Volume 18 Issue 3
Inside: Valentine’s Day Is Still All About Her! See Magazine Section!
January 30, 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
Bruce B. Downs Widening Begins A New Chapter In New Tampa An editorial by Gary Nager When I attended this month’s public hearing hosted by Hillsborough County public works officials at Paul R. Wharton High about the impending widening of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. between Palm Springs Dr. in Tampa Palms and Pebble Creek Dr., my first thought was, “Wow! Another major New Tampa road project beginning construction in my lifetime!” My second thought, however, was “Uh-oh.” The $40-$42 million widening project now beginning is just the first three years of what is shaping up as at least five years of reduced speeds and even greater tie-ups somewhere on BBD. In other words, it’s definitely going to get and stay worse along New Tampa’s main drag long before it gets better, especially considering that the other two phases of the BBD widening in Hillsborough (from Bearss Ave. to Palm Springs Dr. and from Pebble Creek Dr. to the Pasco County line) are
not yet fully funded and at least one segment may not begin building until after the first segment is completed, even if funding for it becomes available (more on this below). Of course, that means the current bottlenecks on BBD will just be moved to the northern and southern ends of the first phase of the BBD widening project when it is completed in 2013. Just for clarity’s sake, a few years back, Hillsborough broke BBD into five segments: •Segment A - From Bearss Ave. to Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms •Segment B - Palm Springs Blvd. to Richmond Place Dr. (across from the BBD entrance to Flatwoods Park) •Segment C - Richmond Place Dr. to Pebble Crek Dr. •Segment D - Pebble Creek Dr. to the Pasco County Line Rd. •Segment E - County Line Rd. to S.R. 54 (all in Pasco County) The widening project now under way in Hillsborough includes Segments B and C, a 3.5-mile section. The coun-
The current left turn from northbound Bruce B. Downs Blvd. onto Pointe of Tampa Way will no longer be available when the BBD widening project is completed. ty previously planned to then do the 1.5-mile Segment D before the 3.6mile Segment A, but moved Segment A up on the priority list a couple of years ago and already has full funding for that longest segment, which is scheduled to begin being widened in 2011. But, while Segment D already is designed, former county engineer Scott Passmore, who is now working for the construction engineering firm for the project (KCI Technologies, Inc., of
Tampa), says that while Segment D currently is not funded, some new federal stimulus funds may make funding of that segment a reality soon, too. In addition, although there was no mention of it at the Hillsborough public hearing on January 6, Pasco County already has begun the process of widening its three-mile section of BBD from its current one or two lanes in each
were both armed with handguns, told the victim to throw the money he had won while gambling at the casino on the ground. Edgardo As one of the suspects bent down to pick up Rivera the money, he dropped his pistol, which went off. The victim was not harmed, but the two suspects fled, and the victim immediateChristopher ly contacted police, Neff and was able to provide them with a partial tag number from the suspects’ vehicle. Then, on January 17, two of the
same suspects allegedly robbed another casino customer, a 67-year-old man, as he got out of his vehicle at his home in Clearwater. Police say the suspects attacked the victim in his garage, one striking him as the other shot him in the face and shoulder with a stun gun. After committing that robbery, the suspects returned to Hillsborough, however, and shortly afterwards, their vehicle was spotted by an officer with the Seminole (Tribe) Police Department near one of the entrances to the casino. The Seminole
See “BBD Widening” on page 6.
Police Arrest Two Men Who Targeted Hard Rock Casino Customers
City Of Tampa Studies Impacts From Planned Bridge Project, Focus On The USF Dermatology Clinic, A Wharton Vs. Freedom Weekend & More!
See pages 3-36!
NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE! A Few Suggestions To Help Spice Up Your Valentine’s Day, Our Exclusive February Entertainment Calendar & Much More!
See pages 37-56!
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
A pair of Orlando men were arrested earlier this month after police say they robbed two Tampa Bay area men, one of whom is a New Tampa resident, who had won money at the Seminole Hard Rock Casino. According to a report issued by the Tampa Police Department (TPD),
Christopher R. Neff, 27, and Edgardo Rivera, 31, along with a third man who is still unidentified, followed a New Tampa resident from the casino to his condo in the Vista Grand at Tampa Palms complex early on the morning of January 9 and robbed him at gunpoint as he exited his vehicle. One of the suspects waited inside their car while the other two, who
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Michael Smith
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 3 • Januar y 30, 2010 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com
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