Volume 21 Issue 4
Inside: Winners Grill Is More Than Just A Sports Bar!
February 9, 2013
See N eighborhood M agazine!
The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: 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 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
Congressman Bilirakis Opens Two New Offices, One In Wesley Chapel By Gary Nager With several dozen people crammed into every nook and cranny of his new district office in the professional park on S.R. 54, just east of Saddlebrook Resort, Dist. 12 U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis (R - Palm Harbor) has actually opened two new offices, including this one, his first-ever in Wesley Chapel. “I previously represented the 9th Congressional District, which didn’t include this area,” Bilirakis said during the Wesley Chapel open house on January 30. “Now, I represent all of Pasco County, so we decided to open new offices in New Port Richey and Wesley Chapel, so our local constituents in those areas can better reach us.” The 12th District also includes parts of northern Pinellas and northern Hillsborough counties, including the parts of New Tampa, north of Tampa Palms. Among the dignitaries on hand at the Wesley Chapel open house was
Pasco County District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano, as well as Roger Mitchell, the regional president of the Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), a Congressionally chartered, non-profit organization that represents the interests of the Sea Service community (e.g., the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Coast Guard), especially the enlisted members of those forces, before the U.S. Congress. Mitchell said Rep. Bilirakis, who is the Vice-Chairman of the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee, Chairman of the Veterans’ Affairs Task Force for the Republican Policy Committee and CoChair of the Military Veterans Caucus, earned the recognition, “by a unanimous vote,” because of his “service to all U.S. military veterans.” Rep. Bilirakis, who didn’t know he was even nominated, was obviously touched by the honor and gladly donned an FRA garrison hat given to him by Mitchell. “I will cherish this award,” he said.
“I know the good work that the FRA does on behalf of our (sea) service men and women.” Rep. Bilirakis said that as the 113th Congress begins its work this month, there are, U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis “many tough times (above, l.) was honored ahead, and tough by the Fleet Reserve Assn. decisions that have (right) at the Grand to be made” to Opening of the Congresshelp pull the coun- man’s new office off S.R. try out of its cur- 54 in Wesley Chapel. rent economic woes. He added that he, “welcomes the input of every constituent,” so that he can make his decisions on some of the country’s most critical issues, “based on what the residents of the 12th District say they want.” In other words, Rep. Bilirakis wants your input on any of the issues coming before Congress and he says the best
way to contact him is by emailing him from his website, Bilirakis. House.gov. “I see every letter and email sent to me,” he said. “And I want to hear from you!” Rep. Bilirakis’ Wesley Chapel office (5901 Argerian Dr., Suite 102) is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. For more info, call 501-4942.
Bidding Opens For Design & Operation Of ‘Fields At Wiregrass’
NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!
Charles Jewelers Has You Covered For WC Sweetbay To Remain Open, WRH Girls Soccer Season Ends At Regionals, Lots Of Valentine’s Day, Winners Grill Is Much More Than Just A ‘Sports Bar’ & Much More! Local Business Features & More!
Pages 1-24
Pages 25-36
This possible site plan for the “Fields at Wiregrass” has not been approved by Pasco County.
ECRWSS
NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION UPDATES
Postal Customer
Also Inside This Issue!
many proposals we’ll have to look at.” Two separate listings currently appear on the county’s solicitation website, one for the design of the park, and one for its management, operation and maintenance. Stromer says that with both listings out at the same time, it will be easier for the designer and operator to communicate with each other, as well as with the county, to put together a plan that works for the Fields. “This will make the process run more smoothly,” Stromer says. “It’s much easier having (the designer and operator) working together.” He says that it will be much more efficient than having a design in place and then having to find an operator, or vice versa. The County has several requirements that it will be looking to satisfy when considering design proposals. See “Bidding” on page 9.
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 2801
The search is on for which companies will construct and operate the planned “Fields At Wiregrass” project, which received the go-ahead from Pasco County last November. The bidding opened on January 15 for the sports complex project, which will be built with $14 million in County tourism funds on more than 200 acres of land inside the Wiregrass Ranch DRI (Development of Regional
Impact) that has been donated by the Porter family. Companies interested in both designing the complex and maintaining and operating it have until February 15 to submit their proposals. Although the bidding period has been open for nearly three weeks (as of our press time), Pasco purchasing director Scott Stromer says that not many bids have yet been submitted. “We won’t see many bids until the last few days,” Stromer explains. “That’s when we’ll get a feel for how
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Matt Wiley
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 4 • Februar y 9, 2013 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com
1