Wesley Chapel Issue 20-09

Volume 17 Issue 20

WESLEY CHAPEL Inside:

Kids R Kids Adds 2nd WC Location!

October 2, 2009

NEWS

See page 21!

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

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

Cypress Creek Town Center Project Permitted To Proceed

By Michael Smith After being on hold for a year and a half, the Cypress Creek Town Center (CCTC) in Wesley Chapel is once again moving forward, since the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) earlier this month agreed to lift the suspension of the permit that it issued to the project developers after several violations of that permit, in which turbit, or muddy, water was allowed to escape from the site into the nearby environmentallysensitive waterway for which the project is named.

According to a USACE press release, in addition to a $297,000 fine that was levied against the developers, the Cleveland-based Richard E. Jacobs Group and Tampa’s Sierra Properties, in August, the Corps also made some changes to the permit, although the

changes are characterized as “administrative in nature and related to minor project boundary changes and corrections to the mitigation plan.” The release also says, “The Corps’ investigation of the causes of the turbit discharges revealed that all documented discharges occurred as a result of human error and construction sequencing. The Corps found no evidence to suggest that the discharges were a result of a fault in the design of the stormwater management system….The Corps therefore concluded that the permit does not require modification based on issues surrounding the turbit discharges and the stormwater management system.” And, the release also says that officials with the Southwest Florida Water Management District (aka Swiftmud) and the Florida Department of Environmental Protection concurred

with the Corps’ findings.

Thomas P. Schmitz, vice president and CCTC project manager for the Jacobs Group, said that his company is “pleased” about the permit reinstatement, but added that work on the project will almost have to start over from scratch.

“Since this project has been on hold for a year and a half, we will need to rebid the construction contracts,” Construction will begin again soon on the Cypress Schmitz said. “We also need to Creek Town Center, after the U.S. Army Corps of again coordinate our plans Engineers determined this month that this runoff with the major retailers that from the project that flowed into the creek in 2007 had previously committed to was not the fault of the project’s design. the project. The current state it is possible that some changes will of the economy has affected many occur in our tenant mix.” retailers’ expansion plans, not just in See “Cypress Creek” on page 6. the Tampa Bay area but nationwide, so

tigated the matter and found no evidence of any wrongdoing.

According to the e-mail and a notice posted on the Meadow Pointe Community Development District website, the solicitor, a college-age woman with a heavy German accent, was supposedly a foreign exchange student who was going door-to-door within the subdivision trying to sell educational materials in order to earn college credit. Once she made contact with a homeowner, she would ask personal questions about who lives in the

home and when they would be there, and then would attempt to gain entry into the home by asking for water or to use the bathroom. Her real goal, allegedly, was to be alone in the house so that she could unlock a window, presumably so that she or someone else could come back later to break in.

One resident in the e-mail chain, who we were not able to identify, says that he had confirmed with “many neighbors, and the ones with bathroom windows had their windows unlocked,” and also claimed to have seen a man in the neighborhood taking pictures and notes of homes and cars in driveways. “I have reported this to the cops three times, and they are aware,” the person wrote.

According to Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) spokesman Kevin Doll, however, PCSO has only received one formal complaint about the young woman. They were able to locate her, and after questioning,

News Briefs—Police Dismiss Fears Over Door-To-Door Salesperson

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!

Auto Burglars Lead Cops On A HighSpeed Chase, Local Photographer Captures Memories, Local High School Sports Updates & More!

Kids R Kids Preschool Opens 2nd Wesley Chapel School, Local Halloween Happenings, Our 2009 Neighborhood News Dining Survey & Contest & More!

See pages 3-19!

See pages 21-32!

See “News Briefs” on page 4.

ECRWSS

LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS & EDUCATION UPDATES

Postal Customer

Also Inside This Issue!

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

Over the past several weeks, residents of the Meadow Pointe community in Wesley Chapel have been circulating e-mails warning their neighbors about a door-to-door salesperson who they believe was trying to set them up to have their homes burglarized and many New Tampa residents also have reported possible incidents involving the same person. Pasco County and City of Tampa law enforcement officials say, however, that they have inves-

decided that there was no evidence that she had done anything wrong.

The person who filed the complaint claimed that the woman had unlocked his bathroom window, but Doll says that complainant wasn’t sure if the window had in fact been locked in the first place.

Meanwhile, the Tampa Police Department (TPD) has received many e-mails and phone calls about the same alleged scammer from residents all around the New Tampa area and beyond, some even dating back to last year, according to TPD spokesperson Lisa Timmer. “She sure has generated a lot of interest, but at this point, we’re not aware of anyone being victimized by this person,” Timmer says.

Dated Material Please Rush!

By Michael Smith

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Funny Divas Rock The Brass Tap To Benefit The ‘Hike!’

An editorial by If you love to laugh — and who doesn’t, really? — I hope you were among the packed house on 9/11 at The Brass Tap in the Shops at Wiregrass when the Funny Divas brought their fun, funny, sometimes raucous brand of comedy to Wesley Chapel for the first time.

The Divas were the featured entertainers as Tampa Palms resident Aimee Lucas and her friends, nicknamed “The Real Housewives of New Tampa,” were able (thanks to Brass Tap owner Jeff Martin) to retain all of the $7-per-person admission fee for the event — and a share of the beverage sales proceeds for the evening — all to benefit the High Heel Hike, an annual fund-raising event created by Plant City-based artist Jules Burt. This year, there are three Hikes, — including the one in which the Real Housewives and Funny Divas took part last weekend at Tampa’s Westshore Plaza — and this year’s Hike beneficiary is actress Jenny McCarthy’s Generation Rescue for children with autism.

Burt herself, Lucas and several of the other Real Housewives were on hand for the comedy show at The Brass Tap sporting pink wigs and divas Susan Saiger (a New Tampa resident and one of my closest friends), Long Island Mary Tischbein, Catherine Larson, Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News 15345 Amberly Dr., Tampa, FL 33647 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Fax: 910-2483 Website: WCNeighborhoodNews.com Advertising E-mail: NewTampaNN@aol.com Editorial E-mail: NTNNEdit@yahoo.com

Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Managing Editor Michael Smith Correspondents

Kate Kramer • Melissa O’Brien • Matt Rubin

Advertising Sales & Billing Manager Julie Rinaldi Advertising Account Executive Sandra Nelson Art Director Tony Sica Graphic Designer Sandra Nelson Office & Marketing Assistants Jacob Glenn • Karen Glenn

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 17, Issue 22, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, October 12, 2009.

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 advertisingspace itself, not for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers. © 2009 JM2 Communications, Inc.

Gary Nager Robin Savage and Aniria Wilson gave the packed house more than their money’s worth of laughs.

The Brass Tap (2000 Piazza Ave., Unit #110, in The Shops at Wiregrass), which is an upscale beer and wine bar featuring 40 import, micro brews and domestic beers on tap (and 200 more in bottles), was a great backdrop for the Divas, most of whom have been known to put away a few adult beverages themselves, and the crowd, although loud at times, definitely enjoyed what they saw and heard.

The evening also featured some great giveaways and raised more than $2,000 for a truly great cause.

If you missed the Funny Divas at The Brass Tap, don’t sweat it! The ladies (and I use that term loosely, lol) will be back in our area on Friday, October 10, 8 p.m., at The Palms Lounge at Peabody’s Grill & Bar in Tampa Palms. This will be the Divas’ second appearance at Peabody’s and you also can catch individual Divas at upcoming shows at Snapper’s Comedy Club in Palm Harbor and SideSplitters and The Improv in Tampa.

For a complete Funny Divas show schedule and more information, visit FunnyDivas.com.

For more information about The Brass Tap, visit BrassTapBeerBar.com or call 991-4343.

For information about Jules Burt’s High Heel Hike, visit HighHeelHike.com.

And, for information about Jenny McCarthy’s Generation Rescue, visit GenerationRescue.org.

The Funny Divas helped Plant City-based artist Jules Burt (in pink wig) raise more than $2,000 at The Brass Tap to benefit Burt’s High Heel Hike.

Table of Contents NEWS UPDATES.....................................Pages 1-9 News Briefs (cont. from Page 1)........................................4 Auto Burglars Elude Police Motorcycle Accident Claims Tampa Man Local Man Charged In Theft Of Hotel TV Cypress Creek (cont. from page 1)....................................6 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.......................8-9 BUSINESS UPDATES...................................11-17 Thompson Studios Offers More Than Just Great Photos...............................................................12 Let Gecko Media Put Your Business In The Web Spotlight..............................................................16 EDUCATION UPDATES...................................18 Seven Oaks Students Read For Charity IDS-CC To Hold Open House WCH Offers ACT Practice Test LOCAL SPORTS.................................................19 WCH Beats WRH In Football, Then Falters

NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE New KidsRKids Learning Center Opens.................21, 29 Local Halloween Happenings Offer Fun, Fright.............22 Visit Our Website For Contest Info & More.............26 Our Exclusive 2009 Dining Survey & Contest..........27

WESLEY CHAPEL COLOR CLASSIFIEDS...30

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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“New Briefs”

Continued from page 1 “She’s generated a lot of interest, but we’re not aware of anyone being victimized by her,” Timmer says.

Timmer also notes that even in subdivisions where soliciting is prohibited, such as Meadow Pointe, police cannot arrest a person for doing so, unless community officials want to pursue charges for trespassing, and that only counts if the person continues to stay in a public area after being asked to leave.

Otherwise, Timmer says, a person’s best protection is to treat door-todoor salespeople like any other stranger.

“If you don’t know them, don’t let them in your house,” she says. “And, if they get too pushy, just tell them to leave.”

Auto Burglars Escape

Auto burglars who broke into seven cars in one night in the New Tampa area, including an unmarked police vehicle, managed to escape after a brief high-speed pursuit on I-75.

According to a report issued by the Tampa Police Department (TPD), the thieves hit during the night of September 9-10, burglarizing three cars in the West Meadows subdivision and two others in Richmond Place, while the seventh, an unmarked TPD vehicle, was at an undisclosed location. Five of the

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vehicles had their windows smashed out, while another was unlocked, and the last car only had three of its tires and rims stolen because the thieves were interrupted while they were in the act of committing the crime.

A TPD officer spotted the suspects’ vehicle, a white four-door pickup truck with the tag number 341MQE, and gave chase, but the suspects managed to get away after heading south on I-75 from Bruce B. Downs Blvd. A statewide alert was issued, but the suspects had not been captured at our press time. The tag was reported stolen in Orange County on September 3. In addition to the three tires and rims, the suspects also made off with a 9mm pistol, four GPS units, a couple of stereos, and other items.

helmet, was thrown from the motorcycle and died at the scene of the crash.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident.

Local Man Charged With Theft Of TV From Hotel

After spending the night in a local hotel, a Wesley Chapel man apparently decided that taking the towels and soap weren’t enough, so he allegedly also made off with a flat-screen TV from one of the hotel’s common areas.

According to a report from the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, Mark Anthony Bento, 38, of 5604 Bruce Lane, was a guest at the Holiday Inn Express at 27615 S.R. 54 on August

31. According to the report, before he checked out, Bento was seen adjusting security cameras near the hotel’s TV room and then wiping his fingerprints off of the cameras with a towel. He also was captured by an outdoor camera putting something large into his car.

Bento denied taking the TV when he was contacted by police, but reportedly called the hotel to complain about being harassed and to demand his money back. He also allegedly told the person who answered the phone to “Tell your manager the television looks nice in my living room.”

Bento was charged with one count of grand theft and released from jail after posting a $2,000 bond.

Tampa Man Dies In I-75 Motorcycle Crash

A 43-year-old Tampa man was killed late last month after he lost control of his motorcycle and crashed near the S.R. 56/I-75 interchange.

According to a report issued by the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), Marc Shawn Glasgow was traveling south on I-75 at around 7:30 p.m. on September 20 when, for unknown reasons, he lost control of his 2004 Kawasaki. The motorcycle veered into the grass center median and crashed into the metal guardrail. Glasgow, who was wearing a

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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“Cypress Creek” Continued from page 1 At least two of those retailers who had been previously announced as potential tenants in the CCTC, Circuit City and Linens N’ Things, are no longer in business, but there are still signs on the site saying that a Kohl’s department store and a Super Target are “coming soon.”

Deeanne Roberts, a spokesperson for the Jacobs Group, says, however, that she cannot provide any specifics as to any potential tenants at this time.

She adds that because of all the work that needs to be re-done, there is no way to say when construction will actually get under way again, nor when the mall will be completed.

Questions and concerns about adverse environmental impacts have plagued the CCTC project since it was initially approved by Pasco County officials in 2004. Environmentalists and area residents alike came out in force at that time, saying that the massive project, which calls for a million square feet of retail, office, residential and other uses, will cause irreparable harm to Cypress Creek, which, in addition to being a protected Outstanding Florida Waterway, is a primary tributary of the

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Hillsborough River, from which the City of Tampa gets its drinking water.

Although the developers made major changes to the project’s original plan in order to meet those concerns, the Tampa Bay chapter of the Sierra Club and several other environmental groups got together to file a lawsuit challenging the USACE’s permit in federal court after that permit was issued in May 2007. That lawsuit was put on hold while the Corps was reviewing the permit, but according to Denise Layne, the spokesperson for the Tampa Bay chapter of the Sierra Club, the group is again consulting with its lawyers to decide how to proceed.

“I’m obviously very disappointed in the whole [review] process,” Layne says. “I don’t know what it’s going to take to make [the Corps] realize that it’s their responsibility to protect the land and wildlife [in and around Cypress Creek]. So, right now, we are definitely looking at all of our options going forward.”

To see complete details of the USACE’s review and findings, as well as the full scope of the modifications made to the CCTC permit, visit www.saj.usace.army.mil. To find the report, click on the link for “Regulatory Division” and then the link for “News & Announcements.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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W ESLEY C HAPEL

Community Calendar

Community Outreach Day

Saturday, October 3 – Central Bank (20701 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., just south of County Line Rd.) will host a Community Outreach Day, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The event will benefit the Humane Society of Tampa Bay, and will include the opportunity to adopt a pet, free blood pressure screenings and free pictures with your pet. There also will be free snacks and beverages, as well as gifts and giveaways from local restaurants and businesses.

For more info (including a list of supplies that needed by the Humane Society), call 929-4477 or visit centralbankfl.com.

Florida Writers Association

Saturday, October 3 – The Florida Writers Association meets on the first Saturday of every month, 10 a.m.noon, at the Barnes & Noble bookstore at the Shops at Wiregrass mall in Wesley Chapel. All meetings are free and open to the public.

Call 907-7739 for more info.

Plant Sale

Saturday, October 3 – The Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service will hold its annual Master Gardeners Plant Sale, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., at the Pasco

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County Fairgrounds (36702 S.R. 52 in Dade City). The sale will include a variety of flowers, fruit trees and other plants, as well as free mulch (load-ityourself), educational literature, activities for kids and more.

For more information, call (352) 521-4288.

Chamber Breakfast

Tuesday, October 6 – The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will hold its monthly Business Breakfast, 8 a.m., in the Bordeaux Room at Saddlebrook Resort. The cost is $7 for Chamber members and their guests, which includes a delicious full buffet breakfast. Space is limited, so reservations are required.

For more information or to make a reservation, call 994-8534.

Wesley Chapel Rotary Club

Wednesday, October 7 – The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel meets every Wednesday at 12:15 p.m. at Las Vallarta Mexican Restaurant (in the Village Market shopping center at S.R. 54 & Bruce B. Downs Blvd.).

For more information, call 2637188 or 383-6683.

‘After The Quake’

Thursday-Saturday, October 8-

10 – The Wharton High School Thespians and the LSA Repertory Theatre Company will present a new stage production of “After The Quake,” beginning at 7 p.m. each evening in the school auditorium (20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.).

For ticket prices and other information, call 631-4710, ext. 266.

PACA

Thursday, October 8 – The Pasco Alliance of Community Associations (PACA) will meet at 7 p.m. at the Land O’Lakes Community Center (5401 Land O’Lakes Blvd./U.S. 41). The meeting is free and open to the public.

For more information, visit myPACA.org or call PACA president Bill Parsons at 991-6003.

Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble

Thursday, October 8 – The Wesley Chapel Wind Ensemble, a community group of brass and woodwind players, meets every Thursday at 6 p.m. at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd./S.R. 54). New members are encouraged to join.

For more information, contact Glenn at 746-4821 or by e-mail at trombonegww@juno.com.

WC Republican Club

Thursday, October 8 – The Wesley Chapel Republican Club meets on the second Thursday of each month, 7

p.m., at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.). The meetings are open to club members, new members and guests.

For more information, call Peter Hanzel at 907-6614 or send an email to Wesleychapelrepc@aol.com.

Sunrise Rotary

Friday, October 9 – The Wesley Chapel Sunrise Rotary Club meets every Friday at 7:15 a.m. at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26140 Lexington Oaks Blvd.).

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

Community Sales

Saturday, October 10 – The residents of the Countrywalk subdivision will hold a community garage sale, 7 a.m.- 1 p.m. The community is located just off S.R. 54, just inside the entrance to Meadow Pointe. Once inside, just look for the signs.

Also, the residents of the Hunter’s Green subdivision in New Tampa will hold their annual Trash & Treasure Sale, 7:30 .m.-11:30 a.m., at Capt.

Nathaniel Hunter Park (9456 Highland Oak Dr.) inside the community. For more information, call 991-4818.

And, the residents of Kingshyre at Cross Creek (also in New Tampa) also will hold their community sale, 8 a.m.-4 p.m. Kingshyre is located on Kinnan St., just north of Cross Creek Blvd. The

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

sale will include a variety of household items and furniture, as well as many brand new Webkins© with tags.

For additional information, call 991-6211.

Anniversary Celebration

Thursday, October 8 – Boardwalk Frozen Custard (27225 S.R 56) will celebrate its second anniversary with special prices on its delicious frozen egg custard and live music by Yuval (7 p.m.-9 p.m.).

For more information, call 9919800 or visit BoardwalkFC.com.

WC Mothers & More

Saturday, October 10 – The Wesley Chapel chapter of Mothers & More will host a Career Fresh Start Day, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., at the new LA Fitness center at the corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and County Line Rd. The event will include a variety of local businesses offering career and business advice, clothing, education and more, as well as plenty of other fun activities for the whole family. The cost is $5 and a donation of personal items, cleaning supplies or other suitable items that will be given to the Sunrise of Pasco County Domestic Violence & Sexual Assault Center.

For more information, call Karen Patel at 849-3534.

Shoresh David To Host

Christian Concert

Saturday, October 17 - Shoresh David Messianic Synagogue at Wesley Chapel’s Trinity United Methodist Church (33425 S.R. 54) will host a concert and worship service featuring vocalist Jimmie Black, beginning at 7 p.m. There is no charge for admission, but an offering will be collected.

For more information, call 7603269 or visit ShoreshDavid.org.

Wesley Chapel Craft Show

Saturday & Sunday, October 1718 - The Grove at Wesley Chapel retail center (off S.R. 54 at I-75) will host a craft show that includes a wide array of artists and craftsmen, a “Battle of the Wings” contest, incredible food, entertainment, children’s activities, special treats and much more.

For more info, call 994-6795 or visit WesleyChapelCraftShow.com.

Networking On The 9s

Tuesday, October 20 – The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce will host its monthly golf networking group, Networking on the Nines, 3 p.m., at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd., off S.R. 54). The cost is $7 per person, which includes 9 holes of golf, cart and greens fees.

For more information, call Larry Parker at 679-6602.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Thompson Studios Offers Quality Photographic Services & More!

Thompson Studios, New Tampa’s first and premiere photography studio, opened it’s doors in January of 2004 in Cory Lake Isles with one approach in mind: make every client’s experience a memorable one that ends with receiving stunning photos that audibly take their breath away — whether you you’re looking for quality portrait, wedding or commercial photography..

Today’s advanced digital photography easily allows individuals to start small photography businesses out of their homes, garages or simply as an “on-location” photographer!

“Since we opened six years ago, when we were the only photography studio [in New Tampa], the number of photography choices has grown with the population,” says Thompson, who adds that it may be useful to understand what is unique about each option to choose where you connect/match.

HS Senior Photography

Thompson Studios has photographed more than 3,000 high school seniors over the last six years and has solidified its reputation by providing higher-end, custom senior portraits combined with a fun, “model-like” experience, as opposed to the average photos and the factory-like approach

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taken by most school yearbook photography companies.

“Many seniors and parents are under the misconception that they are stuck with the senior porPhotographer traits taken by the school’s contracted Bob Thomspon of photographer provid- Thompson Stuing yearbook images dios on Cross [at that school],” says Creek Blvd.

Thompson. “But, this is not the case. The student must select his/her yearbook photo from the contract photographer, but [we can still provide your] senior portraits.”

Thompson adds, “Our approach has been a one-at-a-time, hold-yourhand- through-the-entire-process kind of thing. We offer hour-long sessions, as well as location sessions, and we encourage the seniors to bring outfits and props that say who they are today.”

He also says that many seniors are having fun posting and sharing the slideshow of their portrait images on YouTube, Facebook or MySpace.

Portraits With Personality

When asked what distinguishes his work from other studios, Thompson

says, “I’m always trying to capture a real moment, something pure and believable, something authentic and innocent, something in that moment that will never happen again and has never happened before. Given that I’m almost always photographing people, that means that the people in my photographs appear natural and relaxed, even if we set the shot up. The smiles are not contrived, but real and the eyes are engaged. Families are portrayed in a moment of togetherness and a spark of emotion fills your heart. Giving people a fun, playful and upbeat experience goes a long way towards getting people relaxed and enjoying themselves, and surely makes for better and more uplifting portraits.

Specializing in commissioned, fine art wall hangings, Thompson Studios also offers print packages, a wide range of digital photography products, the finest albums and customized creative art pieces imagined through a creative design process with the photographer and his clients. New Tampa resident Lissette Farina says that Thompson Studios, “rocks harder than I’d ever imagined and their work is pure magic.”

When you make the decision to invest in a photographic portrait, be it maternity, baby, family, or a reunion,

consider 3 things: 1. Do any of your friends or people you respect have portraits hanging in their homes and if so, and you like the work, did you ever ask your friend who the photographer was?

2. Have you checked out the photographer’s web site and blog, to see if you feel a connection to the ambiance of the studio and the photographer through the words and images?

3. Have you visited the studio?

You’ll be able to see more work, speak with the photographer and be excited about scheduling your portrait session.

Weddings A Specialty

Having shot weddings for the past 18 years, Thompson says he has come to notice how the trends in wedding photography change almost every 2-3 years. Thompson recognizes that the most recent trend combines contemporary photojournalism focusing on the unique, with edgy fashion images digitally and creatively enhanced.

“I love my wedding photos!,” says says Sheila Schweitzer of Shepré Hair Salon (see “The Kiss” on Thompson’s blog). “They’re edgy, they’re loving, they’re gorgeous…and, they truly captured ‘The Kiss!”

Thompson says he also is excited

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

about his associate photographer, Mike Ossola, who complements Bob’s photography at his clients’ weddings.

“When we hired Mike Ossola last year to be our digital post-production artist, I knew he was a great photographer. Mike’s bringing an edgy, fashiondriven style which, when combined with my contemporary photojournalistic style, allows us to cover each important moment at a wedding uniquely and creatively.”

Because of the recent onslaught of the “social media” sites (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, etc.), a new realm of communication exists that never really did before. And, with online communication on the rise, new couples are now very likely to contact photographers via the internet, texting, or e-mail to ask about pricing. Although going online and looking through different photographers’ web sites is a great idea to see the work, you’ll also want to meet the photographer in person before choosing one. Your wedding day is special, romantic and intimate, so you’ll want to feel at ease around your photographer (since he’ll be shadowing you most of the day), so that your wedding photos will show you at your best when you’re natural and at ease.

Commercial Photography, Too

Thompson has been shooting commercial and marketing photography

for over 16 years in the Tampa Bay area.

Large national and international entities like Raymond James Financial, Baycare Healthcare, BIC, the University of Tampa, Checkers, Bank of America, Universal Life Insurance, Florida Bank Group and Thompson got the Hillsborough aspiring model County Bar Associ- and actor Max ation have all count- Redden revved ed on Bob to proup for his firstvide great images. ever photo shoot.

Although many small businesses may not understand how top-quality commercial photography can boost brand recognition, entice customers to their company’s website or simply make a strong impression at a glance, some (thankfully) do. Thompson Studios has taken a library of images for dozens of New Tampa small businesses. Simply go through the pages of this newspaper and you’ll find business portraits and ad photos shot by Thompson Studios, including attorneys Matthew Jowanna and Charlie Spinner, Florida Executive Realty Realtors Jim Henning and Kristy Darragh, local dentists Dr. Paul Duga and Dr. Mark Farina, Circles New Tampa Bistro, Fit4Life

and more.

Large corporations know that first impressions really do last and when flipping through a magazine or newspaper, what the eye sees first are the photos.

The quality of the photography can keep the eye on the ad and convince you to read further, and the lack of quality can cause the eye to pass right over without even noticing the name.

Images are important and a bad image can kill an ad. Unfortunately, with digital photography, many business people who own a digital camera will take their own shots and often end up with with poor photos. Again, take a look through this very publication and see the difference between ads with great photos and those with photos that do nothing to boost the ad or message.

Photography & More!

A Florida-based, international company recently hired Thompson Studios to photograph the company’s corporate incentive trip to Germany, and received multiple benefits Thompson.

In addition to his usual great photos, Thompson also provided quality musical entertainment for the company’s guests, as well as German translations for the company’s executives.

Thompson, who has been a mainstay in the commercial marketing industry in Tampa Bay for the past 16 years has worked with many national

accounts that have taken him to most states in the U.S., but this trip abroad was special for Thompson, who also played his guitar and sang on the trip.

The German company’s vice president of corporate communications & marketing was elated after learning that the former U.S. Air Force German linguist was fluent in the German language, having previously encountered language barriers in an attempt to find a German photographer.

“We can’t wait to have Bob back next year!,” said the president of the company. “What Thompson Studios provided was of tremendous value.

Not only did Bob take absolutely awesome photos of our entire trip, our awards banquet, day excursions and everything else that happened during our cruise, he’s also a great singer and guitar player with a great repertoire.

Our group really enjoyed what he brought to our trip.”

With camera in hand, Thompson photo-journaled the five day event.

“We loved the photography and watching the slideshow of the entire trip the last night of the cruise really connected everyone,” said the President.

Thompson Studios is located at 10329-H Cross Creek Blvd., in the Cory Lake Isles Professional Center.

For more information, call Kim Thompson at 994-2000 or visit ThompsonStudiosTampa.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

15

Gecko Media Offers Effective Web Marketing For Your Business!

By Melissa O’Brien In the world of Internet marketing, some say your website has about 30 seconds to make a good impression.

That means if your site is not one of the first to appear in a search-engine or if it’s not appealing or easy to use, you have likely just lost a potential client – forever. Gecko Media, located off S.R. 56, can help you make the most of your online marketing. Through web site design, database development, corporate brand development, and search engine marketing (SEM) strategies, Gecko can help you create a first impression that can turn into lasting business partnerships.

“A website needs to look professional and have a clear message,” says the company’s co-founder Aaron Houck. “In order for customers to find you, each page needs to be designed from a search engine optimization perspective. For example, people look by the service or project they need in the nearest city, so you usually are competing with people in your area. If you have a site that is poorly designed, your information may not appear for those people where you live. By optimizing the search-engine process, we make sure people find you. In addition, your ‘front’ page should have a clear message

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that entices a customer to contact the business, and once you get that initial contact, you want to update your site often to keep people coming back.”

Gecko Media can work with clients who are just starting a company, as well as those who already are established.

“If you need help getting started, we can help with everything — from web design, logo development, marketing and more,” says Houck. “We have partnered and worked with companies of all sizes, from one-person start-ups to some of the nation's most recognizable brands, such as Microsoft, AT&T and Raymond James Financial. We look at the entire picture when it comes to your business, from memorable design to dynamic programming to measurable marketing.”

Houck says that web advertising is becoming a necessity in today’s marketplace. “If a company is choosing between the telephone book, a billboard or a website, the website is [usually] a far better return on your dollar,” he says. “With a website, once you design it, if it if done effectively, it will get you better results. On a billboard, which can be very costly, the people who may see is as they are driving by may not need your service right then and there and if they do need you, may

Steve Weir and Aaron Houck are the co-founders of Gecko Media, a web-design & more company in the Cypress Glen Professional Park off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. not have time to write the phone number down [while driving]. When someone is looking online, they usually need the service right away, and the website allows for layers of detail that the phone book or a billboard simply can’t.”

Houck says that Gecko-designed websites also allow for easy tracking.

“When I went to business school, you couldn’t tie your advertising dollars to sales,” he says. “Now, you can at least tell how many leads come in the door and be more confident in your marketing by doing it online. We use Google Analytics on websites, which generates detailed statistics about the number of visitors the site receives.

From there, it gives you really great information to find out what key words

worked and what search engines people used and the pages they found.”

Houck, who grew up in nearby Odessa, FL, founded Gecko Media with his partner Steve Weir in 1996.

Both Houck and Weir attended the University of South Florida and received Bachelor’s Degrees in Business.

“We started right out of college at a time when we had to teach some people what the internet was,” says Houck.

Today, the company has six employees.

For Live Oak Preserve resident Shannon Dicara, Gecko Media was the perfect answer to creating the look, feel and design of her internet business, PerfectPartiesByMail.com.

“I Googled web companies and Gecko Media came up,” says Dicara. “I

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Gecko Media did a great job of designing the still-under-construction website for a certain local publication! contacted four companies and Gecko has used Gecko for its website design since April of 2005.

Media was the only one that went “We have always experienced a above and beyond. We talked by phone and by e-mail and they even came over high level of customer service with my house to discuss things with me. I Gecko Media,” says Anderson. “We did not want the site to be too mascuhave worked with other web design line or too feminine and I had a hair companies in the past but there was ribbon I wanted to incorporate into the always a disconnect with what was promised and what was delivered.” design. They did everything for me – Anderson also says that his web coming up with a great logo and the entire look of the website.” business, which is geared at helping Dicara says that working with new mothers, takes a lot of technical Gecko Media has been, “One-stop know-how.

“It looks very user-friendly on the shopping. They offer a lot of services, front end,” says Anderson. “But on the like logo design and an e-commerce back end, it’s very complex and not system, and you can pick and choose which options you want. They are very everyone can do this and do it well. I highly recommend Gecko Media to reasonably priced and I have recomothers. They truly are a partner with us mended them to other people.”

Noah Anderson, the owner of and we are not just a paycheck for them. They have turned us off of some PlanningFamily.com, a website that is big projects that they would have benebased out of Costa Mesa, CA, worked with Weir ten years ago in Tampa and fited from because they thought it

might not make sense for us. They’re very ethical.”

Gecko also is the web design company that created NTNeighborhoodNews.com, which is already generating new business for this publication.

“Steve and Aaron are awesome,” says publisher and editor Gary Nager.

“They always get things done when and how they say they will. In my experience, that’s unique among web design companies” Gecko Media is located at 2406 Cypress Glen Dr., Suite 101, in the Cypress Glen Prof. Park off of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel. For more info or a free consultation, call 936-8919 or visit www.geckomedia.com.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

17

W ESLEY C HAPEL

Education Updates

Seven Oaks Students Are Reading Books For Charity

A group of second graders from Seven Oaks Elementary are joining Super Bowl MVPs Peyton and Eli Manning and Scholastic Book Clubs to help donate one million books to disadvantaged children.

This fall, students in Audrey Sebastian’s class have pledged to read 100 books as part of the Scholastic Book Clubs’ “ClassroomsCare” Program.

The philanthropy-based literacy campaign is designed to teach children about the joys and importance of reading — and giving.

“Kids have big hearts, and nowhere is that more evident than when children help other children through the ‘ClassroomsCare’ Program,” Scholastic Book Clubs president Judy Newman says. “Classes around the country are reading 100 books each.

When they meet that goal, the Mannings, Scholastic and our charity partners will put one million books into the hands of the neediest children. The kids in Seven Oaks get to see firsthand that their efforts can make the world a better place.”

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motivational videos featuring the Mannings, e-cards, a sweepstakes and details on ClassroomsCare’s charity partners, which include Reach Out & Read, Save the Children, yjr Blair E. Batson Hospital for Children, the Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital, Peyton Manning’s Peyback Foundation, Mercy Health Partners and The Eli and Abby Manning Birthing Center.

“The ClassroomsCare program lets both students and teachers demonstrate our spirit of service and sharing while also instilling a passion for reading.”

Sebastian says.

Since its launch in 2001, the Scholastic Book Clubs’ ClassroomsCare initiative has enriched the lives of more than 36 million children nationwide.

IDS-CC Open House

Kylie Keys, Sarah Schulze and Tyler Mesnekoff are participating in the ClassroomsCare reading program.

To participate, classrooms join either “Team Peyton” or “Team Eli” and keep track of their progress using a ClassroomsCare poster. A companion website lets students share and compare their achievements with other participating classrooms around the nation.

The website also provides activities,

Independent Day School-Corbett Campus (12015 Orange Grove Dr., off Busch Blvd.) in Tampa, will be hosting an Admissions Open House on Thursday, October 15, 8:30 a.m.

The Open House will begin with an overview of IDS conducted by Headmaster Dr. Joyce Burick Swarzman, who will discuss the school’s academic curriculum, as well as its fine arts, sports and technology programs. She will also discuss how IDS balances a nurturing, safe and exciting learning

environment with high standards and high expectations.

“Our vision is to make the learning process joyful and challenging, as well as stimulating and productive,” said Dr. Swarzman. “We put children first, focusing on excellence and developing a positive self-concept, while also emphasizing the importance of giving back to the greater community. It’s these types of issues that we are eager to discuss with prospective parents when they visit our campus.”

Finally, the Open House also will include a tour of the campus conducted by middle school student ambassadors.

In addition to the official Open House, families that are interested in learning about IDS are always welcome to call the Admissions Office at 961-8037 to schedule an appointment and a tour at any time.

Practice ACT Test Offered

A Practice ACT designed to help boost students’ scores will be administered by Princeton Review at Wesley Chapel High School (30651 Wells Rd.), Saturday, October 3, from 9 a.m.1 p.m. The cost per student is $20, and preregistration is preferred, but walk-ins are also welcome.

For more information, call the school office at 794-8700.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

‘Cats Top Bulls, Then Fall To Pasco

There’s an old saying that you can throw out the records in a rivalry game, so no score should come as too big a surprise when cross-Wesley-Chapel rivals Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) and Wesley Chapel High (WCH) get together on any playing field.

Even so, few could have expected that the Wildcats (now 1-3 on the Wesley Chapel High’s QBs haven’t been consistent season, including 0-1 in this season, but they did enough to beat Wiregrass Class 3A, District 7 play) Ranch High 23-8 on September 18. would be able to get their only win of the young 2009 Charles rushed for 103 yards and the season in the only game that the Bulls team’s only score (the PAT was missed), (now 3-1, 1-0 in District 4A-6) have but the ‘Cats had no answer for Pasco lost so far. Rivalries. Go figure. freshman sensation Janarion Grant, who WCH led WRH just 7-0 at halfran for two TDs, caught a 48-yard pass time on the Bulls’ home field on Sepfor another and finished his day with an tember 18, as Mike Vizza threw a 7482-yard kickoff return for a fourth TD. yard TD to John Ayers, but broke the Likewise, WRH handily won its game open in the second half with two District opener at Ridgewood, 28-8, more TDs and a safety. RB John the week after falling to the ‘Cats. FirstMahan ran for 122 yards and one of year Bulls’ coach Jeremy Shobe had to those TDs and the ‘Cats defense held be pleased with the bounce-back win, WRH to just 87 yards of total offense. as RB Josh Johnson ran for 162 yards The following week, however, and a late TD, Assad Nevel returned a things got back to “normal,” as coach John Castelamare’s ‘Cats lost their Dis- kick 85 yards for a score and Dwayne Houston ran 36 yards with a fumble trict opener to always potent Pasco High, 45-6, at WCH. RB Chris Pierre- recovery for another. — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Newest Kids R Kids Learning Center Opens On Overpass Rd. At Boyette Rd.

By Melissa O’Brien First impressions are very important – especially for kids. So, when some 70 families first entered the newest Kids R Kids location on Overpass Rd. at Boyette Rd. (north of S.R. 54) earlier this month for Open House, they were welcomed with open arms by smiling, friendly teachers and administrators all dressed in bright, pink Tshirts. Kids were encouraged to explore and play with trains and other toys in the airy, open 17,000-sq.-ft. facility, while their parents talked with teachers, took a tour of the school and met with the school’s cook, Chef Jackie.

“It is a beautiful facility,” says Wesley Chapel resident Angel Smith. “They did a great job. Everyone was very positive and excited to be there. My son, who is four, really liked the outdoor play area, which is shaded, and the water park they have. I like the idea that he can play outside at least twice a day and he will not be in the hot sun.”

Kids R Kids of Wesley Chapel is a dream come true for owner Bimal Bhojani. Seven years ago, Bhojani was living in London, England, and working for the banking industry when he decided to change course. “I visited a friend in Canada and took a tour of their child’s daycare,” says Bimal, the father of two small children, who now lives in Meadow Pointe. “I was tired of working virtually 24 hours every day in the banking industry and wanted a change. I decided I wanted to start a daycare, but

in London, it was impossible to purchase land at a reasonable price. I have traveled the world, loved the United States and decided to make a life change and move here.”

After looking at a number of options, Bhojani began working with the Enterprise Florida, Inc. (EFI), office in London. EFI is a public-private partnership, with 13 offices around the world, serving as Florida’s primary organization devoted to statewide economic development. “I began working with Enterprise Florida in 2002,” says Bhojani. “They assisted me in the process and helped me with my due diligence. They helped me identify Wesley Chapel as a great location to start the business. I arrived here in 2007, and today I’m pleased to say we’ve accomplished what I set out to do – I’ve created a new service-oriented business that will eventually create 50 new jobs in the area.” (Note-The new Kids R Kids currently has only 15 employees, but has capacity for up to 50 staffers as the school fills up.)

Bhojani says he chose the Kids R Kids franchise, which is based out of Atlanta, because he saw it as a company that brought a real “service” element to the childcare industry. There currently are five Kids R Kids in the Tampa Bay area (including another in Wesley Chapel, inside the Meadow Pointe community owned by another franchisee), and a total of 13 Kids R Kids Schools of Quality Learning in the state and 165 in 14 states nationwide.

“There is something very special about Kids R Kids that sets it apart from other childcare franchises, “says Bhojani.

“Our schools are different. We have a lot of glass walls, so siblings can see each other from room to room. We have realtime internet access The friendly staff at the new Kids R Kids on Overpass to the school for par- Rd. at Boyette Rd. will take great care of your children. ents so they can guage, working with toddlers on fundawatch what is going on while they are mental skills and supporting our chilat work. Our play areas are age-approdren to instill a sense of confidence and priate and we are one of the few in the accomplishment. As your child continarea that have a sun screen, so children can play outside without the fear of sun ues to grow, our curriculum grows with him or her..” damage to the skin.”

Kids R Kids is open to children The covered outdoor play area, ages 6 weeks to twelve years of age. which is approximately 25,000-sq. ft., The center provides transportation to has equipment that is age-appropriate and from Wesley Chapel, Watergrass, for children. The water park, which Veterans, Quail Hollow, Double offers cooling sprinkles of water with a Branch, and New River elementary mushroom-shaped dome, is another schools. There is a special facility in the feature not found at most childcare centers. Bhojani says that Kids R Kids is back of the center with approximately 3,500 sq. ft. of space for before- and continually upgrading its design plans after-care, where kids can do their for is centers, so that this new Wesley homework, have assistance (if needed), Chapel location definitely has a “wow” factor. “Everything here is an upgrade,” have a snack or just relax. Kids can play WII or participate in other supervised he says. “We have created a first-class activities, which Bhojani points out is facility. You will genuinely notice a difusually different than what the public ference from other childcare centers.” schools offer for aftercare. The cost for Bhojani says another important the before- and after-care program is element of Kids R Kids is the curricuSee “Kids R Kids” on page 29. lum. “We are teaching babies sign lan-

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Local Halloween Happenings Offer Plenty Of Frightening Fun Lowry Park Zoo’s ‘ZooBoo’

While we already have plenty to be nervous about, with the state of the economy, the threat of nuclear arms in Iran and global warming, sometimes it’s fun to be scared for no other reason than to be scared. And, this month, you can be scared out of your wits while having a good time, at fun and scary local events like Busch Gardens’ HowlO-Scream, Lowry Park Zoo’s ZooBoo and the ever-popular Guavaween celebration in Ybor City.

Busch Gardens’ ‘Howl-O-Scream’

This is the tenth anniversary of Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream, and this year’s event promises to be scarier than ever, with all new haunted houses, scare zones and thrilling shows.

Among the seven Haunted Houses awaiting guests are the “Nightshade Toy Factory,” “Trapped In The Walls,” “Death Row Vengeance” and “Taste of Blood,” while the four scare zones feature “Banshees,” “Werewolves” and more. The stage shows include “Fiends,” a favorite from years past, and an all-new spectacular featuring “The Magic of Jason Byrne.” This year, Howl-O-Scream also introduces Club Envy, a 21-up dance club that includes

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The “Fiends” from Busch Gardens’ HowlO-Scream show off their dance moves. drink specials, character meet-andgreets, and great music all night long.

Admission to Howl-O-Scream is separate from regular Busch Gardens admission and costs $69.95, although savings are available to Busch Gardens passport members and Florida residents.

Special discounts are offered through promotional codes on Bud Light, Domino’s Pizza and Applebee’s products statewide. Howl-O-Scream runs every Thursday-Saturday night during October, 7:30 p.m.-1 a.m. on Thursdays and 7:30 p.m.-2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

For more information, call (888) 800-5447 or visit howloscream.com.

While Howl-O-Scream comes with a disclaimer that the event is not suitable for children, Lowry Park Zoo (1101 W. Sligh Ave.) offers a familyfriendly alternative with its annual “ZooBoo.” While it also includes plenty of haunted houses, animal encounters, music, rides and more, many of ZooBoo’s events and activities are scaled back so they can be enjoyed by children of all ages. The rides and attractions are all rated from one skull for the littlest trick-or-treaters to seven skulls for the older and more courageous. This year, ZooBoo brings back some of the favorite shows from last year, including the Little Tykes Boo House (one skull) and Declassified: Project Alien (seven skulls), as well as some fun new activities, such as the “Hidden In The Mist” horse-drawn carriage ride and the “Sinister Shadows Gothic Nightmare.”

“ZooBoo” runs Friday-Sunday (and some Thursday) nights through October, 7 p.m.-11 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 7 p.m.-10 p.m. on Thursdays and Sundays. Tickets cost $17 for ages 12 and up, $14 for children ages 3-11, and children ages 2 and under are free. For info, call 9358552 or visit lowryparkzoo.com.

Guavaween

Meanwhile, Guavaween, which takes over the streets of Ybor City on Halloween night, is returning to its street party roots by banning all motorized floats from the Stumble Parade that is the centerpiece of the celebration. At the same time, however, organizers have announced that they will be offering more prizes in the Features costume contest, including categories like Best Guavaween Spirit, Best Political Commentary, Tackiest Entry, Most Humorous and more, with a top prize of $2,000 for Best Overall Costume.

Of course, the Features costume contest and Stumble Parade are highlights of the adults-only Guavaween celebration, which begins at 2 p.m.; prior to that is the Family FunFest, which runs 10 a.m.-3 p.m. and includes family-friendly activities such as the Children’s Parade and Costume Contest, Safe Trick-or-Treating, Spooky Story Time and more. During the evening’s Mardi Gras-style street festival, attendees can enjoy live music from groups like SevenDust, Soulidium and others.

There’s no charge for admission to the Family FunFest. Tickets for the evening activities are $17, although discounts are available in advance. Call 242-4828 or visit cc-events.org.—MS

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Your Chance To Win & Help, Too! Our annual Dining Survey & Contest (right) offers anyone who enters a FREE opportunity to win one of at least 10 great dining prizes worth at least $20, including the Grand Prize of a $100 gift card/certificate to the restaurant you picked as your favorite in the entire Tampa Bay area.

This is the first time we’ve offered the opportunity to enter two ways — by filling out the entry form on the next page or by going to our website, WCNeighborhoodNews.com. But, whichever way you choose to enter the Survey & Contest, please do so. Local restaurant owners tell us all the time how important it is that our readers recognize their efforts. They say that just being named in the Survey is a big help to them, but winning one or more of the categories is something they can post in their places of business, so their customers can tell everyone they know that their favorite place made the “big time” in our Survey.

In these difficult-at-best economic times, businesses of all types need your support more than ever, but perhaps none moreso than local restaurateurs.

When you see big chains like Bonefish Grill, Carrabba’s Italian Grill and others offering deeply discounted prices and other “stimulus specials,” it’s even

harder for local eateries to compete with such offers. In other words, whether you prefer La Prima Pizza or PizzaMania, fill out an entry form and let us know who YOU think should get this year’s bragging rights!

Advertise On Our Website!

Speaking of local businesses, we know it’s expensive to advertise in this publication. It costs us a significant amount of money to print and direct mail 16,000 copies of this allglossy news magazine (and 20,000 copies in New Tampa) every month — and we’re the ONLY publication in these areas mailed to that many households in zip codes 33543-45 and 33647, so we have to charge more than any other local advertising medium for a similar size ad.

However, because we’ve just started our website, we CAN offer great deals on website-only ads. Best of all, we will begin promoting all of the new content we are adding to our website every month in these pages, which we believe is the best local cross-promoting you can do in Wesley Chapel. To find out more, call Julie Rinaldi at 910-2575 or visit WCNeighborhoodNews.com!—GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Our Dining Survey & Contest has a whole new format — simply tell us your ten favorite restaurants in New Tampa, your 10 favorites in Wesley Chapel and your ten favorites in the entire Tampa Bay area (you can even include your favorite coffee houses, sandwich and smoothie shops, etc.). The bottom line is still the same — all entries have a chance to win one of at least ten $20 (minimum; it could be more!) gift certificates to a local dining establishment AND an equal chance to win a $100 gift certificate to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area! If your name is selected at random to be our Grand Prize winner, we’ll give you $100 to the restaurant you selected as your “#1 Favorite in the Tampa Bay Area!” Enter by fax, U.S. mail or e-mail (don’t forget to include ALL of your personal information — name, address, community you live in, zip code & daytime telephone number — on all e-mailed entries) or enter at our website (WCNeighborhoodNews.com) by Friday, October 30, 2009, to be eligible! — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

“Kids R Kids”

Continued from page 21 just $50 per week. Kids R Kids also offers free voluntary Pre-Kindergarten (VPK) for approximately three hours a day. There also is VPK before- and after-care offered for just $95/week.Kids R Kids faculty members are required to follow their state regulations that apply to training. Staff members are trained in First Aid/CPR, infectious disease control, injury prevention, and child abuse awareness. Additional training in curriculum, child development, classroom arrangement and management, age-appropriate activities, nutrition, field trip planning and OSHA regulations provide the skills needed to create the quality learning environment at Kids R Kids. And, the school offers low student/teacherratios, from 1 staffer for every four infants (ages 0-12 months) up to 1-25 for the 5-year-old program.

For Wesley Chapel resident Brett Sheldon, Kids R Kids was just what his family was looking for when his wife decided to go back to work. “We did a lot of research and looked at about 10 area facilities,” says Sheldon. “When we saw that this Kids R Kids was under construction, we looked into it for our three children. We found the curriculum at Kids R Kids to be what we were

looking for and we really liked Bimal’s demeanor. We liked what the facility offered in terms of the surveillance system and the glass enclosures where our kids can see each other. Our youngest is 20 months and it is a real comfort to him to be able to see our oldest child in the nearby classroom.”

Sheldon says the pricing is competitive with other childcare centers. “I feel we are getting great service for what we are paying for,” he says. “The entire staff has been very responsive and great at being in touch and keeping us in the loop. It says a lot about an establishment. They kept us informed during the entire process as they finished their plans to open. I expect that if they maintain this level of communication with us, our experience here should be pretty good.”

For Angel Smith, who is a teacher at Watergrass Elementary, the atmosphere at Kids R Kids was just what she was looking for Your adorable in a childcare young’n will love the program. “I wanted a pro- newest Kids R Kids.

gram that emphasized positive reinforcement instead of behavior management,” says Smith. “I like behavior to be recognized in a positive way. I also liked the family-style dining for the children. Instead of having long tables like at school, they have small, round tables – which are more like what you would have at Owner Bimal Bhojani (left) can take your family home. My son really likes on a tour of the new Kids R Kids, too! it.”

Monday-Friday, 6 a.m.-6:30 p.m.

Kids R Kids Wesley Chapel is For additional information, call located at 30100 Overpass Rd. (at the corner of Boyette Rd.), in Wesley 355-4824 or visit kidsrkidsboyette road.com.

Chapel. The hours of operation are

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL H E L P

W A N T E D

Join OrthoTechnology’s Winning Team!

Ortho Technology, an international orthodontic supply distributor located in New Tampa, is seeking talented energetic candidates for the following full-time positions: Inside Sales: Skilled salespeople for established territories! Proven track record of success in B2B phone sales, exc. communication & computer skills req’d QC Inspector: Entry level position responsible for accuracy of outgoing orders. 1-2 yrs exp w/QC responsibilities. Ability to stand/walk for entire shift, close vision, basic color differentiation and basic math req’d.

Small parts/med device experience a plus.

We provide a great work environment, excellent benefits package and growth potential. Submit resumes to careers@orthotechnology.com.

Classifıeds

Quality Handyman, specializing in Home Improvements, repairs & installations of all types from A to Z, including telephone & computer cabling. 18 years of exp. No job too small. E-mail eddieperdomo@yahoo.com or call 451-6541 for questions or Free Estimates.

Greg’s Paperhanging. For all of your wallpapering needs. Licensed & insured, clean, quick & reasonable. Call 973-2767 for free estimate.

RAYMOND PAINTING. Interior & exterior, pressure washing, paper hanging, plaster, stucco, tiles, concrete, clean & seal pavers.

Licensed & Bonded. References available.

Free estimates. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARBOR GREENE RESIDENT. We Work 7 Days. Call 994-5124.

Dan Turner Decorating Wallcovering Installation. The most important thing about the wallcovering you select is...the installer. Don’t sacrifice the beauty of wallcovering, turn to the experts. Call today for a free consultation. Licensed & insured. Call 928-2160

CLEANING SERVICES HERE I COME! I specialize in all types of cleaning: houses, apartments, townhouses, garages, etc.

Best prices in the Bay area. References available.

Call for a free estimate. Call 735-7979.

D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE. We have our own supplies & more than 200 clients in New Tampa! For more information, call 758-9710.

Isn’t life busy enough? Save time. We can help.

Your satisfaction is our first priority. Guaranteed, affordable, reliable, quality domestic svcs. Free estimate: Chelsea Maid Company @ 994-6662.

LEBOM Cleaning service. Are you tired of cleaning? Call us & let us do the dirty job for you. Residential & Commercial. Move in/Move out. 6 years working for the best. Good references. Great prices.

Licensed! Call 325-7904 now for free estimate.

A+ Cleaning Service. FSU grad, honest & dependable. Moving very successful business to Tampa Palms area to be near first grandchild. My Tallahassee clients included FSU coaches & professors. For FREE estimate & references call Randi at (cell) 850-509-6615. Yes, I do Gators, too!

P/T Massage therapist. Please send résumé to PO Box 47254 Tampa, FL 33647 or fax to 994-3080.

P/T Medical Asst. for doctor’s office in New Tampa. With experience. Good salary & benefits.

Fax resume to 632-7114 or call 632-7111.

Childcare Dir & PreK3-Lev2 VPK CDA. Benefits, est. 14yrs 813-991-5499, www.backyardbears.com Wesley Chapel.

COMPUTER SERVICES Professional Tech Support in your home or small business. A+ certified computer tech with 15 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. References available upon request. Call 957-8342 for free estimate.

HOME

IMPROVEMENT

Need home maintenance? Almost any job, large or small, ext/int, fencing, screening, sm. concrete, sprinklers, painting, repairs, int. doors, locks, sheet rock, windows, paint, caulk, grout, trim, shelving, garages organized. Installations, removals, pressure washing, wood restoration & more. Call Dale’s Home Maintenance @ 9730194 or 727-2582.

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L A N D S C A P I N G Everyday Gardener’s Club. Full-service property maintenance available for residential & commercial. One-stop shopping with licensed, insured professionals. Specializing in landscape design with conceptional drawings & renderings available. Let your imagination & our professionals come together to create dreams that will last a lifetime. Call 933-1120 or visit www.EverydayGardnersClub.com COMPLETE SOD SERVICES. Start to finish sod work including stripping and disposal of existing surface, sprinkler check, pre-plant insect and fertilizer treatment, and sod, all varieties. Professional work, competitive pricing. Call (813) 5452205 for a free estimate.

LAWN MAINTENANCE NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel. Sprinkler repair, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available.

These are the Color Classifieds Your Neighbors R E A D! Call Julie Rinaldi @ 910-2575 to order your ad today! complete lawn care at prices you can afford! Service that you can depend on. Call Ken 334-3460.

TECO Rebates on Natural Gas Appliances. 5162927 or thegasdoctor.com. License # MG 24668

Falcon Lawn Service. Full service property maintenance available. Residential & Commercial. Free estimates. Competitive prices. Se habla espanol.

Call 994-9685.

Beautiful outdoors! Construction superintendent at your service! Landscape design, clean-up & mulching, repairs for roofs, screening, sprinklers, drywall & shelving. Garage clean out, help with moving, packing & storage. Pressure washing, painting inside & out. Professional service at bargain prices! Call Dennis 601-4560.

Call Bay Estates Landscaping And Lighting for all your landscaping needs, no job to big or small. We offer landscape design and installation, lighting, mulch, rock, from clean ups to complete renovations. Owner operated. licensed and insured.

Please call 813-997-5055.

P O O L

S E R V I C E S

Tranquility Pool Service. New Tampa Owned & Operated! Great pricing w/outstanding customer service. Relax & enjoy while we keep your pool in pristine swimming condition!

Licensed, Bonded & Insured. Call Chris today for a free quote @ 857-5400 or visit us at www.tranquilitypoolservice.com to see why we are New Tampa’s #1 choice!

P E T

S I T T I N G

Animals’ Best Friend says, “Pets Deserve Good Love & Care, Even Times When You’re Not There!” In-your-home pet-sitting svcs, including dog walks, multiple & overnight visits, administering meds, plus love & attention. Licensed, bonded & insured. Call 765-5515 for a free consultation. Or, visit www.animalsbestfriend.net.

Professional Pet Care Exp’d. pet sitters. We walk, play, feed & administer medicine, all in the comfort of your pet’s home. We also bring in mail, water plants & help maintain home security while you’re away. Bonded, insured & trained in Pet First-Aid & CPR. Call For The Love Of Pets at 545-8406 or 416-3126. Or visit www.ForTheLoveOfPetsOnLine.com.

Tampa Cat Lady Professional Cat-Sitting Service. You say goodbye - we say hello. Cats are happiest when 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. We help deter crime by bringing newspaper/mail & rotating lights/blinds, giving your home that lived-in look. Licensed, bonded & Red-Cross certified in pet first aid/CPR. Call 994-9449 or visit www.TampaCatLady.com.

New Tampa Pet Sitting Service. Lots of love & care for your pets. Great experience & references.

Recommended by Angie’s List. Licensed, Insured & Red Cross Certified. Call Marina @ 416-5301.

S E R V I C E S AVA I L A B L E THE GAS DOCTOR. 24-HOUR EMERGENCY SERVICE. Residential * Commercial * Industrial. * New Construction & Remodels * Natural & LP Gas Piping Systems. Gas Appliance Installation, Service & Repair. Providing connections for: Gas Lights, Ranges, Dryers, Fireplaces, Furnaces, Generators, Grills, Space Heaters, Water Heaters, Pool Heaters, Firepits & Tankless Water Heaters.

Clean-outs—abandoned homes, garage cleaning.

Pressure washing; odd jobs—painting, tile work, etc. Contact Sure Window Cleaning 926-9943.

Graphic Electric, Inc. Electrical contractor available. Service upgrades, room additions, remodels, pool equipment, ceiling fans, low voltage lighting, etc. Any electrical worked needed. Licensed insured & bonded. Call 532-9160. All major credit cards accepted.

Trash removal. Trash clean-up, garage cleanouts. Will haul furniture, appliances, yard debris, lowest rates guaranteed; starting at $40. Call 285-4674.

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Town Home for rent in Meadow Pointe, gated 1 car garage, 3br, 2.5 bath, loft—Maint. Free. $1250/mo. Please call 541-3158.

M U S I C

L E S S O N S

FREE GUITAR WITH LESSONS! Don't worry about spending money on an instrument if you or your child doesn’t stick with it. Get a new guitar free when you sign up for 3 months of lessons. Offer good while supplies last. For more information visit Bigel Music, 20435 Bruce B Downs Blvd, Tampa, FL 813-907-6363.

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Home day care in a loving home. 10 years experience. We encourage social development activities, games, play times & more. Infant & up. CPR & first aid. Reg. R23PA0154. Call Hilda @ 388-9148.

B U Y I N G

G O L D

NEED EXTRA MONEY…We can turn your unwanted, old or broken gold jewelry into CASH! Take advantage of high gold prices which may not last long. Don’t sell to the fly by night companies.

Take it to Tampa Palms Hometown Jeweler. Jeweler on staff w/ 35 yrs. exp. Charles Jewelers, 9724653 (next to Stein Mart on Bruce B. Downs).

T A I C H I L E S S O N S Tai Chi Classes open to the public at Club Tampa Palms. Strength, flexibility, balance, awareness & focus are some of the benefits of Tai Chi. Classes geared for all ages & skill levels. Over 28 years of Martial Arts teaching & training.

Wednesdays 8-9 pm and Tuesdays 2:30-3:30 pm. $10/per class. Call Peter @ 787-7560.

Enjoy your time & let A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service do the work for you. We provide landscaping, lawn maintenance, clean-ups, tree & hedge trimming, sodding, sprinkler repair & fertilization. Other services also available. 907-LAWN Licensed & Insured. Call Bill @ 973-3825.

Lawn maintenance * commercial & residential * rentals * HOA clean ups * investment properties *

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 20 • October 2, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com