New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 29, Issue 17, August 17, 2021

Volume 29 Issue 17 August 17, 2021

Deja Vu As New Tampa Goes Back To School

By John C. Cotey John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com In June, there was hope and optimism. The number of Covid-19 infections were down, the battle seemed to be turning in the wake of vaccinations, and a return to a normal school year — after a year that no one was eager to repeat —seemed closer than ever.

In July, a variant of Covid, a stronger and even more contagious version called Delta, began popping up in news stories.

Infections began to spread, and so did concern.

In August, with numbers higher than they have been at any point since the pandemic began, schools across Hillsborough County and New Tampa opened on August 10, shortly after we went to press with this issue.

What a difference a few weeks makes.

“In June, we thought we would be starting the school year in a much more normal situation,” said Chiles Elementary principal Teresa Evans. “I think everyone’s a little disappointed to be back to something like last year….but our community has been very cooperative, and we’re expecting a great year. But, we’re not through this pandemic yet. There’s still challenges to rise to meet.”

When schools in New Tampa swung their doors open last week, they did so with teachers, parents and students optimistically wondering what lay ahead.

Evans and others promised business as usual.

“We were really excited, thrilled to be back doing what we love to do and what we know is best for the kids,” Pride The classroom of Pride Elementary teacher Fonda Tolliver (2nd from right) was filled with mask-wearing parents Elementary principal Paulette English said. “We are ready.” and students when the school held its open house for the 2021-22 school year on August 6. (Photo by Charmaine George)

See “Back To School” on pg. 4

Which New Tampa Restaurant Is Your Favorite?

To win a $100 gift card to the restaurant of your choice, see pgs. 30-32!

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Saying Goodbye To Bobby Bowden & Pebble Creek Golf Club An editorial by Gary Nager Even though I graduated from the University of Florida and the late, great Bobby Bowden coached our instate rivals, the Florida State Seminoles, I definitely felt a sense of loss when I heard he had passed away at the age of 91.

I transferred to UF from the Division III State University of New York at Albany before the start of the fall semester in 1979.

That year, the Gators finished the season with a record of 0-10-1, including the final 27-16 loss at home to FSU, which was undefeated and Bobby Bowden ranked fifth in the country News4Jax.com at the time. It was Bowden’s file photo fourth season as the coach of the ‘Noles, after six mostly succesful years as the head coach of the West Virginia Mountaineers.

My roommates and I were among the 58,000 in attendance at that 1979 game, and we were encouraged to only be trailing 10-0 at halftime. Then, we were downright giddy when the Gators tied the game at 10-10 before the end of the 3rd quarter. But, Bowden completely outcoached rookie Gators’ coach Charley Pell the rest of the way to complete our winless season, still the worst in Florida’s history. We were happy that Bowden’s unbeaten team was dominated by #5 Oklahoma 24-7 at the 1980 Orange Bowl.

The Gators were better the following year, finishing the season with an 8-4 record, including a 35-20 win over the Maryland Terrapins in the Tangerine Bowl, and as the 19th-ranked team in the country, in Pell’s second season.

But, the last of those four losses came at the hands — and brilliant football mind — of Bowden and his ‘Noles, a game my roommate “Squiggy” and I drove to Tallahassee to see.

And, even though we sat in what seemed like a sea of garnet & gold, Squig and I were enjoying the game well into the third quarter, as Pell’s Gators somehow led #3 FSU 13-3.

But, the defense of the coach later known as the “Riverboat Gambler” for his amazing trick plays, dominated us after halftime, when we seemingly had negative yards rushing (we averaged less than 2.5 yards per carry for the game). And, 53 of our 160 total yards passing came on one first-quarter TD pass from QB Wayne Peace to WR Tyrone Young, as the Gators ended up losing 17-13.

Squig and I knew that win sent the 10-1 ‘Noles back to the Orange Bowl for a rematch with #4 Oklahoma and also-legendary coach Barry Switzer. The Sooners were favored by less than a touchdown and rallied to win the game 18-17 in the fourth quarter on an 11-yard TD pass from QB J.C. Watts to WR Steve Rhodes and a twopoint conversion pass to TE Forrest Valora with only 1:33 remaining. Even so, Bowden’s team gave it the ol’ college try, but the comeback (and PK Bill Capece’s 62-yard FG attempt) fell short.

But, even though I celebrated that FSU loss and virtually anything bad that happened to the ‘Noles after that, I still have a profound respect for this amazing coach. RIP, Mr. Bowden.

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Goodbye, PCGC

Even though we’re not golfers and had spent less time there since Covid hit, Jannah and I were sad to hear that the Pebble Creek Golf Club (PCGC) in New Tampa was closing on July 31 (see pgs.

8-9), especially because we have enjoyed some fun times (L.-r.) Jerry, Jannah, Gary, Letitia & Eric say goodbye to in and outside of Mulligans Pebble Creek Golf Club together.

Irish Pub, which has hosted some of the best St. Patrick’s last — visit to Mulligans on July 23, we all felt Day parties in our area over the past several years. compelled to take a picture together. Saying So, when some Pebble Creek residents goodbye is never easy, but Jerry, Letitia and Eric recognized us on our most recent — and helped brighten our somber mood a little.

INSIDE:

Pebble Creek Golf Club closes as residents fight rezoning the property for new homes.

Pages 8-9

We tell you why Freedom’s girls swimming may be New Tampa’s best fall sports team.

Page 28

Will you win Stonewood Grill & Tavern’s filet mignon in our Dining Contest?

Pages 30-32

New Tampa Neighborhood News OUR NEW ADDRESS: 28949 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Isabella Douglas Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager 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 advertisement reservations for Volume 29, Issue 19, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, August 30, 2021.

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Back To School: Continued from page 1.

They’ll have to be.

Teaching should be more convenient this year. In 2021-22, there will be no eLearning — the District eliminated it after it served roughly half of Hillsborough County’s roughly 220,000 students last year.

And, quarantines are less stringent, reduced from 10 days to seven days in many cases Many of the cleaning protocols from last year remain in effect, although the return of so many students to the same-size classrooms likely also means the end of social distancing in those classrooms. Larger areas, like lunchrooms and outdoor spaces, will still try to keep kids spread out.

John Olewski, head of the math department at Freedom High, said last year was very challenging. He taught in person at Freedom, though he did also have one online class. He said Freedom was roughly 60% in person, and 40% eLearners.

He said it has been “deflating” to see the Covid numbers reaching such heights again, and is hoping 2021-22 won’t end up being a repeat of last year.

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District makes masks mandatory, with opt-out option, for 2021-22 they are excited for the new year and expect things to be more normal.

While she isn’t thrilled by the recent rise in Covid cases, “We don’t think the virus is going away anytime soon,” she says. “But, we feel more confident now.

We know the schools are going to take care of our kids, and they did a great job last year.”

Schnell says she also is pleased that masks aren’t being mandated. A political hot potato, the mask issue is still one that continues to boil not just locally, but also state- and nationwide and is not expected to go away. But, for now, the mask issue seems to be defused.

Last year, masks were mandated, a decision many hoped would be kept in Pride principal Paulette English hugs one of place for this school year. After parents her students. (Photo: Charmaine George) lined up at School Board meetings to express their concerns, Superintendent “We have high expectations,” he says. “We’re eager to get the kids back in Addison Davis first decided that masks the classrooms.” would not be required this year.

And, many of the families in our Any efforts to change his mind were local schools share that eagerness. torpedoed by Governor Ron DeSantis Hunter’s Green Elementary parent issuing an executive order saying school Christy Schnell has a second and fifth districts that had mask mandates could grader, and says she is not necessarily lose their state funding. worried. Her kids were in brick-andHowever, on Aug. 6, four days before mortar classrooms last year, and she said the start of school, the Florida Department

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of Health adopted new Emergency Rule 64DER-21-12, which states, “Students may wear masks or facial coverings as a mitigation measure, however, the school must allow for a parent or legal guardian to opt-out the student from wearing a face covering or mask.”

The following day, Davis changed course, requiring masks but giving parents the opportunity to opt heir children out of having to wear them.

The new requirement will be in place until Sept. 3, when it will be re-examined.

Hunter’s Green parent Amanda Nguyen, whose second-grader attended brick-and-mortar last year, says she thought the governor’s response was “dismal.”

She feels that masks help ensure the safety of teachers and their students. Still, two months ago, with numbers down, she was prepared to send her secondgrader to school without a mask. But, like many, since the recent spike in Covid cases, Nguyen has had a change of heart.

At our local open houses prior to the start of this school year (which were held on days where Florida was setting new infection and hospitalization records), masks were worn by a majority of the parents and children.

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County Approves 22-Percent Trash Assessment Boost $289.32 to $352.79, an increase of

By JOHN C. COTEY $63.47 annually, or $1.22 per week.

Solid waste assessments pay for two john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Despite a number of problems with curbside garbage service in recent months, Hillsborough County Commissioners didn’t seem to have much choice but to vote to increase trash assessments for the coming year.

On Aug. 4, commissioners voted 5-2 in favor of the 22% increase, effective Oct. 1, rather than run the risk of having no service when the current contract with Waste Connections of Florida expires.

District 2 Commissioner Ken Hagan, who represents the New Tampa area, was one of the no votes, along with fellow Republican Stacy White.

“A majority of (Waste Connections’) service failures were in north Hillsborough, including my neighborhood,” said Hagan, a Carrollwood resident. “It was getting to the point where they were missing up to 50,000 homes a day. Residents were extremely frustrated, and I completely understand. I feel the same way.”

The annual assessment will rise from

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garbage collections per week, one recycling collection per week and one yard waste collection per week, as well as self-hauled disposals at the county’s collection centers.

Fuel prices, truck maintenance and population growth have led to the need for higher assessments, according to the county staff.

However, because of recent performance issues with Waste Connections, the timing for a boost couldn’t be worse.

The trash service provider missed more than 250,000 pickups in June and July, while hundreds of routes weren’t completed. The poor service resulted in thousands of emails and phone calls from angry residents.

Last month, the county threatened the trash hauler with fines if it did not improve service. Hagan says Waste Connections blamed Covid-related issues as well as an employee shortage brought on by not being awarded any of the new contracts, worth $589 million, which were approved in June and will begin in February of 2022.

The new contracts went to Republic Services of Florida, Waste Management Inc., of Florida, and Fomento De Construcciones Y Contratas, Inc. Hagan said the new contractors are working with Waste Connections of Florida to bring over some of their employees.

“I feel relatively comfortable where we’re at now,” Hagan says. “They say they are caught up. And, we have procedures in place to prevent this, should it happen again. I feel much better than I did a couple of weeks ago.”

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Saying Goodbye To Pebble Creek Golf Club Photos by Charmaine George

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PCGC Closes, But Fight Over Its Development Nears

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com All is quiet at the Pebble Creek Golf Club (PCGC), which closed for good on July 31. So, what’s next?

Homes...probably.

PCGC owner Bill Place has all but finalized a deal to sell the roughly 150 acres of land the course sits on to Pulte Homes, which has plans to build 230240 homes on the property.

Place is still awaiting the results of environmental testing on the course, which was found to have high levels of arsenic and dieldrin from insecticide applications (from before he owned the property, Place says). He says the results have been sent to the Environmental Protection Commission and directions on how to remediate the soil so the land can be developed is forthcoming.

The cost is expected to be somewhere between $1 million-$3 million, but Place says a $3-million price tag would be out of the question.

Pulte Homes has already begun some site engineering at the former golf course, but also will have to rezone the property to build the new homes.

And, that’s where the fight begins.

Leslie Green has lived on the 10th hole at PCGC for nearly 30 years, in one of roughly 130 (of the 1,400 total in Pebble Creek) homes physically located on the golf course.

She created the “Save Pebble Creek” Facebook page in March 2019, and is leading the charge to convince the Hillsborough County Board of Commissioners to deny Pulte the rezoning it will require to build over the golf course..

Green is against building additional homes on the golf course site for a

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The Pebble Creek Golf Club, which opened in 1967 and was New Tampa’s oldest golf course, has closed, as owner Bill Place seeks to sell the 150-acre course to Pulte Homes for development.

(Photo: Charmaine George)

number of reasons — including the environmental impacts, flooding issues, the loss of green space and how new homes would affect an area she says is already densely populated.

She also is skeptical of many of Place’s claims. She thinks a rezoning could lead to far more than just 240 homes, doesn’t feel Place was losing as much money on the golf course as he claimed (while sabotaging it with negative portrayals) and did little in the way of improvements the past few years.

“When you’re constantly threatening to close the course, people are going to stop coming,” she says.

Green, who live-streamed on Facebook on July 31, the final day the golf club was open, also was a vocal critic when Place tried to get a brownfield designation for the course, which would have provided him with a tax credit that could have covered three-fourths of the remediation costs.

She was emboldened by the

successful efforts of the community to defeat the brownfield designation. And, she thinks it can happen again.

“We didn’t just start Save Pebble Creek, we’ve been working together on this for two years,” Green says. “We have a strong community.”

Mike Jacobson, the homeowners association president for more than 1,000 of the 1,400 homes in Pebble Creek, is taking a more measured approach.

Like most residents in Pebble Creek, he prefers a golf course over homes. But, he says that the choice isn’t between a golf course or new homes, but rather between an abandoned golf course and new homes.

Jacobson is mostly concerned with the worst-case scenario, and has to look no further than Plant City. In 2013, Walden Lake homeowners recommended denying rezoning of its struggling golf course for development.

Instead, the course shut down, the owner went into foreclosure and the

formerly lush green fairways became overgrown with weeds and foliage. The two-story clubhouse became a haven for trespassers. Home values in Walden Lake took a big hit.

“That is my biggest fear,” Jacobson says.

There are now, seven wasted years later, plans to build homes and a “city center” on the long-dormant Walden Lakes course.

While making it clear that he is opposed to development on the golf course site, Jacobson says he has met with Pulte representatives about the benefits of redevelopment.

At the end of the day, he says, it comes down to what is best for Pebble Creek’s homeowners, and the value of their properties.

“We are trying to find what is strategically the best outcome for all of Pebble Creek and, quite frankly, there’s no great outcome,” he says. “The best outcome is to find a buyer who wants to operate it as a golf course. If there’s anybody out there that wants to operate it as a golf course, I’d love for them to reach out to me....we would fight to the end with the commissioners to say we have somebody who wants to operate it the way it’s been zoned and keep it as a golf course.”

He says, however, that to date, no one has done so.

While engineers for Pulte will soon begin doing their thing, the fight picks up when the rezoning request reaches the Hillsborough County Commission, possibly in 4-6 months.

“Any full rezoning boils down to the vote of the County Commission,” Place says. “And you can’t predict that with full accuracy. I expect there to be opposition, and I understand that it will be contentious.”

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New Tampa Town Hall Turned Into National Forum Luis Viera held a community town hall meeting at Hunter’s Green Country Club, but somehow, a Fox News Channel talk show broke out, leaving the District 7 Tampa City Council member scratching his head.

What are usually mundane affairs — sorry, Councilman — about New Tampa’s traffic congestion, cars driving too fast in neighborhoods and roads needing to be repaved, instead turned into a rather COLUMN

by John C. Cotey pointless referendum on Viera and co-host (and District 63 State Representative) Fentrice Driskell’s views on Critical Race Theory (CRT), Black Lives Matter (BLM) and immigration (OMG).

Thankfully, time ran out before they could be asked about what they think of Andrew Cuomo and who their choice is for 2024 and why is it Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez?

“I came in prepared to talk about

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Dist. 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera and Dist. 63 State Rep. Fentrice Driskell (photo on next page) held a New Tampa community town hall at Hunter’s Green, and the topics ranged from toilet water to immigration. (Photos: Charmaine George)

the City of Tampa budget and what I’ve fought to get in there — fixing potholes and repaving roads, parks, public safety and other issues,” Viera said. “(The town hall) seemed to be taken over by a surprising number of national issues. Afterwards, I had a lot of people come up to me to talk about the issues they came to talk to me about

— crime, potholes and parks.”

The town hall hijacking was visibly coordinated by a handful of what Viera said were Republican activists, none of whom he says even live in New Tampa.

They did not sit together (trickery!) and spread themselves out (smooth!) among the 40 or so people in attendance, but not even red baseball

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caps could have made them stand out further in the crowd that evening.

Afterwards, the group gathered outside for a little congratulatory group backslapping after a night of fun trying to own the libs!

“I can’t believe they kept calling on us,” said one of them.

Same here.

Viera recognized a few members of the group from the comments section on a Facebook post he made the day before, when he posted a link about the fourth Capitol Police officer to commit suicide since the Jan. 6 insurrection.

One commentor said Viera was politicizing the suicide by posting the link. Another said, “That moment in DC was totally non-traumatizing for these officers,” and a third person told Viera he was “virtue signaling.”

All three apparently showed up at the town hall at Hunter’s Green to troll the hosts.

Let’s get ready to ruuuuuumble!

The first question they asked was whether or not Viera had plans to vote for a city project to convert wastewater

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If you care about what your city councilman (left) and State Rep. think about critical race theory and immigration, the latest townhall was for you!

to drinking water. That question, at least, was fair, since it has been discussed during recent City Council meetings.

But, the lady didn’t ask it like that.

Instead, she wanted to know, as she pointed her cell phone at him, why Viera would “give us toilet water to drink,” as well as hospital waste water, during a pandemic.

Sadly, she said, she can’t afford a “treatment water thing” for her house, and she was quite concerned: “I want to know — are we going to be drinking toilet water from hospitals?”

Lady, that ship has sailed. Have you never had a pumpkin spice latte?

(I’m kidding) For the record, Viera and Driskell are not in favor of drinking treated hospital toilet water, but they did both agree it isn’t as bad as it sounds and everyone should really give it a chance.

(Again, kidding) Here’s a tip: you can always identify non-serious people who should be ignored not by the questions they ask, but the way they ask them.

Here’s another example: Viera and Driskell also were asked about their opinions on CRT, or as the guy asking put it, “the theory that every white baby is born a racist,” because that totally describes it exactly!

Of course, the question was ridiculously worded, and I would know, because my white babies were not born racist, but to play quarterback for the Green Bay Packers.

Unfortunately, their mother disagreed, and ironically, I was born to obey her, or so she tells me.

The CRT guy also asked about what we should do about transgender female athletes, which was probably definitely on the minds of everyone at Neighborhood News

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this New Tampa community town hall.

Viera and Driskell played along, though, giving thoughtful answers, but let’s be honest: those athletes do not deserve special treatment. They should have to train for their respective sports by repaving New Tampa Blvd. and helping with the performing arts center construction, just like everyone else. Or maybe, that’s just me.

Another guy wanted to know about a comment Rep. Driskell made to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune regarding the enforcement of HB 1, the recently enacted State of Florida law cracking down on protests. He wanted to know why she said the Cuban protests weren’t any different than the BLM protests, which, he stressed, were so so so so much worse.

Driskell at least called him out on selectively dissecting the quote and removing the context. “I think there’s something behind your question,” she said.

Sadly, I’m not sure there was...if you get my drift.

When Toilet Water Lady jumped back in to also express her outrage at the Driskell quote, talking over others, Viera told her to stop trying to make a “Facebook hit, dadgummit.”

(Okay, he didn’t say dadgummit... but his face did turn a little pink) Lastly, and arguably the most precious question of the night, another woman was verrrrrry concerned about “illegals,” as everyone in New Tampa obviously is. Very concerned.

“We’re talking about a lot of people there (at the border) are wanting to come to Florida — 70 percent want to come here” she said. “How are we going to stop all that?”

Let me guess — a wall?

But, now that she mentioned it, Luis Viera, Tampa City Councilman, how are you gonna stop all that?

The New Tampa border is already overrun by those dang Wesley Chapel yuppies, with all their fancy chain restaurants and shopping malls, and now you’re just gonna let all those illegals in too?

Well, we’re sick of it, Viera!

Do something, or I’m going to throw some doo-doo water on you while you’re studying your CRT and mapping secret underground paths through Flatwoods Parks for the illegals to reach New Tampa so they can enjoy a beer at Chili’s.

Oh yeah, and next town hall, could you please call on some different people?

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Business Notes: Aldi Opens In New Tampa; Refillables In WC

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com While locals may still bemoan the dearth of restaurants to dine at in New Tampa, they certainly can’t complain about their grocery choices.

The latest entry into the market, Aldi, opened on July 29 with an 8:25 a.m. ribbon cuttting and a steady crowd throughout the day.

Aldi doesn’t have as big a produce section as its local competitors — although the 59 cent avocados are always a great deal — but it does offer a number of good deals by brands you may have never heard of before.

Aldi, located at the corner of Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., is another option for shoppers who already have the choice of Sprouts Farmers Market 1.5 miles to the north, Publix (1.8 miles to the north and 3.3 miles to the south) and the Walmart Supercenter (2.6 miles to the north).

If plans for a Lotte Market right across the street from Aldi in the old

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Aldi cuts the ribbon at its newest store in New Tampa (left), while bar manager Ashley Simon waits for a 32-oz. growler to finish filling at the Bru Florida Growler Bar.(Photos: John C. Cotey)

Sweetbay location materialize, that’s a lot of stores in a short distance. So while you may think local restaurants are lacking (see pgs. 30-32), New Tampa still has plenty of options for picking up stuff to make at home.

FILL ME UP: The Walmart Supercenter is filling its parking lot right off BBD with a new 16-pump fuel center and a 1,605-sq.-ft. convenience store.

If stocked like previously built Walmart fuel centers, the convenience store will offer your typical fare of graband-go deli items, snacks, cold beverages, a walk-in beer cooler and coffee.

FILL ME UP, PART II: The area’s craft beer options continue to grow.

Bru Florida Growler Bar held its Grand Opening on August 14.

Located in the space previously

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occupied by Buttermilk Provisions (see story on page 14) across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, Bru Florida Growler Bar has been open with limited hours for about six weeks.

Customers are welcome to come in and enjoy a pint or two of beer, cider, kombucha or even nitro beer and coffee.

They also can get all those things to go in 32- and 64-oz. growlers, which owner

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Christian Brugal says is part of the reason he opened his first Bru Florida Growler Bar in Citrus Park a few years ago — offering the convenience of bringing craft beer home for those who don’t have time (or don’t want) to sit in a bar.

Brugal says that If you want to reduce your carbon footprint, visit the Lufka Wesley many craft breweries Chapel refillables store in the Cypress View Square plaza on S.R. 56. don’t bottle or can (Photo: John C. Cotey). their beer and only sell it from kegs.

Wesley Chapel’s Danielle Howard, While getting growlers filled is who also owns The Salt Room in Wesley now available at most bars, it typically Chapel (2718 Windguard Cir.) and at the involves just filling the growler from Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness the bar’s beer tap. But, Bru Florida Center in Zephyrhills, co-owns the Growler Bar is a rarity in that it has Wesley Chapel Lufka with her mother Gail three counter-pressure growler stations, Howard. “Danielle discovered it, and I just which helps extend the to-go beer’s jumped in,” Gail says. “Now I get to work freshness. Bar, manager Ashley Simon with my daughter.” (photo on previous page) says a sealed Essentially, Lufka (Polish for growler can retain its freshness for a “Barrel”) is where you can bring in month; otherwise, once opened, it only your empty containers of household lasts a day or two. cleaning, bathroom and laundry Meanwhile, Brugal says another products, to name a few, and have them unique aspect of the new bar is its refilled at the store, which bills itself as emphasis on local beer. While other Tampa’s first “refillable, eco-friendly brewpubs and bars carry local and other and sustainable bath, body, kitchen and craft beers, Bru Florida Growler Bar only D.I.Y. supplies company.” carries Florida-brewed beers. “We’re the The store has everything from only ones who do that,” says Brugal. laundry detergents to shampoos and On the day we strolled in, there conditioners, and from after-shave were 15 beers on tap, from breweries lotions to facial scrubs and from body located all over the state, like Jupiter, lotions to a variety of soaps. Most of the Royal Palm Beach, Dania Beach, products are organic, but all of them Orlando, Miami and Tallahassee. are healthier than the alternatives you Also represented were Dunedin, usually buy in traditional stores, and St. Petersburg, Brooksville, as well as Wesley Chapel’s Double Branch come without a long list of chemical Artisanal Ales. New beers from new ingredients. breweries in different Florida cities Lufka encourages reducing your are rotated in and out. For more carbon footprint by reusing and refilling information, visit at BruFL.com or containers with eco-friendly products. call (813) 328-4721.

Although it is currently open, Lufka Wesley Chapel is hoping to schedule a LUFKA IS OPEN!: Speaking of Grand Opening later this month. bringing in your own container to get For more info, call (813) 596it filled with your favorite stuff, a new 9376 or visit Lufka.com. concept to Wesley Chapel is now open at the Cypress View Square plaza on S.R. 56 (home to the popular Capital Tacos).

Lufka Refillables Zero Waste Store has taken over the space in Cypress View Square formerly occupied by E’s Barber Shop at 27221 S.R. 56.

Lufka was originally created by Tampa’s Kelly Hawaii and her husband Parosh. They opened their first store in Seminole Heights in the summer of 2019, and their second store in South Tampa in November of 2020.

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MORE BOWLS?: Also moving into Cypress View Square is Green Market Café, which is taking over the old Batter & Dough space at 27225 S.R. 56. Green Market Cafe offers a variety of healthy bowls, salads and wraps, as well as soups and frozen yogurt, all of which is locally sourced and affordable. It already has locations in Trinity, Clearwater, Seminole and Oldsmar. For more information, visit GreenMarketCafé.com.

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New Tampa Family Hopes Site Will Help People ‘Embrace Less Waste’

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com On what should have been a relaxing day out on the boat, Sheila Haque and her three daughters couldn’t help but notice more than just fish in the water.

They noticed trash.

“And that’s sad,” she says.

It was on that boat that Haque, who lives in Cory Lake Isles, hatched the idea to start a zero-waste, ecofriendly business that would help chip away at the ugly sight of plastic bottles and empty containers slapping up against the hull of her boat and littered alongside roads.

Embrace Less Waste USA is Haque’s plan.

It is an e-commerce site (that you can visit at EmbraceLessWasteUSA.com, or on Facebook) that will also have a part-time presence at The Grove’s KRATE container park in Wesley Chapel.

Haque says her site will sell zero-waste products from only the best companies. She will rigorously and thoroughly vet each company, which has to be philantrophic, certified and based in the U.S. She will include extensive bios with every product from paper-based poop bags for your pets to reusable toothpaste containers to safety razors instead of disposable ones.

“Mindfulness is a big thing for people that are

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living a minimalist lifestyle,” Haque says. “They want to know where their stuff comes from.”

A few months back, Haque was accepted into the Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC)’s business incubator program, which she described as invaluable. She was able to refine her business concept by meeting with industry experts, and is eager to launch her website.

“They helped me tweak some things and even rethink things,” Haque says. “They make you think above and beyond what you’ve already considered.”

Because of her relationship with the Pasco EDC, she also will have the opportunity to use their container at KRATE, which is expected to open this fall. She hopes to reserve the repurposed shipping container once a month, and she will sell products and host educational workshops there.

And, Haque will keep her daughters involved in her endeavor as well. It’s an important part of her business, she says, setting an example for her children as she does her part to help preserve the Sheila planet for their future. As a family, they bring trash bags with them on walks to pick up any trash they see along the way.

“I think it’s an incredible thing for kids to see what a difference you can make if you recycle and renew versus just throwing stuff away,” Haque says.

Haque and her husband Osman with daughters (l.-r.) Lilly, Ayva and Kayla.(Photo courtesy of Sheila Haque).

She says she isn’t sure when she will make her KRATE debut, but it should be in the coming months.

“We’re really excited to get the site up, and to show people the products we have when we have the container,” Haque says.

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Contractor For S.R. 56 & 54 In Wesley Chapel Closes Its Doors But, it isn’t just the DDI and S.R. 54 widening

By JOHN C. COTEY project (which were both supposed to be completed by john@ntneighborhoodnews.com the end of the year) from which D.A.B. Constructors is

New Tampa commuters can probably sympathize with their neighbors to the north in Wesley Chapel when it comes to congested roads. After years of driving on an overly congested Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., however, New Tampa finally got at least some relief for its main thoroughfare.

Wesley Chapel residents might be starting to wonder if they’ll ever get any.

Although BBD in Wesley Chapel isn’t the current problem, two other major road projects — the Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) at I-75 and S.R. 56 and the widening of State Rd. 54 — have both ground to a halt as the busy holiday traffic season lurks right around the proverbial corner.

One month after being kicked off the DDI project at S.R. 56 and I-75, D.A.B. Constructors informed the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) three weeks ago that it also was voluntarily defaulting on its $42.5-million contract to widen S.R. 54 from east of Curley Rd. to east of Morris Bridge Rd. On July 28, “FDOT received letters from DAB informing us that they are financially unable to perform or complete the performance of the work as prime contractor, which constitutes a voluntary default…,” FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson wrote in an email.

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walking away. The company, which has closed its office in Inglis, FL, also will not be completing five other projects in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties: • C.R. 580 Sam Allen Rd. from S.R. 39 to Park Rd. • U.S. 19 Widening from Green Acres to W. Jump Ct. • U.S. 19 Widening from W. Jump Ct. to W. Fort Island Trail • U.S. 19 Resurfacing from the Hernando County line to Green Acres • S.R. 52 Widening from Suncoast Pkwy. to U.S. 41 “FDOT will be working with the surety companies to take over and complete the projects,” Carson says.

D.A.B. Constructors issued a statement, signed by president Deborah Bachschmidt and executive vice president Bill Bachschmidt, saying that, “After over 33 years as a small heavy civil construction firm based in Inglis, Florida, D.A.B. is winding down all operations and putting the completion of ongoing projects in the hands of our bonding companies.”

D.A.B. essentially says the DDI project, and how FDOT handled it, led to its pulling out of its other projects, due to financial strain.

FDOT’s actions in regards to D.A.B. being behind schedule on the DDI which was made public last fall, were a “deathblow” to the company. D.A.B.

At our press time, D.A.B. Constructors had stopped working on both the the S.R. 54 widening project (above) and the I-75/S.R. 56 Diverging Diamond Interchange.

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says it accelerated construction without payment from FDOT in order to meet milestone dates.

“When D.A.B. achieved the milestones to the extent feasible under the FDOT-furnished defective plans,” the company wrote, “FDOT moved the goalposts. We suffered a classic dominoeffect, as our acceleration efforts had diverted resources from other ongoing projects and drained the company of millions of dollars such that operations cannot be sustained.”

It wrote that it has been in a 15-month tug-of-war with FDOT due to errors in the design. “Despite the existence of significant errors in the project design provided by FDOT and the recommendation of an independent Disputes Review Board that upheld D.A.B.’s contentions regarding the existence of the design errors, and the resulting impact to the project schedule and costs to complete, FDOT has declared D.A.B. in default,” Bachschmidt wrote.

Last month, in a letter dated June 25, D.A.B. Constructors told FDOT they were “demobilizing” from the DDI project, two days before it was defaulted on the project by FDOT.

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D.A.B., which says it is the only remaining woman-owned prime contractor in the state, says it cannot continue to selffinance FDOT projects while it waits on the outcome of court action.

Carson declined further comment due to a lawsuit D.A.B. Constructors filed against FDOT on July 1.

“We very much regret the inevitable inconveniences to the traveling public as D.A.B.’s ongoing jobs are transitioned to others for completion,” the Bachschmidts wrote. “We are working cooperatively with our sureties to expedite take over and completion work. Likewise, despite what we’ve encountered with FDOT, we intend to continue to cooperate with the department.”

That is disappointing news for Wesley Chapel residents, who just a few months ago were expecting the DDI and 54 widening to be completed before 2022. That now appears unlikely.

The 54 widening is a $42.5-million project to transform S.R. 54 from two to four lanes east of Curley Rd to east of Morris Bridge Rd., a 4.5-mile stretch. A sidewalk will be built on the north side of the road and a 10-foot wide multiuse trail will be built on the south side.

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Dr. Rosh Opens Her Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN With champagne flowing and a big smile as she cut a ribbon with the North Tampa Bay Chamber, Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves officially opened her Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute on S.R. 54 in Lutz on July 16.

“Dr. Rosh,” as her patients call her, came home to the Tampa Bay area with her husband, Dr. Corey Reeves, and their baby daughter after completing a fellowship and practicing at Duke University in Durham, NC. As an attending physician, she says she enjoyed interacting with residents and medical students, being in academics and mentoring in the operating room and clinic, but was looking for something more.

“For 10 years I’ve been talking about opening a private practice, and now it’s finally here,” she said at the ribbon-cutting ceremony. “I have a vision for my own practice and I want to execute that.”

Dr. Rosh earned her Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree from the University of South Florida’s Morsani College of Medicine in Tampa. She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Anthropology and Biomedical Sciences from USF, too.

Then, she completed her ophthalmology residency at the USF Eye Institute and an oculofacial and reconstructive fellowship at the Duke Eye Center. She is certified by the American Board of Ophthalmology and The American Society of Ophthalmic Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery.

“I want to be part of this community for a really long time,” Dr. Rosh says.

“I want patients to grow with me for 30 years. I want to be easy to call and be available to the community.”

At her Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute, which hosted its first Open House two days after the rib-

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Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves (with scissors), her family and staff at the Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute in Lutz cut a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon on July 16. (Photos: Charmaine George)

bon-cutting event, Dr. Rosh sees patients who want cosmetic services to improve the look of their eyes, faces, and skin.

“It’s aesthetics, but it’s also functional,” Dr. Rosh says. “I want to help people see better and feel better, too.”

Some patients receive insurance-based services, typically after being referred to Dr. Rosh by their primary care doctor or dermatologist. For example, some patients need surgery or treatment to restore the function of their eyes, for conditions such as droopy lids, eyelid malposition, thyroid eye disease, tear duct surgery or reconstruction after cancer surgery.

Others receive aesthetic treatments, such as lower lid surgery, laser skin resurfacing, ear lobe repairs, upper lip lifts, photofacials and laser peels.

Dr. Rosh says that even functional surgeries often result in patients not only being able to see better and feel better, but also have a nice aesthetic look when they are done.

“The functional and cosmetic sides blend together a lot,” says Dr. Rosh, “like if patients do upper lid surgery through

their insurance but then decide they want lower lid and skin resurfacing, too.”

And, she says her cosmetic patients typically also want to look refreshed — or like a better version of themselves — but not change how they look.

“I love that, because our face is how we identify ourselves,” she says.

Dr. Rosh believes that interest in cosmetic services has really increased because of the changes in how we interact with

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each other since the Covid pandemic.

“With everything being virtual through Zoom and WebEx, people see themselves on a screen a lot more than before,” she says. “They come in earlier for treatments, and they don’t have the downtime that they used to.”

And, she says she’s happy to help those patients with a treatment plan that helps them recover as quickly as possible to resume normal life, and look a bit younger and refreshed, but still like themselves.

Available treatments include full-service, minimally-invasive procedures, such as photofacials, which require no downtime, and help to get rid of red and brown spots or patches on the skin, including helping patients with rosacea.

“If you only have a weekend to heal,” she says, “then we plan accordingly.”

When she does surgery, either in her office or at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, she uses a carbon dioxide laser for incisions. She refers to it as her “magic wand” and says it makes very precise incisions, which helps minimize both bleeding and recovery time.

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(Above) Dr. Rosh performs laser resurfacing on patient Melanie Aydt. (Below) Dr. Rosh with Ravi Patel, who won free Botox for a year at the office’s Open House on July 18. (Photos: Charmaine George)

“I love surgery,” Dr. Rosh says. “This is such a unique field, because everyone’s anatomy is a little different, so recovery is different, and their story as to why they want to get it done is different. So I get to be creative.”

Treating Every Skin Type

Dr. Rosh also emphasizes that the lasers in her office are able to treat patients of all different skin tones and types.

“Our culture is becoming more of a melting pot and, usually, laser treatments can lead to more pigmentations,” she says, “but the lasers I have get great results on patients of all different skin types.”

Three experienced staff members help Dr. Rosh keep the practice running smoothly. Jennifer is the office manager, Kara is a technician and aesthetician, and Lisa handles the front desk and insurance.

Dr. Mary Mercer was one of Dr. Rosh’s first patients when Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute opened in July.

Dr. Mercer says she knew Dr. Rosh from when the two were in residency training together.

“I was impressed with her fellowship training at Duke,” says Dr. Mercer.

“When I heard she was returning, I was excited both personally and also for our community, to have such a well-trained doctor in the area.”

She says she was pleased with the entire experience, from the convenient location, to the helpful staff, and the procedure itself.

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fortable for female patients, very welcoming, and it’s great to support our fellow female professionals.”

Dr. Mercer says the service she received was excellent, the exam was efficient, and both Dr. Rosh’s expertise and the clinical results she has experienced have been impressive.

Speaking of impressive, at the office’s Open House on July 18, Dr. Rosh gave away a number of free services, including a Grand Prize of free Botox for a year to local resident Ravi Patel.

Dr. Roshni Ranjit-Reeves’ Oculofacial Surgery & Cosmetic Institute is located in the same building as the Medi-Weightloss Center at 24420 S.R. 54 in Lutz. For appointments and more information, including information about the office’s Grand Opening specials, call (813) 303-0123, visit DoctorRosh. com, or see the ad on page 24.

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Organic Safe Lawns Keeps Your Lawn Both Green AND Healthy!

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Nick Pipitone has used other lawn service companies, and even tried to keep his yard green and healthy himself, but he says he was looking for a safer, more environmentally sound option to keep his lawn, as well as his beloved English bulldog, chemical-free.

That’s why, about five years ago, Pipitone decided to hire Jim Schanstra and his Organic Safe Lawns to take care of his lawn.

“I gotta tell you, there is stuff out there, the stuff they (Organic Safe Lawns) uses, that greens up the grass real good,” says Pipitone, a Wesley Chapel resident.

“You don’t need all the chemicals. That’s what I was looking for...and they have done a great job.”

Keeping lawns green, free of pests and healthy is Organic Safe Lawns’ specialty. Whether it’s because your kids play in the grass or your pets like to run around in the yard, making sure they stay danger-free is a big deal for Schanstra.

In fact, he says it’s why he started his business in the first place.

Schanstra suspects that exposure to DDT (Dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) as a youngster had something to do with his wife Julie developing non-Hodgkin’s large cell lymphoma cancer. DDT was used in the U.S. in agriculture as a pesticide and as a household insecticide in the 1940s and 1950s, only to be banned in 1973.

Julie won her fight against cancer, with help from the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, MN, but it was a constant reminder to Schanstra of the potential effects of chemicals used in the environment.

In 2006, just before a scheduled sales meeting with an organic fertilizer manufacturer, Schanstra says that one of

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Owner Jim Schanstra says his Organic Safe Lawns technicians go beyond just fertilizing grass — they will check your plants for health and your irrigation system to make sure it’s functioning properly. the associates said that he’d read a recent news article that claimed Florida was using more chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides on residential properties than the rest of the United States combined.

“This statement hit me like a lightning bolt,” Schanstra says. “It was in that moment that I decided to do something about it. That was the conception of Organic Safe Lawns.”

In January of 2010, Organic Safe Lawns, Inc., became a Florida corporation.

“When I started out, that was my big, hard sell: how do I tell people we can really do it?,” he says. “If we can grow fruits and vegetables organically, why can’t we grow grass that way? That was the concept in my mind.”

Schanstra works closely with one of the top organic fertilizer manufacturers and pioneers of the industry. The products — fertilizers, pesticides and

herbicides — used by Schanstra and Organic Safe Lawns are certified by the Organic Materials Review Institute or OMRI, an independent testing company that certifies organic products. He says the products use a proven technology that was originally designed for fruits and vegetables, although Organic Safe Lawns deals strictly with lawns and ornamental plants.

Trademarked Products

Organic Safe Lawns, Inc., has now designed and manufactured more than

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30 different organic fertilizer products of its own that are owned and trademarked by the corporation.

While most typical fertilizers are made up of synthesized chemicals, Schanstra says the products he uses are mostly mined from the shale level of the earth, where healthier and more acidic soil exists. There are richer supplies of micronutrients, enzymes and bacterias found in this soil than in other fertilizers.

“There’s no downside with our fertilizers,” Schanstra says.

Other lawn companies also use mined products, but they are converted into a granular form — those little balls you see in your grass after the lawn company has stopped by — by incorporating binders and fillers to keep their shape. That’s where Schanstra says carcinogens are often entered into the mixture.

“Once those little balls dissolve, those chemicals end up running off into our aquifers, which are sometimes only a foot or two deep below, and can get into our water, streams and ponds and cause algae blooms,” Schanstra says.

Typical fertilizers come in two types of encapsulation. The first is water-based, meaning the fertilizer is released by coming into contact with water. The second is a polymer, or plastic encapsulation. Its releasing agent is heat.

Schanstra says those forms of release may be fine for more moderate northern climates. However, Florida’s famously erratic weather — sometimes too much rain

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Organic Safe Lawns will keep your grass and plants looking green and healthy using only products that are safe for people and pets. and often too much heat — can sometimes cause the release of a month’s worth of fertilizer in a week or even a day.

Using chemical fertilizers and pesticides may lead to greener lawns — due to their higher concentrations of nitrogen — but they also can lead to the same typical lawn problems so common here in Florida. These problems include fungus and disease, chinch bugs, webworms and mole crickets, all of which are often found in high-nitrogen soils.

“We found that by reducing the nitrogen level (in the products Organic Safe Lawns uses), we almost eliminate fungus and pests,” Schanstra says. “The cheapest way to get green grass is with high-nitrogen fertilizer.”

Schanstra also says that high-nitrogen fertilizers push top growth and weaken root structure. Over time, the lawn’s root system can’t sustain the foliage.

“A weakened root structure is like candy to bugs,” Schanstra says. “After

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using our treatment, you’ll see the bugs moving over into the neighbor’s yard.”

Chemical-based fertilizers are designed to be absorbed through the leaf (called foliar absorption). All of the organic fertilizers that Schanstra uses are absorbed through the roots. And, he adds, they are all water-soluble liquids that are safe for pets, wildlife and humans.

“When we apply organic fertilizers, we’re spraying that into the soil,” he says. “The only way the plant absorbs it is into the root system. My grass will grow a little bit slower, but my roots will be stronger.”

Top-coated lawns treated with synthetic pesticides and herbicides puts people and pets in danger. Why do you think people applying pesticides wear rubber boots? Because, Schanstra says, they don’t want to get any of the application on them.

In that case, he adds, why would you want you, your children or your

pets to track that into your house?

“The dog goes over into the neighbor’s yard to pee, and they’re chewing on their paws when they get back,” Schanstra says. “Kids crawl around and play on the grass and absorb it when they walk in it.”

The chemical herbicide Atrazine is still used widely across the U.S. and Florida to prevent pre- and post-emergence of broadleaf weeds, especially during the summer. It was found by the Agency for Toxic Substances and Diseases (ATSDR) to have adverse effects on the endocrine systems of mammals and that it likely also contributes to some birth defects.

“A lot of lawn companies will blanket your yard with Atrazine,” Schanstra says.

“It costs just five dollars for a 600-gallon mix. They use it because it’s cheap.”’

But, Organic Safe Lawns’ technicians offer a safer chemical solution for weed control, which is spot-treated throughout the year. It isn’t as cheap as Atrazine, he says, but generally, the stronger root system his lawns have developed lead to fewer weeds anyway.

“We are about the process and the materials,” Schanstra says, “as opposed to using harmful chemicals with regard to weed control.”

Schanstra says he recommends

treatment every 30 days, and that it isn’t any more expensive than hiring the lawn care chains. He said he also works with his customers to ensure they are watering and mowing their lawns correctly — two extremely important ways to keep your lawn in tip-top shape that are often overlooked and under-appreciated.

Organic Safe Lawns, Inc., services homes in Tampa, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes. For more information, call (813) 393-9665, email organicsafelawns@verizon.net, visit OrganicSafeLawns.com or see the ad on page 37 of this issue.

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Teen Finds Passsion In Making Old Typewriters New Again

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Like most kids his age, 16-yearold Jack Armstrong can sit in front of a keyboard for hours on end, expertly manipulating the keys with his fingers to get the desired result.

There is one major difference, however. Instead of doing so in front of a computer, Armstrong is sitting in front of an actual typewriter, which are sometimes 100 years older than he is.

Whether it’s an 1880s Caligraph 2, a 1907 Handler or a 1914 Annell, Armstrong takes great delight in dissecting these machines from another time and restoring them to their original working condition, which he then sells, trades or displays on a shelf in his bedroom.

“It’s a passion,” Armstrong says. “I just love it.”

Armstrong is a rarity in the world of typewriter collectors and repairs, due to his age, but he is far from alone. He estimates there are roughly 5,000-6,000 typewriter enthusiasts across the country who gather at small conventions and actively collect, trade and sell machines that may be outdated, but still stoke a deep love and appreciation from their admirers.

Armstrong has loved typewriters since he was a young kid, when his mother Rebecca would drag him with her on her Saturday afternoon antiquing expeditions.

Always a mechanical sort with a knack for taking things apart to see how they work, Armstrong was always drawn to the old typewriters he would see, with so many gears and type bars.

He was 12 when he asked for one for Christmas, and his parents bought

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For Jack Armstrong, restoring typewriters like the 1890 Caligraph No. 2 (above) is a passion that he has turned into a successful business. (Photos: John C. Cotey)

him a 1949 Royal. It needed repairs, so he found some tips on YouTube and an hour later, the Royal was back in service.

“I was able to take this old antique that didn’t work and make it like new,” Armstrong says. “I got addicted to that,

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and it’s been snowballing ever since.”

An online high school student who is practically on the computer 24/7, Armstrong says he finds the tactile experience and ability to disconnect while he types refreshing and necessary. He types and mails 3-4 letters a week to friends and other collectors.

Armstrong has turned his passion into a business, the Tampa Type Typewriter Co. People from around the world now send him their typewriters, paying – and praying -- for a miracle restoration.

He made $20 on his first repair job, though that same job would cost $100 now. His slogan: I can repair any typewriter from 1880 to 1980.

“It just clicked at that moment that I’ve tapped into a niche,” Armstrong says. “I can turn this into a genuine business.”

While others may just paint or spruce up older typewriters for customers who want a display piece, Armstrong says he tries to keep the original finish, even if that means a good helping of elbow grease. He will source the parts and replace things like the felt soundproofing, the rubber feet and everything in between.

“What I focus on is making them work,” he says. “I make them as nice as possible, and as new as possible.”

That means zero short cuts, which might include polishing a part of the typewriter that you will never see again.

“I shine it up to a mirror finish, even though you won’t see it unless you take the machine apart.”

Armstrong’s latest effort was restoring an 1890 Caligraph No. 2 with a matching table. He put in more than 25 hours on the project, and has it listed

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for $2,000 on tampatypewriter. com. He wouldn’t hate keeping it as his own, either.

In his Wesley Chapel home, which includes a workshop in his garage, Armstrong has roughly 100 typewriters; 80 are his, and the other 20 he is repairing.

Typewriters that still work are rare. Of the 100 or so he says he has purchased via eBay over the years, only three arrived without needing anything more than a new ribbon.

He’s always looking. The one typewriter he would like to own?

A Commercial Visible 6, a sleek silver machine with a gold decal that uses a type wheel that can be switched with another to change the font.

It originally sold for $50 in 1898. Armstrong says only 35 are known to exist.

“It’s one of the most beautiful typewriters ever This 1914 Willard P. Smith Co. typewriter may only be produced,” Armstrong says. worth $2,000, but it would take 500 times more than His most valuable typewriter that for him to give it up as it means the most to him. is a Willard P. Smith Co. A Simplex typewriter has attracted typewriter. Armstrong says offers of more than $5,000, and a everything he has can be had for a price, Vogue Royal with a sans serif typeface but the Willard P. Smith would require a will sell for roughly $3,500. A rusty hefty bounty.

Annell is one of only 11 known to exist He won the typewriter in an aucand has a pharmaceutical keyboard and tion on eBay, bribing other bidders to a sans serif typeface, making it even bow out. It cost him $800 total. rarer, while his Mignon Model 2B has a “No typewriter has ever sold for Blackletter typeface called Fraktur. The over a million dollars. I would need over typewriter was produced during a time a million dollars,” Armstrong says. “It’s where Fraktur was obsolete and not just too special to me.” used, he says.

Armstrong’s prized possession, Thanks to some recent media expohowever, is an Armstrong typewriter, sure, Tampa Typewriter Co. is growwhich he wanted because of the shared ing. Armstrong has restored nearly 250 name. There are only 14 in existence, typewriters, and as word of his dedicaand he owns two of them. tion and prowess spreads, more business “They are my obsession,” he says, keps coming his way. He has made more and they share a shelf with the Willard P. than $50,000, and would one day like Smith in his room, which he refers to as to open a physical location. a his own personal typewriter museum.

Typewriters may be obsolete, but When it comes to actual museums, this Wesley Chapel teenager is working Armstrong will soon have some of his hard to keep them alive. own handiwork on display in one. A “I’m 16, I think people like the few typewriters that he restored for idea of this young gun working on these collectors Mark and Christina Albrecht old machines,” Armstrong says. “It’s of Bradenton were bought as part of a an unmatched level of work, and I just larger collection for a soon-to-be-built have this insane passion for it that most museum in Dubai, “which is pretty don’t.” cool,” Armstrong says.

For typewriter repairs, refurbs Every typewriter in his room has a and resales, or just to check out some story, and Armstrong revels in telling of the many collectibles Armstrong them. There’s the Type-a-Tune, a 1949 has repaired, visit TampaTypewriter. machine used to teach typing that plays com, or send an email to music, and he was offered $800 just for Tampatypewriter@gmail.com. the instructional book alone.

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27

HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS: BY THE NUMBERS THIS FALL

1

Wharton will have more offensive weapons this season so expect more scoring, but the Wildcats defense alone may be worth the price of admission.

The group allowed only 10 points a game last season, and could make a claim as one of Tampa Bay’s best.

Almost every defensive player is back, and the linebackers are outstanding.

Senior Daveon Crouch has orally committed to Boston College, senior Henry Griffith led the team with 82 tackles, including nine for a loss, in 2020, and sophomore Booker Pickett, Jr., (pictured) was named a second-team

2

MaxPreps Freshman All-American.

Senior CB Jairon Dorsey led the ‘Cats with five interceptions last season, while junior cornerback Dijon Johnson recently picked up college offers from Boston College, Ole Miss and Florida, and the defensive line is solid.

They say defense wins championships, but Wharton has a few obstacles to overcome if they are going to prove that true, namely, one of the toughest schedules the team has ever faced.

The new District 7A-10 includes perennial powerhouses Armwood and Tampa Bay Tech, plus Wiregrass Ranch, and the non-district schedule includes former State champs Jesuit, Jefferson and Plant.

If Wharton football isn’t New Tampa’s best fall sports team, then it may be the Freedom girls swim team.

Led by Division 1 signees Michelle Morgan (Univ. of North Carolina) and Carly Joerin (Dartmouth College), the Patriots return just about everyone from the squad that finished seventh at the Class 3A meet last season.

“We were second in the District, second in the Region and seventh at State,” says second-year coach John Olewski. “We expect even better things this year.”

Morgan was the State champ in the 200-yard individual medley and added a silver in the 500-yard free while anchoring the 400-yard freestyle relay that won bronze.

Joerin also swam on that relay, as

well as the 200- and 500-yard freestyles.

Alexa Valdez-Velez also swam on the brone-medal-winning relay team, and is a key returner.

Olewski says he has 27 swimmers, and every event is covered and then some this season. “We’re definitely looking forward to it,” he says.

Brooke Reif has her sights set on breaking Wharton’s cross country record of 18 minutes, 34 seconds in the first meet this season, then getting her times under 18 minutes, and then leading the Wildcats back to the Class 4A state meet as a team after missing out last year.

Luckily for her last goal, she will be counting on the return of the whole team

— seniors Alex Frye and Alexi Amer, junior Olivia Hammill and a handful of others.

“We have everyone back,” she says. “I think everyone has improved and we’re much better. State is our goal.”

Reif and Frye could be a formidable top duo this season. They were the only Wildcats last season to advance past Districts, with Reif getting past regionals en route to a 31st place finish at State.

3

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8-27

Friday, August 27, is the season opener for the Wharton and Freedom football teams, who will open the season against each other.

As if Freedom (1-9 last year) didn’t have enough of an uphill climb against the Wildcats, who won this meeting 50-0 last year, the Patriots also will have to deal with what could be a raucous opponent and fired up crowd as the school also debuts its new artificial turf field, which was installed over the summer (photo).

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While 6-foot-3 senior middle hitter middle hitter Bella Bonatakis (pictured) wants to play the toughest competition out there, you’ll have to excuse her for not shedding a tear when she found out that Wharton was no longer in the same district as Plant.

“Maybe it’s a little bit of a relief?,” Bonatakis said with a wide smile.

A little? Wharton has made the District final eight of the last nine seasons, and lost six of those games to Plant. Of all the teams that Wharton has ever played at least five times, it only has losing records against Carrollwood Day School, Bloomingdale and...Plant.

Goodbye, and good riddance.

With Bonatakis (200 kills and 85 blocks last year), senior setter Gabrielle Frye (295 assists) and senior libero Kylie Lauderdale (170 digs) returning, Wharton will be formidable again.

Throw in setter Danielle Galfond to help run the Wildcats’ 6-2 offense, future star Paige Boyd and returning hitter Ja-Niya Lamar, and a deep bench, and — Plant or no Plant — the Wildcats have all the makings of a team that can win that elusive Distrct title.

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29

Enter Our Dining Survey & Contest To Win A Free Dining Gift Card!

We have continually tweaked our annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest every year, but we had our best response ever (1,500+ entries!) from our readers to the 2019 contest.

So, when we received about half as many entries last year (during the pandemic) as we did the previous year, I decided to go back to a modified version of our 2019 survey entry form, with more choices (to reflect the increase in the number of local restaurants) and to again split the contest by distribution area.

In other words, the entry form on pages 31-32 (front and back of the same page if you cut/tear out the entry form and mail it in to us) asks you to name only your favorite restaurants in New Tampa. New Tampa residents will have a chance to pick their favorite Wesley Chapel eateries in a future issue.

On page 31 (right), we have listed what I believe is every non-fast-food restaurant located in New Tampa’s 33647 zip code, plus those located in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave., just west of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., and the Oak Ramble plaza on BBD just south of Tampa Palms.

As always, in case I missed any New Tampa restaurants (or if you really prefer Steak n Shake or Jersey Mike’s to the

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 17 • August 17, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

restaurants we’ve listed), you can write in up to five restaurants in the spaces provided, as long as your write-ins are located in the 33647 zip code (you can always Google search them to make sure).

Then, on page 32, there are five additional categories — Favorite Pizza Place, Favorite Dessert Place, Favorite Latin and Asian Restaurants and Favorite Bar in New Tampa.

In order for your entry to be considered for one of our three free dining prizes — $100, $60 and $35 gift cards to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area — you must select or write-in five restaurants on page 31 and select or write-in one place in at least three of the five categories on page 32 or none of your votes will count!

You also must include your first and last name, complete address (including zip code and the community you live in) and valid daytime phone number and email address and mail the entry form to us no later than Monday, November 8, in order to be eligible to vote and win. You also can enter by going to NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net and completely filling out the entry form with the same info by the same date.

Good luck and Bon Appetit! — GN

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2021 Reader Dining Survey & Contest!

Your Chance to Win $100, $60 or $35 in FREE Gift Cards to the Restaurant of Your Choice in the Tampa Bay Area!

Please Circle or Select Your Five (5) Favorite Restaurants in New Tampa from the list below!

(*Note - Do not number your selections in order, just circle, select or write in your five favorites. All write-ins must be located in zip code 33647.)

Acropolis Greek Taverna Al-Sham Palace Aroi Thai Tsuyu (BBD) Atithi Indian (closed) Bayscape Bistro (at Heritage Isles Golf Club) Bearss Tavern & Tap (Bearss Ave.) Brunchery Burger 21 Cali Tampa Palms Cantina Real Mexican Restaurant Cappy’s Pizzeria Capri Pizza-n-More Chili’s Grill & Bar China City China One China Wok Chipotle Cracker Barrel (Bearss Ave.) Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant (Bearss Ave.) DosaHut, Tampa First Watch

Fish Fiesta Seafood & Pizza Five Guys Burgers & Fries Frammi Italian & American Fresh Kitchen Full Circle Pizza Ginza Endless Sushi & Hibachi Glory Days Grill Grain & Berry Gu Wei Noodles & Grill Ho King Hummingbird Jerk House Hunter’s Green Country Club Ice Spice Indian Street Food Café India Gate Fine Indian Cuisine Island Fin Poké Co. Juice Factory Kobe Japanese Steakhouse Koizi Endless Hibachi & Sushi Eatery Las Palmas Latin Grill Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine

Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine Luv Fresh Mahana Fresh Michi Ramen Minerva Indian Restaurant Moe’s Southwest Grill Mulligans Irish Pub at Pebble Creek GC (closed) Mr. Dunderbak’s New China King Olive Garden Oronzo Honest Italian Palm Thai Panera Bread Peabody’s Grill & Bar PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub (Bearss Ave.) Poké Island Plus (NEW) Precinct Pizza Raaga Indian Kitchen & Bar Red Lobster Saffron Indian Cuisine Sake House Sushi Stonewood Grill & Tavern

Sushi Avenue (Bearss Ave.) Sushi Cafe Taaza Mart Café Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club Taste of New York Pizzeria TGI Fridays Thai Lanna & Sushi Thai Ruby The Fat Rabbit The Little Greek Tijuana Flats Via Italia Wood Fired Pizza (Bearss Ave.)

WRITE-INS (Must be located in zip code 33647):

______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

YOU’RE NOT DONE YET! SEE PAGE 32 TO ENTER THIS YEAR’S DINING SURVEY! Neighborhood News

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31

2021 Reader Dining Survey & Contest (Page 2)!

Win A FREE Gift Card to the Restaurant of Your Choice!

Your Favorite Asian/Middle Eatern Restaurant In New Tampa

Your Favorite Place For Pizza In New Tampa

(Please circle, select or write in only ONE — no more, no less!)

All of the New Tampa restaurants listed below are either pizza places or have NY-, Chicago- or flatbread-style pizzas on their menus.

Cali Tampa Palms Cappy’s Pizzeria Capri Pizza-n-More Domino’s Pizza Fish Fiesta Seafood & Pizza Full Circle Pizza Glory Days Grill Hungry Howie’s Pizza & Subs Marco’s Pizza Oronzo Honest Italian Panera Bread

Papa John’s Pizza Peabody’s Grill & Bar Pizza Hut Precinct Pizza Taste of New York Pizza TGI Fridays Via Italia Westshore Pizza Woodfired Pizza (Bearss Ave.) WRITE-IN: _____________________

Your Favorite Latin Restaurant In New Tampa

(Please circle, select or write in only ONE — no more, no less!)

All of the New Tampa restaurants listed below specialize either in Mexican, Southwestern U.S. or Latin American cuisines

Cantina Real Mexican Restaurant Chili’s Grill & Bar Chipotle Cross Creek Deli (in Shell station) Don Julio’s Mexican Restaurant

Las Palmas Latin Grill Lima Peruvian Cuisine Moe’s Southwest Grill Tijuana Flats WRITE-IN: _____________________

Your Favorite Dessert Place In New Tampa

(Please circle, select or write in only ONE — no more, no less!)

All of the New Tampa places listed below specialize in desserts, they’re not just restaurants offering desserts — no matter how yummy!

35 Below Rolled Ice Cream Baskin Robbins Bruster’s Real Ice Cream Coffee Speaks & Tea Talks Cold Stone Creamery Dunkin’ Donuts Grain & Berry Ice SSScreamin’

Ice Spice Café Smallcakes Cupcakery Sprinkles Ice Cream The Cake Shop Twistee Treat You Do the Dishes WRITE-IN: _____________________

YOUR FIRST & LAST NAME: ___________________________________________ YOUR STREET ADDRESS: ______________________________________________ YOUR CITY & ZIP CODE: _______________________________________________ YOUR COMMUNITY: ___________________________________________________ (Heritage Isles, West Meadows, etc.)

(Please circle, select or write in only ONE — no more, no less!)

All of the New Tampa restaurants listed below offer Chinese, Indian, Japanese, Korean, Middle Eastern/Mediterrnean, Thai and/or Vietnamese Cuisine.

Acropolis Greek Taverna Al-Sham Palace Aroi Thai Tsuyu Atithi Indian (closed) China City China One China Wok DosaHut, Tampa Fish Fiesta Seafood & Pizza Ginza Endless Hibachi & Sushi Gu Wei Noodles & Grill Ho King Ice Spice Indian Street Food Café India Gate Fine Indian Cuisine Kobe Japanese Steakhouse Koizi Endless Hibachi & Sushi

Liang’s Bistro Asian Cuisine Luv Fresh Michi Ramen Minerva Indian Restaurant New China King Palm Thai Raaga Indian Kitchen & Bar Saffron Indian Cuisine (new location) Sake House Sushi Sushi Avenue Sushi Cafe Taaza Mart Café Thai Lanna & Sushi Thai Ruby The Little Greek WRITE-IN: _____________________

Your Favorite Bar Or Tavern In New Tampa

(Please circle, select or write in only ONE — no more, no less!)

All of the New Tampa places listed below have an actual bar area (not a sushi bar) to sit at and offer beer, wine and/or hard liquor, whether they serve food or not.

Acropolis Greek Taverna Bayscape Bistro (at Heritage Isles GC) Bearss Tavern & Tap Cantina Real Mexican Restaurant Chili’s Grill & Bar Cigar Lounge (Pebble Creek) Glory Days Grill Hunter’s Green Country Club Kobe Japanese Steakhouse Linkster’s Tap Room Mr. Dunderbak’s Mynt Hookah Lounge (CC Center plaza) Olive Garden

Peabody’s Grill & Bar PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub Raaga Indian Kitchen & Bar Red Lobster Stonewood Grill & Tavern Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club TGI Fridays The Fat Rabbit Truth Wine Beer & Hookah (Bearss Ave.) Via Italia WRITE-IN: _____________________

If You Write-In A Restaurant Or Bar That Isn’t Located In New Tampa’s 33647 Zip Code, Your Write-In Vote Will Not Count!

This Includes Any Place Located In Wesley Chapel!

YOUR DAYTIME PHONE NUMBER (w/area code): __________________________________________________________________________ YOUR VALID EMAIL ADDRESS: _________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

Enter online at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net or mail your COMPLETELY FILLED IN entry form, by Monday, November 8, 2021, to: NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 2021 DINING SURVEY & CONTEST • 28949 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 32

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33

Pick Of The Week: Poké Island Plus!

Palms Connection Update!

Although New Tampa isn’t yet competing with Wesley Chapel in terms of the number of new restaurants and beverage places, there are more new places on the way to the alreadypacked Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave., just west of Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

On the way are an as-yet unnamed new eatery coming to the space previously occupied by the Seasons Fresh Café, and the Mint Cocktail Club is getting ready to open next to Don Julio’s Authentic Mexican Cuisine in the same plaza. Other places to eat and drink in this plaza (see pgs. 30-32) are Bearss Tavern & Tap, Jimmy John’s, Wood Fired Pizza, Truth Beer Wine & Hookah, Sushi Avenue and PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub. In other words, even though it’s located just outside of New Tampa, the Palms Connection definitely is a dining & drinking destination! — Gary Nager

So, if you thought that the new Poké Island Plus, which opened shortly before we went to press with this issue in the same Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza that also is home to Fresh Kitchen, First Watch, Via Italia and Touch Nail Spa (see page 12), was “just another poké bowl place,” guess again.

Great sushi, Vietnamese food and boba teas are the “Plusses” at Poké Island Plus. So, whether you like California, Mexican or spicy tuna rolls or hand rolls, or Vietnamese bun noodle bowls (like the top left photo, with marinated, grilled pork), pho noodle soup, rice plates or fried rice, Poké Island Plus also has you covered. Oh, and there’s also delicious appetizers, like the pork, cabbage and onion gyoza dumplings shown below, as well as Vietnamese fresh rolls with shrimp, pork, vermicelli rice noodles and lettuce wrapped in rice paper, mini vegetable egg rolls, chicken skewers, edamame, tempura shrimp and steamed bao buns. There’s even fried donuts for dessert.

But, the poké bowls, whether you custom-design your own — with 1-3 scoops of tuna, salmon, spicy tuna or salmon, krab mix, fried chicken, steamed shrimp, fried tofu or tamago as your protein(s) of choice — or choose one of the Signature Poké Bowls or Burritos (from Krispy Krab to Philly to Land Meets Sea to Protein Junkie (with salmon, tuna, spicy salmon and spicy tuna), everything at Poké Island Plus that we’ve sampled in the short time it’s been open has been fresh and delicious.

In fact, managing editor John Cotey, whose wife is Vietnamese, says his entire family loved the pho noddle soup and other Vietnamese specialties, so you know it’s good.

Photographer/videographer Charmaine George also said that her taro boba milk tea with mango popping bobas was delicious, too.

Poké Island Plus (8636 Hunter’s Village Rd.) is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. every day. To place an order, call (813) 866-POKE (7653) or check them out on Facebook, Doordash or Uber Eats.

If you do stop in, please tell them you read about them in the Neighborhood News! — GN

More Food Coming Soon To WC Area, Too!

Years ago, Carrabba’s Italian Grill was rumored to be coming to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in Wesley Chapel, on a stillundeveloped parcel located south of where Bonefish Grill used to be located (where it has been replaced by Señor Tequila).

Then, originally reported in 2019 to be coming to the Cypress Creek Town Center area on the north side of S.R. 56, along with the now-open Aussie Grill and the new location of Bonefish, Carrabbas’s has finally begun construction. According to Pasco County’s permitting records, the 5,074-sq.-ft.

Carrabba’s will be built in between Bonefish Grill and Aussie Grill.

Meanwhile, Zaxby’s (above), the fastcasual fried chicken eatery, is getting ready to open on the south side of 56, near ALDI and the Tidal Wave Car Wash, and was still looking to hire additional employees as this issue went to press. — JCC & GN

The ExerScience Center Hosts A Ribbon Cutting!

Congratulations go out to my friend and Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Lauren Leiva of The ExerScience Center, located at 24706 S.R. 54 in Lutz, less than two miles east of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

Lauren, her family and staff hosted a Greater Pasco Chamber ribbon cutting on July 19 and she, of course, couldn’t resist the urge to cut the ribbon with a Samurai sword, instead of the traditional (and boring, at least to her) scissors.

Dr. Leiva has helped strengthen my knees and Jannah rehab her back and The ExerScience Center also offers outstanding personal training, nutrition counseling, group fitness and yoga classes, in addition to her award-winning physical therapy — as she has been named the People’s Choice Best of the Best Physical Therapist by the Tampa Bay Times two years in a row. To find out more, call (813) 803-7070, visit TheExerScienceCenter.com or see the ad on pg. 17. — GN

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Falabella Opens Third Wesley Chapel Eatery!

To a native New Yawka like me, few things are as perfect as a slice of great NY-style pizza. Well, just before we went to press with this issue, my friend Steve Falabella — who also owns 900º Woodfired Pizza at the Shops at Wiregrass and the Falabella Family Bistro in the Village at The Grove plaza — opened his third Wesley Chapel-based restaurant — 900º New York Pizza, located next to the Falabella Bistro in The Grove.

When you visit the new 900º location, you can expect Steve’s delicious NY-style pizza (photo), as well as great calzones, fresh focaccia bread, keto/low carb and gluten-free pizza, plus great appetizers like bruschetta,

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oven-baked wings, garlic knots and more.

For addresses and phone numbers for all three of Steve’s restaurants, see the ad below & please tell them I sent you!— GN

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35

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Is Willing To Overpay A Part-Time Office Assistant!

For details, email your resume to Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com!

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

CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296).

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

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

Neighborhood News Classified Ads Are the Ones Your Neighbors READ! To order yours, visit neighborhoodnewsonline. net/Classified Listings

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 17 • August 17, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

POOL SERVICES

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

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

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

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

FITNESS & WELL BEING

YOGA, PERSONAL TRAINING, NUTRITION & PHYSICAL THERAPY w/DR. LAUREN LEIVA, DPT! Phys Ed for everyone, including all children, w/a certified personal trainer who also is a degreed Dr. of Physical Therapy. Ask Dr. Leiva about her PE4ME sliding scale pay program! For more info, visit TheExerscienceCenter.com, call 813.464.0313 or see the ad on pg. 31 of this issue.

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

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

TREE SERVICE

FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE. 25-yrs of Prof. Service. Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates. Tree Trimming & Tree Removal. Stump Grinding. Dead-Wood Removal.

Affordable Rates. 24-Hour Emergency Storm Service.

Free Mulch. Call 813-495-9541 or 813-788-TREE.

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If You Didn’t Watch The ‘Woke’ Olympics, You Really Missed Out! An editorial by Gary Nager

Based on the number of comments I’ve seen on Facebook, it appears that not only were some people not as “into” the Olympics as I am, many skipped watching the Tokyo 2020 Games this year because some U.S. athletes — most notably the Bronze-medal-winning Women’s Soccer Team — chose to kneel during the playing of our national anthem.

And, while I may also have been rooting against that team winning a medal for choosing the Olympics as a place to embarrass our country, I did not avoid watching the Olympics because of what I perceived as an international disgrace to our country.

To the contrary, even though I thought NBC-TV and its affiliated networks did a terrible job of televising these Games — no matter what it said at the bottom of my screen on NBC, NBCSN, USA, and CNBC (I don’t subscribe to the Peacock Channel), it seemed there was always something else being shown — Jannah can vouch for the fact that I watched as close to every minute of virtually every sport we participated in, especially the swimming, track & field, indoor and beach volleyball, basketball, boxing, wrestling, baseball, softball and, yes, soccer every day the last two+ weeks.

And, I have to say that I am so incredibly proud of our 113 medal winners. And, although I didn’t see every medal ceremony, I personally didn’t see any of our 39 gold medal-winning indiviudals and teams kneeling or otherwise disgracing our flag and our country when they received those medals.

The U.S. women, in particular, did an amazing job of representing us, winning 66 of those medals, even though gymnast Simone Biles pulled out of a few events that could have added to our medal totals because her usually impeccable mental capacity to perform the world’s most dangerous gymnastic stunts failed her during her opening vault.

But, if you missed the gold-medalwinning performances (to name only a few)

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The U.S. women’s 4x400m relay team of Allyson Felix, Athing Mu, Dalilah Muhammad and Sydney McLaughlin won the last U.S. gold medal in Tokyo. (Photo: Charlie Riedel, AP) of U.S. gymnast Suni Lee, swimmers Katie Ledecky and Lydia Jacoby, track stars Sydney McLaughlin and Allyson Felix, the “A Team” of beach volleyballers April Ross and Alex Klineman, freestyle wrestler Tamyra MensahStock, our incredible indoor volleyball team or the seventh consecutive gold won by the U.S. women’s basketball team — led by the unstoppable Brittney Griner and five-time gold winners Diana Taurasi and Sue Bird — I’m sorry, but you really did miss out. You think women’s sports are “boring?” I don’t!

Yes, we caught and passed China (by one) for the most gold medals and dominated (by 25) for most medals overall, even if we had finished second, I truly loved watching these super-dedicated athletes (and yes, our male athletes did a great job, too) perform — and win — as I have every Olympiad since 1968.

So, for anyone who is “proud” of themselves for skipping the “Woke” Games this year, imagine you, your spouse or your child sacrificed time with their family and friends for five years and then you were told by a friend of yours that because some other members of the U.S. team dishonored our country that they weren’t going to watch them perform. How would you feel?

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