roof tile, stacked

stone exterior details, a covered patio, and brick pavers on driveways, walkways, entries, and covered patios. “These are standard features in all of our homes,” explains Marisa. She adds that the high-end standard features continue inside, as well, where you won’t need to upgrade to get stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, 42” upper cabinets in the kitchen or luxury bathroom finishes. “In this community, you really can have it all,” Marisa says.

Clubhouse & Pools

As homes are being constructed throughout the community, so is The Ridge’s amenity center. The 12,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse currently is under construc-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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tion and GL Homes plans to open it in February. The clubhouse will include a fitness center with 24-hour resident access, aerobics room, indoor sports court, game room, kids room and even an arcade. Outdoors, a resort-style pool is accompanied by a lap pool, kids water play area and a water slide. There also are four tennis courts, a shaded tot lot, a full-size, full-court basketball court, open play field and party pavilion. “There’s nothing else like it in a community this size,” says Marisa. “We’re different for the market, and that’s what attracts buyers to this community.” When the clubhouse is complete, a social director will be hired to build programs based on what the residents want, and schedule those programs based on when they want them. “That’s the beauty of a brand new community,” she says. “We can mold it into an outstanding (facility), and the residents will dictate what those programs will be.” “I can’t wait for the clubhouse to open,” says Steven Nguyen, a resident at The Ridge. “No doubt my two kids will use the pools.” Steven says he moved from New York, “to get away from the cold weather.” The family moved into the new home in May. “We bought a four-bedroom home,” he says, “where I live with my wife, my children and my parents. My brother lives next door.” He adds that the entire family chose to move into The Ridge because, “This community is definitely one of the best in all of the Tampa Bay area.”

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Elementary and Wiregrass Ranch High. Marisa says Steven and his brother aren’t the only families who have purchased two homes next door to each other; other families have their parents next door. She adds that a wide variety of people are coming to live at The Ridge, “from newlyweds to families with children to empty nesters.” She says many of the buyers are local. “Our community gives people who have outgrown their New Tampa homes an opportunity to build a bigger home in the area,” she says, adding that other local buyers are looking to downsize Spectacular, quality homes are the norm at The Ridge. once they become empty He adds, “Here, everything is convenesters. “Other families nient. Shopping is just minutes away, and just want to live in a brand new home with everything is close.” all the finishing touches and these amazing Steven has that in common with many community amenities.” other residents of The Ridge, who also In addition, she says, “GL Homes say they were attracted to it because of the offers the whole package. From the location. In growing Wesley Chapel, with multi-million-dollar entry that makes you close proximity to The Shops at Wiregrass, feel like you’re coming into an upscale Tampa Premium Outlets, and I-75, the community, to our many floor plans and community is where families want to be. hundreds of options for customization, Steven also researched local schools along with the great lifestyle.” and liked where students in The Ridge The sales center at The Ridge at were zoned to attend. The community’s Wiregrass Ranch is open every day, 10 rear entrance, which is not yet open (and a.m.-6 p.m. For more information about will be gated for residents only), backs up The Ridge, see the ad on the inside back to Dr. John Long Middle School. Students cover (pg. 55) of this issue, visit GLalso are zoned to attend nearby Wiregrass Homes.com or call (855) 671-1700.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Gives You The Power Of A Winning Smile By Brad Stager The logo for Family & Cosmetic Dentistry has these words: “A smile is the same in any language.” It is a statement that expresses a basic truth of daily living and guides the work of the professionals who work at this family-friendly dental office. Before she chose dentistry as her career, Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD, says she considered becoming a physician. But, learning first-hand how the power of a smile can change one’s life set her on the road to Tufts School of Dental Medicine in Boston, where she earned her Doctor of Dental Medicine (DMD) degree in 1996. The road after dental school ultimately brought her to open Family & Cosmetic Dentistry on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., located just south of County Line Rd. (in the same plaza as Amscot) in front of Live Oak Preserve, where she has been practicing dentistry for the past 10 years. Dr. Jasthi says it was her own experience with orthodontics, while wearing dental braces that helped move her teeth into proper and visually appealing alignment, that enlightened her to the importance of helping people with one of their most basic physical attributes — their smile. “I had an orthodontist who inspired me,” Dr. Jasthi says. “I saw how it changed my teeth and how a smile is so important. It shows your character and you can boost others and show compassion with a smile.” Relieving people’s pain and improving patient health are other reasons Dr. Jasthi cites for pursuing her career as a dentist. She is a member of the American Dental Association (ADA), Florida Dental Association

(FDA), the Academy of General Dentistry (AGD) and the American Academy of Cosmetic Dentistry (AACD). By investing in training and technology, Dr. Jasthi and her team are able to provide numerous services, ranging from procedures that maintain oral health or repair dental damage to cosmetic treatments that can brighten and enhance a smile. Some of the available Family & Cosmetic Dentistry on BBD is about more than just the talents of family dentists (both in white) Dr. services include basic Neeraja Jasthi (left) and Dr. Sandra Pojtek. The office’s friendly, professional staff speaks seven languages. dental cleanings and completed a one-year residency at East Caroli- which, according to its manufacturer, provides exams, fillings, crowns, root canals, bridges, more detailed images than analog X-rays, imveneers, whitening, Invisalign braces, dentures na University’s School of Dental Medicine in Greenville, NC. Just as Dr. Jasthi found a proving diagnoses and treatment. The office and extractions. sense of direction from an established dental also offers CEREC restoration technology Working with Dr. Jasthi to deliver which facilitates the creation of crowns, inlays, high-quality care is her team of about a dozen practitioner, so has Dr. Pojtek. onlays and veneers, often in one visit. “I would consider her (Dr. Jasthi) a dental technicians, assistants and hygienists, as But, even with advanced technology to well as Dr. Sandra Pojtek, DMD, who recent- mentor figure,” says Dr. Pojtek. “We have improve treatment options and outcomes, similar values. The philosophy here is about ly joined the practice. Dr. Jasthi is a firm believer that each of her putting the patient’s needs first and the quali“My team has to reflect my values in patients actually provides the first-line of their ty of work, offering the best dentistry.” providing the best care possible and being own dental (and overall health) defenses when The hiring of Dr. Pojtek means patients sensitive to patient needs,” Dr. Jasthi says. they develop good habits like proper brushing The growth of Family & Cosmetic Den- can now schedule treatment or a consultation and flossing, as well as becoming informed at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry Monday-Fritistry’s patient population created a need for about how proper dental hygiene contributes an additional dentist and resulted in the hiring day, 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Some of the advanced technology used to their overall well being. of Dr. Pojtek, who is a 2014 graduate of the at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry are the i-CAT “I’m also concerned about (my University of Montreal’s Faculty of Dental Cone Beam 3D Dental Imaging machine Medicine in Montreal, Canada. She also patients’) physical health,” she says. “We ed-

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ucate our patients about oral and gum health and how it will impact their general health.”

Multiple Payment Options

Paying for dental work is always a consideration in choosing where to get treatment. Family & Cosmetic Dentistry accepts most dental insurance plans, major credit cards and Care Credit Financing. Another option is an in-office dental savings plan for patients can enroll in. These plans carry enrollment fees of $99 for adults and $69 for children 13 years and younger, but enrollees receive one cleaning and exam at no charge each year and a 15-percent discount on many procedures, such as fillings, perio scaling, crowns and veneers. Check with Family and Cosmetic Dentistry for complete details, including restrictions. Patients also accrue financial credits to their accounts through a new patient referral program. And of course, first-time patients can schedule a free consultation appointment. Sharing the talents and skills that she and members of her team possess with people whose needs exceed their ability to access dental care is one of the values Dr. Jasthi upholds. Her practice participates in scheduled dental camps at the St. Petersburg Free Clinic, providing basic dental care to patients without charge. “I try to help people as much as I can,” she says. Building successful dental practice one smile at a time has paid off in terms of positive online reviews at sites like Zocdoc.com and Healthgrades.com as well as patients like Rana Hayes of Wesley Chapel, who are happy to share their experiences at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. “Dr. Jasthi is a perfectionist,” says Hayes, who lives in Bridgewater. “She pays strict attention to detail.”

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Hayes has been a patient of Dr. Jasthi’s for more than 10 years and also commended the staff at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry. “They’re extremely courteous and professional,” Hayes says. “You’re treated like you want to be treated.” She adds that she found the staff to be helpful and accommodating, even when her appointments sometimes needed to be changed. Another patient, Denis Cole, an Englishman who lives outside of London, includes stops at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry in his travel plans. Cole resides in the Wesley Chapel area from October to April each year and now starts and ends his annual visits with dental cleanings and checkups at the office after undergoing extensive treatment from Dr. Jasthi four years ago. “She’s very good and has a good staff there,” the self-described “rainbird” says. “They did the work very efficiently and at a good price. You won’t get that kind of work with National Health in England.” Treating international visitors and residents of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas is facilitated by the ability of the staff at Family & Cosmetic Dentistry to communicate in several languages besides English. Other languages spoken at the practice are: Telugu (a native language in India), Spanish, French, Russian, Slovak and Lithuanian. Family & Cosmetic Dentistry (20441 BBD) treats patients age 4 and older. For more info, visit DrJasthi.com, call 866-9913 or see the ad on pg. 12. There is a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week answering service available if the office is closed when you call. Or, use the office’s online contact page at DrJasthi.com/contact-us to ask questions or to request an appointment.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Florida Orthopaedic Institute Celebrates One Year In Wesley Chapel! With 26 years of experience treating patients throughout the Tampa Bay area, the doctors and staff at Florida Orthopaedic Institute are excited about the one-year anniversary of their newest office, located in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., directly across from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC). The Wesley Chapel office is helping Florida Orthopaedic Institute meet the increasing demand for specialized orthopaedic care that can help residents of Pasco County and nearby communities stay active. The Board-certified doctors and surgeons at Florida Orthopaedic Institute have been recognized globally for their expertise. Headquartered in North Tampa, the Wesley Chapel office is the tenth for the practice, which now serves patients in or near Bloomingdale, Brandon, Citrus Park, Northdale, Oak Hill/Brooksville, Palm Harbor, South Tampa, Sun City Center, Temple Terrace and Wesley Chapel/New Tampa. The Wesley Chapel office offers physician services, physical therapy and X-rays. Additionally, three Board-certified physicians are on staff: • Christopher Baker, M.D., a fellowship-trained specialist in sports medicine and shoulder reconstruction; • Brian Palumbo, M.D., who specializes in hip and knee replacement surgery, with a focus on diagnosing and treating hip and knee arthritis, and • Timothy Epting, D.O., who focuses on injuries and disorders of the foot and

ankle and general orthopaedic conditions. In order to maintain the highest level of orthopaedic skill, Florida Orthopaedic Institute only employs doctors who have fellowship training. “This additional training is just part of what sets us apart,” says Dr. Baker, “especially when the sophisticated work of joints is involved. In order to keep our patients Florida Orthopaedic active, the precision of the treatment is Institute’s Wesley Chapel paramount to success.” office combines the Dr. Baker has been with Florida Ortalents of Dr. Christothopaedic Institute for three years and has pher Baker (above), Dr. practiced in the area for six. He graduated Brian Palumbo (right) cum laude with his M.D. degree from the and Dr. Timothy Epting (next page). University of Florida in Gainesville and completed his residency in Orthopaedic are afraid they will need surgery or because Surgery at the University of Pittsburgh of the misconception that pain is a normal Medical Center. His fellowship at the Stead- part of aging, but Dr. Baker always informs man Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas (in his patients about all available alternatives. Spartanburg, SC) gave him an extra year “There are a lot of options other than of study in sports medicine and shoulsurgery, like physical therapy or cortisone der reconstruction, making him the only injections,’’ he says. “Our mission is to do fellowship-trained shoulder specialist in what is best for the individual patient.” eastern Pasco County. Even when surgery is necessary, Dr. He also has been very influential in Baker says he does not go straight to invahigh school athletics, since he assisted in sive surgical techniques. He uses the latest opening the sports medicine programs at technologies and says that many repairs Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills high schools. are done with an arthroscope to minimize Dr. Baker also treats professional athletes incisions, pain and recovery time. The other and has served as the orthopaedic & sports doctors at Florida Orthopaedic Institute, medicine physician for the Tampa Bay like Dr. Palumbo, also believe that minimizStorm Arena Football League team. ing surgical trauma and muscle damage In addition to caring for athletes, he should be a high priority for any surgeon. also treats patients who have shoulder pain Speaking of Dr. Palumbo, he served in stemming from aging or injury. Many pathe Special Operations Command for the tients avoid shoulder treatment because they U.S. Air Force. He later earned his M.D.

