New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 30, Issue 9, May 3, 2022 by Neighborhood News

Volume 30 Issue 9 May 3, 2022

TOP OF THE CLASS!

Photo by Charmaine George

Neither Pascale Carvalho (left) of Freedom High nor Sonya Patel of Wharton aspired to be their school’s Valedictorian, but they still earned the title at their respective schools. See their stories on pgs. 20-21.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, NTRL!

Celebrating 25+ years of stories about the New Tampa Regional Library. See pages 3 & 8

PEBBLE CREEK UPDATES

Golf course owner sues resident & tears up the course’s cart paths. See pages 4-6

THE GARDEN SHOP

Looking for unique Mother’s Day gifts? Take a ride to Land O’Lakes! See pages 18-19

WHAT’S NEW AT THE KRATEs? Check out the newest eateries & shops now open at The Grove. See pages 36-37.

The Pampered Peach offers more than just body waxing services! See story on pages 14-15! 1

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Celebrating More Than 25 Years Of Covering The New Tampa Regional Library! By GARY NAGER so the pictures of the news shown on this page are Editorial stories actual iPhone camera pics of

As indicated on page 8 of this issue, the New Tampa Regional Library (NTRL) on Cross Creek Blvd. is celebrating its 25th anniversary as one of the true jewels of the New Tampa community. The library officially opened to the public on May 4, 1997. And, I’m more than proud to say, only one publication has covered every story about NTRL since not only the beginning, but also since the plans for the library were first announced more than two years earlier. Plus, even though I didn’t write all of the stories about the NTRL myself throughout the years, I have been the proud owner and editor of that publication and have been the person responsible for editing every word of every one of those stories. Our first story about the library was a small news item (above left), from our June 1994 issue — almost three years before the library opened — about a 5K “Fun Run” whose $800 in proceeds would benefit the Friends of the Library, even though the library itself would not be approved by the Hillsborough County Library System and the County Commission until more than a year later. We also were the first news medium to announce that the bidding process to build the 25,000-sq.-ft. regional library on 3.6 acres of land donated by Markbrough Florida (the developer of Hunter’s Green) in Aug. 1995, when the expected completion date for the NTRL was announced as the fall of 1996 (above right). In fact, we published no fewer than a dozen articles about the library between that first 5K Fun Run news item and the actual ribbon cutting and opening of the library to the public in May of 1997 (see below). Unfortunately, we have no electronic records of those early years (I believe the first electronic versions of our issues weren’t kept until about 2002, but even those were saved on hard drives that are no longer compatible with any computer program still in use today),

the print issues where those stories appeared. If anyone knows someone interested in creating electronic archives (and a directory) of all of our issues since April of 1994 on our behalf, it’s a service I would gladly pay for, so I can avoid having to take fuzzy pics of our issues for future historic pieces. Please email me at ads@ NTNeighborhoodNews. com if you or someone you know would be interested in providing this service.

New Tampa Neighborhood News 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 Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Morgan Conlin Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager 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 necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisement reservations for Volume 30, Issue 11, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Friday, May 20, 2022. 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 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. © 2022 JM2 Communications, Inc.

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Pebble Creek Development Battle Is Headed To Court By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

From greens to Green, the battle over what to do with the former Pebble Creek Golf Club (PCGC) is now headed to the courts. PCGC owner Bill Place and his company Ace Golf are suing Pebble Creek resident Leslie Green, seeking more than $30,000 in damages for defamation and tortious interference (or interfering with a contractual relationship) as well as attorney’s fees, after Green chased off potential developers, says the suit filed March 28 in Hillsborough Circuit Court. Green, who has lived along the 10th hole at PCGC for nearly 30 years, has been a vocal critic of Place’s efforts to sell the 54-year-old golf club, which was shuttered back on July 31, 2021. She started the “Save Pebble Creek” Facebook page in March 2019, leading the opposition against Place’s efforts to secure a so-called brownfield designation to offset the costs of removing pesticides and other chemicals from the property, a requirement before he could sell the 150acre property for development. The application was denied after residents banded together to fight it, leaving Place to shoulder costs that he said would be more than $1 million. Green has posted more than 600 times on the Facebook page, according to the lawsuit. Green and Place both declined to comment on the suit itself. Green did post on the “Save Pebble Creek” Facebook page that, “I am doing this in the best interest of the community and I will not be bullied nor silenced.” No court date has been set, but Green has filed for an extension to respond to the suit until May 10. The lawsuit alleges that Green’s fight against efforts to develop homes on the course were “personal and selfish motivations on the part of Green and an animosity against Ace Golf and Place,”

Pebble Creek Golf Club owner Bill Place is suing resident & activist Leslie Green, claiming her campaigns against him foiled two deals to develop his property. (Photo: Charmaine George)

and she also conducted a mail campaign to reach out to developers, city, county and state officials and others, established a GoFundMe page to pay legal fees for her “personal endeavors,” communicated with the press, engaged in mass mailing letter writing campaigns and contacted developers and officials through multiple phone calls. All of these efforts are categorized in the lawsuit as the “Green Method.” According to the lawsuit, she “made things personal and pervasive through a campaign of harassment and dissemination of blatant falsehoods through multiple channels.” Place also says Green made false statements in an effort to publicly shame him by saying he engaged in a “golf course flopping scheme” and intentionally sabotaged the course so he could sell it. The results, says the lawsuit, were that two developers ended up withdrawing their interest. In July of 2020, KB Homes, Pulte Homes and several other builders provided bids to redevelop Pebble Creek, and, in June 2021, Place came to terms with Pulte. Place alleges that Green used the “Green Method” to directly

contact Pulte Homes and deliver “blatant falsehoods” that led to the builder pulling out in August 2021. When a bid by KB Homes was then accepted, Green again sent “targeted communications,” according to the suit. “It worked again,” the lawsuit alleges, as KB Homes also withdrew its bid. Place told the Neighborhood News last week that he is currently working with another builder, and hopes the rezoning process can begin by the end of the year.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

He said the builder, which he did not name, has already presented a preliminary development plan and has met with small focus groups in an effort to convince residents that the project would be a benefit to the area. There are roughly 1,400 homes in Pebble Creek, and 130 of them are on the golf course. “I completely understand why the people who live on the course are upset,” Place says. “But, for the people that don’t live on the course, most of them are not part of this Leslie Green movement. They are just people out there living their lives who probably never play golf and don’t care about golf. That’s most of the people out there. They are not the ones trying to cause issues. In the long run, those are really the people who will decide things, whether or not we’re allowed to do any development or not.” Place says he already has the zoning credits for 600 homes, but the plans have always been to build only 260 or so. “I have to find a use for the property,” he says. “I pay $30,000 a year in property taxes, I pay a guy $50,000 a year just to maintain the property the best we can. I’m not looking for a fight, I’m looking for a solution, and I’m absolutely wanting to work with residents.”

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Place Says Cart Path Removal Designed To Stop Trespassers By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Pebble Creek Golf Club (PCGC) owner Bill Place says it’s a matter of safety. Pebble Creek resident Paul Manobianco says it feels more like retribution. A number of cart path areas on the sprawling golf course, which has been closed since July 31, 2021, as Place has been seeking a developer to convert the fairways and greens into homes, have been fork-lifted off the ground and piled onto the remaining path. Bright orange spray paint directs people away from the mess. Several Pebble Creek residents are complaining that Place is purposely tearing up the golf course so they will stop walking and biking on it. And, they’re not necessarily wrong. “I received calls from residents, saying they are constantly seeing ATVs running around the property, motorcycles, bikes, people walking around the property,” Place says. “It’s a huge issue because I remain liable for that.” So, Place says he set out to stop it. PCGC is private property, not a public park, he says. He alerted both of Pebble Creek’s Homeowners Associations in a March 26 email that he had contacted the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office about beefing up their presence at the shuttered course to keep trespassers off and was looking into “removing portions of the cart paths to discourage their use.” On April 2, in another email, he announced that the cart path removals would begin April 5. “Slabs of the cart paths were lifted and placed on the existing cart paths every 100300 feet,” Place says. “We did it in such a way that if, down the road, a solution to keep the golf course or if the county wants to buy it as a park, the sections can be lifted back up and put back in place.” But, residents like Manobianco aren’t happy. Considering the difficulty Place has had securing a brownfield designation and developers in the face of resident resistance, as well as the recent lawsuit filed against Pebble Creek resident and activist Leslie Green (see story on pg. 4), this has all the makings of a payback. “He wants Pebble Creek residents to pay for the denial of the brownfield, for fighting the rezoning, for Leslie for speaking up and for developers walking away,” says Manobianco, who lives in one of the 130 homes located on the golf course. Mary Lou Tucker says that even when the golf course was open, residents would enjoy leisurely walks and bike rides on the course in the early morning or after the golfers had finished for the day. For those who lived on or near the course but didn’t

play, it was a nice community amenity. “I fail to see the logic behind the recent actions undertaken on our course,” Tucker says. “I cannot understand the reasoning behind spending money to destroy one’s own property needlessly... and antagonize the residents in the process.” Tucker says walks on the golf course have been a way of life for Pebble Creek residents for decades. “I have lived here on the course for 20 years and cannot remember ever being prohibited from taking advantage of a safe, and silent path for walking or riding a bike,” she says. “It’s very disappointing to see this.” Place says other than the ATVs and motorcycles, trespassers could face other hazards. The course is only being maintained to the most basic of county standards, meaning to within 200 yards of each home. The interior of the course is overgrown in many areas, meaning snakes and other wildlife could be lurking. Manobianco says Place’s efforts could prevent the course from ever being sold as a golf course again, which some think might be the idea. “You’d have to put 2-3 million back into it just to play golf again,” he adds. Place insists the measures taken are for the safety of the residents, and not retribution for opposition to his plans to sell the course to developers. “I don’t like doing this,” Place says. “It’s just not safe to walk through. I’d like it to be this nice park, available to everybody, but I can’t afford to make it a park, nor have the liability for doing so.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Happy Birthday, New Tampa Regional Library! By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Lisette May was so excited about a library being built near her Hunter’s Green home that she was the first one there the day the New Tampa Regional Library opened in May of 1997. The library staff handed her a bouquet of flowers for being the library’s first-ever patron. She was accompanied by her then-5-year-old daughter Lindsey (6-year-old Lauren was in school that day), and Lisette remembers marveling at the modern design and layout, the view of the lake out back and the stuffed animals and bean bag chairs in the children’s area. “There was a lot of anticipation,” says Lisette, who checked out a half dozen books, a movie on videotape and signed her daughters up for the summer reading programs while she was there. “It was very exciting for everyone. I remember thinking, wow, they did a really good job with this.” On May 4, the New Tampa Regional Library (NTRL) turns 25 years old. Lisette still visits, impressed by all of the library’s new additions and offerings, and happily recollects her years taking her children to story times or just to sit and enjoy a book with them. “I always felt like going to the library made you feel like you were part of a really great community,” Lisette says. “We would go and see our neighbors there; the kids would see their friends from school there. It was a great place to see your friends and educate your kids.” The story of how the NTRL came to be is one of Said Iravani’s favorites. The longtime Heritage Isles resident thinks about it almost every time he drives by the library on Cross Creek Blvd. — which, of course, is almost every day. More than three decades ago, a group of Hunter’s Green and Tampa Palms residents, headed by a retired librarian, put hundreds of hours into a grassroots movement, calling city and county officials and cajoling a local developer to donate the land, with the goal of building a 25,000-sq.-ft. state-ofthe-art regional library that is arguably the heart of the New Tampa community and, while perhaps a little underappreciated, may be its greatest resource. “It’s such a great story,” says Iravani, who has written a few of the pages himself as the former president of the Friends of the New Tampa Regional Library, a group dedicated to raising funds for programs and equipment the county’s budget does not cover. The first thing you may notice when you walk into the NTRL lobby is the Jeri Zelinski Community Room, which was dedicated to the library’s patron saint in 8

(Above) More than 25 years after being dedicated to our community, the New Tampa Regional Library is still the heart and one of the jewels of New Tampa. (Photo: Charmaine George) (Below) Then-Hillsborough County Commissioner Jan Platt (left) and Friends of the New Tampa Library founding president Jeri Zelinski were on hand when the New Tampa Regional Library was dedicated. (Photo provided by Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library)

2004, two years after her passing. Zelinski, the retired librarian and founding president of Friends of the Library, which was formed in 1990, is credited as being largely responsible for securing the library for New Tampa. With help from friends like Lorraine Clewis of the Tampa Palms Ladies Club, the New Tampa Community Council (led by then-president Frank Margarella) and others, Zelinski forged partnerships and soon began attending TampaHillsborough Library Advisory Board and County Commission meetings. She developed a close alliance with then-County Commissioner Jan Platt, who helped push through a .10-mill property tax to pay for the library. The Tampa Palms Ladies Club also played a big role in helping circulate petitions, and Zelinski did all she could

to find a home for the library. It could have ended up in Tampa Palms, but its developer, Ken Good, only offered 1.6 acres of land, according to The Tampa Tribune, which was not enough for a regional library. Clewis had to withdraw from the library effort due to family obligations, which could have been a big blow to the Friends. But, Zelinski continued to look for land, expanding her search to the Cross Creek and Pebble Creek areas. Eventually, however, Zelinski contacted Markborough Florida, the developers of Hunter’s Green, and helped secure 3.6 acres just east of Hunter’s Green Elementary and west of the future Benito Middle School. “Quite simply, there wouldn’t be a library without Jeri Zelinski,” says Iravani, who has fought against efforts

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

to name the library after anyone other than Zelinski, and was active in efforts to begin an expansion project in 2008. That effort was tabled but is still under consideration. On May 2, 1997, a black tieoptional gala was held at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club to celebrate the opening of the library. The grand prize that night: two round-trip plane tickets to Lima, Peru. Two days later, the New Tampa Regional Library opened its doors at 9 a.m. Wendy Prasad, administrative librarian and the NTRL branch manager since 2017, says that despite changing reading habits and the effects of technology on libraries in general, the New Tampa Library is still going strong. Last year, more than 72,000 people visited the library, and it has consistently been one of the most popular libraries in the county’s system. “There are so many things we provide the community,” she says, including a main reading room, a separate children’s room, Grandma Claire’s Early Learning Hive, robust summer reading programs, meeting and study rooms, free WiFi and computer use and a wealth of online services. The library continues to be a place that can open up the world to newer and older generations. When it first opened, this newspaper published stories about the videotapes, audio cassettes and compact discs that were available to check out. How times have changed — you can now check out a 4K video camera the size of a couple of packs of gum. “We have definitely evolved,” Prasad says. “And I think you’ll see us continue to evolve.” The NTRL is located at 10001 Cross Creek Blvd. The Friends of the Library are hosting a Giant Book Sale at NTRL May 6-7. For more info, email FriendsofNewTampaLibrary@ gmail.com or see the ad below.

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Slower Speeds, More Signs On K-Bar Ranch’s Wish List By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Residents of K-Bar Ranch, the still-developing community in the northeastern corner of New Tampa, have had their fair share of traffic growing pains — from speed limits they want reduced to traffic logjams and safety issues in front of Pride Elementary to a perceived need for additional stop signs along K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. After months of studies and backand-forth emails between the City of Tampa and some residents, it appears that some of their wishes may be granted. At a community meeting hosted by District 7 Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera and attended by other city officials and about 50 K-Bar residents, a number of future changes were unveiled. City of Tampa traffic safety coordinator William Porth and chief traffic management engineer Vik Bhide told residents that the city will begin reducing the speeds on parts of Wild Tamarind Dr. and Bassett Creek Dr. from 35 miles per hour to 30, with some reductions within the subdivisions as well. “Bassett Creek was posted at 35 when nobody was out here,” Porth said. “Things have obviously changed.”

Porth also Susan Cali, the K-Bar Ranch said the city will II clubhouse manager, said with be putting in the connection to Meadow all-way stops at Pointe Blvd. getting closer to two of the busier opening, maybe the long-foughtintersections on over Kinnan St. connection to K-Bar Ranch Pkwy., Mansfield Blvd., which is only the primary east-west available to emergency vehicles, thoroughfare that could be opened to traffic as well. runs through the “We think timing-wise it might community. be a good time to revisit,” Cali As for fixing the said. “With Meadow Pointe Blvd. issues at Pride, Porth opening, it won’t be like all the said that would pressure is on Kinnan-Mansfield.” require some studies Some in the crowd suggested but that hopefully a boycott of Wesley Chapel within the next few businesses if Pasco County wasn’t months that could willing to revisit the issue. Others be addressed as well. suggested building a coalition of Some of the residents Tampa City Council member Luis Viera hosted roughly 50 K-Bar Ranch residents those in favor of opening the road asked that the issue on April 13. Many had traffic and road concerns that the City of Tampa officials from both sides of the county line. on hand said were being addressed. (Photo: John C. Cotey) be fixed prior to Viera told the crowd he didn’t the City is considering stationing a mobile start of the 2022-23 see Pasco County agreeing to unit in the area, or providing a new access school year in August. reconsider Kinnan-Mansfield. Even though road off Morris Bridge Rd. City of Tampa Fire Chief Barbara one of the connection’s biggest opponents, Tripp also attended the meeting, and told Right now, Kinnan St. is the only way District 2 Pasco commissioner Mike residents that the City was working on into the western end of K-Bar Ranch via Moore, is stepping down in November, improving response times to the difficultCross Creek Blvd. Viera said he will likely be replaced with to-reach, quickly-growing area. someone holding the same views. Not surprisingly, that led to residents The response-time goal, she said, is “We’d like to make (Kinnancomplaining about the community’s lack 90 percent of the time to be on scene in Mansfield) happen,” Viera said, “but you of egress, and a few of them suggested 8.5 minutes or less and, to achieve that, can’t dance without a partner.” that an old controversy be revisited.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

The Pampered Peach Wax Bar Offers A Unique Spa Experience By JANNAH NAGER When my husband — Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager — asked me if I would be willing to write a Business Feature story about The Pampered Peach Wax Bar, located next to Dickey’s BBQ on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., I agreed, even though I’ve rarely had my eyebrows and lips waxed and never had my underarms or private area waxed. I was even happier to take on the assignment when I found out that even though The Pampered Peach specializes in waxing for virtually every area of the body (more on that below), it also offers other services, like amazing facials, all of which use only the finest organic products from Farmhouse Fresh for all of its services. “We chose Farmhouse Fresh because the products are amazing,” says manager and licensed cosmetologist Amanda Gonzalez. “They’ve been recommended by Oprah (as well as actresses like Lisa Kudrow, Marlee Matlin and country music star Reba McEntire) and The Pampered Peach founder Jessica Kustron is now using Farmhouse Fresh products at both her corporate-owned and franchise locations.” So, even though I didn’t end up having any waxing services performed, I do feel that I got a wonderful, full spa experience at The Pampered Peach when my aesthetician Nikki

(Above) Nikki and Amanda offer outstanding waxing and facial (next page) services at The Pampered Peach Wax Bar on BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. (Photos by Charmaine George) gave me the most relaxing deep-cleansing facial (called the “Glow Your Age” mini- or full facial) I’ve ever received. First of all, The Pampered Peach of Wesley Chapel, which currently is one of only six locations (five in Florida and one in Long Island, NY; the Wesley Chapel location is owned by C&S Waxing LLC,

a partnership between Jonathan Smith, Anthony Cintron and Michael Grande), has more of a salon feel than most sterile-feeling med-spas — even though it is immaculately clean — with soft peach walls accented in green, black and white, and with fun music playing in the lobby area, and more soothing spa music playing in the facial

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

treatment room, all of which provides a perfectly inviting atmosphere for whatever service you choose. “We fell in love with the name, the branding and the organic experience,” Jonathan says, adding that they’ve been so happy about how the business has been going that they’ve committed to opening four more locations in the area this year. “And, with Amanda’s five years of experience in the waxing business and her ‘angel hands,’ we knew she could bring a high level of expertise to an already-great business model.” For example, Amanda adds, “I have learned how to do — and teach — proper self-care after a waxing procedure, which eliminates the razor burn and ingrown hairs associated with shaving. Plus, it lasts for weeks, instead of just a day or two.” Amanda also says that the core values at the Wesley Chapel location are to deliver effective and painless wax services in a cozy, fun environment. “Our wax techniques using the best all-natural, organic and vegan products to give our guests an amazing, smooth result.” There definitely are differences between The Pampered Peach and other companies in the industry. “We offer three types of patented waxes — hard, soft and sugar — while most others only offer hard and soft waxes,” Amanda says.

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Not For Women Only

All of the pricing for the huge variety of waxing services available at The Pampered Peach is on display on the wall when you walk in. Services include ingrown hair treatments, pre-wax numbing, v-steam “vajafacials,” full-body wax, services for specific areas of the body (everything from bikini to stomach), as well as facial wax services for everything from brow laminations and cheeks to nose and sideburns. Amanda says that even though women still make up the majority of their clients, more and more men are utliizing waxing services for their chest, back, shoulders and even full body. There’s even a “Manzilian” wax service offered. I have to admit that even though I

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

was apprehensive, even nervous, about starting a waxing regime, after enjoying my facial so much and being educated by Amanda and Nikki about how their waxing services work and how much healthier they are for my skin, I’m actually considering giving it a try. And, I’m not alone in raving about The Pampered Peach of Wesley Chapel. At our press time, even though the location has only been open three+ months, all 31 Google reviews are five stars and a client named Stefanie who happened to visit the same day I did said she usually goes to the South Tampa location but that both locations are better than anyplace else. She was so happy with her painless bikini wax that she decided to also get her eyebrows done. The Pampered Peach’s menu of services also gives you pricing for one-time services for guests and “drop-ins,” VIP Monthly Memberships and VIP Annual Memberships. Among the current specials are a first-time Brazilian for only $19, 20% off all first-time facial clients, and unlimited Brazilian waxing for just $49 per month. The Pampered Peach Wax Bar’s Wesley Chapel location (2653 BBD Blvd., Suite 102) is open Tues.-Fri., 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sat. and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sun. It is closed Monday. For more info, see the ad on pg. 36, call (727) FL-PEACH (3573224) or visit PamperedPeachWC.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

For Business Or Unemployment Law, Call Attorney Derek Usman! By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent

Attorney Derek Usman says a piece of advice in a self-improvement book stuck with him and has become a cornerstone of how he practices law. “I treat each case like it’s the most important case,” he says. “I approach each of them in the same manner, whether it’s a small claims case or a filing for the Supreme Court.” This philosophy has helped his New Tampa-based business, The Usman Law Firm, P.A. — located in the Central Bank building on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. south of County Line Rd. — to grow through referrals and word-of-mouth among clients who need legal expertise for litigation, employment law and business law. He established his firm in the community where he lives, knowing that many residents of our area may need an employment or business law firm, and may want to work with someone who is a part of their community. “New Tampa- and Wesley Chapel-area residents are business owners and employees, and executives of businesses,” says Usman, “sometimes they are people who work for corporations that are relocating to the Tampa Bay area. They have a local resource right here. Attorney Derek Usman, who has an office on BBD Blvd. in New They don’t have to go to a big downtown firm.” Tampa, has opened a second location in downtown Tampa to be But, if they do want a downtown firm, Usman has closer to the courts. (Photo courtesy of Derek Usman) that covered, too. He recently opened a second office where most litigation happens allows him to communicate in downtown Tampa to have more accessibility to the better with opposing counsel, while keeping his New courts and to court personnel. Tampa office as his primary work location. “Lawsuits always involve two sides,” he says, “and “Attorneys are fraternal,” he says. “It makes it easier oftentimes, the opposing counsel is downtown.” to talk with them because you have a connection and a He says maintaining a second office in the heart of

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

familiarity. A personal relationship makes things smoother.” He values those personal relationships, which is why he always gives his full attention and diligent preparation to every case that comes before him. A client he helped with one of those “small cases” came back to him when something much bigger came up. This led to Usman recently filing a federal case on behalf of a St. Petersburg-based startup company, called Priatek, alleging its former executives stole technology and forced out the company’s president. He says he was hired to represent that firm because one of its investors appreciated the way Usman treated his earlier case. “That was a small claims trial, with a low dollar amount, but he knew that I prepared well,” says Usman. And, Usman adds, he had no expectation that one case would lead to a bigger one, but that he treats everyone the same, across the board. He works hard to ensure each of his clients is represented well, no matter how minor their complaint may seem.

Happy Clients...

Jerry Newberry is a client who says he experienced that quality representation first-hand. As president of a local company, he was looking for an attorney to review some corporate documents he had prepared. After finding Usman by searching online, Newberry says he was able to get an appointment quickly, go over his questions, and that Usman got back to him with all of his questions answered in just a few days. “I was really happy,” Newberry says. “I had a bunch of questions because I don’t understand legal mumbo jumbo, and he answered all of them. I appreciated his

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

timeliness and his feedback was very thorough.” Plus, Newberry says he has worked with several lawyers who run up costs very quickly, but notes that Usman’s fees were very reasonable. “I’ve dealt with 30 to 40 attorneys over 30 years, and he was painless,” says Newberry. “He was very willing to do whatever I needed, and he explained everything in a way that I understood and felt comfortable (with). I’m definitely pleased and will certainly use him again.” Usman says he understands that litigation can be expensive and that a lot of the expense is hard costs, such as court fees, that clients have to pay. He emphasizes that’s why he has multiple fee arrangements to meet each client’s needs. Fees can be paid as contingent, fixed or hourly billing. “I work with clients on payment options,” he says. “Even though litigation is a costly endeavor, I don’t want that to deter you from pursuing actions on your behalf.” Derek says many attorneys who practice business and employment law specialize in either initial transactions or disputes. However, Derek isn’t limited to only one area or the other. He says his clients benefit from the hands-on experience he has had in courtrooms, from county courts, to state, federal and even appellate courts. Because

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

he sees how litigation plays out in court, he knows the pitfalls to look out for in drafting agreements and other documentation. “I know both parts and have experience in both,” he says. “I have more practical knowledge when it comes to forming agreements because I know what usually gets litigated in court.” After moving from Chicago to Wesley Chapel in 2015 to be closer to family, Derek opened his local office of The Usman Law Firm off of Bearss Ave. In 2018, he moved to his current office on BBD to be right in the heart of the community where he lives and serves his neighbors. Derek earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree from Indiana University in Fort Wayne in 1997 and his Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in 2001. He is admitted to practice before the bars of Florida, Illinois, the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. Derek volunteers his time as part of the network of attorneys who work on both local and national cases with Alliance Defending Freedom, a faith-based nonprofit that focuses on legal advocacy. The Usman Law Firm is located at 20701 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For more information, please visit UsmanFirm. com, call (813) 377-1197, or see the ad on page 28 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Garden Shop Is A Natural For Great Mother’s Day Gifts! By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Kim Bowerman wasn’t about to be caged in during the Covid-19 pandemic. So, she set out to remake her backyard. She took a large patch of grass, and transformed it into a walk-through garden, with a pathway winding through plants, decorations and a fountain. What started as a regular old backyard became her very own outdoor paradise. And, what started as her outdoor paradise became the inspiration for Garden Shop, a new garden and gift boutique designed to bring you the same joy and wellness Kim was able to discover during Covid. “It was kind of a way to keep myself busy, and I just fell in love with plants,” Kim said. “This just kind of evolved from that.” Garden Shop is located on U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes in the Elite Pavers building, which also is owned by Kim. “We can be tricky to find,” Kim says, “but once you do find us, you’ll never forget us.” The boutique, which has been open since January, certainly does leave an impression. It is a unique and intimate shop that offers hand-crafted living décor, macramé, plant containers and indoor and so-called “air plants” (which grow on other plants and things like tree branches) with all the essentials — all natural of course — to help them flourish. Garden Shop also sells all-natural oils and bath and body products. Every product in the store is natural.

quantity — laying hundreds of plants out in the sun like the big box stores and giving them the occasional sprinkle of water — they focus more on quality. Their plants, sitting on shelves and basking in the sunshine through the large windows, receive individual care, as associate Nicole Clancy gently slides the leaves and flowers aside to spritz each individual plant with water. “It’s terrible the way they take care of the plants at the big box stores,” Nicole says. “Sometimes, it doesn’t even look like they are watered.” If you’re lucky, you might even be able to pick up a plant that Kim cultivated in her home garden and brought into the store herself. Sometimes, if one of the plants isn’t doing well in the store, Kim jokes that she will “adopt” it and bring it home to her garden family. (l.-r.) Nicole Clancy, Kim Bowerman and Alissea Pearson of the Garden Kim and her associates clearly all have Shop on U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes treat their plants and creations as precious green thumbs and share a keen design eye commodities, and are happy to share their joy with customers. to match. At the front of the store, driftwood Before you even enter the Garden Shop, you can’t sculptures and gift baskets made by Kim, Nicole and help but notice the large plant display on the outside Alissea Pearson, another sales associate, are displayed. wall — yes, the wall — of the building. One of Kim’s The driftwood is harvested right from the floor of the creations, it is made of real plants, but they are so Gulf of Mexico, and adorned by the staff with living green and lush that they look like fake plants. plants, flowers and moss, all of which look as if they are The wall display speaks to the care Kim and her growing out of the wood (which sometimes, they are). staff take with their plants. While they don’t deal in

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Alissea points to the sculpture at the front of store made by Nicole, joking that “we’ll be sad when that one goes. It can be a little sad. Sometimes, I feel like I need proof of life when they get home to make sure they’re okay.” With Mother’s Day coming this weekend, it’s the perfect time to visit this Land O’Lakes gem. The driftwood sculptures, any number of plants bathing in the sun streaming through the windows or even gift baskets with natural skin care products, plants, pots and other gifts from around the store would be a perfect gift for any natureloving mom. And soon, customers will be able to make their own sculptures at Garden Shop, as Kim is adding an additional room, which will be called The Design Room. Customers will be able to come in and purchase driftwood and all the products to design it, making for a nice garden accent piece or something for inside the home. That was great news for customer Ellen Taylor. The first time she drove from her Tampa Palms home to Garden Shop, she did so with some curiosity and a 20%-off coupon from the Neighborhood News in hand. In the last two months, she’s been back two other times, because she says there’s nothing like it near her home. “I love it,” Ellen says. “It’s like

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

everything in here is something I like. And this time, there was so much more. So many nice plants. And, this time, I even brought along a friend!” Alissea says that a large percentage of Garden Shop customers return multiple times. Last week, she says a woman came in and nearly bought a sculpture she really liked. She left without it, but came back the same day and ended up buying it. “She said she couldn’t do without it,” Alissea says. Ellen notes that during past visits she bought an air plant, a planter and some other things. This visit, she was holding onto a bamboo flowerpot she didn’t notice last time. While the Garden Shop is small, the staff is constantly changing its products, often to meet the needs of each changing season. “There are a lot of new things,” Ellen says, turning her head around and smiling. “It’s just such unique stuff. It seems like it’s all new.” She laughed. “I’m excited, as if I need another plant in my life.” Garden Shop (7337 Land O’Lakes Blvd., at the Elite Pavers showroom) is open Tuesday-Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit EliteGardenShop.com, call (813) 8206105 or check out the ad on page 32.

The Garden Shop stocks many boutique items, as well as a nice variety of unique plants that have been hand-selected and lovingly cared for by Kim and her staff.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

It’s Been All About The Experience For Freedom Valedictorian By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The pressure for many high school valedictorians can be stifling. While mostly grateful for finishing at the top of their respective classes, the journey is usually one that provides them with a sense of relief when they graduate. But, Freedom High Class of 2022 valedictorian Pascale Carvalho says that, for her, there never was any pressure. She loved the journey. And, she has made putting in a ton of hours to earn her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from Hillsborough Community College and compiling an 8.5 high school grade point average actually sound, well, fun. “I was never aiming for a certain spot,” Pascale says. “It was never motivation to do better in school. It was just a perk.” From the very start of high school, Pascale made sure to take classes she would enjoy, not just classes that would beef up her GPA. Her freshman year, she took music theory because despite already playing the guitar (jazz fusion and rock) and cello — and cymbals in the high school band — she wanted to learn how to read music, too. And now, she writes her own music as well.

Her senior year, Pascale took a pair of 4000-level health science classes at USF, another strong area of interest for her. She wasn’t sure what she wanted to do in college prior to her senior year, but her wide range of interests and classes has helped clarify that vision. While undecided on which college she will attend, she is mulling over acceptance letters from the University of Southern California at Los Angeles, for its outstanding music composition programs, or Brown University in Providence, RI, or Freedom High Class of 2022 valedictorian Pascale Carvalho Washington University in St. Louis, for health “It was an irreplaceable sciences. experience,” she says. “My goal was just to give myself the As a sophomore, Pascale took a best possible education I could, and provide heavy load of dual enrollment classes, myself with the best college opportunities, because one of her major goals was to and that’s what I did,” she says. earn her A.A. degree prior to actually The groundwork for a successful starting college. Her junior year, she high school experience was laid by her took Japanese at the University of South family. Her parents Chantal and Daniel Florida, because she had an interest in stressed education — Pascale laughs that culture and language. at the math books and essays Chantal

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

assigned during the summer — and older brother Antoine, a Freedom grad, is at Boston University, while older sister Dominique recently graduated from USF after studying biological health science. “They definitely emphasized being good at what you do,” Pascale says. “If you do anything, try to be the best at it.” Pascale also strove to be her best, but was never consumed with her academic standing. “Being No. 1 is just one of those hoops you go through,” she says. “Once you reach it, (you should) look back, and see if your experience equates to that number. Because it should.” Pascale’s high school experience also included athletics. While she couldn’t compete her sophomore and junior years due to an undiagnosed neurological problem, she still managed to play two seasons of soccer and, as a senior, was on the swimming and cross country teams. While she ponders college, Pascale spends her spare time with friends, watching anime and playing her guitar. But if you ask her to play a tune, don’t expect a rendition of “Sweet Home Alabama.” She didn’t take music theory and Japanese for nothing. “Well, I like a lot of Japanese music,” she says, laughing, “so it’s probably going to be a random Japanese heavy metal song that nobody’s ever heard.”

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Wharton’s 2022 Valedictorian Will Stay Local For College By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent

When Sonya Patel walks across the stage as Wharton High’s Class of 2022 valedictorian during the school’s graduation ceremony on May 25, she will do so with its highest-ever GPA — 9.40. Sonya didn’t set out to break any records. In fact, being valedictorian wasn’t even her goal. “But,” she says, “I did want to push myself to do my very best.” She wanted to learn as much as she could and take advantage of every opportunity placed in front of her. Her incredible work ethic led her to set that new high mark for future Wharton students to aspire to beat. Sonya spent all of her school years in New Tampa, starting at Pride Elementary and going to Benito Middle School before attending Wharton. When she graduates, she’ll stay close to home. She plans to attend the University of South Florida in Tampa and major in biomedical sciences on her way to a career as a doctor. “I plan to apply to medical school in the future,” Sonya says. “I currently have fields that interest me but I’m keeping an open mind about what I actually want to do in the medical field.” When she started high school, Sonya wasn’t sure she wanted to be a doctor. She signed up for dual enrollment (DE) classes at Hillsborough Community College that sounded interesting, and the more classes she took in the medical field, the more she became sure she wanted to one day help people in that way. While those dual enrollment classes helped her solidify her future plans, along with a lot of Advanced Placement (AP) classes, they also helped her earn that skyhigh GPA. “I counted at least 15 science classes that she’s taken, and it blew me away,” says Christi Atkinson, who is Sonya’s Marine Science teacher this year. “She takes on so many activities and is capable of managing her time and getting everything done. It’s amazing.” Knowing it’s a long journey through med school and residency, Sonya’s AP and DE classes will help her get her undergraduate requirements out of the way, and because she’s a high school student, the classes have been free. “It seemed a great way to work on my future goals,” she says, earning credits toward her undergraduate degree while learning about what she calls “cool subjects.” While she’s worked hard in school, she enjoys spending her free time painting, doing henna body art and cooking. She says her most fun class has been orchestra, where she plays the cello. Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Wharton High valedictorian Sonya Patel Her orchestra teacher, Elise Prather, says, “She has been a dream student. She is respectful, kind, communicates effectively, is a great team player, gives 110% on everything, and is very helpful to me and other students.” While Sonya was accepted to several schools, she decided USF was the most convenient and least expensive choice. “And it has great opportunities, so I’m not missing out,” she says. When she graduates from high school, Sonya will have earned 62 credit hours from Hillsborough Community College, plus many hours from her AP classes, which will help her fulfill her college general education credits. She hopes to finish her Bachelor of Science degree at USF within two years. She says she loves volunteering, especially at the local Bay Chapel food pantry, because she appreciates that her community has a local food pantry to help those who need some help. In addition to her difficult academics, orchestra and volunteering, she also serves as co-president of Wharton’s Mu Alpha Theta National Math Honor Society club, secretary of the Science National Honor Society and orchestra clubs, and is a member of the school’s National Beta Club and National Honor Society. “She’s just a really good kid,” Atkinson says. “She’s someone you can rely on and depend on.” And while Sonya and her peers dealt with a lot of adversity due to Covid-19, Atkinson adds, “she adapted very well and rose above the challenges.” That’s what Sonya intends to do in the future, too. She’ll keep setting goals, working hard, making practical decisions, and taking the next step forward. As she moves from one chapter of her life to the next, she says, “I’m looking forward to new experiences, whatever they may be.” For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

GEICO’s Wesley Chapel Office Now Offers Homeowners Insurance By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent Photos by Charmaine George

When most people think of GEICO Insurance, an image of a friendly talking gecko from countless television commercials is usually what comes to mind. They also know that 15 minutes can save you 15 percent or more on car insurance, but what they likely don’t know is that they also can walk in to or call a local GEICO office and speak with a local agent, right in their own neighborhoods, including in nearby Wesley Chapel. The Wesley Chapel office of GEICO was opened by Jaime Bryant a little over a year ago in the Super Targetanchored Northwoods shopping center on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of County Line Rd. While GEICO is mostly known for its auto insurance — insuring more than 30 million vehicles — the company also offers motorcycle, RV (recreational vehicle), boat, condo and renter’s insurance, as well as life and umbrella policies (which provide extended liability coverage for people with a lot of assets). Bryant is pleased to announce that his office also can now write homeowners insurance policies, including for mobile

(Left) The local Wesley Chapel office of GEICO Insurance, located in the Northwoods Plaza, on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. north of County Line Rd., is led by Jaime Bryant (center). (Right) Jaime and his wife Shannon may or may not already be training baby Elliott to be a GEICO agent.

and manufactured homes. He says that GEICO had paused writing new homeowners policies in Florida to be sure it didn’t overexpose its risk in the state, which is susceptible to large major disasters, especially when a hurricane comes through. However, the company recently has opened up to writing new homeowners policies again. “You get a discount on both policies when you purchase auto and homeowners insurance (also known as “bundling”),” he explains. “So, that

increases the chances of saving money.” Plus, you only have to deal with one office, and Bryant and his team at GEICO’s Wesley Chapel office are happy to handle all of your insurance needs. Whether you want to use GEICO’s easy-to-navigate app, website, or call the office, or if you’re someone who prefers to walk in and meet with an agent faceto-face, Bryant and his staff are happy to accommodate. He says his office has grown considerably since it opened in 2021,

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

now employing 10 people, all of whom are experienced and trained to be sure the customer is neither over insured or under insured, but properly insured. When first meeting people who are considering switching to GEICO, Bryant says, “We often ask why they have certain specific coverages and they don’t know. It’s just what they were sold. The amount of coverage doesn’t necessarily fit their personal situation.” And, while he says he can’t speak to what other insurance agencies tell

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

their clients, he says his clients are often surprised to hear the explanation of why they have too much coverage, or not enough, or may want to make certain decisions to lower the price of their policies. He says it seems his agents are often giving people information they haven’t heard before. For example, sometimes when families have children of driving age, it may be beneficial to have the children separated off the policy. “It always varies, so we have to make sure we are asking the right questions to get the right policy,” he says. “Nothing’s ever one-size-fits-all.” And he says, more often than not, his team finds that people are carrying more insurance than they need. “Our goal is to make sure people are properly insured, not paying more than they need to pay,” Bryant says, “and that what we provide to them is tailored to their needs.” Orville Harness is getting ready to move to the Tampa Bay area after retiring from law enforcement in Indiana. “It’s so different between Indiana and Florida,” Harness said. He was confused as he looked for quotes online and had lots of questions. Fortunately for him, he submitted a request for a quote from Bryant’s office, and an agent called back to answer all of his questions. “It was really nice to talk with someone in Florida who knows what they’re doing,” he said, instead of talking with someone in a call center who may or may not know or understand the nuances of insurance in this state. “They really helped us understand what to spend our money on and what not to spend our money on,” he said. “They saved us a bunch of money.”

Some History

GEICO was founded in 1936 by Leo Goodwin and his wife Lillian to provide auto insurance directly to federal government employees and their families. Bryant says many people don’t know that the name GEICO is actually an acronym for Government Employees Insurance Company. Bryant also says GEICO was the first insurance company that he can recall that began selling insurance directly to customers, as opposed to working only through agents. That has helped the company, headquartered in Maryland, become the second-largest auto insurer

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

The gecko in the Wesley Chapel GEICO office doesn’t speak with an Australian accent.

in the U.S. (behind State Farm), as well as the largest auto insurer here in Florida. Bryant says that’s because GEICO offers two very important things for those looking for insurance: competitive rates and great customer service. Although GEICO has had a Tampa office for 40 years, as well as others in Clearwater and New Port Richey, Bryant’s location, which features an aquarium with a real gecko, is the first in or near Wesley Chapel. Bryant has lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years and is a University of South Florida graduate with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree. He worked for GEICO in Lakeland for 16 years, the last few while driving a long commute from his home in Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa, where he lives with his wife, Shannon, and their new baby son, Elliott. When GEICO decided to open an office in Wesley Chapel, Bryant says he jumped at the chance to apply, both to have the opportunity to be his own boss and to build a business in the community he calls home. He’s working hard to earn people’s trust and make sure the agents in his office are ready to help meet their unique and individual needs. “It’s hard to find good customer service anymore,” says Harness, the retiree who is moving to Florida. “They were very patient, and they took the time to explain everything. The world needs more of that.” The GEICO-Wesley Chapel local office is located at 1227 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. It is open MondayFriday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and 9 a.m.5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit GEICO.com/ Wesley-Chapel-Bryant, call (813) 953-4200, or see the ad on page 33 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Noire Nail Bar Is Quiet, Serene & A Great Value! By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Ana Mendez is a nail loyalist. Do her nails right, and she’ll be with you forever. She had been going to the same salon since high school, even though she had moved and it was a haul. Then, one day in 2018, she walked into a new place that had just opened, Noire Nail Bar, located on S.R. 56 in the Cypress Creek Town Center (near Mellow Mushroom). She was sold. “I come in every two weeks,” Ana says, getting her nails done by the same technician, Amy, each time. “She is the only person I let touch my nails.” What made a loyalist like Ana change shops? Well, other than the location in the heart of the S.R. 56 corridor, which she frequently visits due to the plethora of places to eat, shop and, well, get your nails done, she says Noire Nail Bar has everything she is looking for in a salon. It’s quiet and serene with an upscale feel, offers a wide variety of services and delivers on what she requires the most — a set of killer nails. That definitely makes John Nguyen, who owns Noire Nail Bar along with his wife Vanessa, smile. “If they are happy, they will come

Noire Nail Bar, located next to Mellow Mushroom on the north side of S.R. 56, west of I-75, is one of the most spacious and beautiful nail salons in our area.

back,” Nguyen says. “That’s what we try to do. That’s what separates us from other nail salons.” Nguyen says the salon’s look and feel are intended to cultivate a calm atmosphere, which you can feel as soon as you step foot in the place. In other nail salons, you may notice the technicians chatting with each

other while taking care of their clients. Nguyen says he prefers that they don’t talk amongst themselves, instead focusing their attention on the task, well, at hand. “I want them to pay attention to the customer,” he says. “People come here to relax, because it’s very quiet.” Nguyen says he employs 15 technicians

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

or so, and on the weekends, they are all busy. And, just because Covid is finally in many people’s rear-view mirrors doesn’t mean that the salon is no longer kept sparkling clean. Many of the sanitation procedures that were put in place during the pandemic are still adhered to, and while customers aren’t required to wear masks, the technicians still do. Most of Noire’s staff is experienced. It’s one of the things that Nguyen values most in his employees, because they know what to expect and familiar faces are always nice for the salon’s returning customers. And, Nguyen says, a good many of his customers do return, like Ana. “It’s a really nice place, and I like going to places with a great ambiance and this place does,” Ana says. “Sometimes, I even bring my laptop and can get some work done. There are no distractions at all.” Although they’re not required, Noire encourages appointments to be sure you’re not turned away — especially on weekends. Once you arrive, you’ll always be offered a complimentary glass of wine, or a soft drink or water with all services. Those services include a wide variety of manicures, pedicures, massages, full sets, dipping powder, nail enhancements, eyelash extensions and face and body waxing. Noire Nail Bar has a separate area

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Nguyen says the Signature Spa 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. Noire’s Special Care Spa also is designed to cater to Noire Nail Bar offers a variety of manicures, pedicures and other spa clients, with an Organic services, and carries a huge variety of nail colors from O.P.I. (right). Spa Pedicure and even services for those for pedicures, where chairs are grouped with special needs, such as the elderly and together, including facing each other, those with diabetes who may have cracked which is convenient for groups of friends heels, thick calluses, extra thick or ingrown or family, so you can enjoy conversations toenails — anything that requires extra with each other as opposed to being spread time, attention or precautions. out in a long line. This setup allows small Prince and Princess manicures and groups to enjoy privacy and intimacy in pedicures also are available for kids ages their time together. 12 and under. Pedicure stations are lined along the “We also use only the best products,” other side of the large salon, and also can Nguyen says, “like O.P.I., DND and accommodate small groups. others.” The range of different services includes And, if you need a nail design you saw everything from basic manicures and somewhere, or have thought of one yourself, pedicures to the popular Noire Nail Bar the technicians can meet your desires. Signature Spa Pedicure and Special Care Spa, Ultimately, it was one of the biggest and everything in between.

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

reasons why Ana says she changed salons. “I liked the other place, but if I showed them something new, they couldn’t achieve it,” she says, “and I’m very particular. So now I’m committed here, and I love it.” Noire 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. Noire Nail Bar offers 10% off all services every Monday through Wednesday, if you use the coupon from the ad on pg. 28 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) 5360161 or see the ad on pg. 28.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Tonelli Steps Down As Wharton’s Coach; Vanzant To Replace Him? By JOHN C. COTEY While leaving the door slightly ajar for a return to coaching one day, Wharton boys basketball coach Tommy Tonelli is putting away his clipboard... for now. Barely a month after leading the Wharton High boys team to its second State Final Four berth, Tonelli, the architect of a program that can make a strong case for being Hillsborough County’s best, says he is retiring. Although no official records are kept, Tonelli is leaving the coaching ranks as the all-time wins leader for Hillsborough County public schools. Since building the program from scratch when Wharton opened in 1997, Tonelli never had a losing season and finished with 528 victories and just 137 losses in 23 seasons — for a sparkling .794 career winning percentage. Long-time Wharton High boys basketball coach Tommy Tonelli picked up his Tonelli (left) is stepping down and former Wharton star 500th win on Dec. 7 against Shawn Vanzant is expected to be named Tonelli’s successor. Chamberlain. On Jan. 28, he won his 517th game against former opportunistic offense and gritty defense to player Shawn Vanzant’s Bloomingdale team, a better finish than most expected. Tonelli passing former Chamberlain legend Doug called it a “dream season.” Aplin to take the “unofficial” No. 1 spot. In perhaps Tonelli’s most impressive William Bethel, who coached at accomplishment, it marked the 17th straight Middleton in the segregation era, was 551season that the Wildcats won at least 20 88 in the Florida Interscholastic Athletic games, a testament to his practice regimen Association (at the time, the FHSAA of and game preparation. all-black schools). The Tampa Bay Basketball “Coach always had us prepared,” says Coaches Association annually awards the forward Trevor Dyson. “We worked harder William Bethel Award to the county coach than almost everybody. We were always ready. who has gotten the most out of his team, an Coach always made sure of that.” award Tonelli has won more than once. Tonelli, a former Chicago high school Tonelli, 57, says he will continue as star and University of South Florida point a guidance counselor at Wharton. But. guard, says he still feels he has something to the demands of coaching have made give as a coach, and said he would “never say balancing two jobs too cumbersome and never” to a return to the sidelines one day, if overwhelming, he says. He had been the right situation comes along. contemplating retirement since last season, “But right now, I’m done,” he says. worn down by the demands and difficulties Although the hiring wasn’t finalized during the pandemic, but wanted to let the prior to our deadline, barring a last-second dust settle before deciding to actually retire. snag, Tonelli’s replacement will be Vanzant, “I didn’t want the frustration caused by arguably Wharton’s best player ever and the Covid to be something that chased me out of leader of the Wildcats’ best teams in the midcoaching,” Tonelli said. 2000s before playing collegiately at Butler and twice reaching the NCAA Final Four As it turns out, it wasn’t Covid. It was with the Bulldogs. just time. Vanzant coached Bloomingdale to a When the dust did settle, it revealed one 3-21 record his first season, but the team of Tonelli’s most successful seasons ever. The has averaged 14 wins over the last three Wildcats were 28-3 and won the school’s seasons and went 17-12 and won a District 12th District title, its second Regional title championship this past season. and advanced to the Florida High School Tonelli has always praised Vanzant’s Athletic Association Class 6A Final Four, coaching acumen, long predicting that his where it lost to eventual champion Stuart former player would someday become one of Martin County. the top high school coaches in the area if a In typical Wharton fashion, the college job didn’t come along first. Wildcats overachieved this year and rode an 30

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

VR Galaxy Lounge Entertainment Venue Opens In Tampa Palms!

NEW TAMPA Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood To Open!

Talk about an idea whose time has come — the VR Galaxy Lounge has opened to rave online reviews (next to A Special Rose Florist) at 15355 Amberly Dr., in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms. VR Galaxy Lounge is the brainchild of three long-time “gamers” who recognized that although virtual reality gaming is readily available on peoples’ home entertainment systems, there hasn’t been a place where those gamers could go out to enjoy the ever-growing selection of VR games. According to VRGalaxyLounge.com, three guys named Joe, Larry and Tony grew up as gamers as far back as the original 1977 Atari 2600, and have all watched the industry evolve to where Virtual Reality and Augmented Reality experiences are becoming more and more mainstream. “The VR industry is here and has unlimited potential. This is what drives the three of us...It is about becoming fully immersed in an experience whether that is traveling to Italy to see the Coliseum, swimming with sharks, traveling to space, meeting with co-workers or just hanging out with friends in a social environment...Our goal is to pass this experience on to

all of you and bring you into the amazing and limitless world of VR. And, with its location in the same plaza with youngerskewing businesses like Peabody’s Billiards & Games, Crunch! Fitness and a variety of restaurants, Joe, Larry and Tony would seem to have a virtual hit on their hands. For more information, call (813) 374-4797. — GN

Tessa’s Sweet Kafé To Replace Gu Wei!

Although we still do not have confirmation as to exactly when it will open — the last we heard was late April, but we had no further updates at our press time — there’s no doubt that a lot of progress has been made at the Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood & Bar (photo above) which is getting close to moving into the former location of Kobé Japanese Steakhouse in the Pebble Creek Collection. Keep checking back on our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page for the latest updates, but it looks like New Tampa will soon have a place featuring giant Alaskan king crab legs and other seafood favorites! — GN

We always love it when readers let us know when they see new businesses opening or getting ready to open, even if it’s before we’re able to get the information ourselves. We’ve previously told you that the Gu Wei Noodle House, which didn’t stay open for very long in the former location of Sukhothai on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. at Galbraith Rd. (across from the AMC 20 movie theater), was closed permanently, but we didn’t yet have any idea of what was planned to move into that space until Josephine Quah Browne sent us the picture (far right) on one of our Facebook posts announcing that the new restaurant will be called Tessa’s Sweet Kafé, which (according to the sign and a couple of other posts on the “Tampa Bay Asian Foodies” Facebook page) will feature Korean Street Food, Binsgu (although some spell it Bingsoo, see near right photo) and other Korean desserts. Unfortunately, we weren’t able to find out too much additional information about what the new restaurant will serve (although boba teas and Korean fried

chicken were among the items mentioned) or when Tessa’s Sweet Kafé is expected to open, but of course, we plan to keep you posted! — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Exp. 5/31/2022

Neighborhood News

Exp. 5/31/2022

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Tasty Ramen, Bacon Boss, TJ’s Hot Dogs & Katie Beth’s Boutique Among The Latest KRATEs To Open; Palani’s Hawai’i Noodles & More Coming Soon! As we went to press with this issue, things were really heating up at the KRATE Container Park in The Grove at Wesley Chapel, with half a dozen more (since we reported on the KRATEs last issue) of the former shipping containers already open and several others getting ready to do the same. In our next issue, we plan to include a full map of all of the KRATEs, but in the meantime, here are a few more updates of new places to eat and shop in Wesley Chapel’s ever-expanding dining, retail and entertainment “district.” A couple of days before we went to press with this issue, The Bacon Boss HQ and the adjacent TJ’s Hot Dogs both opened to large crowds. The Bacon Boss HQ surely has been one of the most anticipated of the KRATEs, as it has been one of our area’s favorite local food trucks for years. Owners Joshua and Christy Norland (Christy is shown in the pic bottom left) say their first brick-andmortar location will likely add more of their famous bacon-infused burgers (the Bugsy Burger, with its signature BBQ mayo served on the side, plus extra crispy tater tots, is shown below center) and perfect grilled cheese sandwiches, every two weeks or so. In the meantime, the opening weekend (Apr. 22-24) was a hit for for The Bacon Boss HQ. For more info, visit TheBaconBossHQ.com or call (813) 922-9290. Equally exciting for fans of owner Mike McCarn’s long-standing hot dog cart at

The Grove is TJ’s Hot Dogs, which has been serving up the self-prolaimed “world’s hottest hot dogs” for four+ years, but now shares a KRATE with The Bacon Boss. As something of a hot dog “purist,” I don’t need chili, cheese, pineapple salsa or any of the dozens of other condiments (including “Atomic Spice”) you can choose from at TJ’s. All I need are spicy brown (never yellow!) mustard and a heaping helping of hot sauerkraut, as shown on TJ’s foot-long dog above, and every bite took me back to the hot dog stands in New York City. You can check out TJ’s other offerings (including ice cold beer) for yourself, although some have said the hours since the store opened have been somewhat irregular. Tasty Ramen also opened its doors (next to El Prince Mediterranean, which we told you about last issue). Although we haven’t yet sampled the menu, Monica Russo of MaeBerry Co. (another KRATE

we told you about last issue) took some great pics of Tasty Ramen’s ramen, noodle bowls and more (right) and the fact that it is owned by Lawrence, the same owner as Blue Fin Japanese restaurant in The Village at The Grove, lets us know that the quality of the food is excellent. For more info, call (917) 775-1599. Other KRATE eateries that opened as we went to press that we didn’t get to sample are two more Latin places — Tacos El Patron and La Creacion XPress. We’ll update you on these and more next issue. And, even though we’ve tried to keep up with all of the eateries at the KRATEs, I don’t remember ever telling you that the Falafel Factory (below right) also is getting ready to open, next to Palani’s Hawai’i Noodles. The Falafel Factory’s sign just went up before we went to press, but the word is that Palani’s might be open by the time this issue reaches your mailbox. Another shop that opened last month at the KRATEs that isn’t a place to eat is Katie Beth’s Boutique. Featuring beautiful women’s apparel that mostly skews a little younger but also offers styles for women of all ages, owner Kaitlyn Owen (photo on next pg.) says, “At

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Katie Beth’s Boutique, we truly believe all women are beautiful and we are committed to representing all women. Our mission is to empower women by providing an affordable, fashion-forward lifestyle brand focused on integrity, teamwork, and respect for people.” The first Katie Beth’s opened nine years ago in Katie’s hometown (when she was a senior in high school) in DeFuniak Springs, FL, and provides a wide range of apparel to fit any woman’s unique sense of style. Now as a resident of Tampa, she says, “We are excited to be bringing carefully curated clothing, accessories, and gifts to the Wesley Chapel community.” For more info, visit ShopKatieBeths.com. Also, Budget Blinds also opened its new showroom last month at the KRATEs. We’ll take a closer look at it in a future issue. For more information, see the ad on pg. 14, call the North Tampa location at (813) 968-5050 or visit BudgetBlinds. com/northtampa. — GN

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Kaitlyn Owen (right) has opened her new Katie Beth’s Boutique in the KRATE Container Park at The Grove in Wesley Chapel. She says she is proud to provide clothing and accessories for all ages of women.

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

CUSTOM INT. WINDOW COVERINGS! Cust. fabrication of all types of window coverings — plantation & hurricane shutters, vert. blinds, roller, cellular, woven wood & Roman shades, cellular vert., panel tracks, retract. awnings, motorization experts, alum., wood & faux wood blinds & more! FREE installation on orders over $250! Call Henry @ 813-948-6363, email TampaBlindsbyDesign@ gmail.com or visit TampaBlindsbyDesign.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! WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure ext. house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing & deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big/small. Exp. the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning pro. Licensed & insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate 813-433-6015. RAYMOND PAINTING. Ext. & Int. Svcs. Ext: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Int: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable, Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, re-texturing, popcorn removal, room addt’ns, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years exp. WC resident. State Certified. Call Ron for a free estimate: 813-784-5999.

Classifieds MISCELLANEOUS CAT SITTER POSITION AVAILABLE: Kitten Sittin’ LLC is looking for a New Tampa Cat Sitter. The purrfect part-time job for a Retiree who loves cats. Visit your feline clients in their own homes for 30–45-minute visits. You must be willing to work Holidays & must live in New Tampa area. It’s a fun job – babysitting cats! If interested, please email Pat O’Shea at pat@kittensittin.biz. AUTOS WANTED! Autos/trucks/small campers/ small boats wanted! We pay top dollar! Any condition, Free Removal 24/7. For more info, call (813) 461-0062. ELITE RIDES. Private rides in a sanitized 2020 Tesla, plus concierge services. Airport, schools, medical appointments, shopping, etc. Courteous, reliable professional. New Tampa to Tampa Int’l Airport - $40 (one way). Driver vaccinated w/ two shots. Cory Lake Isles resident. Call/text 813.765.2037.

CLEANING SERVICES

MARY’S CLEANING SERVICES. We provide flexible domestic & office cleaning. “Jesus is the Lord.” Give us a call at 352-206-8809 for a free estimate or email marynovociclo@gmail.com.

PATY CLEANING SERVICE. Comm’l or resid’l cleaning service. We have our own supplies & 6 years of exp.Free estimates. Call 813 943 6054 or email patycleaningservice@hotmail.com.

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years exp.! Comm’l & Resid’l; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & post-construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in & move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates.; Refs. avail. Call 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@ hotmail.com.

LAWN, LANDSCAPING & TREES_ FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE, INC. 27-yrs of Prof. Service. Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates. Tree Trimming & Tree Removal. Stump Grinding. Dead-Wood Removal. Affordable Rates. 24-Hour Emergency Storm Service. Free Mulch. Call 813495-9541 or 813-788-TREE. ALL DIMENSIONS LANDSCAPE & EXTERIORS, LLC. Complete resid’l & comm’l landscape, hardscape & softscape. Mulch & decorative stone. Patios, decks, retaining walls, property maintenance & lawn care. Sod & lawn install’n, 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. JASMINE LANDSCAPING, INC. Complete lawn maint, including Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleaning, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/ Spring Special & FREE estimate! Lic’d & insured. Accepting new resid’l & comm’l accounts. Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmEx. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring FT workers.

COMPUTER & BUSINESS SERVICES DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.

PROF’L TECH SUPPORT in your home or small biz. A+ Cert. computer tech w/20 years exp. Maint. & Repairs, Upgrades & Tutoring. More affordable than chains! Friendly, personal svc. Tech jargon explained. Remote assistance & refs. avail. Call (813) 957-8342 for free estimate!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

All Neighborhood News Classified Ads appear in both New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! Here are our Classified ad rates: 7 issues — $120 13 issues — $200 26 issues (1 year) — $300! To order yours, visit neighborhoodnewsonline.net/ Classified Listings 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. Quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. Serving NT & WC since 1990. Call/text 813-244-7077 or visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com. TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing w/ 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! 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.

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 9 • May 3, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews