New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 29, Issue 7, March 30, 2021

Volume 29 Issue 7 March 30, 2021

Raj Finds A

Kidney Donor!

By John C. Cotey • John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

After six months on a strict diet, Raj Guntuku enjoys a potato chip after receiving a new kidney from Joel Morales.

It was an ordinary December day and Joel Morales was getting ready to put the latest issue of the Neighborhood News into the recycling bin.

But first, he wanted to see what was going on in New Tampa, and maybe pick up a suggestion for a place to grab some dinner. Since moving to K-Bar Ranch from Ohio in late 2019, Joel and wife Shelby had practically been quarantined the whole time due to Covid. Maybe this night would be the one they would finally venture out.

So, he started thumbing through the pages.

Then, he stopped. A picture of a 13-year-old boy named Raj Guntuku, and his 70-pound Golden Doodle Benji, caught his attention. “I’ll probably never forget it,” Joel says. “It was such a cute picture.”

Joel read the story. Raj needed a kidney. His parents were desperate.

Then, the strangest darned thing happened. Almost immediately, Joel decided he was going to give Raj his kidney.

See “Raj” on pg. 4

Garden Mediterranean Grill — So Close & So Authentic!

For the story & more pics, see pages 32-33!

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The Neighborhood News & A Year Of Covid-19 — PPP, Vaccines & Raj

An editorial by Gary Nager The photo of Jannah and me on this page was taken on March 7, 2020, at a friend’s wedding, literally a week or so before the U.S. began to shut down because of the early days of the Covid-19 pandemic.

I also remember going to O’Brien’s Irish Pub in Wesley Chapel to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day 2020, and I was already uncomfortable talking too closely to the people we met and especially, with hugging anyone. No one was yet wearing masks — as there was some debate as to whether or not they were effective in preventing the spread of this then-new, still-largely-unknown illness — and I just felt like no one knew how close was too close to be talking to someone during those earliest days.

Well, St. Patrick’s Day 2021 was about two weeks ago as you’re receiving this issue in your mailbox, which means that the pandemic has been raging in this country for one full year.

Thankfully, despite nearly 30 million confirmed U.S. cases and more than a 541,000 deaths, the number of new cases, hospitalizations and deaths seem to finally be subsiding a bit, thanks to ongoing mask-wearing and social distancing rules, as well as the introduction of millions of doses of three rushed-to-market vaccines.

The good news — at least so far — is that those who have been able to receive the Moderna, Pfizer-BioNTech or Johnson & Johnson/ Janssen vaccines to date have been avoiding serious illness, hospitalizations and deaths, with minimal side effects for most.

I feel fortunate that neither I nor any members of my immediate family have been touched personally by Covid, although at least one Neighborhood News employee did suffer for a few weeks with a relatively mild case. But thankfully, our employees have mostly been working from home and we wear masks whenever more than one of us are in the office together.

I do know people who have survived more serious cases of the virus, and have heard stories from friends and family members about people who have died from it, so it’s been hard to think of anything that’s happened over the past year as anything other than horrifying.

Even so, after 27 years of being the primary source of news and information about New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, I have found some light — and hope — in the darkness of Covid-19.

For one thing, most first responders and adults in my age group (and younger, as the age limit to receive vaccines in Florida was lowered by Gov. Ron DeSantis to age 50 as we went to press with this issue) who have wanted to be vaccinated have been able to have access to any of the three vaccines for use in the U.S. In addition, I have now been able to secure not just one, but two rounds of Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) funds, so that yours truly, our four in-house employees and several freelance subcontractors have been able to continue to be paid throughout the pandemic.

That second ray of light for us became much brighter in the grand scheme of things after I received a call in late November from Radha Guntuku, the mother of 13-year-old Raj (see story on pg. 1) that her son was in desperate need of Neighborhood News

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a new kidney. We weren’t the only news outlet Radha contacted, but, as it turns out, we were the one who was able to find a donor for Raj. I thought managing editor John Cotey’s story about Raj in our Dec. 8 issue was outstanding, but for us to end up being the link between Raj and donor Joel Morales gave that story a new, much more important meaning — and gave all of us here at the Neighborhood News a new perspective on why we’re still here.

Had we not received that first round of PPP funds and had to close our doors, who knows where or even if Raj would have found his donor? So, thank you again to Radha, Joel, every advertiser who supports and everyone who reads this publication for allowing us to still be here.

INSIDE:

What’s up with the green bike lanes now showing up in New Tampa?

Page 6

Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa can make your kids smile, too!

Pages 20-21

Fresh Kitchen opens & First Watch is next in The Village at Hunter’s Lake!

Page 30

New Tampa Neighborhood News

OUR NEW ADDRESS: 28949 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Rodney Page • Mike Camunas Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager Office Assistant Benjamin Hobe Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisement reservations for Volume 29, Issue 9, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, April 12, 2021.

New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

New Tampa Neighborhood News also reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

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Raj: K-Bar Ranch resident steps forward; donates kidney to Tampa Palms boy Continued from page 1.

On March 4, just a few weeks after meeting for the first time and passing all of the required tests, Joel was wheeled into an operating room, and four hours later, his kidney had been transplanted into Raj. “A miracle,” says Raj’s mother Radha.

Just a few days later, both Raj, who friends and family call “Bunny,” and Joel returned home from the hospital, and they were online playing Fortnite together on the Xbox.

“Joel is so happy to see him happy,” Radha says.

“I don’t know if we will ever meet anyone like that in this world again, but we are so fortunate to have him.”

Raj has a new lease on life, and Joel is glad he could help.

So, the question remains, why did he?

“It seems strange to say, but when I read the article, it just seemed like the obvious thing to do,” says Joel.

“I had done a tiny bit of research after I read the article, just to see the long-term impacts of donating a kidney, and it was surprising to me. It seems like there’s really nothing I have to watch out for or need to be careful of. I can’t take any more ibuprofen, and I have to eat enough protein, but to me it’s just life as normal. It just seemed obvious that there’s this poor 13-yr-old kid with his life ahead of him, and I should do what I can to help.

Thank God I ended up being a match.”

A wholesaler for Nationwide Insurance, Joel says he doesn’t regret his decision, even if some of his friends and co-workers questioned his sanity.

“My boss said, ‘Hold on, let me see if I understand this — you have never met this boy, you never met this family, you have no relationship with them whatsoever, and you just decided to give your kidney to him?,’” Joel says. “That was the moment I probably understood it was a little bit crazy.”

But, the only person he really had to convince was Shelby, and her primary concern was what if their 2-year-old son Leo, or another family member, needed a kidney one day?

“My thought process was, if you look at the stats, the chances of one of our children or someone in our family needing a kidney are extremely low,” Joel says.

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Raj and Joel meet for the first time.

(Photo courtesy of the Guntuku family)

“But, the chances of Raj needing a kidney is 100 percent. He needs one. He might not get one.”

It was only a 10-minute conversation. Joel said he probably had that look in his eyes, where Shelby knew he wasn’t going to be talked out of it. Besides, he reasoned, “Hopefully now, we’ve got some good karma coming our way.”

Radha says Joel certainly deserves it. Before he read the article about Raj in the Neighborhood News, she had been relying on a growing list of 15 or so potential donors who had stepped forward after a television report on Thanksgiving Day. More names were added as time went on. The

Neighborhood News article about Raj’s plight hit mailboxes on December 8.

“You put in a great article which was super detailed,” Radha says. “When I read it, I even started to get emotional, even though it is our own story. So many people told us they read it.”

However, day by day, many potential donors had dropped out. Some were talked out of it, others were worried about being able to afford missing work, and some just changed their minds.

Soon, a carefully curated spread sheet which, Radha says, had as many as 30 names on it at one point, had red lines through most of those potential donors, and only four remained.

Then, Joel called. He asked Nehru, Raj’s dad, to explain the process. Joel says he told Nehru it sounded as if he had explained all this before, and Nehru said he had. But, few had followed through, and it was becoming frustrating.

Joel, however, was in it to the finish. He filled out the paperwork, got tested and, on Feb. 24, was approved to be Raj’s donor. The surgery was scheduled.

The families finally met at Raj’s Tampa Palms home a few days later.

Everyone was too nervous to eat, and they just ended up nibbling at the Olive Garden and Liang’s Bistro takeout Radha had picked up. Raj, however, was bursting with joy.

It was a great night, both families say. Raj and his sister Bhavika, a senior at King High, thought Joel was “cool,” Shelby spent the night cracking jokes and Joel left knowing that he had a made a great decision.

On the way home, he turned to Shelby and said he hoped the Guntuku family liked him.

“You’re giving Raj a kidney,” Shelby said. “I think they like you fine.”

And they both laughed.

On March 4, Raj and Joel went in for the surgery.

Joel was home after two days, while Raj came home on March 9. The families have spoken via FaceTime every day since.

Raj had been sick for much of 2020. In early September, he vomited after waking up one morning, and it happened again a few weeks later. He went and

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Thanks to Joel, Raj has a functioning kidney and was able to enjoy a happy homecoming after the successful kidney transplant surgery earlier this month.

had bloodwork done, and the results concerned his doctor. In October, Raj was diagnosed with chronic kidney disease (CKD), which is characterized by the gradual loss of kidney function. He was Stage 5 at the time, and his kidneys were operating at less than 10 percent of their normal function.

Raj has been on a strict diet ever since, and will need to watch what he eats now that he has a new kidney. He told Joel the first thing he was going to do after receiving his kidney was eat a slice of cheese pizza.

However, his diet will have to be limited. He will need to eat healthier, but Radha says Raj is ready for that challenge. At a Super Bowl party a month before his surgery, everyone was celebrating the Tampa Bay Bucs’ victory with cupcakes.

“I would like to eat,” Raj said, “but sadly, I cannot. No thank you.”

Raj’s immunity will be lower than it used to be, and special care will need to be taken for the next 90 days. He is on seven medications, gets his blood tested twice a week, and has to stay out of the sun.

He is eager to shoot some hoops, but contact sports like soccer and football are off limits. His dream to be

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a grand master at karate, which he has been taking since he was 4, may be in peril, but Radha says they will have to decide on that later.

It is likely that Raj will have to go through this process again, in 20 or 30 years, so he needs to maximize the health of this kidney. “He knows he needs to be careful,” Radha says.

As for Joel, he was off the pain medication in a week and doctors say he’ll be fully recovered in 4-6 weeks.

“They really just said stay away from contact sports, so my future NFL career is no longer an option at the ripe age of 28,” Joel says.

He’s back at work, and every once in a while he thinks about the selfless decision he made. He doesn’t regret it for a second.

“I don’t think I knew, even today, just how big a deal this was, which probably helped with the nerves,” Joel says. “I genuinely just felt like this was the obvious thing to do. I may not have thought about it as much as I probably should have, but even if I had, I still think the outcome would have been the same. It was definitely well worth it.

“I’d say I’d do it again, but I can’t.

You can only do this once.”

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5

Eye-Catching Green Lanes Providing Bike Safety On BBD

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

New Tampa’s busiest road, whose most identifiable traits are usually cars and congestion, is catching some eyeballs with a new look at some of its busier intersections: Some sections of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. bike lanes have been painted bright green.

The green bike lanes are noticeable at busy intersections with right turns on BBD. The bike lanes, usually marked with just a single white line, are bright green (with thermoplastic, as opposed to actual paint) as the intersections draw near, to indicate they are for bicycle use only.

Then, the solid green transitions into dashes, indicating that vehicles can cautiously move over to make a right turn, but cyclists should still have priority. The lanes then become solid green again.

The green bike lanes are tough to miss.

And, that’s the whole idea.

“It sounds like it’s doing its job getting people’s attention,” says Josh Bellotti, Hillsborough County’s director of engineering and operations. “That’s what it is supposed to be doing, alerting drivers that there is a bike lane.”

BBD is among the first county roads to get the colorful lanes, although some similar bike lanes have been in existence in downtown Tampa for a while.

Bellotti says that when all of the painting is done, 94 intersections across the county will have the green bike boxes.

There will be 19 total in New Tampa, and will also include some at busy intersections on Cross Creek Blvd., where bike lanes cross right turn lanes.

“We are trying to put them in areas where, when you’re approaching an intersection, there might be some potential conflict,” Bellotti says.

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Some bicycle lanes at and near intersections on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. have been painted green to help make cycling on New Tampa’s busiest major roadway safer.

But, do they work?

Well, Teagan Myhre would tell you yes.

The Chiles Elementary fifth-grader did a science project last year on the effectiveness of painted bike lanes, called “Ride in Green to be Seen,” and discovered that, indeed, the green lanes do make an impact on drivers’ habits.

Teagan’s project earned the only Superior rating in the Behavioral Science category for fourth graders at the Hillsborough County STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Fair, and was named Best of Fair for the 4th grade. The project also won a Creative Problem Solving Award, and a Science Award from the College of Behavioral & Community Sciences at USF. Teagan, whose father Randy owns Oliver’s Cycle Sports in The Walk at Highwoods Preserve plaza and is an avid cyclist and bike safety activist, started with the hypothesis that motorists would be more likely

to see the painted bike lane and give cyclists more room as a result.

So for one week, Teagan sat at the corner of Cypress Preserve Dr. and Tampa Palms Blvd. and watched cars drive by an

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unpainted bike lane. After 50 tests, she got permission from the City of Tampa and painted the same bike lane green (with old fashioned spray paint) and re-ran her tests.

When the lane wasn’t painted, Teagan found that 4.5 out of every 10 cars had a tire completely inside the bike line or on the white painted line.

With the green lane, that number was reduced to just 1 in 10.

Teagan’s project gained some momentum after the annual STEM Fair, and she was even asked to come present her project to the Metropolitan Planning Organization Hillsborough County Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee — which was once chaired by Tampa Mayor Jane Castor — before Covid hit and it had to be canceled.

Teagan’s project wasn’t the reason behind the new green lanes in New Tampa, but the two ideas did seem to cross paths at the same time. Randy is happy to see the portions of painted bike lanes, and says Teagan gets a kick out of seeing them on drives along BBD. “She thinks it’s great,” Randy says, adding that all the feedback they have gotten has been positive.

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Teagan Myhre won “Best of Fair” and other awards at the 2020 Hillsborough County STEM Fair for her “Ride in Green to be Seen” science project. Even though her project may not be the reason it was done, Teagan is happy that Hillsborough County has painted intersections on BBD green.

And, some parents at Chiles admitted that they didn’t even realize there was a bike line in front of the school until it was painted green.

“That really validated Teagan’s thesis,” Randy says.

Bike safety continues to be an important issue in Tampa, and New Tampa, which has some bike-friendly areas like Flatwoods Park but isn’t generally considered to be very bike friendly overall. In recent years, Tampa-St. Petersburg has been named one of the most dangerous areas for bicyclists in the U.S. by a number of studies, including one by The Wall Street Journal.

Colored treatments on bicycle lanes have been growing in popularity the past decade all across the United States. According to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), a number of studies have been conducted to determine the effectiveness of color-treated bicycle lanes in intersections and intersection-related areas,

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where 50%-70% of reported motor vehicle crashes with bicycles occur.

A study of the effectiveness of green lanes used in St. Petersburg, with the area observed and videotaped over multiple days, concluded that an increased percentage of motorists yielded to bicycles, and likewise, a higher percentage of bicyclists looked for vehicles and signaled their intention to turn right after the green-colored pavement had been installed.

According to most of the studies, the changes in both motorist and cyclist behavior and increased awareness have been the primary benefits of the green lanes.

While having a protected bike lane with some kind of physical barrier is widely considered the safest, the cost makes that solution a harder sell.

But, this is a start.

“While we look for long-term safety measures, this is something we can do quicker with what we have,” Bellotti says.

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7

Court Ruling Puts Kink In New Tampa Plans

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com A gathering of roughly 30 mostly Tampa Palms residents showed up at Compton Park on Feb. 24 for an outdoor meeting with City of Tampa officials to discuss speeding along Tampa Palms Blvd., but the conversation turned to plans to repave the road and add some traffic-calming measures — perhaps two roundabouts or some traffic lights — with money collected from a 1-cent tax amendment passed in 2018.

Most of those in attendance seemed pleased with the plans for safety improvements for Tampa Palms Blvd.

But, before their coffee even had time to cool off the following morning, those plans had come to a screeching halt because the money to pay for them is now in limbo.

On Feb. 25, the Florida Supreme Court voted 4-1 that the 1-cent transportation tax amendment, which passed with 57% of voter support, was unconstitutional because it restricted where and how the money could be spent. District 4 Hillsborough County Commissioner Stacy White, who filed the lawsuit, argued that All For Transportation (AFT), the group that led the fight to pass the amendment, dictated how local governments could spend the money, usurping the authority of the county commission.

The transportation tax already has raised $500 million intended to fix many of Hillsborough’s transportation woes, as well as improve the City of Tampa’s bus service.

More than $50 million of that amount was earmarked for City of Tampa projects, including the Tampa Palms

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Tampa Palms residents met with City of Tampa transportation officials and City Councilman Luis Viera (standing, left) hoping for answers about ways to deter speeding on Tampa Palms Blvd. However, the solutions may be moot now, since the Supreme Court struck down a 1-cent transportation tax amendment that would help pay for the solutions. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

Blvd. improvements, as well as enhancements like the much-needed repaving of New Tampa Blvd. in West Meadows.

“The ruling is a big hit to our community,” said District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera. “When it comes to the most pressing issue of traffic and congestion, we are running so far behind. This is just devastating.”

Viera says he will support putting a replacement tax on the ballot in 2022.

Cal Hardie, a transportation engineer for the City of Tampa, told the Compton Park gathering that the design of the changes for Tampa Palms Blvd., which cost $600,000, was already paid for and under way. But, the actual construction, which would cost $3-$4 million and include restoration of the road’s surface from the Wellington subdivision to Bruce B. Downs Blvd., bike lanes, safer cross-

walks and traffic-calming mechanisms, was reliant on the transportation tax monies.

Similar work would be completed on New Tampa Blvd. as well, perhaps at the same time, Hardie added.

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Without that money, Hardie said the City of Tampa would have to look into finding federal funds, which can take longer, or multi-modal transportation impact fees, but suggested “the coffers are pretty dry.”

Hardie said the traffic calming on Tampa Palms Blvd. could come in the form of two roundabouts at the north intersection of Tampa Palms Blvd. and Compton Dr., with another roundabout another closer to Tampa Palms Elementary.

The cost of a roundabout is roughly $450,000-$500,000, Hardie said, which is not that much more than the price tag for a traffic signal, which is around $350,000.

“A roundabout reduces accidents 60 percent more than a traffic light,” Hardie said. “It also reduced accidents 80 percent more than a stop sign.”

But, that is up to the designers and the public, who will get their say in public meetings once the plans are completed.

And by then, maybe the money to complete the construction will materialize.

Viera assured everyone at the meeting that if the Supreme Court knocked down the tax, he would pursue other funding.

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Meadow Pointe residents say the gap in the photo above is being exploited by motor vehicles traveling between Kinnan St. and Mansfield Blvd. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

Drivers Skirting Gate At Kinnan-Mansfield?

“While there are supposedly things

By JOHN C. COTEY in place to prevent traffic from entering john@ntneighborhoodnews.com the road...especially on the Mansfield

The intersection of Kinnan St. in K-Bar Ranch and Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe continues to be a problem, according to some area residents.

A number of emails sent to Pasco County District 2 Commissioner Mike Moore suggest that far too many cars have been making their way around the barrier, which is a mechanical arm designed to only let first responders and emergency vehicles through.

“It’s a concern and something we need to look into,” says Moore After years of debate over connecting the roads, it was finally decided last year to make a connection that would only be accessible by law enforcement, fire and other emergency vehicles, and to police it with a barrier gate arm.

New, wider bike paths and sidewalks also were added to the connection for cyclists and pedestrians.

However, those generous paths are being used by cars, according to critics.

The Neighborhood News has received some emails making the same charge. As a result, we visited the connection, and witnessed a small black car slipping through the bike path on the east side of the gate, where a generous gap exists, and crossing from New Tampa into Wesley Chapel.

You can see by looking at the picture above that there is still room for smaller cars to get through, although it is a fairly tight fit.

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side, it is not effective,” one emailer who did not want to be identified told us. “Those of us who use it for walking, running and cycling were so excited that we would not have to be exposed to a lot of fumes from vehicles. But, no matter what time I walk in that area, there are always vehicles that enter from Kinnan AND Mansfield. There are vehicles that, from the Mansfield side, can successfully drive slowly and carefully through there...and there are enough violators for me to be concerned. This road is not closed to traffic; it’s being used more frequently than you know.”

Moore has contacted both Ken Hagan, the Hillsborough County Commissioner for District 2 which includes Kinnan St., and District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, who represents the New Tampa area that includes K-Bar Ranch.

Viera says if New Tampa drivers are circumventing the gate, then something needs to be done. Whether that means decreasing the width of the bike paths, fortifying the connection in other ways or even adding a camera remains to be seen.

He has forwarded Moore’s concerns to the Tampa Police Department, as well as the city’s mobility department.

“The gate is a good idea,” Viera says. “It helps emergency vehicles and first responders get through and it will save lives. Let’s hope we don’t let a few people ruin that.”

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9

K-Bar Couple Takes A Chance On Career Change

By JOHN C. COTEY by the end of most

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Brian and Amy Makarski had the safe life, with secure, well-paying jobs in Baltimore working in the copier industry, in the middle of a pandemic when many people were losing jobs and too many of those who weren’t were living in fear.

However, while everyone else may have been hanging onto their jobs for dear life, Brian and Amy decided to do the opposite.

They let go.

They took their hobby of cooking and catering, married it to an investment in a food truck and moved full-time to New Tampa to start Charm City Eats, a mobile eatery specializing in authentic Maryland crab cakes — broiled, not fried, and don’t forget the Old Bay seasoning — and other tasty regional dishes.

“We were incorporated in June, left our jobs to concentrate full-time on it and started distributing food to focus groups in Maryland to get the recipes just right,” said Brian. “Then, we sold our house in October.”

Neither of them have any regrets.

Amy says they have never worked harder in their lives, and are physically exhausted

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days. Some days, she says it feels like they have worked all 24 hours.

“I wore heels and a suit and ran a sales team, sold high-ticket items, but this, this is physically taxing,” says Amy, who was born in Baltimore.

“The amount of dishes, the amount of prep sauces, it’s physically demanding. But, it’s more Brian Makarski serves up some authentic Maryland fare to a customer at a recent stop for his Charm City Eats food truck in Epperson Ranch in fulfilling working Wesley Chapel. (Photos: Charmaine George) for yourself.”

— they have four kids ages 7, 9, 13 and Brian, a New Jersey native who attended the University of 14 between them — was in Baltimore and Central Florida in Orlando, had been com- quarantined, not leaving the house for months. When they finally did leave, it was muting back and forth from K-Bar Ranch to Baltimore, where Amy lived, for the past for a new life.

“Everyone seems to be shocked that decade or so. In fact, he says he was one of we would do that,” Brian says. “Giving the first K-Bar residents in 2012 when he up (nearly mid-six figures) to run a food built the home that is now the Makarskis’ truck? But, we felt we were stable enough full-time residence. financially to do this. We planned it out. We When Covid hit, however, the family

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had all the angles covered. A lot of people thought we were a bit nuts. But if we don’t do it now, we’re never gonna do it” Even before moving to Florida, Amy had arranged bookings for their first two months in Tampa Bay. She and Brian took advantage of a Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC) food business incubator in Dade City to help launch, and business has been even better than they expected. After meticulously laying out a business plan with reasonable projections, Brian says that, after four months, Charm City Eats was way ahead of our forecast.

Our success, we feel, has been spectacular.”

Brian says they are filling a void. On his many trips to the Tampa area, he couldn’t help but notice the lack of true Maryland fare in the area. He and Amy even did a tour of Tampa Bay and Orlando, trying every crab cake they could find and found them all lacking.

Brian says the food sold at Charm City Eats is as authentic as it comes. Nothing is frozen, and they prepare everything fresh daily in a commercial kitchen they rent space from in Lutz. Everything is made from scratch — and even the actual food truck was built from scratch.

In addition to focus groups in Mary-

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land, the Makarskis say their own creativity helped forge their menu.

The crab cakes are the food truck’s specialty. Two of their most popular menu items are The Double Down Sandwich, a crab cake topped with hot blue crab dip, and the Crabby Patty is a quarter-pound grass-fed Angus beef burger topped with the blue crab dip. The dip is Amy’s grandmother’s secret recipe, and Amy says she makes up to 16 quarts of it a day.

While the name of their food truck is a nod to one of Baltimore’s nicknames — “Charm City” — so are some of the menu

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Though you’ll have to ask for it because it’s not on the menu, Brian and Amy (left) say The Gronk sandwich has been a top seller since the Tampa Bay Bucs started their Super Bowl run. items. The Wire is a nod to the legendary HBO crime drama series, which is based in Baltimore. The pickle-brined, doubledredged Sweet Heat chicken sandwich, with tangy cole slaw, is a best seller. Brian said he spent six months perfecting the sweet heat chicken.

And, The Gronk has become a best seller as well, but it’s not on the menu. You just need to be in the know to order it.

Named for Tampa Bay Bucs’ tight end Rob Gronkowski, The Gronk is truffle crab Mac

and Cheese stuffed inside a Crabby Melt.

“It’s probably been our best seller since football season,” Brian says.

While Amy and Brian spend a lot of time in the truck, they have two cooks who work full-time as well.

“Amy and I have certain expectations,” he says. “(The food) needs to look the way I want it to look.”

Amy and Brian don’t intend to spend the rest of their lives in front of a fryer. This is not their end game, they say. They are already close to opening a second Charm City Eats truck in Las Vegas, where they finalized expansion plans and got married this past New Year’s Eve. They see a lot more major expansion in their future. And no, they have no interest in opening a brick-and-mortar restaurant.

“We nixed that idea before we were even incorporated,” Brian says.

Instead, the Makarskis take great pride in finding unique, popular spots to set up their truck. Trying to zig while everyone else is zagging, Brian says. They have been to various breweries (including Florida Ave. Brewing Co. on S.R. 56), dozens of local neighborhoods (such as Epperson Ranch, Arbor Greene and Cory Lake Isles), festivals like the Great American Redneck Biker Bash in New Port Richey and private catering events.

As small business owners, Brian says it’s hard work and there are certainly end-

less obstacles to overcome. But, they have never been happier. He says a good night in the truck is more satisfying than his last $10,000 commission check with the copier company. And sure, he misses his ties and suits, but when someone stops by to pick up dinner for the family because the food is so good, he bursts with satisfaction.

“When someone tells us our food takes them back home and should be illegal it’s so good, that gives us more joy than selling a copier ever did,” Brian says.

If you want to check out where Charm City Eats will be next, or see what else is on the menu, visit CharmCityEats.com.

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Moffitt At Wesley Chapel Cancer Center Now Open On BBD

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

The long-awaited Moffitt Cancer Center satellite campus in a new building on the site of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (AHWC) has opened, with a quiet virtual ribbon cutting three days before services started officially being offered on Feb. 15.

Called Moffitt at Wesley Chapel, the new facility fills a major hole in the area when it comes to receiving cancer treatment. As one of only 50 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, the Moffitt Cancer Center has gained national acclaim over the years for its research and patient care.

“I am excited that Moffitt is getting closer to our patients,” said Dr. Tim Kubal, medical director at Moffitt at Wesley Chapel. “This is also a great opportunity to innovate the way clinical care is provided at Moffitt.”

Moffitt’s cancer care will occupy nearly 28,000 square feet of the new, three-story, 100,000-sq.-ft. building, which is located in the Healing Plaza on the south side of the campus of AHWC, near the Shops at Wiregrass.

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The new Moffitt at Wesley Chapel Cancer Center adjacent to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel provides the same great care provided by Moffitt’s main campus in Tampa.

The facility, which broke ground in May 2019, features 20 exam rooms, 22 infusion chairs, three blood draw stations, two linear accelerators and a CT Simulator.

Patients will be able to access blood draws, infusions, medical oncology, radiation and surgical oncology consultations at

the new location, whereas they previously had to drive to Moffitt’s North Tampa campus on Magnolia Ave. for such services.

Diagnostic imaging services also will be available at the new building, with the imaging services provided by AdventHealth, and Moffitt’s team of expert radiologists

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reviewing the images for interpretation.

Patients can expect to receive the same outstanding cancer care for which Moffitt is highly regarded.

“There are going to be some things that we only do at the main campus, (such as) super complex surgeries and things like that, which are typically going to be done at the Magnolia campus (at USF),” Dr. Kubal says. “But, the bulk of cancer care is diagnosis and treatment. It’s figuring out what’s going on with you, giving you chemotherapy and radiation therapy, and all that can be done here in Wesley Chapel.”

By partnering with AdventHealth in Wesley Chapel, Moffitt has created what is sure to continue being a popular model for health care in the future.

“One of the most exciting new things about this hybrid model of care in partnership with AdventHealth is that with this multi-specialty model, we are able to bring our experience of research closer to the community,” says Dr. Vania Phuoc, one of the center’s lead hematology/oncololgy physicians. “We’re hoping to bring clinical trials out here to Moffitt at Wesley Chapel by the end of the first year after we open.”

The new building’s services include ma-

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The TrueBeam linear accelerator above provides image-guided stereotactic radiosurgery and radiotherapy with high precision to treat tumors and lesions in various parts of the body, including lungs, breasts, head and neck. It is a part of the new technology available at the new Moffitt at Wesley Chapel Cancer Center facility (front right in the photo below).

lignant and benign hematology, the full breadth of solid tumor oncology, gynecologic oncology, endocrinology and more. More services will be added in the future, based upon the needs of the community.

The convenience for those fighting cancer, as well as for those who have family members fighting it, is huge, Dr. Kubal says.

“There are a lot of people up here (in Wesley Chapel), and this is an area that is growing very rapidly,” he says. “A lot of younger families and people are moving from up north. They want to transfer their care but don’t necessarily want to live on the USF campus (where the main Moffitt Cancer Center is located). They want to live in the Villages, they want to live up in Wesley Chapel off of Curley Road. So, we’re up here because we want to get closer to the patients without them having to come all the way to us.”

Moffitt Cancer Center also is expand-

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ing into central Pasco, recently receiving approval to build an extension on 775 acres at the intersection of the Suncoast Parkway and the Ridge Rd. Extension, which is currently under construction.

Phase 1 of the project will include a $60-million, 125,000-sq.-ft. business park, which will be completed in five years and create nearly 450 jobs.

And, Moffitt also is building a $400 million, 128-bed hospital on 20 acres across McKinley Dr. from Moffitt’s Richard M. Schulze Family Foundation Outpatient Center, a short drive from the original Moffitt campus at USF. For more info, visit Moffitt.org.

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15

Noire Nail Bar Offers Peaceful Luxury & Safe Services

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN

Walking into Noire Nail Bar, located just across S.R. 56 from Tampa Premium Outlets (near Mellow Mushroom), you immediately notice the quiet and relaxing ambiance and the lack of bustle. The serene, upscale décor (photo) is impressive.

John Nguyen, who owns Noire Nail Bar with his wife Vanessa, says the salon’s look and feel are intentional to cultivate a calm atmosphere.

“People come here to relax, because it’s very quiet,” John says. “Most salons are noisy and crowded, but Noire is peaceful and still.”

John and Vanessa opened Noire in 2018 and will celebrate three years in business later this year.

He says while Noire had to close temporarily during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic (as did every salon), when it re-opened in May, clients eagerly returned.

“They feel safe here,” he says. “We wear masks, wash our hands and keep our salon nice and clean.”

While cleanliness has always been a priority at Noire Nail Bar, John says the staff is now even more detailed and spends even more time on cleaning and making sure everything is completely sanitized for each client.

To serve clients safely, Noire asks that the following requirements are met: First, always wear a face cover, wash your hands when you arrive, and try to limit touching surfaces or objects as much as possible. They ask that all guests try to schedule their services during low-volume times, such as weekdays, whenever possible, and that you don’t bring any guests with you who are not receiving services. Finally,John says,

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please do not come in to Noire Nail Bar if you’re not feeling well.

“Especially with Covid, people want to avoid crowds,” John says. “If we get too busy, we ask people to come back at another time.”

Noire encourages appointments to be sure you’re not turned away.

Once you arrive, John says you will always be thrilled with the services you receive, which may include manicures, pedicures, massages, full sets, dipping powder, nail enhancements, eyelash extensions and waxing services for your face and body.

“We have a good team,” says John.

“Our technicians make sure the customers are happy when they leave and they spend time taking care of them.

We never rush.”

Lorraine Wiggins lives in Tampa Palms, where she says, “there’s a nail salon on every corner.”

But, she drives past all of them to get to Noire Nail Bar, often bringing

her mom and/or her daughters along with her. “Noire has more space, and if we come in together, we can be in a little pod together,” Lorraine explains.

She’s referring to Noire Nail Bar’s separate area for pedicures, where chairs are grouped together. So, if you come in with friends or family, you can enjoy conversations with each other and

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you’re not spread out in a long line of salon chairs facing manicure stations.

This setup allows small groups privacy and intimacy in their time together.

“I loved finding this place,” Lorraine says. “It’s always so clean. I always get good service, and I love it aesthetically. It’s nice that there are separations between the pedicure chairs and the manicure stations.”

Lorraine owns a travel agency and says she has visited many spas all around the world.

“I recognize the level of luxury that’s offered here,” she says. “You can go to any strip mall and find a nail salon, but I come here because of the sense of calm and relaxation.”

She says that Noire’s prices also are comparable,especiallybecausethereare different levels of service to fit virtually every budget.

John explains that the range of different services includes everything from basic manicures and pedicures to Noire Nail Bar’s Signature Spa Pedicure and its unique Special Care Spa. John says that the Signature Spa

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Pedicure is the “ultimate treat for your feet,” with a therapeutic lavender rub that exfoliates dry skin while citrus sugar relieves and moisturizes your tired feet. That is followed by an extensive moisturizing lotion massage and a hot towel wrap.

Meeting Your Special Needs

Noire’s Special Care Spa is designed to cater to clients with special needs, such as the elderly and those with diabetes who may have cracked heels, thick

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calluses, extra thick or ingrown toenails — anything that requires extra time, attention or precautions.

There also are additional services offered, such as hot stone and hot candle wax massages and special prices on manicure and pedicure combos. Prince and Princess manicures and pedicures are available for kids ages 12 and under.

And, Noire Nail Bar always offers its clients a glass of wine, soft drink or water with all services.

