Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Issue 6, March 14, 2015

Volume 23 Issue 6

Inside:

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March 14, 2015

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For the complete list of neighborhoods we direct-mail to, see page 38.

First Shots On Goal Taken At Ice Complex Groundbreaking Ceremony There’s a chill in the air in Wesley Chapel. Or, at least, that was the theme during the groundbreaking ceremony on February 24 for the tentatively named (see below) Cypress Creek Ice & Sports Complex, located off S.R. 56.

During a unique groundbreaking ceremony that was attended by more than 100 people — including U.S. Olympic Women’s Hockey silver medalist Anne Schleper and former Tampa Bay Lightning forward Nikita Alexeev — developers Gordie Zimmermann and George Mitchell of ZMitch, LLC, officially broke ground on their $20-million, 150,000-sq.-ft., four-ice-pad facility that will make Wesley Chapel home to the largest ice facility in Florida. But, unlike most groundbreaking ceremonies, this one had distinguished guests shoot pucks into an ice hockey net, as opposed to simply throwing some dirt with a shovel.

In addition, the hockey facility developers announced that they had entered into a 10-year partnership with Florida Hospital that will allow members of the community to voice their ideas for a fitting name for the facility through an online survey at WesleyChapelIceCenter.com.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel CEO Denyse Bales-Chubb said

that she is proud of the new partnership between the two facilities. “(FHWC) plan(s) to offer educational programs on concussion and injury prevention, have experts available to provide athletic training, sports performance training and much more,” she said.

The event also was attended by several Pasco County elected officials, including District 2 County Commissioner Mike Moore (who represents Wesley Chapel) and District 3 Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

“This is a pretty darn exciting day for this community,” said District 38 Rep. Danny Burgess at the ceremony, who represents Wesley Chapel in Tallahassee. “What’s happening here is nothing short of amazing. It’s important not only for our county and our region, but for the state of Florida.

The state is paying attention to all that is happening here in Wesley Chapel. This is ground zero for all of the economic development that is taking place in our region.”

Former Tampa Bay Lightning general manager and current executive director of community hockey development Jay Feaster also praised the work of Zimmermann and Mitchell, who explained that within a 50-mile radius of Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa, there currently are a total of eight sheets of ice in four facilities.

“We have one mandate from (Light-

With outdoor events, it’s always tough to bet on the weather, especially here in Florida, and unfortunately, this year’s second annual Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) Health & Fitness Festival (photo) and second Wesley Chapel Family Jazz Festival both fell victim to an entire day of heavy rains on Feb. 28, leading organizers to cancel both events.

There is good news, however, as the Jazz Festival has been rescheduled for Saturday, March 28, noon-9 p.m., at the same Wesley Chapel District Park (7728 Boyette Rd.), with the same great lineup of entertainment. Organizer Tim Hancock of Jazz Tyme

Productions, LLC, says there also may be some acts added for the rain date.

So, rather than kick yourself for missing it again, check out all of the outstanding jazz, including the return from last time of Abnique & Friends (whose set was cut short by rain in August), the Cypress Creek Dixieland Jazz Band, Standing 8 Count and Marlon Boone, plus Festival newcomers the Rick Dahlinger Trio, Phillip “Jazz Dad” Thomas and Midnight Soul. The headliner will be smooth jazz saxophonist and national recording artist Chris Godber.

Hancock also promises more food and beverage vendors, more family-friendly ac-

By Matt Wiley

Gordie Zimmermann, of ZMitch, LLC, takes one of the ceremonial first slap shots on net, during the groundbreaking for the tentatively named Cypress Creek Ice & Sports Complex, located off S.R. 56.

ning) owner Jeff Vinik, and that is to grow awareness of and participation in the sport of hockey in this market,” Feaster told the crowd. “We (the Lightning) will be good customers, we will take advantage of this ice.

We will hold camps and clinics here. We will do our best to drive more people to this facility to help make it a thriving enterprise.”

While dirt is now turning on the 13acre property adjacent to American Consulting Engineers, the complex will soon allow for local high school and college

hockey teams, like the University of South Florida (USF) Ice Bulls and Wiregrass Ranch High hockey team (which Zimmermann coaches), to cut back on the travel expenses of driving to and from Brandon (20 miles south off I-75) or Ellenton (50 miles south off I-75) for games and ice time.

Zimmermann said that he hopes to be open by around the same time that the nearby Tampa Premium Outlets opens on the southwest corner of the S.R. 56/I-75 See “Ice Complex” on page 11.

Rained Out Jazz Festival Rescheduled For Mar. 28!; No Word On Fitness Fest

Also Inside This Issue!

News, Business & Sports Updates

Neighborhood Magazine

County Considers Wiregrass Sports Complex Options, ‘Hambone Way’ Dedicated, Estancia At Wiregrass Opens; Plus, Lots Of Local Business Features & More!

Stage Left Is Your Neighborhood Spot, Fund Raiser At Skinny’s Nets $7,000, WingZone Spices Up New Tampa & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!

Pages 1-28

Pages 29-44

tivities (including bounce houses for the kids) and more fun than last time around.

For more information, please visit WesleyChapelJazzFestival.com or call Tim Hancock at 609-2531.

Also originally scheduled for Feb. 28 (along Paseo Dr. at the Shops at Wiregrass mall), the inclement weather caused the cancellation of the Chamber’s second Health & Fitness Festival. “(Feb. 28) was not a ‘Chamber of Commerce’ kind of day,” admits WCCC executive director Hope Allen. “Unfortunately, we can’t control the weather. But, our vendors were ‘troopers’ and made it about two hours in the pouring rain.”

Allen says that the WCCC is exploring alternative events for its members to showcase their businesses and that she will be communicating with the vendors to figure out a better, and hopefully drier, day in the future for another event.

“We also plan to give each vendor a credit towards sponsoring another event or for an enhanced listing on our website (WesleyChapel Chamber.com),” Allen says.

For more info, call 994-8534.

‘Jealous’ Congrats To One Of Wesley Chapel’s Own An editorial by Gary Nager

Anyone who has seen me out and about in and around the Wesley Chapel area will tell you that I’m a guy who likes the sound of his own voice..I mean, who likes to sing.

It’s therefore easy to hear me singing — at Tue. Open Mic Nights at Stage Left on S.R. 54 in Lutz (see story on pg. 29), and karaoke at City Grill on S.R. 54 (see ad on pg. 39) on Wed. & Thur. nights and at Skinny’s Sports Bar on S.R. 54 (see story on pg. 31) on some Thur. & Sat. nights.

But, whether or not I’ve spent a few minutes in a few different bands or think I can sing a little or not, rest assured that no one has ever told me that I should be on NBC-TV’s “The Voice” or Fox-TV’s “American Idol,” much less that I’d have a chance to win either of these hit televised karaoke contests.

Therefore, it was stunning for me to see 16-year-old recently transplanted Georgia native and current Wesley Chapel resident Brooke Adee actually make it onto “The Voice” — attracting almost immediate attention from “coaches” Blake Shelton and Maroon 5 frontman Adam Levine — in her first-ever audition for the show.

Brooke, who said her singing style is primarily indy/alt rock during her oncamera interview for the show (see NBC. com for both her audition and her interview) chose to be on Team Blake, under the country music star’s tutelage, over the

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager General Manager Nikki Bennett Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondent Celeste McLaughlin Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Nate Ciurla Office Assistants Erica Everett • Jillian Reilly Advertising Sales Rep Mary Dorey Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 23, Issue 8, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, March 30, 2015.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

© 2015 JM2 Communications, Inc. 3

rocker Levine’s team, when both megastars quickly turned their chairs around during Brooke’s blind on-air audition.

“I was thinking Adam all the way until I heard them argue over me,” Brooke said.

“Then, I said to myself, ‘Blake is my boy!’”

The fact that both music industry giants turned around during basically her first few bars of the haunting Birdy song “Skinny Love” was clear indication to not only Levine and Shelton, but also to competing coaches Christina Aguilera and rap star Pharrell — who never did turn their chairs around for Brooke — that this youngster has a special kind of talent.

Wesley Chapel resident Brooke Adee at “The “This is why I do this show,” Shelton Voice” blind auditions. Photo from NBC.com. chirped as Brooke wiped away tears. “I love your pitch...and that little yodel break thing you do with your voice...I’m looking at a future star right now!”

Of course, by the time you receive this issue in your mailbox, Brooke will either be a couple of steps closer to achieving her Call dream of singing stardom or she could be eliminated from the competition. The hope here is that she will continue to advance through the stages of “The Voice” so that maybe a certain local publication can begin hosting some watch parties at some of our local establishments. Hmmm.

Break a leg, Brooke. You got this!

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Anyone who says the economy still hasn’t recovered isn’t paying attention to the suddenly explosive growth of new homes popping up throughout Wesley Chapel (WC). We, on the other hand, are not only aware of what’s happening in zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545, we’re doing everything we can to keep up with it.

To that end, we now print and distribute more than 20,000 copies of this publication and we’re still not reaching all of the households in one of the fastest-growing regions in the entire Tampa Bay area.

But, we’re working on it. We’ve added two postal carrier routes in WC with this issue, but plan to add at least a couple of more that will likely increase our unmatched direct-mail WC circulation to more than 21,000 within a couple of months.

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Table of Contents

Local News Updates............................4-15

Pasco Weighs Wiregrass Sports Complex Options...............4 Wesley Chapel News Briefs............................................8 FHWC Unveils Expansion Plans WC Man Who Fled Accident Scene Arrested A Year Later Man Drags Relatives With Car In Meadow Pointe Suncoast Federal Credit Union Robber Arrested FHP Looking For Driver Who Hit WC Woman ‘Hambone Way’ Dedicated In Angus Valley.......................10 Estancia At Wiregrass Featured In ‘Parade Of Homes’.......14 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar............................16

Local Business Updates.......................18-24

Grey Wolf Armory For Your Personal Protection Needs...18 Murtha & Murtha CPAs Help You Survive Tax Season........20 Artisan Aesthetics Celebrates Eight Years In Business......22 New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine...........24

Neighborhood Magazine......29-44

Stage Left Is Your New Neighborhood Hangout....29,35 Skinny’s Fund Raiser For Bruce Nets $7,000.................31 WingZone Spices Up New Tampa................................36 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’............38 WESLEY CHAPEL COLOR CLASSIFIEDS.....40 WRH Hosts Cultural Diversity Expo.........................42

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BOCC, Tourism Development Council Weigh Options For Wiregrass Sports Complex

By Matt Wiley It’s been about two months since the deal to build a massive youth baseball complex in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) was terminated, and Pasco County officials are trying to figure out the next step for the project.

During a Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) workshop on March 3 in Dade City, the commissioners sat down at a table with members of the county’s Tourism Development Council (TDC) to discuss the options for proceeding with a sports complex on 120 acres of land donated by the Porter family (which owns and is developing the Wiregrass Ranch DRI).

In January, a deal a year in the making between the county and Pasco Sports, LLC (which included businessman James Talton and retired MLB star Gary Sheffield), to build 19 baseball fields with on-site dormitories was terminated, after Pasco Sports failed to meet multiple deadlines to prove that they had the financing to construct the proposed $34-million facility. Talton and Sheffield told the BOCC that it was tough to get investors on board because they could not use the land as collateral because the county owned it. The contract said that once the proof of funding was provided, the county would sign over the land and invest up to $11 million in tourism funds in the project.

Pasco Planning & Development administrator Richard Gehring presented options for moving forward, drawn up by the county staff. He described the land donated by the Porters as the “hole in a donut” of economic growth in Wiregrass Ranch because

the property is at the center of much of the planned exponential growth in the area, with Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) and the Shops at Wiregrass already built and housing developments like Estancia at Wiregrass and The Ridge at Wiregrass (see pages 14-15) currently building. Plus, financial giant Raymond James plans an employment center in the area and the state allocated $10 million last year for a future performing arts center in Wiregrass Ranch.

“From the day this started years back, this ‘donut’ has only gotten more valuable,” Gehring said, adding that the proposed sports complex property itself has grown into a $25-$30-million asset.

Decisions, Decisions

Gehring said Pasco is looking into conducting a “Sports Complex Feasibility Study,” which would hire a consulting firm for as much as $35,000 to take a look at the county, and determine the best financing options, strengths and weaknesses for any potential project at the site. The data collected could then be included in a future Request For Proposals (RFP) to contractors so they can better understand what type of facility could work best for the site and for the county.

Gehring also discussed going into another RFP process and described three different options. The first is similar to the previous RFP, which would ask a contractor to help design, operate and manage a multi-purpose sports park. The second has the county building a sports facility and then hiring a private operator to market, manage and operate the facility at their own cost.

The final RFP option would have the county lease the land to a private operator who would build, maintain and operate the facility and would split the cost of improvements with the county.

County staff recommends the feasibility study, but commissioners and TDC members weighed in on all of the options at the March 3 workshop.

BOCC chair and District 1 Comm. Ted Schrader suggested reaching out to Gordie Zimmermann of Z Mitch, LLC, which recently broke ground on the $20-million Cypress Creek Ice & Sports Complex near the I-75/S.R. 56 interchange (see page 1).

“They may have done the market analysis already,” Comm. Schrader said. “We should see if they have any data they’d want to share.”

District 5 Comm. Jack Mariano expressed concern about the contract with Pasco Sports and suggested meeting with Talton again. “We don’t know what we want to do right now,” Comm. Mariano said. “(Pasco Sports) said they needed a better long-term contract. They didn’t want to pay any revenue back and they needed a road into the project (built by the county). I don’t know why we wouldn’t want to bring them back to the table and see what exactly they’d want in the contract. Lets ask them directly instead of relying on a consulting firm to tell us.”

New Port Richey city councilman and Pasco TDC member Chopper Davis said he would be in favor of the feasibility study.

“Let’s see what the market will bear,” Davis said. “I have a big problem with just

letting one sport come in. We should go with a consultant.”

Saddlebrook Resort Tampa president and TDC member Pat Ciacco agreed. “(What is built on the land) has to be multipurpose,” Ciacco said. “It has to be busy all year long, and we need to make sure it’s regional. We need to take care of the county and understand the demographics of the county to find out what will get you a better ‘bang’ for your dollar. I’m looking out for the best overall option.”

Ciacco also suggested building facilities for multiple sports on the property.

“Take the land and break it up,” he said. “Then you can have something that benefits the region at all times.”

Pasco director of tourism Ed Caum said the benefit of using a consulting firm this time around could show what uses would be a benefit for more than just Pasco County.

“The one thing no one has really put their head around is, what’s good for Florida that we could have in the region?,” Caum asked. “What could Pasco contribute to the state with this sports destination?”

He mentioned that the previous proposed project didn’t fully consider everyone involved. “We need to listen to our stakeholders, the hoteliers,” he said. “They weren’t excited about the dormitories in the previous project.”

Pasco administrator Michele Baker also favored funding the study.

“Let’s do a serious feasibility study and see what’s next,” Baker said. “They’ll tell us, ‘For your market, where you are, this is our recommendation.’”

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Wesley Chapel FHWC Unveils $78-Million Expansion Plan

It’s the newest and largest hospital in our area, but Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) already is planning an aggressive expansion at its Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. campus in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI).

According to a Mar. 6 press release, FHWC will begin construction on its $78-million expansion — that will add three floors to the hospital’s center wing, as well as a three-story “arm” that will connect the central and southern wings — in August.

“The community has overwhelmingly shown us both the need for the hospital and their confidence and appreciation for the high-quality care our staff delivers every day,” FHWC president and CEO, Denyse Bales-Chubb. “We are so blessed by their faith in us and we know we need to grow to meet both the current demands and future growth of the community.”

FHWC spokesperson Tracy Clouser says that the technologically advanced, $150-million, 200,000-sq.-ft., 83-bed facility actually was built with expansion in mind. Clouser says that the expansion will feature 111,993 sq. ft. of new construction, as well as 10,834 sq. ft. of renovated space.

Improvements will include space for 48 new beds (and space for 24 additional beds when they’re needed), 17 more emergency room (added to the current 18) rooms, an additional heart catheterization lab, more pre-operation, recovery and observation beds, as well as four new surgical suites with space to open five more when necessary.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion is scheduled for Wednesday, August 5. For more info, please visit FloridaHospital.com/Wesley Chapel.

WC Man Who Fled Accident Arrested A Year Later

A Wesley Chapel man is in custody, nearly a year after he fled a car crash in Temple Terrace that left one man dead.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Michael P. Mercer, 41, of Quail Hollow, was driving his 1997 GMC pickup truck on E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa when Amari A. Williams, 30, of Thonotosassa, lost control of his 1985 Chevrolet Camaro and hit Mercer’s vehicle at around 3:12 a.m. on April 12, 2014. Williams’ Camaro then

News Briefs rotated clockwise and overturned.

The FHP report says that Williams was ejected and landed on the roadway. Two witnesses—one from Jacksonville and one from Tampa—attempted to help Williams, but saw him struck by two more vehicles while still in the road. Williams died of his injuries at the scene. The driver of one of those vehicles called FHP and identified himself as William S. Ridley, 47, of Tampa.

The other driver was still unknown at our press time.

FHP reports that, hours after the crash, Mercer’s truck was found abandoned on E. Fletcher Ave. He was identified and located at 8:30 a.m. the next morning, but no charges were filed.

However, after nearly a year of investigation, FHP Sgt. Steve Gaskins says that Mercer was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident with serious bodily injury on March 2. At our press time, he was still in the Hillsborough County jail in lieu of a $7,500 bond.

Gaskins says that the delay in Mercer’s arrest was due to getting information together and getting people to come forward to be interviewed about the crash. “It has not been an easy case,” Gaskins says.

The accident remains under investigation. Anyone with info about the fourth driver is asked to call 631-4020.

Man Drags Relatives With Car In Meadow Pointe

It’s not unusual to hear about family members getting angry at one another from time-to-time. However, dragging relatives down the street while they’re hanging from a vehicle is definitely a lot less common.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Patrick Anthony Spinozzi, 58, of Northtown, PA, was arrested just after 4:30 p.m. on February 27 at Chatterly Dr. and Meadow Pointe Blvd. in Wesley Chapel for aggravated assault.

PCSO reports that Spinozzi and two unidentified blood relatives have been in town working on a home improvement project on a home in the Wrencrest neighborhood of Meadow Pointe for the past several weeks. The report says that, on the day of the offense, Patrick Spinozzi Spinozzi became irritated

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with his relatives and was planning to leave the residence when he got into a verbal argument with one of them. At the same time, Spinozzi’s other relative was packing the vehicle and heard the vehicle start, but continued packing.

Once done packing, the relative was standing in front of the vehicle, at which point Spinozzi put the vehicle in drive and intentionally took his foot off the brake and narrowly missed the victim. He then put the vehicle in reverse and then back into drive and maneuvered the vehicle directly into the path of his relative, who pushed off the hood and held onto the accelerating vehicle for fear of falling off and getting injured.

PCSO says the other relative saw what happened and ran up to grab onto the passenger side of the vehicle and begged Spinozzi to stop. Instead, Spinozzi drove into a neighboring yard and narrowly missed hitting another parked vehicle. At that point, the first relative let go of Spinozzi’s vehicle and landed in the grass.

Spinozzi continued to drive through the neighborhood with his other relative still holding onto the vehicle. PCSO reports that Spinozzi then nearly hit a light pole and a second vehicle. Just before Spinozzi swerved to miss the second vehicle, the relative let go and landed on that vehicle. Spinozzi kept driving, while his relative lay on the ground pleading for help. The relative suffered upper body injuries, but refused treatment by medical personnel. In total, Spinozzi drove about a tenth of a mile.

PCSO reports that Spinozzi was arrested and charged with two counts of aggravated assault because he intentionally and unlawfully threatened and acted violently with a deadly weapon toward both of his relatives and created a “well-founded fear” in them. Spinozzi also performed the violent acts with a, “fully-formed conscious intent to commit battery upon both victims,” the report says. Spinozzi also was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription. He was released on a $12,000 bond.

Suncoast Federal Credit Union Robber Arrested

A Wesley Chapel man is in custody, after being arrested and charged with robbing a local bank.

According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), at around 9 a.m. on February 17, Steve Alan Weber, 49, of Wesley Chapel, walked into the Suncoast Federal Credit Union off Eiland Blvd. in

the Summertree Plaza. Once inside, he reportedly pulled a white bank bag from his clothing.

PCSO reports that Weber approached a teller and put his hand in the bank bag to make it look like he had a weapon. Weber was handed more than $500 in cash by the Steve Weber teller and then fled the bank to his vehicle in a nearby parking lot.

Deputies were able to identify Weber using the bank’s security footage and his driver’s license image. Weber was arrested unarmed at his nearby residence at 1 p.m.

After his arrest, he admitted to robbing the bank and told deputies that he had wired some of the money to another party and that the rest was at his residence, which was recovered.

Weber was charged with robbery without a firearm or weapon and remains in custody at the Land O’Lakes Detention Center in lieu of a $100,000 bond.

FHP Looking For Driver Who Hit WC Woman

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) is searching for a New Port Richey (NPR) woman who hit a Wesley Chapel driver and hasn’t been seen since.

According to FHP, just before 3 p.m. on February 16, 31-year-old Debra Charlene Wise of NPR was traveling westbound on Trinity Blvd. in Pinellas County, approaching the East Lake Rd. intersection, in her 2007 Isuzu pickup truck.

At the same time, Elias P. Tsambiras, 73, of Wesley Chapel, was stopped at the red light at the same intersection in his 1999 Mercedes CL320. To get to the northbound turn lane, Wise drove over the curb and hit the right rear section of Tsambiras’ Mercedes. Wise didn’t stop following the collision, so Tsambiras followed her.

FHP reports that Wise eventually stopped and gave Tsambiras her phone number, before leaving again. FHP was able to identify Wise as the suspect and also discovered that she has an outstanding warrant for violation of parole after being convicted of possession and sale of oxycodone in Pasco County.

Anyone with info is urged to contact FHP at 631-4020. — MW

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‘Hambone Way’ Dedicated In Tribute To Popular (Active) Local Firefighter

By Gary Nager

When your nickname is “Hambone,” you probably don’t expect anyone to name a road after you — especially before you’re retired — but somehow, that is exactly what has happened on Feb. 20 to Pasco Fire Rescue Station No. 13 (Quail Hollow) firefighter William “Hambone” Hammond.

“Hambone” himself, in his 15th year at the station, was stunned to learn that his fellow Station 13 firefighter/ paramedic and longtime work partner Jesus “JJ” Martinez had approached Chief Scott Cassin and others about how to go about getting a previously unnamed street (in the same Angus Valley area of Wesley Chapel as Station 13 itself, off Foamflower Blvd., a mile north of Old Pasco Rd.) after Hambone as a living tribute to a man Martinez called, “a true firefighter.”

Martinez also said that, “Hambone has an infectious smile. The most important people to him are the people we have to help.”

He added, “This street has had no name for many years but Hambone truly deserves this honor for his service to this community. Thanks, Hambone. I know that your Dad is smiling down on you today.”

10

At the dedication of “Hambone Way” in the Angus Valley area on February 20, Pasco County fire and emergency officials joined forces with Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce members to cut the ribbon on the road now named for popular local firefighter Jeff “Hambone” Hammond (center, in sunglasses, in the photo, right).

Smiling directly at Hammond during the ceremony were his mother Betty and his brother Mark.

“Our station has always been linked to ‘the Valley,’” Hambone said of his service to the Wesley Chapel community. “I don’t deserve this. There are so many good men and women (serving) here. But, Wesley Chapel...Angus Valley...this is where my heart is.”

Chief Cassin was among the many Pasco fire, law enforcement and governmental dignitaries on hand for the dedication, which also featured a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting and food from the nearby Wesley Chapel Cody’s Roadhouse on S.R. 54.

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‘Ice Complex’

Continued from page 1 interchange — in about nine months.

In addition to the four ice pads (including one larger-than-NHL, Olympic-sized rink and one removable pad that can double as a multi-purpose floor for basketball, roller hockey and other sports, as well as graduations), the facility also will be home to a sports-themed, family restaurant, although Zimmermann says he can’t yet release the name.

The restaurant will have a view of all the rinks on the facility’s second floor.

“It’ll be a great place to bring

the ey

family and watch a hockgame,” Zimmermann said.

“The Cypress Creek Ice hockey project is a once-in-a-lifetime kind of project,” said Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) executive director Hope Allen. “The Chamber has been at the table since the beginning and we were delighted to play such a major role in the groundbreaking ceremony. It was an honor for me to share in the celebration with the ceremonial ‘dropping of the puck,’ even though my shot was laughable. I’m very proud this amazing facility will be in Wesley Chapel.”

For more information, please visit WesleyChapelIceCenter.com.

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Estancia At Wiregrass To Be Featured In Local ‘Parade Of Homes’ During the WCCC’s Economic Development Briefing on February 26 at Hoosier’s Grille (located inside the Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club in New Tampa), TBBA special events & communications director Melissa Chaumont announced that the Barrington at Estancia will be this year’s TBBA Parade of Homes “Showcase Home.”

“When someone (who is looking for a new home) says, ‘I’d like to take some time to check out a home during the Parade,’ they usually make it a point to go see the ‘Showcase Home,’” Chaumont explained.

The two-story Barrington (photo, right) is the largest model in Estancia, which features a five-bedroom, five-

bathroom design, measuring 5,359 sq.

After years of hearing about the ft., with prices for thousands of residential units that will the model starting at be coming to the Wiregrass Ranch De$624,900. velopment of Regional Impact (DRI) While the Parade in Wesley Chapel, Estancia at Wiregrass has focused more

by Standard Pacific Homes has officially on other areas to opened just off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) the south of WesBlvd. (about a mile north of Florida ley Chapel (such as Hospital Wesley Chapel), following a Brandon and South Tampa) in the past, ribbon-cutting ceremony on February this year’s Parade will 11 (see below), just after we went to feature more homes in press with our last issue.

Wesley Chapel.

And, one of the homes in the com“This year, we’re munity has been chosen to headline excited to bring the the Tampa Bay Builder’s Association Parade north because of the develop(TBBA)’s 2015 “Parade of Homes.” ment in this area,” Chaumont says.

The official listing of all the homes in Wesley Chapel that will be on this year’s parade route had not been released at our press time, but a few homes in Seven Oaks and Watergrass have been included in the past.

TBBA is a volunteer trade organization, which works to provide services to enhance the building industries in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties. The organization is comprised of builders, developers, trade contractors, suppliers, lending institutions, title companies, engineers, attorneys and other types of businesses that have a Dist. 2 Pasco County Comm. Mike Moore, as well as representatives from Standard Pacific Homes relationship to the building industry.

For more info, visit TBBA.net. and the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, cut the ribbon at Estancia At Wiregrass.

By Matt Wiley

14

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 6 • March 14, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Estancia Cuts A Ribbon

Although dozens of homes already have been completed and some already are filled with residents, more than 50 people — including Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ambassadors, Pasco County elected officials and employees of Standard Pacific — packed the lavish, 7,000-sq.-ft. Estancia Club amenity center for the community’s official ribbon-cutting ceremony on Feb. 11, during which breakfast was served, followed by a short presentation from Standard Pacific’s Tampa division president Dave Bulloch.

“Today marks another significant milestone for Estancia at Wiregrass,” Bulloch said. “Pasco County has been a terrific community partner. Our con-

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Coming Soon: The Ridge At Wiregrass Ranch

Estancia at Wiregrass is the first residential community to open in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact., with luxury homes built by Standard Pacific Homes.

struction of homes and communities in Pasco County is done with great confidence. We know that our homeowners will enjoy great local conveniences, excellent county services and schools and a wonderful lifestyle when they choose to buy a Standard Pacific Home in Pasco County.”

Dist. 2 County Commissioner Mike Moore also spoke prior to the ribbon-cutting ceremony.

“When Standard Pacific decided to invest in building in Wesley Chapel, economic conditions were not perfect,” Comm. Moore said. “But, they saw promise in our area and decided to take that risk. (Estancia) has turned out to be a magnificent community that we can all be proud of.” Comm. Moore added, “This area and community is no longer just the ‘bedroom community’ to Tampa. It is the community.”

Neighborhood News

SPH is no stranger to the area, having already built homes in several large communities in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas, including Seven Oaks, Meadow Pointe and Tuscany at Tampa Palms. SPH is building Estancia on 677 acres of land and will build 1,181 single-family homes.

Home prices in Estancia range between $200,000-more than $600,000.

The four neighborhoods inside Estancia, three of which will be gated, will feature a Tuscan-style, “Euro cottage” or Mediterranean look in front, which will be much different than most other homes in the area. Each neighborhood is built within walking distance to the Estancia Club, which features a pool, tennis and basketball courts, a fitness room and other amenities.

For more information, please visit EstanciaAtWiregrass.com.

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While Standard Pacific Homes’ Estancia at Wiregrass community may be the first to open inside the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI), work is well under way on another luxury housing community in the DRI called The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch, located just west of Meadow Pointe Blvd. on the south side of S.R. 56.

The community, which currently is under construction and is being developed by Sunrise, FL-based GL Homes, will feature 585 single-family luxury homes on 332 acres. The Pasco Development Review Committee approved the community last July.

While prices were not yet avail-

able for the homes that will be built in The Ridge when we went to press with this issue, floor plans range from 1,700 sq. ft. to more than 5,000 sq. ft., with up to six bedrooms and three-car garages.

The community also will be home to a “clubhouse and lifestyle complex” that will offer a resort-style pool, tennis courts, children’s water area, a playground and more.

GL Homes has built other communities in South Florida, with Valencia Lakes in Wimauma being one of the builder’s closest projects to Wesley Chapel.

For info, please visit TheRidge WiregrassNewTampa.com. — MW

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15

March 2015

Saturday, March 14

FREE Health & Fitness Seminar — Pure Health & Fitness Studios is hosting a FREE health seminar at its Wesley Chapel location (2653 BBD, Suite 205) at noon. Pure Health’s founder Samantha Taylor will lead the seminar and coffee and dessert will be served. For info, or to RSVP, visit PureHealthStudios.com.

Sunday, March 15

Thursday, March 19

Networking For Your Success — The Networking For Your Success group meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at Lexington Oaks Clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd, off S.R. 54). All are welcome and a continental breakfast is served for $5. An annual membership costs just $79. For more information, call (813) 073-1657.

Food Addicts In Recovery (FA) — FA is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experiences and mutual support, are recovering from the disease of food addiction. The group meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Seventh Day Adventist Church (33420 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel). For additional information, visit FoodAddicts.org.

Biker Bash & Charity Poker Run — Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.) is hosting a biker bash and $10 charity ride to raise money for the “Buddy Break” Friday, March 20 program at Victorious Life Church (18924 County Line Rd.) that helps kids with special FREE Health & Fitness Seminar — Pure Health & Fitness Studios is hosting a FREE needs. The ride begins at 10 a.m. and will feature three stops, but begin and end at the health seminar at its Wesley Chapel location (2653 BBD, Suite 205), 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. Pure country club. For more info, call Kevin at 766-0751.

Health founder Samantha Taylor will lead the seminar (at 6 p.m.) and coffee and dessert will be served. For info, or to RSVP, visit PureHealthStudios.com or see pg. 31.

Monday, March 16 Experienced Networking Professionals (ENP) — ENP meets Monday mornings at 8 a.m. Saturday, March 21 for breakfast and networking at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Spring Book Sale — The New River Friends of the Library will be hosting their Spring Rd.). For more info, call Brad Benson at 973-1814.

Book Sale at the New River Library (34043 S.R. 54) from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Friends will be selling “gently used” book for all ages and New River Library book bags will be for sale.

Free Networking International (FNI) — FNI, a group of area business owners, meets There also will be a children’s craft corner and face painting. Refreshments will be available Mondays for networking and discussion at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington for purchase. Event proceeds benefit the library’s children programs. Call 788-6375.

Oaks Blvd., off S.R. 54). For info, call Stacy Dalton at 469-5499.

Professional Business Connections (PBC) — PBC meets Mondays at 7:30 a.m. at The Monday, March 23 Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). The Compassionate Friends (TCF) Support Group — Did you or someone you know suffer the loss of a child, grandchild or sibling? TCF is a not-for-profit organization that supports For more info, call Chris Thurow at 546-6860. parents, grandparents and siblings after the devastating loss of a child of any age that meets the Wesley Chapel Speaks’ ToastMasters — The “Wesley Chapel Speaks” ToastMasters Club fourth Monday of each month at the Lexington Oaks Community Center (26304 Lexington meets on the first and third Monday of every month, 6:15 p.m., at Hyundai of Wesley Oaks Blvd.). For info, visit TCFPascoCounty.org or call 273-8721.

Chapel (26944 Wesley Chapel Blvd.). For info, call David West at 610-1650 or visit WesleyChapel Speaks.ToastMastersClubs.org.

Saturday, March 28 BayChapel Food Pantry — BayChapel will be opening its FREE food pantry to the comCelebrate Recovery — Celebrate Recovery is a purpose driven recovery resource group for munity at Christian Brothers Automotive (20303 Trout Creek Dr.) from 9:30 a.m. - 12:30 healing from addictions that meets at Victorious Life Church (6224 Old Pasco Rd.) on p.m. for anyone in need. For more info, call Lee at 731-4040.

Monday nights from 6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. The group focuses on the habits that have affected members and others. For info, call 973-2230.

Meadow Pointe I Community Fair — The Meadow Pointe Community Council (MPCC) will host its annual Community Fair, 10 am-2 p.m., at the Meadow Pointe 1 Clubhouse Tuesday, March 17 (28245 County Line Rd.). A free raffle will be held, and vendor food samples will be available.

Business Networking International (BNI) — BNI, a group of business pros supportSnacks & beverages will be available for purchase through the MPCC. Face painting, a bounce ing each other through qualified referrals, meets Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m., at Heritage Church (1854 Oak Grove Blvd., off S.R. 54, Land O’Lakes). For more information, email Tim at house and other activities will be available for the kids. Call Dennis Costa at 907-1237.

Tim@TampaHomes24-7.com.

Mental Disorder Support Meeting — The Pasco County Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a support group for family and friends of those with mental illness. The group meets the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For more info, call (727) 992-9653.

Wednesday, March 18

Wesley Chapel Rotary Club — The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meets Wednesdays at noon at Stage Left (24400 S.R. 54, Lutz). For more info, call 862-8989 or 391-3895.

16

April 2015

Saturday, April 4

Victorious Life Church Egg Hunt — Victorious Life Church is sponsoring their 7th Annual Community Easter Egg Hunt at The Grove shopping plaza (6333 Wesley Grove Blvd.). in the field across from the Cobb Theater. Egg hunts will be held at 11 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1 p.m., including Egg hunts for children with special needs in a designated area. The event will include bounce houses, prizes, food trucks and free pictures with the Easter Bunny. Everyone is welcome. Contact Victorious Life Church at 973-2330 for more info.

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17

Grey Wolf Armory Has Everything You Need For Personal Protection

By Celeste McLaughlin

For the past seven months, Jeffrey Webb has operated Wesley Chapel’s only gun shop and it since has become a popular destination for local residents looking for firearms, firearm repair and accessories.

Grey Wolf Armory opened on July 1 of last year, just north of S.R. 54 and west Morris Bridge Rd., next to Wendy’s in the shopping center in front of Home Depot.

“There is quite a lot of demand,” says Jeffrey. “There are no other gun shops in Wesley Chapel and I’m the only certified gunsmith in the area, so (we get) a lot of traffic.”

Jeffrey says that opening the store was a natural extension of something he’s enjoyed since childhood.

“I’ve been involved with firearms since I was a kid,” he says. “My dad was in the U.S. Secret Service and a deputy sheriff, so I’ve been trained in firearms and firearm safety all of my life.” Jeffrey adds that he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in high school, which is the official auxiliary of the U.S. Air Force. In fact, he says he was only 14 when he did his first “trigger job,” or repairing a firearm to make its trigger operate better.

But, it was always just a hobby for him, as he spent the last 23 years of his professional life working in information technology. Jeffrey has lived in Wesley Chapel with his wife Nicole and eight-

year-old daughter Rachael since 2008.

“But, I wanted to work for myself for a long time,” says Jeffrey. “So, when the opportunity (to open the store) presented itself, I jumped in.”

Since opening Grey Wolf Armory, Jeffrey has become a certified professional gunsmith, as he completed a master gunsmithing course from the online American Gunsmithing Institute in 2014, earning certifications in the repair of many different types of firearms.

“This training helped me formalize the knowledge I had from years of working on firearms, and also expanded my knowledge of different types of firearms,” says Jeffrey, who says he emphasizes safety at every opportunity. “I take every firearm I repair out to the range (Note-Grey Wolf does not have a firing range on-site) to test it to be sure it’s repaired correctly and is safe to use,” he says.

In fact, he says, it’s not just the firearms he repairs that he will test for safety.

“If anyone has any questions about whether or not their firearm is safe, I will safety check it for free,” says Jeffrey. “I’m building relationships with people. That’s one reason why I’m so concerned about firearm safety.”

He says he looks for any problems with the action of the gun. For example, in a revolver, does it line up properly? Is there a failure to feed or failure to eject?

Does a rifle go off when it’s bumped?

Are there problems due to after-market

modifications? What kind of wear and tear does the firearm have?

Since every gunshot is an explosion, he says, eventually the metal will get “fatigued.”

And, he says he always takes time with each customer who wants to purchase a gun to figure out which firearm is best for them.

“I want my customers to become repeat customers,” (L.-r.) Jeffrey, Rachael and Nicole Webb of Grey Wolf Armory, located says Jeffrey. “I want just north of S.R. 54 & west of Morris Bridge Rd., next to Wendy’s to make sure that they in the shopping center in front of Home Depot. always get the right has to haul valuable items through seedy firearm for their needs areas. “I help them find exactly what they so they will come back.” need for their purpose,” he says.

He also explains that there are many “We carry a wide variety of firearms different reasons people are interested in in the store, and you also can order his merchandise. almost any brand and type of firearm “For many people, this is their through our distributor,” Jeffrey says. hobby, too,” he says. “They like to tinker Customers can come into the store or with guns, and firearms are recreation for shop online (at GreyWolfArmory.com), them. In addition, customers purchase pay a deposit online, and pick up their firearms for self-defense, for hunting and firearm in the store two days later. even for pest control.” He says some Jeffrey explains that to purchase any customers come in because they are in a firearm from Grey Wolf Armory, you new situation that requires them to think have to pass a background check. Pasco about self-defense, whether it’s a couple County has no waiting period for rifles sending their daughter off to college, a or shotguns. For handguns, there is no newly single mom or a truck driver who

4/15/15

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waiting period if you have a Florida concealed carry permit. However, if you do not have a permit, you may still purchase a firearm, but have to wait three business days before you can receive it from the store. Without the concealed carry permit, you can use a handgun for home defense, but he encourages all gun owners to obtain the permit.

“It authorizes you to have a concealed weapon and can keep you out of all kinds of trouble,” he says. The first step to obtaining a permit is usually to take a class (prior members of the military or law enforcement can skip this step, as can those who have taken a hunting safety class). Although concealed weapons classes are not available at the store, Grey Wolf Armory sells the classes at a discount, to be taken at the Indoor Shooting Company on E. Fowler Ave. in Thonotosassa (just east of

Temple Terrace).

Jeffrey says another major benefit of purchasing a firearm from him is that all new guns come with a lifetime, transferrable warranty. He says that if something goes wrong with any firearm purchased at Grey Wolf Armory, the customer pays a $10 shipping charge and the distributor replaces the firearm within a few days.

“You don’t have to mess with the manufacturer, which is a huge advantage,” he says. “If you have to ship (a weapon) directly to a manufacturer (yourself), it can take 12 weeks before they repair or replace it for you.”

Joe Mora lives in Land O’Lakes and is the commander of the Civil Air Patrol unit at MacDill Air Force Base in South Tampa. He says he’d rather deal with Jeffrey than any big box store. “Jeff is honest and straightforward,” Joe says. “He offers

a wide range of firearms, and he doesn’t try to sell you the most expensive one.

He’s interested in what’s best for you.”

Tony Griffin, a Lutz resident who frequents Grey Wolf Armory, agrees. “I am a firearms collector,” Tony says. “I like to customize firearms and make them my own, and I was very pleased to find a gunsmith who can help me with these things.

(Jeffrey) seems to have a broad knowledge about a wide variety of firearms.”

As for Grey Wolf’s prices, Tony says, “I’ve also found his repair prices reasonable. It’s not like some other places that charge you a lot for minor repairs. And his prices on firearms are reasonable, too.

I shop the Internet and find him to be very competitive.”

And, Jeffrey says he plans to add even more services. “We’ve been successful and are now looking to expand,” says

Jeffrey. “I am hoping to soon have on-site machine shop services to expand my repair services and even be able to offer custom handguns and rifles.”

Grey Wolf Armory is involved in the community, too. Jeffrey gives discounts to all active first responders, including police, fire and emergency medical services. He also recently worked in partnership with a nearby business, Vapor Unlimited, to sell raffle tickets to benefit the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club, which in turn supports many nonprofit organizations. The raffled firearms were valued at more than $1,500, which raised several thousand dollars to help pay for the club’s fourth humanitarian trip to Trojes, Honduras, next month.

See ad on page 8 for valuable coupons, including a discounted personal protection package and $40 off any Springfield XD or XDm handgun. Jeffrey says this brand is a customer favorite, and the one he personally carries. “It’s an extremely popular brand, and very durable,” he says. “There are documented cases where the XD has been fired 3,000 to 4,000 rounds without even being cleaned, and it’s still firing just fine.”

Grey Wolf Armory is located at 32733 Eiland Blvd., #104, near Wendy’s, in the separate plaza next to Home Depot. It is open TuesdaySaturday, 9 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. It is closed on Mondays. For additional information, visit GreyWolfArmory.com or call the store at 782-4624.

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19

Murtha & Murtha Certified Public Accountants Can Help You Survive Tax Season

By Matt Wiley

If you’ve been watching any TV during the past month, you’ve probably been constantly reminded that April 15 (the last day to file your taxes with the Internal Revenue Service [IRS]) is creeping up quickly. Luckily, Murtha & Murtha Certified Public Accountants (CPAs) can help you sort through the details and get your biggest refund ever this tax season.

Located in the Seven Oaks Professional Park off S.R. 56, Murtha & Murtha is a full-service accounting firm comprised of Thomas E. Murtha, MBA (Master of Business Administration), CPA, and his son Patrick T. Murtha, Sr. Tom earned his B.S. degree in Management from Long Island University in Brookville, NY, in 1976, and went on to earn his MBA degree in Accounting from St. John’s University in Queens, NY, in 1981, while also working as an assistant controller in the non-bank financial segment of a major New York City bank.

When he moved to Tampa in 1987 and began his non-CPA public accounting business Accutax Services, Inc. (which he ended up selling), before joining another CPA firm in Englewood in 1999 (which he eventually bought into) that was named Flischel, Murtha & Associates. He passed the Florida CPA test in 2000 with the fourth highest score in the state. Tom ended up selling Accutax in 2010. He’s

also spent more than 15 years teaching accounting courses at both Hillsborough Community College and at the American Institute of Banking in New York City.

Patrick, 26, graduated from the University of South Florida in Tampa in 2009 with Bachelor’s degrees in both Accounting and Finance. He grew up around his father’s business and began learning about taxes when he was in middle school, Tom says. Patrick lives in Meadow Pointe with his wife Jennifer (who also works as the firm’s office manager) and their newborn son Patrick Thomas Murtha, Jr. He also has served as Treasurer of the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club for the past four years, which now meets at noon on Wednesdays at Stage Left (24410 S.R. 54 in Lutz; see story on pg. 29 of this issue).

The father-&-son team went into business together in 2010 in Wesley Chapel, before moving to downtown Tampa to an office in the Sykes Building in 2012 and finally to the office’s current Seven Oaks location in 2013. Tom says that, even after selling his previous firm, he still had people coming up to him for help with their taxes, so it made sense to him to start a family business.

“Patrick was getting his degrees and said he wanted to start something,” Tom explains. “I decided that I couldn’t leave (the industry) yet. This is a nice profession because you can keep coming back to work tax seasons.”

Tom says that the explosive growth in Wesley Chapel is what made the two decide to move the business back into the area. “We decided to move back up here to be in the middle of it all because it seemed like there was a lack of CPAs in the area,” he says. “There’s plenty of business here for everyone and we want to be close Patrick (left) and Tom Murtha, of Murtha & Murtha CPAs, can to our client base.” help make sense out of the most complicated personal or business taxes.

Murtha & hasn’t gone through that ordeal. We also Murtha specializes in tax preparation and planning; accounting services and business help business owners with their taxes and accounting. There are a lot of people who consulting, including business appraisals, own small businesses in New Tampa and which help business owners follow how much their business is worth to help them Wesley Chapel.”

Tom adds, “We take the situations set goals and continue to grow each year. that aren’t your typical tax situations and However, what the firm deals with we figure them out for you.” most is taxes.

“These days, a lot of people do their The ‘Obamacare’ Effect own taxes, because of the online programs Tom says that a lot of things have available,” Patrick explains. “We’ve been happened in the past year that have made helping a lot of people with their taxes filing taxes even more complicated. who have unique circumstances. For “The Affordable Care Act (ACA, example, someone who has experienced aka “Obamacare”) has added all kinds of a foreclosure in the past year will have a benefits and penalties to tax law, but most much more complicated tax filing process people don’t understand what they are, so than a person with similar income who we can help people out with that,” Tom

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you. For example, if you drive your own car for work, you’re allowed to take a deduction for gas mileage.

“By communicating with someone like me, we can find deductions for you,” Tom adds.

“We ask the right questions. I dig into finding out how you live to see what you can deduct.”

Patrick & Tom help Brian Dunleavy, the co-owner of the Murtha & Murtha also can new Stage Left Bar & Kitchen on S.R. 54 in Lutz (see help businesses straighten out pg. 45) get his business taxes. in order their financials using the popular online accounting program explains. “We take the mystery out of the QuickBooks. tax rules and regulations. People come “We like getting calls from business in who didn’t have insurance for three owners who say that their QuickBooks is a months last year and aren’t sure if they mess,” Patrick says. “We like to help them have to pay a penalty. There are several new forms and new lines on this year’s tax figure it out and make sure that they’re complying with all of the applicable busireturns just because of the ACA.” ness tax laws. We like solving problems.”

Patrick notes that coming in and Tom and Patrick also help clients speaking with Murtha & Murtha puts you decipher unexpected bills from the IRS. one step ahead of those who only use on“If a person comes in with a bill for line tax programs (like TurboTax) to file $25,000 from the IRS, it’s probably a their taxes because you’re dealing with an mistake, and we can help the client unactual human, who also happens to have ravel the mystery of where it came from,” extensive tax preparation experience.

Tom says. “We’re instrumental in getting “The typical tax program you can buy is one-sided,” Tom adds. “You’re just rid of penalties and making things right.

Nine times out of ten, it’s a mistake.” sitting there filling in blanks. It’s differAnd, best of all, he adds, “We stand ent with us. We sit down with each client and get to know what he or she does for a behind everything we do.”

To get the most out of your tax living. Then, we start thinking about all of return this year, give Murtha & Murthat person’s possible tax deductions.” tha (2236 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite 101, Tom says to get the biggest bang for Wesley Chapel) a call at 991-1120 or your buck this tax season, it’s important visit TampaTaxFirm.com. to know what deductions are available to

SPOTLIGHT ON... Great Hope Preschool!

Great Hope Preschool (GHP), located at 30126 S.R. 54 in the Freedom Plaza, is making quite a splash in the Wesley Chapel community. You may recently have seen Minnie Mouse herself (photo) waving to traffic on S.R. 54 in front of the school, which held a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon cutting event on Feb. 25.

The facility has been completely renovated inside and out and provides preschool for children from weeksold infants to after-schoolers. GHP is developmentally appropriate in its approach to early childhood care and education. The school’s instructors believe that children learn best through active exploration and play in a structured learning environment.

Owner Heidi Honea says that what sets GHP apart from other schools is, “Individualized education! Each child receives developmental screenings that inform our teachers of possible concerns.” Heidi works with parents during an initial conference, and an individual lesson plan is created for each child, which facilitates individual growth and development.

Heidi has owned GHP since October 2014 and has been in the early education field for more than 15 years. Her vision is for GHP to become a chain of preschools that will play a major role in focusing the attention of the communities each location serves about the importance of early childhood development, intervention and quality education. Each lead teacher at GHP holds Child Development Associate, CPR and First-Aid certifications.

GHP is committed to cultivating partnerships in the community through the es-

tablishment of meaningful links with community organizations and programs focused on early childhood development, family support, health and education. GHP provides the following programs: Voluntary Prekindergarten or VPK, Out of School Time (for ages 5-12), Parents as Partners in Literacy Program and Wellness Programs. GHP hosts monthly parent meetings and school-wide activities such as parents nights out AND parent-child breakfasts. GHP takes great pride in the early education the school provides and Heidi feels strongly about the entire family being at the center of a child’s education, so much so that she says GHP’s mission is to provide A quality preschool, while supporting and working side-by-side with each student’s family.

GHP offer reasonable tuition and currently is offering enrollment specials for all classes. Daily breakfast, lunch and snacks are included in GHP’s tuition rate and all meals are homemade with fresh, wholesome ingredients. And, enrollment for 2015-16 free Pre-VPK has already begun. For info, call 929-6276 or visit the school’s Facebook. com page or GreatHopePreschool.com.

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21

Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center Celebrates Eight Years!

By Matt Wiley

An artisan is defined as a worker in a skilled trade, especially one whose craft involves making things by hand, which is fitting for Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center in Tampa Palms, where Stan Castor, M.D., carefully hand-crafts your image by combining his years of expertise and the latest in technology.

Located one exit south of Wesley Chapel off I-75 in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Commerce Park Blvd. (near USAA Insurance), Artisan Aesthetics was founded by Dr. Castor in 2007, after he left another practice located in Lakeland.

He actually has been practicing plastic surgery in the Tampa Bay area for the past 16 years and offers facial cosmetic surgery, breast augmentation, body contouring surgery, liposuction, laser treatments, dermal fillers, facial treatments and peels, cellulite reductions and the recently popular “mommy makeover.”

“When I left Lakeland and moved to Tampa, I looked for the area where there was the least amount of plastic surgeons,” Dr. Castor explains. “It ended up being the Tampa Palms, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area.”

Dr. Castor explains that the number of plastic surgeons was very

22

saturated near South Tampa, Downtown and the Westchase area, but at the time there were only two plastic surgeons in New Tampa. “Northern Hillsborough was the fastest growing area of the county, so I thought that would be the best area to get a practice up and running,” he says.

A Zephyrhills native, Dr. Castor graduated Cum Laude from Florida Southern College in Lakeland with a B.S. degree in Biology in 1987 and earned his M.D. degree from the prestigious University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine in Philadelphia in 1992. He completed a five-year internship and residency in General Surgery at Emory University Hospitals in Atlanta, GA, in 1997, before taking on two years of intensive training in Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery at the renowned Cleveland Clinic Foundation in Cleveland, OH, which he finished in 1999. That same year, he also completed a cosmetic surgery fellowship with world-renowned plastic surgeons, Drs. Thomas J. Baker and James M. Stuzin in Miami, FL, a fellowship only offered to two plastic surgeons each year.

Dr. Castor is Board-certified in Plastic Surgery by the American Board of Plastic Surgery, the only plastic surgery board recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties. He also is a member of the American Soci-

Dr. Stan Castor (left) and the staff of Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Primrose Lake Cir., invite you to come in for a consultation to see how they can improve your image. ety of Plastic Surgeons and a Fellow of However, what Dr. Castor says has the American College of Surgeons. become increasingly popular among He says that the majority — about his patients are combination proce90 percent — of his patients are female dures, such as the so-called “mommy and that most of the men who come makeover.” He explains that the proin to Artisan Aesthetics are looking for cedure is tailored to women who are liposuction for their chest or abs. finished having children and want to “My three most common procealter the effects that childbearing has dures for women are breast implants, had upon their bodies. liposuction and tummy tucks,” Dr. “Many women, after they’re done Castor says. “I do a lot of body coshaving children, want their breasts metic surgery, although I also do face lifted, their stretch marks reduced and lifts, eyelid lifts and some noses.” some liposuction on their hips and

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Using the latest technology, including the GPSLipo® Laser LipoControl™ by Osyris and the VASER LipoSelection® liposuction procedure, Dr. Castor can eliminate hard-to-burn fat and provide you with a more slim figure.

sides,” Dr. Castor says, adding that the “Brazilian Butt Lift” cosmetic procedure also is very popular.

“It’s basically a fat transfer,” he says. “In that procedure, we take fat from where you don’t want it, such as the stomach or love handles, and move it into the buttocks to lift, enlarge and reshape it. It helps women who want more of a curvy figure.”

Combining Art & Technology

Dr. Castor also employs the latest in cosmetic procedure technology to help provide the best possible experience for his patients. For example, at

Artisan Aesthetics, patients can take advantage of the GPSLipo® Laser LipoControl™ by Osyris, an FDAapproved body-shaping treatment for removing unwanted fat. Dr. Castor says GPSLipo®, which uses the LipoControl™ laser, is the safest and most precise laser lipo or liposuction procedure available for removing fat and tightening your skin.

He says the procedure uses thermal energy in the form of a heatgenerating laser to actually liquefy unwanted body fat and then remove the liquid fat, all in one easy procedure, adding that the entire procedure can

be done in one session on a number of different areas of the body, including the abdomen, waist (e.g., “love handles”), hips and thighs, buttocks, back of arms, knees, ankles and even under the chin.

In addition to removing unwanted fat, Dr. Castor says that the heat generated by the LipoControl™ laser causes the skin in the treated area to contract, resulting in firmer, smoother skin. He notes that this skin tightening actually continues to improve for a period of up to four months, depending upon the unique chemistry of each patient’s body.

Dr. Castor says he also uses the VASER LipoSelection® liposuction procedure.

“VASER uses sound waves to melt fat so that patients aren’t bruised and swollen afterward,” Dr. Castor says. “These procedures liquefy the fat which then can be sucked out with a tube. It allows for a much quicker recovery time. The procedures are much more gentle than traditional liposuction and we are able to use a local anaesthetic. Since we don’t have to put patients to sleep, they don’t come out of the procedure groggy, there’s no additional risk and the procedure itself is less expensive.”

Over the years, Dr. Castor has built a reputation for himself through the work he’s done with his patients, so much so that the Consumer Research Council (a Washington

D.C.-based research organization that provides guides to consumers about professionals in different industries) named him in the 2010 Guide to America’s Top Surgeons, and he has appeared in the Guide every year since.

One Artisan Aesthetics patient named Arrie credits Dr. Castor with providing a pleasant surgery experience when she had breast augmentation and liposuction done last January.

“My experience with these procedures was extremely pleasurable,” Arrie says. “Dr. Castor’s bedside manner was kind and pleasant. The surgery and follow-up appointments were nice and they made me feel like everyone cared about how my surgery turned out. My overall experience was wonderful. I would highly recommend Dr. Castor to everyone.”

Dr. Castor explains that Arrie isn’t alone in her feelings about the practice, because, at Artisan Aesthetics, “patients are never just numbers.

Our office is not a factory,” he says.

“I don’t use a nurse practitioner or a physician’s assistant for most procedures. Some doctors delegate care to assistants. Here, you’re going to see me, and only me.”

Artisan Aesthetics Plastic Surgery & Laser Center is located at 5383 Primrose Lake Cir. in Tampa Palms and is open Mon.-Fri., 8:30 a.m.–5 p.m. For more info, please visit ArtisanPlasticSurgeryCenter. com or call 971-2000.

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23

New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine Can Help Ease Your Pain

By Celeste McLaughlin

At New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine in the Seven Oaks Professional Park (located off of S.R. 56), José De La Torre, M.D., treats patients who are experiencing back and/or neck pain, arthritis, headaches or other conditions that cause them chronic pain.

Dr. De La Torre is Board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and received his M.D. degree in 1999 from Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He also completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, in 2003.

At that time, Dr. De La Torre decided he wanted to continue practicing medicine in the U.S., but wanted to be as geographically close to his native Puerto Rico as possible, and that’s when he landed a job in New Tampa.

“I’m from San Juan, which is a big city, so I felt more at home in Tampa than in the smaller towns in Florida,” Dr. De La Torre says. “I love sports and I always wanted to be in a city with sports teams.”

Dr. De La Torre and his wife Anna are raising their five children in the area, and now his parents and grandparents also have moved to New Tampa from Puerto Rico.

SR 56 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

County Line Rd.

For the past 10 years, Dr. De La Torre has worked as a physiatrist (another name for a doctor of physical medicine & rehabilitation) for health care practices in New Tampa. He’d always considered opening his own independent office and, in January of this year, he says the perfect opportunity came along.

Dr. De La Torre had been working for Gulf to Bay Integrative Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation (which has three offices around Tampa Bay) when its parent company made a business decision to close its pain practice in Wesley Chapel, where he already was working. So, when he was offered the opportunity to keep his patients and the location, but operate independently, he jumped at the chance.

“As an independent doctor, I can focus more on my patient’s needs,” Dr. De La Torre says, explaining that he has added Licensed Massage Therapy and some surgical procedures to his practice, including epidural injections, spinal blocks and joint injections. “It’s much more convenient for my patients to have certain surgical procedures done in my office, and also less expensive.”

He adds, “I take a conservative, multi-disciplinary approach to try to help patients avoid surgery. We do this through physical therapy, licensed massage, medicine, modalities such as electric stimulation or heat and ice, and

any combination of treatments that will provide pain relief for our patients.”

He credits his staff with making patients feel welcome in the office.

Anna is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist who currently serves as the practice’s administrator. Two medical assistants, Karen and Priscel, both worked at the previDr. Jose De La Torre and his friendly staff at New Tampa Interventional ous practice with Dr. De La Torre and & Sports Medicine off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel invite you stop in to the office to find out how they can help alleviate your unwanted pain. have many years of experience in pain headaches, causing her to be hospitalmedicine. In fact, Priscel is a physiized several times a year. Just a few cian in the Dominican Republic, so months ago, another health profeswhile she is not licensed to practice as a sional recommended she try Dr. De physician in the U.S., she has extensive La Torre’s office. “Pain management medical knowledge that serves New doctors usually just prescribe medicine, Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports but that’s not what I was looking for,” Medicine’s patients well. The practice’s Victoria explains. “He gave me other staff also includes a receptionist and a options, including massages and even Licensed Massage Therapist.

Botox injections” (which are used One patient who is grateful for the exclusively to provide pain relief for pain relief she has experienced from migraine headaches, not for cosmetic Dr. De La Torre is Victoria Burch, a purposes, at Dr. De La Torre’s office).

Registered Nurse (RN) who works for Victoria explains that as an RN, a home health care agency. Victoria says she tends to be critical of other health she has suffered from chronic, severe care professionals, but she’s had a great

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treatment immediately.”

She adds that Dr. De La Torre prescribed medical massages and physical therapy, and gave her two steroid injections in her spine. Thanks to this treatment, she says that her pain is essentially gone. “I’m even running again,” she says.

“That’s something I enjoy, but couldn’t do before because it exacerbated the pain so much.”

Dr. De La Torre notes that he especially wants to With the help of X-rays, Dr. De La Torre performs an in- help patients such as Elizaoffice procedure on a patient to help relieve pain in her neck. beth, whose pain keeps them from being able to exercise. experience with Dr. De La Torre, and This type of sports medicine is much he’s found a way to keep her headaches more typical than what you might think away. “He’s very open to discussing of when you hear the term. Sports medoptions, in a way that most doctors just icine is not just treating elite athletes don’t take the time to do anymore,” when they become injured, but can she says. “He has taught me a lot.” refer to treating any kind of pain that Another patient who found Dr. De either is a result of or which prevents La Torre through the recommendation someone from being active. “If knee, of a friend is a patient who asked to shoulder, or back pain is inhibiting your only be identified as Elizabeth. Elizaability go to the gym or go for a run, I beth says she was frustrated that her can treat you so you can live the active family doctor was not helping to relieve the excruciating pain she was experienc- lifestyle you want,” he says. ing in her hip. A friend who had been Treating Prescription Pain in a car accident and received treatment Med Abuse, Too! from Dr. De La Torre recommended Knowing that prescription pain that Elizabeth also visit him. medicine abuse is a real problem in the “He listened to me and had great U.S., Dr. De La Torre has started a empathy, and knew I needed help fast,” pain medication dependency treatment she says. “He diagnosed me and began

program as part of his practice. With assistance from a psychiatrist, he helps patients who already have become addicted — or fear becoming addicted — to pain medication.

“I thought most patients I would treat in this area would be pain patients from other doctors,” he says. “I’ve been so surprised that most are actually teenagers and young adults who began abusing prescription drugs recreationally. But, no matter how a patient came to be dependent upon opiates, we offer interventional procedures.”

He says that not many doctors are doing both pain management and addiction recovery, but he feels it’s important to recognize the problem and help patients who are looking for that help.

In addition to treating pain, providing the opioid dependency program, and offering massage therapy in his office, Dr. De La Torre also can help his patients lose weight.

“Patients often have unwanted side effects with appetite suppressants, but there are other medications available,” he says. “And, losing weight is often an integral step to becoming pain-free.”

New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine is located at 2014 Ashley Oaks Cir. in the Seven Oaks Professional Park, off of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. The office is open Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m. To make an appointment or find out more, call 999-3030 or visit NewTampaPain.net.

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Stage Left Bar & Kitchen Should Be Your ‘Neighborhood’ Hangout, Too!

By Gary Nager I have known Stage Left owners and longtime New Tampa residents Brian and Isabelle Dunleavy since a year or two before they got married a few years ago. It just so happens that I also started stopping in to check on the progress of their amazing new “Bar & Kitchen” on S.R. 54 (at Oak Grove Blvd.) in Lutz several months before they opened the doors, but even during those sawdust days, you could tell this amazing couple was on to something big.

And, I’m not the only one who feels that way, apparently. “We saw that the New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Lutz/Land O’Lakes areas were underserved,” Brian says.

“There just weren’t enough places to go for good, fresh, homemade food and nightly entertainment. But, that’s what we are and people are already finding us.”

Yes, they are. Considering it’s only been open a few months, Stage Left has hit this market — 10-15 minutes from most of Wesley Chapel — with a splash. From the moment it opened, people (including yours truly; it’s definitely become my “neighborhood hangout”)

have been raving about the food, the atmosphere (Isabelle says even the employees love coming to work and it shows), the drink prices (15-20-percent lower than the same drinks at a certain mall) and of course, the great entertainment.

In fact, not long after Stage Left opened its doors, the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club (of which I am proud to be one of nearly 100 members) changed its weekly meeting place from a restaurant at the mall to Brian and Isabelle’s place — and everyone has been raving about it.

“Stage Left just felt like home from the first time we came here,” says current Wesley Chapel Rotary president Kelly Mothershead.

“It’s a perfect place for a vibrant, young club like ours...and the food is awesome.”

Speaking of the food, although Brian is the one with years of restaurant experience dating back to his days working for his dad (Clockwise from top left): The amazing crab cakes in bars and restaurants in & white garlic flatbread at Stage Left on S.R. 54 his native Massachusetts in Lutz, owned by Brian & Isabelle Dunleavy.

Other Stage Left favorites include the chimichur(and later owning his own), Isabelle says that ri steak, the cold Thai noodles, the shrimp ceviche & the great entertainment.

Stage Left’s menu was inspired by the way she vegetarian, although you can add meat or eats. fish to any dish. We cook over a wood-fired “When I cook at grill and we literally have no microwave, home,” Isabelle says, “I freezer or fryer on the premises here.” Brian always use fresh ingreadds, “There’s love on every plate!” dients and make a lot of I keep going back to Stage Left not just vegetarian dishes. A lot because of the Dunleavys or the atmosphere, of our dishes start out as but because of the food. I’ve made the

grand tour of the menu and from amazing, homemade soups to dead-on delicious entrées, I can assure you that the quality is top-notch and the prices are more than fair.

Note-I included most of my favorite pics for this story on this page, but you’ll have to turn to page 35 to read the descriptions of these items!

See “Stage Left” on page 35.

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Skinny’s Fund Raiser For Bruce Nets $7,000! SPOTLIGHT ON... Pure Health & Fitness Studios!

By Gary Nager

It doesn’t always take a tragedy to bring people together in this or any other community, but terrible circumstances can An estimated crowd of 300 people helped raise about $7,000 to benefit help a large number motorcycle accident victim Bruce Emerson (left) at Skinny’s Sports Bar. took care of his traumatic injuries attribof people come uted Bruce’s survival to, “how physically together for worthy causes, both here in and mentally strong he is,” after his years Wesley Chapel and across the country. working as a cell phone tower climber, a job A case in point was the February 7 he has had for several years with his older benefit for 28-year-old Bruce Emerson, held brother Chip, 29. Bruce regularly climbs at Skinny’s Sports Bar (27429 S.R. 54, 600-ft.-tall cell towers. a half-mile west of I-75). Bruce, a popular “Bruce does the climbing, but he “friend of the Skinny’s family” (according rappels back down on a harness and he has to Skinny’s owner Ken Santo), was seriously always had Chip on the ground making injured — breaking his neck, back, legs and sure he’s safe,” says Kate. “The accident was arms — when he was thrown from his modevastating to Chip (Kate says Chip also torcycle while driving home at 10:45 p.m. survived a serious motorcycle accident 2-1/2 on Curley Rd. after having dinner with his years ago). It was hard for (Chip) to return mom Kate Schroeder on Jan. 5. to work without his brother doing the “We estimate that about 300 people climbing, but he’s tough, too, so he did it.” came out to support Bruce and his family at An unbelievable coincidence is that the benefit,” says Skinny’s owner Ken Santo.

“And we’re amazed that we raised more than Santo’s 16-year-old daughter Madison hap$7,000, all of which I gave directly to Kate.” pened to be the first person to arrive on the scene of Bruce’s accident. Madison, who Kate says the event itself and the says she plans to be a doctor, says she was outpouring of love from the Skinny’s faithsomehow able to keep her emotions under ful was, “Overwhelming...more than I ever control while helping to make sure that imagined. It was a wonderful party. We’re Bruce wasn’t alone while waiting for emerso appreciative.” She adds that some of gency personnel to arrive on the scene. the money will be used to pay to construct For more information about how wheelchair ramps for Kate’s home, as Bruce “isn’t able to take care of himself right now.” you can help Bruce & his family, stop by or call Skinny’s at 994-4646.

Kate also says that the doctors who

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Local health and fitness expert Samantha Taylor of Pure Health & Fitness Studios in Wesley Chapel and Land O’Lakes says she has inspired more than 4,000 women to get into better shape and shed some body fat and is doing another one of her “Six-Week Body Transformation Challenges” beginning on Monday, March 23. Samantha says, “I do these challenges because I want women to see how much their bodies can change in only six weeks while, in the process, show them a healthy lifestyle.”

Not only do women who take the challenge reap the reward of great results, Samantha goes above and beyond and gives away more than $7,000 in prizes, including TWO cruises for two! And, she says, these are from top cruise lines with a balcony and an ocean view room.

She gives one cruise to the woman who achieve the best results, not just with weight loss, but a combined total of inches and the percent of body weight lost, so that everyone has a fair chance to win. She also gives a cruise to the woman who has the most visual change in six weeks, which usually requires a person to lose up to 10 pounds.

The program consists of healthy eating with delicious recipes, workouts at the Pure Health Studio in Wesley Chapel (2653 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 205, in the Shoppes of Wesley Chapel) or Land O’Lakes, seminars with Samantha (see Community Calendar on page 16 for info about her seminar on Saturday, March 14), weigh-ins and ongoing support from Pure Health coaches.

Because Samantha loves to reward her

clients for their efforts, she doesn’t just give away the cruises, she rewards the top 20 participants with prizes and a beautiful crystal award to celebrate their success (photo above). Other prizes consist of spa pampering packages by Hand & Stone Massage, free meals for a month at O.T.B Delight Café and a 10” Lenovo Think Pad tablet.

Participants are not only completely encouraged and cheered on during their weight loss and surrounded by support, Samantha also throws a huge party at the end of the six weeks to celebrate, which starts with a walk down the red carpet. Participants walk down the runway towards their awards ceremony, enjoy delicious catered food by A Dash of Salt N’ Pepper (located on Cross Creek Blvd.), as well as amazing healthy desserts by Samantha herself. You not only get great results, but you win prizes and Samantha treats you like a movie star!

If you have been looking for something to motivate you to lose weight and get fit, what better motivation than great results and the chance to win some fantastic prizes?

For more info about the Wesley Chapel Pure Health location, call 377-3739 or visit PureHealthStudios.com/6WeekBTC.

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Protect your Children and Pets........

Farm to Table

Wood Fire Grill No Fryer No Microwave No Freezer

Locally Sourced Fresh Food

LIVE MUSIC NIGHTLY Wed - Sat **NO COVER CHARGE**

KITCHEN OPEN

Full Menu Lunch, Dinner + Late Night To Go Available

Located Just 3 Miles West of I-75/SR56 24400 State Road 54, Lutz, FL 33559 (813) 949-4334 www.StageLeftTampa.com • Facebook/StageLeftTampa Neighborhood News

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33

SPOTLIGHT ON... Mulligan’s Irish Pub!

New Tampa’s biggest annual St. Patrick’s Day party will again be held at Mulligan’s Irish Pub at the Pebble Creek Golf Club off BBD Blvd. starting at 3 p.m. on Tuesday, March 17!

If you’re looking for a great place to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on Tuesday, March 17, we hope you’ll check out the always fun-filled St. Patty’s Day bash at Mulligan’s Irish Pub, which is located at the recently revamped Pebble Creek Golf Club (10550 Regents Park Dr., off Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.).

New Tampa’s biggest St. Patty’s party at Mulligan’s kicks off at 3 p.m., and will include live music from 3 p.m.-closing.

Two musical acts will keep the crowd entertained, as Mickey Lorden will perform inside Mulligan’s between 3 p.m.-6 p.m., and the Colvin Brothers will perform outside between 6 p.m.-11 p.m.

An awesome all-you-can-eat Irish buffet will be served from 4 p.m.-close and will include, of course, corned beef and cabbage, Shepherd’s pie, bangers and

mash and more. The cost for the food is $14 per adult and $6 for kids under age 12. And speaking of the kids, they haven’t been forgotten, as Mulligan’s familyfriendly St. Patty’s bash also will feature a free bounce house and face painting. The event is even pet-friendly!

There also will be corn hole and shot specials for the adults for this annual “Wearin’ o’ the Green.”

The event will again be held both inside and outside under the oaks at Mulligan’s (see photo) and there will be a $5 cover charge for those arriving after 4 p.m.

And, with green draft beer, plus Guinness for just $5 and $3.50 Bud Light 16-oz. bottles all day on St. Patty’s Day, you can’t beat the deals or the event itself.

For more info, call 973-3870 or visit MulligansTampa.com. — GN

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5335 Village Market (BBD @ SR 54)

813-907-5161

VallartasTampa.com 34

NOW OPEN IN TAMPA PALMS!

16023 Tampa Palms Blvd W. City Plaza

978-3761

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‘Stage Left’

ELLEN’S

Continued from page 29

Wesley Chapel

Complete Line of Hallmark Products Available

Featuring:

Enter for a Drawing 3 Gift Cards - $100, $50, $25

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1932 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Wesley Chapel 813-994-3400

Westshore Plaza 813-286-2601

We Deliver!

Speaking of soups, I’m not usually such a big fan (except of my Mom’s chicken soup), but all three of the soups at Stage Left literally rock. My fave is the glutenfree (although I have tried to order mine with extra gluten; just kidding) fire-roasted corn & hormone-free chicken soup, which has some veggies and rice in a slightly spicy broth. I also love both of the gluten-free, vegetarian soups — the African peanut and carrot ginger — but cup or bowl, you can’t go wrong with any of the soups, especially at just $3 per cup or just $5 for a bowl!

I love the ingredients on all three of Stage Left’s flatbreads ($11-$12, perfect to serve two), and when I told Isabelle that I like my flatbreads to crunch a little more, they started coming out a little more “well done” and I’m a big fan of both the white garlic (think “margherita style,” only better; see page 42) and spicy Thai chicken, although some Stage Left regulars tell me they like the BBQ flatbread (with grilled chicken) best of all.

The four salads ($6-$11) on the menu are all great, although my favorite is the Mediterranean (with spinach, cucumber, tomato, red onion, kalamata olives, feta cheese, & lemon-pepper vinaigrette) and I’ll add grilled chicken (for $3 more) or hummus ($2) if I’m having it as a meal or sharing it. You also can add Stage Left’s shrimp ceviche to any salad for $8, although my dreaded shellfish allergy doesn’t allow me to try it that way.

There also are four great sandwiches ($9-$10) on the menu, two that are vegetarian (although you can add grilled chicken to either for $1) and two that have meat.

Our office’s favorites are the steak panini (love the homemade chimichurri sauce) and the Farmhouse Melt (think caprese salad on crunchy bread; gluten-free upon request), with an excellent balsamic reduction.

The tapas menu (each item $5-$10) features the aforementioned shrimp ceviche, fish tacos (it says grilled tuna on the menu, but the photo above was with mahi-mahi), a vegetarian Mediterranean plate (featuring hummus and kalamata olive tapenade and more), your choice of shrimp, Thai chicken, BBQ steak or just veggie skewers (I love the steak and chicken skewers, but I order them extra-grilled, so the onions and peppers are more fully cooked) and some of the best crab cakes you’ll find anywhere.

“We had a couple who told us before

they tried the crab cakes that they were from Maryland,” Isabelle remembers with glee.

“They told me after that they were even better than what they get at home.”

Each of the five entrées ($10-$14) are big, shareable portions and you can add grilled chicken ($3), flank steak ($5) or shrimp ($6) to any entree, although both vegetarian entrées on the menu — the cold Thai noodles (page 42) and Mexican gumbo — are really tasty without adding meat.

My favorite entrées are the chimichurri steak (page 42), the Caribbean stir fry with jerk-style chicken over black beans and rice with a veggie skewer) and the 16-spice rub, which comes with your choice of blackened chicken, steak or tuna with rice, a side of grilled pineapple and a veggie skewer.

Brian and Isabelle want you to know that Stage Left has two private dining areas that are perfect for renting for lunch or for any private party. One room can accommodate up to 55 adults and the main dining/ stage area can seat about 100. They are happy to work with you to create the best menu possible for your private party, too.

There is great live entertainment five nights a week (Tue.-Sat.) at Stage Left. I recently competed in Stage Left’s Tuesday Open Mic Night for local musicians and the live music the other nights runs the gambit from pop/rock to country to smooth jazz, Latin and more. Please note that weekends are already packed at Stage Left, but with its reasonable food & drink prices & great music every night, I hope you’ll first try it for lunch or on a Tues.-Thur. night, because then, you might not mind the wait when you visit on the weekend!

Stage Left Kitchen & Bar (24400 S.R. 54, Lutz) is open for lunch & dinner from 11:30 a.m. every day except Sunday & Monday. For more info, including the ever-changing entertainment lineup, visit StageLeftTampa.com. Call ahead seating is available for dinner, so call 949-4334 and tell Brian & “Izzy” we sent you!

19062 Bruce B Downs Tampa, FL 33647

813-558-WING

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35

The Bay Area’s First WingZone Combines Great Flavor & A Great Story!

By Gary Nager; Photos by Matt Wiley

Detroit native Toya Tucker was working for the Ford Motor Company when the company closed the plant in 2006.

That started a series of moves for her and her husband Kyle and their family that ultimately landed with them moving to our area for Toya’s new job with Kellogg’s (the breakfast cereal company based in Battle Creek, MI, but which has an office in Tampa) in 2009.

About a year after the Tucker family made their move to our area, Toya went into the hospital for a breast biopsy under general anesthesia. Apparently, the dose of anesthesia she received was too strong and she was reportedly dead on the table for about eight minutes — and most people who flatline for six minutes usually have some permanent brain trauma afterwards.

After being in a coma for three weeks, however, Toya somehow came out of it,

although certainly not unscathed. She says she has needed ongoing physical and occupational therapy for going on six years and says could not work at all until she finally became self-sufficient again sometime between the last quarter of 2013 and the first quarter of 2014.

By 2011, the Tuckers moved to the new Bassett Creek neighborhood in the KBar Ranch development off Morris Bridge Rd. and started looking for something they could do close to home; something that would allow them to once again be their own bosses (they previously owned an independent ice cream parlor together in Reno, NV, for about a year before moving here in Our office had great reviews of WingZone’s garden salad and hand- ‘09), in order for breaded chicken tenders and the bacon cheeseburger.

Toya to be able to

36

(Clockwise from top left on this page): Our editor loved the grilled chicken sandwich at the new WingZone in the New Tampa Center plaza on BBD, where you’ll find Rodney, Karen, Toya, Kyle, Tabria & Joreca. Also getting raves from our office were the “Flavor Fuzed” boneless wings & fries and the golden fried shrimp. accommodate her ongoing therapy needs.

“We have loved living out here in New Tampa and while we were looking for an existing franchise (at the end of 2013), we realized there really weren’t great places for wings in New Tampa,” Kyle says, “and no one was delivering wings or hamburgers, only pizza.”

So, they looked at both WingZone and Wing Stop, but chose WingZone, “because of the variety of food on the menu (more on that below) and the fact that delivery was part of the plan.”

The funny thing, they say, was that both franchises tried to steer them away

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from New Tampa. “They both told us that Brandon was a better area,” Kyle recalls, “because they were looking at stats from 2010 (when New Tampa was still hurting from the housing bubble that hit in 2008). But, we convinced them both to come see how upscale it is here and then, they were both excited to put a location out here in New Tampa.”

They were able to find a perfect location which, even though there’s no drive-through available, allows for

Neighborhood News

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e a i a i C a n B ( C c P w T

m g a Z y r g o

i t

!

easy-in, easy-out pickup and there’s even a few tables for those who want to dine in (and yes, fast & hot delivery service is available, too). The high-traffic location, in the Publix-anchored New Tampa Center plaza, directly behind McDonald’s and the Mobil gas station just north of the intersection of Cross Creek Blvd. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (a couple of miles south of the Pasco County line), allows WingZone to draw customers from as far away as Tampa Palms and Wesley Chapel, one reason why they advertise both in our New Tampa and Wesley Chapel editions.

“We’ve only been open a few months,” Kyle says, “but we’ve been getting great feedback so far. People really seem to love (all 15 of) our ‘Flavor Zone’ sauces (and two dry rubs).” And, you can even have any of those sauces/ rubs “Flavor-Fuzed” into a burger or grilled chicken sandwich (and not just on your wings) at WingZone.

Now, those who have been reading my dining reviews for a while know that I’m not the biggest wing eater. But,

the way I do enjoy an occasional order of wings is to get them unbreaded and just deep fried, with the sauce on the side. And, at WingZones, my wings are served hot, crisp and I have a couple of favorite sauces to dip them in — the three-pepper-spicy-rated mango fire and the sweet-&-sour, two-pepper spicy Thai Chili sauce. I also enjoyed sampling everything from the Sweet Samurai to the four-pepper-rated Nuclear Habanero sauce not only for my wings, but also for the tasty grilled chicken (with cheese and crisp bacon) sandwich.

You regulars also know about my French fry “addiction.” Well, WingZone’s are thick and potato-y (yes, my own word), but still extra crisp, the way I love ‘em. Our office also enjoyed sampling WingZone’s garden salad with hand-breaded tenders, as well as the boneless wings, bacon cheeseburgers, the homemade cole slaw and the one item I couldn’t sample, the extra large fried shrimp, all got high marks. Items we plan to try in the future are the mozzarella sticks, fried mushrooms and fried pickles appetizers and the Caesar salad.

But, for us and the Tuckers, so far, so flavorful at the new WingZone.

The New Tampa WingZone is located at 19062 BBD and is open Sun.-Thur., 11 a.m.-11 p.m. and 11 a.m.-midnight on Fri. & Sat. Call 558-WING (9464) or visit WingZone.com for more info. Also, see the ad on page 35 of this issue for some amazing money-saving coupons!

2236 Ashley Oaks Circle, Suite 101 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

Join Us For Our

St. Patty’s Day Party

Tuesday, March 17th, 11am - Close

Green Beer & Givaways All Day Sat, Mar 14 - Beer Pong Tourney, 9pm Sat, Mar 21 - Phoenix Rising 3-Ball Tournament Every Thurs 4pm

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37

The Latest & Greatest News About Dining, Shopping, Retail & More In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

Our Outlet Mall To Look Very Much Like Orlando’s?

Although nothing has been made official by Simon Properties, the developer of the Tampa Premium Outlets mall on the south side of S.R. 56, the word is out that the lineup of outlet stores at what we call Simon’s Wesley Chapel location will be very similar to the stores located in Simon’s Orlando International Premium Outlets (see PremiumOutlets.com for the complete list of stores in the Orlando mall)..

So, you fans of Coach, Nike, Ralph Lauren and 150+ other off-price outlet stores in every category from adults to seniors can expect to find your favorites included at the 430,000-sq.-ft. outlet mall, which is now only about nine months away from opening. Stay with the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News for ongoing updates.

Never A Dull Month For The Wesley Chapel Chamber!

Now that former New Tampa Chamber of Commerce president Neil Heird has signed the papers (photo, above left) which officially folded that organization, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) is promising to keep up the

(Left) The Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce officially absorbed the now-defunct New Tampa Chamber momentum it has built at a couple of at a mixer at A Dash of Salt & Pepper (above) on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa on Feb. 12. recent events to again provide the kind January and at least 50-60 locals coming out of vibrant business climate in New in February. Glory Days will again host Final Tampa that business owners and residents Friday on Friday, March 27, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. alike appreciate so much in Wesley Chapel.

Also in February (on Feb. 12, to be The Chamber has now held two very exact), we attended the WCCC’s monthly successful “Final Friday” mixers at Glory Days Grill on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. mixer at A Dash of Salt & Pepper on Cross Creek Blvd., which is where Heird offiin New Tampa, with at least 100 people — cially signed off on folding the New Tampa perhaps as many as half of which were New Chamber. That event also included delicious Tampa residents or business owners interested in seeing what the WCCC can bring to food from “A Dash” owner Ghada Jadallah, a free wine tasting provided by A Time for the table in terms of supporting local busiWine and some excellent door prizes. nesses — attending the first Final Friday in

The WCCC also has hosted ribbon cutting ceremonies for Dimmitt Insurance in Wesley Chapel on Feb. 10, at the new Estancia Club at Estancia at Wiregrass (see story on page 12) on Feb. 11, at Soriano Insurance in Wesley Chapel on Feb. 19, for the dedication of “Hambone Way” in the Angus Valley area of Wesley Chapel (see page 10) on Feb. 20, at the Grand Opening of State Rep. (Dist. 38) Danny Burgess’ new office on S.R. 54 in Zephyrhills on Feb. 24, at Great Hope Preschool on Feb. 25 (see page 21 and next page) and even at the groundbreaking of the New Tampa Rotary’s Dog Park joint venture with the City of Tampa on Mar. 2.

We also were planning to attend the Grand Opening of David Weekley Homes’ Union Park community off Meadow Pointe Blvd. on Mar. 10, but that was after our press time for this issue. In addition, you can still attend the ribbon-cutting events at Murtha & Murtha CPAs (see story on page 20) on Friday, March 13, 4 p.m., at Gunter & Gunter Insurance (see ad on page 22) on Tuesday, March 24, 5 p.m., and at Studio Twenty8 Photography in the Shops at Wiregrass mall on Friday, March 27, 11:30 a.m.

Dr. Rick Robinson, OD, Dr. David Scamard, OD & Dr. Heather Worrell, OD Board Certiied Optometric Physicians You will be amazed at how affordable fashion eyewear can be! We have eyewear for every budget!

24412 S.R. 54

(at Oak Grove Blvd.) Lutz, FL

33559

813 . 949.7274

38

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 6 • March, 14, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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SPOTLIGHT ON... ‘Cool Dims’ 3D Portrait Studio!

In addition to the WCCC’s ribbon cutting ceremony at Great Hope Preschool (above left) on Feb. 25, our editor also was on hand for U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ appearance at the Wesley Chapel Sunrise Rotary Club on Feb. 20 (above right).

Because the Chamber’s Monthly Business Breakfast was rescheduled, you also can attend that great event, with former Tampa Bay Lightning GM Jay Feaster (see page 1) as the featured speaker, on Monday, March 16, 8 a.m., at Pasco Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch.

For more info, call 994-8534 or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

D’Alessio Closes!

The sad news to report, for this reporter, is that D’Alessio Italian Restaurant, located directly across BBD from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, was expected to close before this issue reaches your mailbox.

I know D’Alessio had service issues throughout its first year in business, but I loved the veal parmigiana, homemade pastas and fresh fish and will really miss having a good “mom & pop” Italian restaurant in our area.

Although neither D’Alessio owner Dominick D’Alessio nor leasing agent Barry Jackson of Momenta Real Estate Brokers would confirm which national chain was

close to signing a lease for the space at our press time, Jackson said that many popular national chains have been looking at the space and he hoped to be making an announcement sometime soon. Look for updates on WCNeighborhoodNews.com.

Bilirakis Speaks To WC Sunrise Rotary Club!

While I, of course, am a proud member of the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club, I was happy to attend the Feb. 20 meeting of the Wesley Chapel Sunrise Rotary Club, which meets Fridays at 7 a.m., at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club.

The guest speaker was U.S. Congressman (Dist. 12) Gus Bilirakis (R-Palm Harbor), who said he was sad to report that there is still lots of partisan gridlock in Washington these days. “It doesn’t look like we’re going to work together on important bills,” Bilirakis admitted while claiming that his decisions do sometimes cross party lines.

“I believe our side is better at policy, their side is better at politics.” — GN

Everyone has likely thought about what it would be like if they could have an action figure of themselves. And now, thanks to the technology at Cool Dims 3D Portrait Studio, located in the Brookside Professional Plaza (downstairs from our Neighborhood News office), next to Saddlebrook Resort on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, that idea can be less of a dream and more of a reality.

Business owner and Meadow Pointe resident Chris Lee says that he grew tired of his corporate job in the wireless industry and wanted to start his own business, but wasn’t sure what kind of business to start. At Cool Dims 3D Portrait Studio in Wesley Chapel, 360º of cameras can turn just about anyone or anything into a “I was watching the news figurine, even your newest graduate. one night and 3-D printing came up as a headline,” Chris explains. our to a local 3-D printing shop, to print “So, I started looking into 3-D printing. I out the finished product. thought it would be something that isn’t Although Lee can make figurines of really available in this area.” just about anyone or anything, he says Chris says that he kept researching the he wants to reach the local youth sports concept and was able to assemble a team of market most. experts to help get his unique idea off the “I figured the Wesley Chapel/ ground.

New Tampa area was a good one for this At Cool Dims, Chris and his team concept because there are so many youth have assembled a rig that is comprised of sports programs here.”

92 digital SLR Canon cameras that are Cool Dims actually has developed the positioned in a 360-degree circle (includfirst 3-D printed trophy, which can feature ing a few cameras above) to capture nearly you or your young athlete on top. every angle of any subject. The cameras all To get a better idea of what Lee take a photo at the same time, which are and his team can do, visit CoolDims. then combined into a 3-D image and sent com. — MW

Now Featuring Authentic French Cuisine

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39

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE AGENT - Award-winning Real Estate team with an overflow of serious buyer leads is seeking to hire talented experienced and motivated full time real estate agents whose desire is to earn more money, expand their horizons and have a fulfilling life. Great training available..

Keller Williams Tampa Properties. Contact Annette with Team Bohannon (813) 431-2840.

PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) - An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080.

MEDICAL BILLER - Spanish-speaking Medical Biller wanted for New Tampa Medical Equipment Company. Duties: Gathers billing information by reviewing patient records; checking for completeness. Bills insurance carrier by inputting billing info to database; initiating electronic transmissions. Resolves disputed claims by gathering, verifying & providing additional information; following up on claims. Resolves discrepancies by examining and evaluating data; selecting corrective steps. Skills/Qualifications: Data Entry Skills, Microsoft Office Proficiency, Time Management, Organization, Professionalism, Customer service and Attention to Detail.

Please forward your resume to: Richard.Jones@solarusmedical.com.

WING ZONE IS NOW ACCEPTING APPLICATIONS FOR POSITIONS - Including shift leader, cooks, cashiers and delivery drivers. Wing Zone offers flexible scheduling, competitive pay wages, advancement opportunities and much more.

Come join out team of flavorholics and wing lovers at Wing Zone. Applications are available at store location: 19062 Bruce B Downs. Corner of Cross Creek in the New Tampa Center.

HAIRSTYLIST WANTED! Up-scale hair salon seeks hairstylist.

Contact (813)994-9455 ROUTE SALES, MEDICAL Fills customer orders by driving to customer accounts within Florida; unloading and shelving product, inventory verification, order retreival. Increase sales volume by providing customer service and suggestive selling techniques. Fills order by verifying inventory; loading vehicle. Monthly overnight travel requirement 2 nights a month. Retrieves damaged/defective products from customer locations; keeps vehicle operating by following operating instructions; scheduling maintenance and repairs.

Send resumes to: richard.jones@solarusmedical.com

40

Classifieds

HELP WANTED

Now Hiring! Growing insurance agency is seeking a licensed and experienced 4-40 customer service orientated and represent the agency with the highest ethical standard with a minimum 3 year industry experience. Contact (813)-994-1143 Small cleaning company looking for experienced part-time cleaners. Position involves detailed cleaning in residential homes. Applicants must be able to lift a minimum of 40lbs. Must be detail orientated, honest, trustworthy, dependable, and have transportation. Must submit to background check and be able to be bonded, no felonies. Send experience and info to wesleychapelcleaners@gmail.com Production/Graphic Assistant. Part time. Duties to include running production digital copiers, some light graphic design and typesetting along with customer service work and other office duties as needed. Strong MAC OS computer skills a must. Printing and InDesign experience/knowledge a BIG plus. Excellent phone, written and verbal communication skills important. Submit resume via email only to info@rpandg.com

PET SERVICES

CAT SITTING - Tampa Cat Lady Professional Cat-Sitting Service. Cats are happiest in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, & smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle, & play with your kitties & clean & dispose of litter. Insured, bonded, & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. You can submit a service inquiry at TampaCatLady.com or call 813-994-9449.

ERRANDS & PERSONAL SVCS

GET A RIDE - Don’t Have a Ride? Don’t Want to Leave Your Car? Shouldn’t Drive? We Drive You & Your Car Home! Night Clubs, Corporate Events, Sporting Events, Concerts, Appointments, Airport or Stranded. Call Jay at (813) 966-1530.

COMPUTER / BUSINESS SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT — in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech with 20 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. Remote assistance available. References available upon request.

Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate.

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Servicing residences & businesses, w/ more than 25 years of exp. Contact Jeffrey Blank at (813) 973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com today!

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING - Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL & FREE ESTIMATE! For more info, call (813) 420-4465.

AMERICAN PRIDE LAWN CARE SERVICE, LLC - Our services include weekly lawn maintenance with mulching decks on all mowers, precision edging, string trimming, hedge, shrub, palm, and tree trimming. We also offer landscaping, pruning, sod replacement, and pressure washing. Free estimates. Licensed and Insured. We are an Owner/Operator Company built on service and trust.

References available. For more info, call (813) 458-4778.

HOME IMPROVEMENT

DALE’S HOME MAINTENANCE - Pressure washing, screen repairs, garage cleaning and organizing, shelving, re-grout tile and cocking, and more.

(813)-727-2582 or (813)-973-0194 DRY WALL SPECIALIST - Not just a ‘handyman.’

Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years of experience Wesley Chapel resident. StateCertified. Call Ron for a free estimate at 784-5999.

DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional and personal touch. Pool decks and screen enclosures, all fencing, driveways, walkways, roofs, gutters and downspouts.

Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home.

Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed & insured. Call (813) 215-1177.

GREG’S PAPERHANGING - For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed and insured, clean, quick and reasonable. Call 973-2767 for a free estimate.

RAYMOND PAINTING - Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References avail. Free estimates.

Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident!

We work 7 days. Call (813) 994-5124.

UPHOLSTERY- All types-Sofas, chairs, stools, pillows, select window treatments.For more info & pricing call Glen or Sheryl (813)-245-9719

______FINANCIAL SERVICES_____

Bookkeeping, Tax, Payroll and business support services for small businesses. Let us help with ALL your business needs so you can focus on growing your business and delivery! Experienced, business- minded professionals consisting of CPAs, Accountants, MST, experienced professionals. References available.

Call us 813-922-5234 or visit our website at: www.bertramclark.com/accountingservices.html

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 6 • March, 14, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

CLEANING SERVICES

D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE - We have our own supplies and more than 300 clients in New Tampa!

For more info, Call 758-9710.

Power House Cleaning Services - Offering Residential cleaning for weekly, bi-weekly, monthly & occasional. Services available: one time, deep cleaning, move in / move outs, Real Estate, Holiday and Event cleaning. Owner Operator with Personal Care!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 6 • March 14, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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WRH Students Travel The World During First Cultural Diversity Expo

By Matt Wiley In the classic 1873 novel by Jules Verne, an Englishman attempts to travel “Around the World in 80 Days.” At Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH, located off Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel), students recently were able to accomplish a similarly impressive feat in a single class period.

On February 26, WRH students were treated to a taste of different cultures from around the globe during the school’s inaugural Diversity & Cultural Expo in the WRH gymnasium. During the threeclass-period event, students made their way through the gym, which was lined with student-created presentations from 14 different countries.

“Each year, we try do something for Black History Month,” said WRH assistant principal Shauntte Butcher. “Two years ago we did a ‘living museum’ and the students really liked it. This year we wanted to do something a little different to get more students involved and represent more cultures.”

Instead of focusing on just Black History Month, Butcher said that the idea came up to do an “expo” that would showcase different cultures from around the world, including those represented in the student population. Teachers were asked to “sponsor” a country and have their students put together a short presentation for each one.

Butcher said that presenting students were tasked with being able to tell their classmates how to say “hello” in their respective country’s native language, tell about its customs and climate, display its flag

and come up with something fun and unique to show off. Many even had a little something to eat (such as simple pastries for the exhibit about France), thanks to the students in WRH’s Culinary Arts program, directed by Chef Raymond Webb.

Some students dressed up in garments traditional to their respective countries to give their colleagues an idea of what is worn in that part of the world.

WRH junior Priyanka Christian and senior Deepthi (L.-r.): WRH students pose in front of their Jamaica presentation during the school’s first Cultural Diversity Expo on Feb. 26, while Priyanka Christian and Deepthi Barghese perform an Indian dance for their fellow Barghese donned colorful, “Passports” that they would carry with them native country. “Our display was all about flowing traditional Indian garb to each booth. and performed a dance for the entire gym the Czech Republic and its literature,” said While listening to each presentation, several times throughout the event.

Maska, who explained that she came to the the students were told to take notes, so they U.S. with her parents when she was five “We chose to do a dance for India,” would be able to write about the experience years old. The display featured books from Christian explained. “Others are presenting Czech Republic authors, as well as some anior showing a slideshow (for their countries), in class. They also had to be able to answer a question asked by the presenting students mation and a slideshow that displayed scenes but we wanted to do a dance.” for each country. If they did so successfully, from the country.

Barghese said that to choreograph they received a “stamp” on their passport, Maska said that she tries to blend some the dance, they looked up some traditional showing that they had ‘visited’ that country. aspects of her Czech Republic culture into Indian dances and put them all together.

“It’s a celebration of different culher lessons.

“We learned (our dance) in two days,” tures,” said WRH senior Josie Poppolino, “They’re always asking, ‘Why do you she said, adding that in between dances, who gave out the Passports to her fellow have this custom?,’” Maska explained. “(The they also worked the India booth with felstudents at the gym door and explained the Expo) is a good way to get the kids thinking low classmates. “tour” process to them. “There are students about how there’s more out there (in the However, the day wasn’t all fun and dressed up, talking about history and culworld) than just what’s happening here in games and the event actually counted as ture. It’s fun.”

Wesley Chapel, and they have a blast.” an assignment for each student’s history, WRH intensive reading teacher Iveta For more information, please visit foreign language or English classes. At the Maska had her class help represent her WRHS.Pasco.k12.fl.us. gym door, students were presented with

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 6 • March, 14, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 6 • March, 14, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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