New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 29, Issue 3, February 2, 2021 by Neighborhood News

Volume 29 Issue 3 February 2, 2021

Inside:

Our Editor’s 2020 Restaurant Favorites See pgs. 29-35 & 38!

Miss New Tampa Is Aiming Higher STORY BY JOHN C. COTEY * PHOTOS: COURTESY OF UDEME AIKIDDI

ew Tampa’s Udeme Ikaiddi (pronounced Oo-DEM-ee A-Ky-dee) didn’t grow up in the world of beauty pageants. She grew up playing violin, reading books and hanging out with friends. It wasn’t until she was in college that she ever considered entering one herself, and that was only after producing different pageants at the University of South Florida, like the Miss Africa USF event, and others. At the age of 25, with some prodding from a friend, Udeme entered and won her first beauty pageant. A year later, she was named Miss New Tampa. In July, at the age of 26, she will vie for the title of Miss Florida in Coral Springs, although a date has not been set. “It’s been a fun adventure,” she says. Udeme, a Cross Creek resident and 2012 Wharton High graduate, didn’t win an actual pageant to earn the title of Miss New Tampa. While she has modeled and taken part in Tampa Bay and Orlando Fashion Week events and various bridal and wedding expos, she only had to apply to become a hometown delegate by sending in pictures and a resumé to the Miss Florida USA organization. She was

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one of many chosen to represent their area — there also is a Miss Brandon, Miss Riverview, Miss Hillsborough, and so on. “When we all come together in July, there will be roughly 100 girls (vying to be Miss Florida),” Udeme says. The winner will be determined by the highest scores from three competitions: fitness (athletic wear/swimsuit), evening gown and interview. The winner will represent Florida at the Miss USA competition, and the winner there will represent the U.S. at the Miss Universe pageant. It’s still all so new for Udeme. “I literally just jumped into it when I was 25,” she says. “To me, it’s a really huge deal because my No. 1 goal is to go to Miss Universe and represent the United State of America, and this is like the first step. So, instead of just being super excited, there’s a lot of nerves, but also a lot of determination.” Although she’s no shrinking violet herself, Udeme basically honed her pageant skills while producing them. She trained and conditioned participants by making them feel good about themselves, giving See “Udeme” on pg. 5

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My Prayer For Jax & Rosie After President Biden Takes Over An editorial by Gary Nager My grandson Jax and Jannah’s granddaughter Rosie (photos) are now just over 13 and 14 months old, respectively, and both are beautiful, smart, loving babies/toddlers who came into this world a few months before the Covid-19 pandemic hit Florida in March of 2020. This means that their moms didn’t have to wear masks as they gave birth and their dads were allowed to be in the delivery rooms with their wives. And that, sadly, may be the last “normal” thing about their young lives, at least for the next year or two or who knows, really? Since they were born, Rosie and Jax have only met people wearing face masks, haven’t been able to go to restaurants, kid-friendly public events or even their own one-year-old birthday parties without everyone wearing masks, for fear of how contracting the virus might affect them, their parents, grandparents and others. For these amazing young children and kids across this great country of ours (and the world), I agree with new U.S. President Joe Biden that getting control of the pandemic has to be his #1 priority. With nearly 25 million confirmed cases and 400,000+ deaths at our press time in this country, and concerns about inadequate testing and vaccination distribution and possible side effects mounting, Covid — and the economic crisis it has caused — is now up to Pres. Biden and his new team to tackle. And, despite what you may think I’m “trying” to say, this is not a political rant, even though I agree that now-former Pres. Trump should have done more from February 2020 through early January of this year with regards to Covid than just trying to speed to market these still-untested, unproven vaccines. I honestly believe that had Trump admitted, well prior to Nov. 3, that his earlier assertions that Covid “would just magically disappear by the summer” were incorrect, and had he started wearing (and asking his supporters to wear) masks, rather than flout what his own medical experts were saying for months, he likely would still be President today. And, as a registered Republican, I would have been happy to vote for him — because he did accomplish some good things for our economy and in the Middle East (despite his hard-to-take personality) — rather than not casting a ballot at all for either candidate. But, Pres. Trump’s inability to see and own up to his own missteps, and his constant need to keep his supporters stirred up not only caused him to lose the election, it also led to the insurrection at the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, and to his second impeachment trial in the U.S. Senate. I believe that trial, if it still ends up happening, will be a complete waste of taxpayer dollars and time that should be spent by Congress on addressing our still-ongoing health and economic crises. I could be wrong, but I don’t believe that enough Senate Republicans will vote to remove a President from office who no longer holds that office. I also believe that the fact that the trial is still scheduled for this month (at least at our press time) indicates that the Democrats only want to move forward with the trial in order to prevent Pres. Trump from running for office in the future. So, my prayer for Jax and Rosie is that Pres. Biden — despite what appears to be a more liberal agenda than we expected in the Neighborhood News

early days of his presidency — ultimately is able to stand up to the far left of his party and do what he has to do to bring this great country back. I believe all of us already are doing as he asked at his inauguration — “Take a measure of me and my heart.” And I pray, for Rosie and Jax, and all of the children around the world — that Pres. Biden’s heart for this country will win out over his party’s hatred Our editor is praying for the future and well-being of his grandchildren Rosie (left) and Jax as Pres. Biden attempts to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic. for his predecessor.

INSIDE:

Viera’s latest tour stop: Discussing high water bills in Arbor Greene.

Page 6

The ExerScience Center’s high-tech, lowimpact therapies will get you right.

Pages 20-21

Gary’s favorite 2020 New Tampa restaurants revealed!

Pages 29-35, 38

New Tampa Neighborhood News Our NEW Address:

28949 S.R. 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Mike Camunas • Celeste McLaughlin • Eric Vician Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager Office Assistant Benjamin Hobe Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisement reservations for Volume 29, Issue 5, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, January 15, 2021. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously nonpublished outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

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‘UDEME!’

Continued from pg. 1 them confidence, and assuring them that public speaking was not so scary. “I helped them find that confidence and that fire to step on the stage,” she says. And now, she has ended up lighting her own fire. Her first pageant was the Miss Akwibo USA pageant, which she won in 2019. Although she was born in Tallahassee, FL, Udeme is of African descent, with her parents coming to America in the 1980s from their birthplace in Akwa Ibom State, located in southern Nigeria. There is an annual convention in the U.S. for Akwa Ibom natives, which draws nearly 2,000 people. Udeme compares it to a convention of Florida natives being held in Germany. The pageant is held during the convention. Her platform was “Live. Love. Learn.” It focused on preventing malaria, tuberculosis and HIV/ AIDS and promoting healthy life choices (“Live”), documenting Akwa Ibom traditions and culture online (“Love”) and educating Akwa Ibom youth (“Learn”). As part of her duties as Miss Ak-

In September 2019, Udeme traveled to Akwa Ibom State as Miss Akwa Ibom USA to complete one of her pet projects — giving school supplies to children in the primary school of the villages where her mother and father are from in Nigeria.

wibo USA, Udeme visited Nigeria in 2019, met the Akwa Ibom governor and worked on projects related to her platform. “It was such a humbling experience, I cannot stress that enough,” Udeme says. “It really made me see the good things I could do, and made me think about other ways to do even more with this platform.”

Udeme started to look into other opportunities, to see if pageants and the platform they afford might be something she’d like to spend more time pursuing. She says she was moved when she watched the 2019 Miss Universe pageant on YouTube, which was won by Zozibini Tunzi of South Africa, as well as the Miss USA 2020 event, where Asya Branch, the

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first ever black contestant from Mississippi, earned the crown. “I said, ‘Yep, this is what I want to do,’” Udeme says. “I was like, ‘These beautiful black women are so smart, so intelligent, so humble and so loving, I want to try and do this.’” While she waits for her opportunity at the Miss Florida pageant, Udeme is pursuing her passion for hospitality and tourism. She got her Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Management from USF and may apply for the Master’s program. She also is a sales coordinator at the Hilton Tampa Downtown and owns her own event-planning business, Gifted Engagements, which she says is currently on hiatus, due to Covid-19. In her role as Miss New Tampa, Udeme already has forged a collaboration with the Hillsborough branch of the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI). She hopes that relationship is just the beginning. “I’m really excited about July,” Udeme says. “Sure, the goal at the end of the day to is to win, 100 percent, but even now, if I didn’t try, I wouldn’t have been connected with NAMI (as Miss New Tampa). Even before Miss USA, I’ve accomplished something that warms my heart, and I just want to do more.”

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Viera Takes It To The Streets To Address Concerns By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Tampa City Council member Luis Viera has always enjoyed scheduling community meetings in his District 7, which includes the City of Tampa communities in New Tampa. Sometimes, Viera meets for a cup of coffee, or in a clubhouse meeting room or even at someone’s home. He says his favorite form has been the local townhall meeting, of which he has hosted a handful in New Tampa alone. However, Covid-19 has changed all that, forcing Viera to, well, take it to the streets...or yard...or cul-de-sac. His latest stop was to address the concerns of his constituents in Arbor Greene, where about a dozen residents met with Viera on a perfectly manicured patch of grass beneath strung lights behind the Community Clubhouse’s tennis courts. Their primary complaint? Water bills they say that spike for a month for no reason and then return to normal. As he usually does when attending this new brand of community get-together, Viera brought with him a police officer — who thankfully had no salacious crime stories to share but reminded everyone to

Luis Viera brought along four City of Tampa Water Department employees to Arbor Greene for a Jan. 20 meeting to discuss unusually high water bills. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

lock their car doors because some areas in New Tampa have seen a recent rash of burglaries — as well as four employees of the city’s water department. “I’ve been hearing a lot about the water bills in Arbor Greene for a year now, and it’s hard to say anything without doing an analysis of the bills,’’ Viera said. “So, I brought along some people who could. This meeting was about

making those connections.” None of the residents with a water bill beef got exactly the answers they wanted to questions like this one: “How was my water bill $307 in December when we weren’t even home for two weeks, and then back to $69 the following month?” (Not to mention the few days in early December the city had a water boil notice that kept the

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spigots at home mostly turned off). Eli Franco, a spokesman for the City of Tampa Water Department, said mistakes are sometime made, but so rarely, the chances are that the bills reflect a leak somewhere, or an issue with a running toilet or an irrigation system. “We read 140,000 meters a month,” Franco told the Arbor Greene residents, “and our error rate is less than one half of one percent.” Franco said anything outside a normal meter reading is read a second time, and then a third time. Then, a picture is taken and sent to billing to see if there might be an explanation. Franco said the city does work with residents if there is a problem with a running toilet or potential leak. He says the city has one of the most generous leak adjustment policies in the country. “We want to make sure you’re getting a fair bill,” he said. However, residents like Frank Burke, who has lived in Arbor Greene for 23 years, said leaks or running toilets don’t explain how his bill went from $68 to $160 before going back down, without any leak or toilet repairs at his home. “It doesn’t make any sense,” he said. Burke is one of dozens of Arbor Greene residents who have experienced

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Viera also remembered to bring face masks & disinfecting wipes to his meeting outside the Arbor Greene Community Clubhouse. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

what they say are unusually high water bills. Burke says his wife has seen plenty of complaints on Facebook, while others have taken to social media sites like NextDoor to complain. Viera said the goal of the meeting was to put Arbor Greene residents in touch with the right people to help and, to that end, his aide Brannon Lazo took names and handed out business cards to make sure the concerns were addressed by the right people. “We’re in the middle of a pandemic and a lot of people are frustrated,” Viera

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said. “As an elected official, we should be there to take the heat, catch the questions and find some answers.” While he still prefers his townhalls, Viera started his outdoor tour in October, and the stops have included Forest Hills and the Busch Blvd. area of North Tampa, which also are in his district, a meeting in a cul-de-sac in the Tuscany community in Tampa Palms over concerns about new apartments, a meeting with residents of the Promenade Apartments in Tampa Palms about crime, and the Arbor Greene meeting.

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New Tech Should Speed Up Emergency Response Times By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The days of outdated equipment and using an iPad or cell phone to locate a fire or other emergency are coming to an end, interim Tampa Fire Chief Barbara Tripp told the Tampa City Council at its Jan. 14 meeting. Tripp outlined a plan to address many of the concerns raised by the Council members in November about fire fighters at many stations, especially Station 13 in North Tampa, being overwhelmed by the combination of calls and lack of proper technology and personnel to deal with them. The plan also includes more fire stations, including one in New Tampa’s K-Bar Ranch area, which will have nearly 2,000 homes when it is built out. That is more long range, however, as Tripp focused on easing the pressure at Station 13. Located at 2713 E. Annie St. near Busch Gardens, Station 13 handled more than 11,000 calls last year, which accounted for 1/7th of all calls made to Tampa’s 23 fire rescue stations. Council member Luis Viera, who represents New Tampa as part of his District 7 duties, called the situation “an abomination.”

Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 on Cross Creek Blvd. is one of four TFR stations in New Tampa that should have updated technology in their trucks by the end of the year to help shorten response times in our area. (Photo: Charmaine George)

Viera said he was glad to see Tripp tackling the problems as part one of a twopart solution to help make Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) more efficient. He said part two will come in March, when the issue of slow response times and how to shorten them will be addressed at a workshop. A report by the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) caused a number of red flags to be raised, and one of the ones that caught Viera’s attention was how fire service in New Tampa was faring.

According to the report, four of the six TFR stations with the slowest response times are located in the 33647 zip code, despite having four stations located within a few miles of each other — Station No. 20 (located on Bruce D. Downs Blvd. in Tampa Palms); Nos. 21 and 22 located off Cross Creek Blvd.; and No. 23, which opened in 2019 on Trout Creek Ln. south of County Line Rd. “In March, we have to start looking at long-term solutions,” Viera says. “You

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talk to stations 20, 21, 22 and 23, and they tell me sometimes you have wait times of 15 minutes out there.” Much of the problem seems to center around outdated technology, according to Joe Greco, Tampa Firefighters Local 754 president. In fact, Greco says, the response times are probably not as bad as the IAFF report stated, “but there’s no way to be accurate, to give you that information, because our system is antiquated and inaccurate.” Tripp said TFR has been using the same Computer Aided Dispatch system since 1998, and its Automated Vehicle Locator (AVL) has been out of service the past five years. Old GPS equipment was being used that depended upon antennas going back 5-10 years ago. New systems, at a cost of $1.2 million over five years, have been purchased and should be implemented by October, provided there are no setbacks due to Covid-19. The new equipment definitely should help shorten response times in New Tampa. “Although we all regret that the equipment funding didn’t come when we wanted it to, it is in process,” said Russell Haupert, the city’s director and chief information officer for technol-

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ogy and innovation. “It is on the way and we are doing everything we can to accelerate that process so we don’t have any problems out in the field from this point forward.” While Orlando Gudes, the City Council member for District 5 and a police officer for 36 years, favors a fire rescue overhaul, he was aghast, as were other Council members, that the situation had reached this point. “How has TFR not had computers (in its trucks)?,” Gudes asked. “That makes no sense to me.” Making less sense, though, was the fact that all 23 stations currently still have to compete for radio time with

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dispatch on just one channel, Gudes added. But, the hope is that the new AVL will help rectify that. “Five years of not having any computer-aided dispatch other than your initial tear off from the station is absolutely ridiculous in a city the size of Tampa,” Greco said. Viera hopes TFR can be improved as part of a larger plan to tackle public safety in Tampa. The issue is where the money needs to come from to pay for the improvements. “This requires our attention,” Viera said. “We’ll need to look at the budget. Are we going to have the political leadership in the city to pay for it? I say hell yes we are. I know we are.”

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Townhomes Seem Headed For Cross Creek Blvd.; Apts. Open In Hunter’s Lake By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneightborhoodnews.com A rezoning ordinance for a pair of proposed townhome projects towards the eastern end of Cross Creek Blvd., which would bring about 100 new residences to the area, sailed though first readings (with a few concessions) during a late night Tampa City Council hearing on Jan. 21, by a 5-1 vote. A second reading, followed by what seems to be a likely approval, is scheduled for Tuesday, February 19, at 9:30 a.m. The two communities are in the District 7 represented by Luis Viera, the only Council member to vote against both projects. District 2 Council member Charlie Miranda did not attend the meeting because he has Covid-19. SDD Trust, Inc., is seeking to have the two properties rezoned from PD-A (planned development-alternative) to PD (planned development). One parcel is located at 10801 Cross Creek Blvd, east of the New Tampa Dance Theatre and directly across the street from the entrance to the Heritage Isles community, and will have nine buildings with 60 attached single-family residences. A little further east, a second parcel will have six buildings and 35 single-family residences. The city’s Development Review and Compliance staff found the rezoning requests inconsistent with City of

Two new townhome communities are planned for Cross Creek Blvd. between New Tampa Dance Theatre and the Cross Creek Plaza. simulated wrought iron fence (actually Tampa Land Development regulations, but SDD Trust sought waivers to remedy made of aluminum) with landscaping will need to be added to the design before the those inconsistencies, mostly related to second reading. building separation requirements, the Viera suggested the fence for safety removal of three grand live oak trees and retaining less than 50 percent of the reasons and the general aesthetic look, even though he voted against the project. existing trees on the property. The waivers were granted on the first After some debate about the cost of reading by the City Council. adding a fence and how it would impact The projects also were determined by the amount of landscaping, the first reading city planners to not meet some Mixed Use was moved along with a vote at 1:25 a.m. Corridor policies. Mixed Use Corridors are areas that, among other things, are The Trails At Hunter’s Lake expected to improve the pedestrian experiSpeaking of more New Tampa ence, but because the front of single-family residences, The Trails at Hunter’s Lake, residences will face away from Cross Creek which promises “Naturally elevated livBlvd., those requirements weren’t being ing,” is open and already filling up. met. However, there is no other way to The apartments, which offer 15 reconfigure the homes, so a six-foot-high floor plans, are behind the new Village at

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Hunter’s Lake shopping center. The Trails, according to its website, has a private lake and lush walking trails, a billiards lounge and pub, and its location — in the heart of New Tampa near plenty of shopping and eating destinations as well as being just a mile away from I-75 — makes it an attractive place to live. It also is just feet away from the New Tampa Performing Arts Center, which is expected to be completed by Jan. 2022, and a large dog park. The Trails has 1BR/1BA floor plans ranging 659 square feet to $798 sq. ft. (with prices ranging from $1,365 to $1,792), 2BR/2BA floor plans with 1,100 sq. ft. and prices from $1,776-$1978, two 3BR/2BA floor plans (1,291 and 1,393 sq. ft.), for $1,951 to $3,958, and a studio floor plan of 506 sq. ft. (no price listed). For more info, call (813) 497-4889 or visit TrailsAtHuntersLake.com.

Yes, We VidaCann!

The sign is up for VidaCann, New Tampa’s first medical cannabis dispensary, which we are told will be open by the end of this month. New Tampa’s VidaCann (17631 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the former The Mattress1 store next to MIT Computers), will be the 19th VidaCann dispensary in Florida. For more information, visit VidaCann.com.

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Where To Watch The Super Bowl party is one of the great American traditions of the Big Game, but with Covid-19 still rearing its ugly head, we suggest taking great care. If you insist on watching the game with other fans and don’t have a party to attend, here are some local suggestions: Peabody’s Billiards & Games: After 21 years, the longtime Tampa Palms hangout has been completely renovated and has a fresh, modern look. It is offering $3.25 pints of beer and $5 Jameson Whiskey shots for the Super Bowl, as well as specials on buckets of beer bottles and a wing and pitcher combo special. They tell us there will be plenty of giveaways and swag, too, including a couple of folding lawn chairs and a cooler. There will be strict adherence to CDC guidelines, including a limit on capacity. For more information, call (813) 972-1725 or visit PeabodysTampa.com. Glory Days Grill: One of New Tampa’s most popular gathering places for Sunday football games is having a $25 all-you-can-eat special menu, but you need to make reservations. There will be drink specials and giveaways between quarters, but you better hurry because they tell us they are almost all booked. For more information, call (813) 5137550, or visit GloryDaysGrill.com. The Fat Rabbit: Fat Rabbit will open at 11:30 a.m. on Super Bowl Sunday, but the festivities won’t begin until 4 p.m. The Tampa Palms favorite usually has happy hour until 5 p.m. but will be extending it through the game. There also will be wing specials — even for those ordering pickup! — all day. For info, call (813) 252-3004 or visit “The Fat Rabbit Pub” on Facebook. Stonewood Grill & Tavern: Stonewood is known for being a great restaurant, but the restaurant and its fun bar normally aren’t open Sunday nights, but it will be open for the Super Bowl. Brunch is 11-2:30 a.m., and happy hour will run until 7 p.m. Catering also is available for anyone hosting their own Super Bowl party, too. For more information, call (813) 978-0388 or visit StonewoodGrill.com. Also, see pages 29-35 & 38 for more info about all of these great Big Game locations. 12

Does the legend Tom Brady (top left) have one more Super Bowl-winning performance left in his 43-year-old right arm, or does he pass the torch on to 25-year-old Patrick Mahomes, who will be trying to win his second consecutive championship when the Tampa Bay Bucs host the Kansas City Chiefs at Raymond James Stadium on Feb. 7? (Photos: All-Pro Reels and Jeffrey Beal)

THEY DID IT!

When the Tampa Bay Buccaneers went out and signed quarterback and six-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady last year, they did it with one purpose in mind: To be the first-ever NFL team to host a Super Bowl in its home stadium. And now, here they are. On Sunday, the Bucs (11-5 during the regular 2020 season) will meet the Kansas City Chiefs (14-2) at 6:30 p.m. in Super Bowl LV at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. Yes, this will be the first time in 55 championship games that a team will be playing the Big Games in its home stadium. Will that make a difference? Maybe. Due to Covid-19, only 22,000 fans, including 7,500 vaccinated health care workers, will be allowed to attend, and there will be little of the usual pre-game hype. In fact, the Chiefs opened as 3-point favorites, a spread that may rise as the week goes on. It will be the 10th Super Bowl for Brady, and just the second for Bucs, who beat the Oakland Raiders 48-21 in 2003 in their only other appearance. Brady threw for 4,633 yards and 40 TDs this season and is widely considered the greatest quarterback of all time. He will face off against the guy many feel is his heir apparent in Patrick Mahomes, who led the Chiefs to their first Super Bowl victory in 50 years last year. Mahomes (4,740 yards, 38 TDs, with only six interceptions) has the NFL’s best QB rating against the blitz, which may neutralize one of the Bucs’ defensive strengths. He has dangerous pass-catching weapons in WR Tyreek Hill (1,276 yards, 15 TDs) and TE Travis Kelce (1,416 yards, 11 TDs), and a stable of running backs are talented but have been banged up this season. The offense is probably the most explosive in the league, so the Bucs will have to expose a Chiefs offensive line that has not looked great at times this season.

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OUR PREDICTIONS:

JOHN: It’s going to be a shootout, and I thought Brady looked a little shaky in the NFC Championship game. I’ll take the best quarterback and most dangerous receivers. Chiefs 33-22. GARY: Both defenses played great football in their respective championship games, but I’ll take Brady’s experience over Mahomes’ youth this year, as long as Mike Evans doesn’t keep dropping passes. Bucs 34-27! Like Mahomes, Brady has a host of weapons to throw to, like WRs Mike Evans (1,006 yards, 13 TDs, but two big drops in the NFC title game) and Chris Godwin (840 yards, 7 TDs), and tight end Rob Gronkowski (623 yards, 7 TDs), who is no stranger to catching touchdowns from Brady in Super Bowls when both were with New England. The Bucs’ offensive line has looked better as the season has progressed, but running backs Leonard Fournette and Ronald Jones have been inconsistent. However, the Bucs’ defense, led by rising star linebacker Devin White, has come up big this season, and managed to hold the Green Bay Packers to three-and-outs after all three of Brady’s interceptions in the NFC Championship game win. It may sound cliché, but with both offenses clicking on all cylinders, it could come down to whichever defense makes the most stops, like it did when the Bucs stopped the Packers three times inside the 10 to force a field goal late and seal the win. By making the Super Bowl, the Bucs have already capped the best year in Tampa Bay sports history, joining the World Series-runner-up Rays and Stanley Cup champion Lightning in making their league championships. A victory in America’s popular sport on the biggest stage of them all would only make it sweeter. Can they do it? We’ll see, but go Bucs!

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Like No Other?

The All-New Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment Is Opening Soon & You Definitely Need To Check It Out!

By GARY NAGER

If you’re looking for the most comfortable reclining theater chairs in the business, Mark Gold says the all-new Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment has you covered. (Photo by Charmaine George)

When you’ve been in the local news business as long as I have, you hear a lot of people do a lot of talking, but very few back up their words with solid action. Considering that developer Mark Gold of Mishorim Gold Properties has only owned The Grove shopping center development for about a year, you’d think there’d be no way he could back up everything he promised to do when he spent more than $64 million to buy The Grove in late 2019. And you’d be wrong. Since then, during the worst pandemic of our lifetimes, Gold has turned The Grove area he calls “The Village” from a mostly vacant mess into a vibrant new destination anchored by Treble

Makers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant and Double Branch Artisanal Ales, with much more to come. Closer to the Outback Steak House, Gold already has begun delivering on another promise — to create a container park that will dwarf Sparkman Wharf in downtown Tampa by sometime this year. But now, Gold has done something that certainly seemed impossible when he took over the former Cobb 16 Theater at The Grove towards the end of last summer — he’s not only ready to reopen it, he’s completely transformed it into The Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment! And, he promises the formerly failed movie theater he

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and his team have totally overhauled in less than six months will be a safe, familyfriendly experience that will soon attract visitors from far beyond the borders of Wesley Chapel. “South Tampa will come here to see this,” Gold promises. “There’s nothing else like this in the U.S.” I’ll admit I was excited when Gold and his team took us on an exclusive tour of all of the unique entertainment options that will be available in Wesley Chapel when The Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment opens to the public sometime soon after this issue reaches your mailbox. The Grove Theater will have 12 new-release movie theaters, including six VIP sections upstairs, with literally the most comfortable reclining theater seats you’ll find anywhere. But, that’s just the beginning. In addition to a huge arcade stocked with 43 giant-sized video games near the entrance, The Grove also has one theater that will be solely for children in a safe, supervised environment. “It’s going to be like a nanny room,” Mark says. “Parents can feel comfortable leaving their kids while they have dinner or watch their own movie.” Another will be home to a “Spin Theater,” equipped with competition-style stationary bikes, both for top athletes to use for training and for those who want to exercise while watching a movie. There will be instructor-led classes, as well as open spin classes. Still another theater will be available for rent for private parties and events. “For a birthday party, you can rent the theater for $300-$400, pick whatever movie you want and we’ll screen it just for you,” Gold says. Plus, yet another theater will be offering Broadway and other professionally produced stage shows that Gold says will be brought in by a professional theatre company. And finally, as we first announced in our Sept. 29, 2020, issue, one theater will be the concert-style-seating home of SideSplitters Comedy Club. There’s even a SideSplitters reception area near the completely reconfigured movie conces-

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(Above left, top row) Viviane (left) & Mark Gold and (bottom row) Matheus Gold (left) and Tom Peck took the Neighborhood News on an exclusive guided preview tour of the completely revamped Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment on Jan. 6. (Above right) About half of The Grove Theater’s huge arcade of 43 video games for kids of all ages were delivered shortly before our tour. (Photos by Charmaine George) sion stand. SideSplitters, of course, has a popular location on N. Dale Mabry Highway in Carrollwood, where top-level comics, as well as yours truly and members of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, have performed.

A True Dining Experience

But, best of all, Gold also has transformed the theater’s second-floor dining and bar area into a legitimate high-end bistro, complete with a sushi bar and Italian-trained Executive Chef Wissam (“Sam”) Itani. “It’s a chef-driven concept,” says Grove Theater manager Tom Peck. “We’ll have everything from Mediterranean items like chicken shawarma, plus steaks, salmon, you name it.” Peck adds that the whole concept is to keep guests at the Grove Theater for longer than the average 2-1/2 hours spent at most theaters by the average moviegoer. “We’re not just a movie theater,,” Peck says. “We’re both a great restaurant and the greatest entertainment experience ever.” Concerned about safety these days? Who isn’t? But, Gold and his team have that covered, too! “I think we’re #1 in safety out of all the movie theaters in the country,” says VP of operations Matheus Gold. “We have fog machines sanitizing each theater after every movie, disinfecting UV lights, temperature and mask checks when you enter

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(Above left) The new seating area for The Bistro at The Grove Theater will feature high-end cuisine by Italian-trained Head Chef Wissam (“Sam”) Itani (right), plus a sushi bar. The “Spin Theater” bikes (below, right) are being rearranged to allow attendees to watch a movie while cycling or prepare for upcoming races by seeing different terrain on-screen. and hand sanitizing stations everywhere.” In other words, if you live anywhere near Wesley Chapel, you should definitely check out the all-new Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment as soon as it opens. There’s literally nothing else like it. “This is a totally new concept that is the future of movie theaters in the U.S.,” Mark says. “Everyone really needs to come see this place.” For more information about The Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment, visit GroveShopping.com.

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The ExerScience Center Approach Is Whole-Body Wellness By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Lauren Leiva is not just an experienced personal trainer, passionate yogi and certified nutrition expert, she also is a Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT). That means she has the knowledge, expertise and advanced degree to help ensure her patients become healthier, stronger and pain-free. At her ExerScience Center in Lutz, Dr. Leiva offers physical therapy, personal training, nutrition, group fitness and yoga, all with the goal of helping people to feel their best. Dr. Leiva earned her DPT degree from Nova Southeastern University in Tampa. Prior to that, she earned Bachelor of Science degrees in both Biomedical Science and Biomedical Physics from the University of South Florida, also in Tampa. In addition to her degrees, she is certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Certified Personal Trainer and a Fitness Nutrition Specialist, among other certifications. She also is a registered Yoga Teacher (or RYT), a designation given by the Yoga Alliance U.S to an individual who has completed the 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training Certification. (Lauren’s was earned through YogaFit Training Systems, which is recognized by the Yoga Alliance U.S.)

While Dr. Leiva originally launched The ExerScience Center in 2015, she opened the doors of her first brick-andmortar location on S.R. 54 in Lutz (less than two miles from the Tampa Premium Outlets) just this past November. Previously, Dr. Leiva traveled to her patients and to community centers, where she taught group fitness and yoga classes. She says that the road to her doctorate degree was winding, with a detour when she had to leave school to care for her mom, who had lung cancer and suffered a stroke. Then, she suffered her own medical crisis. A lifelong survivor of Crohn’s disease, Dr. Leiva’s second pregnancy put her in the hospital, where she stayed for nine months. She says at that time, yoga saved her life. “Yoga is not a class, it’s a way of life,”

Dr. Lauren Leiva has used her own past physical adversities to forge a plan for clients dealing with a myriad of injury reghab and chronic pain issues at The ExerScience Center in Lutz. That plan often includes the Neubie machine from NeuFit, which uses electrical stimulation to help re-educate your neuromuscular systems. (Photo: Charmaine George) she says. “Posture and pose movements are ly disabled myself at times gives me the She says her specialty is neuromuscular only one part of yoga. It’s a mind-over-mat- compassion to treat others. I have a re-education, such as treating a spinal cord ter philosophy.” connection with patients who are not able injury or an athlete’s torn tendon, or helping people recover from surgery. With both her own and her unborn to walk, talk or find their breath.” “We make the body its most functional baby’s lives in danger, and even when Dr. She says that helps her to successfully form possible, whether you’re paralyzed, or Leiva was intubated and then later had to treat people who haven’t been able to find solutions elsewhere, from eliminating chron- an elite athlete, or anywhere in between,” use a colostomy bag, she says she had a she says. “Anybody can become their best ic or injury-caused pain to avoiding surgery. strong belief she was going to be okay. self by training their nervous system. We can In part, she says, that’s because of her “It was yoga, and the ability to have strengthen everyone’s muscles, whether they well-rounded education and doctorate in that mind-over-matter spirit when surhave pain or not.” physical therapy, but also her background in geons and everyone else told me I can’t The ExerScience Center offers and I won’t,” she says. “I always believed both personal training and yoga. memberships, where patients spend an “Prior to (physical therapy) school, that I could, and I did. I feel I can trihour each week at the center, working with everything I’d studied, I had a lot of umph over anything.” on different modalities. This may include She shares that spirit with her patients, knowledge,” she says. “I thought being biohacking — which she describes as tapa DPT would make me stand out as a who appreciate her energy and optimism. ping into your own biology to manipupersonal trainer.” But, Can She Help You? late certain variables for optimal results She says her goal was to open a gym Dr. Leiva says she treats and trains “ev- and have her business focus on personal — or electrical stimulation, vibration eryone,” from people who are paralyzed or training and yoga, and that she never con- therapy, infrared sauna, halotherapy (aka have a spinal cord injury, all the way to elite sidered being a DPT in a hospital or other salt therapy), or other types of treatment. athletes, including Olympians. She currently traditional setting. She also had a drive to The center offers the latest technolis working with Raj Dhesi, known as Jinder finish what she had started after facing so ogy in PT, including a machine called the Mahal or “The Maharaja,” a former WWE Neubie by NeuFit, a patented electrical much personal adversity. stimulation device to help re-educate your wrestling champion. But, what Dr. Leiva also found was neuromuscular system. “I grew up as an athlete — a figure that she fell in love with physical therapy, Perhaps most important of all, she says, skater, and I played volleyball,” Dr. too. Now, she says most of her business is is that she treats everyone with empathy, Leiva says. “But, having been completephysical therapy.

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respect and honesty. “We respect the body and the mind,” she says. “‘No pain, no gain’ does not apply in my center.” To help patients who can’t afford regular memberships, Dr. Leiva also hosts community clinics once a month with opportunities for low-cost physical therapy evaluations and second opinions. In February, Dr. Leiva says she will become certified in dry needling (similar to acupuncture, but used by physical therapists). “I’m an innovative therapist,”

she says, “and I think it’s important to always be learning all of the newest and best therapeutic methods. So, I am always studying, always learning.” Melenda Watzke has been a patient of The ExerScience Center for several months. “I’m a dancer, and I hurt my back,” Melenda says. “I live about 45 minutes away, but that first time I met with Dr. Leiva, I knew the drive was worth it.” Melenda says she’s seen a lot of change in her body, and not only has she been healed from her pain, but Dr. Leiva has treated other problems that Melenda didn’t know she had. “She’s very intuitive and she listens,” says Melenda. “She looks at you holistically and listens to everything you say.” In fact, Melenda says she had no idea that she didn’t know how to breathe properly. “No one pulls you aside and says, “This is how you breathe,’” Melenda explains. “But, she doesn’t assume you

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Dr. Leiva (with her new purple hair) provides a variety of exercises and yoga to help clients recovering from injuries or surgery regain their strength and full range of motion.

know anything. She watches, and then she starts correcting.” Melenda says the instruction has helped her to dramatically reduce stress. “She is truly a healer in my eyes,” says Melenda. “After my back pain went away, I just kept going and everything is starting to change on me physically. I didn’t know how weak I was in certain places because I’m so strong in other places. I can’t wait to see what we’re going to work on next.” Gazelle Stevens is another happy patient of Dr. Leiva’s. She has been going to The ExerScience Center for about two months.

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“I’ve had a great experience,” she says, as Dr. Leiva has treated her for pain stemming from several herniated disks in her back and neck, and a labral tear in her hip. “I’m a fitness instructor, so it’s very taxing on my body when I have these issues and I can’t teach,” Gazelle says. “I had tried a bunch of other methods and nothing was helping. But, I felt a huge difference (with Dr. Leiva) within the first two weeks.” Gazelle says she’s done physical therapy at other offices, but it’s been totally different, and that she gets much more individual attention at The ExerScience Center.

“Dr. Lauren is very knowledgeable, and also very understanding, from that patient perspective,” explains Gazelle. “She understands what it means to be in pain and not get answers. I try to be more holistic, with a wellness approach, not, ‘give me a shot’ or ‘give me surgery.’ A lot of people are in that mindset, and she’s really good for that.” Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, The ExerScience Center has paused all in-person group fitness classes and switched the focus to online classes. The staff follows all cleaning and precautionary procedures set in place by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) & Prevention, as well as state and county guidelines. The center does not currently accept walk-ins, and anyone with an appointment is screened, including a temperature check, before they come in. The ExerScience Center staff includes not only Dr. Leiva, but also office manager Elizabeth Sanchez, and receptionists Marilu Sanchez (not related to Elizabeth) and Jennifer Barrett. Dr. Lauren Leiva is married to Jonathan, who owns Leiva’s Jewelry in New Tampa. Their two sons are Elijah, who is 13, and Alexander Joseph, who is four. The ExerScience Center is located at 24706 S.R. 54, in Lutz, less than two miles west of the Tampa Premium Outlets. For more information, call (813) 803-7070, see the ad on pg. 23, or visit TheExerScienceCenter.com.

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Nerds To Go Brings Technology Solutions To You By MIKE CAMUNAS Mike Varnadore has a need for speed — on computers. The former Master Sergeant, who spent 20 years in the Air Force, is now the local franchise owner of the Nerds To Go Computer Services franchise in the Pebble Creek Collection plaza on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Nerds To Go offers in-home computer repair and services, as well as a wide variety of IT and other technological needs. “Computers are my first love,” Varnadore says. “Not my only love — I love my wife and kids — but my first passion was computers and that’s because they are always teaching you new things. You never get bored because it’s always changing and getting better and faster.” And, everyone wants their computer to be as fast as possible. “That’s what we can do,” Varnadore says. “We can take an older, slower computer and get it running faster. We can get all of your devices updated and all of your WiFi cloud services up and running and we can remedy any tech issues. And quickly, because we do it all by coming to you.” And certainly, given the state of how much business is being done virtually right now, and with most people — and small businesses — working from home, Varna-

Owner Mike Varnadore (in white shirt) and his team at Nerds To Go in the Pebble Creek Collection provides mobile service for your home computer and other tech devices. dore’s Nerds To Go franchise, which he this kind of purpose before then, so we opened in August 2019, has been in even were getting a lot of calls about apps not working — or older computers that were higher demand. “Around February 2020, the world very slow. Everyone needed a lot of upchanged,” Varnadore says. “(Conducting dates and upgrades.” business) became a different model, and Luckily for Varnadore, Nerds To Go everybody shifted to a virtual model with was declared an essential business when the Zoom and the need for better home WiFi. pandemic shut down most businesses in People weren’t using home computers for Florida in March — and could stay open.

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“We’re so thankful for that because I don’t know how we would have survived,” Varnadore says. “At the beginning of the lockdown, we were extremely busy, but now it has settled into a regular routine again and, obviously, there are still plenty of technology services in high demand.” Varnadore says there is a corny story about how his life led to being a “Nerd.” And, even though he says it was never his plan to work with computers for nearly 40 years and counting, it’s still an interesting story to hear. In 1983, he was just a 20-year-old kid in the Air Force with no direction as to what he wanted to do. With no college education yet, his duties really just involved guarding planes on base in Virginia. Then, his roommate at the time bought an Apple IIe computer, something he’d never seen before. “It was a small little thing,” he says, “and he shows me how it can write programs to do stuff, and, wow, something just clicked and it left a lasting impression on me.” So, a year later, after doing a little research of his own, Varnadore bought his first computer — a Commodore 64, which led to him taking more classes about computers and technology. All of this led to his first Information Technology (IT) role for the Air Force.

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When the base got its first computer — a Zenith Z-100 — his commander asked his squadron if anyone knew “how to do things with this” device, and Varnadore said he could, “so he was like, ‘Well, I guess that makes you the IT guy.’” After that, Varnadore became a programmer and went on to earn Bachelor’s and Master’s degree from Hawaii Pacific University and a doctorate from the University of Phoenix, all in IT Systems Management. After 20 years in the Air Force in charge of computer labs and maintaining all the simulation devices and technology, he retired to civilian life, but then spent 15 years working in corporate IT for Northrop Grumman, a global aerospace and defense technology company, in Virginia. However, Varnadore still held a strong desire to run his own business. So, in 2015, he moved to Florida because he “always wanted to retire there someday.” He kept working remotely for roughly three years for Northrop Grumman and also started teaching IT and technology classes online for the University of Maryland as well as at Hillsborough Community College, and still teaches today. Eventually, his business research led him to buy his Nerds To Go franchise because he liked the business model and there were no locations yet in Florida. Today, there is another Nerds location in Bonita Springs and fewer than 30 locations in 17 U.S. states. “We provide hardware repair for every

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device and the ability to support small and medium businesses, their networks, cloud services and also manage their devices,” Varnadore said. “It gives me an opportunity to do all the things I love about IT.”

Your Local Nerds

Varnadore’s Nerds To Go franchise provides services to several areas in the Tampa Bay area, but specifically in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Carrollwood, the USF area and even out to Brandon. And, while Nerds To Go offers a wide variety of customers from mom-and-pop shops to law firms to asphalt experts — even the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! — Varnadore says his franchise recently also has landed education-related customers. Those include Livingstone Academy’s four locations in the Brandon area, but also Ridge Manor Christian Academy, which just implemented a school-wide tablet system of up to 100 iPads. “That’s how they download videos and lesson plans and do a lot of learning techniques,” Varnadore says. “We support that network, which is all in one building, and it’s been running just a few weeks now, but running smoothly with no problems.” And, as mentioned before, Nerds To Go even provides all of the IT/tech needs of the Neighborhood News. “We helped you with an office move not too long ago,” Varnadore said, “and I’m pretty sure you’re very happy with how that went.”

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Our publisher, Gary Nager, most definitely agrees. “Without Nerds To Go, there’s no way our computers and network could have been taken down at our old office and set up at our new office without missing a beat,” Nager says. “I’m so glad we found Mike and his crew. And now, they’ve even set up one of our full design computers, with cloud access to our ad and issue files, from my home.” Moving forward, Varnadore realizes that the landscape in technology is always changing, and that computers can get passed by pretty quickly. That’s why the biggest seller Nerds To Go sees is taking an old computer and refurbishing it — replacing the hard drive so it runs fast again. The

Have a Ball!

Solid State Drive Bundle starts at $149 and includes a full data transfer. Varnadore compares it to upgrading your vehicle because all computer users have the need for speed. “We can take an old computer, like an old car, and turn it into a new computer,” he said. “Depending upon what you get, we can have your slow computer running like a Porsche in no time.” Nerds To Go Tampa, which also repairs and stocks supplies for mobile phones, is located at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite C6, in the Pebble Creek Collection. For more information, visit NerdsToGo.com/location/ tampa-fl, call (813) 321-1700 or check out the ad on page 14 of this issue.

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Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors Is A Tribute To A Great Dad By MIKE CAMUNAS Taylor Gardner never expected to take over the family business, essentially following in his father’s footsteps. He says he never planned on it, never thought about it — pretty much figured it wasn’t in the cards for him. “I thought I’d be a career military man,” the former U.S. Marine says. “Now, I can’t see myself anywhere else.” Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors is the re-branded version of a family business that has been around for 20 years. Back in 2000, Taylor’s father Ed started Gardner Gutters, a small business in the heart of Lutz, but also servicing communities and residences in the outlying areas such as Land O’ Lakes, New Tampa and at-the-time-fledgling-but-on-the-rise Wesley Chapel. Ed ran his gutter installation and repair company with poise and charm, honesty and dignity and even a down-to-earth goodness that was evident to every one of his customers, as the small business quickly became a multi-million-dollar operation. “I don’t know how he did it,” Taylor adds. “He did it all and everyone loved him and always came back to him when they needed new gutters or more work done. It still impresses me to this day.” Taylor describes his dad as a hard-asnails tough guy, who was always in great shape. Ed was a hard worker and an even

Brothers Brandon (left) & Taylor Gardner have re-branded Gardner Gutters (run for 20 years by their late father Ed) as Taylor Gardner Gutters. (Photo: Mike Camunas; edited by NTNN) nicer fellow, one that just about everyone would approach to chat with at the local grocery store, as his other son and Taylor’s business partner, Brandon, explains. “He had a great reputation and just a real knack for people liking him,” Brandon says. “I just remember as a kid, going anywhere, and people would always come up to him and just talk to him. There were

so many people at his funeral that wanted to say something about how he was such a great guy.”

Tragedy Strikes

As with many self-made-businessman stories, this one also has its tragic side. Not because Gardner Gutters failed financially but because, 12 years ago, Ed Gardner was

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diagnosed with prostate cancer. And, as with just about every cancer diagnosis, Ed’s world, and his family’s, was turned upside down. He started the treatments and lifestyle changes immediately. Taylor returned from his service with the Marines for a time. “I really thought it was no big deal,” Taylor says, “because prostate cancer runs in our family and both my grandfathers had it and didn’t die from it. Granted, I’ve been tested as much as I can and so have my brothers, but I really thought it was no big deal because I knew my dad and figured he would beat it.” Well, Ed did, to an extent. For about three years, Ed did all of the usual treatments and was moving along pretty well until 2011, when Taylor had just returned from being deployed in Iraq, and was told Ed had only three to nine months to live. At that time, Ed was told he was beyond Stage 4 cancer — “a dead man walking” is what Taylor said the doctors told his dad — and it was time to say his goodbyes to his family members. However, Ed being Ed, he wasn’t about to quit. He moved away from traditional treatments and started trying holistic methods, including diets and different supplements and, miraculously, he lived for another 10 years. “Those things (treatments), they’ll make you look like you’re wacky, but he

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lived another decade after a death sentence,” Taylor says. “So, it’s hard to argue with (those results).” Even so, Ed did pass away in August. The holistic treatments, however, were not cheap. They drained Ed of a lot of what he made building up Gardner Gutters. He did still run it, with help from his family, because he could be gone for weeks at a time getting some “controversial” treatment in Mexico. The business took a back seat to Ed’s survival. He worked hard to keep it alive, with help from Taylor. Taylor had been around the business most of his childhood, even helping out as “free labor” as a teenager and such, until joining the Marines, which included a deployment in Iraq. But, he always found himself returning home. In 2015, Ed’s health deteriorated even more and once his uncle Rusty , who had been helping run it, retired, Taylor began taking over the business. In 2018 the transition from Ed to Taylor began, but it was 2019 that they re-branded it Taylor Gardner Gutters, for liability reasons, from the original Gardner Gutters, even though Taylor and his crew were doing the same work for basically the same customers as Ed. “Just like dad, we don’t talk to customers like customers here,” Taylor said. “We talk to them like we know them personally because we usually do, so we take pride in that’s how dad did it and that’s how we plan to continue to do it.”

Never Forgotten

In addition to custom gutter installations and repairs, Taylor Gardner Gutters also provides gutter cleaning and leaf protection, pressure washing services, screen enclosure installations, soffit and fascia repairs and window replacements and is proud to be veteran- owned-and-operated. As partners in the business, Taylor handles sales and the day-to-day operations behind the scenes and off-site. Brandon is the projects and sites manager, usually checking on the work about to be done, being done or that has been done, up to a couple times a day. “And, I’m just fine with that,” says Taylor, who has a B.S. degree in Business Administration from Liberty University in

Lynchburg, VA, which he earned after completing his military service. “I help clean out gutters in a pinch, but my days of climbing on roofs are over,” Taylor says. “Brandon is the real gutter installation expert, where he can eyeball a house from the road while driving by and tell it was done all wrong (laughs).” Meanwhile, Brandon says he’s revelling in the fact that the Gardner boys have truly come full circle. “It’s a great sense of pride now taking on the family business after dad is gone,” Brandon says, “and it’s neat for me because I was helping at the start of it and now I’m back here, getting it back up to what it used to be.” Ed’s fingerprints will forever be on the business he started when his sons were just boys. He taught them not only how to install gutters, but also how to treat the customers. As Taylor and Brandon move forward in growing the business back to its previous level, they are adding more crews, new equipment and maybe even a new office. Brandon says the business is primarily focused on installing gutters — which divert rainwater rolling off your roof from accumulating next to your home’s foundation and damaging it — as well as gutter repairs and installing outdoor screen enclosures. And, Taylor says he takes to heart all that he either directly or indirectly learned watching his father become a local celebrity business owner, one who will always be sorely missed by his family and his extended family members — the customers he treated with respect and kindness until his last day. “Anyone can learn to install gutters,” Taylor says. “What my dad taught me was how to treat people. That was the biggest thing. I think when I was younger, I would listen to my dad talk to people and when someone would yell at him, my dad would still be nice to them. As a testosterone-filled kid, I would wonder, ‘How can you take that from anyone?’ But now, I get it.” Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors is located at 19007 North U.S. Hwy. 41 in Lutz. Its business hours are MondayFriday, 7:30 am.-5:30 p.m. For more info, call (813) 486-2730, visit TaylorGardnerGutters.com or see their ad on page 37 of this issue.

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HGE’s Amanda Palmer A Finalist For Hillsborough Award By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Of the nearly 250 nominations that came in to the Hillsborough Education Foundation for the Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year award, Hunter’s Green Elementary (HGE) teacher Amanda Palmer was named one of just four finalists considered for the award this year. And, although she didn’t take home the prize on Jan. 21 (at a ceremony held at Blake High School in Tampa with a mostly virtual audience), she says she was thankful just to be considered. “I feel so honored and grateful,” she says. “First, that the Hunter’s Green staff nominated me, and then to know it went to the District level, it blows my mind.” Palmer teaches students with varying exceptionalities (VE), working with students in the regular classroom who need additional support because of a diagnosis or disability. The students are part of a regular class, and Palmer comes in to their classrooms to help them be successful in that inclusive classroom environment. “I’m like their biggest cheerleader,” she says. Palmer says that she was completely shocked back in December, when Mike McCollum, chief advancement officer with the Hillsborough Education Foundation (HEF), and a parade of administrators and

Hunter’s Green Elementary teacher Amanda Palmer was one of four finalists for the Ida S. Baker award for Hillsborough’s public schools. others told her the big news that she had been chosen as a finalist. “When they came to the school to surprise me, I said, ‘Is this real life?,” Palmer says. The Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year is one of three awards given out each year by HEF. The foundation explains that Ida S.

Baker became Cape Coral High’s first principal in 1977 who went to on to become the first African-American to serve as Deputy Superintendent for the Florida Department of Education (DoE). She was known for her efforts to support diverse students and encourage academic success and, after her passing in 1992, the DoE created this statewide award in her honor. For the award, each school in Hillsborough County may nominate one teacher who “embodies the pioneering spirit of Ida S. Baker by going above and beyond to meet the needs of our diverse student population.” The other two annual awards given by HEF are Teacher of the Year and Instructional Support Employee of the Year. All 11 schools in New Tampa submitted a nominee in each category (see next page). This year, Palmer was the only New Tampa nominee to be chosen as a finalist. When Palmer was a student at the University of South Florida, she interned at HGE as a first grade teacher. She then filled in temporarily as a VE teacher, and says she fell in love. “I never knew this position existed,” she says. Palmer got certified in order to be the school’s VE teacher, and even went back to USF to earn a Master’s degree in Exceptional Student Education. She has spent her entire teaching career — nine years now — as the VE teacher at HGE.

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She says she loves the way her job allows her to work with not just the 22 students currently included in her caseload, but also with the other students in the classrooms she supports. While Palmer was able to bring a limited number of guests to the awards ceremony with her, all her other supporters, family and friends watched online in a virtual watch party “room” just for her. Each of the other finalists had their own watch party rooms, too. About the whole experience, Palmer says, “I think it’s pretty amazing. All for just doing something I love.”

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CONGRATS TO NEW TAMPA’S TEACHERS OF THE YEAR!

Turner Bartels K-8 School Teacher: Briana Rabiero, 2nd Grade ISB: Marelisa Moreno ISE: Sue Garcia

Here are this year’s Teacher of the Year nominees, as chosen by their respective schools in New Tampa. Also listed are the Ida S. Baker (ISB) Diversity Educator of the Year and the Instructional Support Employee (ISE) of the Year nominees from each New Tampa school.

Liberty Middle School Teacher: Megan Sullivan, Reading ISB: Brenda Silva ISE: Daina Vasquez

Hunter’s Green Elementary Teacher: Brittany Nieves, 1st Grade ISB: Amanda Palmer ISE: Lorrie Noble

Pride Elementary Teacher: Deana Brennen, 1st Grade ISB: Eva Garcia ISE: Emma Torres

Heritage Elementary Teacher: Autumn Banks, 4th Grade ISB: Laura Korte ISE: Yesenia Ackels

Tampa Palms Elementary Teacher: Ashley Weston, 1st Grade ISB: Caitlin Walker ISE: Patricia Hollenbeck

Freedom High Teacher: Christina Grigoropoulos, Science ISB: Bonnie Fuhrmeister ISE: Walfriedo Lemes

Benito Middle School Teacher: Daniel Gostkowski, Math ISB: Sherri Jackson ISE: Veronica Gonzalez

Wharton High Teacher: Michael Sawyer, Business Technology ISB: Carmen Fernandez ISE: Rafael Leon

Chiles Elementary Teacher: Yessica Gilford, Art ISB: Michael Zang ISE: Shamila Weeratunga

Clark Elementary Teacher: Deborah Finnk, Media Specialist ISB: Michelle Lilius ISE: Nydia De Hoyos

Neighborhood News

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Every year, after we report the results of our Reader Dining Survey & Contest, I always feel compelled to give you my dining favorites, including all of the restaurants that opened in (or very near) New Tampa and Wesley Chapel the previous year. And, with all the new eateries that opened in our distribution areas in 2020 after the reader voting ended, my “survey” list looks even more different than usual than the places our readers voted for in our last issue. While Wesley Chapel definitely saw more new restaurants open in 2020, New Tampa did have some wonderful additions to its local dining scene — and, unlike “The Chap,” almost all of the new places that opened last year were momand-pop restaurants with a nice variety of cuisine options, from Asian to Italian and from Acai bowls to poké bowls. On pages 30-31 and 34-35, you’ll find my 25 favorite restaurants (new and existing) in New Tampa for 2020, starting with Stonewood Grill & Tavern and its diverse menu, which includes the beautiful seared ahi tuna appetizer shown here. On pg. 38, you’ll find my next 25 favorites (in alphabetical order) in New Tampa, my 50 favorite restaurants in Wesley Chapel for 2020 and some other lists of my favorites in both markets from last year. — GN Check out the rest of Gary’s 2020 Favorite Restaurants in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel on pages 30-35 & 38! (Food photos by Charmaine George)

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STONEWOOD GRILL & TAVERN 17050 Palm Pointe Dr., Tampa Palms (813) 978-0388

ven though it hasn’t always been my #1 favorite restaurant in New Tampa, there’s no doubt that Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Tampa Palms has been near the top of my list since the day it opened two decades ago. And yes, it did win with our readers again in 2020, too. Stonewood continues to serve delicious and popular ahi tuna, crab cake and bruschetta appetizers, as well as the best (and best variety of) steaks (like the 9-oz. filet mignon pictured below) in New Tampa and it also offers a daily “market catch” (like the fresh grouper piccata, with sauce on the side and perfectly sautéed spinach, above right) and other specials (like excellent lollipop rib lamb chops... mmm) that have kept it near the top of my list every year. GM Matt Passardi — who previously ran the Grillsmith in the Shops at Wiregrass — and his staff also are back to keeping their guests happy at New Tampa’s most-happening bar scene, but of course, Covid-19 had shut down the bar and Stonewood’s elegant dine-in experience for several months. Passardi told me that the posting of

VIA ITALIA

8644 Hunter’s Village Rd. The Village at Hunter’s Lake (813) 475-4857

the picture of the ribeye steak with last issue’s Reader Survey results definitely helped boost his ribeye sales since then.

LIMA PERUVIAN

19056 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. New Tampa Center (813) 304-0205 hen Lima opened basically a couple of weeks before the pandemic hit in the former location of El Pescador in the Publixanchored New Tampa Center plaza, I was excited, because I already loved Peruvian-style rotisserie chicken (photo) and fresh fish ceviche. And, owner Oscar Escudero’s delightfully different (at least from any place in our area) take on the cuisine widely considered as the best of the Latin countries is absolutely delicious and my second favorite new place (to Via Italia) to open in New Tampa in 2020. Try the baked scallops (conchita parmesano) appetizer and the Peruvian/Chinese-style fried rice, too! 30

he fact that Via Italia had only been open a short time before our annual survey ended but still finished 9th in New Tampa with our readers is an indication of what a great place it is. Owner/chef Roberto Maganuco’s place has an amazing variety of different styles of pizza (Neopolitan, Roman and others), but I love it even more for its beautiful, full-liquor bar and amazing pasta selection — including two types of pesto — Genovese and Siciliano — as well as linguine with clams Photo), cavatelli with broccoli & sausage and more. If Roberto adds fresh fish and maybe a steak special next year, Via Italia could move up to #1.

he Ciccio Restaurant Group has created one of the most successful slates of local eateries in the entire Tampa Bay area, with concepts like Green Lemon, Daily Eats, Ciccio Water and Better Byrd (look them all up), but Cali (nee Ciccio Cali) has been the only one in our area since Lodge closed in the former Ciccio & Tony’s location in City Plaza. But, I have always credited Cali as the first to bring “bowl culture” to New Tampa. The menu has been simplified, with multiple “bowl style” options (try the “Lean & Clean” with tuna), plus crispcrust, hand-tossed pizzas and famous wrap sandwiches (photo; the Cali Club is my fave).

16029 Tampa Palms Blvd. City Plaza at Tampa Palms (813) 252-3004

he Fat Rabbit in Tampa Palms is another place with outstanding food (like the best wings in New Tampa, and great burgers and tater tots) and beverages that could finish even higher on my list with even more menu options. Adding a fresh catch — fish (photo), or sometimes shellfish — option in 2019 definitely moved it up and the addition of a petite (5-oz.) “Fat Filet” has given it even more appeal for me. And of course, The Fat Rabbit also has a large and attractive, premium liquor bar that would make it a great option for live music or karaoke (or both), in addition to its regular trivia nights, but maybe that’s just my opinion.

LAS PALMAS LATIN GRILL

CALI-TAMPA PALMS 17004 Palm Pointe Dr. Shoppes at The Pointe (813) 975-1222

THE FAT RABBIT

6431 E. County Line Rd. (813) 803-3903

f you’re looking for amazing fish, owner/ chef Ramses Garcia serves our area’s flakiest, tastiest merluza (like snapper) a la Rusa, as well as award-winning Cuban sandwiches (photo) and traditional specialties like ropa vieja (shredded beef), picadillo (ground beef) and arroz con pollo (chicken & yellow rice). I really love the steaks — palomillo (in mojo sauce, with onions), churrasco (skirt steak with chimichurri sauce) and sautéed vaca frita (crispy beef). But, the lechon asado (tender roasted pork), masitas (pork chunks) and special pork chops (above) are my faves. Try Ramses’ wife Ana’s awardwinning tres leches dessert, too!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 29, Issue 3 • February 2, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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LIANG’S BISTRO ASIAN CUISINE 17515 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 978-1225

iang’s is now the undisputed champ of our local Chinese places with both yours truly and our readers, now that Fushia in Tampa Palms has closed. There’s no doubt Liang’s is an upscale Chinese (with other Asian options) restaurant with great food. My favorite entrées are the steamed (with mixed veggies) or Liang’s crispy fish, the sizzling Shanghai steak and Sichuan chicken, but I love Liang’s for its New York-style BBQ spareribs (photo) and crispy egg rolls. The item Jannah and I take out most often, though, are Liang’s awesome sautéed string beans, but I order them in a spicy chili sauce. @NTWCNews

ORONZO HONEST ACROPOLIS GREEK BAYSCAPE BISTRO TAVERNA ITALIAN at Heritage Isles Golf Club

18027 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. The Walk at Highwoods Preserve

(813) 730-0100

hat happens when you take a fast-casual concept like Chipotle but instead of Mexican fare, you offer homemade Italian dishes with freshly made pasta, unique wrap sandwiches, pizza-style flatbreads and more? In the case of Oronzo, the answer is “something delicious.” Owner Dan Bavaro, who also has Bavaro’s Pizza locations in downtown Tampa and downtown St. Pete, offers house-made spaghetti (with delicious meatballs, above), sausage, veggies and a variety of sauces, plus beer, wine and yummy desserts.

14947 Bruce B Downs Blvd. Oak Ramble Plaza (813) 971-1787

lthough I spend a lot less time these days south of Tampa Palms on BBD, it never takes much to convince Jannah to go to (or take out from) Acropolis. Part of another successful Bay-area mini-chain, Acropolis features authentic saganaki cheese flambé and artichoke & spinach dip appetizers, a tender shish (filet) and chicken kabob duo, savory loin lamb chops and our favorite entrée — the thin, crisp, lightly fried Athenian fish pictured above. And, even though Acropolis doesn’t have a true Greek vinaigrette-style dressing, the Greek salad also is outstanding.

10630 Plantation Bay Dr. (813) 994-3445

ormer Wharton High culinary teachers Eddie and Lourdes Bujarski have created an impressive restaurant inside the Heritage Isles GC clubhouse. As I said last year, with a more extensive menu, Bayscape would finish even higher on my list, because it’s hard to beat for breakfast, lunch or dinner. There are great wings, burgers, salads and sandwiches, but my faves are the dinner “signatures” like country fried chicken and slow-roasted, top round roast beef with brown gravy above. It’s been a while since Jannah and I stopped in for dinner and Friday night karaoke, but we’ll definitely be back.

THAI RUBY

Shoppes at Amberly, Tampa Palms 15319 Amberly Dr. (813) 558-0570

s Thai restaurants go, Thai Ruby is the most beautiful Thai place in New Tampa and also has the best food, especially since Sukhothai closed. The spring rolls, ginger chicken, the spicy Thai combination fried rice (with chicken, beef and pork), the Siam chicken, filet of grouper and soft shell crab are all top-notch and Thai Ruby may have the largest selection of veggie dishes you’ll find anywhere (I love the steamed broccoli with carrots, green beans and snow peas). But, this also is the place I go when I have a craving for Thai-style crispy duck with sweet & sour, ginger or garlic sauce. Neighborhood News

FRAMMI (formerly Oakley’s Grille) 17631 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 523-5075

Pebble Creek Collection 19601 Bruce B Downs Blvd. (813) 994-6600

or those who crave the teppanyaki (hibachi) table experience in our area, please check out Kobe. And, even though Jannah and I usually sit at the bar rather than share a table with families with young children, you get the same great meal, just without the show. Kobe definitely has the best-quality filet mignon, sirloin steak and chicken of any Japanese restaurant in our area, and you can even get pepper-crusted tuna tataki hibachi, as well as beautiful-looking surf-&-turf combos with lobster, shrimp and scallops that I (sadly) can’t eat. Great sushi, too.

MICHI RAMEN

MAHANA FRESH

18027 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. The Walk at Highwoods Preserve

(813) 374-5320

nother newcomer breaking into my topven though the restaurant hasn’t been 15 this year, Michi Ramen literally opened owned by anyone named Oakley in a few as the pandemic hit, and only served at a uniqueyears, owner Luca Ammirati kept the name of ly designed, plexiglass-enclosed takeout window the popular burger-&-sandwich joint the same for several months. But, once it did open, I until revamping the place into an Italian & could see that not only is Michi Ramen great American eatery with a much bigger American for takeout, it also is a beautiful new place for a variety than Oakley’s, plus a big variety of Luca’s delicious sit-down lunch or dinner, with a full, authentic Italian dishes (like the amazing fusilli premium-liquor bar. I’m not the biggest ramen pasta with house-made pesto and grilled chicken noodle fan, but I have heard folks rave about the above) with the new name “Frammi” a week or flavor and variety and I’m not surprised — Michi so before we went to press with this issue. This Ramen’s appetizers like pan-fried gyoza (pork year’s 13th-place finish is based on Oakley’s dumplings) and semi-spicy, popcorn-style fried menu, but Frammi will finish higher next year. chicken are outstanding. @NTWCNews

KOBE JAPANESE STEAKHOUSE

17512 Dona Michelle Dr. (727) 238-9967

es, bowl culture is in full swing in New Tampa and Mahana Fresh distinguished itself when it opened early last year by not just having ahi tuna and grilled chicken poké bowls. Try three kinds of chicken, plus tofu and grilled steak as protein options. I’m addicted to its kale crunch salad as a base, although there also are sweet potato noodles, spinach salad and multiple different rice (including cauliflower rice) options, too. My favorite veggies are the sesame ginger broccoli, the garlicky cilantro green beans and honey sriracha Brussels sprouts. I love the Mediterranean tomatoes as an add-on, and the citrus ginger and cilantro vinaigrette sauces, too. See pgs. 34-35 for more Gary’s Favorites!

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GARY’S FAVORITES (Cont.)

FULL CIRCLE PIZZA

Pebble Creek Collection 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 994-3700

SUSHI CAFE

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The Walk at Highwoods Preserve 18015 Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.

(813) 977-7800

or anyone who’s asking, for my money, on’t get me wrong...even though I find Sushi Café has the best sushi in New the deep-dish, Chicago-style pizza shown Tampa. With a huge assortment of sushi rolls above very tasty, I’ll never say I like it as much as (photo), including some truly unique options the New York-style pizza I grew up with. And, like a Pacific fusion roll with spicy tuna, crunch, even though I know that deep-dish and thincucumber and avocado on top, plus a wide varicrust Chicago pizza is a big reason why many lo- ety of sashimi, Sushi Café also has one of the best cals love Full Circle, I’m actually a much bigger spicy tuna tataki appetizers in our area. I also fan of the other delicious menu items owner/ really enjoy the “hibachi from kitchen” entrées, chef Freddy Nova and his wife Julia have added like the filet mignon and chicken options, even since taking over the place in 2017. My favorites though (especially because?) there are no teppanare the chicken and broccoli in garlic and oil and yaki tables. I also recommend the crispy chicken katsu and chicken and veggie tempura. the meatball and chicken parmigiana subs.

6417 E. County Line Rd. (813) 575-8002

sland Fin Poké Co., which was opened by former New Tampa residents Brenda, Jeff and son Jason Sproat in late 2019, is now wellestablished as the first Hawaiian-style createyour-own poké bowl place in New Tampa. I love the regular and spicy ahi tuna options as my protein (I usually do two scoops of spicy and one scoop of regular), and there are unique options like spam, octopus, shrimp and tofu, plus veggie options (like regular and spicy pickled veggies, edamame and corn), but as the Sproats say, Island Fin’s sauces are delish. I personally only need the OG and Island Fire marinating sauces...and an occasional Dole whip dessert. 34

MR. DUNDERBAK’S

Oak Ramble Plaza 14929 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 977-4104

hen the original Mr. Dunderbak’s was in the University Square Mall, I thought it was a cool place for German food, even though I really only had roast beef and pastrami sandwiches there. The location on BBD (which has been around the last 15-20 of its 45 years in business) has a much more diverse menu, and I really enjoy German dishes like the crispy jagerschnitzel (available in veal or pork, both are great; the Holstein schnitzel, topped with two fried eggs, is shown above), and the kassler rippchen (pork chops). I’m not a big beer drinker, but Mr. D’s biergarten has a huge selection. Great European chocolate selection, too.

17508 Doña Michelle Dr. (813) 513-7550

hen this, our distribution area’s first Glory Days Grill, opened a few years ago, replacing the popular Lee Roy Selmon’s, I he first woodfired pizza place to open in (or near) either of our distribution areas is will say I wasn’t a big fan. However, when Jannah and I first tried the new Glory Days on S.R. known for its high-quality pizza ingredients, as well as owner Peter Taylor’s unique pizza names 54 in Wesley Chapel, we recognized that the — like my favorite Pizza Raquel, which features menu had been greatly upgraded and we have visited both locations quite a bit since then. We house-made fresh mozzarella, fresh basil, grana love the steak rice bowl, the comeback chicken padano cheese and olive oil, to which I usually entrée, Boston chowda and the 1/2-lb. propriadd either pepperoni, fire-roasted sausage or Italian-style meatballs (Peter’s “carnivore” pizza etary blend burgers (photo). Glory Days also has two sizes (7-oz. & 10-oz.) of its tasty “1988” has all three) and fresh spinach. The woodfired sirloin steak, a great sports bar atmosphere and meatball appetizer and wings and fresh Caesar decadent Oreo cookie ice cream sandwiches. and wedge salads also are excellent, too.

ISLAND FIN POKE CO.

Palms Connection 2822 E. Bearss Ave. (813) 341-2900

THE LITTLE GREEK THAI LANNA & SUSHI New Tampa Center 19022 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (813) 972-0707

hen you want a great Greek gyro sandwich (photo) or platter served with an authentic Greek salad, and you want it to be affordable, served quickly and delicious, you can’t go wrong by visiting The Little Greek. The spanakopita (spinach pie) is my favorite starter and in addition to the traditional gyro meat freshly carved off a rotating spit, there also are chicken (and Greek chicken), falafel, lamb, veggie and steak pita sandwiches, plus chicken, lamb and steak souvlaki skewer entrées in “light meal” and dinner-sized portions. Save room for excellent baklava for dessert.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 29, Issue 3 • February 2, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

Cross Creek Center 10022 Cross Creek Blvd. (813) 991-0108

or those of you who don’t live off of Cross Creek Blvd., Thai Lanna is another excellent (and pretty) Thai place that also features really good appetizers like Thai spring rolls, pan-fried dumplings (bottom right in photo above), fried calamari and even fried eggplant. There also are three kinds of crispy duck, with the volcano duck (with mixed veggies and sweet chili sauce) being my favorite. Try the crab fried rice, too. The basil and garlic & black pepper sauces are my faves. Thai Lanna also has added really fresh sushi (cooked shrimp sushi and California roll are shown in the above), too. @NTWCNews

How many coaches does SVB have?

Email your responses, with your name, address & daytime phone number to marketing@svbtenniscenter.com.

Winner will receive a FREE One Hour Tennis Lesson, plus complimentary Brunch! DEADLINE TO ENTER IS 2.28.21

SARAH VANDE BERG TENNIS & WELLNESS CENTER

PEABODY’s

Shoppes at Amberly 15333 Amberly Dr. (813) 972-1725

eabody’s is more than just a sports bar taken to the next level — with amazing video games, pool tables, dart boards and more TV screens to watch every game at once than just about anyplace else in New Tampa. It’s also a great place for NY-style pizza, the best wings this side of The Fat Rabbit and a recently expanded menu offering Philly cheesesteak and Santa Fe egg rolls, pickle fries, and “Classics” like country fried chicken, loaded boneless wings and of course, some of the best burgers and hand-cut French fries in town. The full-liquor bar also has great drink prices and an outstanding selection of beers on tap.

THE BRUNCHERY 17507 Preserve Walk Ln. (813) 533-7271

or those of us who had been begging for a great breakfast place in New Tampa, owner Stanley Athan’s The Brunchery filled that void. And, even though I prefer fried eggs over easy with crispy bacon to the beautiful pancakes topped with fresh fruit shown here, this was such a pretty picture we decided to use it instead. The Brunchery also serves a selection of “Benedict” (poached egg) breakfasts, avocado toast, a lox (smoked salmon) platter, ultimate omelettes and an incredible variety of French toast options. The Brunchery also serves great burgers, sandwiches (including tuna and grilled chicken melts) and salads for lunch, too.

High Performance Academy

Join SVB and Nick Bollettieri in viewing the best battle it out in our SVB UTR Match Play 2.13.21 from 4pm-6pm during the SVB Open Championships Powered by Celsius and Nick Bollettieri

SVB is Membership-based, but Open to the Public

Come Take a Tour!

(Formerly Oakley’s Grille)

New Tampa’s Only Place For Delicious

• SVB Tennis & Wellness Center offers a wide variety of junior tennis program to fit the needs of all age groups and ability levels.

Italian & American Specialties!

• Featuring a full service High Performance Academy, SVB boasts world class tennis coaches and elite fitness programs. • We offer full day and after school programs for juniors 4-18 years old.

Check out Owner/Chef Luca Ammirati’s huge menu, including:

Contact info@svbtenniscenter.com for more information.

[ Authentic Italian pasta dishes \ [ Great burgers, cheesesteaks & fries \ [ Homemade lasagne \ [ Salads & other healthy options \ [ Homemade tiramisu \ [ Southwest chicken & fish tacos \ [ Bruschetta & Calamari \ [ Hot pressed sandwiches \ [ Beer & Wine \ [ Kids Menu, and so much more! \

Open Every Day, 11 a.m. - 8 p.m. Delivery available with Doordash, Mobile Meals & Uber Eats Neighborhood News

6585 Simons Rd. / Zephyrhills, FL 33541 Try our on-site, Full-Service Restaurant, open to the public

813.523.5075

17631 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (in front of Home Depot) @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 29, Issue 3 • February 2, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

New Tampa & wesley Chapel Classifieds

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

ALL DIMENSIONS LANDSCAPE & EXTERIORS, LLC. Complete residential & commercial landscape, HOME IMPROVEMENT HOME IMPROVEMENT hardscape & softscape. Mulch & decorative stone. TJ’s PRESSURE WASHING LLC. Houses, Fences, Patios, decks, retaining walls, property maintenance & TOM JOSEPH HANDYMAN: FREE ESTIMATES! Driveways, Lanais & Screened Enclosures. Most resdt’l lawn care. Sod & lawn installation, artificial turf, fencServing residents, Realtors & property mgrs. 30+ yrs 2-car driveways & vinyl fences start at $75. House washing, railings, soft & hard pressure washing, painting. home construction exp. Move in/out setups & repairs. We do anything exterior. Call (724) 541-2535 or (813) Repairs for sale/rent. Hang flatscreen TVs. Setup wifi & ing starts at $150 for 1-story home & $199 for 2-story home. Need an instant quote? Text me a picture of the home theater. Install closet organizers. Cabinets, pull485-6661 for a 25% discount on labor & materials. outs, shelving. Gen’l carpentry. Crown molding. Kitchen job you need done. Call Tj at 727-808-7775. NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Combacksplash. Door install/repair & more! Call 813-751HOME HEALTH CARE mercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley 4998 or email JosephHomesllc@outlook.com Chapel. Sprinkler repairs, tree trimming, mulching, SENIOR OVERNIGHT COMPANION SITTERS AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement. Call landscaping & clean-ups also available. Licensed & Two kind senior sisters seeking work safeguarding James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years of exp. Specialist in your loved one during the overnight hours. We’ve Insured. CALL BILL @ (813) 973-3825. Kitchens & Bathrooms. Referrals upon request. All inte- been working w/the senior population for 10 years A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service. Licensed rior work: Drywall, Texture Paining, Doors, etc. Use us & have seen a need for local, English-speaking, & insured, serving the Tampa Bay area over 20 once & you won’t need to look elsewhere. Google us background-checked, Covid-tested, dependable to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises. companions w/their own transportation. Very reason- years. Family owned & operated. Quality work at affordable prices. We provide gutter clean-out, See our display ad at the bottom of this page! able rates. Call Diane or Elisa at 813-938-8614. screen repair, pressure washing & sprinkler repair. JUNK HAULING SERVICE! • We handle all types of Landscaping & property maintenance including: CNA/HHA available to do private duty care in your home. furniture removal — bedroom sets, chairs, mattresses 30 years of exp. Will attend to all of your daily needs. Refsod, tree & hedge trimming & clean ups. Other ser& box springs • Hot water heaters & hot tubs — vices are available. CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296). erences upon request. Call Rhonda at 850-586-1868. take apart & remove • Construction material • Carpet Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn mainremoval • Estate, eviction, yard, garage & attic MISCELLANEOUS tenance: Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, clean-outs • Office, home & factory • Comm’l/resdt’l. GET $500 TOWARDS CLOSING COSTS... when mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleanGorillaJunkremovalExperts.com. For appts/info, you buy a NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME with ing, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask call/text Nigel @ 888-346-5865. Florida Homes with Geri at Epperson OR Mirada. about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/Spring WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Schedule a PRIVATE TOUR of both Communities Special & FREE ESTIMATE! Licensed & insured. Soft pressure ext. house cleaning, screen enclosures, by a Resident Realtor. Join @LifeAtTheLagoon Accepting new residential & commercial accounts. pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver with @RealtorGeri Call/Text 813-609-0966. Con- We accept Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmExp. Call sealing & deck staining. We clean everything. No job too or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring full-time workers. nect with me on Instagram & Facebook. big/small. Exp. the difference when you hire a pressure CLEANING SERVICES HEAVY HITTER LAWN CARE: Veteran owned & cleaning pro. Licensed & insured. Owner operated. Call operated lawn care maintenance service, focused for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015. A-to-Z CLEANING & ORGANIZING. House & Ofc on lawn mowing, trimming, edging and blowing Cleaning & Organizing Svcs! We use our own supplies. RAYMOND PAINTING. Ext. & Int. Svcs. Exterior: (flexible with extra services). Well maintained & proAffordable & Reliable. Family-Owned & Operated. Wesley Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucfessional laborer ensuring customer satisfaction & Chapel Resident. Weekly / Bi-Weekly / Deep Cleaning/ co, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, on-time cuts. Rain or shine, the quality & schedule Move-In / Move-Out. Serving Wesley Chapel & New plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & will be kept. Licensed & Insured. Call or text 678Tampa. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: Bonded. References available. Free estimates. Your 673-7856 for your FREE ESTIMATE. 813-462-1270. Local references supplied upon request. Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

CHARLES POPPE ELECTRIC. Electric of all kinds: pools, spas, svc changes, new circuits, low-voltage, repairs, upgrades, changes to existing, troubleshoot’g, GFCI performance testing, generators. We are experts w/40+ years exp. Discount of 50% off labor for senior citizens! Lic’d & Insured Master Electrician (EC 13002399) - free phone estimates. Call 813-477-9068. MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR. Prof’l Handyman. Cabinet install., dry wall repair, tile install. & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, int. painting, appliance install., pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning install., carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TycoonUnion@yahoo.com. DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable, Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room addt’ns, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years exp. WC resident. State Certified. Call Ron for a free estimate: 813-784-5999.

CLEAN-IT RESIDENTIAL & COMMERCIAL CLEANING: Following all CDC Guidelines, 18 years cleaning in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. Licensed & Insured. Call 813.505.0431 or email cleanitmc@gmail.com.

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years experience! Commercial and Residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house and 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 & more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more information, call 813-758-9710 or see our display ad below right.

COMMERCIAL SPACE AVAILABLE

1,850-sq.-ft. Commercial/Medical Space Available to Lease. Address: 24420 SR 54, Lutz (in the MediWeightloss Building). For more info, call 813-293-4377 or email: gwillett@mediweightlossclinics.com.

COMPUTER/BUSINESS SERVICES

PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech w/20 years exp. Maintenance & Repairs, Upgrades & Tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized service. Technical jargon explained. Remote assistance avail. References avail. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate or see our ad on pg. 37. DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.

TREE SERVICE

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

POOL SERVICES

ALLSTARPOOLSOFTAMPABAY.COM. Pool cleanups, & acid washing of old pool finishes. Marcite, quartz & pebble finishes from $3K. We offer cool decking, Eurocrete & paver decking options. Paver, river rock sealing, leak detection & in-ground vinyl liner replacements avail. We sell quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. Mention this ad for a $79 pool service (restrictions apply). Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel since 1990. Call/text 813244-7077 or visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com. TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim-safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get ONE MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com. NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned & operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHER AVAILABLE! Retired Professional Photographer (45+ years experience) in the Tampa Bay area. Corporate Events, Personal Occasions, Portraiture, Pets, Commercial Photography & Real Estate. Reasonable rates. Ask me about “Front Porch Portraits,” taken from the safety of your front porch, FREE OF CHARGE! Great for Families, Children, Pets & more! Call or Text (813) 748-3901 or Visit: russellleprephotography.com.

FITNESS & WELL BEING

YOGA, PERSONAL TRAINING, NUTRITION & PHYSICAL THERAPY w/DR. LAUREN LEIVA, DPT! Phys Ed for everyone, including all children, w/a certified personal trainer who also is a degreed Dr. of Physical Therapy. Ask Dr. Leiva about her PE4ME sliding scale pay program! For more info, visit TheExerscienceCenter.com, call 813.464.0313 or see the ad on pg. 6 of this issue.

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

Our Classified Ads Are The Ones Your Neighbors READ! To order yours, visit NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Specialist in Kitchens & Bathrooms with 30 Years of Experience! All interior work, including drywall, texture painting & more. Use us once & you won’t need to look elsewhere! Google us to see all of our 5-Star Reviews & more pictures:

Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises 36

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 29, Issue 3 • February 2, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

SERVICES

MOTORSPORTS INC. FLUSH Now offering mobile auto services! BRAKES We come to you & follow all TUNE UP CDC guidelines! Neat & clean! EXHAUST CV JOINTS RADIATORS ALIGNMENTS SUSPENSION ENGINE SWAP OIL CHANGE w/NTNN coupon only. Exp. 2/28/2021. Not to be combined w/other offers. TIRE ROTATION

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

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 29, Issue 3 • February 2, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

GARY’S NEXT 25 NEW TAMPA FAVES (in alphabetical order)

All of these restaurants also are good, just not good enough (in my opinion) to make my Top-25 in New Tampa. I’m even admitting to liking some “fast food” places.-GN Al-Sham Palace Hunter’s Green Country Club Aroy Thai India Gate Restaurant Koizi Endless Hibachi Bearss Tavern & Tap Minerva Indian Restaurant Burger 21 Cantina Mexican Grill Mulligans Irish Pub (at PCGC) Cappy’s Pizza Olive Garden Capri Pizza Palm Thai Deano’s Pizza & Pasta PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub Don Julio’s Authentic Mexican Saffron Indian Cuisine Sushi Avenue Five Guys Burgers & Fries Ginza Endless Sushi & Hibachi Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club Ho King Taste of NY Pizza Hummingbird Jerk House

Scratch made daily. Honest Ingredients. Fast-Casual Italian. Order online for contactless, curbside pickup

oronzo.com 18027 Highwoods Preserve Parkway (The Walk)• 813-730-0100

GARY’S TOP-10 NY PIZZA PLACES (in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel)

I also love Neapolitan-style pizza from Via Italia (which also has Roman-style and other unique options), Woodfired Pizza (Bearss Ave.), Oronzo and Cali-Tampa Palms, as well as Chicago-style pizza from Full Circle Pizza and Cappy’s, but as a native New Yawka, I’m happy to have access to all of these NY/NJ-style options in our two distribution areas. 1. NY NY Pizza (WC) 2. Amici Pizza & Pasta (WC Blvd.) 3. 900º Woodfired Pizza (Wiregrass Mall) 4. Fratelli’s Pizza (WC) 5. Taste of NY Pizza

6. Best NY Pizza (WC) 7. Peabody’s 8. PizzaMania (WC) 9. Pomodoro Pizza (WC) 10. Capri Pizza

is NOW OPEN for LUNCH & DINNER!

GARY’S TOP-10 PLACES FOR STEAK (in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel)

There’s nothing like a tender, juicy filet, NY strip or bone-in ribeye and these are all excellent options (most don’t offer all three of my faves, but still) in our two distribution areas. 1. Tropics at Saddlebrook (Dempsey’s steak) 6. Outback Steak House (WC) 2. Treble Makers (WC) 7. Kobe Japanese Steakhouse 3. Stonewood Grill & Tavern 8. Bubba’s 33 (SR 56) 4. Longhorn Steakhouse (SR 56) 9. Liang’s Bistro 5. GrillSmith (Shops at Wiregrass) 10. Yamato Japanese Steakhouse (WC)

“By far the best sushi around the Wesley Chapel area!!! The sushi is SO fresh and delicious. Also, the inside is decorated so cute and it’s a great atmosphere. HIGHLY recommended. This is our new go-to spot!.” — Rachel, on Google

GARY’S TOP-10 DESSERT PLACES

“Atmosphere is simply stunning, from the simplicity to the local artistry of the koi-fish artwork, bonsai trees and lighting. Music gives the perfect vibe for a perfect date night!” — Josh S. on Yelp

Even though Jannah and I are (mostly) sticking to our diets, I couldn’t let a year pass without giving my favorite dessert places — not restaurants serving dessert, but mainly dessert places. 1. Ice Dreammm Shop (SR 54, Lutz) 6. Cold Stone Creamery 2. Bruster’s Real Ice Cream 7. The Cake Girl (Lutz) 3. Nothing Bundt Cakes (WC) 8. Menchie’s Frozen YogurtCafé (WC) 4. Crumbl Cookie (SR 56) 9. Batter & Dough (WC) 5. 35 Below (NT & WC) 10. The Cake Shop

Opening responsibly with 50% capacity, routine sanitation & hand sanitation stations, all employees wear masks, and brand new air/ventilation equipment, plus hot towel service!

(in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel)

Experience Wesley Chapel’s Newest Home-Grown Sushi Restaurant That Everyone Is Raving About!

25916 Sierra Center Blvd.

(next to Bahama Breeze, across from Tampa Premium Outlets) Order online for take out, delivery, or curbside pick up at ZukkuSushi.com

(813) 419-1351

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 29, Issue 3 • February 2, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

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