“We have a great selection of colors, and top gel and dipping powder brands like OPI, SNS, DND and Chisel,” John says.

Noire Nail Bar also offers all of its services for birthday parties, bridal showers and other events. Be sure to call ahead to reserve your time and services in a space just for you and your guests.

Noire Nail Bar offers 10% off all services every Monday through Wednesday, if you use the coupon from

the ad on pg. 26 of this issue. A 10% discount also is offered on your birthday, with proper identification proving that it’s your birthday.

Noire Nail Bar is located at 25682 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz, and is open Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.7:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sun. For appointments or for more information, call (813) 536-0161.

The ad, with coupon for 10% off every Mon.-Wed., is on page 26.

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17

Murtha & Murtha Handling Covid Fallout This Tax Season

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Every tax season is different.

Some are busier than others, some are upended by new tax laws or bills, while still others are a mad scramble.

This tax season, however, is almost indescribable, says Patrick Murtha, who along with his father Tom and new partner (but longtime senior accountant) Kyle Flischel run Murtha & Murtha, LLC, in the Seven Oaks Professional Park off S.R. 56 (across from Sam’s Club).

Due to Covid-19, nothing about this tax season seems normal, Patrick says. Everyone was impacted, with some people losing their jobs and collecting unemployment, others receiving PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loans and many people having to borrow money from their retirement plans in order to survive.

Some people moved away from Florida, but many others moved in. And, not everyone struggled, Patrick says, noting that some clients had their most lucrative years ever in 2020.

Either way, Patrick says 2020 was the year of “major life changes,” and clients

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Kyle Flischel (left) and Tom (not pictured) and Patrick Murtha take on every tax problem, big or small, at Murtha & Murtha, LLC. (Photo: Charmaine George) need more help now than they ever have as they navigate through tax season waters that are now murkier than before.

“This has been amazingly busy,” says Patrick. “The average return is a lit-

tle more complicated, and we have a lot more clients coming in. It’s crazy.”

That means thousands of tax returns between Murtha & Murtha’s two offices (the Murthas recently merged with an-

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other office in Zephyrhills, which is now called Henson & Murtha, CPAs.) Luckily for clients new and old, Tom, Patrick and Kyle have more than 60 years of combined experience in handling taxes on behalf of their accounting clients.

Because of Covid-19, the Murthas have adapted to the new reality. They started last year, when Covid hit right at the annual March peak of tax season, and now have a well-oiled virtual online machine to help them assist clients.

“We pivoted pretty quickly,” Patrick says. “Right when Covid hit last year we made that move, making virtual appointments, video calls, phone appointments. We bolstered that a lot more in the offseason.

Now, we’re a full, web-based client center.”

Clients can sign in, upload their tax documents and any other paperwork the Murthas may need to complete their taxes.

“We created a really convenient way for us to work, and for our clients, too,” Patrick says.

He adds that about half of Murtha & Murtha’s clients are handling this tax season online. The other half still prefers to come in to the office, where CDC guidelines are strictly followed. As the pandemic passes, there may be less of a

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need for an online exchange of tax forms and paperwork, but the firm plans to keep the online option in their arsenal.

That arsenal is quite full as it is. Murtha & Murtha consults, advises and deals in complicated and intricate tax laws, providing business valuations and due diligence while also running the successful Murtha & Murtha Mergers and Acquisitions, LLC. Tom is fond of saying “we do it all,” which isn’t too far off. And, while taxes are a huge part of what Murtha & Murtha does, Tom says consulting with clients throughout the year is often just as valuable.

A Little Background

Tom Murtha, CPA, earned his B.S. degree in Management from Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY, in 1976, and his M.B.A. (Master of Business Administration) degree in Accounting from St. John’s University in Queens, NY, in 1981. He has been doing mergers, acquisitions and business valuations since the 1990s.

Patrick, who grew up around tax codes at his father’s business, graduated from the University of South Florida in 2009 with Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degrees in both Finance and Accounting. He joined his father in opening a firm in Tampa in 2010, focusing on mergers and acquisitions.

Meanwhile, Kyle Flischel, CPA, is practically family, having gone to school with Patrick at USF. Murtha & Murtha offers a popular “CFO Retainer Package,” which helps businesses (and those who are self-employed) who might need a Chief Financial Officer (CFO) but who don’t have the budget to hire a full-time manager or accountant for that job.

For a fraction of the cost of a fulltime CFO, the Murthas operate in an advisory position and can handle everything from accounting and bookkeeping to setting up payroll and ensuring that all of a client’s income and expenses are classified correctly.

They also will put together a budget,

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which Patrick says hardly any other companies do. The Murthas are big on budgeting, which helps their clients make decisions in real time, instead of waiting until the end of the year.

And of course, they will take care of all of your tax preparation and planning.

“The CFO program is growing just as quickly as our tax business is,” Patrick says.

Since starting the CFO program, Patrick says they’ve only lost two clients, but both were due to capital acquisitions.

“In both cases, the companies were successful,” he says.

If using Murtha & Murtha sounds daunting and exorbitantly-priced, the Murthas promise that it’s not. The firm handles just about every kind of client, from rich businessmen to small business owners to regular W-2 workers, and the prices are comparable to other tax firms like H&R Block. And, every client gets the same personal treatment. It is that personal touch that differentiates Murtha & Murtha from others, Patrick says.

While they handle the taxes of some large companies, Patrick says that individual returns account for about two-thirds of Murtha & Murtha’s billings — and that number may be growing this year with the influx of new clients.

During Covid-crazy 2020, Patrick says the firm still grew but not at the rate they originally anticipated. However, he says this year could be record-breaking.

“Whatever we should’ve gotten last year we are getting this year,” Patrick says, “(in addition to) what we would have normally gotten this year. It’s going to be the busiest season we’ve had by an order of magnitude.”

Murtha & Murtha, LLC, is located at 2236 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite 101. For more info, visit TampaTaxFirm.com or see the ad on page 25 of this issue. To schedule a free consultation, call (813) 991-1120.

Henson & Murtha, CPAs, is located at 5315 8th Ave. in Zephyrhills.

For more info, call (813) 782-0580.

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Covid Changes Plans For the Better at Pediatric Dentistry

By RODNEY PAGE

Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa has been in its Tampa Palms Professional Center location since 2008. Over the years, pediatric dentist Marta Rivera, D.M.D., has seen thousands of patients.

But, like all of us, she says she has never seen a time like the one we are currently experiencing.

When the world went into quarantine due to Covid-19 last March, Dr. Marta (as her young patients call her) and her staff needed to adjust. Because they weredeemedanessentialbusiness, the practice could stay open but only for emergency and urgent services. They were only open a few hours per day to service the patients most in need.

That’s how it was from March until May, when restrictions on medical offices in Florida were lifted. Prior to May, Dr. Marta says the pandemic allowed the staff to prepare the office for a postCovid world. The whole place was

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sanitized. Fans and ionizers were installed to purify the air.

The layout also was changed, so that there was only one entrance door and one exit door.

Arrows on the floor made sure patients weren’t running into each other. Exam rooms are cleaned thoroughly after each procedure.

And, of course, all of the staff members and patients have been required to wear masks.

“People feel safer,’’ Dr. Marta says. “There were a lot of changes but we got through it. Everybody has been safe, thank goodness.

Now we are waiting for everyone (staff and some patients and their parents) to get the (Covid) vaccines. We are going to continue to wear masks and probably will for a couple of years. We deal with children and children can’t get vaccinated. We have to continue with the mask mandate. We are a medical facility.’’

Dr. Marta has been practicing dentistry since 1988. She is a native of Brooklyn, NY, but

moved to Puerto Rico with her family when she was 10 years old.

She graduated from the University of Puerto Rico in San Juan with a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology and then earned her D.M.D. degree from the university’s School of Dental Medicine.

Dr. Marta had her own dentistry practice for seven years in Puerto Rico. She moved to Florida in 1997 and, after passing the Florida Dental Board, worked in dental offices in Lakeland and Plant City before opening her own practice in Hunter’s Green in 2003. Five years later, she moved to her current location.

“It’s a developing area, it’s the suburbs, lots of families and their children are here and I love the area,’’ she says.

While Dr. Marta almost exclusively works on children ages 1-18, she says that she does have a few patients in their early 20s. However, the practice is very much catered Dr. Marta Rivera continues to put happy smiles on the faces of her patients at her Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa to children. Dr. Marta calls them in Tampa Palms. (Photo courtesy of Pediatric Dentistry) the “stars of the show.’’

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Getting Down To Basics

One of the cool amenities at Pediatric Dentistry of New Tampa is that there are televisions in the ceilings of the exam/treatment rooms so kids can watch TV while they are in the dental chairs, which cuts down significantly on their nervous fidgeting.

Dr. Marta recommends a cleaning and first dental exam when children turn age one. She offers digital, low-dose X-rays, offers both sedation dentistry and conscious sedation with nitrous oxide, mercury-free restorations and custom made mouth guards and treats periodontal disease. Her cosmetic services include bleaching of teeth for teenagers.

Dr. Marta says she was the first provider in Florida to offer Myobrace, a type of “myofunctional” (meaning it deals with the muscle function of the mouth) orthodontics. Myobrace is often an ideal treatment to eliminate habits such as thumb sucking or tongue thrust that cause teeth to become misaligned. With Myobrace, a child can correct those habits before beginning traditional orthodontics, or sometimes eliminate the need for traditional orthodontics altogether.

Although Dr. Marta is not an

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orthodontist, because she was trained in her residency to do orthodontics, it is another service available at her office — although she says she only provides it to patients she knows she can help and refers more complicated cases to orthodontic specialists.

Felix Ramirez has four children, ranging in age from four- to 14-yearsold. After dissatisfaction with other dentists, it was suggested that he check out Dr. Marta. That was more than seven years ago.

His oldest child already has gone through a braces program. He expects his next two oldest children to get braces as well. Additionally, Ramirez uses Invisalign on his own teeth, also thanks to Dr. Marta.

“It’s really been a blessing,’’ Ramirez says. “To be able to trust a dentist fully like we trust Dr. Marta really gives you peace of mind. And, she is an amazing professional. Put it this way, my kids aren’t afraid to go to the dentist.

They actually like to go. That’s saying something.’’

As an added bonus, Dr. Marta also is fluent in Spanish.

Adapting To The Pandemic

Due to the changes brought on

mind to the parents,’’ Dr. Marta says.

Once medical facilities were allowed to see more patients, she says she wasn’t sure if they would return, since Covid-19 is still a threat. She said she was surprised when the office was full again by May. Part of the reason may be due to what she calls “Quarantine Cavities.’’

Dr. Marta focuses a lot of her attention on preventive care, especially when it comes to cavities. Many of those problems can come as a result of bad diets or bad habits. In this case, being stuck inside the house for a year now has contributed to both.

“There has been an uptick in cavities,’’ Dr. Marta says. “(People) are quarantined and there is eating and drinking when you are home.

Although she specializes in children ages 1-18, The snacking went up. UnfortunateDr. Marta has been known to help out an ly, part of why we are so busy now is adult patient here and there, too. because of that.”

Pediatric Dentistry of New

by Covid-19, Dr. Marta also has added Tampa is located at 5326 Primrose tele-dentistry to her menu of options.

While she obviously isn’t able to physi- Lake Cir. and is open MondayThursday, 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m. The cally work on a tele-dentistry patient’s teeth, she can answer parents’ questions office accepts many insurance poliand look at abscesses, for example, and cies, primarily PPOs. For additional suggest options if those patients require information, call (813) 374-0388, visit TampaHappySmiles.com or see further treatment. the ad on page 38 of this issue.

“It was helpful in giving peace of

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Corbett Prep-IDS Offers Unique Indoor/Outdoor Learning & Camps morning, excited to go to school, and he wants parents to understand that can be their kids, too, “when your children are with the right teachers in the right curriculum, at a school like ours.” He adds that having multiple teachers in classrooms ensures that students find those “right teachers” for them.

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN On a recent spring day at Corbett Preparatory School of IDS (Independent Day School; also known as Corbett Prep), a team of seventh grade students set out in a canoe with the day’s science lesson — to find the depth and investigate the water quality of the lake on which they were paddling.

Since the campus is on the edge of Lake Lipsey, it affords students unique opportunities for all kinds of outdoor learning, and the school’s teachers and administrators take advantage of them.

In fact, Corbett Prep’s campus became a huge benefit as the school faced numerous challenges because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

As a result, the school’s extensive outdoor space, where children already were regularly learning and playing, became even more popular as a classroom.

“We’re fortunate to be on a stunning campus surrounded by nature,” explains Head of School Nick Rodriguez. “Our classrooms are like separate, beautiful little houses.”

Nick says that this helps keep students separated into their own groups, as well as socially distant.

The campus, located south of W. Fletcher Ave. in Carrollwood, is home to more than 500 students in all grades from 3-year-olds in pre-kindergarten through the eighth grade.

The middle school campus, where each of the three grades has about 60 students, is across Orange Grove Dr. from the younger grades.

“Our middle school students get a sense of their own campus, but also the leadership opportunities of coming over to the elementary school,” Nick says.

Last fall, the year started with more than 100 students choosing remote learning, with teachers providing instruction simultaneously to classes both in person and online.

“As we’ve proved we can keep our campus safe and our protocols are working, we continue to get students back,” Nick explains. “Now about 20 are (still) remote,

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Connected To New Tampa

Doingscienceprojectsoutdoorsisoneoftheunique,andscenic,perksofattendingCorbettPreparatory School Independent Day School (IDS) in Carrollwood – also known as Corbett Prep. but the rest are on campus.”

He says he understands parents’ concerns, because their highest priority is their children, both their education and their safety.

He says Corbett Prep has always maintained a clean, beautiful campus, but steps were taken this year to be even safer during the pandemic. For example, additional sinks and sanitation stations were installed, plexiglass barriers have been added in classrooms, and the administration team focused on scheduling and transition time to minimize interactions between groups.

“At the end of this year we will be stronger than we’ve ever been,” explains Nick. “We’ve added an entirely new skill set to our platform.”

He says this includes online communication, such as software that kids use at home to check homework, and teachers increasing their skills and technology usage.

He also says that this year has given them even more opportunities to think creatively, which is a strong suit at Corbett Prep.

“Learning happens everywhere and it’s all tied together,” he explains. As an example, in order to get kids outside more this year, the eighth graders were given the opportunity to design a mural. “It turned into a full course where they had to plan, measure, design letters and spacing, use geometry, and choose paint colors.”

Nick explains that Corbett Prep is an International Baccalaureate (IB) school with creativity at its heart.

“It really makes you proud to see kids who are creative and engaged,” he says. “We want to create ‘wow’ lessons for our students as often as possible to keep them active in their learning.”

He says he is proud that Corbett Prep students get out of the car smiling in the

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Kids from all over the Tampa Bay area attend Corbett Prep, and bus service is available from New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

Martha and Carlton Fleming live in Grand Hampton. Their daughters, Layla and Naomi, both started at the school as three year olds. Layla is now in high school and Naomi is finishing her eighth grade year.

Back when their girls were little, Martha says they first fell in love with the outdoor environment, then the curriculum and the way Corbett Prep engages the students in handson learning. Even today, she says Layla and Naomi still sometimes talk about their favorite learning experiences, such as “Senses Day,” where students immerse their senses outdoors (by jumping in a tub of oatmeal, for example) or “Living Thanksgiving,” where they engage in activities the Pilgrims would have, such as making their own candles.

“At Corbett, they are building confident students,” explains Martha. “They set up many little successes that build confident kids.”

She says one of the main reasons her family moved to Grand Hampton was the area’s A-rated public schools, but their girls had such a phenomenal preschool experience at Corbett Prep that they didn’t want to move them.

“Corbett has helped our girls become very well rounded, in every sense,” says Carlton. “The girls are doing well academically, but there’s something else that our girls have gotten out of that experience. I think Corbett has this trifecta of very strong education, but they also value athletics and the arts.”

He also praises the compassion his girls developed during their time at the school.

Martha adds, “They build the social emo-

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he’s also a parent. His daughter, Sloane, is an elementary school student at Corbett Prep.

The Independent Day School was started in 1968 by Marilyn Gatlin and Betty Anderson, who wanted to create a school where every child’s gifts and talents could be identified and encouraged. Nearly a decade ago, the school was renamed Corbett Prep at IDS. “The Corbett family is incredibly generous to the entire Tampa Bay area and has supported our initiatives for 40 years,” says Nick.

He adds that he’s very proud of the school’s more than 50 years of history, and excited to continue its legacy in the community.

tional awareness in terms of being connected with their own internal feelings and how that is projecting outward and affecting others.”

She says as she speaks with friends and observes students in other schools, “we realize the uniqueness of what our daughters have had, and we have learned to appreciate that so much more now that they’re teenagers,” explains Martha. “It’s a process you invest in, but I feel like we’ve seen the fruits of it.”

Summer Camps

Learning takes place on the campus year-round, and the summer offers a unique opportunity for students to enjoy all that Corbett Prep has to offer, whether or not they attend school there.

“Most summers we have about 1,000 different students on campus for summer camps,” explains Nick, “but last year, with Covid, we still had about 700.”

He says they offer morning, afternoon and full-day camps, featuring everything from academics, to nature, to the arts.

“It’s a big undertaking for our school,” he explains, saying that all Camp IDS camps are led by highly qualified, trained educators.

More information about summer camps is available on the school’s website at CorbettPrep.com, then click on the “Camp IDS” tab at the top of the page.

History

Nick Rodriguez was named Head of

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Now Is The Time To Enroll

Corbett Prep’s administrative team works together at one of the school’s many beautiful outdoor areas. (L.-r.) Associate Head of School Michael Johnson; Head of School Nicholas B. Rodriguez; President of Initiatives & Training Dr. Joyce Burick Swarzman, and Middle School Division Leader Jennifer Jagdmann.

“It was not in the plan for me to come School in July 2020, taking over from Dr. Joyce Swarzman, who led the school for more back,” he says, “but I couldn’t say ‘yes’ than two decades and has transitioned into a quick enough.” training and initiatives role.

“Dr. Swarzman’s background in eduNick first came to Corbett Prep more cation and where she’s taken our school is than a decade ago for a fellowship program, unmatched,” Nick says, “and I’m so fortunate then went on to lead other Bay-area schools. to be following her and teaming and partnerHe says his immense respect for Dr. Swarzman ing with her through this crazy year.” was among the reasons he joined the school.

Not only is Nick the school’s head, but

While traditional open houses and big campus tours are not currently available, families are still welcome to visit the Corbett Prep campus.

Enrollment for the 2021-22 school year is under way, and Nick says that, within the next few weeks, some grade levels already will have waiting lists.

Nick says he encourages families to take a tour, because parents know a school is right for their child, “when you see their faces light up as they step onto the campus.”

Corbett Preparatory School of IDS is located at 12015 Orange Grove Dr. in Tampa. For more information, visit CorbettPrep.com, call (813) 961-3087, or see the ad on page 26.

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Brooke Reif Laying The Groundwork For More School Records

By RODNEY PAGE Brooke Reif is in her third year as a member of Wharton’s track & field team. During her first two seasons, she established herself as a formidable runner in the 800-meter (metric halfmile) and 1600m (metric mile) races.

Then she decided to step out of her comfort zone.

Reif, who also runs cross country in the fall, added the 3200m (twomile) race in a preseason meet prior to the 2021 season. She ran it in 11 minutes, 19 seconds, which was just tenths of a second better than the school record. It wasn’t official but, just a few weeks later, that changed.

At the Ram Invitational in Sarasota on Feb. 27, Reif ran the 3200m race in 11:09.82. That broke the previous Wharton record, set by Katrina Skinner in 2008, by 10 seconds.

It was Reif’s first official 3200m race at Wharton, and it put her in the school’s record book. Then, on Mar. 19, she lowered that mark to 11:01.

“I thought I could maybe do it Brooke Reif has already set one Wharton High record this track season, but two others are within her reach. next year,’’ Reif said. “I knew I was

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getting closer but I didn’t think I was going to be getting that soon.’’

That’s because Reif doesn’t run the 3200m very often. In fact, she will likely run it only once or twice during the regular season and not at all in the postseason. She will focus on the 800 and 1600m races as well as the school’s 4x800m relay team.

Adding the two-mile race this season has made Reif a better overall runner, according to Wharton track & field coach Kyle LoJacono.

“She’s not just trying to run as fast as she can and outrun people,’’ LoJacono said. “She’s racing people now. She’s following the race plan.

She’s being smart. She’s using her mind as much as she’s using her physical gifts. Take the (3200m) race at the Ram Invitational. She was literally only in first place for about the last 10 meters. She was probably about 50 meters behind. But, she has a kick because she is a middle distance runner.’’

Reif had a sort of epiphany prior to her junior year. She said she found out that running is about 80% men-

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tal. She knows she has the physical talent, but that crossing the finish line ahead of everybody else takes brains as well.

“I mostly liked the 800 when I was a freshman and a sophomore because they were two-lap races,’’ Reif said. “But, we’ve been doing a lot more miles lately and I just figured out that the 3200 is actually an easier race. You can strategize while you’re still running. It’s not something that you have to go all out in. You can plan it out as you are running and fix any mistakes you make.’’

The state record in the 3200m is 10:10.39, set earlier this month by Winter Springs junior Carolina Wells, so Reif will have to improve her personal best by more than 50 seconds to break that mark.

For Reif, running is in the family.

Both of her parents were runners in college. Her mother Dena also was an assistant track coach and cross country head coach at the University of South Florida.

Reif said her parents never forced her into any sport, including running.

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But, by the time she got to middle school and tried out for cross country, she knew that’s where her talent was.

“It wasn’t something I was forced into,’’ Reif said. “By sixth grade, I joined the cross country team and went out on a time trial and finished in second behind an eighth grader. So, I knew it was something I was interested in. The reason I came to Wharton was so that I could join this team.’’

She has certainly made an impact in her time with the ‘Cats. Her sophomore track season was cut short due to Covid-19. However, she continued to train during the quarantine and stayed in shape for the cross country season. She finished 31st in the Class 4A State meet in Tallahassee with a time of 20:04.2 in the 5-kilometer (3.1 mile) race.

With no seniors on the cross country team, it is Reif’s hope that the whole Wharton squad qualifies for the cross country state meet next season.

But, for now, her focus is on qualifying in what will likely be her three events — the 800m, 1600m and 4x800m relay — for the State track & field championship meet, which will be held May 14-15.

She also has her sights set on yet another school record, as she is just three seconds off of Skinner’s

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mile/1600m record of 5:00.63.

“I’m hoping I can get that one pretty soon,’’ Reif said. “If not this year then I’ll definitely try for it next year.’’

The 800m record — which is 2:10.51, set by Bryanna Rivers in 2017 — could also be within Reif’s reach. Her best time is seven seconds off that pace, so she is shooting for it next season.

While Reif will almost certainly qualify for the State track meet as an individual, she said it would be more special if her 4x800 relay team — which also includes sophomores Serenity Brazell and Olivia Hammill and junior Alex Frye — could join her.

While the relay team hasn’t run together this season, based on their individual times, it could be the Wildcats’ best shot at a Class 4A State championship.

That would be especially satisfying for Reif. One of her favorite things about cross country is the team atmosphere. She said that track can be a bit lonely sometimes, focusing mainly on individual races. The relay team allows her to feel like a team player.

“I like it because you get to work with your team, it’s not just you on your own,’’ she said. “You’re able to cheer on everyone else. I like when you’re running for your team.’’

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Fresh Kitchen Is Open; First Watch Is On Deck Story by Gary Nager Photos by Charmaine George

Although New Tampa already is home to several “build-your-own bowl,” fast-casual restaurants, the opening of the new Fresh Kitchen at the north end of the Sprouts Farmers Market-anchored Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza is still well worth celebrating.

Fresh Kitchen, which now has eleven locations in Florida, from Gainesville to Davie, opened as we went to press with this issue, and has one of the best (and tastiest) varieties of bowl bases, veggies and proteins of any bowl restaurant in our area. I already love the “power” and coconut ginger rice, cauliflower potato mash, kale slaw and baby kale caesar as bases, parmesan broccoli and herb roasted cauliflower veggies, fresh-grilled steak and unique almond-baked chicken fingers, the creamy white ginger and herb balsamic vinaigrette sauces and pico de gallo and kale pesto tomatoes “add-ons.”

Fresh Kitchen president Steven Lanza, who attended the “friends & family” event where these pics were taken, says everything at Fresh Kitchen is fresh, homemade and gluten-free.

“We call it healthy food that’s flavorful,” Lanza says. “We believe our quality is as good as you would find in a steakhouse or fine-dining restaurant in a fast-casual environment.”

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For more info about Fresh Kitchen (8648 Hunter’s Village Rd.), call (813) 336-3800 or visit eatfreshkitchen.com.

First Watch To Open Apr. 5

Directly adjacent to Fresh Kitchen, New Tampa is getting its own First Watch restaurant, even though there’s already a location only 3 miles to the north on BBD in Wesley Chapel.

Even so, operations manager (and New Tampa resident) Carrie Hagerman says the Wesley Chapel location isn’t going anywhere.

“That area is growing so fast,” Hagerman says. “There’s plenty of room for both stores.”

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Garden Mediterranean Grill — So Close & So Authentic!

Story by Gary Nager Most photos by Charmaine George

Even though there are quite a few Mediterranean/Middle Eastern restaurants located in New Tampa, based on what I’ve already tasted and heard from customers, it’s still well worth a few-minute drive to the Eagle Plaza on Oak grove Blvd. at S.R. 54 in Lutz to try the new Garden Mediterranean Grill.

Owners Raja Saad and her husband, Chef Hedi Jlassi (top right photo), are both from the Arabic North African nation of Tunisia and they offer a huge variety of delicious Mediterranean-influenced food in a beautiful, but casual setting.

The restaurant now called Garden Mediterranean Grill has had a number of previous tenants, including a Latin restaurant and a number of coffee shops, but Raja and Hedi and their family believe that they have brought the right cuisine and the right price to the location — and yes, the food is delicious!

Whether you dine as a couple of bring a large family or group of friends to the Garden, you’re sure to find plenty of options, as well as huge portions.

To start, try the Foule (pronounced “fool”; center photo, far right), a delicious dish of puréed fava beans, garlic, lemon and topped with virgin olive oil. It’s served with the fluffiest pita bread I’ve had anywhere. To really get into the variety of starters, however, Raja and Hedi recommend the appetizer plat-

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ter (bottom far right), which includes hummus, baba Ghanouj (mashed, cooked eggplant), labneh (strained yogurt), falafel (fried, ground chick peas) and grape leaves. Other starters include fried calamari, Nabulsi fried cheese, tabouli (chopped parsley, diced tomatoes, onions, dry mint, lemon juice and olive oil), shakshouka merguez (sautée of Merguez sausage and eggs cooked with tomatoes, onion, garlic and spices; bottom left photo below) and even shrimp scampi.

So far, the only salad I’ve sampled is the tangy house salad (diced tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, lettuce, parsley, herbs, olive oil and lemon juice), but there also is a great-looking Greek salad, fattoush, tahini and Caesar salads. You also can top your salad with a variety of meats and seafood, including chicken kabobs (so good) or shawarma, beef or lamb shish kabobs, kufta (ground lamb) kabobs, delicious, fresh-cut gyro meat, salmon or shrimp.

I haven’t sampled any of the sandwiches yet, but I have had several of the meats available as sandwiches as entrée platters. The sandwich that looked the most interesting to me was the chicken shawarma quesadilla below right, which is a nice Middle Eastern take on the popular Mexican dish which combines sliced chicken

shawarma meat and a delicious garlic sauce with cheese, onions and tomatoes stuffed inside a soft tortilla.

There’s also fish, shrimp and falafel wraps on the menu.

The perfectly-season meat entrée platters all include long-grain yellow rice and amazing grilled veggies (onions and red and green peppers; Jannah and I order them well-cooked). Among my favorite entrées so far are the gyro, beef shawarma and chicken kabob platters, but my can’t-miss option so far is the lamb chop platter above. You get four tender, delicious rib chops that are grilled to perfection.

Other entrée options include Turkish kabobs (ground lamb and beef, but Raja says they are different from kufta kabobs), Merguez sausage, lamb shanks and chicken tekka (top left photo on next page), which is a marinated halfchicken char-grilled in what appears to be an Indian-influenced blend of spices. I didn’t taste it but photographer Charmaine George said it was outstanding.

Although I can’t eat shrimp

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and personally don’t love salmon or tilapia, the seafood entrées include shrimp kabobs, salmon, fish and mixed seafood platters, as well as the char-broiled whole fish of the day, usually red snapper or bronzino. There are also are large meat-lovers’ platters (with shish, kufta and chicken kabobs, gyro and beef and chicken shawarma) and royal meat-lovers’ platters (add lamb chops, shrimp and salmon), both in sizes to serve 2-3 and 4-6 people, although all of them honestly look like they could serve even more people to me.

Desserts & Beverages!

Like most Mediterranean restaurants, Garden Mediterranean Grill offers dessert favorites like baklava, warbat (filo dough stuffed with cream) and a variety of cakes, but my favorite so far are the almond baklava fingers shown (above) and the salted caramel cheesecake (top). I’ve yet to try the baklava with ice cream, but it’s definitely on my list. As for beverages, try the Turkish coffee, the Moroccan mint green tea and the fresh mint lemonade.

Garden Mediterranean Grill is located at 1900 Oak Grove Blvd., Lutz (zip code 33559) and is open Mon.-Thur., 10 a.m.-10 p.m., 10 a.m.-11 p.m. on Fri., 9 a.m.-11 p.m. on Sat. and 9 a.m.-10 p.m. on Sun. For more information, call (813) 528-8088 or see the ad on pg. 30 of this issue for a Grand Opening Special 15%-off coupon.

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

TOM JOSEPH HANDYMAN: FREE ESTIMATES! Serving residents, Realtors & property mgrs. 30+ yrs home construction exp. Move in/out setups & repairs.

Repairs for sale/rent. Hang flatscreen TVs. Setup wifi & home theater. Install closet organizers. Cabinets, pullouts, shelving. Gen’l carpentry. Crown molding. Kitchen backsplash. Door install/repair & more! Call 813-751-4998 or email JosephHomesllc@outlook.com AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement. Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years of exp. Specialist in Kitchens & Bathrooms. Referrals upon request. All interior work: Drywall, Texture Paining, Doors, etc. Use us once & you won’t need to look elsewhere. Google us to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises.

See our display ad at the bottom of this page!

JUNK HAULING SERVICE! • We handle all types of furniture removal — bedroom sets, chairs, mattresses & box springs • Hot water heaters & hot tubs — take apart & remove • Construction material • Carpet removal • Estate, eviction, yard, garage & attic clean-outs • Office, home & factory • Comm’l/resdt’l. GorillaJunkremovalExperts.com. For appts/info, call/text Nigel @ 888-346-5865.

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References available. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

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MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR. Prof’l Handyman.

Cabinet install., dry wall repair, tile install. & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, int. painting, appliance install., pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning install., carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TycoonUnion@yahoo.com.

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HOME HEALTH CARE

SENIOR OVERNIGHT COMPANION SITTERS Two kind senior sisters seeking work safeguarding your loved one during the overnight hours. We’ve been working w/the senior population for 10 years & have seen a need for local, English-speaking, backgroundchecked, Covid-tested, dependable companions w/ their own transportation. Very reasonable rates. Call Diane or Elisa at 813-938-8614.

CNA/HHA available to do private duty care in your home. 30 years of exp. Will attend to all of your daily needs. References upon request. Call Rhonda at 850-586-1868.

CLEANING SERVICES

A-to-Z CLEANING & ORGANIZING. House & Ofc Cleaning & Organizing Svcs! We use our own supplies. Affordable & Reliable. Family-Owned & Operated. Wesley Chapel Resident. Weekly / Bi-Weekly / Deep Cleaning/ Move-In / Move-Out. Serving Wesley Chapel & New Tampa. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: 813-462-1270.

Local references supplied upon request.

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Commercial and Residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house and post-construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in or move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates; References available. Call today: 813531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies & more than 400 clients in New Tampa!

For more information, call 813-758-9710 or see our display ad below right.

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

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ALL DIMENSIONS LANDSCAPE & EXTERIORS, LLC. Complete residential & commercial landscape, hardscape & softscape. Mulch & decorative stone.

Patios, decks, retaining walls, property maintenance & lawn care. Sod & lawn installation, artificial turf, fencing, railings, soft & hard pressure washing, painting. We do anything exterior. Call (724) 541-2535 or (813) 485-6661 for a 25% discount on labor & materials.

NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. Sprinkler repairs, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available. Licensed & Insured. CALL BILL @ (813) 973-3825.

A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service. Licensed & insured, serving the Tampa Bay area over 20 years.

Family owned & operated. Quality work at affordable prices. We provide gutter clean-out, screen repair, pressure washing & sprinkler repair. Landscaping & property maintenance including: sod, tree & hedge trimming & clean ups. Other services are available.

CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296).

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Rain or shine, the quality & schedule will be kept.

Licensed & Insured. Call or text 678-673-7856 for your FREE ESTIMATE.

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PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech w/20 years exp. Maintenance & Repairs, Upgrades & Tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized service. Technical jargon explained. Remote assistance avail. References avail. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate or see our ad on pg. 37.

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POOL SERVICES

ALLSTARPOOLSOFTAMPABAY.COM. Pool cleanups, & acid washing of old pool finishes. Marcite, quartz & pebble finishes from $3K. We offer cool decking, Eurocrete & paver decking options. Paver, river rock sealing, leak detection & in-ground vinyl liner replacements avail. We sell quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. Mention this ad for a $79 pool service (restrictions apply). Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel since 1990. Call/text 813-244-7077 or visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com.

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!!

Call or Text Chris today @ 813-857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim-safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get ONE MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned & operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608.

PHOTOGRAPHY

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

FITNESS & WELL BEING

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

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

TJ’s PRESSURE WASHING LLC. Houses, Fences, Driveways, Lanais & Screened Enclosures. Most resdt’l 2-car driveways & vinyl fences start at $75. House washing starts at $150 for 1-story home & $199 for 2-story home. Need an instant quote? Text me a picture of the job you need done. Call Tj at 727-808-7775.

TREE SERVICE

FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE. 25-years of Professional Service. Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates. Tree Trimming & Tree Removal. Stump Grinding. Dead-Wood Removal. Affordable Rates.

24-Hour Emergency Storm Service. Free Mulch. Call 813-495-9541 or 813-788-TREE.

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