Wesley Chapel Issue 08-10

Volume 18 Issue 8

WESLEY CHAPEL Inside:

A ‘Celebration Of The Arts’ Preview

April 10, 2010

NEWS

See page 23!

The Direct-Mail Newspaper Serving Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Since 1993!

THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge • Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch • Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • West Meadows

S.R. 54 Groundbreaking Scheduled For April 14

By Michael Smith By now, you should be used to seeing work being done on S.R. 54 in the area between I-75 and Curley Rd. (aka CR 577). Up until recently, however, most of that activity was only comprised of surveying, utility relocation and other prep work for the eventual widening of the roadway itself.

The actual construction work was scheduled to begin by the first week in April, according to Pasco County officials, and in order to celebrate the commencement of the huge, eagerly-anticipated project, a groundbreaking ceremony has been scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 14, at First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel (29716 S.R. 54).

The widening was supposed to have gotten under way last year, but the county spent last summer working to acquire all of the property needed for the right-of-way for the project, which will increase the present four- and two-

lane roadway to eight and six lanes (it will be eight lanes between I-75 and Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd. {aka CR 581}, State Road 54 between Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., or CR 581, to Curley Rd., will go from the and six lanes mess it is now (left) to something similar to the artist’s rendering at right. from BBD to Regional Incentive Program (TRIP) ing two dozen based in Pasco County, Curley Rd.). matching grant. The remaining $13 only eight actually tendered bids, and Then, in February, the Pasco million was paid for from impact fees none of those was from Pasco.

County Board of County Commissionpaid by area developers. Additional Bolduc said that Pepper Contracters (BOCC) approved a bid submitted costs were incurred in the acquisition of

by Pepper Contracting Services, Inc., of ing Services has performed other jobs property along the roadway corridor, in the county, and the firm’s bid was Clearwater, to complete the job for however, driving the entire cost of this the lowest received for this project. It $28,162,500. should also be noted that while Pasco is segment of the widening to more than According to Pasco County pro$100 million, according to Pasco the lead agency on this particular secgram administrator for transportation capital improvement programs Deborah tion of the S.R. 54 widening, the coun- County administrator John Gallagher.

According to the agreement ty did also receive $13 million from the Bolduc, the county issued its call for between Pepper Contracting and the Florida Department of Transportation bids on the project in October last year, county, the project is to be completed (FDOT) to apply towards the project, and of the 126 vendors who were notiin the form of a Transportation fied and invited to submit bids, includSee “S.R. 54” on page 4.

Taste Of New Tampa Returns To Freedom High April 18!

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!

Toddler Survives Near Drowning, Local Dentist Offers State-Of-The-Art Laser Treatment & More!

Enter Our ‘Broadway Comes To Tampa’ Contest, Check Out Our April Entertainment Calendar & Much More!

See pages 3-22!

See pages 23-36!

ECRWSS

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS & SPORTS UPDATES

I definitely suggest visiting TheTasteof NewTampa.com and getting your booth today. And remember, since the Chamber is hosting the Taste for the first time, participating businesses WILL be allowed to sell their goods and services at the event for the first time (see the website for details)!

I certainly also suggest checking out this year’s pre-sale locations to purchase wristbands for the event (see page 14 for a complete list of pre-sale locations), so you won’t have to waste any time on line the day of the event in See “Taste” on page 9.

Postal Customer

Also Inside This Issue!

into a single-day, three-hour event.

Unofortunately, due to the timing of our issues, this Taste preview actually was written almost exactly a month before the event, so all of the details of the participating restaurants, entertainers, sponsors and exhibitors have not yet been finalized — and we will not have another New Tampa issue out before the event to update you on the progress.

Needless to say, the NTCC will still gladly accept additional restaurants, sponsors and exhibitors until a few days before the event. And, with last year’s attendance estimated at more than 5,000 people — and with very few logistical problems (e.g., no long lines) — if you’ve been thinking about having your business participate in Taste 2010,

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 2801

The New Tampa Chamber of Commerce (NTCC) is proud to announce that the 17th annual Taste of New Tampa & Business & Health Expo will again be held at its most successful site ever — at Freedom High in Tampa Palms — on Sunday, April 18,

1 p.m.-4 p.m. Although this is actually the first time the Chamber will host the Taste (it previously was hosted by the now-defunct New Tampa Community Council), attendees can again expect at least two dozen restaurants serving samples of their cuisine, as well as great entertainment and a variety of business and health expo exhibitors, all crammed

Dated Material Please Rush!

By Gary Nager

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Remembering ‘The Father Of New Tampa’ — Frank Margarella To me, the recent sudden passing of former New Tampa Community Council president Frank Margarella at age 59 was more than just a sad, shocking day in the history of New Tampa, it’s the end of an era.

When I purchased the Neighborhood News in early 1994, Frank already was the general manager of Hunter’s Green Country Club (HGCC) and he became the president of what was at first called the Northeast Tampa Community Council in 1993. We first met during the first Taste of New Tampa, which Frank made sure was held at HGCC, in 1994. By that time, Frank and former SunTrust Bank manager Melba Williams were already co-credited for coming up with the name “New Tampa,” when the Northeast Tampa Community Council became the New Tampa Community Council (NTCC) and, even though not everyone on the Board was enamored with the name (fearing it would alienate people from “Old Tampa”), Frank and Melba have often since been called the “Father and Mother (respectively) of New Tampa.”

Later in 2004, I ran for and was elected to the Board of the NTCC and served with Frank (some said we basically seemed to trade the presidency of that organization back and forth between us in the late 1990s) on that Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News 15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Fax: 910-2483

Website: WCNeighborhoodNews.com Adv. E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: NTNNEdit@yahoo.com

Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Managing Editor Michael Smith Correspondent Melissa O’Brien

Advertising Customer Service Managers Nikki Bennett • David Zacharia Art Director Billing Manager Tony Sica Ashley Knoblach Office & Marketing Assistant Karen Glenn

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 18, Issue 10, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, April 19.

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. © 2010 JM2 Communications, Inc.

An editorial by Gary Nager board for more than a decade, attending not only NTCC meetings and events together, but virtually every transportation meeting held by the City of Tampa and Hillsborough County during that time. Although there were plenty of other people who also attended a lot of those meetings, there were several (too many) governmental meetings where Frank and I were the only two people representing New Tampa in attendance. Like me, Frank was a “city guy” (he’s from Chicago, I’m from New York) who wanted to see New Tampa developed; we just both wanted to see it developed responsibly.

His ex-wife, Dr. Diane Rollings, says that Frank so loved this community that it often seemed as if he volunteered more hours for the NTCC and the New North Transportation Initiative (a private-public partnership transportation management organization which he helped found and served for years as its chairman and/or Board member) than he devoted to his jobs, which included (after leaving HGCC) careers in restaurant management and real estate.

Although he had been involved in local politics from the beginning, Frank lost his one foray into the world of elected politics when he was beaten by fellow New Tampa resident Joseph Caetano in a 2007 runoff election for the District 7 Tampa City Council seat. Caetano has called Frank’s passing, “a tremendous loss for our community.”

Frank also loved music and was an accomplished guitarist and singer who performed at Mulligan’s Irish Pub in the Pebble Creek Golf Club and other

local venues and events, including the Taste. A few years ago, he played guitar and he and I sang together at the first “Taste of St. Mark” event at his church (St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd., where his funeral services were held).

I was unfortunately unable to attend the service for Frank, as I had to drive to Coral Springs (where my son Jake was playing in a state championship tournament with the Wharton High ice hockey team), but I certainly was there in spirit.

See “Frank” on page 32.

“The Father of New Tampa,” Frank Margarella, passed away at age 59.

Table of Contents NEWS UPDATES.....................................Pages 1-9 S.R. 54 (cont. from Page 1)...............................................4 News Briefs.................................................................6 Skeleton Discovered Alongside I-75 Is Identified, Spa Salesman Sentenced For Fraud, Toddler Survives Near Drowning Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.......................8-9 BUSINESS UPDATES...................................10-17 Behavioral Consulting.....................................................10 Business Briefs.................................................................13 FHZ Heart Institute Receives Recognition, Awards.......15 Laser Dentistry Specialist Albert Boholst, DMD.............16 EDUCATION UPDATES..............................18-20 Family Comes To Aid Of Haitian Student’s Mom..........18 Wesley Chapel Receives Award For Wellness Program & Veteran’s Elem. Speech Winners Recognized.............20

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE Celebration Of The Arts Returns............................23, 25 Our April Entertainment Calendar............................28-29 Saddlebrook Re-Opens The Tropics Restaurant.............30 Neighborhood Nibbles...................................................31 Win “Broadway Comes To Tampa” Tickets..............32 Margarella (cont. from page 3)........................................32

WESLEY CHAPEL COLOR CLASSIFIEDS...34

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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“S.R. 54”

Continued from page 1 within 630 calendar days (or 21 months) from the time the Notice to Proceed (NtP) is issued, which includes 180 days for utility relocation and 450 days for the construction itself. In other words, if the NtP is issued this month, the project should be completed by the first quarter of 2012. The agreement also calls for a fine of $8,537 per day against Pepper Contracting for each day the project goes beyond that deadline.

As noted above, this 3.47-mile stretch of the roadway will be widened to eight lanes between the interstate and BBD, and six lanes from the east side of BBD to Curley Rd. The BBD/S.R. 54 intersection also is scheduled for a makeover, as is the intersection at SR 54 and Boyette Rd. In fact, plans call for the latter intersection to be moved about 1,500 yards to the east, which would eliminate a pair of sharp curves where Boyette Rd. winds through the neighborhood just north of 54. That project is estimated to cost around $1.6 million, with funding budgeted from Penny for Pasco revenues.

Apr. 8 Meeting-Bad Timing For This Issue!

Complete information about the S.R. 54 widening project, as well as

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updates on the other ongoing transportation projects in the Wesley Chapel area, including the BBD widening, I-75 improvements, the resurfacing of Meadow Pointe Blvd. and the extension of SR 56 to Meadow Pointe Blvd., were to be discussed at a public meeting that was held by the county on April 8 (unfortunately, after this issue went to press, but before it got to your mailboxes). Most people we talk to are concerned about the extension of S.R. 56, but Bolduc says that the developers funding that project are still searching for a replacement for the original contractor, WDG Inc., which went out of business earlier this year. County officials had hoped to have that extension open by the time the S.R. 54 widening project got under way, but it looks like that is not going to be the case now.

The other sources that we’ve talked to say the BBD widening project is still moving along well, but there are still some issues in the area of the S.R. 56 intersection, and the bridge over S.R. 54 at I-75 also is on schedule, as we told you in our last issue. Hopefully, you were able to get to the public meeting on April 8, but if not, Bolduc says updates about the S.R. 54 widening also will be posted on the county website (PascoCountyFL.net). We’ll also keep you posted as new developments occur.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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W ESLEY C HAPEL Skeleton Found On I-75 Is Identified As Missing Teen

A short stretch of I-75 just north of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit became a crime scene straight out of “CSI Miami” last month, after a pair of motorists discovered skeletal remains in the underbrush alongside the highway. The remains were later identified as a Hillsborough County student who was reported missing in 2004.

The men who found the skeleton, a pair of farmers from Hernando County, were forced to pull over about a mile north of the BBD exit when they began having car trouble on the afternoon of March 16, and that’s when one of them noticed what appeared to be a human leg bone protruding from a patch of vegetation. They notified the Florida Highway Patrol, which then turned the case over to the Tampa Police Department (TPD).

For the better part of the next day, TPD detectives and members of the Hillsborough County Medical Examiner’s office scoured an area roughly the size of a football field, from which they were able to recover a complete skeleton, even though preliminary reports indicated that the head of the skeleton was missing.

About a week later, dental records

News Briefs confirmed that the body was that of Lisa Mowrey, who was 18 years old when she was reported missing by her family in February 2004. According to the original missing persons report, Mowrey was a student at a local beauty college when she failed to show up for classes and never returned home.

A TPD spokesperson said that the Hillsborough Medical Examiner’s office is still investigating to detemine how Mowrey died.

If you have any information about this case, you may report it anonymously by calling Tampa Bay Crime Stoppers at (800) 873-TIPS (8477).

Spa Salesman Sentenced In Fraud Scheme

A former New Tampa resident was sentenced to 15 years in prison on March 18 for bilking more than two dozen elderly victims out of more than $163,000 through orders for hot tubs or spas they paid for but never received.

William J. Becker, 47, who used some of the money that he received from his customers to rent a home in the Cory Lake Isles subdivision, pled guilty to organized fraud on February 16. In addition to the 15-year prison term, he was also sentenced by Hillsborough County Circuit Judge Denise

Crime scene investigators scour the area along I-75 for clues to the identity of the skeletal remains of a young woman found March 16.

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Pomponio to 15 years of probation following his prison term and to repay $163,290 in restitution to his victims and their family members. Pomponio William J. also ordered that Becker Becker be barred from ever operating a business that serves elderly customers.

According to Kevin Jackson, an investigator with the Hillsborough County Consumer Protection Agency, through his company, AbleWalk-In TubsInc.com, Becker took orders for tubs and spas from 27 elderly and/or disabled customers in seven different states between April and October of 2007. Jackson says the custom-made walk-in tubs were supposedly designed to make bathing safer and more manageable, both for the elderly and for those suffering from physical ailments or disabilities.

Becker collected between $2,300$10,500 from each victim for the delivery and installation of the tubs, promising some of the victims that they would receive their tubs within eight weeks.

Jackso says that none of the victims ever received their tubs, however, and Becker essentially vanished with their money.

Through a coordinated effort by the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office’s Fugitive Unit and other state and federal agencies, Becker was located in Colonia, NJ, where he was arrested on November 1, 2008. During his four-hour sentencing hearing, many of his victims and family members of some victims who had since passed away gave emotional testimony about the toll the fraud had taken on their lives.

Investigators also testified that despite Becker’s claim that delivery of the spas had been delayed by problems with his Chinese suppliers, there was no evidence in records from his company that he had ever made any attempt to

actually purchase or deliver the spas.

The records did show, however, that in addition to the home in Cory Lake Isles, some of the money went to buy a new car for his son and for various personal expenses.

15-Month-Old Girl Survives Near Drowning

A 15-month-old girl nearly drowned in a retention pond next to her Wesley Chapel home, but the quick actions of a neighbor who performed CPR on her have been credited with saving her life.

The Pasco Fire Rescue department was called out to the home at 27825 Breakers Dr. in the Northwood subdivision just after 11 a.m. on March 18.

When the paramedics arrived, they found 15-month-old Kayla Chanea, who had apparently managed to get out of the house through a sliding glass door unnoticed and subsequently fell into the nearby retention pond. She had been found by an adult relative, who got her out of the water, but then a neighbor, Michael Wynperle, came over to offer assistance and performed CPR on the girl until the paramedics arrived at the house.

Chanea was airlifted to St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa (and it was not clear initially if she would survive), but she was nearly fully recovered and ready to be released from the hospital as this newspaper was going to press.

According to Pasco County Sheriff’s Office spokesman Doug Tobin, it was a miracle that the young girl survived unharmed.

“These things certainly don’t always have such a happy ending,” Tobin said, adding that no charges were expected to be filed in the case.

In an interesting side note, Michael Wynperle was acquitted in January this year of charges he had threatened to blow up Hillsborough County State Attorney Mark Ober’s office in the fall of 2009. — MS

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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W ESLEY C HAPEL

Community Calendar

FREE H1N1 Vaccinations!

Manish Shah, M.D., of Wesley Chapel Internal Medicine & Pediatrics in the Seven Oaks Professional Park (located at 2038 Ashley Oaks Cir., Suite 102, off S.R. 56, next to Sam’s Club), says he still has H1N1 vaccines that he will give away for free, as long as his supply lasts.

Dr. Shah, who also is accepting new patients, is Board-certified in both Internal Medicine and Pediatrics.

For more info, call 929-3622 or visit WesleyChapelMD.com.

Cancer Survivors Wanted

The Survivors Committee from the American Cancer Society’s Wesley Chapel Relay for Life is looking for cancer survivors and their caregivers to register and join our relay, which will be held at Wesley Chapel High School on Friday, May 7, beginning at 6 p.m.

Survivors and their caregivers will walk the first lap after opening ceremonies and there will be a free dinner and dessert afterward for those who participated. All participants will also receive a free T-shirt and other gifts as well.

For more information, please contact survivor chair Shanon Weiss

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at (484) 336-0527 or by e-mail at wcsurvivorchair@yahoo.com.

Celebration Of The Arts

Saturday-Sunday, April 10-11 The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will once again host its annual “Celebration of the Arts” show and sale at the Shoppes of Wiregrass mall (S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd.). In addition to works of art in all mediums by more than 100 artists, there also will be live entertainment, games and activities for kids, food and beverage specials and more.

For more information, see our story on page 23, call 994-8534 or visit WesleyChapelArtShow.com.

MS Support Group

Saturday, April 10 – A new multiple sclerosis support group will meet once a month at noon on Saturdays at the New River Branch Library (located at 34043 S.R. 54).

For more information, call Noreen at 312-3345.

WC Toastmasters

Monday, April 12 – The new Wesley Chapel Toastmasters Club meets every Monday, 6:15 p.m., at Hyundai

of Wesley Chapel (26944 Wesley Chapel Blvd.) Club meetings are open to all interested parties.

For additional information, visit ToastmastersD84.org or call (352) 567-1508.

Free Networking Int’l

Monday, April 12 – Free Networking International (FNI), a group of area business owners, meets each Monday for networking and discussion, 8 a.m., at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26140 Lexington Oaks Blvd.).

For more information, call Stacy Dalton at 469-5499.

Business Networking Int’l

Tuesday, April 13 – Business Networking International (BNI), a group of business professionals who work to support each other through qualified business referrals, meets every Tuesday at 7:30 a.m. at Song & Dance Studio (27221 Foamflower Blvd., off Old Pasco Rd.) in Wesley Chapel.

For more information, contact Nancy Cross at 789-7836 or by email at nancycross@crossrealty.com.

East Pasco Networking

Tuesday, April 13 – The East Pasco Networking Group meets every Tuesday, 9 a.m., at the Beef O’Brady’s located at 1660 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.,

in the Shops of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel.

For more information, contact Frankie Ammons at 479-7997 or Frankie@studioglory.com.

Wesley Chapel Rotary Club

Wednesday, April 14 – The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meets every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. at Las Vallarta Mexican Restaurant (in the Village Market shopping center at S.R. 54 & Bruce B. Downs Blvd.).

For more information, call 2637188 or 383-6683.

Civil Air Patrol

Wednesday, April 14 – A new Civil Air Patrol squadron meets every Wednesday, 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m., at Tampa North Aero Park (4241 Birdsong Blvd.).

For more information, visit wesleychapelcap.com or call Cheryl Spence at 973-7270.

Networking For Your Success

Thursday, April 15 – The Networking For Your Success group meets every Thursday, 8:30 a.m.-10 a.m., at Song & Dance Studio (27221 Foamflower Blvd.) in Wesley Chapel.

For more information, call John Anglada at 298-3232 or visit NetworkingForYourSuccess.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

WC Wind Ensemble

Thursday, April 15 – The Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble, a community group of brass and woodwind players, meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54). New members are encouraged to join.

For more information, contact Glenn at 746-4821 or by e-mail at trombonegww@juno.com.

Free Oral Cancer Screening

Friday, April 16 - In observance of the 13th annual Oral, Head, and Neck Cancer Awareness Week, ENT & Facial Plastic Surgery Specialists, PL, (2311 Cypress Cove, Suite 101/Building 14, in the Cypress Ridge Professional Center), will offer free oral cancer screenings. The screening is painless and only takes about 10 minutes.

For more information, or to sign up for your free oral cancer screening, call 929-6673 or visit www.WesleyChapelENT.com.

Sunrise Rotary Club

Friday, April 16 – The Wesley Chapel Sunrise Rotary Club meets Fridays, 7:15 a.m. at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26140 Lexington Oaks Blvd.).

For more information, call Lynne Wilson at 695-6466.

Great American Cleanup

Saturday, April 17 – Volunteers are needed to help clean up roadsides and coastal areas within Pasco County during the Great American Cleanup, the nation’s largest community improvement program, which is planned for Pasco County on April 17.

Locally, the event is organized by Keep Pasco Beautiful. Last year, 538 volunteers collected over 26 tons of trash in Pasco County. This year, a volunteer appreciation event, sponsored by Progress Energy, will be held immediately following the cleanup at Crystal Springs Preserve in Crystal Springs.

For more information on becoming a volunteer, please call (888) 4LITTER or visit www.keeppascobeautiful.org.

‘Taste The World’ Golf

Monday, April 19 – At our press time, there were still a limited number of playing spots, as well as sponsorship opportunities, available for the Taste the World golf tournament, a fund raiser for the Parkinson Research Foundation. In addition to playing in a challenging scramble golf tournament at Hunter’s Green Country Club in New Tampa, golfers and spectators will have the opportunity to sample food from around the world, provided by locally

“Taste”

Continued from page 1 order to enjoy all of the festivities.

Among the fine restaurants already committed to participate in this year’s Taste at our press time are Ciccio’s/The Lodge, Mulligan’s Irish Pub, Red Lobster, Marco’s Pizza and others, with at least two dozen others still deciding whether or not to participate this year.

A Taste Without Frank!

This year’s Taste will be the first not attended by longtime former New Tampa Community Council (which

became the New Tampa Chamber last year) president and Board member Frank Margarella.

Frank, who created the Taste way back in 1994, when he was working as the general manager of Hunter’s Green Country Club, will surely be missed this year. In years past, Margarella has not only been both the NTCC president and the chairman of the Taste committee, he also sometimes entertained the crowds with his guitar playing and singing as one of the featured entertainers at the event.

The New Tampa Chamber Board hopes to put on the kind of Taste of which Frank would be proud.

owned and operated restaurants.

For more information, please contact Danielle Auger at (941) 8704438 or by email at dauger@parkinsonresearchfoundation.org.

Free Insurance Seminar

Tuesday, April 27 – Learn how to lower your homeowner insurance premiums by attending this free seminar presented by insurance agent Beau Barry, 5:30 p.m.-6:30 p.m., at Smart Health in the Seven Oaks Professional Center. Space is limited, so please RSVP

by Saturday, April 24.

For more information, or to make a reservation, call 480-0200.

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Autism Still A Mystery, But Behavioral Consulting Offers Positive Results

By Melissa O’Brien There have been magazine covers about it, news and talk shows with Hollywood celebrities discussing it and movies like HBO’s (Home Box Office) “Temple Grandin,” which try to explain it. Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges, has become more a part of our everyday vocabulary because of the alarming increase in the number of children it affects in our communities – without any one conclusive reason for the increase. Today, it is estimated by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) that an average of 1 in 110 children in the US has an ASD. The condition crosses all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, and ASD is, on average, four to five times more likely to occur in boys than in girls, for unknown reasons.

Less than a half century ago, a diagnosis of autism was considered untreatable and sometimes meant the end of any hope for substantive communication between parent and child.

Many physicians urged parents to institutionalize their children. Fortunately, autism research has come a long way and today, some studies show that the

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most effective treatment for children with autism is a quality Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) program that is implemented at an early age (usually before age three) between 30-40 hours per week.

“There is no known cause and no known cure for autism,” says Kelley Prince, a Board Certified Behavior Analyst (BCBA) and the president of Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay, Inc., which has two locations – one in the Redfern Professional Office Complex, north of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, and one in the Veteran’s Professional Center in Westchase.

“Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) has more than 30 years of research to show that it is effective,” Prince says.

“Depending upon the level of severity, kids with autism can make huge gains and while there is no such thing as ‘recovery,’ with an intensive ABA program, some (autistic) kids can become indistinguishable from their peers. They may have personality quirks and some skill deficits, but they have the potential to attend school and function day-today with typical kids.”

Prince says there are two types of autism, including “infantile autism,” where a child never reaches any significant milestones such as speech, or eye contact. “In these cases, the parents

Behavioral Analyst Kelley Prince works with a 6-year-old autistic patient. know from early infancy if their child others or playing with toys as they are does not respond to their facial expresdesigned.” sions or eye contact,” says Prince, who This is what happened to Mac graduated from the University of South Chittum, who was diagnosed with Florida (USF) with a Bachelor’s degree autism before his second birthday. “I in psychology and a Master’s degree in used to journal what he did and words Applied Behavior Analysis. “The more he spoke on a regular basis,” says Mac’s common form of autism is called mother, Jonica Chittum. “Then, one ‘regressive autism.’ This occurs when a day I wrote that he did not say my child appears to be developing normally name. He went from developing like a and, around the age of 18 months, the typical child to not talking or making child regresses in their speech patterns eye contact and sometimes throwing and behaviors. So, they may have been temper tantrums eight hours a day.” able to say words such as ‘mama’ and Chittum, who lives in New Port ‘cookie’ and now, they no longer have Richey, discussed Mac’s condition with those communication skills and may her pediatrician. “We were waiting for begin engaging in repetitive behaviors test results and I said to my pediatrirather than appropriately engaging with cian, ‘I need to take him to a behavioral

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therapist regardless of the diagnosis, so why don’t I start now?’ The pediatrician agreed and I took him to Kelley. I don’t know what we would have done without her.”

Prince says she likes to begin treating children before they turn three years old. She and Jamie Granatino, BCBA, and a staff of eight behavioral therapists specialize in the development, implementation and supervision of verbal behavior programs – teaching kids with autism skills such as language/functional communication, academic skills, social skills, self-help skills and compliance behavior. Their team also has experience implementing intensive toilet training programs for children who are difficult to train and intensive feeding programs for children who have very limited diets due to sensory issues or behavioral concerns.

The Behavioral Consulting staff members work where parents need them, either at home or elsewhere, and they also work with kids who have been diagnosed with other disorders and typical children with simple behavior problems.

“We work with children who may or may not have a diagnosed condition,” says Prince. “Our programs go into the school or home or wherever a strategy is needed to assist a parent.”

Prince says it is important for people to understand autism and allow for

and encourage children with autism to experience new activities and environments. “Kids who have autism have a lot of sensory issues and can act unpredictably in certain situations,” says Prince. “Many parents don’t want to take their children out to stores or restaurants because of people whispering or looking at them. We hope efforts like ‘Autism Awareness Month’ make the public aware to be sensitive to parents of children with autism. If you see someone who appears to be struggling in a grocery store or a restaurant, perhaps offer to help or just give them a smile, rather than being judgmental.”

Prince also wants parents to be aware of the signs of autism to foster early intervention. “Be aware of a child who lacks age-appropriate language skills and become familiar with developmental checklists,” she says. “A child with autism may not play with toys appropriately and may display certain repetitive behaviors like rolling the tires of a car over and over, walking on their toes, or flapping their arms. Children with autism may not respond to their name and many times a parent may think the child is deaf or hard of hearing.”

Prince says if parents are concerned, they should talk to their pediatrician. “A great local resource for parents is called CARD – the Center for Autism Related Disorders,” she says. “It

operates out of USF and is an organization that can help answer many parents’ questions and help them find resources in their community.”

Another important development Prince wants to make parents aware of is the passage of Florida legislation known as the “Window of Opportunity Act,” which went into affect in April of 2009 and increases health insurance benefits for autism and developmental disability therapies and enhances consumer awareness of the benefits. The legislation also creates, under the “Steven A. Geller Autism Coverage Act,” a mandated benefit for autism coverage which will apply to any carrier that does not comply with the compact

by April 1, 2010. The mandated benefit includes a $36,000 annual maximum and $200,000 lifetime maximum for screening and therapy for autism.

For kids like Mac, the new laws related to insurance benefits will help his parents offset the cost of his care.

“Some people asked me how we can afford it and I tell them it is like we are paying for his college fund now,” says Jonica Chittum.

Mac is now a happy, verbal sixyear-old who has very obviously benefited from ABA. “They say it takes a village to raise a child, and that is very true in the case of autism,” Chittum says. “Having Kelley work with Mac has been like having

an extra parent. It was like starting over with him when he was 16 months old.

Every new word or new reaction was a huge milestone. Now, he is attending Longleaf Elementary School. He is mainstreamed half the day and attends a primary autism class the other half. Kelley started with us by helping us make daily life more livable. She has led Mac down a path to learning and communication to where he is now.”

Behavioral Consulting of Tampa Bay, Inc., is in Wesley Chapel at 3717 Turman Loop, Suite 102, and in Westchase at 6916 W. Linebaugh Ave., Suite 102. For more info, call 265-0210 or visit BCOTB.com.

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Local Fastframe Store Now Open In New Location The Fastframe store, formerly located at 17501 Preserve Walk Lane in Highwoods Preserve has now moved about a mile closer to our Wesley Chapel readers, in the Pebble Creek Collection, just behind Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse & Sushi.

According to franchise owners Suzanne and Steven Witt, Fastframe customers can expect the same per-

sonalized service, original designs and fast turnaround times as always, since all work is still done on the premises.

Regular store hours are MondaySaturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

Fastframe’s new address is 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Ste. D5, and the new phone number is 907-7605. Please tell Suzanne and Steve that we sent you!

Springhill Suites By Marriott Now Open In Tampa Palms The New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area’s newest hotel, a 127-room SpringHill Suites by Marriott, welcomed its first guests in March.

The new five-story hotel is located at 5396 Primrose Lake Circle, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, near the New Tampa Community Park.

According to general manager Sarah Bates, each of the guest rooms is a studio-style suite, and each comes equipped with a sleeper sofa, as well as either a king-sized bed or two queensized beds.

Designed for extended-stay and business travelers, the hotel also features wired and wireless internet access in both the guest rooms and the public areas, dry cleaning services, a fitness center and an on-site market.

The hotel also has an outdoor heated swimming pool and 1,035

square feet of meeting space in two meeting rooms named for the Rays and the Bucs that can accommodate up to 50 people.

The hotel is owned and operated by the Sun Development and management Corp. of Indianapolis, which also owns and operates 26 different properties in 11 states and has another eight hotels under development and construction. Company officials say they are planning to hold a Grand Opening celebration at the end of April.

For additional information, call 558-0300. — MS

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Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Heart Institute Earns More Accolades!

By Gary Nager If you and your loved ones have never had to deal with a cardiac incident, congratulations. Unfortunately, as we age, the likelihood that you and/or someone you love will be dealing with some sort of heart issues obviously increases exponentially. The good news, however, is that the residents of Wesley Chapel have an outstanding cardiac care hospital right here in their own backyards.

In fact, the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills (FHZ) Heart Institute is not only an award-winning cardiac care facility, it’s also the closest hospital to many Wesley Chapel residents (located just a few miles north of where S.R. 54 meets U.S. Hwy. 301).

FHZ Heart Institute administrative director Gwen Alonso is proud to announce that the hospital’s cardiac care unit continues to garner some major honors, including (most recently) being the only recipient of the 2010 HealthGrades Coronary Intervention Award of Excellence in Tampa Bay area. (Note-Millions of consumers and hundreds of the nation’s largest employers, healthcare plans and hospitals rely on HealthGrades’ independent ratings of the nation’s 5,000 hospitals,

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consulting and products to make healthcare decisions based on the quality of care. HealthGrades currently works with more than 400 hospitals nationwide and produces well-respected public studies of hospital quality in areas that include clinical excellence, patient safety and women’s health.)

The FHZ Heart Institute also is home to the only fully accredited electrophysiology team in the state of Florida. In fact, Alonso says there are only 10 Registered Cardiac Electrophysiology Specialists in all of Florida and “three work in FHZ’s electrophysiology lab!. FHZ also has the only accredited heart failure institute and the only chest-accredited hospital in eastern Pasco County.

FHZ is part of the Christian mission-based Adventist Health Systems (the largest nonprofit hospital chain in the U.S.). The FHZ Heart Institute, which was initiated in 2006 and earned its national cardiac accreditation in May 2009, provides comprehensive cardiac services to adults suffering from cardiac or cardiovascular disease.

Heart Institute services include open heart surgery, coronary bypass grafting, cardiac valve repair and replacement, transmyocardial laser revascularization, thoracic aneurysm

The Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Heart Institute is proud to be home to top professionals such as cardiologists Sunil Gupta, MD (front), and Ketul Chauhan, MD (left in back), and the FHZ Cath Lab Staff. Photo by Alex Stafford. repair, electrophysiology (EP), ablation & 3D mapping, cardiac catheterization and cardiac diagnostics. The Heart Institute’s dedicated team of highly trained specialists includes Board-certified cardiologists, electrophysiologists, cardiac surgeons and critical care nurses.

One of the leading cardiologists at FHZ, Sunil Gupta, MD, helped bring balloon angioplasty and cardiac stinting to the hospital. Dr. Gupta, who

received specialized cardiac training at Jersey City Medical Center in Jersey City, NJ, and at the University of Louisville (KY), came to FHZ in 1999.

One of the patients he helped is 68-year-old Phyllis Krieger, a New Tampa resident who had no idea her heart was working at only 20 percent of its capability when she was complaining of fatigue and was referred to Dr. Gupta and Ketul Chauhan, MD,

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another FHZ cardiologist.

“It was further away from me than UCH (University Community Hospital), but the trip was well worth it,” says Krieger. “My FHZ Heart heart is now up Institute patient to operating at 40 Phyllis Krieger. percent of its capacity and I am getting stringer every day. My experience with Florida Hospital Zephyrhills was fabulous!”

Alonso says that perhaps the most important thing she can tell our readers about the FHZ Heart Institute is that it means that patients no longer have to travel to UCH, Tampa General Hospital or other facilities to get top-quality cardiac care.

“We are continuing to grow and our staff and equipment are all state-ofthe-art, but we also are continuing to constantly review our own performance to make sure you get the best possible care every time you visit — and that commitment is from the hospital administration, doctors and staff! This helps us to always be accountable to our heart failure patients. Our goal is always to reduce the time it takes to go from entering the emergency room to

receiving the treatment needed and to reduce the number of times they have to revisit the hospital.”

Dr. Gupta adds that before FHZ received its chest accreditation, patients who lived close to FHZ were having to risk being transported to another hospital to get the kind of care you can find at FHZ today.

“And, with a heart attack or any cardiac incident, you don’t want to have to wait for quality care,” he says.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is a 154-bed, full-service, mission-based facility. As reported in other stories in previous issues of this publication, the hospital’s still-ongoing transformation has upgraded every aspect of FHZ under CEO John Harding.

Today, FHZ provides outstanding health care services that help to heal the whole person – body, mind and spirit.

Known for its compassion and expertise, the hospital’s clinical team of physicians, nurses, technologists and therapists deliver a full range of inpatient and outpatient services. Patients are assured of a true commitment to health care excellence, in a compassionate, caring and expert setting.

Florida Hospital Zephyrhills is located at 7050 Gall Blvd. (aka U.S. Hwy. 301). For additional information, call 788-0411 or visit FHZeph.org.

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Albert Boholst, DMD, Offers General, Cosmetic & Laser Dentistry

By Melissa O’Brien When Georgene Bender was told by a dentist that her only option for treating her periodontal disease was to remove all of her teeth and get dentures, she thought, “There must be a better way.”

Then, she read about a new, nearly painless dental laser treatment that offered a solution for her condition that would allow her to keep her teeth.

When she went online to find an area dentist who could perform the procedure, she found Albert Boholst, DMD (Doctor of Medical Dentistry) in the Summergate Professional Park, just off of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel.

“I had not gone to my dentist for a couple of years and my gums where bad,” says Bender, who lives in Seffner.

“Since I have diabetes, implants are not an option and I was told that I would need to have my teeth removed. I already had a procedure done for deep pockets [in my gums] that was very painful, so I was looking for other options. I found Dr. Boholst, who performed the laser procedure on me and it was very successful. Now, I seem to be healthier, because my diabetes numbers used to be elevated due to the infection in my gums. The treatment

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was painless and my gums have receded. We are now looking at cosmetic procedures and I am doing a better job of taking care of my teeth.”

Dr. Boholst, who is one of the first dentists in the Tampa Bay area to perform laser dentistry, says, “There’s no cutting, no suturing and much less discomfort with the Laser Assisted New Attachment Procedure (LANAP) than with standard gum surgery – both during and after the procedure. All it takes is two two-hour visits to the dentist and two follow-up visits. Traditional surgery may require four sessions of about one hour each, with subsequent visits for suture removal and additional checkups. LANAP gives better, longer-lasting results. In fact, studies show that 98 percent of treated patients remain stable after five years, while only five percent reportedly remain stable after traditional oral surgery.”

Dr. Boholst says that people with diabetes really need to stay on top of their oral health.

“Studies have shown that they are more prone to getting periodontal disease and it can make their diabetes more problematic,” he says. “If they have diabetes and smoke, they are at an even higher risk of getting [gum] disease. I frequently see diabetic smokers

who have advanced periodontal disease and didn't even know it.”

Dr. Boholst notes that the laser technology is not just for periodontal disease; it also can be used for cavities.

“While the laser does have some limitations — like if you already have silver fillings on a tooth — it can be used to remove General & cosmetic dentist Albert Boholst, DMD, cavities,” says Dr. specializes in the use of laser dentistry to treat periBoholst, who treats odontal disease at his office in Wesley Chapel. patients from age three bring relief to people who suffer from to 90-plus years old. “Kids find this migraine and tension headaches. It also more appealing because there is less can help people who have other TMJ scraping and drilling involved.” symptoms such as popping or clicking Dr. Boholst’s office, which offers in their jaws or excessive tooth wear. patients overhead TVs to help them Another new technology Dr. relax, also offers routine dental cleanBoholst uses is an intraoral camera. It ings and checkups, cosmetic dentistry, allows the patient to see their teeth and “no drill” veneers (porcelain veneers gums up close and in real time. placed directly over a person’s teeth “While treating the patient, I guide without having to drill down first) and a camera around their mouth and we treatment for TMJ (temporomandibuboth look up at the LCD monitor and lar [jaw] joint) disorder. The office also see the cracks, cavities, and gum infeccan fit patients with the Nociceptive Trigeminal Inhibition Tension Suppres- tions together,” he says. “It’s one thing for me to say ‘You have a crack in that sion System (NTI), a tiny mouthpiece tooth’ and you having to take my word that hugs the two front teeth that may

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for it. It’s another for me to say, ‘See this dark crack that goes from the top to the bottom of your tooth, that’s why the tooth needs treatment.’ The vast majority of my patients tell me they’ve never seen their teeth and gums like that before. My philosophy is for the patient and me to see the problems together and then I offer possible treatment options. I also like to educate people on how their oral health relates to their overall health.”

Community Service, Too

Dr. Boholst also gives back to his community by offering free examinations to pregnant women.

“I have a great concern with how the mouth relates to the body,” says Dr. Boholst. “I am part of the Close the Gap Foundation, which conducts research to reduce infant mortality, and I offer assistance to expectant mothers to prevent pre-term or low-birthweight babies. A published study stated that women with periodontal disease are seven times more likely [than those with no evidence of periodontal disease] to have a pre-term or low-birthweight baby.”

He adds, “I also teach education classes and offer expectant women free gum examinations. In addition to women of childbearing age, I also give free consults to people who have migraines, acid reflux and diabetes, as

well as to smokers and those with cosmetic concerns. I just like to give the patient a chance to check us out with a no-obligation visit and let them see if I can help them. We hold a couple of spots open every day for these free consults, but they can fill up fast.”

Originally from Crystal River, FL, Dr. Boholst says he grew up in a medically-oriented family.

“My father was a general surgeon and my mother practiced Internal Medicine,” he says. “I attended the University of Florida and decided to practice dentistry instead because I knew from watching my dad that I wanted a different lifestyle. He was always on call and I wanted my steady hours.”

After graduating from dental school, Dr. Boholst (who is a founding member of the Florida Academy of Cosmetic dentistry who also is a clinical consultant and lecturer for dental laser manufacturers and has certifications for his advanced training from the Academy of Laser Dentistry) practiced in Jacksonville and then in Seminole Heights in Tampa. He bought his building in the Summergate Professional Plaza and started practicing part-time in Wesley Chapel in 2007. He sold his building in the Seminole Heights area of North Tampa in 2008 and started practicing full time in Wesley Chapel.

Patient Karen Normand, who lives in Riverview, says she gladly travels to

Wesley Chapel to see Dr. Boholst.

“My husband and I moved from Massachusetts in 2004 and I was looking for a dentist who offered periodontal services,” says Normand. “I have genetic periodontal disease and need to see a dentist every three months. At first, I went to a doctor who suggested doing a major surgery that would involve a 10-12 month process. I just happened to be watching Bay News 9 and heard about the laser treatment. I did some looking around and found Dr. Boholst.”

Normand went to see Dr. Boholst, who told her she was a good candidate for the laser procedure. “I had laser sur-

gery in my whole mouth and I should have sent Bay News 9 a thank-you note,” continues Normand. “Dr. Boholst did everything in one afternoon. The surgery did what it was supposed to do and I was able to avoid a more invasive surgery. Dr. Boholst is a very nice, gentle man who made everything easy for me.”

The General, Cosmetic and Laser Dentistry office of Albert Boholst, DMD, is located at 27510 Cashford Circle in Wesley Chapel (just outside of the Seven Oaks community, behind Sam’s Club). For more information, call 973-8555 or visit TampaLaserDentist.com.

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17

Wharton Family Pulls Together To Help Haitian Student’s Mom

By Michael Smith By now, we’ve all seen news reports and heard stories about the aftermath of the terrible earthquake that devastated Haiti earlier this year, but the tragedy hit even closer to home for one local student, who turned to his fellow classmates for help to rescue his mother from the ravaged island nation.

Wharton High student Kevin St. Louis, 18, a native of Haiti, came to the U.S. when he was in the eighth grade. At the time, he says, Haiti was a scary place, with violent political upheaval and regular reports of kidnappings and murders on the streets of its capital city, Port-au-Prince, where he lived. So, the family decided Kevin would come to America to live with his sister Sarah and her husband Lambert, who live in New Tampa.

St. Louis worked hard in school and earned his U.S. citizenship last fall, and then began looking for a job and an apartment of his own, but wasn’t having any success, he says, so he was still living at his sister’s place when the earthquake hit on January 12. When Sarah woke him up to tell him what had happened, he couldn’t believe it.

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“I was just in shock,” he says.

He immediately began worrying about his mother, Claire, 55, who had been here for a while but had gone back to Haiti to take care of her business there. Aside from what little information he could gather from watching the news, however, there was no word.

“As soon as the earthquake happened, there was no way to get in touch with her,” he says.

Three anxious days passed, and then, when he was sitting in French class taking a test, a text message came through on his cell phone (which is normally prohibited during school hours, but which he kept on anyway, hoping for a call from his mother).

“We’re all okay,” the text message said. “Pray for us.”

Five days later, he and Sarah were finally able to connect with their mother by phone, and that’s when they learned what she had gone through during the earthquake and in the days since. She had been at home, standing outside her front gate seeing a friend off when it hit.

“I heard a thunderous noise and everything started shaking left and right,” Claire says.

She fell to the ground, and 35

Wharton High student Kevin St. Louis & his mother Claire. seconds later, when the earthquake was over, Claire says she found that she had actually been moved uphill by the force of the quake to the front of her neighbor’s house, which, like most of the others in the neighborhood, was now flattened into rubble. By some miracle, her own home was still standing, but another neighbor’s three-story house had fallen against it, and, fearing that it too, would collapse, Claire only dared to run inside for a few moments to grab what possessions she could.

She spent that night, and the next two weeks, living in the street outside her house, praying with her neighbors for help to come, “but it never did,” she says. After about a week, they

heard that a relief station had been set up at a soccer stadium in the city, but she didn’t go, because there had also been reports that the jail had collapsed in the quake and hundreds, even thousands of prisoners, were now roaming the streets and robbing people.

“Everybody wanted to stay in one area, their safe haven, together for security,” she says.

Meanwhile, here in Tampa, Kevin, Sarah and Lambert were desperately looking for a way to try to get to Haiti to help their mother and other family members in any way they could, but there were a lot of obstacles. Communication with the island was still spotty, and in the first few days after the quake, planes were not even able to fly into the earthquake-damaged airport.

So, they started a drive to collect food, clothing and other relief supplies, and then learned that another student’s mother had a friend who was a nurse and was planning to fly to the Dominican Republic, which is on the opposite side of the island of Hispaniola from Haiti (about 6-8 hours away from Port-au-Prince by car), to help the earthquake victims. They planned to make the trip with her, but they were forced to wait because conditions

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This photo shows a group of Haitian residents gathered in a street in the midst of their devastated neighborhood, as Claire was forced to do. were still too dangerous.

“We had a lot of sleepless nights,” Kevin says.

That, however, is when the Wharton family, and especially Kevin’s fellow cadets in the school’s Navy Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (NJROTC) program, stepped in to help. Kevin has been a member of the program since his freshman year, and is now an executive officer, which is the second-highest designation a student cadet can receive.

“But, he’s not only an executive officer, he’s also a friend,” says Maj. Mike Beale, who is a Naval Science instructor and one of the leaders of the

on January 27.

When he first saw her, Kevin says he couldn’t believe how frail she looked, but he was so glad to see her, “I probably hugged her a little too hard,” he says.

His mom is doing well now, but Kevin says she still gets nervous when she hears loud sounds, such as when their neighbor slams the door on his van, but the family is happy to be back together. Their joy is not without some sadness, however, because Kevin’s grandmother, who was 95, died shortly after the earthquake hit.

Kevin and his family also are thankful for the help that they

received, and they continue to work to do what they can for their home country, even taking in several children who were left homeless by the earthquake.

The children arrived in the U.S. with little more than the clothes on their back, however, and they are in need of shoes, clothing and other personal items.

Anyone who can help with the drive is asked to contact Maj. Beale through the Wharton High office at 631-4710. To provide direct assistance to the many victims of the earthquake in Haiti, contact the American Red Cross at RedCross.org.

NJROTC program. “So, all of the members of the ROTC program were ready to do whatever they had to do to help him get his mother here.”

With their help, and additional assistance from the Wharton NJROTC Booster Club, Kevin finally was able to collect enough money to purchase a plane ticket to Miami for Claire. The trip to the airport in the Dominican capital of Santo Domingo was still not easy, though, and she even had to spend a night in a police station along the way after the car she was riding in broke down. She was able to complete the journey by bus the next day, however, and she finally arrived in Miami

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W ESLEY C HAPEL

Education Updates

Wesley Chapel Elem. Wellness Program Earns National Recognition In March, Wesley Chapel Elementary (WCE) received the Bronze National Recognition Award from the Alliance for a Healthier Generation (AHG) for creating a healthier environment for students and staff.

AHG, a joint partnership of the Students work out in the on-site fitness center at Wesley American Heart Chapel Elementary.

Association and the William J. Clinton and policies. The rigorous program criFoundation, established the Healthy teria were developed in consultation Schools Program in 2006 to help with a panel of experts, including represchools develop and implement policies sentatives from the American Heart and practices to promote healthy eating Association, the U.S. Centers for Disand increase physical activity. ease Control and Prevention and oth“We know that healthy students ers. Ehrlich said that WCE has met learn better,” AHG executive director these stringent standards, positively Ginny Ehrlich says. impacting healthy eating and physical Ehrlich adds that the Healthy activity behaviors among its students Schools Program takes a comprehensive and staff members. approach to helping schools create According to WCE physical educahealthier environments by working with tion teacher Chris Gorman, who also is them to improve access to healthier chairman of the school’s Wellness foods; to increase physical activity Committee, the move towards better opportunities before, during and after overall health at the school started with school; to enhance nutrition education; a desire to create a workout area for the and to establish school employee wellschool’s teachers and staff members. So, ness programs. since one of the areas that is evaluated “Through these systemic changes, by the Healthy Schools program is staff schools are not only teaching their stuwellness, Gorman says they decided to dents the academic skills they need to get involved in the program to see succeed, but also healthy habits for what other changes could be made at life,” Ehrlich says. the school, too.

Schools participating in the Last fall, with assistance from the Healthy Schools Program are eligible to homeowners association at the nearby earn bronze, silver, gold or platinum Bridgewater subdivision, which donated awards based on their range of healthy $1,000, the school was able to open its eating and physical activity programs fitness center, which serves as a workout

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Veterans Elem. Speech Winners Recognized At right are the winners of the Veterans Elementary Tropicana Speech Contest, which was held on March 31. They are (l.-r.)

Allie Deocampo, third place; Maria Esteves, second place; and Justin Forgas, a fourth grader who won first place with his speech about “Unhealthy Foods.”

(Photo courtesy of Veterans Elem. fifth grade teacher Mario Pineo)

center not only for the staff, but for the students as well.

The fitness center is located in one of the portable classrooms that is no longer being used at the school, and it includes a variety of workout stations that can be utilized by teachers and staff members before and after school, while it is used for teacher-led physical education classes during the school day.

In addition, Gorman says, the Wellness Committee also created a wellness bulletin board that includes information about nutrition, exercise and health and also implemented a healthy foods nutrition-based menu in the school cafeteria, which included helpful recommendations from the Healthy Schools advisors.

“The program has helped us to analyze what we’re doing correctly here at the school and what we can still do better,” Gorman says. “The wellness center has been a real morale booster and has brought the staff closer together. Plus, it has helped improve our teacher-led PE program as well.”

Although the wellness program at WCE is only in its first year, Gorman says he expects that it will lead to positive results for the students, such as when they participate in the Governor’s Fitness Challenge later this month, and for the school’s teachers and staff, too, who have been participating in an “America’s Biggest Loser”-style weight loss competition since the center opened. — MS

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Wesley Chapel Celebration Of The Arts Returns April 10-11

By Gary Nager The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) and The Shops at Wiregrass mall are proud to announce that the Wesley Chapel Celebration of the Arts will again be held at the open-air retail center located at the corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and S.R. 56 on Saturday-Sunday, April 10-11.

This is the third year of the festival and the second year that it will be held at the Shops and spokesperson Laura Miller says this year’s event should be even bigger and better than last year.

“We already have more than 100 artists and craftsmen signed up to exhibit and sell their art for this year’s

Celebration,” says Miller. “And, although we will have a judge again this year and will give out prize ribbons, we aren’t ging to be giving out any prize money to the artists, as we have the last two years. The surveys we gave to the artists last year and the conversations we had with them told us that the artists actually preferred to see the prize money go towards promoting the event, so they could make more sales than last year. Very few seemed to be concerned about winning a cash prize.”

And yes, there will be a lot more promotion of the event this time around. In addition to the info and advertising in this (and in our New Tampa edition) and other area newspapers (including the St. Petersburg

Organizers are hoping for a repeat of the beautiful weather that helped boost attendance at last year’s Celebration.

Whether you prefer paintings (above) or sculpture (right), there’s sure to be something to suit you at the Celebration of the Arts.

Times and The Laker/Lutz News) and the OurtownFLA.com website, several radio stations (CBS Radio, WQYKFM 99.5, WSJT-FM 98.7, WRBQFM 104.7 and WJQB-FM 106.3) are getting involved in advertising and promotion of the festival and some will also do live remote broadcasts from the event itself.

Miller notes that this year’s major Celebration sponsors include The Shops at Wiregrass, Pasco County, FL, Presenting Sponsor Hyundai and Mazda of Wesley Chapel, this year’s Platinum Entertainment Sponsor, the Wesley Chapel Medical Center, and

Silver Sponsor Ierna’s Heating & Cooling. Art Appreciation sponsors include the Family Wellness Center (Dr. Richard Kay), Best Buy, Healthy Joints Chiropractic (Dr. Travis Mohr), Regions Bank, LifeSource Family Chiropractic, Victorious Life Church and Rivera Chiropractic.

See “Celebration” on page 25.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

“Celebration” Continued from page 23 In addition, Miller says that Tampa Bay Parenting magazine will be this year’s major children’s sponsor.

“The magazine will provide a children’s area with all sorts of activities for kids,” says Miller. “Cloud 9 (photography) Studios, Habitat for Humanity, BounceU, Jimmy Jumpers, Grow Life Church and Fairy Line Naturals will also be providing some of our children’s activities.”

And, Miller says there will be plenty of entertainment for adults throughout the two days, too, led by “Entertainer to the Stars” DJ Joey Jam, who will provide music between live performances.

On Saturday, the center stage in the middle of the mall courtyard will feature The Bucket List Band, Left, 10th Concession, Amanda Drake and the Barnburners and the Troy Duncan Band. Sunday’s line-up had not yet been finalized at our press time.

“Of course, a lot will depend upon the weather again,” says Miller.

“Last year, the mall estimated that more than 50,000 people visited during the two days last year, thanks to awesome weather both days. We are hoping to do even better this year, perhaps as many as 75,000 or more.”

For additional information, visit WesleyChapelArtShow.com or call the Wesley Chapel Chamber office at 994-8534 or Laura Miller at 382-8412.

Students from area schools, like the Academy at the Lakes choir, above, also contribute both artwork and entertainment to the Celebration.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Kick Off Spring With A Mixed Bag Of Entertaining Options

By Michael Smith Well, it’s official — spring has sprung, which means it’s time to get out of the house and start enjoying some of the great entertaiment that the season will be bringing our way. In April, the choices include something for just about everyone, and here are some of the highlights.

‘Pericles – A New Rock Musical’

Saturday-Sunday, April 10-11 – Before taking it on the road to New York City, Tampa’s Jobsite Theatre is bringing its wildly popular 2009 production, “Pericles: Prince of Tires,” back to the David A. Straz, Jr., Center for the Performing Arts (formerly known as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center) for a special limited engagement. Presented in showcase format, the story shifts Shakespeare’s “Pericles, Prince of Tyre” to the 20th Century U.S., where Perry, aka the “Prince of Tires,” gets caught up in a web of intrigue, incest and the Mafia as he tries to balance having a family with running a “family.”

And, as his epic journey reaches an end, he learns that saving both his biological family and his mafia family are

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rooted in truly understanding the value of loyalty, honor and love (note: the show does contain adult language, situations and subject matter).

“Pericles – A New Rock Musical” will be presented at 8 p.m. on Saturday and at 4 p.m. on Sunday at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts (1010 N. MacInnes Pl., downtown Tampa).

Regularly priced tickets start at $15 and are available at the Center ticket office and online at TBPAC.org.

Visit the website or call 2297827 for more information.

Lisa Lampanelli

Saturday, April 10 – Stand-up comic Lisa Lampanelli, the acidtongued, self-proclaimed “lovable queen of mean” has been called a cross between Don Rickles, Archie Bunker and a vial of estrogen.

Lampanelli is an equal opportunity offender, who takes particular delight in skewering minorities, gays and celebrities (and the people in the front row at her shows), and that’s why she is a popular guest on Comedy Central’s celebrity roasts, as well as a frequent contributor to the Howard Stern satellite radio show. HBO recently aired her first one-hour special, “Long Live the Queen,” and her first book,

Chocolate Please: My Adventures in Food, Fat and Freaks hit bookstore shelves earlier this year. (Needless to say, this show contains adult content, and parental discretion is advised).

Lisa Lampanelli will take the stage at Clearwater’s Ruth Eckerd Hall (1111 N. McMullen-Booth Rd.) at 8 p.m. Tickets cost $36.75 and are available online at RuthEckerdHall.com and through Ticketmaster (287-8844).

Call (727) 791-7400 for more information.

Pilobolus

Wednesday, April 14 – To call Pilobolus a modern dance troupe is a bit of a misnomer, although the company’s mesmerizing performances do include elements of dance. However, the shows also incorporate amazing acts of sheer strength, physical comedy and even human sculpture, exquisitely presented through ingenious choreography, fantastic lighting and costumes to create an unforgettable experience.

Formed in 1971 by a trio of Datmouth University students, Pilobolus’ amazing artwork has delighted audiences worldwide and has been seen on many mainstream productions, including both the Olympic Games and the Academy Awards.

Pilobolus, which will perform April 14 at Ruth Eckerd Hall, is not your average modern dance troupe.

Pilobolus will perform at 8 p.m. at Ruth Eckerd Hall (1111 N. McMullenBooth Rd. in Clearwater). Tickets cost $43 & $48 and are available online at RuthEckerdHall.com and through Ticketmaster (287-8844). Visit the website or call (727) 791-7400 for more information.

Tampa Bay Storm Season Kickoff

Friday, April 16 – After a yearlong shutdown while the league sorted out its financial woes, the five-time Arena League football champion

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Tampa Bay Storm opens its 2010 home schedule with a matchup against former Storm owner Woody Kern and his new team, the Dallas Vigilantes.

While the Storm is looking to better its 2008 record of 8-8 – and get head coach Tim Marcum the two wins he needs to reach 200 in his career – the Dallas Vigilantes come in with a team of relative unknown players who have been picked by Pro Football Weekly as one of the probable contenders for the 2010 Arena League crown.

In all, the Storm will play eight home games at the St. Pete Times Forum (401 Channelside Dr.) this season, capped off with a big seasonender against its in-state rival Orland Predators on July 31. Single-game ticket prices range from $20.60-$139, but there are a number of special 4pack, group discount and season ticket offers. For more information about the Tampa Bay Storm, visit the team website, TampaBayStorm. com. For more information about other upcoming games or events at the Forum, call 301-2500 or visit SPTimesForum.com.

Bon Jovi’s ‘The Circle’ Tour

Saturday, April 17 – At our press time, there were still a few upper-level seats available for the newest show by

renowned ‘80s rockers Bon Jovi, which has been garnering decent reviews all around the country since it kicked off in Seattle in February.

The tour is named for the New Jersey band’s latest album, “The Circle,” which was released in November, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard magazine Top-200 chart and selling more than 160,000 copies in its first week. Despite that album’s success, however, the real attraction of any Bon Jovi concert is the band’s biggest hits from decades past, such as “Livin’ On a Prayer,” “You Give Love a Bad Name” and “Runaway.” The Circle tour also has been praised, however, for its innovative, intimate circular stage set-up and state-of-the-art light and video show, so check it out if you’re a fan.

Bon Jovi’s “The Circle Tour” will kick off at 7:30 p.m. at the St. Pete Times Forum (401 Channelside Dr.).

Some third-level seats were available for $58.75 at our press time, through the Forum ticket office or at SPTimes Forum.com (which includes a Ticketmaster service charge), but there are plenty of other avenues to purchase tickets these days, too, so you’re not without other options.

For more information, visit the website or call 301-2500.

98 RockFest

Saturday, April 24 – If you like your music hard and heavy, then you are in for a treat with this year’s 98 RockFest, once again hosted by radio station 98 Rock (WXTB-FM 97.9), and featuring some of the loudest bands on the planet. It’s going to be held at the St. Pete Times Forum in downtown Tampa, and the concert kicks off at 2 p.m. with the Preshow Free Show in the Forum courtyard, which will feature new and up-and-coming bands like Evans Blue, SOiL, American Bang, Monroe Brown and Soulidium (line-up subject to change).

But, the real show gets under way inside the Forum at 6:30 p.m., with coheadliners Alice in Chains, Limp Bizkit, Puddle of Mudd, Sevendust, Hell Yeah and Paper Tongues.

Ticket prices for 98 RockFest range from $30-$78 and are available through the Forum ticket office (which will have a special sale with tickets for just $19.80 – with a limit of two tickets per person – on March 27-28) and through Ticketmaster (287-8844). For more information, and chances to win free tickets, visit the official event website, 98RockFest.com.

Jimmy Buffett

Saturday, April 24 – In direct

Jimmy Buffett comes to Tampa Apr. 24. contrast to the 98 Rockfest, there probably isn’t a more laid-back performer than South Florida icon Jimmy Buffett, whose songs about drinking, sailing and having fun in the sun are the essence of summertime. Although he hasn’t had a new big hit in many years, Buffett’s legions of “Parrothead” fans still enjoy kicking off their flip-flops and singing along to such mellow classics as “Margaritaville,” “Come Monday” and “Cheeseburger in Paradise.”

Jimmy Buffett will perform at 8 p.m. at the Ford Amphitheatre (4802 U.S. Hwy. 301 N.). Tickets cost $30$130 and are available at the Amphitheatre ticket office and through Ticketmaster (287-8844). For more information, call 740-2446 or visit LiveNation.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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The Tropics At Saddlebrook Resort Gets A Delicious Makeover!

By Gary Nager Long-time readers of this publication know that I’ve always loved the restaurants at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa Tampa. Dempsey’s Steak House is one of my absolute favorite steakhouses in the entire Tampa Bay area and The Tropics, the other primary restaurant at the resort — which is open for breakfast and lunch year-round, but closes for dinner for a few months each year — has always been a place for great seafood and other entrées and pasta dishes you can’t get at Dempsey’s.

The Tropics is where Saddlebrook Executive Chef Daniel Desmond and his incredible staff basically get to try out new concepts, although the latest incarnation of The Tropic is still a wonderful combination of delicious fresh fish and seafood, Dempsey’s prime steaks and just a few other simple, but delicious options. And now, Saddlebrook has reconfigured The Tropcs to now include the beautiful adjacent bar area. And the change is working.

You can start with a roasted tomato soup or a “created” soup of the day, baked chicken wings or “shared” plates of olives, feta cheese and hummus or a “flight” of regional American cheeses. There’s also “quick bites” like

The oven-roasted wild shrimp is one of several new “small plates” at The Tropics restaurant at Saddlebrook. a chicken Caesar salad, a margherita flatbread, American Wagyu (beef) sliders and a spicy tuna crispy rice cake with edamame.

More “small plates” include an American Wagyu flat iron steak, ovenroasted wild shrimp, a wonderful salmon in lemon brodetto and my absolute favorite so far — an incredibly thick, tender and juicy lamb porterhouse chop served with wild mushroom and fontina cheese-filled ravioli and covered in a savory Bordeaux wine demi. This one has to be tried to be believed, even if you really believe you don’t like lamb! There’s also a mushroom baklava served with butternut squash ravioli and a chicken Marengo, served with tomatoes and white beans.

There are three great Dempsey’s

This lamb porterhouse chop and mush- Dempsey’s may have had it first, but room-and-cheese-stuffed ravioli is our The Tropics does an equally great job with this delicious New York strip. editor’s new favorite at The Tropics. steaks available at the new Tropics — a traditional Steak Diane, a flame-broiled 10-oz. filet mignon and my fave, a 14-oz.

New York strip available “au naturel” or “au poivre.”

Fresh fish lovers will flip for the teriyaki-basted Chilean sea bass and the cedar-plank salmon. And, if you’re looking for an Italian twist, the new The beautiful lobby bar at Saddlebrook is now menu also features a lasagna part of The Tropics restaurant. casserole and a pasta Bolognese, made with Angus beef and 5700 Saddlebrook Way, off S.R. 54. tomato sauce.

The resort is open every day, but In other words, I believe that it’s please call 973-1111 or visit Saddlealways worth a visit to The Tropics! brook.com for The Tropics’ hours of Saddlebrook Resort is located at operation.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood Nibbles—Taste Of Boston & Super Buffet Open!

Taste of Boston is located at 1944 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (at S.R. 56) in the Publix-anchored Shoppes at New Tampa plaza. For orders and more info, call 994-9797 or visit TasteOfBoston.net.

By Gary Nager Telling you about new restaurants and eateries in our area has always been one of my favorite parts of my job and I have to say that the new restaurant action is still proceeding apace in Wesley Chapel. In just the past couple of weeks alone, Super Buffet has opened on S.R. 54 and Taste of Boston has opened in The Shoppes at New Tampa.

And, Dickey’s BBQ and yet another Asian buffet restaurant are opening in the area very soon, too.

Taste Of Boston — What A Great Menu!

Unfortunately, Wesley Chapel’s new Taste of Boston Seafood restaurant only opened a couple of days before we went to press with this issue, so I’ve only been able to sample it once so far, but the thing that struck me right away about this comfortable, new sit-down restaurant located on the side of the plaza that faces the Wiregrass Mall was the huge menu.

Boston native and owner George Illis has had a Taste of Boston on Interbay Blvd. in South Tampa for years and although he says his menu is loaded with traditional New England fried seafood, there’s certainly plenty of

Super Buffet Pretty Super

grilled and broiled seafood dishes, too, plus favorites like traditional steamers (clams, of course), a 1-1/4-lb. lobster bake, what George claims to be the “Best Philly south of Philly,” plus fresh grouper (photo) and other sandwiches, great fries, steaks, Maryland crab cakes and so much more. There’s even a nice variety of Edy’s gourmet ice cream flavors for dessert and domestic and imported bottled beers and house wines available.

Taste of Boston also offers great daily specials, like all-you-can-eat (big) shrimp for just $12.99, an all-you-caneat fish fry featuring delicious fried (for $10.99) or blackened ($11.99) basa (a flaky, white freshwater fish, even milder than tilapia) and all-you-can-eat fried haddock for $14.99 on Friday. You even get a cup of New England (white) clam chowder to start for that price.

I told you about a new buffet Chinese/Japanese restaurant in New Tampa a couple of issues ago and now, Wesley Chapel has its first free-standing Asian buffet restaurant, located in the former Johnny’s Carino’s location (next to Applebee’s) on S.R. 54, just east of Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

It’s called the Super Buffet Sushi Grill and if you like to choose from a variety of offerings, you won’t find more different dishes or cuisine types than you will at Super Buffet.

As you expect at most Chinese buffets, there are plenty of egg rolls, soups and other appetizers, but there’s also a big selection of freshly made sushi (there were two sushi chefs working at lunch time when I was there last week), plus Chinese, Japanese, American and even Italian entrées, as well as a Mongolian-style grill, where you pics uncooked meat and/or frozen seafood, some veggies, lo mein or rice and a Super Buffet chef cooks it in front of

you with your choice of sauces.

On my one visit so far, I have to say that the red snapper sushi, the egg rolls, the chicken with broccoli and the bourbon chicken have been my favorite of only about maybe 8 or 10 of the nearly 200 items (from you-peel-’em shrimp to pepperoni pizza) available at the new Super Buffet, where lunch costs just $7.69 per person ($5.20 for children 9-11) and dinner is $13.99 ($8.60 for ages 9-11), but the dinner price also includes crab legs.

Super Buffet is located at 28444 Wesley Chapel Blvd. (S.R. 54). It is open every day for lunch (or brunch on weekends), 11 a.m.-3:30 p.m. and dinner (Sunday-Thursday, 4 p.m.-10 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on Friday-Saturday. Call 907-1168.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Win Two Tickets To See ‘Broadway Comes To Tampa!’

If you really want to give your regards to Broadway, you should be on hand when Saddlebrook Resort & Spa Tampa in Wesley Chapel hosts the New Tampa Players’ 11th annual “Broadway Comes to Tampa” Gala on Saturday, May 8, 6 p.m.!

“Broadway Comes To Tampa,” the single largest fund raiser for the Players, brings together the talents of some of the Great White Way’s brightest lights in a concert where each performer sings some solo tunes, as well as duets and other combinations of singers doing songs from “Phantom,” “Les Mis,” “Miss Saigon” and more.

It’s always an incredible dinner and show well worth the price of $175

per person. And this year, for just $25 per person more (or $399 per couple), Saddlebrook (call 973-1111) is offering a stay in a one-room suite AND tickets to the gala, so you can enjoy the show and stay in a world-class resort!

But, here’s an even better deal! To win a pair of tickets to this year’s ‘Broadway’ event, fill out the entry form below and return it by fax or U.S. Mail by Wednesday, April 14. You can also enter by e-mail by the same date, but please be sure to include all of the requested info on your e-mailed entry.

We will pick one lucky entry at random from all correctly filled out entries as well as at least five runner-up prizes — before our next issue. — GN

“Margarella”

Continued from page 3 Frank definitely always took to leadership roles throughout his life and he was well-suited for them. As his long-time friend and colleague, I know his heart was always in the right place and I believe his greatest strength as a leader was the way he always tried to help those who felt left out or slighted by any process to roll up their sleeves and get involved.

Speaking of his heart, both of Frank’s ex-wives, Jan Margarella and Diane, and his three children, Franco,

Carolina and Maria Elena, were at his bedside when he passed away March 13 at Largo Medical Center (he had moved to Redington Shores last year) after suffering a sudden acute illness.

He also is survived by his mother, his sister Joyce and two brothers.

“Neither of us was still married to him, but we both wanted to be there with his children at the end,” says Diane. “I think that says a lot about the kind of man Frank was.”

There is a lot more I could say about my fallen friend, but I think that about says it all.

Rest in peace, Frank.

Your Name ____________________________________________________________ Your Address (with zip code) _______________________________________________ Your Community (Lexington Oaks, Pebble Creek, etc.) ___________________________ Your Daytime Phone Number ___________________________________________ Your Valid E-Mail Address ______________________________________________

Mail, Fax or E-Mail your entry to:

Neighborhood News ‘Broadway’ Contest

15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Fax: 910-2483 • E-mail: NTNNedit@yahoo.com (Please provide ALL requested information on e-mailed entries!)

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

33

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NEED EXTRA MONEY…We can turn your unwanted, old or broken gold jewelry into CASH! Take advantage of high gold prices which may not last long. Don’t sell to the fly by night companies. Take it to Tampa Palms Hometown Jeweler. Jeweler on staff w/ 35 yrs. exp. Charles Jewelers, 972-4653 (next to Stein Mart on Bruce B. Downs).

T A I C H I L E S S O N S Tai Chi Classes open to the public at Club Tampa Palms. Benefits: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Focus. On going classes Tues. 2:303:30 pm, Wed. 8-9 pm. Cost-$10/class. Also personal instruction in Tai Chi, Kempo, Fitness training and more. With more then 28 years of teaching and training exp. Call Peter today to find out more #787-7560.

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LICENSED MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPIST. 9am -9pm, Mon, Tues & Wed. $50 for 1 hour! Types of massage available: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aroma Therapy, Hot Stone, Corporate Seated, Pregnancy, Sports & Injury Rehab. References available. www.barkdollmassagetherapy.com CALL. 727-372-6389 Lic # MA47546.

New Tampa Pet Sitting Service. Lots of love & care for your pets. Great experience & references.

Recommended by Angie’s List. Licensed, Insured & Red Cross Certified. Call Marina @ 416-5301.

Professional Pet Care.Exp’d. Pet sitter. We walk, play, feed & administer medicine, all in the comfort of your pet’s home. We also bring in mail, water plants & help maintain home security while you’re away. Bonded, insured & trained in Pet First-Aid & CPR. Call For The Love Of Pets at 545-8406 or 416-3126 or visit www.FortheLoveOfPetsOnline.com.

WINDOW CLEANING WINDOW WASHING most windows $6.00 incl. inside, outside & sills. “Make Your Whole House Shine” 10+ yrs. experience. Convenient appointments. A POINT OF VIEW WINDOW WASHING. Wesley Chapel. 813-973-1451.

SPRING CLEANING TIME AGAIN! Isn’t it time to get YOUR windows cleaned? VERY current references, serving New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. Call Scott @ (813)957-3043

TELEPHONE SERVICE TELEPHONE INSTALLATION & REPAIR • Commercial and Residential • Complete Systems. *****FREE ESTIMATES**** 813-333-9644

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 18, Issue 8 • April 10, 2010 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com