New Tampa Neighborhood News, Issue 5, February 28, 2015 by Neighborhood News

Volume 23 Issue 5

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Checking Out WingZone & Stage Left!

February 28, 2015

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Named The 2014 ‘Small Business Of The Year’ By The Wesley Chapel Chamber Of Commerce! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Easton Park • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • The Hammocks • West Meadows WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Bridgewater • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • The Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Watergrass • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg

USF Player Blamed For Jim Leavitt’s Firing Tells His Side Of The Story!

A New Tampa Neighborhood News Exclusive! I have known Joel Miller (photo) since he and my older son Jared played youth football together on the New Tampa Wildcats at age 12 or 13. Now 26, following an outstanding high school football career at New Tampa’s Paul R. Wharton High, Miller’s college football career — and his life — took an unexpected nosedive while he was a walk-on at the University of South Florida. Yes, Miller is, unfortunately, “that kid,” the player who was on the receiving end of one of the strangest and most controversial physical confrontations between coach and player in college football history. It was on November 21, 2009, when the longtime New Tampa resident was a redshirt, walk-on sophomore playing primarily special teams for the program Jim Leavitt first began building from the ground up in 1997. And, although Leavitt’s Bulls led 17-16 at halftime, the Cardinals rallied from down 14-0 to grab a 16-14 first-half lead until USF kicker Eric Schwartz kicked a 22-yard field goal with no time on the clock. Apparently incensed over how his team had given up its early advantage, Leavitt launched into a physical tirade that he focused on not only Miller, but also on another former Wharton star, Ladre Watkins. To this day, however, Miller says it was another Bulls player — former Seminole High star Colby Erskin — who ultimately leaked the

story to the local media (by calling SportsRadio 620 WDAE-AM). Even so, Miller was the one cast into the role of the media-attentionseeking whistleblower who ultimately caused Leavitt to be fired with cause — even though the discredited coach ended up winning his unlawful termination lawsuit against the school — and the Bulls football team has never been the same since. But, of course, Leavitt landed on his feet, first with the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers, but now, he is back in college coaching at the University of Colorado. Although Joel did earn a B.S. in Communications from USF (in 2012), his life hasn’t gone the way he planned. I believe that Joel himself always believed he would make it in football, even after he walked away from his scholarship at The Citadel (the Military College of South Carolina, in Charleston). But, although he says he did get plenty of playing time under Skip Holtz (the also-fired coach who took over for Leavitt in 2010), Joel says he never felt the same about USF, football, or any possible career after football, after being cast as the villain in the Leavitt saga. He admits that what happened to him at age 20 caused him to “fall into a rabbit hole” and while he tried not to let it affect him too much, whether at job interviews or in any bar in the Tampa Bay area, Joel says he was never allowed to forget that he was “that kid.” Joel first started telling me that he wanted me to be the one to finally tell his story a

If you missed the first-ever Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival last August, you may have heard how great it was either from talking to someone who did attend or from checking out the pics and recap of that awesome first event in these pages. So, rather than kick yourself for missing it again when the second Wesley Chapel Family Jazz Festival returns to the Wesley Chapel District Park (7728 Boyette Rd.) on Saturday, February 28, noon-9 p.m., we hope you’ll remember to mark your calen-

dar and be sure to check out this great event the second time around. There will be more outstanding jazz, including the return from last time of Abnique & Friends (whose set was cut short by rain last time), the Cypress Creek Dixieland Jazz Band, Standing 8 Count and Marlon Boone, plus Festival newcomers The Rick Dahlinger Trio, Phillip “Jazz Dad” Thomas and Midnight Soul. The headliner will be smooth jazz saxophonist and national recording artist Chris Godber (photo right)

Local News, Business & Education Updates

Neighborhood Magazine

By Gary Nager

few years ago. “I promise you, Mr. Nager,” he told me in 2011 or 2012 after he had hired an attorney, “I want you to be the person who gets to tell it for me. I know you’ll be fair.” His attorney then was Barry Cohen, the high-profile defense attorney who has been involved in cases such as the dividing up of former Tampa Bay Bucs owner Hugh Culverhouse’s multi-million-dollar estate, to the Sabrina Aisenberg case, to the killing of a key Boston Marathon bombing witness and others. But, while Cohen may not have seen a big-bucks settlement worth sticking around for, Joel’s story still has never been told publicly, so on this page and pages 3 & 20, he finally gets to tell his story in his own words. (Notethe full audio interview that provided the basis for this story, plus our video interview, will be available at NTNeighborhoodNews.com). And, speaking of those words, please note that all of the quotes used here are direct, with curse words (but those words have been censored and some quotes have been combined for print). The interview segments on our website also will “bleep out” the curses. Joel says the one thing no one else but me has ever asked him to do was to actually reenact the scene in the locker room at halftime of that Louisville game. So, although this isn’t the order in which Joel and I recorded the interviews, I felt that his reenactment of that volatile locker room scene was the right place to start. Gary: “So, USF leads Louisville 17-16 at halftime on November 21, 2009. You’re sit-

ting in your locker and Coach Leavitt comes into the locker room. What happened next?” Joel: He comes in (around a bend), screaming, and sees me and grabs me (by the jersey with both hands) and shoves me back (into the locker) and screams, ‘What the f--- is the matter with you?’ Then, he brings me back to him and throws me back again and then, one (Leavitt throws a right hand to his face), two (throws another roundhouse right to the face), three (yet another roundhouse right). Then, he throws me back into the locker again and yells, ‘You f---ing idiot. You f---ing got a penalty.’ Then, he walks over to Ladre (Watkins), grabs him the same way, head-butts him, ‘Bam,’ and he (Leavitt) falls to the ground... his nose is all busted...and then Leavitt yells, ‘Please, fight for me. Fight for me, Jesus!’

The story continues on page 3.

Two Great Events Feb. 28 — The WC Health & Fitness Fair & WC Jazz Festival!

Also Inside This Issue!

Our March 3 City Election Preview, School Board Delays Superintendent Search, Community Mourns Fallen Firefighter, & Lots Of Great Business Features!

Stage Left Is Your Neighborhood Bar & Kitchen, WingZone Turns Up The Heat, Treat Yourself At Grandeur Salon & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 3-44

Pages 45-64

W e s l e y Chapel Jazz Festival organizer Tim Hancock of Jazz Tyme Productions, LLC, also promises more food and beverage vendors, more family-friendly activities (including bounce houses for the kids) and more fun than last time around. The second Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival is sponsored by Hyundai, Chevrolet & Mazda of Wesley Chapel, Sam’s Club, The Fox Cool Jazz Club in Tampa, Ierna’s Heating & Cooling, Jazz 1 Café, Adi Khorsandian State Farm Insurance, Wesley Chapel Nissan, Sleep Inn of Wesley Chapel, Kaptain Krab, WXJB-FM News & Talk 99.9 and

the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News. You can even win a beautiful Luna guitar at the event, courtesy of Armadillo Enterprises. For more info, please visit WesleyChapelJazzFestival.com or call Tim Hancock at 609-2531.

Health & Fitness Fair Returns To Wiregrass Mall

If you’re still sticking to your New Year’s Resolution of getting fit — or you need some motivation to get back up off the couch — the second annual Wesley Chapel Health & Fitness Fair is here to help you be the best you can be. Also being held on Saturday, February 28, 10 a.m.–3 p.m., the Health & Fitness Fair will bring together more than See ‘Fitness Fair’ on page 20.

Joel Miller Finally Gets To Tell His Leavitt Story (continued from page 1)

Gary: When it happened, did you already have a problem with Leavitt? Joel: Like I said, he’s very intense...and passionate...about the game. And that’s fine. I don’t care. He can be however intense he wants to be...whatever makes him tick...I don’t give a sh-t. But, he gets all nuts, he gets crazy...and everything just explodes. And I was just the person...it’s almost like an abuse case. Who do you always see...when they come up on TV...who do they always pick on? The person that’s as big as them? The person who has something they can lose from? No, they find the one person that can’t do anything, so if they do something to them, nothing’s going to happen. And that was me. But, I bet there were 25 or 30 players who had (similar) problems with him. (He explained that he appreciated that Leavitt helped him transfer to USF, but t the coach knew Joel didn’t want his family to have to pay for college for him, so he really needed to get on scholarship to stay at the school. He had to sit out the 2008 season due to NCAA rules about transfers, and played for Leavitt in 2009 as a non-scholarship walk-on.) Joel: So many people hated him. Big stars, like Mike Ford (one of Leavitt’s starting running backs in 2009) hated him. When he hit me, Mike said, ‘Joel, I’m going to go stand up there with you,’ but people were afraid of him (Leavitt) because they didn’t want to have to go back to where they came from, they told me. They’d say, ‘Joel, I want to say something. I want to go against him. I hate him. We all hate him. But, I have to have this (my scholarship).’

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Gary: In other words, leading up to this, you already had a problem with him, he was already giving you a hard time. Can you give me an example of what it was like? Joel: OK. We had a scrimmage and I had like one penalty in the scrimmage the whole time (in 15 or 20 plays) and he made me run up and down, because of the penalty, but nobody else (had to)...while the scrimmage was still going on, by the way. And then, he comes back and then he goes, ‘Everybody, I just want to say that you all had a great scrimmage, except for Joel’ I was the only one... (with him) screaming at me, I had to run back and forth to the fence and back, to the fence and back, five or six times. People said, ‘Oh he’s trying to make you better’ and I understand that, but I was the only one. Gary: Did he ever tell you you had an attitude problem before the incident? Joel: I never said anything to him...never one word to him back...I never said anything to anybody because I wanted my scholarship. I deserved it...and people thought I deserved it. People like Tyrone McKenzie, who’s in the NFL, Kion Wilson, who’s in the NFL...they were like, ‘Joel, you should have a scholarship before some of these running backs.’ And after two years, all the coaches and players said that I needed to have a scholarship, that it was ridiculous if I didn’t (get one). Joel: There was another incident after the Louisville game. It was that Sunday night and we were practicing and something happened on the sideline and like five people got tackled and Leavitt thought it was my fault, so he...pushed me in the back. I was walking away...and he just runs at me and pushes me in the back....for no f---ing reason. Joel: I remember I texted (former USF running backs coach) Carl Franks after that and told him, ‘If he ever pushes me... or touches me...again, I’m going to beat the f--- out of him.’ So, then Carl Franks calls me in (to his office) the next day and says, ‘Joel, this is way out of control.’ And, he knew he (Leavitt) did something wrong. He even said, ‘He’s wrong. But, if this gets out, we’re all going to get fired.’ And I said, ‘No, I don’t want that to happen. You’ve taught me a lot, you’ve supported me a lot and I don’t want that to happen, you guys don’t deserve that, you’re all good guys...and good coaches. That

shouldn’t happen because of one dipsh--t. You know, one dipsh--t f---s everything up and that’s stupid.’ Gary: How long after it happened...after the Louisville game...before it came out? Joel: Well, I think it was when the next week, he (Leavitt) had an equipment manager throw (former USF wide receiver) Colby Erskin’s stuff out into the rain...on a really rainy day like today...and he (Leavitt) said, told a guy to, ‘Throw his s--- out into the rain...his whole locker.’ And, he did. Gary: And that incident had nothing to do with you? Joel: Nothing to do with me. He just did it to him. He did that to Colby Erskin, who was a scholarship player, but they had Joel Miller (left) plays the role of former USF had fights before, and he (Erskin) said, ‘OK, football coach Jim Leavitt during this first-ever See ‘Joel Miller’ on page 20. reenactment of the situation that got Leavitt fired.

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Table of Contents

Local News Updates.......................................4-25

Be Sure To Vote In The March 3 Tampa Municipal Election...............4 Hillsborough School Board Delays Search For Superintendent.........6 Community Mourns Fallen Firefighter/New Tampa Resident.......8 FDOT Proposes Express Toll Lanes On Area Interstates..............10 New Tampa News Briefs........................................................12 Cold Weather Delays BBD Widening, ‘Segment A’ Work Begins Estancia At Wiregrass Cuts A Ribbon WC Woman Flees With Her Kids Trial Date Finally Set For Grove 16 Shooter 9/11 Museum Escorted Through New Tampa To State Fair....14 Not Many Improvements Planned For Morris Bridge Rd............16 Cypress Creek Ice & Sports Complex Officially Breaks Ground....18

New Tampa Community Calendar...................................22 Rotary Bike Ride Returns, WCH To Host Area ‘College Night’....23

Local Business Updates......................26-40 Murtha & Murtha CPAs Help You With Your Taxes.................26 Dr. Guttentag Performing New Knee Replacement Procedure....28 Artisan Aesthetics Celebrates Eight Years In Business...................32 Re/Max Realtors Specialize In New Tampa Real Estate............34 Softball Bat Club Lets You Test Your Bat First.............................36

Local Sports Updates..........................41-44

New Tampa Family YMCA To Host FREE Swimming Lessons.....41 USF Women’s Basketball Team Cracks AP Top 25...................42

Neighborhood Magazine

Stage Left Boasts Great Food, Drinks & Entertainment.............45 Florida Aesthetics Can Help You Reach Your Ideal Image...........46 Grandeur Salon Provides An Elegant Hairstyling Experience......48 WingZone Turns Up The Flavor In New Tampa.........................52 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’............................58

NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSIFIEDS.......................60 Turner-Bartels Students Test Out New Laptops...............................62

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Don’t Forget To Vote In The City Of Tampa Municipal Election March 3! By Matt Wiley

Although the race for New Tampa’s City Council District 7 seat already has been decided, you should still get out and vote in this year’s non-partisan municipal election on Tuesday, March 3. Still up for grabs are the Tampa Mayor’s office, as well as three citywide City Council seats that New Tampa residents in city developments (which includes all of our communities except Pebble Creek, Cross Creek & Live Oak Preserve) will help decide. And, with the combined voter turnout for the last two municipal elections in Tampa (2007 and 2011) less than 20-percent of all registered voters citywide, it means that if you do vote, you’ll have a much stronger voice than you ever have had for a county, state or federal election. For the next four years, New Tampa once again will be represented on the City Council by Lisa Montelione, who was reelected without an opponent on January 16, which was the last day for candidates to qualify for the election. Although Grand Hampton resident Joseph Caetano filed to run against Montelione, he did not end up qualifying for the race. However, the following city offices are still being contested: Tampa Mayor Bob Buckhorn is up for re-election and is running against write-in candidate Jose Vazquez, whose name will not appear on the actual ballot. Vazquez has run for office twice in the past, once for City Council in 2006 and also for Florida House District 58 in 2012. At our press

time, Vazquez had raised just $120 for his campaign, while Mayor Buckhorn had raised more than $400,000. Also being contested are the three citywide council seats, currently held by Mike Suarez (Dist. 1), Mary Mulhern (Dist. 2) and Yvonne Yolie Capin (Dist. 3). Mulhern is not running for re-election due to term limits, but Suarez (who has raised more than $56,000) and Capin (who has raised more than $80,000) hope to keep their respective seats. Suarez is being challenged by Seminole Heights resident and 32-year Tampa native Susan Long. According to her website, Long is president of the Old Seminole Heights Neighborhood Association, chair of the City of Tampa Public Nuisance Abatement Board, a member of the city’s Code Enforcement and Variance Review boards, as well as founding director and treasurer of the Seminole Heights Foundation. She also is the treasurer of Krewes Kare, a nonprofit organization that provides natural disaster relief to the Gulf Coast. Suarez has raised more than $56,000 in campaign contributions, while Long has raised more than $10,000. Joseph V. Citro, Julie Ann Jenkins and current District 6 council member Charlie Miranda (who is term-limited in his current seat, but had raised nearly $60,000 for his citywide campaign) are in the running to replace Miranda in District 2. According to his website, Citro was appointed in 2012 by Mayor Buckhorn to serve on the city’s Variance Review Board and previously was

appointed by former Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio in 2003 to serve on the city’s Code Enforcement Board. Citro also has served as the president of the Tiger Bay Club of Tampa and the Ybor City Rotary Club. He has raised about $20,000 for his campaign. Jenkins is a business woman who has worked as a national account manager for Virgin Atlantic Airlines and regional sales manager for AirTran Airways,. She also has chaired the International Forum of Travel & Tourism Advocates, served as a congressional aide to former U.S. Congressman Buddy MacKay, been a member of the New Tampa-based OASIS (Outreach Assisting Student in Schools) Network and the Hillsborough County chapter of

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the League of Women Voters. Jenkins so far also has raised more than $20,000 in campaign contributions. Capin’s opposition for the District 3 seat comes from Paul Erni, whose website says that he has worked in sales for Republic National Distributing Co. (a beer & wine distribution company) for 24 years and served for 20 years as a magistrate (officer) on the city’s code enforcement board. Erni, who has raised more than $13,000 for his campaign, also has chaired the public nuisance and abatement board and has been a coach with Pony Youth Baseball for 14 years. For more info, including your polling location, visit VoteHillsborough.org.

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School Board Delays Superintendent Search, Offers Contract To Deputy By Matt Wiley

The Hillsborough County School Board will move to offer its current deputy superintendent a new contract at its March 3 meeting to at least temporarily replace recently ousted superintendent of schools MaryEllen Elia, whose contract was bought out by the Board in January for $1.1 million. The Board also voted unanimously to delay a nationwide search for a new, permanent superintendent. During the February 17 Board meeting, members voted unanimously (7-0) to offer a contract to and appoint current deputy superintendent Jeffrey Eakins, 49, as the interim superintendent of the Hillsborough County School District (HCSD), the eighth largest district in the U.S., at the Board’s meeting on Tuesday, March 3. Elia’s last official day is March 5, after which Eakins will take over as superintendent, although for how long has not yet been determined. The District staff was tasked with drawing up a contract before the Mar. 3 meeting. Eakins initially was to take over as interim superintendent while the Board conducted a national search that would have potentially installed a new permanent superintendent by late June, but now Eakins will be offered the position for a longer period. Hiring a search firm could have cost the District $40,000, plus the salary of a new superintendent. Elia made nearly $290,000 annually without benefits. The motion to offer Eakins the position was brought forth by Dist. 2 Board member Sally Harris, who said it would

provide stability to the District moving forward. “We need to know who is leading this District,” Harris told her fellow Board members during the Feb. 17 discussion. Harris stressed that hiring Eakins (photo) as superintendent and adding the word “interim” to his title makes his position appear weaker. “We should hire (Eakins) as superintendent so that he can make decisions and move this District forward,” Harris said. Board members were expected to vote about whether or not to hire a firm to search for a new superintendent during the meeting, but Harris’ motion sparked a different conversation. Although the details of Eakins’ contract had not been decided at our press time, Dist. 7 School Board member Carol Kurdell urged the Board to consider a twoyear contract. “If you want stability, do two years,” Kurdell said. “Eakins listens and he gets the job done.” Dist. 3 Board member Cindy Stuart, who represents New Tampa’s schools, said the decision to hire a firm felt rushed. “These searches need to be well-planned,” Stuart said. “I think Eakins is best for the job. (Hiring Eakins) is a reasonable, sensible, prudent thing to do.” During the Board’s workshop on Feb. 10 to discuss the search for a new super-

intendent, Stuart also emphasized taking more time before initiating a nationwide search. “We need more time to reach out to the community,” Stuart said. “It’s aggressive to be looking at March 3 for voting on a search firm when we don’t know what the community wants. We need to be realistic about the timeline.” Dist. 6 Board member April Griffin also expressed concern about the quick time frame to hire a firm and a new superintendent during the workshop. “We can bring Mr. Eakins in with a contract and really put time into a search instead of rushing into it,” Griffin said, adding that she thought it would be a good idea to conduct community meetings

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to gather input from constituents about whether to hire from within or conduct a national search. The idea of a community survey was presented. However, Dist. 4 Board member Melissa Snively took issue with reaching out to the community. “If we do something different than what we’re told (by constituents), they’re going to think we’re not listening,” Snively said. “I think we’d be sticking our necks out there. We didn’t do a survey to terminate (Elia’s contract). I missed that survey. Why are we doing one now?” Stay tuned to the New Tampa Neighborhood News as we continue to cover this developing story.

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Hundreds Attend Funeral For Longtime Firefighter & New Tampa Resident By Matt Wiley Many times, people have no idea the impact they have upon their community and peers throughout their lives. However, judging by the number of people who came out to pay their respects to the late Renald William Cruz, he was a man who made a profound impact upon everyone around him. A Far Rockaway, NY, native, Cruz, 54, of Hunter’s Green, served the community as a Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) firefighter and paramedic who also was trained in aviation firefighting for nearly 30 years before retiring in 2012. Cruz served most of his career with the Aircraft Rescue & Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit at Tampa International Airport. Although he was never based at any of New Tampa’s three fire stations, a service was held for Cruz on February 7 at St. James United Methodist Church, located off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Tampa Palms (just north of TFR Station #20), and was attended by nearly 700 people, rendering the sanctuary standing-room only. The service also featured a bagpipe processional and several fire engines. “He was a loving, religious, familyoriented man,” said Reny Cruz, Renald’s son. “His friends were his family, too. He had an infectious, contagious loud laugh.” In fact, the family has created a

hashtag to remember Cruz with: #LoudLove. Reny says that his father had no problem being the butt of a joke to make someone around him feel better and that he almost always was in a good mood. “He would have been so proud that the whole family was together (at his service),”Reny explained. “The turnout was incredible. The number of people that showed up shows how well-loved he was in the community and how many people he impacted throughout his life.” Reny says that his father loved to cook, often serving up meals (including his signature soups and empanadas) at the fire house and family gatherings. If he had leftover food and was driving, Reny says it wasn’t unusual to see him give some to a homeless person on the side of the street. “He’d give you the shirt off his back,” Reny said. “He always tried to help people.”

Cruz was stricken with an unknown illness the weekend of January 24 and was taken to the hospital, where he remained until he passed on the evening of February 2. Reny says that the family is having a private autopsy conducted and should know the cause of death in a few weeks, but all of the tests conducted while Cruz was in the hospital proved inconclusive. “Renald Cruz was an outstanding firefighter and paramedic with (TFR), who for nearly 30 years gave so much to this department and the community,” says TFR spokesperson Jason Penny. “We are saddened by his passing and our prayers are with his family as they grieve his loss.”

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Tampa firefighter & New Tampa resident Renald Cruz was remembered at a memorial service at St. James Church in Tampa Palms. In addition to his son Reny and Reny’s wife Nicki, Renald is survived by his wife Suzie, his son Zachary, daughters Savannah and Sophia, grandsons Sunny and Cole, his mother Mary, brothers David, Daniel and Fermin, sisters Linda and Mona and was preceded in death by his father, Fermin Cruz. In lieu of flowers, a scholarship fund for Renald’s children has been opened. Donations can be made to Mary Suzanne Cruz and mailed to Pilot Bank c/o Rita Boodram, 17635 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Tampa, FL 33647. For questions about donations, please contact Rita at RBoodram@PilotBank.com.

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FDOT Presents Express Toll Lane Project At Public Workshop By Matt Wiley

Attention New Tampa commuters: if you could, would you pay a little extra to avoid snarled interstate traffic on the way to work? The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) hopes so, as it has announced a concept that could add express toll lanes to several of the Tampa Bay area’s most congested interstate highways. One of those express lanes could begin and end just north of New Tampa. A public workshop was held in conjunction with the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) on January 29 at T. Pepin’s Hospitality Centre in Tampa to gather input from the public about the proposed express toll lane project, entitled “Tampa Bay Express.” More than 100 people attended to learn more about the proposed toll lanes and put in their “two cents” on the idea. The project’s website (TampaBayExpress.com) explains that, although FDOT still is in the process of developing a Master Plan for the projected $6-billion project, express toll lanes could be constructed alongside existing interstate lanes on I-75, I-275 and I-4 to ensure “reduced congestion, greater mobility, fewer delays and more predictability in traffic times.” One or two toll lanes are proposed in either direction for I-75 from south of U.S. 301 (near the Fowler Ave. exit in Temple Terrace) to north of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. interchange in New Tampa. Another express lane is proposed for along I-275 from north of Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd. to north of Bearss Ave. However, no express toll lanes are proposed near or north of the apex of I-75 and I-275 near the S.R. 56 interchange, where traffic regularly stacks up during the daily rush hours. FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson says that “the initial traffic and revenue study by the (Florida) Turnpike Enterprise did not show enough of a demand for an express lane in that area. An additional lane may be needed in the future, but the congestion doesn’t get bad enough to support tolling the additional lane.” Carson adds that there always is the opportunity to re-assess the need in a future study for the apex area. where I-275 ends and merges with I-75, near the Pasco County line.

Carson says that this project is still in its early stages and notes that the agency is in the process of gathering input to see if the concept is something that Tampa Bay-area drivers will accept and use. “We do not have funding (for the project) at this point,” Carson explained, adding that the estimated cost of the project More than 100 residents from across the Tampa Bay area attended the could be more Florida Department of Transportation’s public workshop on Janbuary 29 to than $6 billion. check out the proposed ‘Tampa Bay Express’ project, that could one day add “Due to the express lanes to several sections of the Bay area’s interstate highways. congestion in the a capacity to accommodate that growth.” Tampa Bay area, we are studying a traffic Alan also pointed out that because the management concept that has helped cities lanes are tolled and that the toll prices will across the nation improve traffic flow.” fluctuate based upon demand, some people Because funding is not yet available probably wouldn’t be able to take advanand the Master Plan has not been completed, an official timeframe for this project tage of them. Seminole Heights resident Frank has not yet been proposed, but Carson says Ender said that he’d much rather see a that the project is something years down mass transit system like light rail instead the road and it could take up to a decade of an express lane, although Carson noted to complete the necessary traffic studies that the lanes could accommodate an and obtain funding. express bus route. “We’re just introducing the idea and “I think an express lane will help (conseeing what people think,” Carson said. “Right now, we just want to get information (about the concept) out to the public. These lanes will be good for people that are running late and we want to be able to give people that option. What we’re trying to find out now is if people would use (the toll lanes).” Alan and Patricia Cohn, of Grand Hampton, said that even after seeing the project’s concept displayed in detailed maps at the meeting, they still had more unanswered questions. “We want to learn more about it,” Alan said. “Will it actually solve the (congestion) problem? How long will it take? How will it be paid for? The bottom line is that something has to be done because our population in New Tampa is growing, but our roads and highways aren’t expanding at

gestion) eventually,” Ender added. “But, I’d much rather just see another normal lane or light rail.” Eitan Green, also of Seminole Heights, who says he regularly uses the I-75 corridor through New Tampa, noted that adding an express lane won’t solve the area’s bigger transportation problems. “I think that this is going to cost a lot of money that could be used to address other more important issues on our interstates, like wrong-way driving,” Green said of the problem that resulted in 11 deaths last year on Tampa interstates. “This might improve traffic congestion, but it won’t improve drivers.” A video on the project’s website explains that the lanes will be well-marked, easy to enter and exit and that tolls will automatically be charged using the SunPass system. Toll revenue would then be used to pay for the operation and maintenance of the lanes. Express lanes currently are used across the U.S. in major cities such as Atlanta, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles and San Diego. Express lanes also currently are used along I-95 in Miami. Additional meetings about this possible future project will be held, but those dates have not yet been set. Stay with the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News for updates. For more information, please visit TampaBayExpress.com.

MARCH 31, 2015

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New Tampa Cold Weather Delays BBD Paving, Segment A Work Begins

While most construction-related weather delays are attributed to precipitation, sometimes temperature can play a factor, as well. In fact, some Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. paving recently was delayed due to cold temperatures in the New Tampa area. According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), paving that was scheduled for BBD underneath I-75 in New Tampa for the evening of February 18 had to be postponed due to low temperatures. FDOT spokesperson John McShaffrey says that the mix specifications for asphalt require temperatures to be above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. However, overnight temperatures did dip below 40º that day, so Prince Contracting (the company completing the widening of BBD Segments B & C between Doña Michelle Dr. and Palm Springs Blvd.) was forced to cancel the paving. “It is common for contractors to lose some work hours due to weather, be it rain or in this case, temperature-related,” McShaffrey says. “The contractor will just alter its schedule and reschedule the paving activities there.” McShaffrey says that the widening of that section of BBD currently is expected to be done about a month after you receive this issue. While BBD widening continues

Dist. 2 County Commissioner Mike Moore also spoke prior to the ribboncutting ceremony. “When Standard Pacific decided under I-75 to complete Segments B & C, to invest in building in Wesley Chapel, construction along Segment A (between economic conditions were not perfect,” Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms and Comm. Moore said. “But, they saw E. Bearss Ave.) officially is under way. Construction signs posted on January promise in our area and decided to take that risk. (Estancia) has turned out to be a 28 have been alerting Tampa Palms drivmagnificent community that we can all be ers that the 3.5-mile, $36-million project proud of.” Comm. Moore added, “This to widen the busy road from 4-8 lanes area and community is no longer just the is getting started. Most of the work will ‘bedroom community’ to Tampa. It is the occur during weekdays, but some night community.” and weekend work will occur, said HillsSPH is no stranger to the area, havborough County community relations ing already built homes in several large coordinator Andrea Roshaven. Drivers are communities in the New Tampa and Wesurged to use caution. ley Chapel areas, including Seven Oaks, Segment A is expected to be comMeadow Pointe and Tuscany at Tampa plete by the spring of 2017. Palms. For Estancia, SPH purchased 677 acres of land from the Porter family, who Estancia Officially Opens In own the Wiregrass DRI, and will build Wiregrass Ranch 1,181 single-family homes. Home prices After years of hearing about the in Estancia range between $200,000thousands of residential units that will be $600,000. coming to the Wiregrass Ranch DevelopThe four neighborhoods inside ment of Regional Impact (DRI) in Wesley Estancia, three of which will be gated, will Chapel, Estancia at Wiregrass by Standard feature a Tuscan-style, “Euro cottage” or Pacific Homes has officially opened just Mediterranean look in front, which, will off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., about be much different than most other homes a mile north of Florida Hospital Wesley in the area. Each neighborhood is built Chapel, following a ribbon-cutting cerwithin walking distance to the Estancia emony on February 11. Club, which features a pool, tennis and Although dozens of homes already basketball courts, a fitness room and other have been completed and some already amenities. are filled with residents, more than 50 For more information, please visit people — including Greater Wesley EstanciaAtWiregrass.com. Chapel Chamber of Commerce ambassadors, Pasco County elected officials and Wesley Chapel Woman Caught employees of Standard Pacific — filled the After Fleeing With Kids lavish, 7,000-sq.-ft. Estancia Club amenity Parents are known to do almost center for the ribbon-cutting ceremony, anything for their children, even break the during which food and coffee were law, which still has consequences, no matserved, followed by a short presentation ter the intentions. from Standard Pacific’s Tampa division According to the Pasco County Sherpresident Dave Bulloch. iff’s Office (PCSO), on February 13, the “Today marks another significant agency began a search for Wesley Chapel milestone for Estancia at Wiregrass,” resident Heather Nicole Hand, 29, and Bulloch said. “Pasco County has been a her two children. PCSO terrific community partner. Our construcofficials initiated the tion of homes and communities in Pasco search because no contact County is done with great confidence. had been made with We know that our homeowners will enjoy Hand since February 10. great local conveniences, excellent county Hand had learned services and schools and a wonderful lifethat her two children style when they choose to buy a Standard Neriah Moore, 2, and Pacific Home in Pasco County.” Heather Hand 1-year-old Caleigh Hand

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were going to be taken into protective custody and she was believed to have fled into Hillsborough County, Plant City or to the Mulberry, FL, area in her 2006 Ford Escape. However, on February 14, Hand and the children were taken into custody by the Tarpon Springs Police Department and were transferred to PCSO. PCSO spokesperson Kevin Doll said that because of the nature of the case the agency can’t comment on the case or release more details (including why the children were being taken into protective custody) because the information is not public record.

Trial Date Set For Grove Theater Shooter

More than a year after fatally shooting a man in a Wesley Chapel movie theater, a trial date finally has been set for retired Tampa cop Curtis Reeves, Jr. According to court records, Pasco Sixth Judicial Court Circuit Judge Pat Siracusa officially set Reeves’ trial date for Monday, August 24, 9 a.m., in Dade City. Reeves is charged with second degree murder for the Jan. 13 fatal shooting of Land O’Lakes resident Chad Oulsen, 43, during an argument about texting before a movie inside the Cobb Theatres Grove 16 movie theater in The Grove shopping plaza in Wesley Chapel. Reeves, 72, has entered a plea of not guilty. Siracusa originally had scheduled the trial for the State of Florida v. Curtis J. Reeves to begin in early March, but that date was tentative. Another pretrial hearing is set for April 30. Prior to the fatal shooting last January, Reeves reportedly asked Oulsen several times to stop texting during the previews before the matinee showing of “Lone Survivor,” a film about the U.S. war in Afghanistan, and even complained to theater management. Oulsen said he was texting his young daughter’s babysitter before he was shot in the chest. The bullet also hit the finger of Oulsen’s wife Nicole, who had her hand on her husband’s chest. Reeves’ attorneys argued that he fired at Oulsen because he feared he was going to be beaten up and because Oulsen had just thrown something at his face, which turned out to be popcorn. — MW

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9/11 Mobile Museum Escorted Through New Tampa To State Fair By Matt Wiley

If you were driving on I-75 during the rainy afternoon of February 9 in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, there’s a good chance you saw Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) cruisers, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue (HCFR) trucks and dozens of motorcycles waving American flags as they escorted a semi truck southbound. However, that big rig was no ordinary tractor trailer. In fact, inside the 53- foot semi was the 1,000-sq.-ft. Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation’s “Never Forget 9/11” Museum Exhibit, which was on its way to the Florida State Fairgrounds in Tampa, where it was open to the public for the duration of the fair (which was held Feb. 4-15) at the Fairgrounds’ Equestrian Center. Inside the trailer was a museum exhibit that chronicled the events of the terrorist attacks on New York City on September 11, 2001, and included New York Police Department (NYPD) and Fire Department of New York (FDNY) dispatches from the day and artifacts from the World Trade Center’s twin towers and New York City fire houses. Despite the poor weather on Feb. 9, more than 30 motorcycles met the mobile exhibit at the southbound rest area on I-75 between exits 279 and 275 in Wesley Chapel to escort it

into Hillsborough County and to the Florida State Fairgrounds. “This is the first time (this exhibit has) been in the area,” said HCFR special operations chief Jeff Patterson, who coordinated the event. “Since so many firefighters lost their lives (in the 9/11 attacks), we wanted to provide an escort all the way into the fair.” Patterson said that he actually was on duty in Hillsborough County during the 9/11 attacks. “The museum hits you kind of hard,” he said, adding that the exhibit provides a kind of first-hand, eyewitness account of that fateful day. The exhibit is part of the Stephen Siller Foundation, which is an organization started by the family of FDNY firefighter Stephen Siller, who gave his life to help save others in the World Trade Center on 9/11. Siller had finished his shift and was on his way to meet his brothers to play golf on his day off, but went back to help his fellow firefighters when he heard about the first plane that hit the twin towers. The organization’s website explains that Siller, 34, tried to cross the Brooklyn Battery tunnel, but it was closed to traffic, so he strapped 60 pounds of gear to himself and ran from the tunnel to the World Trade Center towers, where he died in their collapse. For more information, please visit Tunnels2Towers.org.

The 53- foot semi in the photo above is the 1,000-sq.-ft. Stephen Siller Tunnel To Towers Foundation’s “Never Forget 9/11” Museum Exhibit, which made a stop on I-75 in Wesley Chapel on its way to the Florida State Fair on February 9.

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K-Bar Growth Continues Without Plans To Widen Morris Bridge Rd. By Matt Wiley

Traveling north on Morris Bridge Rd. from E. Fletcher Ave., it’s hard to imagine that there are thousands of homes planned for developments on both sides of the two-lane road (both north and south of the Hillsborough/Pasco County line) that currently looks out over mostly rural, park and agricultural land. However, even with quite a bit of development on the horizon, there aren’t many improvements in Hillsborough County’s long-range transportation plan for the road that connects Wesley Chapel to Temple Terrace. While construction continues to widen Cross Creek Blvd. and homes continue to sprout up within the K-Bar Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) along Morris Bridge Rd. in New Tampa, there aren’t many plans for improvements to the “rural” road in Hillsborough County’s “Imagine 2040” long-range transportation plan. Just last month, current K-Bar Ranch developer M/I Homes applied to the City of Tampa for a rezoning that will allow for the construction of an additional 1,400 homes, as well as the construction of an east-west road within the DRI that will make a connection with Morris Bridge Rd. Although development is not as imminent in New Tampa between Cross Creek Blvd. and County Line Rd., other than in K-Bar Ranch, the population and amount of traffic in that area still is expected to grow during the next few decades. Hillsborough County Planning Commission senior planner Bud Whitehead

explains that the most recent traffic count numbers are from 2014 and show that an average number of about 13,000 vehicles travel between I-75 at the Fletcher Ave. interchange and Cross Creek Blvd. each day. Between Cross Creek Blvd. and the Pasco County line, there’s an average of about 7,641 vehicles using the road each day. Whitehead adds that the number of vehicles using Morris Bridge Rd. is expected to grow to 14,000 vehicles south of Cross Creek Blvd. and 21,000 vehicles north of Cross Creek Blvd. The population along the road is expected to grow from 13,375 to more than 16,800. However, despite this anticipated growth, Morris Bridge Rd. still would be operating within its capacity. But, Hillsborough County updates its plan every five years, so the plan can be re-evaluated if unanticipated growth occurs.

Meanwhile, In Pasco...

On the Wesley Chapel side of the county line, the River Landing Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) was approved back in 2010 for nearly 2,000 residential units and 179,000 sq. ft. of commercial space on the west side of Morris Bridge Rd., while the Two Rivers development extends east from Morris Bridge. Two Rivers was approved in 2008 for 6,400 single- and multi-family residential units, as well as 630,000 sq. ft. of commercial space and 2.67 million sq. ft. of office space for a large employment center.

In addition, New River, Meadow Pointe, Wiregrass Ranch and Avalon Park West also continue to grow, adding more traffic to Morris Bridge Rd. which is one of the main north-south arteries in the area. Even so, there are no immediate plans to widen the road in Pasco County’s “Mobility 2040” Although the River Landings and Two Rivers developments (above) will bring long-range trans- thousands more homes and vehicles to Morris Bridge Rd. in Pasco County, there portation plan. are no plans to widen the road through 2040 in Pasco or Hillsborough. Pasco transportation planning manager Jim Edwards Coats Rd. in Zephyrhills. However, none of these plans mean any widening for explains that the regional model for the Morris Bridge — at least not yet. area does not show the traffic volume to Although Pasco has few plans for necessitate widening, but he also notes Morris Bridge Rd. in the coming years, that the LRTP is re-examined every the Florida Department of Transportafive years. Edwards explains that there tion (FDOT) is in negotiations with currently are no county improvements scheduled for Morris Bridge Rd. through landowners between Meadow Pointe Blvd. and U.S. 301 to obtain the right2029, except for intersection improvements at S.R. 54. But, he emphasizes, the of-way necessary for the 6.7 mile extension of S.R. 56 east into Zephyrhills, an plan will be constantly re-evaluated. estimated $60 million project. Funding Edwards also notes that, “Traffic for that project is not programmed until accidents could necessitate safety-related fiscal year 2017-18. Edwards says that as improvements based upon the types of development continues along that coraccidents that occur,.” ridor, traffic studies will be conducted. Edwards explains that between “There can always be safety improve8,000-10,000 vehicles travel Morris ments that come on line over time, inBridge Rd. between S.R. 54 and County cluding left turn lanes off (Morris Bridge Line Rd. in Pasco per day and that by 2040, that number is expected to double. Rd.) at intersecting streets,” Edwards explains. “But, these would be evaluated Additional traffic relief on Moron a case-by-case basis. If development ris Bridge Rd. will come in the form of occurs that accesses one of the intersectseveral other north-south connections ing streets (with Morris Bridge Rd.), between Hillsborough and Pasco Counties, Edwards says, citing the current dead the developer would be required to do a study to determine if intersection end at Kinnan St. in New Tampa with improvements will be needed. It’s all a Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, as well complicated ‘what if’ game, but that is as a possible future connection between the nature of our business.” Meadow Pointe Blvd. into K-Bar Ranch. For more information about these Also in the Pasco LRTP are plans long-range transportation plans, please to extend both Chancey Rd. to Morris visit Mobility2040Pasco.com and PlanBridge Rd. and Oldwoods Ave. in MeadHillsborough.com. ow Pointe through Morris Bridge Rd. to

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Cypress Creek Ice & Sports Complex Breaks Ground, Eyes Fall Opening By Matt Wiley

Wesley Chapel’s claim to ice hockey fame could open late this year, if all goes to developer Gordie Zimmermann (of Z Mitch, LLC)’s plan, after breaking ground on the state’s largest ice hockey facility on February 24, which was right after we went to press with this issue. Zimmermann says that he had originally hoped to break ground on the 150,500-sq.-ft., four-ice-pad Cypress Creek Ice & Sports Complex — located on 13.5 acres adjacent to American Consulting Engineers on Cypress Ridge Blvd. (just off I-75 and S.R. 56 — in January, but that plan was delayed while he worked out final details with scheduling so that the complex’s ground-breaking ceremony could accommodate the schedules of all parties involved with the project. “We tried to time the groundbreaking properly so that everyone could attend,” Zimmerman explained, adding that some special guests, including professional athletes, were planning to be part of that ceremony, “so we tried to make sure that everybody involved (got) to be part of it.” Zimmerman says that the complex received its building permits in December and should only take between 8-9 months to construct, once things get moving in earnest.

“We’re still shooting for an opening in the fall of this year,” he says. In addition to the four ice pads (including one larger-than-NHL, Olympic-sized rink and one removable pad that can double as a multi-purpose floor for basketball and even graduations), the $20-million facility also will be home to a sports-themed, family restaurant, although Zimmermann says he can’t yet release the name. “Let’s just say there will be a view of all four rinks from the restaurant,” he explains. Zimmermann also says that he’s excited to be part of the overall development of the S.R. 56/I-75 interchange, which now has significant developments under construction on three of four of its corners, since the ice facility that can accommodate hockey, figure skating, curling and other winter sports, has now (as you’re reading this) broken ground. In addition to the ice facility, Simon Property Group’s Tampa Premium Outlets broke ground on the southwest corner of the interchange in December in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact (DRI) and the Sierra Property Group has been prepping land for development on the north side of the DRI for the past several months. “Pasco has this label of a ‘bedroom community’ (meaning a bedroom community for Tampa),” Zimmermann

This is an artist’s rendering of the planned Cypress Creek Ice & Sports Complex, located off S.R. 56 & I-75, which is expected to have broken ground a few days before this issue arrived in your mailbox.

says. “But, with two malls and the rink right here, that’s really going to change.” He adds that the facility will help drive business in the area, especially for local hotels, like the Hampton Inn & Suites located across Cypress Ridge Blvd. and a proposed Holiday Inn Express Hotel, which is planned to be located next to the ice rink. Zimmermann explains that several ice sports tournament groups interested in hosting events in Wesley Chapel have already approached him. Currently, the closest ice facilities to the

Cypress Creek complex are in Brandon (20 miles to the south off I-75) and Ellenton (50 miles to the south off I-75), respectively. Perhaps best of all, the Wesley Chapel facility will allow for larger-scale tournaments than what currently can be held at the other two facilities (which both only have two ice pads), Zimmermann says. “This project is going to be a huge benefit to the Wesley Chapel community,” he says. Stay with the New Tampa Neighborhood News for updates about this exciting development.

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‘Joel Miller’

Continued from page 3 f--- you.’ And he called 620 (WDAE-AM) and said what happened and then, BAM! There goes the story. Gary: Colby Erskin said what happened to him or what happened to you? Joel: OK, he said, ‘Leavitt threw all of my s--- in the rain, my whole locker,’ and he goes, ‘but let me tell you, he struck a player...Joel Miller...and hit him right in the face’...and then, that was it. Then, Colby Erskin called me and I was like, ‘Oh s---.’ And now, I’ve got everybody on my ass. Leavitt was on the phone, calling my dad... and you can look up the phone records...20 times...telling him what to say. And then, calling him another 15 times....and telling me what to say...and saying, ‘Oh Joel, you know I love you...and you know I would never....You’re such a great guy, blah, blah, blah’...and I knew it was a bunch of s---. Gary: OK, but what did you tell me you did directly after the incident? Joel: Right after I got out (of the locker room), after the game, my parents knew something was wrong and my dad asked me what happened and I said, ‘Leavitt just punched me in the face...three times.’ And, he was like, ‘What?’ And, my dad actually went to the building...to confront him...let’s say confront him... but (Leavitt) wasn’t there. I also called Coach (Craig) Rainey, from Wharton (as well as the New Tampa Wildcats youth program before that), and I tell him the whole story. I was like, ‘Oh my God, this guy was like f---ing hitting me in the face.’ And Coach Rainey said, ‘Joel, you have to talk to someone...Talk to (running backs coach) Carl Franks.’ He goes, ‘Joel, that’s crazy, I don’t know’...he was kind of shocked in a way, like, ‘Why did this happen? What the hell? Go try to talk to some coaches and figure it out.’ Gary: What happened after it broke? Joel: I would go to class and these kids would say, you know, ‘F--- this coach...f--- this player. He’s a p---y...he probably just wants money...he doesn’t even have a scholarship,’ because you know, that looks worse, because it looks like I want money...and I’d just keep my head down and not say anything and act like I wasn’t even there. Joel: I would go to different bars or clubs and people wanted to fight me...I even got hit with a brick in the back of the head. I have a huge scar in the back of my head from it. I played in a game, for Skip Holtz, at Syracuse, after it...and they covered it up, like with bandages and a pad on it and they wrapped my head like they had done surgery on it. I probably got in 15 or 20 fights over this. And I never threw the first punch. Joel: You know, the (reporter) from (CB-

SSportsline.com) asked me, “How come you changed your story? Why did you change from saying he hit you in the pads to he hit you in the face?” And I said, “Because he (Leavitt) told me to say that and I said, ‘Fine, we can do that...we can squash it, whatever.’” And then, Leavitt didn’t do anything to me anymore...from that point...Nothing...I still practiced hard, I did what I had to do and he just didn’t do anything. And then, he would come out and talk to me like I was his buddy... and people would be like, ‘Wow.’ Gary: Like, that it was weird? Joel: Yeah, because he’s not like that. He didn’t talk to anybody and he was (now) like (to me), ‘Wow, you’ve worked so hard this year... you’re a great player...I’m just so glad that you’re on this team. You’ve really helped us. Wow. You’re great.’ Gary: Obviously, someone had a talk with him. Who do you think it was, (former USF athletic director) Doug Woolard? Joel: Yeah, maybe. Doug Woolard is a snake in the grass. I heard (USF president) Judy Genshaft and Woolard went into his (Leavitt’s) office when I was out of the building and they said, ‘Just tell us that you hit him and you can keep your job.’ And he (Leavitt) said, ‘No I did not hit him...at all.’ So, they had to fire him. And, neither Doug Woolard or Judy Genshaft ever came up to me and said one word. Not one word. Ever. And Woolard and Genshaft knew the whole thing....but they never said one word to me....Woolard even walked past me at a bar (Linkster’s Tap Room on BBD)...and didn’t even acknowledge me. And, I was like, ‘F--- you!’ Joel: And then, Leavitt got an attorney, so I said, ‘Well, if he’s getting an attorney, I’m getting an attorney, so that if there was something I said that his attorney could use against me... and I’d look like an idiot’...I got an attorney, in case he tried to ‘swindle the crowd’....just in case, like in the O.J. Simpson case. I didn’t want any of that, ‘If the glove doesn’t fit, you have to acquit’ s--t happening. Joel: Steve Bird (who was a graduate assistant offensive coach in 2009 who stayed on with Holtz in 2010) came and said to me my senior year (2012), “I want to tell you something that nobody else knows. We all had a meeting after that game...all the coaches...and Carl Franks stood up and asked...’Hey, are you going to confront Joel...are you going to say anything? Are you going to do anything?’” And he (Leavitt) said, ‘I don’t need to say anything... do anything. I can do whatever I want to do. I don’t care...I can do what I want.’ Joel knows there will be naysayers about re-opening an old wound, but he says he waited until he at least started to turn his life around: “With God’s protection, I know he’ll lead me down the right path to my ultimate goal.”

‘Fitness Fest’ Continued from pg. 1

health, wellness and fitness industries will again converge upon Paseo Dr. in the Shops at Wiregrass mall to share their services and products and to help inspire local residents to get outside and take better care of their bodies. Our friends at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce have teamed up with Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) to present this familyfriendly event that also will feature medical screenings, live fitness equipment demonstrations, a Blood Mobile, live entertainment in the mall’s center pavilion, children’s activities & more. Screenings are scheduled to include

blood pressure, blood glucose, vision, balance, scoliosis and body mass index, conducted by local health care professionals. “Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is dedicated to helping our community get, and stay, well,” says FHWC spokesperson Tracy Clouser. “We are happy to partner with the Chamber to sponsor this wonderful community event that features screenings and healthy information so people can get actively involved in their own health.” During last year’s event, nearly 25,000 people came through the mall and this year’s event is expected to draw even more. If you’re a vendor who wants a piece of the action, booth space still is available. The cost is $150 for Chamber members, $200 for non-members and $75 for nonprofits. For more info, please visit WesleyChapelChamber.com or call 994-8534.

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MOMS Club Of New Tampa - The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of New Tampa is currently open to new members in the New Tampa area. The MOMS Club offers a variety of daytime activities for mothers and their children, opportunities for Moms’ Nights Out & many more benefits. For info or to join the club, email MomsClubNewTampa@gmail.com.

February 2015

Saturday, February 28

Rad Run 5K & 1-Mile Fun Run - Cypress Point Community Church (15820 Morris Bridge Rd.) is sponsoring and hosting a race (formerly known as the Race for Freedom) to benefit the Homeless Veterans Assistance program at Tampa Crossroads’ Veterans Services. The run costs $25 and begins at 8 a.m. at the church. For more info, please visit CPCConline.com. BayChapel Food Pantry— BayChapel will be opening its FREE food pantry to the community at Christian Brothers Automotive (20303 Trout Creek Dr.) from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. for anyone in need. For more info, call Lee at 731-4040. 2nd Annual Health & Fitness Fair - The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce & Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel present the Health & Fitness Fair at the Shops at Wiregrass mall (28211 Paseo Dr.). For more info, seer page 1 or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com. Wesley Chapel Jazz Festival - This outstanding musical event returns to the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd. See pg. 1 or the ad on page 39 of this issue for more info.

March 2015

Monday, March 2

FHWC ‘Slice For Life’ Golf Tournament - Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) is proud to announce its third annual ‘Slice For Life’ golf tournament at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.), with all proceeds benefitting the FHWC Foundation. The cost to play is $175 per individual or $600/foursome, which includes greens fees, a box lunch, cart, dinner & prizes. For more info, email Connie.Bladon@AHSS.org. Zen Meditation Group - Enjoy meditation? Looking for a new way to relax? Check out the FREE Zen Meditation Group that meets Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Arbor Greene Community Center (18000 Arbor Greene Dr., off Cross Creek Blvd.) Aerobics Room. People of all faiths are welcome. You only need an interest in meditation and a more peaceful and relaxed mind and life. For more info, call Jeremy at 528-6285. Community Acupuncture - A Monday night community acupuncture and discussion group is meeting at Ion Medi-Spa (8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 130), 6:30 p.m. Topics include needlefree acupuncture, facial rejuvenation and stop smoking and customized weight-loss programs. For more info, call 960-8833 or visit IonMediSpa.com.

Tuesday, March 3

New Tampa Tri Club - The New Tampa Tri Club is open to runners, swimmers, cyclists & triathletes across the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. The club hosts group bike rides/runs at Flatwoods Wilderness Park (13330 Morris Bridge Rd.) every Tues., Thur. and Sat. at 7:30 a.m. For more info, join the Facebook group or e-mail NewTampaTriClub@gmail.com. GriefShare - This video-seminar-support group is for anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one. The cost is $20 for a workbook and 13 sessions, begin any week to find healing and hope. The group meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Lake Magdalene Methodist Church (2902 W. Fletcher Ave., Rm. 310). For info, call 963-1555. English As A Second Language (ESL)- This group meets Tuesdays at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 BBD Blvd.), 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Classes are taught by a native English speaker using several ESL and Bible study resources. The cost is $40 each semester, for the workbook & class materials. For info, call Heather at 753-8567.

Wednesday, March 4

BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets every Wednesday at Heritage Isles Country Club at 7:15 a.m. (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.). The $13 meeting fee includes a hot breakfast. Call Lisa Jordan (621-6015) for more info. Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their respective businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed. morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Morris Bridge Rd.). Call Steve Hopper at 918-8609. New Tampa Noon Rotary Club- The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wednesday for lunch at noon at Café Olé (10020 Cross Creek Blvd., in the Cross Creek Center plaza (behind the Shell gas station). Guests are always welcome. New Tampa Evening Rotary Club - The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club (10101 Longwater Run Dr. inside the Hunter’s Green entrance gate). New members are always welcome. Call Liz DeAmbrose at 956-6487 or email homenet@gte.net. 9-12 Toastmasters - Great speeches & great topics. Come hone your public speaking skills. Tampa Toastmasters meets Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the New Tampa Family YMCA (16221 Compton Dr., Tampa Palms). Guests are always welcome. Call 264-2171.

Thursday, March 5

CBC Networking - The Christian Business Connections (CBC) Networking group meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (5338 Primrose Lake Cir., off Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms). For info, email Shawn@TPACorp.com.

Friday, March 6

New Tampa Rotary Club - The original New Tampa Rotary Club meets for breakfast at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). For more information, call Eric Longphee at 202-1105 or visit NewTampaRotary.org. Women-N-Charge - Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge, 11:30 a.m.-1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club (10550 Regents Park Dr.), for lunch, speakers & networking. The cost is $15 for members & $18 for guests. Register at Women-N-Charge.com. Or, call Judy at 600-9848.

Saturday, March 14

FREE Health & Fitness Seminar — Pure Health & Fitness Studios is hosting a FREE health seminar at its Wesley Chapel location (2653 BBD, Suite 205) from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Pure Health’s founder Samantha Taylor will lead the seminar (which begins at noon) and coffee and dessert will be served. For info, or to RSVP, visit PureHealthStudios.com.

Wednesday, March 18

GFWC Junior Woman’s Club of New Tampa - GFWC Woman’s Club of New Tampa is a small group of women that meet the third Wednesday of each month from noon - 1 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, (5340 Primrose Lake Circle in Tampa Palms). Contact Kay Lehmer at KLehmer@verizon.net for more info.

Saturday, March 21

TPWC Yard & Bake Sale - The Tampa Palms Women’s Club will be hosting a yard & bake sale at 9 a.m. at Compton Park (16101 Compton Dr.). Come shop for bargains and baked goods. For more info, visit TampaPalmsWomensClub.com.

Wednesday, March 25

FHWC Senior Health Fair - Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is hosting a FREE senior health fair at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.) at 10 a.m. for those above 55-years old that will include free health screenings. Pre-registrer at FHWesleyChapel.org.

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Don’t Miss These Great Local Events! Wesley Chapel High (WCH, located off Wells Rd.) is hosting a FREE “College Night” on Monday, March 2, 6 p.m.–8 p.m., in the school’s gymnasium. While the event is especially intended for 11th graders, all students from Pasco high schools, as well as schools in other counties (including Freedom and Wharton High in New Tampa) are welcome to attend. The event will offer a one-stop shop for students and parents to get information about majors, sports, special programs, admission requirements, testing requirements (SAT/ACT), tuition, financial aid, scholarship and future career opportunities. Admissions representatives from the University of South Florida in Tampa, University of Central Florida in Orlando, University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida State University in Tallahassee, as well as other state universities, Pasco-Hernando State College and private universities from across the country will be available to answer questions. Representatives from the U.S. Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, Marines and Navy also will be on hand to answer questions about enlisting in the military. For more information, please call Timothy Durling at 794-8833.

Club, which meets Wednesdays at noon at Café Olé on Cross Creek Blvd., will host its second annual “Cycling for Vets” (military & first responders), on Saturday, March 21, 8 a.m., at the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. entrance to Flatwoods Wilderness Park. Last year, more than 70 riders completed any of the three different courses (4-, 18- and 39-mile distances), which helped the club raise about $7,000 to benefit local veterans and other military and first responder nonprofits. For more information, including online registration for this fun event or to make a donation, visit Active. com and search “Cycling for Vets.”

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Murtha & Murtha Certified Public Accountants Can Help You Survive Tax Season By Matt Wiley

If you’ve been watching any TV during the past month, you’ve probably been constantly reminded that April 15 (the last day to file your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service [IRS]) is creeping up quickly. Luckily, Murtha & Murtha Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) can help you sort through the details and get your biggest refund ever this tax season. Located in the Seven Oaks Professional Park off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, Murtha & Murtha is a full-service accounting firm comprised of Thomas E. Murtha, MBA (Master of Business Administration), CPA, and his son Patrick T. Murtha, Sr. Tom earned his B.S. degree in Management from Long Island University in Brookville, NY, in 1976, and went on to earn his MBA degree in Accounting from St. John’s University in Queens, NY, in 1981, while also working as an assistant controller in the non-bank financial segment of a major New York City bank. When he moved to Tampa in 1987 and began his non-CPA public accounting business Accutax Services, Inc. (which he ended up selling), before joining another CPA firm in Englewood in 1999 (which he eventually bought into) that was named Flischel, Murtha & Associates. He passed the Florida CPA test in 2000 with the fourth highest score in the state. Tom

ended up selling Accutax in 2010. He’s also spent more than 15 years teaching accounting courses at both Hillsborough Community College and at the American Institute of Banking in New York City. Patrick, 26, graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2009 with Bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance. He grew up around his father’s business and began learning about taxes when he was in middle school, Tom says. Patrick lives in Meadow Pointe with his wife Jennifer (who also works as the firm’s office manager) and their newborn son Patrick Thomas Murtha, Jr. He also has served as Treasurer of the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club for the past four years, which now meets at noon on Wednesdays at Stage Left (24410 S.R. 54 in Lutz; see story on pg. 45 of this issue). The father-&-son team went into business together in 2010 in Wesley Chapel, before moving to downtown Tampa to an office in the Sykes Building in 2012 and finally to the office’s current Seven Oaks location in 2013. Tom says that, even after selling his previous firm, he still had people coming up to him for help with their taxes, so it made sense to him to start a family business. “Patrick was getting his degrees and said he wanted to start something,” Tom explains. “I decided that I couldn’t leave (the industry) yet. This is a nice profession because you can keep coming back to

work tax seasons.” Tom says that the explosive growth in Wesley Chapel is what made the two decide to move the business back into the area. “We decided to move back up here to be in the middle of it all because it seemed like there was a lack of CPAs in the area,” he says. “There’s plenty of business here for everyone and Patrick (left) and Tom Murtha, of Murtha & Murtha CPAs, can we want to be close help make sense out of the most complicated personal or business taxes. to our client base.” than a person with similar income who Murtha & Murtha specializes in tax hasn’t gone through that ordeal. We also preparation and planning; accounting services and business consulting, including help business owners with their taxes and accounting. There are a lot of people who business appraisals, which help business own small businesses in New Tampa and owners follow how much their business is worth to help them set goals and continue Wesley Chapel.” Tom adds, “We take the situations to grow each year. that aren’t your typical tax situations and However, what the firm deals with we figure them out for you.” most is taxes. “These days, a lot of people do their The ‘Obamacare’ Effect own taxes, because of the online programs Tom says that a lot of things have available,” Patrick explains. “We’ve been happened in the past year that have made helping a lot of people with their taxes filing taxes even more complicated. who have unique circumstances. For “The Affordable Care Act (ACA, example, someone who has experienced aka “Obamacare”) has added all kinds of a foreclosure in the past year will have a benefits and penalties to tax law, but most much more complicated tax filing process people don’t understand what they are, so

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to know what deductions are available to you. For example, if you drive your own car for work, you’re allowed to take a deduction for gas mileage. “By communicating with someone like me, we can find deductions for you,” Tom adds. “We ask the right questions. I dig into finding out how you live to Patrick & Tom help Brian Dunleavy, the co-owner of the see what you can deduct.” new Stage Left Bar & Kitchen on S.R. 54 in Lutz (see Murtha & Murtha also can pg. 45) get his business taxes. in order help businesses straighten out their financials using the popular we can help people out with that,” Tom online accounting program QuickBooks. explains. “We take the mystery out of the “We like getting calls from business tax rules and regulations. People come owners who say that their QuickBooks is a in who didn’t have insurance for three mess,” Patrick says. “We like to help them months last year and aren’t sure if they figure it out and make sure that they’re have to pay a penalty. There are several new forms and new lines on this year’s tax complying with all of the applicable business tax laws. We like solving problems.” returns just because of the ACA.” Tom and Patrick also help clients Patrick notes that coming in and speaking with Murtha & Murtha puts you decipher unexpected bills from the IRS. “If a person comes in with a bill for one step ahead of those who only use on$25,000 from the IRS, it’s probably a line tax programs (like TurboTax) to file mistake, and we can help the client untheir taxes because you’re dealing with an ravel the mystery of where it came from,” actual human, who also happens to have Tom says. “We’re instrumental in getting extensive tax preparation experience. rid of penalties and making things right. “The typical tax program you can buy is one-sided,” Tom adds. “You’re just Nine times out of ten, it’s a mistake.” And, best of allm, he adds, “We stand sitting there filling in blanks. It’s differbehind everything we do.” ent with us. We sit down with each client To get the most out of your tax and get to know what he or she does for a living. Then, we start thinking about all of return this year, give Murtha & Murtha (2236 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite 101, that person’s possible tax deductions.” Wesley Chapel) a call at 991-1120 or Tom says to get the biggest bang for visit TampaTaxFirm.com. your buck this tax season, it’s important

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Florida Medical Clinic’s Dr. Guttentag Performing New Knee Procedure At FHT With the ever-increasing number of older people in our country, its not surprising that more and more Americans are dealing with arthritic conditions in their knees and other joints. Although there are several things that can be done to delay the need for knee replacement surgery, traditionally, once the decision has been made to replace one or both of a patient’s knees — which happens more than 600,000 times per year nationwide (according to the Agency for Healthcare Research & Quality) — the only ways to perform knee replacement surgery previously was to remove either the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in that knee, or both the ACL and the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), even if the ACL, in particular, was still a relatively healthy ligament. Today, however, there is another choice, a revolutionary new procedure called the Vanguard XP Preserving Knee, that is being performed at Florida Hospital Tampa (3100 E. Fletcher Ave., at Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.) by Ira Guttentag, M.D., of Florida Medical Clinic (FMC)’s Orthopaedic Division. Dr. Guttentag is one of a select few orthopaedic surgeons nationwide (the only one in the Tampa Bay area and one of only two in Florida) who is now utilizing this revolutionary new Vanguard XP implant procedure that preserves healthy ligaments — including the ACL.

Dr. Guttentag says that this new knee implant procedure improves the range of motion and increases joint stability and natural movement in patients who do have healthy enough knee ligaments. “The technology available now allows us to save (both) ligaments (when replacing a knee joint), and that’s a very significant achievement,” Dr. Guttentag says. “I’ve found that patients who have undergone this ACL-preserving surgery have attained quicker functionality and ability to return to their normal lifestyle with the new knee implant versus that of a traditional knee replacement.” Dr. Ira Guttentag of Florida Medical Clinic (who operates at Florida Hospital Tampa) is currentHe adds that, “(Eligible) patients ly the only local orthopaedic surgeon performing a revolutionary new knee replacement surgery. can now undergo a total knee replaceOsteoarthritis is the most common American Academy of Orthopaedic ment that looks, feels and functions like Surgeons and the American College a normal knee and should allow them to form of arthritis. It occurs when the of Surgeons, and is Board-certified by get back to their regular levels of activity protective cartilage on the ends of your bones wears down over time. Rheuthe American Board of Orthopaedic as quickly as possible.” matoid Arthritis is a chronic inflammaSurgery. In addition, for the last 14 Some Info About Arthritis tory disorder that affects the lining of years, he has been the lead team physiYour knees are the largest joints your joints, causing a painful swelling, cian and medical director for the Tampa in your body and, as anyone who has typically in your hands and feet. PostBay Lightning National Hockey League struggled with chronic knee pain can Traumatic Arthritis is the wearing out of team and he also is the orthopaedic attest, living with damaged or injured a joint that has had any kind of physical surgeon for the Tampa Bay Storm Arena knees can cause significant pain, muscle injury. Football League team. weakness and a dramatic reduction in Dr. Guttentag, who is originally For more information about the ability to maintain an active lifestyle. from New York but who received his Florida Medical Clinic or Dr. GutThe most common causes of chronic M.D. degree from the University of tentag, including a video about the knee pain are typically one of the three South Florida here in Tampa, has exten- Vanguard XP procedure, visit FMCspecific types of arthritis: Osteoarthritis, sive surgical experience in the areas of SportsDoc.com or call 979-0440. Rheumatoid Arthritis and Post-Trausports medicine and knee and shoulder — Submitted to & modified by New matic Arthritis. reconstruction. His is a Fellow of the Tampa Neighborhood News.

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SPOTLIGHT ON... ‘Cool Dims’ 3D Portrait Studio! Everyone has likely thought about what it would be like if they could have an action figure of themselves. And now, thanks to the technology at Cool Dims 3D Portrait Studio, located in the Brookside Professional Plaza (downstairs from our Neighborhood News office), next to Saddlebrook Resort on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, that idea can be less of a dream and more of a reality. Business owner and Meadow Pointe resident Chris Lee says that he grew tired of his corporate job in the wireless industry and wanted to start his own business, but wasn’t sure what kind of business to start. “I was watching the news one night and 3-D printing came up as a headline,” Lee explains. “So, I started looking into 3-D printing. I thought it would be something that isn’t really available in this area.” Lee says that he kept researching the concept and was able to assemble a team of experts to help get his idea off the ground. Lee and his team have assembled a rig that is comprised of 92 digital SLR Canon cameras that are positioned in a 360-degree circle (including a few cameras above) to capture nearly every angle of any subject. The cameras all take a photo at the same time, which are then edited and sent off to the The Object Shop, located a few miles west of I-75 on S.R. 54 in Lutz, to print out the finished product. Although Lee can make figurines of

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At Cool Dims 3D Portrait Studio in Wesley Chapel, 360º of cameras can turn just about anyone or anything into a figurine. just about anyone or anything, he says he wants to reach the local youth sports market most. “I figured the Wesley Chapel/ New Tampa area was a good one for this concept because there are so many youth sports programs here.” To get a better idea of what Lee and his team can do, visit the company’s booth at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce’s second annual Health & Fitness Fair at the Shops at Wiregrass mall on Sat., Feb. 28 (see pg. 1). Or, visit CoolDims.com. — MW

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Integrity. Passion. Excellence. Teamwork. ARBOR GREENE

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4 Bedroom plus bonus and office, 3 ½ baths, Heated pool, 3 car. Many upgrades. Conservation lot. 3919 sq ft. Offered at $469,900

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Robert Marvin & Debbie Marvin 813-892-3917

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Available for Immediate Occupancy! Town home 3 Bedroom/ 2.5 Bath / Den /2 Car Garage /2058 sqft. Pond view/ Great Closing Costs Incentives. For more information please call Angela Mora

4205 sq. ft. Custom Hannah Bartoletta, 5 br + loft, 4 Robert Marvin & baths. Heated pool and spa. Gated Community. Outdoor Debbie Marvin loggia with fireplace and kitchen. 3 car garage on 813-892-3917 conservation. Offered at $769,900 DMarvin@BHHSFloridaProperties.com DebbieSellsTampa.com New Tampa - *NEW Construction*!

Available for Immediate Occupancy! Elena Vely 5 Bed / 4 Bath / 3 Car Garage / on 813-380-9020 Conservation! | FULL Appliance Package & GREAT Closing Cost Incentives! For more information please contact Elena Vely

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It’s a sign of quality. When the most respected brand in the world, Bershire Hathaway, puts its name on a real estate sign, that’s a good sign for the market and a great sign for you. Prudential Tropical Reality is proud to join them as Bershire Hathaway Homeservices Florida Properties Group. Find experienced, knowledgable sales professionals at bhhsfloridaproperties.com. Good to know.

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Tenants- are you looking for a condo, townhouse or house to rent? Call Sonia at (813) 690-5427 Owners- do you own a property that needs to be rented out and managed by the best management company in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel? Contact Terry Now! thill@bhhsfloridaproperties.com www.RentAhomeWithUs.com

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“New name, same outstanding service from the company which has been locally owned and operated for more than 50 years.” Your Full Service Real Estate Provider (813) 907-8200 Residential - Commercial - Property Management - Mortgage - Title - Insurance - Home Warranty - Building and Maintenance Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel The Shoppes of New Tampa, 1830 Bruce B. Downs, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 Additional Languages Spoken: English - Spanish - Portugese - Tagalog - Hindi - Pelugu - Mandarin Chinese Neighborhood News

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Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center Celebrates Eight Years! By Matt Wiley

An artisan is defined as a worker in a skilled trade, especially one whose craft involves making things by hand, which is fitting for Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center in Tampa Palms, where Stan Castor, M.D., carefully hand-crafts your image by combining his years of expertise and the latest in technology. Located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off of Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms (north of USAA Insurance), Artisan Aesthetics was founded by Dr. Castor in 2007, after he left the practice he previously worked for in Lakeland. He actually has been practicing plastic surgery in the Tampa Bay area for the past 16 years and offers facial cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation, body contouring surgery, liposuction, laser treatments, dermal fillers, facial treatments and peels, cellulite reductions and the recently popular “mommy makeover.” “When I left Lakeland and moved to Tampa, I looked for the area where there was the least amount of plastic surgeons,” Dr. Castor explains. “It ended up being the Tampa Palms, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area.” Dr. Castor explains that the number of plastic surgeons was very

saturated near South Tampa, Downtown and the Westchase area, but at the time there were only two plastic surgeons in New Tampa. “Northern Hillsborough was the fastest growing area of the county, so I thought that would be the best area to get a practice up and running,” he says. A Zephyrhills native, Dr. Castor graduated Cum Laude from Florida Southern College in Lakeland with a B.S. degree in Biology in 1987 and earned his M.D. degree from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia in 1992. He completed a five-year internship and residency in General Surgery at Emory University Hospitals in Atlanta, GA, in 1997, before taking on two years of intensive training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH, which he finished in 1999. That same year, he also completed a cosmetic surgery fellowship with world-renowned plastic surgeons, Drs. Thomas J. Baker and James M. Stuzin in Miami, FL, a fellowship only offered to two plastic surgeons each year. Dr. Castor is Board-certified in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. He also is a member of the American Soci-

Dr. Stan Castor (left) and the staff of Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Primrose Lake Cir., invite you to come in for a consultation to see how you can improve your image. ety of Plastic Surgeons and a Fellow of However, what Dr. Castor says has the American College of Surgeons. become increasingly popular among He says that the majority — about his patients are combination proce90 percent — of his patients are female dures, such as the so-called “mommy and that most of the men who come makeover.” He explains that the proin to Artisan Aesthetics are looking for cedure is tailored to women who are liposuction for their chest or abs. finished having children and want to “My three most common procealter the effects that childbearing has dures for women are breast implants, had upon their bodies. liposuction and tummy tucks,” Dr. “Many women, after they’re done Castor says. “I do a lot of body coshaving children, want their breasts metic surgery, although I also do face lifted, their stretch marks reduced and lifts, eyelid lifts and some noses.” some liposuction on their hips and

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Using the latest technology, including the GPSLipo® Laser LipoControl™ by Osyris and the VASER LipoSelection® liposuction procedure, Dr. Castor can eliminate hard-to-burn fat and provide you with a more slim figure.

sides,” Dr. Castor says, adding that the “Brazilian Butt Lift” cosmetic procedure also is very popular. “It’s basically a fat transfer,” he says. “In that procedure, we take fat from where you don’t want it, such as the stomach or love handles, and move it into the buttocks to lift, enlarge and reshape it. It helps women who want more of a curvy figure.”

Combining Art & Technology

Dr. Castor also employs the latest in cosmetic procedure technology to help provide the best possible experience for his patients. For example, at

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Artisan Aesthetics, patients can take advantage of the GPSLipo® Laser LipoControl™ by Osyris, an FDAapproved body-shaping treatment for removing unwanted fat. Dr. Castor says GPSLipo®, which uses the LipoControl™ laser, is the safest and most precise laser lipo or liposuction procedure available for removing fat and tightening your skin. He says the procedure uses thermal energy in the form of a heatgenerating laser to actually liquefy unwanted body fat and then remove the liquid fat, all in one easy procedure, adding that the entire procedure can

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be done in one session on a number of different areas of the body, including the abdomen, waist (e.g., “love handles”), hips and thighs, buttocks, back of arms, knees, ankles and even under the chin. In addition to removing unwanted fat, Dr. Castor says that the heat generated by the LipoControl™ laser causes the skin in the treated area to contract, resulting in firmer, smoother skin. He notes that this skin tightening actually continues to improve for a period of up to four months, depending upon the unique chemistry of each patient’s body. Dr. Castor says he also uses the VASER LipoSelection® liposuction procedure. “VASER uses sound waves to melt fat so that patients aren’t bruised and swollen afterward,” Dr. Castor says. “These procedures liquefy the fat which then can be sucked out with a tube. It allows for a much quicker recovery time. The procedures are much more gentle than traditional liposuction and we are able to use a local anaesthetic. Since we don’t have to put patients to sleep, they don’t come out of the procedure groggy, there’s no additional risk and the procedure itself is less expensive.” Over the years, Dr. Castor has built a reputation for himself through the work he’s done with his patients, so much so that the Consumer Research Council (a Washington

D.C.-based research organization that provides guides to consumers about professionals in different industries) named him in the 2010 Guide to America’s Top Surgeons, and he has appeared in the Guide every year since. One Artisan Aesthetics patient named Arrie credits Dr. Castor with providing a pleasant surgery experience when she had breast augmentation and liposuction done last January. “My experience with these procedures was extremely pleasurable,” Arrie says. “Dr. Castor’s bedside manner was kind and pleasant. The surgery and follow-up appointments were nice and they made me feel like everyone cared about how my surgery turned out. My overall experience was wonderful. I would highly recommend Dr. Castor to everyone.” Dr. Castor explains that Arrie isn’t alone in her feelings about the practice, because, at Artisan Aesthetics, “patients are never just numbers. Our office is not a factory,” he says. “I don’t use a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant for most procedures. Some doctors delegate care to assistants. Here, you’re going to see me, and only me.” Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center is located at 5383 Primrose Lake Cir. in Tampa Palms and is open Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. For more info, please visit ArtisanPlasticSurgeryCenter. com or call 971-2000.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 5 • February 28, 2015 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Why Re/Max Should Be Your First Choice In Residential Realty By Celeste McLaughlin

When it comes to real estate expertise and the knowledge and skills that come from years of closing successful real estate transactions, RE/MAX First In Real Estate (in Tampa Palms) Realtors Amani Warden, Kay Lehmer, Dave Devaney and Linda Thrasher-Donalson (who also is a licensed Real Estate Broker) are all among the New Tampa area’s premier real estate advisors. Amani explains that, although the group isn’t technically a “team,” the four veteran licensed Realtors, “do support each other in marketing efforts,” she says. “We each work independently and have our own clients, but we are there for each other so that our clients can get four professional opinions for the price of one.” They calculate that they have a combined 70 years of experience. All four realtors are long-time New Tampa residents, with Amani, Kay, and Dave living in Hunter’s Green and Linda in Tampa Palms. The four also have all earned awards from RE/MAX for being among the company’s agents with the highest volume of sales worldwide. In fact, in 2013 (the awards for 2014 have not been presented yet, Dave earned the Hall of Fame Award, achieved by fewer than 22 percent of all RE/MAX agents. Kay and Linda both earned the Executive Club Award, which is achieved by fewer than 19 per-

cent of all RE/MAX agents. And Amani earned the Platinum Club Award, which is awarded to less than six percent of the RE/MAX agents worldwide! Amani says she started in the real estate business in Connecticut nearly 20 years ago, and that she has been in the business in New Tampa since 2002. Kay started in real estate working for a builder (Left-right): Amani Warden, Kay Lehmer, Linda Thrasher-Donalson and Dave Devaney are all licensed in Hunter’s Green, then moved Realtors (Linda also is a licensed Broker) who are based at the RE/MAX Residential Real Estate office in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms. to Cory Lake Isles with another builder and got her general real 2009. Early in her career, she says she in real estate for more than 30 years. estate license in 1998. worked for builders, and started in general The group’s respect for each other Kay and Amani worked together real estate in 1995. She also has been an is readily apparent. “If I were selling my inside Hunter’s Green at a boutique real investor in residential and commercial real house,” says Dave, “I’d hire Amani to estate office, First In Real Estate. “When help me. She’s a good negotiator, and I’d the market started turning (in 2008), our estate since 1987, and says she married want someone like her in my corner to entire office joined the RE/MAX family,” into a “real estate family” in 2001. Her husband has been in title insurance for 35 represent me.” Kay explains. “RE/MAX is a worldwide years, and her sister, stepdaughter, sistersHe says being part of the group of company and has many assets to help four has been a positive thing for him their agents. We get referrals through our in-law, and others in her family work in related fields. Linda’s son is her assistant. and his clients. “It’s good to share our network and also get national exposure The long-time group used to include experience,” he says, “and have someone through the advertising that they do. It is Eleanor Oliver, who retired and moved to bounce ideas off of. Especially when a a great company to work for.” out of the area, so Dave was approached property is unique, having more than one RE/MAX, which says its agents to join the three women. They thought professional opinion is an advantage.” sell, on average, double the real estate he would be a great fit, since he is one of Linda agrees. “We are a well-rounded of professionals at other companies, has team, and all of us have a lot of experi89,000 agents worldwide, nearly 5,000 in their office’s top producers. Dave reguence,” she says. “There’s not one of us larly works in South Tampa and brings a Florida, and 405 in Tampa. Amani, Kay, who is new in the field.” wealth of information for people (espeLinda and Dave all are based at the office cially those in New Tampa and Wesley She notes that their different in the Shoppes at the Pointe plaza (next Chapel) who may want to move to that backgrounds – and the fact that they are to Ciccio’s Cali). area. He is a USF graduate who has been comfortable with real estate transactions Linda has been a licensed Realtor with RE/MAX for 18 years, and has been throughout the Tampa Bay area – are all since 1986 and has been a Broker since

Expires March 15, 2015

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a i e r P

t s a o h h D b

r i w p m b

a s a o p f s t

s T h y s i H

assets to their clients. “We are all willing to go beyond New Tampa, and we enjoy doing it.” For example, Linda also regularly lists and sells homes along the Pinellas County beaches. The four assure clients that they are truly a one-stop residential real estate shop. If people who live in New Tampa are interested in moving to South Tampa or buying a home at the beach, they can help with that transition. “We make it all happen for them out of this office,” says Dave, “from selling their home here to buying one there.” The office also is affiliated with a warranty company, a real estate attorney, an in-house lender and title company, along with a new construction department, property management and rental department. This streamlines all of the services buyers and sellers need into one location. “The market is starting an upswing and houses are starting to move again,” says Kay. “New construction has taken off and there are many new neighborhoods opening. There are some new lender programs that are starting that are helping first time buyers and the interest rates are still pretty good now for anyone looking to make the move.” In fact, Kay says the number of single family homes that have sold in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel neighborhoods during the first six weeks of this year are higher when compared with the same time period last year. For example, in Tampa Palms, Hunter’s Green, Grand Hampton and Cory Lake Isles, 28 homes

have sold since January 1, 2015, compared with 19 during the same period last year. In Wesley Chapel (zip code 33543), 69 homes have closed so far this year, compared with 33 last year, although Kay explains that many of these Wesley Chapel homes are new construction in communities like the new Estancia at Wiregrass (see pg. 12 of this issue).

How About New Homes?

“If you’re considering buying a new construction home, you still need your own Realtor,” says Dave. “When you go into a model home, you’re dealing with a Realtor who represents the seller. It surprises me to see the number of people who go to closings without any representation.” “People think if you go into a new construction home without a Realtor you will save money, but it’s just not true,” Amani adds. “Builders have a separate ‘pot’ of money to pay Realtors, and they actually prefer to deal with clients who have representation, because the whole process is much smoother.” She notes that a Realtor can help you understand the many pitfalls of the process. They say that most people don’t realize the mistakes they made when they bought until they go to sell their home years later. “We’re going to help you understand the return on investment on your upgrades,” says Amani. “For example, there are currently six levels of granite you can choose from. If you go all the way to the highest level, and spend quadruple what basic granite costs, you’re not going to

make that money back when you go to sell your home. I want my clients to have their dream homes, but it’s my job to make sure they’re informed so they’re not surprised later. I tell them to think of that splurge on an upgrade like a toy — something for them to enjoy that’s not necessarily an investment.”

A Focus on Relationships

Amani says that the real estate business is all about relationships. “It can be emotional,” she says. “When people buy a home, these are really important milestones for them. Often they’re getting married, or their families are growing, or they’re becoming empty nesters. Sometimes they’re divorcing, or have experienced a death in the family. It’s such an honor, and makes this job really rewarding, to be involved with people during any of these experiences.” Bill Watson and his wife Lori live in K-Bar Ranch, in a home Amani recently helped them purchase. They were ready to downsize, so they looked to Amani to help them sell the home in Arbor Greene that they had purchased with her help when they originally relocated to New Tampa from Ohio in 2008. “Amani is just wonderful,” says Bill, who says he has referred his friends and two daughters to Amani. He explains that his youngest daughter Sara spent two years and made more than 20 offers while trying to purchase a home in this area. She kept losing out to cash buyers. But, Amani stepped in and spoke with the sellers about a home she was interested in to tell them

Sara’s story. She convinced them to sell to Sara instead of a cash investor, and Sara was finally able to close the deal and own her own home. “She was tireless in helping our daughter,” Bill says. “Amani worked just as hard for a $125,000 home as she did for a $400,000 home. She literally changed our daughter’s life because Sara was so disillusioned and started feeling like she might never get a house. But, Amani fought for her and now she’s in a great home.” Amani explains, “Selling real estate goes way beyond selling houses. I consider it a privilege to be involved in one of the most important decisions in people’s lives. I don’t take it lightly.” She and her colleagues say that when they know what a family’s needs are, they have the expertise to help them make the best decision, depending upon what’s going on in the market. They say once they understand what a client is trying to accomplish, they can give him or her advice on how to meet their goals. Sometimes, that decision is to rent instead of buy, or maybe they need to consider a short sale, or maybe now just isn’t the right time to sell. For expert advice on your individual circumstances, contact Amani, Kay, Dave or Linda. And be sure to see their ad on page 30 of this issue. RE/MAX First In Real Estate is located at 17010 Palm Pointe Dr., in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms. To learn more about these unique Realtors, call Amani (7317673), Linda (310-5120), Kay (4163099), or Dave (310-5120).

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Softball Bat Club Is A Home Run For New Tampa Softball Enthusiasts By Matt Wiley

Although it is convenient, shopping online is always a gamble, especially depending upon what you happen to be buying. For example, when purchasing sports equipment, it sometimes pays off to try the equipment before buying it. Luckily for New Tampa residents, Softball Bat Club provides a store where you can do just that. Located in the New Tampa Professional Park off Regents Park Dr. in Pebble Creek (behind the Pilot Bank), Softball Bat Club is the brainchild of Alex Sherwood and Larry Baldwin, who are both West Meadows residents and avid softball players who decided to leave their jobs to start a business that would feel less like work and be fueled by their passion. Larry had owned a used car business on N. Nebraska Ave. in Tampa, while Alex worked in the information technology department for a financial services firm near Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. “We’re primarily a softball and baseball retailer and we’ve been in business for two years,” says Alex. He explains that he and Larry were both playing ‘hookie’ from work one day and taking batting practice at the New Tampa Community Park, located off Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms. Larry had brought a box of new bats that he had purchased online.

When they opened the box, the bats were wrapped in newspaper that was smudged in pizza sauce and the box was packed with balled-up paper and packing peanuts. “That seemed like an odd customer service experience, especially from a national retailer,” Alex says. Larry adds that the eight bats were all packed together into a large box and were still clanging around inside. “It was unbelievable that someone would ship something out like this,” Larry says. Alex says that they joked about starting a bat business themselves. “I thought, ‘If this is the level of customer service that people are used to, we could start a bat business and blow them out of the water,” Alex explains, adding that a few weeks later, they decided to go for it, especially because the only places in the New Tampa or Wesley Chapel area to purchase softball and baseball equipment were big-box stores like Walmart or Dick’s. Softball Bat Club stocks a wide range of both slow-pitch and fast-pitch softball bats, as well as baseball bats, softballs, tees, batting gloves, grips and bags, including brands such as Easton, Louisville Slugger, Miken, Worth and DeMarini. Softball Bat Club is a great place to find baseball and youth baseball and softball equipment, but the shop mainly focuses on adult softball

bats and equipment. Most bats range in price from $199-$299. Purchases can be made in-store or on Softball Bat Club’s liveinventory website. “New bats always offer the promise of better performance, which can help you hit the ball harder and further,” Alex says. Softball Bat Club also provides an in-house batting cage that measures 25’ x 14’, so that potential buyers can take 5-10 swings at an actual softball and get a feel for what they’re buying Alex Sherwood & Larry Baldwin of Softball Bat Club in Pebbefore they actually purchase any bat. The batting ble Creek want you to come take a swing with your new bat in their in-store batting cage. cage even has a batting tee simulated driving ranges at indoor golf already set up. A slow-pitch facilities. But, that’s not the only twist machine also is available. to their business. “(The cage has) been a big sucSoftball Bat Club also offers a cess,” Alex says. “We’ve had a lot of membership program that is remiparents bring their kids in and try eight niscent of the bonus miles program or nine bats. The player gets to decide offered by airlines. For every dollar you which one feels the best and they all spend with Softball Bat Club, you earn walk out happy. With other stores, you a point, Alex says. The points add up, kind of have to guess and that doesn’t allowing customers to advance to difalways translate into what bat works ferent levels of membership that offer best (for that player).” ascending discount percentages that Alex and Larry hope to expand to a larger space in the New Tampa area in can be used on various products in the store, both in person and online. the future and also hope to add a soft“Serious softball players can go ball simulator, similar to the popular the

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t e e a s r

b a f f a b o g b a w

d w a

through several bats per year,” Alex explains, adding that the bats can get expensive, depending upon the brand and performance level. The membership program allows customers to earn rewards for making regular purchases. Looking to color-coordinate your bat for your team? Softball Bat Club also carries about 30 different bat grips from “Lizard Skins.” Larry explains that for years, bat manufacturers didn’t really offer any after-market grips for their bats and players would use hockey tape or another substitute to replace aging grips, or else they would just have to buy a new bat. However, Lizard Skins allow players to customize their grips with a variety of textures and colors. If you’re tired of your old bat, don’t throw it away. Softball Bat Club will buy it from you! The store features a limited selection of gently used bats

that have been traded in by the store’s customers. “I got the idea from my used car business,” Larry says. “I used to take trade-in cars all the time. Why not offer that service on a smaller scale with bats?” Rick & Mona Boulrisse are satisfied Softball Bat Club customers all the way in Rhode Island who took advantage of the company’s website. “I wanted to thank (Alex and Larry) at Softball Bat Club for getting a bat we ordered for our daughter out so quickly that she received it early the next day, within 18 hours of placing the order,” Rick writes. “This was after a two-day ordeal with another company. You have gained a loyal customer. She got the game-winning hit in extra innings to win that day.” Looking for a new bat or other softball or baseball equipment? Checkout SoftballBatClub.com. New members receive 10-percent off their first regularly priced purchase. Want to hold your new bat in your hands and give it a swing? The shop is open Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m., but Alex and Larry plan to expand to evening and weekend hours in the spring. For more information, call (888) 881-BATS (2287).

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New Tampa Family YMCA To Offer FREE Swimming Lessons March 9-12 Pools are pretty common in Florida. Whether it’s a private home or the community amenity center, finding a local water hole isn’t that difficult. The Tampa Metropolitan YMCA recognizes this and is offering FREE swimming and water safety classes at YMCA locations across Tampa Bay, including at the New Tampa Family YMCA, located off Compton Dr. in Tampa Palms. According to a February 9 press release, the Tampa Metropolitan YMCA has deemed March 9-12 “SPLASH! Week” and will be providing water safety programs at its nine facilities with swimming pools for non-swimmers and beginners ages 3-12 to keep kids safe and help them build confidence in the water. SPLASH! Week coincides with this year’s Spring Break for students in the Hillsborough County School District. “SPLASH! Week is a community outreach program that focuses on teaching children how to be safe in and around the water, particularly for youth from underserved communities, who might otherwise not have access to swim lessons,” says Tampa YMCA aquatics executive Amanda Walker. “The Tampa YMCA is committed to providing this free program annually in the spring to help keep kids safe at the beach, the pool, the lake and while boating. We want to raise awareness

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about the importance of swimming as not only a fun way to stay fit, but as a critical safety skill.” The free classes, which are grouped by age, include a 40-minute water safety lesson taught by certified swim instructors. The classes will focus on water familiarization, pool rules, water safety rules, safe water entry and exit, front and back floating, basic front and back paddling, treading water and personal safety/rescue skills. The best part? You and your family do not have to be YMCA members to participate. “That’s what I really want people to know about,” says New Tampa Y Aquatics director Mia Matos. “You don’t have to be a member for your child to take part in this program.” Matos says that this is the first time that the New Tampa Y—which is home to the only 50-meter pool in the Tampa Metro YMCA system and was constructed as a partnership between the YMCA and the City of Tampa—will be offering free lessons and that it will serve as a kick-off to swimming lesson season, which begins in March. “Drowning prevention is a huge issue for us,” Matos says. “So, we really want to make sure that each kid in the community has a chance to learn to be safe around the water.” Matos says that, although she won’t

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personally be in the water during the lessons, she will be on the pool deck and available to answer any questions that parents may have. While it’s recommended that parents come to the New Tampa YMCA branch (16221 Compton Dr.) to sign up, you also can register for this free swim program at TampaYMCA.org.

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New Tampa Resident Bringing USF Women Back To ‘March Madness!’ By Gary Nager

People who actually follow women’s college basketball can debate ad nauseum whether University of Tennessee legend Pat Summit or University of Connecticut coach Gino Auriemma is the greatest women’s college hoops coach of all time, but there is no doubt as to who is the greatest women’s basketball coach in the history of the University of South Florida — and that coach is longtime New Tampa resident José Fernandez (seated in photo, right). Now in his 15th year at USF, Fernandez came into this season with a 234-208 overall record, a winning percentage of .529, despite the fact no prior USF women’s basketball coach had ever earned more than 100 wins or lasted more than eight seasons at the school. And, Fernandez has actually upped his career winning percentage to .545 this year, as the hard-charging Lady Bulls had an impressive 21-5 overall record, and a sparkling 12-2 mark in the American Athletic Conference (“The American,” one of two leagues to succeed the former Big East Conference) at our press time. The highlight so far this season, he says, was “cracking the AP (Associated Press) Top-25 for the first time ever” earlier this month. “We’ve been in the top 25 in the USA Today Coaches Poll before,” says Fernandez, “but never in the AP Poll.” And, although the Lady Bulls lost on the road — to unranked East Carolina (188, 9-6) — just two games after reaching

their highest-ever AP rank, USF then rebounded with an almost-too-easy 79-46 home romp over Tulsa (14-11, 9-5), and Fernandez says the rest of this year’s regular season will decide whether USF ends up as a dark horse to go deep into the NCAA Women’s Championship bracket or somehow ends up back in the Women’s National Invitational Tournament (WNIT). The Bulls only had four games left on their 2014-15 regular season schedule at our press time, but of the first three of those four opponents, only Temple (13-14, but 9-5 in the AAC) had a winning conference record. Therefore, the game that ultimately may decide the Bulls’ ‘14-’15 postseason fate is the last game on the regular season docket — a home rematch on Monday, March 2, against Auriemma and #1 ranked U Conn (25-1, 14-0), who soundly beat the Bulls 92-50 in Storrs on January 18. Fernandez, who has led USF to two previous NCAA Women’s tourneys (with an overall record of 1-2 in those appearances), has his team believing they can compete at the highest level this season and win at least a couple of games in the women’s “Big Dance” this time around. He also has had his team in the WNIT eight times in his previous 14 seasons (he

led USF to the WNIT title in 2008-09), but Fernandez says a home win over Connecticut would be his biggest ever. Although USF doesn’t usually fill the Sun Dome, Fernandez is hoping that at least some of he and his wife Tonya’s many friends in New Tampa will try to be on hand for the game against U Conn. “Two of our kids graduated from (New Tampa’s Paul R.) Wharton (High) and we have one there now,” he says. “We’ve lived all over New Tampa since I got here in 2000. A lot of locals know my family but have never come to see us play, so I hope to have our biggest crowd ever on hand against Connecticut.” For USF Women’s hoops tickets and more info, visit GoUSFBulls.com.

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Stage Left Bar & Kitchen Should Be Your ‘Neighborhood’ Hangout, Too! By Gary Nager I have known Stage Left owners and longtime New Tampa residents Brian and Isabelle Dunleavy since a year or two before they got married a few years ago. It just so happens that I also started stopping in to check on the progress of their amazing new “Bar & Kitchen” on S.R. 54 (at Oak Grove Blvd.) in Lutz several months before they opened the doors, but even during those sawdust days, you could tell this amazing couple was on to something big. And, I’m not the only one who feels that way, apparently. “We saw that the New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Lutz/Land O’Lakes areas were underserved,” Brian says. “There just weren’t enough places to go for good, fresh, homemade food and nightly entertainment. But, that’s what we are and people are already finding us.” Yes, they are. Considering it’s only been open a few months, Stage Left has hit this market — 10-15 minutes from most of New Tampa or Wesley Chapel — with a splash. From the moment it opened, people (including yours truly; it’s become my “neighborhood hangout”) have been

raving about the food, the atmosphere (Isabelle says even the employees love coming to work and it shows), the drink prices (15-20-percent lower than the same drinks at a certain mall) and the entertainment. In fact, not long after Stage Left opened its doors, the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club (of which I am proud to be one of nearly 100 members) changed its weekly meeting place from a restaurant at the mall to Brian and Isabelle’s place — and everyone has been raving about it. “Stage Left just felt like home from the first time we came here,” says current Wesley Chapel Rotary president Kelly Mothershead. “It’s a perfect place for a vibrant, young club like ours...and the food is awesome.” Speaking of the food, although Brian is the one with years of restaurant experience dating back to his days working for his dad in bars and restaurants in his native (Clockwise from top left): The amazing crab cakes & white garlic flatbread at Stage Left on S.R. Massachusetts (and later owning his own), 54 in Lutz, owned by Brian & Isabelle Dunleavy. Isabelle says that Stage Other Stage Left favorites include the chimichurLeft’s menu was inspired ri steak, the cold Thai noodles, the shrimp ceviche & the great entertainment. by the way she eats. “When I cook at any dish. We cook over a wood-fired grill home,” Isabelle says, “I and we literally have no microwave, freezer always use fresh ingreor fryer on the premises here.” Brian adds, dients and make a lot of “There’s love on every plate!” vegetarian dishes. A lot I keep going back to Stage Left not just of our dishes start out as because of the Dunleavys or the atmosphere, vegetarian, although you but because of the food. I’ve made the can add meat or fish to grand tour of the menu and from amaz-

ing, homemade soups to dead-on delicious entrées, I can assure you that the quality is top-notch and the prices are more than fair. Note-I included most of my favorite pics for this story on this page, but you’ll have to turn to page 55 to read the descriptions of these items! See “Stage Left” on page 55.

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Florida Aesthetics & Medical Weight Loss Can Help Improve Your Self-Image By Celeste McLaughlin

At Florida Aesthetics & Medical Weight Loss, located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. next to Acropolis in the Oak Ramble Plaza (just south of Tampa Palms, only seven or eight miles south of the Hillsborough/Pasco county line), aestheticians offer a comprehensive portfolio of skin care and weight loss programs to help people look and feel their best, under the medical direction of Mohamad Saleh, M.D. Dr. Saleh owns the practice with his sister-in law and Florida Aesthetics managing director Abida Saleh and Abida’s husband, Bilal Saleh, who helps with marketing, planning and growth, but is not involved in the day-to-day operations of the business. Dr. Saleh is a neurologist who has been in private practice since 1992. He completed his medical degree from Damascus University in Damascus, Syria, in 1980. He received a Ph.D. in Pharmacology from East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, Tennessee, in 1988. He is also a member of the American Association of Neurology and the American Society of Bariatric Physicians. He runs a neurology practice in Brandon, which expanded to include weight loss about eight years ago and aesthetics in 2013. He and his partners are opening a neurology practice in New Tampa (on Morris Bridge Rd. near Cross Creek Blvd., as was announced in New Tampa Neighborhood News in July 2013) and decided to house their aesthetics prac-

tice in a more accessible location. “We offer comprehensive, non-surgical aesthetic treatments,” says Abida. “We have a very experienced injection technicians and offer the highest level of integrity and patient care.” That “experienced injection technician” is Ann Tran, a registered physician’s assistant (P.A.) with 14 years of experience in aesthetics. Ann graduated from the University of Kentucky in Lexington in 1993 with a B.S. degree in Biology, after which she completed her two-year P.A. degree. Ann explains that skin doesn’t age much until 30, but after that, we begin to lose the volume in our faces. “Our faces actually deflate, as fat and collagen migrates to our jowls.” Injectable dermal fillers, she says, are used to replace the “migrating” collagen, giving instant results. “We actually change the structure of the face to rebuild what’s lost in a way that looks very natural,” says Ann. “If someone wants to go beyond their natural structure – if they want an overinflated look like some celebrities – I refuse to treat them.” “I am trained in all fillers, so I can give you what you need,” says Ann. She explains some doctors might only be comfortable with one type of filler, or may want to use whatever inventory they have on hand. However, Ann’s broad experience and many years of continuing education allows her to help each individual with the specific fillers that will help them the most. “To do injectables, you must be a

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P.A., nurse practitioner (NP), or doctor,” explains Ann. “But you should ask your provider how long they’ve been doing injectables, and how often. I’m an advanced injector with continued high-level training in aesthetics. I do this every day, six days a week.” For an allnatural way to build collagen, Florida Aesthetics Licensed P.A. Ann Tran and Licensed Medical Aesthetician Bianca offers plasma-rich Marrero of Florida Aesthetics & Medical Weight Loss invite you to come in and see how they can help you reach your ideal image. platelets (PRP), which uses your which allows the plasma to better penetrate body’s own blood supply to help rebuild the skin). “It gives dramatic results on collagen in the face, and microneedling, stretch marks, acne, and wrinkles,” says which uses a small electric pin to create tiny Ann. She also says it can be used to stimu“injuries” on the surface of the skin. The late hair follicles and regrow hair in people process of healing these injuries regenerates who have lost hair due to cancer treatments the skin and helps produce collagen. or some cases of natural balding. “Artificial fillers give you instant gratiDana Butler is a Pebble Creek resident fication,” explains Abida, “while PRP and who has lived in the New Tampa area for microneedling will help rebuild collagen in 25 years. She has been receiving aesthetic the face for long-term, natural maintenance treatments for nearly 15 years and recently of the skin.” began treatments at Florida Aesthetics and With PRP, the practitioner draws your Medical Weight Loss with Ann. blood and spins it to separate the plasma, “At some places, people act snooty, which is then injected or applied topically but here they are so friendly and treat you (often in conjunction with microneedling, so nicely,” Dana says.

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Weight Loss since May 2014, who often provides microneedling. She explains it is an exceptional antiaging treatment that reduces fine lines and wrinkles, scars and stretch marks, and tightens skin to remove dimpling. “The next day you see results, and within a few weeks, when we take our ‘after’ pictures, it’s completely different.” “We are qualified, experienced providers who are knowledgeable in all areas of aesthetics,” says Ann. “We can help you make the best An example of how microneedling at Florida Aes- choice for your aesthetic needs because we are not catering to what thetics & Medical Weight Loss can improve your skin. we offer, but are trained in all areas: lasers, injectables, microneedling, She receives microneedling and PRP, and PRP.” and has received Botox and Voluma fillers. Bianca began her career in dermatol“I see so much recovery from sun damogy, assisting a doctor in New York. Her age and aging,” Dana says,” but, it looks four years in that position helped begin her very natural and has improved my appearpassion for skin care. When she moved to ance. I’ll be 65 in September, and I want Tampa in 2012, she began attending the people to think, ‘Wow! She does not look aesthetics program at Keiser University in her age!’ I want to stay as young as I can Tampa and became an LME in 2013. without any invasive procedures.” “The practice has grown tremendously She says she doesn’t consider any since I started here,” says Bianca, who adds procedure she’s had at Florida Aesthetics that her job is all about building relation“invasive” because there is no significant recovery time. “I trust Ann implicitly,” she ships. “I want to make connections with says, “and I trust her experience.” my clients,” she says, “to help them look Dana also says she appreciates Florida better and feel better about themselves.” Aesthetics’ willingness to work within her Medical Weight Loss budget. “I can take advantage of their Florida Aesthetics & Medical Weight specials and do what I feel is reasonable. Loss also offers physician-supervised medThey’re not pushy.” ical weight loss, which includes behavior Bianca Marrero, LME (Licensed modification, coaching and prescription Medical Aesthetician), has been a pracappetite suppressants. titioner at Florida Aesthetics & Medical

“We’re teaching people to modify their lifestyles,” Abida says. “Supplements are not a cure, but they do help to change habits, which leads to long-term success.” For people with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30, the office offers Optifast, a physician-provided total meal replacement program that addresses high blood pressure, high cholesterol and other weight-related health issues. Anyone wanting to lose weight meets first with Bianca, who is the practice’s weight coach. She says she relates to her weight loss patients because it’s a journey she’s still on, too. “I’ve lost 30 pounds, and want to lose 20 more, so I’m going right along with my clients.” After the initial consultation, the patient then meets with Dr. Saleh, who creates a plan for the patient to follow, with Bianca’s help. Dr. Saleh closely monitors progress through weekly reports to ensure the patient’s body is responding well to the weight-loss program. Patients also meet with the practice’s nutritionist, Sarah Bingham, who holds a Master’s of Science degree in Nutrition & Food Science from the University of Massachusetts

in Amherst and has more than 35 years of experience in nutritional counseling. “We have credible providers here, not people who are fresh out of school, trying to figure out if aesthetics is for them,” says Abida. “Also, we’re aware of med spas that have opened and closed in the area, and we really want people to know that if they’ve had a bad experience with a med spa, we are a credible place they can try. For local people who may go to South Tampa for their aesthetic treatments, we want them to know they have an option right here in Tampa Palms that offers the highest level of skill and service.” Florida Aesthetics & Medical Weight Loss shares space with Shuayb Dental at 14945 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the Oak Ramble Plaza (just south of Tampa Palms). Ann and Bianca are available by appointment Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and some Saturdays. To make an appointment, or to schedule a free consultation, call 3454044. Or, visit FloridaAesthetics.com for more information.

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Grandeur Hair Design Promises A Salon Experience You Won’t Forget! By Celeste McLaughlin

During the past five years, owner and master stylist Maher Al-Aghawani has built a loyal clientele of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents at Grandeur Hair Design – and many travel from as far away as Orlando, Sarasota and even Boston to see their favorite stylist. Feb. 12 marked five years to the day since Grandeur Hair Design opened in New Tampa, in the shopping center at the corner of County Line Rd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the separate building that faces LA Fitness and Winn-Dixie. Originally from Syria, Maher has worked and trained in his home country, as well as in Paris and Boston, before the allure of warm weather brought him to New Tampa in 2007, where he worked in other local salons until 2010. That’s when he realized his dream was to own his own salon, and he made that dream a reality when he officially opened the doors at Grandeur Hair Design. “I’ve been in this business for more than 30 years,” says Maher, “I just love doing hair.” From the beginning, Grandeur Hair Design has always been about cuttingedge style, and a “wow factor” that comes from the salon’s sophisticated atmosphere, excellent customer service and fantastic hair styling. “I wanted (Grandeur) to be different (from other local salons),” says Maher. “I wanted my clients to experience a higher-

end salon, with a relaxing atmosphere, where we are friendly and everything is always neat and clean.” Maher says that he wanted to open a brand new salon. “When I signed the lease, the building wasn’t built yet,” he says. “It was just trees. This area is growing, and I like that there are people who live here from everywhere, like New York and Boston. And we’re right in the middle of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.” Grandeur Hair Design offers cuts, coloring, highlights and Brazilian treatments, among other hair services. Maher says the Brazilian treatment, a chemical product that helps to loosen curls and minimize frizz for three or four months, is especially popular among his clients during the summer months. Hair services at Grandeur are priced on a sliding scale, according to which stylist a client sees at the salon. Services with the owner are priced slightly higher than with fellow master stylist and colorist Vickie Sanchez, and slightly lower prices are available with stylists and colorists Anya Bruner and Barbara Fernandez. Vickie has been with Grandeur since it opened. Anya has been with the salon for three years, and Barbara joined the Grandeur lineup six months ago. Maher and his fellow stylists regularly attend training classes, bring trainers into the salon for continuing education and attend hair shows to be sure that their skills and techniques are always up to date.

Need a new look? Stop by Grandeur Salon (across from Winn-Dixie on County Line Rd.) and see (l.-r.) owner Maher Al-Aghawani, Vickie Sanchez, Anya Brunner or Barbara Fernandez.

“My first priority is (the salon’s) reputation,” says Maher. “We care about our customers and their hair.” He explains that he and his staff aren’t thinking about how much they can charge you, but about how you can have better hair in the future. He says that your stylist will always advise you on what’s best for the health of your hair. Compared to some salons, he says, “We have more experience, and understand women more completely.” Maher adds that he and his staff always do an initial consultation with each client, to be sure they understand, “how you like your hair, how you feel about it, whether you want to keep it the same or are ready for a change. We always seek to understand and listen to our clients’ opin-

ions, and then give them ours.” And beyond hair cuts and color jobs that make his clients happy, Maher promises an overall great experience anytime you visit Grandeur Hair Design. “We want visiting the salon to be exciting,” says Maher. “We know it’s nice for women to get a break, leave your kids and husband at home, enjoy yourself with a cup of coffee, have a nice conversation with your stylist in a relaxing atmosphere, and then leave looking great. A salon day is a treat for a lot of women.” One woman who thoroughly enjoys that experience is Helen Bertrand. She lives in Heritage Isles and has been a client of Grandeur Hair Design since Maher opened the salon.

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“I had tried many salons and was always disappointed,” Helen says. “I joined the gym in the same shopping center and one day I decided to walk in and give it a try. I’ve been (at Grandeur) ever since.” She says she sees Maher about once a month to have her hair cut and colored. “I love the confidence that he has,” says Helen. “I never have to worry or correct him. The entire staff is so friendly, too. I always feel at home.” Helen says she recommends Maher to everyone. (In fact, she even asked me, “Have you had your hair cut there? You have to try it!”) Maher confirms that Helen has sent ten of her friends his way. “Most of our clients are referred by someone else,” Maher says. “They come in, and then they stick with us.”

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And, it’s important to note that the salon is not just for women. Grandeur Hair Design does serve men, too, especially those who want a scissor cut and not the traditional razor cut of a barber shop. Want to give Grandeur a try? New customers get a 20-percent discount with the ad in this issue of the New Tampa Neighborhood News (see page 62). Grandeur Hair Design is located at 6431 E. County Line Rd., Suite 107, near Five Guys Burgers & Fries, in front of LA Fitness and Winn Dixie in New Tampa. The salon is open Tuesday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. To make an appointment, call 994-9455 or 9940229. Or, for more information, visit GrandeurHD.com.

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The Bay Area’s First WingZone Combines Great Flavor & A Great Story! By Gary Nager; Photos by Matt Wiley

Detroit native Toya Tucker was working for the Ford Motor Company when the company closed the plant in 2006. That started a series of moves for her and her husband Kyle and their family that ultimately landed with them moving to our area for Toya’s new job with Kellogg’s (the breakfast cereal company based in Battle Creek, MI, but which has an office in Tampa) in 2009. About a year after the Tucker family made their move to our area, Toya went into the hospital for a breast biopsy under general anesthesia. Apparently, the dose of anesthesia she received was too strong and she was reportedly dead on the table for about eight minutes — and most people who flatline for six minutes usually have some permanent brain trauma afterwards. After being in a coma for three weeks, however, Toya somehow came out of it,

although certainly not unscathed. She says she has needed ongoing physical and occupational therapy for going on six years and says could not work at all until she finally became self-sufficient again sometime between the last quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014. By 2011, the Tuckers moved to the new Bassett Creek neighborhood in the KBar Ranch development off Morris Bridge Rd. and started looking for something they could do close to home; something that would allow them to once again be their own bosses (they previously owned an independent ice cream parlor together in Reno, NV, for about a year before moving here in Our office had great reviews of WingZone’s garden salad and hand- ‘09), in order for breaded chicken tenders and the bacon cheeseburger. Toya to be able to

(Clockwise from top left on this page): Our editor loved the grilled chicken sandwich at the new WingZone in the New Tampa Center plaza on BBD, where you’ll find Rodney, Karen, Toya, Kyle, Tabria & Joreca. Also getting raves from our office were the “Flavor Fuzed”w boneless wings & fries and the golden fried shrimp. accommodate her ongoing therapy needs. “We have loved living out here in New Tampa and while we were looking for an existing franchise (at the end of 2013), we realized there really weren’t great places for wings in New Tampa,” Kyle says, “and no one was delivering wings or hamburgers, only pizza.” So, they looked at both WingZone and Wing Stop, but chose WingZone, “because of the variety of food on the menu (more on that below) and the fact that delivery was part of the plan.” The funny thing, they say, was that both franchises tried to steer them away

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from New Tampa. “They both told us that Brandon was a better area,” Kyle recalls, “because they were looking at stats from 2010 (when New Tampa was still hurting from the housing bubble that hit in 2008). But, we convinced them both to come see how upscale it is here and then, they were both excited to put a location out here in New Tampa.” They were able to find a perfect location which, even though there’s no drive-through available, allows for

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i t

easy-in, easy-out pickup and there’s even a few tables for those who want to dine in (and yes, fast & hot delivery service is available, too). The high-traffic location, in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza, directly behind McDonald’s and the Mobil gas station just north of the intersection of Cross Creek Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the heart of New Tampa, allows WingZone to draw customers from as far away as Tampa Palms and Wesley Chapel, one reason why they advertise both in our New Tampa and Wesley Chapel editions. “We’ve only been open a few months,” Kyle says, “but we’ve been getting great feedback so far. People really seem to love (all 15 of) our ‘Flavor Zone’ sauces (and two dry rubs).” And, you can even have any of those sauces/ rubs “Flavor-Fuzed” into a burger or grilled chicken sandwich (and not just on your wings) at WingZone. Now, those who have been reading my dining reviews for a while know that I’m not the biggest wing eater. But,

the way I do enjoy an occasional order of wings is to get them unbreaded and just deep fried, with the sauce on the side. And, at WingZones, my wings are served hot, crisp and I have a couple of favorite sauces to dip them in — the three-pepper-spicy-rated mango fire and the sweet-&-sour, two-pepper spicy Thai Chili sauce. I also enjoyed sampling everything from the Sweet Samurai to the four-pepper-rated Nuclear Habanero sauce not only for my wings, but also for the tasty grilled chicken (with cheese and crisp bacon) sandwich. You regulars also know about my French fry “addiction.” Well, WingZone’s are thick and potato-y (yes, my own word), but still extra crisp, the way I love ‘em. Our office also enjoyed sampling WingZone’s garden salad with hand-breaded tenders, as well as the boneless wings, bacon cheeseburgers, the homemade cole slaw and the one item I couldn’t sample, the extra large fried shrimp, all got high marks. Items we plan to try in the future are the mozzarella sticks, fried mushrooms and fried pickles appetizers and the Caesar salad. But, for us and the Tuckers, so far, so flavorful at the new WingZone. The New Tampa WingZone is located at 19062 BBD and is open Sun.-Thur., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and 11 a.m.-midnight on Fri. & Sat. Call 558-WING (9464) or visit WingZone.com for more info. Also, see the ad on page 56 of this issue for some amazing money-saving coupons!

SPOTLIGHT ON... Mulligan’s Irish Pub!

New Tampa’s biggest annual St. Patrick’s Day party will again be held at Mulligan’s Irish Pub at the Pebble Creek Golf Club starting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17! If you’re looking for a great place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, March 17, we hope you’ll check out the always fun-filled St. Patty’s Day bash at Mulligan’s Irish Pub, which is located at the recently revamped Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., off Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.). New Tampa’s biggest St. Patty’s party at Mulligan’s kicks off at 3 p.m., and will include live music from 3 p.m.-closing. Two musical acts will keep the crowd entertained, as Mickey Lorden will perform inside Mulligan’s between 3 p.m.-6 p.m., and the Colvin Brothers will perform outside between 6 p.m.-11 p.m. An awesome all-you-can-eat Irish buffet will be served from 4 p.m.-close and will include, of course, corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s pie, bangers and

Farm to Table

mash and more. The cost for the food is $14 per adult and $6 for kids under age 12. And speaking of the kids, they haven’t been forgotten, as Mulligan’s familyfriendly St. Patty’s bash also will feature a free bounce house and face painting. The event is even pet-friendly! There also will be corn hole and shot specials for the adults for this annual “Wearin’ o’ the Green.” The event will again be held both inside and outside under the oaks at Mulligans (see photo) and there will be a $5 cover charge for those arriving after 4 p.m. And, with green draft beer, plus Guinness for just $5 and $3.50 Bud Light 16-oz. bottles all day on St. Patty’s Day, you can’t beat the deals or the event itself. For more info, call 973-3870 or visit MulligansTampa.com. — GN

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‘Stage Left’

Continued from page 45 Speaking of soups, I’m not usually such a big fan (except of my Mom’s chicken soup), but all three of the soups at Stage Left literally rock. My fave is the glutenfree (although I have tried to order mine with extra gluten; just kidding) fire-roasted corn & hormone-free chicken soup, which has some veggies and rice in a slightly spicy broth. I also love both of the gluten-free, vegetarian soups — the African peanut and carrot ginger — but cup or bowl, you can’t go wrong with any of the soups, especially at just $3 per cup or just $5 for a bowl! I love the ingredients on all three of Stage Left’s flatbreads ($11-$12, perfect to serve two), and when I told Isabelle that I like my flatbreads to crunch a little more, they started coming out a little more “well done” and I’m a big fan of both the white garlic (think “margherita style,” only better; see page 42) and spicy Thai chicken, although some Stage Left regulars tell me they like the BBQ flatbread (with grilled chicken) best of all. The four salads ($6-$11) on the menu are all great, although my favorite is the Mediterranean (with spinach, cucumber, tomato, red onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese, & lemon-pepper vinaigrette) and I’ll add grilled chicken (for $3 more) or hummus ($2) if I’m having it as a meal or sharing it. You also can add Stage Left’s shrimp ceviche to any salad for $8, although my dreaded shellfish allergy doesn’t allow me to try it that way. There also are four great sandwiches ($9-$10) on the menu, two that are vegetarian (although you can add grilled chicken to either for $1) and two that have meat. Our office’s favorites are the steak panini (love the homemade chimichurri sauce) and the Farmhouse Melt (think caprese salad on crunchy bread; gluten-free upon request), with an excellent balsamic reduction. The tapas menu (each item $5-$10) features the aforementioned shrimp ceviche, fish tacos (it says grilled tuna on the menu, but the photo above was with mahi-mahi), a vegetarian Mediterranean plate (featuring hummus and kalamata olive tapenade and more), your choice of shrimp, Thai chicken, BBQ steak or just veggie skewers (I love the steak and chicken skewers, but I order them extra-grilled, so the onions and peppers are more fully cooked) and some of the best crab cakes you’ll find anywhere. “We had a couple who told us before

they tried the crab cakes that they were from Maryland,” Isabelle remembers with glee. “They told me after that they were even better than what they get at home.” Each of the five entrées ($10-$14) are big, shareable portions and you can add grilled chicken ($3), flank steak ($5) or shrimp ($6) to any entree, although both vegetarian entrées on the menu — the cold Thai noodles (page 42) and Mexican gumbo — are really tasty without adding meat. My favorite entrées are the chimichurri steak (page 42), the Caribbean stir fry with jerk-style chicken over black beans and rice with a veggie skewer) and the 16-spice rub, which comes with your choice of blackened chicken, steak or tuna with rice, a side of grilled pineapple and a veggie skewer. Brian and Isabelle want you to know that Stage Left has two private dining areas that are perfect for renting for lunch or for any private party. One room can accommodate up to 55 adults and the main dining/ stage area can seat about 100. They are happy to work with you to create the best menu possible for your private party, too. There is great live entertainment five nights a week (Tue.-Sat.) at Stage Left. I recently competed in Stage Left’s Tuesday Open Mic Night for local musicians and the live music the other nights runs the gambit from pop/rock to country to smooth jazz, Latin and more. Please note that weekends are already packed at Stage Left, but with its reasonable food & drink prices & great music every night, I hope you’ll first try it for lunch or on a Tues.-Thur. night, because then, you might not mind the wait when you visit on the weekend! Stage Left Kitchen & Bar (24400 S.R. 54, Lutz) is open for lunch & dinner from 11:30 a.m. every day except Sunday & Monday. For more info, including the ever-changing entertainment lineup, visit StageLeftTampa.com. Call ahead seating is available for dinner, so call 949-4334 and tell Brian & “Izzy” we sent you!

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

Wesley Chapel Chamber Makes Its New Tampa Move

Now that former New Tampa Chamber of Commerce president Neil Heird has signed the papers (photo, right) which officially folded that organization, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) is promising to keep up the momentum it has built at a couple of recent events to again provide the kind of vibrant business climate in New Tampa that business owners and residents alike appreciate. The first event was the “Final Friday” mixer at Glory Days Grill on January 30. At least 100 people — perhaps as many as half of which were New Tampa residents or business owners interested in seeing what the WCCC can bring to the table in terms of supporting local businesses. “We were thrilled with the turnout and the interest in our Chamber,” said WCCC executive director Hope Allen, who noted that Glory Days Grill will again host a “Final Friday” Happy Hour on Friday, February 27, 4 p.m. Less than two weeks later (on Feb. 12), we attended the WCCC’s monthly mixer at A Dash of Salt & Pepper on Cross Creek

WesleyChapelChamber.com. We also attended a great non-Chamber mixer and patient appreciation events at Florida Hospital Physicians Group (3000 County Line Rd. in Meadow Pointe), the office of Karina Azank, MD, on January 29 (photo, left). For info, call 907-8430.

Dr. Levin Named FPMA Pres.

(Above) The Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce officially absorbed the now-defunct New Tampa Chamber at mixer at A Dash of Salt & Pepper on Cross Creek Blvd. on February 12.

Blvd., which is where Heird officially signed off on folding the New Tampa Chamber. That event also included delicious food from “A Dash” owner Ghada Jadallah, a free wine tasting provided by A Time for Wine and some excellent door prizes. The WCCC also has hosted ribbon cutting ceremonies for Dimmitt Insurance

in Wesley Chapel on Feb. 10, at the new Estancia Club at Estancia at Wiregrass (see page 12), at Soriano Insurance in Wesley Chapel on Feb. 19 and for the dedication of “Hambone Way” in the Angus Valley area of Wesley Chapel and others, although there are no ribbon cuttings planned in March. For more info, call 994-8534 or visit

The Florida Podiatric Medical Association (FPMA) is proud to announce Dr. Stephen Levin of Tampa has been named 2015-16 President of the FPMA. The announcement was made on January 16, 2015 during the Association’s annual Science and Management Symposium in Orlando. Dr. Levin has two convenient locations to serve his patients (one in the Cypress Ridge Professional Center off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel and another on Euclid Ave. in South Tampa) and has been living and practicing in Tampa since 1998. Dr. Levin and his wife Diane have three children–David, Sam, and Sarah. The family resides in New Tampa, where they are proud sponsors of the Wharton High Music Boosters. Dr. Levin is Board-certified in Foot Surgery by the American Board of Podiatric Surgery and served as President of the Hills-

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borough County Podiatric Medical Assn. for ten years. In 2005, he was selected as Young Practitioner of the Year by his fellow FPMA colleagues. Dr. Levin currently serves on the staff at Florida Hospital Tampa, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, St. Joseph’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Hospital North, Tampa General and the nearby New Tampa Surgery Center. For more info, call 973-3535 or visit NewTampaFootandAnkle.com.

Signarama Adds EmbroidMe

We regret that it has taken a couple of months for us to congratulate Signarama of New Tampa (located at 1821 BBD Blvd., next to Bella MedSpa) owner Beatriz Cardona-Hiller for opening an EmbroidMe franchise inside her Signarama location. “(Signarama) corporate has had our back from the minute we agreed to open a Signarama to our decision to join the EmbroidMe family (in Nov.),” Cardona-Hiller says. “Customers love the idea,too. For them, it provides great convenience to meet all their branding needs under one roof. For us, since we already know about each customer’s preferences and needs from business done with them in Signarama, we can expedite the same process in EmbroidMe.” In 2012, Cardona-Hiller won both the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce Small Business of the Year and the Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Medium Business of the Year awards; in 2013, she won the Pasco Economic Development Council Manufacturing Industry of the Year Award; and CardonaHiller also received accolades from Signarama for the success of her franchise, winning Gold Star Achievement awards because of

the store’s outstanding sales volume. Cardona-Hiller says, “Now, we provide everything you need to open and brand your business — from business cards to the sign on your building and more.” For more info, call 994-0101 or visit Signarama. com/fl-new-tampa-wesley-chapel.

Chili’s Opens On S.R. 54!

On Feb. 16, Chili’s opened a new location in Wesley Chapel (in front of the Wesley Chapel Walmart on S.R. 54, directly adjacent to Applebee’s). The new Chili’s has online “Ziosks” at every table, great flatscreen TVs and some new menu items, so it’s certain to make S.R. 54 more of a dining destination for local residents. For more info, visit Chilis.com.

Buffalo Wild Wings Eyes Mid-June Opening

The chicken wings are coming. And if you’re one of the first 100 in the door, you could be chowing down on free wings for an entire year. Popular sports, beer and wing spot Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) officially broke ground on the chain’s S.R. 56 location, just east of Cypress Ridge Blvd. (a half-mile east of I-75), a few weeks back. BWW spokesperson Mark Ansley says that if all goes according to plan, the restaurant could be open by mid-June of this year. “We’re really excited about the (Wesley Chapel) location,” Ansley says. “We’d been looking for years to get into the area. So, when found this spot, we jumped on it.” Ansley says that the more-than-7,000sq.-ft. location (with patio seating) will offer free wings to the first 100 patrons in the door the day it opens. — GN

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE AGENT - Award-winning Real Estate team with an overflow of serious buyer leads is seeking to hire talented experienced and motivated full time real estate agents whose desire is to earn more money, expand their horizons and have a fulfilling life. Great training available.. Keller Williams Tampa Properties. Contact Annette with Team Bohannon (813) 431-2840. PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) - An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080. MEDICAL BILLER - Spanish-speaking Medical Biller wanted for New Tampa Medical Equipment Company. Duties: Gathers billing information by reviewing patient records; checking for completeness. Bills insurance carrier by inputting billing info to database; initiating electronic transmissions. Resolves disputed claims by gathering, verifying & providing additional information; following up on claims. Resolves discrepancies by examining and evaluating data; selecting corrective steps. Skills/Qualifications: Data Entry Skills, Microsoft Office Proficiency, Time Management, Organization, Professionalism, Customer service and Attention to Detail. Please forward your resume to: Richard.Jones@solarusmedical.com. WING ZONE IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR POSITIONS - Including shift leader, cooks, cashiers and delivery drivers. Wing Zone offers flexible scheduling, competitive pay wages, advancement opportunities and much more. Come join out team of flavorholics and wing lovers at Wing Zone. Applications are available at store location: 19062 Bruce B Downs. Corner of Cross Creek in the New Tampa Center. HAIRSTYLIST WANTED! Up-scale hair salon seeks hairstylist. Contact (813)994-9455 ROUTE SALES, MEDICAL Fills customer orders by driving to customer accounts within Florida; unloading and shelving product, inventory verification, order retreival. Increase sales volume by providing customer service and suggestive selling techniques. Fills order by verifying inventory; loading vehicle. Monthly overnight travel requirement 2 nights a month. Retrieves damaged/defective products from customer locations; keeps vehicle operating by following operating instructions; scheduling maintenance and repairs. Send resumes to: richard.jones@solarusmedical.com

Classifieds

HELP WANTED

Now Hiring! Growing insurance agency is seeking a licensed and experienced 4-40 customer service orientated and represent the agency with the highest ethical standard with a minimum 3 year industry experience. Contact (813)-994-1143 Pristine Dry Clean & Alterations now hiring customer service representative full time/part time positions; Saturday availability is a plus; Apply in person at 23388 State Road 54 Lutz, FL 33549 or contact by phone (813) 909-8222 or email PristineDryClean@outlook.com Small cleaning company looking for experienced part-time cleaners. Position involves detailed cleaning in residential homes. Applicants must be able to lift a minimum of 40lbs. Must be detail orientated, honest, trustworthy, dependable, and have transportation. Must submit to background check and be able to be bonded, no felonies. Send experience and info to wesleychapelcleaners@gmail.com

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LAWN & LANDSCAPING

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING - Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL & FREE ESTIMATE! For more info, call (813) 420-4465. AMERICAN PRIDE LAWN CARE SERVICE, LLC - Our services include weekly lawn maintenance with mulching decks on all mowers, precision edging, string trimming, hedge, shrub, palm, and tree trimming. We also offer landscaping, pruning, sod replacement, and pressure washing. Free estimates. Licensed and Insured. We are an Owner/Operator Company built on service and trust. References available. For more info, call (813) 458-4778.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

DALE’S HOME MAINTENANCE - Pressure washing, screen repairs, garage cleaning and organizing, shelving, re-grout tile and cocking, and more. (813)-727-2582 or (813)-973-0194 DRY WALL SPECIALIST - Not just a ‘handyman.’ Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years of experience Wesley Chapel resident. StateCertified. Call Ron for a free estimate at 784-5999.

DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional and personal touch. Pool decks and screen enclosures, all fencing, driveways, walkways, roofs, gutters and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed & insured. Call (813) 215-1177.

GREG’S PAPERHANGING - For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed and insured, clean, quick and reasonable. Call 973-2767 for a free estimate.

RAYMOND PAINTING - Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References avail. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call (813) 994-5124. UPHOLSTERY- All types-Sofas, chairs, stools, pillows, select window treatments.For more info & pricing call Glen or Sheryl (813)-245-9719

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CLEANING SERVICES

D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE - We have our own supplies and more than 300 clients in New Tampa! For more info, Call 758-9710. Power House Cleaning Services - Offering Residential cleaning for weekly, bi-weekly, monthly & occasional. Services available: one time, deep cleaning, move in / move outs, Real Estate, Holiday and Event cleaning. Owner Operator with Personal Care! Personal Touch! Licensed and Insured. For scheduling or a free in home estimate Call (813) 356-8287 or e-mail phcservices1@gmail.com. Try Power House Cleaning Services - you will be powerfully pleased! Tampa Clean Maid Service - a residential cleaning service with flexible scheduling, offering basic and custom cleaning weekly, bi-weekly and monthly service. For more information, Call 813-502-9452.

POOL SERVICES

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE - New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! Licensed, bonded and insured. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! Call Chris Today at (813) 8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. MONSTER POOL CLEANING - Summer Special — 50% off your 1st two months of service. Family owned & operated. 20+ Years of Experience. Competitive rates! Same service tech each week. *Our 15-pt. weekly full service will keep your pool looking great! Refer a customer & get ONE MONTH FREE! Call Today - (813) 489-9967.

EDUCATION / BABYSITTING TUTORING - Infinite Edge is located in Tampa Palms & offers tutoring in all subjects, including Math, English & SAT, ACT & FCAT tests, 1st-12th grade. We also offer AP classes and last year, our students scored a 5 on any AP subject in which we helped. Please call (813) 971-6500. Great Hope Preschool - We offer preschool for ages 6 weeks to 12 years. We accept the ELC School Readiness program, offer FREE VPREK and offer multi child discounts. New owner and renovated classrooms. Now enrolling all age groups. Infants-Afterschool. Mention this ad and receive 1/2 off enrollment fees. TOUR TODAY!!! 30126 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 813-929-6276 or 813-323-8030. PIANO LESSONS/TUTORING-Located in Live Oak Preserve for children, teens, and adults. I am a highly qualified/certified Florida teacher specializing in piano, music theory, language arts, reading, writing, geography, elementary math, beginning Spanish, and FCAT/test preparation. Mention this ad and receive your first session for FREE! Now scheduling for 2015!!! Contact Mrs. Daley at 813-468-1424 to reserve your spot!

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Bookkeeping, Tax, Payroll and business support services for small businesses. Let us help with ALL your business needs so you can focus on growing your business and delivery! Experienced, business- minded professionals consisting of CPAs, Accountants, MST, experienced professionals. References available. Call us 813-922-5234 or visit our website at: www.bertramclark.com/accountingservices.html

PET SERVICES

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

HAIR & BEAUTY

SPACE AVAILABLE - Private suite in busy upscale Salon / SPA available for Hairstylist / Aesthetician / Massage Therapist / Tattoo Artist or Makeup Artist Located Behind Sam’s club on SR 56 / Bruce B. Downs, near Wiregrass Mall. Equipped with wireless internet, wash/dryer, wheelchair access washroom, reception area. 24 x 7 accesses to your suite. Few equipment provided Utility, maintenance included in rent. Lowest rent in the Area. If you have established clientele, opportunity to work on commission basis as well. Call 813-997-3414 for more information.

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Turner-Bartels Students Test Out School’s New Laptops During Presentation By Matt Wiley

Technology is changing the way students learn and interact in the classroom. And, thanks to a $1.8-million Digital Classroom Plan Grant from the state, the Hillsborough County School District (HCSD) has been able to purchase and provide 25 laptop computers at more than 100 schools. One of the first to try the new laptops out was the Turner-Bartels K-8 Center, located off Imperial Oak Blvd. in the Live Oak Preserve development in New Tampa. A Feb. 10 HCSD press release says that thousands more of the 15-inch HP 350, Windows 8-equipped laptop computers will be delivered to a total of 128 schools in the District during the following weeks. Six other schools received laptops in November. The remaining 100 HCSD schools already have laptop carts or computer labs. However, the students at TurnerBartels and seven other schools in the District took part in a learning demonstration presentation on Feb. 12 by HCSD technology department staff members. Immediately upon delivery to TurnerBartels, the 25 laptops were used in the Media Center by Megan Lipinczyk’s fourth grade language arts class. “We wanted these computers to go from a truck to a table and into students’ hands,” said Sharon Zulli, the School District’s manager of technology, customer

HCSD superintendent of curriculum Denny Oest (left) and principal Jonathan Grantham, Ph. D., assist fourth grade students at the Turner-Bartels K-8 Center with the school’s new HP laptop computers during a presentaiton on February 10.

service and support during the demo. Students who participated in the presentation also learned how to use the Bing Classroom search engine (a schoolsafe version of the popular search engine) and how to collect information from the web using Microsoft OneNote, a program that serves as a “personal binder notebook” on the laptop. So, while students learned how to hone their internet research skills at Turner-Bartels, they also were able to see into several of the other participating classrooms using Microsoft Lync, a video conferencing program. The video of the other classes was projected

onto a screen throughout the lesson. HCSD information technology manager and Certified Microsoft Expert Educator Josh Sawyer led the lesson for the students and instructed them how to use Bing to find out what types of plant seeds are safe to eat and which ones are not. Sawyer showed students how they could search out information, copy and paste it into their “binders” for later use. Each time something is pasted, the program provides the student with a direct link back to the original information online. “The fact that we’re going to have these laptops in the room and have access

to them, it’s just mind-blowing,” said Lipinczyk. “Everyone will have their own device to use, so they’ll be able to work on their own projects. It’s awesome.” And, since the laptops are stored in a mobile charging cart, any teacher at the school can schedule time to use them. Turner-Bartels principal Jonathan Grantham, Ph.D., said that implementing technology in the classroom is something that he has been pushing for since becoming the new school’s top administrator. “We’re excited to have these laptops and to give the kids another way to learn,” Dr. Grantham explained. “Our end goal is to have (one of these laptops) in every child’s hands.” HCSD assistant superintendent of curriculum Denny Oest also was in attendance to watch the students break in the laptops. “It’s amazing seeing the kids interact with the laptops,” Oest said. “What’s also interesting is seeing some of the skills that (the students) already bring with them. Some of them are already very familiar with using the technology.” Many of the students said that their families have laptops at home, but still were excited to get to use one during school. “You can cut and paste the things that you find on Bing and put them into your ‘Binder’ on OneNote!,” said impressed fourth grader Pranav Kolkarni. “Wireless computers are new for our school,” said fellow student Chau Phan.

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