New Tampa Neighborhood News May Edition by Neighborhood News

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Volume 21 Issue 11

New Tampa ‘Relay For Life’ Shatters Records!

May 25, 2013

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The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Easton Park • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch • Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • The Hammocks • West Meadows WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge • Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • The Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg

Next Segment Of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. Widening To Begin In Early 2014 By Matt Wiley Although one segment of widening construction along the busy Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. recently wrapped up (except, of course, for the segment between Palm Springs Blvd. and Dona Michelle Dr. under I-75), Hillsborough County officials are now looking ahead to the next segment. The county, which just recently finished its portions of “Segments B & C,” from Pebble Creek Dr. south to Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms, will begin widening “Segment A,” the 3.58-mile stretch from Palm Springs Blvd. south to E. Bearss Ave. sometime early in 2014, pending any delays caused by the acquisition of land needed fot the widening. “We’re in the real estate process right now,” says Steve Valdez, a spokesman for the Hillsborough County Public Works Department. “We’re meeting with each property owner to negotiate the right-ofway acquisitions.” The right-of-way is the land that runs on the side of each direction of the road that the County must purchase in order to

widen BBD from a four-lane divided road to an eight-lane divided road. Segment A of the project is expected to cost about $30 million. However, Valdez says that the final number could change depending upon the actual construction costs when the project gets under way. “(Segment A) is not like the current section,” Valdez explains. “It’s much easier to acquire the land and build on it because there are very few businesses already built in that area, so there’s more right-of-way available.” Valdez says that the county is doing its best to negotiate with the property owners along BBD to acquire the six parcels of land that are needed to finish the next segment of widening. He says that, so far, there have been very few problems. But, he adds that if negotiations fall through with any of the property owners, taking the right-of-way land becomes an eminent domain issue and the case will be dealt with in court. The Fifth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution gives the government the power of eminent domain, or the right to take the property, as long as it can prove the property is nec-

essary for public use and that the owner is compensated justly. Of the six parcels along Segment A of BBD, a county spokesperson says that two are owned by the Tampa Palms Community Development District (CDD), one each is owned by Grace Episcopal Church, the Giunta Group, LTD, and the City of Tampa, and one is a construction easement, which allows the County to perform construction without owning The 3.58-mile section of BBD in yellow (between Palm Springs/Tampa Palms Blvd. & E. Bearss Ave.) is ‘Segment A,’ the next step in the BBD the property. widening project. The roadwork is expected to begin in early 2014. The next segment of construction will disrupt traffic overnight keep it flowing,” Valdez says. In some cases, through the only artery into Tampa Palms he says, traffic could be squeezed down to from the south, but Valdez says that com- one lane in each direction along BBD durmuters can expect to still have four lanes of ing night work. The section of BBD-widening through traffic during daylight hours. “With the amount of traffic moving Tampa Palms is unique in that Tampa through the area, we realize that we have to See “BBD” on page 14.

NTJWC Donates $7,000 To Tampa Police Department’s R.I.C.H. House

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE

County To Automate Waste Collection, Rep. Danish Finishes First Legislative Session, Freedom Softball Falls In State Title Game, Lots Of Local Business Features & More!

Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt Offers Unique Options, Our Exclusive Summer Movie Guide, Habitat For Humanity ‘Raises The Roof’ At Wiregrass & Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!

Pages 1-36

Pages 37-52

ECRWSS

NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION UPDATES

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

Also Inside This Issue!

and arts and crafts supplies to video games. “We knew that we’d be a recipient of a donation from the club, but we had no idea what the amount would be,” Boles says. “(The donation) is going to uplift the quality of life (for these kids) in so many ways.” When NTJWC chairwomen of the event Michele Small, Carmela Johnson and Jolie Frankfurth filled out the check, Boles says that the Members of the GFWC NTJWC presented a $7,000 donalook on her face was that of tion to the TPD R.I.C.H. House in Sulphur Springs to go toshock and awe. ward improving the quality of life for local kids. “They were super excited,” says Small. “When we started writing out the big check, we saw that jaws were dropping. It’s going to make a huge impact for the R.I.C.H. House.” See “R.I.C.H. House” on page 14.

Postal Customer

Neighborhood kids gather at a house in central Tampa, but it’s not because they live there. Instead, they come to this house in Sulphur Springs after school to do activities, play video games, make friends and even enjoy a meal, rather than wander the streets of this neighborhood in transition. This is the Tampa Police Department (TPD) R.I.C.H. (Resources in Community Hope) House, a “Safe Haven” for the children of Sulphur Springs, and thanks to the

GFWC (General Federation of Women’s Clubs) New Tampa Junior Woman’s Club (NTJWC), the shelter now has $7,000 to improve the shelter. “In my 11 years here (at the R.I.C.H. House), this is definitely the largest single donation I have seen,” says TPD Master Patrol Officer and director of the Tampa R.I.C.H. House Debbie Boles. “It feels tremendous, knowing how much this will do for the kids.” Boles says that the money will go toward everything from after-school snacks

Dated Material Please Rush!

By Matt Wiley

Former West Meadows Assn. President - ‘I Was Wrong About The Bridge!’ An editorial by Gary Nager So, I was visiting my friends Roberto and Steve, the co-owners of 900º Woodfired Pizza in the Shops at Wiregrass mall the other day when Steve (his last name is Falabella), who had served as the president of one of the subdivision homeowners associations inside the West Meadows community at the time the now-constructed New Tampa Blvd. “Gateway Bridge” was still being debated, admitted to a mistake he made at that time. “Now that the bridge is open, I can’t believe I ever even thought of opposing it when I was the president of my neighborhood association,” he told me. “It makes it so much easier to get from north of I-75 to south of it — and you never have to get on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. And, I also see no evidence of too much ‘extra’ traffic driving through our community, which is what a lot of West Meadows residents were concerned about before the bridge was built.” But, even though, when he did ask some of his neighbors in his subdivision about it, few, if any, had any real concerns about the bridge, Falabella admits he was very much influenced by the small, but very vocal group of West Meadows residents who were going around the community asking the individual association presidents to oppose the bridge. “I never ‘officially’ came out against it,” he says, “but I also never went back to my homeowners to take a poll of everyone in my neighborhood to see what they

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Publisher & Editor Gary Nager General Manager Nikki Bennett Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondents Shawn Harrison • Bonnie Mason • Kathleen Schiop Senior Graphic Designer Porsha Lemos Advertising Sales Rep Taylor Gardner Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 21, Issue 13, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, June 10, 2013. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa 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. © 2013 JM2 Communications, Inc.

actually thought about it because the people who were against the bridge were so well organized and so strongly opposed to it. Looking back at the situation now, I should have just gotten an official count of everyone in my neighborhood.” He adds that these days, it seems like everyone in his neighborhood loves having access to the bridge. “We really should have all stood up to those who opposed it and came out in favor of it,” he says. “All of the subdivisions in West Meadows and those sections of Tampa Palms at the other end of the bridge should’ve done the same thing. Maybe we could’ve gotten it built a little sooner.” Falabella says he was at the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting at Wharton High almost a decade ago when an estimated crowd of more than 900 people came out to debate not only the bridge itself but also the New Tampa East-West Connector Road (E-W Rd.), which was supposed to (but now, likely never will) connect from the Tampa Palms end of the bridge to a new interchange on I-275. He says it was obvious that the vast majority of those who attended that meeting were New Tampa residents who favored the construction of the E-W Rd. “But, the only people from West Meadows among the dozens who spoke at that meeting, with maybe one or two exceptions, opposed the bridge and the road,” he recalls. “So, even though I was never against it myself, I thought that a lot of people in my community must be opposed to it.” Falabella also credits the City of Tampa for not only getting bridge built, but also for making it so pretty. “It really is an asset, an amenity, for our communities,” he says of West Mead-

ows and Tampa Palms Areas 4 and 8. “I really can’t imagine that anyone is still opposed to having it now.” And, considering that it’s still going to be at least a couple of more years before we have four lanes in each direction on BBD from Bearss Ave. all the way to the Pasco County line (see page 1 for the latest update), and until the end of this year before we even have four lanes in each direction under and around I-75, there is a possibility that more New Tampa residents will end up finding and using the New Tampa Blvd. “Gateway

Bridge” as an alternative way to get north of south of I-75 without dealing with the bottlenecks on BBD. Just remember that the bridge connects two neighborhoods full of people like you, so please, drive safely on both sides of the bridge. Life in New Tampa isn’t perfect, but it definitely should improve when our road improvements have been completed. If only they could have been done sooner. Also, congratulations to all of our New Tampa high school grads (look for a story next issue). And remember, our schools let out June 7, so drive carefully!

Table of Contents

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS, EDUCATION & SPORTS UPDATES..............................Pages 1-44

Hillsborough To Switch To Automated Waste Collection...................4 Rep. Danish Finishes First Legislative Session........................................6 . . . . Semi Rollover Closes BBD For 10 Hours.............................................8 New Tampa Community Calendar................................12

Local Business Updates.................................16-29

New Tampa Chamber Of Commerce Newsletter..............16 Premier Psychology Will Help You With Your Issues...............18 Christian Bros. Automotive: Car Care You Can Trust.............22 Pepin Hosts Third Annual ‘Brews With Attitude’....................24 Assistant Editor’s Photography To Be Featured At Museum...25 Buyers Home Store Will Find The Right Home For You........26 American Wood Flooring — Exceptional Flooring & Value...28

Local Education & Sports Updates...............30-35

Our Exclusive 2013 Summer Camp Guide!......................30 New Tampa Dance Student Accepted Into NY Ballet School..32 Freedom Softball Falls In State Title Game..............................34 Freedom/Wharton Students Sign Letters Of Intent...............35

Neighborhood Magazine

Habitat ‘Raises The Roof’ For Local Family............................37 New Tampa ‘Relay For Life’ Posts Record Numbers...............39 Our Exclusive Look At Summer Movies..................................41 Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt, Gelato & Sorbet.........................43 NY NY Pizza Brings Taste Of NY, Ybor To Wesley Chapel.....44 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes’...............................46

NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSIFIEDS....................48 Former State Rep. Looks Back at 2013 Legislative Session......50

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Hillsborough County To Make Move To Automated Waste Collection By Matt Wiley Changes are on the way for the collection of trash and recycling in New Tampa, as Hillsborough County gets ready to roll out (literally) a new way of collecting solid waste. Beginning on August 1, single-family residences in New Tampa will begin to receive large green and blue rolling containers for storing solid waste and recycling, part of the County’s new “automated collection service,” a system City of Tampa residents in New Tampa already know. On collection days, residents roll the bins down to the street where garbage or recycling trucks with mechanical arms that are controlled by the driver lift and empty the containers into the truck. The new system is scheduled to go into effect on October 1. Until then, residents can still continue to take out the trash and recycling using the current methods. “When residents get their carts, they’ll actually have instructions on how to use them, their collection days and when to start using that cart,” explains Kim Buyer, transition manager of Hillsborough County Public Utilities. “The only thing that will really change is the way the garbage and recycling is collected. Yard waste will stay the same.” However, another factor that actually will change when residents receive their 95-gallon green cart for trash and 65-gallon blue cart for recycling is the variety of items that now can be recycled. Instead of the current system that allows only plastics 1 and 2 to be collected, the new bins allow for plastics 1-7, as well as all aluminum, steel cans, plastic bags and drink cartons, a process called single-stream recycling. “The (recycling) program is expanding,” Buyer says. “The County will even receive proceeds from the sale of those recycled materials.” Hillsborough County still is in the process of conducting a rate study, Buyer explains, but the County expects reduced rates that are estimated to result in $7.5million in annual savings for the County, a 22-percent reduction from the current sys-

tem. Rates could drop as much as $20 for residential customers. No deposit is required for the new bins and billing still would appear on taxes as a yearly fee, rather than as a monthly payment. Buyer says that the County has opted to keep the same collection schedule that residents are used to: trash twice per week, recycling once per week and yard waste once per week. The collection schedule, “2-1-1,” she says, was one of the deciding factors when deciding which companies to use to collect the County’s solid waste. Hillsborough also looked into “2-1-1 manual waste,” which is similar to what is currently used, and “1-1-1 automated,” but decided to switch to “2-1-1 automated,” due to the amount of money it would eventually save the County. The County officially opened the bidding for waste collection in October of last year. Six companies put in bids across the collection schedule spectrum, but the County decided to use Waste Services, Inc. (WSI), Republic Services and Waste Management (WM) to take care of collection in five different collection areas, or districts. New Tampa falls into both District 2 (Tampa Palms, Tampa Palms North and New Tampa to the west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.) and District 3, which includes northeastern Hillsborough County to the north and east of I-75 and BBD. District 2 will be serviced by WSI, while Republic Services will service District 3. Seven meetings were held about the change to solid waste collection, one in each District, one County wide phone-in meeting and one meeting at the request of the “Fish Bowl” community, located in Temple Terrace. The meeting for District 2 was held on December 4 at the Jimmy B. Keel Regional Library on W. Bearss Ave., while the meeting for District 3 was held at Strawberry Crest High on December 5. However, the County also employed public forums for public comments about the new waste collection system using an email address, voicemail and a website, as well as radio and TV public service announcements.

“We did a lot to get the word out,” says Willie Puz with the Hillsborough County Communications department. “We were pretty thorough in ways residents could reply.” According to the HillsboroughCounty.Gov, the current waste collection contracts expire in September and have been in effect for the past 17 years. When considering the different bids, the County opted for the automated system not only for its lower cost and improved service, but also for safety reasons. “If they can drive, the ‘slingers,’ or guys on the back of the trucks during manual collection, will be trained to operate the automated trucks,” Buyer says. “We anticipate very little job loss due to the turnover rate of that job. The automated system is much safer for the drivers because solid waste collection is such a dangerous job. There are so many distracted drivers and they’re out on busy streets picking up trash behind a garbage truck. Now they’re in the truck.” For more info, including an extensive list of “Frequently Asked Questions” and a District map, please visit HillsboroughCounty.org and click on the “Trash/Garbage” tab. The site also includes all of the important information for local businesses, as the process of obtaining bins for commercial collection is different than for residents.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Like the City of Tampa, Hillsborough County will soon have automoted waste collection using large, rolling containers.

New Tampa’s State Rep. Mark Danish Recaps First Legislative Session By Matt Wiley & Gary Nager Following his first 60-day Legislative session as New Tampa’s representative in Florida’s House of Representatives, Rep. Mark Danish (D-New Tampa) is back in town, but already looking ahead to his next stint in Tallahassee. “(The session) went very well,” says Rep. Danish, who represents all of New Tampa in District 63 in the Florida House. “I’m very pleased with how it went. There were really some good things that went on and some that weren’t as good, but I guess that’s typical of the process.” The Benito Middle School science teacher and Arbor Greene resident says he is most proud of standing up against, and helping to defeat (by speaking on the House floor), several bills that came before the House that he did not believe would be good laws for Florida. The first was a bill (HB 7011) that would alter the Florida Retirement System (FRS), eliminating guaranteed pension plans for state and county workers and replacing them with 401k-style investment plans. Despite our state’s fiscal woes, Danish says Florida’s state retirement plan is, “one of the most financially sound in the world. It’s rated something like fourth best in U.S.” He added that some state lawmakers wanted to change the system because similar plans have gone wrong in other states, “but that’s just not our problem here. They were basically proposing a solution that didn’t have a problem.” Another controversial bill that Danish says he fought against, HB 867, was called the Parent Empowerment in Education bill, or “Trigger Bill.” If passed, the law would have given parents of students attending underperforming public schools the power to petition to have that school converted to a for-profit charter school. The problem with that bill, he says, was that it would have given school districts across the state the right to convert failing schools to “private management companies,” which would then manage those schools and could keep the parents from having any firther say in how that school is operated, whether or not it would become a charter school or the

type of charter school it could become. Danish says he also was instrumental in defeating HB 743, also known as the “Fracking” bill. Fracking is a term that has been given to hydraulic fracturing, a process used to mine natural gas, which environmental groups worry would not be safe for Florida’s ecosystem. “(The bill) kind of was going to say that Florida was open to fracking,” Danish says, in two locations — South Florida (near the Everglades) and the Panhandle. The freshman state legislator says he was instrumental in getting the House to temporarily postpone a vote on the bill because, he says, “We had already passed a bill saying that the same rock layers the oil companies wanted to use to mine the natural gas were going to be used for storage. Fifteen minutes later, we have a bill proposed to allow those same rock layers to be fractured. That seemed contradictory to me.” He added that if the bill had passed, the oil companies wouldn’t have been required to list all of the dangerous chemicals they might use in the fracking process if the chemicals could be classified as “trade secrets.” He noted that the bill never came back up for a vote in the House after the “temporary postponement” and the Florida Senate never brought up their version of the bill for a vote, either. “That’s what the people of this District sent me up there to do,” Danish explains. “Fight on the issues for them.” Danish explains that starting out in the House, he hit the ground running. “The learning curve there is very fast,” he says. “You learn very quickly that you have to learn very quickly. But, by the end, I was pretty confident.” During the 60-day session, Danish also served on both the House Education and Economic Affairs committees, as well as the appropriations subcommittees for government operations, and agriculture and natural resources. He says he was even appointed to the judicial budget committee during the House budget conference. “Since I hadn’t been on (the judicial committee) most of the session,” he explains. “I had to get up to speed on the judicial committee in about 24 hours. It was a late night and an early morning.”

Danish credits his day job for helping him get comfortable in Tallahassee fairly quickly. “As a teacher, I have the ability to speak in front of people, so it was a natural fit for me,” he says. “I’m used to having to get to know things quickly.” However, one thing that Danish says that he was not ready for was the political bickering across the aisle and how it can prevent progress. “One of the things that surprised me the most is how much is done to not get things done,” he explains. “Look at the (“Obamacare”) Medicaid expansion. So many hours were spent on that and there was so much news about it. But, you could see several weeks beforehand that the final result was that we weren’t going to accomplish anything. I thought that was really sad. I fought hard to try to get it accomplished, but it fell on deaf ears.” Danish says another thing he is proud of from the session is the change that he pushed for in the high school diploma system. Senate Bill 1076 changes the state law so that Florida now is able to also offer “vocational” diplomas. “We’re going to shift gears,” Danish says. “In committee, I found out that there are more than 100,000 jobs that are not filled because we don’t have anyone trained to take those jobs. Now we’re going to take a step in that direction. Students will learn other skills that will allow them to get good-paying jobs.” When he goes back for his second legislative session in March of 2014, Danish says he knows what he’ll be tackling first. Based on a Hillsborough County ordinance that was approved in 2012, he pushed a bill this past session to provide assistance to disabled persons who pull into gas stations. Currently, Hillsborough County gas pumps have a sticker on them displaying the station’s phone number. As long as there are two people working inside the gas station, an employee comes out and assists the person with pumping their gas. Danish hopes to see this local ordinance put into state law. “It’s unfinished business,” he says. “It was moving in the Senate, but got stuck in committee. But, there’s always next session.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Freshman Dist. 63 State Rep. Mark Danish speaks on the floor of the Florida House of Representatives during his first session. Photo: MyFloridaHouse.Gov

Danish says that this summer, after school lets out, he plans to host a series of four public meetings in different parts of his district, including one in the New Tampa area, to get more information about the issues that are most important to his constituents and to update them on what he accomplished in his first session. For more information about State Rep. Mark Danish, please visit MyFloridaHouse.Gov and click on the “Representatives” tab.

For a different perspective on the 2013 State Legislative session, see page 54.

Semi Rolls Over, Closes BBD For Hours A driver has been fined after his semi truck flew through a red light at an intersection and overturned, closing southbound Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. lanes for nearly 10 hours. According to the Tampa Police Department (TPD), around 11:11 on May 11, 69-year-old Thomas Jonovitch, of Palm Bay, FL, a semi-truck driver, got off of northbound I-75 at the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit in his 2005 Freightliner. However, after exiting, Jonovitch did not stop at the red light at BBD, later stating that he thought he was on an extension of I-75, rather than an exit ramp. The report says that when Jonovitch realized his mistake, he slammed his brakes — which locked up — causing the semi to skid across the intersection, hitting three cars waiting to head south on BBD, before leaving the west side of the road and turning over, spilling some of its dry freight cargo. TPD reports that two of the vehicles were dragged by the semi and trapped beneath it when the semi overturned. However, the report does not specify which vehicles were trapped. Drivers Francisca Ezeogu, 37, and Amy Skrzpczak, 18, both of New

Tampa, and Penny Seon, 50, of Tampa, were all transported to local hospitals with minor and what were reported as non-life-threatening injuries. Jonovitch was cited for not stopping at a red light, which ended up causing an estimated $100,000 in damage and closing all southbound BBD lanes beginning at Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. until 1:42 a.m. the next day. All of the southbound lanes of BBD were not reopened until about 9 a.m. No additional information was available at our press time. — Matt Wiley

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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May 2013

MOMS Club Of New Tampa - The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of New Tampa is currently open to new members in the New Tampa area. The MOMS Club offers a variety of daytime activities of mothers and their children, opportunities for Mom’s Night Out and many more benefits. For more info, or to join the club, email MOMsClubNewTampa _ southeast@yahoo.com.

Sunday, May 26 Zen Meditation Group - Enjoy meditation? Looking for a new way to relax? Check out the FREE Zen Meditation Group that meets Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Arbor Greene Community Center (18000 Arbor Greene Dr., off Cross Creek Blvd.) Aerobics Room. All faiths are welcome. You only need an interest in meditation and a more peaceful and relaxed mind and life. For more information, call Jeremy at 528-6285.

(10550 Regents Park Dr.) New guests are always welcome. For more info, call 4286356.

Monday, May 27 Community Acupuncture - A Monday night community acupuncture and discussion group is forming at Ion Medi-Spa (8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 130), 6:30 p.m. Topics include needle-free acupuncture, facial rejuvenation, stop smoking and customized weight-loss programs. For more info, call 960-8833 or visit IonMediSpa.com.

Thursday, May 30 Free Real Estate Webinars - Local real estate broker associate Lance Mohr will be hosting FREE 30-40 minute real estate webinars on Thursdays and Saturdays, at 7p.m. covering topics such as home pricing, conditioning, marketing and understanding real estate stats. To register and tune in, please visit TBSellerWebinar.com or call Lance at 317-4009.

‘WeWork’ At LifePoint - “WeWork,” meets Mondays evenings at 7 p.m. at LifePoint Church (8702 Hunter’s Lake Dr., off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. {BBD}, in front of Hunter’s Green). The group is designed to help you search for jobs, improve interview skills, write a resume, negotiate a job offer, improve your attitude, develop networking skills or discover your gifts. For more info, call 907-9818, or visit LifePoint.tv/WeWork.

Food Addicts In Recovery - Are you having trouble controlling the way you eat? Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous (FA) is a support group without any dues, fees or weigh-ins and is based on the 12 steps of Alcoholics Anonymous. FA meets at Florida Hospital Tampa at (on BBD) in the Camelot A room at 7 p.m. For more info, visit FoodAddicts. org or call Roz at 355-4197.

Tuesday, May 28 New Tampa Tri Club - A new local club, formed for the fitness-minded. Membership is open to runners, swimmers, cyclists and triathletes across the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. All members receive club benefits, including a training schedule, group support, seminars and socials. The club hosts group bike rides/runs at the 13330 Morris Bridge Rd. entrance to Flatwoods Wilderness Park every Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday at 7:30 a.m., and a group run from Kona Multisport (previously, the “Ironman Store,” in the same plaza as Sweetbay & LA Fitness at BBD/County Line Rd.), at 6:30 p.m. on Mondays. For more information, join the Facebook group or e-mail NewTampa TriClub@gmail.com. Wednesday, May 29 BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets every Wednesday at Pebble Creek Golf Club at 7:15 a.m. (10550 Regents Park Dr., off BBD Blvd.). The $13 meeting fee includes a hot breakfast. Contact Lisa Jordan at 621-6015 for more details. Business Networking Int’l - BNI, a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their respective businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wednesday morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Morris Bridge Rd.). For more information, call Ed Gleason at 299-4475. New Tampa Noon Rotary - The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wed. for lunch at noon at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). Guests are always welcome. New Tampa Eve. Rotary - The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club. New members are always welcome. For info, call Liz DeAmbrose at 956-6487 or email homenet@gte.net. Tampa Toastmasters - Great speeches & great topics. Come hone your public speaking skills. Tampa Toastmasters meets every Wednesday 7 p.m. at Pebble Creek Golf Club

CBC Networking - Come together with like-minded professionals at the Christian Business Connections (CBC) Networking group, which meets every Thursday at 7:45 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (located at 5338 Primrose Lake Cir., near the New Tampa Community Park in Tampa Palms). Call Annete Faurote at 407-9225 for more info. Friday, May 31 New Tampa Rotary Club - The New Tampa Rotary club meets at 7 a.m. at the Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). For more info, call Eric Longphee at 202-1105.

June 2013

Saturday, June 1 New Tampa Dog Pack - Have a dog? Enjoy scenic nature walks? Join the New Tampa Dog Pack on Saturday mornings at 8:30 a.m at Flatwoods Wilderness Park (at the 18205 BBD entrance) and on Thursdays at 7:30 p.m. at Compton Park (16101 Compton Dr., Tampa Palms). For more info, please visit MeetUp.com/New-Tampa-Dog-Pack. Thursday, June 6 TPWC Awards Luncheon - The Tampa Palms Womens Club will once again host its annual awards luncheon at 11 a.m. at Compton Park (16101 Compton Dr., Tampa Palms). Members will be bringing dishes. Local charities, school principals and a scholarship recipient all will be receiving checks raised by the club. For more info, email TampaPalmsWC@Yahoo.com Thursday, June 13 Northeast Tampa Women In Business Meeting - The Northeast Tampa Women in Business group meets the second Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club (18101 Longwater Run Dr.). For more information, visit NETWIB.org or call 843-2354.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

“BBD”

Continued from page 1 Palms has always been the only New Tampa community that is split down the middle by the busy roadway. “We have to be proactive to keep the quality along BBD,” says Maggie Wilson of the Tampa Palms CDD. “We don’t want Tampa Palms to begin to look like an industrial area.” Wilson says that the Tampa Palms CDD currently is in negotiations with the county, but doesn’t foresee there being any problems with the land acquisition process. “The Tampa Palms CDD is not out to hold up the County for a few dollars,” she explains. In fact, she says Hillsborough has been very easy to work with, so far. She gives the example of the necessary cement “gravity walls” that must be installed when a roadway is elevated, even slightly, to keep the dirt under the road from crumbling. Fences are installed above the edges of these walls so that pedestrians do not fall over the edge. “(The county and Tampa Palms) are looking at ways to make (gravity walls) look more residential-friendly,” she explains. She says that the county’s design for the project was able to work around the large, brick monument signs that display either

“Tampa Palms” or the names of the neighborhoods/apartment complexes located near the intersection of BBD and the community’s entrances. Once completed, the widening project also will add three new retention ponds to the Tampa Palms area — one at the main Tampa Palms entrance crossing at BBD and Tampa Palms Blvd. (on land previously owned by Grace Episcopal Church), one behind Family of Christ Lutheran Church on BBD and one on a piece of property owned by the Giunta Group, LTD, a large parcel that stretches south from BBD at the Cypress Creek crossing bridge just south of Tampa Palms to 42 St.

“R.I.C.H. House” Continued from page 1

Small explains that the donation came from funds raised during the March 2 “Night of 5000” charity gala, the NTJWC’s annual fund-raising event, which raised more that $19,000 gross. “The event this year was very successful,” Small says. “We were able to take $5,000 from the event, as well as money left over from our 2012-13 budget to put together the $7,000 donation. We also donated $300 in Honeybaked Ham gift cards to the House to distribute to neighborhood families during the holidays.” Small says that the club found out about the R.I.C.H. House from one of its members. The group did some research and then went and checked it out. “We found a diamond in the rough,” Small says. “It’s funded completely through donations.” According to its website, TPD began the R.I.C.H. House in 2000 through a partnership with the U.S. Attorney’s Office and a “Weed and Seed Initiative Grant” from the U.S. Department of Justice, which combines law enforcement and social services to help reduce and prevent crime in specific high-crime neighborhoods — and Sulphur Springs

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qualified as one such neighborhood in 2000. The initial grant totaled $250,000 and lasted until 2005. Since then, everything except for the utilities and Boles’ salary has been paid for with donations from the community. The R.I.C.H. House provides kids in grades K-12 with a place to hang out after school to resist the influence of drugs and gangs. Boles says that most of the kids are between the ages of 7-12, but that she had 14 R.I.C.H. House kids graduate from high school this year, seven of whom are going on to college while four others are joining the military. “The kids benefit in a lot of ways (from the R.I.C.H. House),” Boles explains. “A lot of the families in the area are scared or untrusting of law enforcement. We’re really working to change that attitude. When we take on a child, we know that we are taking on a whole family. We help the kids here, but try to reach into their homes and instill the same positive values.” A TPD officer for 27 years, Boles says that during the day, while the kids are at school, she keeps her eye on the neighborhood. “Whatever the neighborhood needs, I try to fill that void,” she says. For additional information about the TPD R.I.C.H. House, please visit TPDRICHHouse.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Chamber of Commerce, Inc. 15310 Amberly Dr., Suite 250 Tampa, FL 33647 Information: (813) 293-2464 Fax: (813) 388-4408

Website: NewTampaChamber.Org

2012-13 Board of Directors President-Regina Ramalheira

Board Members:

VP-Neil Heird Treas-Karen Hilton Secy-John Lore

ʻ‘W orking To Im prove The Q uality O fLife In N ew Tam pa!ʼ’

Non-Officers: Dr. Rachel Haviland Mark Lange Dr. Earl Meyer

Executive Assistant: Jayne Baker

Chamber To Host Evening Networking Event At Toast On May 30! The next big upcoming event for the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce will be an evening networking event, which will be held on Thursday, May 30, 6 p.m.-8 p.m., at Toast Wine & Café in the Oak Ramble shopping center (same plaza as Acropolis) at 14921 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., just south of Tampa Palms. The event, which is free to attend (although there will be charges for the food and beverages; see below) and open to the general public as well as New Tampa Chamber members, will feature food and drink specials, lots of drawings (including a 50/50 drawing and one for Chamber members who renew their annual memberships), so bring lots of business cards! Hector Gonzalez of Toast is offering $2 beers, $5 glasses of wine and only $5 for any flatbread pizza, as well as 10-percent-off any retail items like coffee, jam, wine and cigars. The Chamber will benefit 10-percent from your purchases during the event. Toast is our “perfect neighborhood wine bar” created for wine and good food lovers! For more information, visit our website — NewTampaChamber.org — or call Toast Wine & cafe at 632-3105.

New Member Orientation At Chamber President’s Office On Monday, June 17, 8:30 a.m., the New Tampa Chamber will have its first

(in a while) New Member Orientation at Chamber president Regina Ramalheira’s office, at Re/Max – First in Real Estate! The address is 17010 Palm Pointe Dr., in the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, behind Olive Garden. The orientations are simply a coffee, tea & bagel time to get to know you and review your benefits of being a Chamber member. It’s a short and sweet “time to meet” which is open to all Chamber members. It’s a great time to bring extra marketing materials to promote member-tomember discounts to the new and old members of the Chamber, so bring plenty of copies! To attend the New Member Orientation, please email Regina Ramalheira at Regina.Realtor@verizon.net or call her at 245-8893.

Business Expo At Holiday Inn Express Sept. 26!

Thanks for all your participation in our New Tampa Chamber events and please be sure to sign up for a business table (with two chairs and a tablecloth) at our “Annual Business Expo,” which will be held on Thursday, September 26. The Expo will go back to the Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites on Galbraith Rd. (near Muvico) for a night of great fun. A Chamber member “Business Booth” costs just $50 and the location can

accommodate only 75 total booths, so please book your table early. Because space is so limited, non-New Tampa Chamber members must pay $125 for a new Chamber membership, plus the $50 booth fee to secure their spaces at the event. As always the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce appreciates your support, and wants to support you with new business ribbon cuttings and sponsored events. Rev. David Shelor of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church I am working with the Tampa Bay (far right) re-donates the 2013 Taste of New Tampa Lightning for a really big event out funds the church received to Tampa Palms Elementary. in New Tampa so stay tuned! of New TampaTM” proceeds went back to both Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel and USF Alumni Dir. & ‘Taste’ Florida Hospital Tampa, as well as to Checks At May Luncheon! Tampa Palms Elementary. On May 14, at the Chamber’s reguThe next New Tampa Chamber of lar second Tuesday luncheon, the featured Commerce luncheon will be held on speaker was Bill McCausland, the ExecuTuesday, June 11, 11:30 a.m., at tive Director of the University of South Hunter’s Green Country Club. At our Floirda Alumni Association. Mr. McCaus- press time, the speaker for the June 11 land educated us about the university’s luncheon was still to be determined. Rating, Ranking, Student and Staff statistics, which directly impacts the local com- Regina Ramalheira, President New Tampa Chamber of Commerce munities as well as the surrounding 6 counties. USF is so very important to our Ads appearing on the New Tampa region, as a major employer of educators Chamber of Commerce page in New and staff. Thanks, Bill, for such wonderful Tampa Neighborhood News are available information! to Chamber member businesses only. Also at this meeting we are proud to Call 293-2464 to get yours! announce that some of this year’s “Taste

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Premier Psychological Services—Helping You Cope With Life’s Ups & Downs By Bonnie Mason Do you ever get out of bed in the morning and think that you just can't face another day? Or, maybe you are able to make it through the work day, but by the end of it, you’re exhausted and all you want to do is go home and get some sleep? Life in general can be overwhelming and in the mobile, multi-tasking, instant society we live in, stress, anxiety and depression can come too often. “Take time for you” is the advice of Dr. Brad Palermo, Psy.D. (Doctor of Psychology), licensed psychologist and owner of Premier Psychological Services, located on W. Bearss Avenue near I-275 in nearby North Tampa. Dr. Palermo explains that, at one time or another, everyone experiences stress, anxiety and depression, to varying degrees. Generally, he says, most people are able to work their way through these low or anxious periods by themselves. But, the times when you feel overwhelmed or helpless and defeated, Dr. Palermo says he recommends you seek the help of a psychological professional. “When you can’t seem to figure things out or things are not getting better – that’s when you should call our office," he says. “It’s all about balance; you have to have a balance between your work, your home and your family.”

He adds that there are things you can do on your own to create better balance in your life. For example, Dr. Palermo says you have to leave work at work — don't bring problems at work home or let your job become your identity. “Learning to separate yourself from your place of employment is key,” he says. Other steps he recommends when trying to achieve a good life balance include getting enough hours of uninterrupted sleep, eating healthy nutritious foods and living a more active life. For example, he says a walk in the early morning or after dinner is a good way to gain new perspective. And, be sure you have someone in your life you can talk with when life presents challenges — and realize that family members and friends may not always be the best people to talk to about important personal matters. A male teenage client recently told Dr. Palermo, “Thanks for putting up with me when I decided to let it all out. Wow, that was intense. Felt good though.” The clinicians at Premier Psychological Services have been helping New Tampa and other area residents get back their balance for more than three years. The practice’s licensed and certified clinicians offer 90 years of combined practical experience. In addition to Dr. Palermo, other clinicians available for clients include Licensed Mental Health Counselors

Psychologist Dr. Brad Palermo’s door always is open to those seeking help from Premier Psychological Services, located on W. Bearss Ave. near I-275. (LMHCs) Pam Baker, and Tracy Crowe, M.S.; Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), Heidi Petracco, MSW (Master of Social Work); as well as psychologist and neuropsychologist, Carmine Pecoraro, Psy.D., CAP (Certified Addiction Professional), NCGC (National Certified Gambling Counselor)-II. Dr. Palermo received his undergraduate degree from the University of Florida in Gainesville and his Psy.D. in Clinical Psychology from Nova Southeastern in

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Fort Lauderdale. “I fell in love with the ideas and concepts in learning and studying why people do what they do and why people behave how they behave,” Dr. Palermo says. “I’m personable and I want our clients to walk away with having had a personable, successful experience. Working with people is something you fall in love with, so I get to do what I love to do every day.” Each clinician has his or her own specialties and Dr. Palermo is proud to be

hand, has been proven to have long-term success.” So, even if PPS refers you to a psychiatrist to evaluate your need for medication, he says you should still meet regularly with a therapist to give yourself the best chance at long-term results.

Finding The Best Fit

(L. to r.) Carmine Pecoraro, Psy.D., CAP, NCGC-II; Heidi Petracco, MSW, LCSW; Tracy Crowe, Dr. Palermo says that it’s MS, LMHC; and Pam Baker, LMHC, of Premier Psychological Services. best to give yourself a “trying out” period of 2-4 sessions beable to offer New Tampa residents help in “I doubted the whole therapy thing fore determining whether or not you’re practically all areas of behavioral and psyat first and thought our marriage was comfortable with your clinician. The good chological therapy. Whether you have a done,” said a recent client of the practice. news is that most clients report an imyoung child who is having difficulty adThis concerned husband, father and local provement in their symptoms after their justing to a school setting, a teenager business owner told Dr. Palermo, first session, despite some clients who feel who needs some guidance and help deal“Thankfully you were able to open my a little uncomfortable. Dr. Palermo ing with peer pressures, a new mother eyes. I don’t know what I would have strongly believes in a positive therapeutic who is feeling overwhelmed, a couple done if I lost (my wife) and the kids. I relationship with the clinician. “Each perwho has lost their way, or an older person know we still have some work to do but I son is different; there is no definite time who is dealing with memory loss, Premier wanted you to know how grateful I am.” frame within which therapy will or will Psychological Services has a clinician who Therapy helps many people, but not not show results for you,” he says. can help. everyone. Dr. Palermo explained that If you would like to explore the opBesides general therapy, services there are clients who have specific mental tions available at Premier Psychological available also include group therapy, couhealth illnesses and/or behavioral disorServices, you can have a free initial phone ples therapy, psychological testing for ders that do require medication. For consult with Dr. Palermo within 24 hours learning disabilities and disorders such as those types of clients, Dr. Palermo and his of contacting the office. The initial conattention deficit hyperactivity disorder fellow clinicians at Premier will refer the sultation will help him determine if you (ADHA) or attention deficit disorder client to a psychiatrist who may subscribe are a good candidate for the therapy serv(ADD) and substance abuse counseling. the appropriate medication to combine ices offered at the practice, as well as Some people, unfortunately, still bewith therapy. which of the five clinicians in the office lieve psychological and behavioral therapy “We don't prescribe medication,” he might be the best fit for your individual are taboo. But, Dr. Palermo says that says. “Medication alone only puts a needs. Your first appointment will be once a person finds the right therapist, Band-Aid on the problem — it is not a scheduled at your convenience, usually that negative perception will dissipate. long-term fix. Therapy, on the other

within one week the initial consultation.

Skype Or Phone, Too?

Dr. Palermo says he still believes that most of Premier’s clients are best served through traditional one-on-one, face-toface therapy. However, he also recognizes that lack of accessibility can hinder a potential client’s ability to get the help they need. For those clients who travel a lot and can't get to the office for their therapy, or for clients who are experiencing extreme anxiety, as well as physically disabled people who cannot leave their homes, therapy sessions can be conducted by telephone or videoconference through Skype.com. While these are not ideal options, they do work for some clients. Premier Psychological Services accepts most insurance plans , as well as selfpay clients. Each therapist in the practice charges a different fee. “Ultimately, we all strive to work out a fee that’s affordable for you,” Dr. Palermo says. “Our goal is to help you get your life back in balance.” Premier Psychological Services is located at 324 W. Bearss Ave. in North Tampa. To schedule an appointment or to speak with Dr. Brad Palermo or any of the clinicians at the office, call 4187188, or send an email to: DrP@Phone Premier.com. Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-8 p.m., and 8 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. To learn more about the practice and services available visit Tampa-Therapy.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Christian Brothers Automotive — Quality Auto Service You Can Trust By Matt Wiley Honesty, integrity, leather couches. None of those things are exactly what comes to mind when thinking about getting your car serviced. But, these are just a few of the many “amenities” that separate the recently opened Christian Brothers Automotive franchise on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa from the usual greasy car shop. “Notice anything about our waiting room?,” asks Marty LaBarbera, owner of the New Tampa Christian Brothers Automotive franchise on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. behind Auto Zone auto parts store in the Trout Creek area next to Burger 21. “There’s no one sitting in it, but the garage is full.” LaBarbera says that the garage has been pretty full since the shop — which services nearly every make and model across the automotive spectrum (including BMW, Mercedes, Lexus, Porsche, Nissan and most other European, Asian and American makes and models) opened on January 2. Whether it’s a “check engine” light, brakes, A/C or transmission service, or just scheduled maintenance, Christian Brothers has New Tampa and Wesley Chapel covered. “This is retirement for me,” LaBarbera explains, after a long career in the

prison system in Texas. “About six years ago, I was planning ahead to retirement, knowing that I wanted to get into something else. Cars have always been a hobby for me. I knew I wanted to get into some kind of automotive business for retirement. I stepped into a Christian Brothers in Austin, TX, near where I lived. I was amazed by the appearance and the cleanliness of the place. I knew I had found what I wanted to do.” LaBarbera says that he was instrumental in bringing a Christian Brothers franchise to New Tampa when company officials decided to expand to Florida from Texas. When company officials expressed interest in the Tampa Bay area, LaBarbera scouted for locations and suggested New Tampa since it is a modern and still-developing community. New Tampa is the 111th location for the auto shop franchise, which has a separately-owned location on S.R. 54 in Land O’ Lakes. “It took about two years to get everything worked out, to purchase the property and get the construction done and all those things,” he explains. “So it’s been kind of a long process, but it just takes that long, I guess.” In the time it took to open the New Tampa location, Christian Brothers already had opened two other locations in the Tampa area, one in Westchase and the

(L. to r.) Christian Brothers Automotive’s New Tampa master technicians Doug Rathmann and Mark Evison, service manager Greg Langford and owner Marty LaBarbera are open to service your vehicle at their sparkling new location on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (near Burger 21), regardless of make or model.

S.R. 54 location. Each shop is built exactly the same and is run the same way. “They learn as they build and collect best practices,” LaBarbera says. “Their operating protocol is consistent. As franchisees, we have to agree to that entire protocol. My attitude is that, if there were 110 shops before me and not one has failed since 1983, why would I not want to run it according to that plan?”

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Besides the iconic brick look to the outside of the shop, the first thing that catches most customers’ eyes is the waiting area, which is void of the stereotypical TV playing the usual daytime programming and uncomfortable chairs. Instead, the waiting area offers a clean environment, leather couches and coffee that a Christian Brothers employee will make fresh just for you. And it’s usually empty.

Master tech Doug Rathmann looks over a car in Christian Brothers Automotive’s clean, full-service garage. Drop your car off & they’ll even give you a ride.

“Every shop has a courtesy car,” LaBarbera explains. “The mindset is this: ‘Why don’t you drop your car off, I’ll take you to work and pick you up when we’re done.’ And now your Saturday is free. Don’t you have something you’d rather be doing on a Saturday than sitting at an auto repair shop for a few hours? So, I’m on the road most of the day most days.” LaBarbera says that what really sets Christian Brothers apart from other auto repair shops is its foundation as a Christian organization. “The auto repair industry has developed a bad reputation because it’s easy to take advantage of people since we’re working in an area that most people are

unfamiliar with,” LaBarbera explains. “You have to trust us. We’re just honest. We may not tell you what you want to hear (about your car), but we’re still truthful with you.”

Another Factor Is Quality

“I don’t apologize for our prices,” LaBarbera says. “We’re not competing to be the lowest cost repair shop in the area. You can get things done cheaper; even we could do things cheaper. We could use cheap oil, cheap filters and hire inexperienced workers for low wages. But, we believe it’s the quality that really sets us apart. When you drive out of here, I want you to be confident that a good job was done on your vehicle.” LaBarbera, his service manager and

two technicians share more than 50 years of combined experience in the auto repair industry. Each technician holds a Master certification from the National Institute for Automotive Service Excellence. “On a typical day, customers will come in and tell us their car is making a noise,” LaBarbera explains. “Greg, my service manager, will ask questions and focus the issue down to something more specific and give the info to the technicians. Then, they spend about 60 percent of their time on diagnostics. They plug a computer into a customer’s vehicle that reads all of the vehicle’s system computers to see where a problem may be occurring. When a check engine light, or other notification, appears on your dashboard, it provides the computer with a code, which serves as a clue as to what could be causing a problem.” But, that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Christian Brothers’ master techs do additional extensive diagnostics research to see what problems other people have previously had with whatever vehicle is being worked on to see if a similar problem could be occurring in your vehicle. “The old school way is part-swapping,” says LaBarbera. “A shop will look at symptoms, and tell the owner, ‘It could be this,’ and replace that part. Then it doesn’t fix the problems and you’ve spent the money on that new part.” Instead of “swapping,” LaBarbera says that when it comes to parts, Christian

Brothers works as a value shopper for you. “When we put a part in your car, we make sure we get the right part from the right vendor for the right price–and that probably isn’t the cheapest one,” he explains. “So, bargain hunters may not want to come here, but if you’re value-conscious, and you want something done well and are willing to pay for quality and longevity, without paying the sun and the moon, we’re here for you. We make the recommendations for you and then you make the decisions.” New Tampa resident Sherry Laursen is happy to speak to the quality of Christian Brothers. “I’m a local real estate agent with Coldwell Banker and people always are asking me where a good place would be to take their car,” Laursen explains. “There really isn’t a place in New Tampa except for those quick shops that have bad reputations. My 17-year-old son, Dylan, took his 1998 Pontiac Grand Prix there after school recently. They gave him ‘above and beyond’ customer service. I was super impressed with them. They easily could have taken advantage of him, but didn’t even try.” Having car issues? Stop by Christian Brothers Automotive, located at 20303 Trout Creek Dr. behind AutoZone, or give them a call at 402-1262. For more information, please visit CBAC.com and search “New Tampa” in the store locator.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

A True Beer Drinker’s Review Of Pepin’s ‘Brews With Attitude’ Event By Matt Wiley When most long-time Tampa residents hear the name Pepin Distributing, the first (and sometimes only) beer they associate with the name is Budweiser. However, there is so much more to the beer portfolio of Pepin Distributing, and many of the microbreweries the distributor provides to local restaurants and bars had beers on display at the third annual “Brews With Attitude” event to help celebrate American Craft Beer Week, which ran May 13-19. The night of May 14 was a busy one at T. Pepin’s Hospitality Centre on N. 50 St. in Tampa, just south of Temple Terrace. Hundreds came out to the beer distributor’s catering house to sip on suds many had never even heard of, let aloneever tried before. The third annual craft beer festival featured more than 100 brews, 10 food trucks, hand-rolled cigars and live entertainment. This New Tampa Neighborhood News staffer was so dedicated to covering the event that he could have become a little too...committed...to trying to provide a description of each microbrewery’s fare (by sampling each, firsthand), but still managed to find a few beers that he had not tried that stood out among the rest.

For example, just to the northwest of New Tampa in Odessa, Big Storm Brewery is literally making waves. The local microbrewery was on hand at “Brews” with its Wave Maker Amber Ale, Palm Bender Pale Ale and Arcus India Pale Ale (IPA), but my tip of the cap goes to Big Storm’s Firestorm Black IPA, a bold, roasty, hoppy and of course, pitch black offering with all of the glorious hoppiness of an IPA, but the look of a big stout. Another brewery on hand that has been making a name for itself in the area is San Diego-based Green Flash Brewing Co., which had one beer on tap that was a collaboration with Tampa’s own Cigar City Brewing called Candela. Typically, this beer is only found in 22-ounce “bomber” bottles, so it was a nice opportunity to sample the 10.9-percent alcohol barleywine-style brew, without all of the commitment. Other standouts included Atlantabased Sweetwater Brewing Company’s

Dank Tank, another Black IPA, and LowRYEder IPA, a pale ale infused with rye malt for a different spin on the usual floral hop treatment. But, in my humble opinion, the popular Blue Point Brewing Company took the crown for most bizarre brew with its Sour Cherry Imperial Stout, a big 10-percent beer that added a hint of cherry to the usually dominant roasty coffee and chocolate notes found in most stouts. Cheers to Pepin Distributing for putting on such a great event in celebration of The third annual “Brews with Attitude” American Craft Beer Week! Craft Beer Festival on May 14 at the T. Pepin For additional information about Hospitality Centre on N. 50th St. in Tampa Pepin Distributing, please visit attracted hundreds of beer drinkers who gave PepinDistributing.com. the event thumbs-up!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Neighborhood News’ Matt Wiley To Have Photos Featured In Dunedin Museum

For beer (and history) lovers looking for something to do outside of New Tampa over the summer, be sure to buzz out to nearby Dunedin and check out the Dunedin Historical Museum’s newest exhibit, entitled “A Pint In History: A Brief History of Beer.” The exhibit will feature photography by New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News assistant editor

Matt Wiley. After completing a recent semester project while pursuing his Master’s degree in Journalism & Media Studies from the University of South Florida in St. Petersburg, Matt was contacted by the museum, which had seen his audio slideshow about the history of brewing in Pinellas County online. Wiley interviewed brewers and shot photos at both Dunedin Brewery (Florida’s oldest craft brewery) and 7venth Sun Brewery, which recently opened not too far from the former. The exhibit, which runs all summer long, opens the day most of you are receiving this issue in your mailboxes — on Friday, May 24, at 9 p.m. For more info, visit DunedinMuseum.org or call (727) 736-1176. The Dunedin Historical Museum is located at 349 Main St. in Dunedin, FL.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Increase The Value Of Your Home At American Wood Flooring By Kathleen Schiop & Gary Nager With the positive upsurge in the economy, more and more homeowners are considering adding improvements to not only increase the value, but also the esthetic appeal, of their residences. One of the ways many homeowners choose to add such value is to install new flooring, whether it be carpeting, tile or wood. And if you’ve ever had flooring installed in your home, apartment or even your business, you know that it can be a stressful experience. Between the cost, having to tear out the existing carpeting, tile or floor and having to move your furniture, you know you want the job done right the first time. That’s one big reason why you should visit our friend Andy Dunning of American Wood Flooring, located in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Shopping Center (next to Marshall’s) in Wesley Chapel, if you’re planning to take the plunge and replace those old, pet-stained carpets or cracked tile with a new hardwood, laminate or tile floor. “We are the only flooring vendor in Wesley Chapel,” says Andy, “and we have better prices than most and with quality installation you can trust.”

Andy speaks from years of experience working in the family business. “This is an independent, family-owned company that has been selling and installing floors in the Tampa Bay area for about 20 years.” Andy’s family’s first store, started by his father and stepmother 20 years ago (on U.S.19 in New Port Richey), moved to the corner of Mitchell Blvd. and Little Rd. in 2005 in what is now called the Trinity area. The Wesley Chapel/New Tampa location has been open for almost six years now, and offers a wide variety of tile, wood flooring and carpeting to add extra appeal to any home. “A few of the newer items we’ve added in the past few months are woodlook ceramic tile, which combines the rich, beautiful look of wood and the durability of tile, and hand-scraped, or ‘distressed’ finish hardwood flooring.” He also notes that wood-look tile has the advantage of being water resistant (“which can be important in flood situations,” he says) and that the pre-scratched wood also is a great floor in homes with kids, since any “accidents” that may happen just add more “character” to the look of the flooring. Andy says that American Wood Flooring specializes in both real hard-

Andy Dunning of American Wood Flooring, located in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwood Plaza on BBD, has the latest in pre-scratched wood flooring...and so much more! wood and laminate flooring and has access to literally hundreds of colors and styles from all of the major manufacturers, including Armstrong, Bruce, Tarkett, Beaulieu and Columbia, to name a few, and higher-end companies like Mirage, Indus Parquet and Robbins, which provide a variety of exotic hardwoods, such as Brazilian cherry, Santos mahogany and amendoim (also known as Brazilian oak).

Noticeable Differences

“We’re not the only local company you can find that carries the major manufacturers,” he admits. “But, not only are our prices at least competitive with other companies, we also offer a lot of extras most of the others don’t.” For example, all of the prices per square foot quoted at American Wood Flooring include delivery, installation,

fully to do it themselves. I would say at least once or twice a month we do fixes on installation mistakes made by the national chains and do-ityourselfers. ” He adds that no matter how expensive your flooring may be, you still need it installed properly for it to look its best. “You can buy the finest wood flooring for $20 a square foot, but if the installation isn’t done properly, it Whether you’re looking to create a floating hardwood staircase (left) or you want to transform can still look like junk, so your bathroom with ceramic tile that looks like wood (right), American Wood Flooring in Wes- you’re not really getting the best value. It’s a good idea to ley Chapel has got you — and your floors — covered! check us out before going moving all of your furniture for you, reyou have American Wood Flooring install elsewhere. We have a wide variety of moval of your old carpeting, tile or floorit. “We also warranty all of the floors we prices to fit most budgets, from just $3.99 ing (with no charge for disposing of it) install for as long as you own your per square foot for laminate, real hardand, “all of our installers are in-house and home,” Andy says. “Unlike the major wood starting at $5.99 a square foot, carhave been certified to install Armstrong, home store retailers, the warranty is with peting from $1.99 a square foot, and tile Bruce and the other major manufacturus. At Lowe’s or Home Depot, the warfrom $5.50 a square foot. And, all of ers’ flooring. We also give you a free ranty is from the installer, not the store.” those are installed prices, so you never cleaning kit and free felt pads to keep That can lead to unexpected probhave to worry about your bill inflating your furniture from scratching the floor. lems. Those warranties can be important, from charges you were never told about A lot of places charge extra for many of especially with laminate floors, which (un- beforehand.” those same services, so our prices really like hardwood floors) are not glued to And if that isn’t enough, Andy says are even better than they seem.” your concrete slab. there are always bargains to be had at Oh, and there’s never sales tax “Yes, gaps can easily develop in your American Wood Flooring, because, charged on the floors (because the govlaminate floors,” he says. “Usually, all it “We’re always being offered specials by ernment doesn’t collect sales tax for takes is a trained installer to fix those the different manufacturers.” major home improvements), as long as gaps, but a lot of people try unsuccessPart of the reason Andy is so knowl-

edgeable about all aspects of the business is that he also spent some time (in 2007 and 2008) as a territorial sales manager for a flooring distributor covering Alabama, South Carolina and Georgia. “It was a great experience for me to be on the distributor side,” he says. “I really learned a lot about which floors sell and why.” And yes, American Wood Flooring does carry and install both carpet and tile, as well as wood and laminate floors. Andy says that many of the jobs the store does are from referrals from satisfied customers. Bhavana, a resident of Richmond Place, installed cherry wood flooring, and was so satisfied with the results that she referred American Wood Flooring to several of her neighbors. Another happy customer is TammyHellman, a realtor at Prudential Tropical Realty. Tammy hired American Wood Flooring to install her laminate floor and has since referred all of her real estate customers to Andy. “We’ve probably gotten at least 15 or 16 jobs from her alone in the past three years. We love it when our customers love our work.” American Wood Flooring’s WesleyChapel location is at 1285 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.. The store is open Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For more info, visit AmericanWoodFlooringFL.com or call 991-7999.

Buyers Home Store Helps Home Buyers Make Informed Buying Decisions By Bonnie Mason Buying a home can be an almost-mystical, stress-inducing process, especially for first-time home-buyers like Charlene Caines, who didn’t let this often-difficult experience get her down. Caines turned to Phil Paul, the owner and president of Buyers Home Store, a full-service real estate agency specializing in new homes in the Tampa Bay market, located on SR 54 in Lutz, minutes from Wesley Chapel. Paul was a sales consultant for Buyers Home Store from 2010-12, when he purchased the business from its previous owner. Buyers Home Store real estate agency specializes in helping its clients purchase new homes, especially homes in new construction neighborhoods. Paul says the firm’s eight licensed real estate consultants, including him, have a combined 75 years of new home sales and consulting experience. “Our consultants are Tampa Bay residents who have worked for builders and developers in the area, giving our clients ‘insider’ expertise other real estate agencies can’t offer,” says Paul. Caines says she was greatly appreciative of Paul’s thoroughness and efficiency. “As a first-time buyer, buying a home can be overwhelming and stressful,” she says. “However, Phil provided personalized service, which gave me a sense of calm through what was one of the biggest decisions of my life. His expertise was tremendous — whether it was helping me to set the parame-

ters to narrow my search, or always being available to answer any questions I had.”

Rent Or Buy?

Since the recent burst of the housing bubble (both locally and nationally), many potential buyers have gotten into the mindset that renting a home is best at this time. And, while this may still be true in certain areas, a sales consultant from Buyers Home Store can help you determine your best options, especially if you know up front how long you plan to live in one area. According to Zillow Real Estate Research’s “Breakeven Horizon Index,” it takes 8.3 years before buying a home makes more financial sense than renting a home in a major market like San Francisco. In Tampa, however, Paul points out that the number of years is much smaller, at only about 1.6 years. “As the local economy continues to improve, buying a home is becoming a more attractive investment,” Paul says, “and it’s certainly a move to consider if you’re planning to stay in one spot for several years. If you’re paying more than $1,000 each month in rent, you’re probably paying too much. We can get you into a brand new home with a $960-per-month mortgage payment.” Paul adds that many clients don’t realize that purchasing a new home may, in reality, be more economical and more within reach than purchasing an older home. “It may even be less expensive to buy new than a short sale or one in foreclosure,” he says. “This is where the expertise of Buyers Home Store sales consultants can come into play.”

FREE Seminars For Buyers?

Of course, a home buyer’s credit rating has to be high enough to qualify for a mortgage, but Paul says the decision to become a homeowner is becoming an easier one to make. And, his firm can then help you determine the type of home that’s best for you, by empowering you, the consumer, with valuable knowledge about real estate. Paul’s team believes the more you know, the better off you are — and that’s why the firm offers a plethora of valuable resources, including “Home Buying 101” seminars. And, he says, whether you’re a first- time homebuyer or embarking on the home-buying journey for a second or third time, everyone can benefit from attending a “Home Buying 101” seminar, whether you ever become a Buyers Home Store client or not. “Making smart decisions about real estate is good for everyone, and this is our way of helping to do our part as real estate professionals who truly care,” Paul says. First time home-buyers, especially, are encouraged to attend any of the many seminars hosted by Buyers Home Store, where you can learn about credit scores, loan programs, tax benefits, how to prequalify for a loan and more. Phil recognizes that the resale housing market is inundated with distressed properties waiting for new home owners. Short sales and foreclosures also are readily available. Despite all of the deals in the market for previously owned homes, however, he

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says consumers shouldn’t discount the potential benefits of buying a new home. Paul and his team work closely with twelve new home builders in the Tampa Bay market, giving them intimate knowledge of what each builder has to offer a Phil Paul of Buyers buyer — everything Home Store on S.R. including price ranges 54 in Lutz wants to and the sizes of the help you find the new homes in each community, as well as the home of your dreams. available layouts and designs, financing, incentives and warranties. And, Phil and his Buyers Home Store consultants help their clients come up with a true assessment of the overall expected expenses of each home they may be interested in buying. He adds that the cost of customizing a new home to a buyer’s expectations, the fact new homes normally require less maintenance and fewer repairs than older ones and the advantage of new home warranties also should be part of a buyer’s decision to purchase new or old. “Green” appliances that provide more energy efficiency also are a consideration. Paul explains that new building codes were set by the International Energy Conservation Code in 2009 and resulted in greater required efficiency for any home — about 17 percent more energy effi-

cient than in 2005. And of course, improved energy use should help decrease the utility costs that he says should be factored into the total cost of owning any home. A Wesley Chapel resident himself, Paul has intimate knowledge of the area. He began his career in real estate after graduating from Florida State University in Tallahassee with a degree in Residential Housing Design & Property Management. He then obtained his Master’s degree in Architecture from Florida A&M University, also in Tallahassee. He moved to Tampa in 2004 and began working for Pulte Homes, where he earned numerous awards and recognitions as a Pulte sales consultant from 2004-10. He sold $15.7 million in real estate properties his first year there and, in 2005, he was named the #1 National Sales Associate for Pulte Homes of Tampa, which is affiliated with the National Association of Homebuilders. Among the other awards he received while at Pulte include: Employee of the Quarter, Sales Associate of the Quarter (twice), Highest Customer Satisfaction Score among the Sales Team and Sales Associate of the Month (at least one month every year he was with Pulte). Phil also is active in the Tampa Bay community, volunteering with United Way of Tampa Bay, The Children’s Home, and the Boys & Girls Club of Tampa Bay. And, best of all, Paul says, “Buyers Home Store is essentially a free service to home buyers. All of our costs are paid by the seller in any given transaction. So, for home

buyers, there’s nothing to lose and everything to gain by working with us.” Located at 24812 S.R. 54 in Lutz, Buyers Home Store is a proud Member of the Tampa Bay Builders Association and the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors®. The firm specializes in connecting buyers with new homes throughout the Tampa Bay area, including Hernando, Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Sarasota and Manatee counties. If you’re looking to sell, buy, or build a home, call Buyers Home Store at 235-4951. Or, visit BuyersHomeStore.com to register for the next seminar, which is scheduled for Saturday, June 1. The website also features listings of current new and existing homes for sale in the area.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Our 2013 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Summer Camp Guide returns for its second run in this issue and there are plenty of wonderful camps and summer programs listed here, whether your kids are into modeling, art, sports, music, science or prefer a more well-rounded summer camp experience. We continue to be proud of this publicationʼs unique ability to match up kids with the summer camps and programs that make them happy — and keep them out of your hair — once the school year ends. If you know of any other summer programs youʼd like to see advertised here, call Nikki at 910-2575 as soon as possible. You also can visit Camp.NTNeighborhoodNews.com to view this guide online. — GN

New Tampa Dance Theater Student To Attend Prestigious Dance School Cameron Panesso is chasing her dream. One day, Cameron, a Heritage Isles resident, hopes to become a professional ballet dancer, and, with the community’s help, a winter term at the prestigious School of American Ballet in New York City could help make that dream a reality. The Bartels Middle School eighth grader began her training to become a professional ballerina at age 3, right here in New Tampa at the New Tampa Dance Theatre, located on Cross Creek Blvd. Since then, she has appeared in numerous stage productions including “The Nutcracker” and, most recently, in a rendition of “Sleeping Beauty.” For the past two summers, Cameron has auditioned and been among the 200 from across the country who have been accepted into the School of American Ballet’s summer program, at the end of which 30 are invited to attend the school’s 10-month winter program. Only 500 dancers are accepted into the winter program and many of those students go on to become members of the New York City Ballet (NYCB). Cameron has been accepted to the summer program for the third time,

WELCOME TO FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY

Dr. Neeraja Jasthi

• Cleanings (Ages 4 and up)

New Tampa Dance Theatre student Cameron Panesso is headed back to the New York City Ballet for the summer. but she says she is intent on being invited to stay for the winter this time. “The expense for these programs is very high and has become very difficult for my family to support,” Panesso says in a press release. “I am seeking sponsorship or donations to help me with the cost of tuition. Any size contribution would be greatly appreciated, because this will allow me to pursue my passion for the art of dance. Becoming a New York City Ballet ballerina is my dream!” To help Panesso with the cost of school or for more sponsorship information, please call 340-1277.

• Crowns, Bridges and Implant Crowns • Veneers • Zoom & Take Home Whitening • Root Canals & Extractions

FAMILY & COSMETIC DENTISTRY 20441 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (across the street from Wharton H.S., in front of Live Oak)

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Dr. Neeraja Jasthi, DMD

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Freedom Softball Ends Season At State Championship Game! By Matt Wiley Facing adversity is one of the themes at the heart of every great sports story. A young team with no postseason experience, the 2012-13 Freedom Patriots softball season truly could be considered a “Cinderella Story.” The numbers, however, present a different tale, that of a fullsteam-ahead march to the Class 7A-9 FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championship in Vero Beach. Although the Patriots were ultimately defeated, it was an experience none of the girls will soon forget. Despite a loss at the Class 7A-District 9 Championship game to Chamberlain on April 18, the Patriots still advanced to the Regional tournament as the District runner-up, where the girls didn’t waste any time getting on a hot streak. “It was our first time in the postseason, so we didn’t really have many expectations coming in,” Freedom head coach Autum Hernandez said afterwards. “If you’re playing well at that time of the year, that’s all it takes to get to the final. We just happened to string together some wins that led us to the final game. It was exciting for the girls, and the school. Every game, we had a different hero.” Hernandez says that she is most proud of the hard work that the girls put in to get the team to the State championship. “We continued to play great defense throughout the post season,” says Hernandez. “That kept us in games and allowed us to score runs late. We used two pitchers throughout post season (senior Katlin Hall and sophomore Grace Street) and they were a great one-two combination punch.” Following a 2-0 victory against the Countryside High Cougars (24-4) on April 24, the Patriots (22-4) once again found themselves pitted against the reigning 7A-9 and defending state champs in the Regional Semifinal: the Chamberlain Chiefs (21-8). The game ended up being delayed and postponed twice due to the weather.

“Having to play Chamberlain three days in a row to finish one game, due to the weather, was pretty physically draining,” Hernandez says. However, thanks to solid batting from junior Rachel Carlson and sophomore Kayla Maczuga, both batting .500, as well as junior Ashley Wilson, senior Katlin Hall and Kaitlin’s sister freshman Maddy Hall (each batting .333), the Patriots held on for a 4-2 win. Hall came in late to replace Street on the mound to hold off Chamberlain after the Chiefs scored two runs in the third. Whiteside and Wilson then took apart the pitching of the Sarasota Sailors’ (13-12) in the Regional Final game on May 3. In the top of the seventh inning, the pair batted in five runs after trailing 10 since the fourth. Hall again closed the game on the hill, allowing only 2 hits, but no runs. Whiteside hit her first high school home run, which also happened to be a grand slam, to seal the victory. And, just when it looked as if the Patriots could be heading home, playing extra innings in the State semifinals against Chiles High Timberwolves (25-8) on May 8 at the Vero Beach Sports Village, junior Ashley Wilson stepped up to the plate in the bottom of the eighth and cranked a walk-off home run to win 1-0 and send the Freedom girls to the State title game. Wilson was 2-for-3 (her other hit was a double) in the game, and she was the only Freedom player with any hits. Street and Hall kept the game close, allowing no runs among the 30 batters they faced.

The Freedom High softball team finished second at the State Class 7A championship. great game against us,” The Raiders sealed the victory in the sixth inning when Aquinas’ Rachel Collins batted in a run scored by Erica Nori. The Patriots were not able to respond in the bottom of the sixth. “We only had one base hit, by Maddy Hall,” Hernandez says. “We had our opportunities with base runners, with batters that were hit or who walked, but we just didn’t take advantage of those. The girls) were definitely upset, but they’ll be able to look back on the game in a few weeks and see what they accomplished. (In the postseason) you have to

The End Of The Line

The postseason hot streak came down to the May 9 State Championship game against the St. Thomas Aquinas Raiders (22-5) of Ft. Lauderdale. A true pitcher’s battle, the Raiders’ Meghan King allowed only 1 Freedom hit, while Street and Hall allowed a combined 6 hits to the Raiders. “They had a lefty pitcher, which is something we’re not used to seeing,” Hernandez explains. “(King) threw a

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play good defense and score runs when you have the opportunity.” Regardless of the State final loss, the Patriots finished the season ranked number 32 overall Florida, according to Maxpreps.com. “I think this experience will give them confidence for next year,” Hernandez says. “We’re losing four seniors, but the experience that the underclassmen got, there’s no replacing that.” Congratulations to the Freedom High Lady Patriots softball team for their first postseason appearance and first trip to a softball State Championship game!

Freedom, Wharton Students Put Pen To Paper, Commit To Colleges By Matt Wiley & Gary Nager During a small, early morning ceremony, anticipation and excitement about the future fills the room, as three Freedom High School athletes prepare to put pen to paper and sign letters of intent to attend college on athletic scholarships. On April 30, Freedom High seniors Kelly Huseman, Brandon Patchan and Zachary Romp signed letters of intent, committing to colleges that recruited them for gymnastics, basketball and football, respectively, during a small press conferencestyle ceremony filled with teachers, family and friends. “We’re very proud of these kids,” said Freedom athletic director Mick Buddie. “This is a very important step for them. My advice to (the students) is: Don’t take it lightly. Keep the momentum going.” Kelly Huseman signed a letter of intent to compete in gymnastics as a University of Wisconsin at Stout Blue Devil, located in Menomonie. Freedom guidance counselor Myama Fulkroad introduced Huseman. “She’s an academic, but she balances it well with gymnastics,” Fulkroad said. “She represents the best that Freedom has to offer.” Freedom varsity basketball coach Cedric Smith introduced Nova Southeastern University commit Brandon Patchan. “Nova is getting an incredible player

Left: (L. to r.) Zachary Romp, Brandon Patchan & Kelly Huseman of Freedom High all will continue their respective athletic careers in college, as will (right) former Freedom basketball player Drew Vanderbrook of Wharton (seated), who signed with Indian River State College. The same day as the Freedom signand student in Brandon,” Smith said to the Zachary Romp, who committed to Berry ings, 6’-8” Wharton High forward Drew crowd. “He’s always had a drive and pasCollege, located in Mt. Berry, GA. Vanderbrook signed to play the next two sion to be a good player. I never had to “Zach truly is a scholar athlete, a years at Indian River State College in Ft. worry about academics with Brandon. You tremendous player and a fine young man,” Pierce. Vanderbrook, who transferred from made my job easy.” Donohoe said. Freedom to play at Wharton this year, Patchan, the brother of former UniRomp closed out his high school cascored 4 points in the Wildcats’ State Class versity of Florida football starter Matt reer at Freedom this past season with 37 Patchan (who transferred this year to tackles, averaging 3.7 per game, as well as 2 8A semifinal 46-38 loss to South Miami. Wharton coach Tommy Tonelli and Boston College) expressed gratitude for his interceptions. Indian River coach Joe Sanchez agreed that years at Freedom. Freedom principal David Sheppard Vanderbrook’s future is bright. He became “I’m happy to be getting my educaclosed out the ceremony with a few words the second Wharton player (point guard tion and having the opportunity to play on about the diversity in sports at the school. C.J. McGill, who will play at the University the next level,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you want to of Mobile, AL, is the other) to sign to play According to Maxpreps.com, Patchan, play,” Sheppard said. “When you go to college basketball next year. “We’ve had a center and power forward, finished his Freedom, no matter your flavor of sport, players go on to play at four-year basketball senior year averaging 10.2 points and 5.8 you can be successful.” schools,” says Sanchez, who once coached rebounds per game. Wharton’s Vanderbrook Signs at the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Freedom varsity football coach Todd With Indian River State MD. “Drew has a chance to do the same.” Donohoe introduced defensive back

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Habitat’s ‘Raise The Roof’ Constructs 1st Wesley Chapel Home For Local Family In Need By Matt Wiley With all of the residential communities located within minutes of the Shops at Wiregrass mall, it may seem strange to see a home actually being built at the busy shopping destination. However, the construction of the house is part of a project by Habitat for Humanity (HFH) of East & Central Pasco that, upon its completion, will be deconstructed and moved to its permanent location, where a family in need will get to call it their home. Beginning on May 17 at the mall, a group of volunteers from HFH of East & Central Pasco, part of the non-profit Christian ministry that builds homes for families in need worldwide, took part in “Raise the Roof,” an event that began constructing the walls of what will become the first HFH home built in the Wesley Chapel area. “This Wesley Chapel home will be this HFH chapter’s 120th home to date,” said Stephanie Black, director of development and public relations for Habitat of East & Central Pasco, which previously has built and rehabilitated homes in Dade City, Zephyrhills, Lacoochee and Land O’ Lakes. Black explained that land prices have been the issue that has kept HFH from building in the Wesley Chapel area, until now. Recently, she says, Pasco County Community Development donated a building lot to HFH in the Angus Valley area of Wesley Chapel. “We hope this home and the occupants will always be examples of what can be accomplished through caring people and the HFH program,” she said. “Habitat doesn’t give away homes; it gives opportunity.” The event challenged local businesses and individuals to help eliminate poverty

housing by donating some time, sweat and a few dollars to help build a quality home for a local family in need. Once the project is completed at the Shops at Wiregrass, the walls will be deconstructed in sections and then transported to the home’s permanent site on Brahma Dr. in Angus Valley, located off Old Pasco Rd., Left: Daisy Soto (center) and her family will be moving into the home that HFH and community volunteers north of S.R. 54, an helped to begin building at the Shops at Wiregrass mall the weekend of May 17. Photo (right): Eric Johnson area in which HFH hopes to have more payment and a zeroland donated for future homes. percent-interest mortOnce the 1,100-sq.-ft., 3-bedroom, 2gage.” bathroom home is completed at its permaThe mortgage payments, which the nent site, Daisy Soto and her two young sons, homeowner is responOswaldo, 6, and Carlos, 9, will move in. sible for paying over 30 “This is awesome,” Soto said during the years, go toward buildfirst day of the event that ultimately would reing additional homes. sult in the construction of a permanent home So, HFH homeowners for her family. “We’re very excited.” pay it forward, literally, Soto, a single mom and Saddlebrook helping other families Resort employee, currently is renting a moin need get into a debile home. Soto, too, was hard at work with son, director of community relations for Wescent home with each payment. the construction of the home, which is part ley Chapel Toyota & Honda. “We take a very The Habitat event drew extensive supof the deal for HFH home recipients, as is hands-on approach to charity work, so HFH port from the community in the form of dohaving to help with other Habitat projects. is perfect because it allows us to get out there nations and sponsors, especially from Wesley “(HFH) helps hard-working families in the community and learn to work together. Chapel Toyota & Honda, which are both lopurchase a simple, decent home of their Instead of only writing a check, donating time cated off S.R. 54, on different sides of I-75. own,” Black explained. “Habitat uses volunto HFH provides a real experience.” “HFH is one of best philanthropic opteer labor to help keep costs down, and then portunities in the area for us,” said Eric JohnSee “Raise the Roof” on page 38. sells the home to the recipient with no down

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“Raise The Roof”

Continued from page 37 Johnson said that he has been working with HFH since Black came in and purchased a vehicle a few years ago. “I was looking for another charity option for the dealerships,” he said. “I had heard that she had come in, and I had done some HFH work in college, so we got to talking and it worked out perfectly.” Johnson said that the dealership’s decision to sponsor “Raise the Roof” was due in part to finding out that it would be the first HFH home in the Wesley Chapel area. “We’ve done so much with HFH that we decided to sponsor the home,” Johnson explained. “We’ll be sending employees out frequently to work on it once it gets moved to its final location. However, at Friday’s ‘Raise the Roof’ event, we had the managers out (at Wiregrass) helping out, and the accountants on Saturday!” Other sponsors of “Raise the Roof” included Florida Medical Clinic’s Foundation of Caring, Cars.com (who sent out a mini crew) Batson-Cook Construction, Wells Fargo Bank, Zephyrhills Water, First National Bank of Pasco, SunTrust Bank, Sign-A-Rama of New Tampa, Ierna’s Heating & Cooling and Honeybaked Ham of Wesley Chapel. Since 1994, HFH of East & Central Pasco has been building homes throughout Pasco County. In addition to building the houses, the organization also runs two dis-

count home improvement stores called “ReStores,” which sell heavily discounted new and gently-used home-building supplies. Black said that most of the items for sale are donated by local retail businesses, building contractors, suppliers and giving individuals. ReStore even offers free pickup of the donated items six days per week in all of east and central Pasco County. Black explained that, through a new partnership with Recycle That, LLC, an organization that collects and recycles unwanted household items, ReStores now also accept used and worn clothing, shoes, fashion accessories and linens. If the items are unable to be reused, they are recycled. Profits from the store, which has locations in both Zephyrhills and Dade City, go towards refurbishing and building new HFH homes in the east and central Pasco areas. Another program that HFH employs is called “Cars for Homes,” which is almost exactly what it sounds like. Unwanted vehicles, including cars, trucks, motorcycles, recreational vehicles, farm or construction equipment, boats and even airplanes can be donated to HFH, whose authorized partner, Advanced Remarketing Services, Inc., handles the title transfer, towing and vehicle donation reporting before selling the car to a new owner. Proceeds made from the sale of the unwanted cars go to benefit the local chapter of HFH, in this case the HFH of East & Central Pasco. For more information, please call (352) 567-1444 or visit EPHabitat.org.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa Relay For Life Shatters Records At Freedom High! I’ve probably been to at least five or Photo by Craig Miller, Full Throttle Intermedia six of the New Tampa “Relay for Life” events over the years (as well as several in Wesley Chapel and others), but this year’s New Tampa Relay to benefit the American Cancer Society (ACS) is undoubtedly the biggest and most impressive Relay I’ve ever attended. And, considering that the event needed a new chairperson to step up as recently as January of this year, I take my hat off to long-time local residents Leslie Britt and Tom Gruber, who agreed, midstream, to become the co-chairs of this year’s New Tampa Relay. And, with about 1,000 total participants on 60 teams, the 2013 New Tampa Relay, held in 90+-degree temperatures at Freedom High on May 17, raised more than $100,000, as well as the spirits of everyone who attended. “Yes, we’re pretty sure this is the biggest Relay event New Tampa has ever seen,” said Britt. “Tom and I and all of our volunteers are just relieved that it all worked out. We can’t thank the community enough for its support.” The top fund-raising team this year (Clockwise from top left): New Tampa Relay for Life organizers Leslie Britt (left) and Tom was the Bartels Bengals “Fight Back” Gruber, with breast cancer survivor Holly Klotch. The “survivor lap” is always a highlight of team, which raised more than $11,000, every Relay for Life. Young survivor Ethan and his family formed “Team Ethan.” The New but congrats to everyone involved.—GN Tampa Family YMCA crew walks a lap together. The fun and games included this tug-of-war.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Our Exclusive Look At This Summer Blockbuster Season At The Movies By Matt Wiley

It’s sure to be a blockbuster summer with more popcorn, apocalypses, sci-fi, superheroes and action than in recent memory. From family-friendly monsters trying to get a college degree to Superman, escape the summer heat with some summer movies at the Muvico Starlight 20, located on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. or at the Cobb Grove 16 Theatre & Cinebistro, located in The Grove at Wesley Chapel plaza. The following is a self-proclaimed movie buff’s (trust me, I used to work at Blockbuster) preview of what to check out (or not) on the big screen during the next few months. Like ‘em or hate ‘em, let us know in the comments at NTNeighborhoodNews.com or WCNeighborhoodNews. com, where there are even more previews and trailers to help you decide what to see this summer.

May

“Iron Man 3” – (Now playing, PG-13) The world is threatened once again, this time by Ben Kingsley’s Mandarin, and who better for the job of protecting it than Robert Downey, Jr., errr Iron Man? Expect to see the usual suspects reprise their roles in this third installment in the Marvel superhero’s franchise, which is directed by Shane Black, including Don Cheadle, Gwyneth Paltrow and Jon Favreau (who directed the original), as well as newcomer Guy Pearce. “Star Trek: Into Darkness” – (Now playing, PG-13) Soon to be Star Wars VII director J.J. Abrams steps back into the director’s chair for the sequel to the 2009 Star Trek franchise reboot (Commence nerd arguments regarding loyalty and conflict of interest). “Into Darkness” finds the universe endangered by an intergalactic terrorist with Captain Kirk (Chris Pine) and his Enterprise crew in hot pursuit. “The Hangover : Part III” – (May 24, R) The epic conclusion to the drug and booze cruise that is the “Wolf Pack” trilogy, but this time, there’s a new format. Maybe Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms and Zach Galifianakis remember everything? Doubtful.

“After Earth” – (May 31, Not Yet Rated) Will Smith and son Jayden try to help director M. Night Shyamalan redeem his post-“Signs” directing reputation on the big screen by crash landing on Earth in a film set 1,000 years after our planet is evacuated.

June

“This Is The End” – (June 12, R) Seth Rogen, James Franco, Danny McBride, Jonah Hill and Craig Robinson star alongside enough cameos to make heads spin in an apocalyptic survival tale, following a party at Franco’s house. Based on a bogus trailer put out by Rogen and Jay Baruchel (“She’s Out of My League”) about two guys stuck together in a room after the world ends, Rogen & Co. present (what looks like) a hilarious, raunchy and gory tale of the end times. I’m there. “Man of Steel” – (June 14, PG-13) It’s a bird, it’s a plane, it’s a potential new franchise to replace “The Dark Knight,” and many on the inter-Web speculate that it also could be the first of many films leading up to a D.C. Comics “Justice League” movie, similar to Marvel’s “The Avengers” last summer. From director Zach Snyder (“300”) and writers Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer (the latest Batman trilogy) comes a Superman film (the first in seven years), rethought and set in a “more realistic world,” in which men from other planets can fly. Henry Cavill (“Immortals”) stars alongside Kevin Costner, Amy Adams, Russell Crowe and Michael Shannon.

(L. to r.) “Man of Steel,” “Monsters University” and “Elysium” are among this summer’s blockbuster movie releases. “White House Down” – (June 28, Not Yet Rated) The idea already has been played out once this year in “Olympus Has Fallen,” but Ronald Emmerich (“2012”) directs what has been deemed “Die Hard in the White House,” about an off-duty police officer (Tampa Bay’s own Channing Tatum) on a tour of the national landmark with his daughter when it is taken over by armed men. Jamie Foxx (“Django Unchained”) plays the President. Yippee-ki-yay. Make John McClane proud, Mr. Tatum.

July

“Despicable Me 2” – (July 3, PG) Gru (Steve Carrel) and his mischievous little minions return in a follow-up to 2010’s “Despicable Me.” Expect safe family fun from the world’s nicest villain and a bunch of adorable little, yellow guys. Al Pacino, Russell Brand and Kristen Wiig lend their voices. “The Lone Ranger” – (July 3, Not Yet Rated) Disney takes on the classic radio & TV hero of the ‘50s. Johnny Depp trades in his pirate hat for face paint and a feather in the role of Tonto, while Arnie Hammer (“The Social Network”) takes on the lead role as the masked renegade. “R.I.P.D.” – (July 19, PG-13) Policeman Ryan Reynolds (“Green Lantern”) dies and goes to… the R.I.P.D. (Rest In Peace Department), a group of undead cops who try to keep the world safe from undead forces. Partnered with Jeff Bridges, (who still looks to be in character following 2010’s “True Grit”), Reynolds tries to find the man behind his murder in this Robert Schwenke (“R.E.D”) film.

“The Wolverine” – (July 26, Not Yet Rated) Hugh Jack(ed)man is the true man of steel as everyone’s favorite mutant who battles samurais with his blades in modern-day Japan. James Mangold (“Walk the Line”) directs in a sort-of-sequel to 2009’s “X-Men Origins: Wolverine.”

August

“Monsters University” – (June 21, Not Yet Rated) It’s been 12 years since we last heard from Monsters, Inc., employees Sulley (John Goodman) and Mike (Billy Crystal), but Disney Pixar brings the two “scarers” back to the big screen this summer to show us how they got their degrees in being scary.

“Elysium” – (August 9, Not Yet Rated) Director Neil Blomkamp returns to the director’s chair in his follow-up outing to 2009’s visually stunning “District 9,” a play on South African Apartheid, with “Elysium.” Matt Damon plays a common man living on earth, while 2154 society’s 1% reside on a space station. Damon decides to bring the rich back to his level. Jodie Foster costars.

“World War Z” – (June 21, Not Yet Rated) Based on the Max Brooks novel of the same name, a virus is turning much of the world into (CGI) hordes of zombies. Thank God we have Brad Pitt, playing a U.N. employee, to stop the virus from spreading. Marc Forster (“Monster’s Ball”) directs Pitt as a man trying to save both his family and humanity. Development issues and script re-writes have plagued this film (see what I did there?) from the start, but hopefully it will be a fine addition to the zombie-survival genre, as the first made on a big-budget scale

“Kickass 2” – (August 16, Not Yet Rated) A sleeper hit in theaters, 2010’s “Kick-Ass” told a different kind of superhero story, in which the young heroes have no actual powers pulled straight from Mark Millar’s comic book of the same name. The action/comedy sequel brings Kick-Ass (Aaron Johnson) and Hit Girl (Chloe Grace Moretz) back to the screen to take on Red Mist’s (Christopher Mintz-Plasse, better known as “McLovin”), with new additions, including Jim Carrey as Colonel Stars and Stripes

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Happy Cow — Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet, Gelato & Fresh-Baked Treats! By Gary Nager If you’ve been reading this publication the last year or so, you know just how many frozen yogurt places have opened in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and that there are still more on the way. So, how does a new frozen yogurt place separate itself from its competition? Well, for University of South Florida grad (and Marketing major) Ray Perez and his aunt and uncle, Connie and Bill Rogers — the owners of the new Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet & Gelato located between First Watch and Bonefish Grill in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza just north of

the Pasco County line on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — the answer is pretty easy: You come up with a cute cartoon logo and serve a brand of frozen yogurt (plus soft-serve gelato and sorbets) that no one else in the area has, in a brightly-colored, comfortable setting and add truly freshbaked brownies, cookies and waffle cups and more than 60 different toppings. If that still doesn’t sound too different to you, check out what keeps calling a certain publisher back to Happy Cow. At the far end of the huge toppings bar, you’ll find four large containers with pump tops that allow you to add your choice of hot fudge, hot marshmallow sauce, hot peanut butter

and hot caramel fudge. I can even now put my choice of those hot toppings on yogurt flavors like the new Rocky Road, as well as favorites like cappuccino, birthday cake, peanut butter and tangy fruit flavors like margarita fat-free sorbet and even Italian biscotti gelato. (Front, l.-r.) Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel Troy Stevenson “We have our oven right up front, (left) joined Happy Cow Frozen Yogurt, Sorbet & Gelato owners (l. so when we bake fresh to r.) Connie Rogers, Ray Perez & Bill Rogers at the store’s Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting on May 10. brownies, cookies or waffle cups, people walk in and tell us they just love the aroma in here,” Ray, the former manager of the Burger Monger (located just a few doors down in the same plaza), says. “And it only takes 1013 minutes to bake a new batch if we’re You can fill your freshly made waffle cup (left) at Happy Cow with freshout when you arrive.” baked brownies, cookies our editor’s favorite hot toppings (right) and more. And Happy where you can win free “stuff” and franchisCow, which celebrated its Grand Opening ing opportunities. with a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of For more information about Happy Commerce ribbon cutting on May 10, also has frozen quarts of their always-rotating fla- Cow Frozen Yogurt (1646 BBD), call 428-5929 or visit and “Like” the shop’s vors, as well as T-shirts, cooler bags and page on Facebook.com. other gear, plus a great loyalty program

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

NY NY Pizza — A Famous Taste Of NY & Ybor City In Wesley Chapel! By Gary Nager Anyone who has been reading this publication for any length of time knows how much I love pizza, especially the true New York-style pizza which cooks in real pizza ovens on a true pizza “stone.” The good news, for those of us who live and/or work in Wesley Chapel, is that our area already has had some pretty good NY-style ‘za. The better news is that the new New York New York (NY NY) Pizza, which has been open a couple of months on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., in the same plaza as Dunkin’ Donuts and Edible Arrangements, is among the best in our area...the real thing. Native New Yorker Freddie Mamudi,

35, who currently owns or co-owns four NY NY Pizzerias with a fifth getting ready to open in the Westchase area, has been making true NY pizza since age 12, when he started helping out in a family-owned pizza place in The Bronx, NYC. He moved to Florida after owning his first pizzeria in Connecticut, and opened his first NY NY Pizza on 7th Ave. in Ybor City in 2007, which became an instant favorite with the late night bar crowd. Since then, he has opened an equally successful location on Howard Ave. in the Hyde Park area in 2010, and another on Big Bend Rd. in Riverview the same year. Although he still owns the Ybor location by himself, Freddie hasn’t forgotten his family roots, as he co-owns each of the other locations with one of his cousins.

New York New York Pizza always offers a nice variety of true New York-style pizzas available by the slice, as well as whole pies and other Italian specialties.

His cousin Leon co-owns Hyde Park, cousin Landi is his partner in Riverview, cousin Tony will help him open a Westchase location by a little after this issue reaches you and cousin Clarence Novaku is the manager/co-owner of the Wesley Chapel location. “This is more like the Riverview location than Hyde Park or Ybor,” says Clarence. “But we want to assure everyone that if you’ve tried any of the other locations, we do everything the same here. We make the dough and sauce daily with only the best ingredients and also shred the cheese ourselves fresh every day. We think you can taste the difference.” Clarence, who has been in the pizza biz more than 15 years himself, started at a family-owned restaurant called Il Picera in Garfield, NJ, when he was just 16. Although it became more of a fine-dining establishment during his nine years there, Il Picera started as a true NY-style pizza place, too. As for the pizza itself, if you crave a thin, NY-style crust that crunches, as I do, and the true taste of New York in every bite of sauce, cheese and whatever toppings you prefer (I’m partial to the plain cheese and sausage and pepperoni pies), NY NY Pizza won’t let you down — and Freddie and Clarence promise that the

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

At the new New York New York Pizza on BBD Blvd., next to Dunkin’ Donuts in Wesley Chapel, you’ll find co-owners Clarence (left) and Freddie hand-forming the pizza crusts.

pizza will always be available both by the slice and the whole pie, with a variety of by-the-slice favorites always on hand. Clarence says his favorite pizza at NY NY is the “Grandma’s pizza,” which has three homemade sauces blended together with roasted garlic, fresh basil and olive oil and the sauce on it is unique...and totally delicious. But, you really can’t go wrong

New York New York Pizza also features a variety of tasty pasta dishes, like the ziti with broccoli sauce (which features white wine, galric and lemon; we added the grilled chicken), as well as specialty New York-style pizzas like the Philly cheesesteak pizza (right).

with any of the pizza options, from the traditional Margherita to the Bada Bing sausage (with tomatoes and broccoli), or the NY NY Supreme with pepperoni, sausage, meatballs, olives, bacon, mushrooms, onions, peppers and ham. But, NY NY also features a full menu, with not just eggplant or chicken parmigiana, but also eggplant rollatini (rolled and stuffed with ham and ricotta), chicken or eggplant Florentine (with spinach, fresh mozzarella and a lemon sauce, penné a la vodka and of course, baked pastas like lasagna, baked ziti and stuffed shells. The garlic knots also are perfect and there also is a variety of great wings, appetizers like fried calamari, jalapeno poppers and fried mushrooms, and tasty pasta dishes from traditional spaghetti and meatballs to a lemon-and-garlic broccoli

sauce served on your choice of al denté ziti, spaghetti or fettuccine. The meatball parmigiana hero also is outstanding and there also are calzones, strombolis and a variety of hot and cold subs, burgers, wraps and even authentic gyro and Philly chicken sandwiches. In other words, you really can’t go wrong at NY NY Pizza, especially if you check out the amazing specials available in the ad on page 31. And, please tell Freddie, Clarence and their crew you read about ‘em in the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News! NY NY Pizza (3757 BBD Blvd. in Wesley Chapel) is open Sunday-Thursday, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., and until 11 p.m. on Sat. & Sun. For orders and more info about the other locations, call 528-8771 or visit NYNYPizzeria.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

Vallarta’s & Casa Ramos Coming To Tampa Palms

Although we still couldn’t say for certain at our press time whether or not Ciccio’s Lodge was going to move into the former World of Beer location in the Shoppes at The Pointe in Tampa Palms (although both World of Beer and Coffee Beanery Café did close since we made those announcements last issue), we do know what restaurant will replace Ciccio’s in the Publix-anchored City Plaza at Tampa Palms shopping center. Vallarta’s, which of course, has a very successful location in Wesley Chapel and locations in Land O’Lakes, Temple Terrace and two in Tampa, is planning to move into the former Ciccio’s slot and Wesley Chapel Vallarta’s owner Fabian Jimenez promises the Tampa Palms location will feature a similar menu, full liquor bar and a great place to bring the family or hang out to watch a game.For more info about Vallarta’s, call the Wesley Chapel location at 907-5161 or visit VallartasTampa.com. Of course, we also told you about another new sit-down Mexican restaurant getting ready to open in Tampa Palms, although we were originally told it would be called Azteca, which is a small chain of 35 restaurants that started in the Pacific northwest and now has five locations in Florida, including two in Orlando and an-

other in Winter Haven. But now, signs have gone up proclaiming the restaurant’s name to be “Casa Ramos,” but we weren’t told by the management if the new restaurant is simply a name change (in deference to the chain’s founders, José Ramos and his three brothers) or if Casa Ramos might be a more upscale eatery. At our press time, Casa Ramos was expected to be open around or even before June 1, but we’ll keep you posted.

Cappy’s Pizza Coming To City Plaza

We also had to post a shot on our Facebook.com page last week announc-

tion about all of the Cappy’s locations.

Little Greek To Open Soon ing that a new location of Tampa Bay area mini-chain Cappy’s Pizza is opening in the original, smaller Ciccio’s location in City Plaza by the end of the summer. Cappy’s already has locations in St. Pete, South Tampa, Riverview and one near to New Tampa at 4910 N. Florida Ave. in Old Seminole Heights and is known for both New York- and Chicagostyle deep dish pizzas, calzones, salads and beer and wine. Call 238-1516 for the Old Seminole Heights Cappy’s Pizza, or visit CappysPizzaOnline.com for informa-

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

We also wanted to update you about the status of the Little Greek Restaurant which we hoped would open shortly after the Taste of New Tampa, in the Publixanchored New Tampa Center plaza. Owner Percy Rosemyurgy, who had quite a few New Tampa residents interested in his tasty Greek fare at the Taste in March, says that he expects the newest Little Greek link in this mini-chain to open about a month after you receive this issue in your mailbox. In the meantime, you can check out the Little Greek location at 2548 E. Fowler Ave. (971-9106) and eight others around the Tampa Bay area at MyLittleGreek.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL H E L P

Classifıeds

W A N T E D H O M E

PHYSICAL THERAPIST – An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080 CAREER OPPORTUNITIES AVAILABLE Join our mission to create greater awareness for our clients. By using cutting edge promotional marketing methods, we bring the products to the local market. We strive to create strong presence in our community for the products and services we represent, we go above and beyond for a level of success that far exceeds our competition. Contact Us Today (813) 501-4915. 29140 Chapel Park Dr. Wesley Chapel www.centurionconcepts.co HELP WANTED - Licensed insurance agent needed for Wesley Chapel P&C Agency. One year of agency experience preferred. Must have 4-40 or above license. Part-time and full-time openings available. Good customer relationship and organizational skills required. Competitive salary with bonus structure. If interested, please forward your resume to info@insurancenewtampa.com

I M P R O V E M E N T

DRY WALL SPECIALIST - Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified. Call Ron for free estimate (813) 784-5999 NEED HOME MAINTENANCE – Almost any job, large or small, ext/int, fencing , screening, sm. concrete, sprinklers, painting, repairs, int. doors, locks, sheet rock, windows, paint, caulk, grout, trim, shelving, garages organized. Installations, removals, pressure washing, wood restoration & more. Call Dale’s Home Maintenance @ 973-0194 or 727-2582. GREG’S PAPERHANGING – For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed & insured, clean, quick & reasonable. Call 973-2767 for free estimate. RAYMOND PAINTING – Interior & Exterior pressure washing, paper hanging, plaster, stucco, tiles, clean & seal pavers, roofing leaks, etc. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free Estimates. Your Neighborhoond Arbor Greene Resident. We work 7 days. Call 994-5124.

HELP WANTED - Medical Assistant needed for Pediatic office in Wesley Chapel starting immediately. Pediatric experience preferred. Fax # (813)9734438 Email: rdubey5@yahoo.com

DAVID BRIDGES PRESSURE CLEANING Complete exterior cleaning of your home or business with a professional and personal touch. - Pool decks and screen enclosures - All fencing/ driveways and walkways/roofs - Gutter and downspouts. Find your happiness in a fresh, bright clean home. Your neighbors will love you for it! All work guaranteed. Licensed and insured. (813) 215-1177

HELP WANTED - Looking for licensed hairstylists. full time or part time looking for the right person to work in a fun, family atmosphere. If interested call (813) 973-1514 and ask for Bonnie.

WEST COAST FLOORING INC - Hardwood, Laminate, and Carpet; Over 25 years experience in sales and installations; Repairs: Large and small jobs; We even do exterior pavers; Free estimates - Call Doug at (813) 215-4817

HELP WANTED - Medical Billing Personnel, part-time, flexible hours, Local PT Clinic. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080.

HANDYMAN SERVICES - Handyman Services, Disposal and fan installations. Painting, dry wall repair, calking, tile and wooden floor installations, gutter cleaning, and much more. Great prices! Call 813.907.6994.

HELP WANTED - Home cleaners needed Earn 200 part time to up to 400 full time you area. Car and phone required. Anna's Housekeeping 813.985.1150.

BROWN ENTERPRISES & FLORIDA'S TRUPROFESSIONALS - Certified professionals who specialize in roof repairs/ installation, remodeling, repairing, flooring needs, construction clean-up (excavation, demolition, xeriscaping designs, & scaffolding), lawn maintenance (sodding, plant removal/installation, rock gardens, irrigation, tree removal/installation), and professional, residential, and commercial cleaning. For more information, contact (813) 676-7916 or (813) 5162008.

HELP WANTED - Hiring housekeeper, with car and valid driver’s license. Spanish a plus. Call: 813.758.9710 or 813.758.9745

E FITNESS &WELLBEING

FIND YOUR DREAM HOME FROM YOUR CELL PHONE! - Wish you could see home details while you are driving around looking at homes? NOW YOU CAN! With Team Bohannon's Mobile MLS Search application, you can search for any home in the area on your cell phone. Check out price, beds/baths, details, maps, even photos – all from the convenience of your cell phone. SEARCH PROPERTIES WHENEVER AND WHEREVER YOU WANT! GET IT NOW - Text: MLS4YOU to: 87778 Compliments of Doug, Annette and Dale Bohannon Coldwell Banker (813) 979-4963

TAI CHI CLASSES - open to the public at the Club Tampa Palms. Benefits: Strength, Flexibility, Balance, Focus and reduced stress. New Beginner 6 week courses starting every few months. Adults Course: Thursday evening’s 7-8 pm. Seniors Course: Tuesday afternoons 12-1 pm. Space is limited! Also personal instruction in Tai Chi, Kempo Karate, Boot Camp Fitness training and more. With more than 30 years of training and teaching experience. Please contact me for more details or go to: chuan-fa.org. Peter #787-7560 or E-mail peter@chuan-fa.org

EXECUTIVE OFFICES - from $375-$525/mo. New Tampa Professional Park located in Pebble Creek Behind Chase Bank off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Regents Park Drive. Call Gail Lynch today at 813973-4155

LICENSED MOBILE MASSAGE THERAPIST Available seven days a week, 9am -9pm. $55 for 1 hour! Types of massage available: Swedish, Deep Tissue, Aroma Therapy, Hot Stone, Corporate Seated, Pregnancy, Sports & Injury Rehab. References available. www.barkdollmassagetherapy.com CALL (727) 372-6389 Lic #MA47546.

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COMPUTER SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT – in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 20 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. Remote assistance available. References available upon request. Call 957-8342 for free estimate. DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? - WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Servicing residential & businesses, w/ over 25 years experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank (813) 973-4507 today! www.WSICA.COM; Wsica@wsica.com

P O O L

S E R V I C E S

TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE - New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! New customer’s ONE MONTH FREE! Call Chris Today @ (813) 857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com AQUATEC POOL SERVICE - 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 1 MONTH OF QUALITY SERVICE FOR FREE. www.aquatecpool.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

GROUP THERAPY CLASSES – 4 groups starting: 1) Adult Stress Management, 2) Children’s Social Skills, 3) Parenting Skills, and 4) Mind-Body Wellbeing. Cost: $20-$30 per week. Conducted by licensed therapists with over 10 years of experience. Limited Space, Call Today. We also provide individual therapy for children, adolescents, and adults. Call Dr. Brad Palermo, Licensed Psychologist – (813)-666-5885 www.Tampa-Therapy.com SENIOR CARE HELP - Homemaker, Companion, and Personal Care Services. Light Housekeeping, Transportation, Wellness Checks Meal Preparation, Respite Care. Alzheimer's Care, Licensed Bonded and Insured Acti-Kare Responsive In-Home Care. 813-319-9143

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING - Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements?Ask about our HOA SPECIAL! FREE ESTIMATE! (813) 420-4465 LAWN CARE - We Specialize in Residential Lawn & Landscape Maintenance! Landscaping, Mulching, Clean-ups, Palm/Tree Trimming & Sprinkler Repair also available. Owner Operated over 17 years. Call us today for Reliable Service for everything that grows @ your property (813) 973-3825 or visit: ntlcpropertymaintenance.com

CLEANING

S E R V I C E S EDUCATION

D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE - We have our own supplies & more than 300 clients in New Tampa! For more information, Call 758-9710. M.Y. CLEANING SERVICE - Offering Residential cleaning. We offer complete bath & kitchen cleaning, as well as dusting and polishing furniture. We provide our own supplies. Free estimates! Your satisfaction is our priority! With 5 years of experience, we guarantee meticulous cleaning! Call Mila: (813) 516-3554. CLEANING, LAUNDRY, YOU NAME IT!$68.00 introductory special, Mon-Wed. Make your list, put us to work! Anna's Housekeeping - A BBB Accredited Business Servicing Florida since 1991. We have private housekeeper rates with agency Backup coverage! Licensed and all housekeepers are background checked. Call 813.985.1150. DISCOUNT JUNK REMOVAL!!! - No job to big or to small! Same day service. Senior discount. Servicing the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, as well as surrounding areas for over 11 years. Furniture, yard debris, garage clean out, and any other items. Call Lamar Today – 813.285.4674. V&J CLEANING SERVICES, LLC. Residential-Commercial cleaning. Quality service. Affordable rates. Reliable, flexible scheduling. Supplies & equipment provided. Call Elizabeth for free estimates - 813.454.3082. CLEAN FIRST TIME - Let Clean First Time of Hillsborough serve you! We offer office cleaning, new home/renovation construction cleaning, Community Center cleaning, window cleaning and more, at times and intervals to suit you! We are fully insured and can provide current references. If a good work ethic and attention to detail are important to you, give us a call! 813.313.8468 BELLA’S CLEANING SERVICES - Reliable, affordable, professional, detail oriented. I have references. Free estimates. I have many satisfied customers in New Tampa, with five years experience. Call: 941-5447451.

F U N

G A M E S

BRIDGE PLAYERS WANTED - Daytime. Weekdays. Once, twice, or more per month for three hour sessions in selected homes of members in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. Actual schedule depends on availability of players. One-two tables maximum. Party bridge, not Duplicate. Intermediate level. Enjoyable, warm, casual people. Free. No frills. For details call Harry at 813-9072541 or Jane at 813-355-3665.

BABYSITTING

PROFESSIONAL TENNIS LESSONS - Recently relocated USPTA/PTR teaching professional available for private/group/team tennis lessons. Former Head Tennis Professional at the #2 and #3 Tennis Resorts in the U.S. Past coach of former #1 singles player at the University of Florida. Call Steve Brady at (843) 422-3993 or email sbrady@hargray.com AFTER SCHOOL CARE - Drop off/pick up, Help with Homework, Transportation to after school activities. Age appropriate recreational activities. Snack/ Meal Preparation. Licensed, Bonded and Insured Acti- Kare Responsive In-Home Care 813-319-9143

TAMPA CAT LADY- Professional Cat-Sitting Service. Cats are happiest in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, & smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle, & play with your kitties & clean & dispose of litter. Insured, bonded, & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. Call 994-9449 or visit www.TampaCatLady.com. NEW TAMPA PET SITTING SERVICES Under New Ownership! Please call Larisa at (813) 5463887. Thank-you for your business over ALL these years! Please call Marina at (813) 416-5301 for references!

M I S C E L L A N E O U S CAR SERVICES – Don’t Have a Ride? Don’t Want to Leave Your Car? Shouldn’t Drive? We Drive You and Your Car Home! Night Clubs, Corporate Events, Sporting Events, Concerts, Appointments, Airport or Stranded... Call Jay at (813) 966-1530. TURN YOUR CLUTTER INTO CASH! - Garage & estate sales, inventory liquidation,& appraisal services. We'll sell it for you online!We evaluate & appraise your products then get you top dollar. We do the work you get the cash. Ask me how, contact Mary at 813-428-5793

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Guest Editorial — Wrapping Up The 2013 State Legislative Session By Shawn Harrison Well the 60-day 2013 State Legislative session is now in the history books, and there was some history made. Here are some of the highlights.

Budget

The session started off much brighter than in years past because of the state’s first budget surplus in many years. The 2013 budget was the largest in Florida’s history at $74.5 billion, and there are no new taxes or fees. The Republican budget for the first time in recent history also drew substantial support from Democrats. Some of the budget highlights include an additional $1.5 billion for public K-12 schools, $600 million for protection of the state’s water bodies and environmentally sensitive lands, and $2.8 billion for the state’s reserves, an important factor in maintaining Florida’s AAA bond rating, which, coincidentally, is higher than the Federal government’s!

Election & Campaign Finance Reforms

The very first bill passed by the state

House dealt with extending early voting opportunities for Florida’s citizens. Early voting was officially extended to 8 hours per day for 8 days prior to any election and individual supervisors of elections have the discretion to extend early voting to 168 hours with 14 days of 12 hours of voting. Proposed constitutional amendments are now shortened to 75-word ballot statements. This was a major problem in 2012, as there were 11 proposed constitutional amendments on the ballot printed in their lengthy entirety, which undoubtedly led to longer vote times. Campaign contribution limits also were raised from a current $500 maximum to $1,000 for state House and Senate candidates and $3,000 for statewide candidates.

from the federal government, but put it into insurance exchanges instead of expanding Medicaid, even though the result would have essentially been the same. Florida’s House also passed its own plan, which turned down the federal Medicaid dollars and relied instead on state funds exclusively to fund a scaled-down version of low-income public healthcare. The failure to enact a Medicaid plan means that Florida will lose the first year’s $5 billion in federal Medicaid expansion dollars unless Gov. Scott calls a special session to try to resolve this issue. This hotly contested clash of ideologies

Medicaid Expansion?

The biggest controversy of the 2013 session, and a whopper it is, was the failure to agree on a formula to accept $51 billion over the next 10 years from the Federal government for Medicaid expansion under “Obamacare.” This was a priority for Gov. Rick Scott, who was in favor of accepting the Federal Government’s money and insuring an additional one million Florida residents. The Senate passed its own plan, which accepted the expansion dollars

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 21, Issue 11 • May 25, 2013 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

promises to carry over into the 2014 session and possibly the 2014 elections. The good news for Florida in 2013 is that for the first time in a long while there was a budget surplus. But, in the words of The Notorious B.I.G. (via Florida House Speaker Will Weatherford) “More Money, More Problems.” Former Dist. 60 State Rep. Shawn Harrison now practices in the areas of commercial litigation, health care law and government relations at Shawn Harrison Associates (1010 N. Florida Ave.). For more info, call 337-6683 or visit ShawnHarrisonAssociates.com.

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