Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 29. Issue 10, May 11, 2021

WESLEY CHAPEL

NEWS

Volume 29 Issue 10 May 11, 2021

Raising The

Curtain At IPAC!

By John C. Cotey • John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Photos by Charmaine George

Lauren Murray, DMA (Doctor of Musical Arts), couldn’t keep the smile off her face, which was obvious by the twinkle in her eyes as she showed off the new Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC) Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) to the media.

Standing in the middle of the state-of-the-art, 444-seat theater that is the centerpiece of the 35,000-sq.-ft. project, the new executive director of the IPAC called it her dream job to help turn the IPAC, which is located in front of Cypress Creek High on Old Pasco Rd., into one of Wesley Chapel’s true jewels.

“It’s a beautiful addition to the community,” Dr. Murray says.

Murray (photo), who PHSC lured away from her position as the music chair at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, says she has two objectives — to provide a space for the community, local schools and art and performance organizations that need space to perform and have a hunger to learn, as well as to provide programs for PHSC students who are practical and viable.

No expense was spared on creating the IPAC to achieve those goals. Because the 5.85 acres to build on was donated by Pasco County Schools (PCS), PHSC provost Dr. Kevin O’Farrell said his school was able to “pour more money into what’s happening there instead of acquiring land and preparing it for building.”

See “IPAC” on pg. 4

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The Ever-Changing Face Of Our Neighborhood News Online Videos An editorial by Gary Nager date, been viewed by more than 32,000 people with a Facebook When I first started what reach of more than 53,000. We was then called WCNT-TV also have had thousands of views (Wesley Chapel New Tampa of a video about New Tampa’s Television) with a partner in new Fresh Kitchen and others.

2016, my intent was to create To that end, our plan is something of a hyperlocal TV news station that would one day to greatly expand our focus on dining and new business opening become a 24-hour “channel” videos for the rest of 2021. So, featuring news and informational content solely if you or someone you know has about New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.

A couple of years later, not only had I taken a new business or one opening over complete control of our online content from soon in either of our distribution areas, please email me at ads@ that former partner, we began focusing on short news and informational videos about the people, ntneighborhoodnews.com.

Thanks for watching! businesses and restaurants in our communities.

That same year, as I was re-branding our online video content as NeighborhoodNewsOnline. net, with the help of a former producer, I applied for — and was stunned to receive — one of only 86 grants worldwide (and one of only 23 in the U.S.) from Google to expand that video content, as part of the online giant’s attempt to combat the growing proliferation of “fake news” online.

I was told by Google that even though our Neighborhood News print editions were only about two tiny (but growing) communities, a big reason we received a grant was because we had been in the business of providing real news to and for the residents and businesses of these two small submarkets of the Tampa Bay area for 26 years.

And, that grant money from Google did help us expand our online presence from an average of one video release every two weeks to more than two releases each week of 2019.

Unfortunately, Google didn’t see fit to provide us with another grant for 2020 in order to keep that momentum going the following year, which then ended up also being the year that Covid-19 changed everybody’s business.

Thanks to a Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) loan, however, I was able to retain and continue paying all of our employees, including videographer/video producer Charmaine George, but with most people not venturing out of their (and working mainly from their) homes from March through much of the summer of 2020, it was harder for us to continue putting out the same amount of content and even harder to create and release content people wanted to watch, despite having so much less to do outside.

Even so, we were still able to put out nearly 2.5 video releases per week, with 74 total releases for 2020, which were viewed nearly 200,000 times, with a Facebook (search “Neighborhood News”) reach of more than 300,000, bringing our overall viewership to close to 2 million through our first five years.

Our ten most-viewed videos of 2020 (all of which were viewed more than 5,000 times each, reaching an average of 12,000+ people each on Facebook) were primarily about new business and restaurant openings, especially Aldi, the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County (which had three of our top-10), The Grove, Aussie Grill, Main Event and Pasta di Guy. Our pace for new video releases has slowed somewhat in 2021, and fewer of you have been watching them, although we also have been encouraged by the fact that our most-watched video ever was our exclusive sneak peek of the all-new Grove Theater (photo) in January, which has, to Neighborhood News

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INSIDE:

Total Wine & More is coming to the former Earth Fare location!

Page 8

Budget Blinds to open a mini-showroom at the KRATE container park.

Pages 20-21

Urban Grid Nutrition is one of the new eateries that recently opened in our area.

Page 34

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News

OUR NEW ADDRESS: 28949 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Rodney Page Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager 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 advertisement reservations for Volume 29, Issue 12, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, May 23, 2021.

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.

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IPAC: New Facility Expected To Elevate Fine Arts Education In Wesley Chapel Continued from page 1.

The theater will have the benefit of an orchestra pit, which allows for the best acoustics. It also features a high-tech counterweight rigging system — also known as a fly system — which should make anyone playing Peter Pan or any other high-flying character happy as the IPAC serves high school and college students from all over the county.

Murray says she hopes to lure touring companies to the IPAC to put on quality shows. At the groundbreaking in 2019, Pasco County deputy superintendent of schools Ray Gadd raved that it would be a “full-blown, professional theater.”

From the spacious lobby to the new classrooms for dance, music, drama and multimedia, the IPAC, a joint $18-million venture between PCS and PHSC, is brightened by large windows everywhere.

Covid delayed the opening, which was originally scheduled for fall 2020. Like many construction projects, the IPAC dealt with supply issues. The rigging system came from New York, the seats from Michigan and much of the sound equipment from California — three of the hardest-hit states during the pandemic.

However, PHSC will offer limited online classes this summer and, in the fall, will hopefully welcome students back to a full complement of classes.

PHSC will offer two programs at the IPAC. The first will be an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree, within which there will be four pathways — two in music (instrumental and vocal), one in dance and another in theater.

Second will be an Associate of Science (A.S.) degree, which will focus on multimedia and digital technology and include things like web and graphic design, as well as video editing and production. It includes one lab featuring Apple computers, and another with PCs. O’Farrell calls the new IPAC a missing link, or missing piece, for area students with an interest in fine arts.

“A lot of people will graduate high school and have to go away because there’s nothing here locally for them,” he says. “This will allow them to continue here locally and earn that A.A. degree in a fantastic, state-of-the-art facility.”

PHSC also has found the perfect person to lead the IPAC into its future, O’Farrell says. Murray is an accomplished oboist who has performed at New York City’s renowned Carnegie Hall. She holds a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Stetson University in DeLand, FL, a Master of Music degree from Yale University in New Haven, CT, , and her DMA from the University of North Texas in Denton. She also has taught at a number of universities, including at USF. This, however, may be her most exciting challenge yet.

“The opportunity to come into a brand new building that someone has built and create programming from the ground up is completely unheard of,” she says. “Friends of mine who I called and told about this were like, ‘What? You’re in a brand new place that they just built?’ No one could say no to this. It’s dream job, it really is.”

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New River Library On 54 Is Open For The Curious

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The New River Library isn’t officially open yet, thanks to a number of Covidrelated delays, but Wesley Chapel residents are encouraged to swing on by and check out the new digs.

The library was closed for renovations in October 2019, and until an actual Grand Opening is scheduled, the library is hosting an ongoing soft opening for those who want to see the progress.

On the day we visited, the books hadn’t arrived yet but the renovated library was mostly complete, its makeover adding a fresh new vibe to Wesley Chapel’s only full-size library.

The lobby is larger and more inviting. There is a meeting room, and the old men’s and women’s restrooms with stalls have been replaced by four new family bathrooms.

The inside of the library also is more spacious. The children’s area has been relocated to the front of the building, where it is double its former size, with three touchscreen computers. There are two soundproof study rooms, which can

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You can check out planting beds at the New River Library, or just enjoy the new, more spacious inside with rooms for younger children (above, right), teenagers and adults. (Photos: John C. Cotey) accommodate up to four people, and maintain whatever they like, from wildnew community garden that may attract flowers to fruits and vegetables. You can one larger study room for up to eight. those with a green thumb. While other A large mounted television is ideal for libraries in Pasco County offer woodwork- bring your own seeds, or take advantage ing, theater or art besides in addition to of New River’s “seed library.” presentations.

The teen room is stocked with a traditional books and studying, the new “We’re hoping the garden and console gaming area on one side, and community garden at New River has 28 outdoor study area gets people active,” Alienware computers on the other. planting beds, four water barrels and will says branch manager Danielle Lee. “After The scanning and printing area, as eventually have a butterfly garden and sen- Covid, people need something like that.” sory items for children who have autism. well as the book self-checkout area, also You’re welcome to stop by the New Patrons can check out a planting bed have been upgraded.

River Library at 34043 S.R. 54, or call just like they would a book, to grow and A new outdoor study area leads to a 813-788-6375 for more information.

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Business Notes: Total Wine & More...& Much More

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

When it comes to surveying our readers about what they would like to see next in Wesley Chapel or New Tampa, Trader Joe’s and Whole Foods always top the list, but Total Wine & More is always pretty close behind.

Well, Trader Joe’s is about to lose its toughest non-grocery competition for that most anticipated title, because Total Wine & More is on its way and opening pretty soon.

While no grand opening date has been revealed, construction is ongoing to convert the failed 24,000-sq.-ft. Earth Fare store on S.R. 56 to the area’s first Total Wine & More, or America’s Wine Superstore, as it dubs itself.

Started in 1991, Total Wine & More has more than 200 stores in 26 states, and a typical store carries more than 8,000 different wines, 2,500 beers and more than 3,000 different spirits.

It’s been more than three years since Dilip Kanji, who was building the Hyatt Place Hotel on the north side of S.R. 56, told local business leaders at a meeting that Total Wine & More was coming to Cypress Creek Town Center North.

This may not have been the exact original plan for the store, but locals will be happy that it is finally almost here.

CHICKEN AND MORE CHICKEN: While the Zaxby’s in front of Costco just south of S.R. 56 has finally gone vertical, another chicken joint is on the way right next door.

Chicken Salad Chick will soon be under construction in the parcel right next to Zaxby’s, according to county permitting records. A 2,665-sq.-ft. restaurant is planned.

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Sierra Center Blvd.

The long-awaited Ferman Harley Davidson also is finally ready to begin construction on it’s 37,000-sq.ft. dealership on the west side of Wesley Chapel Blvd. north of S.R. 56 and the Tapestry at Cypress Creek apartments. The new Harley dealership was approved last Nov. With a BMW Finally! Total Wine & More is coming to Wesley Chapel. dealership under While both restaurants serve chickconstruction on en and are concentrated primarily in S.R. 56 and ready to join other luxury the south, Zaxby’s focus is on chicken car dealerships like Audi, Lexus and wings, chicken tenders and chicken Mercedes-Benz already with locations sandwiches, most of which are fried. in Wesley Chapel, a Harley-Davidson Chicken Salad Chick specializes in dealership is another feather in the cap chicken salad served in varieties that in- for our area. Milwaukee-based Harleyclude chopped pecans, cranberries and Davidson is not only one of the world’s Fuji apples, to name a few. largest motorcycle manufacturers, its The menu has more than a dozen brand is absolutely iconic. different kinds of chicken salad served on bread, lettuce or atop a salad. PiAND, ON S.R. 54: On S.R. 54, just miento cheese, broccoli and grape salad and other salads also are available.

Chicken Salad Chick has nearly 200 locations in 17 states, mostly across the south, including a few in Tampa.

Stacy Brown, a stay-at-home mom in Auburn, AL, started the business by perfecting her recipes and dropping off samples door-to-door. Demand became so great, she and husband Kevin opened their first restaurant in 2008.

west of the entrance to Saddlebrook Resort, a BayCare Medical Group office has opened in a new plaza, called Clearwater Crossings. BayCare, of course, is building a new hospital expected to open on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just south of S.R. 54 in 2023.

Michelle Spencer, M.D., a family medicine doctor, is the first physician to be located at the new office, and she says she sees patients of all ages, from newborns on up.

A dental office and a restaurant (which Dr. Spencer says is rumored to possibly be a breakfast chain) also are scheduled to open in the plaza, which is nearing completion.

For more information about BayCare Medical Group (28864 S.R. 54), call (813) 998-2870 and tell Dr. Spencer and her staff that we sent you.

And, a little west of Clearwater Crossings in the Publix-anchored Hollybrook Plaza shopping center at the corner of BBD and S.R. 54, Banfield Pet Hospital is in the midst of a $680,000 renovation job, as it takes over the 5,500-sq.-ft. space previously occupied by Mattress1One.

ALSO COMING: Just a few doors down from the Total Wine & More, a Badcock & More Home Furniture store is currently under construction at 25665

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Wesley Chapel Thrill Seeker’s Passion Is Volunteering

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN For more than 30 years, Edwin Rodriguez has made the long commute to work in Clearwater every day from his home in Wesley Chapel.

But, for the past six years, he has been breaking up his Tuesday drive home with a stop at the Florida Aquarium in downtown Tampa.

There, he dons scuba gear and spends several hours cleaning the tanks.

Rodriguez has racked up more than 640 hours of volunteering in that role, and others, at the aquarium.

For example, he says it makes him jump out of bed with a smile when there’s a special occasion.

“My favorite is Halloween,” he says. “Every year, I dress up like SpiderMan underwater, and the kids go nuts.

Just imagine me crawling on the glass like a spider. The looks on the kids’ faces are just priceless.”

Edwin also volunteers to help clean Tampa Bay, especially after large events like the Gasparilla parade.

“We dive to clean the beads that end up in the water,” he says. “And not only beads. Last time we went, we got a couple of those scooters that people ride around town — all kinds of garbage that you wouldn’t even believe.”

Edwin started scuba diving in 1986 in his native Puerto Rico. He moved to Florida in 1988, and then discovered skydiving.

“At that point, I put my scuba gear away,” he says. When he suffered an injury not related to skydiving, Ruth, his wife of 21 years, told him it was time to find something different.

He agreed, on one condition. He needed to keep the adrenaline pump-

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Edwin Rodriguez loves volunteering at the Florida Aquarium, especially on Halloween when he gets to dress up (as Spiderman, top right)

ing, so they tried new adventures together. They started riding ATVs, and then jet skis.

“My wife said she’d like to try scuba diving,” explains Edwin, “and immediately, my passion for it came back.”

Wanting to spend more time underwater, he found out he could dive as a volunteer at the Florida Aquarium.

“Once I started, I began to understand the mission and vision of the aquarium,” he says. “When I started, my reason for volunteering was selfishly wanting to dive more, but now, I see the big picture. The aquarium’s work to restore the planet has deeply impacted me.”

“Every time I brush a coral (which you have to be properly trained to do), I realize I’m making an impact,” he says. “I’m making it more clean and

safe for the animals, and helping the aquarium to be able to bring more people in, plus everything they do to help the planet that people don’t see.”

The process to become an aquarium volunteer is rigorous, and not everyone who wants to help is chosen to do so. Edwin explains that he first filled out an application, then attended a seminar to understand expectations, and completed a required medical test.

He then had to pass a swim test.

He says that treading water for 10 minutes and demonstrating his scuba skills was no problem, but even after training, the now-55-year-old says it was difficult for him to swim the required number of meters in the time allotted. After that, he studied for and passed an online test, then started training, including learning

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how to properly dive in an aquarium.

He says it was all worth it, as he enjoys helping the aquarium, its animals and many visitors, including his sixyear-old grandson. “He’s everything to me,” Edwin says. “He loves to go to the aquarium and would go every day if we would let him.”

Edwin was recently recognized at the Florida Aquarium’s annual appreciation event with its annual Outstanding Service Award.

“I don’t see me stopping anytime soon,” he says. “I want to retire from work when I turn 60 and I will have time available, so I want to use more of that time at the aquarium. If I get to the point where I can’t scuba dive, there are plenty of other things to do at the aquarium.”

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WRH’s Kovacs Takes A Well-Rounded Approach To School

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Timothy Kovacs says he hasn’t begun preparing the speech he will give to the Class of 2021 at graduation, but the Wiregrass Ranch High valedictorian isn’t too worried. After all, he took a public speaking class as a requirement for his Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC) and passed his toughest test — singing the “Baby Shark” song while dancing in front of a class of 30 students.

He says it was terrible, and he lost coordination midway through the dance, but he is no longer leery of public speaking.

And he got an A, for effort.

“So, if I can do that,” he says, “I hope I can present a speech in front of my classmates.”

Getting As is no problem for Kovacs, so it would be a surprise if he didn’t nail his speech. The Bulls’ senior finished his high school career with a 4.71 weighted grade point average, and picked the University of Central Florida in Orlando over

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Tim Kovacs’ love of reading and writing — and hard work — led him to become the Wiregrass Ranch High Class of 2021 valedictorian. (Photo: Charmaine George)

the University of Florida in Gainesville and the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill for college.

It wasn’t easy, he says. He moved

to Wesley Chapel from Orlando, where he attended Hagerty High as a freshman. There, he was No. 14 in a school of 4,000 students, and when he got to the

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smaller Wiregrass Ranch, he started his sophomore year in the top 3. While he says it hadn’t crossed his mind before, it was at that point Kovacs decided to try to become his class valedictorian.

“I’ve always found competition among my classmates ever since I was in the third grade,” Kovacs says. “I always wanted to get the highest grade, and when I didn’t, I just studied harder.”

At Wiregrass Ranch, that entailed giving up every class (other than those that were graduation requirements) that wasn’t an honors or AP course.

Last semester, he took nine classes, most of those at PHSC, sprinting across the academic finish line. His toughest challenge was the havoc caused by Covid.

“It really mucked up my AP exams,” he says, especially in classes like AP Chemistry that aren’t best suited for online study. Reviewing for exams was more difficult, and chemistry was not one of his better subjects.

“When chemistry went virtual...that put me in a more precarious spot than I’ve been in,” he added.

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However, Kovacs, also a National Merit Scholarship Finalist, says it was just a matter of finding a way through the new challenges, and finding the positive in Covid’s disruptions by “turning lead into gold.”

Kovacs, who says his favorite class was AP computer science and whose hardest were chemistry and biology, is happy to be valedictorian, although he says it doesn’t make him any smarter than anyone else. In fact, he says there are plenty of students who easily could have become valedictorian, but they chose to pursue music, sports or technology and didn’t have as much time to put into school as he did.

Not that Kovacs is a one-dimensional bookworm. In fact, he’s something of a Renaissance man, who has dabbled in fencing, loves playing the guitar, is a devoted writer and published author who works for two magazines and has a deep interest in politics.

When he wants to relax, he plays his favorite songs from his childhood on his guitar — although he really wishes he had learned the piano as well — and had a story about the pandemic published in the literary magazine Unlimited Literature last summer.

Politics, though, is his passion.

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“I love to read about how countries interact with each other, and why the world is the way that is,” he says. “It’s always such an interesting field to see how the decisions of government officials affect us in daily life. And, the results of diplomacy are fascinating. It’s incredibly cool and I always have a blast learning about it.”

Now that the “Baby Shark” song has prepped Kovacs for his speech, he will tell his fellow classmates at graduation that after years of traveling the same road together, a million different paths now await them. It’s a brave new world, and it doesn’t matter where you are going as long as you are doing what you want to be doing.

Kovacs will be doing just that in college, where he will double major in computer science and political science at UCF. Where that leads him he doesn’t know. He has multiple dreams — becoming a politician, an author or a software engineer are all among them — and is eager to see where his road takes him.

“My goal right now is to go with the flow,” he says, “and make the most of whatever opportunities come my way.”

The Wiregrass Ranch High graduation ceremony is scheduled for Thursday, June 3, 7 p.m., at the school’s football stadium.

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Wesley Chapel High Valedictorian Making The Right Choices Olivia edged out her friend Michelle Joo, the saluBy JOHN C. COTEY tatorian who will attend Yale University in New Haven, john@ntneighborhoodnews.com CT. To Trish’s point, Olivia and Michelle were friends

Olivia March has always been able to successfully balance work, friends, sports and academics, so the fact that she is the Wesley Chapel High Class of 2021 valedictorian isn’t a big surprise.

But Olivia’s greatest skill, other than managing her time, might be surrounding herself with the right friends, according to her mom Trish.

While she may not have been thinking about her daughter being her school’s valedictorian, it was in middle school that Trish says that she realized Olivia would definitely be near the top of her class.

“The kids she hung around with were always taking the toughest classes,” Trish says. “We knew that they were the kids who were going to succeed in high school.”

She was right. Olivia took the toughest classes, but still compiled a 4.71 weighted grade point average while at Wesley Chapel, tops in her class, and also earned an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree from Pasco Hernando State College.

Next year, she will follow in her father Ron’s footsteps when she attends the University of Florida in Gainesville, choosing to be a Gator over schools like the University of Tennessee at Knoxville, Clemson University in Clemson, SC, and Florida State University in Tallahassee. “I always knew I kind of wanted to go there,” she says of U-F.

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and study partners at Wesley Chapel. They were sitting together at lunch when it was announced that Olivia was the valedictorian.

“They came out with cake and flowers,” Olivia says.

“It was exciting. We weren’t really thinking about it, so it was a surprise. We’ve had classes together since freshman year and have been friends throughout high school, and it was a healthy competition. I think we were both happy for each other.”

It was during a field trip in the seventh grade at Weightman Middle School that Trish says she was struck by her daughter’s ability to surround herself with the right friends. She now holds that ability, an under-appreciated quality, in the highest regard.

“Olivia was a Montessori kid, and we were a little nervous about bringing her into the traditional school setting,” Trish says. “It was funny, on that field trip, I just thought ‘she is good at choosing friends.’ I saw all the kids she had to pick from, and who she chose, and I thought, ‘O.K., those are good choices.’ I had never thought about that before that day.”

Olivia found out she was in the mix for valedictorian prior to her junior year, which would end up being disrupted by Covid.

When she knew she had a chance to be No. 1 in her class, it was the first time she started thinking about

Olivia March is headed to the University of Florida in Gainesville after earning Class of 2021 valedictorian honors at Wesley Chapel High.

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it. But, since she had already registered for four dual enrollment classes — which helped boost her GPA — before finding out she was in the top 4, there wasn’t much she could change when it came to her course load.

“So, I just kept doing what I was doing,” she says. “I just followed the steps I was already planning to follow.”

However, Covid threw a wrench in those steps. Taking classes online, especially math, required a lot more time and were more difficult to schedule. Because she also works as a lifeguard at the Epperson Ranch lagoon, her time management skills were put to the test.

She had honed those skills her first three years at Wesley Chapel while competing in athletics, which only seemed normal in a family where mom (a court reporter) trains at Crossfit and dad (a Pasco County Sheriff’s Office deputy) is one of the better local tennis players in the area.

While she was challenging herself academically, Olivia competed for the Wildcats in volleyball, track, cross country, weightlifting and tennis. She was named as one of Wesley Chapel’s Athletes of the Year her freshman and sophomore years.

Olivia is looking forward to her speech to her classmates at graduation. So is Trish, who expects to burst with pride,

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and Ron, who Trish is predicting will shed a few tears.

While Olivia hasn’t written it yet, she say the speech will focus on what the future holds for the 2021 graduates.

For Olivia, that is enrolling at Florida and finding her way to a career. She isn’t sure what she wants to do just yet — nothing science or medical related, however — but will minor in business, because she thinks it’s good to have.

“Other than that,” she says, “I’m wide open, and looking forward to it.”

The Wesley Chapel High graduation is scheduled for Friday, June 4, 7 p.m. at the school’s football stadium.

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Everything Cypress Creek’s Lacey Touches Turns To Gold! included her favorite classes (history

By RODNEY PAGE which and psychology) and her not so favorite class-

Ashleigh Lacey had a lofty goal when she entered Cypress Creek High as part of its first freshman class — she didn’t want to get anything lower than an “A’’ in any class she took. Ever.

It wasn’t that far-fetched of an idea. The only “B’’ she had ever received was in third grade at Denham Oaks Elementary. The subject was reading, which is actually something she loves to do. Like any good student, she analyzed why she didn’t get an A and made sure she never made that mistake again.

“Back then, I thought you could only get As if you were a nice person,’’ Ashleigh says. “I just thought I needed to be nicer.

But, that isn’t how it works.’’

It helps to be nice, and Ashleigh certainly is. But, the hard work is the most important thing.

After four years of budgeting her time between classes, extracurricular activities and a part-time job, Ashleigh has accomplished her goal.

She will finish her high school career with a weighted grade point average of 4.6.

She earned only As in every class she took,

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es (anything to do with math).

On June 2, Ashleigh will graduate as Cypress Creek’s valedictorian. She will be the first valedictorian to attend all four years at the school, which opened in 2017.

“I guess I’m in the school history books,’’ Ashleigh (photo) says.

She already has taken enough college-level classes to earn her Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree, which means she will enter college needing only two years to graduate with a Bachelor’s degree. She will attend the University of South Florida in Tampa on an academic scholarship.

“I’m kind of a perfectionist, so when I entered high school I told myself that I want to get all As,’’ Ashleigh says. “I didn’t even know what a valedictorian was.’’

It was certainly not an easy path to graduation for any student over the past year and a half. Covid-19 restrictions reduced half of the 2020 school year to on-line learning only. Students were given a choice of on-line or in-person learning this school year. Ashleigh did both.

What’s also impressive is that Ashleigh

didn’t just spend her high school days in classrooms and libraries or behind a computer screen. She has been part of the school’s art club for three years. And, she is an important member of the Coyotes’ track team.

She won the District long jump championship last month and advanced to the Regional meet. She also competes in the 100-meter

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and 300-meter hurdles and is part of the school’s 4x100m relay team.

In short, she is one of those student athletes who excels at whatever she decides to try.

“I would say that’s right,’’ her father Robert says. “You could see signs of it as a child, just in the way she organized and lined up certain toys in a perfect row. She always did very well in school. She’s just always done well in everything she’s done. She’s competed in speech contests and done well. She played the flute for a while and became an All-County flute player. She’s a very talented artist. She excels at anything she picks up.’’

The next step is college. Ashleigh’s goal is to attend medical school at USF and eventually become a psychiatrist. Early on, she thought maybe she might like to be a lawyer, but after taking advanced classes in biology and psychology, she decided to change her goals.

“I would read books on those subjects just for fun,’’ she says. “Sometimes I’m kind of a nerd.’’

Just because she is off to college doesn’t Ashleigh’s goals will change. She still doesn’t want to get a B. And, she says she would like

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Ashleigh Lacey (in front) competed in track for Cypress Creek, winning a district championship in the long jump this season. She plans to try to walk onto the track team at USF.

the chance to walk on to USF’s track team.

She won’t be far away from the Wesley Chapel home where she grew up. She’ll be able to visit her younger brother Luke and parents, Robert and mom Michelle, often.

As expected, Ashleigh credits her parents as having been a key to her success.

“They’ve been very encouraging,’’ Ashleigh says. “They’ve never pressured me.

They put a lot of trust in me.’’

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Well-earned trust.

“We’re lucky that she’s been so driven,’’ Robert says. “We haven’t had to push her.

She’s taken care of her academics. She’s really taken control of her life. She’s made our jobs as parents a lot easier.’’

The Cypress Creek High graduation is scheduled for Wednesday, June 2, 7 p.m. at the school’s football stadium.

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19

Budget Blinds Expanding To The KRATE Park At The Grove exits south of Wesley Chapel’s S.R. 56 exit) and in Riverview, covers nearly 90 zip codes. john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The brisk business has not only led to having to hire more employees (they now There’s something about staring longhave 30), but Budget Blinds has outgrown ingly out your window while tucked safely its Riverview showroom, which is being away inside during a pandemic that makes expanded. The showrooms are still closed to you notice that your drapes are looking a walk-in traffic, as Budget Blinds continues to little dingy, or your shutters feel a little outtake Covid precautions and a no-contact apdated, or the light coming in is really harsher proach, with design consultants still wearing than you originally thought. gloves, masks and booties when visiting their That might explain why the phones at customers’ homes. the Budget Blinds office of Wesley Chapel’s And, this summer, the Wonderlins will Mike and Adriane Wonderlin rarely stopped expand to Wesley Chapel. ringing this past year.

Budget Blinds was one of the first “To be honest, business has never businesses to sign a lease for a spot in the been better,” says Adriane. “People are in upcoming KRATE container park at The their homes, looking out their windows and getting sick of looking at the same thing all Wesley Chapel residents Adriane and Mike Grove. After a number of delays, they hope the time.”

Wonderlin own one of the top Budget Blinds to be open sometime in June or July.

The container set-up will feature living But, that’s not the only reason, Adriane franchises in the country. spaces that show off the offerings at Budget adds. New homes are flying off the shelves, expand. After working for Budget Blinds for Blinds (something similar to IKEA’s set-ups). too, and many new owners are eager to put nearly 10 years, the Lexington Oaks residents There will be samples on hand and design their own touch on their new residences. are now the owners of the Budget Blinds consultants to assist in making your choices.

“There’s a lot of new construction franchises in Greater Tampa, Brandon and “It will be like a mini-showroom,” going on, and they don’t want the builder’s Adriane says. blinds,” Adriane says. “They want something Lakeland. Adriane says their territory, which stretches all the way north to San Antonio The new showroom also will utilize telethey had a choice in (to make) their homes and south to Palmetto and includes showvision monitors and iPads to help bring your more beautiful.”

The growth has led Adriane and Mike to rooms on W. Fletcher Ave. (near I-275, two ideas into focus. It’s part of a move to a more

By JOHN C. COTEY

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digital approach, the Wonderlins say.

And, speaking of digital approaches, their Budget Blinds franchise also is beefing up its social media standing with a renewed focus on Instagram — @budgetblindsgreatertampa — where it is polling customers to determine what they like and teaming up with online influencers to bring the possibilities offered by Budget Blinds to life.

There is a variety of styles to choose from no matter what you are looking for — from best-selling brands like Signature Series, Enlightened Styles and Norman Shutters.

Blinds come in vinyl, wood, fabric, faux wood and aluminum. Shutter options range from real wood (in painted or stained) and also composite shutters that will not fade or warp.

If you prefer shades, you can choose from roller, pleated, Roman, cellular, woven wood, bamboo, sheer, solar and graphic, not to mention a variety of panels, valances and drapes.

Adriane says the most popular choices are plantation shutters, which is a huge part of Budget Blinds’ business, and treatments like Roman and roller shades remain a top seller. Adriane says after years of more simple and hard-lined window treatments, soft treat-

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ments also are growing again in popularity.

Features that continue to grow in popularity are motorization and automation.

Budget Blinds has a private label called Smart Home Collection by Budget Blinds, and it can be used with a variety of vendors.

“If you found a certain fabric with one vendor, but for another room you want a different vendor, that system will work with both,” Mike says. “It’s a single platform that goes across multiple brands.”

Motorization is more pushing a button on a remote control or keypad, while automation is typically using an app on a phone to set times for the drapes or blinds to open and close. Scheduled correctly, you can be awakened in the morning by natural sunlight as your blackout shades gradually rise, or change the ambiance of your whole home after the sun has set, all with the press of a button or a voice command.

Both eliminate the need for unsightly (and sometimes dangerous) cords.

“It’s great for windows behind couches, especially if you have a conservation view,” Mike says. “People love not having to go (manually) raise the blinds on eight windows every morning. I even had a customer a few months ago (whose) teenage sons wouldn’t wake up, so they set the timers on their blinds for 7 a.m.”

The technology gets better every year,

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Mike says, and sales of motorization/automation products are up 25 percent over the past three years.

About The Company

Budget Blinds was founded in 1992 in Orange County, CA, and has more than 1,000 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. The Wonderlins’ franchise, which they purchased in 2018, was recently awarded Budget Blinds’ national Franchise of the Year for 2020, the franchise’s third such honor since 2016.

The Wonderlins have a staff of 30 consultants, including installation manager Bill Tumelty, a U.S. Army veteran, and administrative manager Kristi Cicollelo.

Tumelty is one of a few military veterans working for the Wonderlins, who partner with Homes For Our Troops by providing and installing the window treatments in the homes of wounded veterans for free.

Softer window treatments (left) are coming back in style, while automated shutters (above) are some of Budget Blinds’ best sellers.

Whether you’re looking for improved aesthetics or smarter energy consumption — or, like many customers, a little bit of both — Budget Blinds can steer you in the right direction. And this summer, your journey to more elegant and convenient window treatments can start right in the new local mini-showroom at KRATE. “We’re excited about it,” Adriane says.

“Anything you put in Wesley Chapel right

now takes off. And, we’re local — it’s literally right in our backyard.”

The main Budget Blinds of Greater Tampa showroom is located at 1208 W. Fletcher Ave. The showroom hours are Mon.-Fri., 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

To schedule a complimentary in-home consultation, call (813) 968-5050. For more info, visit BudgetBlinds.com/ NorthTampa or see the ad on page 24.

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21

Spinner Law Is Wesley Chapel’s Powerhouse Neighborhood Firm

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN As Spinner Law Firm approaches nearly two decades of serving the community, it continues to make its mark helping people.

Charles Spinner, Esq., originally established his firm in New Tampa in 2003. Its main office is now located in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56, just east of I-75.

The practice is led by Spinner, together with attorneys Anissa Morris, who joined the firm in 2011, and Patrick Barnes, who joined in 2020.

Spinner says that when it comes to personal injury, insurance disputes, and estate law, locals have access to a highly accredited, experienced and aggressive law firm, without having to leave Wesley Chapel. In fact, all of the attorneys and the 10-person staff live in or near the immediate area.

“Our (personal injury) caseload covers everything from relatively minor car accidents to complex cases resulting in catastrophic injuries and death,” he says.

Before opening his private practice, Spinner worked for several years as a civil trial and insurance defense attorney. Prior to that, he graduated from the University of Dayton in Ohio, and then received his Juris Doctor

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Attorney Charles Spinner has been leading Spinner Law Firm for nearly two decades, helping those in the community who have been injured because of someone else’s carelessness.

(J.D.) degree from the University of Toledo College of Law, in Toledo, OH, in 1996.

Spinner is peer-rated “AV Preeminent”

by Martindale-Hubbell for personal injury law, which is the highest possible rating for professional excellence, legal ability and ad-

herence to professional standards of ethics.

And, unlike at larger firms, which may assign your case to an inexperienced attorney or case manager, all of the attorneys at Spinner Law Firm have practiced for many years, and also collaborate together.

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“We have three highly experienced attorneys, and we work as a team, so each client gets the benefit of our collective experience,” Spinner says.

He adds that there’s a big push on television ads right now where law firms emphasize how huge they are.

“The biggest measure of our success is not size,” he says, “but the way that we care for our clients and their families, and the results that we achieve.”

That often means walking with clients every step of the way through a devastating motor vehicle accident or the loss of a loved one. “It means being there for our clients all the way through, with a level of caring and service you’re not likely to receive from a larger law firm,” where, he adds, you’re more likely to deal with young and inexperienced lawyers and case managers.

“We take it personally when a member of our community is injured in a crash because of someone’s carelessness on our roads,” says Spinner. “This is not only where we work, but also where we live and raise our children. We fully appreciate how dangerous these roads can be. They’re the same roads we travel to go out to dinner, to the doctor and to take our kids to school.”

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Community-Minded

He also says that being “small but impactful” extends from helping clients to helping the people in and around Wesley Chapel with community service, too. “What makes us so unique is that we schedule time to get out into our community,” Spinner says.

The firm’s attorneys and staff members volunteer hundreds of hours every year in the community. Marketing director Jennie Yingling says they provide dinner each month for local fire stations, support local high school athletics, youth sports leagues and charitable organizations, provide snacks for the staffs at local high schools, volunteer with the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club and Habitat for Humanity, and more.

In fact, you may see Yingling driving around Wesley Chapel in the firm’s new “community outreach vehicle,” a Ford F-150 pickup truck with a lift kit that is expected to be used to lead graduation parades this year, something that Spinner himself participated in last year and he is planning to do again this year.

“We’re putting plans in place to have large participation with a graduation parade and excited to show off the truck,” says Spinner. “It’s an attention-grabber, and we get lots of positive feedback on it. Jennie is always driving around the area, reaching out to our fire fighters, Sheriff’s Office, schools and sports organizations.”

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Spinner and his team — including fellow attorneys Patrick Barnes (front row, 2nd from the left) and Anissa Morris (front row, third from the left) — all live in the local community, and give back to it with hundreds of volunteer hours each year.

Also, because courts across the country Impacts of Covid-19 Spinner says that the Covid-19 pandemic were shut down for so long, he says, “there is a huge backlog of cases that has piled up, has changed the way all firms practice law, especially in the use of video conferencing for which has dramatically slowed the pace of litigation.” everything from client meetings to deposiHe admits that this is a source of frustrations and mediations and the use of electronic tion for clients, but Spinner and his staff are document processing software.

committed to being patient and persistent, knowing that it’s a system-wide problem that will eventually be resolved. He says his firm also is committed to constant communication with the client to ensure they know exactly what’s happening with their cases and how they will move forward.

Despite those delays, some clients say they’re thrilled with how quickly Spinner Law Firm was able to help them resolve their cases.

Eric Young was hit head-on last March, in an accident that required him to have back surgery.

“Charlie got me the maximum amount anyone could have gotten, in the quickest amount of time I could have imagined,” says Young. “From the time of the accident and surgery to receiving funding was less than a year, and this was during the pandemic.”

He says the firm’s communication with him was great and the staff would even call to check on his well-being.

“It’s like a big city attorney (who is) no-holds-barred and takes care of business,” says Eric, “but also a small town feel where you walk in and everyone knows you and cares about you.”

Spinner Law Firm offers a comprehensive consultation for all legal matters at no charge. The firm is located at 2418 Cypress Glen Dr. For more information, call (813) 991-5099, see the ad on pg. 26 or visit SpinnerLawFirm.com.

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23

Honesty & Integrity Make Leiva’s Jewelry Sparkle Even Brighter

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

There are a number of jewelry stores where Pebble Creek resident Larry Savage can bring in a watch to be repaired, or to buy a nice bracelet or ring for his girlfriend.

However, he says, there really is only one place he trusts for those things — Leiva’s Jewelry.

Located a few doors down from the Publix supermarket in the New Tampa Center plaza at the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and New Tampa Blvd., Jonathan Leiva and his father Transito have run Leiva’s Jewelry since 2012, and have developed a large base of loyal customers who enjoy the Leivas’ friendly and honest approach.

“I’ve always been a champion of him and his business,” says Savage, who refers to Jonathan as Johnny. “Ever since I started going there, I feel like I am talked to in a straight manner and with honesty.

That’s a big deal to me.”

Transito, who goes mostly by just “Leiva,” has been a master jeweler for more than 40 years, often bringing Jonathan

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Jonathan (left) and Transito Leiva have made honesty and quality workmanship the cornerstones of Leiva’s Jewelry since it opened in the New Tampa Center plaza in 2012. (Photos: Charmaine George)

along to work and showing him the ropes.

“That’s when I fell in love with the business,” Jonathan says.

At Leiva’s Jewelry, a wide selection of jewelry is offered, as well as a number of services for those who already own pieces, like repairing expensive watches or custom designs of family heirlooms.

Custom jewelry is a big part of

Leiva’s Jewelry’s business. Jonathan and Transito can help design something for you or, if you have a design in mind, they can make it a reality. They use computer-aided design (CAD) to help create 2D or 3D models that allows customers to view their custom jewelry designs before they are created.

“If you have an idea to design some-

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thing, we can do it,” Jonathan says.

Because jewelry, especially heirloom pieces, have such sentimental value, some customers like to have them converted into something more current or meaningful that they can actually wear. A gemstone in an outdated piece of jewelry also can be re-featured in a newer, more modern-looking ring, or converted into a pendant to be worn around the neck, as an example.

Even old engagement and wedding rings can be transformed into shiny new pieces, altered and refurbished for a new look or simply resized.

“Jewelry is usually very sentimental, so whether you’re getting it repaired or making something different from it, it’s important it’s done right,” Jonathan says.

“Everyone has that special necklace or special ring.”

Don’t Forget Those You Love!

Although it’s likely that Mother’s Day will have passed by the time this issue reaches you, the Leivas says there’s never a bad time to pick up something special for those looking for a gift for their wife or mom or any other special someone.

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SPOTLIGHT ON: Radiance Orthodontics!

Transito Leiva (top left) is just as comfortable repairing your jewelry and watches as he is creating beautiful custom jewelry for every occasion.

And, while most jewelry stores seem to have only one price range — expensive!

— Leiva’s Jewelry offers both pricey and more affordable options, and everything in between.

Jonathan showed some of his favorite pieces as Mother’s Day suggestions, including those pictured on this page. Each piece above is set in 14-karat gold.

The Leivas just about do it all. They can check the stones on any ring to make sure they are still secure, adjust a watch, clean jewelry and they will even buy any gold and silver you might be looking to get rid of, offering cash.

Being family-owned and a small business, Leiva’s Jewelry thrives on trust.

Not only do customers want honest prices and recommendations, but when they are dropping off thousands of dollars worth of items to be repaired or something special and irreplaceable, they want peace of mind. It’s not a responsibility Jonathan takes lightly.

He says the ability to deliver on that trust is why his customer base continues to grow and Leiva’s customers keep coming back. Sometimes, something as simple as changing a battery in a watch for half the price of other places can be enough to earn a customer for life. Watch repairs — new batteries, replacing links, etc. — are a big Neighborhood News

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part of what the Leivas do and are often the gateway to new lifelong customers.

“We have a pretty loyal following,” Jonathan says. “We have people who have been coming here for a while. Sometimes, they just stop by to say hi.”

Savage is one of those regulars. He has a horror story for practically every watch repair he has taken elsewhere, including one time when he says his 1966 Rolex GMT was mined for parts by a jeweler who was supposed to be doing a repair, and another time he got the runaround on repairing the bracelet on a different watch that was still under warranty.

Since discovering Leiva’s Jewelry, Savage says he has left those annoyances behind. Not only does he get his watches repaired there, but it is now where he makes all of his jewelry purchases.

“The repairs I have done there are always done quickly and with excellent quality,” Savage says. “It’s the honesty and integrity that I care most about. When I walk in, I know I’m going to be dealt with in a respectful manner. I’m tired of the way the bigger chains do things.”

Leiva’s Jewelry is located at 19020 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in the New Tampa Center plaza. You can reach them by calling (813) 972-0417 or online at LeivasJewelry.com.

As Radiance Orthodontics celebrates its fifth anniversary in New Tampa, Dr. Sam Jureyda is grateful for the many opportunities he’s had to help kids, teens and adults get straight, healthy teeth and beautiful smiles.

For the past 25 years, Dr. J (as his patients call him; photo) has dedicated his life to the specialty of orthodontics, including teaching graduate-level students at the University of Buffalo, before moving into his own private practice and opening Radiance Orthodontics in 2016.

Here are five reasons to consider scheduling a completely free, no-obligation consultation with Radiance Orthodontics: 1. Get a professional opinion from a trusted doctor.

Take advantage of Dr. Jureyda’s expertise with an evaluation from an experienced specialist who can help you understand your many options.

Want to know what your neighbors think of Dr. J? He invites you to review the more than 120 Google reviews available online, and see that each one is five stars.

2. Appointments and payments are at your convenience.

After school, evening and some Saturday appointments are available, and Radiance Orthodontics works with patients to determine orthodontic benefits through dental insurance and provide affordable payment options.

3. Rest assured you’ll be treated with respect and honesty.

“My reputation relies solely on how I treat each and every patient,” says Dr. Jureyda. “I take that very seriously.”

While Dr. Jureyda prefers to take a proactive approach to treatment, rather than to wait until all teeth come in to deal with problems, it’s because early intervention is typically simpler and smaller than a full treatment later. Dr. J won’t recommend treatment that’s not necessary.

4. Support a local small business that supports the community.

Radiance Orthodontics is a business partner or contributor at most of New Tampa’s public schools.

“It is my honor and privilege to support the students and educators in New Tampa,” says Dr. J. “The children in our community are its future, and I am grateful to have the opportunity to be in partnership with the schools that are educating them.”

5. You’ve got nothing to lose!

Consultations are completely free and no-obligation. Whether it’s to fix a problem, obtain a second opinion or simply satisfy your curiosity, Radiance Orthodontics welcomes you to schedule a free consultation.

For more information about Radiance Orthodontics, located at 17427 Bridge Hill Ct., Suite A, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, please visit www.MyRadianceBraces.com, call or text (813) 972-1100 or see the ad on pg.

7 of this issue. You also can search for Radiance Orthodontics on Facebook or Instagram for photos, giveaways, reviews, and more.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

25

Rotary Golf Open A Record-Breaker!

Congratulations go out to the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel, which meets every Wednesday for lunch at Omari’s Grill at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club (GC), for hosting a recordbreaking first-ever Charity Golf Open on Apr. 30. The golf tourney attracted nearly 130 golfers to the recently revamped Lexington Oaks GC course.

Although no final figures were available at our press time, current president Jodie Sullivan said it probably raised more than any of the club’s previous fund raisers and benefited the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Charities, as well as the club’s community projects.

It was a hot day, but the golfers complimented the course, the Lexington Oaks staff (including owner/WC Rotary member Anass El-Omari), the Rotarians and the camaraderie — even though no one won the car donated by Parks Ford or the Sandals vacation by sinking a hole-in-one.

Lunch was served prior to the shotgun start and an awards dinner reception — which also included a cool silent auction of sports memorabilia — was held immediately after in Omari’s Grill.

“This was a great event for the club, the community and the charities,” event chair Justine Esposito said.

For more information about the club, visit WCRotary.com. — GN

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New Satellite Rotary Club

Inducts 12 Charter Members!

The first Rotary Club chartered for New Tampa or Wesley Chapel — the Rotary Club of New Tampa (RCNT), which has met on Friday mornings at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club for 25 years, now has a satellite club.

On April 7, twelve Charter (11 new and one returning) members of the Rotary Satellite Club of New Tampa After Hours were introduced by Rotary District 6890 Governor Mark Skolnick and After Hours chair Bob Thompson and inducted by RCNT president Walter Oles at Florida Ave. Brewing Co. on S.R. 56 (photo).

Although the club is a Satellite Club of the RCNT, Thompson, After Hours Sergeant-at-Arms Cam Caudle and membership chair Jason Contino say that the new club will meet in person only once each month (at least for now) on the first Wednesday of each month at locations throughout New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. “We’re also having Zoom meetings on the third Wednesday of each month,” Thompson said, “and we’ve begun

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working on service projects right away.”

The new satellite club’s first service project was a recent painting event at the Friends of the Joshua House Foundation, Inc. (FJHF), painting and prepping the residences of the abused and neglected children who live there for an upcoming Grand Re-Opening event.

The painting party was part of the After Hours Club’s promise to its Apr. 7 guest speaker, DeDe Grundel — the executive director of the FJHF — when Thompson announced that the Joshua House will be the first charity of focus for the new Satellite club.

Contino says, “The Satellite club appeals to those who find Rotary attractive but couldn’t/ didn’t want to meet at 7 a.m. (or noon).”

The After Hours Club’s next meeting — which is open to prospective members and guests — was held on May 5 at Double Branch Artisanal Ales in The Grove, but the June meeting locale had not yet been announced at our press time. — GN

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27

Family Bonds Drive Growth At Family Of Christ

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

When Covid-19 first hit in March of 2020, the mad scramble was on at area schools. Administrators and teachers were harried as they looked for solutions and the Hillsborough County School Board struggled to fund solutions.

That’s when New Tampa’s Sarah Combs decided the indecision was unhealthy for her soon-to-be 3rd grader, and started exploring her options.

Right before school was set to begin this past fall, she discovered Family of Christ (FoC) Christian School, located off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Tampa Palms. It was during a visit that she says she found the school environment to be warm and welcoming, not cold and confused. She liked the idea of instilling the value of the Bible and saying the pledge of allegiance, “all the things that are missing in schools today.”

Combs says it was an easy decision.

“I think it’s the best-kept secret in New Tampa,” she says.

Combs shares the same view as many of the parents at Family of Christ, which has a monument sign showing its entrance on BBD, just south of Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 20.

“It really is a family here,” said Catherine Walton, the school’s operations director and business manager.

“We’ve had almost all of the same teachers for 17 years, and they are happy. The students are happy. I think we do a really good job here.”

The roots of the Family of Christ (FoC) Christian School were planted in 1999, when Family of Christ Lutheran Church started a popular Pre-K and kindergarten class, which would later become the church’s Child Development Center (CDC). Proceeding gradually by adding one class per year, Family of Christ grew into New Tampa’s only K-8 Christian school, offering core academic subjects like math, science and language, as well as art, music and technology courses as well.

Principal Jennifer Snow says the school isn’t overly focused on test scores, like most public schools are, but in challenging students in a wide range of subjects.

It is more important, says Snow, to nurture students, to have parents involved in the education of their kids 28

Family of Christ Christian School in Tampa Palms continues to grow, and will add four more classrooms next fall and a gymnasium after that. (Photo: John C. Cotey) have stayed through middle school — but and provide an environment that is continues to have to turn many families conducive to learning. away due to a lack of space.

FoC parent Joyce Hapscher says she, “just had a feeling when we walked But, FoC is addressing its growth. in the place that we were meant to be By the start of the new school year, here” when she visited the school for the first time.

She says the curriculum has been challenging for her 4th and 6th grade daughters. Hapscher notes that she did check out other middle schools when her daughter was old enough.

“We toured some middle schools to do a comparison and, in the end, saw that the things our daughters had been learning were more advanced than what they would get at a different school,” Hapscher says. “We decided to stay put.”

FoC is fully accredited by the National Lutheran Schools Association (NLSA) and by the district of the Lutheran Church — Missouri Synod. The school was recently accredited, a process it undertakes every five years.

The school also complies with and, according to its website, “exceeds the Florida Sunshine State Standards as well as the Hillsborough County Benchmarks for each grade level.” All teachers hold and maintain a Professional Educator’s Certificate.

It’s important to note that despite its Lutheran Christian roots, students of all religious denominations are welcome at FoC. Snow, who became principal in 2005, says the school now has 175 students — many of whom started out in pre-K and

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

there will be four new learning modules added behind the school, making room for 100 more students, primarily fifth and sixth graders, as the school tries to create more classroom space in the post-Covid world.

“We don’t want to have to turn anyone away,” says Walton, who adds that half the money has already been raised for the new modules.

Walton also says the school will soon begin a fund-raising campaign to build a gymnasium in the next few years, which will serve as home for FoC’s athletic teams, provide space for recitals and other performances and host the school’s annual “Night of Knights” fund raiser. Right now, FoC has to rent space for its athletic teams from the nearby New Tampa Family YMCA for its basketball and volleyball teams, which was difficult during Covid, due to the Y’s limited access.

After the gymnasium, there are plans to add 11 more classrooms and, well down the road, there are even visions of eventually building a high school on the campus, which currently

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Safety measures like the shields above have helped Family of Christ navigate the Covid-19 pandemic seamlessly, says principal Jennifer Snow. (Photo: John C. Cotey) is shared by the CDC, the school and the church.

“I always said no to the idea of a high school,” Snow says, “but after seeing what Covid did and seeing the number of families that would like so much more, deep down in my heart there’s a possibility. It’s a long-range goal. This is the place it can happen.”

While Covid hurt the CDC, dropping its enrollment from more than 100 to around a dozen students, the school retained all of its students and teachers.

Snow and another teacher drew up an emergency guide, and the principal says everyone simply followed the rules.

The school purchased plastic shields to put between desks, but paid a little more so they would be “framed.” Now, when the younger students look at each other from their desks, it’s like looking through a window and doesn’t scream “germ protection” like plain floppy plastic sheets.

The school also invested in air scrubbers for its AC system.

While Covid may hopefully be getting behind us, Walton says the school will continue with its Covid regimen until an all-clear is issued by the experts.

Not only has FoC returned 99 percent of the teachers and students it had before Covid, it also held its annual Night of Knights fund raiser virtually, and raised more than $100,000.

That is a testament, Snow says, to the strength of the families and the community at her school.

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“Everybody was buying in,” she says. “I think the parents see what we do for the kids, the nurturing and making them our No. 1 priority. In return, they have been supportive, kind and loyal. We love our families.”

Dealing With Growth

With the school year winding down, FoC is preparing for its popular summer camps. Last year, Covid led to extremely restrictive camps, but Walton hopes they are able to return closer to normal this summer.

There are three summer camps offered — one for students entering 1st and 2nd grade, another for students entering 3rd, 4th and 5th grades, and a camp for students entering 6th, 7th and 8th grade.

They all begin Monday, June 7, and run five days a week from 7 a.m.-6 p.m. for eight weeks through July 30 (at a cost of $195 a week), and feature cooking and movie days and field trips to places like Urban Air Adventures, Main Event and Lettuce Lake Park.

There also is a Vacation Bible School June 21-June 2, from 9 a.m.noon each day.

You can learn more about the camps and Family of Christ Christian School by calling (813) 5589343 to register or to arrange a tour of the school and its campus, located at 16190 BBD Blvd. For more information, see the ad on pg. 30 of this issue or visit FOC-Knights.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

29

HS Sports: Postseason For Baseball & Softball; Spring Football Returns!

By JOHN C. COTEY the first round of the State playoffs.

Wesley Chapel’s softball team was the runner up john@ntneighborhoodnews.com in Class 4A, District 9, losing to Hernando 9-0 in the

In the decade since its last baseball District championship in 2010, Wesley Chapel High has made the District final three times — 2013, 2014 and 2019 — and lost each time.

Senior Austin Coultas hit a two-run triple to account for the Wildcats’ only runs, and then pitched the final two innings for the save as Wesley Chapel knocked off rival Cypress Creek High in the Class 4A, District 10 title on April 30.

The Wildcats (18-6) advanced to the State playoffs and hosted Tarpon Springs May 5 in a Regional quarterfinal, after we went to press. As the district runner-up, the Coyotes (20-5) also advanced and traveled to play Dunedin, also after our deadline.

It was a big week for teams playing on the diamond. While Wesley Chapel and Cypress Creek both advanced to the State playoffs in baseball, so did the Cypress Creek, Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch softball teams.

Discounting last year’s abbreviated season, the Cypress Creek softball team (15-5) captured its second straight District title, winning the District 3A-9 crown with a 6-5 win over Berkeley Prep. Junior catcher Trae Diaz had her best game of the season with two hits and two RBI and senior pitcher Hailey Vazquez added two hits and a complete game victory.

The Coyotes hosted Frostproof on May 5 in

30

District title tilt.

But, it was an offensive explosion that got the Wildcats into the final, as Wesley Chapel beat Nature Coast Tech 12-8 in the semis, ensuring a spot in the State playoffs. Senior Ashley Garrison had a double and 5 RBI in the win over Nature Coast, and junior Kadence Means added four RBI, with two scoring on her fifth homer of the season.

The Wildcats (12-13) traveled to Dunedin for their State playoff opener.

Wiregrass Ranch (14-13) also dropped its District championship game, 6-1 to Gaither, and took on Mitchell in the state playoffs on May 6. In the district semifinal win over Tampa Bay Tech, sophomore Kylee Johnson (.471 BA, 6 HRs on the season) and Brianna Baer (.422, 4 HRs) combined to go 7-for-8 with three homers and 12 RBI. FOOTBALL IS BACK: After cancelling spring football last season, area teams started up on April 26 in preparation for the 2021 season.

Class 7A, District 10 competitor Wiregrass Ranch will play their spring game at Berkeley Prep on Thursday, May 20, at 7 p.m.

Cypress Creek and Wesley Chapel will host their games. The Coyotes take on Land O’Lakes on May 20, while Wesley Chapel plays St. Petersburg the following night. Both games start at 7 p.m.

The Wesley Chapel baseball team (above) and Cypress Creek softball team each won district championships.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Win A Prize Package Worth Nearly $500 At The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center!

Now that it’s been open for a while, you’ve hopefully heard of the Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis & Wellness Center, located on Simons Rd. in Zephyrhills.

In case you haven’t heard of it before, SVB has an amazing array of competition tennis courts, as well as the full-size courts for both pickleball and padel, two of the fastest-growing racquet sports in the world.

But, SVB also is home to an amazing fitness center and also offers licensed massages, cryotherapy, salt therapy, sports counseling, a boutique pro shop and a full-service restaurant with chef-created food by locally renowned Vesh Catering.

But, you might ask, what does all this have to do with you? I’m glad you asked.

One of the things we’ve heard from our readers in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel is that SVB is “too far away” for our readers to join. Wrong! It’s only 15-20 minutes away from most of our Wesley Chapel communities and, with its unique variety of activities, you really should check it out.

Still not convinced? Here’s some incentive: To win an amazing prize package to give SVB a try for FREE, send us an email (to ads@ntneighborhoodnews.com) or message us (at “Neighborhood News” on Facebook) with your name, address, the community you live in, a valid email address and daytime phone number, by Tuesday, June 1, to be entered into a random drawing to win this incredible SVB prize package worth nearly $500: • One week of Recreational Kids Summer Camp (for ages 4-6) or Boot Camp (for athletes ages 8-14) with former NFL star Mel Williams • SVB “swag bag,” including an SVB logo • One 60-minute massage mask, Mahala cup, lipstick, sunstick, black • One 25-minute Salt Room session cup & borosilicate verre water bottle • Brunch for two at the Vesh Café

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

31

Are You Looking To Have Your Dream Wedding...On A Budget?

In case you hadn’t heard, one of the more unexpected effects of the 2020 pandemic was the cancellation of many weddings — as people weren’t allowed or were afraid to travel, or even go out to eat, much less spend hours in a room full of people. Many were even skittish about staying in hotels.

To that end, our friends at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel on S.R. 56 have come up with a unique idea to help those who lost deposits or otherwise had to cancel or postpone their nuptials, as well as those who were hoping to still make their wedding a beautiful occasion on a budget they can afford.

The concept is called “My Dream Micro Wedding” and it offers the opportunity for a wedding event that will be intimate, as well as budget-friendly.

You’ll be able to invite a small guest list of your family and dearest friends, all for one cost that will include everything you need to have the glamorous feel of a large wedding, with all of the “trimmings,” at a fraction of what it would normally cost.

Your Dream Micro Wedding reduces your time frame to only two hours, but includes all of the following for one budget-friendly price: a beautiful venue, a wedding planner, white linens, white chair covers with gold bows, a wedding officiant, photography (and event photo book), a live DJ, hors d’oeuvres, twohour bar, bride’s makeup done (day of wedding), custom bridal and maid of honor bouquets, custom boutonnieres for groom and groomsman, table floral décor, sweetheart table, cake cutting, plus a local 32

engagement photo shoot prior to the event and a one-night stay at the Hilton Garden Inn on the event date.

The only “catch” is that My Dream Micro Wedding currently is only being offered on Saturday, June 19, and while your two-hour timeframe will be exclusively yours, there will be other couples getting married at the hotel the same day.

Even so, Hilton Garden Inn director of market sales Lisa Moore promises that, “We have brought together the most awesome vendors in Florida, in order to make your special day perfect. All of the details have been taken care of for you — all you have to do is give us a call ASAP to reserve your time and discuss all of those details with us.”

Moore also says that if this first-time “My Dream Micro Wedding” event proves to be a success (as she fully expects), “we will begin offering to do the same thing on other dates in the future.”

To reserve your two-hour timeframe now, call Moore as soon as possible at (813) 591-6907. The Hilton Garden Inn Tampa-Wesley Chapel is located at 26640 Silver Maple Pkwy.

For more information, visit TampaWesleyChapel.HGI.com, email Moore at Lisa.Moore2@hilton.com or see the ad on page 17 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

33

Balanced Foods To Open In La Prima Pizza’s Location!

Correction From Last Issue!

In our last issue, I mentioned that it seemed that The Dessert Box was getting closer to opening in The Village at The Grove, near Double Branch Artisanal Ales.

Well, I was half right. Yes, the new dessert place in The Grove is getting closer to opening, but Ice Dreammm Shop owner Joe Schembri, who previously was planning to partner with Evelyn Barreno of 7 Layers Bakery at the new location, will instead open his new location as the second Ice Dreammm Shop. “For twice the fun,” he says.

Joe tells me he still will open with house-made brownies and cookies and plans to add more baked goods. And yes, the new location will feature those uniquely yummy Ice Dreammm flavors, some infused with alcohol. — GN

34

Pick Of The Week: Urban Gr#d Nutrition!

If the pictures above and right don’t make you think “nutritious,” think again. These are just a couple of the staple offerings at the new UrbanGr#d Nutrition, located at 26244 Wesley Chapel Blvd. (S.R. 54) in Lutz, in the Grand Oaks Plaza. Owners Fio and Luis Diou have both been fitness fanatics for years, and they say they were frustrated at the lack of protein-packed, lower-carb breakfast and snack options here in the Tampa Bay area, especially in and around Wesley Chapel.

Luis, a chemist who says he became a serious weightlifter after leaving the U.S. Army, and Fio, a former online fitness and nutrition coach, have come up with a unique variety of delicious options already earning some buzz for UrbanGr#d on local Facebook communities from fellow fitness fans.

Above right is what may be the best oatmeal I’ve ever tasted. It features added banana caramel protein (there are other flavors available, too), plus a variety of toppings. I chose

crunchy granola, fresh strawberries and real peanut butter and it was almost too good.

UrbanGr#d also features a variety of protein-powered donuts (top left; less than 2g of sugar each) waffles (top right), açai bowls, gourmet shakes, energy teas and even hot and iced protein coffee drinks. For more info, call (813) 388-9278 or visit “UrbanGrid Nutrition” on Facebook.

Like many fans of the old La Prima Pizza, which closed last year, I was saddened to see owner Willie Lopez and his family — and my favorite local NY-style pizza — exit our area.

But, while I can’t yet tell you an opening date, there has been a new sign at the former pizzeria/restaurant’s location next to the SuperTarget in the North Woods plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of County Line Rd., for several weeks.

The new eatery will be Balanced Foods, which will feature freshly made to-go meals, like the roasted vegetables with chicken shown below. All of the meals come in multiple sizes, with nutritional information included.

The Wesley Chapel location will be Balanced Foods’ first Florida link in a six-location chain that is based in Texas.

It also will be the second prepackaged meal storefront in Wesley Chapel, the other being FitLife Foods, which is located in the same plaza on BBD as Nutrition S’Mart.

Token Ramen Opens At Wiregrass

I’ve never been a big fan of ramen, since “enjoying” the sodium-rich cups of noodles most kids had to eat at college, but I will admit that I enjoyed the tender beef and onion rice bowl with fresh, tasty bok choy) at the new Token Ramen, located in the former Union 72 BBQ location (between The Brass Tap and Cantina Laredo) on Piazza Ave. in The Shops at Wiregrass. I’ll reserve judgment until I’ve sampled more of the menu.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Now Open Or Coming Soon To New Tampa!

So, as I was driving around New Tampa to see what places were new or getting ready to open, I realized that the former Deano’s Pizza & Pasta at 10865 Cross Creek Blvd. (next to the Mobil gas station and the new location of Saffron Indian Cuisine) had been replaced by a new eatery called Fish Fiesta. I was stunned to learn that the place had been open for four months! How did I miss it before?

Since I hadn’t yet eaten lunch, I decided to give it a shot and I’m so glad I did! After letting them know about my shellfish allergy, I ordered the fried grouper platter shown above and the fish was crispy outside, flaky inside, and the sautéed veggies and salad were delicious, too. Call (813) 982-0300 or visit FishFiesta.com!

We also didn’t know that two new Indian restaurants, Raaga Indian Kitchen & Bar (in the former Tarek’s Café location in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms) and Dosa Hut Indian Vegetarian (in the Publix-anchored Cross Creek Center plaza at Cross Creek Blvd. at Morris Bridge Rd.) also have both been open for several months. I haven’t had a chance to try either one yet, but I promise I will — and I’ll let you know what I think as soon as I do!

Meanwhile, I also found a couple of places that are getting ready to open just south of New Tampa within the next few weeks. The first, in the Oak Ramble Plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of Tampa Palms (anchored by Acropolis Greek Taverna), is Ice Sssscreamin’, a new ice cream shop coming soon next to the Twist Vapor & Café. I didn’t get too much detail about the new ice cream place, but I did enjoy a great cappuccino at Twist, which also sells a variety of smoking supplies.

Speaking of smoking, I’m really looking forward to the opening of Truth Wine, Beer & Hookah in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave., just west of BBD (anchored by P.J. Dolans Irish Pub). I met with Zaid, the owner, who promises that Truth will feature an outstanding collection of craft beers and fine wines at its spacious bar and beautiful lounge area (featuring super-comfy-looking couches and chairs), from high-end to more popularly priced. “People who enjoy hookah (pipes) also love beer and wine,” Zaid told me. “We hope you’ll check us out.” — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

35

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

TOM JOSEPH HANDYMAN: FREE ESTIMATES! Serving residents, Realtors & property mgrs. 30+ yrs home construction exp. Move in/out setups & repairs.

Repairs for sale/rent. Hang flatscreen TVs. Setup wifi & home theater. Install closet organizers. Cabinets, pullouts, shelving. Gen’l carpentry. Crown molding. Kitchen backsplash. Door install/repair & more! Call 813-751-4998 or email JosephHomesllc@outlook.com AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement. Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years of exp. Specialist in Kitchens & Bathrooms. Referrals upon request. All interior work: Drywall, Texture Paining, Doors, etc. Use us once & you won’t need to look elsewhere. Google us to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises. See our display ad at the bottom of this page!

JUNK HAULING SERVICE! • We handle all types of furniture removal — bedroom sets, chairs, mattresses & box springs • Hot water heaters & hot tubs — take apart & remove • Construction material • Carpet removal • Estate, eviction, yard, garage & attic clean-outs • Office, home & factory • Comm’l/resdt’l. GorillaJunkremovalExperts.com. For appts/info, call/text Nigel @ 888-346-5865.

WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure ext. house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing & deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big/small.

Exp. the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning pro. Licensed & insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate or visit our website. 813-433-6015.

RAYMOND PAINTING. Ext. & Int. Svcs. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles. Licensed & Bonded.

References available. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

CHARLES POPPE ELECTRIC. Electric of all kinds: pools, spas, svc changes, new circuits, low-voltage, repairs, upgrades, changes to existing, troubleshoot’g, GFCI performance testing, generators. We are experts w/40+ years exp. Discount of 50% off labor for senior citizens! Lic’d & Insured Master Electrician (EC 13002399) - free phone estimates. Call 813-477-9068.

MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR. Prof’l Handyman.

Cabinet install., dry wall repair, tile install. & repair, some plumbing, laminate flooring, light fixtures, int. painting, appliance install., pressure washing, paneling, window repair, awning install., carpentry, garbage disposal, fence repair, crown molding, window blinds, seal baths & showers, TV mounting & more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TycoonUnion@yahoo.com.

DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable, Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, re-texturing, popcorn removal, room addt’ns, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years exp. WC resident. State Certified. Call Ron for a free estimate: 813-784-5999.

TJ’s PRESSURE WASHING LLC. Houses, Fences, Driveways, Lanais & Screened Enclosures. Most resdt’l 2-car driveways & vinyl fences start at $75. House washing starts at $150 for 1-story home & $199 for 2-story home. Need an instant quote? Text me a picture of the job you need done. Call Tj at 727-808-7775.

Classifieds

HOME HEALTH CARE

HOME DIALYSIS PARTNER: Why travel for dialysis?

Cert. Home Health Aide & Phlebotomy Tech Kikélomo Denton will come to you! I attend mandatory training at your dialysis clinic, assemble your machine at home, check vitals, start & finish treatment w/you, maintain contact w/an on-call nurse & safely remove you from the machine. Accepting new clients June 21! Email YourDialysisPartner@gmail.com or call 813.841.3754.

CAREGIVER/HOUSEKEEPER URGENTLY NEEDED! This is a live-out position. Work Mon-Thurs, $650/wk.

Childcare & light housekeeping. Must be able to interact w/children & speak English. Non-smoker, please! MUST HAVE REFERENCES & BE RESPONSIBLE! If interested, email Linda at flowershop998@gmail.com.

CNA/HHA available to do private duty care in your home. 30 years of exp. Will attend to all of your daily needs. References upon request. Call Rhonda at 850-586-1868.

SENIOR OVERNIGHT COMPANION SITTERS Two kind senior sisters seeking work safeguarding your loved one during the overnight hours. We’ve been working w/the senior population for 10 years & have seen a need for local, English-speaking, backgroundchecked, Covid-tested, dependable companions w/their own transportation. Very reasonable rates. Call Diane or Elisa at 813-938-8614.

COMPUTER & BUSINESS SERVICES

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.

PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech w/20 years exp. Maintenance & Repairs, Upgrades & Tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized service. Tech jargon explained. Remote assistance & references avail. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate.

MISCELLANEOUS

ELITE RIDES. Private rides in a sanitized 2020 Tesla, plus concierge services. Airport, schools, medical appointments, shopping, etc. Courteous, reliable professional. New Tampa to Tampa Int’l Airport - $35 (one way, 24/7). Driver vaccinated w/two shots. Cory Lake Isles resident. Call/text 813.765.2037.

GET $500 TOWARDS CLOSING COSTS... when you buy a NEW CONSTRUCTION HOME with Florida Homes with Geri at Epperson OR Mirada. Schedule a PRIVATE TOUR of both Communities by a Resident Realtor. Join @LifeAtTheLagoon with @RealtorGeri Call/Text 813-609-0966. Connect with me on Instagram & Facebook.

CLEANING SERVICES

PATY CLEANING SERVICE. Comm’l or resid’l cleaning service. We have our own supplies & 6 years of exp.

Free estimates. Call 813 943 6054 or email patycleaningservice@hotmail.com.

A-to-Z CLEANING & ORGANIZING. Home & Ofc Cleaning & Organizing Svcs! We use our own supplies. Affordable & Reliable. Family-Owned & Operated. WC resident. Weekly & Bi-Weekly / Deep Cleaning/ Move-In / Move-Out. Serving WC & NT. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: 813-4621270. Local references supplied upon request.

CLEAN-IT RESIDENTIAL & COMM’L CLEANING: Following all CDC guidelines, 18 yrs cleaning in NT & WC. Lic’d & Ins’d.

Call 813.505.0431 or email cleanitmc@gmail.com..

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years exp.! Comm’l & Resid’l; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & postconstruction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in & move-out cleanings; Press. washing; FREE ests.; Refs. avail. Call 813531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies & more than 400 clients in New Tampa! For more info, call 813-758-9710 or see our display ad below.

LAWN & LANDSCAPING _

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ALL DIMENSIONS LANDSCAPE & EXTERIORS, LLC. Complete resid’l & comm’l landscape, hardscape & softscape. Mulch & decorative stone. Patios, decks, retaining walls, property maintenance & lawn care. Sod & lawn install’n, artificial turf, fencing, railings, soft & hard pressure washing, painting. We do anything exterior. Call (724) 541-2535 or (813) 485-6661 for a 25% discount on labor & materials.

NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

Sprinkler repairs, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available. Licensed & Insured. CALL BILL @ (813) 973-3825.

A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service. Lic’d & insured, serving the Tampa Bay area 20+ years. Family owned & operated. Quality work, affordable rates. Gutter clean-outs, screen repairs, pressure washing & sprinkler repairs. Landscaping & property maint., including sod, tree & hedge trimming & clean ups. Other services avail.

CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296).

Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn maint.: Tree, palm & hedge trimming, planting, mulching, stones, sod replacement. Gutter cleaning, leaf removal & more. Cited by your HOA? Ask about our HOA Compliance Special, our Fall/Spring Special & FREE estimate! Lic’d & insured. Accepting new resid’l & comm’l accounts. Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmEx. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring FT workers.

HEAVY HITTER LAWN CARE: Veteran owned & operated lawn care maint. service, focused on lawn mowing, trimming, edging & blowing (flexible w/extra svcs.). Well maintained & professional laborer ensuring cust. satisfaction & on-time cuts. Rain or shine, quality & schedule will be kept. Lic’d & Insured. Call or text 678-673-7856 for your FREE Estimate.

POOL SERVICES

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ALLSTARPOOLSOFTAMPABAY.COM. Pool cleanups, & acid washing of old pool finishes. Marcite, quartz & pebble finishes from $3K. We offer cool decking, Eurocrete & paver decking options. Paver, river rock sealing, leak detection & inground vinyl liner replacements avail. Quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. Mention this ad for a $79 pool svc. (restrictions apply). Serving NT & WC since 1990. Call/text 813-244-7077 or visit AllStarPoolsofTampaBay.com.

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing w/outstanding customer service!

LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! AQUATEC POOL SERVICE has been keeping pools clear & swim-safe since 1994. WE DO POOLS RIGHT! Commercial & Residential. CPO #33-303052 Licensed & Insured. Service guarantee. Call 813-312-5694 TODAY and get ONE MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FREE. www.aquatecpool.com.

NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned & operated since 1999. Weekly service. No long term contracts. Mention this AD for one-month Free service. Call 813-907-7322 for details or text Joe at 813-758-7608.

PHOTOGRAPHY

PHOTOGRAPHER AVAILABLE! Retired Professional Photographer (45+ years experience) in the Tampa Bay area. Corporate Events, Personal Occasions, Portraiture, Pets, Commercial Photography & Real Estate. Reasonable rates. Ask me about “Front Porch Portraits,” taken from the safety of your front porch, FREE OF CHARGE! Great for Families, Children, Pets & more! Call or Text (813) 748-3901 or Visit: russellleprephotography.com.

FITNESS & WELL BEING

YOGA, PERSONAL TRAINING, NUTRITION & PHYSICAL THERAPY w/DR. LAUREN LEIVA, DPT! Phys Ed for everyone, including all children, w/a certified personal trainer who also is a degreed Dr. of Physical Therapy. Ask Dr. Leiva about her PE4ME sliding scale pay program! For more info, visit TheExerscienceCenter.com, call 813.464.0313 or see the ad on pg. 19 of this issue.

Break It Down Productions. Customized Private Yoga Sessions w/Susanna Jones. Develop strength & flexibility, while learning how to breathe & relax. I specialize in working w/beginners and those requiring a more gentle approach than most group Yoga classes. I explain everything, and provide variations so that you actually feel good in the stretch instead of strained.

Gift certificates available. www.breakitdownproductions.com or Call (813) 802-8393.

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TREE SERVICE

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

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Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

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@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 10 • May 11, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews