Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 26, Issue 6, March. 9, 2018 by Neighborhood News

Volume 26

WESLEY CHAPEL

Inside: ‘Gary’s Favorite NT/WC Restaurants Of 2017!” In Neighborhood Magazine!

NEWS

Issue 6 March 9, 2018

Please View, Like & Share Every Episode Of WCNT-tv On YouTube & Facebook! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 50!

Is This Your Next AMERICAN IDOL?

(Right) Zach and his mother Darci take a selfie minutes before his final “Idol” audition in New York.

INSIDE

By JOHN C. COTEY

ach D’Onofrio is good at keeping secrets. For years, he was a squeaky-voiced kid who sang quietly in the church chorus, who ran the lights at his family’s Dreamhouse Theatre, a kid happy to work behind the scenes in the midst of his song-happy family of performers. Then one night, at the age of 15, he called his family into the living room of their Seven Oaks home. “Mom and Dad, I want you to hear something,” he told them. Sensing something dramatic was about to happen, Darci, his mother, pulled out her phone and started recording. Zach started singing. Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight.” Everyone’s world changed that night. “When I heard his voice like that, I started bawling, just crying,” Darci says. His sister, who was in her room, heard her brother sing and started screaming, and came rushing into the living room. “It was like, whaaaaaaat?,” says Bryan, his father. Zach has always been afraid of what people would say if he sang for them. He told his parents he wasn’t sure he should share his voice. “You need to share this with the world,” Darci tearfully told him. And he has, from one “American Idol” audition to the next, from Wesley Chapel to Orlando to New York. But, how about Hollywood? Well, no one is saying. Zach D’Onofrio is good at keeping secrets.

Our Exclusive Taste Of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Preview Section! See Neighborhood Magazine!

See “American Idol” on pg. 4

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My Personal Take On Gun Violence; Plus, The Taste Returns March 25! An editorial by Gary Nager

As a parent, I’m happy that both of my sons have graduated from both high school and college, because the threat of continuing gun violence, especially towards young people, seems to loom ever larger in this country. I can’t imagine how the families of the murdered students and staff at Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland are feeling. I don’t want to imagine it. But, I also can’t hide my head in the sand and pray that it somehow all goes away. Children shouldn’t have to be afraid to go to school. Schools shouldn’t have to have metal detectors and beefed-up security, but they do. I’ve never been a gun owner and the few times I’ve shot a gun of any kind, I could feel the death — whether accidental or intended — in my hands...and wanted no part of it. Even so, I’ve also always had an open mind about both hunting and the need some people I have been close to have felt to have a gun (or guns) in their home in order to feel safe. The one thing I could never understand was why anyone would own a military-style automatic weapon, other than maybe as a keepsake of someone’s time in the military. If you hunters out there are using AR-15s or AK-47s or even bump stocks to shoot deer, wild boar or even gators, I’m guessing that’s against the rules. But, if it’s not, shouldn’t it be? Even though these weapons can get off multiple shots in seconds, are they really the weapon of choice for home protection? Aren’t they, when legally kept, supposed to be unloaded and locked up when not in use and therefore harder to load and fire quickly at an intruder? But, I certainly agree that the guns themselves are not the problem. People are. I therefore think that, in addition to trying to ban these types of weapons, anyone who wants to buy one should have to be evaluated by a licensed mental health

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News

Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Advertising/Marketing Rep Tom Damico Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Video Production Gavin Olsen • Giuliano Ferrara Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Stephanie Vokes Flischel Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 26, Issue 8, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, March 26, 2018. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

professional before they can do so. I also think that the penalties for not only using, but possessing, these types of weapons would also need to be tougher. And finally, I honestly think that in order to get the most people to be willing to give up these guns of mass destruction, they should be paid to give them back. Pennies on the dollar, but it’s better than having them confiscated or having to illegally hide them if they ever are banned. Even if our government had to buy back every military-style weapon and bump stock in this country, wouldn’t the monetary cost alone, much less the cost in human life and suffering be less than what we’ve seen in mass shooting after mass shooting? I honestly believe that if anyone is going to finally bring about change with regards to guns in this country, those surviving students and families from Parkland have the best chance of finally getting it done. I truly hope they succeed because, sadly, we never know whose children (or parents or siblings) could be next.

The New Tampa Players will return with new performances and guitar afficionado Shaun Hopper (right) will be the day’s entertainment headliner, known for his “fingerstyle” and percussive technique. I give big kudos to FHCI owners Gordie Zimmermann and George Mitchell for being so happy to welcome the Taste back to the largest skating complex south of New York state, with an amazing floor covering one of the complex’s 17,000-sq.-ft., NHL-sized rinks. Gametime indoor temp? Right around 72 degrees (F.). Seriously. I also congratulate New Tampa Rotary president Karen Frashier, her awesome team of “JCs” — James Carner and Jason Contino — who already have brought in more sponsors and sponsorship dollars for the event this year than last, logistics guru Matt Palmer, our beer & wine license expert (and Private Chef) Peter Gambacorta, entertainment chair Bob Thompson, volunteer coordinator Dr. Colin Beach, marketing whiz Craig Miller,

the always-helpful Lesley Zajac and Debby Amon, and new Taste committee member Nikki Smith, who has made sure that any food that isn’t sold during the event this year will be donated to local food banks immediately following the Taste. Photo: SixStringStrength.com

For more info about the 2018 Taste, including how to pre-buy tickets or volunteer, visit TasteofNewTampa.org. And, check out our Taste Preview Section on pages 38-41 and look for exclusive WCNT-tv Taste preview segments on Facebook, too.

Check Out Our Taste 2018 Preview Section!

At our press time on March 2, it was still three weeks out before the Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel was set to return to the (surprisingly) warm and friendly confines of Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) and I know it’s going to be bigger and better than last year. The Taste, presented by the Rotary Club of New Tampa, in conjunction with the North Tampa Bay (formerly the Greater Wesley Chapel) Chamber of Commerce, will return to FHCI on Sunday, March 25, noon-4 p.m., or two weeks and two days after you received this issue in your mailbox. As the restaurant coordinator for the event both years, I will say that we had a few (5 or 6) more restaurants secured with paperwork at the same time last year, but close to half of the 32 confirmed eateries and beverage providers we hdid have at our press time this year are newcomers to the event — and most of those that participated last year who don’t appear in our Taste preview section on pages 38-41 said they were going to return, we just hadn’t received their paperwork by Mar. 2. Since those pages were laid out for the issue, in fact, we have had two more providers — the Zephyrhills Brewing Co. and The Main Ingredient Catering Co. — send in their paperwork as I was writing this final page of the paper. In short, I will be stunned if we don’t at least match last year’s 46 food and beverage providers and I won’t be surprised at all if the number ends up at 50 or more. In fact, there are at least 40 additional restaurants that have expressed serious interest in being at the Taste, so keep visiting TasteofNewTampa.org every day to see what new culinary delights are expected to be added to an already impressive roster. Please note that this year’s “People’s Choice” winners will have to keep selling tickets past 3 p.m., because the total weight of each food/beverage vendors’ tickets will...um...carry a lot of weight.

Table of Contents

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

U.S. Hockey Women Give Golden Goodbye To WC..6 Dumping Violators Face Pasco County’s Wrath.......10 Goat Yoga A Big Hit At FHWC Wellness Center......11 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar......................16

Local Business Updates..............20-32

Promise Pointe Provides Family Choices.............30 Rohe Twyman Ready To Fight For You..............20 John Wood C.P.A. Can Help With Your Taxes...22 SPOTLIGHT On: 360 Dermatology........................23 Allergists Drs. Lockey, Ledford, Glaum & Cho........24 New Identities Adds 2nd Area Salon..................26 Florida Educators Insurance..................................28

Neighborhood Magazine

Taste Of New Tampa Wesley Chapel Preview..38-41 Gary Picks His Top 50 Favorite Restaurants......42 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........46 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds..........48 @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

‘American Idol’

Continued from Page 1 Once America’s hottest television show, “Idol” is back for the start of its comeback season this Sunday. March 11 , 8 p.m., on ABC-TV (WFTS-TV Channel 11 locally). At the D’Onofrio home, friends and family will gather in that living room again, this time sharing Zach’s voice with the world. Everyone will see the audition for the first time, including Zach. “I am kind of nervous about how I’ll look,” he says, sitting under a green shade at the Starbucks on S.R. 56 near the Shops at Wiregrass, surrounded by a caffeinated crowd that has no idea that, possibly, the next “American Idol” sits among them. A junior at Wiregrass Ranch High, Zach was one of the hundreds to audition for “Idol” at Florida Hospital Center Ice back in August 2017. He was one of 25 to continue on to auditions in Orlando two weeks later. And, he also was one of 16 who flew to New York City in October for a chance to sing in front of this season’s “Idol” judges — pop/soul legend Lionel Richie, country star Luke Bryan and perky pop performer Katy Perry. “I can post about it now (on Facebook) that I auditioned, and can tell people that I have gone to New York for the show,” Zach says. “A lot of kids know that, like my close friends, but they don’t know anything past that. Some kids sitting next to me in classes don’t know. People don’t know that I danced with Katy Perry.” ***

Wait…what? His father just shakes his head and smiles. Yes, it really happened. It only took 10 seconds of “The Way You Look Tonight” to drop open the jaws of the judges, and another 10 seconds after that, Perry was dancing her way towards Zach. Richie stood and danced as well, and Bryan couldn’t help but join in. Zach maintained his poise, and continued singing, even as he and Perry danced together. “I just kept going,” he says. “We were dancing. I twirled her, I dipped her, things like that. Kept singing.” “Dipped her,” says Zach’s dad, shaking his head and beaming proudly, with maybe a tinge of jealousy. “My man!” If it wasn’t his voice that prompted Perry to dance with Zach, maybe it was his “socks appeal.” Socks are kind of Zach’s thing. He has a collection of 50 pairs or so of uniquely designed footwear. He brought pairs for each judge — American flag socks for show host Ryan Seacrest, skulls for Richie, roosters for Bryan. For Perry, her socks depicted cats sitting on rainbows shooting lasers from their eyes, which sounds like a description of some of her videos. It was, Zach says, the perfect choice, and she wore them on her hands while she danced with him. “It broke the ice,” Zach says. “It definitely made things easier.” ***

It is only natural that Zach would 4

Zach Donofrio during his “American Idol” audition. discover his talent for singing. Bryan and Darci met at a concert at the Happy Gospel Center in Bradenton. Bryan was in a band with other family members called Southern Praise, and they were the headliners that day. He was the eligible bachelor of the group, and his sister joked to the crowd that, “if you can feed him, you can have him.” Darci thought Bryan was a wonderful singer. When it was her turn to sing later that day, she was nervous thinking he might be watching. She wrote him a letter afterward, he wrote back, and one year later, they were married. Zach and his older sister, Taylor, were born into music. Taylor embraced it, performing and singing at a young age, and Zach remembers singing “Oh, Holy Night” with his family at a Christmas church service when he was eight. But, for the most part, he hung back and mostly played youth soccer, even making the junior varsity team at Wiregrass Ranch High. Four years ago, his parents, who both work full-time at North Tampa Behavioral Health on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, started the Dreamhouse Theatre. They performed shows at various locales before settling at their current location in Lutz. Zach was working the lights for a production of the “Little Shop of Horrors” in October 2016, when he was struck by how much fun all the performers seemed to be having. He decided afterward he would surprise his family with a Frank Sinatra song in the living room that night. After that, Zach took his first role as Benjamin in “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.” Bryan played Joseph, and Darci and Taylor also were in the production. “Oh my gosh, it was so exciting seeing him getting into it,” Bryan says. “He had a solo in the show, and just nailed it. I was so excited to see him shine.” Zach took on roles as one of the three little pigs in “Shrek,” and played Lord Farquaad in “Shrek The Musical Jr.,” sitting on his knees the whole show. “That was probably my favorite,” he says. “I wondered why I waited so long to do this.” At Wiregrass Ranch, he joined the chorus this school year, ready to refine the talent he had unleashed the year before. His teacher originally thought by the sound of his speaking voice that Zach would be singing tenor, until he showed off the rich,

deep sound that surprises so many. “He’s very talented, but it wasn’t something I heard from the very, very beginning,’’ says Wiregrass Ranch fifth-year choral director Solangi Santiago. “Every now and then, though, we could see that this kid had something special.” Then, one day, a friend sent Zach a link to sign up to audition for “Idol” at Florida Hospital Center Ice, where he took his first steps in the hope of becoming the next big thing. ***

Given a choice of audition spots after getting through the Wesley Chapel and Orlando stages of the audition process,

Zach selected New York, an obvious pick, considering his crooner style and affection for Sinatra, which he developed after buying old vinyl records of the legend on shopping excursions with his father. It was Darci, however, who got to go on the Sunday-through-Wednesday trip with him, the first trip to New York for both of them, and they stared wide-eyed at everything around them for three days. They visited the Statue of Liberty and the 9-11 Memorial, Facetiming the best moments with Bryan and Taylor. “I made him sing ‘New York New York’ in the middle of Times Square,” Darci says. Outside the judges room at the Hotel Pennsylvania in midtown Manhattan, Darci was all nerves, while inside, her teenage son was taking a giant bite of the Big Apple — dancing with a pop princess while impressively, considering the circumstances, remembering all the words to his song. “I didn’t faint,” Zach joked. For three minutes, Darci strained to hear her son sing. The television cameras were trained on her, and she looked at them and asked: “Have you ever had a mom pass out before?” What little she says she could hear of Zach, she liked. “He sounded incredible, like never before,” Darci says. Afterward, he told her he thought it was his best audition yet. Did he have a golden ticket in his hand when he told her? “You have to tune in March 11,” he says, smiling. “You may see me on the show.” Zach D’Onofrio is good at keeping secrets.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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U.S. Hockey Women Stop By FHCI To Bid A Golden Farewell To Wesley Chapel By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Wesley Chapel’s version of the Golden Girls — the gold-medal-winning U.S. Women’s Olympic Hockey team, returned to the place they have called home since September for an impromptu visit on Feb. 28, greeting a small crowd of well wishers at Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) and thanking them for months of support, before heading to Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, where they were honored before the Tampa Bay Lightning game against the Buffalo Sabres. The fans at FHCI thanked the U.S. team for memories that will last a lifetime. A few dozen hockey loyalists, many who watched Team USA practices and exhibitions at the rink over the past six months, applauded the U.S. women as they walked through the doors, roughly a week after beating Canada in a memorable shootout in PyeongChang, South Korea, to capture the team’s first Olympic gold since 1998. “This was a major priority for us,” said team captain and forward Meghan Duggan, a Massachusetts native and former University of Wisconsin All-American. “We talked a lot about wanting to give back to everyone that has supported us along the way, from family to fans, and Wesley Chapel played a huge role in our development, in getting us ready. We’ve been back in the U.S. for 36 hours, and were already here, so this was certainly was a priority for us.” The team’s performance in South Korea has been universally hailed as one of the greatest in U.S. Olympic hockey history, as Monique Lamoureux-Morando tied the game at 2-2 with less than seven minutes remaining to force

Team USA hockey forward Kendall Coyne (above) and her Olympic gold medalist teammates (right) celebrated their victory over Canada at FHCI on Feb. 28. (Photos: John C. Cotey) a scoreless overtime period that led to a nailbiting shootout. Still tied after five shots each in the shootout, Jocelyne Lamoureux-Davidson, Monique’s twin, used three dekes before memorably slipping the puck past the Canadian goaltender Shannon Szabados. Szabados’ American counterpart, Maddie Rooney, saved Canada’s next shot attempt (by Meghan Acosta, who had scored during the first five shootout rounds, but was stopped by Rooney in Round 6) to clinch the gold for the U.S.. “It was amazing,’’ said Wesley Chapel’s Kristin Folch. “It was so cool that they were in Wesley Chapel, where we got to see them, and then on TV. It felt like we were connected in some way.” Folch took her two young children, Annabella — who is already playing hockey at age 5

— and Anthony to get a picture with the team. Annabella is one of many young girls to be inspired by the U.S. Olympians, according to FHCI general manager Gordie Zimmerman. While the Olympic gold medal winners have put FHCI on the map — a plethora of stories begin with the mention of their journey starting in Wesley Chapel at the rink — he says the impact stretches far wider. The girls hockey program at FHCI already has more than 60 players, with Under-14 and Under-16 travel teams, and a rec program that caters to younger players. Many of the young skaters were able to interact with the gold medalists at camps and practices since September, and Zimmerman says a girls youth league is not too far down the road. “They always seemed to make themselves available,” Zimmerman said. “They inspired a lot of girls in the area and across the nation to play hockey, and they are wonderful people and

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

great ambassadors for the game. It’s good to see we still have that in America.” While the team will now scatter back north to their frostier hometowns in places like Wisconsin, Minnesota, North Dakota and Massachusetts, Duggan says the won’t forget the hospitality and great weather — and even enduring Hurricane Irma — of Wesley Chapel. “I think what we’ll miss about it is the community,” Duggan said. “We’ve been welcomed with open arms since we’ve been here, from the people at the rink, Gordie, his whole staff, Saddlebrook Resort (where the team stayed while training at FHCI) was awesome, everyone was really great. That’ll be the biggest thing we’ll miss. Hopefully, we’ll be able to come back down here at some point and say hey to everyone. They were a huge reason why we were able to be successful.”

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Local Karate Program Not Only Teaches Kids Self Defense… But Gives Them The Tools They Need For Success In Life! ‘From learning IMPACT KARATE CENTER (813)779-6199 • ImpactKarateCenter.com

you to experience the increased levels of focus and respect that come very quickly as a result of getting involved. As part of their “kids with kick” initiative, they are offering members of the community a free month of classes. This is their way of giving kids a chance to see what karate training is all about. To get more information Students at Impact Karate executing pad drills about class times and availability • The physical fitness that will help them you can call the school directly at (813)779-6199 or visit them online at be more productive in ALL areas of ImpactKarateCenter.com their lives.

For the past ten years Impact Karate Center has been nurturing children with the character building tools found only in karate. Their program helps kids learn so much more than kicking and punching. “In fact, says owner Joe Trinkaus, learning how to defend themselves is just the tip of the iceburg.” • The concentration and positive focus When your child begins training skills to help them do well in school. they will discover… The best part is that kids love • The self esteem to believe “they can training! Classes are upbeat and fun do what they put their minds to.” and the instructors are one hundred • The personal confidence to say percent dedicated to making sure that “NO” to unhealthy peer pressure. everyone is smiling, sweating and • The poise and mental toughness to learning at every class. stand up to the bully without violence. No other program will enhance your child’s self-esteem and confidence like • The ability to know how to set and Impact Karate Centers and they want achieve powerful goals.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

County Looking To Put Some Real Teeth Into New Dumping Ordinance By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com In 2016, District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore championed a drive to regulate the county’s donation bins, many of which were becoming unsightly junkyards. The idea was to keep a closer eye on the dumping. If that crusade was the eyes, then the county’s latest project is the teeth. Moore has helped push through a plan to rid the county of all illegal dumping, as part of a new #Pasco Proud campaign. “It’s time to fight back on this,” Moore says, adding that since October, there have been 144 code complaints filed by county residents over illegal dumping. But, the county’s trash ordinance, “didn’t have a lot of teeth to it,” Moore says, so the county took a look at adopting the state’s more stringent rules, which carry stiffer penalties. Those penalties include heftier fines, and even arrest, for those illegally dumping on county property. Moore says that those who get arrested can be charged with a misdemeanor or, depending on the violation, a third-degree felony. Anyone caught dumping illegally in Pasco County can be fined a maximum of $500 per day, per item, as well as possible cleanup costs. Commercial companies that get caught dumping automatically get charged a third degree felony, even if it’s something like discarding empty paint buckets on the side of the road. “Dumping costs taxpayers thousands and thousands of dollars a year to clean up the mess,” Moore says. “And, it’s not good for the environment.” The county’s secret weapon in this latest crusade is the local community. The county’s popular MyPasco app now has a link to report illegal dumping. Users of the app can take a picture of the dump sites, or someone dumping materials, or even a license plate, and send the picture right to the county via the app. The county also has created a website — bit.ly/2Bj6CUz — so residents can report illegal dumping, as well as an email address (RIDPasco@pascocountyfl.net) and phone number (727-847-2411) that

Dist. 2 Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore

can be used to make reports. Moore said the app and website received 87 tips the first week of the program. “We triage all that info, and if it looks legit, it goes right to the (Pasco County) Sheriff’s Office,” Moore says. “We want this to be a team effort between the community and the county.” Moore says that illegal dumping takes place in Wesley Chapel, as public land and dead-end roads are targeted. He said the problem is widespread, however. “There’s a road in the Lutz area, an access road that so much dumping has taken place on that you literally have to weave in and out of trash to drive the road,” he says. Moore wouldn’t mention specific trouble spots, including one in Wesley Chapel, because some are under video camera surveillance. But, he thinks the county’s current approach will yield positive results. The MyPasco app already has received a number of tips since the initiative has gone into effect. “It is happening in Wesley Chapel,” Moore says. “You typically don’t see it when driving on normal roads and main thoroughfares, but you do see it on some dead-end roads and some public lands. If people see it, we encourage them to report it. Don’t engage the person doing it. Use the tools we are providing.”

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Goat Outta Here! Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Introduces Goat Yoga By ANDY WARRENER

There are several different disciplines of yoga, from Anada to Yin and many others in between. But, with apologies to Bikram Yoga, or hot yoga, the hottest thing out there — and definitely the cutest — might just be goat yoga. Yes, goat yoga. It is as you might expect — yoga and goats, in harmony, and recently, at the Wellness Center at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC). “I’ve taken regular (yoga) classes in the past and when I saw the chance to do this one, I thought, ‘Yeah, I’m in,’” Wesley Chapel resident Tammy Knoll-Anderson said after finishing class. “It’s fun to be around and interact with the animals and it’s nice being outside.” Indeed, modern afficionados have incorporated animals into their yoga practices. Cat and puppy yoga gained popularity for a time, but have been superseded by goat yoga, a craze that is sweeping the country. It has been featured nationally on ABC, CBS, NBC and CNN, and USA Today profiled goat yoga in places like Colorado, Florida, New Jersey and Oregon, the latter of which, the article said, was the birthplace of goat yoga. Obviously, the goats are not demonstrating or performing a Bharadvaja’s Twist or downward dogs, but they are offering support in the form of their calm nature, and maybe a few kisses along the way. According to GoatYoga.net, goat yoga is a form of Animal-Assisted Therapy in the context of an instructor-led yoga session. Obviously, the aim is for an outdoor session and the goats don’t participate in the exercises so much as provide ambiance. FHWC just happened to have all the right ingredients available — land (most important) and a desire to be creative, in order to offer a goat yoga class, the morning of Feb. 24. “At the fitness center, we talk about think-

Under the shade of the pavilion located behind the main building, the very first goat yoga class was hosted at FHWC on Feb. 24, with roughly 30 participants who enjoyed interacting with a handful of the Bogue family’s goats during the session. The Bogues, with help from Morris and fitness program coordinator Linda Harris, put up temporary, plastic fencing around the pavilion to contain the animals, and placed small piles of feed near the yoga participants to encourage the goats to physically interact. The goats needed little persuasion as they nibbled at clothing, some even jumping up on top of students’ backs or bellies. Two-week old Chief was one of the more popular goats, easily perching on students as they negotiated different poses. Jimenez says she was eager to try

teaching her first goat yoga class. “I have taken goat yoga but I had never taught it before,” Jimenez says. “The goats offer some humor and lightness to a session. There’s a seriousness to yoga and goats kind of balance that out.” Goats also have a curious nature and while they’ll eat just about anything, Jeff says they make good candidates for interaction with a yoga class. “The goats are ideal for this,” he says. “They’re calm, they like to interact with people and they’re clean, for the most part.” The nice turnout for the goat yoga class could mean the return of Chief and his friends — the Wellness Center is already planning for a second class at the end of April. For more info, call (813) 929-5252 or see pg. 25.

Wesley Chapel’s Tammy Knoll-Anderson invents a new yoga pose — The Cuddle — with Chief. Tammy was one of roughly 30 participants in a goat yoga class at FHWC. (Photos by: Andy Warrener).

ing outside the box and engaging the community,” FHWC director of community wellness Barbara Morris says. “The hospital said we could use the pavilion behind the building, and the pieces began to fall in place.” Morris looked for an instructor willing to teach the class. She found FHWC Wellness Center yoga instructor Rachel Jimenez a willing participant. The goats themselves came from Fortune Teller Farms in Bushnell. Jeff Bogue, who is the program manager of ambulance services for the hospital, and his wife Amy have operated the farm since 2013. The Bogues followed their dream, and now own and operate an all-natural, grass-fed beef and pasture-raised pork farm. The nine goats they have are all rescues, and while they do try to harvest milk from some of them, for the most part, they are pets. When Jeff heard about the goat yoga notion from Barbara, the wheels were set into motion. “I remember when I first mentioned it to Amy, she laughed, thinking I was joking with her,” Jeff says. “The next thing I know, I’m (L.-r.) Barbara Morris, Jeff Bogue, Amy Bogue, Emma Bogue & Linda in Barbara’s office working on an ad for the class.” Harris at the Feb. 24 goat yoga class at the FHWC Wellness Center.

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MARCH & APRIL 2018 Friday, March 9

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

Saturday, March 10

7th Annual Classic Car Show at Quail Run RV Resort - All makes and models of classic, muscle, antique and other rare and unique cars are welcome to attend. It’s not a judged event. Food, door prizes, raffles, and classic music. More info at Cars.QuailRunRV.com Free Health & Financial Fitness Seminar - Fitness expert Samantha Taylor and guest speaker Barbara Sekely, financial advisor for Waddell & Reed, will help women “get empowered to get control of your wealth and your fitness.” Held from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at Samantha Taylor Fitness, 2206 Knight Rd. in Land O’Lakes. Light snacks and coffee provided. More info and registration at SamanthaTaylorSeminars.com.

Monday, March 12

Monday, March 19

East Pasco Democratic Club - Meets 3rd Monday of each month at Omari’s Grill, Scotland Yards Golf Club, 9424 U.S. 301, Dade City, from 6:30-8 p.m. For more info, visit www.eastpascodems.com.

Tuesday, March 20

Let’s Talk Women’s Health - Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel hosts a discussion on women’s health issues. Held from 12-1 p.m. No cost to attend. More info and registration at FloridaHospital.com/wesley-chapel/events. NAMI Friends & Family: Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Pasco support group for friends & family of those with mental illness. The group meets the 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For more info, visit NAMIPasco.com.

Saturday, March 24

Family-Friendly Summer Camp EXPO - Held at Florida Hospital Center Ice (3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd.), 9 a.m.-3 p.m. More than 50 summer camps will be on hand. Free parking, free admission & BOGO free ice skating. Fun zone with bounce houses, live entertainment & face painting. First 250 kids get a free swag bag. Email TampaSummerCampExpo@gmail.com for more info.

Tuesday, March 27

Wesley Chapel Lions Club - The Wesley Chapel Lions meet every 4th Tues., 6:30 p.m., at the Lexington Oaks Community Center (26304 Lex. Oaks Blvd.). For info about volunteering, community efforts, meetings, helping the vision impaired & more, visit WesleyChapelLionsClub.com or the club’s page on Facebook.

Professional Business Connections (PBC) - PBC meets Mondays at 7:45 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). For info, call Matt Archbold at (813) 782-1777. Tuesday, April 3 Wesley Chapel Speaks - The Wesley Chapel Toastmasters meet every Monday GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club - Meetings are held the first Tuesday of each at 6 p.m. for networking, 6:30 pm for public speaking, at Wesley Chapel Nissan month at 6:30 p.m. at the Lexington Oaks Clubhouse (26304 Lex. Oaks Blvd. Visit (28519 State Rd 54). For more info, call Martin at (813) 693-0969. GFWCPascoJWC.blogspot.com or Facebook.com/ GFWCPascoJuniors for info. Cinderella Project of Pasco Boutique - High school girls with no budget for prom dresses can choose a free ensemble, thanks to the Cinderella Project. The boutique will be at Wesley Chapel High on Mon.-Tues., March 12-13, 2 p.m.-6 p.m. Search “Cinderella Project Pasco County” on Facebook.

Tuesday, March 13

East Pasco Networking Group - Meets the 2nd and 4th Tuesdays of the month at 7:30 a.m. at IHOP, 13100 US 301, Dade City. For info, contact Nils Lenz, 813782-9491 or nilslenz@gmail.com. Breaking the Silence on Endometriosis- Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel hosts a discussion on endometriosis for those suffering from stomach problems, tiredness or lower back pain. Held from 12-1 p.m. with Dr. McEndree. No cost to attend. More info and registration at FloridaHospital.com/wesley-chapel/events.

Wednesday, March 14

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

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Thursday, March 15

BNI Networking Meeting - Business professionals are invited to attend this networking organization’s meetings on Thursdays, 7:30 a.m., at Savannah Church (3758 Maryweather Lane, off BBD Blvd., behind Dunkin’ Donuts). For more info, call Kyle Flischel at (813) 815-0250. RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for networking at GrillSmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch is noon-1 p.m. For more info, visit RGANetwork.net. Celebrate Recovery - Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bridgeway Church (30660 Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based principles. Dinner & free childcare available. Call (813) 907-1313.

Friday, March 16

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

Holy Week Mass Times and Services

Holy Saturday - March 31st

Holy Thursday - March 29th

Easter Mass Celebrations

10:00AM Prayer Service, Lord’s Supper 7:30PM Mass of the Lord

Good Friday - March 30th

10:00AM Prayer Services, 3:00PM Mass

Sunday, March 18

Pasco Fine Arts Council Kids N Art Exhibition - Pasco Fine Arts Council sponsors an art competition open to students in grades K-5. Reception to be held March 18. Art is on display March 6-24. Visit www.PascoArts.com or call 727-845-7322. 14

Palm Sunday - March 25th

Saturday March 24th Vigil Mass: 4:00PM Sunday Masses: 8:30AM, 10:30AM, 12:30PM (Spanish), 5:30PM

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Rohe Twyman Provides Affordable, Top-Flight Family Law Services By ANDY WARRENER

AJ Rohe of Rohe Twyman cares about his clients. So much so that when he started his practice in 2003 in Tavares, FL, he says he advocated for clients as though they were his friends, his family or himself. Unfortunately for Rohe, this led to elevated stress levels, as he would internalize his clients’ often gut-wrenching situations, Which helped him develop gut-wrenching situations of his own. “At the time, I was living through every client’s issue with them, blow by blow,” Rohe said. “It raised my stress level to where I was puking up blood.” It lasted the duration of Rohe’s first year of running his own practice. He recalled a case with a child who was too young to speak, who was being abused by one of the parents. The case compounded Rohe’s problems with stress and stomach ulcers. In the fall of 2017, after 21 years of litigating family law cases, Rohe Twyman took the advice of a colleague who recommended this area. The firm opened an office in Wesley Chapel in the Brookside Professional Park., off S.R. 54, just east of Saddlebrook Resort. From the stomach ulcer days, Rohe has since learned not to internalize his clients’ tribulations. He says it’s helped him become a healthier person and a better legal advocate. “I try to be more objective nowadays,” Rohe says. “That gives me a clearer vision of everything that’s involved with a case and allows me to start using strategy, instead of 100-percent effort in the direction the client wants me to go in. Now, I’m able to view cases through the lens of whether each move gets us closer to the clients’ desired outcome.”

(L.-r.) AJ Rohe and Dusty Twyman of Rohe Twyman, a family law practice with a Wesley Chapel location on S.R. 54 in the Brookside Professional Park. was hired by the Law Firm of James Keedy, Staunch Advocates PA, in 1997. He eventually worked his way up Rohe says he hates bullies. “The fun to partner. When he started his own firm in in this job comes from rendering powerless someone who’s never been told no before and 2007, it was just Rohe, one paralegal and one receptionist. forcing them to do the right things,” Rohe Dusty Twyman double-majored at says. “It’s about leveling the playing field.” Frostburg State University in Frostburg, MD, That’s not to say that Rohe typically helps the wife as opposed to the husband in a receiving a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in both political science and Justice Studies, with divorce case. It’s more a case of, “who is tryminors in Philosophy and Sociology, where ing to dominate the other one.” He says that she was class valedictorian. She earned her he represents the husbands as much as the Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Emory wives in cases he (and the firm) takes on. University School of Law in Atlanta. “I will still fight as hard as I can for Twyman opened her own law firm in a client,” Rohe says. “I put myself in their position and I fight for them the way I would Winter Garden in 2000, where she and Rohe actually litigated against each other but they fight for myself.” ended up as co-council on a case in 2009 and Rohe grew up in Lake County, FL, and

the seed was sown for a merger. “She (Twyman) was the only one I ever considered being partners with,” Rohe says. So, in January of 2013, they became the Law Firm of Rohe Twyman and Rohe says they complement each other well. “I’m more of a big-picture guy and she’s more detail-oriented,” Rohe says. “Her areas of strength were my areas of weakness.” Rohe says he has a passion for family law. For him, family law cases are unlike other types of law practices. “With family law, the facts can change from the day we’re hired to the day we go to court,” Rohe says. “It’s a fluid, dynamic situation that allows us to take on most clients.” The firm may advise a client on what kind of job to have, what kind of hours to work or where they choose to live. “We can put clients on the right path and avoid issues they might later have to spend money to litigate over,” Rohe says. “Kids benefit from the parents doing the right thing.”

A Cross-Trained Team

Today, the team consists of Rohe, Twyman, lead associate Andrew Graf, associate attorney Krishna Domenech, five paralegals and six support staff members among the firm’s four offices in Wesley Chapel, Tavares, Bushnell and Oakland. Rohe specializes in cross-training all of them. He holds daily video conferences with all four offices from 8 a.m.-9 a.m. to conduct workshops. Everyone from receptionist to partner attends.“It’s a way to keep from tilling the same soil or duplicating efforts, but it also saves clients money and allows us to take on a lot of cases,” Rohe says, citing the ability to delegate

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tasks to reduce what the client has to pay for things like basic paperwork, research or filing. “With such a large, cross-trained team, we have more abilities than a smaller firm might.” Rohe Twyman could have a legal assistant organize court documents instead of paying for an attorney to do it. The firm can pay its paralegals to draft documents that go into the court file. They can have some of their other staff perform legal research, instead of paying one of the partners $400 an hour. The firm is able to get the best job for the lowest price. It also allows the partners to take on cases with short notice. “We had one client hire us with less than two months before the case went to trial,” Rohe says. “Most firms wouldn’t take a case that close to the end, but we can do it and still service all of our other clients.”

A Practical Approach

Rohe says the firm wants its clients to come out of their initial consultation with a clear picture of what they need to do and the actual viability of winning their case. Rohe says he will spend the first 30 minutes of the consultation discerning the fact patterns of the case, asking the kinds of questions the judge in the case would ask. Next, he explains the current laws regarding those fact patterns. The next 10 minutes are spent discussing the situation and what the case’s likely outcome is going to be. The last 10 minutes are spent allowing the client to voice what they like, or don’t like, about Rohe’s predictions for the case. “The client knows, Day 1, when they walk out of the consultation, what a fair outcome is and what their chances are,” he says. Rohe wants to make sure that a client’s

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funds aren’t squandered, either. “You don’t want to hire a limo to drive to New York City and then run out of money in Washington, DC,” Rohe says. “We have realistic talks with clients at the beginning about what they can accomplish with the funds they have available.” Every client has a certain amount of money they can use for their case, and the firm of Rohe Twyman wants to make sure that the money is used in the most efficient way possible. Sometimes, that means stepping back and not attacking what the client wants most at that moment, and analyzing ways to use the resources available to get the best end result. Darlene Yu was a recent client of Rohe &︎ Twyman. “The firm came highly recommended, they returned my call almost immediately and kept me calm throughout the process,” Yu says. “I came up from Tampa seeking them, because I knew I would be up against a battle. They did a tremendous, exceptional job representing me. They are good, honest and loyal, and they follow up with what they say they will do.” Rohe Twyman offers services in prenuptial, postnuptial, paternity, dissolution, collaborative divorce, modifications, dependency injunctions and agreement enforcement. While the office at 29149 Chapel Park Dr. is only open on Wednesdays, appointments can be made to meet there by calling (813) 559-0937. Through the end of April, Rohe Twyman is offering to waive the normal $400 consultation fee as an introduction to the Wesley Chapel community. Please mention that you read this story in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News or see the ad on pg. 12 of this issue.

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John Wood, C.P.A., Offers Trusted Tax Preparation & Accounting Services By ANDY WARRENER

Whether you’re a small or emerging business, an individual or a pass-through entity like an S-Corporation or Limited Liability Corporation (LLC), John S. Wood, C.P.A., P.A. can help you navigate the ever-changing tax codes and if necessary, negotiate with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) on your behalf. “Tax laws change every year and the code can be complex, especially if you have multiple investments,” Wood says. “In the case of negotiating a tax debt, I can speak directly with the IRS on behalf of a client and can help get the problem resolved, so they can move on with their lives.” He also says that the IRS can put liens on property and levy bank accounts. “The IRS has access to every database known to man,” Wood says. “Once they start actions, they don’t go away. But, once a client comes to me, they don’t have to deal with the IRS anymore.” Wood’s firm offers “rescue” services for taxpayers who owe back taxes. The firm offers guidance, representation and can help the client get into an installment agreement that will sometimes get the IRS to accept less than the original tax bill. “As small business owners, we do so much by ourselves. One place we don’t want to mess around with is taxes and the IRS,” says Brandon Diehl of STRATIX Marketing. “It was beyond easy to work with John, he double checks everything

are helping to streamline the process for both tax preparation and accounting services. Quickbooks has been around since the early 2000s but can now be Looking Back...& integrated into online platforms that a C.P.A. like Wood can share in real Forward, Too time with a client. Wood says he also Wood, whose office is located started using an application called in the Palm Lake Office Building off Hubdoc this past year. Hubdoc can Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms, rememautomatically pull your bills and bank bers a time when life in the area was statements into one secure hub. Wood a bit more simple. He moved to the can then access the hub and get all New Tampa area in 1987 and gradpertinent financial information that he uated from the University of South needs to provide service to a client. Florida with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Accounting in 1997. “A lot of the manual processes “When I moved to the area, of accounting and bookkeeping have been eliminated by this technology,” there was barely anything between Wood says. Skipper Road and S.R. 54,” Wood Hubdoc, coupled with the says. “The area has developed a lot. LogMeIn application, streamlines There’s more diversity, which is a the process even further. LogMeIn positive aspect, and the impact of allows C.P.A.s like Wood to remotely technology on our lives has changed access his own or his client’s computthe way we do business.” er. Wood has been able to utilize the When Wood started in the technology for the last five years. business more than 21 years ago, he “The screens pop up on my Whether it’s tax preparation, IRS audits and other tax ressays that much of the client interaction was face-to-face. Clients would olutions or small business accounting services, John S. Wood, computer just like they were on my client’s,” Wood says. “We’ll actually take C.P.A., P.A., in Tampa Palms, is here to help you. bring in the proverbial, “shoebox” turns using the mouse; the technology of receipts and sit down across a desk new programs and applications make it so is amazing.” from Wood. It’s not to say those types of that I actually see less and less of clients. The remote access can save clients a interactions don’t exist anymore, but they The old days when I’d get people’s bank significant amount of time and help them are certainly much more rare today. statements in the mail are gone.” negotiate financial programs like Quick“It’s transitioning to a virtual practice these days,” Wood says. “Accounting New Tech, Old Time Service books or even the IRS website. With 90 to 95 percent of Wood’s trends like cloud-based software as well as Wood also says that new technologies and as a business owner he’s invaluable to me. Even if you keep your own books, it’s good to have a C.P.A. you can call.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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business coming in via digital or electronic submissions, it slashes preparation time and can give hands-on assistance to a client without even being in the same room.

Do You Still Need A CPA?

There are several other reasons why a client would want to use a C.P.A. and not try to file their taxes themselves. The biggest one? Money. “I’ve had clients where I’ve amended previous tax returns for them and gotten them a bigger refund,” Wood says. “Part of bringing a new client on board is that I’ll review their previous year’s tax return.” He also says that he often finds credits and deductions on clients’ previous tax returns that they missed when they filed themselves. “Credits are a dollar-for-dollar reduction of what you owe, while deductions lower your taxable income,” Wood said. “The lay person is not aware of many of these.” Did you send a child to college last year? There’s an education credit you can use. Even if you run a small business, Woods’ services could help make it run more efficiently. “Businesses need much more than an individual,” Wood said. “You’ll need a profit/loss statement and something to keep track of it. You’ll need to put it in a format that’s properly classified to fit it on your tax return.” Wood also provides value to your business by managing assets, measuring, processing and combining financial infor-

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mation. Making a profit is essential to any business. At John S. Wood C.P.A., P.A., customers get what they need to measure their financial results so that they can take appropriate action to maximize their businesses’ profits. “John’s services have been an absolute asset to my company,” says Loren Staker of West Coast Water Tech. “He’s done wonders, he’s kept me up to date on changes in the tax law...I could go on and on. He’s a friend and business associate and I would recommend him to anyone. As long as I’m in business, he’s my accountant.” Wood offers free consultations and brings back a bit of the interaction lost in technology. Now is the busy time of year, he says, estimating that 65 percent of his business comes in between January and the end of April. Beyond that, his services extend year-round for individuals who have filed extensions or businesses that have quarterly payroll and sales tax reports. Wood says he likes to rely on word-ofmouth advertising, although he admits that he has been an avid Neighborhood News reader himself since the beginning. “Most of our new business comes from referrals,” he says. Whether it’s tax preparation, tax resolution or small business accounting services, John S. Wood C.P.A., P.A. is here for you. His office is located at 15310 Amberly Dr, in Tampa Palms, and he can be reached at (813) 5142920 or you can visit JWoodCPA.com or see the ad on pg. 31 of this issue.

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SPOTLIGHT ON.........360 Dermatology! Led by Aparna Ambay, M.D, 360 Dermatology in Wesley Chapel offers treatments for skin cancer, acne (and acne scars), eczema, skin growths and infections. The practice also provides cosmetic services, such as Botox and other dermal fillers, as well as chemical peels. Medical grade skin products for home use by Obagi Medical and Skinceuticals are available for sale. “We are proud to be a Skinceuticals Flagship Advanced Clinical Spa, featuring the number one professional skin care brand,” explains Regan Hoefle, 360 Dermatology’s aesthetic services manager. “Everyone is invited to our launch party on Thursday, April 5, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. The practice’s newest services include CO2RE® Laser Treatment for Facial Rejuvenation, which Hoefle explains is fractional resurfacing for dramatic improvement in skin tone and texture, sun-damaged skin, wrinkles, scars and age spots, without the downtime and side effects of traditional resurfacing. There also is the new CO2RE Intima® for women’s intimate wellness. “It is a 10-15minute nonsurgical, in-office procedure that restores vaginal tone, flexibility and shape lost after childbirth and improves discoloration,” explains Hoefle. “This procedure also relieves dryness, pain, itching and even incontinence associated with menopause.” Hoefle also says that the practice now offers microneedling with Rejuvapen. “And, Platelet Rich Plasma (PRP) can be added for the celebrity facial everyone raves about!,” she says, adding that PRP also is being used to treat hair loss, as it has been found to help regenerate damaged hair follicles and stimulate growth. 360 Dermatology is just one part of the

Transformations Aesthetic Center, located about a mile east of I-75, just north of the intersection of S.R. 56 and Cypress Ridge Blvd., behind the Tower Radiology building in Wesley Chapel. The Transformations Aesthetic Center also is home to Ambay Plastic Surgery, where Dr. Aparna Ambay’s husband, Raj Ambay, M.D., D.D.S., practices. The 11,000-sq.-ft. facility opened last May. “We now have a larger and more modern, state-of-the-art facility at our disposal,” says Hoefle, “but I think what our patients notice most is that the quality and compassionate care we deliver is different than what you might find in another medical dermatology setting. We treat our patients very much like our family and friends.” The Transformations Aesthetic Center and 360 Dermatology are located at 2441 Oak Myrtle Ln. in Wesley Chapel. For monthly cosmetic specials, to be added to the email list, or for more information, visit 360Dermatologytampa. com, call (813) 406-4835, or see the ad on page 11 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Allergy Specialists Drs. Lockey, Ledford, Glaum & Cho Now Open In Wesley Chapel By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

ders related to allergy, asthma, and immunology, including rhinitis (inflammation and swelling of the mucous membrane of the nose, often referred to as hay fever), cough, laryngitis, headaches and immune disorders. The specialists also treat allergic reactions and immune responses resulting in rashes and dermatitis.

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com At a busy office on the top floor of a medical building near the corner of Fletcher Ave. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., a team of Board-certified allergists and immunologists both see patients and conduct research at the University of South Florida Division of Allergy & Immunology Clinical Research Unit next door. The practice recently opened an office in Wesley Chapel and now has five locations, including the main office on BBD Blvd. in Tampa, plus locations in South Tampa, Citrus Park and Brooksville. Drs. Lockey, Fox, Ledford, Glaum and Cho make up the group that can be found online at AllergyTampa.com. Richard Lockey, M.D., founded the practice in 1984 as Academic Associates in Allergy, Asthma & Immunology. He earned his medical degree from the Temple University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. Dr. Lockey served in the U.S. Air Force during the Vietnam War, then subsequently joined the faculty of the University of South Florida College of Medicine (now Morsani College of Medicine) as a Professor of Medicine. He currently is the director of USF’s Division of Allergy & Immunology. He also volunteers at the James A. Haley Veterans (VA) Hospital, where he was previously Chief of Allergy & Immunology. Dr. Lockey also has served as a president of the World Allergy Organization and is a past president of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (AAAAI), of which all of the practice’s specialists are members.

Research Benefits Patients

What sets Drs. Lockey, Fox, Ledford, Glaum and Cho apart from other groups is the relationship the doctors have with USF. With all five doctors also teaching (L.-r.): Drs. Cho, Ledford, Lockey, Fox and Glaum are Board-certified allergists and immunologists students at USF’s Morsani of Medicine, the patients who recently opened a new office whose services include a unique commitment to academic research and College they care for in private practice teaching the next generation of doctors, too. reap the benefits. “There are advantages of beDennis Ledford, M.D., received his of Pennsylvania, also in Philadelphia. His areas ing with physicians who have contact with the M.D. degree from the University of Tennesof interest include how the body responds future in teaching residents,” says Dr. Ledford. see Health Science Center in Memphis. Like to substances that cause allergic reactions “The process of educating makes you better.” Dr. Lockey, he also served as a past president and advancing diagnostic techniques, such as Dr. Ledford explains that all five doctors rhinoscopies (examining nasal passages with of AAAAI. Dr. Ledford is the director of the conduct research at USF’s Division of Allergy Section of Allergy & Immunology at the James specialized instruments). & Immunology Clinical Research, too. As a Seong Cho, M.D., received his mediA. Haley VA Hospital. His published writings researcher, he says, “you’re aware of developfocus on immunology and autoimmune disorcal degree as an otolaryngologist — an ear, ments and where science is progressing.” He nose and throat doctor — from Kyung Hee ders and he has won many leadership awards. adds that his practice’s patients can gain access Dr. Ledford says he loves teaching medical stu- University School of Medicine in Seoul, South to studies when there are new therapeutic trials Korea. His allergy and immunology training dents and educating patients. He was installed being conducted. to the Gold Humanism Honor Society at USF. was completed at Northwestern University, If a study is being conducted that could Feinberg School of Medicine, in Chicago, IL. Mark Glaum, M.D., PhD, earned his help a specific patient, the doctors can send that He recently received a grant from the National medical degree at Hahnemann University patient right down the hall to USF’s Clinical Institutes for Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, School of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. He Research Unit to participate in the study. Dr. studying pathogens and chronic rhinitis. completed a fellowship in allergy and clinical Ledford says that not only can that benefit the The physicians manage a variety of disorimmunology at the Hospital of the University

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Sensitive To Pollen?

This is the time of year when seasonal allergies are at their worst.

“March is the peak of allergy season in Florida,” says Dr. Ledford. “In our area, people react to tree allergens — primarily oak and cypress — from about Christmas to Easter.” Dr. Ledford says that for people who have moved to Florida from up north, spring happens much earlier, as trees start pollinating between January and April. So, allergy sufferers will notice that happening much earlier here than in colder climes. To help the doctors assess the environment and know what allergens to test their patients for, “we sample the environment to see what’s there,” explains Dr. Ledford. He says air samples are gathered from the patient’s roof, then Dr. Glaum counts the pollen and other allergens under a microscope. He then provides those counts to the community on the practice’s website, AllergyTampa.com.

Now Open In Wesley Chapel

The Wesley Chapel office is open in the Seven Oaks Professional Park on Thursday mornings, beginning at 7:30 a.m., where patients can see Dr. Cho. While the doctors and staff at the practice have considerable clinical and research experience, as well as access to the latest in treatments and technology, Dr. Lockey expresses a basic principle that guides his team in its work. “We practice the most cost-effective and honest medicine,” he says. “We treat patients like they’re our family members. That’s what all medicine should be about.” To learn more about Drs. Lockey, Fox, Ledford, Glaum and Cho, visit AllergyTampa.com or call (813) 971-9743. The New Tampa office is located at 13801 BBD Blvd., Ste. 502, and the Wesley Chapel office is located at 2106 Ashley Oak Cir., #102. Also, see the ad on page 9.

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patient with medicine or techniques that may not be readily available in mainstream medicine, but also, “by participating in the study, our patients are helping to advance the field.” Dr. Ledford explains that one such study is peanut immunotherapy, where extremely precise and tiny doses of peanuts are introduced to patients in a methodical way, to teach the body to tolerate them. For someone who has a life-threatening allergy to peanuts, to be able to tolerate small amounts can relieve the constant fear of accidental contact with peanuts. “It’s quite liberating,” Dr. Ledford says of the results of this technique, which is not yet mainstream but is available through his practice’s research partnership with USF. He adds that this partnership allows his office to provide the convenience of neighborhood medicine, combined with the experience of the academic setting. “It’s unusual,” Dr. Ledford says, “but Dr. Lockey has created a hybrid of a university clinic and a private practice. They complement each other.” Sue Moore is a patient who says she has benefited from this approach. After conventional treatments for her asthma left her still “gasping for breath,” she says Dr. Ledford found a brand new treatment for her — one that has helped her breathe easy so that she no longer struggles with asthma symptoms. “Dr. Ledford went beyond the norm to find a treatment that works,” Sue says. “He stays on top of his profession, continually doing research, and always has his patients at the top of his agenda.”

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

New Identities Owners Kelly & Marc Rockquemore Open Their Third Salon! By GARY NAGER

Not unlike the local restaurant business, the hair salon scene in New Tampa has been pretty volatile the last two decades. It’s therefore impressive that Marc and Kelly Rockquemore, who are now the proud owners of three New Identities Hair Studios in the Tampa Bay area — including two very close to Wesley Chapel in New Tampa — have not only survived, but thrived during that span. The Rockquemores opened their first New Identities Hair Studio in what was then called the Palm Lake at Tampa Palms (now the Shoppes at Amberly) shopping center 17 years ago, which means I’ve known them for 18 years, because they came into my office in that same plaza looking for advertising for the salon several months before it opened. Since then, the Rockquemores have opened a second successful New Identities salon in the Riverview/Apollo Beach area that they refer to as their “South Shore” location, and have now opened their third studio — and hosted a Feb. 7 North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting — in the space in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. that most recently was occupied by Bella Mia hair salon. The 1,400-sq.-ft. space also previously was home to the second Bostonian

Marc & Kelly Rockquemore are proud to have opened their third Tampa Bay-area New Identities Hair Studio, in the New Tampa Center plaza on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Hair Salon. Marc admits that Bostonian ket,” Marc say, “his success paved the way owner Joseph Caetano was something for salons like ours. The key for us is being of a role model for them, as Caetano’s able to sustain that success long-term.” Maintaining success hasn’t really salons were well-known throughout the area for high-quality, affordable hair ser- been an issue for the Rockquemores, who vices provided by professionally-trained opened the new salon on BBD with some of the popular stylists from the Tampa stylists and hair color specialists. “Even though Joseph (now 84 years Palms location. old) no longer owns a salon in this mar“I just think that Kelly and I have

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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both have been relentless in our pursuit of success, by our own definition,” Marc says. “We’re always working to make this thing better all the time and we’ve been fortunate to have great people who have stayed with us long-term.” Kelly adds, “We had to open another salon up here. We were having two stylists working at each station in Tampa Palms.” The Rockquemores say they started looking for a new salon sometime last summer and quickly found the New Tampa Center location. They were open by November. “We did a lot of the work ourselves, whatever we could do,” Kelly says. “It all came together pretty quickly.” The new New Identities, which has a total of ten stations available, already has eight stylists, four of whom came from the “overcrowded” Tampa Palms studio, but Marc says, “We still have room for more here, and we’ve been getting some outstanding applicants.” At New Identities, stylists have to be properly trained, and clients pay different rates for the same services, based on the level of a stylist’s training. They both credit advertising in both the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel editions of the Neighborhood News with helping them get the new salon started off right. “It hasn’t been easy getting this place open and running properly,” Marc

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admits, “but it’s truly been a blessing to us so far.” New Identities specializes in “anything to do with hair, including hair styling for men and women, coloring, perms, relaxers and even extensions,” Kelly says. “We definitely are known for our color specialists.” The salon also specializes in playing a vital role in the biggest day of a woman’s life. “Our Bridal Services primarily consist of hair design (up-dos, shampoo & blow dries), as well as makeup application,” Kelly says. “Let us take care of your entire wedding party!”

Your Stylists, Your Salon

The Rockquemores are somewhat skeptical about the rise of “Salon Suites,” where stylists (or other beauty industry professionals) can rent a space, set their own hours and “be their own boss.” “But, some states, like New Jersey, are banning the salon suites because it’s easier to avoid paying taxes on what you make,” Marc says. “Those booth rental people are independent contractors, whereas we work on commission and offer employee benefits and continuing education training.” Kelly adds, “A lot of those people get stuck at a certain level because they don’t want to have to pay out of their own pocket for education. Here, everytime you receive more training, you have an opportunity to earn more money.” Marc adds that he has very strong

opinions about booth rentals because, “all you’re doing is renting a 10-footby-10-foot space in a store. You’re not incorporated, you don’t have employees or have to pay business taxes, you’re not inspected and on and on and on. You’re not a business owner, but that’s what the stylists are being sold.” Marc says that he and Kelly were particularly proud to have been named the “Best Hair Salon in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel” in the recent Neighborhood News Reader Survey & Contest. In addition to those accolades, New Identities has been the official salon of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Tampa Bay Storm cheerleaders, and most recently, the Tampa Bay Lightning girls. The Tampa

Palms location was featured on the HBO series “Hard Knocks” last summer, when Bucs linebacker Kwon Alexander (photo, above left) took the advice of teammate (and New Identities client) Gerald McCoy, and came to New Identities for a new color job. “We do a lot to make sure people know who we are (including possibly being a sponsor of the upcoming Taste of New Tampa, see pgs. 3 & 39-41),” Marc says, “but Kwon being filmed here for ‘Hard Knocks’ was a great bonus.”

$pecials, You Ask?

With the ad on pg. 36 of this issue, you will receive a cut, color (retouch only) and conditioning treatment with a

Level 1 associate (like Tara, who does a great job cutting my fiancé Jannah’s hair) at the New Tampa studio (only), and only on Mon.-Wed., for only $69. “That’s about a $30 savings,” says Marc. “It’s a great way to get introduced to the new salon and what our professional stylists/ color specialists can do for you.” For appointments at the New Tampa New Identities Hair Studio (19038 BBD Blvd.), call (813) 579-1575. For Tampa Palms (15307 Amberly Dr.), call (813) 979-0760. For the South Shore studio (10639 Big Bend Rd. in Riverview), call (813) 741-1177. For more info, visit NewIdentitiesSalon.com or the Facebook pages for any of the locations.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Florida Educators Insurance Offers Insurance & Financial Services For Everyone By CELESTE MCLAUGHLIN

celeste@ntneighborhoodnews.com The word “Educators” in the name Florida Educators Insurance indicates that, primarily, this local insurance agency serves teachers and others who work in schools. Owner Gary Cucchi says it’s also a hallmark of how his agency does business. “The biggest thing we do is educate our clients,” Gary says, “Not only do we serve educators and their neighbors, family members and friends, but we also educate our clients about their insurance and retirement plans, to be sure they have the right strategy and coverages so their family is protected, now and in the future.” Gary adds that it’s a common misconception that, because the company is called “Florida Educators Insurance,” people think the agency only serves educators. “But, that’s not the case,” he explains. “We help non-educators all the time. They’re often family members, friends, and neighbors of our current clients — but they don’t have to be — and we help them with auto insurance, homeowner’s insurance, life insurance, IRAs, and 401k accounts.” Gary used to be a teacher himself, before opening Florida Educators Insurance in 2002. His company is an independent agency of Horace Mann, which specializes in insurance products and financial services for educators. Founded in Springfield, IL, in 1945, Horace Mann is named for the 19th Century (who died in 1859) founder of American

Hill and American Integrity, and auto insurance through Safeco, Progressive and Mercury, just to name a handful of the many companies with which the agency is aligned. Of about 1,000 Horace Mann agencies nationwide, Gary says Florida Educators Insurance is now the largest. “We don’t try to be the largest,” he explains, “It just happens and we get some plaque (from Horace Mann for it). I don’t care about how big we are; I care about my employees and our clients. If all of that’s going well, it doesn’t matter if we’re number one or 100.” Gary says all 22 agents and advisors in his office are fully licensed through the Florida Department of Insurance, and all financial services staff members hold numerous state and federal investment licenses through FINRA (the Financial InGary Cucchi (center) and his friendly staff at Florida Educators Insurance in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel can handle your insurance and financial services/ dustry Regulatory Authority), and many of them have “double-digit” retirement needs, even if you’re not an educator yourself. years of experience in the industry. public education and is now a multi-billion- cators known as 403(b) and 457 plans. He adds that at least 10 team members dollar company traded publicly on the New As an independent agency, Florida EduYork Stock Exchange (NYSE: HMN). cators Insurance writes policies with a wide have been with the firm more than six years, Florida Educators Insurance moved to variety of the top insurance and financial ser- so there’s a lot of longevity. “You don’t see its current location in the Cypress Glen Pro- vice companies. Some examples include in- that much these days,” Gary says, “where fessional Park off S.R. 56 (just east of I-75) surance and financial services through — of you know you’ll be dealing with the same in Wesley Chapel in 2008. The agency offers course — Horace Mann, plus financial servic- people and the staff members you’re working auto, home, umbrella, flood and life insur- es from American Funds, Vanguard, Black- with now will be there down the road.” “We’re a good size, especially staff-wise, ance, along with retirement and investment rock, Fidelity and Raymond James Financial, but we’re like a mom-’n-pop, in that we try to plans, such as IRAs and 401(k) plans, “529” life insurance through Lincoln Financial and college savings plans, plus plans just for edu- Ameritas, home insurance through Tower really get to know people and get to know their

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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families so we can advise them properly,” Gary says. “We genuinely care about our clients and are not just trying to sell policies. The teacher in me has this philosophy to help people.”

Serving Schools

Gary says that in 2017, Florida Educators Insurance spent at least $100,000 to provide reading and attendance incentives, school supplies, teacher appreciation gifts, and more to local schools in Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas County. “Instead of buying billboards, we try to give back to the community,” Gary explains. “We advertise in the Neighborhood News because it’s local, but we don’t do any other ads. We want our dollars to go back to the people we serve.” Florida Educators Insurance often gives away bicycles, based on incentives chosen by participating schools, including many of the schools located in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. “For the last five years or more, we have donated several hundred bikes a year to schools in the area to promote attendance and reading,” he says. “It takes us a couple of weeks to deliver all the bikes. We got tired of renting U-hauls to do it, so we decided to get our own bus.” Today, Florida Educators Insurance delivers those bikes in a customized school bus that has been wrapped with the company’s information and had seats removed on the inside to accommodate bikes, school supplies, or whatever is being delivered. “Our relationships with the schools are based on what each school needs,” Gary explains. “Not every school needs bikes. We

help every school in Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties in some way.” He says this includes providing at least $25,000 worth of teacher appreciation gifts, typically $25 gift certificates to local restaurants, which many schools give away at appreciation breakfasts and lunches. “This is our way of letting [teachers] know that we care about them, with no strings attached,” Gary says. “They don’t have to be clients, although we do insure 10,000 people in that threecounty area.”

Happy Clients

Roberta Hyde, a Wesley Chapel resident who lives in Country Walk, is a retired teacher who says she has trusted Gary with her home and auto insurance since she moved to the area from Boston 14 years ago. “Gary is kind and respectful, and a good listener,” she says. “I always feel like he treats me like family, especially with retirement decisions. I always feel like whatever he’s telling me is what he would tell his own family. I never feel like he’s trying to sell me a product.” Gary adds, “We’re not here just to save you a couple of dollars on your auto and home insurance, although we gener-

Gary Cucchi (left) is proud that Florida Educators Insurance has its own bus dedicated to delivering bikes, school supplies and whatever else is needed to every school in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. ally do that, and that’s the fun stuff. But, vices for all of their clients, even those who saving money on your home and auto in- might only have auto insurance through surance isn’t going to change your life. We the company. “We’re here for all phases of also change lives with what we do. When your life,” Gary says. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News we help someone properly plan for their future — their retirement needs — that readers who call for a free quote on home or auto insurance, or who meet with a Florcan be life-changing.” There’s no one-size-fits-all approach ida Educators Insurance advisor to discuss to insurance and investment planning, planning for retirement or insurance, and so Gary asks each client to be willing to mention this story (or the ad on page 22 of discuss his or her unique situation with a this issue) will receive a $25 Restaurant. com gift certificate, and, Gary says, there’s Florida Educators Insurance advisor. “Most people spend more time planning absolutely no obligation to purchase anyfor their summer vacations every year than thing to receive it. Florida Educators Insurance is they do for their own futures,” says Gary. “We ask you to give us one hour each year to go located at 26809 Tanic Dr., Suite 101, over your budget and goals so that you can be in Wesley Chapel. For more info, call (813) 600-3268, see the ad on pg. 18 better prepared for the future.” He explains that budgeting and goal- of this issue or visit FloridaEducasetting are part of the agency’s full-service torsInsurance.com. The office is open retirement planning, but adds that Florida Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5:30 p.m., and Educators Insurance provides these ser- on Saturdays by appointment.

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Promise Pointe At Tampa Oaks — Close-To-Home Assisted Living & Memory Care By BRAD STAGER

New Tampa- and Wesley Chapel-area residents searching for convenient assisted living and memory care options for their aging family members will soon have a new choice with the opening later this month of Promise Pointe at Tampa Oaks. The new facility is located seven minutes away from the heart of New Tampa via I-75, one mile west of Exit 266 on E. Fletcher Ave., next to the Woodspring Suites Tampa Northeast hotel and the Hong Kong Willie art gallery and red worm farm (that is not a typo). The 108-unit Promise Pointe joins recently-opened Discovery Village at Tampa Palms, the Legacy at Highwoods Preserve and the Memory Lane Cottages in Tampa Palms as assisted living and/or memory care residences those living in our area can consider to meet the changing lifestyle needs of their elderly family members. Promise Pointe is managed by Life Care Services (LCS), the country’s third-largest manager of rental senior living and continuing care communities, serving more than 33,000 residents nationwide. LCS also manages the Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel, which celebrated its Grand Opening in February. Overseeing day-to-day operations at Promise Pointe is the job of executive director Delane Ward, NHA (Nursing Home Administrator) who brings more than 25 years of elder-care experience working in

Promise Pointe at Tampa Oaks is a great option for local families looking for an assisted living/memory care residence for their aging family members. assisted living facilities, nursing homes and Florida in Tampa to considerable use in nav- where chores like housekeeping and laundry memory care facilities. Whatever the setting, igating the regulatory environment of elder can be taken care of and all utilities, includWard abides by a simple rule of “making care and working with the state’s Agency ing Wi-Fi are included in a month-to-month sure the basics are done” and says, “the for Health Care Administration (AHCA) to rental package. safety of residents is number one,” on her open Promise Pointe, which has a March According to the Promise Pointe weblist of priorities. 20 Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce site (PromisePointeSeniorLiving.com), “I treat every ribbon cutting scheduled. assisted living involves helping residents with resident as if they’re The location of Promise Pointe can daily activities such as dressing, bathing, my own family memhelp keep local residents close to their family dining and managing medications without members residing there and it also provides impinging upon their independence. For ber,” Ward says. “On easy access to numerous nearby medical residents, that means living in their own my business card, I providers, including Florida Hospital Tampa private unit (or companion suite) with whatprovide my personal and the James A. Haley Veterans’ Hospital, cell phone number ever level of help and care they may require as well as attractions like Busch Gardens and and if there’s an issue being readily available once those needs have Wesley Chapel’s nearby shopping centers or concern, they can been assessed. and restaurants. call me anytime.” Onsite services and activities offer Ward says she So Many Options chances to work out in Promise Pointe’s fitput her B.A. in PolitAssisted living residences range from ical Science from the 355-sq.-ft. studios for a monthly rate of ness center, spend time on hobbies, develop Delane Ward University of South artistic talents or socialize in an environment $3,395 to 730-sq.-ft., two-bedroom units

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for $4,495. Additional personal services are available in Level of Care (LOC) packages ranging from $350 to $1,500 a month. Promise Pointe also addresses the needs of memory care residents who have dementia-related disorders such as Alzheimer’s disease, which is characterized by a general decline in mental ability and inability to retrieve information, through the use of Heartfelt Connections – A Memory Care Program®. Heartfelt Connections derives detailed biographical information by using tools such as LifeBio’s Reminiscence Therapy, which according to its website (LifeBio.blogspot. com), “is a powerful tool which promotes engagement, ignites feelings of purpose, reduces loneliness, and increases emotional wellbeing.” Daily routines emphasize accomplishment of basic tasks and participating in activities to promote self-esteem and reduce anxiety. Home for memory care residents is a dedicated area of the Promise Pointe facility, staffed continuously by Registered Nurses (RNs) and/or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs). Accommodations include private 318-sq.-ft. studios for a monthly rate of $4,495 and a 442-sq.-ft. shared suite for $3,495 per month. Memory care monthly costs include medication management and attending to personal care needs. To keep an eye on the health of residents, Promise Pointe staffing includes the 24-hour presence of Registered Nurses and/or Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) and residents also will have access to services provided by visiting physicians. For families more involved in the daily care of aging loved ones, Promise Pointe offers respite care at a daily rate that can give home caregivers a break while their loved ones enjoy a short stay in a safe and supportive environment. Families also can connect with what’s going on in their loved ones’ lives through social media such as the “Promise Pointe at Tampa Oaks” Facebook page, which also provides information families may find useful in planning for the attrition of life, so their loved ones may age in place as gracefully as possible. There are links to articles about topics such as communicating effectively with someone who has dementia and performing legal document “check ups.”

Delicious Food, Too!

Enjoying food is a big part of enjoying life and an essential part of health in the elderly and Promise Pointe’s Executive Chef

Jorge Perez blends taste and nutrition in a modern kitchen. Chef Jorge earned his Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in Culinary Arts from Universidad Interamericana de Puerto Rico in Ponce, and has worked in assisted living and hospital Chef Jorge Perez kitchens for seven years. He also has had commercial experience in opening two Tampa Bay-area Cheesecake Factory locations. Chef Jorge says that a basic principle of cooking — “flavor, not salt” is applied to the menu, and recipes for Promise Pointe meals use other ingredients, such as cilantro, to spice up a dish. He adds that residents will always have two choices for each meal, and that customer service is an essential ingredient to the dining experience he wants to provide. “If today we have fried eggs and tomorrow you want boiled, I’ll make it happen,” she says. Residents have access to food throughout the day and facilities for private family events also are available. Residing in an assisted living or memory care facility can provide a good value for the cost of living there, but paying for it requires knowledge and planning. Longterm care insurance is accepted by Promise Pointe, as are Veterans Administration benefits that can help veterans and their spouses, as well as surviving spouses, pay for assisted living services. Help in determining insurance coverage and benefit eligibility, as well as identifying financial resources to finance senior living expenses is part of discovering if Promise Pointe is a viable senior-living solution for your family. Membership in the Founders Club awaits the first 35 families who become part of the Promise Pointe at Tampa Oaks community. Benefits offered in promotional materials include free rent for the first and 20th months of residency, guaranteed lifetime rent pricing, recognition with personalized plaques, and more. To learn more about assisted living and memory care options, or schedule an on-site tour at Promise Pointe at Tampa Oaks (12110 Morris Bridge Rd.), see the ad on pg. 17 of this issue, call (813) 694-2153, or visit PromisePointeSeniorLiving.com.

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North Tampa Christian Academy To Open With Grades K-12 On County Line Rd. By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

While the backbone of any good school has always been its curriculum, today’s modern students and parents also desire innovation outside of the classroom. With that in mind, Sandra Doran, Ed.D., has been overseeing the construction of North Tampa Christian Academy (NTCA), located just west of the Grand Hampton community on County Line Rd., just south of Wesley Chapel. Doran, the founding headmaster of the area’s first Christian K-12 school, promises a top-notch curriculum, to be taught on a state-of-the-art campus. “Innovative buildings, innovative furniture, innovative teaching practices,” Doran told an audience of local business leaders gathered Feb. 22 for a North Tampa Chamber of Commerce Economic Development briefing at Hunter’s Green Country Club. The new school is set to open on Aug. 20, with a full complement of grades, including an early childhood center that will take students as young as 2 years old. It is such a lofty goal that even Doran had to take a deep breath and smile when revealing the plans. “Everything opens,” she said. “Early childhood, lower school, middle school. We’re not doing it gradually. Everything opens.” The NTCA, with annual tuition prices ranging from $12,000-$16,000, is the culmination of plans that were hatched in 2012, when the Florida Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists (in concert with Adventist Health System and Florida Hospital West Florida Region) began to work with Tampa Bay-area churches and schools to establish a new campus in our area. On August 17, 2015, the Florida Conference purchased the 43-acre parcel in New Tampa, right on the Hillsborough/ Pasco County line, just south and west of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC). While school officials felt confident the emphasis on project-based learning, academic excellence via innovative teaching and Christian ideals offered by the school would prove attractive for prospective families, they also wanted to be sure it was offered in an attractive, forwardthinking package. The question was, according to Doran, “What kind of school architecture would

promote good learning practices?” The answer was Prakash Nair, of Fielding Nair International, whose company has designed innovative schools all over the world, including Academy of Holy Names in Tampa and Shorecrest Prep in St. Petersburg. Project manager Michael Gilkey reached out to Nair via email, assuming he was in India and getting a timely reply would Sandra Doran (left) is the founding headmaster of the New Tampa Christian Academy, which is set to open on be difficult. County Line Rd. in New Tampa on Aug. 20. Above right is a rendering of the private K-12 Christian-based school. “Lo and behold, Prakash Nair had not you creating beauty or solving a problem? If athletic program like the ones that define only moved to the United States, and had it’s none of the above, its pointless. Think so many private and religion-based schools not only moved to Florida, but moved to about the science fair, when those are over, throughout Florida. Tampa and was at Michael Gilkey’s door what do you do? You throw them (the proWith 43 acres, NTCA will have plenty the next day,” Doran says. Then, with a jects) away, right? And yet, we wonder why of room left over for students and staff chuckle, added, “As people of faith, we our children don’t like doing them.” to explore the woods and trails behind found that very interesting.” There will be a focus on reading skills the classrooms. Doran says the school has Nair discarded the original plans, (her area of expertise, and a personal conavailable capacity for 750 students, and is which he dubbed the “Walmart Model” – a nection as well, as her son has struggled projecting 240 enrollees for the 2018-19 big building with a parking lot in front. with dyslexia), Bible study, challenging school year, plus another 100 children in Instead, Nair devised a collection of math courses and Next Generation Science the early childhood programs. four smaller buildings, each one housing Standards (NGSS), designed to improve “It’s a scary and exhilarating advenabout 150 students, or “separate learning ture,” she says. “Am I a risk taker? Yes.” science education. The NGSS have been communities,” as Doran referred to them. The North Tampa Christian adopted by 19 states, although Florida is The separated structures will house an early not one of them. Academy is now accepting applications childhood center, plus buildings for grades for the 2018-19 school year. For more The school also will have a gymnasium K-2, 3-6 and 7-12. information, visit ThisSchool.com or and a soccer field, and has already hired A hoped-for second phase will include a volleyball coach, although Doran says NorthTampaChristian.org, or call (813) an additional building to break up the older NTCA isn’t looking to develop a high-level 591-0309. grades into 6-8 and 9-12. The design places less emphasis on walls, doors and standard classrooms, and instead focuses on open spaces that free flow from room to room, with buildings connected by a sun-shielding shade. Doran, who was associate superMARCH , intendent at the Florida Conference of Seventh-Day Adventists (the second-largest parochial school system in the world, she says), agreed to take on the task of leading the NTCA. At that time, however, she had no idea, before visiting for the first time last July, that she was inheriting a dusty field with a discarded mattress laying on it. As for the curriculum, Doran said that she is excited about what she describes as a project-based learning environment. “The bottom line is this: we want our students, when doing their projects, to have AT WIREGRASS MALL an outcome that matters,” she says. “Are

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per hour. A “preferred customer rate” is available for anyone who pre-pays $100 or more, and a “day rate” is offered for kids who stay more than seven hours. Amanda also offers discounts to TODAY hospitalENROLL employees and to anyone in the military. KidsPark offers both Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for four year olds and preschool for ages two and three. Birthday and other private parties are available on Sundays, before and after KidsPark is open to the public. KidsPark Tampa is located at 26240 Golden Maple Loop, just south of S.R. 56 (and just east of I-75). The center is open Monday–Thursday, 7 a.m.–10 p.m., 7 a.m.–midnight on Friday, 10 a.m.–midnight on Saturday, and 1 p.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 803-4972, visit KidsPark.com, or see the ad on page 36. Mention this story for half off of the one-time registration fee, which usually costs $25.

RA YO N

The Goddard School's Summer Camp offers a broad range of programs and mini camps crafted to pique the interest and curiosity of every child; there is something for everybody!

Do you need childcare for spring break or summer? KidsPark Tampa (located just off of S.R. 56, east of I-75, in Wesley Chapel) offers camps with a variety of fun activities. What makes KidsPark different from other childcare options is that it offers no-reservation, drop-in care for kids ages 2 through 12. You pay only for the hours and days you need. Spring Break camp will be held March 19-23, with a different theme every day, including a Disney day with a visit from Mickey and Minnie, a science day, art day, carnival and field day. Summer camps are held every week throughout the two-month break, with crafts, games, outdoor water activities, bounce houses and more. There’s no need to register in advance or commit to an entire day or week — just drop in whenever you need care or your kids want to play! KidsPark is a national franchise, with just three locations in Florida (two are in Jacksonville). There will soon be four, however, as KidsPark Tampa owner Amanda Justus says she will open a new KidsPark center near Westfield Brandon Mall in July. Families who register at any KidsPark location can use all KidsPark facilities, so kids can use the new center (or any Kids Park across the country when they travel) by just paying a low hourly rate, with no additional registration fee. “We try to make it so everyone can afford child care,” Amanda says. The hourly rate is just $8 for one child, or $12.25 for two siblings. Additional siblings are $3.25

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Presenting Our Exclusive 2018 Taste Of New Tampa Preview! Without the amazing, community-oriented sponsors on this page, there would be no 2018 Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel at Florida Hospital Center Ice on Sunday, March 25, noon-4 p.m.. So, we felt it was really important to thank every sponsor who gave at least $500 to have a business booth at this year’s Taste. Take a look at the logos on this page. The next time you need a product or service, I hope you’ll remember how these folks are helping the Rotary Club of New Tampa raise money through the Taste for the outstanding, deserving group of nonprofit organizations the club supports, in association with the North Tampa Bay (formerly Greater Wesley Chapel) Chamber of Commerce, and will again put on a uniquely outstanding tasting event for our local communities. See you at the Taste! — GN

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The Taste Of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Returns To Florida Hospital Center Ice

Ok, so here’s the roster of restaurants and beverage providers committed to participate in the 2018 Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel — as of the day we went to press with this issue — Friday, March 2. There are at least 30-40 other restaurants, including at least a third of last year’s participants, that hadn’t committed, with paperwork for this issue, but we’re still a full three weeks before the event and I’m certain we’ll surpass last year’s total of 46.

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On Sunday, March 25, Noon - 4pm. Here’s This Year’s List Of Restaurants & Beverage Providers (As of Mar. 2)!

Look for updates with additional eateries & beverage providers every day at TasteofNewTampa.org (where you can still get discounted tickets through Sunday, March 11) and on our “Neighborhood News” page on Facebook. In the meantime, check out all of the new participants for this year, including Acai Brazil, Capital Tacos, Cappy’s Pizza, Cinebistro, Fat Rabbit, O’Brien’s Irish Pub (see ad on pg. 45), Pinchers Crab Shack, Snowrolls, the Top Shelf Sports Lounge & Vesh Catering.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

My 2017 Dining Favorites — More Than Just The Year Of The Chain! So, because I gave assistant editor John Cotey an opportunity to shake up our annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest that had so many new categories, it took a little longer for us to tabulate those results, the release of my 2017 Dining Favorites in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel was delayed by an issue. The only thing that hasn’t changed is just how much I disagree with our readers when it comes to dining in our two distribution areas. Yours truly agrees that many of the new restaurants (yes, gulp...including some of the new chains) that joined our dining scene in 2017 deserve to be at or near the top of my list, but that’s where the similarities end. I will say that I did change my own format for this year — on these pages are my top-50 favorites in our distribution areas, regardless of whether they’re located in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. After the top 30, however, the final 20 include some favorite dessert places and even individual items I found myself addicted to at some of the places that couldn’t crack my top 30 (of more than 100 eateries I considered)!. One thing I can tell you is that I love the feedback — even some of the negative comments we’ve gotten from readers who didn’t participate in this year’s Dining Survey & Contest, but have still taken the time to post some unflattering comments about the choices of the readers who did vote on our Facebook page. But, while I agree with some of those reader rants, the fact is that while we still don’t have enough top-level mom-&-pop places in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, we do have a lot more variety from which to choose today than we have in years past. — GN

Presenting: Gary’s Top-30 Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

Dempsey’s Steak House at Saddlebrook

I also decided that this year, I would rank my favorite restaurants in order, regardless of price, which meant that only the place with both the best Cowboy ribeye steak (above) and best fresh fish in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel could be voted #1— and that place is Dempsey’s. No, I don’t often feel a compulsive need to plunk down more than $50+ for an outstanding steak (and there are plenty of overpriced steak houses in Tampa for that), but whenever I do, Dempsey’s never disappoints me.

Noble Crust

I should really call Noble Crust “1B,” because if you have to take price into account, there’s no better value for the money than this two-location chain — especially considering it’s in an upscale mall. Noble Crust’s constantly changing fish and steak specials (and ambiance) keep me coming back, despite the fact the menu isn’t extensive, but from the fried chicken parm (photo) to the meatballs to the kale Caesar salad to the unique pizzas, this was my favorite newcomer for 2017.

Café Olé

Little Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering

Although Café Olé was sold towards the end of the year, the two times I’ve been there since the sale, the menu was still pretty much the same and the quality of the fresh fish, special entrées like the beautiful veal chop (right) shown here and unique tapas dishes were still outstanding. I also have to say that I like the way the new owners from Venezuela have transformed one small section of the restaurant into a Venezuelan coffee and dessert place. Muy bueno!

My friends Jessica and Carl Meyers continue to add new items based on customer requests and their addition of the best veal parmigiana in our area (and beer and wine; try Grandma’s sangria) in 2017 was enough to keep them in my top-five in our distribution areas, even though the restaurant is technically in Lutz.

Stonewood Grill & Tavern (Tampa Palms)

Ciccio Cali

Ford’s Garage

Another restaurant that benefited from me picking favorites when price is no issue, Stonewood’s addition of a great lunch menu in 2016, including excellent bowls like bruschetta chicken and tuna poke, moved it up for me last year. Steaks, pastas and fresh fish are a little more pricy for dinner, but Stonewood’s bar service is always top-notch.

Get a taste of the California lifestyle at Ciccio Cali, where rice and lettuce bowl cuisine has been elevated to an art form. I love all three of the tuna bowls on the menu, as well as the chicken and baby broccoli str-fry and the thin-crust pizzas. I also enjoy the homemade cookies and desserts (some gluten-free) and nice wine selection.

I wasn’t overly excited that we were getting a Ford’s Garage in Wesley Chapel, because I can only eat burgers so often, and the rest of the menu is a little limited. Even so, Jannah and I do crave the ahi tuna appetizer, chop-chop salad, chicken Henry and petite filet.

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Bonefish Grill

Bonefish used to rank higher on my list, but it still has my favorite seared ahi tuna appetizer in our area and is usually reliable for its fresh fish (although I don’t love most of the sauces on the menu) and bar service.

Although owner Steve Falabella’s NY-style pizza is only third on my list (behind La Prima and NY NY), his lasagne, his delicious salads and the best pesto Genovese sauce for his create-you-own pastas helped rank him higher as a restaurant.

Acropolis

Acropolis on BBD south of Tampa Palms continues to expand its menu with more and more authentic Greek and Middle Eastern dishes, but my favorites are still the lamb chops (photo), the Athenian fish and the Greek salad with a uniquely creamy Greek dressing.

Sukhothai

Although we have added some new (and also delicious) Thai options in our area, Sukhothai’s fresh sushi and combination fried rice are my favorites and I also love the crispy duck with ginger sauce and the shoes-off, below-floor seating.

Longhorn Steak House

Another new chain that opened in our area for the first time in 2017, Longhorn’s outlaw ribeye isn’t in Dempsey’s category, but it’s also half the price and delish. We love the bar, the bread, the salad, the sides and the Flo’s filets at Longhorn, too.

Thai Ruby

Grillsmith

Capital Tacos

Fushia Asian Bistro

900 Woodfired Pizza (Shops at Wiregrass)

The Hungry Greek

Oakley’s Grille

Kobe Japanese Steakhouse

Still among the most crowded restaurants in our area, especially for lunch, The Hungry Greek has our area’s best gyro and chicken gyro platters, delicious Greek salads and recently added unique bowls to its popularly priced menu.

Featuring our area’s best open char-grilled black Angus burgers and perfect French fries, plus an outstanding Philly ribeye cheesesteak and pastrami sandwiches, Oakley’s would finish even higher on this list if it added some dinner entrées.

Not far behind Yamato among our Japanese steakhouses, Kobe also scores points for its great $5 happy hour food specials at the bar and for adding a pepper-crusted, seared rare tuna tataki teppanyaki dish.

The list of Gary’s 2017 Dining Favorites continues on page 44!

The ambiance is second to none and the food doesn’t disappoint. I love Thai Ruby’s fresh fish specials and the crispy duck with ginger sauce is still the best in our area. This is a great place to start an intimate date night.

Some recent menu additions, including reasonable lunch entrées, have helped keep me coming back to Grillsmith, which now offers a larger variety of tender steaks, a daily fresh catch (we were stunned at how good the wahoo was) and a zesty margherita pasta.

IRISH PUB

It’s a fast-casual restaurant with a limited menu, but Jannah and I can’t get enough of the chicken and steak fajita salads at Capital Tacos (which is now opening more locations), and the quality of the food seems to exceed what you pay for it.

It still makes me crazy when people tell me they’ve never tried or even heard of Fushia, which is located in the same Shoppes at Amberly plaza as Peabody’s and Thai Ruby. But, for authentic dishes like Yan Jian pork, beef with Chinese broccoli and the best combination fried rice in town, you have to try Fushia!

Yamato Japanese Restaurant

Although it’s not may favorite sushi place, I do enjoy the fair pricing on quality Japanese teppanyaki (hibachi) fare at Yamato, where the NY strip and filet and even the veggies are my favorites among our local Japanese steak houses.

Liang’s China Bistro

Although my favorite Chinese entrées in our area might be at Fushia, Liang’s has my favorite egg rolls, true New York-style BBQ spare ribs and sautéed string beans in our area and has a great variety of fresh seafood and sizzling steak dishes. Neighborhood News

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Gary’s Favorites (cont. from pg. 43) 22

Outback Steakhouse

Ginza Endless Hibachi

Fat Rabbit (Tampa Palms)

Wok Chi

Although it’s never been my favorite steak place in our area, Outback continues to keep itself in the mix by reducing the price points on its quality steaks and recently added a bone-in, natural-cut ribeye.

Although the quality of the sushi and not-tableside hibachi fare isn’t on a par with Yamato or Kobe, the endless appetizers, Mongolian beef and other entrées for just $12.95 per person for lunch, $21.95 per person for dinner, make it a great value.

Amazing wings (try ‘em blackened), delicious appetizers and even an excellent mahimahi sandwich, plus a fun atmosphere, make Fat Rabbit the best new restaurant in New Tampa for 2017. Check them out on St. Patty’s Day!

A great newcomer to the dining scene in Wiregrass, try the BBQ Chi-licious ribs, pot stickers and chicken spring rolls. I also really enjoy the create-you-own entrées with chicken, pork or beef and the freshest snow peas and other veggies in a spicy Sichuan sauce.

Las Palmas Spanish Café

For outstanding merluza topped with Russian-style tartar sauce, palomilla steak, pork chops and roasted pork (lechon asado), plus other authentic Cuban favorites, tell my friends Ramses and Ana that Gary sent you.

Another tasty newcomer in New Tampa, El Pescador has really good fajitas, but the fresh seafood is the main attraction, including the whole fileted snapper and the fresh ceviche, to go with the usual enchiladas and other Mexican staples.

La Prima Pizza

Sushi Café

Texas Roadhouse

In one man’s opinion, the crust and sauce are still the closest thing to true NY-style ‘za in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, and it’s all for sale! Owner Willie Lopez has a turnkey pizza operation and a great location (right next to Target), so please call him at (813) 907-2878 if you want to find out more...and please tell him that Gary sent you!

Quite a few sushi places have come and gone from our area over the past several years, but Sushi Café’s quality and presentation make it the best in our area for my money and it is located in the heart of New Tampa (next to Panera on BBD).

Obviously, I love a great steak and although Texas Roadhouse loses points with me for its line-dancing wait staff, it does offer great values on tasty NY strips, filets and yes, its hefty, 20+-oz. bone-in ribeyes.

The Rest of My Top 50 (in alphabetical order) Bonsai Sushi-Popular for sushi & Japanese fare Bosco’s-Try the unbreaded chicken parm! Bruster’s Ice Cream-My favorite (peanut butter!) Cake Shop-Amazing cakes, cookies & cupcakes Cantina Laredo-Pricy, satisfying Mexican fare Culver’s-Good burgers, amazing frozen custard Fong’s Sushi-Creative, top-level sushi Hibachi Express-Best prices for tasty hibachi! Irish 31-Great salads & upscale pub grub Jersey Mike’s Subs-Best roast beef & tuna subs Koizi Endless Hibachi-Just below Ginza

Kwan Ming Bistro-Tasty, upscale Chinese Lanna Thai-Really good food, great atmosphere Mr. Dunderbak’s-Good schnitzel, great beer! NY NY Pizza-Try the Grandma’s Pizza! O’Brien’s Irish Pub-Burgers, tater tots & karaoke OTB Café - Seared tuna, sliced steak & burgers Petra Mediterranean Express - Beef shawarma! Snowrolls-Best rolled ice cream anywhere! Vallarta’s-Good Mexican, great prices Wolf’s Den-Inexpensive, good breakfast choice Woodfired Pizza-Great pizza & salads (Bearss)

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 26, Issue 6 • March 9, 2018 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Nibbles & Business Bytes The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel! Chuy’s & Bahama Breeze Getting Closer To Opening

There’s no doubt that many of us who have visited either Chuy’s Tex-Mex or Bahama Breeze Island Grille in other areas are excited that both are getting closer to opening north of S.R. 56. The new eateries are located due east of the new plaza across from the Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO) that is anchored by the new Mellow Mushroom. The construction of Chuy’s appears to be wrapping up and the restaurant’s website says a “late Spring 2018” opening is expected. Bahama Breeze will likely not open until the summer, but the building has made considerable progress since first going vertical just a few short weeks ago. We’ll keep you posted on both of them.

Starbucks Opens On S.R. 54

Congratulations to the management and staff of the new Starbucks, located on S.R. 54, directly across from Parks Fiat & Alfa Romeo, just east of Walmart. The spacious new Starbucks, of course, has a drive-through lane, plus some new food items, especially for breakfast — at least, they’re new to me — and even though I have a Keurig at the office, there is something to be said for the occasional Caffe Verona and maybe a cake pop. Even the croissants look different (better?) than at other Starbucks locations.

Congrats, Beach House!

What a great Grand Opening and North Tampa Bay (formerly Greater Wesley Chapel) Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting event (photo above left, courtesy of OurTownFla. com) at the new Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch Assisted Living & Memory Care (see ad on pg. 20) facility on Feb. 21. The Porter family was on hand as Beach House executive director Linda Mena and Prevarian Senior Living’s Allan R. Brown and Dodd Crutcher cut the ribbon. The Grand Opening event was a tasty tour of Europe, with food and beverages from France, Italy and Spain. So, if you’ve never toured the Beach House, you owe it

Congratulations to our friend and Neighborhood News contributto yourself and perhaps your aging ing photographer Steve Miller (with scissors) on the opening (and loved ones to check Feb. 16 North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting) at his new it out — and please Stephen John Photography Studio in Hunter’s Green! tell them the Wesley O’Brien’s Irish Pub in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you! Chapel Village Market (see ad on pg. 45) Three Great Places To Celebrate and Mulligan’s Irish Pub at the Pebble Creek Golf Club (pg. 43) both have St. Patrick’s Day! great food and drink specials, live music So, do you have plans for Saturday, and lots of fun, while smokers will want March 17, aka St. Patrick’s Day? to visit Joe Whiskey’s in the Pinebrook Even if you do, you should consider at The Grove plaza on S.R. 54 (see below checking out one of the local watering left), which also will have live music and holes that advertises with us, all of which all-day fun. Whatever you do, please drink will bew having great events for the “Wearesponsibly! — GN rin’ o’ the Green.”

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