Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 24, Issue 18, Aug, 26, 2016

Volume 24 Issue 18

Inside: Win FREE Dining In Our Survey & Contest!

August 26, 2016

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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 publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 46!

Wesley Chapel Mourns The Loss Of A True Legend — ‘Capt. Jack’ Whalen!

By Celeste McLaughlin It was a frequent sight in front of one local Publix — a golf cart dressed up with fire-engine red paint, diamond plate bumpers, and even a fire truck-style bell. Sitting in that golf cart was “Captain Jack,” the nickname John Joseph Whalen, Jr., had since his days as Captain of the Fairview Fire District in Poughkeepsie, NY. Capt. Jack was known to many as a kind, friendly man, ready with jokes and endless stories for anyone who would take the time to listen.

His golf-cart-turned-fire-truck is missing from the Publix parking lot now. Capt. Jack died on Saturday, August 13.

Shortly before he passed away, the mileage on that golf cart rolled over to 10,000 miles. The round-trip from his home in Meadow Pointe to the Shoppes of New Tampa on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. at S.R. 56 is just over seven miles, so he must have made it more than 1,300 times. That makes sense, considering he made the trip every day he could for the past 10 years.

For years before that, when he was driving his Buick decorated with many stickers supporting his fellow firefighters, he dreamed up that golf cart. When it was time to have it made, because he wasn’t able to drive anymore, his grandson Jason designed it with him. By then, the terror attacks of September 11, 2001, had happened in Capt. Jack’s home state, and it had a deep impact on him. He lost friends and comrades that day, so he designed his own “fire truck” as a tribute.

Then he used that golf cart to connect with people here in Wesley Chapel. ### John Joseph Whalen, Jr., was always called “Little Jacky” as a child to distinguish him from

Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates Fugitive Who Killed Wesley Chapel Man Captured, District 1 County Commission Candidates Meet Ahead Of Primary, Indoor Sports Complex Has Four Suitors, Newest Wesley Chapel School Opens Its Doors & More Local Business Features!

Pages 3-32

Neighborhood Magazine

Kidney Recipient Fights New Battle, Spring Hill Billiards & Darts Shop Offers To Tune Your Game & Your Pool Table, O’Brien’s Brings Irish Flavors & More To Wesley Chapel, It’s Dining Survey Time Again; Plus Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 33-48

John Joseph Whalen, Jr. (in golf cart & photo, right), passed away on Aug. 13, at age 91.

Among those who loved “Capt. Jack” were the firefighters at Pasco County Fire Rescue Station No. 26 in Meadow Pointe, the community where Whalen had lived since 1996.

member that he had nightmares about the time his shipmate was killed right next to him on the U.S.S. O’Bannon.

After three years of service in the Navy, he returned home to New York, where he began working for the Fairview Fire District.

“Whether it was in the Navy, or as a firefighter, he always served people, and saved lives,” says his son, John.

“He had been through a lot,” John continues. “The fires he was involved in, with those old, wood structures in New York, two or three blocks would go up in flames.” Whalen also helped fight a big chemical fire, when the chemical tanks blew up. Many years later, his injuries from that fire caused him to lose one of his legs.

But, that didn’t get him down. Always the his gigantic stuffed Dalmatian, which he affectionately named “Sparky,” or people wanting to pose with him for pictures.

“He loved to let kids ring the bell on his golf cart,” says John. “He loved to tell jokes and to tell stories about the war, and stories about the fire department.”

Even after the decades of hearing his stories, his children say they never tired of them, and they didn’t feel like they were hearing the same ones over and over again. The jokes, yes.

“He’d always ask, ‘Want to see my pride and joy?’ and you’d think he was going to show you a picture of his grandkids or something. Nope,” See “Capt. Jack” on page 14!

his father. He was born January 31, 1925, and celebrated his 91st birthday surrounded by his family earlier this year. He was a father of three — Greg Whalen, Sue Ann Yero, and John Joseph Whalen, III — with four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. One of his great-

grandchildren carries his name, John, and his youngest great-grandchild is Skylar, who is just seven months old. ### As a young man, Jack joined the Navy and fought in World War II. His children re-

By John C. Cotey The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) is looking for the best of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa.

The WCCC has begun accepting nominations for the its annual “Excellence In Business” awards banquet, which will be held on Thursday, November 10, at a site still to be determined, at least at our press time.

Nominations for the area’s best small and large businesses and business leaders will continue through Friday, September 16, and can be entered via the WCCC’s website at WesleyChapelChamber.com or by calling the WCCC offices at 994-8534 for more information.

Businesses nominated will then go through an application process, with applications due by Friday, October 7, with finalists in several categories announced at the banquet. The winners are chosen by a panel of their peers.

“This is the culmination of our year, where we get to celebrate the business accomplishments of our members,’’ says Hope

Allen, the CEO of the WCCC. “It’s a great honor and very prestigious just to be nominated.”

Winners are chosen based upon their demonstrated commitment to the advancement of the Wesley Chapel business community and various other factors.

There are Excellence In Business categories for best Small Business (0-49 employees), best Large Business (50+ employees), Business Leader of the Year (for founders, owners, CEOs and presidents), New Business of the Year and Volunteer of the Year.

Last year’s “Excellence in Samantha Taylor of Pure Health Studios won the Business” winners were Samantha WCCC’s 2015 Small Business of the Year award.

Taylor and her Pure Health & (Photo: OurTownFLA) Fitness Studios (Small Business), Wesley Chapel Nissan (Large Business), Troy Stevenson of Wesley Chapel Nissan (Volunteer of the Year) and John Jr. & David Williams of Wesley Chapel Toyota (Business Leaders of the Year).

WCCC’s “Excellence In Business” Awards Seeking Nominations

Wesley Chapel, FL - Every month, thousands of homeowners are faced with the stressful dilemma of whether to buy first or sell first. You see, if you buy before selling, you could run the risk of owning two homes. Or, just as bad, if you sell first, you could end up homeless. It’s what insiders in the industry call the Real Estate Catch 22, and it’s an extremely anxious position to find yourself in.

Wesley Chapel, FL - According to industry experts, there are over 33 physical problems that will come under scrutiny during a home inspection when your home is for sale. A new report has been prepared which identifies the eleven most common of these problems, and what you should know about them before you list your home for sale.

Whether you own an old home or a brand new one, there are a number of things that can fall short of requirements during a home inspection. If not identified and dealt with, any of these 11 items could cost you dearly in terms of repair. That’s why it’s critical that you read this report before you list your home. If you wait until the building inspector flags these issues for you, you will almost certainly experience costly delays in the close of your home sale or, worse, turn prospective buyers away altogether. In most cases, you can make a reasonable pre-inspection yourself if you know what you’re looking for, and

knowing what you’re looking for can help you prevent little problems from growing into costly and unmanageable ones.

To help homesellers deal with this issue before their homes are listed, a free report entitled “11 Things You Need to Know to Pass Your Home Inspection” has been compiled which explains the issues involved.

To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-800-441-1783 and enter 3003. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW to learn how to ensure a home inspection doesn’t cost you the sale of your home.

Bruce Wilde, RE/MAX Premier Group. Not intended to solicit buyers or sellers aleady under contract.

This financial and emotional tightrope is one you usually have to walk alone because most agents have no way of helping you with this predicament. But one local Realtor is using a unique Guaranteed Sale Program which solves this dilemma. This program guarantees the sale of your present home before you take possession of your new one. If your home doesn’t sell in 120 days, they will buy it from you themselves for the previously agreed price ensuring that you never get caught in the Real Estate Catch 22. Before you hire any professional, you should research the market to find out who can do the best job for you. When interviewing agents, find out what kind of guarantee they are willing to give you with respect to the selling of your home.

Unfortunately, you’ll find that most agents simply cannot make such a guarantee.

To help you learn more about this program and how it can make your move less stressful, a FREE special report has been prepared entitled “How to Avoid Getting Stuck with Two Homes”.

To hear a brief recorded message about how to order your FREE copy of this report call toll-free 1-800441-1783 and enter 3022. You can call any time, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Get your free special report NOW to find out how to guarantee the cash sale of your home.

If You Were Me, You’d Worry More About The Zika Virus, Too An editorial by Gary Nager I believe most Americans today have at least some concern about the possible spread of the Zika virus, which can be but is rarely deadly. This mosquito-borne illness is causing health concerns worldwide and although it hasn’t been too prevalent in the U.S. so far, a one-square-mile area of Miami-Dade County has seen most of Florida’s locally-transmitted (not travel-related) cases.

Even so, with Wesley Chapel only 300 miles or so from the U.S.’s “Zika Central,” I may have reason to be more concerned than most, because not only am I allergic to pretty much every kind of venom — my mosquito bites grow three to five times larger than most people’s — but I’m apparently like a gourmet meal to the average mosquito. If yours truly and someone else are both sitting in the same area outside, I feel like I’m ten times more likely to be bitten multiple times by mosquitos while the other person might not get even one.

We all live in Florida, where the average high temperature in July and August is above 90°F. Although the term relative humidity has given way to “dewpoint” to describe how moist the air is, let’s just say that from at least May through September, Florida is mostly very hot and very humid.

My problem is that the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (aka, CDC), the Florida Department of Health (DOH) and the Pasco DOH all agree that the best ways to prevent the spread of Zika and other mosquitoborne illnesses are to do things like: 1) Stay inside - Even though we have

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 Advertising Sales & Office Manager Mary Dorey Billing Manager Jillian Reilly Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Anu Varma Panchal • Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Sales & Production Assistant Gavin Olsen Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael 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 24, Issue 20, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, September 12, 2016.

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.

© 2016 JM2 Communications, Inc. Neighborhood News

doing everything you can to prevent standing water from accumulating outside your home or office. Boats, tires and structures on your property can all hold standing water and Florida Health says even a bottle cap of standing water can become a mosquito breeding ground.

In other words, if Zika does make its way out of the square-mile area of Miami and up the Alligator Alley to our area, despite the best efforts of our federal, state and local governments, I’m pretty much doomed.

Beware, Gary & other Mediterraneanskinned men & women who wear most kinds of fragrances: the Zika virus may not be here yet, but mosquitos surely are...in droves.

Sample Ballots For Aug. 30 Are Light, Which Means...

If you’re a conscientious person who likes to vote every chance you get, I can promise that you won’t be waiting in line if you plan to vote in the Democratic or Republican Primary

Election on Tuesday, August 30.

The Democratic ballot has just three items on it — the primary for U.S. Senator, one County Judge Race and a proposed amendment to the state constitution regarding solar and renewable energy sources.

The Republican ballot the same races as on the Democratic side and does at least have primaries for three Pasco County Commission races (Districts 1, 3 and 5), as well as a primary for property appraiser.

The most interesting of these races is District 1 (see story on page 10), where the Republican primary winner will only face No Party Affiliation candidate Dimitri Delgado.

I know, it’s hard to sell this primary to anyone, but I’ll still be casting a vote and I hope you will, too.

so many outdoor events where I usually sweat through 2-3 shirts if the event lasts all day.

2) Stay covered up - In other words, wear long shirts and sleeves, hats and heck, I should probably wear a turtleneck because mosquitos tend to attack my neck like Pépé Le Pew attacks a black cat with a painted white tail. But, go outside covered up like that during the summer? I simply can’t do it.

3) Use “Environmental Protection Agency-approved insect repellents with DEET, picaridin, IR3535, or oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol. Always follow the product label instructions. When used as directed, these insect repellents are proven safe and effective even for pregnant and breastfeeding women,” although the CDC says, “Do not use insect repellents on babies younger than 2 months old and do not use products containing oil of lemon eucalyptus or para-menthane-diol on children younger than 3 years old.”

And, all of these repellents smell bad (some worse than others, but still), although I read up a little about permethrin, which is an insecticide in the pyrethroid family. Pyrethroids are synthetic chemicals that act like natural extracts from the chrysanthemum flower, which are used in a number of ways to control insects.

Products containing permethrin may be used in public health mosquito control programs.

They may be used on food and feed crops, on ornamental lawns, on livestock and pets, in structures and buildings, and on clothing.

Permethrin is supposedly odorless, especially when clothing is pre-treated with it — and the treatments apparently can last for weeks at a time — so I may have to give this one a try.

Permethrin is not for use on skin, however.

4) Keep mosquitos outside — by using air conditioning, having screens on all of your windows and repairing screens when needed.

5) Stop mosquitos from breeding — by

Table of Contents

Local News Updates....................3-19 Fugitive Who Killed Wesley Chapel Man Captured....6 District 1 Candidates Ready For Primary............10-11 Four Companies Bid To Build Sports Complex ...12 In Our Next Issue: Welsey Chapel’s Car Dealerships..15 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar........................18

Local Business Updates.............20-26 Back To Wellness Gets You Back In Action..............20 Get Your Kids In The Game At PROtential Sports ....22 NTDT Produces Well-Rounded Dance Students...26

Neighborhood

Magazine

Joey Gets Kidney, But Fight Not Over............33, 46 Crosby’s Offers Everything For Billiards, Darts...34 SPOTLIGHT ON: Pura Indoor Cycling Studio!.......35 Enter Our 2016 Dining Survey & Contest!....37-38 O’Brien’s Brings Irish Flavors & More To WC.........40 Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.........42

WESLEY CHAPEL CLASSIFIEDS................44 @NTWCNews

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Fugitive Who Killed A Wesley Chapel Man In A DUI Captured In Spain

By John C. Cotey Wade Angel walked his wife to the garage around 5 a.m. the morning of August 9, kissing Lynn goodbye as she slid into the driver’s seat.

He returned to his computer, where he has spent almost every free moment the past three years in his Wesley Chapel home, and checked his email. One had just popped in, from the State Attorney’s office.

Just one line: “Mr. Angel, we have good news, Christopher Ponce has been arrested.”

He started yelling for Lynn. Even above the din of her car engine, she could hear him, and hopped out of the car, meeting him at the garage door.

He told her what the email said. They started crying, and held each other’s shaking bodies in their arms.

“Three years of bottled-up emotion,’’ Wade says. “One minute we were crying, the next minute we were laughing and jumping up and down, and the next minute we’d be crying again.”

Christopher Ponce, accused of killing 20-year-old William Brooks Angel in 2012 while driving drunk, was arrested in Spain on Aug. 9 after a manhunt lasting more than three years.

Ponce was driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes of I-275 near downtown Tampa when he hit William Angel’s 2000 Ford Mustang, also seriously injuring passengers Jay Davis and Robert Newberry.

On May 9, 2013, Ponce slipped off an electronic monitoring bracelet he had been wearing while awaiting trial for DUI manslaughter. He has been on the run ever since.

In 2014, CNN’s “The Hunt”, hosted

by John Walsh of “America’s Most Wanted” fame, profiled the case.

Wade has spent the last three years hunting his son’s killer. Until this year, he had been doing it on a full-time basis, leaving his job building and customizing wheelchairs at Shriners Hospital for Children in Tampa, to set up a website — FindChrisPonce.com — dedicated to the search and asking for tips.

He received many, but they all proved fruitless. New York City police interviewed someone in a bar there based on a tip. In Chicago, police visited a house they were told Ponce might be, and the same for a house in California.

Wade, however, never lost his drive.

“If William were here, he would say,

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‘Dad, let it go,’” Wade says. “But, I made a promise. I did this for him, not for me.

I wasn’t going to stop.”

He scoured the internet for 15 hours a day, and blogged often about Ponce.

Wade was in constant touch with U.S. Marshalls and FBI agents, hopeful they were closing in on the fugitive.

For these last three years, the (l-r)Wade, Wade Jr., William and Lynn Angel. search consumed that Ponce was headed for Spain. So, he behim. He says Lynn became concerned.

“But, she understood that the day we gan tracking Internet Protocol, or IP, adwent to the funeral home to see my son’s dresses, which are the numerical labels asbody, I promised him that I was going to signed to any device on a computer network make sure that justice was done,’’ Wade said. that uses Internet Protocol, to see if anyone “I thought by that I meant I was saying I was checking his site from Spain.

Every month he would download all the would stay on top of the attorneys and get a IP addresses in a spreadsheet and email them proper trial and a lifelong sentence. But then, (Ponce) takes off. So, before I can get justice to U.S. Marshalls.

Someone was definitely checking his (for William), I have to find him.”

Although he continues to devote every website from Spain. Once in a McDonald’s, free hour to the hunt, Wade finally returned but usually on public wifi from bus stations.

Wade says, “When he was arrested in to work in January, but not before posting this on Jan. 15, 2016: “I truly feel that this is Spain, I said ‘I knew it!,’” adding that Ponce and his family are too narcissistic to resist the the year we get him.”

And now, it is.

According to Wade, a reporter for Ideal, a newspaper in Granada, Spain, who broke the story, told him that Ponce had been acting suspiciously in a bus station in nearby Almeria, in southeast of Spain near the Mediterranean Sea, when police asked for his identification.

Ponce supplied a forged Mexican passport, and the name on his bus pass was not his. After fingerprinting him, Spanish police discovered he was listed in an Interpol fugitive database.

Ponce currently is awaiting extradition.

The Ideal reporter told him Ponce is currently being held in one of the area’s tougher prisons. That made Wade happy.

He is not surprised at all that Ponce was caught in Spain. He received a tip through the website shortly after starting it in 2013,

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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chance to see their names in print and wonder what people were saying about them. That’s one of the reasons, he says, that he started the website, hoping to catch Ponce electronically.

He would try to raise Ponce’s ire — “to get his dander up” Wade says — by posting negative things, hoping to bait him into commenting or trying to contact him.

“Since Christopher is a drunk and an addict, I thought maybe one time he would be drunk and high and he’d make a mistake,’’ Wade says.

Ponce may not have been directly captured because of any leads from Wade’s site, but because he was captured in a bus station, where so many IP address hits had come from, he could have been on his way to use the station’s public wifi.

Either way, it doesn’t matter, Wade says.

Ponce will have plenty of time to read the site dedicated to putting him away for life from prison, where he will end up.

Wade’s last website update read, in part: “CHRISTOPHER PONCE HAS BEEN ARRESTED IN SPAIN!!!!!!!! That’s right, the POS is finally in jail.”

Wade promises it won’t be his last post, however.

“The website is still up, and I will continue to write,’’ Wade says. “I will take him (Ponce) through the extradition and then take him through the trial. I’m not done yet. The day he is sentenced, that will be my last post.”

You can follow Wade’s journey at FindChrisPonce.com, or on Facebook at Facebook.com/findchrisponce.

@NTWCNews

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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District 1 Winner To Help Shape The Future Of The ‘Connected City’

By John C. Cotey Three of the five Pasco Board of County Commissioners seats are up for grabs on Tuesday, November 8, the most interesting of which might just be District 1, which represents the Zephyrhills, Dade City and Wesley Chapel areas.

There are three Republicans on the ballot vying for votes in the Tuesday, August 30, primary election – (in alphabetical order, as they will appear on the Aug. 30 ballot) • Ronald Oakley, a 71-year-old Zephyrhills citrus farmer and former treasurer and chairman of the Southwest Florida Water Management District board; • Rachel O’Connor, a 31-year-old Pasco County substitute teacher and former Republican Party of Florida field representative who also is a Wesley Chapel resident; • Debbie Wells of Lake Jovita, 66, the director of sales for the Tampa division of Meritage Homes and ex-wife of Pasco Property Appraiser Mike Wells, Sr. Wells’ son, Mike Jr., currently is Pasco’s District 4 commissioner.

O’Connor and Oakley both ran unsuccessfully for the same seat in the 2012 Republican primary, losing to four-term incumbent Ted Schrader, who this year running for property appraiser.

The winner faces Dimitri Delgado, 51, a no-party candidate, in the general election on Nov. 8.

The three candidates all present similar views on many subjects, with some differences on quite a few, like development,

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supporting police, improving the area roads and increasing tourism.

The Metro Question

However, at a Pasco County Commission Candidate Forum on Aug. 15, in front of roughly 25 potential voters at the Alice Hall Community Center in Zephyrhills, the biggest difference between the candidates’ views centered on Metro Development’s plans to build a “Connected City” on nearly 8,000 acres of land that sits in District 1.

Pasco County Commission District 1 candidate Rachel Because Metro asked to O’Connor answers a question, as fellow candidate Ron Oakdelay consideration of its plans ley checks his notes at a recent candidate forum in Zephyrhills. in front of the commission, fly with another developer.” originally slated for July, to Oakley and Wells both said they needsometime later this year, the winner of the District 1 race could now cast a crucial vote. ed more information before deciding if they Recent attempts by Metro, as reported are in favor of the project, which includes a highly-anticipated “Crystal Lagoon” in the by the Tampa Bay Times, to stack an advisory board with hand-picked members while Epperson Ranch Development of Regional removing public and county representation, Impact (DRI) off Curley Rd., as well as the promise of ultra-fast internet speeds in every as well as a request for impact fee credits home in the development. typically not afforded to other developers, “There’s a lot of issues and nuances has raised some eyebrows. that are unknown,’’ Wells said.

O’Connor is opposed to the project Oakley said he has had at least seven and says she will not vote for it. meetings with Metro Development, and has “They propose taking the voice of been unable to figure out “what they are the people away, giving them permission holding back.” to do whatever they want with the land O’Connor, however, questioned there,’’ said O’Connor, adding that giving Metro impact fee credits, “would not whether Oakley or Wells could vote against

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the project at all, based on the fact they have received a combined $20,000 in campaign contributions — $14,000 for Wells and $6,000 for Oakley — from Metro and its affiliated companies.

“I know Rachel said she was the only candidate that did not take contributions, but they were not offered to her,” said Wells, a claim O’Connor said was not true.

“I would never support that (project), which is why I have not taken the opportunities presented to me to take money from Metro Development,’’ O’Connor said.

Metro also has donated thousands to commissioners who are currently serving and running for re-election.

Oakley defended taking contributions from a development company that will need his vote.

“I did, I got a contribution from them for my campaign,’’ Oakley said. “That money was needed to run my campaign.

Just like anybody else that has to run a campaign, it costs money. I can tell you that in that process, I didn’t sell my integrity, I didn’t sell my soul, and I didn’t sell my vote to Metro.”

O’Connor, who has railed against the ‘Good ol’ Boy Network’ during her campaign, said that is not a chance voters should take.

“When you take money from a developer or a builder, you are pretty much saying that they have an open door to you,’’ she said. “And, if they don’t have the door to you, they invest heavily in other county commission candidates. When you take

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$14,000 from one developer, that is pretty much buying your vote. No way you’re going to say no, I’m sorry.”

Other than the exchange over Metro, Debbie Wells the three candidates did not disagree on much.

On the vastly expanding Wesley Chapel area, all three candidates agree that growth and development is a good thing.

Oakley said that the economic development on the east side of Pasco County, primarily in Wesley Chapel, was a “steamroller and it is running down that road” towards Zephyrhills and Dade City. He said that is a good thing, as long as certain controls are in place.

“It’s one of the better things we have going for Pasco County,’’ he said.

Meanwhile, Wells, citing what she said was a 20-plus-year career in business leadership and boardrooms (mostly in real estate, where she is currently director of sales for the Tampa Division of Meritage Homes) said that to continue the growth, she would form a strong partnership with Pasco Economic Development Council (EDC) president and CEO, Bill Cronin. She stressed the need for Pasco to better market itself to

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continue to attract new businesses.

O’Connor presented a six-point plan for harnessing the growth, including streamlining permitting and updating the county’s technology for handling it, reviewing codes to make sure the county is open to all types of businesses, instead of just a few, creating competitive impact fees and evening the playing field by not playing favorites to certain developers.

All three candidates, speaking in front of a small Zephyrhills audience, said S.R. 56 was going to connect to their city and they needed to be ready and prepared for the growth that is likely to come with it.

Regarding the county’s current issues with homelessness and drugs, Wells said she was a proponent of helping, “but also to enable them to get jobs and get back on their feet.”

Oakley called for a bigger role by local ministries, while O’Connor said working with the sheriff’s office to help stop the drug problem would play a big role in settling the homeless issue.

All three candidates profusely praised both Sheriff Chris Nocco’s office and the county’s other first responders, and promised to help find more funding for those departments.

Asked what is one of the biggest issues facing the district and county, O’Connor said preparing for the upcoming development and population boom that would accompany it is a priority. Wells said the Zephyrhills Airport was a “jewel” and needed attention, and also stressed the need for better county infrastructure. Oakley said he was “very passionate” about improving Pasco residents’ quality of life.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

11

Indoor Sports Facility In Wesley Chapel Sprints Towards Finish Line

By John C. Cotey

With the $20-million Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) complex nearing completion and Raymond James Financial now cleared for construction in the Wiregrass Ranch area, the S.R. 56 corridor is starting to deliver on much of its promise.

The next big project approaching the developmental runway is the long-awaited county athletic complex, which will be located just east of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel on 126.5 acres of land dedicated to Pasco County by the Porter family.

The Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) has received four proposals from private companies to develop the new multi-purpose, indoor facility, and public meetings to evaluate the proposals could take place in as soon as the next few weeks.

“It’s getting closer,’’ said Pasco’s District 2 commissioner Mike Moore, who represents much of the Wesley Chapel area.

After the evaluation committee and public take a look at the bids, the responding firms are tentatively scheduled to go through interviews and give presentations in September, with a potential vote for approval by the BCC sometime in October.

The county is hoping to finally dip more than just a toe into the booming sports tourism market.

According to an April report by the National Association of Sports Commissions, sports-related tourism is a $9.45billion-per-year industry.

Pasco is looking for a private partner who would develop, finance, manage, operate and maintain the facility. The county has previously agreed to contribute $8.5 million to the design and construction of the project in money raised through its tourism development tax, and there would be a revenue-sharing aspect to the private-public relationship.

The private company chosen will be expected to market, solicit, advertise and conduct public relations activities for leagues, sporting events, concerts, tournaments and other gatherings to maximize use of the complex at no cost to the county, which will help with marketing.

Previous attempts dating back to 2001 to build facilities — one for ten-

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This indoor sports facility in Gatlinburg, TN, is seen as the model for the planned indoor sports complex that hopefully will begin building soon in the Wiregrass Ranch DRI in Wesley Chapel.

nis, one for baseball and another outdoor multi-purpose facility — have failed, but Johnson Consulting of Chicago said in a feasibility report last year that the outdoor market was saturated and the county should instead focus on an indoor facility, which was met with support by the BCC. According to the recommendations made by Johnson Consulting in Oct. of 2015, which the county says it would like to move forward with, the project will involve three phases.

The indoor facility will be a multipurpose complex between 85,000 and 100,000 square feet on 5-7 acres of land.

The facility, or Phase 1 of development of the property, would have 6-8 basketball courts, which could be converted to 12-16 volleyball courts, elevated seating for 500-750, concession stands, 4-6 multipurpose rooms and a sports orthopaedic and healthcare partnership.

“When you think about all the indoor sports travel teams, all those indoor sports (like cheerleading, gymnastics, wrestling, basketball and volleyball), there’s really nowhere in this area really focusing on those,’’ Moore said. “The indoor facility

would be much better for our area. It will be a big draw for tournaments year-round, and that means more people staying in hotels and shopping and eating in the area.”

Phase 2 of the project (5-15 acres), according to the Johnson Consulting report, would include 3-4 outdoor rectangular multi-purpose grass fields (two

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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with lights), a Championship area for bigger events, an interactive playground and splash pads.

Phase 3 (10-15 acres) would incorporate an alternative entertainment zone, with indoor skydiving, zip lines, ropes courses and a driving range.

The remaining 25-35 usable acres would be for hotel development, themed retail, a community center, active and passive green space for the community, plus trails for walking, running and biking.

Johnson Consulting conservatively estimates that more than 100,000 participants will use the facility annually. While deficits are projected the first four years, the indoor sports complex is projected to bring in more than $200,000 a year in net profit by year six.

While Johnson Consulting initially expressed concerns over a lack of local lodging, three new hotels totaling more than 250 rooms are slated to open in the Wesley Chapel area in the next year or two.

Moore said the facility that may compare best to what is hoped for in Wesley Chapel is the Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, TN, an 86,000-sq.ft. indoor facility with 18 basketball and volleyball courts and seven outdoor synthetic turf fields, including a Championship Stadium Field.

“If we do it right, we should be able to draw tournaments from across the nation,’’ Moore said.

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‘Capt. Jack’

Continued from page 1

says John, showing off a little card with a picture of a bottle of “Pride” cleaning product and “Joy” dishwashing detergent. And, if anyone asked for “his card,” he showed them a business card sized paper that just says “HIS CARD” in large letters.

Greg, Sue Ann and John saw him make people smile with those two cards quite a bit.

“He was a character,” says Sue Ann. “He was truly larger than life.” ### Capt. Jack loved the celebrity that came along with his unique mode of transportation and his willingness to spend time and share stories with his neighbors, his children say, but not because of an ego. He had always served people, and being friendly was his way to continue serving.

That’s how Meadow Pointe resident Sasha Lash met him. She was walking into Publix one morning with her son — still young enough that she referred to him as a baby, but he was big enough to spot Capt. Jack’s “fire truck” and wanted to go see it. It caught his attention because his daddy — Sasha’s husband — works for Tampa Fire Rescue.

“We said ‘hi’ and he loved that I had a little one,” Sasha remembers. “Capt. Jack let my son pet Sparky and ring the bell on the cart, and he showed him all the stickers.” After that first meeting a couple years ago, Sasha says she saw him often, introducing her older son, now 8, to him, too.

As they got to know each other, Capt. Jack had quite a bit of advice for the firefighter’s wife.

“One thing stands out,” she says. “He told me to always be open to listen to my husband when he wants to tell stories about the job. First responders sometimes see the worst of the worst,

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“Capt. Jack” Whalen (seated, center, in red) was surrounded by his family at his 91st birthday party. so if he’s in a horrible mood, it may be because his kids think Whalen’s health problems were reof something he’s experienced. He told me to be lated to all of his years fighting fires without any slow to anger, loving, and always kind.” real protection.

Sasha says she considers it, “profound adThey recall that he always rode in a fire vice” and is grateful for it. “It’s very true and truck with an open-air cab, even in the middle of poignant, and it’s just one of the things I learned winter. When calls came in, the firefighters knew from Capt. Jack.” the general location of the fire, but they had to She adds, “It’s like a bright light in Wes- watch out the top of the open vehicle to see the ley Chapel has gone dim,” Sasha says. “We need column of smoke that would indicate the exact more people like him who aren’t afraid to get location of the fire. Sue Ann recalls a particular out into the community and be kind, and spread fire, in the middle of winter, when it was so cold joy, and make the best of life.” the water was freezing as her father and the other ### firemen tried to use it to put out the fire.

Capt. Jack got up early every morning, a Capt. Jack retired from the fire department habit he developed when he was promoted out in 1979. Louise worked for five more years, then of shift work at the fire department and began they retired to the warmer weather of Pine Isa steady 5 a.m.-4 p.m. shift. His children re- land, FL. Once while living there, Jack had to member hearing the scanner in the middle of the be airlifted to the hospital. So, he and Louise night, causing him to jump out of bed and race decided they would move closer to family and to a fire. The equipment he had was crude — his closer to more modern facilities. And, in 1996, son Greg says we should be thankful firefight- they bought a house in Meadow Pointe. ers have much better technology today — and When Capt. Jack passed away, he had been

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

in poor health for quite a while. “His heart and lungs were bad from his firefighter days,” says John, as he and his sister, Sue Ann, rattle off a list of problems he was experiencing. “But, he went when he was ready. He waited until I got down here. I was stuck in Georgia and he waited until I got here to say good-bye.”

Sue Ann calls him a “consummate fireman,” and says he had a special relationship with the firefighters from Pasco County Fire Rescue Station 26, located on Aronwood Blvd. in Meadow Pointe. A whole bunch of them came to visit Whalen in the hospital shortly before his death.

Greg says Capt. Jack sat up and smiled.

“My brothers are here,” he said. ### Capt. Jack’s memorial service will be held on Tuesday, August 30, 6 p.m., at Whitfield Funeral Home in Zephyrhills. The family asks that, in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the International Association of Fire Fighters.

To make it special, the family plans to have his golf cart at his memorial service, where everyone who attends will be asked to ring the bell in his honor.

A formal ceremony also will be held at Bushnell National Cemetery, where Louise already is buried. One of Jack’s grandsons currently serves in the U.S. Army, and he will honor his grandfather by presenting a U.S. flag to the family as part of the ceremony.

Through tears and laughter, his family remembers him.

“He loved his family, he loved kids,” says Greg. “But, most of all, “he loved people.”

“He was always larger than life, over the top,” says Sue Ann. “He left a mark wherever he went.”

“You hear about legends – and most of the time they’re fiction,” adds John. “But, he was a true legend.”

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How Many New Car Dealerships Are There In Wesley Chapel? Watch WCNT-tv!

BridgeWater

Auto Dealerships In & Near Wesley Chapel

2 5 8

Lexington Oaks

9

Chapel Pines

3

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6

1

54

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54

Wiregrass Ranch

Seven Oaks

581

56

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54 &12

56

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Meadow Pointe IV

dow Pointe Blvd.

Mea

Land O’Lakes

Meadow Pointe III

Meadow Pointe I

ine unty L o C

Rd.

Meadow Pointe II

County Line R d.

581

Lutz When was the last time you took a ride down S.R. 54 or S.R. 56 and counted up all of the auto dealerships in Wesley Chapel?

Well, my friends, there currently are 12 such dealerships located within Wesley Chapel, all; indicated on this map, plus two others (with a total of six different, but related, U.S. auto brands) located in two adjacent buildings on S.R. 54 in Lutz, a couple of miles west of I-75 and the new Tampa Premium Outlets.

The map you see on this page — created by our own graphic artist extraordinaire Blake Beatty — shows Wesley Chapel’s 12 existing (as well as “Lucky Number 13” which recently was announced, Lexus of Wesley Chapel) auto dealerships, plus Fer-

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K-Bar Ranch

man Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram and Ferman Buick GMC (#s 12 & 13 on the map), which are housed in two adjacent buildings on S.R. 54 in Lutz.

In our next issue, we’re going to give you more detail about these dealerships, including the different models they sell and even any current specials they’re running, as well as information about when each dealership opened and the good work they do in the community.

Exclusive WCNT-tv Preview!

If you want to watch a really cool preview of the information contained in the map above, I hope you’ll check out the latest episode of WCNT-tv — Wesley Chapel & New Tampa

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1

2

FIAT PARK OF WESLEY CHAPEL

3

ALFA ROMEO PARK WESLEY CHAPEL

4

Brookside

7 &

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Watergrass

Television — which is available as you’re reading this on YouTube/WCNT-tv. All five episodes of WCNT-tv (which we’ve been telling you since June is the partnership between yours truly and Craig Miller of Full Throttle Intermedia, a topquality local advertising agency and TV production company; visit FTIntermedia.com) are available at that YouTube channel.

WCNT-tv also is the exclusive webcast partner of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC; please visit WesleyChapelChamber.com) and most of these auto dealerships are WCCC members, although WCNT-tv also has done full-length features on three Chamber members to date — VIP Pest Control, Bain Complete Wellness and PROtential

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6

7

LEXUS OF WESLEY CHAPEL

8 9 10 11

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CHRYSLER, JEEP, DODGE, RAM

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BUICK & GMC

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MERCEDES BENZ OF WESLEY CHAPEL

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MINI COOPER OF WESLEY CHAPEL

Sports — and we’ve also done a full-length, exclusive interview with WCCC CEO Hope Allen.

If you’re looking for outstanding dining information, you also should check out the first five episodes of WCNT-tv, which already has featured reviews of 12 restaurants from all around the Tampa Bay area in my “Neighborhood Dining News” segment, as well as a full-length feature in the most recent episode about our WCNT-tv dining sponsor, OTB Café on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., across from our WCNT-tv Studio Sponsor, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel!

In otherwords, WCNT-tv and the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News have got you covered like no one else does. Please view, like and share ‘em all at Youtube/WCNT-tv! — GN

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15

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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AUGUST 2016

Friday - August 26 - 7:15 AM

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets every Friday at 7:15 a.m. at Quail Hollow Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For info, call Lynne Morgan at 695-6466.

Thursday - September 1 - 11:30 AM

RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for networking at GrillSmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, allowing business owners to meet and get to know each other. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch is from noon-1 p.m. For more info, visit RGANetwork.net.

Thursday - September 1 - 7 PM

Celebrate Recovery - Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bridgeway Church (30660 Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based Pasco is a support group for adults in Pasco County living with mental illness or in principles. Dinner & free childcare available. For more info, call 907-1313. recovery. The group meets the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Tuesday - September 6 - 7 PM at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, visit NAMIPasco.com.

NAMI Friends and Family: Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Saturday - August 27 - 9:30 AM - 11:30 AM Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco support group for friends and family of those BayChapel Food Pantry - Free food to help needy families. Open every Saturday with mental illness. The group meets the 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month from behind Christian Brothers Automotive on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., at 20300 Trout 7-8:30 p.m. at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). Visit NAMIPasco.com.

Creek Dr., New Tampa. For more info, visit BayChapel.org.

Friday - August 26 - 2 PM

Saturday - August 27 - 10 AM

Tips To Speed Up Your Metabolism - Enjoy delicious healthy desserts and gourmet coffee, while listening to a powerful seminar on getting the best results possible by eating right. Presented by Samantha Taylor, a self-proclaimed former food addict and health & fitness expert. Seats must be reserved. Seminar held at the Land O’Lakes Pure Health Personal Training Studio (2206 Knight Rd.).

To sign up, visit PureHealthStudios.com.

Monday - August 29 - 7:45 AM

Professional Business Connections (PBC) - PBC meets Mondays at 7:45 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). For more info, call Chris Thurow at 546-6860.

Monday - August 29 - 8 AM

Experienced Networking Professionals (ENP) - ENP meets Monday mornings at 8 a.m. for breakfast and networking at Quail Hollow Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For information, call Brad Benson at 973-1814.

Monday - August 29 - 7:45 AM

Wesley Chapel Speaks - PBC meets Mondays at 7:45 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). For more info, call Chris Thurow at 546-6860.

Wednesday - August 31 - Noon

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (Noon) meets Wed. at noon at Quail Hollow Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.).

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

Wednesday - August 31 - 7:30 AM

Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business pros dedicated to helping their member businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (10441 Cory Lake Dr.). Call Lee Hoffman at 545-2656.

Wednesday - August 31 - 9 AM - Noon

Wednesday - September 7 - 7:30 AM

Wesley Chapel Breakfast Club - The WC Breakfast Club brings business people together to network and present their businesses to the group. The club meets the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month at 7:30 a.m. at Quail Hollow Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For more info, call Bill at 992-3370.

Thursday - September 8 - 6:30 PM

Wesley Chapel Republican Club - The Wesley Chapel Republican Club meets the second Thur. of each month at 6:30 pm. at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel, 27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd. New members & guests are welcome to join the program and enjoy networking, coffee, and dessert. Call Peter Cracchiolo at 360-9813.

Saturday - September 17 - 10 AM

Beauty Pageant Preview - Be the first to know all of the pageant details for the 2016-17 pageant season for Miss Wesley Chapel and Miss New Tampa. Held at MidFlorida Credit Union Community Room, 20401 BBD Blvd. Free facials and makeovers with new color looks for fall. R.S.V.P. to 714-6513.

Monday - September 19 - 6 PM

Wesley Chapel Speaks - Wesley Chapel Toastmasters meets the first and third Mondays at 6:30 pm with networking at 6:00 pm at the Hyundai Dealership 27000 S.R. 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd). For info. call Martin at 693-0969.

Monday - September 19 - 7 PM

East Pasco Democratic Club - East Pasco Democrats will meet at the American House at the Commons, 38130 Pretty Pond Rd., Zephyrhills. The guest speaker will be retired CEO of the Tampa Bay Times, Andrew Barnes. Visit EastPascoDems.com for more info.

Tuesday - September 27 - 6 PM

Wesley Chapel Lions Club - The Wesley Chapel Lions Club meets every 4th Tuesday at 6 p.m. at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel. For more information about volunteering, community efforts, meetings, helping the vision impaired and more, visit the club on Facebook or at WesleyChapelLionsClub.com.

Pasco Education Community Stakeholder Meeting - Pasco County Schools, the Pasco Education Foundation & Ford Next Generation Learning will host a community stakeholder meeting to collaborate on the plans for The Academies of Pasco, the county’s career academies. The event will be held in the Conference Center at the Pasco-Hernando State College-Porter Campus, 2727 Mansfield Blvd. For more information, call PEF at 794-2705.

SEPTEMBER 2016 Thursday - September 1 - 7:30 AM

BNI Networking Meeting - BNI, a networking organization, has a new chapter in Wesley Chapel. Business professionals are invited to attend on Thursdays at Quail Hollow Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). Seating is limited. Call Vicky McShane to RSVP @ 714-6513.

Thursday - September 1 - 8 AM

Networking For Your Success - The Networking For Your Success group meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). All are welcome. For info, call 994-9944.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Get ‘Back To Wellness’ With Chiropractic Care, Physical Therapy & Licensed Massage

By Celeste McLaughlin

Sitting at a red light in January of this year, Wesley Chapel residents Cindy Griffiths and her husband James were suddenly rear-ended. It was especially scary for Cindy, who had brain surgery in 2000 after a car accident. After an MRI following the more recent accident, she was looking for a chiropractor for treatment of two bulging discs and two herniated discs in her neck.

In an online search, James found the Back To Wellness Center Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, located in the Summergate Professional Center behind Sam’s Club off of S.R. 56.

“I was in pretty bad shape the first time I walked in,” says Cindy, “but I felt wonderful when I left.”

Cindy says what she liked about the Back To Wellness Center was the integration of chiropractic care, physical therapy and massage, all in one practice. Owner Jonathan Hancock, D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic), says that’s what sets his office apart from others in the area.

“By combining chiropractic care with physical therapy and massage therapy, we’re not just going to get you out of pain,” Dr. Hancock says, “Our goal is to rehabilitate you so the condition doesn’t become chronic.”

Dr. Hancock opened the Back To Wellness Center in 2012. He was born and raised in Dade City, where his family business is in agriculture. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in political science from the University of South Florida

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in 2006, then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, FL, earning his D.C. degree in 2010.

Alexandra Ellison-Cherny, D.C., joined the staff nearly two years ago, after also earning her D.C. degree from Palmer College in 2014. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 2011.

The integration with physical therapy happens because of the close partnership between the chiropractors and the Back To Wellness Center’s staff physical therapist (PT) Justin Spiegel, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy). Dr. Spiegel also is a Certified Mulligan Concept Practitioner, which he explains is a specific type of manual technique that restores joint function without increasing pain. He says he is one of just a handful of practitioners with this particular certification in the state of Florida.

“We work closely together and even sit down and brainstorm specific conditions,” says Dr. Hancock. “We give patients a higher level of care because we are right under the same roof.” He says having patients work directly with the physical therapist means he and Dr. Ellison-Cherney have more time to ensure they properly diagnose and treat underlying conditions, not just symptoms. “Patients get better quicker because we’re all on the same page.”

The staff also includes physical therapy assistant Robby Bell, PTA, RCA (registered chiropractic assistant), two licensed massage therapists (LMTs) and office manager Sierra Robinson.

“What drew me to this practice is that we have all these different modalities to treat people,” says Dr. Ellison-Cherny. “In my experience, it’s never just one thing that’s the answer.

By using chiropractic, physical therapy and massage therapy, we help people to (not only) feel better, but stay better.”

The Back To Wellness Center treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal pain or conditions. “We cater to all walks of life,” says Hancock. “From workers comp injuries to auto accidents to athletes.”

A major focus of the doctors is that their patients have to be able to continue the exercises designed for them at home, so that they can stay well and pain-free.

Dr. Spiegel says most physical therapy exercises are designed to use the body’s own weight.

“We don’t need weight machines in the physical therapy room,” says Dr. Spiegel. “We’re trying to reeducate muscles to be Dr. Justin Spiegel (left), Dr. Jonathan Hancock (right) & Dr. strong enough to support Alexandra Ellison-Cherny (sitting) offer chiropractic, physical & the body. Those muscles don’t need a lot of resistance massage therapy under one roof at the Back To Wellness Center.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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to restore function. We start with a set of stretches and exercises using a resistance band, and we’ll even give you the resistance band to take home with you so you can continue at home.”

Dr. Hancock echoes this important sentiment. “We teach our patients to be proactive,” he says. “When they do the exercises at home, they don’t have to come in to the office as often. We provide papers with pictures to show patients how to do the exercises, and we practice them here.

By the time they leave, it’s ingrained in them what they should do. When they are disciplined and follow through, we really see the results.”

Dr. Ellison-Cherny and Dr. Hancock say anyone can benefit from visiting their office. “Pain is the last thing you feel,” says Dr. Ellison-Cherny. “Unless you’ve experienced a traumatic accident, usually the conditions are there a long time before you feel pain.”

They agree that while every treatment plan is tailored to the individual, the Back To Wellness Center often offers shorter treatment plans than patients might expect, because of the integration of physical therapy and massage therapy on site. “I would say we average three to five visits to get out of pain for non-traumatic injuries,” says Dr. Hancock.

He adds that the office accepts all insurance plans and is “in network” for the vast majority of plans. “We also offer flexible, affordable cash pay plans, and work with CareCredit financing, too,” he says.

A Pain-Free Education

For Cindy and James Griffiths, their

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treatment at The Back To Wellness Center was just what the doctors hope each of their patients will experience.

“They really, really educated us and were very helpful,” says Cindy. “In addition to the chiropractic care, the physical therapy and massage therapy really helped.

I didn’t have physical therapy after my brain surgery in 2000, because it wasn’t offered to me. I wish it had been, because it’s been really good.”

In fact, she says the Back to Wellness Center helped her and James change many of their “bad habits,” such as teaching James how to properly get up from a lying down position. For Cindy, “Since my brain surgery, I had been holding my neck in a very stiff way, and Robby showed me how to not be so stiff. Just the other day I was saying, ‘I can’t believe I can turn my head like that.’”

Cindy adds that she and James came in for treatments for about six weeks, but after five weeks, they were completely off Ibuprofen and aspirin and felt much better. “If we have any problems, we would go back, but so far we haven’t had any,” says Cindy.

“I’m still practicing what I was taught. I do the exercises and I feel great.”

The Back To Wellness Center Chiropractic & Physical Therapy is located at 27454 Cashford Cir., in the Summergate Professional Center, behind Sam’s Club off S.R. 56. The office is open Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.; 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday; and 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Friday. For more information, visit WesleyChapelChiropractor.com, call 973-4747 to make an appointment or see the ad on pg. 14.

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PROtential Sports Provides Sports Programs & Life Lessons For Kids about and play a variety of sports, including

By Brad Stager

Tony and Nyree Bland know what it takes to achieve success at the highest levels of athletic competition and they have been sharing that knowledge with young people in communities throughout New Tampa and Wesley Chapel for more than a dozen years.

“It’s about being the best you can be and having integrity,” says Nyree.

That’s the foundation of the New Tampa couple’s youth sports training company, PROtential Sports, where the stated mission is “Teaching Life Through Sports.”

Achieving high standards of performance through hard work and fair play is what the Blands credit for their own personal and professional successes, on and off the fields of play. Nyree was ranked as the number-one junior tennis player in North Carolina before a knee injury curtailed her professional tennis aspirations. Tony was a wide receiver for the Minnesota Vikings for four years, including the team’s historic 16-victory season in 1998. He played behind NFL Hall of Famer Cris Carter and future Hall of Famer Randy Moss.

Passing on the insights and lessons from their own experiences is the goal of every after-school program, sports league and summer camp PROtential offers.

“We’re trying to teach them how to be a good person, as well as being a good athlete,” says Nyree.

Their venture into the business side of athletics came about in 2003 when Tony participated in a youth football camp with then-Super Bowl Champion Tampa Bay Buccaneers quarterback Brad Johnson (who

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PROtential Sports founders/owners Nyree (left) & Tony Bland were featured on a recent episode of WCNT-tv. was also a teammate of Tony’s at Minnesota) and running back Michael Pittman.

That experience brought home Tony’s own football beginning, as a 14-year-old playing in a youth football league and then catching passes at Pinellas Park High. His focused dedication to athletic achievement became part of his overall lifestyle, including academics, and he earned a scholarship to Florida A&M University in Tallahassee, where he majored in political science.

PROtential district manager Julie Garretson is a lifelong athlete who aspired to a career in physical education and now oversees many of the day-to-day operations of PROtential Sports. Since the youth activities are community-oriented, that means devel-

oping relationships with activity and lifestyle directors and stopping by when the children are on-site to check on things.

According to Garretson, PROtential Sports’ after-school programs for students five to 12 years-old are located at Club Tampa Palms, Arbor Greene, Heritage Isles, Grand Hampton and Cory Lake Isles (the latter is for Cory Lake residents only) in New Tampa and at Seven Oaks and Meadow Pointe IV in Wesley Chapel.

“We pick up from all the local schools,” says Garretson. “We do a snack time, a quick study hall and then a sports routine. We do two to three sports a day and try to hit each major sport twice a week.”

Besides getting a chance to learn

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baseball, football, golf, tennis and soccer, kids participating in a PROtential Sports after-school program also learn life skills.

Garretson says that whether it’s after school, at one of PROtential’s summer camps or in the company’s competitive leagues, the principles of teamwork and sportsmanship apply.

“We want the kids to always put their best foot forward,” Garretson says, adding that instilling a solid work ethic and sense of compassion in young people — whatever their athletic goals may be — will serve them well in the future. And, she says that’s important for kids to understand.

“You can’t be an athlete forever, but you’re a human being forever,” she says.

There are about 20 coaches working directly with children at PROtential.

Experience in sports is a requirement, but according to Garretson, their job qualifications are not just derived from their athletic statistics or backgrounds. “(Our instructors) should be teachers,” she says. “They are 50-percent life coaches and 50-percent sports coaches.”

One of PROtential’s coaches is Brooks Lovely, who says he has been playing sports since he was 3-years-old. Lovely was an offensive lineman at Maryville College in Maryville, TN, and he also was a football coach at Robinson High in Tampa before signing up with PROtential. Lovely expresses awareness of the responsibility he is entrusted with in working with young people.

“We try to make a positive impact on their lives every day,” says Lovely. “We teach them what we learned in our life through

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sports, like the importance of teamwork and communication.”

He adds that part of the job sometimes involves helping kids in the after-school program with their homework and instilling a positive attitude about getting good grades. “(We tell the kids that they) need to learn to like school,” he says.

Coach Devonn Polk can easily relate to the kids he’s responsible for at PROtential Sports. The Wharton High grad played tight end for the Wildcats. To him, you’re never too young to learn a sense of responsibility and PROtential Sports offers a way to do that.

“We teach them not just how to play sports, but how to be good leaders,” the Heritage Isles resident says.

The lessons that New Tampa resident Sandra Ferris says her son Alexavier has learned through PROtential Sports makes the program a winner in her view.

“It’s gratifying to watch my son learn a variety of sporting techniques while gaining lifelong leadership and sportsmanship skills,” Ferris says. “I firmly believe that Alexavier will learn to exemplify PROtential Sports’ motto, ‘Teaching Life Through Sports,’ by developing an appreciation for teamwork, perseverance and consistency throughout his adolescence into adulthood.”

NFL Flag Football, Too

While the end of summer means PROtential Sports is right now fielding a lot of inquiries about its after-school programs, it’s also the time of year when interest in football is renewed. For kids who want to compete in organized, limited-contact flag football in a professionally-run league, PROtential Sports offers NFL Flag Football.

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The NFL Flag Football program operates under a license granted by the National Football League. It plays a six-on-six style of game, which is known for exciting playmaking on the uncrowded gridiron.

How You Can Get Into The Game With PROtential!

PROtential Sports also gives business-minded adults a way to get in the game through franchise opportunities. The company that Tony and Nyree Bland started more than a decade ago now operates in Riverview and Westchase, as well as New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. Franchising is another area of responsibility for Garretson.

“We have franchise opportunities available in Central Florida and we hope to expand into Pinellas County and Orlando,” Garretson says.

As PROtential Sports continues to grow, it sometimes means Nyree and Tony dress for doing business a little more often than they do coaching on the field. But, whether it’s business or sports, Nyree says whatever success they’ve achieved can always be traced back to the core values that have guided her and Tony throughout their lives.

“Having integrity and showing good character,” she says. “Because that’s all you have, is your integrity and your word.”

More information about NFL Flag Football, after-school programs, sports leagues, camps and franchise opportunities is available at PROtentialSports.com, by calling 843-9460 or by checking out the ad on pg. 28. Also, watch Episode 3 of WCNT-tv for a special segment featuring PROtential Sports at NTNeighborhoodnews.com or Youtube/WCNT-tv.

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New Tampa Dance Theatre Producing Great Students & Performances

By Anu Varma Panchal

It may be housed in a quiet building on a suburban street, but the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT) offers dancers a world-class, professional experience that is unmatched in the Tampa Bay area, whether you like to dance for fun or dream of a career on stage one day Located minutes from most of Wesley Chapel on Cross Creek Blvd. (across from Heritage Isles) in New Tampa, the 7,500-square-foot NTDT is the largest professional dance training facility in New Tampa. Owner and artistic director Dyane Elkins IronWing is in her 22nd season of creating dance memories and futures for her New Tampa-area students, many of whom have gone on to study and perform dance professionally.

This year, 2016 graduates Alexis Brake and Elizabeth Laches are both going to double major in Pre Med and Dance; Megan Peeples will major in Physical Therapy and minor in Dance; and Christina Pittarelli will major in Dance.

“I’m so proud of our graduates,” says Elkins IronWing. “Our dancers become excellent college students with their impressive time management skills, perseverance and creative thinking.”

Elkins IronWing herself started dancing at age 5 and later studied at the Ballet Metropolitan in New York City.

She moved to Tampa in 1995 to be near family and friends and almost immediately opened NTDT in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

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In 2006, she purchased land on Cross Creek Blvd., and designed her spacious new studio herself.

With the bigger location, she was off and running, offering smaller class sizes and larger, more varied schedules.

She also New Tampa Dance Theatre has a larger pool of students owner Dyane Elkins Irontoday with Wing (left) & her staff can the explosive help young and older dancgrowth of Wesers reach their goals. ley Chapel.

“NTDT’s name might say New Tampa; however, our location to Wesley Chapel is much closer than one might assume,” says Elkins IronWing. “(We are) conveniently located only 7 miles (10 minutes) from S.R. 54 and Morris Bridge Rd., and 6 miles (12 minutes) from S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs. This is extremely convenient to all the exciting growth in Wesley Chapel.”

All Ages & Experience Levels

Elkins IronWing caters to both the casual dance lover as well as the devoted pre-professional, and every level in between.

A leveled curriculum offers multiple art forms for students to explore. Through per-

sonal attention and professional expertise, the NTDT faculty provides a positive educational experience based on core principles of respect, responsibility and teamwork.

Teen/Adult classes include four 8-week sessions (from Sept.-May) of Cardio Funk, Adult Tap, Ballet and Modern.

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 NTDT’s Youth Program.

As well as classical ballet, the studio offers full programs in creative movement, modern dance, jazz, tap and hip hop.

Each program has its own directors

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and specific syllabuses guiding students in a structured manner through their studies.

Elkins IronWing’s husband, Troy IronWing, is director of tap and Dyane teaches jazz. Both also have toured nationally with the Rhythm Extreme Performance Troupe for 12 years.

In addition, NTDT ballet director Cristy Garcia Tanner started her dance lessons at age 3 in Puerto Rico, and at 13, was invited to join the Ballet Concierto Company in San Juan.

Jazz director Kristine Morgan has been a professional dancer since age 19, and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. Modern dance director Carla Armstrong, who joined the NTDT faculty in 2005, graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School with a BFA degree in Dance.

Hip hop director Dreama Davidson, who also has been with the school since 2005, has 18 years of performances to her credit, including Katonga at Busch Gardens.

The facilities are as top notch as the instructors, and include 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. Sprung floors provide shock absorption to protect the dancer’s joints, and an on-site physical therapist ensures the health of the dancers. There also is a café offering light meals, snacks and drinks.

The Training You Need

NTDT has developed a reputation for

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creating strong, professional dancers with alumni placing in highly respected companies, Broadway productions and for the Walt Disney Company.

Because NTDT students learn to be proficient in multiple art forms, these students have an edge in the competitive world of dance and many NTDT students have been accepted into prestigious summer intensive programs, including the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater in New York City, The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and the Boston Ballet.

However, Elkins IronWing also is diligent about providing the same quality of instruction to the roughly 60 percent of students who are enrolled in NTDT’s popular recreational programs.

“Even though a student doesn’t choose to pursue a career in dance after high school, they can reach a level of artistry to be accepted into college dance programs,” says Elkins IronWing. “Believing in yourself and having a well-rounded dance education gives them the tools to continue their passions.”

Great Productions, Too!

All students get to perform in the “Spring Production” and — through NTDT’s nonprofit-partner, the Dance Theatre of Tampa (DTT) — in the “Summer Concert Series” held every June at USF. DTT provides more than 300 free tickets to NTDT’s corporate sponsors, local community supporters, alumni members and students. A small costume rental fee for recitals is the only cost over the tuition that

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parents have to pay at any time — there is never a requirement to buy advertising or pay performance fees.

New Tampa residents Paula and Ron Nelson say they enrolled their daughter Malia in Creative Movement classes at NTDT when she was only 3. Eight years later, she’s moved up to the youth program, where she’s enrolled in ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop.

“As a result of the yearly 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 comfortable making presentations to her classmates

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and participating in yearly school plays.”

Every holiday season, local residents look forward to the studio’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet “The Nutcracker,” now in its 17th year. This year, it will be held December 16-18 at USF’s College of the Arts Theater 1.

You can catch free sneak peeks of NTDT’s “The Nutcracker” at the Shops at Wiregrass mall on Saturday, November 26, and Friday & Saturday, December 2-3 and 9-10, as well as on Sunday, December 11.

NTDT’s much-awaited Sugar Plum Fairy Tea fund raiser is now in its 12th season and will be held Dec. 4 at USF’s Gibbons Alumni Center. This popular event features a light lunch, desserts (including a chocolate fountain), 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 Clara’s “party friends.”

Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the Tea are donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in South Tampa. Tickets for both events (which will be held at USF) go on sale on Monday, October 17.

“It’s all about the children at NTDT, always has been and always will be,” Dyane says. “We are a company that enables children to succeed. The key is setting high expectations all while having fun and building self-confidence. We have an amazing season ahead of us. We want to thank all of our trusting and loyal families over the years and the organizations that continually support

us. Without their recognition and time, this wouldn’t be possible.”

NTDT offers year-round free trial classes for prospective dancers of all ages.

Classes began Aug. 15. To tour of the facility or to rent it for a meeting, party or function, visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd. For more info and to check out the exciting lineup of fall classes, visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com, call 994-NTDT (6838) or see pg. 29.

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New Wiregrass Elementary Hits The Ground Running On Opening Day

By Brad Stager

It was a countdown worthy of a trip to the stars: “...three, two, one! Open the door!”

That was the cry from dozens of students and parents gathered outside Wiregrass Elementary off Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel on its opening day.

Principal Steve Williams obliged the crowd by pushing open the heavy gate and quickly stepping aside, as the surge of youthful humanity streamed in, bringing what had been simply a new school building to life. The scene was captured by a Pasco County School District photographer who posted the video, entitled “Wiregrass Elementary School — First Day,” on the school district’s official YouTube channel.

The significance of a new school’s grand opening was central to the message Williams relayed to the world via the same YouTube video.

“You know, when you build a school, there’s only one chance to have a Day One, and today has been fantastic,” Williams said. “I love to see a brand new school and today has been worth all the hard work that we’ve put into making Wiregrass Elementary.”

Pasco County School District superintendent of schools Kurt Browning was on hand for the big event and likewise went in front of the camera to express satisfaction about the new school’s opening,

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Students and parents stream through the gate on the first day of school at Wiregrass Elementary, the county’s newest school, located on Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. (Photo: Pasco County Schools)

as well as optimism about its role in the community.

“We’re excited about Wiregrass Elementary School,” Browning said. “It got off to a great start this morning and we’re happy for this community to be able to provide this school.”

The school is located about a mile south of S.R. 56, and opened with just over 500 students enrolled.

With a capacity of 800 students, there’s room to accommodate future growth, as developers build more houses in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) nearby and fami-

lies move into them. Like nearby Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH), Wiregrass Elementary is named after the Porter family’s Wiregrass Ranch, which is helping drive a lot of residential growth in Wesley Chapel. Also like WRH, the new elementary school’s mascot is a bull.

Technology & More

Befitting a new school of the digital age, the classrooms at Wiregrass Elementary have been outfitted with some of the latest technology, such as 3-D computing stations, Apple TVs, iPads and MacBooks.

Williams kept his Wiregrass Bulls and

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their families updated during the school’s construction via the district’s YouTube channel. In his debut video, “Building Something Amazing,” Williams dons a hardhat and sports a fluorescent lime green safety vest over his collared shirt and tie to connect building a school with developing young minds.

“There’s a tremendous metaphor of building a school and building a learner,” Williams said.

In the video, Williams extended the metaphor by explaining how families and the community form the foundation for learning and that using the right educational tools for each student is important.

For example, doors can open up opportunities for growth and success, and stairs are for overcoming challenges and reaching the top.

“Our expectation is that this is going to be a very progressive and exciting school,” Williams said. “This is the kind of school where the community will want their kids to go because of the amazing outcomes that (will be) coming out of this school.”

You can see the videos mentioned in this story and other official Pasco County School District videos on the school district’s official YouTube channel. To learn more about Wiregrass Elementary, visit the school at 29732 Wiregrass School Rd. in Wesley Chapel, go online at WRES.Pasco.k12.fl.us, or call 346-0700.

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Despite A New, Functioning Kidney, Joey Still Facing Challenges

By John C. Cotey Dana Richman’s son Joey waited months for a kidney donor, and finally found one. Joey was on the mend after New Tampa resident and former MMA fighter Mike Miller stepped forward and donated a kidney, but then, he got sick again.

This time, though, it was cancer.

And, in the middle of a series of touchand-go stays in the hospital, with Dana unable to work due to the volume of her son’s doctor’s appointments and wondering if Joey would even make it through the night, she received news that the home she shares with her sons Joey, Jason and Jake was headed for foreclosure.

“Can you give me five minutes to catch my breath,’’ Dana wondered aloud.

Once again, Joey, a Wiregrass Ranch High grad and hopeful University of South Florida Student, is in a life-altering battle, and his mother and brothers stand firmly in his corner, along with a good number of Wesley Chapel residents.

Joey, 22, whose #AKidneyForJoey hashtag campaign to help him find a donor drew a lot of attention earlier this year, including a story we wrote in our Apr. 8 issue.

Joey got his kidney, thanks to Miller, at the time a New Tampa resident and fledgling mixed martial artist.

And, for a few days — especially the first few days after his April 20 surgery — Joey was feeling terrific, hopeful that he had beaten Allport’s Syndrome, a genetic condition that causes hearing loss and kidney failure. In fact, his new kidney had started functioning immediately, even before doctors had a chance to close him up.

But by June, he had started feeling fatigued again. His esophagus was bothering him, and he thought it might be related to ulcers. According to Dana, she was told that her son was fine, and that his body was still

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Wiregrass Ranch High grad Joey (here with friend Amy Mariani) and his mom Dana Richman continue to receive support as Joey battles lymphoma, months after receiving a kidney transplant.

adjusting to the new kidney. His medications were tweaked, he was no longer on dialysis and Joey continued to recover, still confident he was inching closer to normal.

But, after helping his brothers fix a hole in the roof of their home, Joey says he felt dehydrated and weak.

“He spent the weekend curled up on the couch from pain,’’ Dana says.

He was taken to the hospital on July 5, where doctors found lesions on his esophagus. They were sent off for biopsies and Joey was sent home.

On July 9, the phone rang. “They just said he needed to get back to the hospital immediately,” Dana says.

When Dana and Joey returned to Tampa General, the news was bad — he had lymphoma, a form of cancer that affects the immune system.

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Dana says the doctors told her the cancer was a quick and aggressive form, and a direct complication of the kidney transplant.

Joey remained in the hospital the rest of the month, and he had to be taken off the immune suppressants he was on that prevented his body from attacking his new kidney.

Dana claims the kidney transplanted into her son was not a perfect match after all, and that it had the virus that causes mononucleosis. Because Joey was on immune suppressants, there was nothing to stop the mono from spreading.

“One doctor told me there was a 1 percent chance of something like this happening,’’ Dana says. “She said he hadn’t seen this in 20 years.”

Joey was crestfallen. “The diagnosis was pretty traumatic for him,’’ Dana says.

He told me, ‘No matter what I do, I keep

winding up on death’s doorstep.’’’

Dana says his condition quickly worsened, and it was “hour-by-hour” — his white blood cells had bottomed out and he wasn’t responding at one point.

The few moments of peace he and his family had enjoyed immediately after the surgery was now gone, after months of believing he was getting closer to being in the clear.

It was during this time that Dana says she was told a forbearance agreement she had gotten, which would have delayed the mortgage payments on her family’s home while she went through the kidney donation process, was no longer approved. The mortgage company told her she was $15,000 behind and in foreclosure. She says a lawyer stepped forward and is currently helping her resolve the issue.

The home, she said, means a lot to her and the boys. That’s why Joey was repairing the roof ahead of a big storm. She is going through a difficult divorce, she says, and this is where Dana and the boys have decided to rebuild a new life.

It Takes A Village

Dana wouldn’t want to be anyplace else, she says. The outpouring of support she received when Joey was in need of a kidney was breathtaking, but this time, it has been even greater.

Organized mostly through the 11,000-member Wesley Chapel Community Facebook page, a number of fundraisers have been planned by the likes of 900 Degrees Woodfired Pizza (see ad on pg. 36), with owner Steve Falabella agreeing to give 25 percent of all sales on Aug. 23 to the family.

Other Wesley Chapel businesses, some selling jewelry, massages, clothing alterations, shirts and aesthetics treatments, have all See “Joey” on page 46!

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SpringHill-Based Crosby’s Billiards Seeks Wesley Chapel Customers

By Brad Stager

The “billiards tabletop-green”-painted building that is home to Crosby’s Billiards & Darts stands as a testimony to Spring Hill’s not-so-long-ago status as the center of the professional pool competition universe.

Located on Spring Hill Dr., 45 minutes west of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel (about 25 miles north of S.R. 54 and U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes), Tony Crosby’s business covers all aspects of billiards — he sells pool tables and a complete line of accessories, such as balls, cues, cue holders, retip kits, racks and even overhead table lights.

He also provides related services to customers, like maintaining and repairing tables, moving them in a safe and professional manner and properly setting them up.

Crosby’s customers include suburban homeowners with rec rooms, community centers, resorts and military installations around the U.S. He says one reason his customer base is so varied is his philosophy of giving everyone the same high level of service. “As a customer, you’re going to be treated the same, whether you buy a $500 or a $5,000 pool table,” Crosby says. “I have a table for everyone’s budget.”

A lifelong player, Crosby (photo) says he learned the sport growing up in his family’s pub in Manchester, England. After establishing himself as one of the top snooker players in his home country, he came to the U.S. in 2001 to compete professionally in the American style of billiards. Crosby established a professional reputation in the

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Tampa Bay area and eventually made Spring Hill his home.

With major tour sponsors like the Seminole Hard Rock Casino nearby, so did a lot of other pros.

“In 2007 and 2008, Spring Hill was the hotbed of professional pool in the United States,” Crosby says. “You had probably 10 of the top 16 players in the country living in the area.”

At that time, if someone who considered himself to be the 21st Century incarnation of Minnesota Fats or Cornbread Red stopped off in Spring Hill thinking the local crowd at Capone’s Billiard Hall offered a chance to make some quick cash in a “friendly“ game or two, he would probably go home disappointed and lighter in the wallet.

“If you went into a pool hall on a Monday night, it was like being in the U.S. Open,’’ Crosby says. “This was not the place to come if you were looking to hustle pool.”

Crosby’s own playing achievements include being named 2001 U.S. Pool Association Rookie of the Year, Florida’s State Champion in 2010 and 2011, Top-10 world rankings in 2009 and 2010 and Seminole Pro Tour Player of the Year in 2011.

His professional moniker is “The Sniper,” as a result of his sharpshooting playing style.

“When I first came over (to the U.S.), I was used to playing on the 12-foot tables in England, so making the long shots on a

nine-foot table was easy,” Crosby recalls.

As the recession forced American companies to end pool sponsorships, the tournament action and money moved to Asia. Preferring the comforts of home with his wife Natalie and their growing family, Crosby began devoting more time to the business of buying used tables and fixing them up for resale.

Refurbishing a pool table can involve replacing the table’s slate top, felt covering and bumpers, as well as refinishing the wood. The result is a piece of recreational furniture that plays well and, just as important, says Crosby, also looks good.

“Most of the guys I talk to would love to have a pool table but they have to compromise with the wife and get a nice-looking table that doesn’t look like it belongs in a bar,” Crosby says.

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One of the refurbished tables in Crosby’s showroom that looks like an exceptional piece of home furnishing is an eight-foot American Heritage model with carved features and leather pockets with tassels that is in mint condition. Crosby is selling the table with accessories, delivery and setup for $2,000.

If the designated pool room is your garage, man cave or kids’ play room, Crosby says, a durable Valley Bar table, known as a workhorse of entertainment venues, might be the perfect addition, for about $1,100.

There’s even a bit of billiards history to be found at Crosby’s.

A restored Brunswick Centennial 10-foot table made in the early 1940s, with aluminum sides that harken back to the time when a chrome look was a designer’s best friend, is available for $13,000.

Crosby says the Centennials were poolhall favorites until the need arose to direct aluminum supplies toward making airplanes for the military in World War II. At the time of manufacture, the tables sold for less than $1,000, but are now considered antiques and are highly sought after, according to Richard Broumpton, who helps Crosby manage the business.

“They (sell for) up to 25-grand,” says Broumpton, who, like Crosby, is an Englishman who came to America to ply his trade as a professional pool player. “They’re pretty expensive to buy, even in bad shape.

That kind of retro look has a lot of appeal.”

Crosby says tables available at any particular time will vary, and popular models

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Township here in Wesley Chapel. Mitchell also says Crosby has been very pleasant to work with from Day One. Refurbished pool tables are the biggest sellers for Crosby, but he also sells new ones, especially models manufactured by Diamond Billiard Products, Inc.

Darts, Anyone?

or bargains are usually quickly sold.

While Crosby has customers all over the country and says he even recently shipped a pool table to Australia, he’s interested in serving pool and dart players closer to home. In order to help attract customers from the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa areas, Crosby is offering a special deal to Neighborhood News readers. “I’ll give a 10-percent discount if they bring in the ad from the paper (see pg 10),” he said.

One Wesley Chapel businesswoman and professional billiards player who speaks highly of Crosby’s work is Stephanie Mitchell, owner of The Corner Pocket billiards parlor on Starkey Rd. in Largo. She counts on Crosby to maintain her establishment’s 10 pool tables in tournament-level condition, since she often hosts high-level competitors, as well as neighborhood players.

“He buys tables and restores them, so in my opinion, somebody who can completely break them down and refinish and redo every aspect of them has to have a lot of knowledge to make them work correctly,” says Mitchell, a resident of New River

Neighborhood News

For people who prefer a game of darts over pool, Crosby’s has a wide selection of boards, soft and steel-tip darts, shafts, flights (the fins, or wings on the back of a dart) and cases. Broumpton says the inventory available to dart enthusiasts is plentiful.

“We’ve probably got more dart supplies than anybody else in the Tampa Bay area,” Broumpton says.

Crosby’s business has grown to the extent that it sells just about anything a home or commercial game room might need, including bar furniture, memorabilia and even its own line of new poker tables. But, whatever goods or services he provides to a customer, Crosby has one guiding principle: “We stand behind everything that we do.”

Now a business owner, with membership in the Hernando Chamber of Commerce, Crosby’s career has evolved to where he now sponsors events like the Florida Pool Tour for players who are competing, much like he did 15 years ago when he first came to America following his dream of playing professional pool.

Crosby’s Billiards & Darts is located at 10551 Spring Hill Dr. It is open Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and by appointment on Sun. For info, visit Facebook.com/Crosby’sBilliardsandDarts, call (352) 556-4855 or see pg. 10.

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SPOTLIGHT ON...Pura Cycling & Fitness Studio!

Pura Cycling Studio, a locally–owned indoor cycling and fitness center here in Wesley Chapel, aims to get clients sweating off those extra pounds with a good workout burn, mixing a small, comfortable setting with just the right amount of intensity.

“We try to present a welcoming, relaxing environment where it’s not so intense and overwhelming, but where people can still achieve results,” says Stephanie Carroccetto (in blue in photo), who co-founded Pura Cycling Studio with her husband Alfio.

Tucked into the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on the southeast corner of S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Pura Cycling offers a host of indoor cycling classes, but unlike similar studios, also offers results-oriented semi-private personal training programs.

“We want everyone to know that we are much more just than a cycling studio,” Stephanie says.

Those classes consist of smaller groups of roughly five participants, and the focus is on burning fat and building lean muscle through dynamic strength training and cardio classes.

Some classes, though, have more than a dozen participants, says Stephanie, who also offers 1–on–1 personal training sessions.

Classes are offered daily and each training program comes with fitness assessments, nutritional guidance and planning.

Stephanie and Alfio — both of whom are extremely fit themselves — opened Pura Cycling Studio in November of 2012.

They say they were inspired after a trip to South America.

“I did some volunteer work in college in

Costa Rica and I fell in love with the people there,” Stephanie says. “They know when to play hard and when to work hard, too. I wanted to bring that type of feeling back here to the U.S.” The mantra in Costa Rica is “Pura Vida,” which translates literally from Spanish as “Pure Life.”

However, Pura Vida is more of a concept, a philosophy, an idea. Stephanie and Alfio were so taken by the concept that it made its way into the name of their new business.

“After more than three years of training in Wesley Chapel, and helping hundreds of people lose weight and feel better about their lives, I couldn’t be happier with what Pura has become,’’ says Alfio. “It’s truly amazing to be able to do this as a lifestyle.”

Looking for a boost to your exercise regimen as well as a little nutritional guidance? Pura Cycling Studio is located at 1822 BBD Blvd., next to Firehouse Subs.

For more information, visit PuraCycling.com, call the studio at 501-2124 or see the ad on page 33 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Win $200, $100 or $50 In FREE Dining In Our 2016 Survey & Contest!

It’s baaaaack! Just in time for the kids to go back to school, our ever-popular annual Reader Survey & Dining Contest returns and the 2016 edition of it is another opportunity for you to help yourself to one of three outstanding FREE dining prizes, as well as help our local restaurants find out where our readers enjoy dining out the most in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

Just for filling out the entry form on these two pages (47 & 48) and sending it by mail, fax or email (you also can enter at WCNeighborhoodNews.com), you can win $50, $100 or even $200 in absolutely FREE dining at the restaurant of your choice, whether it’s located in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel or not!

To be eligible to win our Grand Prize (or either of the other two big dining prizes), you MUST vote for FIVE (5) restaurants in BOTH of the two categories on this page, and at least ONE (1) restaurant in AT LEAST HALF OF THE CATEGORIES ON THE NEXT PAGE! On these pages, we have provided the names of all of the independently-owned and small (fewer than 20 locations) chain restaurants in each category. And yes, you can still write-in the names of the larger chain restaurants in any category, but we only provide the names of the “Mom-&-Pops” because they don’t have the benefit of being able to afford regional and national TV, national magazine and local radio ads that the large chains have running all yearround. Please do not write in or vote for any restaurant more than once in any category, it just disqualifies every one of your votes. Please also do not write in a restaurant located in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545) as your favorite in New Tampa (zip code 33647) or vice-versa, as those votes will not count. Entries without enough categories filled in or with the same restaurant voted in every category will be disqualified.

Please, only one entry per person will be accepted, although the contest will run until after our October New Tampa & Wesley Chapel issues hit mailboxes The final entry deadline is Friday, October 28, 2016. And, as always, no purchase of any kind is necessary to win any of our contests. — GN

Your FIVE Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa (NT) Your FIVE Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel (WC)

(Number your 5 favorites #1-#5; You also may write-in your favorites not listed here in the spaces provided) (Number your 5 favorites #1-#5; You also may write-in your favorites not listed here in the spaces provided)

__Acropolis Greek (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Big Papa’s Pit (E. Bearss Ave., off BBD) __Burger 21 (Trout Creek off BBD) __Café Olé (Cross Creek Blvd.) __Cappy’s Pizza (City Plaza, Tampa Palms) __Capri Pizza (formerly Biagio’s; CC Blvd.) __Casa Ramos (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __China City (City Plaza, TP) __China Wok (County Line Rd. off BBD) __Ciccio’s Cali (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Cross Creek Deli (inside Shell station) __Full Circle Pizza (Pebble Creek Coll.) __Fushia Asian (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __Hawkeye NYS Pizza (CC Blvd.@BP Gas) __Ho King (BBD/Highwoods) __Hoosiers Grille (in Heritage Isles CC) __Hunter’s Green Country Club __Kobé Japanese (Pebble Creek Collection) __Koizi Hibachi Grill (The Pointe @ TP) __Lanna Thai (Cross Creek Center) __Las Palmas Café (BBD/PC Coll.) __Liang’s Bistro (North Palms Vlg./BBD) __Little Greek (New Tampa Center) __Minerva Indian (New Tampa Center) __Mr. Dunderbak’s (Oak Ramble Plaza) __Mulligan’s Irish (@ Pebble Creek CC) __New China King (CC Blvd. @ MB Rd.) __Oakley’s Grille (North Palms Village)

Neighborhood News

__Amici Pizza (Grand Oaks Plaza, SR 54) __Orchid Thai (The Pointe @ TP) __Peabody’s Billiards (Shoppes of Amberly) __Arroy Thai (Pinebrook Plz/54) __Petra Mediterranean (Highwoods Psrv.) __Asian Buffet (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Pita’s Republic (County Line Rd. off BBD) __Bagelicious & More (Freedom Plaza/54) __PJ Dolan’s Irish (E. Bearss Ave. off BBD) __Best NY Pizza (Pinebrook Plaza/SR 54) __Saffron Indian Cuisine (Cross Creek Ctr) __Bonsai Sushi (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Bosco’s Italian To Go (Freedom Plaza/54) __Seasons Fresh Café (E. Bearss Ave./BBD) __Buttermilk Provisions (BBD/ FHWC) __Señor T’s (BBD; formerly Macaroni Grill) __Burger Monger (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Stonewood Grill (The Pointe @ TP) __Chick & Peas Grill (Freedom Plz/54) __Sushi Avenue (E. Bearss Ave./BBD) __China Taste (BBD/Shoppes at New Tampa) __Sushi Café (Highwoods Preserve) __China Wok (Village Market/BBD@54) __Sushi Raw (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __CineBistro (The Grove/Off Oakley/54) __Sukhothai (Across from Muvico) __Dempsey’s Steak House (Saddlebrook) __Tabla Indian Cuisine (BBD/Live Oak) __Dempsey’s Too Lounge (Saddlebrook) __Takara Sushi & Sake (Oak Ramble Plaza) __Don Pan Int’l Bakery (Shoppes @ NT ) __Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club __Gonna China (Hollybrook Plz, BBD@54) __Tarek’s Café (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __GrillSmith (Wiregrass Mall) __Taste of NY Pizza (Highwoods Preserve) __Hibachi Express (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Thai Ruby (Shoppes of Amberly/TP) __Ho Wok (BBD next to Target) __Top Thai (BBD/Live Oak) __Hot Wok 88 (Town Centre/SR 54) __Vallarta’s (City Plaza, Tampa Palms) __Hungry Greek (across BBD from FHWC) __Woodfired Pizza (E. Bearss Ave. off BBD) __Kwan Ming Bistro (SR 56) __Zaytoun Mediterranean (CC Blvd @ MB) __La Prima Pizza (BBD, next to Target) __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Write-In (must name)_______________

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__Latin Twist Café (across BBD from FHWC) __Lexington Oaks Golf Club (off SR 54) __Little Italy’s (SR 54/Lutz) __Meadow Pte Café & Deli (C.L. Rd./MP) __900º Woodfired Pizza (Wiregrass Mall)

__NY NY Pizza (BBD in Seven Oaks) __O’Brien’s Irish (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __OTB Café (Across BBD from FHWC) __PDQ (SR 56) __Pinchers Crab Shack (Wiregrass Mall) __PizzaMania (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Poolside Café (Saddlebrook Resort) __PrimeBar (Wiregrass Mall) __Quail Hollow Country Club __Shang Hai Chinese (Eiland Blvd./off 54) __TD’s Sports Bar (Saddlebrook Resort) __365 Caffé Italiano (Wiregrass Mall) __Tokyo Grill/Sushi (Eiland Blvd./off 54) __Vallarta’s (Village Mkt, BBD@54) __Woody’s Pizza/Wings (Village Mkt) __Wolf’s Den (SR 56) __Yamato Japanese Stkhs (Wiregrass Mall) __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ Note- Please only put each numeral (#s 1-5) on each of the two lists on this page only once each, including any write-ins.

We apologize in advance for any inconvenience to independent restaurants in NT & WC we somehow forgot to include here.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Your Favorite Chinese Restaurant In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel (NT & WC; Pick or write-in one)

__Asian Buffet (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __China City (City Plaza, TP) __China Taste (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __China Wok (County Line Rd., off BBD) __China Wok (Village Mkt/BBD@54, WC) __Fushia Asian Bistro (Shps of Amberly, TP) __Gonna China (Hollybrook Plz, BBD@54) __Ho King (BBD/Highwoods)

__Café Olé (Cross Creek Blvd.) __Cantina (Cross Creek Blvd.) __Casa Ramos (Tampa Palms) __Don Pan Int’l Bakery (Shoppes @ NT ) __Las Palmas Café (BBD/Pebble Creek)

__Write-In (must name)_________________

(Pick or write-in one) __Meadow Pointe Café (County Line Rd.) __Acropolis (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Petra Mediterranean (Highwoods Prsv.) __Chick & Peas Grill (Freedom Plaza/54) __Hungry Greek (across BBD from FHWC) __Pita’s Republic (County Line Rd.) __Zaytoun Mediterranean (CC Blvd.) __Kabob House (BBD/Live Oak) __Little Greek (BBD/New Tampa Center) __Write-In (must name)_________________

(Pick or write-in one)

__Sushi Raw (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __Sukhothai (Across from Muvico) __Takara Sushi & Sake (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Tokyo Grill/Sushi (Eiland Blvd./Publix) __Yamato Japanese Stkhs (Wiregrass Mall) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Thai/Indian Restaurant In NT & WC (Pick or write-in one)

__Arroy Thai (S.R. 54, WC) __Lanna Thai (CC Blvd.) __Minerva Indian (New Tampa Center) __Saffron Indian Cuisine (CC Blvd.) __Sukhothai (Across from Muvico)

__Tabla Indian Cuisine (BBD/Live Oak) __Thai Ruby (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __Top Thai (BBD/Live Oak) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Pizza Place In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel (Pick or write-in one)

__Amici Pizza (Grand Oaks Plaza, SR 54) __Best NY Pizza (Pinebrook Plaza/S.R. 54) __Biagio’s II Pizza & Pasta (CC Blvd.) __Bosco’s Italian To Go (Freedom Plaza/54) __Cappy’s Pizza (City Plaza, TP) __Ciccio’s Cali (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Full Circle Pizza (Pebble Creek) __Hawkeye NYS Pizza (CC Blvd./BP) __La Prima Pizza (BBD, next to Target)

__Little Italy’s (SR 54, Lutz) __900º Woodfired Pizza (Wiregrass Mall) __NY NY Pizza (BBD in Seven Oaks) __Peabody’s Billiards & Games (Amberly) __Taste of New York Pizza (Highwoods) __Woodfired Pizza (E. Bearss Ave.) __Woody’s Pizza/Wings (WC Village Mkt) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Hamburger In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

(Pick or write-in one) __Burger Monger(BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __OTB Café (Across BBD from FHWC) __Burger 21 (Trout Creek/BBD) __Peabody’s Billiards & Games (Amberly) __City Grill (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub (E. Bearss Ave.) __Dempsey’s Too Lounge (Saddlebrook) __Quail Hollow CC (Old Pasco Rd., WC) __GrillSmith (Wiregrass Mall) __Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club __Hoosiers Grille (@ Heritage Isles CC) __Poolside Café (Saddlebrook) __Hunter’s Green Country Club __TD’s Sports Bar (Saddlebrook) __Lexington Oaks Golf Club __Wolf’s Den (S.R. 56) __Mulligan’s Irish Pub (Pebble Creek CC) __Oakley’s Grille (BBD/North Palms Vlg.)

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(Pick or write-in one)

__Ho Wok (BBD next to Target) __Hot Wok 88 (Town Centre of WC) __Kwan Ming Bistro (S.R. 56) __Liang’s Bistro (North Palms/BBD) __New China King (CC Blvd. @ MB Rd.) __Shang Hai Chinese (Eiland Blvd./Publix)

Your Favorite Japanese/Sushi Restaurant In NT & WC __Asian Buffet (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __Bonsai Sushi (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __Hibachi Express (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Kobé Japanese Steakhouse (BBD/PC) __Koizi Hibachi Grill (Tampa Palms) __Sushi Avenue (E. Bearss Ave.) __Sushi Café (BBD/Highwoods)

Your Favorite Latin/Mexican Restaurant In NT & WC

__Write-In (must name)_________________

__Latin Twist Café(across BBD from FHWC) __Señor T’s (BBD; former Macaroni Grill) __Vallarta’s (City Plaza at Tampa Palms) __Vallarta’s (Village Mkt, BBD@54) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Greek/Mediterranean Restaurant In NT & WC

Your Favorite Bar, Tavern or Pub In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

(Pick or write-in one) __Acropolis (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Peabody’s Billiards & Games (Amberly) __Heritage Isles CC Rest. (off CC Blvd.) __PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub (E. Bearss Ave.) __Ciccio’s Cali (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Poolside Café (Saddlebrook) __PrimeBar (Wiregrass Mall) __CineBistro (The Grove/54 off Oakley) __Quail Hollow Country Club __Dempsey’s Steak House (Saddlebrook) __Skinny’s Sports Bar (SR 54, WC) __Dempsey’s Too Lounge (Saddlebrook) __Stonewood Grill & Tavern (Tampa Palms) __GrillSmith (Wiregrass Mall) __Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club __Halftime Sports Lounge (NT Center) __TD’s Sports Bar (Saddlebrook) __Hunter’s Green Country Club __Toast Wine & Café (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Lexington Oaks Golf Club __The Brass Tap (Wiregrass Mall) __Linkster’s Tap Room (Highwoods) __Mulligan’s Irish Pub (Pebble Creek CC) __Write-In (must name)_________________ __O’Brien’s Irish (Village Mkt/BBD@54)

Your Other Favorites

(Write-in only one in each category below) Your Favorite Bakery In NT & WC Your Favorite Lunch In NT & WC _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Your Favorite Chain Restaurant In Your Favorite Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt/ Dessert Place In NT & WC New Tampa & Wesley Chapel _______________________________________ _______________________________________ Your Name _______________________________________________________________________ Your Community (Tampa Palms, Meadow Pointe, etc.) _____________________________ Your Mailing Address ____________________________________________________________ Your Daytime Phone #____________________________________________________________ Your Valid Email Address _______________________________________________________ Please submit BOTH pages by mail, email or at WCNeighborhoodNews.com by Friday, October 28, 2016!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 •Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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O’Brien’s Of Wesley Chapel For Food, Fun, Football, Entertainment & More!

Cheeseburger & Pub Tots

Revamped bar area — Ask for Cherish

By Gary Nager

HOW MANY

restaurants have come and gone from the dining scene in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel? Too many (and too painful) to count is the easy answer.

So, whenever a new restaurant opens in our distribution areas, one of the first things I find myself asking myself is, “Do I really think this place can make it here?

Well, in the case of O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill — which opened a few months ago in the location in the Wesley Chapel Village Market previously occupied by City Grill (and Winners before that) — I believe the answer is a resounding yes. O’Brien’s, which is more than just an Irish pub, more than just a sports bar and more than just an entertainment venue, is a reasonably priced real restaurant with both traditional sports bar food and some Irish fare you can’t get anywhere else in our area. Unfortunately, even though I’ve now sampled most of O’Brien’s menu, I’m

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just not happy with the pictures I have of the Irish dishes like the excellent fish & chips (I always order it with red cocktail sauce instead of the tartar sauce that is served with it), the Shepherd’s pie and the bangers (Irish sausage) and mashed potatoes with onions, mushrooms and O’Brien’s Guinness gravy.

One of my favorite dishes is the Murphy’s chicken sandwich, which you can get grilled or blackened. It comes with crisp bacon, melted Swiss, lettuce, tomato and onions, a split-top bun and served with your choice of homemade pub chips with Guinness gravy, pub fries or O’Brien’s soon-to-befamous pub tots — which are the best tater tots I’ve had recently.

Our office orders our tots extra, extra crispy, but you might want to start slowly and just order them extra crispy the first time.

Either way, they’re awesome.

I also really enjoy the pub club sandwich, which adds ham to the traditional turkey, bacon and cheese; both the Irish Cobb and traditional Greek salads, the prime rib and pub French dip sandwiches, the Rueben-like

Murphy’s Chicken Sandwich

Emerald Isle sandwich piled high with your choice of corned beef or turkey with melted swiss, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing (I order the dressing on the side), and the flaky fisherman’s sandwich, which I usually order extra blackened (or try grilled or fried).

O’Brien’s also makes great hamburgers, from the no-frills Wesley Chapel burger to the Florentine burger with spinach and artichoke dip, blue cheese crumbles and bacon bits and the new shamrock burger, which is a grilled burger topped with corned beef and Swiss — and many more.

For starters, O’Brien’s has extra-crispy jumbo wings tossed in your choice of many different sauces, from Celtic tiger hot to sweet Thai chili to the new spicy honey sriracha.

Also available are Cajun and jerk wings.

There’s also a couple of new starters on the menu, including the crispy Santa Fe chicken rolls, which are served with a spicy remoulade dipping sauce.

For dessert, my favorite item is called the “chocolate bombe,” which is an amazing iced chocolate mousse cake. Decadent.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 •Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Some History & A Look Ahead

The first local O’Brien’s Irish Pub opened on N. Dale Mabry in Carrollwood 25 years ago, according to Mike Goodwin, who owns and operates the Wesley Chapel location with his brother Randy Goodwin and partners Randy Fairchild and Sean and Liz Lewis. Not really a chain, today there are four locations — each with its own tweaks of the basic menu — in Brandon, Northdale, Wesley Chapel and the Plant City location Mike Goodwin purchased three years ago.

The Wesley Chapel O’Brien’s should be your pro and college football headquarters, with its recently revamped bar area serving a variety of craft beers on draft, and one of my favorite Irish whiskeys — Powers — always on hand (all at lower prices than you’ll find at most other local restaurants, especially at the mall), plus 26 big-screen TVs strategically situated around the place and food and drink specials during every game.

Speaking of specials, O’Brien’s has something different for you just about every day.

On Monday, regular burgers are just

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Chocolate Bombe Dessert

Irish Cobb Salad

Santa Fe Chicken Rolls

Blackened Fisherman’s Sandwich $6 and specialty burgers cost $8. Tuesday is Team Trivia night (7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.), with 60-cent wings all day, $8.99 Miller Light, Coors Light & Yuengling pitchers.

Wednesday is Karaoke Night (starting at 8 p.m.) and Cheap Beer night ($2.50 domestic pints and $1 off imports), plus one kid 12 & under east free with each adult meal purchased. Thursday is Ladies Night, 10 p.m.-close, where ladies pay only half their bar tab. There’s also $1 off Irish beers (like Smithwick’s) and $3 Fireball shots. And,

Neighborhood News

there’s live music every Friday and Saturday night. Check the board inside O’Brien’s for the upcoming entertainment schedule.

O’Brien’s also is planning a week-long “Half Way to St. Patty’s Day” event the week of September 12-17. Call or stop in for details, but the partners agree it’ll be awesome.

O’Brien’s Irish Pub (5429 Village Market) is open Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-2 a.m., and 11 a.m.-midnight on Sun. For info, call 973-9988, visit OBriensWesleyChapel.com or see the ad on page 46 of this issue.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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

VOM FASS Opens!

The first VOM FASS store opened in Rensenburg, Germany in 1994 and today, there are 280 locations in 33 countries around the world — including the newest one, located in the Shops at Wiregrass mall.

That location hosted a well-attended Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) ribbon-cutting on August 13.

The VOM FASS concept is “Look.

Taste.Enjoy” the finest vinegars and oils, wines, selected liqueurs and spirits – drawn straight from the barrel, clay jug or glass balloon for each customer. The VOM

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FASS brand was born – and the consistent outstanding quality of its regionally-sourced products has been putting a smile on customers‘ faces ever since.

I was sad I missed the opening, but VOM FASS is definitely a unique concept and a welcome addition to the mall.

VOM FASS Wiregrass is located at 28249 Paseo Dr. For info, call 907-2167 or visit Wiregrass.VomFassUSA.com.

White Pear Consignment Now Open In The Fancy Frock!

Congratulations also go out to Nanette

Del Valle, on the Grand Opening and WCCC ribbon cutting of The White Pear Formal Consignment Boutique, located inside The Fancy Frock Bridal & Formal Boutique, at the corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd., in the same plaza as Verizon.

The White Pear ribbon-cutting event was unique because Del Valle had several local ladies modeling (photo, above right,

by Steve Miller Photography) many of her spectacular formal dresses that are suitable for weddings and other formal occasions.

“So many of us have dresses in our

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 •Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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closets that we’ve worn once and never worn again,” Del Valle told an attentive crowd of more than 100 people who crammed their way into The Fancy Frock for the unique fashion show and refreshments.

The White Pear is located at 1045 BBD. For more info, call 995-1732 or visit WhitePearBridal.com.

KidsPark Grand Opening

Also celebrating a Grand Opening with a WCCC ribbon cutting since our last issue was KidsPark, a unique, new concept in preschool and childcare (above).

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“Happy Kids, Happy Parents,” is the theme at KidsPark, according to CEO Amanda Justus. Located near Ashley Furniture at 26240 Golden Maple Loop, off S.R. 56., the brightly-colored facility is open days, evenings and weekends and offers hourly drop-in childcare, preschool education programs, school-age activities, fun private parties and more.

Call 803-4972 or visit KidsPark.com.

Toast & Señor T’s Are Toast!

I was saddened to learn that Toast Wine & Café, located in the Oak Ramble Plaza (which still has Acropolis Greek Taverna, Mr. Dunderbak’s, Jersey Mike’s and Takara Sushi & Sake Lounge, among others) had closed.

Toast started out with a group of owners, all of whom lived in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel. It also began as primarily a wine bar with minimal food, but grew into a pretty good restaurant with reason-

Neighborhood News

ably priced food, great retail wines by the bottle or glass, coffee and entertainment, all in a cozy, casual setting, is the latest in, unfortunately, too long a list of my favorite mom-&-pop restaurants in our area that is no longer in business.

I also was stunned to find out that Señor T’s, located in the former Romano’s Macaroni Grill building, suddenly shut its doors after less than a year in business.

We originally heard that Senor T’s was closing temporarily, but the restaurant shut down instead. Calls to Señor T’s are now directed to a voicemail that does not identify the restaurant, just the phone number.

And, speaking of those mom-&-pop places, help out as many as you can by entering our 2016 Reader Dining Survey & Contest, where you can win a $50, $100, or even $200 gift card to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area!

Turn to pages 37 & 38 to enter this year’s contest! — GN

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 •WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles.

Licensed & Bonded. References avail. Free estimates.

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DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings and walls, retexturing, popcorn removal, room additions, cracks, holes, plaster and stucco repair. 26 Years Experience. Wesley Chapel resident. State Certified.

Call Ron for free estimate: 813-784-5999.

MILLENNIUM HOME REPAIR.Professional Handyman Service. Services include: Cabinet Installation, Dry wall repair, Tile installation and repair, Some plumbing, Laminate flooring, Light fixtures, Interior painting, Appliance installation, Pressure washing, Paneling, Window repair, Awning installation, Carpentry, Garbage Disposal, Fence repair, Crown molding, Window blinds installed, Re-sealing baths and showers, TV mounting, and more. Call 813-400-1408 or email TYCOONUNION@YAHOO.COM. CONTRACTOR Kitchen and bathroom remodeling or any major repairs. Floor, windows & door installation.

Licensed, insured & bonded.

LICENSE # CRC 1331258 Call Pablo for a free estimate: 813.391.9644. www.innovativeresidentialremodeling.com

SPACE AVAILABLE Serenity Salon & Spa Suites Wesley Chapel. 1 suite available for rent. Call for details: 813-3125247 or 813-997-6302. Great location!

ERRANDS & PERSONAL SERVICES GET A RIDE Don’t Have a Ride? Don’t Want to Leave Your Car? Shouldn’t Drive? We Drive You & Your Car Home! Night Clubs, Corporate Events, Sporting Events, Concerts, Appointments, Airport or stranded. Call Jay at (813) 966-1530.

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Classifieds

HELP WANTED NOW HIRING SERVERS. Call 813-907-1688 for more information. Or apply in person at Ginza Endless Asian Cuisine & Sushi Bar, 6417 E. County Line Rd. #104.

AWARD WINNING REAL ESTATE TEAM with an overflow of serious prospects. Seeking professional full-time real estate agents who want to expand their horizons, make more money and have a fulfilling life.

Great training available. Keller Williams Tampa Properties. Contact Annette Bohannon - 813-431-2840.

TERMITE TECHNICIAN NEEDED Must have at least one year of experience, a clean driving record, no criminal record and be able to lift 50lbs. Call VIP Pest Control at 813-234-8888 for details.

SPANISH-SPEAKING MEDICAL BILLER wanted for New Tampa med. equip. company. Gathers billing info; checks if complete. Bills insurance carriers. Resolves disputed claims, discrepancies. Data entry skills, Microsoft Office proficiency, time mgmt, organization, professionalism, cust. svc & attn. to detail. Send resume: Richard.Jones@solarusmedical.com.

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

ROUTE SALES, MEDICAL Fills customer orders by driving to customer accounts within FL; unloading & shelving product, inventory verification. Increase sales volume by providing cust. service and suggestive selling techniques. Overnight travel 2 nights/month. Send resume to: richard.jones@solarusmedical.com.

MEDICAL RECEPTIONIST with computer experience in intergy (greenway) practice management system.

Knowledge of insurances. Busy phones. M-F 9-6, 35 hours. Also, L.P.N. or M.A. for allergist office. Please fax resume to 813-558-9421 HIRING PERSONAL TRAINER Private Women’s Studio with Boot Camp & Personal Training in Wesley Chapel & Land O’ Lakes owned by Samantha Taylor.

Please no phone calls or walk ins.To apply part time: www.lolfitbodybootcamp.com/hire-pt PIZZAMAKERS & LINE/PREP COOKS WANTED (exp’d. preferred) at New Tampa’s favorite authentic Chicago-style pizza place. Bring Resume during business hours to Full Circle Chicago Pizza at 19651 BBD Blvd. (in the Pebble Creek Collection).

ASSESSMENT ADMINISTRATORS NEEDED IN SCHOOLS FOR NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF ED PROGRESS (NAEP) from 1/23 through 4/17. Apply at www.westat.com/CAREERS (Select Search Field Data Jobs-Florida-AA positionApply) or call 888-237-8036

POOL SERVICES TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!!

Call Chris today @ (813) 857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! ALL-STAR POOL SERVICE & REPAIR Expert repairs and installations of pumps, motors, filters, timers, salt and ozone generators. Marcite for $2,400. Tile repair and acid washes, paver and river rock sealing, pressure washing and deck repair, paver and eurocote decks. Mention this ad for $69 pool service. Call or text for details: 813-244-7077. See our display ad. www.allstarpoolsoftampabay.com

CLEANING SERVICES POWER HOUSE CLEANING SERVICES Residential cleaning weekly, bi-weekly, monthly & occasional. One time, deep cleaning, move in/move outs, real estate, holiday and events. Owner operator with personal care! Licensed and Insured. For free in-home estimate, call 813-356-8287 or e-mail powerclean16@gmail. com. You will be powerfully pleased!

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 14 years experience!

Commercial & residential; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & post construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in or move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates; References available.

Call today: 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@ hotmail.com D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 300 clients in New Tampa!

For more info, Call 758-9710.

SQUEAKY CLEAN HOME SERVICES Residential cleaning company offering weekly, bi-weekly, & monthly services and move-in/move-out cleanup. All supplies and equipment provided. We are an Owner Operator company with over 20 years experience. “If it Needs to be Clean, We’re your Team!” Call us for your free in home estimate today! 813-625-6045.

ICARE HOUSE CLEANING Free estimates. We use our own supplies, excellent references, cleaning New Tampa and Wesley Chapel for 15 years, affordable & reliable, satisfaction guaranteed!!! Family operated, affordable & reliable, local business. Call today for your free, no obligation quote, (813) 531-1917.

PET SERVICES CAT SITTING Tampa Cat Lady Professional CatSitting Service. Cats are happiest in their own home, surrounded by familiar sights, sounds, & smells. When you are away, we feed, cuddle, & play with your kitties & clean & dispose of litter. Insured, bonded, & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. You can call 813-994-9449 or submit a service inquiry at TampaCatLady.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 •Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

_

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL & FREE ESTIMATE! For more info, call (813) 420-4465.

AMERICAN PRIDE LAWN CARE SERVICE, LLC Our services include weekly lawn maintenance with mulching decks on all mowers, precision edging, string trimming, hedge, shrub, palm, and tree trimming. We also offer landscaping, pruning, and sod replacement. Free estimates. Licensed and Insured. We are an Owner/ Operator Company built on service and trust. References available. For more info, call (813) 458-4778.

HOMETEAM LAWNCARE LLC High-Quality Professional Services: Weekly or Bi-Weekly Year-Round FullSvc LawnCare starting at $90/month: mow, edge, trim, blow, mulch-bed maintenance, hedge and low-tree trim. Additional Services: Sod, Mulch, & Rock Placement; Hedge Trimming, & Tree Trimming; Landscape Installation; Fall/Spring Clean-Up. Family Owned & Operated, Licensed & Insured, Background Checked, Call or Text (813) 817-9554.

MISCELLANEOUS TURN YOUR CLUTTER INTO CASH! Estate sales, inventory liquidations, and appraisal services. We evaluate & appraise your treasures, then get you top dollar! We’ll sell your stuff onsite or online. We do the work & you get the cash. Contact us today @ 813428-5793 to find out how!

COMPUTER/BUSINESS SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech with 20 years exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained.

Remote assistance available. References available. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate.

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & businesses, more than 25 years exp. Contact Jeffrey Blank at (813) 973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com

Call 910-2575 To order your Classified or Display Ad today!

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 •WCNeighborhoodNews.com

45

“Joey”

Continued from pg. 33 donated portions of their sales during August to the Richmans.

Pinot’s Palette (see ad below) is hosting an event Saturday, August 27, with 20 percent of sales donated. There is a GoFundPage at GoFundMe.com/akidneyforjoey, and the community has pitched in to organize a “meal train” to bring daily meals to the family through the TakeThemAMeal.com site.

“It has been amazing,’’ Dana says.

And the news is getting better.

Joey now is undergoing chemotherapy.

He is halfway through a six-round dosage, receiving one every three weeks. The tumors are shrinking; his hair has started to fall out.

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“He’s doing good,’’ Dana says.

His new kidney is functioning at 100 percent. He is back on low-dose immune suppressants, and the mono is gone.

Dana says the doctors tell her that there is a good chance he will keep the kidney, and a 70-80 percent chance they will kill the cancer, although there is a higher risk from here on out he may redevelop it in the future.

Joey’s spirits are up and he hopes to take some online courses this semester at USF. “He just wants to be healthy and normal again, it’s all he wants,’’ Dana says.

“He’s one tough cookie.”

If you want to donate, visit GoFundMe.com/akidneyforjoey. To visit some of the contributors to Joey’s recovery, check out the Wesley Chapel Community Facebook page.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 24, Issue 18 • August 26, 2016 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews