Volume 18 Issue 1
Inside: Our Editor’s 2009 Dining Favorites! See Magazine Section!
January 2, 2010
The Direct-Mail Newspaper Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch • Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • West Meadows WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge • Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg
A Look Back At The Top New Tampa News Stories Of 2009 lished this past year, many of the top stories are issues that we have covered before, and will continue to cover as they continue to affect the lives of residents here in our own little corner of the world. Here, then, is a review of some of the biggest local stories of 2009, with some updates.
By Michael Smith Looking back at 2009, I think that most people will agree with me when I say, “Thank God that’s over.” After an auspicious beginning that was marked by optimism for the future when we as a country inaugurated our first African-American President, Barack Obama, the news just seemed to get worse and worse, and all anyone could do was hang on and hope for the best. Most of the bad news was on the economic front, as the year saw records broken for stock market losses, home foreclosures and unemployment levels, but the other issues that were in the national headlines for most of the year, including the ongoing debate over health care reform and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, seemed to overshadow the hope that Obama’s inauguration originally inspired. By year’s end, however, there were some signs that the economic down-
Bruce B. Downs Widening Finally Gets Under Way
Get used to seeing signs like this, as the widening of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. gets under way this month and is expected to continue until Spring 2013. turn had ended, or had at least begun to slow, legislators were making progress on the health care issue, and President Obama outlined his plans for ending the conflict in Afghanistan. And, since the start of another new year always helps to restore everyone’s spirit and resolve, here’s hoping for a better 2010.
Here in New Tampa, the impacts from the economic crisis generally seemed to be less severe than they were in other parts of the country. Although it isn’t much consolation for those who did lose their jobs and/or their homes, on the surface, daily life here seemed to go on pretty much as usual. Skimming back over the newspapers that we pub-
parking lot of the Muvico Starlight 20 movie theater in Highwoods Preserve (New Tampa) at around 5:45 p.m. on December 8. Police say that two days earlier, on December 6, Sortor had allegedly approached a 17-year-old female who was walking to a friend’s house on Linebaugh Ave. in Carrollwood, pulling up alongside her in his vehicle and asking her if she needed a
ride. When she ran to a neighbor’s house, Sortor allegedly followed in his vehicle and parked outside the neighbor’s house for a few minutes. He then Christopher left, but the girl was A. Sortor able to get a partial license plate number, which she gave to police. Then, on December 8, Sortor allegedly approached two separate women who were jogging in the West Meadows subdivision. He approached the first, a 24-year-old kindergarten teacher, after she jogged past his parked car. He allegedly reached out and tried to grab her, but she managed to avoid him and ran away. Sortor chased her for a short distance in his vehicle, police say,
Can you say, “It’s about time?” After years of blood-pressure-raising traffic jams and delays, New Tampa residents who have been complaining about the need to widen Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. may remember 2009 as the year that the long-awaited project finally got under way. However, although the bright orange cones and barrels have already been scattered up and down the boulevard for more than six months, all actual construction of the first of three See “Top Stories” on page 6.
Attempted Kidnapper Busted After Approaching Three Women
NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!
New PHCC Campus Coming To Our Area, Fernandez Law Firm Offers Financial Assistance, Get Fit In The New Year With EuroPilates & More!
A Preview Of The Suncoast Arts Festival And Other January Entertainment, Our Editor Reveals His 2009 Dining Favorites & More!
See pages 3-28!
See pages 29-48!
See “News Briefs on page 4.
ECRWSS
LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION
Postal Customer
Also Inside This Issue!
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 2801
Tampa Police have arrested a man who they say attempted to kidnap at least three different local women on two different days. According to a Tampa Police Department (TPD) report, Christopher A. Sortor, 25, of 4411 Shady Terrace Lane in Tampa, was arrested in the
but she got away. Five minutes later, police say Sortor drove up to another jogger, a 49-yearold female, exited his vehicle and asked her if she could help him find the Home Depot store. When she refused, he grabbed her by her arm, but she also managed to pull away and Sortor fled after another resident who was walking his dogs approached them. Police flooded the area and an officer saw Sortor driving through the movie theater parking lot. He and a couple of other police units were able to block Sortor’s vehicle and he was
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Michael Smith
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 1 • Januar y 2, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com
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