Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 25, Issue 26, Dec. 15, 2017 by Neighborhood News

Volume 25 Issue 26

Inside: ‘Please Keep Puerto Rico On Your Radar’

December 15, 2017

See Page 10!

Please View, Like & Share Every Episode Of WCNT-tv On YouTube & Facebook! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 46!

First Families

The Crystal Lagoon is spurring big sales in Epperson & excitement among the community’s first residents. By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

ennifer Rose was in the market for a home, and narrowed her choices down to two communities.

Her realtor, however, suggested they take one more drive, this time to Wesley Chapel, to a large stretch of land off Curley Rd. with nothing to see but trees, grass, dirt and tractors. Rose, a hair stylist at Salon Loft, was sold a vision that day, of a development with affordable homes that were cheaper than they ones she had previously looked at, that would be built from the ground up with gigabit internet, roads that would one day handle autonomous vehicles, a community that would be vibrant and active, and year-round parties and events. Oh, and this new community also promised to be home to a Crystal Lagoon — which boasts a specially- formulated system for keeping its water crystal clear and clean. The lagoon, the first of its kind in North America, will be surrounded by white sandy beaches, have a swim up-bar, an adventure cove, cabanas and multiple party areas. “There was nothing there at the time,’’ Rose says. “Even the model home was only in framing. But, I could just see the outline of the lagoon.” The pictures of what that Crystal Lagoon will become sealed the deal. “I absolutely loved the whole concept,’’ said Rose, who bought a fivebedroom, 2,500-sq.ft. home. “I saw all the pictures of what it was going to be. It was swimming in bottled water that piqued my interest.” Rose is one of the first handful of residents to move into Epperson, a new community being constructed by the Metro Development Group north of S.R. 54 off Curley Rd. Epperson is the first part of the “connected city,” a project created by a senate bill that called for a private-public partnership between Metro Development and Pasco County. The project will turn 7,800 acres of mostly undeveloped land in Wesley Chapel into a mini-city of its own within 50 years, with 37,000 homes, more than 60,000 jobs and almost 100,000 projected new residents. “The connected city thing is hard to imagine,” says Diane Bissett, who became the first-ever resident in Epperson. “It will be neat to see it come together, and to say we were a part of that.”

See “First” on page 6.

INSIDE

Epperson resident Jennifer Rose (top) is excited to be one of the first residents of the community where the first Crystal Lagoon (above) in the U.S. is expected to open in February or March of 2018.

News: Date Set For The 2018 ‘Taste Of New Tampa’

Business: Are Noble Crust’s Unique Tastes The Best In Town?

Magazine: Wiregrass Wobble Draws A Record 2,200 Runners.

Page 3

Pages 24-25

Page 37

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‘Taste 2018’ To Be Held At FHCI On March 25 & WCNT-tv’s First Million! An editorial by Gary Nager Even though the 2017 Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel at Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) earlier this year didn’t raise the most money ever for a Taste, it was a hugely successful event that attracted around 2,000 people to the largest skating facility in the southeastern U.S. The way I see it, the 2017 Taste, sponsored by the Rotary Club of New Tampa (which meets Fridays at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) was an amazing event that fell short of its nonprofit-organization-benefiting fund-raising goals because of two main reasons — 1) not enough sponsorships and 2) people’s concerns about the event being held indoors, especially in a venue that we all assumed would feel a whole lot colder than it did on that fun Saturday in March. Well, considering that I have attended and/or been part of the committee putting on 20 of the first 21 Tastes, I can tell you that FHCI is by far the best venue we’ve ever had for the event — a fact that I believe most of this year’s attendees would agree with — even though there are quite a few things we learned we could do better next time around. The first organizational meeting for the 2018 Taste was being held just after we went to press with this issue and New Tampa Rotary president and Taste event chair Karen Frashier says that once the Taste 2018 committee chairs have met, we will be looking for additional volunteers. We’re not interested in people hoping to pad their “community resumes,” but folks who are willing to roll up their sleeves and actually work to help make the 2018 Taste — which will be held on Sunday, March 25, noon-5

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Advertising/Marketing Rep Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Video Production Gavin Olsen • Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Bill Ramsey • Georgia Carmichael Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 26, Issue 2, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Friday, December 29. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

p.m., at FHCI — even bigger and better than this year’s event. “(FHCI’s) Gordie Zimmerman and George Mitchell have been amazing to work with,” Frashier says. “And, they were really happy with the quality of the sponsors, the food and beverage providers and the people who attended. We’re all looking forward to next year!” To that end, the Rotary Club already is pre-selling Taste tickets at a 20-percent discount through Feb. 1 at TasteofNewTampa.org! And of course, look for Taste 2018 updates in just about every issue of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, at NTNeighborhoodNews.com, on the “Neighborhood News” page on Facebook and on WCNT-tv’s YouTube channel!

Speaking Of WCNT-tv...

As you’re reading this, WCNT-tv (Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Television) will likely have surpassed both of my first two goals. I created WCNT-tv with a partner back in June of 2016 and in the 17 months since then, I have produced and “aired” about 100 segments, including more than 30 WCNT-tv “News Desks” with yours truly and Susanna Martinez as the co-hosts, and two dozen Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) Featured Business segments with host Mollyana Ward, who also has hosted our first four “Today’s Fashion Focus” segments featuring Sarah Rasheid of the Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO). WCNT-tv also has featured exclusive interview segments, slide videos featuring everything from Pasco County animal shelter dogs to Zammy the Sheepadoodle visiting Tampa’s Shriners Hospital for Children, and from the WC Jazz Festival to the “Symphony in Lights” at the Shops at Wiregrass (see back cover). My initial goal for WCNT-tv was to have the show reach one million people on Facebook and a combined viewership of 500,000 on YouTube and Facebook. And yes, at our press time for this issue, we have now surpassed a combined Facebook reach of more than 1 million people in less than 18 months and have been viewed more than 488,000 times on YouTube and Facebook (combined), including nearly 360,000 views on Facebook and 128,000 views on YouTube. I promised to throw another WCNT-tv party — this time for the general public — when we reached those milestones, so look for that announcement very soon. And, just in time (we hope) for businesses

looking to increase their exposure among the residents of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, our new 2018 Media Kit, which gives you discounts for advertising in the Neighborhood News, on WCNT-tv and on NTNeighborhoodNews.com, is now available on our website, social media and by calling our advertising sales rep, Tom Damico, at (813) 910-2575.

And, Finally...

My page 3 editorial last issue had the desired effect — it’s gotten people talking about what I believe is the muchneeded connection of Kinnan St. in New Tampa to Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. Some in Meadow Pointe II have told me I have no right to be voicing my opinion because

I don’t live there, but most (including a few Meadow Pointe residents) have told me to keep fighting the good fight on this topic. I’ll give you three guesses as to which option I’m going to choose. I hope everyone is enjoying a happy holiday season. See you again in 2018!

Table of Contents

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

Lagoon Filling; Will Open In Early 2018.....................4 Robo Cop Of The Future In Union Park?................5 Curley Rd. Improvements Getting Another Look.....8 Puerto Rico Getting Help From Wesley Chapel.......10 Wesley Chapel Chamber Wraps Up Another Big Year....11 DICK’s Lacrosse Tournament Returns Dec. 29!.......12 Cemetery Wreaths A Labor Of Love For Local Man....14 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.........................16

Local Business Updates..............20-30

Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic Adds New Doctor.....20 Florida E.N.T. & Allergy........................................22 Noble Crust Adding New Flavors To Wesley Chapel..24 Cornerstone Pros Offers A/C, Electric & Plumbing..28 SPOTLIGHT ON: Richeson Wellness!..................29

Local School & Sports Updates...32-35

Cypress Creek Middle High Dedicated.......................32 Hockey League Looking For Local Oldtimers...........34 Coyote Twins Leading The Way In Basketball............35

Neighborhood Magazine

Wiregrass Wobble Draws Record-Setting Crowd....37 El Pescador A Welcome Addition To New Tampa....40 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........42 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds...........44 @NTWCNews

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Wesley Chapel’s First Crystal Lagoon Now Being Filled; Opening Expected In Early 2018 By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The much-anticipated Crystal Lagoon coming to the Epperson development off Curley Rd. in Wesley Chapel — the first of its kind in North America (see story on pg. 1) — not only has an opening finally planned, but it also now has something even more important: Water. Not all of the 16 million gallons of it needed to fill the lagoon, but Metro Development Group president Greg Singleton says the spigots are flowing as the lagoon aims for an early spring opening in 2018, which will be attended by 23-time Olympic gold medalist Michael Phelps, the new Global Ambassador for Crystal Lagoons. Metro invited local journalists to its first Metro Lagoon (which is located less than three miles north of S.R. 54) on Nov. 14 to show off the prized amenity in what is the first part of the high-tech “connected city” project, which will one day include two Crystal Lagoons, giga-fast internet speeds, schools, businesses and roads built for the future of driverless cars. The water wasn’t flowing just yet, although some had pooled in various sections of the 7.5-acre lagoon. Workers continued to work at securing the liner and smoothing it out as Singleton showed the gathered media a small holding pool of the water as an example of how clear, clean and blue it will be. Singleton said now that the water is flowing into it, it will take 8-12 weeks to

Water is filling the Epperson Crystal Lagoon, which is expected to open in the spring. (Drone photography by Eagle Fly Media; see ad on page 8.)

fill the massive Crystal Lagoon. The water has been purchased from the Pasco County utilities department, as opposed to drawing it from local wells, which Singleton said is, “a better outcome for us, better outcome for residents, better for Pasco.” Despite the large amount of water used to fill the lagoon, Singleton says it’s still 30 times less than what is required to maintain a golf course. Singleton also said that Metro has spent a lot more money building the lagoon than expected; some of that cost is the result of putting in concrete under the

lining to give users more solid footing. “We could have just lined it but we spent a lot more money to add concrete,’’ Singleton said. “We’ve spent a lot of time thinking about how you get in and out of the lagoon.” As a unique and new amenity with a lot of buzz surrounding it, the lagoon is predictably responsible for hot sales at Epperson, which will have, at build-out, roughly 3,000 homes. The development currently has nearly 60 residents. He said prices are rising as builders tell him they have already doubled their aggressive sales goals. “The lagoon effect is

real,’’ Singleton said. “We are seeing it.” Residents will pay $25 a month through the Homeowners Association to pay for the lagoon. Until it has enough residents to cover costs, Singleton says Metro is writing the checks. But, the lagoon also may be the impetus for other development in Epperson. Singleton said he can envision things like a boutique hotel on the north side of the lagoon, which would allow hotel guests to use the prized residents-only amenity. “A hotel makes all the sense in the world,’’ he said. The lagoon is almost a mile in circumference, with an average depth of eight feet, with some areas as deep as 10-12 feet. A biochemist, Fernando Fishmann, developed the first lagoons, using a patented pulse disinfection and ultrasonic filtration system, powered by 400 sensors monitoring the water. Singleton showed where some of those sensors were located, explaining that only the areas that require spot treatment receive it, as opposed to treating the whole area. “It recognizes hot spots, and makes it happen,’’ Singleton said. Singelton called the formula that keeps the water crystal clear “the secret sauce.” The Crystal Lagoon at Epperson may be Wesley Chapel’s first lagoon, but it won’t be its last. Metro is hoping to break ground by the summer on a slightly larger lagoon in a different shape at the Mirada development south of S.R. 52 that also is part of the future “connected city.”

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Union Park ‘Resident’ Is A Security Robot

Patrolling the streets of Union Park (located just south of 56, off of Meadow Pointe Blvd. in Wesley Chapel) is the first “security robot” to be on duty in a residential neighborhood in the United States. “Right now, we’re beta testing for six months at Union Park to see how a security robot would help us in a large community,” says Kartik Goyani, vice president of operations for Metro Development Group, developers of both Union Park and Epperson (see page 1), the latter of which is part of the “connected city” and which will be home to the first of two Crystal Lagoons coming soon to Wesley Chapel. The robot has been named “Deputy Metro” and is a five-foot tall, 400-pound robot that drives itself throughout the community. It records data and provides 360-degree video. “What we do at Metro in our heart and in our DNA is innovation,” Goyani says, so experimenting with brand new technology makes a lot of sense. While Union Park is the first residential community to get a security robot, Goyani says it’s actually the 39th of more than 50 such robots throughout the country, created by a company called Knightscope. These robots patrol malls, hospitals, office parking lots, even the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta. Goyani explains that it’s too early to tell exactly how Deputy Metro will be used in the long term, but it’s planned to be used at the soon-to-be-renamed connected city and at Metro’s developments with Crystal Lagoons. Goyani explains the current beta testing will help determine how it will be used in those larger communities. “The main goal is as a deterrent and seeing how this technology can fit into our lives,” Goyani says. “For example, Union Park is not gated,”

Neighborhood News

he says, so Metro tried stationing the robot at the entrance to the community to see how that worked. “We essentially made Deputy Metro like a virtual gate, monitoring the traffic going in and out.” Meanwhile, he says video from the security robot has already been requested by the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO). In the future, Goyani hopes the PSO won’t have to request the footage. As part of its partnership, Metro Development expects to make streaming video available to the Sheriff, “so they don’t have to call us at all.” Goyani says the reactions to Deputy Metro have been overwhelmingly positive, and many negative responses are due to concerns they have been able to alleviate, such as a concern that the robot could cause a resident to get a speeding ticket. He says some of the positive response has been even more than what they expected. “Deputy Metro is part of the community,” says Goyani. “One time when I was at Union Park, a couple of engineers from Knightscope were there, and a young girl who lives in the community came with her dad and brought her notebook and followed them around. She said (Deputy Metro) inspires her to learn more about STEM and robotics.” For more information about Deputy Metro, visit DeputyMetro.com. — CM

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Diane Bissett, pictured above right with her children, is the first homeowner in Epperson (Photo courtesy of Diane Bissett)

‘First’

Continued from page 1

As an employee of D.L. Horton, one of six homebuilders in Epperson, Bissett had an inside track to the first home being built in what promises to be an original, almost-futuristic community. Bissett had been eyeing the new development for what felt like forever, primarily because of the promise of the 7.5-acre Crystal Lagoon. When she initially heard about the project, she says, she was working for a different homebuilder in Watergrass, right across the street. Not only did she think she would never be able to buy a home there, she says it just didn’t seem real what Metro was proposing. “No way,’’ Bissett thought. However, changing jobs and getting first dibs on a house at Epperson, Bissett, the mother of a 2-year-old boy and 4- and 14-year-old daughters, jumped at the chance to be part of something fresh and new. And, as it turned out, a little frightening. For a month, Bissett and her family were the only residents on their street. “There was a whole lot of dirt and not much else when I moved in,’’ Bissett said. “It was very dark and scary. It was a little spooky in the beginning.”

Bissett was the first of what is now roughly 60 residents living in Epperson, where homes are still going up and will one day number 3,000. Home sales have so far exceeded expectations., driven by the excitement over the first Metro Lagoon by Crystal Lagoons, which is currently being filled in anticipation of a spring opening. “The Lagoon effect is real,’’ said Greg Singleton, the president of Metro Development, recently at an event announcing that water has started filling in the lagoon. Todd Carrier bought the second home in Epperson, and wasn’t going to let bad timing deter him once he read about the lagoon. Carrier had just bought a home in Spring Hill and had lived in it five months when he heard about a Crystal Lagoon coming to Wesley Chapel sometime around April. “Honestly, it was a shot in the dark,’’ Carrier says. “Since I just bought a house I didn’t think I’d get approved.” Not only did Carrier get approved, the 25-year-old AT&T sales rep found someone to rent his Spring Hill home to within five weeks. “I heard about the lagoon and I wanted to be part of that before (the prices) went skyhigh and got to the point where I couldn’t afford it,” Carrier says.

An avid gamer, Carrier is excited about the gigabit internet speeds, which can download high-definition movies in 30 seconds, and says the community events also are a bonus. He grew up in a new community once before, when his parents moved into The Preserve at Lake Thomas in Land O’Lakes in 2000. “It was not as nice as this is going to be though,” he says. In the end, of course, it was the lagoon that spurred him to dive in headfirst. When friends and coworkers ask him where he lives, he often just describes his new digs as “the place with the lagoon.” “They don’t know Epperson,” he says, “but they know the lagoon.” While the allure of the lagoon has brought everyone together, Bissett says being part of something so innovative and buzzworthy is intoxicating. Her son loves watching the construction trucks drive by as new homes continue to sell at a rapid rate. Bissett jokes that for years, many of her South Tampa friends often passed on coming over on weekends because Wesley Chapel was too far a drive. Now, “I’ve had a lot of friends come out of the woodwork to ask me, ‘What are you doing next summer?’” As someone who doesn’t take a lot of vacations, Bissett says Epperson, “will be

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Jennifer Rose says her kids can’t wait for the lagoon to open in the spring. (Photo courtesy of Jennifer Rose)

like living in a resort vacation place.” The community already has hosted trickor-treating, and the streets are now being filled in the evenings with children riding bicycles and hanging out in their friends’ driveways. Bissett thinks a special camaraderie has developed amongst what is currently a small, tightknit group. Rose agrees. She was the third person to move into Epperson, and from there, the numbers have steadily risen. One by one, each home on her street was filled with a new family. and her children, Christopher, 11, and Kayla, 9, have made new friends with each “Sold” sign that goes up. “Oh my gosh, they love it,’’ says Rose, who previously rented a home in Wesley Chapel. “In our old neighborhood, I couldn’t get my kids to go outside. Now, I can’t keep them inside.” It won’t be long now before what will be the center of the Epperson universe is ready for its first swimsuit-clad visitors, and the vision sold to the current residents comes into full view. Residents will lay in hammocks on Gasparilla Island after filling up at the lagoon’s swimup restaurant and bar, or rent kayaks to cruise the waters of Venture Bay, or maybe just relax at The Grotto and cool off under the waterfall. “The lagoon,’’ Rose says, “is going to be the place to be.”

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Plans To Widen & Improve Curley Rd. Get A Fresh Look At FDOT Open House By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The connected city projected is not only bringing fast internet and Crystal Lagoons (see pgs. 1 & 4) to Wesley Chapel, it will also result in some local road improvements, as the county preps for additional traffic in the future. A 2005 route study that recommended widening Curley Rd. (C.R. 577) is getting a reevaluation, due to development in the area that is expected to increase traffic. Curley Rd. makes up the connected city’s western border. Also, Clinton Ave. is being extended to the west and will become the new re-aligned S.R. 52, which runs along the connected city’s northern border in San Antonio. A steady crowd (photo) showed up to participate in the route study re-evaluation Open House held Dec. 6 at Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Parish Center in San Antonio. Local residents were allowed to view the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) plans for east-west re-aligning of S.R. 52, which is expected to begin in June of 2019. The county hopes to complete its right-ofway acquisitions by the spring of 2019. The Curley Rd. project itself is even further off. While minor improvements will be made where Curley connects with the realigned S.R. 52, right now, it is unlikely anything will be done with widening it or re-routing where it connects with Prospect Rd. (579A) before 2030. “Because of connected city (east of Curley) and the Villages of Pasadena (a development on the west side of Curley Rd.), things have changed,’’ said Panos Kontses, project manager for the Pasco County Engineering Services De-

partment. “What we analyzed then has changed, so we are doing a refreshing of the study.” The study is looking at widening Curley Rd. from two to four lanes (from one lane in each direction to two lanes in each direction) from north of the Wesley Chapel schools on Wells Rd. to north of the S.R. 52 re-alignment. The road would have one sidewalk, and a 46-foot grass median that could allow for the expansion of the road to six total lanes. Also presented at the open house were three alternatives for a Curley Rd.-Prospect Rd. intersection, north of Tyndall Rd. Prospect Rd. is an east-west road that curves north before ending at Curley (after Curley curves west). New plans call for extending Prospect west to Curley, where the two roads will intersect. But, Prospect will become Mirada Blvd. and run northwest through another connected city/ Crystal Lagoon development called Mirada. Residents were asked to weigh in on three options: a single signalized intersection, a roundabout with right turn bypass lanes or two signalized offset “T” intersections for the Curley Rd./Mirada Blvd./Prospect Rd. intersection. According to traffic studies, Curley Rd. currently handles roughly 7,200 vehicles a day, but by 2041 is projected to have 21,000 vehicles traveling on it each day. Likewise, Prospect Rd. is expected to increase from 6,200 to 15,100, and once the intersection is complete, Mirada Blvd. will be handling 11,900 vehicles daily. “It is a ways off,” Kontses said. “All we’re doing right now are the planning studies. We don’t (currently) have the funding for design or construction of this project.”

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Local Nonprofit Group Trying To Keep Puerto Rico On Everyone’s Radar By GARY NAGER If you’re like most Floridians, you spent a lot of time glued to the Doppler Radar on your TV sets and smartphones to keep up with the paths of Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria from late August through early October. And, following the devastation that Irma and Maria both wreaked upon the Caribbean, especially Maria’s march through the American territorial island of Puerto Rico, many of us felt compelled to do something to help, especially if we had friends or family hit by those storms. One family who lives in Land O’Lakes, off Wesley Chapel Blvd., was particularly close to the situation. In fact, Ivelisse (she goes by “Ivy” here) Hernandez was in Puerto Rico when Irma hit there, returned to be with her daughter Ashley Rivera just before Irma hit here and went back to her native home, to help with Irma relief, three days before Maria devastated the power grid and so many lives in Puerto Rico. In fact, the first time Ivy was able to get in touch with Ashley following Maria, all she could get through was an “SOS” message on Facebook. An ABC Action News TV crew was actually on hand when Ashley and Ivy were first able to speak with each other the next day — for ten minutes or less — and only because Ivy climbed a large hill in the decimated town of Canovanas in order to get enough cell phone “bars” to even make a phone call. “I have been through hurricanes before, but I never saw anything like Maria,” Ivy recalls. “Away from the big cities, people there may not have power or working traffic lights for two years or more.” In other words, Ivy says, it’s important for us, as fellow Americans, to keep Puerto Rico on our radar. “You can’t just think, ‘Well, I already donated some money or some food, so I did my part.’ The crisis in Puerto Rico is far from over.”

Taking Action

Ashley, a teacher at Denham Oaks Eelementary in Land O’Lakes, decided to do something more to help. She started a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization called “El Coqui Que Vive Aqui,” which means “The Frog that Lives Here.” El coqui is a small frog that is indigenous to Puerto Rico that has never been able to live anywhere else but on the island. “So, we are the coquis — the native Puerto Ricans — who live here (in Florida),” Ashley says. The name might be hard to say, but what this small group of people — most of whom had never met before joining together — have accomplished in a very short period of time is truly amazing and inspiring. “We didn’t know what we could do,” Ashley says. “We wanted to be there to help, but we

couldn’t. We all just felt like we needed to do something. I started reaching out on Facebook saying ‘We’re doing this’ and people just started offering to help.” Among those who have been helping, she says, are Life Church on Old Pasco Rd. and local businesses like Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel (which held a fundraiser) and others, like the Palms Pharmacy in Tampa Palms (which donated gloves, masks, OTC medications and more. “They really opened up their hearts to help us,” Ashley says.) and Associated Construction Products in Lutz, which donated hundreds of buckets (see below). And, a company called Envolve Pharmacy Solutions has donated its cargo airplanes (which would normally cost thousands for each flight) to fly over to Puerto Rico, filled with the supplies collected by El Coqui volunteers. To date, four Envolve planes have flown more than 20,000 pounds of supplies over to the island, all of which have gotten into the hands of those who need them. Ashley started by collecting the items Ivy said the people in Puerto Rico needed — including non-perishable food, toiletries and buckets to catch rain water, since bottled water is in such short supply. Ivy’s mother, Ashley’s grandmother, owns Premier Medical Services in Carolina, Puerto Rico, where she has organized dozens of volunteers — most of whom have no power or water themselves, but are still helping people who are even less fortunate — to make sure that the items that El Coqui volunteers collect actualy get into the hands of the people in need. “My mom was able to develop a network of people she knows in many of the small towns in the mountainous areas away from the bigger cities, where nothing was getting through,” Ivy says. “We’re making sure we’re getting the supplies to those in the most need first.” Ivy, who says that she had never seen anything like the island after Maria, says, “Imagine no land lines, no TV, entire families waiting in line for 12 hours for gas, no ice and no way to communicate. The one radio station on the island that had a signal was collapsing as it was helping people connect for the first time. I never thought I would hear that emergency signal on the radio used for a real emergency. We were in no way prepared for this.” Among those helping El Coqui is U.S. Army Staff Sergeant and Calvary Scout Jason Maddy, one of a group of U.S. veterans who has self-deployed to Puerto Rico. “Jason was able to get our supplies into the mountains, many of which had no roads after Maria,” Ivy says. Although many of the supplies are loaded in boxes, Associated Construction Products donated the buckets and, rather than ship them over empty, El Coqui volunteers have filled

(L.-r.) Nehiel, Ivy and Ashley

them with supplies and called them “Buckets of Love,” which anyone can pay to fill for just $20. “Some of the buckets have food, some have tools or personal hygiene items,” Ashley says. “Some people have given us money, but some people have donated medical supplies like adult diapers. They need everything there.”

Helping Here, Too

As a teacher, Ashley notes that schools across the Bay area have accepted thousands of children who have left Puerto Rico to live with aunts or uncles, “some of whom they had never met before. There is just so much emotional counseling that is needed, for kids and for older, sick people who waited weeks for flights to get here, too. They’re all traumatized.” Ivy adds, “We have gotten so many messages on the El Coqui Facebook page from people who are literally crying, “Thank you so much for helping us. We thought everyone forgot about us here.” Some local schools are even writing letters that El Coqui is shipping to the people of Puerto Rico to let them know someone cares. “Every bucket has a card and a letter in it,” says Ivy, who is going back to Puerto Rico on Christmas Day to literally play Santa Claus for these people. “My Christmas will be handing out toys to kids and families who have nothing. Even a $10 toy will be a big deal for these kids.”

El Coqui volunteers (top) fill “Buckets of Love.” I met several of El Coqui’s volunteers, all of whom have a connection to Puerto Rico, but none of whom knew each other before they got involved. They all have the same beautiful energy for heping that Ashley and Ivy do. All they need now are more donations and more voluteers to help get them to Puerto Rico. If you’d like to help, search “El Coquî Que Vive Aqui” on Facebook and please tell Ashley and Ivy that we sent you!

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays Political advertisement paid for an approved by Mike Moore, Republican, for Pasco County Commmissioner, District 2.

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Wesley Chapel Chamber Wraps Up A Spectacular 2017 At December Breakfast By GARY NAGER

Congratulations to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) for another truly amazing year of growth in both membership numbers and in standing within not only Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, but throughout Pasco County and beyond. The WCCC wrapped up 2017 at its annual breakfast meeting on Dec. 5, at Pasco Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, where 2017 Board of Directors chair Jennifer Cofini of Parks Auto Group handed her gavel over to local dentist Dr. Zack Kalarickal, who will lead the Board in 2018. Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Dr. Paula O’Neil swore in Kalarickal and his new Board. After that rite of passage, as her final acts as Board chair, Cofini first named a few award winners for 2017, including Karen Tillman-Gosselin of Smith & Associates Realty, who was named the Board Member of the Year. Also honored at the event, emceed by Bob Thompson of Thompson Brand Images, was my former WCNT-tv partner Craig Miller of Full Throttle Intermedia, who won Rookie Board Member of the Year, in part for his more than 200 man-hours putting together the Chamber’s “Explore Wesley Chapel New Tampa” video. Mary Nash of the Advisor magazine won Ambassador of the Year, although the honor wasn’t announced at the event because Nash wasn’t present at the meeting. Also recognized were Cindy Ross of RP&G Printing, who chaired the Chamber’s Ambassador Council, and attorney Cristen

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(Clockwise from top left): The 2018 Board of Directors for the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce is sworn in by Pasco Clerk & Comptroller Dr. Paula O’Neil. Board Member of the Year Karen Tillman-Gosselin (center) is joined by outgoing Board president Jen Cofini (right) and Chamber CEO Hope Allen. Cofini passes the gavel to 2018 Board president Dr. Zack Kalarickal. Allen & Cofini thank the Board’s longest-tenured members Dr. Micah Richeson (left) and Steve Domonkos, who have each served for seven years. Photos on this page by Stephen John Photography; see ad on pg. 45 of this issue.

Martinez of Martinez Law for chairing the Chamber’s Women of Wesley Chapel (aka WOW) group. (Note-Although it also wasn’t announced at the meeting, WCNT-tv’s own Mollyana Ward has been named the WOW chair for 2018.) Also recognized at the breakfast, which was provided by WCCC Ambassador Peter Gambacorta of Private Chef of Tampa, were the Board members who have had the longest tenures — Dr. Micah Richeson of Cypress

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Creek Chiropractic and Steve Domonkos of The Shops at Wiregrass, both of whom have served on the Board for seven years. Cofini also reviewed some of the Chamber’s 2017 accomplishments, including the WCCC’s acquisition of the Greater Pasco Chamber, which allows Wesley Chapel to extend its reach out not only to western Pasco, but also to northern Pinellas county. Cofini also noted that the WCCC hosted more than 150 networking events during 2017. Dr. Kalarickal also mentioned that the

Chamber has agreed to continue as a partner in WCNT-tv, which just passed a Facebook reach of 1 million and has had nearly 500,000 views on YouTube and Facebook. Sadly, shortly after the meeting, WCCC membership director Jennifer Tussing announced she was leaving the Chamber to work at Martinez Law. You’ll be missed, Jen! For more information about the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, visit WesleyChapelChamber.com or call (813) 994-8534.

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Despite Promotional Concerns, DICK’s Lacrosse Tournament Is Back By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The 13th annual DICK’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions (ToC), dubbed as the national championships for the sport of lacrosse, is once again scheduled to be played in Wesley Chapel at the end of the month. However, the once-friendly relationship between host Pasco County and Kroenke Sports Enterprises (KSE), LLC, which puts on the event, has become a little bit frosty, as the county is claiming KSE is not holding up its end of a deal the parties agreed to in 2016. According to a letter sent to KSE’s Stephen Stienker, the county is claiming that KSE agreed to promote Pasco County in exchange for the $90,000 annual rights fee the county pays to KSE each year. The $90,000, administered by the Pasco County Tourist Development Council (TDC) and collected from a local-option tourist development tax on transient lodging like hotels, motels and campgrounds, is roughly half of the county’s budget for sports event sponsorships. Adam Thomas, who replaced Ed Caum as the Pasco County director of tourism in September, said that as a new employee, he was going through various contracts and checking to make sure the deliverables were being met. After some research, Thomas determined that was not happening in KSE’s case. “None of the agreement was being met,’’ Thomas says. That included displaying the county’s

name or “Visit Pasco” slogan and logo on the websites of 60-plus qualifying tournaments in 22 different states for the DICK’s ToC, as well as in newsletters, backdrop banners, apparel, mentions in news and press releases and on trophies. Thomas said that when he visited the websites of the qualifying tournaments, many weren’t even active, and on the ones that were still active, he says there was not a single mention of Pasco. Videos were supposed to be created by KSE as well, promoting the DICK’s ToC and Pasco County. “It is a long laundry list of deliverables and obligations that weren’t being done,” Thomas says. The county has requested a full and detailed accounting of the expenditures of the $90,000 paid to KSE for the 2016 event and expenditures already made for the 2017 ToC.

According to Florida Statute 125.0104, any money from the Tourist Development Tax earmarked for promotion has to be spent on promotion. “I do want to see the audit of 2016,’’ Thomas says. “If that money is being spent on something else, like operations or salaries, that’s a bigger problem.” Thomas said this year’s DICK’s ToC, scheduled to be played Dec. 29-31 at Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd. and Wesley Chapel High on Wells Rd., will still go on, but the letter to KSE says it will take whatever legal remedies are necessary, from withholding payment or even terminating the agreement. This is the second year of the two-year deal — with an option for a third year — Pasco County signed with KSE in May of 2016. “We don’t want the tournament to cancel,” Thomas says. “It brings a lot of people and fresh dollars to our economy.

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I just want the return on investment from the agreement that was signed by KSE and the county. I don’t want them to cancel the tournament at all.” The ToC website, at NDPLacrosse. com, has made some changes and is currently referencing Pasco County twice, while also displaying a large bright yellow “Visit Pasco” logo. The DICK’s ToC started in 2006, and has been held in Wesley Chapel every year since 2008. Hosted by the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA), the county says the tournament has an estimated annual economic impact of about $3 million. As many as 115 teams have competed in the ToC, although in recent years, those numbers have declined. In 2015, there were 73 teams participating, and last year’s event attracted only 53 teams. Tj Fitzsimons, the Wiregrass Ranch High lacrosse coach who has coached some of the Pasco Lions teams from the WCAA at the tournament in the past, said he was told just under 70 teams are slated for this year’s event. Teams earn bids at regional qualifying tournaments to compete for the DICK’s national championship across five divisions – Rising Stars (graduation years of 2019, 2020 and 2021), Elite (2018-2021) and 9U-10U through 15U. One of those qualifiers, the Derek Pieper Memorial Cup, is held in Wesley Chapel every year in mid-November. Game times each day will be held from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, visit NDPlacrosse.com/Default. aspx?tabid=493987.

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WC Resident Leads Effort To Place 20,000 Wreaths At Florida National Cemetery By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Back in December 2006, Wesley Chapel resident Randy Lewer and a couple of his buddies from the U.S. Military Vets Motorcycle Club held a small ceremony at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell to remember the veterans buried there during the holidays. Randy says just a few people gathered in the rain that day for a brief ceremony. The group had been provided with seven ceremonial wreaths (honoring the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Coast Guard, Air Force, POWs {Prisoners of War}/MIA {Missing In Action} and Merchant Marines), which were donated from the organizer of an effort to lay wreaths on the graves at Arlington National Cemetery in Washington, D.C. That effort has since grown into what is now called “Wreaths Across America” and helps to adorn graves at about 1,500 military cemeteries throughout the U.S. While Wreaths Across America has grown nationwide, Randy’s efforts at Florida National Cemetery (which is located in Sumter County, northeast of Brooksville), have flourished into one of the largest in the country. Last year, Randy estimates that 8,00010,000 people came out to the Florida National Cemetery, where 21,600 wreaths were laid on the graves of those buried there. While there are more than 100,000 U.S. military veterans and 30,000 spouses buried at the cemetery, he says the number of graves adorned with the wreaths is determined by how much fund-raising is done. Randy is one of the Wreaths Across America organizers who work nearly year-round to

Wesley Chapel resident Randy Lewer and other volunteers will again place wreaths at the graves of thousands of U.S. military veterans buried at the Florida National Cemetery in Bushnell. raise funds to purchase the wreaths. Many local wreaths, though. He says every veteran in the organizations and community groups, such as cemetery is honored and remembered. He says the Boy and Cub Scouts, Civil Air Patrol, and his focus is on Wreaths Across America’s miseven companies, ask friends, family and neigh- sion, which is to, “Remember our fallen U.S. veterans, honor those who serve and teach bors to sponsor the wreaths for $15 each. This year, when “Wreaths Across Ameri- your children the value of freedom.” “That’s probably the biggest thing for ca” is held on Saturday, December 16, Randy expects to place 21,200 wreaths, although that me,” says Randy, “teaching our kids the values of freedom, respect and patriotism.” number may increase after our press time. He says the best time to do this is when Randy’s focus is not on the number of

there starts to be a “lack of thought,” as he calls it, when people start to forget about the sacrifices of our country’s veterans. “Around Christmas you get so busy, sometimes the only people who think about our fallen veterans are the families who recently lost someone,” Randy says. “This is one way to get out there and look at a grave and say, ‘Thank you for your service.’” One of Randy’s two “brothers” from the motorcycle club who originally started the wreath ceremony at Florida National Cemetery has moved on and no longer organizes the event. The other, Jack Sellers — known as “Breakdown” — passed away a few years ago after an illness associated with exposure to Agent Orange in Vietnam. “He used to emcee the ceremony,” says Randy. “When we buried him, I asked to have him buried in the section across the street from the ceremony area. They put him in the front row, so he’s always looking at the ceremony.” The day’s events on Dec. 16 are open to the public and free to attend. Florida National Cemetery is located at 6502 SW 102nd Ave. in Bushnell. Arrive between 9 a.m.-9:30 a.m. to allow adequate time for parking. The laying of wreaths starts at 10:30 a.m., with a ceremony to follow. The event is expected to last until around 1 p.m. “The way this world’s gotten, things are so divisive,” says Randy. “It’s nice to have 10,000 people come together and not be divided. We can all be behind one thing – to remember, honor and teach.” For additional information about Wreaths Across America, visit WreathsAcrossAmerica.org.

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DECEMBER 2017 Friday, December 15

Shops at Wiregrass Symphony In Lights - Shows on the hour between 6 and 9 p.m. Synthetic ice skating and photos with Santa are available, too. For more info, visit ShopsAtWiregrass.com/events or see this issue’s back cover.

Saturday, December 16

Wreaths Across America - See story, pg. 14. A Moment With The Classics Presents Christmas & Ivory - Enjoy a taste of the Christmas season with music performed by James A. Williams and performers from the Tampa Bay Talent Showcase. Proceeds benefit Finally Home Christian Adoption Services and Color Me Abstract. Tickets are $15. Event will be held at Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, at 6:30 p.m. For more info, visit amomentwiththeclassics.com.

Monday, December 18

Professional Business Connections (PBC) - PBC meets Mondays at 7:45 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). For info, call Matt Archbold at (813) 782-1777. Wesley Chapel Speaks - The Wesley Chapel Toastmasters meets every Monday at 6 p.m. for networking, 6:30 pm for public speaking, at Wesley Chapel Nissan (28519 State Rd 54). For more info, call Martin at (813) 693-0969. East Pasco Democratic Club - Meets 3rd Monday of each month at Omari’s Grill, Scotland Yards Golf Club, 9424 U.S. 301, Dade City, from 6:30-8 p.m. For more info, visit www.eastpascodems.com. Stuff The Stocking Charity Event - Join Intrinsic Wellness at the Seven Oaks Clubhouse (2910 Sports Core Circle, Wesley Chapel) to benefit Pasco Kids First. Bring a new, fully stuffed stocking to donate to a child, visit with Santa, enjoy refreshemtns and activities, 6-9 p.m. For more info, call (813) 549-3551 or search “Intrinsic Wellness Clinic” on Facebook.

Wednesday, December 20

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

Thursday, December 21

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

Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based principles. Dinner & free childcare available. For more information, call (813) 907-1313.

Friday, December 22

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

Saturday, December 23

Breakfast With Santa - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon presents its second annual “Breakfast With Santa” at Applebee’s on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel. Prepaid tickets are required and include breakfast and a photo. Tickets are $7 each and are on sale through Wed., Dec. 20, at Soriano Insurance (call 813-909-0035) and RP&G Printing (813-949-5700).

Tuesday, December 26

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

Friday, December 29-Sunday, December 31

DICK’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions - See story, p. 12.

JANUARY 2018 Tuesday, January 2

GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club - Meetings are held on the first Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lexington Oaks Clubhouse, 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd. Visit GFWCPascoJWC.blogspot.com or Facebook.com/ GFWCPascoJuniors for info. NAMI Friends & Family: Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco support group for friends & family of those with mental illness. The group meets the 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For more information, visit NAMIPasco.com.

Friday, January 5

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets the 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month, 7:15 a.m., at Happy Hangar Cafe, 4241 Birdsong Blvd. For info, call Kathy Schenck at (813) 956-4436.

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Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic Serves The Community’s Health Care Needs caring manner is the presence of two physicians to treat patients. In addition to Dr. Pagán, Dr. Mahmud Ahmed, MD, also is on staff at Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic. Dr. Ahmed practiced medicine for 13 years in Canada after earning his medical degree from Dow Medical College of Karachi University in Karachi, Pakistan. He completed his medical training at Winnipeg General Hospital and St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Ahmed is Board-certified in internal medicine and specializes in cardiology.

By BRAD STAGER

While Hurricane Irma delivered drenching rain and high winds to the Tampa Bay area in mid-September, the effects of Hurricane Maria — which devastated Puerto Rico (see story on page 10) a week or so later — are now being felt around Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, as Puerto Ricans displaced by the storm arrive to create new lives in the area. Many of the new neighbors are here because Hurricane Maria washed away what they had in Puerto Rico, but in the case of Dr. Angel G. Pagán, the storm only delayed by about a month his already-planned move to Wesley Chapel because of the lack of availability of flights off the island. After finally arriving here in mid-October, Dr. Pagán has been serving the community as a primary care physician at Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic, in the Canterbury Professional Park, about two miles east of I-75 on SR 54. Dr. Pagán earned his medical degree from the Autonomous University of Guadalajara School of Medicine in Guadalajara, Jalisco, Mexico. He moved to southern Puerto Rico to serve his residency at Dr. Tito Mattei Hospital Metropolitan Hospital in Yauco. He then took up work as an overnight emergency room doctor at hospitals around the nearby city of Ponce to free up his days to deliver medical care at clinics in underserved communities and become established as a primary care physician. He opened his own practice in Ponce in 1998 but shortly thereafter, the ultimate dream of living the West Central Florida lifestyle began with a Walt Disney World vacation

Mental Health Services, Too

Dr. Angel G. Pagán (left) is newly-arrived from Ponce, Puerto Rico, to serve as a primary care physician at Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic. Pictured with him are office manager Marcus Dunmire and medical assistant Dawn Umstead. with his wife and three daughters. “It’s an opportunity that life has given “Me and my wife, we immediately fell in me to serve people,” he says, adding that his love with Florida and since then, we pictured first impression is that there’s plenty of good, the possibility that we could live here,” says healthy living enjoyed by Wesley Chapel Dr. Pagán. “We love it here. We like that we’re residents and his job is to, “totally protect the in a place that will grow.” quality of life in patients,” from seasonal malThe Pagáns’ daughters have embarked on adies like colds and the flu to chronic diseases their own careers and life journeys elsewhere, like diabetes and high blood pressure. while Dr. Pagán finds himself starting a new One of the reasons Wesley Chapel Medprofessional chapter of his own. ical Clinic is able to respond in a flexible and

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Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic patients also can avail themselves of mental health counseling at the clinic. Erum Ahmed, LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist) provides counseling services through Mindful Inspiration Counseling, LLC. She earned her MPH (Master of Public Health) degree from Emory University in Atlanta, GA, and a Masters of Arts degree in Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida’s School of Behavioral Sciences . Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic provides primary medical care to its patients, dealing with the illnesses, injuries, infections and chronic conditions that arise in the course of day-to-day living. One way it does that is by accepting Medicare Advantage insurance plans. According to the official U.S. Government website Medicare.gov, Medicare Advantage is “a type of Medicare health plan offered by a private company that contracts with Medicare to provide you with all your

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Part A and Part B benefits.” Plan providers include Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs), Preferred Provider Organizations (PPOs) and Private Fee-for-Service Plans (PFFS). Among the many health plan providers participating in Medicare Advantage are Optimum HealthCare, WellCare and CarePlus. People can enroll in Medicare Advantage plans during annual open enrollment periods, as well as special enrollment periods that are based on individual circumstances, such as changes in employment. More information about enrollment options can be found at Medicare.gov. According to Marcus Dunmire, Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic’s office manager, Dr. Pagán diagnoses many illnesses through medical screenings and promotes patient wellness by educating his patients about the important relationship between good health and proper nutrition and regular exercise. “We’re able to deal with most of the issues and chronic conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, arthritis and gout here in the office,” Dunmire says. Many of the screenings are performed onsite, such as glucose checks, electrocardiograms (EKG), spirometry to check lung capacity, Tuberculosis skin tests and phlebotomy (blood tests). Other services available include school and sports physical exams, Department of Transportation physicals, flu shots, vaccinations, steroid shots and nebulizer treatments for respiratory distress. Medical assistant Dawn Umsted says paying attention to patients is an important part of the process. “Listening to what they have to say is important so we can give the best quality care

that we can,” Umsted says. “We do try to get the answers as quickly as possible and get back to the patient.” That’s an approach to medicine appreciated by Marce Sevilla, who gave the clinic’s staff Five-Star Google praise in an online review. “I love this clinic,” wrote Sevilla. “The people at the front desk are awesome, they care and treat me with love and respect.” Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic also carries out its work beyond the clinical setting, holding presentations about medical issues, such as preventing and controlling chronic diseases such as diabetes and high blood pressure, to Wesley Chapel residents in community clubhouses and churches. Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic is located at 5819 Argerian Dr., Suite 101. For appointments or more information, call (813) 994-0800 or see the ad on pg. 39. TAMPA PALMS

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Florida E.N.T. & Allergy Can Help Get You Cope With Allergy Season Board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology. Allergic rhinitis is an allergy to dust, mold, pollen, mites or insect parts. Symptoms include coughing, watery and itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing. Allergic rhinitis also puts you at a higher risk of developing sinusitis, or inflammation of the sinus cavity (see below). “Allergies can cause your sinuses and nasal passages to swell, preventing the sinus cavities from draining properly, which increases your chance of developing a sinus infection,” says Dr. Nofsinger. “Any stuffy nose or cough that lasts more than two weeks is probably more than a cold, and you should see a physician.”

By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Every year, millions of people flock to Florida for our mild winters. However, did you know that those warm and more humid temperatures mean that our allergy season sticks around a lot longer? Even though you’re not worrying about shoveling snow or driving on icy roads, asthma and allergies are a real concern for Tampa Bay-area residents. “People always associate allergies with spring when flowers are pollinating, but here in Florida, the fall and winter months can be even worse. The temperatures do still drop here and the winds pick up, pushing all of those allergens out into the air. This time of the year is especially brutal for my patients who suffer from allergic rhinitis,” says Yoon Nofsinger, M.D., a Board-certified Otolaryngologist with Florida E.N.T. & Allergy. Dr. Nofsinger is one of three physicians who work at the practice’s Wesley Chapel office, located just off of S.R. 56, near I-75, in the Cypress Ridge Professional Center. Dr. Nofsinger specializes in general otolaryngology (the medical term for medical and surgical management and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat), head and neck surgery, balloon sinus dilation and treating allergies. She received her medical degree from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, where she also earned a Graduate Degree in Anthropology. She completed her undergraduate education at Duke University in Durham, N.C., and is Board-certified by the American Board of Otolaryngology.

How Can Florida E.N.T. & Allergy Help You? At Florida E.N.T. & Allergy’s Wesley Chapel office, Dr. Yoon Nofsinger (pictured above and on the next page) and her colleagues help people suffering from allergies and asthma — from pediatric patients to adults. Photos by Gavin Olsen. Dr. Nofsinger works with Peter F. Dr. Musy practices surgical and medical Agnello, M.D., and Pierre Y. Musy, M.D., management of a variety of ear, nose, and Ph.D., at Florida E.N.T. & Allergy’s Wesley throat problems. He has a particular interest Chapel office. in sino-nasal problems, and cares for both Dr. Agnello specializes in general otoadult and pediatric patients. He holds several laryngology and head and neck surgery. He degrees from the University of Florida in received his medical degree from the Boston Gainesville, including his medical degree and University School of Medicine, and his his Ph.D. in Molecular Genetics and Microundergraduate degree from Vanderbilt Uni- biology. He did residencies at the University versity in Nashville, TN. He did a residency of Virginia Medical Center in Charlotat the University of South Florida’s College tesville, then practiced ENT in Montana of Medicine and is Board-certified by the and in Washington, D.C., before joining American Board of Otolaryngology. Florida E.N.T. & Allergy. Dr. Musy also is

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Asthma symptoms also can rear their head during these cooler months. The cold, dry air can trigger wheezing, cough, chest tightness and shortness of breath. Viral and bacterial infections that are more common this time of year also can bring an onset of asthma symptoms. “Asthma is caused by different factors in different people, so it is always important to see a specialist,” says Dr. Nofsinger. “We get our patients on a personalized treatment plan that takes into account their lifestyle and any medications they are already taking.” As for allergies, there are several treatments available at Florida E.N.T. & Allergy to help alleviate patient symptoms. Allergy

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Best wishes ff the happiest of hhidays Services • Sell your House • Rent your House

Your Ear, Nose, & Throat Experts

The specialists at Florida E.N.T. & Allergy have been helping pediatric and adult patients in the Tampa Bay area for more than 40 years. With 17 Board-certified physicians and 11 convenient locations, the practice’s experienced team specializes in all aspects of ear, nose and throat care from pediatric allergies to fitting hearing aids. Florida E.N.T. & Allergy has locations in Tampa, Brandon, Riverview, Plant City, Lutz, Westchase, North Tampa and South Tampa, plus two St. Petersburg locations. The Wesley Chapel office is located at 26853 Foggy Creek Rd., Building 21, Suite 101. It is open Monday–Friday, 9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. For more information or to make an appointment, call (813) 879-8045, visit FloridaENTandAllergy.com, or see the ad on page 32.

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• Find your Next Home • Sell your Business • Property Management el Blvd. Wesley Chap

shots are still the most common option; however, Dr. Nofsinger says sublingual immunotherapy, also known as SLIT, is even more convenient. During this therapy, an allergen solution is placed underneath the tongue — instead of through an injection — to boost the body’s tolerance to the substance and reduce symptoms. Patients administer the drops themselves at home instead of having to run back and forth to an allergy specialist’s office. “Patients first come see us and undergo testing to confirm their sensitivities,” says Dr. Nofsinger. “We then prepare an allergen extract and send them home with directions to place it under their tongue for a prescribed amount of time. Patients can continue on this therapy for up to five years, until they develop a lasting immunity.” SLIT has been readily available in Europe for years, and clinical trials have shown it to be safe and effective for the treatment of rhinitis, asthma and allergies, including to

dust mites, grass, ragweed, pet dander and tree pollen. “Our patients not only find it effective, but it’s an extreme convenience,” says Dr. Nofsinger. “Instead of taking time off work to come to the office for allergy shots, they can treat their symptoms at home and get on with their daily lives, allergy-free.” Florida E.N.T. & Allergy also helps patients suffering from sinusitis. Acute cases can be treated with decongestants and antibiotics. However, if the condition has become chronic, surgery may be necessary. Florida E.N.T. & Allergy’s specialists offer many surgical options, including balloon sinuplasty, a minimally invasive procedure that is performed right in the office.

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Noble Crust Has Taken Wesley Chapel By Storm! By GARY NAGER

W HEN I first heard that Noble Crust was planning to open in The Shops at

Wiregrass mall a couple of years ago, my fiancé Jannah and I immediately starting visiting the original Noble Crust on 4th St. in St. Petersburg to sample the menu. We both immediately became fans of Noble Crust’s unique Italian fare with a Southern accent. And, although I still wish Noble Crust owner TJ Thielbar (a former managing partner at Bonefish Grill), Wesley Chapel managing partner Will Perez and Chef Rob Reinsmith would expand the menu at Noble Crust a little, what can you say about a mall restaurant that isn’t open for lunch during the week and isn’t open Mondays at all but is still packing in crowds of happy fans every day it is open? The food and drinks are excellent — and priced very fairly — the atmosphere is more like something you’d find in New York or Miami than in “The Chap” and the fact that Chef Rob regularly changes the menu and adds unique specials every month or so does keep me (and a lot of other people) coming back and hungry for more. My favorite starters at Noble Crust include the amazing kale Caesar salad topped with a uniquely soft-cooked egg. The Caesar is special because I usually prefer something more traditional and I’m

not the biggest kale fan, but between the gooey egg yolk and the definitely different Caesar dressing, well, let’s just say the salad works for me. I’m also partial to Noble Crust’s Ricotta Gnocchi, which are homemade potato pastas with pancetta, black pepper cream, parmesan and pecorino cheeses and scallions. The gnocchi were first introduced to Wesley Chapel at the 2017 Taste of New Tampa at Florida Hospital Center Ice a couple of months before the local Noble Crust opened in July. One of the special appetizers we loved was the cauliflower gratin, which is baked to perfection and Some of our editor’s favorite dishes at Noble Crust include the kale Caesar (above left), the covered with cheese, crumbled grouper with chimichurri sauce (above right), the chicken fried chicken parmigiana (bottom bacon and bread crumbs, which somehow tenderizes the cauliflower left, the ricotta gnocchi (bottom center) and the double-cut pork chop (below right) and the rigatoni & tender short ribs ragu (bottom right). and gives it a crispy coating. You also can’t go wrong with any of The brunch features great breakfast short ribs, the double-cut pork chop, the Noble Crust’s unique pizzas — from the items like fried chicken and waffles, a tender, tasty beef, veal and pork meatballs basic Margherita to the Noble Pig (topped also served with bucatini and the southern southern “Benny” (poached eggs, country with house-made sweet fennel sausage and fried chicken with Tabasco-honey, black ham, fried green tomatoes and brown large slices of amazingly tasty pepperoni). pepper gravy, apple & fennel slaw and butter Hollandaise sauce on a buttermilk I haven’t yet tasted the pretzel-crusted biscuit), a definitely different egg sandyour choice of mac n’ cheese or those calamari, but it looks delicious, too. roasted garlic whipped potatoes. Other wich (with applewood bacon, scrambled Although my favorite main dish is side dishes include four-cheese grits, garegg and pimento cheese on a garlic butter probably still the grouper special with licky greens, crispy fingerling potatoes and brioche bun; add avocado for just $1.50 chimichurri sauce (on a bed of perfect more) or a goat cheese frittata (with fried green tomatoes with lime yogurt. garlic whipped potatoes and succotash), heirloom tomato, caramelized onions and Brunch & Sunday Gravy! I also love the chicken fried chicken Hollandaise sauce). There’s also short rib For those who enjoy getting out of parmigiana, served with bucatini (a thick, “Benny” and meatball smash sandwiches but hollow spaghetti), the rigatoni & beef the house for a unique Sunday brunch that I haven’t yet sampled. (served beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday), Noble Crust has got you covered, too.

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Looking for something more traditionally Italian? Sampling Noble Crust’s unique “Sunday Gravy” dinner (left) and margherita pizza should satisfy your craving. I also still haven’t yet tried Noble Crust’s Sunday Gravy, which includes house antipasto, garlic bread with pesto + ricotta, homemade pork gravy with spaghetti or grits in a family dinner setting. It costs just $19 per person and your first glass of wine is complimentary. Dessert is a true treat at Noble Crust. My favorite so far has been the thick, dense, creamy slab of peanut butter pie, although I also enjoyed the warm chocolate budino (with salted caramel, cookie crumbles and fresh whipped cream) and the lemon buttermilk pie and bourbon

pecan pie also seem to be pretty popular. In other words, while Noble Crust may not be a traditional Italian restaurant, it is Wesley Chapel’s most unique new eatery and certainly is among my favorites in our distribution areas. Noble Crust (28330 Paseo Dr.) is open Tues.-Thur., 4 p.m.-11 p.m., 3 p.m.-midnight on Fri., 10 a.m.midnight on Sat. & 10 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sun. For reservations (not required, but suggested, visit Noble-Crust.com, call (813) 703-2682 or see the ad on How about some homemade bucatini & meatballs (left) to start a slab of peanut butter pie for dessert? pg. 42 of this issue.

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Let Cornerstone Pros Fix Your A/C, Plumbing & Electrical Problems By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com Cornerstone Pros offers professional air conditioning, plumbing and electrical maintenance and repair, and owner Dana Spears says the company’s true specialty is customer service. “We offer the convenience of three services in one,” says Dana, “so you get a positive customer service experience whenever you have any issue in your home.” She explains that the company’s great customer service starts with your first call to Cornerstone. “Whenever you call our office — during business hours or after hours — you’re always going to speak with a live person,” Dana says. “We try to make it as easy as possible for a customer. We offer same-day service or can accommodate your schedule.” Dana also promises that all Cornerstone technicians are drug tested, background checked and trained for company standards, such as wearing shoe covers, being neat and tidy, and leaving your home in the same condition they found it. “Our technicians take the time to go through everything with the homeowner,” Dana says. “They make recommendations and present options, not just tell you what they’re going to do.” And, Dana adds, there’s never any guessing what the final bill will be. “We offer all of our services at a flat rate, so you know up front what you’re going to pay,” she says. “Our repair costs include labor and parts.”

Dana Spears (fourth from left), the owner of Cornerstone Pros, is proud to employ her grown children and other members of her family. Photos provided by Cornerstone Pros. She also notes that, “All of our technicians are trained in one of the three sub-specialties. You won’t ever have an A/C guy doing plumbing.”

A Local, Family Company

Cornerstone Pros serves Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, plus all of the surrounding

areas in Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Hernando counties, based out of its office on U.S. 41 (aka Land O’Lakes Blvd.) in Land O’Lakes. “This is our hometown,” Dana says. Dana also takes pride in supporting the surrounding community. “We do a lot of sponsoring and giving

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back,” she explains, “We support local sports teams and we’re currently participating in Toys For Kids, which provides toys to kids at the Joshua House and other charities. We also support the Susan G. Komen walk to end breast cancer, and many other small things to support the people in this community.” In the 12 years the company has been in business, it has grown tremendously. It started as an air conditioning company, but later added electrical and plumbing services. Cornerstone Pros now employs 55 people, Dana says, including 40 technicians. “We want to continue to grow but we don’t want to lose the customer service and family feel that we have,” Dana says. “We’re a very family-oriented company.” In fact, Dana says, seven members of her family also work at Cornerstone Pros, including her husband, mom, two daughters, their fiancées, and a cousin. That’s part of the reason Dana feels the company is successful. “The people who work for us love that we’re getting bigger but we still care about our families and don’t have a big corporate feeling,” Dana says. “When you’re happy where you work, that carries over to the customer service experience.” She also feels that being a woman-owned business gives her a unique perspective. “We’re thinking about our customers as a mom or wife (would). How can I make it easier for the customer? I have 5 children and 55 employees and a home, so I under-

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stand. We all have busy lives. When you have an interruption, like you lose power or your A/C, how do you make it easier, so it’s not the worst day of your life? That’s my focus.” On the horizon, Dana says, is new software that makes the Cornerstone Pros customer experience “even better.” “Right now, we call when technicians are on their way to you,” explains Dana, but soon, she adds, the software will send a text. “We’re keeping up with the technology that’s out there.”

Maintenance ‘Clubs,’ Too

Dana says it’s important to have your A/C checked twice a year. If you haven’t had a tune up recently, she recommends it before the cold weather hits. “You want to be sure to have all of the components checked for the winter,” she says. Cornerstone offers a thorough, 77-point inspection, which takes about an hour, for just $39.95, to make sure everything is working properly. In fact, Cornerstone recommends annual plumbing and electrical inspections, too. To make it easy for customers, Cornerstone Pros offers maintenance plans, or “clubs,” that include inspections in all three trades and discounts on repairs. “Club members get two A/C tune ups per year, and we remind you when it’s time for them,” Dana explains. “We stay on top of it for you so you don’t have to remember to get your A/C serviced.”

Water Treatment & Generators Cornerstone Pros also can help meet other needs in your home.

The plumbing technicians at Cornerstone Pros work with Westinghouse to offer water treatment, water conditioning and well treatment. Cornerstone Pros also is certified by Generac to sell and install its whole-home standby generators. “We went without power here in our shop for a week after (Hurricane) Irma,” says Dana. “There seems to be a lot of interest (in generators) because so many people went without power. The generators run off propane and can typically run the entire home, including your A/C and appliances.”

Reviews & Awards

Cornerstone Pros has nearly 200 reviews on Google, with an average of 4.5 out of 5 stars. In addition, Dana is very proud of the 1,435 reviews on the website Angie’s List. Those reviews have earned Cornerstone Pros a “Super Service Award” from Angie’s List every year since 2012, designating it as the top A-rated company in its category and market. Cornerstone Pros also was honored to be selected as the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce’s “Large Business of the Year” for 2017. Dennis and Pamela Beatty are Arbor Greene residents who have been using Cornerstone Pros for the past five years. “Every time, they’re extremely professional, so polite, really quick and always do a good job at a fair price,” says Pamela. “I don’t think you can ask for anything more.” For more information about Cornerstone Pros or to make an appointment, call (813) 343-4951, visit CornerstonePros.com, or see the ad on page 34.

SPOTLIGHT ON..Richeson Wellness & NutriMost! At Cypress Creek Chiropractic & Wellness in the Cypress Ridge Professional Plaza off of S.R. 56, Micah Richeson, D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic) and his wife Mitze (both in photo) offer a variety of programs to help people get and stay healthy and feel their best. While Dr. Richeson focuses on wellness from a “structural” perspective (alignment of the spine), Mitze has been offering NutriMost, a weight-loss program supervised by her husband, for the past three years, Now, she’s pleased to announce the inception of Richeson Wellness, which will focus on nutrition and wellness through functional medicine (which is a medical practice that focuses on optimal body and organ function, generally through holistic treatments). Dr. Richeson is a third-generation chiropractic physician who opened the practice in 2008, after eight years in his father’s practice in Gainesville. He earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Public Health from the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond and his D.C. degree from Parker College in Dallas, TX, in 2000. Mitze received her Certification as a Chiropractic Physician’s Assistant in 2013 from the Cleveland Chiropractic College, which is based in Cleveland, OH. NutriMost is touted as a rapid weightloss program that allows women to lose up to 25 pounds in 40 days (for men, it’s up to 40 pounds). It’s a national franchise with about 160 locations, with just three in the Tampa Bay area. Now, in addition to the NutriMost program, Richeson Wellness offers a different option for women and men whose bodies aren’t quite ready for the type of drastic life-

style change that NutriMost requires. Clients receive a comprehensive blood work-up, which Mitze says can be 17-25 pages long and is much more comprehensive and will be better explained than what typically happens at most doctors’ offices. “With the tools that NutriMost gives you, I have kept it off (for the last several months),” says April Ray, who lost 30 pounds. “NutriMost is a new way of eating. I eat more calories and volume than what I used to eat before I went to NutriMost. It’s taught me how to combine protein, fats and carbs in the right proportions, so I feel satisfied. I don’t feel like I’m starving, like on most diets.” Richeson Wellness, NutriMost and Cypress Creek Chiropractic are located at 2304 Crestover Ln. For more information or to schedule an appointment, see the ad on page 39 of this issue or call (813) 241-7098 to reach the NutriMost staff or (813) 435-6643 to reach Mitze for Richeson Wellness. You also may visit RichesonWellness.com or search “Richeson Wellness” on Facebook.

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Cypress Creek Middle High School Dedication

Cypress Creek Middle High School, Wesley Chapel’s newest school, commemorated its opening this fall with an official dedication ceremony on Nov. 14. The event was held at the school on Old Pasco Rd., and featured speeches from principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles (above, holding the scissors) and Pasco County Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browning (far left), a ribbon cutting and music from the school’s band, as well as self-guided tours of the new facilities.

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Octogenarian Trying To Bring Truly “Old-School” Hockey To Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel resident Norm Dann (holding the trophy) recently competed in the 80s Division at the Hall of Fame Games in Ottawa, Canada. Dann’s team was comprised of octogenarians from all over the country, the oldest playing being 86 years old. By ANDY WARRENER

Florida Old Timers Hockey Association secretary/treasurer Norm Dann is looking for a few good (older) men — and women — to come out in support of ice hockey in Wesley Chapel. The Canadian-born Dann just turned 80 years old, and amazingly, he says 75 of those have been spent playing organized hockey. He also says he once had pro aspirations while playing in a juniors league for the Ontario Hockey Association, but says a back injury torpedoed his chances. As a teenager, he moved to Tampa in the 1950s, but never stopped playing hockey. It’s easier to find venues these days for Dann, who lives in Wesley Chapel and is already taking part in some senior hockey programs already going at Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI). The USA Hockey Adult Nationals Program has been at the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon since 2004. Dann says in 2015, at its zenith, the program produced 50 teams of 50-over players, 12 teams of 60over, eight teams of 65-over and six teams of 70-over. There were even 24 ladies teams for ages 50-over. Yes, ladies. There is room for you in senior hockey leagues, too. Meanwhile, FHCI hosts a myriad of hockey leagues for many different age groups, from beginners to ages 50-over, but Dann is pushing for an even older hockey division. “It’s definitely something we could do,” says FHCI general manager Gordie Zimmerman. “Last year, we had a very successful adult nationals hockey tournament here.” Finding the older skaters is the next goal. Dann says he meets seniors frequently at FHCI, many of them snowbirds who had no idea that there is an opportunity to play locally. “I’ve met 12 guys just standing around and when I ask them where their gear is and they say, ‘Up home, up north,’” Dann says. “I go over there (FHCI) two or three times 34

per week, just to see who’s there and to get on the ice. Most guys I talk to are interested, we just have to let people know that if they are interested, to contact us.” The leagues and the membership are already strong in the Tampa area for older hockey players. Currently, Dann, who credits a 125over-65 blood pressure with a resting heart rate of 50 to the health benefits of playing hockey, skates at Clearwater Ice Arena in Largo, and his bonds run deep there. He says the camaraderie and warmth in a hockey locker room is like no other, and that spirit is what makes it difficult to start a league in Wesley Chapel. “There’s guys that would like to play here (Wesley Chapel) but they play in Brandon or Oldsmar and they’ve made friends there,” Dann says. “They don’t want to leave their leagues.” But, Dann is hoping to create those same bonds here in Wesley Chapel. “It’s a beautiful facility here, everything anyone could want,” Dann said. “They have a studio, a half rink (aka “minipad”), weight rooms and off-ice facilities. It’s so new you can still smell the paint.” Dann and his teammates don’t bang each other around like they might have in their youth. In fact, checking and other overly physical contact is not allowed. “It becomes more of a finesse game, “ Dann says. “All these guys have great stick handling.” Appreciation for the sport over decades isn’t lost on Zimmerman, who also grew up playing hockey in Canada before moving south. “I’ve been playing since I was three and I’m 52 now,” Zimmerman says. “I enjoy it as much now as I did back then. You can play until you’re someone like Norm’s (Dann) age and still enjoy it.” Anyone interested in joining a senior hockey league at FHCI can reach Norm Dann at Florida Old Timers’ Hockey Association, PO Box 7218, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543-0103. Or, call (813) 9733654 or email old.puck@juno.com.

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Cypress Creek High Boys Basketball Will Have You Seeing Double…Twice! By ANDY WARRENER If you’ve attended a Cypress Creek Middle High School boys basketball game this year, you might have thought you were seeing the same two players over and over and over again. You’re not. The Coyotes have not one, but two sets of identical twins this season on their varsity roster — juniors Tai-Sheim and Jai-Keem Anthony, and sophomores Jalen and Jehlani Warren. Chemistry is the name of the game for both sets of brothers. The Anthonys moved to the Wesley Chapel area from Atlanta as fifth graders, already in tune with each other on the basketball court. They began to develop roles when they came up to the Wesley Chapel High (WCH) junior varsity team as sophomores a year ago, Tai-Sheim as a guard/forward, JaiKeem as a point guard/shooting guard. “I remember the first game (at WCH) last year, I scored 19,” Jai-Keem said. “The next game, I scored 21 and it seemed to get easier from there.” The brothers never have a problem finding each other on the court. “I know I can look up the court and he (Tai-Sheim) will be in the corner for the three,” Jai-Keem said. “It always easy for us to find each other on the court.” Both players would like to be the Cypress Creek point guard, but Tai-Sheim has accepted his role. “I’m fine with it (not being the point),” Tai-Sheim says. “He (Jai-Keem) is shorter, so coach put him at point. I just try to fit in wherever I play.” The Warren twins aren’t playing together

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(Left photo, l.-r.) Jalen Warren, Jehlani Warren, Jai-Keem Anthony and Tai-Sheem Anthony. (Right photo) Tai-Sheim Anthony drives the lane and dishes the ball (Photos by Andy Warrener). The Warrens grew up in Virginia Beach, as Coyotes for the first time. Jehlani is the quarThere’s a mutual confidence boost when terback of the football team, while Jalen is one of and only moved to the Wesley Chapel area last the twins are on the floor together. “I’m more the running backs and also played strong safety. year. They, like the Anthonys, developed into confident (with Jalen on the court),” Jehlani says. The two have a lengthy history on the their respective roles playing in rec leagues and The sets of twins, and the rest of the Coycourts, however, and sometimes Jehlani and Jalen in middle school. otes, were still looking for their first win of the have even had to face off as opponents in variJehlani was more of a shooting guard or season after four games, thanks to a brutal early ous leagues. “When we used to play together in small forward, and Jalen played a lot of point season schedule, which included losses to Wirerec leagues, they made us play on separate teams guard. He has since shifted to shooting guard grass Ranch High and Tampa Catholic. because we were so good together,” Jehlani says. and forward for the Coyotes, as Cypress Creek Isaiah Flores leads the team with 11.5 The Warren twins’ dad, Christopher, says already has Jai-Keem and freshman Willie points a game, with Jai-Keem right behind him that it wasn’t until their last year of AAU basket- Ravenna, who can play point. But, Jalen still at 8.5 and Tai-Sheim at 5.3. ball that his twins were allowed to play on the finds his brother when he needs to deliver a pass. “Both sets of twins are great kids that “When I’m dribbling in, he (Jehlani) knows come from great families and they give 100 persame team together. “They would take turns taking over if I’m gonna cut or pass it,” Jalen says. “It’s very cent,” Coyotes head coach Anthony Mitchell games,” Christopher Warren said. “They pushed exciting because he’s the person I know best, and says. “Our team is a work in progress, but havthe offense along and were a good 1-2 punch.” I know he’s not going to fail me.” ing siblings together helps unite us.”

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Record 2,200 Runners Not Deterred By Rainy ‘Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot!’ By GARY NAGER The light rain that fell pretty much throughout the 2017 Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 5K race and 1-mile family fun run made the footing a little tough and kept the times a little slower, but it didn’t keep this year’s Thanksgiving morning road race from drawing its biggest crowd ever in its fifth year. A record total of nearly 2,200 runners came out to the Shops at Wiregrass for this year’s Wobble, so the race’s organizers — the FitNiche store at the mall, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) and the Rotary Club of New Tampa (which meets Fridays at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club) — were again thrilled with the event. “We are so thankful for the record number of people who came out to Wobble,” said New Tampa Rotary president Karen Frashier just before the race’s top finishers were announced by fellow Rotarian and event emcee Bob Thompson. “We also had amazing sponsors this year

(including the now-open Audi Wesley Chapel dealership on S.R. 56; see Nibbles & Bytes column on pg. 42), so we know we’ll raise more money for our nonprofit beneficiaries.” The Rotary Club, FitNiche and FHWC all have their own charitable foundations who will benefit from this year’s Wobble, although Frashier couldn’t say, at our press time, exactly

how much was raised. “We definitely will beat last year’s $36,000,” Frashier said. Congrats to overall winners Mike Zwijacz of Land O’Lakes (16:59.83) and Lydia Friedman of Tampa (18:09.57) and to all of the incredible runners from ages 7-70 who finished! For complete 2017 race results, visit WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot.com.

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Ready For Something Truly Unique? Try New Tampa’s El Pescador Restaurant! By GARY NAGER

I WISH I HAD

a dollar for every time a New Tampa or Wesley Chapel resident has told me, “I wish something other than another chain restaurant would open here.” I, of course, have been among the loudest of those voices, always lamenting that every time we get a new place — even if it isn’t a chain — it’s still too similar to too many other eateries we already have here. Well, one thing I can assure you is that the casual, new El Pescador Mexican Restaurant Taqueria & Seafood in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza (two miles south of the Pasco County line) isn’t like any other Mexican place we already have, nor is it like any other fresh seafood place I’ve sampled anywhere. Seriously. Although it is owned and operated by the same family that owns some of the local Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurants, El Pescador truly specializes in fresh seafood. The main issue I have with that is that I can’t eat most of the incredible variety of seafood dishes available at El Pescador because of my accursed shellfish allergy. In fact, other than the fresh fish dishes on the menu (and yes, there are a few; see below), the only shellfish dishes I can safely eat are the “Patas de Cangrejo,” or crab legs platter, the “Almejas al Ajo” (clams in garlic sauce) and the grilled octopus and sea scallops, even though I’ve never been a big octopus or scallop lover. If you’re not allergic to shrimp, lobster, oysters, mussels, crawfish, etc., and you like to sample them in a variety of different sauces, your taste buds may have found a new home.

Let’s Start With Starters...

Before you order anything, El Pescador’s happy servers bring you the most incredibly crispy, oversized tortilla chips, with a Vallarta’s-like fresh, puréed salsa and a spicier salsa, plus a plate with a dollop of a unique tuna salad and fresh cucumbers and tomatoes. If you enjoy fresh ceviche to start a meal, there are tuna, shrimp and tilapia varieties and the lime juice, onions and peppers combine to make a tasty appetizer. There also “Vuelve ala Vida,”a mix of shrimp, octopus, oyster and tilapia ceviche, as well as peel-and-eat shrimp and crawfish, shrimp and shrimp and octopus cocktails and “Caldo 7 Mares” and other soups. Oyster fans can enjoy small or large plates on the half shell, fried or served “Rockefeller” style (baked with octopus, crab, shrimp and cheese). There also are

shrimp empanadas, fried calamari, cheese dip and made-to-order guacamole. As for the fish dinners I can eat, the “Huachinango Zarandeado,” which is one of the priciest items on the menu, is a marinated whole red snapper, fileted and cooked over an open fire that truly seals in the flavor and juices. If you prefer a whole fried snapper that isn’t fileted for you, the “Huachinango al Gusto” is the whole fish with garlic, spicy diablo red sauce or creamy ranchera sauce — for about half of the cost of the Zarandeado. Fish lovers also can enjoy fried or grilled swai (a freshwater catfish), grilled salmon or whole fried tilapia. The most expensive item on the menu is the whole, stuffed lobster, which is heavily stuffed with shrimp, crab, scallops and octopus. Shrimp alone are available grilled, fried, spicy sautéed, with pico de gallo or sautéed in garlic sauce. Jannah and I did sample the “small” snow crab leg dinner ($19.95), which comes with fries and rice (although you can substitute veggies), as do all of El Pescador’s House Specialties. The crab legs are yummy, but extremely messy, as the legs themselves are covered in a creamy “Chef’s secret sauce” of garlic, butter and (I’m guessing) paprika. Also available are a variety of platters, including the Vallarta Grilled Combo (shrimp, tilapia and octopus with grilled onions) and El Pescador Seafood Combo (garlic, shrimp, tilapia and scallops with rice, salad and garlic bread).

Whole Stuffed Lobster

For You Landlubbers...

Whether you’re allergic or you just prefer more traditional Mexican fare, El Pescador does also have a tasty carne asada steak, very good fajitas (including the steak, shrimp and chicken Fajitas El Pescador combo pictured on the next page), chicken (including the tasty “Pollo Crema”), two kinds of pork, marinated beef, chorizo sausage, shrimp and fish, all available in mini-tacos, tacos, burritos, or quesadilla, or create your own combo. More adventurous types can try tongue or tripe. Lunch is a good deal at El Pescador, with steak or chicken fajitas for just $8.50 or create a lunch-size combo of two for just $9.50. Most other lunch items are just $7.95-$9.95. Items from the kids menu cost just $6.95 each and include your choice of a cheese quesadilla, steak burrito, chicken fingers, a cheeseburger, grilled chicken burger or even grilled chicken. Kids entrées are served with rice and beans or fries.

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Proudly Serving Combination Fajitas And, El Pescador has Mexican (try the Carta Blanca) and domestic beers, as well as merlot, chardonnay and homemade sangria, plus flan, churros and other tasty desserts. El Pescador (19062 BBD Blvd.) opens at 11 a.m. and stays opens until 9 p.m. on Sun., 9:30 p.m. Mon.-Thur., and 10 p.m. on Fri.-Sat. For more info, including great coupon specials, see the ad on pg. 25. Or, call (813) 615-9595 or search “El Pescador Mexican Restaurant” on Facebook. Note-Some photos shown here are from Yelp.

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Presenting — A Special Holiday Giving Edition Of Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes! By GARY NAGER

After the terrible things our country and our area have been through this past year, there’s no doubt that there are more people in need of assistance than ever before. The good news, here in Wesley Chapel, is that there are so many wonderful people who always seem to be at the forefront of the giving, serving and helping of those in need. This special edition of Nibbles & Bytes is dedicated to just a few of the people I know well enough to snap a picture of and tell just a little bit of their respective stories.

Santa Claus Himself?

Well no, but it’s O.K. with him if you mistake my friend Paul Bartell (above, left) for Mr. Kringle, as Paul’s beard is real and he really does love playing Santa to help groups, individuals and the foundation he and his wife Jamie started a few years ago for their son Sean, who passed away from a rare skin disease in 2014. In fact, Paul told me in early December that he already had nearly the entire month booked with more than 50 Santa appearances, including the “Breakfast with Santa hosted earlier this week by the

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (see below for more about the club), which bestowed a Paul Harris Fellow award (a $1,000 value) on him for his “spirit of Rotary,” even though he doesn’t belong to a Rotary club. Paul also has been a fixture at every Wesley Chapel Relay for Life for the American Cancer Society. The Sean Bartell Foundation has hosted numerous fund raisers and has already given away $10,000 in college scholarships to local graduating high school seniors. But, on November 11, Paul, Jamie and their son James hosted their foundation’s second annual Quarter Auction in Zephyrhills, which Paul says raised more than $3,600 to help fund more scholar-

ships and literally all 100+ people who attended went home with a prize. For more information about the foundation, search “Sean Bartell Memorial Foundation” on Facebook. Don’t let Paul...I mean Santa...put you on the naughty list.

Speaking Of Those WC Rotarians...

I’ve mentioned several times in these pages that I’m no longer a member of the aforementioned Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, but my fiancé, Jannah McDonald (more on her below), is still a member of the club — and there’s no doubt that this large (more than 70 members) Rotary Club

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lives up to Rotary International’s motto of “Service Above Self” to the local community and even has an international reach with its humanitarian trips to Honduras (in conjunction with Pure Water for the World). The club meets every Wednesday at noon at Lexington Oaks Golf Club and visitors/ guests are always welcome. Current president Kent Ross was proud to have again served about 400 meals to those in need at the club’s annual Turkey Gobble Feast; held at Atonement Lutheran Church on S.R. 54 (above right). For more information about the club, search “Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon” on Facebook or visit WCRotary.com.

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And, Speaking Of Jannah...

Audi Wesley Chapel Is Open!

I also have to give a shout-out to my fiancé for her efforts as the co-chair (with Madeline Robinson) of the Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP)’s Nature Coast Chapter’s annual National Philanthropy Day Awards Ceremony on Nov. 14. AFP is the leading professional association in the world dedicated to harnessing the spirit of philanthropy. The luncheon honored several companies, individuals and organizations for what they do for their communities and I’m proud to say that my friends at Wesley Chapel Nissan (photo, top) were honored that owner Jay Rosario’s local dealership was named the “Philanthropic Corporation of the Year” for all they do in and around this community, including the recent Casino Night fund raiser (in conjunction with the WC Rotary) to benefit young cancer patient Clayton Mahler and his family on Aug. 25. The only other Wesley Chapel nominee was WC Rotary member (and past president) Eric Johnson of Wesley Chapel Honda & Toyota, who was nominated as “Volunteer of the Year” for his spearheading of the Rotary’s annual trip to Honduras. WC Nissan and public relations specialist Troy Stevenson (who has won some awards for his volunteerism) also get kudos for putting me in an amazing new Maxima a couple of weeks ago. For more info about AFP, visit AFPNatureCoast.org. For Wesley Chapel Nissan, visit WesleyChapelNissan.com.

And, Finally...

Congrats to the red-hot Tampa Bay Lightning, who sent stars Steven Stamkos

The new Audi Wesley Chapel (WC) is now open at 2500 Lajuana Blvd. at S.R. 56, less than a mile east of the Shops at Wiregrass! Dimmitt Auto Group’s Audi WC employees are now hard at work showing off and selling the complete line of beautiful Audi vehicles. What a great holiday gift! Don’t forget to mention to GM Allen Majewski and his sales staff that you read about the Audi Wesley Chapel Inner Circle Program (see the ad on pg. 2) in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News!

New Identities Opens In The New Tampa Center!

(above left), Victor Hedman and JT Brown to sign autographs in Seminole Heights shortly after the accused serial killer Howell Donaldson was captured, to try to get the Bay-area community back out to one of my favorite neighborhoods. The merchants and restaurants in Seminole Heights took a major hit during those 51 days when four locals were tragically murdered, but there were crowds of people at three popular eateries (Ella’s, Fodder & Shine and The Brew Bus), so the hope here is that those paces and Red Star Rock Bar, Olde Heights Bistro, Rooster & The Till and all the others will be able to bounce back “Seminole Heights Strong”-er than ever!

Congratulations to my friends, Marc and Kelly Rockquemore, who recently opened their third New Identities Hair Studio at 19038 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the New Tampa Center (next to Publix and GNC), less than two miles south of the Pasco County line. The New Tampa location (only!) is offering a great special with the coupon in the ad on page 8 of this issue — a cut, color (retouch only; additional color cost may apply) and conditioning treatment, all for just $69! Appointments are required and the offer is good through Sunday, December 31. The coupon special is a great way to meet the new (and some familiar) faces at the New Tampa New Identities Hair Studio! For appointments and more info, visit NewIdentitiesSalon.com or call 813.579.1575.

Let Leiva’s Jewelry Make You A Hero For The Holidays, Too!

So, because I’m born in January, my birth stone is a garnet, which looks like a ruby but isn’t nearly as costly. When I proposed to my fiancé Jannah

McDonald, instead of a traditional diamond (we’ve both been married before), I gave her a faceted garnet surrounded by small diamonds that had already been created by my friend and long-time advertiser, Transito Leiva, the master jeweler with decades of experience at Leiva’s Jewelry, which is located at 19020 BBD, in the New Tampa Center (the same plaza as Massage Green Spa, see pg. 15; El Pescador, see pg. 25 and the story on pg. 40 and New Identities Hair Studio). And, when Jannah and I were going to my nephew Jason’s very formal wedding in the gorgeous Barnes Foundation Museum in Philadelphia last month, I decided that Jannah needed something special to wear around her neck to go with her ring, so I brought in another faceted garnet that was already in a setting that we had purchased at another jewelry store, had a brief conversation with Leiva (he mainly is known by his last name) and his son and store “front” man Jonathan and about two weeks later, Jannah had a gorgeous, custom-designed necklace that perfectly matches her ring. Everywhere we go, people have the most wonderful things to say about these two pieces of jewelry. So, for a perfect holiday, birthday or Valentine’s Day gift, I suggest that you stop in at Leiva’s ad on pg. 40 of this issue or call (813) 972-0417 — and please tell the Leivas that I sent you!

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CLEANING SERVICES B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 16 years experience! Commercial & residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & post construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in or move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates; References available. Call today: 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more info, Call 758-9710. R HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES To Keep Your House clean, call Marlene! Working now in Wesley Chapel and the New Tampa areas. Monday through Friday, 8 AM - 4 PM. We can help: Call 562-637-5974 or email kolungaa@ hotmail.com. FREE estimates. POWER HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES Offering residential cleaning for weekly, bi-weekly, monthly & occasional. One time, deep cleaning, move-in/ move-outs, real estate, holiday and event cleaning. Owner Operator with Personal Touch! Licensed and Insured. To schedule or for a free in-home estimate, call (813) 356-8287 or e-mail powerclean16@ gmail.com. Try Power House Cleaning Services - you will be powerfully pleased!

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

HOME IMPROVEMENT WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure exterior house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing and deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big or small. Experience the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning professional. Licensed and insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015. DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional & personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. Call 813-215-1177.

_ ANTIQUES & MORE FOR SALE! SUSAN’S ANTIQUES, VINTAGE ART, BRICA-BRAC, GLASS & OTHER TREASURES! In Annett’A’s Attic, 2nd Flr, 14136 8th St, Dade City. For more info, see our display ad on pg. 16!

PET SERVICES

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

MISCELLANEOUS

LIVE-IN CAREGIVER: Live-in caregiver. I offer integrity, professionalism & TLC. 14 years of experience with elderly and dementia patients. Excellent references, fun personality. (941) 735-7761.

GREG’S PAPERHANGING. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed and insured, clean, quick and reasonable. Call 973-2767 for a free estimate. RAYMOND PAINTING. Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References avail. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124. DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for free estimate: 813-7845999. MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR.Professional Handyman. Cabinet Installation, dry wall repair, tile installation & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, interior painting, appliance installation, pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning installation, carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TYCOONUNION@YAHOO.COM. DALE’S HOME MAINTENANCE Pressure washing, screen repairs, garage cleaning and organizing, shelving, re-grout tile and caulking, and more. 813-727-2582.

PIANO LESSONS PIANO LESSONS Children or adults, beginners or advanced. Master’s Degree in Music Composition, SUNY Stony Brook. Over 55 years of piano study. Contact Andre Garneau: studiog.newtampa@ gmail.com

CELEBRATING 20 YEARS WITH MORE THAN 400 CUSTOMERS

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 26 • December 15, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

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MUST BRING COUPON

TOPASH PAINTING, L.L.C. FREE ESTIMATES

Doing business in Pasco and Hillsborough County area since 1978

21 Years Experience • Interior/Exterior HUNDREDS OF HAPPY CUSTOMERS

Call K.T. Topash

(owner/painter)

813.780.2511 Topashpainting@Gmail.com

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 26 • December 15, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

30122 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Hours: Monday - Thur, 11AM–10PM Friday & Sat, 11AM–11PM

We are Bosco's Italian to go, where we serve fresh Italian food with a friendly smile! We use locally sourced produce & our cheese is hand-grated daily!

must be present at time of purchase. Expires 01/31/18

Pizza

Pasta

Salads

Wings

www.BoscosItalianFL.com | 813-907-2440

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 26 • December 15, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews