Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Issue 18, August 29, 2015

Volume 23 Issue 18

Inside:

Florida Hospital Center Ice Rink Unveils Its Programs!

See page 42!

August 29, 2015

Named The 2014 ‘Small Business Of The Year’ By The Wesley Chapel Chamber Of Commerce!

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

For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this Wesley Chapel issue by direct mail, see page 42!

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Breaks Ground On $78M Expansion!

By Matt Wiley It’s only been about two and a half years since Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) opened its state-of-the-art facility on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in October 2012, but the hospital already has embarked on a massive expansion to continue to bring the same quality of service to the community.

During a groundbreaking ceremony held in the parking lot of FHWC on August 12, hundreds of people packed into an air-conditioned tent to get a glimpse of the planned expansion and watch as hospital administrators and local elected officials “planted a tree” — representing the growth of the facility, which originally wasn’t scheduled to expand until 2017.

The expansion involves about 112,000 sq. ft. of new space and nearly 11,000 sq. ft. of renovated space. It will allow for 62 more in-patient beds, 18 additional emergency rooms, five surgical suites and a catheterization lab, plus observation and recovery space and expanded support areas.

Dist 2. Pasco County commissioner and Wesley Chapel resident Mike Moore was the first of many to speak a few words at the hospital’s expansion event.

“Wesley Chapel and Pasco County are on the rise,” Moore said. “We’re on the rise because of community partners like FHWC.” Moore noted that it also was important to remember that the hospital might not be standing if not for the Porter family — which owns the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) — where FHWC is located. “(The Porter family is) one of the

originators when it came to having the vision and the clarity for the future of this area,” Moore said. “What you see that surrounds you is due in big part to their family.”

Dist. 37 State Rep. Danny Burgess also was a featured guest speaker at the event.

“This is no coincidence that this (expansion) is happening so quickly,” Burgess said.

“What we have here is nothing short of an incredible facility, an incredible hospital and an incredible team doing amazing healing, wellness and preventive work and the community recognized that. When families are looking to relocate (to this area), they (also) recognize that.”

Burgess added that his 19-month-old daughter was born at FHWC and his second child, a boy, is expected any day and also will be born at the hospital.

Chief medical officer Dr. Robert Rosequist talked about the steps that went into getting the hospital built, a process that started in 2007. He described the original groundbreaking for FHWC five years ago and how a tree was planted at that event, too.

“The tree didn’t make it, but the hospital did,” Rosequist joked. “(Quality care) is doing the right thing the right way at the right time to the right patient, and we try to do that every day, here,” Rosequist said. “We need to expand because we can’t continue to provide that care in the existing brick and mortar hospital that we built just two and a half years ago.”

FHWC CEO Denyse Bales-Chubb gave the crowd the run-down of what the expansion will provide for the community.

“These additions will allow us to bet-

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel unveiled its $78-million expansion plans (above) during a ‘groundbreaking’ ceremony on Aug. 12 in the hospital’s parking lot. ter serve the patients coming to us for care and be prepared for the incredible growth this community is experiencing,” Bales-Chubb said, before introducing a 3D conceptual video that displayed the actual expansion plans.

‘We Care,’ Too!

Bales-Chubb also announced the kick-off of the “We Care” fundraising campaign for FHWC employees and community partners.

So far, the Adventist Health System and Florida Hospital together contributing $61 million See “FHWC” on pg. 15!

‘Festival Of Flight’ Takes To The Skies Sept. 11-13 Off S.R. 54!

By Matt Wiley of Flight’ at Tampa North Aero Park, a presentation of quilts to veterans

If you’re in or near Wesley Chapel the weekend of September 11-13, look up. You might see something cool that you don’t see too often. It could be a fleet of hot air balloons gracefully floating along the horizon, or a plane from World War II buzzing by. You’re not seeing things, it’s all part of the show.

The second weekend of September will mark the third annual ‘Festival

located off Wesley Chapel Blvd. (S.R. 54, although the airport’s address is in Lutz), and it’s not to be missed. For three days, attendees will be treated to numerous activities and experiences that all are meant to fuel interest in taking to the skies. Admission to the Festival is completely FREE. It all starts at 5 p.m. on Friday night, with live music from Infinity On High and the Harold Jones Band, as well as

News, Business & Sports Updates

Neighborhood Magazine

Tampa Premium Outlets GM Teases The Mall’s Epic Opening, Quail Hollow Elementary Reopens For 2015-16 School Year & Lots Of Local Business Features!

Legacy At Highwoods Preserve Opens, Zaytoun Grille For Authentic Mediterranean Cuisine In New Tampa, Plus More Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!

Pages 3-28

Pages 29-40

Also Inside This Issue!

of the armed services from Quilts of Valor. The highlight definitely will be the balloon glow, in which the 30 hot air balloons that will be attending this year stay on the ground, but fire their engines in loose synchronization with the live music between 7:30 p.m.-9 p.m.

Don’t party too hard Friday night, as all 30 of those hot air balloons will be taking off at sunrise on Saturday morning, a truly surreal sight. Make sure to bring a chair.

Throughout the day, attendees will have the opportunity to check out all kinds of aircraft, including a few Steermans (WWII bi-planes), a T-6 warbird (a WWII fighting plane), trikes (motorcycles with attached hang gliders) and helicopters.

Plus, there will be a different band

See ‘Flight’ on page 29!

Sending Good Vibes To Cindy, Charlie & Andy An editorial by Gary Nager One of the things I enjoy most about my job is the opportunity to meet and get to know people I might not other wise have gotten to meet — much less gotten to know well enough to call my friends.

In my now-21+ years of owning and being the editor of this publication, I have met many thousands of people and I’m proud to count hundreds of those people as friends of mine.

Precious few of the friends I’ve met through the Neighborhood News, however, are as near and dear to my heart as Cindy Freeman, who has been the membership director for the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) for nearly three years.

Cindy has a genuinely sweet, caring nature and she has brought that wonderful quality to everything she has done at the Chamber Cindy Freeman office (located in the separate office building in front of The Grove shopping center). And as it says in her GoFundMe.com (see below) profile (written by her son Aaron), “She is always willing to extend a hand to help someone in need. She never asks for anything but has always been the first to give.”

Well today, I’m sad to say that my friend is in need herself. Cindy has been battling esophageal cancer for several months now and recently was hospitalized for three weeks. The bills for her ongoing treatments are piling up and she hasn’t been able to work for the Chamber since her treatments began.

Now, I know some people are skeptical about GoFundMe accounts, but the good news

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager General Manager Nikki Bennett Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondents

Celeste McLaughlin • Anu Varma Panchal

Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Chelsie Rosatone Office Assistant Jillian Reilly Advertising Sales Rep Mary Dorey Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 23, Issue 20, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, September 14, 2015.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

© 2015 JM2 Communications, Inc. 3

is that if you do have an account, any money that’s donated to you is deposited directly into your bank account. If you know Cindy and the amazing work she has done as the helpful lady answering the phones at the Chamber (and stretching all the ribbons at the WCCC’s many ribbon-cuttings since 2013), you know that the need is real or I wouldn’t be asking you to help.

I’ll admit that I’ve never done a great job of raising money for the many people and causes I have trumpeted on this page over the years, but it certainly has never been for a lack of effort on my part. I always wish I could do more (and both I and the Neighborhood News have made donations to her already), but anything you can do to help the Freemans would be greatly appreciated.

To make a donation to the Freeman family, go to GoFundMe.com/b7z26v5c or type “Cindy’s Fundraising Group” in the search box in the middle of the page.

of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School of Business in Philadelphia and got his MBA degree from New York University in Manhattan while working on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange. Now a financial consultant, Andy has been married to Mindy for close to 30 years, and lives a wonderful life in Westchester County, NY, with his two 20-something sons and a teenage daughter.

I was stunned to learn that a year ago last week, Andy nearly died when he split his head open on stone steps while on vacation in Vermont. Despite a traumatizing few days in the hospital when he certainly could have died, he (amazingly) suffered no brain damage and the always-philosophical chess player and most worthy Words With Friends opponent says he hopes to “celebrate” many more of these “anniversaries” with his beautiful family. Love ya, ‘Drew!

Charlie Needs Your Help, Too!

Although I actually thought he was Charlie Daniels himself when I first met Charlie Kelly at the old Winners (now City Grill) on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel probably more than a dozen years ago, it wasn’t long before I considered Charlie to be a friend as well.

Always smiling, always quick with a joke and with nice things to say about this publication, Charlie is a unique character in Wesley Chapel who also has raised thousands of dollars for Charlie Kelly other charitable causes.

According to his GoFundMe.com profile, Charlie is “in need of heart surgery and...he is one of millions of Americans who are at an age where he doesn’t qualify for Medicaid and has no health insurance of his own.”

I attended a fund raiser at City Grill on Aug. 22 (look for photos in our next issue) for Charlie and made the first donation at GoFundMe.com/31ob3w (“Heart Surgery”). I hope those who know and love Charlie will help him out, too.

An Unbelievable Anniversary!

I also wanted to give a shout-out to Andy Feldman, one of my closest childhood friends from G.W. Hewlett High on Long Island.

Andy, who was 16 when he graduated from Hewlett, also is an alum of the University

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.............................4-19

Tampa Premium Outlets GM Teases Epic Grand Opening.....4 Comm. Moore Pushes Ordinance To Clean Up Pasco........6 Wesley Chapel News Briefs.............................................8 FBI Offers Reward For Missing Weapons Cody’s Roadhouse Employee Murdered In Tampa Kitchen Fire Burns Wesley Chapel Teen Road Rage Incident Ends In Arrest Wesley Chapel Driver Arrested In Wrong-Way Crash Juvenile Arrested In Wesley Chapel After Home Invasion ‘Diverging Diamond’ Considered For S.R. 56.................10 Beach House Senior Living Coming To Wesley Chapel......12 Hunter’s Lake Land Sale Approved..................................17 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar............................20

Local Business Updates.......................22-25

Excel Music Trains Wesley Chapel Musicians.......................22 New Tampa Dance Theatre Celebrates 20 Years!.................24

Local Education Update..........................26 Quail Hollow Elementary Officially Reopens After Two Years

Neighborhood Magazine.....29-44

Festival Of Flight (Cont. From Pg. 1)...................29 Legacy At Highwoods Preserve Officially Opens.......30 Zaytoun Mediterranean Grill Is A Must-Try.....32 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’..........36

WESLEY CHAPEL COLOR CLASSIFIEDS....40 Florida Hospital Center Ice Unveils Programs.........42

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Tampa Premium Outlets GM Teases Epic Opening Weekend Oct. 29-Nov. 1!

By Matt Wiley

If what general manager Stacey Nance told the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) during its recent Monthly Business Breakfast, the opening weekend for Simon Property Group’s new Tampa Premium Outlets is true—and we think it is—it will be something you won’t want to miss.

During the Chamber’s Monthly Business Breakfast at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch (located off Mansfield Blvd.) on August 18, Nance gave a brief presentation about what to expect in the coming weeks, as Tampa Premium Outlets prepares to officially open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, October 29, just south of S.R. 56, in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact (DRI).

Crews broke ground in December, but from the photos that Nance showed the room of more than 100 WCCC members, the 441,000-sq.-ft. mall is nearly complete.

The breakfast was Nance’s first formal event since arriving in our area in June from another Simon location in Muncie, IN. “When I came down here from Muncie three months ago, it was overwhelming… I knew that this was the place that I wanted to be,” Nance said, before introducing the other members of her administrative team.

New Jersey transplant and 15-year Simon employee Kelly Holmes will serve as the mall’s office administrator, making

administrative support decisions, while Nance’s fellow former Indiana resident Dallas Stevens will serve as operations director.

Stevens has been with Simon for two years and will be in charge of the mall’s operational functions, including construction, contracted services, maintenance and supervising the grounds-keeping and custodial teams before and after the mall’s opening.

Nance reiterated that the mall will feature a soft color palette (which already can be seen when driving by on I-75 or S.R. 56), as well as a pedestrian-friendly, Key West “feel.” The mall is an open-air concept with 110 stores in nine buildings with palm trees and water features throughout. The mall also will feature a central “lagoon,” which Nance said was a first for a Simon outlet mall.

“Our Center Court will feature a lagoon with a bridge,” Nance said. “Dallas wants to know how we’re going to keep the snakes and gators out.”

Nance displayed a slide full of logos for the first 14 “official” tenants that have been announced.

“Hopefully, you see some stores here that you’re anxious to (shop at),” Nance joked. “I see some heads nodding.”

While she wouldn’t announce any other stores, Nance said that the stores that have been named in these pages and other local media outlets are accurate and that more announcements are on the way.

“We have a different marketing plan for when we are going to put those names out,” Nance explained. “We have our full

lineup. We’re 100-percent occupied and we’ll be about 91-percent occupied when we open in October.”

Speaking of the Grand Opening, Nance advised everyone to go to PremiumOutlets.com/VIP and sign up for the “VIP Club,” which will be ripe with information regarding VIP special events, deals and other promotions during opening weekend, as well as grant visitors access to the VIP Club, where the yet-to-be-named “celebrities” will be in attendance. Tampa Premium Outlets general manager Stacey Nance gave a presentation about the mall’s planned October Grand Opening to members Nance also told of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce on August 18.

Chamber members about the highly anticipated Job Fair, held on August 27 37 more acres adjacent to the property in at the Embassy Suites at the University of the Cypress Creek Town Center. While South Florida off E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa, she remained mum on what could fill the which was just after we went to press with future outparcels, she said that Simon has this issue. For photos, see WCNeighborsome ideas.

“Thank you for welcoming us to the hoodNews.com. Nance said that, based greater Wesley Chapel area,” Nance told upon previous calls and emails from the the crowd. “We’re so excited to be a part of community, her staff was expecting “thouyour community for many years to come.” sands” to show up for about 800 available “And, thanks to the Neighborhood part-time, full-time, seasonal and manageNews for all the publicity,” Nance said to rial jobs for the mall’s 110 stores. publisher Gary Nager following her presenAlthough TPO already is massive, Nance told the crowd that Simon already is tation. “You’ve given us great exposure.” looking to the future and a possible expanFor additional information, visit PremiumOutlets.com/Tampa. sion. Nance said that Simon has purchased

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Comm. Mike Moore Pushes Ordinance To Clean Up Blight In County

By Matt Wiley

As Pasco County continues to try to revamp its reputation and become an “elite” county, one County Commissioner from Wesley Chapel is proposing an ordinance to clean up run-down and abandoned businesses along Pasco’s busy north-south roadways and encourage business owners not to let their property begin to deteriorate.

Dist. 2 Comm. Mike Moore has proposed an ordinance that could result in fines, and even possible jail time, for business owners who let their properties sit abandoned and deteriorate.

“During the past several months, I’ve had citizens tell me that they’re sick of seeing dilapidated and blighted structures along several corridors in Pasco,” Moore says, pointing out that many are along the U.S. 41, U.S. 19 and U.S. 301 corridors, which aren’t in our area. “So, I decided to propose a commercial property maintenance ordinance that would hold commercial property owners (instead of the county) responsible for their dilapidated and blighted properties.”

Moore says that the unattractive structures can bring down the value of surrounding properties that are properly maintained.

“It’s harmful to economic development,” Moore explains. “We’re making large investments into developing this county and the last thing we need is a company that’s looking into the area to see these buildings as a deterrent. It’s a public safety concern, too.”

Moore explains that it’s not uncom-

mon to find squatters and other illegal activity going on inside these abandoned buildings.

“If the windows are broken, people can get in or walk right through the doors into these properties and it attracts crime,” Moore says, adding that while most of the businesses in the Wesley Chapel area are newer buildings, the ordinance will serve as a reason for property owners to continue to keep up with the appearance of their properties. If not, they could be subject to major fines and yes, even time in jail.

Moore discussed the potential ordinance with his fellow commissioners during a workshop on August 11.

Senior assistant county attorney Kristi Sims told the Board that there already is a similar ordinance in place, which requires owners to maintain the appearance of their property or be held responsible for taking it down. However, under the current ordinance, if the owner doesn’t fix the problem or come forward with a plan for the building’s demolition, the county puts a lien on the property and, in some cases, even pays for the demolition, just to get rid of the dilapidated building(s).

However, in many cases, the county isn’t able to recover money from the owners once the building comes down. County administrator Michele Baker said that the county currently has about $1 million in liens from demolitions that it probably won’t ever get back.

Sims also noted that the new ordinance would give the blighted property owners a 30-day warning period to fix the problem.

On Day 31, the problem becomes a violation and the owner is then given another 30 days to correct the problem. On Day 62, if the problem is still not resolved, the owner will begin receiving a citation for $500 per day for each infraction.

Moore stressed that the new ordinance would put the burden of demolition on the property owner, as opposed to the county.

“We’re giving people up to The ordinance Comm. Mike Moore is pushing could help prevent local businesses from becoming overgrown and run-down 60 days to correct that infraction and after that we’re going after they close, like this car wash on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel. have the opportunity to make it go away to hit them hard,” Moore told and eliminate it, that seems like a positive.” his fellow commissioners.

Comm. Ted Schrader suggested a pubSims said that once it’s been deterlic meeting prior to adopting the ordinance mined that a property meets the criteria for business owners who could possibly be of the ordinance, she would then get the owner in front of a county judge who would affected — to encourage “transparency.”

“We don’t want people feeling like order the owner to fix the problem or take they were left out of this process,” Schrader the building down. She said that if she said. “Anytime you provide information to can prove that the owner has the financial those that could be affected, I believe that’s ability to fix the problem or demolish the a positive thing.” building(s) and still doesn’t, that business Moore said that the new ordinance was owner could face jail time. three-fold. “There’s the public safety aspect, Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) the economic development aspect and the Lt. Tait Sanborn expressed support for the beautification side,” he said. “This could ordinance. “We have some pretty significant help us bring in additional businesses.” concerns about some of these properties,” The ordinance still has to go through a Sanborn said, describing an abandoned public hearing process, which was supposed shopping center just north of the Pinellas to be scheduled for mid-September (alCounty line (in the New Port Richey area) though it had not yet been scheduled at our that’s notorious for homeless and criminal press time) and, if passed, could be enacted activity. “If you have a place that’s attracting

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Wesley Chapel FBI Offers $5K Reward For Missing Weapons

Auto theft of any kind is a crime, but stealing weapons from an FBI (Federal Bureau of Investigations) vehicle is a big “no-no,” and could land you in federal prison. Two men recently learned that the hard way, but months after their theft,four of the weapons they stole still have not been located and a few were stolen right here in Wesley Chapel.

So, the FBI is offering a reward for any info that leads to the whereabouts of the four guns — a Colt M4LE rifle, Springfield 1911 pistol, Glock 23 pistol and a Remington 870 shotgun..

According to an Aug. 17 press release from the FBI’s Tampa Field Office, the agency is now offering a $5,000 reward for information about the weapons, several of which were stolen from a parked and unoccupied FBI vehicle in the New River Township community, located off S.R. 54.

James Weed, 24, of San Antonio (FL), was pulled over in May 2014 in a stolen car. Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) deputies found him in possession of several items that were stolen from an FBI vehicle in New River days before. Weed also was charged with burglarizing another FBI vehicle in the Lake Bernadette community (Zephyrhills, also off S.R. 54). Both Weed and Jarvos Leonard White, also 24 (who was convicted of a similar, unrelated crime last December in Riverview), were sentenced to federal prison during the week of August 10. Weed was sentenced to 5 years, 11 months and White to 7 years and 10 months for stealing government property.

Contact the FBI Tampa Field Office at 253-1000 if you have any information.

Cody’s Roadhouse Employee Found Murdered In Tampa

A Tampa man already in custody on murder charges now has been charged in the murder of a San Antonio (FL) resident who worked at the Cody’s Roadhouse on Wesley Chapel Blvd. (S.R. 54).

According to the Tampa Police Department (TPD), 18-year-old Keith Gaillard has been charged with the first-degree murder of 46-year-old Tyrone S. Davis, whose body was found in the parking lot of Temple Crest Park (in North Tampa) on July 26. Davis was found (without any iden-

News Briefs tification on him) shot in the back of the head with a 0.22-caliber bullet. The death was determined to be a homicide.

Gaillard reportedly killed transgender woman India Clarke, 25, in the Keith Gaillard same manner. Her body was found on July 21 at the University Area Community Development Center (UACDC), also in Tampa. Gaillard turned himself in for that crime on July 29.

TPD reports that Davis was last seen on surveillance video leaving Cody’s Roadhouse in his silver Chevy Impala just after midnight on July 26. TPD’s subsequent investigation revealed that Davis’ vehicle and cell phone both were missing. The Impala was discovered abandoned at 7:30 p.m. on July 26 on Louisiana Ave. in East Tampa, without the keys.

The vehicle was taken to the TPD impound lot and searched. Blood was found on the center console area, the driver’s doorjamb and on the front passenger seat.

Gaillard’s wallet also was found inside in the center console. A blood-stained white tank top and grey shorts also were found.

On July 27, a witness told TPD that Gaillard came to his house in the Impala, stating that it was his girlfriend’s, and that he was “catching bodies.” The witness went to a gas station with Gaillard in the Impala and they were traveling to another residence when the car broke down on E. Louisiana Ave. The two reportedly tried to flag down help to get the car started, but instead pushed it into a vacant lot.

At some point, the witness opened the glove box and saw paperwork stating that the car belonged to Davis. Gaillard then admitted to the witness that he had killed Davis at Temple Crest Park and taken the car. The witness also stated that he had seen Gaillard with a 0.22-caliber revolver with duct tape on the grips.

On July 28, a second witness stated that his brother had purchased a gun from Gaillard. When the witness turned over the gun, it matched the description provided by the previous witness.

Florida Department of Law Enforcement (FDLE) analysts tested the blood on the grey shorts, which matched Davis’ DNA. One spot was a combination of DNA from both Gaillard and Davis. DNA on the

tank top also was identified as Davis’.

Gaillard’s fingerprints were found in multiple places inside and outside the Impala. FDLE also determined that the ammunition in the recovered revolver matched the bullet recovered from Davis’ body.

Phone records showed that the two had been in contact prior to the murder.

At our press time, Gaillard remained in the Orient Rd. Jail without bond on two charges of first-degree murder and possession of a firearm by a violent criminal.

Kitchen Fire Burns Teen

It’s important to be careful while cooking, especially for unsupervised teens.

According to Pasco County Fire Rescue (PCFR), units were called to a structure fire on Aug. 16 in the Palm Cove community, off Overpass Rd. in Wesley Chapel.

When firefighters arrived, they couldn’t see evidence of a fire from outside the home.

However, once firefighters entered the residence, they found heavy smoke conditions and an active fire in the kitchen, specifically on the stovetop and cabinets. The firefighters were able to quickly extinguish the fire with a fire extinguisher.

A 14-year-old teen, who was not identified, suffered 1st and 2nd degree burns to his/her hands. It was determined that the fire began while the teen was home alone and attempting to cook.

Wesley Chapel Road Rage Incident Ends In Arrest

Traffic can be frustrating, especially as the Wesley Chapel area continues to grow.

However, it’s still important to keep your cool on the road.

According to a PCSO report, at 8:20 p.m. on Aug. 6, a female was traveling west on S.R. 54, east of I-75, when a vehicle driven by 52-year-old Lexington Oaks resident Andrew Michael Lindsay swerved into her lane. The victim honked her horn and the report says that at the next intersection (the entrance to I-75), Lindsay pulled up next to the victim, reached out the driver’s side window of his vehicle and pointed a Ruger 9mm handgun at her. When the light turned green, the victim waited for Lindsay to drive ahead of her, took down his license plate and called PCSO. While the victim followed, the report says Lindsay stopped his vehicle, got out and started banging on the victim’s window without the gun. After re-entering his vehicle, the victim followed Lindsay to the Pinebrook Plaza, where a PCSO deputy

also arrived.

In an interview, Lindsay told the deputy that he pulled the gun out and pointed it at the victim, but then changed the story to say that he held it up inside a holster, but didn’t point it at anyone. Andrew Lindsay Lindsay said he was protecting himself because he saw the victim reach down and reach for something. He also admitted to approaching the victim’s vehicle without the weapon.

Deputies seized the gun from the Lindsay’s vehicle that was found loaded with a round in the chamber. Lindsay was arrested and charged with aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. He was released on August 7 on a $5,000 bond.

Local Driver Arrested In Tampa Wrong-Way Crash

Wrong-way accidents continue to sporadically make headlines around the Tampa Bay area, and the latest involves a driver from Wesley Chapel.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO), at around 12:45 a.m. on July 30, Watergrass resident Adam Stumpf, 35, was traveling east on E. Bearss Ave. in Tampa in his 2015 Toyota Tacoma near E. 148 Ave. in the westbound lane.

At the same time, Shannon Rotolo, 22, of Palm Harbor, was traveling west on Bearss Ave. in her 1999 Honda Civic and saw Stumpf headed her way in the wrong direction.

Rotolo veered left into the median to avoid the truck, but Stumpf veered the same way at the last minute and the vehicles collided in the median. No one was Adam Stumpf injured.

Stumpf was arrested for driving under the influence with property damage after deputies recorded his blood alcohol content at 0.104 and 0.113, higher than the legal limit of 0.08 . Stumpf was released on a $500 bond the same day.

Juvenile Arrested In WC Following Home Invasion

A Land O’Lakes juvenile is in custody, after being arrested at a Wesley Chapel hotel, following a violent home invasion.

According to PCSO, at 6 p.m. on July 29, Christopher Mark Alexander, 17, was arrested at the Rodeway Inn (located near The Grove shopping plaza off Oakley

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Blvd.) in connection with a home invasion and attempted homicide earlier that same day on My Lady Ln. in Land O’Lakes.

PCSO reports that at 9 a.m., Alexander and fellow Land O’ Lakes residents Alejandro Brooker, 17, and Lonnie Jones, 22, knocked on the door of a residence in the Cypress Grove Apartments complex off U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes. When the victims opened the door, Alexander, Brooker and Jones stormed in with guns drawn.

Jones confronted one victim in a bedroom and took his cellphone, while the two juveniles threatened the other occupants in the apartment. Alexander reportedly went through the kitchen cabinets, looking for money and drugs and struck an occupant in the head with his pistol. Brooker stole a shotgun from inside the residence and

Neighborhood News

struck another occupant in the head with the butt of the gun, before all three fled the complex in a vehicle on Drexel Rd. During the invasion, one of the victims fled through a second-story window. The suspects reportedly saw the victim along the side of the road and Jones fired four or five shots out of the rear window. One bullet hit the victim in the shoulder. While he was being treated at St. Joseph’s Hospital, it was discovered that the bullet entered his lung.

The suspects were identified through photos. Each suspect has been charged with home invasion robbery and aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Jones also was charged with first-degree attempted homicide. He remained in custody in the Land O’Lakes Detention Center in lieu of a $305,000 bond at our press time. — MW

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9

FDOT Considering ‘Diverging Diamond’ Interchange For S.R. 56

NN1

10

nitely pay attention to the road. Instead of crossing the eastbound lanes of S.R. 56 and turning left onto the westbound lanes, which is the current set-up, you’ll immediately turn left.

After crossing the interstate and approaching the stoplight at the entrance to the southbound lanes of I-75, you’ll then cross back over into what are the normal westbound lanes on the northern side of the road. Traffic on S.R. 56 headed in either direction follows the signs to the opposite lanes for the length of the bridge and then switches back to normal lanes at the next stoplight.

If you feel yourself going crosseyed, check out the diagram (right).

FDOT reports that DDIs create fewer conflict points for vehicles, offer better visibility during turns and cut back on the opportunities for drivers to enter the interstate in the wrong direction. In addition, DDIs provide free or simple left and right turns from all directions, increase left turn capacity (where traffic usually is the worst during the afternoon rush when getting off I-75 at the S.R. 56 interchange) without needing more lanes; they also cut traffic signals down to two cycles and improve traffic signal synchronization.

DDIs also are a cheaper alternative than rebuilding an interchange, FDOT says. In fact, the existing bridge should

The diagram shows how traffic would shift to the opposite lanes of S.R. 56 above I-75 if a diverging diamond interchange (DDI) concept were applied to the intersection (Photo: WCCommunity.com).

support a DDI and additional right-ofway is rarely needed. Plus, the construction time is significantly reduced and traffic patterns don’t have to be significantly altered while the interchange is being transformed. Lanes just have to be shifted, instead of new ones being constructed.

The S.R. 56 interchange has transformed at an exponential rate since it was first constructed in 2002. Traffic back-ups onto the interstate became so extreme that the current two-mile-long new exit ramp had to be constructed

and opened in 2012 to handle the traffic, which will increase exponentially when the mall opens in October.

Although there are no DDIs currently in operation in our area, one currently is under construction in the Sarasota area at the University Pkwy. interchange. However, instead of creating a DDI on a bridge (as would be the case at S.R. 56), the Sarasota DDI is being constructed underneath the interstate bridge.

For more information, please visit DOT.State.fl.us.

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By Matt Wiley

As traffic continues to back up daily at the S.R. 56 exit from I-75 in Wesley Chapel — where the area’s newest outlet mall is set to open — state transportation officials are considering alternatives for reworking the I-75 interchange at S.R. 56 to improve the flow of traffic.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has approved funding in its 2016-17 budget for the study and design of a new interchange concept for S.R. 56. The likely scenario is a new one that many driver probably have not seen before, but is becoming a more popular alternative that has helped increase traffic flow, as well as improved safety, on bridges above and/or the roads below interstate highways.

Called a “diverging diamond” interchange (DDI), FDOT is considering an idea that would place drivers on what typically would be considered the “wrong side of the road.” However, using traffic signals and signage, the concept is supposed to make busy interchanges more efficient and safer.

According to FDOT, it works like this: If you’re headed north on I-75 and you get off at S.R. 56, you’ll approach the stop light at the interchange. If you’re headed east, nothing changes.

But, if you’re headed west, you should definitely not be texting and should defi-

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Prevarian Senior Living’s ‘Beach House’ Assisted Living Facility Coming To S.R. 56

By Matt Wiley

While the Legacy at Highwoods Preserve (off Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in New Tampa; see page 30 of this issue) recently opened as the area’s first assisted living facility, it won’t be the only one in our area for long, as work will begin on a future assisted living facility on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel early next year.

With a location open in Jacksonville and another set to open in Naples in December, Wesley Chapel will become the third location for Beach House Senior Living, a new concept by Dallas, TX-based Prevarian Senior Living. The facility will be located on 4.1 acres immediately to the east of North Tampa Behavioral Health on S.R. 56.

According to plans filed with Pasco County, once complete, the two-story Beach House will consist of 99 units, with 67 for assisted living and 32 secure units for memory care patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease or other forms of dementia.

Prevarian partner Allan Brown says that Wesley Chapel was an obvious choice for the concept.

“While doing our due diligence and

looking at Tampa, we identified Wesley Chapel as an ideal market,” Brown says.

“There’s next to no competition in the area and we like the growth in Wiregrass Ranch.

It is quickly filling up.”

Brown says that Prevarian worked directly with the Porter family, which owns Wiregrass Ranch, to secure the site. He adds that he expects all of the approvals from Pasco to be complete by the fall and construction to get under way early in 2016.

The facility will have a “coastal” feel to it, Brown explains, and will feature a large interior courtyard, lush landscaping, walking paths, bocce ball courts, putting greens and more.

“It will be a nice place to be outside,” Brown says. “It’ll also have a large covered patio.”

Brown explains that the Beach House concept was first developed in Jacksonville and brought down to Naples because both are close to the beach. Brown says the Wesley Chapel location will be keeping the concept’s theme consistent across the state, despite the fact our area is about an hour from the closest beach.

For more info, please visit BeachHouseSeniorLiving.com.

(Above) A conceptual rendering of the Beach House assisted living facility that will open in Naples in December. A facility with the same concept will begin construction in Wesley Chapel early next year.

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‘FHWC’

sign on the side of the road that said “Wesley Chapel.” Dempsey said he looked into it and the sign was about a religious guy who Continued from page 1 happened to have a chapel.

“I said, ‘That has a nice ring to it,’” for the expansion. The goal is to raise the remaining $17 million. At the ceremony, Dempsey explained. “I’ll call the place Wesa check for $70,124 was presented to the ley Chapel.”

He added, “Someone mentioned earFHWC Foundation that already had been raised by the FHWC leadership team and lier (during the groundbreaking ceremony) that {FHWC} is like a resort,” Dempsey 325 of the hospital’s employees.

Saddlebrook Resort & Spa owner and said. “I’d like to remind them that it is a fund-raising campaign chair Tom Dempsey hospital. I’m the resort.”

Dempsey also said that he chose to bereflected on the growth in the area, which he tracked all the way back to when his re- come the chair of the hospital’s fund-raising sort broke ground a mile east of BBD on campaign because he believes in the mission S.R. 54 about 35 years ago—and he didn’t of FHWC. “I think they know what they’re doing, know what to call the area around it.

The FHWC Foundation’s Connie Bladon (right) presents a check to FHWC CEO He said when the resort broke ground, they have a great record,” Dempsey said. Denyse Bales-Chubb for more than $70,000 that was raised by hospital employees to “Their technology and what they do in their there was nothing around, not even a fruit go toward paying a portion of the hospital’s $78-million expansion. stand. But, he said he saw a little wooden hospital goes beyond most other medical care. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend (FHWC) to anyone.”

Dempsey also promised that he would be making a contribution to the campaign and hopes that other community partners will do so, too.

To commemorate the groundbreaking, all who spoke grabbed a blue watering pail and “watered” an artificial tree to represent the growth of the hospital and the community.

This one will make it.

The event was catered by Puff N’ Stuff, which provided a variety of delicious, handcrafted breakfast pastries and wonderful coffee for the midSaddlebrook Resort & Spa owner Tom Dempsey. morning event.

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Hillsborough County Approves $2M Sale For Hunter’s Lake Land

By Matt Wiley

The New Tampa area is officially one step closer to having its own cultural center, community theater and dog park — which are all planned to built on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (across from Hunter’s Green) — as Hillsborough County officially has approved the sale of nearly 18 acres of land at the site to a developer.

During the July 15 Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, the Board voted unanimously (7-0) to approve the $2.02-million sale of 17.6 acres of land across from Hunter’s Green to Hunter’s Lake, LLC, which plans to develop not only a theater and cultural center, but also additional retail and multi-family residential units. The development tentatively is being called The Village at Hunter’s Lake.

“It feels good (to get the sale approved),” says David Freeman, president of Harrison Bennett Properties, LLC, which is developing the project as Hunter’s Lake, LLC. “We’re very anxious to get the process started. We have a lot of things to do out there.

Hopefully, we’ll be getting the rezoning started (with the City of Tampa) fairly soon, but not immediately.”

Although the land is part of an 80-acre parcel owned by Hillsborough County, it sits within the Tampa city limits, so it is subject to the city’s zoning ordinances. In order to be cleared for the type of development planned for Hunter’s Lake, it will have to go through the city’s rezoning process.

Freeman says that Hunter’s Lake will be home to a mixed-use “village center,” which will include a 20,000-sq.-ft. cultural center with community theater (expandable to 30,000 sq. ft.) and a three-acre dog park.

The Hunter’s Lake proposal also includes plans for 90-250 residential units in the form of condos, townhomes or “boutique” apartments, as well as a “green grocer” with frontage on BBD and other shops and restaurants, totaling 80,000 sq. ft. The de-

velopment will not allow any fast food establishments or gas stations. Despite rumors and gossip about who the “green” grocer might be, Freeman says that it’s still much too early to have any tenants already lined up.

Once Hunter’s Lake and the county close on the sale (which Freeman says is in the works), the contract will officially be approved. Then, land inspections can begin, which include surveying and other “due diligence” work. Freeman says that once those inspections have been completed, the rezoning process can begin.

“We’ve got a fairly long process ahead of us still,” Freeman says, adding that he’s been told that the rezoning process itself can take at least six months to complete after the application is submitted.

“We’re well under way,” says Dist.

2 Comm. Victor Crist, who represents New Tampa on the BOCC. “(The county) is meeting with planners and architects to help design the park site.

We’re making a few tweaks and then we’ll sit down with the other commissioners to get their input.”

Crist says that the project — which will mirror the aesthetics of Hunter’s Green — is estimated to cost about $9 million and that the county currently has about $5.5 million budgeted, including the $2 million from the developer. He says that the county hopes to make up the remaining $3.5 million from the state or the private sector.

“The (cultural center) is expensive,” Crist says, adding that the cost of lighting, soundproofing and other details for the theater contribute to the price tag. So far, the first floor is pretty much planned, he says. It will include the theater with a legitimate, professional stage and 300 built-in theater seats, rather than just space for chairs on a floor. The center also will include two classrooms, storage rooms, locker rooms, make-up rooms and a multi-purpose room with a full kitchen. A corridor through the center of the building will be wide enough to accommodate event receptions.

A conceptual rendering of what the retail center at the future Village at Hunter’s Lake development could look like once it has been completed. which has a program based in downThe idea, Crist says, is to build town Tampa and potentially could something that can host several difoffer an extension of that program in ferent kinds of events throughout the New Tampa. day. For now, the second floor will be Crist says that he plans to also built, but not “built out” (finished), so reach out to the University of South that it can be built to suit for a future Florida, Hillsborough Community partner program provider.

College and the Life Enrichment Cent“The goal is to attract several proer of North Tampa (which provides gram providers for the best value and programs for seniors about 13 miles utilization (of the cultural center),” he from the site of the future cultural explains. “It has to be sustainable.”

Crist says that the county already is center) about hosting programs at the facility in the future. working with the New Tampa Players “We want to create a sense of theater troupe on details for the theater community for New Tampa, a place to and that talks are planned with several other program providers, including the gather and enjoy,” Crist says. “It’s time there’s more investment up here.”

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19

August 2015 Monday, August 31 Experienced Networking

Wednesday, September 2 Chapel 2 Wesley Breakfast Club

31 Professionals (ENP)

The WC Breakfast Club brings business people together to network Attendees will ENP meets Monday mornings at 8 a.m. for also pick up valuable marketing ideas and breakfast and networking at Quail Hollow Golf have a chance to present their business to & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). the group. The club meets the 1st and 3rd For more information, call Brad Benson Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at at 973-1814.

Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For more information, Professional Business please call Bill at 992-3370.

31 Connections (PBC) PBC meets Mondays at 7:30 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz).

For more information, call Chris Thurow at 546-6860.

September 2015

Club Of 2 Rotary Wesley Chapel (Noon)

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meets Wednesdays at noon at Stage Left Bar & Kitchen (24400 S.R. 54, Lutz).

For more information, call 862-8989 or 391-3895.

Tuesday, September 1 Business Networking Thursday, September 3 1 International (BNI) Networking For BNI, a group of business professionals 3 Your Success supporting each other through qualified The Networking For Your Success group referrals, meets Tuesdays, 7:30 a.m., at Heritage Church (1854 Oak Grove Blvd., off S.R. 54, Land meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at Lexington Oaks O’Lakes). For more info, email Tim at Tim@ Clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd, off S.R. 54). All are welcome. Call 994-9944.

TampaHomes24-7.com.

Mental Disorder

1 Support Meeting The Pasco County Chapter of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) offers a support group for family & friends of those with mental illness. The group meets the first & third Tuesday of each month at 7 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, call (727) 992-9653.

Food Addicts In

3 Recovery (FA)

FA is a fellowship of individuals who, through shared experiences and mutual support, are recovering from the disease of food addiction. The group meets Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Seventh Day Adventist Church (33420 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel).

For more info, visit FoodAddicts.org.

Friday, September 4 Club Of 4 Rotary Wesley Chapel Sunrise The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets Fridays at 7:15 a.m. at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.).

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

Monday, September 7 ‘Wesley Chapel Speaks’ 7 ToastMasters The “Wesley Chapel Speaks” ToastMasters Club meets on the first and third Monday of every month, 6:15 p.m., at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (26944 Wesley Chapel Blvd.).

For more info, call David West at 610-1650 or visit WesleyChapel Speaks.ToastMastersClubs.org.

Friday, September 18 Pure Health Studios Open House 18 & Fitness Seminar Pure Health Studios owner Samantha Taylor will host a Fitness Seminar at 6 p.m. Doors open at 5:30. Enjoy delicious desserts & gourmet coffee.

To reserve a seat or for more info, visit PureHealthStudios.com or see pg. 39.

Saturday, September 19

Golf Tournament To Benefit 19 WC Rotary, WCH & WRH!

The Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, and the golf teams at Wesley Chapel & Wiregrass Ranch High Schools will be the beneficiaries of the 2015 “Rotary Business Challenge Golf Tournament,” a fund-raiser hosted by C Ray, Inc., at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (GC). The shotgun start will be at 8:30 a.m., with awards luncheon after.

There also will be a mixer, dinner and student golfer auction on Friday, September 18, Friday, September 11 6 p.m., also at Lexington Oaks GC. NAMI: Mental Health The cost to play is $365 for a team of three 11 Support Group (the fourth player would be the high school golfer) NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) before Sept. 18 or $375 on Sept. 18. That cost is of Pasco has a new support group for adults in for businesses only and includes logo signage Pasco County living with a mental illness and in & other sponsorship benefits. The cost to play recovery. The new “Connections” group meets without a business sponsorship is $125 per golfer.

For more info, visit CRayConnect.com or the 2nd & 4th Friday each month from 2-3 p.m. call Don at 907-7270 or Cliff @ 277-8800. at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54).

For more info, visit namipasco.com.

19 Deacon Blues Band Benefit

Saturday, September 12

12 BayChapel Food Pantry

BayChapel will be opening its FREE food pantry to the community at Christian Brothers Automotive (20303 Trout Creek Dr, New Tampa) from 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. for anyone in need. For info, call Lee at 731-4040.

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Excel Music Helps New Tampa Students Hone Their Musical Skills

By Celeste McLaughlin

Since 2006, Excel Music in the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center off Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa has been teaching students of all ages to sing and play a wide variety of instruments with some of the area’s top teachers. Year after year, as kids go back to school, many make their way to Excel Music to enhance their educations through musical endeavors.

John and Sheri Thrasher are the husband-and-wife team who own the school. “We’ve helped thousands of students of all ages reach their musical goals while enjoying the journey,” says John.

“We like to say Excel is both the place you start and the place you stay.”

Excel Music has 20 teachers on staff and all are either university trained (many with Master of Music degrees) or they have at least 10 years of study and performing experience. The faculty teaches voice and nearly every traditional musical instrument, including piano, guitar, drums, violin and many more.

“There’s a lot of excellent science out there that shows the benefit of a broad education that includes arts and music,” John says, adding that Excel provides a variety of opportunities for people of all ages to experience and connect with music.

Sing With Glee, New Tampa!

New this fall, Excel Music will offer

the New Tampa Choir, a singing group for kids ages 5-17 — and no experience is necessary to participate. “It’s a learning experience, but it’s going to be fun,” John says. “We want to give students a venue to sing both songs they know, and some they don’t. In addition to traditional choir music, we expect to do Broadway songs, Disney songs and more. And, we currently are looking for opportunities for this group to perform.”

The New Tampa Choir will be led

by Molly Michael, a University of South Florida student finishing up her Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Music Education this year, who says Excel’s choir is for those who aren’t interested in solo performance, although the choir will offer opportunities for small group instruction.

Molly explains, “This will not be a huge choir where no one even knows each other’s name.” Molly adds that the choir will provide a way for New Tampa kids to, “meet new people and get involved in an amazing music school.”

The school also will start up its Excel Rock Band again this fall.

“We’ve done a rock band a couple of times over the years, and its success has depended upon the right mix of students,” John explains. “We make sure to group students by age, skill level and instrumentation.” He adds that

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Excel has had success with a rock band at summer camp and its looking to build on that success this fall.

Also continuing this fall is a preschool music class for ages 18 months to four years, enjoyed by both kids and parents. The class lasts 45 minutes, once a week, for 10 - 12 weeks.

“It’s a great way to engage with both the parent and the child,” John explains. “The smiles on the faces of John & Sheri Thrasher invite you to join the New Tampa Choir or the parents are often as learn to play an instrument at Excel Music in New Tampa! big as the ones on their of kids who take music classes are much children.” younger than Sarah, but she has been John adds that the classes help taught in an age-appropriate way, movparents learn ways to engage musically ing along quickly, so she stays engaged.” with their preschoolers at home. “This Donna adds that Sarah primarily is is a participatory class in which we teach learning classical music, but also how to parents how to bring music into their kids’ lives,” he says, “especially if they’re play songs she recognizes, which keeps her interested. “I also like that Excel not musicians.” has later hours,” Donna says. “Sarah has A current student at Excel is time to come home, do her homework 16-year-old Cross Creek resident Sarah and then can still take her piano lessons Haller, who has been taking lessons at later in the evening.” the school for three years. Sarah’s mom Sarah and all of the school’s Donna says, “I really appreciate the constudents have the opportunity to take venience of the location, of course, and part in recitals twice a year, but they are how accommodating the staff is. A lot

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”

originally opened Excel Music with the dream of providing the opportunity for young people to be trained for the kinds of careers and lives they once experienced themselves.

“We both had long careers in music, and were professional musicians who were able to make a living performing,” John says, adding that he Learn nearly any musical instrument with lessons from Excel Music, was the drummer for country singer located in the Cory Lake Professional Center in New Tampa.

Mickey Gilley for always optional and are low-pressure. many years, giving him the opportunity “Recitals are part of what we do,” to perform on TV, at the White House John says. “But, we aren’t a perforand for people all over the world. mance-driven studio.”

In the 1990s, John and Sheri had And while many of the school’s stusuccess with a band of their own in dents are kids, the opportunity to learn Japan called Tz, where he says they sold to sing or play an instrument is certainly tens of thousands of CDs. They also not limited. found themselves immersed in a culture “A lot of adults come in for lessons, that revered teachers, which led them too,” says John. “We get retired people to start thinking about passing on the who say they’ve wanted to play their knowledge and experience they had whole lives, and now they’re finally gogained to the next generation. ing to do it.” He says one of his favorite “We met tremendous people, saw stories was about teaching an 86-year-old man how to play the trumpet. great places, and made a living,” John says. “We started thinking, ‘What if some of the kids who come through our About The Owners school can experience what we did?’”

John explains that he and Sheri

They landed in New Tampa, where they had relatives, and have been building their school ever since. With nine years now under their belts, some of John and Sheri’s long-term students are now growing up and moving on.

“We’re seeing many students who have come through our school go on to college, and some are majoring in music,” John says. “This dream we had is starting to come true.”

John explains, however, that he and Sheri recognize that the vast majority of their students will not go on to have professional careers in music.

“Our teachers are good enough for that type of student, but most of our students will go on to have another ca-

reer such as a doctor or lawyer or something else,” he explains. “We hope that when they go to a concert or experience music, they will appreciate it on a different level, because they truly understand the challenge of playing music, and the dedication and skill of the performers presenting the music to them.”

Excel Music is located at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite I., in the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center.

It is open Mon.-Thurs., 2-9 p.m., 2-7 p.m. on Fri., and 10 a.m.-3 p.m. on Sat. Call 991-1177 for more info or to schedule lessons. Also, be sure to see the ad on page 27, which offers a “back-to-school” special for free registration for a limited time.

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Students Adding To New Tampa Dance Theatre’s Impressive Resumé The New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT), located on Cross Creek Blvd. (across from Heritage Isles, a few miles south of Wesley Chapel), is celebrating 20 years of dance instruction in our area. Owner and artistic director Dyane Elkins IronWing continues to focus on creating an atmosphere where you and your child can have a drama-free dance experience.

This is an exciting year for Elkins IronWing, as she is celebrating three huge milestones. First, it’s the 20th anniversary for NTDT (which originally opened in Pebble Creek in 1995), the 16th anniversary for the studio’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet “The Nutcracker” and the 11th anniversary for the Sugar Plum Fairy Tea (see below).

“We have an amazing season ahead of us,” Elkins IronWing said. “We want to thank all of our trusting and loyal families over the years and the organizations who continually support us. Without their recognition and time, this wouldn’t be possible.”

NTDT may have opened in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., but in 2006, Elkins IronWing purchased land on Cross Creek Blvd, building and personally designing a 10,000-sq.-ft. professional dance training facility, with 7,500-sq.-ft. of it serving as a standalone dance space. It was the first and is still the largest dance training facility in New Tampa. The bigger location has meant more classrooms, which allowed for both a larger schedule selection and smaller class sizes.

Elkins IronWing’s love of dance is what led her to open her own dance theatre. A professional dancer herself, she says she started training at age five and eventually studied at the Ballet Metropolitan in New York City.

She and her husband Troy IronWing continue to tour nationally with the Rhythm Extreme Performance Troupe, something they’ve been doing as a couple for the past 10 years. Troy also has been NTDT’s director of tap dance

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since 2003, and he leads the beginning and intermediate adult tap classes.

Whether dancers are seeking recreational classes or pre-professional training, NTDT literally caters to everyone.

Along with classical ballet, the studio offers full programs in modern, jazz, tap, hip-hop and creative movement, each of which has its own director and a specific syllabus to accomplish.

Teen/Adult classes include four eight-week sessions (from Sept.-May) of Jazz Funk, Adult Tap, and Ballet Barre Exercise. Children ages 3-4 can participate in the Early Childhood Program, ages 5-8 can participate in the Children’s Program, and ages 9-18 can participate in the Youth Program.

Some of the school’s spectacular instructors include modern dance director Carla Armstrong, who holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in dance from the prestigious Juilliard School in New York City, local choreographer Dreama Davidson, who directs the hip-hop dance classes, as well as both Dyane and Troy, who teach jazz and tap, respectively.

Pre-Professional Program

frey Ballet in Chicago and the Boston Ballet. Two former NTDT students have even received full-ride scholarships to the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University in Manhattan.

NTDT alumni also have gone on to professional careers in dance, with highly respected companies such as Pilobolus in Connecticut, Paul Taylor 2 Dance Company and Parsons Dance Company in New York City, Broadway and Off-Broadway productions and for the Walt Disney Company.

Arbor Greene resident Randi Guerne believes, “NTDT’s professional staff encourages strong technique while still having fun. As a parent, I feel this is very important, as it solidifies a positive self-image during their school years.” Randi’s daughter Krista, a freshman honors student at Paul R. Wharton High on BBD in New Tampa, has been a student at NTDT for 11 years. Randi says that, thanks to the training, Krista has received, she has been accepted by (and has attended and performed with) some of the top national dance companies during her summer breaks from school.

Students participating in NTDT’s A Great Rec Program, Too! pre-professional program become equally NTDT has built a reputation for proficient in multiple art forms, from creating strong, professional dancers. classical ballet to modern jazz and tap.

However, Elkins IronWing says that This allows for more opportunities for success in the very competitive world of dance. Many NTDT students have been accepted into prestigious summer intensive programs. Most recently, NTDT student Alexandra Desruisseaux was accepted to Butler University in Indianapolis, IN, with a scholarship in dance; Christa Cummings was accepted to Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA, also with a scholarship in dance; and Gabrielle Barnes was accepted as a high school sophomore to the Sarasota Ballet, with a *expires May 31, 2015 full scholarship for year-round training.

NNEWS In addition, previous NTDT students have been accepted to the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater in New York City, The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, the Jof-

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60 percent of the studio’s students are enrolled in the studio’s popular recreational programs. That means all of the students benefit from the same highquality training that is the hallmark of NTDT. And, the cost is more affordable than you might think! In addition to the monthly tuition, there is only a small costume rental fee for recitals. You won’t find any of the hidden costs (e.g., perfor-

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mance fees or requirements to purchase advertising) you’ll find at other schools.

The NTDT facility has many special features, including maple flooring for the tap classes, 15-20 ft.-tall mirrored walls, student locker rooms and a large studio space that can accommodate up to 200 people. Because Elkins IronWing knows that dance is extremely strenuous on the body, NTDT also has “sprung” floors that provide

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shock absorption to protect the dancers’ joints. There’s even a physical therapist on site to ensure the health of the dancers. And, with many parents rushing home from work to get the kids to dance practice, they’ll especially appreciate the on-site café that offers hot meals, as well as drinks, snacks and even tasty ice cream.

New Tampa residents Paula and Ron Nelson say they enrolled their daughter Malia in Creative Movement classes at NTDT when she was only three years old. Now, six years later, she’s moved up to the youth program, where she’s learning ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop.

“As a result of the yearly (NTDT) recitals at the University of South Florida (USF), Malia loves performing on stage and has absolutely no stage fright,” Paula explains. “This has carried over to school, where she’s now comfortable making presentations to her classmates and participating in yearly school plays.”

As a student at NTDT, all dancers have the opportunity to perform in the “Spring Production” and — through NTDT’s nonprofit-partner, the Dance Theatre of Tampa (DTT) — they also can perform in the “Summer Concert Series.” This dance performance is held every June at USF and is one way

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DTT gives back to the community, by providing more than 300 free tickets to NTDT’s corporate sponsors, local community supporters, alumni members and NTDT students.

“The Nutcracker” is another performance sponsored by DTT. It’s an original production created by Elkins IronWing and her staff, based upon their interpretation of the beloved Tchaikovsky classic. “The Nutcracker” is performed every December at USF’s College of the Arts Theater 1. Tickets go on sale October 19 for the performances held December 18-20. For the past five years, DTT also has been offering the community a “sneak peak” of “The Nutcracker” at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. This year’s free performances will be held on November 28 and December 4-5 & 11-13.

DTT’s most popular fund raiser, “The Sugar Plum Fairy Tea” — which will be held Sunday, December 6, 2 p.m.-4 p.m., at the USF Gibbons Alumni Center — quickly sells out each year.

You can enjoy a light lunch, scrumptious desserts (including a chocolate fountain), exciting giveaways, a sneak preview of “The Nutcracker,” and an opportunity to dance with Clara (the lead role of the young girl who receives the beloved nutcracker as a Christmas gift) and her “party friends.” Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the Tea are donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in South Tampa.

It’s easy to see why NTDT was voted 2014’s “Best Dance Theater” in the Northeast area for the second year in a row by The Tampa Tribune’s “Northeast” edition. Elkins IronWing explains, “It’s all about the children at NTDT, always has been and always will be. We are a company that enables children to succeed. The key is setting high expectations all while having fun and building self-confidence.”

Through personal attention and professional expertise, the NTDT faculty is committed to providing a positive educational experience based upon the studio’s core principles of respect, responsibility and teamwork, Elkins IronWing explains. NTDT students gain self-esteem, determination and a strong work ethic — skills that allow them to succeed and attain their future goals in any field.

“I believe this has carried us into our amazing celebration that will continue through the next 20 years,” she says. “I look forward to an even brighter future. The best is yet to come!”

NTDT offers year-round free trial classes for prospective dancers of all ages. Check out the fantastic lineup of fall classes by calling 994NTDT (6838). To tour the facility or to rent it for a meeting, party or function, visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd. For more info, visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com.

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25

Quail Hollow Elem. Officially Reopens For 2015-16 School Year After two years of remodeling and construction, one Wesley Chapel elementary school is much more than just a shell of its former self, as it prepares to reopen for the 2015-16 school year.

During a Community Open House on August 21, parents, students and teachers toured the remodeled Quail Hollow Elementary (QHE, located north of S.R. 54 on Quail Hollow Blvd.), which has been closed since the end of the 2012-13 school year. QHE (as were Shady Hills Elem. in Spring Hill and Sanders Memorial Elem. in Land O’Lakes) was closed for extensive improvements that would not have been possible with students in the building. But, judging by QHE’s transformation, the time “off” has been worth it.

“I feel very blessed to be a part of this

new school and part of the Quail Hollow Elementary community,” said new principal Kara Smucker, while welcoming guests into school during the Open House. “The kids of the neighborhood deserve this (renovated school).”

Smucker, who said that the school was expecting more than 150 visitors during the Open House, has been with PCSD for 23 years and served as a principal’s coach for the past two years in the eastern section of the District.

Pasco County School District superintendent Kurt Browning also stopped by to welcome students and their parents to the renovated QHE. “(The school) is beautiful,” Browning said. “The community will be incredibly excited when they come in, not only about the school, but also about the teachers we have here. This carries on a long tradition of really caring about and educating the kids of the Quail Hollow community. Compared to the old (school), it’s night and day. We literally gutted everything that was in here.”

Built in 1974, QHE was the first of Wesley Chapel’s ten public schools to be built and was done so with a “Kelley” design, named for 1970s architect Eoghan Kelley. The “Kelley Pasco superintendent of schools Kurt Browning speaks with schools,” as they were called, feamembers of the community during the Open House for the tured “open” designs, meaning revamped Quail Hollow Elementary on Aug. 21. that most of the classrooms did

26

not have true walls and the school was built without any windows.

However, the school’s design has been completely recreated, and its interior shines with sunlight throughout the day, thanks to the addition of floor-to-ceiling windows in many classrooms and entire walls of glass in several common areas. Many of the school’s hallways feature long skylights that flood the corridors with natural light.

“There’s a lot of light,” Visitors walk through the newly renovated Media Center at Smucker said. “There are open Quail Hollow Elementary on Aug. 21. spaces still, but the hallways have lots of glass to bring natural light school, has been transformed into a brightly into classrooms. It was a very dark place lit and rainbow-colored collaboration area, before.”

Natal explained.

While some classrooms are still some“This is an area where teachers and what “open,” they have partitions that can students can do activities and easily work be pulled out to separate the teaching spaces together,” she explained. during testing. Other classrooms have glass walls.

Assistant principal Kimberly Natal gave this reporter a quick tour leading up to the Community Open House and explained that the new design of the school’s interior will allow for extensive collaboration between teachers, students and classrooms.

The media center, once one of the darkest areas in the center of the

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r

t

Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Volunteer Effort

While walking through the school with Natal, dozens of volunteers from the community, including many from the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club (which meets Wednesdays at noon at Stage Left on S.R. 54 in Lutz) and the Pasco Education Foundation, were hard at work, getting the school ready to open. Many of the volunteers were labeling and stamping books for the media center. Smucker says that hundreds of volunteers have helped get the school set up in recent weeks.

Along with books and sunlight, the media center is literally a media hub for the school and features several flat screen TVs to assist instruction. Computers will be present in each classroom and several also feature digital projectors, including the art and music classrooms. Smucker says that there

are 10 devices (either iPads or laptops) in each classroom, a 2-to-1 ratio of devices to students. She hopes to have a 1-to-1 ratio next year.

“I think this exceeds some of the new schools that are being built,” Smucker said.

“It’s modern, bright and inviting.”

For more info, please visit QHES. Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Members of the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club and Pasco Education Foundation (left) helped get the new, brightly-lit (right) QHE set up before the start of the 2015-16 school year.

1928 Highland Oaks Blvd., Lutz, FL 33559

(813)949-0424

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Check Out The 3rd Annual ‘Festival Of Flight’

performing every two hours, featuring everything from jazz to classical piano.

“You name it, (the genre) will be playing there,” says Festival of Flight director Jessica Warren, who also owns American Balloons, a hot air balloon company that will be at the festival. She adds that there will be all kinds of food vendors, in addition to food for sale at the Aero Park’s Happy Hangar Café.

If planes and hot air balloons aren’t enough to keep the kids entertained, there also will be bounce houses, face paining and kites from Kiting Tampa Bay and even a car show. Tethered (meaning still attached to the ground) balloon rides will be available from 7 a.m.–1 p.m.

That night, you can expect some “groovy” tunes from jazz performers Life Of The Party, followed from local rock band Stone Grey. Of course, expect to once again see the balloons aglow.

On Sunday, early risers will get to see another balloon launch and live music from Reverend Barry & Funktastic Soul. The festival wraps at 2 :30 p.m. on Sun. Warren says that the Festival, which began as a one-day event with 12 balloons, has grown into a three-day extravaganza with 30 balloons. More than 42,000 people already have said they’ll be attending on the Festival of Flight’s Facebook page.

“About four years ago, we first approached the airport about having a festival,” Warren explains. “At the time, (the airport) needed a facelift. Three years ago, it was remodeled and we did the first Festival of Flight as sort of a grand reopening to reintroduce people to the airport, let the public know that its still open and that you can still go there to learn how to fly.”

Warren says that the festival has grown in popularity with the area and the Lutz/Wesley Chapel event is one of the largest in the country — behind Albuquerque, NM, which

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annually hosts 600 balloons!

“We don’t have the following for that here, but you still get a similar experience seeing 30 balloons take off at once,” Warren explains.

She says that she hopes the festival helps to draw interest to ballooning, which only has about 6,000 pilots across the country. Warren says that she and her husband first got into ballooning through a neighbor who brought them to the nowdefunct Brandon Balloon Classic in 1997.

“On our first balloon ride, we were drawn in,” she explains.

“We got addicted.”

They started American Balloons the following year. Now Don’t miss the third annual Festival of Flight at Tampa North Aero Park in Lutz September 11-13, where they, do 1-2 rides each day, you can catch nightly ‘balloon glows ‘synched up to live music (above), and a variety of other aircraft that you weather permitting. can actually hop in for a ride, including “ultra-lights” (below left) and WWII-era prop planes (below right)!

Warren says she hopes that attendees will develop a passion for the sky by coming out to this year’s Festival.

“We’re hoping that people who don’t know if they’re interested in flying can get up close and personal with pilots and planes and get as much information as possible,” she says.

For more information about the Festival of Flight, please visit FestivalofFlight WesleyChapel.com and be sure to “Like” the Festival Of Flight Facebook page!

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AFTER

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Legacy At Highwoods Preserve Officially Opens With Tropical Nights After years of planning and construction, the “legacy” officially has begun. Well, what we mean is that The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve, New Tampa’s first assisted living facility (located on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in West Meadows, less than four miles south of Wesley Chapel), has opened.

And, it did so in style with a Grand Opening celebration and Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon-cutting on August 6.

In front of a crowd of hundreds, the Legacy staff cut the ribbon on the lavish, technologically advanced building with the capacity to house up to 88 seniors. The entire place was decked out in Caribbean cuisine catered by former New Tampa Rotary Club president (and current Assistant Governor of Rotary District 6890) and Chef Peter Gam-

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Congratulations to the Legacy at Highwoods Preserve, which officially opened with a tropical-themed party (left) and Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 6. The assisted-living facility is located on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in New Tampa.

bacorta of Private Chef of Tampa. The event featured an island theme, complete with lei-adorned staff members, tropical birds, steel drum performers and even a reggae band.

A joint effort between Houston, TX-based PinPoint Commercial, LP, and Thrive Senior Living, LLC (which is based in Atlanta, GA), The Legacy will offer care for both the elderly and those in need of memory care for diseases such as Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia, with a focus on resident comfort and technology.

“We’ve been waiting a long time for this and I know you have, too,” said The Legacy’s executive director Gwen Boumeester. “The community has welcomed us with open arms.”

Thrive president Tod Petty expressed his gratitude to the crowd.

“My heart is overwhelmed with joy to see the turnout that we’ve had tonight,” Petty said. “We’re so privileged to be part of this community.”

New Tampa resident and Dist. 63 State Rep. Shawn Harrison also came out to help welcome The Legacy to the neighborhood.

“New Tampa has always had traffic problems, but I’ve never seen traffic on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. backed up like it is right now,” Rep. Harrison said.

“There’s been a lot of interest in this facility. We’re excited to have you here.”

PinPoint principal Charles Turner encouraged attendees to pay attention to everything in the building as they

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toured it. “Every single thing you see in this building serves a specific purpose,” Turner said. “It’s not just about the technology.”

However, the technology is pretty impressive. Even the presentation was given with a wireless mic that was connected to Legacy’s Wi-Fi network.

In addition, the fitness center boasts state-of-the-art HUR fitness equipment, which seniors can activate with a touch of their radio-frequency ID wristbands.

The wristbands also will alert the fitness machines to the user’s preferences and goals. With no weights or chains to struggle with, this equipment minimizes falls and injuries. The band, which they also can wear as a pendant, also functions as a room key.

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s

f

Bistro any time of the day or night, meet for a drink at the Hurricane Sports Bar, or book the Coconut Grove private dining room for a meal with visiting family.

There’s also a full-service salon, game room, theatre, library, a putting green and a fitness center.

The Legacy combines comfort & technology for a one-of-a-kind assisted liv- Legacy residents will be monitored ing experience. Stop in and see for yourself!

24 hours a day, Health providers also will use hand- seven days a week, by certified nursing held mobile devices, known as Point of assistants (CNAs) with oversight from Care Solutions, to electronically record licensed practical nurses (LPNs). all interactions with residents and even “It’s been really incredible to see send electronic prescriptions to pharthis come together,” said Legacy commacies. Cameras and 18 monitors will munity relations director Aarene Alessi. keep a watchful eye on public areas, and “We have a team that has a passion for residents will be protected inside their serving seniors with a combined experisuites with the Quiet Care System, a ence of more than 100 years.” motion monitor that gets to know resiAlessi says that the facility already dents’ behavior and patterns, while still has started to fill up and that rooms are protecting their privacy. If something “going fast.” seems abnormal, the staff is alerted.

The Legacy is now taking reservaThe feel of The Legacy is about as tions for its 82 private, self-furnished opposite as it could be to a traditional suites. The five available floor plans assisted living facility. As part of their all- range from 330-sq.-ft. studios to inclusive package, residents are served 525-sq.-ft. deluxe suites. three meals a day at the Palm Pavilion For additional information, call (think fine linens and menus), but they 375-9858 or visit LegacyatHighalso can grab a snack from the Key Lime woodsPreserve.com.

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31

ZAYTOUN GRILL: NEW TAMPA’S AUTHENTIC MEDITERRANEAN CUISINE RESTAURANT!

Zaytoun Mixed Grill

By Gary Nager

SURE, THERE

ARE A LOT of decent Mediterranean and Greek restaurants

in our area already, but I can assure you there is nothing in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel quite like the new Zaytoun Mediterranean Grill, located just north of the intersection of Cross Creek Blvd. and Morris Bridge Rd., in a new building adjacent to the Publix shopping center at that intersection (behind Dunkin’ Donuts).

Zaytoun, which means “olive tree” in Arabic, is the first truly upscale Mediterranean dining experience in our area. It is brightly decorated, but although the vibe is casual (with Middle Eastern music playing in the background), Zaytoun owner Bilal

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Saleh promises chef-created, authentic Mediterranean cuisine utilizing restaurant versions of his wife Abida’s recipes (including combinations of herbs and spices I know I’ve never tasted before). The Salehs, who have lived in New Tampa for several years, are originally from Damascus, Syria, and promise that literally everything on Zaytoun’s extensive menu is made on the premises, from the hummus to the pitas.

“We don’t open up a bag of pitas and heat them up,” Bilal (an engineer turned entrepreneur) says proudly. “We make the dough and bake the pita bread — and all of our entrée pies and desserts — right in our custom-built oven (photo below). And, there are no freezers here. Everything we sell is made fresh here, using only the finest ingredients we can find.”

The oven itself was imported from Italy and built brick-by-brick to fit in Zaytoun’s kitchen. I can assure you that

whether you crave a ground beef or spinach pie, the best fresh pitas you’ve ever tasted or any of Zaytoun’s truly delicious desserts, anything made in this oven will delight you. Bilal hired Manny, a chef from Syria who also has run kitchens in New York City and South Tampa, to recreate Abida’s recipes. Panos, Zaytoun’s lead chef now that the restaurant is open, is from Greece, but he worked with Chef Manny at the old Oregano’s on W. Kennedy Blvd.

On To The Food!

Although I’ve always loved lamb chops, a good gyro sandwich and Greek salads, I’ve never been the biggest fan of Middle Eastern cuisine. I now think that’s because I’ve never been anyplace like Zaytoun before.

For example, I’ve never really gotten caught up in the whole hummus phenomenon. Yes, I know it’s healthy for you

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(despite the fact it’s made with plenty of olive oil), I just never loved the flavor. I will say that Zaytoun’s hummus is the best and creamiest I’ve sampled (I can never eat store-bought hummus again), but I could eat a lot of the home-baked pita bread without it. I’d love to hear your opinion.

Other “Mezze” (starters) on Zaytoun’s menu include flash-fried chick pea falafels, baba ghanouj (fire-roasted eggplant pureed with garlic, lemon and the same tahini sauce as the hummus), stuffed grape leaves, fried kibbeh (lean, minced beef) and a sample platter featuring salad, yogurt salad, tabbouleh, hummus, fried kibbeh and Muhammara (a flavorful dip of fresh, hot red peppers, walnuts and breadcrumbs).

The only salad on the menu I haven’t yet tried is the tabbouleh, but I’ve heard more than one patron at Zaytoun say it’s the best they’ve tried. I can, however, vouch for both the Arabic salad (romaine,

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Fresh Pitas & Hummus

Grape Leaves & Arabic Salad

Chicken Shawarma

Chicken Shish Kabobs

diced cucumbers, tomatoes, onions, lemon juice, mint and olive oil) and my favorite so far, the Fattoush salad (which features the same ingredients as the Arabic salad, but with a touch of pomegranate molasses and sumac mixed in the dressing, with toasted pita chips sprinkled on top). Both salads are totally yummy and light, healthy choices and you can even add chicken shawarma (see below) or kabob meat for just $3-$4.

Zaytoun’s fresh pita bread sandwiches are all outstanding, too. I’ve yet to sample the popular falafel sandwich, but I can vouch for the chicken, beef and kufta kabob sandwiches, with all of those meats seared to perfection on an open flame grill (see below). My favorite sandwich by far, however, is the chicken shawarma, which may be the best I’ve ever tried. Cooked and shaved off a traditional Greek gyro Neighborhood News

of delicious animal protein choices and Zaytoun doesn’t disappoint when those Mediterranean spices come together with a variety of meats cooked to juicy perfection on an open-flame stone Fattoush Salad grill.

My recommendation is for someone at your table to or- Zaytoun Mediterranean Grill hosted a Greater Wesley Chapel der the Zaytoun Chamber of Commerce ribbon-cutting ceremony on August 13. mixed grill, with grilled kufta added in the future, I’ve already sampled all (spiced ground beef), chicken and beef three decadent desserts on Zaytoun’s menu. shish kabobs, served with fresh, charred All three are absolutely delicious, so I hope veggies (the charred tomatoes are my you’ll be adventurous and give one or more favorite, although the onions and peppers of them a sampling. are awesome, too).

I was never a big fan of traditional The reason I say you should start with baklava, but I’ll admit I never tasted it a mixed grill is because had I not tried it, I flakier or more delicious than at Zaytoun. would have assumed beforehand that the Instead of being too solid and chewy, the Lamb Chops steak kabobs would have been my faves, phyllo dough is baked all light and airy and but there is something special about the the chopped walnuts are mixed in a delicate syrup that never gets too hard. The three way the chicken takes on the flavors of the pieces are a perfect dessert for two people. I spice mixture that makes it my favorite of also enjoyed the traditional cheese roll with the trio. The kufta kabobs taste a little like cream (Halawat al Jibn), which features a a flavorful, tender sausage and the beef sticky-smooth layer of wheat, cheese and chunks also are tender and tasty, but I rate sugar wrapped around sweet cream, with both the chicken kabobs and shawarma crushed pistachios and a sweet syrup, but it ahead of the meat selections.

My favorite entrée at Zaytoun, howev- isn’t as overly sweet as you might expect.

My favorite dessert on the menu is er, are the tender rib lamb chops. The five the knafeh, which is a traditional farina small chops are soaked in a lemon, garlic and olive oil marinade. The chops may only cake filled with sweet cheeses, served with be a couple of bites each, but they’re so fla- pistachios and drizzled with a rose syrup. vorful and melt in your mouth, and they’re Although it is sweeter than the cheese roll, Knafeh served with those awesome charred veggies the knafeh is even crispier than most apple crisps I’ve tasted. The crust tastes almost and a fragrant and delicate white rice. like deep-fried, Frosted Mini-Wheats cereal, The only “from the grill” entrée I except it isn’t fried at all. Note-I wouldn’t can’t sample (due to an allergy) is the try to polish off this dessert without sharing shrimp kabob dinner, but the shrimp it with at least two or three other people. looked to be large and also marinated and As for beverages, due to religious grilled to a perfect turn. restrictions, there is no beer, wine or alcohol There also is a Zaytoun Family Platter served at Zaytoun. There are Pepsi products er for up to six people featuring chicken, available, but I recommend the fresh mint beef and kufta kabobs and chicken shalemonade and the minty hot tea served in warma meat, with veggies and rice. a fancy cup with an ornate top. The coffee I’ve only sampled one of Zaytoun’s and cappuccino are both very tasty, too, and brick oven entree/appetizer pies to date perfect complements to any of the desserts. and I will say that the spinach pie — which Zaytoun Mediterranean Grill Baklava comes in four half-moon-shaped pieces — (10970 Cross Creek Blvd.) is open every is definitely unique. It’s not at all like the day for lunch and dinner and surely lives “tower,” Zaytoun’s chicken shawarma Greek spanikopita — although the spinach up to its claim of “Authentic, Exceptioncombines cuts of white and dark meat is mixed with garlic, onion and some al & Exquisite Cuisine.” For more info, sliced off the tower and grilled over the cheese — but the flavor is more lemony call 354-2515, visit Zaytoun-Grill.com. open flame for a truly unique taste. than any spanikopita “I’ve never seen the recipe for the I’ve tried. twelve herbs and spices used on the Other pies I shawarma,” says Chef Panos. “Bilal and haven’t yet sampled Abida just give me the spice mixture every are the feta cheese, day and we marinate the shawarma for 24 ground beef and Zaatar hours in those spices.” pies. Zaatar is a Middle All I can say is the shawarma is a must- Eastern spice that is try. And, although I only used a little of mixed with olive oil mine, I definitely enjoyed the special garlic and spread over the sauce served on the side better than most pita dough before Greek-style tzatziki sauces. baking.

‘Delicious Meats Roasting On An Open Flame...’

Salads are great, but a natural meat eater like yours truly has got to have plenty @NTWCNews

Save Room For Dessert!

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

On The Border, Starbucks & Chick-Fil-A On The Way

The S.R. 56 and S.R. 54 interchanges on I-75 are hotbeds for economic growth in Wesley Chapel, and that growth isn’t slowing down, as more businesses and restaurants are meeting with Pasco County about future locations in the Cypress Creek Town Center (CCTC) Development of Regional Impact (DRI), as well as along S.R. 54.

The latest to stake a claim to our area are a second drive-through location for coffee giant Starbucks and the first for Mexican food chain On The Border, as a representative for both companies met with county planning staffers on August 10.

Documents filed with the county indicate that the free-standing Starbucks will measure 2,118 sq. ft. and feature a drive-through, while the On The Border will be a sit-down restaurant of about 5,950 sq. ft. However, the exact locations of the two restaurants were not indicated in the application packet.

Calls to Tampa-based Hunt Real

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Estate (who represented the two establishments in the meeting) were not returned before our press time.

Meanwhile, while we announced in a previous issue that a new location of a fast food favorite was planning to open on S.R. 56, what is now an empty field at the northeast corner of S.R. 54 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. could soon be home to a second Wesley Chapel location for Chick-fil-A! According to documents filed with county, the chicken sandwich giant met on Aug. 18 with county staffers about a possible Chick-fil-A location at the 2.31-acre site, which previously was set to become a RaceTrac gas station. Chick-fil-A is now proposing a 4,877-sq.-ft. restaurant with an indoor play area and a drive-through lane.

Daryl Johnson of Corporate Property Services says he represented the chain at the meeting. Johnson explains that the plans are not final and that Chick-fil-A is still in talks for the location and is doing its due diligence to determine if the location is a feasible spot

for the restaurant. He says that factors could include traffic counts, wetlands on the site and possible cost of construction. We’ll keep you posted.

Say Wawa?!?

Tampa) area for Wawa, which is based in Chester Heights, PA. Currently, the closest location is on E. Bearss Ave. in Tampa, although the chain has opened 50 stores in the Tampa and Orlando markets in just two years and now has more than 680 stores nationwide.

Wawa representatives did not return calls or emails for comment. — MW

Also, less than two miles east of I-75 on S.R. 56, northeast convenience store/gas station powerhouse Wawa is eyeing a piece of property across the Chamber To Host Its Annual street from Sam’s Club.

A pre-application meeting with Banquet Sept. 10!

Pasco planners was set for Aug. 17 to As reported on page 4 of this issue, discuss plans for property at S.R. 56 the Tampa Premium Outlets mall is hosting a Job Fair on Thursday, August 27, and Trout Creek Dr., just west of the 10 a.m.-7 p.m.; at the USF Embassy CVS Pharmacy on S.R. 56 at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. The plans call for a 6,119-sq.-ft. convenience store with 16 fuel pumps.

This will be the first location The WCCC hosted a ribbon-cutting event on Aug. 4 at VIP Elite Barbershop on in the Wesley Chapel (or New Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in the Live Oak Plaza (next to Bruster’s Real Ice Cream).

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Suites hotel off E. Fowler Ave.). The Chamber and many of its member businesses (including ours) will be attending/ participating in the Job Fair.

The Chamber also will host a free “Final Friday” networking social, to be held for the first time at the new Buffalo Wild Wings on S.R. 56 on Friday, August 28 (the day this issue arrives in your mailbox), 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

The WCCC also will host its “Celebrating Excellence” awards banquet on Thursday, September 10, 6:30 p.m., at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa Tampa (5700 Saddlebrook Way, Wesley Chapel).

Five major awards will be presented at that event — Large & Small Business of the Year (the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News won last year’s Small Business honors), Business Leader of the Year, plus Non-Profit of the Year and Volunteer of the Year. Nominations for these awards have already closed and the finalists in each category should be notified shortly, if they haven’t already heard by the time this issue reaches you. Tickets were still available for the banquet at our press time.

The cost to attend is $55, or $450 for a corporate table of eight, which also includes your company’s logo displayed on the table.

WCCC events that already took place this month (as this issue is reaching your mailbox) were ribbon-cutting ceremonies at VIP Elite Barbershop (20309 Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd. in New Tampa; see below & photo, left) on Aug. 4; at Retina Specialists of Tampa Bay (the office of Dr. Ahmad Bakir Tarabishy) and at The Legacy at Highwoods Preserve assisted living

Neighborhood News

facility (see story on pg. 30), both of which were held on Aug. 6; as well as at Zaytoun Mediterranean Grill on Cross Creek Blvd. (see story on pg. 32) on Aug. 13.

VIP Elite (20309 BBD Blvd.) is a new, masculine and luxurious barbershop offering men an epic grooming experience. More than 30 people were on hand for the ribbon cutting, which featured catered sandwiches and champagne. You can book an appointment 24/7 at VIPEliteBarbershop.com or call (908) 487-3249, and please tell them the Neighborhood News sent you!

For membership & other info about the WCCC (including upcoming event info), visit WesleyChapel Chamber.com, stop by the Chamber office (6315 Wesley Grove Blvd., #105) or call 994-8534.

Le Macaron Opens At Wiregrass Mall!

For anyone who already loves the authentically French (and delicious!) confections called macarons (not to be confused with the traditional Jewish dessert macaroons), you’re in luck, because Le Macaron French Pastries has been open a few months in the Shops at Wiregrass mall.

And, considering that Le Macaron owners Guy and Valerie Lucas are authentically French themselves, you can trust that virtually everything sold at Le Macaron (a new mall-based chain with fewer than 30 locations in Florida, Arizona and Puerto Rico and another 15-20 stores on the way) has that certain “je ne sais quoi.”

Available in a wide, ever-changing variety of flavors and colors (including basil

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white chocolate & black currant/cassis), the handmade, 80-calorie macarons melt in your mouth — as do the beautiful, artisanal chocolates (everything from white chocolate banana chocolates to peanut butter cups in milk and dark chocolate & many more) and the authentic French-style gelato — all of which are gluten-free! In other words, if you have a sweet tooth, you can’t go wrong at Le Macaron. The store also can provide catering for special events like baby showers, weddings, birthday parties, corporate events and more!

Stop in at Le Macaron (28347 Paseo Dr., between Rack Room Shoes & Dillard’s), call 991-7110, see the ad on this page or visit LeMacaron-US/ WesleyChapel and tell Guy and Valerie the Neighborhood News sent you!

Charter School Not Coming To Former Sports & Field

Please note that the Garden Montessori Charter School will no longer be opening its doors as planned at the former Sports + Field Family Athletic & Fitness Club on S.R. 56. The difficult decision by the planned charter school’s Board of Directors was based on a breakdown in the final negotiations of the lease contract. The deciding factors to delay the opening of the school were based upon the need to ensure the future success of the school, faculty and, most important, the children.

The school already has the full support of the Pasco County School Board and has requested for the approval of a

“Planning Year” for the 2015-16 academic year. This time will be used to define, develop and execute a strategic plan for the immediate and future needs of the community. The Board of Directors will be in collaboration with the School Board to bring a facility with a quality Montessori education and resources to the community. We would like to thank all of our community partners who have worked tirelessly over the last several months to help with this project.

Any questions regarding the Charter school can be directed to the management team at 991-6335.

Thanks, Dr. June!

I was proud and honored to be one of the first-ever guests (on August 2) on “Cooking Up Advice with Dr. June,” which airs every Sunday at 8:30 a.m., on WTTA-TV (Channel 6 on BrightHouse Networks cable systems in New Tampa, Channel 14 on Verizon Fios systems).

I got to “rap” with Dr. June and two other guests (photo above) about relationships and the tax-free holiday and sample some tasty baked tilapia, at a model home in Watergrass in Wesley Chapel. — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 23, Issue 18 • August 29, 2015 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HELP WANTED REAL ESTATE AGENT - Award-winning Real Estate team with an overflow of serious buyer leads is seeking to hire talented experienced and motivated full time real estate agents whose desire is to earn more money, expand their horizons and have a fulfilling life. Great training available..

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PHYSICAL THERAPIST (PT) - An established New Tampa outpatient clinic is hiring a part-time PT to provide customized, one-on-one care. Fax resume to (813) 994-3080.

MEDICAL BILLER - Spanish-speaking Medical Biller wanted for New Tampa Medical Equipment Company. Duties: Gathers billing information by reviewing patient records; checking for completeness. Bills insurance carrier by inputting billing info to database; initiating electronic transmissions. Resolves disputed claims by gathering, verifying & providing additional information; following up on claims. Resolves discrepancies by examining and evaluating data; selecting corrective steps. Skills/Qualifications: Data Entry Skills, Microsoft Office Proficiency, Time Management, Organization, Professionalism, Customer service and Attention to Detail. Please forward your resume to: Richard.Jones@solarusmedical.com.

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References needed, please call (813)-501-8301 or (813)-352-6560

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COMPUTER / BUSINESS SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT — in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech with 20 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. Remote assistance available. References available upon request.

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EDUCATION / BABYSITTING

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TOUR TODAY!!! 30126 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 813-929-6276 or 813-323-8030. #CO6PA0267 TUTORING, Elementary teacher certified in specialed and early childhood education. Tampa Palms/ Wesley Chapel area. Call (813)-501-8301 or (813) 352-6560 PIANO LESSONS/TUTORING-Located in Live Oak Preserve for children, teens, and adults. I am a highly qualified/certified Florida teacher specializing in piano, music theory, language arts, reading, writing, geography, elementary math, beginning Spanish, and FCAT/test preparation. Mention this ad and receive your first session for FREE! Now scheduling for the 2015/2016 school year!!! Contact Mrs. Daley at 813-468-1424 to reserve your spot!

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41

Florida Hospital Center Ice Unveils Its Programs In The Rain

Although the rains didn’t cooperate, the under-construction Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) skating facility unveiled its many programs to the public with a great event on Aug. 8.

Rink developer Gordie Zimmerman (at far left in top left photo) of Z Mitch, LLC, was pleased to be able to sign up some kids to play hockey and/or ice skate when the facility opens — which likely now won’t be until sometime in March of 2016. Zimmerman says the three weeks of rain at the end of July/beginning of August and other factors led to the delay.

The Lightning, including former forward Nikita Alexeev (photo, top right), rink sponsor Florida Hospital, SportsRadio 620 WDAE-AM, Reeves Import Motor Cars and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts were all on hand for the event, and there were plenty of interactive games, bounce houses and more.

For more information about FHCI and its programs, visit FloridaHospitalCenterIce.com. — GN

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