New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 32, Issue 5, March 5, 2024

ESE Kids Learn Pizza-Making At Johnny C’s!

By Gary Nager

Some people obviously just “get it,” and Erik Ravenna, the co-owner and chef at Johnny C’s Italian Eatery on Cross Creek Blvd., is definitely one of them.

Ravenna, who lives in Wesley Chapel and worked for many years at Saddlebrook Resort, became friends with Cypress Creek High (CCH) principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles because he has coached at the school and helped start its athletic booster club, and has always offered to help the school in any way he can.

Meanwhile, CCH supportive level ESE teacher Kelly Cox said that each year, the school’s teachers are asked for a “wish list” prior to the holidays and her wish last December was for her students, who have a variety of learning and other disabilities, to be able to have chef’s hats and aprons for when they receive cooking lessons, as part of their curriculum that is intended to prepare them for life after high school.

Ravenna stepped in and provided Cox’s class of 14 total kids with Johnny C’s hats and aprons — and also promised to do more to help.

That additional help came just a couple of months later, as after seeing the

The story continues on pg. 4!

STORY UPDATES!

Since our last issue, three of the stories we published needed to be updated.

See page 3

Johnny C’s Italian Eatery chef and co-owner Erik Ravenna shows students from Kelly Cox’s Exceptional Student Education class at Cypress Creek High in Wesley Chapel how to stretch pizza dough during the class’ visit to Johnny C’s on Feb. 22. The kids learned not only how to make pizzas but also many other aspects of working in the restaurant business. (Photo by Charmaine George)

Updating Three Of The Stories That Ran In Our Last Issue

An Editorial by GARY NAGER

Because of the fact that we only have an issue every four weeks in each of our markets, sometimes the stories that appear in our issues are or become “old” even before (or shortly after) that issue arrives in your mailbox.

In our Feb. 6 issue, we had two such stories that really needed to be updated in this issue and a third that was an event that took place after that issue hit mailboxes.

The most important, and saddest, of these was the fact that Gabriel Hassan — who was on the cover of our last issue for receiving his diploma for graduating from Wharton High on Jan. 22, while he was still at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital — passed away less than two weeks after that event.

Gabe, who was suffering from terminal leukemia, succumbed to his cancer and was buried by his family on or the day before Valentine’s Day. We also learned that his specific form of leukemia is called Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, or SDS.

When we posted the stor y that Gabe had passed, his father Mahmoud Hassan commented on our Facebook page:

“He was my beloved boy — a precious soul who loved people and life.

He loved service to others, EDM music, Roblox, Video Games, Going to the movies.

He was our proud Eagle Scout and graduated HS despite all of his challenges.

Gabriel was a sweet angel and he will be missed dearly. We are grieving for our angel in heaven. We miss him so much.”

Although I never met Gabriel or his family, we join the Hassan family in their grief. Rest in Peace.

To help those afflicted with SDS, please search “Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance” on Facebook.

Suzy Tkacik Falls Short Of Award

We also knew that our story about Pride Elementary media specialist Suzy Tkacik (photo) being a finalist for the Hillsborough School District-wide

Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year award would be old news by the time the Feb. 6 issue reached your mailbox.

Even so, we still felt it was important to highlight Ms. Tkacik in these pages, as she was the only finalist for any of the District’s “Excellence in Education” awards from a New Tampa school.

Well, at the District’s award gala on Feb. 1, this year’s Ida S. Baker award went to Dr. Ilfault Joseph, the community resource teacher at Jennings Middle School.

Congratulations again, Suzy. You’re still a winner in all of our eyes!

Wharton Tournament Nets $6,400!

The third story we needed to update was the second annual Wharton High Cornhole

Tournament, which was held on Feb. 10 and ended up raising more than $6,400 to provide teacher grants and classroom needs for the school.

Our congratulations go out to Wharton teacher Matt McKernan (left in photo, right) and his partner (and fellow former Wildcat) Tate Wheeler, who outlasted 28 other teams to take home the top prize, after finishing as the runners-up in last year’s inaugural Cornhole Tourney. The second-place finishers were Benito Middle School teacher Christopher Taylor and his uncle Shawn Quinn. Both winning teams left with prize packages worth more than $700!

Sunglass Krate is located in one of the largest container parks in the world that attracts visitors from all over the globe. Check out krateatthegrove.com .

Sunglass Krate is owned and operated by Jim Lambrou, a Licensed Optician in the state of Florida with over 30 years in the optical industry! His goal is to help you protect your eyes from sun damage.

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Wharton High grad Gabriel Hassan lost his battle with Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome after reciving his diploma.

‘Johnny C’s’

Continued from pg. 1

pictures Cox posted online of her class in their Johnny C’s uniforms, Ravenna invited them to come to the restaurant to not only learn how to make pizzas, but also other aspects of the restaurant business that could help the students in their post-school lives.

“Our program teaches these kids not only academics,” Cox said, “but also life skills that can help them when they leave us after finishing high school. The goal is to help them live as full a life as possible.”

Part of that, Cox said, was also the opportunity to “be off-campus, in a new environment, and take the skills that they’ve learned at school and do them somewhere else. They also are learning food prep skills and seeing what it’s like to work in an actual restaurant.”

In addition, Cox said, the kids learned things like, “the importance of hand-washing and going out to eat with their friends...and even using their table manners.”

The kids were clearly excited about the opportunity and definitely made the most of enjoying it.

To that end, the eleven students who were able to attend that day were divided up into two groups.

Six of the students started out making the pizzas — they each received their own dough balls, learned how to stretch the dough, add the sauce, cheese and toppings themselves, under the chef’s supervision and then watched as Ravenna loaded each personal pie into the oven.

“They can make whatever kind of pizza they want,” Ravenna said. “We have all of the toppings ready for them.”

At the same time, the other five students in the class learned how to fold the pizza boxes, roll silverware and wipe

down the Johnny C’s menus. Once the first batch of pizzas was cooked, the two groups switched roles.

Ravenna said the other skills the kids were learning served another purpose, too.

“They have to see that it’s not all fun and glory,” Ravenna said. “These other skills are ones that they would have to learn as a new employee at any restaurant. We hope this is a way for some of these kids to learn how to get into the workforce.”

After all of the instructions were done and the delicious smell of freshly made pizza filled Johnny C’s, all of the kids got

to enjoy their pizzas, which clearly was the highlight of a super-fun day.

An Ongoing Tradition

Although Ravenna’s partner Pat Ciaccio has recently shut down his attempt to build a Community Café in Wesley Chapel to help special needs adults get into the workforce, Ravenna and Johnny C’s catered the “Night to Shine” event for the Tim Tebow Foundation at nearby Cypress Point Community Church on Feb. 10.

“Night to Shine” is a nationwide celebration where special needs kids/young

adults get to wear tuxedos and evening gowns and attend a prom-like celebration of their own, all for free.

“We served dinner for 210 kids who don’t get many opportunities to get dressed up and have a gala like that,” Ravenna said. “It’s also kind of a tear-jerker, but it’s a really, really nice event.”

So, helping these special needs youngsters is obviously part of Ravenna’s DNA and is clearly appreciated.

“Thank you, Erik and Johnny C’s Pizza for having us,” Cox said. “This has definitely been the highlight of our year!”

(Clockwise from above left) Kelly Cox’s ESE class at Cypress Creek High came to Johnny C’s on Cross Creek Blvd. to learn how to make pizzas. Sophia puts the finishing touches on her personal-size pizza. Learning how to shape the pizza crusts. The kids also learned how to fold pizza boxes and roll silverware. The best part of learning how to make pizzas is definitely getting to eat your own creations! (All photos by Charmaine George)

Orlando Health Meets The Local Community At Chamber Event At PHSC

By Gary Nager

Although Wesley Chapel already has two full-size, full-service hospitals located within a couple of miles of each other, the area’s largest hospital is now being built less than a mile from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, the first hospital to open (more than a decade ago) in any of Wesley Chapel’s three zip codes (33543, 33544 and 33545).

And, although Orlando Health Wesley Chapel has not yet begun going vertical, when the nonprofit hospital operator asked North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) president & CEO Hope Kennedy if she would be interested in hosting a community meeting to introduce Orlando Health to the local community, Kennedy says she jumped at the opportunity.

“It was a no-brainer for us,” Kennedy said after the meeting was held on Feb. 21 at Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, which is located within a few hundred feet of the new hospital site, which is at the corner of S.R. 56 and Wiregrass Ranch Blvd.

Kennedy asked Porter Campus Provost Dr. Davina Jones if she would be interested in having the meeting at PHSC, where the Chamber hosts its monthly Business Breakfasts, and the event was quickly put together.

More than 150 NTBC members and a number of local contractors interested in working with Orlando Health on the project came to the meeting, which featured Kennedy, Dr. Jones, Pasco Economic Development Council VP Mike Bishop, Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Por ter, Orlando Health VP of Facility Development & Asset Strategy John Walsh and Kim Neuscheler, the VP & general manager of Turner Construction Tampa, which is building the new hospital.

Walsh said the 103-year-old Orlando Health decided to make its first foray into Pasco County and Wesley Chap-

el because of the area’s “amazing growth and oppor tunity,” especially after recently acquiring Florida Medical Clinic, the 52-office physician group that will allow Orlando Health to not only staf f the new hospital, but create new partnerships in the area.

When it is completed, Orlando Health’s will be the largest of the three hospitals in Wesley Chapel, at 395,000 sq. ft., 300 total beds (although the $300-million first phase will include about 102 beds — 90 medical/surgical and 12 ICU and six operating rooms, with room for 78 additional beds in the building’s shell), and also will include two large (one 60,000 and the other 80,000 sq. ft.) medical of fice buildings on the same 35-acre site.

Walsh also said that in addition to the Tampa office of Turner Construction, all of the subcontractors also will come from the local area, which explains in no small part why so many of those providers attended this community event.

“This is such an exciting opportunity for Pasco County and the Wesley Chapel area,” Kennedy said.

Walsh also stressed that although Orlando Health is building a hospital, “this is not a one-and-done kind of

(Above, l.-r.) NTBC President Hope Kennedy, PHSC Porter Campus Provost Dr. Davina Jones, Pasco EDC VP Mike Bishop, Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter, Orlando Health VP John Walsh & Turner Construction VP Kim Neuscheler provided more than 150 attendees (below) with information about Wesley Chapel’s newest hospital at an NTBC-sponsored panel discussion on Feb. 21. (Photos by Charmaine George)

See “Orlando Health” on pg. 8.

‘Orlando Health’

Continued from pg. 6

project...we’re also already working in Lutz to put in a free-standing ED (emergency department); we’re also building the two medical of fice buildings, which will have an ambulator y surgical center, imaging center and an array of acute care facilities and physician specialists to keep us all healthy, so maybe we won’t have to go through the doors of the hospital (which will need about 400 employees when it opens). It’s important to have that whole array of services. This is not ‘sick care,’ it’s health care.”

Walsh also mentioned the possibility of adding 10-bed “micro-hospitals,” as needed to serve communities located further from the hospital that couldn’t necessarily support a full-size hospital of their own.

“The most important things we build in a community is not the buildings,” Walsh added. “It’s the relationships.”

Porter, who admitted that, “Our biggest fear was that this could turn out to be an albatross if we built too many hospitals,” also said that he knew Orlando Health was a great partner to work with and that, despite the presence of what will be three hospitals by sometime in 2026, “With all the growth out here, this area is actually still underserved. We’ve got a long, long way to go.”

And, when Kennedy asked about what PHSC could do to help ensure that there is a useful workforce for the new hospital, Dr. Jones responded that, “As a State College, with a history as a Community College, we have a responsibility to know what the needs are in the communities that we serve. So, we’re asking

ourselves now, ‘Do we have...are we offering... the right programs...to serve the business community that’s here?’ Our goal is to never get too comfortable and to always be willing to change with the community’s needs.”

Meanwhile, Bishop agreed with Dr. Jones and talked about the growing life sciences in Pasco and the need for more partnerships.

“Our challenge is to bring business to this county,” he said. “But, if we all work together, we can address the challenges we all face.”

And, speaking of those partnerships, Neuscheler said that Turner, as one of the leading health care builders in the U.S., always strives to be a good community partner, giving “opportunities to smaller, local companies to do business with us, with our Turner Construction School, which many of you already have gone through, and is something we’ve done since 1969. We will be holding another one of those in October.” She added that veteran- and minorityowned companies will definitely be of fered the opportunity to participate in this process.

Neuscheler also noted that the hospital’s foundation should begin being built sometime in April or May, with vertical construction taking about six months once the foundation is laid.

The panelists all also talked about innovation as an important part of the new hospital, which includes in constr uction, doctors, nurses and other hospital personnel and the equipment that they will be using — from robotic surgery to 3D printing, artificial intelligence and more.

Walsh said that the merger with a respected partner like Florida Medical Clinic will help ensure that the right doctors will staff the hospital.

“One of our mottos,” Walsh said, “is that we don’t just care for you, we care about you.”

Massive Two Rivers Development Taking Shape

Is The Two Rivers Development Expanding Both Wesley Chapel & New Tampa To East Of Morris Bridge Rd.?

By GARY NAGER

Research by Joel Provenzano

If you haven’t taken a ride on S.R. 56 eastbound past Morris Bridge Rd. recently, I believe you probably should do so.

While Wesley Chapel and New Tampa residents online complain about how every remaining shred of land in our communities is being developed, adding to our ever-increasing traffic at the expense of open space and a more pastoral way of life, it seems that others outside of any known boundary of Wesley Chapel (as I presented in our Oct. 17 issue) are now creating new communities that may ultimately finally move what even I call Wesley Chapel (and, to a lesser extent, New Tampa) well to the east, too.

Before the creation of the huge 6,000-acre Two Rivers Master-Planned Unit Development (MPUD), the only community in Zephyrhills that pretty much anyone would confuse with being Wesley Chapel-like was Lake Bernadette, which has fewer than 1,000 total households with entrances on both Eiland Blvd. and S.R. 54, all in zip code 33541.

But, it seems that you could fit all of Lake Bernadette inside Two Rivers (see map), which is being developed by Eisenhower Property Group, due east of Morris Bridge Rd. in both Pasco and Hillsborough counties. In fact, Two Rivers is actually larger than the 5,000-acre Wiregrass Ranch development to its west.

And, like Lake Bernadette, the zip code for the Pasco portions of Two Rivers that began being developed in December of 2023 is 33541. That means that if I decide to start mailing the Neighborhood News there, I will be expanding our all-direct-mail distribution east of Wesley Chapel for the first time.

More About Two Rivers

Although I had heard of Two Rivers before now, I didn’t really take notice of it until I saw a billboard on S.R. 54 near mine and Jannah’s apartment (which has a Land O’Lakes address) that proclaimed Two Rivers as a “New Community — Wesley Chapel.” What? Did I somehow miss that Two Rivers was actually west of Morris Bridge Rd.?

The answer is a resounding “No,” but the community is being marketed as basically an extension of Wesley Chapel — and who could blame the developer or the home builders?

According to its promotional materials, Two Rivers is “near Wesley Chapel” and will “give residents a best-of-both-worlds living experience.” Two Rivers will feature more than 7,500 planned residential homes, townhomes, apartments and villas: “Those who make their home here will enjoy access to clubhouses, pools, parks, trails, sports cour ts and shared green spaces...and plans include K-12 schools, as well as retail space, future options for dining, cafés, groceries and beauty services, fitness and more.”

One of the first two villages already selling homes in Two Rivers is Childers by Lennar Homes, with “447 total homesites, about 100 sold and 65 closed or moved into,” according to new home consultant Brooke Politano. Homes in Childers start in the mid-$300,000s.

The other village now selling is Northwater by D.R. Horton, with 360 total homes, also star ting in the mid $300s, with about 30 homes

already with residents. Both subdivisions are north of S.R. 56.

Transforming Another Historic Ranch

When Wayne Thomas purchased the first portion of the Two Rivers Ranch in the 1930s, he couldn’t possibly have known that his cattle ranch would expand to more that 17,000 acres stretching from northeast Hillsborough through Pasco and even reaching to Hernando County

A little more than 500 acres of that property was located in Crystal Springs, sort of between Thonotosassa and Zephyrhills, and which today is home to Poland Springs Waters, the large company now bottling and selling Zephyrhills Natural Spring Water.

But, the Thomas family has been good stewards of their land since before World War II, so much so that in 2014, Two Rivers Ranch was honored as one of seven regional Environmental Stewardship Award Program (ESAP) winners. The award, which is sponsored by Dow AgroSciences, the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser vice, National Cattlemen’s Beef Association (NCBA) and the National Cattlemen’s Foundation, is presented to farmers and ranchers “who work hard to protect America’s natural resources.”

Two Rivers Ranch began as a cow and calf operation that has now been owned and managed by Robert Thomas and his family for more than 90 years.

“The Hillsborough River supplies approximately 90 percent of the city of Tampa’s drinking water, so it’s ver y important for the city,” said Wayne Thomas, Executive Vice President, Two Rivers Ranch, and himself a fourth-generation cattle rancher.

“We have a very high profile here as a result of the importance of our natural resource,” added his father Robert Thomas, who is the CEO of Two Rivers Ranch.

The ranch was honored with the ESAP award for its proven land management techniques to enhance their operation.

“The Thomas family keeps their herd size limited so as not to negatively impact wetlands, water quality of the adjacent river bodies, native vegetation or wildlife populations,” was par t of the reason given for the family receiving the award.

Today, as explained earlier in this stor y, the Thomas family is now allowing Two Rivers to be developed as another huge Master Planned Unit Development, but which promises to have more than 3,000 acres of wooded landscapes, with lots of open space, parks, walking trails, dog parks, passive parks, court and lawn space and more.

This map of Two Rivers shows the portions that are currently under development, as well as the future plans in both Hillsborough & Pasco

Two Rivers Today & Tomorrow

Also expected to be part of the Pasco portion of Two Rivers is a central health, wellness and dining club for residents. This facility will include tennis, pickleball, pools, playgrounds, various interior and exterior gathering spaces and a bar and restaurant. There also is a planned regional district park as well as shopping, dining and office spaces planned.

At Northwater village, D.R. Horton’s smallest home is the 3 bedroom, 2 bathroom Allex II model, with 1,560 sq. ft. of living area, starting at around $344K. The largest is the 5-bedroom, 3-bath Hayden model with 2,605 sq. ft. of living area, starting in the $420s.

Meanwhile, in the Childers village, Lennar’s smallest home is the 3-bedroom, 2-bath Annapolis model, with 1,448 sq. ft. of living space star ting at around $329K. The largest is the Tren-

ton model, with 6 bedrooms, 3 baths and 3,326 sq. ft. of living area, star ting at around $489K.

Now that the first two villages in Two Rivers are well under way, here are the plans for additional villages and home builders that are planned to arrive this year:

•Tamarack Village (early 2024)

– This gated village will include homes by Park Square Homes and William Ryan Homes.

•Ryals Field Village (mid-2024)

– Gated village featuring Homes by WestBay.

•Delyle Village (mid-2024) – Offering Pulte homes.

•Shortgrass Village (late 2024)

– Of fering M/I Homes.

•Additional villages and phases will feature Casa Fresca, Meritage Homes and Taylor Morrison Homes.

counties. (Two Rivers map modified by NN)

The largest homes currently available in Two Rivers are the Trenton model from Lennar Homes (left) in the Childers community and (right) the Hayden model from D.R. Homes in the Northwater village. (Photos taken from Lennar.com & from DRHorton.com)

But Wait, There’s More!

As we also mentioned on the previous page, Two Rivers also is planned to expand into Hillsborough County by sometime next year (2025).

The first new section to be built across Morris Bridge Rd. from New Tampa is Flatwoods, described in Two Rivers’ marketing materials as, “Our luxur y section (that) will be home to Flatwoods Golf & Country Club. This community will feature a private country club with a spa, recreational amenities and an 18-hole golf course. The course, designed by renowned Scottish golf course architect David McLay-Kidd of DMK Golf Design, is estimated to be completed in 2025.” DMK Golf has designed several very prestigious resort and private golf courses throughout the world, including The Castle Course at St. Andrews Links in Scotland, and Nanea Golf Club in Kailua Kona, HI.

Some Transportation Info

Although Two Rivers’ Flatwoods village will be set back quite a bit from both Morris Bridge Rd. in New Tampa and U.S. Hwy. 301 in Thonotosassa, according to plans filed with Hillsborough County, there will be another future connection from Two Rivers to Morris Bridge Rd, which will be located basically on the county line, adjacent to a TECO-owned power substation and aligned with Camer ton Rd. on the west side.

There currently are plans for three future traffic signals along S.R. 56, all of which the developer will pay for and construct (under permit) when warrants are met. The locations will be for the intersec-

tions with Two Rivers Blvd., Widewater Way, and Lodge Grass Blvd., all where the existing full median openings are currently located. A fourth signal along S.R. 56 might be considered between Lodge Grass Blvd. and U.S. 301 (also a full median opening), depending upon the amount of traffic that portion of the development, which will be commercial, might generate.

In addition, there also will be a connection to U.S. 301 in Hillsborough, which also will be signalized by full build-out. Two more signals for U.S. 301 at Lodge Grass Blvd., and Morris Bridge Rd. at Colston Ave., also are planned. The right-of-way along Morris Bridge Rd. is now 80’ wide but the MPUD conditions for Two Rivers requires the family to convey a 44’ wide strip of its property over to the county.

The River Landing development on S.R. 56 west of Morris Bridge Rd. also was required to provide a similar strip, which will allow for the potential widening of Morris Bridge Rd. to four lanes in the future.

In addition to the signals, the county also will require Two Rivers to construct left and right turn lanes along Morris Bridge Rd. at Colston Ave. The only other entrance/exit along Morris Bridge Rd. for Two Rivers will be a gated emergency-only access near the southern portion of the development.

This will bring the grand total of traffic signals for Two Rivers to potentially eight: four on S.R. 56, two on Morris Bridge Rd. and two on U.S. 301, subject to meeting warrants and final approval by the transportation departments of the local and state governments.

Theatre Beat — ‘Dreamgirls,’ ‘Spelling Bee,’ ‘Singin’

By Gary Nager

When I grew up and later lived in New York in and near Manhattan, I was fortunate to be able to see dozens of Broadway and Off-Broadway shows and although musicals may not necessarily be everyone’s cup of tea, I came to appreciate musical theatre, as well as stage comedies and dramas, and the incredibly talented people who performed in all of those shows.

What I will admit that I never expected is that there also could possibly be so many talented people performing in local community theatre. I also have no problem admitting that I probably should have attended at least a few more local theatre performances in the years leading up to the opening last year of the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

But, Jannah and I are proud to say that we have attended several shows since I was a bit player in the New Tampa Players (NTP)’s opening performance at NTPAC of “Grease.” First, we were in the audience for the fun and adorable “Shrek the Musical,” but we didn’t stop there. Here is a rundown of the other shows that we either recently saw or plan to see in the coming weeks...and I think you should, too.

“Dreamgirls”

The first stop on our post-“Shrek” theatre journey was the New Tampa Players’ production of “Dreamgirls” at the NTPAC. Like “Grease” and “Shrek,” this award-winning Broadway hit that also spawned a successful movie also ran for two weekends and six performances and the entire second weekend of the show’s run was fully sold out, while the first weekend had probably fewer than 20 total unsold tickets.

And, for good reason. While NTP’s “Dreamgirls” couldn’t possibly match the Broadway talent or the voices in the film starring “American Idol” winner Jennifer Hudson, the cast and show were

nonetheless super-impressive and talented, especially for community theatre.

And, although the women who portrayed the Dreams singing group — NaTasha McKenzie as Effie White, Caron Davis as Deena Jones and especially, Patty Smithey as Lorrell Robinson — were all excellent singers, dancers and actors, for our money, the dynamically talented Christan McLaurine as James “Thunder” Early stole the show.

“Singin’ In The Rain” Auditions

Up next for the Players are auditions for “Singin’ in the Rain,” the song-&-dance musical based on the classic 1952 film starring Gene Kelly and Debbie Reynolds. The show runs July 19-28 at NTPAC.

“Singin’ in the Rain” combines the talents of director Nora Paine, musical director G. Frank Meekins and choreographer Sarah Walston, the trio who also led the production of “Grease.”

If you know of any talented male or female singers and tap dancers, auditions for “Singin’ in the Rain” will be held in April. Look to these pages for additional information or

The Rain’ & ‘Broadway!’

visit NewTampaPlayers.org.

“The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee”

If you were looking for a fun, hysterically funny and light-hearted musical theatre experience, I hope you got to check out MAD Theatre of Tampa’s “Spelling Bee” at the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa. This tiny playhouse was the perfect setting for this Spelling Bee, which was chock full of amazing, talented characters, including Chris

Cordero and Dylan Fidler, who played the title roles in NTP’s “Shrek” and “Grease” (Danny Zuko), respectively.

But, it wasn’t just the six young actors portraying the pubescent spellers who gave amazing performances. The entire cast, led by director Casey Vaughn, music director Megan Zeitler and choreographer Evan Lomba (who played Donkey in NTP’s “Shrek”) all deserve big kudos for a show that truly was a laugh riot.

Up next for MAD Theatre, which is celebrating 25 years as a performance

(Left) Christan McLaurine stole the New Tampa Players’ production of “Dreamgirls” as James “Thunder” Early. (Above) The “Dreamgirls” were (l.-r.) Patty Smithey as Lorrell Robinson, NaTasha McKenzie as Effie White & Caron Davis as Deena Jones. (Photos by Charmaine George)

troupe, is “Urinetown The Musical,” with performances June 14-30, also at the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center. For tickets and more information, visit MadTheatre.com.

“Broadway Through The Decades: Contemporary Era”

The new Wesley Chapel Theater Group (WCTG) presents Part 2 of its Broadway musical revue series. The show will feature songs from popular musicals of the 1970s, ‘80s and ‘90s performed in a cabaret-style show. WCTG has teamed up with the Zephyrhills Lions Club to bring

new entertainment to the Zephyrhills and Wesley Chapel areas.

Proceeds from the show will go to help WCTG continue to produce performing arts for our community and to the Zephyrhills Lions Club’s sight program.

“Broadway Through The Decades” will be performed Sat., Mar. 9, 7 p.m., and Sun., Mar. 10, 2 p.m. The Sat. show includes dinner at 5:30 p.m. and the Sun. matinee includes coffee and dessert at intermission. Tickets are $35 and can be purchased at the Zephyrhills Lions Club (5827 Dean Dairy Rd.) or at WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org.

(L.-r.) Richard Brown (William Barfee), Gabrielle Ray (Olive Ostrovsky), Chris Cordero (Chip Tolentino), Jillian Koehn (Marcy Park), Taylor Skolnick (Logainne Schwartzandgrubenierre) & Dylan Fidler (Leaf Coneybear) made MAD Theatre of Tampa’s “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” a blast from beginning to end. (Photo provided by Mad Theatre)

Upcoming Events: St. Paddy’s Day At O’Brien’s & Jack Wilkins At NTPAC!

By GARY NAGER

Friday-Sunday, March 15-17 — Three-Day St. Patrick’s Day Parking Lot Celebration at O’Brien’s Irish Pub. O’Brien’s (5429 Wesley Chapel Village Market) will again be hosting the largest St. Patrick’s Day celebration in the New Tampa/ Wesley Chapel area with an indoor-outdoor party every day of St. Paddy’s Day weekend.

On Friday, MoonShine Abby will be performing from 8 p.m.-midnight. According to their website, MoonShine Abby is “the best blend of mature artistry, vigorous technique, and honed skill all wrapped up into a highenergy, party-style band.”

What’s a St. Pat’s Day party without bagpipes? You can come out to here pipers on Saturday and Sunday. On Sat., 25-yearold Gemma Briggs plays the pipes from 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Gemma says she is, “passionate about providing high-quality bagpipe music, professionalism and an unforgettable touch to any occasion.”

Gemma (photo above right) will be followed at 8 p.m. on Sat. night by the Ryan Marchand Band.

Ryan’s website says he uses “live-looping (to create) sonic landscapes with layered beatbox percussion, vocal harmonies, and a bevy of guitar effects to cover the frequency and timbre spectrum. He draws inspirations from studio albums from Pink Floyd, The Beatles and more.”

Then, the main event at O’Brien’s will be held on Sun., St. Paddy’s Day itself.

From 4 p.m.-7 p.m., “The Irishman” Capt. Kirk, will play all of your favorite Irish tunes. Inside, from 7 p.m.-midnight, DJ SAF will spin dance music inside, but outside, the City of Mt. Dora pipe band will play your St. Pat’s favorites from 7:30 p.m.-8 p.m.

Then, the Daniel Sprouse Band will play your favorite rock and country hits from 8 p.m.-midnight outside.

Please note that no coupons will be accepted all weekend at O’Brien’s and there will be a $10 cover charge on Sun. only. For more info, call (813) 97309988 or visit ObriensWesleyChapel.com.

Holy Week Services & Events —

Although all local churches will hold Easter services on Sunday, March 31, both Grace Episcopal Church in Tampa Palms and St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd. have services and events throughout Holy Week, with St. Mark’s Vigil Mass for Palm Sunday (see ad on next page) being held on Saturday, March 23, and Palm Sunday services at both Grace (see ad on this page) and St. Mark being held on Sunday, March 24.

Monday, March 25, 7 p.m. — Monthly meeting of the New Tampa Democratic Club. The New Tampa Democrats are gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Presidential and local election season. For more information, see the ad below.

Wednesday, March 27, 7 p.m.-8 p.m.

— Wesley Chapel Elks Lodge organizational Meeting & Membership Drive — If you’re looking to become par t of a service organization that focuses its efforts on helping children and militar y veterans, the Elks have nearly 1,800 chapters and about 750,000 total members across the U.S. and are hoping to build a new Elks Lodge in the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa area. This meeting will be held at the Lexington Oaks Community Center (26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd., Wesley Chapel) and light refreshments will be served. For more information, call Nancy Ellard at (732) 598-7883 or email src4paradise@yahoo.com.

Thursday, April 4, 8 p.m.

Tampa Jazz Club’s USF New Tampa Jazz Series presents a Jack Wilkins CD Release Concert.

An All-Star cast will join USF Professor of Jazz Studies (and Grammy Award nominee) Jack Wilkins (photo) on the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.) stage, as he releases his most recent CD and will be joined by an All-Star cast, including Danny Gottlieb, Steve Allee and James Suggs. Tickets cost $25 for adults, $20 for Tampa Jazz Club members, $10 for students and $5 for USF students.

For more information, see the ad at the bottom of this page.

Are You Looking For A Great Service Organization To Help Children & Veterans In Our Community?

Join The New Wesley Chapel Elks Lodge!

Our Next Organizational Meeting & Membership Drive Will Be Held: Wednesday, March 27, 7pm-8pm at Lexington Oaks Community Center 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd. Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

Light Refreshments Will Be Served — Bring A Friend!

The Elks (officially the “Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks,” or BPOE) is a national service organization with more than 1,750 chapters across the U.S., representing about 750,000 total members. The Elks’ Mission is to serve & assist children & veterans in our communities through a fraternal organization and it’s a great way to serve, make friends & socialize with friendly, like-minded people!

For more information, call Membership Chair Nancy Ellard at 732-598-7883 or email src4paradise@yahoo.com

The

Invites You to Celebrate Holy Week Mass Times and Services are:

Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord

March 23rd Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 pm (Livestreamed)

March 24th Sunday:

8:30 am

10:30 am

12:30 pm (Spanish) (Livestreamed)

5:30 pm

March 25th Monday: 12:00 pm Mass

March 26th Tuesday: 8:30 am Mass

March 27th Wednesday: 8:30 am Mass

March 28th Holy Thursday:

10:00 am MORNING PRAYER

7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed) Procession/Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament follows until 11:30 pm over in The Venetian

March 29th Good Friday:

10:00 am MORNING PRAYER

3:00 pm GOOD FRIDAY of the Lord’s Passion (Livestreamed) Adoration of the Holy Cross

March 30th Holy Saturday:

10:00 am MORNING PRAYER (Blessing of Easter Baskets after Morning Prayer)

8:15 pm Easter Vigil Mass (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed)

March 31st Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord

6:45 am

8:30 am

10:30 am (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed)

10:40 am in The Venetian

12:30 pm (Spanish) (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed)

9724 Cross Creek Blvd, Tampa, FL 33647 www.StMarkTampa.org

View Livestream Via: www.facebook.com/StMarkTampa

Army Vet’s O.M. Yoga & Training Teaches Mindfulness, Mobility & More

By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent

Alan Torres was studying business at Cleveland State University in Ohio in 2014 when he says moving in with his uncle changed his life.

Alan’s uncle talked about his days in the U.S. Army, and it inspired Alan to “be all that he could be” by enlisting, as well.

“I always cared about people and I wanted to serve,” says Alan, “and I wanted to max out my own potential and give myself a challenge.”

The Army gave Alan the oppor tunity to do just that. He served in field artillery with the Army from 2014-18.

Alan was based out of Fort Bragg, NC, and was deployed for nine months to northern Syria.

“It was the biggest experience of my life,” he says. But, he decided one deployment was enough for him, so he left the Army when his contract ended.

Alan says that time in his life, after his service, was difficult. He didn’t have any direction, started gaining weight, didn’t want to leave the house and noticed changes in the way he was handling himself. He says he had a lot of fear and aggression and began boiling over at simple things.

He realized that he was navigating the difficult experiences he had while deployed, and he wanted to change.

“When I came back to yoga, it was a

tions and thoughts, and space to heal.”

Alan had been introduced to yoga back in his college days, and when he needed it most, he says yoga helped him learn to turn his reactions into response.

Three years ago, he moved to Fort Myers, FL, to live near his mom, then decided to continue his studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Communication in 2021.

He realized his passion for yoga could help others like himself who wanted to be more mindful.

He began taking classes and eventually was certified with a 200-hour yoga instructor certificate from My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, TX. He also earned a cer tification in Pranayama, which is an ancient Indian practice that focuses on breathing techniques.

Alan also earned a personal training diploma and certification from the Na-

tional Personal Training Institute (NPTI) in ampa in 2022.

The yoga and personal training certifications, along with his communication degree, made his next step feel natural.

He launched an insured mobile business offering one-on-one and group yoga instruction, mobility training, traditional personal training sessions and workout programs.

Why Is It Called ‘O.M.?’

Alan says his business is named “O.M.” Yoga & Training for multiple reasons. One is the military term, “Oscar Mike.” When used as a call sign, “Oscar Mike” is interpreted as code for “On the Move.”

“Being that we are a mobile and veteran-owned company that promotes holistic wellness through intentional body movement, staying ‘On the Move’ is a vital part of our mission,” says Alan. “Additionally, O.M. also pays tribute to the roots and histor y of yoga. In the yoga realm, ‘om’ is recognized as the highest vibration and purest energy that connects all things in existence. ‘Om’ symbolizes the positive experiences and meaningful connections we aim to cultivate.”

He brings his classes to you, whether you want to practice in your home, office, or a nearby park.

“I bring everything you need,” he says. “If you don’t have a mat, I bring the mat. I bring props, bolsters, straps, a speaker, my playlist, even aromatherapy. I

bring a full yoga studio to your location.”

He says this is especially helpful for people like him, who don’t feel they fit in at the typical yoga studio.

“I want to help people who want to gain confidence and build the fundamentals,” he says, “then they can do their own thing, if they want.”

Besides the mindfulness that yogis learn, the practice of yoga offers other benefits, as well. Alan says his instruction also focuses on stress reduction and the need to decompress through everyday life. Every class opens and closes with meditation, which helps yoga practitioners come into the present moment, leaving behind the chaos of work or traffic or whatever their lives have just thrown at them.

He says yoga also helps with mobility. He teaches people to have better movement quality so they set themselves up to age more gracefully. He is careful to teach the correct alignment for every yoga pose so his clients don’t risk being injured.

Alan says he typically first works with people once or twice to be sure he’s a good fit, then offers packages of eight classes. Most people prefer classes once or twice a week. After they’ve finished their packages with Alan, they might feel more comfortable going to a local studio or practicing yoga on their own.

He also offers group lessons for anyone who has a group of friends or family members who want to learn together, but emphasizes that individual lessons go much deeper.

“I pride myself on connecting,” Alan

says, “especially when it’s one-on-one. It’s amazing to watch people change. Sometimes when I first meet them, they’re down, they’re quiet, but, in a month or two, there’s a big change. That’s so rewarding.”

He says his prices are based on how far he has to travel from his home, so while he travels as far as Sarasota, clients in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area will find his fees more affordable.

Although O.M. Yoga & Training is a fairly new company that doesn’t have many Google reviews yet, every single review Alan has received is five out of five stars.

For example, Jessica Washington says, “Alan can change your life, whether it be in gaining strength, learning to breathe and release tension, setting intentions or simply learning mobility through his well thought out yoga classes.”

Aaron Baca’s review says Alan is a “phenomenal teacher. (His) explanations during each session (are) second to none. Five stars each time he comes out and gives a class!”

It’s incredibly meaningful for this Army veteran to connect with people who benefit from learning yoga.

“I’m very passionate about what I do,” says Alan. “I’ve learned how to manage myself and I want to share that with people.”

For more information about O.M. Yoga & Training, visit OMYogaandTraining.com or email Alan at OscarMikeYT@ gmail.com. You also can call or text him at (813) 334-6336. Be sure to see his ad on page 31 of this issue, too.

Kitchen Tune-Up Can Give Your Home A Whole New Look...For Less!

By Deborah Bostock-Kelly Neighborhood News Correspondent

Many homeowners look at their outdated kitchen cabinetry and long for a fresh, new look, but want to avoid living in dust, disr uption and noise for a month or longer while their kitchen is being remodeled in a major renovation.

The good news is that a much faster and more affordable alternative is available.

Kitchen Tune-Up is a hassle-free way to update any kitchen without all of that the chaos. The local franchise was opened in 2021 by Tampa Palms residents Al and Zein Aita, who serve New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, and the surrounding areas. Al says they were inspired to open the franchise location because, during the pandemic,most people were not buying new houses. Instead, many were upgrading their existing homes.

“The demand was there, and this was something we could be passionate about,” Al says. “We want our customers’ kitchens to look good for their families and visitors. The kitchen is the heart of the house. To us, that was one of the selling points. Plus, we wanted to be part of a strong franchise. We are locally owned and operated, but we have the support of a large, well-established company that’s been around 35 years with a presence in 50 states and nine locations in Florida. Having that credibility was very important to us.”

In fact, Kitchen Tune-Up today has more than 180 franchises serving nearly 300

protected territories throughout the U.S. and Canada. The company’s website — Kitchen TuneUp.com — offers a design tool to mix and match the desired design and options.

“It’s a way for the customer to get their imagination going, to get them to follow their initial idea,” says Al. “We use it initially to start the conversation. We explain the process from A to Z and give each customer a quote on the spot.”

Working with Kitchen Tune-Up has many advantages over a traditional kitchen renovation, as it can transform any kitchen in as little as five days, with minimal disturbance to the home and lifestyle. The process begins with a free in-home consultation that lasts about 45 minutes.

Al and Zein’s technicians are trained and certified, and use only high-quality materials and products. Their customers also get a war ranty on the workmanship and materials, as well as a customer service guarantee.

Best of all, a Kitchen Tune-Up offers considerable savings off the cost of a complete kitchen remodel, depending upon the products and ser vices you choose. Customers also can finance their projects with low monthly payments and no interest for the first twelve months.

Available Services

existing cabinet boxes. Customers can choose from hundreds of styles and colors to match their tastes and budget.

Among Kitchen Tune-Up’s available services is Cabinet Re-dooring, which replaces your old cabinet doors and drawer fronts with new ones while keeping the

Cabinet Refacing covers the existing cabinet boxes with new wood or a laminate veneer and installs new doors and drawer fronts. Customers can change the style, color and material of their cabinets and add new features like soft-close hinges, pulls and knobs.

“Cabinet Re-dooring and Refacing are

quick ways to upgrade the kitchen without the demolition and the mess,” Al says. “We keep the shape of the kitchen, but we update it. We give your cabinets new functionality and a beautiful, new look. (During construction, our) customers still have access to their cabinets, fridge and oven. They can function around us as we install and do the work.”

New features, such as built-in trash cans, spice racks, and other items, also can be

ble, professional-grade finish. You can choose vir tually any color and add new hardware and accessories to complete the look.

“Painting is a cost-effective way to upgrade the kitchen without changing much about it,” Al says. “You just upgrade the color. The cabinets will look new and factorypainted without breaking the bank.”

Al recalls customers who called him after someone else painted their cabinets and they didn’t like the outcome.

“I’ve heard this story so many times,” he says. “Yes, we can even re-paint your alreadypainted cabinets to be something that still looks new.”

Kitchen Tune-Up also designs and installs new custom cabinets for any kitchen. You can choose from various real wood types, finishes, door styles and storage solutions to create your dream kitchen at your initial consultation, where sample doors are brought in so you can see and feel the quality of the doors and decide upon the services you want to select.

“If you have a special area of your house where you are looking to add a cabinet, a bar area, or something that does not fit the standard-size cabinet boxes, we’re able to custom-build something that will look nice and blend in with the rest of the house,” says Al. “That’s a unique service that we offer.”

Kitchen Tune-Up also offers counter-

not like the color and shine from a previous painter. (Kitchen Tune-Up) stripped, refinished my current kitchen cabinets, and they came out great. No complaints, and the work was done timely and professionally. The gentleman doing the labor took pride in ensuring everything was neat, clean and looking its best. Communication was also wonder ful! Would highly recommend their services.”

Once you select your products and services, the doors are returned for their second confirmation, measurements are taken and the details and goals are finalized. The timeline from initial consultation to scheduling and ordering to completion averages between five to no more than 30 days.

Kitchen Tune-Up can offer many affordable solutions that full kitchen remodeling companies may not provide. Al and Zein and their technicians are hands-on with their customers, instead of turning them over to some third party.

“We take the customer step-by-step,” Al says. “If there are any issues, we can take care of them immediately. We try to do these services quickly and professionally because everyone is busy, and their time is limited. We know some people have kids and pets. We don’t want to be in their way for too long.”

Visit KitchenTuneUp.com/tampanorth-fl, call (813) 822-5911 or see the ad on page 36.

Your CBD Store Of New Tampa Keeps Adding New Products!

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Neighborhood News Correspondent

Located in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Your CBD Store of New Tampa has calming blue-grey walls, greenery throughout the store, comfortable seating and an expansive, open layout. With informational displays and posters, exceptional customer suppor t, and product knowledge, the husband-and-wife team of David Calcador and Debra Curler make you feel immediately at home.

David & Debra opened their Your CBD Store franchise location in November 2019 and it has thrived through the pandemic, thanks to the dedication of these two New Tampa residents.

“When customers come in, we ask them what they know about CBD,” Debra says. “Some are well-educated and we walk the others through the store and introduce and educate them about our product line. We find out what their problems are healthwise. Are they in pain? Are they having problems sleeping? Do they need energy? We need to know what is happening in their bodies to help direct them to the proper products.”

Neither a vape nor a head shop, Your CBD Store is a holistic boutique providing USDA organic and carcinogen-free oral and topical SunMed CBD products for customers and their pets.

At Debra and David’s store, CBD comes in both flavored and flavorless tinctures, oils, pills, gummies, weight-loss products, as well as a skincare line, bath bombs, lotions, massage oils, pain creams and products for dogs and cats.

Unlike marijuana, Your CBD Store offers broad-spectrum CBD products that have zero THC, as well as full-spectr um products with the 0.3 legal limit of THC that contain all cannabinoids (CBD and THC), terpenes, or flavonoids.

With anti-inflammatory and other health effects, flavonoids are plant compounds that give plants their colors and flavors. Flavonoids work with cannabinoids and terpenes, which are naturally occurring compounds in cannabis that shape aroma, taste, colors and therapeutic benefits, to produce the “entou-

rage effect,” enhancing their impact.

“CBD needs to have terpenes and flavonoids,” David says. “They bond to receptors in your body. Without those, you won’t have the full benefit of CBD.”

Debra and David says that love educating their customers and clear up misinformation about CBD. Their CBD products won’t get you high, aren’t illegal, won’t make you impaired and you don’t need a Medical Cannabis card to purchase them.

Instead, their products help with anxiety, sleep issues, chronic pain and more.

“Our products are all-natural, organic, and non-addictive, Debra says. “You can buy CBD anywhere — a smoke shop or gas station, even on Amazon — but you don’t want to do that because anything you are putting on your body or in your body, you want to make sure it is good quality. You risk getting a synthetic, damaging product that can harm your health.

David adds, “We’re third-party tested. We have QR codes on everything we sell, and you can bring up each product’s lab report. We guarantee what’s in our products. We have referring doctors who send patients to us because they know the quality is there.”

By scanning the QR code on Your CBD Store of New Tampa’s products, customers can track each from growth to sale.

“In other words,” David says. “We follow our products from soil to oil.”

New Products

Debra and David are enthusiastic about their store’s newest products, some of which have been enhanced with more CBD, like their SunMed topical cream, which is now available in 4,000-milligram strength, while others are brand new.

“Our topical cream is amazing for isolated pain,” Debra says. “I had a knee replacement years ago, and I had not been able

to walk long distances. The product came out in December, and my husband and I were going Christmas shopping, and I could walk the entire mall. It’s been selling of f the shelves left and right. We’ve always had 1,000- and 2,000-milligram strengths since we opened, but the 4,000 milligrams is amazing.”

Debra also recommends Neuro, a watersoluble CBD, for pain management. While the store’s original daily oil tincture takes time to work, based on your metabolism and weight, the as-needed, water-soluble CBD effects are felt more quickly.

“You take the dropper of Neuro and put it in a Dixie cup size of water and drink it,” she says. “It goes into your body within 10 minutes, comes in 900- and 1,800-milligram strengths, and is also in a gummy form. People love it. I have a lady who comes in weekly and buys two jars. It helps with aches and pains throughout the body.”

The Delta Effect

Your CBD Store of New Tampa also sells both “Above” (with Delta 8 THC) and “Beyond” (with Delta 9 THC) by SunMed.

Recently, Delta products have come under fire from the state legislature, with the Florida Senate voting in February to possibly ban them or severely reduce the THC in these products statewide. The state House of Representatives, however, has not yet voted on the ban at our press time, but was expected to possibly do so before this issue hits your mailbox.

Your CBD Store of New Tampa owners David Calcador and Debra Curler invite you to check out the new products at their store in the Pebble Creek Collection.

“The problem is that the products the legislature really wants to ban are the synthetic Delta products,” Debra says. “They also want to reduce the legal amount of THC from 0.3 to a lower amount in all

CBD Products. Additional concerns are the labeling/packaging of these products, but I am e that SunMed has met all package requirements set forth by the FDA.”

She adds, “Our products with THC are all natural and are strictly regulated by our suppliers. There is nothing synthetic in our products. And, banning oducts wouldn’t just hurt us in the CBD business. It would devastate the growers throughout Florida and damage the state’s economy. Our eceive relief from our award-winning products, which have changed the quality of

As some prescriptions can conflict with CBD, Debra and David suggest that if you are taking medications, you should speak with your physician before starting any CBD regimen.

“We can print out the lab report to give to your doctor,”

stars out of 5, based on 170 reviews.

“If you look at our reviews,” Debra says, “you’ll see people love the products and that they’re changing lives.”

For pet parents, beyond their regular CBD pet treats, chews and tinctures for health and anxiety, Debra recommends another new product — Broad Spectrum Allergy Aid CBD Pet Chews, which have only been in the store for about a month, to help with “hot spots” and seasonal skin allergies.

The results of these products can be transformative, as R. Langelier attests in a 5-star Google review:

“My wife was never a strong believer in CBD helping. But, because her anxiety had gotten worse, and her prescription was no longer doing the trick, on a whim, we came in…. The product itself works so well and so quickly that I can’t help but urge anyone who is on the fence about it to please, for your own

Your CBD Store of New Tampa is located at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Suite B-1. Its hours of operation are Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 1 p.m.– 5 p.m. on Sunday. If you’re age 55 or older, find out how to save 20% off. your purchase. The store also offers a bonus points system that customers can accrue for discounts and free products. Free local delivery or free shipping are available for orders over $100. For more information, call (813) 994-0599, visit GetSunMed.com or see the ad on pg. 28 of this issue.

AgeRejuvenation — Hormones Are The Key To Weight Loss & Better Health

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Neighborhood News Correspondent

With the tagline “Aging Redefined,” AgeRejuvenation — a medical wellness clinic located in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on S.R. 56 at Bruce B.Downs (BBD) Blvd. — is changing people’s perceptions of what happens as they age. In 2007, founder Brett Markowitz says he saw a gap in regenerative and anti-aging medicine. By looking deeper into why his clients felt the way they did, he created a unique clinic that continues to address the root causes of aging and weight gain while providing a personalized solution for each patient.

And, now with locations in Brandon, South Tampa, Winter Park, and soon, Winter Garden, Markowitz says that AgeRejuvenation uses the best services available to enhance the quality of its patients’ lives.

“My vision for the company was to connect with patients who weren’t getting answers from medical providers in private healthcare because they were limited on how they could help somebody due to insurance limitations,” Markowitz says. “If you went in for a rash but also wanted to talk about hot flashes, they’d want you to make another appointment. When I started AgeRejuvenation, it was to help identify where we saw patients str uggling. Back when I was a personal trainer, I worked with patients on dieting and exercise, but (many of them) still wouldn’t lose weight.”

Markowitz says that one of his personal training clients, who has now been par t of his AgeRejuvenation team for the last 17 years, Dr. Johanna deVryer, recommended looking into the thyroid gland and menopause as the culprits. From that idea, a long-term relationship and AgeRejuvenation were born.

“A lot of people identify that they are overweight, but they don’t know what to do,” Markowitz says. “Their metabolisms are slow because their bodies have begun shutting down as they age. When you are in your 20s, your hormones are at their peak. Your body

“When you’re in your 20s, you’re much like a shiny red Ferrari on the lot. As you drive along, you are still a Ferrari, but what’s happened is that you’ve put some dings and dents on the car, and your tank of gas has been depleted. This is similar to what happens to your hormones. At AgeRejuvenation, we are just replenishing the ‘gas’ your body has lost over time.”

Under the guidance of chief medical officer Dr. Dawn Ericsson, AgeRejuvenation offers several options to combat weight gain, including appetite suppressants, semaglutide, or Tirzepatide injections that regulate appetite and blood sugar. Each patient receives a customized weight-loss program based on his or her body composition, metabolism and lifestyle. Patients also receive nutritional counseling, supplements and vitamin injections.

“We really aren’t a miracle solution,” Markowitz says. But, we have achieved some remarkable results utilizing a combination of lab work and understanding each patient’s symptoms and goals. But, in order to achieve great results, the patients have to be responsible for following

healthy and make good decisions.”

Markowitz explains that, according to Dr. Ericsson, one in three females has a sluggish thyroid, and typically if they’ve had one to two children, it becomes one out of two. In fact, he says, menopause symptoms, usually seen between the ages of 45-50, have cases in women as young as 35.

Female patients going through menopause who come into AgeRejuvenation are often on Wellbutrin, Paxil or other medications that are intended to treat depression, anxiety and other emotional disorders.

“That’s how those doctors know how to treat it,” Markowitz says. ”They don’t know how to look at the hormones and say, ‘Oh, you’re not feeling well because your hormones are imbalanced.’ They’re just saying, ‘Yup, you’re depressed. Here’s an antidepressant medication.’ When your hormones are out of balance and you don’t feel right, you absolutely are depressed because who feels good when they’re sick?”

In addition to impeding your ability to lose weight and keep it off, Dr. Ericsson says that imbalanced or depleted hormones also affect energy, quality of sleep, cognitive thinking, risk of osteoporosis and sexual function, among others.

“We are addressing the main cause in so many of these cases — hormonal imbalances,” Markowitz says. “We don’t just Band-Aid the situation. Every person is looked at on an individual basis. While we do run specific lab tests, we also base how we proceed on your particular symptoms. We’re looking at why you are going through this, what is happening in your body, and how can we help you maintain a better quality of life long-term. There’s a difference between living longer and having a better quality of life. Who wants to be 80 and not active? We want to be treating people to be more responsible for

their own health. Giving them the data enables our patients to understand what is specific to (each of) their bodies.”

Markowitz also notes that AgeRejuvenation provides a customized guide to treat each patient, based on extensive testing of their blood, hormones, thyroid, food sensitivities, heavy metals in their systems, genetics and micronutrient absorption. They constantly monitor and evaluate each patient’s progress.

“It would take the average patient we see two years to do the bloodwork we do on Day One,” Markowitz says. “They come to us for a solution, and that’s what we always strive to provide. You don’t have to wait weeks to see us. In many cases, we can get you in the same day for a free evaluation. As Dr. Ericsson says, how we age is defined by our hormones. In our program, while you’re coming to us for weight loss, we want to be the next element in the program so that you can sustain long-term weight loss. That is achieved through balancing hormones and optimizing of the thyroid.”

Dr. Ericsson earned her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in History of Science & Medicine from Yale University in New Haven, CT, and her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the State University of New York at Stony Brook Health Sciences Center. She completed her residency in Obstetrics and Gynecology at St. Barnabas Medical Center in Livingston, NJ, where she was the program’s first-ever female African American graduate. She also has experience as a Pharmacy Technician and as a Medical Diagnostics Market Research Analyst.

Of more than 500 Google reviews, AgeRejuvenation has a 4.9 stars out of 5 overall rating, with hundreds of glowing reviews from patients like Marina Edwards, who says, “I’ve lost 32 lb. in 5 months on the weight loss program. AgeRejuvenation’s nutritionist Terry is amazing. She was encouraging and never made me feel guilty for my little slips. I also feel great on the hormone replacement therapy treatments. Good- bye, hot flashes!”

Treating DisordersPost-Traumatic & Injuries, Too

Markowitz says he is excited about the clinic’s new post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and post-traumatic stress injur y (PTSI) program, serving as a medical partner to the Spookstock Foundation & Operator Relief Fund (ORF). These two foundations are a national nonprofit created to help “shadow warriors” — elite military and intelligence operatives suffering from PTSIs after fighting in U.S.-led wars after 9/11.

He says the clinic, led by PTSI medical director Dr. Michael Meighen, whose philosophy is treating PTSD as an injury, not a disorder, because injuries can be healed.

have been shown to relieve often debilitating symptoms of panic attacks, depression, irritability, stress, sexual dysfunction, insomnia, and substance abuse associated with PTSIs that often cause long-term health concerns.

“We don’t want patients to think post-traumatic stress is a disorder,” Markowitz says. “Dr. Meighen wants to empower them that what they are suf-

the mental health aspect but DSGB injections have helped people who have suffered with prolonged ‘fight or flight’ response. Dr. Meighen says that when a person is under severe stress for a long time, their body has a breakdown. They’re depleting their hormones faster because their immune system is getting weaker. We’re treating several former military members who are returning after 15 to 20 years of suffering with PTSIs and we have had great success doing our process with them. It’s been really amazing.”

Dr. Meighen earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in biology from the

University of Toledo, OH. He received his M.D. degree from the University of Cincinnati, OH, with a goal of working in the orthopedic and musculoskeletal field. He then completed his Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation residency at Carolinas Medical Center/Charlotte Rehabilitation in Charlotte, NC, and completed a fellowship in sports, spine and occupational rehabilitation medicine under the tutelage of James Atchison, DO., at the University of Florida in Gainesville.

AgeRejuvenation also utilizes hormone therapies to treat male patients for low testosterone, erectile dysfunction and hair loss. Female patients also

can be treated for sexual dysfunction, for internal vaginal rejuvenation and to restore lost hair. Peptide treatments, such as stem cell therapies, Human Growth Hormone (HGH) production and immune support, also are available.

In addition, aesthetic treatments, such as Botox, dermal fillers, RF (radio frequency) skin tightening and more round out the huge variety of available services at AgeRejuvenation.

The Wesley Chapel AgeRejuvenation office is located at 1940 BBD Blvd., Wesley Chapel. For more information, call (813) 558-9500, visit AgeRejuvenation.com or see the ad on pg. 31.

(Left) Two before-&-after examples of how AgeRejuvenation is changing people’s lives by helping them get their hormones in balance. (Photos provided by AgeRejuvenation) (Above right) AgeRejuvenation’s chief medical officer Dr. Dawn Ericsson & advanced practice registered nurse Rachael Wright at AgeRejuvenation’s Wesley Chapel office.

InnerVision Psychiatry — For Psychiatrist-Led Outpatient Ketamine Treatment

By Nidhi Jani Neighborhood News Correspondent

Isn’t it frustrating to feel like you’re out of options or settling for an incomplete solution to a problem? Many people with treatmentresistant anxiety, depression, or post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) are in that boat. However, Drs. Simon Chamakalayil and Joseph Pullara of InnerVision Psychiatry, in the Summergate Professional Center behind Sam’s Club in Wesley Chapel, may be able to of fer these patients another treatment option — Ketamine.

What’s Exciting About Ketamine?

Ketamine was approved in 1970 by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) as a general anesthetic, but also has been used offlabel (without formal approval yet from the FDA) for short-term pain relief and sedation, chronic pain management and migraines. In recent years, Ketamine has been increasingly studied for use in patients with psychiatric conditions, such as anxiety, depression, PTSD and even suicidal ideation.

The exact way that Ketamine works to help patients with psychiatric conditions is not completely understood, but it is believed to be related to the drug’s psychedelic properties, which can cause feelings of detachment or disconnectedness. Since this is a new treatment approach, it can be helpful in patients who did not receive enough relief from more traditional treatments.

Unfortunately, because Ketamine has been available for more than 50 years, it is no longer protected by a patent and can be sold by any pharmaceutical company. This greatly reduces the potential profit that a pharmaceutical company can make off of Ketamine, even for a new use, and has eliminated those companies’ incentives to pursue the largescale clinical trials required to submit for and receive FDA approval for Ketamine as a psychiatric treatment.

In 2019, Janssen Pharmaceuticals did successfully get FDA approval for one form of Ketamine called Esketamine, under the brand name Sparavato®. While this helped legitimize the use of Ketamine for psychiatric conditions, Esketamine was only FDA approved for treatment-resistant depression and depressive symptoms in adults who have acute suicidal ideation or behavior. Also, it is only available as a nasal spray that must be given under the supervision of a healthcare provider.

But thankfully, barriers for pharmaceutical companies do not stop independent research. In fact, it was while reading promising findings about Ketamine in medical journals when Dr. Pullara first became interested in Ketamine.

Is Ketamine safer than other anti-depressants or anti-anxiety/PTSD medications? It, like other psychiatric dr ugs, has side ef fects and potential for abuse if used in high (more than medically required) doses. Drs. Chamakalayil and Pullara are aware of this and take measures to minimize these issues.

As both doctors explain in a variety of posts and videos on Facebook, Instagram and other social media platforms, they use only low-dose Ketamine in their clinic, as that is the dosing that was mainly studied and supported by the medical community. In order to ensure patient safety and deter potential abuse, they only give Ketamine by intravenous (IV) infu-

sions in their clinic under healthcare provider super vision, as opposed to oral Ketamine that could be given at home. “Monitoring is im portant,” says Dr. Pullara. “We don’t support at-home or oral Ketamine because it can be risky without monitoring.”

earlier, for psychiatric conditions, only low-dose Ketamine is recommended.

He adds that many of the main side effects of Ketamine — including nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness and increased heart rate and blood pressure — are often temporary and can be monitored and improved upon by adjusting the infusion rate.

A plus for IV Ketamine therapy for anxiety, depression and PTSD treatments is that it does not need to be given ever y day. The initial treatment — aka, the loading doses — are usually six doses over a two-week period. After that, if the Ketamine is helping, the patient will continue on maintenance treatment, which is based on managing symptoms.

Dr. Chamakalayil explains on InnerVisionPsychiatry.com that after completing the initial six treatments, they recommend bi-weekly treatments for the following month. After that, the frequency depends upon each patient’s need, ranging from every other week or monthly, every two to three months, or even every six months.

Perhaps the best part is that patients can experience an improvement in their symptoms much faster than they can using older treatment options.

“Ketamine works more quickly and differently than traditional anti-depressants,” says Dr. Chamakalayil. “With other drugs, it usually takes at least four weeks just to see an effect. With Ketamine, you can see a benefit within a few days to the first week.”

The Matthew & Maya Cases

There have been a few public cases in which Ketamine has been associated with bad outcomes, such as with “Friends” star Matthew Perry and locally, with Maya Kowalski.

Maya Kowalski did not suffer harm from Ketamine, but her healthcare team was concerned about her Ketamine use at a young age, and at her mother’s insistence. However, they initially did not know that Maya has a rare dis-

Maya’s mother Beata ultimately committed suicide herself when doctors at All Children’s Hospital in Tampa feared she was abusing her daughter. The Kowalski family successfully sued the hospital in the nowfamous “Take Care of Maya” case, which will reportedly be appealed to a higher court.

As for the unfortunate death of Matthew Perry, the doctors explain the circumstances behind his Ketamine use.

“By now, we have all seen the headlines… “Matthew Perry died of the ‘acute ef fects of Ketamine,’” says Dr. Pullara. “The level of Ketamine found in his system was consistent with that of someone undergoing high-dose anesthesia. These high doses, combined with the sedative effects of buprenorphine, lorazepam and clonazepam found in his system, put him at a significant risk of sedation and respiratory depression. This is why the autopsy listed drowning as a ‘contributing factor’ in his death.”

He adds, “It was repor ted that Matthew was indeed undergoing IV Ketamine infusions for depression, similar to those offered at InnerVision Psychiatry. But his last infusion was about 1.5 weeks before his death, and as the autopsy report itself points out, the Ketamine in his system ‘could not be from that infusion therapy, since Ketamine’s half-life (time required for 50% of the drug to be eliminated by the body) is 3 to 4 hours or less.”

The Doctors Behind InnerVision

Dr. Pullara was born and raised in Lutz. After completing a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biological Sciences at Florida State University in Tallahassee, he attended medical school at the American University of the Caribbean in St. Maarten and received his Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree in 2015.

Dr. Pullara’s dedication to research-guided treatment advances led him to co-found The Journal of Psychedelic Psychiatr y with some

of his colleagues during his four-year psychiatry residency at the University of Kansas in e he also served as chief resident. He currently serves as one of The Journal’s deputy editors.

After finishing his residency in 2020, Dr. Pullara returned to Florida and began working at Lakeland Regional Hospital as a psychiatrist, where he met Dr. Chamakalayil, who was similarly interested in Ketamine for use in his psychiatric patient population.

Dr. Chamakalayil completed a combined BS/MD program in 2015 at the Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia, PA. After wards, he was a general psychiatry resident at Temple University Hospital, also in Philadelphia, where he also served as chief resident.

Discovering a passion for helping children and adolescents, Dr. Chamakalayil obtained further specialization in child and adolescent psychiatry by completing a two-year fellowship at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC, where he served as clinical chief fellow, in 2021. After completing his training, Dr. Chamakalayil relocated to central Florida to work at Lakeland Regional Hospital.

While working at the hospital together, both doctors saw difficult cases of patients requiring hospital admission for psychiatric care — and experienced exciting success when using Ketamine to treat these patients.

Dr. Pullara, who eventually moved from Lakeland to Wesley Chapel with his wife and two children, felt strongly that patients in his hometown area shouldn’t have to travel all the way to Tampa or Clearwater for psychiatristled Ketamine treatment.

Looking To The Future

Together, the doctors opened InnerVision Psychiatry in Wesley Chapel in November of 2021, becoming the first clinic offering IV Ketamine infusions for anxiety, depression and PTSD in Pasco County.

Converting a former Sylvan Learning Center location from the bottom up, they spared no expense in creating a tranquil, stateof-the-art facility for their patients. Working

(L.-r.) Amanda Thompson, Dr. Joseph Pullara and Dr. Simon Chamakalayil of InnerVision Psychiatry, which is located in the Summergate

Continued from pg. 26

with their office manager Amanda Thompson and a team of four nurses, the clinic is open by appointment only during the weekdays to offer Ketamine infusions.

All patients must complete a screening form to ensure that they are good candidates for Ketamine treatment. It’s important to note that InnerVision does not treat pain, so any patients looking for Ketamine for pain relief are referred to pain management providers.

The doctors do not believe in a quick, walk-in treatment approach. They always provide a one-hour consultation to new patients to learn their treatment and medication histories and the symptoms they are experiencing before starting Ketamine treatment. If necessar y, they will touch base with a patient’s primary care provider and psychiatrist. Then, on each appointment day, there is a pre- and post-treatment check-in to make sure patients are comfortable and feeling well before and after receiving Ketamine.

Even though the office just hosted a ribbon cutting event in January, the doctors estimate that they’ve already helped about 50 patients. Even better is that they’ve already heard great feedback from several of those patients.

One of Dr. Chamakalayil’s first patients at InnerVision was struggling with severe anxiety and PTSD since childhood. Like all of the clinic’s patients, this patient had already tried several different treatment options in the past and was therefore diagnosed with treatmentresistant disease.

After receiving the loading dose Ketamine treatments, Dr. Chamakalayil recalls that the

patient said, “This is the calmest I’ve felt in my entire life. Now I understand what calm means.”

Later, after completing the loading doses, the patient provided an update. With the guidance of the patient’s psychiatrist, the patient stopped taking the two oral anti-depressants that the patient was previously taking. In the patient’s own words, “Ketamine saved my life.”

Right now, the doctors are focusing on Ketamine infusions. But, they believe strongly in evidence-based medicine and are keeping up with the latest research on other psychedelics. They are hopeful about offering patients new treatment options for difficult to treat psychiatric diseases in the coming years.

“There are promising clinical trials for midomafetamine or MDMA (the active ingredient in the street dr ug ecstasy) in PTSD treatment,” says Dr. Pullara. “It’s possible that by the end of this year, MDMA could receive FDA approval. Currently, there are only two FDA-approved treatments (for PTSD), so this would be the third. We would be interested in providing MDMA treatment to patients upon FDA approval and the release of more research data.”

Dr. Chamakalayil also is looking to make a change. His family is still living in Lakeland for now, but they hope to make the move to Wesley Chapel soon, so they can be closer to the clinic — especially since he and his wife are expecting to welcome their first child in May.

InnerVision Psychiatry is located at 27774 Cashford Cir., Suite 102. The clinic is open by appointment only, Mon.- Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m. For more info, call (813) 428-5420, visit InnerVisionPsychiatry.com or see the ad on pg. 38. The website also has links to the clinic’s social media pages, which are regularly updated with easy-tofollow, informative posts and videos.

Battling with anxiety and not quite sure what to do while driving up Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Alex Colley was looking for a sign.

Little did he know that sign would quite literally be the one that David Calcador, the co-owner of Your CBD Store of New Tampa, was twirling on the side of BBD.

“David was out there spinning the sign, and it said ‘Free CBD Samples, Come On In,’” Alex says. “I had seen him out there before and didn’t think anything, but I’ve had anxiety for a long time, and I literally was driving by as I was having a panic attack. And I was like, ‘I guess that’s literally, my sign to go in.’”

Alex went in and David gave him a sample that immediately calmed him down, and Alex has been a regular now for four months. “David is my CBD doctor,” he says, chuckling.

David is quick to point out, however, that he is not a doctor. He and his wife Debra Curler are just owners of the Your CBD Store of New Tampa, located in the Pebble Creek Collection, and are true believers in the power of CBD and its healing properties.

Pick a malady, and Debra can point you towards the right remedy, with David ready to answer any questions about your choices.

Having trouble sleeping? They’ve got you.

Anxiety? Depressed? In a lot of pain? Just need to relax? They have answers.

Looking for relief from the effects of PTSD? Cancer? Arthritis? There’s a multitude of CBD products to help with those ailments.

“We love helping people,” Debra says.

“It’s why we started doing this.”

They also are true believers because they use some of the products they sell themselves. Debra had a knee replaced and finds that her store’s SunMed CBD-infused creams bring her relief, while David finds his issues with sleeping washed away with a nighttime gummy.

“I like that they use the products and can tell you from first-hand experience what they do,” Alex says. “It’s not like deciding what to order at a steakhouse and finding out your waiter is a vegetarian.” While the effects aren’t guaranteed since everyone is different, Debra says many customers rave about the effects.

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids that grow on cannabis, of which both hemp and marijuana are varieties. Like “weed,” CBD originates from hemp, but has less than 0.3% of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), the ingredient that causes the “high,” while marijuana has higher levels of THC. Most CBD products at the store are offered as “full spectrum,” which are generally stronger but still contain no more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC, and “broad spectrum,” with no THC at all.

The Delta Experience

The recent explosion of Delta 8 and Delta 9 products has pushed the limits of the THC content in CBD products, making it more important than ever that consumers know they are legitimate. Your CBD Store only sells SunMed products that the company says are vigorously tested. In fact, a QR code on the products can be

scanned for the complete independent lab reports for each SunMed product.

SunMed has recently launched Above and Beyond lines, which have higher levels of THC — but still remain below the legal limit — and are the best sellers for Debra and David.

“These will be gone by the end of the weekend,” Debra says, pointing to a shelf filled with SunMed’s Above and Beyond products,

The new product called Above blends Delta-8 with other cannabinoids, which SunMed says delivers what is described as “gentle body feels,” as opposed to a psychoactive high.

Meanwhile, Beyond products contain Delta-9 (and 400% more cannabinoids than your usual full-spectrum), and come in calming (indica) and uplifting (sativa) versions. There also is a hybrid version that blends the two together.

David also raves about his store’s CBG products. He has a special appreciation for their effectiveness, especially the full- and broad-spectrum neuro-water soluble and the CBG Citrus, which helps with inflammation.

Customer Jeff Martin says he is thankful he found Dave and Debra’s location, because they have been a godsend.

Once every three weeks, he places an order for CBD and CBG products for his 80-year-old mother. CBD helps with her sore joints and arthritis, while CBG, which can be more effective treating muscle soreness, is for the neuropathy in her feet. “As long as mom’s taking it, it’s like someone flipped a switch,” Jeff says. “Just being pain-free and being out of the misery of having the feeling of burning feet all the time, it’s been a wonder.”

Jeff adds, “You have to be careful where you buy this stuff these days. I trust the products at David’s store.”

TRIM is SunMed’s first foray into the weight loss product market and features THC-V, which blocks your appetite-stimulating CB1 receptor (THC-D9, by contrast, causes appetite stimulation). For your dog, the store offers Chillin’ Out (for relaxation) and Movin’ Easy (for mobility and aches and pains for senior dogs) broad-spectrum hemp chews.

Your CBD Store New Tampa (19651 BBD Blvd., Suite B-1) is open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, call (813) 994-0599 or visit CBDRX4U.com/find-us/florida/new-tampa.

David

After More Than A Dozen Years On S.R. 54 In Lutz, We Are Proud To Open The Biggest, Most Luxurious & Newest Nail Spa In Wesley Chapel!

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David Cruz Marks Two Decades Of Serving Clients With His DC Accounting

By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent

David Cruz says that when he was a little boy in Puerto Rico, he always liked math. While other kids wanted to be firefighters, he says his dream was to become an accountant.

When David was 17, he joined the U.S. Army and served more than 20 years before retiring in 2000 from Fort Knox in Kentucky as a master sergeant.

Wanting to live somewhere warm that reminded him of Puerto Rico, he moved to the Tampa Bay area and, at just 38 years old, he was ready to start a new career.

That’s when he first started working to make his childhood dream come true.

David finished the last couple of classes he needed for a Bachelor’s degree at Hillsborough Community College, then went on to complete his Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree at Nova Southeastern University. Then, he decided to complete two more Master’s degrees — a Master of Accounting (MACC) and then a Master of Taxation (MTAX), both also from Nova Southeastern.

While going to school, David worked at AutoZone and took a side job working in accounting to learn the trade. After a couple of years, he began to pick up his own clients.

In 2003, he decided to open DC Accounting, P.A., as a full-time career, leaving his other jobs and focusing full time on his clients.

Today, he’s been serving his community in accounting, taxation, and budgeting for more than two decades.

As an enrolled agent of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), David holds the highest credential awarded by the IRS. He says he didn’t pursue becoming a certified public accountant (CPA), because his education more than qualifies him to work with local individuals and small businesses. CPAs are generally required to have a fouryear degree and an additional two years of accounting experience, but David has surpassed those qualifications. In addition, David says CPAs can sign off on financial statements for large publicly traded companies, but that’s not something he needs to do in his practice.

“I even do taxes for some CPAs,” David says. “Like lawyers, they have their own concentrations, such as forensic, corporate, accounts payable or accounts receivable. They don’t do everything I do.”

David says he focuses on small businesses and their needs in areas such as bookkeeping, income taxes, audits, sales tax and workers compensation. He even helps businesses with licenses and zoning, including when site plans and surveys are needed. That includes representing his clients before the county when zoning and licensing hearings are held.

In addition, he handles personal taxes for small business owners and individuals.

he says. “If I don’t know how to do some thing, I go and learn it and make it happen for my clients.”

He often represents clients who are faced with an IRS audit or if they owe money. He says he has even gone to court for his clients. “I’ll do anything for my clients,” he says, “anything that’s legal.”

Back in the early days — 20 years ago — David was newly divorced and working out of his home. He said his staff worked in spare bedrooms upstairs. His living room served as his reception area and his clients were welcome to help themselves to water from his kitchen.

In 2008, he opened an office in Lutz, where he practiced for nearly 15 years.

In 2022, he purchased a larger building on Crystal Grove Blvd., renovated it and moved in. He says the office has room to grow, and he shares space with the other business he and his wife Cindy co-own, the popular restaurants Rice N Beans Puerto Rico and Rice N Beans Express.

David and Cindy were married in 2017, blending their families. David has three adult children from a previous marriage, while Cindy has two who are now 16 and 19. The couple also adopted a child, who is now 10.

When they married, Cindy owned two food trucks. David says she would get up every day at 3 a.m. and work until 9 p.m., seven days a week. They sold the trucks and opened Rice N Beans Puerto Rico, which is now located on Wesley Chapel Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, and the newer Rice N Beans Express on S.R. 54 in Lutz.

“Cindy handles all of the operations,” David explains. “She runs Rice N Beans, manages the people, comes up with ideas, does the marketing. I handle the books, do the budget, the forecasting — all of the money.”

The building they share has offices for Cindy and for her assistant to run the restaurants, while DC Accounting has offices for David and his staff, which includes an office manager, bookkeeping manager, two

“My staff is a great staff,” David says. “They all do their jobs very well.”

He says the staff works together to ensure that every client’s problems are dealt with in a timely manner. David says the company’s policy is that every question is answered within 24 hours.

“I’m available for my clients 24/7,” he says. “They can call my cell phone and if they have issues or questions after five or on the weekend, they can reach me.”

He says his favorite part of the job is

the challenges that arise. “When I’m dealing with clients’ problems, their problems become my problems,” he says, “and I have to solve that problem.”

Carmen Vazquez from Lights & More in Carrollwood says her business has been working with David for about six years. The family-owned business hired DC Accounting to handle all of its company accounting and the owners’ personal accounting, as well.

“They take care of everything that is required for the federal and state level,” says Carmen. “David takes a very personal approach. He’s always available, always makes us feel welcome when we come in to his office, and always returns our calls.”

She says the most important thing to her is knowing that David and his staff’s personal values align with her own.

“The key word is trust,” she says. “We’re giving all this personal and business information to another person, so the trust has to be solid. We only want to work with someone who thinks about ethics as a priority, and that’s David.”

DC Accounting (219 Crystal Grove Blvd., Lutz), is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.5 p.m. and after hours by appointment. For more info, call (813) 345-8503, visit DCAccountingPA.com, or see the ad on page 35. Be sure to mention the ad or this story for a 10% discount on personal tax preparation for 2023.

Meet Award-Winning Realtor® Dee Strom Of Florida Executive Realty

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Neighborhood News Correspondent

Dee Strom, a multi-award-winning Realtor® at Florida Executive Realty (FER) in Tampa Palms since 2014, says she transi tioned from hospitality management at the suggestion of her husband, Michael. She sought guidance and turned to Debbie Pear son, a friend and seasoned realtor at FER with 25 years of experience, who became her invaluable mentor.

Dee expresses gratitude to Debbie, stating, “I have yet to work with an agent as wonderful and knowledgeable as she is. I am blessed to have learned from the best men tor and company.”

In a unique move, Dee interviewed with FER Broker Doug Loyd before obtaining her real estate license and became the first agent he brought on who didn’t yet have a license. A USF business graduate, Dee initially entered the real estate field as, “a driven indi vidual who saw nothing but success.”

Marriage and motherhood followed, transforming Dee into one of the busiest working moms at the company. Dee commends Florida Executive Realty for its family-friendly environment, allowing children in the workplace and enabling moms like her to r un successful businesses.

restaurants.

She takes pride in offering clients a substantial referral network for lenders, insurance providers and vendors.

Highlighting her experience and commitment, Dee asserts, “I have been a Realtor for over a decade, selling more than $20 million of real estate annually, placing me in the top 1% of the nation. My real estate business knowledge and experience put me far above most other agents.”

In fact, Dee has been named FER’s “Agent of the Year” each of the last three years. She says that building a solid relationship and chemistry with your Realtor is key in the real estate business. Both buyers and sellers should collaborate with a Realtor they genuinely connect with, like and trust. Dee’s work schedule is based on her clients’ availability, not the other way around.

“With me, you get me, and it’s a one-stop shop. As a Leading Real Estate Companies of the World (LRE) member, I market my listings locally and globally and receive relocation clients who move to our local area. I also assist my clients who move out of state and refer them to a Realtor they can trust in all parts of the world.”

What To Expect...

As for what she expects the local real estate market to be like in 2024, Dee notes that recent interest rate decreases have improved affordability for prospective buyers. She predicts an uptick in local real estate sales later in the year and a return to more moderate growth in pricing compared with the post-Covid period. Although she covers all of Hillsborough and Pasco counties, Dee says her primary focus is on New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Odessa.

Here is one recent trend Dee has noticed: As new construction continues to grow, younger Millennial buyers are seeking homes featuring wellness amenities like lap

“I always say my clients are in good hands, not only with the real estate transaction but everything in preparation before selling or purchasing their home,” Dee says. “For example, packing and moving aren’t easy, so I have them focus on that, and I take care of the rest, literally.”

Devoted to her clients, Dee shares her husband’s favorite anecdote about her:

“Pregnant with my first daughter, Sloane (now 4), I had my computer in my lap negotiating in the hospital bed. After she was born, as soon as I was released from the hospital, I asked him if it was OK to go show a property, and off I went. As you can see, I am dedicated to my clients….”

Dee uses a restaurant analogy to describe why someone should work with an experienced, well-rounded Realtor for buying and selling. She explains that selecting the right Realtor is like choosing a steakhouse. Going to an average chain restaurant, there’s only about a 50/50 chance your steak will be cooked correctly. One time may be good, while another is an awful experience — both the meal and the customer service.

“But, when you dine at a high-end steakhouse, like Ruth’s Chris,” she says, “the steak is perfect every single time and the customer service is always excellent. We frequent Ruth’s Chris; we have had the same server for over 10 years. Real estate, like dining out, is about developing relationships.”

She adds, “My clients are like family! Without the proper knowledge, experience and resources, many agents out there do not know what should be known. We are working for buyers and sellers completing the largest purchase or sale of their lives.”

Dee is proud that the majority of her business comes from repeat clients and referrals. She highlights a recent review she received out of the blue from a repeat client.

“You will always be part of our family in the Tampa area, as everyone loves ‘Dee,’ the person and mom. I truly admire your work ethic and professionalism in handling your real estate business while juggling a growing family. You set high standards for others to emulate and follow, but only a select few can accomplish. By now, it should be paying off for you. In the business world, you are very rare... I now call it ‘The Dee Factor’ — a balanced combination of real-estate knowledge, professionalism, elegance, poise, perseverance, hard work, sales techniques, great attitude, well-spoken and charming. And, on top of that, someone who is more interested in the well-being of a satisfied customer than a simple commission check. That’s a major key to success. Well done.”

“This is why my job is so fulfilling,” Dee says. “and I will do it a thousand times over.”

Dee values the connections she makes with her clients, emphasizing her commitment to their lives well beyond the closing. Her overarching goal is to redefine and elevate the real estate profession and eliminate some of the horror stories of low-level representation.

“We, Realtors, can change the public’s perception and reality of what real estate agents and brokers do for their clients to match other highly respected professions,” she says. “One client at a time.”

Dee lives in New Tampa with her husband Michael, a Tampa Police Officer for 20 years, and daughters Sloane and Stella. When not surpassing client expectations, she and her family enjoy swimming and cooking out.

Realtor® Dee Strom is based at Florida Executive Realty’s Tampa Palms office (15802 Amberly Dr.) For more information, visit DStrom.floridaexecutiverealty.com, search “DeeStromRealty” on Facebook, call (813) 525-7851 or see Dee’s ad on the next page

Let Realtor® Dee Strom (left) of Florida Executive Realty in Tampa Palms, who lives in New Tampa and specializes in homes in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Lutz, Land O’Lakes and Odessa, help you buy or sell a home. (Above right) Dee can help you find the home — and the living room — of your dreams, too. (Below) Dee won an award for being in the top 1% of all real estate agents the nation for 2023. (All photos provided by Dee Strom)

Bella Nails Is So Much More Than Your Average Nail Salon!

By Deborah Bostock-Kelley Neighborhood News Correspondent

If you want to try a brand-new, affordable, upscale place to pamper yourself in Wesley Chapel, Bella Nail Lounge, a full-service nail salon that has had an original location in Lutz for 12 years, expanded to The Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of S.R. 56, in Wesley Chapel, in January.

Founder Lap “Andy” Nguyen says the new location is, “central to Wesley Chapel, and I was looking at this plaza for years, waiting for the opportunity. Wesley Chapel is a newer area, with a lot of new people moving in.”

Julie Dang, Bella Nails’ assistant manager, adds, “We live here in Wesley Chapel, and it is a very high-end, close-knit, family-oriented community, and there weren’t any high-end salons here like in South Tampa. We’re bringing the South Tampa vibe to Wesley Chapel.”

At Bella Nails, you will experience more than just a nail salon. This isn’t the fast-paced, traditional mom-and-pop nail salon you may be accustomed to or expecting. Instead, you will enter a luxurious nail lounge where you will receive relaxing and rejuvenating spa services. Sip on a glass of champagne or wine as you sit back in Bella’s state-of-the-art, full-body massage pedicure lounge chairs, escape the stress of your everyday life and pamper yourself with the best ser vice and quality.

The nail technicians at Bella Nails are friendly, skilled, attentive and are trained in all aspects of safety, sanitation and sterilization of all products. They use only non-toxic, toluenefree nail polish, with more than 2,000 color choices, including organic and vegan options, and the right equipment to ensure your safety and satisfaction.

“People who are pregnant can choose a safe vegan option for a soft gel,” Julie explains.

Bella Nails doesn’t forget the youngsters, either. For kids ages 11 and under, Bella Nails provides organic and vegan choices in Princess pedicures and manicures, gel pedicures and manicures, plus polish and gel polish changes.

So, whether you want a classic French manicure, a trendy nail art design, SNS-dipping powder, gel top coat, polish change, or a spa pedicure — or virtually any other type of nail service — you can enjoy them all at Bella Nails.

Beyond a regular manicure (or, for the gentlemen, a “manli-cure”), Bella Nails also offers a Voesh Mani-In-A-Box with Collagen

Gloves. This individually packaged three-step treatment is regarded as the cleanest and most hygienic spa manicure solution, with sugar scrub, mud mask and massage cream.

For pedicures, the selections are vast. You may choose from a mint refresh, coffee-infused, mango-infused, charcoal, volcanic-mineral, honey and milk, mojito lime, CBD volcanic gold, CBD volcanic rose gold, Napa Valley champagne elegance anti-aging pedicure, cooling signature bliss pedicure in cucumber-mint, lemon and mandarin scent, or Voesh Pedi-InA-Box. Each ser vice will leave your feet feeling refreshed, revitalized and radiantly beautiful — all in a sanitary and luxurious environment.

Bella Nail Lounge also offers less common services, including waxing from eyebrows and lips to back and Brazilians, facials, lash extensions and even IV vitamin injections.

“We go beyond a nail salon,” Andy says. “We’re like a spa attached to a nail salon. On the weekends, when the wife gets a pedicure, the husband can enjoy a complimentary beer or wine at our bar.”

But don’t let them fool you — Julie says that men love to be pampered, too. Whether

it’s a soothing manicure or a pedicure, men also can’t resist a little self-care. At Bella Nail Lounge, men and women can equally experience the ultimate indulgence: a pedicure in a massage chair.

“We want to provide an upscale, relaxing spot where moms and daughters, husbands and

wives can go,” Andy says. “Many places don’t make it comfortable for the dads or husbands to come along, but with our chairs and pedicure facility, men love it. It’s the Rolls Royce of pedicure chairs. They never want to leave.”

During their pedicure or manicure, guests also can conveniently receive vitamin

(Above) The friendly, attentive staff at Bella Nail Lounge in The Shoppes at New Tampa plaza in Wesley Chapel is ready to pamper you! (Below)

through an IV as a spa treatment.”

Julie also says that manicures and pedicures aren’t just for cosmetic reasons anymore.

“People are always going to want to get manicures and pedicures,” she says, “with pedicures, it’s not even just about pampering but maintaining your health because reflexology is in your feet. For instance, with ingrown toenails, people must maintain their feet to walk comfor tably and wear comfor table shoes.”

Julie also explains how the nail salon business has evolved and will continue to do so.

“Before, you only had two options for your nails — paint your natural nails or put on fake nails,” she says. “But now, you have many

One of Julie’s favorite stories is about a husband and wife. “The husband would never come into the salon,” she says. “He finally came in, and we offered him a Mimosa. Once he sat down in the chair, that was it. He said, ‘I’m coming back without my wife.’ This is our goal. We want to provide a place where everyone can have an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Our workers can read the clients and know if they do or don’t want to have a conversation. It’s a no-pressure salon.”

Bella Nails is located at 1700 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. To book your appointment, visit BellaNails.com, call (813) 578-7878 or see the ad on pg. 29 of this issue.

(Above left) Don’t want a mani or a pedi? Have a beer or wine at Bella Nails’ unique bar area. (Right) Julie Dang (in red) and Andy Nguyen of Bella Nails. (Below) The wall of color options at Bella.

So, Who Won All The Prizes In Our ‘Big Game Squares’ Contest?

So, after the contest was posted in one Wesley Chapel and two New Tampa issues, we were excited that 196 people entered — 195 successfully — our “Big Game Squares” contest, which meant that we had plenty of excitement, as two 100-square grids were nearly completely filled. I put an “X” through three squares in one grid and two squares in the other and hoped that those squares would not end up winning any prizes because I had no contingency plan if the score at the end of the game fell on one of those X-ed out squares. If that 2.5% possibility (5 of 200) happened in an earlier quarter, I planned to just roll the prize for that quarter over into the next one.

Obviously, this year’s “Big Game” was super-exciting, as the Taylor Swift, er, I mean Patrick Mahomes-led Kansas City Chiefs erased a 10-3 halftime deficit to defeat the San Francisco 49ers 25-22 in overtime. But, based on the response we got from some of the contestants who didn’t actually win anything, just having a free square made watching the game more palatable — I mean exciting.

So, here’s how it went. We had a total of eight prizes available — two $25 gift cards (one per 100-square grid) to the restaurant of the winner’s choice for having the correct last digits at the end of both the first quarter and third quarter; two $50 gift cards for the correct halftime digits; and $100 apiece for each of the entrants who had the correct score at the end of the game. Since the score at the end of the 1st half and the 3rd quarter both had second

digits of KC 3, SF 0, we ended up having two winners who won $75 in gift cards apiece.

The two Grand Prize winners were Carrie Frump of Easton Park — who teaches at Benito Middle School and grabbed a $100 gift card to the historic Columbia Restaurant in Ybor City — and Meadow Pointe resident Jim Headley (photo), who took a PopStroke gift card. Also already claiming his prize was $75 winner John Sousa of Lake Jovita (who also teaches at Cypress Creek High). Sousa received a $75 gift card to Bonefish Grill. And, fellow $75 winner Pamela Smith of Meadow Pointe asked for Señor Tequila. First-quarter winner Maggie Rich of West Meadows received $25 to Taste of New York Pizza.

That means the only unclaimed prize is $25 gift card winner Daniela Quintana of Heritage Isles. Thanks to everyone who entered & congrats to this year’s winners!— GN

Jim Headley shows off the $100 PopStroke gift card he won in our “Big Game Squares” contest!

Señor Tequila — New Menu Items Add To Already Authentic Flavors

By GARY NAGER

If it’s been a while since you first visited Señor Tequila — the Mexican restaurant that took over the former Bonefish Grill space in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza (on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., south of S.R. 56) in May of 2021 — you should probably give it another try.

Wesley Chapel Señor Tequila owner Alvaro Mellado and his family have opened and been operating all five of the restaurant’s locations — the original of which opened in Winter Springs (in the Orlando area) ten years ago, although Mellado also owns the location on N. Dale Ma bry Hwy. in Carrollwood and opened a new one a year ago in Clear water. Even so, the Wesley Chapel location recently got an impressive menu upgrade that likely will have it moving up in our readers’ rankings in the 2024 Dining Survey.

Every restaurant these days seems to have — and many people love — Mexican street corn (“Elote” in Spanish), but photographer Charmaine George and I really enjoyed Señor Tequila’s new version, which covers corn on the cob sections on skewers with mayo, cotija cheese and queso sauce, cilantro and tajin seasoning.

My favorite new appetizer, however (which should come as a surprise to no one) is the ceviché, which is a new item normally served as a trio of lime-marinated fresh fish, shrimp and octopus, but I had to get mine with fish only, since I’m allergic to the shrimp. Señor Tequila’s version of this favorite adds fresh tomatoes, red onions, avocado and tajin. The fish was tilapia, which isn’t always my favorite, but the flavor was delicate and tangy and the tomatoes and avocadoes were a nice touch, too.

We also sampled the super-tasty pollo

served with rice and the Mexican bandera salad (guacamole, sour cream and pico de gallo) and your choice of tortillas. The chicken was tender and tasty, but not at all spicy, and the sautéed veggies were excellent.

Although I’m still more partial to the sizzling chicken and steak fajitas at Señor Tequila, Wesley Chapel marketing rep (and sometime server and weekend bartender) Dafne Dominguez says that among the most popular dishes are the brochetas — skewered steak,

thing at Señor Tequila is made fresh to order, you will wait for it. Please also take into account that if you prefer your steak medium rare to rare, it is hard have it that way on the same skewers as chicken, which has to be cooked all the way through. But, the flavor was still excellent.

Other top sellers at Señor Tequila include the steak Monterrey (skirt steak with a poblano pepper stuffed with shrimp and veggies, topped with creamy habanero pesto sauce), the birria tacos and the monster super burrito with your

ceviche and Elote (Mexican street corn) are all among our editor’s favorites at Señor Tequila in The Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on BBD Blvd. south of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. (All photos on these pages by Charmaine George)

delicious lava chocolate cake and flan, but also the ever-popular fried ice cream (with vanilla ice cream rolled in corn flakes, topped with caramel), as well as mine and Charmaine’s new favorite — the Xango (pronounced “Chango”), which is creamy cheesecake wrapped in a pastry tortilla and fried until golden brown, cov ered with cinnamon and caramel. Decadent!

Señor Tequila’s full, premium liquor bar also is now featuring new

bartender-created craft drinks, including a “True Blue” organic margarita, an Añejo old fashioned, sangritas (house frozen margarita with a sangria floater), “Bartender Sunrise” and many more. The bar features a huge selection of tequilas and mezcals, from the usual favorites to top shelf and even many rare finds — and Happy Hour is Monday-Friday, 3 p.m.-5 p.m.

Señor Tequila (1640 BBD) is open every day for lunch & dinner and delivery through Doordash is available. For reservations (not required), orders or more info, call (813) 428-5411, visit TheSenorTequila.com or see the ad on pg. 45.

(Top) The “Bartender’s Sunrise” is one of many creative craft cocktails at Señor Tequila. Try the decadent Xango (fried cheesecake) dessert!

Tasty Namaste Express Is Open; Qdoba May Be, Too

Although we didn’t even find out about it until after we went to press with our Feb 6 issue, Oishi Express, a decent fast-casual Japanese place, lasted only about a year in the spot at 17503 Preserve Walk Ln. in Highwoods Preserve — between Taste of New York Pizza and Lapels Cleaners (behind EggTown) — the new fast-casual Namaste Express (or XP) has already replaced Oishi.

I’ve only visited once since Namaste opened, but the new eatery can be summed up pretty easily — it’s a small place with a huge and what seems to be a very tasty menu.

On my visit, I enjoyed the chicken stir-fry bowl (left), which had just a hint of spice, with lots of chunks of chicken and clearly fresh vegetables. The savory sauce tasted like a completely unexpected cross between the curry flavors evalent in Indian cooking with a nod to Szechuan Chinese cuisine. I told the chef (I sadly forgot his name) that I would be back to try his biryani, the delicious-sounding Apollo fish (a fish filet

tossed with ginger, garlic and a spicy sauce, which is specialty of Hyderabad) and the marinated, fried (but not breaded, because they’re gluten-free) chicken lollipops shown here.

Namaste has menu options from every region in India and even offers a unique “Grab & Go” menu that the restaurant’s website says is “meticu lously crafted through cutting-edge flash chilling processes.” It definitely sounds unique.

Although there is clearly a sizable Indian population in New Tampa, con sidering how many Indian restaurants there already are in zip code 33647 — including Saffron, Minerva, Raaga, Dosa Hut, Bang-Bang! Bowls and the café inside the Taaza Mart (as well as the Nepalese Gorkhali Kitchen, which also offers Indian specialties) — we hope that Namaste Express will be able to find its footing in what has so far proven to be a difficult location.

For more information, call (813) 866-1300 or visit NamasteXP.com.

Update On Qdoba

At our press time, Qdoba Mexican Eats, which we told you last issue was getting ready to open in the same plaza in Highwoods Preserve as Namaste (at 17509 Preserve Walk Ln.) last issue, was still not open, but co-owner Liz Mont-

e expecting the New Tampa Qdoba to open “on or around March 1,” or a few days before this issue hits your mailbox.

In other words, if you’re a fan of Moe’s Southwest Grill (which Qdoba is replacing in Highwoods), Chipotle or any other fast-casual Mexican fare, you definitely should check out Qdoba, too.

“It’s been a long struggle, but we’re finally almost there,” Liz told me the day before I finished this issue. “We can’t wait for New Tampa to experience our fresh Mexican eats.”

For more information about Qdoba Mexican Eats, call (813) 7610005 or visit Qdoba.com to check out the menu online. — GN

NEW TAMPA

Neighborhood Nibbles: Fazoli’s Is Coming Soon, But Barberitos Isn’t

Here’s an update on two restaurants we’ve written about before. According to Jon Mott of plaza developer Paradise Ventures, the new 8,000-sq.ft. building to be called The Shoppes at Cypress Creek will still soon be home to the only Tampa-area location of Fazoli’s (since the only other Tampaarea link in the fast-casual chain on E. Busch Blvd. closed a couple of months ago) on S.R. 54 (less than a mile west of the Tampa Premium Outlets).

Mott says the plaza’s first phase should be completed within the next couple of months and turned over to the tenants, who will then have to build out their respective spaces.

And, while Mott also says that Fazoli’s (photo) is still among those tenants, he also noted that Barberitos, the fast-casual Mexican place that was previously announced as the threespace plaza’s other restaurant tenant — but is still listed as “Coming Soon” at

Barberitos.com — is no longer going to open in that location.

Mott says that among the interested tenants to take over for Barberitos are a popular juice bar chain as well as a “well-known national taco place.”

It seems unlikely that the taco place would be another Taco Bell, considering that there already is one less than a mile to the east — next to the coming-soon Shake Shack across S.R. 56 from the Outlets — and another on Collier Pkwy., or less than two miles west of this new plaza. There also already is a Taco Bus in the Shell gas station located between the S.R. 56 Taco Bell and The Shoppes at Cypress Creek, but...you never know.

Mott also says that the space between Fazoli’s and whatever restaurant takes over for Barberitos in the plaza will be an orthodontic office. We’ll keep you posted when we get any additional updates. — GN

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