Volume 24 Issue 3
Inside: Recapping Our ‘222’ Speakeasy Party!
January 29, 2016
See Neighborhood Magazine!
Named The 2014 ‘Small Business Of The Year’ By The Wesley Chapel Chamber Of Commerce! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 50!
Arbor Greene Couple Fights To Help The Injured Stay In Step By John C. Cotey
Romulo “Romy” Camargo rolls past Derrik Amarral, who is working hard with physical therapists to bring legs that were damaged in a car accident back to life. “Come on, Derrik,’’ Romy encourages Amarral. “Let’s go!” Across the room, 69-year-old Vietnam War veteran William Stevens is lifting a weighted bar, screaming loudly as his personal trainers urge him on. Meanwhile, Gabriella (“Gaby”) Camargo, Romy’s wife, smiles as she looks out from her office. At the Stay in Step Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Recovery Center in Tampa, a 5,000-sq.-ft. haven for paraplegics, quadriplegics and those who have suffered traumatic brain injuries, it is not uncommon to see Romy trying to fire up those fighting through a workout. Conveniently located in the University Center Drive Business Park off N. 30th St. (near both the University of South Florida and the James A. Haley Veteran’s Hospital), Romy and Gaby are reaching beyond just service to wounded war veterans. So Amarral, a civilian who drives from Spring Hill, works side-by-side with Stevens, a military vet. “It’s very important people know that this is for military and civilians,” Gaby says. Romy — who is serving as the 2016 Gasparilla Parade of Pirates Grand Marshall this weekend — and Gaby have devoted their lives to helping wounded warriors,
Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates New Tampa Nurse Honored, Shawn Harrison Jumps Out To Fund-Raising Lead, S.R. 56 Sprouting New Businesses & An Extension, Wharton Basketball Standout Makes A Turnaround & Lots Of Local Business Features!
Pages 3-36
Neighborhood Magazine Recapping The Neighborhood News ‘Speakeasy Party,’ Local Artist Wants To Create A Masterpiece For You, OTB Delights Café Celebrates A Delicious Anniversary; Plus, More Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!
Pages 37-52
Arbor Greene residents Romy Camargo and his wife, Gabriela, at the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center in Tampa. many who battle daily to remain viable and Continuing To Serve... healthy despite having lost the use of their While on a humanitarian mission in legs, their arms and, in many cases, both. Afghanistan in 2008, Chief Warrant Officer On Valentine’s Day (Sunday, Febru- 3 Romy Camargo and his fellow soldiers in ary 14), 5:30 p.m.-9 p.m., All American the Green Beret 7th Special Forces Group Music Productions is hosting the “Valen- were ambushed in Zabul Province by Talitines For Veterans” benefit dinner at the ban fighters. Stone Chef Events facility in Ybor City. All As they scrambled to dodge a hailstorm proceeds go to support Romy and Gaby’s of rocket-propelled grenades and machineStay in Step Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non- gun fire, a bullet smashed into the back of profit organization. Romy’s neck. “We can’t do what we do without the Bullets continued to fly as an emergensupport of the community,’’ Gaby says. cy tracheotomy was performed on Romy,
saving his life. The soldiers managed to repel the attack and get to safety, and Romy was flown to Germany and then to Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Washington, D.C. It was on Gaby’s birthday — September 19, 2008 — when he arrived at Walter Reed. Romy was hooked up to countless wires and machines, a ventilator so he could breathe, and he was lucky to be alive. The bullet had shattered his C3 vertebrae. He was paralyzed from the shoulders down. Doctors said he would never breathe on his own, but Romy is always proud to say he proved them wrong. Doctors also told him he would never walk again. Romy told Gaby the doctors were wrong on that claim as well, as he continues to strive towards his goal of one day getting out of his wheelchair forever. Thus began the toughest mission of the Green Beret’s life. He spent 18 months at Walter Reed before he could leave. Shortly thereafter, he petitioned the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army for permission to try an aggressive treatment to help him recover. In May of 2011 in Lisbon, Portugal, he became the first active duty service member to receive Olfactory Mucosa Autografts, where stem cells from the base of his nose were used to stimulate the recovery of his injured spine. Romy couldn’t distinguish temperatures and tell if the weather was hot or cold before the surgery, but he could after the See “Romy’’ on page 12.
Visit The 2016 Kumquat Festival On Sat., Jan. 30! By Celeste McLaughlin
Downtown Dade City’s always-fun 19th-annual Kumquat Festival will be held on Saturday, January 30, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. “It’s real, authentic, old Florida featuring a unique and funky little citrus fruit,” says John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, which puts on the event. Kumquats are small (lime-sized, orange-colored), citrus fruits grown near Dade City. Moors says this year’s crop is plentiful and is being harvested now, in advance of the Festival. With more than 425 vendors and 40 sponsors for this year’s Festival, historic downtown Dade City will again be transformed to include arts and crafts, a car and truck show, live local entertainment (see below), a farmer’s market and all kinds of kumquat pies and products. “Our vendors offer a wide variety of interesting, eclectic and homemade items,” says Moors. “And, of course, all of our shops
and restaurants will be open, to.” About 40,000 people attended last year’s Kumquat Festival, and Moors expects that this year’s one-day event will attract a similar crowd. He says Dade City’s downtown has new restaurants, including a new Mediterranean/Greek restaurant and a cigar lounge, which complement the great southern food people have come to expect in the quaint old town. And, those who attend the Festival will see another sign of downtown Dade City’s revitalization, with the opening of a new City Hall and a new police headquarters, also this month. Admission to the Festival and parking are free, and free transportation also is provided from multiple satellite lots. New this year, Moors says vendors will offer their kumquat pies for sale in the parking lots, so guests can purchase theirs right before they head home and not have to carry their pies around during the event. For additional information, please visit DadeCityChamber.org.
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will host the 2016 Kumquat Festival on Jan. 30!