Volume 21 Issue 13
Inside: Wharton & Freedom’s Class Of 2013 Graduates!
June 22, 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 • Bridgewater • 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 • Watergrass • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg
Wharton Principal Silences Salutatorian’s Mic During Graduation Speech By Matt Wiley Graduation ceremonies can be pretty similar to one another. The principal gives a welcome address, followed by either the salutatorian and valedictorian or vice-versa, before the graduating students cross the stage to collect their diplomas. However, on June 3, during the graduation ceremony for New Tampa’s Paul R. Wharton High, something peculiar happened: the salutatorian’s microphone was turned off before the honoree had finished delivering his speech, and the reasons for doing so are still not completely clear. Harold Shaw, Jr., a 17-year-old prospective University of Florida (UF) film student, approached the podium as Wharton’s salutatorian with a 7.31 GPA and began his speech. Before beginning, he removed his cap. The version of the speech that Shaw began to deliver to the crowd of classmates and their families inside the expo center at the Florida State Fairgrounds was the third draft he had been instructed to write and submit to the school for approval. “Today begins a journey of self exploration and endless opportunities,” Shaw
After walking said in his speech. “Do the stage, Shaw’s not forget the power of attorney Tom Parcreativity.” nell, Esq., of Gibbs However, a few & Parnell, explains minutes into the speech, that no diploma Woods stood up and was waiting for made a gesture to turn off Shaw in the room Shaw’s microphone, where students which then went silent. were instructed to Woods then approached pick them up. Shaw a second podium, says that he was inthanked Harold, told the structed to talk to crowd that Wharton Woods, but while High respects individuals’ trying to do so, he freedom of speech, but that there is a time and Harold Shaw delivering his salutatorian was instead esplace for everything and speech before his mic was shut off during corted out of the Wharton High’s graduation on June 3. building by Hillsinvited valedictorian borough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) Allyson Bell to the podium to deliver her deputies and had to pick up his diploma at speech. the school two days later. “I got about two and a half pages into “(Woods) said into a walkie-talkie that my speech and then I stumbled,” explains I was harassing him,” Shaw says. Shaw. “I said, ‘just do what it takes,’ and But, this was not the first confrontathat was enough for (Woods) to cut me off. tion between the two. I thought it was a technical difficulty or Prior to graduation, Shaw had posted something that had happened. It seems a video on Youtube.com that he had made, ridiculous because I was going by the apentitled “Welcome To Wharton High proved speech the whole time.”
School,” which drew attention to the school’s restroom conditions, even giving the email addresses for Woods and Hillsborough County School District (HCSD) superintendent MaryEllen Elia at the end, urging viewers to voice their concerns to the officials. Shaw says he was called down to the principal’s office the Friday before graduation. “(Woods) basically implied that I had to take (the video) down in order to make my speech,” Shaw says. The video has since been re-uploaded to Youtube. Parnell explains that the first two drafts of Shaw’s speech included references to the sanitation video, but that the third version was approved by Woods and the School Board and his script was waiting for him on the podium. “The School Board (first) told me that (the speech being cut short) was due to time constraints, but that doesn’t make sense because the speech was approved (at its full length),” Shaw says. “Instead of what could have been one of the best days of his young life, he goes See “Salutatorian” on page 38.
City Could Annex More New Tampa Land For New Development
NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE
Improvements Coming To Morris Bridge Congratulations To New Tampa’s Class Of 2013, Pumping Station, Our 2013 Hurricane Guide, New Tampa Missionaries Visit Nicaragua, New Tampa Schools Score Well On FCAT, Peabody’s Adds New Lunch Selections & More Lots Of Local Business Features & More! Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!
Pages 1-40
Pages 41-56
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NEWS, BUSINESS, SPORTS & EDUCATION UPDATES
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Also Inside This Issue!
is already located within the City’s jurisdictional limits, and the Property is surrounded by other property already located within the City’s jurisdictional limits,” Taylor Morrison states in its petition for voluntary annexation to the City. “Additionally, the Property is located within the City’s water and sewer service areas, and the Home builder/developer Taylor Morrison is proposing the main access/entrance to annexation into the city of Tampa of this Z-shaped piece of property behind Paul R. Wharton High. the Property is from existing City right-of-way.” Taylor Morrison also informed the City that it will utilize 20 acres of adjacent BJE land already inside the city limits for See “Annexation” on page 38.
Postal Customer
The City of Tampa could once again be growing in the New Tampa area, as a housing group has applied to develop an unincorporated parcel of land behind Paul R. Wharton High. Through a contract with landowner Busch Junction Enterprises (BJE), Scottsdale, AZ-based homebuilder/developer Taylor Morrison approached the City of
Tampa in May about voluntarily having its 148-acre parcel of land annexed into the city limits. The Z-shaped piece of land that could be annexed, if approved by the Tampa City Council, lies between West Meadows and Grand Hampton, stretching from south of Royal Hampton Blvd. east to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., north of Wharton High. “This annexation is proposed because a portion of the Taylor Morrison Property
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Matt Wiley