New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 26, Issue 25, Dec. 1, 2018 by Neighborhood News

Volume 26 Issue 25

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BRUCE B. DONE!

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Imagine being a traffic engineer for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and director of public works in Hillsborough County for 29 years, going to work, designing traffic layouts and signals to help traffic flows in 14 Florida counties. Imagine doing your highly stressful job so well and acquiring so many admirers along the way, that when you suddenly pass away, it is so heartbreaking that they re-name a road in your honor. Now, imagine your name is Bruce Barkley Downs. ••• In New Tampa, you won’t have Bruce B. Downs to kick around much longer, as the widening of the much-maligned, and breathlessly-besmirched boulevard that bears the late Mr. Downs’ name is now — finally — complete. But, not completely complete, mind you. See “Bruce B. Done!” on page 6.

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News: Sports: LongtimeBruce LocalB. Politicians Voted News, Business & Looking For Unique Holiday Gifts? INSIDE Surprise! Downs (BBD) Former Wharton High Football Also Inside INSIDE Blue Wave. Try Updates Creativity Unpinned. Blvd. IsOut OurInArea’s Worst Road Players Declare for NFL DraftEducation

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Bruce B. Downs Is Done; Can The E-W Rd. Be Next? Plus, Bohemian Rhapsody An editorial by Gary Nager So, when managing editor John Cotey said that he was waiting for two years to be able to write our headline on page 1, I reminded him that I’ve been following, reporting on and have been actively involved in lobbying for an eight-lane Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. for more than 20 years. Now, I know that I’m not the only one among our readers who has been here long enough to remember the first meetings way back in late 1994 and early 1995 about the possible widening of BBD — as well as the possible construction of the equally-long-awaited East-West Connector Road (E-W Rd.), which still hasn’t even begun building, nor is it likely to any time in the near future. That means that even though K-Bar Ranch is still adding homes (and cars) to the landscape of New Tampa, the fully-eight-laned BBD is likely the only major transportation improvement we can expect for years in New Tampa, unless someone can find the funding to build an E-W Rd. or a passenger rail system in the still-available envelope along the newly improved BBD. I’m not going to complain too loudly about that though, at least not right away, as I am still caught up in the near-delirium I feel about the new-and-vastly-improvved BBD. New Tampa’s main thoroughfare no longer has a major bottleneck anywhere along its 8-mile length between Bearss Ave. to the south and the Pasco County line to the north, and that is just sort of soul-satisfying for a certain newspaper editor who has been accused by other local media members of being more civic activist than journalist. And, that suits me just fine. Although I can’t and won’t take any credit for getting BBD improved — I’m not among the many members of the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners who helped find and approved the funding for the four segments of BBD improvements that actually began construction almost a decade ago.

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 /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Jarrett Guthrie • Celeste McLaughlin Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Producer/Multimedia Secialist Gavin Olsen Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Stephanie Vokes Flischel Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald

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 advertising space reservations for Volume 27, Issue 1, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Friday, December 14, 2018. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously nonpublished 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.

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I am happy, however, to take credit for the Neighborhood News being the primary media source for information about — and for putting pressure on our local governmental officials — to improve BBD throughout this 20+-year process. In his nearly three years working here, the aforementioned Mr. Cotey has provided, by far, the best media coverage of the progress of the BBD widening, but he still can’t know the unbridled joy those of us who have been suffering through more than 20 years of not being able to get to the airport or to kids’ sporting events on time because we had no other way to get anywhere other than this road named for a former Hillsborough County public works official. So, I hope you’ll forgive me if I’m basking in the glow of the improved BBD just a little. My biggest concern now is that, if the speed limit has to remain at 45 mph for the entire length of this major roadway, whether or not local law enforcement officials will begin ticketing those who drive it as though the speed limit is 55-60 mph. I hope there will first be a lot of warnings, rather than speeding tickets, and that people will drive more carefully and not just faster. We’ll see.

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

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

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

Kinnan-Mansfield Study Heads To Pasco MPO..........4 Long-Awaited Widening Project Wrapping Up.......6-7 New Tampa Goes Blue In Midterm Election............10 Town Hall Focuses On Pedestrian Safety, Parks........12 North Tampa Bay Chamber Picks Best Of 2018......15 Is Wesley Chapel Tampa Bay’s Youth Sports Mecca?..16 New Tampa Community Calendar.............................18

Local Business Updates..............22-30 The Usman Law Firm Can Help With Your Business....22 Pasco Cardiology & Synergy Vein Center....................24 Creativity Unpinned Is Filled With Unique Gifts........28

Local School & Sports Updates... 32-35

Check Out Our High School Soccer Preview...........32 Green & Wharton Boys Have Eyes On State Title....35

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The First New Tampa Brew Fest Was A Big Hit!........39 Local Girl Fights Disorder With Performing...42 Check Out Our Unique Holiday Gift Guide!....45 Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes.........46 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds..........48

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

Pasco’s MPO To Look At KinnanMansfield Connections On Dec. 13! By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneightborhoodnews.com Following a few months of stagnation, the long-running debate about which, if any, roadway connections to make between the southern portion of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa’s K-Bar Ranch area will be renewed Dec. 13 when Pasco County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meets in Dade City. At the scheduled Pasco MPO meeting, its nine Board members will be presented an abbreviated version of the findings of the Wesley Chapel Roadways Study, which was presented to roughly 75 local residents on May 29. Ali Atefi, Pasco County’s transportation engineer, said originally the MPO was supposed to receive the report, compiled by consulting firm AECOM, in August, but a crowded agenda forced it to be postponed until later this month. Once the MPO is presented the findings of the study, a citizen survey will be scheduled, likely for early spring 2019. The online survey will be for Pasco County residents only, and will present the options for yes or no votes for various connections. The study looked at four potential solutions to connecting Wesley Chapel and K-Bar Ranch: (1) connecting Kinnan St. in New Tampa with Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe and K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to Meadow Pointe Blvd. (2) connecting only K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to Meadow Pointe Blvd. (3) doing all of the possible connections — Kinnan-Mansfield, K-Bar Ranch Pkwy.-Meadow Pointe Blvd., and Wyndfields Blvd.-K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. All three proposed connections, which are shown with red circles on the map above, have been in Hillsborough and Pasco’s Long Range Transportation Plans (LRTPs) for many years. There also was a fourth option — a 4

no-build option — that would put up a gate at Kinnan-Mansfield for emergency vehicles only, which was very popular among constituents on both sides of the county line, and bicycle and pedestrian accommodations at Kinnan-Mansfield, but no motor vehicle connections for general public use. Tampa’s District 7 City Councilman Luis Viera says the no-build option may be “something of a compromise I’d like to see...because that makes sense.” Viera thinks the ability for first responders to get through the unconnected roads is vital for public safety, although it won’t do anything for K-Bar Ranch residents who have only one road out of their community. Please note that connecting Kinnan to Mansfield — with those two streets still separated by a 30-foot-or-so patch of dirt and bushes and whose linking has been a point of great contention between the two counties — was not evaluated as a standalone connection by the study. When presented this information, members of the public had a month to weigh in with their opinions, either with forms at the workshop or online. The responses, all of which were reviewed by the Neighborhood News, don’t offer many surprises. There were 12 forms filled out at the May presentation, with only one in favor of the Kinnan-Mansfield connection. Of the 175 emails we reviewed, 100 of them were actually forwarded responses from a Change.org petition. Among the remaining 75 emails, there were a number of duplicates, but 36 emails were clearly opposed to connecting Kinnan-Mansfield (though many were open to other connections) and six emails were in favor of connecting the two roads. Of course, these are the Pasco County responses only. The Pasco MPO is expected to make its recommendation in May, which would then place the final decision in the hands of the Pasco Board of County Commissioners for a potential vote in the summer.

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‘Bruce B. Done!’

Continued from page 1

There is still a light to install at Trout Creek Dr., which was determined to be a need after the project began. There also are a few patches here and there that need to be smoothed out, and trees and other aesthetic elements to put into place. As we went to press with this issue, just before Thanksgiving, there were portions of a few northbound lanes receiving their final paving layers, and some of those dreaded and all-toofamiliar orange cones are lying around. But, by the time this issue hits mailboxes, we are told they will have vanished. All eight lanes — eight! — of Bruce B. Downs, for all intents and purposes, are finally Bruce B. Done. “It’s good to finally get the last piece done,” says Jim Hudock, Hillsborough County’s Public Works director, the same job Downs once held. ••• The project was a big one, right from the start. Though construction actually began in 2010, the decade before that was filled with discussions and planning and petitions and angry residents, but for years, no money to do anything. What was formerly N. 30th St. before being named for Bruce B. Downs in 1986, what is now New Tampa’s primary artery, used to be called the “Road To Nowhere,” a seemingly end-

The widened portion of Bruce. B. Downs in front of Wharton High is expected to alleviate troublesome morning traffic through that area.

less stretch of road that ran all the way north to S.R. 54, where it dead-ended at a stack of concrete cinder blocks in someplace called Wesley Chapel. “I remember taking friends home that lived in Pebble Creek, and it seemed like three counties north of here,” says Ken Hagan, who was elected as the Hillsborough County District 2 commissioner representing the New Tampa area after serving in the same role in the county-wide District 5 seat the last five years. Hagan remembers drag racing on

the “Road To Nowhere,” before it was even fully paved, when he attended Chamberlain High School on Busch Blvd., as his father did before him. But, New Tampa was exploding — and northern neighbor Wesley Chapel wasn’t too far behind — and it was obvious to everyone that lived here that our main thoroughfare was not going to be able to handle all of that growth. “That’s why it was always No. 1 on our unfunded list,” says Hagan, adding that he has worked diligently since entering public life to secure more than

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$100-million for the project. “The road was not initially constructed to hold the existing capacity, much less the growth that was undoubtedly going to occur. Hopefully, we have learned from those mistakes.” Wishful thinking, perhaps? M/I Homes was recently approved to build 400 more homes in the K-Bar Ranch community, which has only one road out of it and could face similar problems with old, outdated “country roads” like Morris Bridge Rd. in the future. ••• The $131-million, 8.5-mile-long widening of BBD, the largest and most expensive of any similar project in Hillsborough County’s history, was done in four segments, and the first — Segments B and C together — was a 3.4-mile stretch from Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms north to Pebble Creek Dr. Segments B & C were the hardest segments, with more than 60,000 daily vehicle trips and the I-75 interchange to contend with, and ended up costing $52.3 million. Segment A followed in 2015, and would cost $54.7 million to transform four and six lanes running from Palm Springs Blvd. south to E. Bearss Ave. into eight glorious lanes. That last piece, Segment D, began construction in 2016, following a lightly attended public information meeting at Wharton High on Oct. 18. While many of the businesses along the corridor suffered from lingering con-

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struction at their entrances and high blood pressure his entire issues arose with various underlife, collapsed while having ground utilities, the high school lunch with co-workers. He was both one of the biggest had suffered a major heart and obstacles — and concerns — of passed away at the age of 53. New Tampa residents. On April 17, 1986, on his “It took a little bit of birthday, the county renamed coordination with the school, 30th St. between E. Fowler and the School Board was Ave. and the county line great about working with us,” “Bruce B. Downs Blvd.” It is the main thoroughHudock said. “Anytime you fare for the University of South do a construction project, Florida, New Tampa and Wesley there is going to be some chalBruce. B. Downs Chapel. It also has been regarded lenges. This required a lot of as one of the most notoriously frustrating hard work from a lot of different agenroadways in all of Tampa Bay. cies. There was a lot of land acquisition; Worst traffic? The #1 road to avoid? businesses had to work with us out there. We are excited to have it all open, Everything that’s wrong with government planning? and are hopeful that a lot of the lessons Bruce B. Downs. we learned in that corridor can be apKnown for his reputation for plied to future projects.” helping people and his love of roads Hudock has heard all of the comand making them work, the man for plaints. He said his department tried whom the road is named would likely to investigate specific issues that were be pleased to see a project like this one reported, and worked hard at replying finally completed. to customer service requests. So surely, the completion of the ••• widening of that road, along with the Bruce Barkley Downs, after retiring from FDOT, became Hillsborough’s di- bicycle and pedestrian enhancements and intersection improvements, deserves rector of Public Works & Safety and the some kind of celebration. deputy county administrator. According A ribbon cutting? A cake? A concert to a 2007 story in the then-St. Petersby BBD (the group Bell Biv DeVoe)? burg Times, he was in charge of 2,100 “Really, it’s about thanking everymiles of roads and bridges. body for the hard work and moving In 1983, a local newspaper (yes, it on to the next project,” Hudock said. pre-dates the Neighborhood News) wrote a story about Downs, stating he had the “But this being as big a project as it was, most stressful job in the county. The day there may be some consideration for the story came out, Downs, who battled something more.”

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Blue Wave Floods Longtime Local Pols Out Of Office By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com As it turns out, there was a Blue Wave after all. Locally, though, it was more like a Blue Tidal Wave. While Democrats lost ground in the U.S. Senate nationally, despite picking up a slew of House seats, the local wave, by a surprisingly large margin, washed a pair of longtime New Tampa Republicans out to sea — Hillsborough County commissioner and Tampa Palms resident and Dist. 2 Hillsborough County commissioner Victor Crist, and Dist. 63 State House Representative and Hunter’s Green resident Shawn Harrison. And, a third local Republican, county commissioner and former New Tampa resident Ken Hagan, won his election by a much narrower margin than expected. In the race for the Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) District 2 seat previously held by Crist, Hagan had a huge advantage in both name recognition (as the point man in luring the Tampa Bay Rays to Tampa) and in money — he raised more than 10 times what Democrat and political newcomer Angela Birdsong was able to raise. But, that only translated to a narrow 52-48 percent victory for the seat Crist vacated due to term limits that represents Citrus Park, Lutz, Temple Terrace, Brandon and New Tampa. “I would say that I expected the margin to be closer than I’ve been accustomed to,

63 seat to another political neophyte in Democrat Fentrice Driskell, although what is typically a fairly close race wasn’t this time around. Driskell, seen as one of the rising stars to emerge from the 2018 election, beat Harrison by more than 4,500 votes. She focused some of her campaign Long-time New Tampa residents Victor Crist (left) and Shawn Harrison energy on New both lost their re-election bids on Nov. 7 to a pair of first-time politicians in Tampa, and it Mariella Smith and Fentrice Driskell, respectively. apparently paid off, as she defeated so it wasn’t completely unexpected,” said Harrison 57-43 percent in New Tampa. Hagan, who won his previous two elections The only precinct Harrison won was by double digits. “The reality is, HillsborHunter’s Green, where he is a resident, and ough County has gone from a Republican even that was only by a 55-vote margin. In county to a Democratic stronghold. That 2016, Harrison beat Lisa Montelione partly was reflected up and down the ballot. And, on the strength of almost 600 more votes in New Tampa also has gone from Republican his home precinct. to Democrat.” The District 63 seat, which also repreHagan, who has spearheaded a number sents Lutz, Carrollwood and the University of big projects here in New Tampa and has of South Florida area, is back in Democratic attended two town halls in the area the past hands for the first time since 2014. year alone, lost New Tampa’s 18 precincts Crist, a visible New Tampa figure who to Birdsong by a surprisingly large number: nearly 3,000 votes. Hagan won just two pre- has worked diligently to bring a cultural center to the area, failed in an attempt to cincts, 357 (which includes part of Tampa win Hagan’s old countywide seat in District Palms) and 361, which is Hunter’s Green. Harrison lost his Florida House District 5. He lost handily to Democrat Mariella

Smith 52-45 percent, or by nearly 39,000 votes. Crist, who had never lost an election since entering politics more than 20 years ago, had won his last two District 2 races by 38,000 and 12,000 votes. “It’s something I saw coming,” said Crist. “I believe in scientific polling and we polled early on and saw that there was going to be trouble. I knew even before I had an opponent that I would most likely face a tough time in this election.” Even on what is essentially his home turf, Crist could not find any footing in New Tampa, losing every precinct by sizable numbers and by a 60-40 percentage. In the other countywide county commission face, Democrat Kim Overman defeated Republican Todd Marks by 53-45 percent in District 7. Pebble Creek resident Karen Perez will join the Hillsborough County School Board after besting Henry “Shake” Washington 54-45 percent. Perez, who ran unsuccessfully for the Florida House in 2006, was the voter’s choice in every New Tampa precinct. In other news, tax referendums to raise money for transportation and education passed by a greater percentage in New Tampa than in the rest of the county. While the one-cent transportation tax passed with 57.3 percent of the vote countywide, New Tampa voters favored the measure with 60.1 percent saying yes. The education tax, which passed all of Hillsborough with 56.3 percent of the vote, received 60.5 percent of the votes cast in New Tampa.

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Latest New Tampa Town Hall Tackles Road Safety, Local Business & More By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Since taking over as the Tampa City council member representing District 7, which includes New Tampa, Luis Viera vowed to try to create a more engaged community by developing local leaders who would hold politicians’ feet to the proverbial fire. One vehicle for doing so: town halls, which are run by the New Tampa Council, a group Viera helped organize that is comprised of leaders from various local communities. Here’s what you missed from the latest town hall, which was held Nov. 15 at the Venetian Event Center at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN — April Ingram, who started the New Tampa Safety Group, continued to beat the drum at the town hall for pedestrian safety in the K-Bar Ranch and Cross Creek areas. She also argued again for more crossing guards at Pride and Hunter’s Green Elementary schools, and suggested that the dangerous Kinnan St. and Cross Creek Blvd. intersection in front of Benito Middle School would benefit from more crossing guards, too. Cindy Stuart, the School Board member for District 3, which includes all of New Tampa’s schools, didn’t disagree. Stuart, a guest speaker at the town hall, said that crossing guards are not offered by the Hillsborough County Sheriff Office (HCSO) at middle or high schools. “That’s not my decision,” she says, even though she added she has shared data with HCSO that says middle and high school kids are more at risk than elementary school pedestrians. Stuart says that there is no money to hire more crossing guards or increase their pay, but added that HCSO will be requesting additional funds to do so. Stuart, who chairs Hillsborough’s School Transportation Working Group (STWG), said the only way to get a crossing guard at Benito (or Wharton) would be to petition HCSO. You could hear light bulbs popping over the heads of many of the 50 or so residents in attendance. DRIVE, DON’T TEXT — Stuart also said she has had numerous meetings about pedestrian safety in New Tampa, and there are minor changes in the works, such as moving the Benito Middle School bike rack from the side of the school where the buses operate closer to the front of the school, and clearing some trees to remove visual hindrances. While students need to be taught the safest places to cross streets and not to assume that a red light means a car will necessarily stop, Stuart told the audience that it’s the adults who need to start paying more attention. “The distracted driving in this community is horrible,” she said. “We have to stop.” SWALLOWED UP? — A few residents in attendance expressed concerns that New Tampa is getting “swallowed up” by Wesley Chapel, due to the number of businesses that have been closing south of the Pasco line lately. One even suggested starting a grass roots organization to stop spending money in Wesley Chapel, while others worried that the two new tax referendums that recently passed (and have bumped the county’s sales tax to 8.5 percent) will only make it harder on local businesses. PARK NEWS — Brad Suder, the superintendent of planning & design at the City of Tampa’s Parks & Recreation Department, also 12

April Ingram (left)

the NTRC expansion into the budget and approved, while other meetings have sparked things like Ingram’s safety group and a current study to repave the bike/pedestrian paths on New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows.

Hillsborough County School Board member Cindy Stuart and Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera take questions at a Nov. 15 town hall at the Venetian Event Center at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, where residents voiced concerns about pedestrian safety, new parks, business closings and taxes. was in attendance and provided some of the most well-received news of the night. According to Suder, the five-acre New Tampa Sensory Park (one of Viera’s pet projects), planned for the land just south of BJ’s Wholesale Club on Commerce Palms Dr. in Tampa Palms, is not only proceeding, it is, “starting to become a dynamite-looking park.” Suder, a New Tampa resident, said the original plans left him underwhelmed, but a new approach has yielded fantastic results. The proposed design should be completed by the middle of December. Now comes to hard part: getting the money to actually build it. While the $90,000 for the study and Brad Suder design was in last year’s City of Tampa budget, construction will require another $2-million that will have to be approved in this year’s budget come October 2019. It remains to be seen how a new mayor, who will be elected this spring, will affect those plans.

MORE MORE MORE — It was suggested by Arbor Greene’s Laura Blank that perhaps a group should be formed — a “town council” — to meet more frequently about issues residents in New Tampa may want to talk about. For example, why are there so many pizza places on Cross Creek Blvd.? And how about encouraging a breakfast restaurant to set up shop in New Tampa? Jim Davison, who lost in his bid for the District 7 seat to Viera in 2016, suggested something like Café con Tampa, a weekly neighborhood gathering in South Tampa — often hosted by an area restaurant — where people show up to listen to special guests and talk about various issues. It wasn’t clear if Davison was suggesting

that these could be supplemental to the town halls, or a replacement for them. Davison lamented that “three months later, no one remembers what the hell we talked about.” Viera, who defeated Davison to win his city council seat, took offense to that claim, pointing out that one town hall (at the New Tampa Recreation Center, or NTRC) was the launching point for local activists to get

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MORE PARK TALK — K-BAR PARK ON HOLD? — Despite Davison’s claims, it was apparent that not everyone forgets what was said at previous town halls. K-Bar Ranch’s Will Tyson asked how the plans were coming along for the 50+acre park planned for K-Bar Ranch that was talked about at the town hall in May. Viera said that there hasn’t been any progress on the K-Bar park, as the city is trying to pay off some of its debt. “It was never meant to be on the imminent horizon,” Viera said, putting a timeframe of 1-3 years on getting that park project built.

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North Tampa Bay Chamber Celebrates Excellence At The New Hyatt Place!

Although I still don’t know how my fiancée Jannah McDonald ended up not winning the Volunteer of the Year award at the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) of Commerce’s annual “Excellence in Business” awards gala on Nov. 8, the event held inside the beautiful Sierra Conference Center at the new Hyatt Place hotel on the north side of S.R. 56 was another amazing tribute to local businesses and business leaders. Damaris Rios, a retired NYPD officer who attends virtually every NTBC event and works at Pinot’s Palette, was able to beat out both Jannah and my former WCNT-tv partner, Chamber Board member and Rotary Club of New Tampa president Craig Miller for the Volunteer honors, and there were a few other Wesley Chapel-based folks who also grabbed awards during the gala hosted by “ABC Action News” reporters Wendi Lane and Eric Waxler. Buttermilk Provisions (located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), which hosts monthly coffee socials for the Chamber, took home the Small Business (Clockwise from above left) Dana Morris of Buttermilk Provisions, of the Year honors, beating out 900º Woodfired Pizza at the Shops at Wiregrass and Kona Ice. Dr. Kevin & Dr. Mark O’Farrell, Volunteer winner Damaris Rios Dr. Kevin O’Farrell, the Provost of Pasco & NTBC Board chair Jen Cofini, with Dr. Kevin O’Farrell. Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Cheval Golf & Country Club and former Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Ranch, won the Business Leader of the Year award, beating out not only his father, Dr. Mark O’Farrell Chamber chair Jeff Novotny’s American Consulting Engineers, which owns the patent on and designed the Diverging of Trinity College, but also Chamber Board member Roberto Diamond Interchange that will begin construction soon at Saez of Design & Construction Innovations (DCI), Inc. the S.R. 56 exit off of I-75. But, as the Chamber now also serves not only Wesley Former Pasco County administrator John Gallagher Chapel, but also most of Pasco and parts of Pinellas and Hillwon the Dorothy Mitchell Lifetime Achievement Award sborough counties, not all of the winners were “locals.” (which previously had been an award given by the Greater The New Business of the Year honors were grabbed by Pasco Chamber, which became part of NTBC in January). the Holiday Inn Express Hotel in the Trinity area, beating Outgoing Board chair Jennifer Cofini also gave her out Chamber ambassador Kyymara Rosey’s Esthetics813 and Chairman’s award to O’Farrell and her Board Member of the Noble Crust in the Shops at Wiregrass. Year award to CPA David DeWeerd. — Gary Nager; photos by The Large Business winner was the Shriners Hospital Steve Miller of Stephen John Photography (see ad on pg. 50). for Children on the USF Tampa campus, which beat out

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LET’S PLAY!

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

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Pasco County is changing. Once sleepy, it is now wide awake. Once quiet and serene, it is now bustling. Once regarded mostly for nature, it is now being rebranded. “Let’s Play!” That will be the new slogan that drives the county’s evolution from Nature Coast to Sports Coast, as Pasco looks to capitalize on a number of sports offerings it feels will, if marketed properly, bring in millions of dollars annually to local businesses and hotels, and much needed tax dollars for the county. Pasco’s tourism agency, Visit Pasco, is expected to rebrand the county as “Florida’s Sports Coast” after January 1, 2019. It has a $326,000 contract with The Zimmerman Agency to help with the rebranding and marketing. “This is a destination that is changing and changing,” says Adam Thomas, Pasco’s tourism director. Pasco County tourism director Adam Thomas made the announcement that Pasco Coun- “We are charging ahead to become ty will be rebranded as “Florida’s Sports Coast,” with Wesley Chapel’s sports facilities that premier sports destination: Florida’s Sports Coast.” playing a major role, at the East Pasco Economic Development Summit on Nov. 2.

Thomas emceed the East Pasco Economic Development Summit on Nov. 2, which brought together government officials like District 2 Pasco County commissioner Mike Moore and county administrator Dan Biles, as well as heavy hitters in the sports tourism market, like Jason Aughey of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission, Pat Ciaccio of Saddlebrook Resort, Richard Blalock of RADD Sports and Gordie Zimmermann of Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI). The summit was held at the Pasco-Hernando State College Porter campus in Wiregrass Ranch, and the message, emphasized by keynote speaker Carolynn Smith, was simple: “You need to be ready,” Smith said of Pasco’s new sports emphasis. Smith, a former college basketball standout at the University of North Florida in Jacksonville who now owns 7 Marketing & PR, stressed to local businesses the importance of preparation for an influx of new customers. She said to look at the schedules at the local sports facilities, be staffed properly when big events are in town, and be ready to capitalize. The panel drove home a similar message. The heart of the engine that will

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drive much of the transition from nature outpost to sports destination is right here in Wesley Chapel, with the soonto-be-built $44-million Wiregrass Sports Complex, the booming FHCI facility and popular Saddlebrook Resort expected to attract hundreds of thousands of tourists annually.

Getting In The Game

Aughey, who has helped bring Super Bowls and NCAA Football National Championships, as well as men’s and women’s NCAA Basketball Final Fours to Tampa, says that sports tourism had a $57.4-billion impact on the national economy last year. But, it is youth and amateur sports, he says, “that are truly the bread and butter” of sports tourism. One reason: they are recession proof, according to Aughey. No matter the economy, he said, parents are not likely to cut out their children’s sports because they provide physical and social benefits as well as college scholarship opportunities. In fact, according to U.S. News & World Report, a 2009 study by the National Association of Sports Commissions and Ohio University showed that participation in youth sports travel still increased from 2008 to 2009 despite the Great Recession. “Regardless of the economy, sports is going to continue to pull through,” Aughey said. Ciaccio, the general manager at Saddlebrook Resort, said that is good for

(L.-r.) Richard Blalock of RADD Sports, Pat Ciacci of Saddlebrook Resort & Jason Aughey of the Tampa Bay Sports Commission. everyone in Wesley Chapel. Tampa hosted a cheerleading competi“Everyone benefits from the anciltion that filled 22,000 rooms over two lary benefits,” Ciaccio said, citing everydays. A volleyball tournament this year brought 900 teams, resulting in 10,000thing from walk-in clinics to local mom20,000 visitors. and-pop shops, sign makers, restaurants The Wiregrass Sports Complex and retail and grocery stores. “There’s a little niche for everybeing developed by RADD Sports is body,” Ciaccio said. “You have to see expected to handle large indoor events how you can benefit, and then find like that, hosting hundreds, even your place.” thousands of athletes and their parents FHCI has already made its mark, every weekend, all looking for ways to with more than 1 million visitors since spend their money in the area. opening in 2017. Most recently, the It’s no wonder there has been a complex hosted a 68-team event, rush to build new hotels in Wesley which can translate to 1,300 players Chapel. and just as many parents needing hotel And, the popularity of youth and rooms, places to eat and things to do amateur sports is only going to grow in their downtime, like shop. bigger. According to the National Association of Sports Commissions State Zimmermann said that events like of the Industry report in 2017, visitor that at FHCI are commonplace almost every weekend, and often are much spending associated with sports events larger than 1,300 athletes. was $10.47 billion in 2016, a 10 perAughey added that back in May, cent increase from the year before.

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

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DECEMBER 2018 Saturday, December 1

Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food for needy families. Open every Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive at 20300 Trout Creek Dr. (off BBD). For more info, visit BayChapel.com/foodpantry. Christmas Movies Under the Stars featuring ‘Elf’ - Showing at Tampa Premium Outlets, (2300 Grand Cypress Dr., Lutz, FL 33559), at 5:30pm,, Acme On The Go Mobile Media will be hosting an outdoor theater experience feauting the classic christmas movie Elf. Bring your camping chairs & blankets. For additional screening dates and each week’s movie titles, visit premiumoutlets.com/outlets/tampa. Symphony In Lights - Located at the Shops at Wiregrass, (28211 Paseo Dr., Wesley Chapel, FL 33543), from 6pm - 9pm,, Wiregrass’s iconic Christmas tree is displaying a festive light show featuring the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! nightly until Dec. 31st. For more info, visit theshopsatwiregrass.com. Photos With Santa - Visiting until December 24th at the Shops at Wiregrass, (28211 Paseo Dr., Wesley Chapel, FL 33543), from Noon to 7pm,, Santa will be on hand for photo opportunities and greetings. Fast Pass reservation options are available. For more info (including pet portraits), visit theshopsatwiregrass.com.

Sunday, December 2

Rotary Club of New Tampa - The New Tampa Rotary Club meets every Friday for breakfast at 7 a.m. at TPGCC. For more info, including the speaker schedule, contact David Lanigan at (813) 760-6548 or dave@davidlanigan.com or visit NewTampa Rotary.org.

Saturday, December 8

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

Thursday, December 11

North Tampa Veterans meeting - All armed forces veterans are invited to weekly lighthearted Dutch-treat breakfast at Steak ‘n Shake just off BBD Blvd. (17509 North Palms Village Place) every Thursday at 7:30 am. Get acquainted and your tell tales, new and old. Bring your spouse and your brag sheet.

Saturday, December 15

Santa Visits Holiday Photo Hot Spot - Tampa Premium Outlets, (2300 Grand Cypress Dr., Lutz. FL, 33559), welcomes Santa on Dec 15th & Dec 22nd, 6pm 9pm. Stop by the Lagoon Court’s new Holiday Photo Hot Spot for a portrait with Santa! For info, visit premiumoutlets.com/outlets/tampa. New Tampa Walk & Learn - A health-focused wellness seminar hosted by BayCare Medical Group at New Tampa Nature Park. (17001 Dona Michelle Dr. Tampa, FL 33647), one to two mile walk, water and light snack, healthy family fun for all. This event is free to attend. Call BayCare Medical Group New Tampa (813) 586-7600 for more information.

North Tampa Christian Academy (NTCA) Soccer Tournament & Open House - Vendors, food trucks, a bounce house and more will be on hand at North Tampa Christian Academy (5585 E. County Line Road Wesley Chapel, FL) for a free open house and junior (3rd, 4th, 5th graders only) soccer tournament. Tournament sign up limited to 50 kids. To register, contact NTCA at 813-991-0801. Soul Intimate: The Holiday Edition - Mellow R&B and Jazz will be performed live at Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club’s Bayscape Bistro (10630 Plantation Bay Drive Tampa, FL 33647) 5pm-8:30pm. Standard Admission is $20. Full bar and dinner available for purchase. For more info, visit remixtheculture.eventbrite.com.

Wednesday, December 5

Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at Mulligans inside Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.). Call Bill Sullivan 813-994-1143 Rotary Club Of New Tampa Noon - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at Mulligan’s Irish Pub (in Pebble Creek Golf Club). Guests are always welcome. For more info, search “New Tampa Noon Rotary” on Facebook.

Friday, December 7

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Business Attorney Derek Usman Helps Clients Right Here In New Tampa By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

Attorney Derek Usman says he moved from Chicago to Wesley Chapel in 2015 to be closer to family, bringing his experience in litigation, employment law and business law to the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa areas. He originally opened his local office of The Usman Law Firm, P.A., off of Bearss Ave. But recently, he moved to a new office on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (south of County Line Rd., in the Central Bank building), to be right in the heart of the community where he lives and serves his neighbors. From initial paperwork for business formation to settling disputes in court, Derek is both experienced and knowledgeable in all areas of employment and business law. He can help business owners and other individuals who have legal issues that need to be resolved related to the workplace. This could be related to contracts, labor and employment, setting up a new business as a corporation LLC or partnership, or it could be related to severance agreements, sexual harassment or discrimination, disputes related to overtime, wages and commissions, non-compete agreement review and litigation, wrongful termination, and whistleblower and retaliation. Derek earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Indiana University in Fort Wayne in 1997 and his Juris Doctor

In the courtroom, as a New Tampa Rotarian and as a North Tampa Bay Chamber member, attorney Derek Usman of the Usman Law Firm on BBD Blvd. means business.

(J.D.) degree from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2001. He is admitted to practice before the bars of Florida, Illinois, U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois.

Forming Businesses & Resolving Disputes

Derek says many attorneys who prac-

tice business and employment law specialize in either initial transactions or disputes. However, Derek isn’t limited to one area or the other. “I know both parts and have experience in both,” he says. “I have more practical knowledge when it comes to forming agreements because I know what usually gets litigated in court.” He says his clients benefit from the hands-on experience he has had in court-

rooms, from county courts, to state, federal and even appellate courts. “If an attorney doesn’t go to court,” he says, “it kind of becomes academic. You can read about it all you want, but it’s different when you actually litigate cases in the courtroom.” He explains that this has an impact on the front end paperwork he creates. “When I’m drafting an agreement, I know the pitfalls,” he says. Derek is able to assist people starting a new business to chose the right business structure, such as an S-corporation or LLC, and help those business owners understand the implications of the different structures that are available. His clients are both business owners and employees. Derek says that many of them come to The Usman Law Firm because of something that is increasingly popular these days, a noncompete agreement. “Oftentimes, employers don’t want employees starting a competing business or using their customer base at their next job,” he says. “More and more, employers are creating these agreements for every little thing.” Before someone signs such an agreement, Derek recommends a consultation with The Usman Law Firm. “It can be negotiated,” he explains. “Just because they hand you something that says you can’t work anywhere in Florida, for example, you can usually negotiate those details.”

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Specifics such as the geographic scope and the time duration of these agreements are often points that can be worked out in a more favorable way, he explains.

Cleaning Up Legal Messes

Tim Wojdan was referred to Derek last year, when he found himself in need of an employment law attorney. “I was a senior executive with a company in St. Pete that was sold and being shut down,” Tim explains. “I wound up in a legal mess with regards to an employment contract and noncompete agreement.” He says he had two phone consultations with Derek where he explained the situation top to bottom, and Derek immediately got to work. “He very quickly resolved the issue in a favorable way,” says Tim. “With an entire corporation being shut down, there were many other employees in the same situation, but Derek had discovered that my particular case might infringe on a federal issue. The other side moved very quickly to settle once Derek introduced that information.” Tim says Derek’s hard work brought the case to the forefront of many others being pursued at the same time. He also says Derek’s expertise was valuable in the case, which was tricky because the corporate headquarters was out of state. Tim says he highly recommends Derek, who has since worked with another member of Tim’s staff to resolve that person’s claim, as well.

You’ll find the Usman Law Firm on the second floor of the Central Bank building, which is located on BBD, just south of the Pasco County line.

“I was most impressed by his professionalism and his promptness,” Tim says. “Most of the time, I didn’t even have to call him because he was proactively reaching out to me.”

Local To New Tampa

One of the things that makes Derek’s firm unique is that not many business lawyers are physically located in or even near New Tampa. His office is much easier to get to for New Tampa and Wesley Chapel clients than firms in other parts of town. While there are many personal injury attorneys in the area, he says most business law firms are located downtown. Derek sees his location as an asset. He

regularly goes to court in both Hillsborough County and Pasco County, while some attorneys in the Tampa area won’t travel to Dade City for Pasco County cases. He stays connected to downtown firms by being involved in the Hillsborough County Bar Association and by appearing in court. He says he is often in touch with big downtown firms and has a good relationship with many lawyers from those practices. “I have a good rapport with attorneys from downtown firms,” Derek says. He also explains that this makes it easier to pick up the phone and discuss cases with attorneys who are representing his clients’ opposition. Derek says his decision to move his

firm away from downtown Tampa — into the heart of New Tampa and closer to Wesley Chapel — was intentional. “I consciously decided to move my office here, in the community where I live,” Derek says. Moving his office is not the only way that Derek connects to the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel communities. He is an active member of the North Tampa Bay (formerly Wesley Chapel) Chamber of Commerce. He also is involved in the community as a member of the New Tampa Rotary Club, where he enjoys building relationships with fellow Rotarians and the many opportunities to volunteer, like he does annually at the Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 5K run. (Note-we’ll recap this year’s Thanksgiving Day run in our next issue). “Rotary Club leaders organize volunteer opportunities for members and make it easy for club members to participate,” Derek explains. “I don’t have to think up ways to volunteer in my community. They make it simple for me to be able to help.” He adds that the events put on by the Rotary not only raise money for good causes, but are great family events that bring people together, too. “Everybody likes it when you take your kid to the mall and everyone’s out and about, doing something,” he says, “like the Wiregrass Wobble.” The Usman Law Firm is located at 20701 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For more information, please visit UsmanFirm. com, call (813) 377-1197, or see the ad on page 41 of this issue.

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Pasco Cardiology Associates & Synergy Vein Center Offer Patient-Centered Care By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

When it comes to finding quality cardiac care in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, Ramanath Rao, M.D., FACC (Fellow of the American College of Cardiology), has been on the leading edge for 24 years. Back when he opened Pasco Cardiology Associates in 1994, Dr. Rao lived in Tampa Palms. He says that, at that time, there wasn’t much between his home and his practice in Zephyrhills. The area has changed quite a bit since then, but Dr. Rao is still committed to treating people with a patient-centered philosophy. “Now, care is more complex,” says Dr. Rao. “Technology is moving in one direction and the delivery of healthcare is moving in another. So, we focus on how to give our patients the best possible care in this setting.” Binu Jacob, M.D., FACC, joined Pasco Cardiology Associates in 2010, and together, he and Dr. Rao opened the Wesley Chapel office, located directly across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) in the Windfair Professional Center, in 2012. Dr. Jacob received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of Miami (Florida) Leonard M. Miller School of Medicine and his Board certification in Cardiology & Heart Failure from the Uni-

(L.-r.) Jennifer Mas Rodriguez, PA-C, Dr. Ramanath Rao and Dr. Binu Jacob of Pasco Cardiology Associates in Wesley Chapel offer quality cardiac care for patients in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

versity of Florida College of Medicine in Gainesville. He returned to the University of Miami in Florida to become Board-certified in Electrophysiology. Dr. Rao earned his M.D. degree from the University of Mysore Medical College in Mysore, India, and completed his Cardiology Fellowship at Montefiore Medical Center/Albert Einstein College of Medicine in The Bronx, NY, in 1993. He completed an additional fellowship in Interventional Cardiology at the University

Hospitals of Cleveland and the VA Medical Center at Case Western Reserve University, in Cleveland, OH, in 1994.

Your Heart...Your Team

Both cardiologists are equipped with the knowledge and skills to handle a range of heart and vascular issues, but as Dr. Jacob explains, they have adopted an approach whereby each of the physicians focuses on one particular “system” of a patient’s cardiovascular infrastructure.

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“Dr. Rao and I always joke that he’s the ‘plumber’ and I’m the ‘electrician’ for your heart,” says Dr. Jacob. “He deals with anything heart attack- and heart disease-related, including venous disease and vascular disease, so he focuses on your ‘plumbing.’ He continues, “I focus on the electrical aspects of the heart — electric pacemakers, defibrillators, or if somebody needs an ablation, where we go into the heart and fix an arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat).” Jennifer Mas Rodriguez, PA-C, is a certified Physician’s Assistant who also sees patients at the Wesley Chapel office of Pasco Cardiology Associates. Some of the conditions treated at the office are cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), ventricular fibrillation (uncoordinated contraction of the cardiac muscle), peripheral artery disease (obstruction of large arteries), congenital heart disease (defect from birth), stroke and angina pectoris (chest pain). “Cardiology is very complex,” Dr. Rao says, explaining that one thing that sets Pasco Cardiology Associates apart from other providers is its focus on holistic care. “We get to know the patient,” he says, “and they get to know us.” He says he often spends time with patients and their families, recognizing the importance of being a good listener. “Our approach is shared decision making,” Dr. Rao explains. “I don’t tell the patient what they have to do. Instead, I ensure that every patient is educated and

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Dr. Rao performing ambulatory phlebectomy, where he removes superficial veins through

small incisions in the skin. given evidence-based recommendations.” He says his patients appreciate his commitment to them and to their health. The Synergy Vein Center Barbara Tewell is a retired nurse who Another way Pasco Cardiology Asworked in cardiology and pulmonary spesociates serves its patients is through the cialties and has been a patient of Dr. Rao’s addition of an in-house vein center in the for 20 years now. Wesley Chapel office. “He takes an approach to his patients “When we opened the Synergy Vein where they can understand what their Center about four years ago, we didn’t problem is and what the best and safest have anyone in the area who would look solution will be,” she says. at venous diseases,” explains Dr. Rao. “We Barbara says she recommends Pasco were sending those patients to Clearwater Cardiology to anyone who needs a cardioland St. Petersburg.” ogist, and now all of her family and many The vein center is for patients who of her friends also are Dr. Rao’s patients. have conditions such as varicose veins or “He has saved my sister’s life three venous deficiencies. Dr. Rao explains that times,” she says. Pasco Cardiology patients have access to a Barbara adds that she also has benspecialty-trained and certified ultrasound efited from Dr. Rao’s commitment to a technologist in the vein center. holistic approach to treatment for patients. “Venous diseases are very prevalent “I’m 80 years old and have so many and under-recognized,” he says. other physical problems, such as diabetes Pasco Cardiology uses the latest and arthritis,” she says. “He integrates all methods for treating varicose veins, such as of my other problems into his plan of care radiofrequency ablation, which uses heat to (for me).” close off a varicose vein, and sclerotherapy, She also appreciates that Dr. Rao in which a salt solution is injected into the always spends the amount of time that he vein and causes the blood vessel to collapse needs to with her. She never feels rushed and stick together and the blood to clot. and she always knows that he truly cares Both procedures are considered to be about her and her well-being. minimally invasive, and covered by most “He has such a broad knowledge and major health insurers. he’s willing to look at all aspects of your Dr. Rao also offers patients the option care,” Barbara says. “Besides, he’s just a of an ambulatory phlebectomy, an outpareally nice man.” tient procedure that removes superficial Dr. Rao says that he is somewhat veins through small incisions in the skin. idealistic about his approach to medicine, He says that the procedures are dictat- thanks in part to the influence of Albert ed by the condition of the patient’s veins. Schweitzer’s principal of “reverence for life” and the father of modern medicine, Education For Patients Dr. Rao focuses on educating patients, Sir William Osler. “I am influenced by these people to practice in a way that is so the practice offers clinics on topics such meaningful to my patients and commuas defibrillators and heart failure. nity,” he says. “My goal is to promote “Our heart failure clinic talks about health and well-being in the community new strategies and options to treat patients who have experienced heart failure, through the practice of cardiology.” The Wesley Chapel office of Pasco such as a heart attack, that left a patient Cardiology Associates is located at with heart damage or someone who has 2649 Windguard Cir., Suite 102. had a valve problem,” Dr. Rao explains. The office is open Thursdays from “The focus of treatment is to maintain 9 a.m.–5 p.m., 2 p.m.-5 p.m. on (the patient’s) quality of life and prevent Mondays and Wednesdays, 1 p.m.-5 hospitalizations.” Dr. Rao also is a regular presenter at p.m. on Fridays, and 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) on Tuesdays. For more information on topics that have to do with cardiology about the practice, see the ad on page and veins. 40 or call (813) 788-0439. Neighborhood News

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

Bracelets made from recycled t-shirts. Moving, metal art made from nuts and bolts that look just like a dog, a scuba diver and even a Minion from “Despicable Me.” There also are margarita glasses that seem to belong in a chemistry lab. There’s something special about the kinds of hand-made, artisan-created treasures you can find at a weekend craft fair. At Creativity Unpinned, you don’t have to wait for the weekend or take a long drive to find unique gifts. Owner Wendy O’Neill says that it’s like the craft fair comes to you, all in one convenient place, available whenever the mall is open. Creativity Unpinned is one of the newer stores at the Shops at Wiregrass, and is located in the space that was formerly occupied by the Gymboree store. It opened in April, and since then, Wendy says more and more customers have been discovering her many one-of-a-kind items that are either the perfect gift or the perfect find for something for themselves. At Creativity Unpinned, 56 different artisans currently rent space to share their hand-crafted treasures. “Everybody’s stuff is different,” Wendy explains, saying that all but three of her artisans are local. She also explains that 80 percent of what’s in the store is hand-made, while the other 20 percent is a collection of unique lines of items, such as Mozi rings, or their glow-inthe-dark counterparts, Glozi rings. “They are crazy fun,” Wendy says, showing off the unique contraption that is somewhat reminiscent of the old Slinky, but instead rolls up and down your arms and can be passed from person to person. “We like to be interactive,” she says, so she hands the toy to anyone who wants to try it in the store. Creativity Unpinned is filled with handmade items so that everyone can find something special, such as tooth fairy pillows, hand-drawn artwork and cards, stunning photography, doll outfits and hand-painted glassware. There’s even a Christmas section with eye-catching and fun Deb’s Tacky Sweaters. “They are hilarious,” Wendy says, showing off sweaters, sweater vests — even a dress — decorated with outrageously tacky ornaments, which are sure to be the talk of any Christmas party. Many other Christmas-themed gifts are available, too, such as dish towels and “Santa Cam” ornaments. Wendy also says that items throughout the store reflect popular themes, such as unicorns or mermaids, which are hot sellers right now. Book pillows are another popular item, she says, with a pocket sewn into the pillow that you can tuck a book into. The vendor who makes the book pillows even provides a free book of the customer’s choice with the purchase of a pillow. See something you like but it’s not exactly right? Because most of the store’s items are handmade, nearly anything at Creativity Unpinned can be custom-made, such as a book pillow customized to complement your child, grandchild, niece or nephew’s favorite bedtime story. 28

Wendy says her customers love their pets, and items throughout the store with pet themes also are popular. Plus, you can order a personalized caricature of your pet, or pick out handmade clothes for your pooch — anything from a leather jacket to a bathrobe. Creativity Unpinned also features a wide variety of price points, since each of the vendors sets his or her own prices. There’s even a line of kids’ items that is priced intentionally so kids can choose something they can buy with their own allowance money. Wendy says there is room for about 75 vendors in the store, but that there is a waiting list for several types of artisans, such as those who create jewelry. “We want a nice variety of jewelry,” says Wendy, which she says she now has, with different artistic influences from countries such as Venezuela and Mexico, a variety of materials from natural items such as flowers and leaves to Italian glass. “But, we don’t want to become a jewelry store,” she explains. She says she looks for high-quality items, and that she has turned vendors away whose quality wasn’t up to her standards. “We give creative entrepreneurs the opportunity to own a business,” Wendy says. “It amazes me what our artisans come up with. They really blow me away.” Creativity Unpinned sometimes does classes and special events, such as the class on making shadowboxes that was taught after hours one Sunday evening.

Fund Raisers, Too!

For example, there is Rhonda McDaniel’s line of artisan soaps, called A Caring Touch Skin Therapy. “I love being a vendor at Creativity Unpinned because my products are available to customers at the mall,” Rhonda says. “I like shopping there myself.” While she mostly sells her products online, she likes that her website now tells people they can visit Creativity Unpinned to see her products in person. Rhonda says she loves interacting with the customers who are interested in her artisan soaps. “When I go in the store, I can see their excitement about the product and answer their questions,” she says. Creativity Unpinned is located at 28163 Paseo Dr., #180. For more information, search “Creativity Unpinned” on Facebook, call (813) 575-9605, or see the ad on page 42 of this issue.

A recent fund raiser allowed each vendor at Creativity Unpinned to choose a charity they would like to support. Shoppers voted for their favorite one, and the winning charity — Trinity Outreach — will receive $500, the proceeds of a special sale of items donated for the event. “It raised awareness for charities,” explains Wendy, “and people had fun with it.” Creativity Unpinned has three employees and, like Wendy, they are all dedicated to topnotch customer service. “We’ll point out things to you and tell you the back story that makes an item even more interesting,” Wendy says. “We can do that because these items are not mass produced.” She emphasizes that she wants customers to come in and touch and smell and feel the products, which is something her vendors appreciate.

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F ROM OU R FA M I LY TO YOU R S. At Loyless Funeral Homes, we believe that reflecting on the good times is an important part of celebrating life. This season, we are grateful for the community and families we serve. So, whether this year has been a season of loss or a season of joy, our thoughts and prayers are with you.

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Soccer Preview: New Coach, Keeper, Era For Wharton Girls! Wharton Girls

By ANDY WARRENER

The 2018-19 Wharton Wildcats girls soccer team is facing some new challenges — long-time coach Dennis Vukorep, who won more than 100 games coaching the Wildcats, took a job with county powerhouse Newsome, while all-county keeper Caroline DeLisle, who set school records with 538 career saves and was 4417 with 28 shutouts in her prep career, is now playing for the University of Central Florida in Orlando. The Wildcats’ top goal scorer from a year ago, Alisha Deschenes, also has graduated. First-year head coach Jason Rohr takes over, and has some rebuilding to do. But, he also has some talent to work with. Replacing DeLisle, who started 76 games the last four years, is a big hole that will be filled by green recruits Callisha Wrensford, a junior, and sophomore Paityn Arroyo. Neither played on the team last year, nor does either of them have much experience in the net, so Rohr is hoping what he calls “one of the best back lines in the region” will build a proverbial, and protective, wall around the inexperienced netminders. Wharton’s last line of defense consists of sophomore Brooke Dekle on the left side, senior captain Callista Ferrin, who plays alongside senior Sierra Rohr at center back, and freshman Brooke Rohr splits

Head Coach: Jason Rohr

Sierra Rohr, Callista Ferrin, Brooke Dekle and Maude Castonguay form a defensive backfield that first-year coach Jason Rohr says is, “one of the best back lines in the region.” The Wharton defense will have to be good to slow down some of the high-powered offenses the ‘Cats play this season.

time with newcomer Maude Castonguay on the right side. “The center backs are the centerpieces of that back line,” Coach Rohr says. Ferrin is 6-foot-1 and can venture into the offensive side to help on set pieces; she was first-team All-Western Conference last year. Sierra Rohr, a ball-hawking center back who’s not afraid to throw her body around, was a United Soccer Coaches High School All-American selection for Florida and

Freedom Boys

Head coach: KC van der Luit Last season: 6-10-1 Key Returners: Caden McCoy (Sr., CB), Leo Batista (Jr., MF), Sungura Sadiki (So., F). Who’s New?: Junior Matt Moore arrives to bolster the squad, but van der Luit has high hopes for senior Andres Ojeda, a seasoned club player and scorer playing high school soccer for the first time. Outlook: McCoy moves back from the midfield because van der Luit wanted a bigger body to stop balls. Batista is the vocal leader of the team. Sadiki, a second-year player from Tanzania, will take on a much larger role up top this season. The Patriots have been a middle-of-the-road team for the last few years, going 59-84-11 since their State runner-up season in 2008-09. But, this could be the year that they break out, with the added punch up top. The Patriots toppled Strawberry Crest 6-0 in the preseason. Mitchell, just like on the girls side, is the team to beat in Class 4A, District 8, but that is where van der Luit has his sights set.

second-team all-conference. What better way to protect your new keeper than to place two of your best players in front of her? Brooke Rohr, Dekle and Castonguay have no problem covering both ends of the field and should coalesce as the season progresses. In a tough district with highscoring teams, the Wharton defense is likely to face a tough test every night. How the D handles those tests could determine the fate of the Wildcats.

Wharton Boys

Head coach: Scott Ware Last season: 8-8-1 Key Returners: Andy Ilken (Sr., GK/F), Luke Rowe (Jr., D), Leo Silva SR., MF). Who’s New?: After scoring only 17 goals in 17 games last season, the Wildcats are putting more emphasis on the attack this year. Newcomers Ore Deen and Roger Rodriguez add some much-needed speed on the outside. Outlook: Ilken, Rowe and Silva are the team captains. Ilken, who also is the punter for the Wharton football team, is a four-year starter. Ware will try to maximize his talents as both a keeper and as a dangerous 6-foot-3 striker. Rowe is a three-year starter lining up at outside back and Silva, who scored a goal in a 2-1 preseason win over East Bay (with junior defender Zach Godbold assisting), holds down the center-mid position. Like the girls, Class 5A, District 7 is a tough district to navigate. Perennial powerhouses Wiregrass Ranch and Palm Harbor University High have won all of the 5A-7 District titles stretching back to 2015.

Last season: 15-4-1 Key Returners: Sierra Rohr (Sr., D), Ferrin (Sr., D), Sydney Hubbard (Sr., MF), Payton Jones (Jr., MF) and Vanessa Lopez (Jr., F). Who’s New?: Maude Castonguay (Jr.), Haley Chambers (So., D), Brooke Dekle (So., D), Melanie Copeland (So., F), Izabella Avila (So., D). Outlook: Hubbard is coming off of an all-conference season in which she scored 15 goals and had 15 assists, and is the Wildcats’ leader on offense. Jones and Lopez both had three goals in 2017-18, but should improve on those numbers. Avila, who had four goals and three assists as a freshman, already has two this season, as does Copeland. The Wildcats started out 1-2, beating Berkeley Prep and losing to Newsome and Largo. They will have to navigate a tough Class 5A, District 7 schedule, where favorite Palm Harbor University High made it to the State Class 5A final four and the six teams in the district were a combined 57-12-4 outside of 5A-7.

Freedom Girls

Head coach: Jennifer DeMik Last season: 6-9 Key Returners: Grace Alexandro (Jr., GK), Kelsey Skendziel (Sr., D), Bethany Green (Sr., D). Who’s New?: A strong freshman class has landed at Freedom this season. There are nine freshmen on the team, and five of them start, including centermidfielder Camryn Bliss and striker Anna Gore. Outlook: Alexandro makes the fulltime transition to soccer this season, after splitting time between soccer and basketball in 2017-18. Skendziel and Green are the captains and anchor the back line for the Patriots. Freedom’s Class 4A, District 8 is not too deep, but getting around State runner-up Mitchell High is a tall order. With an experienced defense and some new firepower up top, it’s reasonable to think the Patriots, who beat King 4-1 and lost to Strawberry Crest 2-1 in the preseason, could sneak into the playoffs. “I was not expecting this incoming freshman class but I’m very excited about them,” Coach DeMik says. “I think this is the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Ground Yourself: Nature Walking Meditation Saturday, December 15th: 10:00 am - 11:00 am Ground Yourself: Nature Walking Meditation at Heartwood Preserve is a guided one-hour “quiet-time” slow walk in the woods, where you will experience the peace of the outdoors. The smells, sight of a flower, sound of birds, feeling of the breeze.

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Green Is Ready To Lead Wharton Hoops Wharton shooting guard Darin Green kicked off the 2018-19 basketball season by smiling for the cameras — or, rather, cell phones — of his family, teammates and school administrators, as he signed his official letterof-intent to play for the University of Central Florida in Orlando next season. The smooth-shooting senior will now enter his final high school season distractionfree with one final goal on his mind: winning a state title. With returning standouts like Carr Thiam, Gio Reyes. Jasper Floyd and McKinley Theirse for Green to work with, the Wildcats are setting their sights high. “I don’t know what anyone else is thinking, but I know what we have and I know what all the other teams have, and I think we can go all the way,” says Green, whose silky outside touch and ability to make those around him better will be pivotal factors if the Wildcats are to turn in another banner season. Wharton was a bit of a surprise last season, beating defending state champion Sickles three times, winning a Class 8A-District 8 title and finishing 23-6, the school’s 10th consecutive season of 20 or more wins. That was thanks, in part, to a breakout season by Green. Though the 6-foot-4 guard had started the year before and had a handful of scholarship offers, he became to go-to offensive player for Wharton in 2017-18. He averaged 22 points and 5.6 rebounds a game, and he made 58 percent of his two-point attempts, 42 percent of his three-pointers and 78 percent of his free throws.

Wharton High senior guard Darin Green is looking forward to his senior season with the ‘Cats.

“Down the stretch he put up some huge numbers,” says Wharton coach Tommy Tonelli. All that has done is sent Green back to the lab, or in his case, PickUpUSA Fitness, a basketball gym off U.S. Hwy. 301 in Tampa owned by his father. It’s there where Green, who started playing when he was three years old, spends a lot of time honing his game. “Darin is a tremendous worker and sets the example for his teammates with his daily, consistent off-season work,” Tonelli says. “It’s no surprise that he’s as good as he is.” When Green got his first college offer from Cal State-Fullerton as a sophomore, he celebrated by going to the gym to work on his shooting. Each offer has made him work harder. Now that he is signed, he plans on topping all his previous achievements. “This year we’re all pumped up,” Green says. “I’ve been waiting for this team since I was a little kid. In practice, you can tell it’s different — we are really going at it. Everybody wants it.”

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More Than 400 People Attend The First-Ever New Tampa Brew Fest! By GARY NAGER If I somehow wasn’t proud to be a member of the Rotary Club of New Tampa Noon before (which I was, by the way), I am even that much prouder today — about 10 days after the club I belong to took on its most ambitious local project to date — hosting the first-ever New Tampa Brew Fest at the Venetian Event Center at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. on Nov. 10. Some members of our club had concerns that maybe the project was too big for such a small (only 25 members) group to pull off, especially when only about three weeks before the event, we had sold fewer than 100 tickets on our Eventbrite.com page. But, avowed beer lover and the club’s event chair Jeff Ulbrich, who had hoped for 700-800 attendees, and several other club members (including president Gary Lefevbre and yours truly) felt that even if we only broke even in the first year of the event, once the word got out about the first one, it would be a lot easier to sell tickets to the next time around — and every time after that. But, thanks to a major presenting sponsorship by Kling Law of Tampa and lots of promotion not only in these pages but on WCNT-tv (Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Television) those last few weeks, the club did a lot better than break even — we sold more than 425 tickets (including more than 100 “walk-ups”) and raised around (some numbers are still being finalized) $6,000 net, which will mainly be donated to the club’s selected charitiesc through it’s charitable “arm” — the New Tampa Noon Rotary Foundation. “Everyone in our club pitched in to help,” Jeff said at our first meeting following the event. “It was a total team effort.” See ‘Brew Fest’ on page 40.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Brew Fest’

Continued from pg. 39 And, while some of us think Jeff is being a little modest — he singlehandedly secured all of the beer, the delicious food trucks, the licensing we needed and all of the logistics for the event — he certainly wasn’t alone. The club’s President-Elect and social media whiz, Lisa Hickey of DPrint, handled all of the promotional materials and secured Kling Law as our presenting sponsor (she also helped with the check-in table), club members Barry and Claire Shuman were the checkin bean counters and several club members served as “celebrity pourers.” Not really being a big beer drinker (especially anything fruit flavored) myself, I will still admit that it was easy to get caught up in all of the craft beer talk at the Brew Fest, especially when Jannah and I arrived there 10-15 minutes before the scheduled 6 p.m. start time and there were already more than 100 people sampling many of the 75 different brews from nearly 30 different major and independent breweries. My favorite brews were the Shiner Blonde Lager, the Yuengling Golden Pilsner, the Blue Point Toasted Vienna Lager and yes, the White Claw Raspberry “Hard” Seltzer, which is the drink of choice for those on the keto diet. Jannah and I ended up not sampling the food at all, but everyone raved about the fried chicken and waffles from the Twisted South Southern Kitchen and all of the delicious sandwiches from Casablanca Fusion. In other words, if you missed the first New Tampa Brew Fest, do not miss it when it returns next year! See pg. 41 for more!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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The Brew Fest Pays Tribute To Veterans!

Another great thing about this year’s first New Tampa Brew Fest was the fact that it was a day before Veterans Day, and our club has a long history of honoring and helping veterans and first responders. So, less than an hour into the event, we had Tampa City Council member and New Tampa resident Luis Viera (with microphone in photo) on hand to honor all U.S. Military veterans, but especially, members of the U.S. Marine Corps, which celebrated its 243rd birthday the same day as the Brew Fest. Viera had the oldest and youngest military veterans and active duty members on hand at the event cut the three cakes, which were served as the evening’s dessert.

Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Local Teen Lands Role In NYC Musical For Teens With Bleeding Disorders By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN Natalie Rubin says she lives by a personal mantra. “Although having an illness limits you,” she says, “for every one thing you can’t do, there are a million things you can do.” The Freedom High senior has a blood disease called Von Willebrand disease, a genetic disorder caused by a low level of clotting proteins in the blood. It was discovered when Natalie was 12. She got really sick, and the medications prescribed to her thinned her blood, resulting in her entire body being covered with bruises and petechial, or small red or purple spots caused by bleeding into the skin. Now 17, Natalie has lived with the disease ever since. She tries to focus on things she loves, such as music and her position as a woodwind captain in Freedom’s band, playing tenor sax in marching band and bass clarinet in concert band. She has to be extra cautious, though, because she bruises so easily, and her disorder can mean her blood doesn’t clot. “When they throw rifles in marching band, I always think that I have to be very careful,” she says, as a bump to the head could be catastrophic for her. While Natalie recognizes her limitations — she can’t play lacrosse or give boxing a try, both things she says she’s wanted to do — she looks for opportunities to live out her personal mantra and focus on the things she can enjoy to the fullest. When the opportunity to audition for a unique opportunity to be in a New York

Freedom High senior Natalie Rubin rehearses for her performance in “Hemophilia: The Musical.” City musical focusing on teenagers affected some time touring the city, as well as many by blood disorders such as hemophilia and hours in rehearsals. Von Willebrand disease, Natalie submitted an They had prepared at home, where their audition video and an essay, where she shared rehearsals were spent working with a profesher personal mantra. sional voice coach, choreographer and others Although she called it “a long shot,” to bring their voices together for the one Natalie was one of only 25 teenagers from performance of the musical, held just a few across the U.S. who ultimately were chosen days later — on Nov. 12, at the New World for the performance, called “Hemophilia: Stages in Manhattan. The Musical.” “It was such an amazing, extravagant Their essays were the inspiration for the trip,” Natalie says, explaining that it was songs that were written for the production. provided to the students at no cost to them, Natalie’s aforementioned personal man- and included a stay in NYC’s Fashion District and being shuttled around the city to tourist tra was used in the production. destinations such as Times Square, where On Nov. 9, Natalie and the other teenagers arrived in New York City. and the spent Natalie and the other teens’ names were

highlighted on one of the city’s famous huge billboards, advertising the musical. She says her favorite thing about participating was all the people she met, and she took away from it a message of how precious life is. As a high school senior, Natalie is looking toward her future. She says she plans to major in medical genetics. “Growing up with a health condition, it makes you feel different,” Natalie explains. “Then, maybe you go to camp and meet people like you and feel like you fit in, but you realize you’ve bonded over a sad thing. I want to cure something so kids don’t have to feel like that.” She volunteers as a youth ambassador for the Hemophilia Foundation of Greater Florida, which serves people with bleeding disorders such as hemophilia, Von Willebrand disease, and others. She says the foundation is a great source of support to her. Natalie adds that her participation in “Hemophilia: The Musical” helped her think about what it really means to be a teenager living with a bleeding disorder. She explains that she is part of the first generation to have access to blood factor products, which are lifesaving to people with conditions like hers. “I’m not lucky that I have this illness,” Natalie says, “but I am lucky that I have a full life and I can live with it. The last line of the musical is, ‘We’re still here today.’ It’s powerful because we’re here in honor of all the people who can’t be here because of their bleeding disorders.” To view the performance, visit BreakingThroughHemophilia.com.

An Upscale Artisan Boutique #1 destination for extraordinary gifts in Wesley Chapel!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Your Full Real Estate Solutions Providers Residential-Commercial-Property Management Title-Mortgage-Insurance-Home Warranty-Auction

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26771 State Rd 56 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 (813) 907-8200

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Angela Mora 813-482-1452 A Stunning Home in the Gated Community of Quail Woods! Spacious, with an Open Floor Plan, Lovely Neutral Color Scheme and Boasting 2,657 SF, 4 Bedrooms, 3 Baths and 3 Car Garage. Many Fantastic Features including Double Tray Ceilings, Coffered Ceilings, 18” Diagonal Tile, Den/Office, Formal Dining Room, Chef Inspired Kitchen w/Stainless Appliances, Granite Counters w/Stone Backsplash, Center Island and Large Breakfast Bar which flows to the Family Room w/Triple Sliders to the Lanai and Fenced Back Yard. Call for more information on this home before it’s gone!

AMora@BHHSflpg.com | AngelaMoraRealEstate.com Hablo español también!

Georgia Bickford 813-713-6492

SPACIOUS 2/2 END UNIT! This lovingly maintained Cambridge villa in popular Whispering Oaks Estates invites you to relax. The home is bright and airy with volume ceilings, a beautiful eat-in kitchen with wood flooring and a bay window and an oversized great room with dining. The 10’ X 18’ guest bedroom with walk-in closet can accommodate guests and more. The Master suite is a private haven. Off the Florida room, you’ll find a golf cart barn, perfect for storage. Enter the screened lanai and enjoy wonderful views of nature. Annual HOA dues are only $189, roads are private and there is a recreation center owned by the HOA. Come see! $115,000 gbickford@bhhsflpg.com | www.GeorgiaSellsFlorida.net

ASTURIA/ODESSA

Cynthia Filippi 813-784-1634

WOW!! $5000 CREDIT TOWARDS BUYER’S CLOSING COST, Shows like a MODEL, 1YR NEW w/stunning Water Views from the Lanai, Great Rm and Master BR!! Modern Style 4BR/3BA, 2336 SQ FT, 1-Story home w/ Light filled Great Room Plan, a Decorator’s Chef’s Kitchen w/Granite & Island, Many Luxury Details & Energy Saving Features thru out! Fenced Yard, Excellent area, near Shops, Malls, Restaurants, Suncoast Parkway& Trails! Great Price @ $369,900

Built by Hannah Bartoletta, this Gorgeous Pool Home sits on a Conservation Lot in Osprey Pointe, within the Gated Golf Course Community of Hunters Green. Great Curb Appeal and Beautiful Manicured Landscaping 4 Beds, 3.5 Baths & Office, 3 Car Gar, 3,100 sq ft, Open Floorplan, Fireplace, Crown Molding, Volume Ceilings Close to Shopping, Restaurants, Major Roads $489,900

mercy@mercybarragan.com | www.MercyBarragan.com

CFilippi@BHHSflpg.com | CynthiaSellsTampaHomes.com

HIDDEN BROOK

EPPERSON RANCH

James Cosentino 813-949-3676

Don’t miss out on this amazing Plantation Palms home w/Golf Course Views, 3BR/2Bath +Bonus Room. Open floor plan w/ Flexible Dining Room which can also make great Office! Great Kitchen w/Breakfast Bar overlooking spacious Great Room! Feel like you’re on vacation as you dine at the Plantation Palms’ very own Mulligan’s Pub, while players will love the 18-Hole Championship Course w/ range (rates apply). NO CDD, LOW HOA Fees! Minutes to the Outlets, Wiregrass Shops, Restaurants, Hospitals & I-75/275! Great Value, only $245,000!

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HOMESTEADS OF SADDLEWOOD/WESLEY CHAPEL

HUNTERS GREEN

Mercy Barragan 813-494-6797

Ronnie Preusch 813-361-9595 Beautiful 2440 sq ft home on 1.67 acres in a gated community. Low HOA. 3 bedrooms, study, 2 bath, 2 car garage, RV carport, heated salt water pool/spa with travertine pavers & outdoor kitchen, 2 decks, storage sheds,new metal roof, A/C 2 years old. This home is loaded with upgrades and a must see! Easy Access to Major Highways, Shopping, Restaurants and much more! Offered at $439,900 rpreusch@BHHSflpg.com

HAPPY HOLIDAYS

Jennifer Kibiger 813-469-1481

Eric Murphy 813-712-8466

CHARMING 3 Bedroom 2 Bath 1,100 sq ft home with 1 car garage is nestled on a private conservation lot. Nice sized screened in lanai leads out to LARGE fenced in backyard. Call me today for a private showing!

NEW construction home for sale in this beautiful Wesley Chapel Neighborhood. 4BR , 2.5 bath 2260sq ft. This is one of the most desired communities to live in and you don’t want to miss out! Give Eric Murphy a call for more information 813-712-8466

jcosentino@bhhsflpg.com | www.JimmyGetsItRight.com

emurphy@bhhsflpg.com

Wishing All A Wonderful Holiday Season Filled With Love and Laughter! With Sincerest Gratitude,

Jennifer

jkibiger@BHHSflpg.com | jkibiger.BHHSFloridaProperties.com

December 7 & 8 www.bhhsfloridaproperties.com Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

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Still Looking For The Perfect Holiday Gift(s)? Check Out Our Advertisers! Big-Ticket Items

From cosmetic surgery to luxury cars and from engagement rings to a new swimming pool or spa for your home, please visit the following advertisers: Artisan Aesthetics (813) 971-2000; DrCastor.com See page 9 Leiva’s Jewelry (813) 972-0417; LeivasJewelry.com See page 6

Lexus of Wesley Chapel (813) 907-5350; LexusofWesleyChapel.com See photo, above & the ad on page 51 New Tampa Plastic Surgery (813) PLASTIC (752-7842) NewTampaPlasticSurgery.com See page 19 Olympus Pools (813) 676-9023; OlymusPoolsfl.com See page 20

Gifts For Children

Mo Baseball Academy (813) 428-0053; wilymobaseballacademy.com See page 34

Neighborhood News

Gifts For Everyone

There’s still time to get great gifts like “The Santa Experience,” gift cards for free massages massage, “Nutcracker” tickets & more! Creativity Unpinned (813) 575.9605 See story on pg. 28; ad on pg. 42 Jillian Joseph Photography (813) 760-4520; JillianJoseph.com See page 29 Massage Envy (813) 948-5600; MassageEnvy.com See page 12

Gifts For Her

You may not care about her eyebrows, her hair, her skin or what kind of soap she uses, but she does, so add these advertisers to your “for her” shopping list! Creative Permanent Makeup by Pam (813) 997-6302 CreativePermanentMakeupByPam.com See page 29 New Identities Hair Studios (813) 579-1575; NewIdentitiesSalon.com See page 7 Palms Pharmacy (813) 252-9063; ThePalmsPharmacy.com See photos of the amazing Zum soaps & products, left & the ad on page 35 QVita (813) 501-4130 qvitahealthandwellness.com See page 11

The Shops at Wiregrass Massage Green Spa (813) 333-7703; MassageGreenSpa.com See page 14 New Tampa Dance Theatre (813) 994-NTDT (6838) NewTampaDanceTheatre.com See page 25 Stephen John Photography (813) 279-8990 “Stephen John Photography” on Facebook See page 50

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You know it’s the holiday season when the Shops at Wiregrass (see ad on pg. 44) adds new stores like the following:

Gifts For Him

Tirador Ramos Cigar Lounge (813) 388-5405 TRQualityCigars.Com See ad below!

So, my new friend Jayme Tirador says you should visit the Tirador Ramos Cigar Lounge in the Pebble Creek Collection for the best selection of Nicaraguan cigars made at the factory in the city of Esteli that bears Jayme’s family’s name. The best of the Tirador Ramos line are the Biely cigars (above), which are 20% off when you buy a box from now through the end of Dec., but Jayme says the even more affordable (5 for $20 or 20 for $55) Naked cigars from Tirador Ramos also are excellent. He also carries most of the most popular brands, including Olivia, Padron, My Father, Arturo Fuente, Perdomo, Montecristo, Cohiba & more, plus great beer & wine!

Hickory Farms Laser Bob’s Custom Crafts Lizard Thicket (photo, right) Lululemon seasonal popup Ornament Shoppe Snowie shaved ice cart Sportulas Synthetic Ice Concepts

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Nibbles & Business The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! Walk-On’s Breaks Ground

You don’t have to invite me a second time when a restaurant that isn’t going to open for several months breaks ground — and gives you samples of their cuisine (photos below) — especially when it’s a sports bar with a Cajun flavor.. So, even though Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar — whose corporate entity has been 25-percent owned by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees since 2015 — only broke ground on Nov. 5 and will likely take well into mid2019 to be serving anyone, being home to the first Walk-On’s in Florida is pretty exciting. Even more exciting is that Walk-On’s co-founder Brandon Landry and Florida franchisees Jared and Heather Burnett and Paul and Debbie Hollabaugh and their staff brought along some of Walk-On’s tasty N’Awlins-

inspired cuisine along with them for North Tampa Bay Chamber members and Pasco County commissioners Kathryn Starkey and Mike Moore (and yours truly) to sample. And, although I couldn’t try the crawfish étouffée because of my shellfish allergy, I was really impressed with Walk-On’s spot-on duck and Andouille sausage gumbo. There’s also blackened steak and mahi-mahi on the menu, so you know that Walk-On’s is more than just another typical sports bar with a zillion TVs. Landry, who opened the first Walk-On’s in 2003 in Baton Rouge, after he and a partner had both been walk-ons to the LSU basketball team, then opened the second, equally successful location in Lubbock, TX, in 2005. Today, there are 24 Walk-On’s locations, with 100 more getting started in 15 states.

And, based on the three mini-bowls of gumbo I polished off and the fact I live a mile away from this 8,000-sq.-ft. location on the north side of S.R. 56, I believe they can expect me to be a regular there. For more info, visit Walk-Ons.com.

The Food Is Amazing At The Hilton Garden Inn!

I know we already told you last issue about the opening of the Hilton Garden Inn (26440 Silver Maple Pkwy.) off S.R. 56, but after attending the sparkling new hotel’s Grand Opening event on Nov. 7, the thing that stood out most to me was the hotel’s chef-created cuisine. Yes, the Grand Opening event

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

was great, and featured not only awesome giveaways, but also donations to the Stano Foundation (visit Stano.org), which packs and sends care packages to active duty members of the U.S. Military, and entertainment, but the food was truly spectacular, which bodes well for both the hotel’s catering and its Garden Grille & Bar. I was on deadline and forgot to grab a menu for the restaurant, but the hand-carved beef tenderloin filet, fried wontons and egg rolls and especially, the four outstanding pastas (above) served that night means Jannah and I will be dining there soon (and a lot). For info about the hotel or the restaurant, call (813) 591-6900 & tell sales director Lisa Moore I sent you!— GN

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We are specialized in catering services. South Indian, North Indian & Indo Chinese. We cook on-site Dosa, Naan, Tandoori.

Dinner Menu Only. Expires: 12/31/18

Expires: 12/31/18 Dine in only.

Find Us On

www.facebook.com/MinervaTampa/

www.minervatampa.com | 813.978.8586

Dinner Menu Only. Expires: 12/31/18

Expires: 12/31/18 Dine in only.

Find Us On

www.facebook.com/MinervaTampa/

www.minervatampa.com | 813.978.8586

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure exterior house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing and deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big or small. Experience the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning professional. Licensed and insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015. 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 813-994-5124. 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: 813-7845999. 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. Tjs Pressure Washing LLC. Driveways, Houses, Fences, Lanais and Screened Enclosures. Most residential 2 car driveways or vinyl fences starting at $60. House washing prices start at $100 for a 1 story home and $150 for a 2 story home. Looking for an instant quote? Just text me a picture of the job you need done. Call Tj at 727-808-7775

Classifieds

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

CLEANING SERVICES B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 16 years experience! Commercial & residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & post construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in or move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates; References available. Call today: 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more info, Call 758-9710. Squeaky Clean Home Services LLC. - is a residential cleaning company offering weekly, biweekly, and monthly services. We also specialize in Move-in / Move-out cleanings. All supplies and equipment provided. We are an Owner Operator company with over 20 years experience that is Licensed, bonded and insured. Call us for your Free in home estimate today! 813-625-6045 www. squeakycleanhomeservices.com

JUNK REMOVAL

FIRST CALL JUNK HAUL Do you need items removed or clutter cleared? Let First Call Junk Haul be your best call! We offer appliance removal, furniture removal, foreclosure clean-outs, garage clean-outs, yard waste removal and more! Affordable prices and professional service gurranteed! Call or Text 813-970-6440 for a FREE ESTIMATE!

YOUR CLASSIFIED AD CAN GO HERE! CALL (813) 910-2575 TO ORDER YOURS TODAY!

HELP WANTED

HIRING PERSONAL TRAINER. Private Women’s Studio with Boot Camp & Personal Training in Wesley Chapel & Land O’ Lakes owned by Samantha Taylor. Please no phone calls or walk ins.To apply part time: www.lolfitbodybootcamp.com/hire-pt. PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT). An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide custom, one-on-one care. Fax resume to 813-994-3080. FREELANCE OPPORTUNITIES WITH THE NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS & WCNT-tv! Whether you want to write business stories for the Neighborhood News or you want to be involved in the production of the only Facebook and Youtube-based Webcast for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, please forward your resume & one short writing clip to Ads@WCNT-tv.com. NO PHONE CALLS PLEASE Tutors Wanted! Part Time position with the AVID program at Benito Middle School pays $10/hr. Work during the school day on Tues/Thurs. Apply online at www.applitrack.com/sdhc/onlineapp/ (AVID tutor positions are listed under “support” vacancies) AND send email to patricia.brown@sdhc.k12.fl.us. CNAs/HHAs NEEDED: Established Senior Homecare Service is seeking CNA’s and Home Health Aids to work with our company. Contact 813-9851200 for more information.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHER AVAILABLE Retired Professional Photographer with over 45 years of experience in the Tampa Bay Area. Corporate Events, Personal Occasions, Portraiture, Pets, Comercial Photography, and Real Estate Reasonable rates. Call or Text 813-748-3901. Visit russellleprephotography.com

SPACE AVAILABLE

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn maintenance: Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleaning, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/Spring Special & FREE ESTIMATE! Licensed & insured. Accepting new residential & commercial accounts. We accept Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmExp. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring full-time workers. HOMETEAM LAWNCARE LLC High-quality professional Services: Weekly or bi-weekly year-round full-service lawn care starting at $90/month: Mow, edge, trim, blow, mulch-bed maintenance, hedge and low-tree trim. Additional Services: Sod, Mulch, & Rock Placement; Hedge Trimming, & Tree Trimming; Landscape Installation; Fall/Spring Clean-Up. Family Owned & Operated, Licensed & Insured, Background Checked, Call or Text 813-817-9554.

UPCOMING EVENTS Children’s Book Sale @ New Tampa Regional Library Thousands of quality used children’s books and DVDs for all ages will be offered at this sale organized by the Friends of the New Tampa Regional Library to benefit the library. 10001 Cross Creek Boulevard, Tampa, 33647. 4-5:30 Friday (November 9) and 10-4:00 Saturday (November 10). For more information: 813-758-7419 or friendsofnewtampalibrary@gmail.com.

SERENITY SALON & SPA SUITES Wesley Chapel. Booth rental for Stylist available. Can be either full time or part time. Give us a call!: 813-312-5247 or 813-997-6302.

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 or Text Chris today @ 813-857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService. com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned and operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention ad for one month free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608.

Gardner Gutters

MAINTENANCE SERVICES “An Umbrella Over Your House”

~ Family Owned And Operated ~

SERVING NEW TAMPA FOR 18 YEARS

We offer much more!

• Windows • Gutters • Siding • Soffit Fascia • Screen Enclosures

• Handy Man • Light Commercial • Grout/Ceramic Cleaning

email: eduardotampa@yahoo.com

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Licensed & Insured: SCC131150705

Call 813-486-1697 or Visit gardnergutters.com 48

www.dultracleaningservice.com | 813.973.7513 • 813.758.9710

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service. Licensed and insured serving the Tampa Bay area over 20 years. Family owned and operated. Quality work at affordable prices. We provide services in pressure washing and sprinkler repair. Landscaping and property maintenance including: sodding, trimming trees and hedges, and clean ups. Other services are available. CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296)

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Protect your children and pets with Tampa Bay’s only organic monthly fertizilation and pest control • Courteous, friendly customer service • Monthly service from $40 per month • State licensed spray technicians • Organic/natural fertilizers • On-time service • Amazing results • No contracts • Special discounts on irrigation repairs and inspections

We Don’t Cut Corners, We Dust Them

“Residential and Commercial’’

Family Owned Business with 20Years of Experience We are your all-purpose cleaner with: • High Quality Services • Competitive Rates • Great References • Always the Same Crew

(813) 381-1430 Doing business in Pasco and Hillsborough County area since 1978

Organic Safe Lawns

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High quality at a great price.

SUNSHINE CLEANERS Top Quality...Great Prices

Join our Customer Rewards Program and get a punch every time you visit. After your 10th punch, you’ll receive $10 oﬀ your next order of $10 or more. NTNN Exp. 12/31/2018

NTNN Exp. 12/31/2018

$2.99 Press Only* $3.79 Drycleaning & Press*

NTNN Exp. 12/31/2018

813-343-4951

$1.69 Men’s Business Shirts * Some garments incur additional charge. Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 25 • December 1, 2018 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

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Portfolio of Fine Homes

9331 Deer Creek Dr.

17206 Lakay Pl.

15906 Farringham Dr.

15403 Fenton Pl.

4 Bed +Office | 3 Bath | 2,581 SF | 2 Car Garage | New Tile Roof, New AC, Laminate and Wood Flooring Throughout, Stainless Steel Appliance Package, Crown Molding, Built In Cabinetry, Plantation Shutters Screened Pool, Brick Pavered Lanai, Large Rear Yard Offered for $369,000

5031 Devon Park Dr.

16102 Dowling Ct.

5008 Ashington Landing Dr.

18131 Longwater Run Dr.

15902 Danboro Ct.

5050 Devon Park Dr.

17503 Edinburgh Dr.

5030 Wesley Dr.

SALE PENDING

SOLD

4 Bed | 4 Bath | 3,478 SF | 3 Car Garage | Remodeled Kitchen and Baths, Maple Cabinetry, Granite, High-End Stainless Steel Appliances, Mahogany Wood Floors, New Carpet, Crown Molding, Custom UpLighting | Pool/ Heated Spa Package, New Travertine Lanai Offered for $450,000

15916 Wyndover Rd.

4812 Londonderry Dr.

17820 Green Willow Dr.

9115 Woodridge Run Dr.

SOLD IN 2 WEEKS SOLD

SOLD

4 Bed | 3 Bed | 3,286 SF | 2 Car Garage | Newer AC, Roof Replaced 2001, Beveled Glass Double Door Entry, Side Load Garage, Open Beam Ceiling Finish, Stainless Steel Appliances | Pool/Spa Package, Outdoor Kitchen | Over Sized Conservation Lot Offered for $389,000

4 Bed | 3 Bath | 2,668 SF | 3 Car Garage | Remodeled Throughout, Hardwood Floors, Crown Molding, Maple Cabinetry, Granite, Stainless Steel Appliances, Plantation Shutters, Designer Paint, Pavered Lanai, Heated Pool/Spa, Outdoor Grill Offered for $465,000

16303 Ashington Park Dr.

19208 Cinnamon Ridge Way

27743 Pleasure Ride Lp.

6416 Renwick Cir.

SOLD IN 2 WEEKS

SOLD IN 4 DAYS

SOLD IN 3 DAYS

SOLD IN 1 DAY

4 Bed +Den | 3 Bath | 2,996 SF | 3 Car Side Load Garage| New Engineered Wood Floors, Remodeled Kitchen And Secondary Bathrooms, Upgraded Tile Roof, Travertine Pool Deck, New Marcite In Pool, New Coping, Heated Spa, Large Lot On Pond | Gated Village of Kensignton Offered for $545,000

SOLD

4 Bed + Den | 2 Bath | 2,567 SF | 2 Car Garage | Built 2003 | Remodeled Throughout 2018, New AC, Ceramic Tile Wood Flooring, Kitchen and Baths Remodeled, New Cabinetry, New Appliances, New Quartz Counters Pavered Lanai, Heated Pool/Spa, Conservation and Pond Views Offered for $385,000

SOLD

SOLD SALE PENDING

Phone: (813) 931-6700 • KristyD@Realtor.com • RealEstateNewTampa.com