New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 27. Issue 25, December 2, 2019 by Neighborhood News

Volume 27 Issue 25

Inside: Recapping The 2019 New Tampa BrewFest!

December 2, 2019

See pgs. 37-39!

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Wharton High is home to two of riflery’s sharpest shooters, and both have Olympic aspirations. BY CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN PHOTO: CHARMAINE GEORGE

When Matt Sanchez signed his college athletic scholarship papers with West Virginia University on Nov. 14, it didn’t make the nightly sports news, but it was a big deal. It was as big as a high school football player signing a college scholarship to compete at Alabama or Ohio State. Or a basketball player signing with Kentucky or Duke. It was history. Sanchez and his Wharton teammate, Ben Salas, who signed with North Carolina State University in Raleigh, are believed to be the first high school kids in Tampa Bay to sign scholarships for rifle, a varsity college and Olympic sport. While Salas is going to join a young, growing riflery program, Sanchez will be joining arguably the best shooting school in the country. The Mountaineers have won 19 NCAA national team championships, producing 25 individual NCAA championships, 65 AllAmericans and 13 Olympians. Sanchez hopes to No. 14.

See “Bullseye” on page 4.

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Sanchez has already made a name for himself in the world of Olympic-style shooting. At just 17 years old, the Heritage Isles resident has spent the last year traveling the world to compete in World Cups and World Championship competitions as a member of the USA Shooting national team. Because of his age, Sanchez currently is part of the junior national team. “Most recently, I competed in September in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in the World Cup,” says Sanchez, “and I’ve also been to Germany and Austria four times each, and Switzerland, Korea and China.” Sanchez participates in two types of competitions. One is smallbore, which is shooting a .22 caliber rifle in three positions — standing, kneeling and prone. The other is shooting an air rifle, which is a type of pellet gun, taking 60 shots while standing. Jayme Shipley, who represented the U.S. in the 1996 and

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In Honor & Memory Of My Friend Taken Way Too Soon — Rick Ward going to let cancer defeat him either. He didn’t And, Rick’s neverending acts of kind-

An editorial by Gary Nager I first met Mollyana Ward at what was then called a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce event somewhere between three and four years ago. Mollyana, Jannah and I became close pretty quickly — she was fun, outgoing, smart and she was very interested in helping me with what was then a fledgling idea I had about starting a video program for YouTube and Facebook. I didn’t meet Mollyana’s husband Rick until a few months later and Jannah and I never spent as much time with him as we did his wife, but there was just something special about the guy. He was super laid back and soft-spoken — which doesn’t always mesh well with my loud, Type A New York personality — but it was hard not to notice how much he loved his wife, his three sons, God, people and life in general. Like most couples who have raised children together, he and Mollyana had some issues over the years, but one thing was certain — Rick was convinced he “married up” when he married the love of his life. Three years ago, at the party at our office where Jannah and I first got engaged, not only did I get to know Rick a lot better, I witnessed something that forever changed how I looked at this man. It was a simple act of kindness. Although the music was playing and adult beverages were being served outside in the parking lot, the food was in my office on the second floor — and even though there is an elevator in the building, the party was at night and the people who occupy the office downstairs had all gone home for the day, so there was no access to the elevator. And, it just so happened that I had a friend in attendance who was in a wheelchair who had no way to get up the stairs to check

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 Celeste McLaughlin • Andy Warrener Lead Video Producer Charmaine George Photography, Videography & Video Editing Richard Nasrallah • Benjamin Hobe Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager

Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertising space reservations for Volume 28, Issue 1, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, December 16, 2019. 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.

Rick & Mollyana Ward

out the food or even use the restroom. Rick saw my friend at the bottom of the stairs and immediately sized up the situation. Even though no one asked him to do so — and there were plenty of other men at the party (including yours truly) who could have offered — Rick asked my friend if it was OK if he carried her up the stairs and she got a big smile on her face. So did I. He then carried her up the double flight of stairs, put her in a chair in the office, went back downstairs, carried the wheelchair up the stairs, put her gently back in it, and said to her, “When you’ve had enough to eat and want to go back downstairs, I got you.” I’m an emotional guy anyway, but I immediately felt tears running down my face. It was such a beautiful gesture — and moment — that summed up the measure of this sweet man. And yes, when she was ready, he put her back in an office chair, carried the wheelchair back down the stairs, carried her down the stairs and put her back in the wheelchair. Unfortunately, although Mollyana, Rick, Jannah and I did get to spend some more time together after that, it was a little over a year ago that Rick was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after suffering a seizure. Multiple surgeries and treatments (and an infection) later, without seeing the improvement in his quality of life they were hoping for, Mollyana and Rick decided to literally put the rest of his life in God’s hands. And, although we and many of his other friends and family members did get to spend more quality time with him over the last several months of his life, it was hard for everyone to see him slowly deteriorate. Even so, you could tell how strong his faith still was because the Wards all believed with all their hearts that even though he couldn’t defeat cancer, he wasn’t

just believe — he knew in his heart and soul that even though he was going to leave this life before they would, they would all be reunited one day in the Kingdom of Heaven. Jannah and I got back from New York City the evening of Oct. 29, and Mollyana posted on Facebook that Rick had passed away (at age 49) the following morning. His passing was devastating, but also merciful because those last few weeks were particularly tough on his family, especially Mollyana as his primary caregiver. Her efforts to keep him comfortable were truly amazing. Rick’s Celebration of Life was held Nov. 4 at the First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel, and he was buried in the church’s small adjacent cemetery, a few hundred feet from where he often taught Sunday school.

ness towards others was a primary recurring theme of the service, as a few of his family members, friends and business associates talked about not only his faith, but of his love for Mollyana, his sons Ricky, Nick and Jack, and his entire family. I thanked one of his friends who spoke at the ceremony and told him the story about my friend and the party. He thanked me for telling him, but added, “You notice from the look on my face that I’m not at all surprised. That’s just the kind of man he is.” The kind of man I’m proud to have called my friend, even though I never did get to know him as well as I would have liked. Still, I was glad he was at least able to enjoy mine and Jannah’s wedding in March (photo). Rest in Peace, Rick. We all miss you.

Routine Adjustments help relieve the strain that is placed on the body

Table of Contents Local News Updates.....................3-21

Village At Hunter's Lake Targeting Spring Opening......6 Viera Tells AMC To Clean Theater Grounds Up ......8 Sparse Turnout For Parks & Rec Forum..................10 Business Beat - The Brunchery Sets A Date & More .......12 Florida Avenue Brewery Wants To Be Special .........14 It's Christmas Season! Here's Our Advice!...........16-17 New Tampa Community Calendar...........................18

Local Business Updates..............22-27 Only The Best For Pets At Max's Natural Pet Salon.....22 Pure Nail Spa Focuses On A Natural Experience.......26

Sports News...............................28-30 Tennis Facility Reaching Out To New Tampa........28 Sports Page: Signings & Winter Season Update!.......30

Neighborhood Magazine

Korean Church On County Line Rd. Keeps Growing....33 2nd New Tampa Brew Fest Draws Hundreds.........38 Meadow Pointe Brewer Perfects His Hobby...............40 Fushia Asian Bistro Celebrates 15 Years Of Delicious!....34 Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes...........46 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds...........48 @NTWCNews

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Bullseye: College scholarships just the beginning for Wharton aces FROM PAGE 1 2000 Summer Olympic games, placing sixth in the 2000 Olympics in the women’s air rifle competition, is Sanchez's coach. A resident of Naples, she coaches a handful of high school aged precision shooters throughout the state, and Sanchez is one of her best students. In the smallbore event, he participated in the first round of Olympic Trials in October, where he finished in 11th place. However, a second round of competition will be held next spring “to make sure they don’t get someone who just has one good day,” Shipley says. Only two men will make it onto the Olympic team in each event, but Shipley says Sanchez is currently in contention, and his chances are probably better to make the team in the air rifle event, where he often shoots scores that rank well among not just his teammates on the juniors, but also among the adult men. Those trials begin December 6 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, CO, with a second portion of competition happening in February. Shooting has been an event in the Olympics since the first modern games

Matt Sanchez

in 1896. In fact, the first medal given out at every Olympics is in shooting. “When I first started working with Matt almost 5 years ago, we looked at the 2024 Olympics as a goal,” says Shipley. “But, he’s excelled so fast that he has a really good chance with this one.” *** Incredibly, when Sanchez attends the Olympic Trials for air rifle, he won’t be the only Wharton High senior to compete. Salas, a 17-year-old Live Oak Pre-

serve resident, will compete as well. While Salas hasn’t made the national team and didn’t compete in the Olympic trials for smallbore, he also trains with Shipley and also has his eyes on an Olympic prize someday. Salas has only been shooting precision rifle since last October, but has progressed quickly enough to earn the opportunity to compete in the Olympic trials for air rifle. A relative newcomer, Salas’ growth as a shooter has been accelerated in part due to working alongside Sanchez, a veteran of the sport. Sanchez began shooting with his dad when he was only 10 years old. The family lived in Orlando and went to a rifle club on weekends, just for fun. Sanchez entered a few competitions at the club, noticing that others showed up in some “weird” gear. He says he started to realize there were things he could improve on and excel at, so he started getting his own gear and working on his technique. “I started to win little competitions, which led to state championships,” he says. “Being able to win stuff really piqued my interest.” At 13, Sanchez began to take the sport seriously. In 2017, his dad’s job

change brought him to Wharton for the beginning of his sophomore year. “When I got here, I saw they had a rifle team in NJROTC,” says Sanchez, referring to the high school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps program. “It gave me more time to shoot during school and made things a lot easier, training-wise.” His presence has transformed the school’s program. “Matt has been a mentor to our whole team,” says Chief Wayne Boknevitz, a Naval sciences instructor who also coaches the school’s rifle teams. “He got our whole precision team up and running and has elevated the entire marksmanship team.” Boknevitz says the school previously had “sporter” level rifle teams, but not “precision” level. Sanchez worked with Boknevitz to get a team together, recruiting other students to invest in the expensive gear, while Boknevitz borrowed guns from another school. “Matt took time from his own practice to help everyone else with form and micro-adjustments to the guns,” explains Boknevitz. “The knowledge he shared allowed us to go to Navy nationals last year.”

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*** They travel once or twice a month to a specialized range – of Unlike Sanchez, Salas was which there are very few in the state first an NJROTC cadet, interested and none locally – typically going to in pursuing a military career. He one in south Hollywood in South joined the school’s rifle team for Florida, where they spend seven or fun. On the sporter team, Salas eight hours a day practicing their set a school record, and Boknevsport with Shipley. itz encouraged him to join the “The two of them together school’s new precision team. are great friends and they are great At first Salas was reluctant – training partners,” says Shipley. he says his parents weren’t sure “They push each other. Plus, they wanted to spend the money they’re both a joy to be around, just on gear – but Sanchez encourthe funniest kids ever.” aged him, explaining that preci*** sion shooting is a sport that can While their eyes may be temactually lead to a scholarship at a porarily set on the Olympic prize as university. Salas says at that point, the Trials draw near, both boys say his parents were in. their more immediate goal has been “I was hoping to get into getting a prized college scholarship. a Division II school, but my “Most guys who make the personal records kept going up (Olympic) team are in their 20s very fast in a very short period of and some top shooters are in their time,” says Salas. He says it was earlier this year Ben Salas (left) and Matt Sanchez celebrated signing their col- mid-30s, so you can do it for a lege scholarships last week at Wharton. (Photo: @WhartonBoosters). long time and have a long career,” when he saw how well he was explains Shipley. “When they’re so placing around peers who have there was no precision team, so if he young, my goal as a coach is to get been shooting much longer than him had gone to another school, I would and wanted to take it a step further. have stayed on the sporter team and all them into school with a scholarship, because school is expensive, and the “I realized I could probably of this never would have happened,” sport is expensive.” make the Olympics if I practice hard Salas says. Both Wildcats hit the bullseye enough,” he says. “I’m really shooting For the past year, the pair have when it came to receiving scholarships. for 2024.” trained together before and after Sanchez can play a hand in restorSalas is happy to give a lot of the school at Wharton using paper targets, ing WVU to the top of the college credit to Sanchez. and at home using highly sensitive ranks. The Mountaineers 19 titles is “Before he came to our school Olympic-style electronic targets.

No. 1 all-time, but they haven’t won one since capturing their fifth straight title 2017. Salas will follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, who played football at NC State. He will be a big part of getting the Wolfpack on the college rifle map. “At first, the program was just a club,” Ben says. “But, they just got a new coach and she’s really stepping up and making the program bigger and proving that NC State is a good shooting school. I’m really happy to go there and help them.” There are only 30 universities that give scholarships in shooting, but none in Florida, although Shipley says USF used to have one of the best shooting teams in the country, with three Olympians. Boknevitz says that to his knowledge, it’s the first time in Hillsborough County that any student has been signed to an NCAA shooting team and participated in signing day, taking pride that Wharton had not one, but two, students sign. One way or another, both Wildcats have bright futures. “I’m really excited for the Olympic trials, because I’ve seen what scores I can put up if I shoot my best,” Salas says. “But I’m more excited for college because I know that’s a guarantee.”

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The Village at Hunter’s Lake will be opening with 19 retail offerings in the second quarter of 2020. (Photo: Charmaine George)

Morgan Stanley is proud to congratulate

Garl CFP® Hunter’s Lake Taking Shape Vanessa Named one of Working Mother’s

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The much-anticipated Sprouts Farmers Market has gone vertical, as the The Village at Hunter’s Lake center begins to take shape on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., directly across BBD from the main entrance to Hunter’s Green. The completion of Sprouts will likely signal the end of the retail segment of the project, which includes still-to-come apartments and the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, which is still in the design phase. Of the 19 retail spaces at The Village at Hunter’s Lake, 18 have already been leased. The remaining spot, a 3,530-sq.-ft. space in between the Fresh Kitchen and Via Italia Woodfired Pizza & Bar (see list), is likely to be a breakfast-oriented restaurant, according to Regency Centers senior leasing agent Mark Elias. A lease could be signed by the end of the year. “We are working on the last place now,” Elias says. “Once that’s complete, we will be at 100 percent.” Sprouts, the first green grocer to enter the New Tampa market, is the anchor of the retail strip and is expected to open around April of 2020. While some of the other retailers and restaurants may open earlier – according to

Coming To The Village at Hunter’s Lake

Banfield Pet Hospital The Coder School Fit Niche Fresh Kitchen Grain & Berry Hair Cuttery Heartland Dental Liquor Store Nationwide Vision Center Pink & White Nails Poké Island Plus Pure Beauty Salon Sprouts Farmers Market Starbucks T-Mobile The UPS Store Via Italia Woodfired Pizza & Bar Yoga Six its website, Via Italia Woodfired Pizza & Bar is hoping for a January opening, for example – the majority of the smaller businesses may wait for the completion of Sprouts, since it is expected to attract a lot of foot traffic. “We haven’t hit any major delays,” Elias says. “It looks like good weather for the immediate future, so we’ll be delivering to the smaller retailers soon.”

Top Wealth Advisor Moms

Being named to Working Mother Magazine’s 2019 list of Top Wealth Advisor Moms is a testament to your experience, professionalism and dedication to your clients. Thank you for the work you do each day and for carrying forward the culture of excellence at our firm. Phronesis Wealth Group at Morgan Stanley Vanessa Garl CFP® Vice President Financial Advisor 100 North Tampa Street Suite 3000 Tampa, FL 33602 813-227-2024 vanessa.garl@morganstanley.com advisor.morganstanley.com/ vanessa.garl

Certified Financial Planner Board of Standards Inc. owns the certification marks CFP,® CERTIFIED FINANCIAL PLANNER™ and federally registered CFP (with flame design) in the US. Source: Working Mother Magazine (October/November, 2019). SHOOK™ Research considered Wealth Advisors who are mothers with children living at home and under the age of 21. Ranking algorithm is based on qualitative measures that include: service models, investing process, client retention, industry experience, review of compliance records, firm nominations, etc.; and quantitative criteria, such as assets under management and revenue generated for their firms. Investment performance is not a criterion because client objectives and risk tolerances vary. Rankings are based on the opinions of SHOOK Research, LLC. Neither SHOOK nor Working Mother receives compensation from the advisors or their firms in exchange for placement on a ranking. For more information, see www.SHOOKresearch.com. © 2019 Morgan Stanley Smith Barney LLC. Member SIPC. CRC 2751454 10/19 REC001 CS 9725282 11/19

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Councilman Viera To AMC Theater: Clean It Up, People! By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Tampa City Council member Luis Viera has said from the very beginning of his current term that cracking down on blight in New Tampa would be one of his priorities, and he has not been shy about sic’ing code enforcement on those he feels aren’t keeping the District 7 area he represents up to a certain standard. His latest target is the AMC Highwoods 20 movie theater on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy., off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Viera sent a letter to AMC Corporate headquarters in Leawood, KS, on Nov. 12 requesting to speak with someone about the condition of its movie theater in the heart of New Tampa. According to Viera’s letter, he has received a number of calls and emails from residents that the building’s facade looks run down and dirty and the surrounding vegetation is not being maintained. Viera wrote that the condition of the property was “not properly reflecting the exterior standards of New Tampa” and that it was in “desperate need of attention.” At our press time, Viera said he had not received a response. “I don’t think we’re asking for a lot,” Viera says. “This isn’t an onerous regulation. Just take care of the exterior of your building and the landscaping. These are basic steps. We aren’t asking them to put in new seating and start serving Dom Perignon.” Alicia Kanhai, who lives in Richmond Place, says she is glad Viera wrote the letter. She lives right down the street from the AMC 20, and says it is apparent that the theater management has let the building and the surrounding area deteriorate unabated in recent years. The theater started out as a Muvico theater until being purchased by

These photos were taken by Dist. 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera. They show the wear on the AMC 20 movie theater’s facade, as well as overgrown trees in the parking lot.

Carmike Cinema in 2013 for roughly $32 million. In 2017, AMC bought Carmike for $1.1 billion. “Every time we go for a walk, we pass it, and it’s gotten pretty bad,” says Kanhai, who is married with 12- and 13-year-old boys. “We used to love going there, but we can’t handle it.” It appears Kanhai isn’t alone. Viera posted his letter, as well as two pictures of the area, on the community message board NextDoor.com, and it received more than 100 responses. Many online posters complained about the exterior, but they were also unhappy about the conditions inside. While the theater might be showing its age in an era of large reclining seats and in-theater food service, some wrote that things like outdated seating, sticky floors and dirty bathrooms keep them away. Others used stronger wording, calling the conditions “vile” and “disgusting.” Many posters said they would rather drive 20 minutes to see a movie at The Cobb Grove 16 in Wesley Chapel, which features many of the amenities now more common in theaters across the country.

But some, while stopping short of defending the movie theater, said other buildings in New Tampa were just as bad, if not worse. Namely, the abandoned old Sweetbay grocery store next to Home Depot, which is in far greater disrepair than the AMC 20, was cited by some as a greater concern. Mostly, however, the prevailing response on NextDoor.com and people Viera says have emailed him is that the movie theater has seen better days, and

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he hopes his letter nudges management to give the theater a little TLC. “How much can a couple cans of paint cost?,” Viera asks. A recent Forbes.com story said that AMC Theaters reported that second quarter revenues in 2019 were up 4.4-percent, and 97 million tickets were sold during the quarter, an all-time record for the company. The article also said that the company has added premium recliner seating to some of its 639 U.S. movie theaters. “We can go to other places, but I don’t want to go to the Cobb, I want to go here,” Kanhai says. “This is my neighborhood. I want to go to the theater here. But, if they want people to keep coming, they are going to have to do some upkeep to keep it an attractive place.”

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City Of Tampa Still Looking For Parks & Recreation Ideas For Master Plan By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Just a smattering of people, most from outside the New Tampa area, showed up at Freedom High School in Tampa Palms on Nov. 18 to share their visions of how Tampa’s parks should look and what they should offer. Citywide, though, the response apparently has been better. Nearly 200 residents have attended public input meetings at other locations in an effort to shape the city’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan. “This was one of the lesser-attended meetings, but we have gotten a good response so far,” said Paul Dial, the city’s director of Parks & Recreation. The meeting in the Freedom High cafeteria drew only a handful of people, including District 7 City Council member Luis Viera. The attendees stood up to tell Dial and Brad Suder, the Parks & Recreation department’s superintendent of planning and design, some of the things they would like to see in the future. There were some common themes, like native plants, environmental classes and other educational services, as well as more programming. Zulema Ramos said she’d like to see the parks stay open 24 hours a day, and

Jessica Brenner shares what she believes should be in the City of Tampa’s Parks & Recreation Master Plan. (Photo: John C. Cotey) offer classes on things like CPR training said Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park on N. and how to fix your bike. Jessica BrenBoulevard is great for big events, but the ner thought more fruit trees would be addition of parks that could accommodate beneficial, and could even help feed the smaller venues would be worth adding to homeless, for whom she feels the parks the long-range plan. should provide more amenities. The poor local turnout was not a Dave Coleman hoped that future surprise. New Tampa is not exactly known park development would preserve the for its abundance of publicly-funded green spaces, and not become a place for parks, and just a few paces south and west fancy cafés to thrive at the expense of old- of Freedom High, an addition to the New fashioned picnics. Tampa Recreation Center is being built, “Keep the parks free,” he said. ending a long-sought-after request by Tampa Palms’ Steve Falkowitz suglocal residents. gested more spaces for smaller events. He Viera, however, did press Dial and

Suder to continue trying to work on a long-proposed park in the K-Bar Ranch area. Efforts by the city and Hillsborough County to get together and build something on the 50 acres of available land in K-Bar have so far failed to materialize. “Hopefully, you can keep reaching out to the county and make that happen,” Viera said. Viera also said the New Tampa Nature Park near I-75 could use some TLC, as well. Dial said much of the feedback the parks department has received so far involve neighborhood parks, security and lighting, environmental concerns and trails and connectivity. The public input meeting was the fourth of eight scheduled citywide. The two remaining meetings will both be held at 6 p.m. — at Copeland Park Community Center (11001 N. 15th St.) on Tuesday, December 3; and at Wayne Papy Athletic Complex (6925 N. Florida Ave.) on Thursday, December 5. Dial encourages those who cannot attend the public meetings to fill out an online survey at SurveyMonkey.com/r/ ParksAndRecPublicInput. All of the public input will be passed on to the consulting firm that will be putting the master plan together. The city is in the process of choosing the consulting firm by the end of the year.

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Business Beat — The Brunchery Plans Dec. 2 Grand Opening & More! By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Stanley Athan and his popular The Brunchery restaurant should be ready to introduce themselves to New Tampa on Dec. 2, barring any unforeseen circumstances. Athan said he was just waiting on final approval from the City of Tampa health department, and did not expect any delays. The Brunchery has been a popular breakfast and lunch place in Valrico for more than 30 years. Athan bought it two years ago, and is now planning to expand to New Tampa. Athan said he researched a number of places to put The Brunchery, but he says the location (at 17507 Preserve Walk Ln. in between the FedEx Office and Moe’s Southwest Grill) as well as the area’s higher-than-average median income made for a perfect fit. And, because The Brunchery is taking over the previous location of a Boston Market, Athan said he was also able to save himself $150,000 in build-out costs. The Brunchery is best known for its breakfast items – made-from-scratch Belgian waffles and French toast stuffed with berries and other fruit, homemade homefries, steak and eggs and breakfast

scrambles – but it also has a lunch selection that includes burgers and sandwiches. The 3,100-sq.-ft. eatery will have seating for 100. SING A SONG: Jamie Hess was as excited as he could be Stanley Athan at The when he jumped Brunchery in Valrico. headfirst into a pool built — and filled with hope and dreams — by developer Mark Gold. Within days of Gold’s $62.7-million purchase of The Grove shopping complex, Hess and his brother Joe were among the first local business people to sign a lease, which will allow his idea of bringing a nonchain restaurant and dueling piano bar to Wesley Chapel to come to fruition. Hess wasn’t alone in his excitement, apparently. When it came to naming his place, Hess turned to Facebook, and created a contest. The result: 1,830 entries, more than a

thousand more than he says he expected. So, welcome to the area, Treble Makers. “The response has been unbelievably overwhelming,” says Hess, who has owned Gadget Repair in the New Tampa Commons plaza near the Shops at Wiregrass since January. “It has definitely exceeded expectations.” The credit for coining the The site of the Treble Makers dueling piano bar & restaurant will be right in the middle of all the new action at name Treble Makers goes to The Grove, says owner Jamie Hess. Wesley Chapel’s Rodney Beuno, who was the first of three Facehours in the 6,000-sq.-ft. restaurant, a book posters to suggest it. single pianist will be featured. And, on He will be rewarded with VIP entry the weekends, dueling pianists — adults at the Treble Makers Grand Opening, with only, Jamie says — will take over. There free food and free drinks, and also will also will be other forms of live entertainreceive a $500 bar and restaurant tab. ment, with karaoke and trivia nights Treble Makers will be located in sprinkled into the mix. “The Village,” as Gold now calls it, which is the long-dormant (but now DIVERSE DEVELOPMENT: full) retail/office plaza located across Signs are beginning to go up all over The the parking lot from the big box stores Grove’s Village area. in The Grove, closer to I-75. Right across the street from Gold’s ofTreble Makers will be a full-menu fice, F45 Training is moving in. F45 Trainrestaurant serving American cuisine from ing is a quickly growing gym where the F salads to steaks and everything in between. stands for functional, and the 45 is for how On most weeknights during dinner many minutes the various workouts last.

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Venues that feature axe-throwing (and even leagues) in a bar atmosphere, like the Kilted Axe coming the The Grove in January, have been growing in popularity. There are already Tampa Bay-area locations in Land O’Lakes, Largo, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Westchase, and according to its website, F45 Training is coming soon to the Oldsmar and Lutz areas, too. Signs are up at The Village for both a New York Pizza place and a Brooklyn Bagel Shop, although the bagel shop appears to be headed instead to the old Verizon store location at the corner of S.R. 54 and the southbound exit off I-75, which is still part of the 200+ acres of property purchased by Gold and his Mishorim Gold Properties. A Burger Brazil restaurant is on the way, as is a yet-to-be-revealed Cuban restaurant that also is expected to have a rum distillery on the premises. Treble Makers owner Jamie Hess says his dueling piano bar will be flanked by a high-end dessert place, and an Italian bakery is coming as well.

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THROWING WHAT?: One of the more interesting new businesses coming to The Grove? The Kilted Axe, which boasts “a premier indoor axe-throwing range.” The Kilted Axe will have axe-throwing leagues — you can actually sign up now at TheKiltedAxe.com — and also can host private events and offer other games and beer in a rustic 2,500-sq.-ft. setting. And while most of the new places in The Grove are still working out some of their details, The Kilted Axe already has a grand opening scheduled — Saturday, January 18, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. According to The Kilted Axe Facebook page, more than 200 people have said they are going, with another 2,300 marking themselves as interested. For leasing & more info about The Grove, contact keren@mgoldgroup.com.

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Florida Avenue Brewery Aims To Be A ‘Cool Destination’ By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The craft beer craze may be a little late making its way into Wesley Chapel, but Anthony Derby promises it will be worth the wait. Speaking to a group of local business leaders at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Economic Development briefing last month at Hunter’s Green Country Club, Derby said it’s full speed ahead on the new Florida Avenue Brewery. “We want to make sure we are building a destination, a gem, that people in Pasco County will refer to as a cool place,” Derby says. Derby, the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brew Bus Brewing and Florida Avenue Brewing Co., says his company is pouring millions of dollars into the old Sports + Field Family Athletic & Fitness Club complex on S.R. 56 to create what he says will be the largest locally-owned brewery in Florida. The new facility, located at 2029 Arrowgrass Dr. at S.R. 56, will be one of 285 licensed craft breweries in the state. It will provide 32,000-sq.-ft. of space to brew both beer and ciders,

while also offering ample space for dining and entertainment. Derby says he has visited a number of breweries across the country, like those operated by Sierra Nevada and New Belgium brewing companies, and is hoping to incorporate many of the best ideas he has come across so far into his new venture. “We have a blank slate,” Derby says. “We want to put everything that is the best into one market, and that’s what we are coming up with.” He says that by the time Florida Avenue Brewing opens in the spring — he is hoping for sometime in March — roughly $10-million will have been spent on the project, including purchasing the land and the building, as well as high-end equipment to increase brewing capacity. The first year, he says he expects the brewery to produce 20,000 barrels of product, with a goal of 60,000 by the end of the third year. Some of Florida Avenue Brewing’s products were available to sample at the second annual New Tampa Brewfest (see pages 37-39). The building is getting a facelift on the outside, which will have a whitewashed brick exterior with red

accents and a dark gray metal roof. The old entrance, which used to be behind the building when you faced it on S.R. 56, will now be on the east side of the building. Upgraded water lines and an additional electric transformer are part of the utility upgrades. Derby showed renderings of the new brewery, which will require significant modification inside. “A lot needs to happen,” he says. He already has given away some of the old athletic equipment, and he said it took a while to unload the old Jumbotron scoreboard that used to overlook the basketball court. Florida Avenue Brewery will include a retail outlet and large, glass walk-in cooler, as well as bar seating and high tops in various areas. It will feature a traditional dining room, with an open kitchen that Derby compares to Noble Crust, as well as a larger closed kitchen. Derby also says the current Florida Avenue location in Seminole Heights serves “upscale bar food” but added that a decision has not yet been made about what kind of food will be served at the Wesley Chapel location. To go along with the public outdoor areas, which will feature a

live stage for bands and games like bocce ball and corn hole, there will be private event space with seating for 100, with sliding glass doors leading to a private beer garden. “It’s a great indoor/outdoor atmosphere,” Derby says. “We want it to be innovative, and we definitely want to activate that outdoor area.” Derby grew up in Carrollwood and says he had never been to our area until getting married — his mother-in-law lives in Grand Hampton, just south of County Line Rd. When he started looking for property last January, he was eyeing 15 acres on S.R. 56, just west of the Tampa Premium Outlets. That same day, ironically, he found out that the Sports + Field property had been put back on the market after previous failures to sell it. He said that while there are a number of deed restrictions that have been a nuisance, the actual building is in great shape. And, Derby also says that he is eager to transform the dormant building into something special. “Everyone has been super pumped about it,” he says. “I hope that holds true.”

Welcomes Dr. Jennifer Harb! 14

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It’s Time To Get Down To The Business Of Christmas! By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Now that you are just about done polishing off the Thanksgiving leftovers, it’s time to get down to business and get serious about the holidays. We’re here to help. Here’s some of the hottest gifts for the season, with a little practicality thrown in for good measure: NINTENDO SWITCH: Have you ever seen the young kid in the restaurant playing on his iPad in peace? Well, the Switch is the teenage equivalent. While not condoning giving your teenager something they will be glued to in silence (unless you drive a carpool to Middleton or King, then I am totally condoning it), the remarkably versatile and sleek handheld gaming system has been wildly popular since its 2017 release. This year, Nintendo released a Switch Lite, a smaller version with more battery life that doesn’t connect to the television or have removable Joy-Cons (or, for our older readers, the Controller Thing-AMajiggies). The original, however, is still the better choice.

The Ninetndo Switch (above) is the best and most versatile handheld gaming system around, and once again will be a hot ticket item this holiday season. (Photo: James Bareham/The Verge)

research. Anker (above) is one of the top brands in this category, and you should really consider splurging on something along the size of 20,100mAh, which charges multiple devices and can do a typical cell phone 6-8 times over.

HARRY POTTER ILLUSTRATED: I know a few people who read the Harry Potter series, or most of it, to their young children, including my wife. These books are now brought to life with wonderful drawings that further heighten the experience of enjoying’s J.K. Rowling’s masterful series. The art is sure to engage a new generation of Harry Potter fans, and makes the series much more of a bedtime read for the little ones. And, if your kids aren’t into them, there’s always your inner child who deserves a little spoiling now and then. PORTABLE CHARGER: You do know that plugging your cell phones into the walls at restaurants, gas stations and grocery stores is a recipe for losing your charging cord, not to mention a ridiculous look or two, right? People! Buy a portable charger! They come in all sizes, shapes and colors, and can be kept in your purse, backpack, briefcase or even pocket. Do your 16

DNA KITS: So I know a woman who used a DNA kit to find her parents and discovered she had four brothers and sisters, who had no idea she even existed. Sadly, the parents had already taken their secret to their graves, but her reunion with her siblings was a beautiful moment. There’s hundreds of stories like those. Maybe you are one them? At the very least, it’s fun to find out exactly what percentage of Irish or Italian or French you really are. You might be surprised.

INSTANT POT: Wives can be tough to shop for. I recommend diamonds and gift cards to the spa, just to be safe, but sometimes a nice practical gift (you can say it’s from the kids! Always blame the kids!) hits the spot, too. The Instant Pot is a game changer. It makes rice, yogurt, cake and pretty much anything. Pro-tip: Try cooking

hard-boiled eggs in it. They practically peel themselves in the Instant Pot (above). And, for our large Indian population in New Tampa or anyone who enjoys butter chicken, search Google for Urvashi Pitre+ Instant Pot for a great story in The New Yorker magazine and a freakishly good butter chicken recipe. You’re welcome. KINDLE PAPERWHITE: You know how every Jan. 1, you make a resolution to read more, but end up getting about three pages in before checking your email, responding to a Facebook message and liking something on Instagram? Then, stop reading on an iPad! Since e-books have become popular, and since the last time I read a book was before someone sat on and broke my Kindle, I feel your pain. I read seven whole pages last year! But, not in 2020. A Kindle is made for one purpose — reading books. So, I’m putting away the iPad and getting back to books this holiday season. There’s no button to check your email, and no option to go split screen to keep tabs on your Twitter account. The Kindle should help fortify your self discipline to actually read. It’s light, easy to use and easy to read in the sunlight, and it’s a million times better to take your Kindle (top photo in next column) to the pool or the beach. Plus, it’s waterproof!

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DASH MINI MAKER: This miniature waffle maker (below) is ideal for making the latest Keto Diet craze — Chaffles. Oh, you’re not on the Keto Diet? Just wait until after your fourth straight day of Christmas leftovers, as you sit down to make your list of New Year’s resolutions. You’ll get there. Trust us.

APPLE PRODUCTS: Anything will be fine— from AirPods to Macbook Pro, and from an iPad to the new iPhones. I mean, really, you can’t go wrong, unless you have a mortgage to pay. Then, buying too much Apple stuff is not always the hottest idea. The new AirPods Pro (below) are out now at a price of around $249, and you’re not likely to find too many deals, because, well...it’s Apple. But, for the music-loving, bluetoothtalking, video-watching person in your life, the AirPods Pro may be the way to go this season. Just set aside a little extra cash for when you lose one of them, or even worse, lose the charging case. Definitely, definitely trust us. Happy Holidays to all and to all, a profitable enough season to afford it all!

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Need A Great Gift For Dad? Visit Gas N Grills!

As a long-time dad and now a grandpa (see pg. 46), I know that most guys think they’re better at outdoor grilling than anyone else. I definitely think that about myself, anyway. If my hypothesis is true, then the number one location for getting your dad (or husband, son or grandpa) the perfect holiday gift has to be Gas N Grills, located for at least as long as I’ve owned the Neighborhood News at 14615 Livingston Ave. in Lutz, just off E. Bearss Ave. and a half-mile west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. Joe Baker hasn’t owned the store, which previously had a different name, for all of those years, but he did recently expand it and he promises that the charcoal and gas grills and accessories he carries are not only better than those you’ll find at those big home improvement stores, he offers customer service those “warehouses” can’t. “I stand behind everything I sell,” he says. “The warehouse stores can’t say that.” Joe currently is having a huge Holiday Sale, with savings of $200-$500 or more off many of his favorite grills in the store, including the three sizes of Saffire charcoal-burning ceramic Kamado smokers/ grills in the picture above that he promises are better than their “large, green” counterparts that are super-popular these days. “These have stainless steel bases that the others don’t,” he says. “And you can grill, smoke and cook almost anything on them —

you can even bake a cake with them!” But, Gas n’ Grills also has a huge selection of other top-name charcoal and gas grills by Weber, Broilmaster, Blaze, Alfresco, TEC, Artisan and many more, as well as gas fireplaces, deep fryers big enough to accommodate the biggest turkeys, fire pits and even custom-built outdoor kitchens. “I work with a contractor who can design and build pretty much anything you want,” he says. “If you can dream it, we can make it a reality for you!” I’ve also never seen the selection of grill parts and accessories Joe offers, or the variety of hardwoods for smoking food that he carries. “It’s not just about mesquite and hickory anymore,” he says. “Cherry, orange, pecan and many more...we have ‘em all!” For more info about Gas N’ Grills, call (813) 972-4984 or visit GasNGrills. com. Or, see the ad on page 41. You’ll find a coupon for $4 off any propane fill, just for Neighborhood News readers! — GN

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DECEMBER 2019 Monday, December 2

Yoga On The Lawn - at the Shops at Wiregrass Center Court (28211 Paseo Dr, Wesley Chapel). This Free event is held every Monday, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., weather permitting. This is relaxing beginner to intermediate yoga, sponsored by Energia Wellness Studio. For more info call (813) 973-7300.

Tuesday, December 3

MGM Friends Business Connection - Leap into action monthly with MGM (Meet & Greet Mixers) Friends Business Connection held at the University of South Florida (3802 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa). Held the first Tuesday of the month, 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Build strong relationships with like-minded business professionals with no fees. Open to all businesses looking to make real connections. Hosted by Shelomo Solson with Leapcaller. Facilitator: Georgianna Strickland with Bizzee Bee Marketing LLC. For more info. go to mgmfriends.com or call (813) 477-7306.

Wednesday, December 4

Rotary Club Of New Tampa Noon - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club (see pages 36-39) meets Wednesdays at noon at Bayscape Bistro, inside Heritage Isles Country Club off Cross Creek Blvd. Guests are always welcome. For more info, search “New Tampa Noon Rotary” on Facebook.

Thursday, December 5

North Tampa Veterans Association meeting - All armed forces veterans & associates are invited to a weekly lighthearted Dutch-treat breakfast meeting to get acquainted & tell your tales, new & old. Location: Steak ‘n Shake, just off BBD Blvd. (17509 North Palms Village Pl.) - every Thursday, 7:30 a.m. Bring your spouse & your brag sheet.

Friday, December 6

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

Saturday, December 7

Free Community Boot Camp - New Year, Same Hustle - Camp Gladiator is a fitness movement with dynamic, fun & challenging workouts - This is 60-minutes of amazing at your favorite place to shop. This Free event takes place every Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. at Tampa Premium Outlets (2300 Grand Cypress Dr., Lutz) - Participants should bring: exercise mat, 1-2 bottles of water, sweat towel, a smile & great attitude. For more info, email Christine Iloni at christineiloni@campgladiator.com. Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food to help needy families. The Bay Chapel Food Pantry is open every Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa (20300 Trout Creek Dr). For more info, call (813) 731-4040. Fresh Market at Wiregrass - Held the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, you can enjoy the Fresh Market at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Shop for fresh produce, hand-crafted goods, candles, sauces, fresh bread and so much more. For more info, visit TampaBayMarkets.com.

Saturday-Sunday, December 7-8

GIANT Book Sale! - The Friends of the New Tampa Regional Library (NTRL) will host a huge book sale, with most books only 50 cents, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sat. & 1 p.m.-3:30 p.m. on Sunday, at NTRL (10001 Cross Creek Blvd. All proceeds will support the library’s Summer Reading Programs for kids & events and classes for all ages. For more information, email friendsofnewtampa;iibrary@gmail.com.

Wednesday, December 18

GFWC New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club - The General Federation of Women’s Clubs’ New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that meets the third Wednesday of each month at Arbor Greene Clubhouse (18000 Arbor Greene Dr, New Tampa), 1 p.m.-2 p.m. The club participates in civic, educational & charitable activities, & is dedicated to local community improvement through volunteer service. To join the Juniors, email womansclubnewtampa@gmail.com.

Monday, December 23

New Tampa Democratic Club - The New Tampa Democrats meet on the fourth Monday of each month, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Mulligan’s Irish Pub inside the Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr, New Tampa). Guest speakers are featured at every meeting. Come early, eat, mingle or come on time and eat during the meeting. For more info, email newtampademocraticclub@gmail.com.

Prism Concert Highlights Wharton’s Music Programs As holiday breaks approach for all of our local schools, Wharton’s band, orchestra and choir programs will get together to make music in a somewhat unexpected style that has become an annual tradition. Called “Prism,” it will feature every large performing ensemble in the school’s music department, which includes the band, orchestra and chorus. “The concert runs in a non-traditional, continuous or circular format,” explains Justin Swaim, music department chair, “with varying performing locations throughout the concert hall.” So, when one ensemble finishes performing, the spotlight will instantly move to another area of the auditorium and the next piece will begin. It might go from a vocal solo of a popular holiday song to a string quartet playing a classical piece. Then, the entire orchestra may appear on stage, while the jazz band sets up in the back corner. Swaim says Prism is a fast-paced, fun and somewhat unexpected evening. Groups scheduled to perform include Wharton’s Wind Ensemble, Philharmonic Orchestra, Symphonic Band, Wildcat Orchestra, Jazz Band, Lady Catz Choir, Mixed Choir, Percussion Ensemble and smaller ensembles. The school’s marching band, called

Wharton Regiment, will fill the auditorium in a unique way. Typically, its sounds are reserved for outdoor football fields. But, during Prism, the Wharton Regiment brings a modified version of this season’s halftime show, which scored straight superiors (the highest possible score) at its MPA (Music Performance Assessment) competition last month and features music from Marvel Studios’ “The Avengers.” From quiet to loud, classical to contemporary, Swaim says that at Prism, “there is always something for all ages and all musical tastes.” Prism will be held on Friday, December 13, at 7 p.m. in the Wharton High School auditorium, located on the south side of the school (closer to Walmart) at 20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Admission is $5 for adults and free for students with student ID and children ages 12 and under. All proceeds from admission will go directly to supporting the students participating in the Wharton High music department.

This will be the last print Neighborhood News issue that will include a Community Calendar. To keep up with (and post) local events, please check out our online Community Calendar at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net.

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Check Out Max’s Natural Pet Food Market & Salon! By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN When Paul Spalvieri talks about how Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon came to be, it’s immediately apparent that the entire business — from the store to its name — exists only because of his pet dog, Max. Max is a 2-year-old bichon frisé who lives in the Watergrass development in Wesley Chapel with his pet parents, Paul and Martina, who also have three human kids. Paul and Martina wanted the very best for Max (and now, for his dog sister, Missy, a six-month-old Havanese) but they kept finding themselves disappointed in what they could get in and around Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. “I couldn’t get it in the community,” says Paul, “so I started the business.” Paul says it took him about 18 months to get ready — including researching the best pet brands, the recall rates of many brands of pet food and how they are sourced — before finally opening the store on September 21. It’s located on S.R. 54, about a mile east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., near Saddlebrook Resort — only ten minutes or so north of the Hillsborough County line. He says the focus of the store is to provide the highest level of organic nutri-

Paul and Martina Spalvieri opened up Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon in order to provide the finest quality foods and grooming for their pets and yours. (Photo: Charmaine George)

tion available for dogs and cats, along with the best of other products, as well as an unparalleled grooming experience. “Everything in the store is strictly vetted,” Paul says. “There isn’t one product in here that I’d have any hesita-

tion to feed or give to my pets.” The store carries a variety of high-quality foods, including raw nutrition. In many cases, customers can scan the package and see where the protein in the bag came from, even the name of

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the farm from which it was sourced. Paul says that while that can often mean a higher price point than the big box stores, pet parents who want the very best for their dogs and cats know it’s worth the cost. “A lot of the issues we have with dogs and cats are caused by poor nutrition, such as allergies and sensitivities, throughout the animal’s life,” Paul explains. “A lot of that can be corrected, so you won’t be faced with exorbitant vet bills in later years, because they haven’t been eating pesticides their whole lives.” In addition to food, the store carries products for all breeds of dogs and cats, including a wide variety of treats, beds, supplies, collars, leashes, toys, vitamins, supplements, natural remedies for fleas and ticks, shampoos and more. “What haven’t I bought here?,” laughs Marlene Kiser, a Watergrass resident who shops for her dog and cat at Max’s Natural Pet Market and laments that she still has to go to a big box store for items for her hamster and chameleon. She brought Corbin, her golden retriever (photo on next page), to the store’s grand opening, which happened to be on Corbin’s ninth birthday, and then booked a birthday party for him. “It was super cute,” she says. “There

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pick the perfect food for Corbin, based on his breed, size, age and other factors. They also helped her to choose a food for her cat, Lily, and when that option didn’t work out, she says Paul gave her a 100-percent refund and helped her choose an alternative, which has been perfect for her finicky kitty. “The food they have in the store is all natural, so even the canned food is not mush. It’s shreds of fish and chicken and little actual shrimp,” says Marlene. “She loves that.” Marlene also raves Marlene Kiser’s golden retriever Corbin recently celebrated his about the cat litter, birthday at Max’s Natural Pet Market, complete with a custom saying that it’s better cake and lots of fun with his dog friends. than any she’s ever used before. was a custom cake for the dog, a birthday She also takes advantage of Max’s Rehat, and lots of pictures. We could have as wards Program, on her way to earning free many dogs as we wanted, so there were a products, such as a free bag of cat litter or lot of dogs there running around. Corbin absolutely loved the cake. Whatever it was, food after buying 10, which she says makes the products — which are already well he chowed down.” worth the cost — even more affordable. Marlene says the staff helped her to

Top-Notch Salon Services

While the high-quality products available at Max’s Pet Market already set it apart from every other pet store in our area, Paul also wants the store’s pet salon to be a cut above (pun intended) everything else out there, too. He says he hand-picked three groomers who not only have more than 15 years of experience each, they also show a passion for the entire experience of grooming dogs and cats. He says that all of the groomers know breed-specific cuts, and have certifications such as National Certified Master Groomer, certified by the National Dog Groomers Association of America. “Our facility is cage-free, so when pets come in, they are greeted by the groomer and start the grooming process immediately,” Paul explains. “Dogs aren’t sitting around in cages, barking and anxious and stressed.” He adds that it’s much more pleasant for the pup and the groomer this way. “She can take her time with the pup and not rush through the whole experience,” he says. Meanwhile, Marlene says she has had Corbin in for grooming twice since the salon opened and that the experience has been better than any other in all of Corbin’s nine years — and she’s had him groomed in many, many places.

“I’ve never had a dog that has stayed so well groomed for so long after,” Marlene explains. “It’s a huge change. He stays so soft for so long after, it’s crazy. He’s still soft and it’s been four weeks now.” Marlene says that’s not the only difference. When she arrives, she’s greeted by the groomer, who wants to hear exactly how she wants Corbin groomed. When Marlene picks Corbin up, the groomer meets with her and makes sure everything has been done properly. “I had something I wanted a little different, and she took care of it right then and there,” says Marlene. “The next time I went, she remembered what I wanted and I didn’t even have to say it.” That’s what Paul says he wants for all of his customers. “When you boil it all down, I want this to be a very different experience for the pet parent,” says Paul, who adds that not only will you have a superior experience at the salon as your dog or cat is groomed, but also, “you can rest assured that the products I have in the store are organic, all natural and the absolute best type of nutrition for their dog or cat.” Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon is located at 28838 S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel. It’s open Mon.–Sat., 8 a.m.–7 p.m., and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sun. For more info, visit MaxsPetMarket.com or call (813) 649-3939.

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Pure Nail Bar Spa Is New Tampa’s Place For All-Natural Nail Services! By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

While Pure Nail Bar Spa opened about five years ago next to Burger 21 in the Trout Creek Commons plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., it’s only been since July of last year that it has been owned by Kevin and Nicole Nguyen. Kevin and Nicole are New Tampa residents who have been in the nail spa industry for 15 years. Since the couple took over, their focus has been on providing outstanding service and all-natural products for their customers. “We removed all harmful chemical substances and use NuSkin products instead for all of our pedicures,” says Kevin. “It’s healthier for you and for our employees, too.” Kevin explains that Pure Nail Bar offers services that are priced similar to other nail salons, but even the classic pedicure, which is just $25, uses natural products. A wide range of pedicures includes the classic natural pedicure, natural pedicure foot treatment, signature natural pedicure or luxury natural pedicure, offering treatments such as an herbal mineral bath with essential oils, exfoliating with Liquid Body Lufra, hot stone massage, Sole Solution foot treatment and Baobab Body But-

No matter what type of manicure or pedicure you prefer, the Pure Nail Bar Spa located behind Burger 21 on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa uses the best, all-natural, organic products and provides outstanding customer service.

ter for all-day moisturizing and enhancing the resiliency of the skin over time. All types of manicures are available, too. While acrylic nails are still an option, Kevin and Nicole suggest customers try dipping powder instead, which feels and looks lighter than acrylic, but is actually stronger.

Any Design, Any Color

From the trendiest shapes to the most intricate designs, the specialists at Pure Nail Bar Spa can copy any design you can dream up or find on Pinterest. “Bring in your design and we’ll match it,” Nicole says. Cristina Chanquin is a Pebble Creek

resident who says she doesn’t trust many people with her nails. While she prefers Nicole as her nail tech, she says she’s seen others who work at Pure Nail Bar, and likes what she’s seen with them, too. “Nicole can do any shape, any design,” says Cristina. “I always get a coffin shape and she doesn’t do them too thick. She is always on trend and knows what’s going on.” Cristina says strangers often tell her that her nails are “amazing” and ask where she has them done. She happily refers them to Pure Nail Bar Spa. It’s not just Nicole’s skill that keeps Cristina coming back. It’s also the great customer service. “They’re so accommodating,” she says, explaining that Pure Nail’s technicians always offer water, soda, or a glass of wine to their clients. If Cristina is running late, they will still see her and won’t make her feel rushed, and there are other personal touches, too. “If someone is unhappy with something, they’ll redo it, and they won’t charge you,” she says. Nicole explains that this is Pure Nail Bar Spa’s guarantee. On pedicures and gel and dip manicures, “if anything chips, come in and we’ll fix it for free,” she says. To see many examples of the specialty nails designed by Nicole and other nail

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Pure Nail Bar & Spa customer Cristina Chanquin shows off her trendy, coffin-shaped nails (right). To transform your nails the way Cristina does, you have to visit Pure Nail Bar Spa!

specialists at Pure Nail Bar Spa, visit the spa’s Facebook page by searching “Pure Nail Bar New Tampa” on Facebook.

Other Available Services & Holiday Raffle

In addition to nails, Pure Nail Bar Spa offers a full menu of waxing and facials. The spa’s nail techs recommend and use the AgeLOC brand LumiSpa device from NuSkin, a handheld personal skin care device with gentle, nonabrasive silicone surfaces that helps to help lift skin and reduce sagging. In 2018, it was an award winner in the global Pure Beauty awards. The LumiSpa machine and products used for facials, pedicures and manicures are available for sale at Pure Nail Bar Spa. “The clients use it here and love it so much that they want to bring it home,” says Nicole. And, the good news is that Pure Nail Bar Spa is currently offering a holiday raffle, now through Tuesday, December 24. You’ll receive a ticket into the raffle by purchasing any service (limit one raffle ticket per visit). The first prize in the raffle is the aforementioned NuSkin LumiSpa personal skin care device (a $200 value!). Second prize is a $50 gift card to Pure Nail Bar Spa and third prize is a tub of NuSkin Epoch Baobab Body Butter (a $35 value). The salon currently has 11 employees, and Kevin and Nicole say they are hiring. All Pure Nail employees must have a full specialist cosmetology license. “It’s easy to work here,” says Kevin, “There’s no pressure to sell, you just have to make customers happy. Customer service is the most important thing here.” Sandra is a full nail specialist who has worked at Pure Nail Bar Spa for about a year and a half. “It’s such a positive environment,” she says, “We’re really focused on better service and better products.” Neighborhood News

Pure Nail Bar also offers a menu of services for when parents come in with their children, such as for a mother/ daughter day. These include manicures, pedicures and polish changes. A private room is available and Pure Nail Bar Spa can accommodate all kinds of parties, such as birthday, bridal, bachelorette and even Christmas parties. Kevin and Nicole hope to treat every customer who walks through their doors to healthy and natural products with excellent customer service, so they will be as happy with their experience as Cristina has been. “I require something special,” says Cristina. “I like a special color, so they make sure it’s in stock. It’s very personal.” Pure Nail Bar & Spa is located at 20304 Trout Creek Dr., Ste. 104. It is open Monday--Saturday, 9:30 a.m. –7:30 p.m. and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sunday. To make an appointment or for more information, call (813) 9910099, or search “Pure Nail Bar of New Tampa” on Facebook. Also, be sure to mention this article or bring in the ad on page 34 of this issue for a 10% discount for first-time clients. -

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Vande Berg Tennis Center Adds More Option For Local Players By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com As large trucks filled with dirt and tall cranes roll by a flattened lot, local Wesley Chapel tennis guru and businessman Pascal Collard smiles. The trucks are slowly but surely allowing Pascal’s vision come to life. The parking lot is there, he says, pointing to his left. Tennis courts, pickleball courts and padel courts over there, surrounding the tennis center. And, what about way over there, all the way to the right? Pascal says that will be a 30,000-sq.-ft. indoor training facility with space for both more tennis courts and removable turf for other sports. “It is beautiful, no?,” Pascal asks. The Sarah Vande Berg Memorial Tennis & Wellbeing Center in Zephyrhills (at 6585 Simons Rd.) has broken ground, and is expected to open in the late spring or early summer of 2020. When it is done, the $4.9-million project will feature 11 tennis courts, including a main court with spectator seating, eight pickleball courts — one of the fastest growing sports in

Wesley Chapel’s Pascal Collard is one of the driving forces behind a new tennis facility in Zephyrhills that is expected to draw many of its members from the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area. (Photo: John C. Cotey) America — and four courts for padel, another racquet sport that can best be described as a cross between, well, almost every other racquet sport. The 7,400-sq.-ft. indoor tennis center will house a fitness and rehabilitation center, a restaurant and café,

a salt room, cryotherapy, a pro shop and a kid’s club. The tennis center is another feather in the “Florida’s Sports Coast” cap, joining AdventHealth Center Ice, Saddlebrook Resort and the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco

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County, as the Wesley Chapel area continues to help Pasco transform itself from ranches to recreation. “It fits right in with (our new) Florida Sports Coast vision,” says Adam Thomas, Pasco’s tourism director. “This will make an impact.” The tennis complex is a publicprivate partnership between the City of Zephyrhills, the Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis Foundation and Pascal, the president of Tennis P.R.O., LLC, and the director — and driving force — behind the new facility. It is the hope of Pascal, who ran the renowned tennis program at Saddlebrook Resort from 2003-06 and lives in Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch, that the SVB Memorial Tennis Center will reach far and wide into the surrounding communities to help bring it to life. “It is something that people want,” says Pascal. “I hear it all the time. It will be a place where mom can do fitness and dad can do tennis, or vice versa, and the kids can do the Kids Club, or daycare. That is huge.” Pascal says he also is teaming up with Buttermilk Provisions (located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., across from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel) owner Dana Morris to include a restaurant at

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the tennis center as well. “We think this will be something special and unique,” says Pascal, who never stops smiling as he describes his pet project. The tennis center, which is located off Eiland Blvd. just a few miles north of eastern Wesley Chapel, is named for former Zephyrhills High tennis standout Sarah Vande Berg, who died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in 2015. It will be equipped to host re-

gional (like college) and even national events like United States Tennis Association (USTA) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments, and also will provide a place for area residents who have been looking for courts on which to play. Pascal would like to see the Pasco County area active in USTA league tennis, where Saddlebrook Resort may field an occasional team but is limited by membership restrictions.

It also will offer instructional tennis for children, and training for the more serious players. And, speaking of memberships, Pascal is hoping to sign up hundreds at a price he said will be fair and less expensive than the clubs in the area. Depending on what type of membership you buy, it also could include membership to the Silverado Golf & Country Club, which is adjacent to the tennis complex. While tennis will be the central focus of the facility, Pascal also has formed the United Global Academy, which will be an online school limited to 32 students from a variety of sports, similar to what IMG Academy in Bradenton offers but on a smaller scale initially. Mark Shepherd, former director of student services at Saddlebrook Prep on the resort’s property, will help run the academic side. Pascal has reached into the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s sporting community to help develop those athletes, who will be able to train in the 30,000-sq.-ft. indoor facility, which can accommodate four tennis courts and a synthetic turf soccer field. “Why not create a sports association?,” he says. “Get all the best exathletes in the area to come together once a month to promote sports to

kids...kids who cant afford it!” Athletes will be able to receive training from coaches like former English Premier League Soccer player and local club coach Gary Blissett, former New Orleans Saints lineman Mel Williams, Silverado Golf & Country Club golf pro Sean Klotz and others. “The vision is to bring the community together by offering a familyfriendly experience,” says Pascal, who most recently was the tennis director at Merion Cricket Club, a private club in Haverford, PA, with more than 2,000 members. “There will truly be something for everyone here.”

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THE SPORTS PAGE

WINTER IS COMING

The winter sports season has kicked off, well, and tipped off as basketball, soccer and wrestling seasons have started. Among the area high school teams to keep an eye on this season will be the Wharton boys basketball team. While last year’s star Darin Green is off making buckets for the University of Central Florida, coach Tommy Tonelli will look to captains Carr Thiam and Gio Reyes to lead a young team — seven of the 12 players are freshmen and sophomores. Wharton opens the 2019-20 season with three home games — Dec. 3 against Alonso (6:30 p.m.), Dec. 4 Carr Thiam against Wiregrass Ranch (7:30) and Dec. 6 against Steinbrenner (6:30). Rival Freedom also loses a ton of its points from last season, but Kibwe Dorsey heads up a group of seven seniors. The boys basketball teams were a combined 51-9 last season, and Wharton advanced within a game of the Class 8A Final Four. But, both Tonelli and Pats’ coach Ken Angel will be tested by young rosters this season. Both local girls basketball teams dropped their season openers, as Wharton lost a close 43-39 contest to Plant City, and Freedom was beaten 46-19 by East Lake. SOCCER: After years of area dominance by the Wharton girls, this is looking like its Freedom’s turn to run the pitch. Fourth-year girls soccer coach Jen DeMik went 12-15-2 her first seasons at Freedom, and is 19-6 since. The Patriots went into their Nov. 22 game against Wharton — after our deadline for this issue — with a 4-1 record. The Patriots have been putting up big numbers behind sophomores center-midfielder Camryn Bliss and striker Anna Gore. They combined for 35 goals as freshmen, and this year, they already have 15. With the exception of a 4-0 loss to Plant, the duo has scored in every game, and each has a hat trick. The Wharton girls dropped their season opener to defending Class 5A state champion Palm Harbor University 8-0. The Patriots’ boys soccer team is off to a slow start at 0-3, and the Wharton boys started 1-2-1. They also squared off Nov. 22. The Wildcats beat Brandon for their only 2019-20 win, as Ziad El Yazami and William Hineline scored goals (with assists from Michael Sposato and Tyler Davis). 30

COLLEGE BOUND!

Wharton High signees on Nov. 14 (l.-r., above): Volleyball players Jamie Koopman (Ithaca College, Ithaca, NY), Jeanette Henderson (Saint Leo University, St. Leo, FL) and Lexi Morse (Quinnipiac University, Hamden, CT); cross country runner Nia Rivers (Southeast Missouri State, Cape Girardeau); (L.-r, below) track’s Ken’naria “KK” Gadson (Clemson University, Clemson, SC); baseball’s Grady Maguire (Florida Southern College, Lakeland) and lacrosse’s Diego Hernandez (Anderson University, Anderson, SC). (Photos: @WhartonBoosters)

Auden Tate Breaking Out In Year 2! In only his second NFL He is second on the team season, former Wharton wide behind Tyler Boyd in receptions receiver Auden Tate has made and yards. a name for himself for his acroTate has posted solid numbatic catches. bers despite quarterback uncerAfter looking like his NFL tainty in Cincinnati and now, he’ll career might never materialhave to recover from a neck injury ize after being released by the suffered Nov. 17 against Oakland. Cincinnati Bengals and then Tate was hit from behind by re-signed to the practice squad, the Raiders’ Curtis Riley after Tate’s second season with a 20-yard reception, snapping Cincy has been a revelation. his neck forward. He had to be Through 11 weeks, Tate carted off the field, but should be has 34 catches for 483 yards back on the field soon. Auden Tate (clutchpoints.com) and his first NFL touchdown, a A 2014 Wharton grad, Tate is fourth quarter grab from quaron the Pro Bowl ballot this season. terback Andy Dalton against the Arizona Cardinals. You can vote for him at NFL.com/probowl/ballot.

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Korean Church On County Line Rd. Continues To Grow By WEN HENAGAN

In an age when many churches are seeing declining numbers, the Tampa Korean United Methodist Church (UMC) on County Line Rd. in Wesley Chapel continues to flourish. Since outgrowing its previous location in Tampa and electing to take over the space previously occupied by the Crossroads Community Church in 2014, the Tampa Korean UMC has grown from 150 members to more than 400. That growth led to a $1.5-million expansion last year — a debt paid in full by a fund-raising campaign — and more expansion could be on the way. “We are still growing,” says Pastor Rev. Dr. Sueng Lin Baik, the church’s Pastor since 2010. The secret to the church’s success, he says, is providing a spiritual home to New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s Korean community, as well as opening the doors to others with Englishlanguage services as well. “I am blessed to be able to serve a church that continues to grow,” says Pastor Baik. While there are traditional Korean services every day at 5:30 a.m., a typical Sunday sees the parking lot slowly fill with eager churchgoers. They will tell you to come, sit

Pastor Rev. Dr. Sueng Lin Baik says his stewardship over the thriving Tampa Korean United Methodist Church on County Line Rd. has been a blessing. (Photo: John C. Cotey) down, and enjoy some bibimbap after churches like to say they are in the church services are over at noon. business of doing — serving the needs Pastor Baik and his staff have of people in times of crisis or offering successfully gone back to an old time due congratulations for achievement. concept — ecclesia — which simply Having an early-warning system built means a gathering of people. Whether in, with groups such as this, makes the or not groups of people gather at church seem like far more than just a the newly expanded activity wing for place of worship. interesting and meaningful fun things With this powerful degree of unity to do, or if they meet in private homes built in, along come the two major for singing, eating, praying and study, components Korean people have tradichurch activities are accomplished on tionally loved most — food and music. a week-long basis. For centuries, Koreans back in This has the effect of doing what their homeland have fallen back on

wonderfully prepared food and the sanctity of song, no matter the hard times. The local Korean community has core values here in Florida. “Music is my life,” says Susan, a Zion Choir member. “I don’t have a musical background,” says Hyun-su Kim. “I sing because God gave me a second chance and I can sing in service to God.” Sonia, a powerhouse of a first soprano, also says she loves to sing: “It’s a Korean thing.” The Zion Choir can beautifully render tunes as moving as “Give Thanks” to modern compositions of Christian music rife with zesty harmonies and fancy piano keyboarding. At church, they sing in Korean. If they were performing elsewhere, it would be in English. It matters little which language they employ when it comes to their precious music. This notion of singing heavenly tunes for Korean-Americans is likely a product of that “Korean thing” of adoration of music and lifting one’s voice to heaven in song. Indeed, Koreans adapted with enthusiasm to the general style of American worship and this has changed the fabric of that formerly heavily Confucian nation. Now, churches of every denomination are everywhere in South Korea, See “Korean Church” on pg. 34.

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‘Korean Church’ Continued from Page 33

including Mormon, Jehovah’s Witness, Pentecostal, and the more traditional Catholic, Baptist and Methodist. Of course, in Florida they are here as well, with a Korean slant but dogmatically identical, no matter the country. So, a kind of reverse missionary work has happened. It’s common for visiting pastors from many places and countries to come to church and have a chance to preach. Visitors from Korea who come to Tampa will likely reserve a Sunday date for a church service here if they prefer the liberal principles of this Protestant faith. Thus, there are three prime reasons for the church’s expansion: Unity, fellowship, and service. The Tampa Korean UMC Church faithful are perfectly willing to commit time a day ahead and go into the church kitchen to cook and prepare for the next day’s post-service fellowship. Jun-sung Kim is the man in charge of what is often a prodigious weekly project of buying and getting the proper ingredients, making sure the team is in place, and firing up the kitchen stoves to cook food in mass quantities. “We love the fellowship,” Kim says. “This past Sunday, we served 270 people, but in winter it will probably

Hundreds of bowls of delicious Korean fare are prepared every Sunday morning for Tampa Korean United Methodist Church churchgoers to enjoy afterwards. (Photo: John C. Cotey) go up to 300 or more.” This food is carefully prepared and approximates Korean food served in restaurants. For those in the know, specialties that the congregants regularly feast on after church include japchae (glass noodle stir fry), ssambap (rice lettuce wraps), bulgogi (grilled beef), bibimbap (a bowl that combined rice, seasoned vegetables, meat, egg and a variety of other toppings) and galbitang (beef short rib soup). The traditional Korean side dishes will be there too, like kimchi, rice and pickled radish. And, listeners may hear a congregant slide from one language

to another at any time. “People here come from all over,” says Pastor Baik. Common places of origin for congregants are from anywhere in South Korea, as well as California, Illinois and New York state. Many personal backgrounds were in Buddhism. Some of the older congregants were born in North Korea before there was a North Korea. This past summer, the church hosted a large contingent of Christians who made it out of the repressive North Korean state. These people have had a much harder time learning English, due to the educational restrictions

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and liabilities of the North. But, they love the notion of religious freedom and were amazed at the size of the fellowship hall at TKUMC and the graciousness of the congregants. “It’s my job to get a kind of synergy here,” Pastor Baik says. By that, he is referring to the tricky and seemingly neverending task of melding older and newer approaches to the Bible’s meaning, along with the use of music and singing, which is so generationally oriented. Pastor Erik Sue is a player in getting this synergy going with an English-only service. He tends to serve the younger crowd and caters to their urge to do upbeat Christian music in English that employs a “band-style” approach. So, what can you expect if you show up for a service at Tampa Korean United Methodist Church? You will have contact with folks who go back and forth between two complex languages without missing a beat. You may have your name mentioned and a song sung your way by the congregation, led by Pastor Baik. And, best of all, you are immediately ushered post-service into the gigantic fellowship hall with a plateful of superb Korean vittles, where you can chat and chew to your heart’s delight. Not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

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New Tampa Brew Fest Makes Strides In Second Year By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The official numbers hadn’t been tallied at our press time, but according to event co-chair Chris Stennett, there is no mistaking that, once again, the Rotary Club of New Tampa Noon’s second annual New Tampa Brew Fest was a hit. Hundreds of revelers strolled from table to table in the Venetian Center at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd., sampling nearly 100 offerings from more than 30 breweries, both big and small, sometimes to wash down the food being served by three outstanding food trucks outside. The breweries represented included everything from large companies like Cigar City, Florida Avenue, Coppertail and Goose Island to smaller craftsmen who brew out of their garages, like Krazy Eddie’s Garage (KEG) Brewing, Ignorant Ales and Wiregrass Brewing Co. (see pg. 40). “We were really, really happy with the event,” said Stennett afterwards. “I feel good about what we did, and we are thankful for the community for coming out to support us.” The event is the primary fund raiser for the New Tampa Noon Rotary (which meets Wednesdays at noon at Bayscape Bistro inside Heritage Isles

Attendees at the second annual New Tampa Brew Fest, hosted by the Rotary Club of New Tampa Noon at the Venetian Center at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd., had a chance to sample nearly 100 different brews. Golf Club) and helped the club contrib- Brew Fest and enjoy some better weather (see bottom right picture on next page). ute thousands of dollars to causes like Dennis, who lives in Soldier’s the Fisher House at the James Haley VA Grove, WI, just east of Madison, found Hospital last year. a plane ticket for $67 out of MinneapoFew came further for this year’s lis — about four hours away — and said event than Wisconsin’s Dennis Zweber, who took his brother Greg, who lives in that going to beer festivals was one of his family’s favorite pastimes. Lutz, up on an offer to fly down for the

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“I figured, ‘What the heck,’” said Dennis. “We always have a great time when we go to these things.” Dennis said he was impressed by the New Tampa Brew Fest, considering it was only the second year the event has been held. “I was really impressed with the quality of the beers,” he said. “They had a lot of breweries, a lot of variety. I drank a lot of really good beer.” Dennis, who tends to enjoy darker beers, said his favorite was the organic Peppermint Porter served by Randy Gailit, who brews his Wiregrass Brewing Co. (page 40) out of his garage in the Meadow Pointe community. “That was a really beautiful beer,” Dennis said. Wiregrass Brewing Co. wasn’t the only local to draw rave reviews. Double Branch Artisanal Ales (DBAA), which is opening a place in The Grove in Wesley Chapel in January, drew a lot of attention for its offerings, particularly the Orange Suede, a passion fruit, orange peel, pineapple and marshmallow sour. For DBAA co-owner Ryan Clarke, his first New Tampa Brew Fest was a success. He said the Orange Suede was so popular he had to crack open a second keg of it.“I thought it was a great event, and a great chance to introduce ourselves to the beer-loving community,” Clarke said.

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Wiregrass Brewing Company — One Of The Brew Fest’s Best By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Randy Gailit liked to spend his Saturday mornings doing crafts. Craft beers, to be exact. In the garage of his Meadow Pointe home, he meticulously measures, mixes and mashes, making sure the right ingredients are producing the perfect results for what he hopes will be a tasty craft beverage. “It’s like a science class,” he says, adding that he won’t know for weeks, in most cases, as the process is just beginning. Sometimes, he needs three weeks for his concoctions to ferment. Other times, depending upon the style of beer, the fermenting process can take eight weeks or more. Patience is a virtue, and in Gailit’s cased, his patience is rewarded with a cold, tasty brew. Gailit and his one-man Wiregrass Brewing Company was one of the many returning brewers at the second annual New Tampa Brew Fest (see pages 37-39), which was again held at the Venetian Center at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. on Nov. 16. While the process for a small home brewer can take a while, don’t worry — the beers Gailit brought for attendees at the Brew Fest had long been fused in his garage, and were ready to sample at the event, which raises money for causes supported by the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club. Like last year, he brought his Ginger Island Ale, which he says is his most popular beer, and a tasty Rotary Red Ale, named for Gailit’s affiliation with the Land O’Lakes Rotary Club, a spinoff from the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon. In a nod to the upcoming holiday

Wesley Chapel’s Randy Gailit goes through a cooling process as he prepares another batch of his craft beers for fermentation in his Meadow Pointe garage. (Photo: John C. Cotey) season, Gailit also brewed a Peppermint or so people he works with at MediagisPorter for the event, and also brought a tic, a marketing and advertising agency in Tampa, and his neighbors who, at a fourth drink to sample — a Strawberry Margarita Cider, the most popular cider recent party, went through four 5-gallon Cornelius kegs (the kind primarily he has brewed. used for soft drink fountain machines, as “I’m pretty happy with how they opposed to the larger barrel-style kegs). turned out,” Gailit says. “The garage door is always open,” Gailit’s brewery is highly efficient, he jokes. making amazing use of a third of his three-car garage’s space. There are multiple refrigerators, an actual bar — with 4-5 beers usually on tap — and shelves filled with equipment, malts and yeasts, as well as a small room he built for the fermentation process. Wiregrass Brewing doesn’t sell any of its beer, so the primary beneficiaries of Gailit’s weekend hobby are charities. Gailit will provide beer at 5-6 charity events a year, like the New Tampa Brew Fest. He has provided the beverage for charities that work with a hospice in Land O’Lakes, for a cancer walk in Dunedin and a Wounded Warrior event in St. Petersburg. And, in between the charity events, he shares his latest brews with the 100

• • • •

Gailit says he has always enjoyed drinking beer, but when one of his friends was selling one-gallon homebrew kits, he decided to buy one. It ended up being the first item at the Wiregrass Brewing Co. — but it sat on a shelf in his garage for two years. It wasn’t until he signed up for a brewing class at the Land O’Lakes World of Beer that he says he finally cracked it open. “I was in there one day and they were doing the class, and I thought, ‘Hey, I can do this,’’’ he said. “So I did it, and it was a lot of fun. I’ve been brewing ever since.” A former restaurant owner in Pennsylvania, Gailit has been mulling for a while now about moving his home brewing company into a bigger building, but he says the right space at the right price hasn’t presented itself yet. And that’s fine, he adds. His Saturday mornings are quiet and relaxing, and the results of his efforts makes those around him happy. Being able to help worthwhile charities is simply an added bonus. “No matter where I do it, it’s something I really enjoy,” he says. “I’m glad everyone seems to like it.” For additional information about Gailit’s home brewery, search “Wiregrass Brewing Company” on Facebook.

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Fushia Asian Bistro — Happy To Celebrate 15 Delicious Years In Tampa Palms! By GARY NAGER

When you consider the number of restaurants that have come and gone in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel the past 15 years, it’s pretty impressive that Fushia Asian Bistro, located in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, is celebrating its 15th anniversary in that same location. Owners Sharon and Charlie Wang actually have been in the plaza for 20 years, as they previously also owned Joy-O-Wok, which was much more of a takeout Chinese place, rather than the affordable fine dining restaurant that Fushia is today. The restaurant is so named not so much because of the color fuchsia, but because it offers a fusion of different Asian cuisines, especially some unique Korean fare. Sharon always has kept up with the latest trends in her business, and in recent years has added all-you-can-eat, cook-it-yourself options like Korean-style barbecue and a hot pot buffet (more on these below). She also recently expanded Fushia’s dim sum (appetizer and dessert) options. She even offers multiple private karaoke suites with thousands of song titles available, another popular Asian trend. But, despite all of these other options, I still say that Fushia has the best (and most authentic) Chinese cuisine in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and one of the best things I can say about it is that even though I have my always reliable (and yummy) favorites, I keep finding new ones. But, I would really like to give you just a little taste (pun intended) of why I love this place so much.

Dim Sum

The dim sum appetizers craze in New York started shortly before I moved to Florida in 1993. Even so, I’m still more of a traditional egg roll, barbecued spare ribs and pan-fried dumplings guy for starters because it’s the Chinese main dishes that I crave most. Therefore, it’s not too disappointing to me that many of the items on Fushia’s extensive dim sum menu have shrimp in them, which (as you loyal readers hear ad nauseum) I’m too allergic to for me to risk trying any of them. However, if you love crispy shrimp balls or steamed shrimp dumplings, the folks around me on my most recent visit who ordered the shrimp balls said they’re the best in town. Although Fushia’s pan-fried pork dumplings are as good as they get, I did recently sample and enjoy the pork soup dumplings, which a lot of people were eating when Jannah and I visited an excellent Chinese restaurant in New York. The soup dumplings (lower left photo on next page) have a different texture than the pork wontons in most wonton soup, and they’re excellent. I also love the flavor of Fushia’s spare ribs dim sum, which are cut-up sections of pork ribs cooked in your choice of two different sauces — I love ‘em both, but probably prefer the garlic and black pepper sauce to the black bean sauce. And, although dim sum is only served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every day for lunch, many of the items are desserts — like the egg tart dim sum (think sweet mini-quiches) and the sesame dessert balls (lower center photo on next page), which are filled with sweet red bean paste — to name just two. “We make everything fresh and cookedto-order here with the best ingredients,” Sharon says proudly. “Many of our regular customers tell 42

me they can’t eat Chinese food anywhere else.”

Hot Pot Buffet

I’ve written about Fushia’s hot pot buffet (photos on this page) before and even though it’s a great, different way to enjoy the restaurant, I’d still rather order dishes off the menu and have them served to me, rather than have to pick my own ingredients (including raw meats, veggies, broth to cook them in and sauce) and have to cook it myself in a boiling hot pot, but I will say that the few times I’ve had the hot pot buffet at Fushia, I’ve loved it. Several of the sauces are outstanding. It just will never be my first choice. Even so, the all-you-can-eat hot pot buffet, which also includes soft drinks and a huge variety of desserts, is still a pretty good deal at the regular price of $25.99 per person. However, in celebration of Fushia’s 15th anniversary, you can try the hot pot buffet for only $19.99 per person (with the ad on page 46), which truly is a bargain for everything you get. And, even though there’s raw shellfish available for the hot pot buffet, I’ve never gotten a reaction from it at Fushia.

variety of fresh veggies and features a stinging spicy sauce which is given a kick from jalapeño peppers. The chicken is the opposite of dry, but the sauce is definitely less runny than at most Chinese places. And, although I might order it next time without the thick potato slices it comes with, there’s also plenty of snow peas, carrots, broccoli and celery — and they will sub out any veggies you don’t want. My other favorite dishes (all of which I order spicy) are the beef with Chinese broccoli, the already-spicy Yan Jian pork and the

boneless Sichuan duck with mixed vegetables. But, Fushia’s menu is so extensive, I know there are dozens of other dishes I’ve yet to try that could one day make my list of favorites. Sharon says, “There’s no other Chinese place with a bigger menu than Fushia. I know we have what you want, whether you’re American, Asian, an adult or a kid. We have something for everyone!” And, the local community agrees — as many of Fushia’s reviews on Yelp tout the food as “the best” and “most authentic” in

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Korean BBQ Buffet

One option I’ve yet to try — but that lead videographer Charmaine George says is amazing — is Fushia’s Korean BBQ buffet. Charmaine loved grilling her steak, pork, shrimp and veggies on the Korean BBQ grill right at her table (top left photo on next page). “Everything was fresh and delicious,” she said afterwards. “I will definitely try that again!” Again, you choose your own ingredients, so those with allergies don’t have to worry about cross-contamination. And, with the ad on pg. 46, the Korean BBQ Buffet (with soft drinks and desserts) is just $21.99 per person — a $5 savings!

The Main Event!

But, despite all of these other options, I still prefer Fushia’s authentic Szechuan (or Sichuan) cuisine. Some of my favorite dishes appear on these pages, including the Young Chow (mixed ingredient) fried rice (bottom far right). Fushia always holds the shrimp for me and gives me extra chicken and pork. My new favorite Sichuan dish is the spicy chicken dry pot (top far right), which comes with a

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all of Tampa. High praise, indeed! And of course, with all that spicy food, there’s nothing better than an ice cold Tsingtao (from China) or Sapporo (from Japan), although Fushia also offers a nice variety of reasonably priced wines. So, please check it out and tell Sharon and her amazing staff that I sent you!

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Fushia Asian Bistro (15317 Amberly Dr.) is open every day except Monday, 11 a.m.-midnight. For more info, call (813) 903-6705, visit FushiaChinese.com or see the ad on pg. 46.

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Nibbles & Business The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! The Joint Welcomes New Doctor

The Joint Chiropractic of New Tampa (19014 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) is proud to welcome Dr. Richard Tantillo (photo). Dr. Tantillo will be at the New Tampa location Mondays-Fridays. He has earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York, and a Master of Business Administration degree from Strayer University, and a Doctorate of Chiropractic degree from New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, NY, in 2000. Originally from Long Island, N.Y., Dr. Tantillo also has worked in Palm Harbor and St. Petersburg. His own first-hand experience with chiropractic led him to this point in his life. “After long-lasting back pain, I visited a chiropractor and received my first chiropractic adjustment,” he says. “I felt immediate relief. I started chiropractic college two years later and have never looked back.” He is grateful for the opportunity to work at The Joint Chiropractic in an environment that doesn’t lose sight of the goal: serving people who need help.

“I had practiced for years following the insurance model,” he says. “Over time, I saw many of my patients no longer able to afford chiropractic care due to high deductibles and copays. The Joint offers an affordable solution that allows almost everyone to enjoy the benefits of regular chiropractic care.” Appointments are never required to visit The Joint (see ad on page 3 of this issue). For more information, call (813) 644-8944 and please tell D. Tantillo you read about him and The Joint in the Neighborhood News!

North Tampa Bay Chamber News!

Although Jannah and I had to miss this year’s “Excellence in Business” awards gala, hosted by the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC) at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (for the first time), we had a pretty good reason — Jannah’s daughter Lauren gave birth to our first grandchild — the precious Rosalie (“Rosie”) Carolyn Cione — at about the same time as the event. Congrats to Lauren & her fiancé Albert for bringing this most precious 6-lb., 3-oz. (at

birth) bundle of joy into the world! Thanks also to Jeanine McLeod of Cloud 9 Studios (search “Cloud 9 Studios” on Facebook) for this too-perfect pic of Baby Rosie (below left)! Even though we missed the awards gala, I still wanted to congratulate this year’s award winners. As a former “Small Business of the Year” award winner (in 2014) for the former Wesley Chapel Chamber, I know how nice it is to accept one of these awards:

“Small Business” - Advisor Magazine “New Business” - Hilton Garden Inn TampaWesley Chapel “Large Business” - AdventHealth Wesley Chapel “Entrepreneur” - Slater • Grant “Large Business” - AdventHealth Wesley Chapel “Volunteer” - Cam Caudle, Shred 360

For more information about the North Tampa Bay Chamber, call (813) 9948534 or stop by at 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd., Suite A-1, Lutz.

Congrats, Parks Ford!

Speaking of the Chamber, November has been a busy month for NTBC ribbon-cutting events. Congratulations go out to Ron Parks (in yellow in photo above) and the entire team at Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel (28739 S.R. 54), which unveiled its newly revamped showroom at a ribbon-cutting event on Nov. 13. The amazing thing is that the dealership never closed during its massive (and impressive) reno-

vation! For more info, call (888) 742-4177 or visit FordofWesleyChapel.com.

Your CBD Store Opens!

Congrats to owner Debra Curler of the new Your CBD store in the Pebble Creek Collection. We previously told you about the opening of the Your CBD Store in Wesley Chapel, well New Tampa has now added another link in the largest chain of CBD stores, with nearly 500 locations nationwide and still growing. Curler says Your CBD Store’s hemp-based products have extremely low levels of THC (0.3% or less) and therefore will not offer a psychoactive “high” like marijuana. It’s even safe for pets! For more information about Your CBD Store (19651 BBD Blvd.), call (813) 994-0599 or see the ad below!

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chael Schaefer, who celebrated the 10-year anniversary of the Fresh Healthy Café in The Shops at Wiregrass with an NTBC ribbon cutting (left photo on next page) on Oct. 16. Fresh Healthy Café originally opened under another name, and Emily and Michael have only owned it for three years, but it’s still a perfect complement to the Fit Niche

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running and fitness store located next door and its delicious smoothies, bowls, wraps, sandwiches and fresh juices have kept customers coming back for more. The Schaefers are both U.S. Army veterans and genuinely cool people, so I hope you’ll let them know that you read about them in the Neighborhood News or perhaps saw our video of their ribbon cutting on Neighborhood

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News Online. Fresh Healthy Café is located at 28139 Paseo Dr. For more info, call (813) 973-3578 or visit FreshRestaurants.com.

Havertys Unveils Its Remodeling!

Also cutting a ribbon with the NTBC on Oct. 10 was Havertys Furniture, located off S.R. 56, just east of I-75, which unveiled its newly remodeled showroom (right photo).

Wesley Chapel Havertys manager Brandon Young says the store’s new look will appeal to Havertys’ base clients, who tend to skew a little older than some furniture stores, as well as younger furniture shoppers who will appreciate getting quality furniture at a fair price. For more info, call (813) 994-0541 or stop by at 26450 Golden Maple Loop and tell Brandon& his crew we sent you! — GN

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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. BOSCO’S ITALIAN-TO-GO is hiring! Inside & Delivery positions available. Must be 18+, have a good attitude & have your own reliable transportation. Stop in at 30122 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel to fill out an application.

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

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 gutter clean-out, screen repair, 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)

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. HEAVY HITTER LAWN CARE: Veteran owned and operated lawn care maintenance service, focused on lawn mowing, trimming, edging and blowing (flexible with extra services). Well maintained and professional laborer ensuring customer satisfaction and on-time cuts. Rain or shine, the quality and schedule will be kept. Licensed and Insured. Call or text 678-673-7856 for your FREE ESTIMATE.

TREE SERVICE FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE. 25-years of Professional Service. Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates. Tree Trimming & Tree Removal. Stump Grinding. Dead-Wood Removal. Affordable Rates. 24-Hour Emergency Storm Service. Free Mulch. Call 813-495-9541 or 813-788-TREE.

COMMERCIAL SPACE AVAILABLE 1,850 sq.ft. Commercial/Medical Space Available to Lease. Address: 24420 State Road 54 in Lutz (in the Medi-Weightloss Building). For more info, call 813-2934377 or email: gwillett@mediweightlossclinics.com.

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 @ 813-8575400 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 this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608. AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim-safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get ONE MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

FITNESS & WELL BEING

Break It Down Productions. Customized Private Yoga Sessions with Susanna Jones. Develop strength and flexibility, while learning how to breathe and relax. I specialize in working with beginners and those requiring a more gentle approach than most group Yoga classes. I explain everything, and provide variations so that you actually feel good in the stretch instead of strained. Gift certificates available. www.breakitdownproductions.com or Call (813) 802-8393.

MISCELLANEOUS

ELITE RIDES. Private Rides in a Lexus, and Concierge Services. Airport, School, Medical Appointments, Shopping. Courteous, Reliable, Professional. New Tampa to Tampa Airport: $35.00 One-Way. 24/7. Call/Text: 813-765-2037. Cory Lake Isles Resident.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHER AVAILABLE Retired Professional Photographer (45+ years experience) in the Tampa Bay Area. Corporate Events, Personal Occasions, Portraiture, Pets, Commercial Photography & Real Estate. Reasonable rates. Specials for the Holiday Season! Families, Children, Pets, Gatherings, Parties & more! Call/Text 813-748-3901 or Visit: russellleprephotography.com

These are the Color Classified Ads That Your Neighbors Actually READ! Call (813) 910-2575 or go to neighborhoodnewsonline.net/classified-listings/ to order yours today!

We Don’t Cut Corners, We Dust Them

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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

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 25 • December 2, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.Net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

High quality at a great price.

SUNSHINE CLEANERS Top Quality...Great Prices

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Neighborhood News

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Protect your children and pets with Tampa Bay’s only organic monthly fertilization 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

Organic Safe Lawns COMMERCIAL & RESIDENTIAL

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 25 • December 2, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.Net

CLEANING SERVICES

Doing business in Pasco and Hillsborough County area since 1978 THE NEAT & TIDY PROFESSIONALS

24 Years of Experience „ Interior/Exterior HUNDREDS OF HAPPY CUSTOMERS

Call KT or Cole Topash (owners/painters)

813.780.2511

Topashpainting@Gmail.com

“I love Fit 4 Life! This is the best place. I love the staff, they are well trained and they are experts.” –Shaila G.

Personal Training & Physical Therapy, Inc. 17419 Bridge Hill Court, Tampa, FL 33647 Office: (813) 907-7879 | www.Fit4LifeTampa.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 25 • December 2, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.Net

Neighborhood News

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8125 Hampton Lake

4 Bed | Bonus | 3 Bath | 2,554 SF | 2 Car Garage | Maintenance Free in Grand Hampton, Expansive Great Room w/Engineered Wood Floors, Kitchen w/ Maple Cabinetry, Granite Counters, Island Work Station, S/S Appliances, Expanded Screened Pavered Lanai, Pond & Conservation Views Offered for $339,000

5004 Kepfer

5 Bed | Office | 3 Bath | 3,309 SF | 3 Car Garage | Waterfront Home Site On Almost 1/2 Acre In Cul-De-Sac, Oversized Tile Floor, New Carpet & Wood Floors Upstairs, Walk-In Closets w/Built-Ins, Kitchen w/42” Maple Cabinetry, Granite Counters & Backsplash, Recipe Desk, Built-In Refrigerator, Pool & Heated Spa | Offered for $505,000

10209 Waterside Oaks

4 Bed | Den/Office | 3 Bath | 2,891 SF | 3 Car Garage | Beautiful Waterfront Home Site, Tile Roof, 3-Way Floor Plan, Fireplace, Built-In Entertainment Center, Designer Tile Flooring, Bamboo Wood Floors, Coffered Ceilings, Granite Counters, 42” Cabinetry & Island Work Station in Kitchen, Custom Pool/Spa Area Offered for $429,000

7929 Hampton Lake

PENDING IN 3 DAYS 5 Bed | 3 Bath | 2,537 SF | 3 Car Garage | Expansive Fenced Grounds on Nearly 1/3 Acre, Energy Efficient Rated Finishes, Engineered Wood Floors, Plantation Shutters, Crown Molding, Granite in Kitchen & Bathrooms, Kitchen w/Maple Cabinetry, S/S Appliances, Gas Stove, Drop Pendant Lighting, Brick Pavered Lanai w/Pool & Spa | Offered for $395,000