degree from the University of South Florida in Tampa, where he also served as a resident in USF’s Department of Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine. After that, he attended Harvard Medical School’s Hip & Knee reconstruction surgical fellowship for one year at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston, MA. Dr. Palumbo specializes in hip and knee arthritis management, joint replacement surgery and the treatment of failed or painful hip and knee joint replacements. He is Board-certified by the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, a member of the American Association of Hip & Knee Surgeons, and serves as an assistant professor for the University of South Florida’s Orthopaedic Residency Program. There are several unique aspects to Dr. Palumbo’s orthopaedic practice. He is a proponent of the direct anterior approach (DAA)

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or frontal approach for hip replacements. He says this technique minimizes surgical trauma and allows for faster recovery and decreased pain. He explains that, “Rather than cutting through or damaging muscles, (with the DAA approach) you’re simply spreading certain muscles to the side, using their natural tissue planes. It’s like opening a window versus breaking through it.” His approach to joint replacement surgery also includes a technique for total knee replacements called Kinematic Knee Alignment. This technique is unique in that the goal of the surgery is to restore the natural position and dynamics of the knee joint, rather than implanting it in an alignment that the surgeon believes is correct. “Conventional total knee arthroplasty implants the knee where the surgeon thinks it belongs, while kinematic alignment attempts to implant the knee replacement in a way that attempts to replicate (that) knee before he or she had arthritis,” he states. Dr. Palumbo also is an advocate for partial (rather than total) knee replacements whenever possible. He feels that sparing hip and knee joint muscles and preserving bone (when possible) can lead to improved and faster recovery and long-term outcomes. He also firmly believes in the importance of fellowship-trained, specialized surgeons. “The added training and expertise this provides allows us to care for complex failed and painful joint replacement issues,” he says. “Approximately 30 percent of joint replacements I perform are re-do replacements for old or failed joint replacements.” Educating patients is a core philosophy at the Florida Orthopaedic Institute, whose surgeons encourage patients to seek out

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options to ensure that they are getting a doctor who is experienced in treating their particular type of injury. Dr. Epting (below) is a foot and ankle specialist who is Board-certified in orthopaedic surgery, with fellowship training from the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Prior to joining the Florida Orthopaedic Institute team, Dr. Epting served three years as an attending orthopaedic surgeon at the Naval Hospital in Jacksonville, FL. He also served as an orthopaedic surgeon in Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal in 2010. “My military experience and fellowship training allow me to explore all options for my patients so they can receive the best possible care,” he says. Dr. Epting treat sports injuries (fractures, ligament and tendon injuries) of the ankle and foot, as well as arthritis (fusions and ankle replacements) and foot and ankle deformities. He utilizes non-surgical measures (bracing and physical therapy) as well as surgical repair, arthroscopy, and reconstruction when appropriate. For more information, stop in at Florida Orthopaedic Institute’s Wesley Chapel office at 2653 BBD, visit FloridaOrtho.com or see pg. 5. The Wesley Chapel location is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. Call (800) FL-ORTHO for appointments. — Submitted to & edited by New Tampa Neighborhood News.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Hourly Childcare With No Reservations: Just Drop In At KidsPark! Meeting Your Needs

By Celeste McLaughlin

KidsPark is a totally new concept in childcare for the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area. “If you’re a mom, you get it,” says Amanda Justus, the owner of the KidsPark Tampa, located just off of S.R. 56, east of I-75, in Wesley Chapel. She explains that KidsPark is available for children ages 2 through 12, for drop-in childcare. “We offer hourly childcare on days, evenings and weekends with no reservations,” says Amanda. “For date nights, meetings, grocery shopping, appointments, anything… you just drop your kids off.” The concept is popular. Since opening in August, KidsPark has registered about 600 families. The Wesley Chapel location is part of a growing franchise headquartered in San Jose, CA. Its 17 locations are in seven states, including three KidsPark facilities in Florida. “My first experience with hourly childcare was when I was living in North Carolina and my husband was in the Marines,” Amanda says. “Hourly childcare saved my life. Sometimes, it was the only way for me to get to the store or clean the house.” Amanda and her husband Ricky live in Wesley Chapel with their two children, Camryn, who is 10, and Gavin, who is 6. Amanda worked as

Owner Amanda Justus (left) and director Heather Perez invite you to check out KidsPark, located just off I-75 on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel.

a microbiologist at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel before leaving her job to focus on opening and running KidsPark. While her undergraduate degree is in microbiology from the University of South Florida in Tampa, she also holds a Masters in Business Administration (MBA) from nearby St. Leo University, which she earned in 2013. “I’ve always wanted to own my own business, and I knew this was something the area needed,” she says.

When Amanda realized that she could open a KidsPark franchise, she says she signed the paperwork immediately, “And, it’s exceeded our expectations.” KidsPark’s full-time director, Heather Perez, has 20 years of experience as a preschool director in Pasco County. “Heather has been a huge help for me,” says Amanda. “My background is in science, so it’s great that Heather understands all of the licensing and requirements.”

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For anyone who works 12-hour shifts or evening hours, such as nurses, servers, or anyone in retail, traditional daycare just doesn’t work. Amanda says that since her husband is a firefighter, she used to pay for full-time childcare, even though she didn’t need it. Dads and moms apparently like it for date night, too. “Parents tell us we’re saving their marriages,” says Amanda. “Dads actually high-five us and say thank you.” KidsPark has something for all kids, from dramatic play to air hockey, board games and puzzles, as well as karaoke, Wii dance, Wii sports, and Xbox. Kids Park also has a private, enclosed outdoor space so kids can get some fresh air. While visitors to KidsPark get time for open play, there also are scheduled activities. “We try to make sure every child takes home a craft or art project,” Amanda says, “so parents can see what they’ve been doing.” KidsPark serves lunch at noon every day, and dinner at 6 p.m. The meals are catered and cost just $4. Snacks are provided at no additional charge at 10 a.m., 3 p.m. and 8 p.m. “It’s huge to know that you always have child care, and – unlike what might happen with a babysitter – that they aren’t just sitting there watching TV,” Amanda says.

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Whether your kids are pre-school age or as old as age 12, they are welcome to enjoy KidsPark.

Preschool, Too

In addition to hourly childcare, KidsPark offers both Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for four year olds and preschool for ages two and three. KidsPark’s one VPK class filled up quickly. These families use a voucher and pay nothing when they pick their child up by noon. On any day, whether the parent is running late or would like additional childcare, the kid simply stays longer and parents pay just the regular hourly rate for any additional time. “Buddy Preschool” also is held each day from 9 a.m. to noon, but parents have the flexibility to choose which days they attend and pay hourly just for the times their child is there.

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Affordable Rates

“We try to make it so everyone can afford child care,” Amanda says. The hourly rate is just $7.75 for one child, or $11.75 for two. Additional siblings are $3 per hour. A “preferred customer rate” is available for anyone who prepays $100 or more (in $50 increments, up to $250). Ten percent is added to your prepayment, so if you pre-pay $100, you actually get $110 credited to your account. There is a $25 registration fee per family (not per child), which is a onetime fee, as long as you come at least once a year. Also, once you’ve paid the registration fee at any facility, you can use all of the KidsPark facilities across

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the country if you’re traveling. Amanda also offers discounts to hospital employees and to anyone in the military. On Sundays, before and after Kids Park is open, the staff hosts birthday parties and other private parties. “For a private party, you have the whole center to yourselves,” says Amanda. “You choose a craft and a game, and the cost includes face painting, two staff members to keep the kids busy, and also includes invitations, paper products and even decorations.”

Happy Customers

Denise Drury’s two-year-old twins, John and James, were KidsPark’s very first clients. “It’s a wonderful place,” says Den-

ise. “The caregivers there treat my boys like they’re their own.” Denise adds that KidsPark is, “the best concept ever, for a mom to be able to drop her kids off at the last minute,” whether it’s for grocery shopping, an appointment, or a night out with her husband. “It’s affordable, and I can’t get over all of the activities the kids get to do there.” KidsPark is located at 26240 Golden Maple Loop, just off of S.R. 56 (east of I-75) in Wesley Chapel. The center is open Monday–Thursday, 8 a.m.–10 p.m., 8 a.m.–midnight on Friday, 10 a.m.–midnight on Saturday, and 1 p.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, see the ad on page 18, call 803-4972, or visit KidsPark.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Wharton Boys Turn In Best Finish Ever At State Cross Country Meet By John C. Cotey The best finish in Wharton boys cross country history went anything but smoothly. There were critical injuries, tough courses and some flat performances to overcome. But in the end, the Wildcats managed to do something no other boys cross country team at the school had — crack the Top 10 at the State Championship race with a ninthplace finish on Nov. 5. “It was really a testament to the kind of kids we had on the team this year,’’ said third-year head coach Kyle LoJacono. Behind sophomore Tre Rivers’ ninthplace finish in a personal best of 16 minutes and 16 seconds, the Wildcats finished with 286 points at the Class 4A State race at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee. Juniors Noah Damjanovic (71st), Sahil Deshenes (89) and Frankie Godbold (99) all cracked the top 100, while freshman Casey Pleune was 113th. The Wharton finish was the second-best of all the Hillsborough County public school teams competing at the event, behind only Newsome, which was third with 185 points. It was a deserved ending to a season that resembled a run through tough, wandering terrain. It began with high hopes. Wharton lost seven seniors, but returned a strong group of underclassmen, led by Rivers. Pleune joined the team in the fall, and set a number a freshman school records. “We 100-percent expected to do what we did,’’ LoJacono said. “We knew the group coming back not only had the talent, but the right kind of mindset to do it.”

The Wharton High boys cross country team hoists Tre Rivers into the air after his firstplace finish at the District championship meet. (Photo courtesy Kyle LoJacono) In the summer, though, the Wildcats they finished 15th overall (after being seeded lost senior Veyd Tandel to a broken leg, a to finish 10th), only placing three runners in disheartening injury considering Tandel was the top 150. something of an inspirational leader after “They were really demoralized after that running with the team for three years before race,’’ LoJacono said. finally making varsity for the first time. Two weeks later, however, the Wildcats Meanwhile, Damjanovic broke his foot took on another big hurdle, traveling to in the summer, and saw his times early in Tallahassee for the pre-State FSU Invitational the season hang around 18 minutes, a tough race, which was disrupted by Hurricane Matstart for a runner who was used to finish in thew, causing some teams to drop out. That the mid-17-minute range. opened the door for Wharton to be moved And at the Region 4A-2 race, Dennari- into the elite race — where the Wildcats us Murphy injured his calf and couldn’t run finished eighth and placed all five scorers in at States, so Zach Kane had to step up. the top-100 runners. But, perhaps the biggest obstacle for The Wildcats also closed the gap with the Wildcats to overcome was a race at the District 4A-6 rival Steinbrenner, their average University of Florida Mountain Dew meet at time just 15 seconds behind the Warriors, the UF Golf Course in Gainesville in which who finished fifth at the FSU race.

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“That is where things turned around,’’ LoJacono said. So began a series of races where the Wildcats chased down, and eventually passed, their rivals. At the Hillsborough County Championships, Wharton finished third, just eight points behind champion Steinbrenner. At the District race the following week, Rivers broke through to win the individual title in 16:41, and the Wildcats were just two points behind first-place Steinbrenner. Finally, at the Region 4A-2 race, the Wildcats caught the Warriors. Behind another strong finish by Rivers, Pleune and Deshenes, Wharton finished fourth overall, a whopping 43 points ahead of Steinbrenner. “That was the first time we were ever able to beat Steinbrenner,’’ LoJacono said, and the following week they did it again at state, as the Warriors finished one spot and 13 points behind Wharton. Now that the Wildcats have caught the rabbit, the target could be on their backs next season. They return everyone, and plan on using a strong track and AAU season to bolster their chances at finishing even better at States in 2017. “I told them, now you have to set your bar and your motivation higher,’’ says LoJacono. “They may be chasing us next year.”

Samhouri Finishes Strong

Wharton senior Rania Samhouri, who was featured in our last Neighborhood News issue, was the only girl ‘Cat to advance to States, where she finished ninth overall. Samhouri, who improved on her 30thplace finish last season, ran the race in 18:49.

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Boys Hoops: Wharton Expected To Challenge Again; Freedom? Maybe By John C. Cotey

Since taking over the Paul R. Wharton High boys basketball program in 1997, coach Tommy Tonelli has had nothing but success. Only one time have his Wildcats not won at least 18 games. And, Tonelli has guided the Wildcats to eleven straight 20win seasons, seven district titles and nine playoff appearances. But last year, despite going 21-5, the Wildcats did not make the playoffs, losing in the District semifinals to arch-rival Freedom High in Tampa Palms. The two teams renew their rivalry tonight in a Class 8A, District 8 clash at 6:30 p.m. at Wharton, with the Wildcats looking to get back to the postseason and Freedom looking at a rebuilding year. “I feel this team definitely has a real good outlook and can achieve whatever they want,’’ says Tonelli, who is just another 20-win season shy of 400 career wins with the school. “They just have to earn it and pay the price and go out and compete for it. It is a talented group. We have the necessary pieces.” Three of those pieces are returning senior starters: Tray Gildon, Dae’son Barnes and Isaiah Thomas. Another big piece should be transfer Reggie Jennings, a 6-3 senior guard who averaged 20.1 points and 10 rebounds a game last year for Wesley Chapel High. Gildon started every game as a junior, and the 6-foot-1 point guard is poised

into the starting lineup midway through the season. He provided a lift for the ‘Cats on offense, and is a tremendous leaper who plays above the rim. Wharton isn’t a very big or physical team this year, but they are athletic and fairly long, with players like 6-2 sophomore guard Darin Green, 6-5 (l-r) Tray Gildon, Dae’son Barnes and Isaiah Thomas are returning junior point guard starters for Wharton, which is looking for another 20-win season. D.J. Henderson and junior varsity call-up to have a big season. Tonelli said Gildon shined during the offseason, showing leaps Renaldo Williams all expected to play big forward in maturity and leadership. Com- roles this season. “I’m real excited about our guys,’’ bine that with a smooth handle, great vision and a solid jumper, and Gildon could Tonelli says, “and what I think we can emerge as one of the Tampa Bay area’s top accomplish.” point guards. Freedom Hoping To Reload “He has good natural point guard Freedom coach Cedric Smith is taking ability,’’ Tonelli says. “He has all the a more muted tone with the Patriots as he intangibles.” waits to see how his team gels. Barnes, a 6-2 shooting guard, also The Pats lost seven seniors from last played a lot as a junior. He has improved year’s team, including about 41 of the 57 his jump shot and his defense and Tonelli thinks Barnes can raise his scoring average points per game the team averaged in winning a school-record 23 games. into double digits. Freedom will rely on Chase Creasy, a “He can put the ball in the basket a 6-4 senior wing player that Smith thinks lot of different ways,’’ the coach says. Thomas is a 6-3 forward who started can be better than he has been. Last year, Creasy averaged just 6 points per game in last year as a reserve and played his way

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Freedom coach Cedric Smith led the Patriots to a school-record 23-6 record last year. limited minutes but was third on the team in three-pointers made. The Patriots also return 6-8 junior Alek Rojas and 6-7 senior Nicola Maganuco, two centers. Neither player made a big impact last year, averaging a combined 5.7 points and 2.8 rebounds, but Smith is counting on them to put up bigger numbers in 2016-17. Gerald Fleming, an athletic 6-4 senior forward, and 5-8 sophomore point guard Nicholas Butler round out the starters for Freedom. “We have some work to do,’’ said Smith, the former USF star who took over the program in 2011 and finished 8-14 his first season, but has improved the team’s win total every year since then.

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Freedom Girls Look To Rebound, Wharton Fighting Injuries & Youth By John C. Cotey

When you build a winning basketball program, new players can tend to think that the successes of the past will automatically continue. Freedom High girls basketball coach Laurie Pacholke says she sees it all the time. But, very often, she says, it doesn’t. And, that kind of lesson is never very easy for a coach to drill into his or her players’ heads. After a six-year run that included 127 victories, four trips to the playoffs and a state semifinal appearance in 2013, the Patriots suffered through the first losing season since Pacholke became head coach in 2009. Freedom’s 13-15 record included the Pats’ first loss to New Tampa rival Wharton High since 2010. Pacholke’s team did still make the playoffs and nearly upset traditional state powerhouse Winter Haven High in the playoffs — losing by one point — but Pacholke says, “Looking at the record... yeah, that’s brutal.” Freedom, which opened the 201617 season with a 33-30 loss to Alonso, returns six seniors in its effort to bounce back this season, including Megan Clark, who averaged 14.7 points a game last year after missing the first month and a half with an injury. Pacholke says that Clark — a 5-foot9 senior forward who has signed to play college ball for Division I-A Tennessee

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Tech in Cookeville, TN — has a high basketball IQ, a sterling work ethic and a nose for the ball. “She’ll lead us in offensive rebounds, that is for sure,’’ Pacholke says, adding that Clark’s pullup, mid-range jumper and three-point shot are as good as anyone she has ever coached. Olivia Williams will, “shock a lot of people,” Pacholke says. The 6-1 senior center is a top re- (Left) Freedom High senior Megan Clark (center) bounder with a nice shot signed her letter of intent with Tennessee Tech last month. from 14 feet in, and has great hands. Taraja Leon, (Right) Wharton High’s Ashley “A.J.” Jones (left) & a 5-7 senior, will take over Parker Onderko will be counted on to help carry the team until they can find their footing. the starting point guard duties after scoring 7.2 points a game in a and losers of its first two games this season, reserve role last year, and 5-10 senior for- will have to overcome offseason injuries to ward Ashley Bell brings lockdown defense key players to reach double-digit wins again. Seniors Dawn Norwood and Sabrina and a strong physical style to the Pats. Eye, two post players at 5-10 and 6-1, reAnother senior, 5-7 forward Gazal spectively, both suffered torn ACLs. Coach Refaee, will add some strength in the post, and 6-foot sophomore center Ragen Chad Reed says he hopes to get Eye back Roger has made significant progress after before the end of the season. “Those are significant,” he says. playing in 14 games as a freshman. “They will hurt,’’ he says. “I like the pieces that we have,’’ Two starters from last year — 5-8 Pacholke says. “It’s a new year, and I told senior point guard Ashley Jones and 5-4 them you can’t worry about anything senior guard Parker Onderko — will be that happened in the past.” asked to carry the load early. Reed says Wildcats Looking For A Spark he the Wildcats will have to find success with a rotation of transfers and new and Wharton, which was 12-14 last year

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old players, such as 5-10 junior forward Regina Henry, 5-11 sophomore center Semera Wilson and 5-3 sophomore guard Mecca Bythewood, as well as from promising freshmen like 5-10 forward Julian Trice and 5-4 guard Angelica Ayala. Reed said he has some good shooters, so the Wildcats will rely on quick ball movement to create open shots. He thinks because of all the new pieces, Wharton will take its lumps this year, but he believes the future is bright. “We have to take it game to game,’’ Reed said. “It can’t be about wins and losses (right now). If we get better each game, the wins will come.”

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‘That’s A Wrap’ — Schneider’s 1st CineFlix Film Fest Was Fun For Everyone! as well as a racial slur used By Gary Nager by some Hawaiian people) I can’t even begin to tell you how much but another former soldier fun I had the week of Oct. 31-Nov. 3 at the turned ruthless mercenary. Cobb Grove 16 theater, as actor/director Although Soto’s “DisJohn Schneider brought his first CineFlix carded” is a documentary Independent Film Festival to Wesley Chapel. that was shot entirely with First of all, Schneider and his producer a $300 GoPro camera, it is Alicia Allain of Maven Entertainment were on a moving film chronicling site all week and five of the 22 films featured the 30 days Soto spent in the festival were films they produced among the homeless people together. In addition, Schneider and several of living on Skid Row in Los the other filmmakers with films being shown Angeles. during the festival also were at the theater to I also enjoyed Schneianswer questions at virtually every showing. der’s “Hate Crime,” about Best of all, I felt honored and privileged (Above) Actor/director John Schneider sat down with our editor (and three other filmmakers) for a series of interview a gay man who kills his to have gotten the opportunity to interview segments for WCNT-tv. Schneider’s “Inadmissible” was our editor’s favorite of the films he saw during the CineFlix lover, and although the sto— for WCNT-tv (Wesley Chapel & New ry was a little gory for my Tampa Television) — Schneider and his fellow Film Festival at The Grove. (Below) Filmmaker Trent Dion Soto lived “Among the Discarded” on Skid Row for 30 days. taste, Schneider’s “Andertheir work, but also gives them a cut of the Oprah Winfrey Network. His twice-flooded filmmakers Edo Natasha and Quantae Love son Bench” is a dark comedy reminiscent of festival’s sales proceeds, was a blast. of “Popolo” and Trent Dion Soto of “Among John Schneider Studios in Louisiana was the the ‘80s cult classic “Eating Raoul.” I’m not going to lie that the theaters setting for most of his films, although many the Discarded” before the festival started. Considering that I had to work, I were packed for the festival, but those of us of the other entries in the festival — including Schneider said that he has had enough of couldn’t see all of the films during the festiwho did attend any of the 22 films did not go “Popolo” and “Among the Discarded” — still being best known for his most famous val, but the good news is that virtually all of home disappointed. were filmed elsewhere. starring role as Bo Duke in “The Dukes of them will be available in Digital on Demand Of the films I saw, my favorite was No matter where they were shot, howHazzard,” despite also having starred as Suformat beginning sometime around ThanksSchneider’s own legal thriller “Inadmissible,” ever, Schneider and Allain’s first-of-its-kind perman’s father on “Smallville,” and the fact giving. I wish the films would have been where he plays a hard-smoking, hard-drinkindependent film festival, which gave these he currently is starring in Tyler Perry’s popshown in one of the Cinebistro theaters at ing District Attorney named Bryce Danos indie filmmakers not only a showcase for ular “The Haves and the Have Nots” on the The Grove 16, but the event was still very who is trying to put away the entertaining, so I hope Schneider and Allain son of a major mob figure. will be encouraged enough to want to bring It’s definitely an exciting, the festival back next year. edge-of-your-seat adventure As for Schneider still being pigeonand Schneider appreciated it when I said Danos could kick holed as Bo Duke, I have to agree with the butt of Tom Cruise’s Jack what he said during our WCNT interview: “That’s like a guy curing cancer but people Reacher character. knowing him for a great term paper he I did also love “Popowrote in 1978.” lo,” which is the story of a For more information about the former soldier who opens films at the festival, visit CineFlixFest. a martial arts school in com. And, check out all nine of my short Hawaii who ends up fighting interview segments with Schneider, Soto, not only racial prejudice Natasha and Love at the WCNT-tv chan(“Popolo” is a kind of berry nel on YouTube. in Hawaii that turns black,

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New Food, Rides & Weather Help Wesley Chapel Fall Festival Break Attendance Record The 12th annual Wesley Chapel Fall Festival added an extra day and a new event planner to give the event a bigger, carnival feel, and the result was a weekend of record crowds Oct. 28-30, at the Grove of Wesley Chapel. Event planners estimate that more than 10,000 people attended the three-day event, and that led to some long lines and difficulty for many to find parking. But once they made it to the event, festival goers were able to take part in Dreamland Amusement rides for the first time, plus more than 100 vendors, including 10 different food vendors and trucks, pumpkin painting with Pinot’s Palette and Mini-Scarecrow Creation with the Rotary Club of New Tampa. The event also featured Trunk & Treat for the kids at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Community members participated by decorating their

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vehicles, dressing up and passing out treats. “We probably gave candy away to more than 1,000 kids on Saturday,’’ said Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce CEO Hope Allen, who partnered with event planning company Simply Events for this year’s festival. Allen said that during a brainstorming session with Simply Events months ago, they decided to add more family activities, and for the first time, were able to bring a more carnival-like feel to the Fall Festival There also was live entertainment by a handful of bands and performers, and prizes for best costumes. Overall, Allen said the 12th annual Fall Festival was a “huge success. It was the largest ever, with the biggest crowd ever. It was fantastic!” — John C. Cotey; Photos courtesy of Shaunte Langley.

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Little Italy’s Restaurant & Catering Adds An Amazing New Lunch Menu!

Lasagna & Salad

Madison Marie, Carl & Jessica Meyers of Little Italy’s By Gary Nager; Photos by Gavin Olsen & GN

LLOW ME to start this review by saying that although Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering isn’t actually physically located “in” New Tampa or Wesley Chapel (it is located on S.R. 54 in Lutz, two miles west of the Tampa Premium Outlets), it is the only place we have in our area serving authentic, delicious sit-down Italian food in a casual eatery that’s more than just another pizza place that also happens to serve Italian specialties. The husband-and-wife team of Carl and Chef Jessica Meyers takes pride in being not only my favorite Italian place located close enough to our distribution areas for me to include it in our annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest, but also one of the favorite places of so many of our readers. But, the big news is that Jessica and Carl have added a new lunch menu with smallersized (for them, anyway) lunch portions of so many of our favorite dishes that we felt that

these new lunch options warranted their own full-length feature article in these pages. And yes, all of the food pics shown here are the actual portions you’ll receive for only $6-$9 apiece, with the seafood selections shown here selling for just a few dollars more. And, lunch is served at Little Italy’s Tuesday.-Friday, noon-3 p.m., although the full dinner menu is available anytime the place is open.

So Simple...So Yummy

Although the shellfish dishes pictured on the facing page don’t actually appear on the new lunch menu, Jessica usually includes both the shrimp fra diavolo and mussels marinara shown here on her daily specials board, along with the only shellfish option I can still eat without an allergic reaction — the linguine with white clam butter sauce. I will say that the people whose shrimp over linguine Gavin photographed for this article were getting a little impatient waiting for him to finish. My favorite item off Little Italy’s new lunch menu is definitely the still-huge lunch portion of meaty baked lasagne, which comes with a side salad. Umm, actually, I think it’s

Spinach Ravioli Alfredo

the tender chicken parmigiana over spaghetti (also served with a side salad). Meanwhile, Gavin said the hand-crafted individual pizza (we preferred the meat lovers, but the veggie ‘za photographed better) was his favorite. Although I didn’t include a picture of it on these pages, my favorite item also could be the mini meatball (it’s also available in chicken or eggplant parm) “grinda,” featuring the meatballs (photo) my entire staff has deemed the best they’ve had, at least in the Tampa Bay area, to date. The mini-sub roll comes out properly crispy and Jessica’s red sauce — what her family back in Brooklyn still calls “tomato gravy” — is second to none in our area. One of those perfect meatballs also is served as a lunch menu item over spaghetti with a side salad. Another lunch option not pictured

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here is the personal-sized traditional cheese calzone, which, at just $8, is definitely a lot smaller than the regular size calzone that sells for $13 on the full menu, but it’s still big enough for two to share, especially if you add Buffalo chicken or any kind of meat (pepperoni, sausage, etc.) to it for just $1 per item. I also would be remiss if I didn’t mention the amazing daily ravioli special, including the one shown above — spinach and cheese raviolis over Alfredo sauce with

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Individual Veggie Pizza

Linguine with Mussels Marinara

Linguine with Shrimp Fra Diavolo

Chicken Parmigiana over Spaghetti

sautéed spinach in the sauce. I was surprised at how much I loved it because I’m not usually a cream sauce fan, but the spinach was the perfect complement for it and Jessica’s homemade raviolis are to die for...literally.

Help For The Holidays!

If you’re getting ready to host a holiday party for 2-to-200 people (up to 40 if you host it at the restaurant), you owe it to yourself to let Little Italy’s cater it for you. Jessica says she can do anything

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from a huge antipasto salad to big servings of bruschetta to eggplant rollatini, chicken Francese and even a roast beef carving station. Just don’t forget to order a few dozen meatballs. Oh, and maybe also get a dozen hand-piped cannolis filled with Jessica’s house-made cannoli cream for dessert. For more info about Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering (24436 S.R. 54, Lutz), visit LittleItalyFamilyRestaurant.com or call 909-2122. And, be sure to mention this article when you visit for a special offer.

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

Fushia Adds Chinese Hot Pot Buffet

If you’re looking for a healthier and more fun way to enjoy an authentic Chinese meal, Fushia Asian Bistro has recreated a portion of its space in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms as our area’s first-ever Chinese Hot Pot Buffet. Although it isn’t cheap (it costs $25.99 per person), Fushia co-owner Sharon Wang says the hot pot buffet can be addicting (in a good way, of course). Sharon says to think of it as a kind of a “melting pot” for Asian cuisine. Each diner chooses one of 8 broths as the “base” for their own hot pot, which simmers on burners at each table. Then, choose from more than 30 different kinds of meat, chicken, shellfish, fish and veggies. Throw it all in your hot pot, let it simmer and then you

scoop out all of the goodies and drop them in your plate and enjoy them with more than 20 different sauces — from sweet and mild to multiple kinds of hot & spicy. Your meal comes with soft drinks and dessert. I wouldn’t try the hot pot buffet with the kiddies. Go on a date night, bring the coupon in the ad below and try the sensation that’s sweeping large cities across the nation! And, Fushia does still have delicious New York-style Chinese fare next door, too. For more info about Fushia’s Hot Pot Buffet (15315 Amberly Dr.), call 903-6705 or see the ad below.

Union 72 BBQ Opens In Shops At Wiregrass

Of course, if you prefer some good, down-home, yet surprisingly upscale barbecue, I definitely suggest a visit to the new Un-

ion 72 Barbecue in the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Union 72 is a chef-inspired barbecue restaurant with a modern and innovative take on sauces, rubs & pairings. According to Union72.com, local restaurateurs Jeff Martin and Bharat Chhabria have at least two things in common. They love barbecue and they’re both impressed by the increasing use of global spices and flavors in American culinary scene. Their idea became a reality when Geoff Zukosky, whose cooking tech- (L.-r.) Fellow dentists Dr. Paul Duga & Dr. Mark Farina nique and vision resonated with helped Dr. Greg Stepanski of Children’s Dentistry celebrate their own. Union 72 was born, 25 years in practice at a party at Dr. Greg’s office on Oct. 27. with Geoff as the Pitmaster. Garage & Pollo Tropical Start I’m not the biggest BBQ guy myself, Speaking of new restaurants in our area, but like so many have posted on the Wesley the area on S.R. 56 near the Tampa Premium Chapel Community website, I really enjoyed Outlets (TPO) mall continues to give us new the BBQ brisket, collared greens and macoptions. Since last month’s opening of BJ’s and-cheese (left) I tried on my first visit and Restaurant & Brewhouse, another chain has I like the fact that all of Union 72’s smoked opened and two others have gone vertical. meats come without sauce on them. The newest restaurant to open (on Nov, For more info about Union 72 14) was LongHorn Steakhouse. The steak(28211 Paseo Dr., next to The Brass Tap), house chain definitely has the best steak of the visit Union72.com or see the ad on page three sit-down restaurants located in front of 43 of this issue. TPO (Cheddars Scratch Kitchen and BJ’s are the others), and both the service and the LongHorn Opens; Ford’s

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food at Longhorn are always dependable. Building up quickly, between LongHorn and BJ’s, is a new McDonald’s. But, perhaps the most eagerly awaited eatery to go vertical recently is Ford’s Garage, which has locations in Brandon, Cape Coral, Ft. Myers and Estero. The Wesley Chapel location will be the first building to open on the north side of S.R. 56 in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact. And, we also noticed that the fire-grilled chicken chain Pollo Tropical also has begun vertical construction next to Ford’s Garage. We’ll update you on the progress of both restaurants here and on WCNT-tv.

Congrats, Dr. Greg!

On Oct. 27, Dr. Greg Stepanski, DDS, of Children’s Dentistry (at 10317-B Cross Creek Blvd., in the Cory Lakes Professional Center), celebrated 25 years in practice in our area at a party at his current office. At least 100 guests — including many of Stepanski’s fellow local dentists (such as Dr. Paul Duga and Dr. Mark Farina in the photo, left; the trio represents about 60 years worth of advertising in this publication) — enjoyed great food, entertainment and fun with Dr. Greg, his wife Sue and his amazing staff. Dr. Greg was my kids’ pediatric dentist, so I can tell you with confidence what a great dentist — and friend — he is. For more info, call 973-3100 or visit DrGreg-ChildrensDentistry.com.

Parks Lincoln Unveils New Model & Revamped Dealership

I also was excited to be on hand for the unveiling of not only a new model from Lincoln Motor Cars, but also for the Grand Re-Opening of the beautiful Parks Lincoln of Tampa dealership at 10505 N. Florida

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Ave., south of Fowler Ave, in Tampa. Owner Ron Parks, who also owns the Parks Ford, Fiat & Alfa Romeo dealerships on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, cut the ribbon at the revamped dealership and unveiled the new 2017 Lincoln Continental (photo on next page) during a VIP event on Oct. 13. With live entertainment and upscale food provided by Puff n’ Stuff Catering (like amazing beef short ribs, seared scallops and homemade ravioli), Parks kicked off the new dealership in true Lincoln style. The event was organized by Parks’ Jennifer Cofini, who was recently honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (see pg. 16). And, although I didn’t get to test drive the new Continental, I was treated to what Parks calls a “Date Night,” where I got to test drive a new Lincoln MKZ for 24 hours and receive a $100 Visa gift card to enjoy a great dinner. It’s been years since I drove an American car, but Lincoln definitely has affordable luxury down to a science. To schedule a “Date Night” test drive, call (800) 398-7989 or visit Lincoln ofTampa.com & tell ‘em I sent you! — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional & personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. Call 813-215-1177. GREG’S PAPERHANGING. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed and insured, clean, quick and reasonable. Call 973-2767 for a free estimate. RAYMOND PAINTING. Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References avail. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 994-5124. DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions,cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for free estimate: 813784-5999. MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR.Professional Handyman. Cabinet Installation, dry wall repair, tile installation & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, interior painting, appliance installation, pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning installation, carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TYCOONUNION@YAHOO.COM. CONTRACTOR. Kitchen and bathroom remodeling or any major repairs. Floor, windows & door installation. Licensed, insured & bonded. LICENSE # CRC 1331258 Call Pablo for a free estimate: 813.391.9644. www.innovativeresidentialremodeling.com HC Designs LLC ReUpholstery, Designer Fabrics, Antique Restoration, Custom Upholstery, Quality Workmanship, Call for Free Estimate, Open 7 days a week! 333 Falkenburg Rd #A128, Brandon, FL 33511. FaceBook HCDesigns LLC, (813) 3246789 or (813) 391-8716. hcdesignz2@gmail.com.

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Classifieds

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LAWN & LANDSCAPING

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING. Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL & FREE ESTIMATE! For more info, call (813) 420-4465. AMERICAN PRIDE LAWN CARE SERVICE, LLC. Our services include weekly lawn maintenance with mulching decks on all mowers, precision edging, string trimming, hedge, shrub, palm & tree trimming. We also offer landscaping, pruning & sod replacement. Free estimates. Licensed and Insured. We are an Owner/Operator Company built on service and trust. References available. For more info, call (813) 458-4778. HOMETEAM LAWNCARE LLC High-quality professional Services: Weekly or bi-weekly year-round full-svc lawn care starting at $90/month: Mow, edge, trim, blow, mulch-bed maintenance, hedge and low-tree trim. Additional Services: Sod, Mulch, & Rock Placement; Hedge Trimming, & Tree Trimming; Landscape Installation; Fall/Spring Clean-Up. Family Owned & Operated, Licensed & Insured, Background Checked, Call or Text (813) 817-9554.

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POOL SERVICES TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call Chris today @ (813) 8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! ALL-STAR POOL SERVICE & REPAIR. Expert repairs and installations of pumps, motors, filters, timers, salt and ozone generators. Marcite from $2,400. Tile repair and acid washes, paver and river rock sealing, pressure washing and deck repair, paver and eurocote decks. Mention this ad and receive $69 pool service. Call or text for details: 813-244-7077. See our display ad. www.allstarpoolsoftampabay.com AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get 1 MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

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

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

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Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 25 • December 2, 2016 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews