New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 29, Issue 21, October 12, 2021

Volume 29 Issue 21

INSIDE: A New Service For Our Advertisers?

See page 3!

October 12, 2021

Grand Local artist Antony Capers and his neighbors in Grand Hampton have gone Hollywood... and maybe a little bit crazy. See page 10!

On The Move Kobe Japanese

Steakhouse is moving, but is staying in New Tampa. See pg. 8

BEST FOOD IN THE CHAP?

Bowled Over

D o yo u r k i d s wa n t t o t a ke a s h o t at t h e g a m e o f c r i ck e t ? S e e p g . 2 8

Vote Now!

See pgs. 32-34

Is Omari’s Grill One Of Your Wesley Chapel Favorites?

If you’re not sure, check out the story on pages 36-37!

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Check Out This New Service We Are So Proud To Offer!

3 THINGS TO KNOW

The plaque (right) preserving the Dining

By GARY NAGER Feature story about Acropolis Greek Taverna Editorial that appeared in our last issue is the first sample

Although I have owned and been the editor of the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News for more than 27 years, about ten years ago, I started noticing that a number of businesses had plaques on their walls that displayed the Business and Dining Feature stories we had written about them.

Because my staff and freelance writers have always done such a great job of writing these Business Feature stories, I certainly could understand why those businesses were proud to have our masthead and the stories we worked hard to create displayed on their walls.

But, yours truly? Not so much.

I just couldn’t understand why those businesses wouldn’t just ask me if I could create plaques for them, since my hyperlocal business was the one that did the interviews, took the pictures, wrote, edited, published and directly mailed those stories to tens of thousands of their neighbors — and virtually all of those stories brought those businesses in new customers and stimulated interest in their businesses that they never had before.

Instead, a big part of the reason they never thought to ask me was because there have been businesses out there — at least two that I know of (more on them below) — who (originally) would purchase a subscription to the Neighborhood News and send those businesses proofs of the stories that we sweat blood to create about them in order to sell them those plaques.

The more of these plaques I’ve seen in those offices, restaurants and retail establishments — and there have been hundreds of them I’ve seen personally over the years — the more my blood boiled. Plus, we made it even easier on these not-local businesses to use our work to create those plaques by posting electronic versions of every New Tampa and Wesley Chapel edition of our publications on our website.

I was at one of my advertiser’s locations when my blood boiled over. Although that advertiser admitted that she “wasn’t sure” if the person from the company that reprinted our work on the plaque at her office represented their company as being “affiliated” with us, she was under the impression they were and went ahead and spent nearly $200 to have them create the plaque that so ticked me off.

The two companies who seem to be lying in wait for us every time we publish a new issue are “That’s Great News” and “In The News” and I have had words with the local sales reps for both companies, because whether or not it’s illegal for them to use our published content without our permission (it’s not), I am tired of them using our masthead, logo and content we work so hard to publish to make money in a business that we could do ourselves. And, I’ve warned both companies that the time was coming when I would do just that.

Well, that time is now. I want all of our advertisers and readers to know that you no longer have to utilize either of these two companies to preserve our business, dining and news stories — and we will even do it for less!

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of what we can and hope to do for everyone who wants to display our work.

We offer a variety of plaque and border colors and have the ability to modify the story to fit on any size plaque to fit in any space you have on your wall. And, you don’t have to be a current advertiser to have a plaque created.

We guarantee professional work direct from its source and 100% satisfaction.

To order your plaque of any story from any issue of Neighborhood News, email me at ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com.

There won’t be any rides at the 1Festival 17th annual Wesley Chapel Fall at the Tampa Premium Outlets this year, but with more than 60 food trucks to choose from, that might be a good thing.

They are calling it the World’s Largest Food Truck Rally ever, and you can check it out Oct. 30-31!

a place that some say 2longFor lacks culture, it won’t be too now before New Tampa has

its own Performing Arts Center and two large ethnic grocery stores, all within two miles of each other. That’s pretty cool.

couple of things that New 3areATampa could still really use some public tennis and pickleball courts. Just sayin’.

New Tampa Neighborhood News

OUR NEW ADDRESS: 28949 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Isabella Douglas Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisement reservations for Volume 29, Issue 23, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, October 25, 2021.

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

New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa 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.

© 2021 JM2 Communications, Inc. For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 21• October 12, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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City’s Plan For Tampa Palms Blvd. Raises Some Eyebrows

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Tampa Palms Blvd. is getting repaved, thanks to nearly $3 million in the City of Tampa’s 2022 budget, and planners would also like to put the failing roadway on a… well, diet.

That was the suggestion at a Sept. 28 virtual presentation and Q-&-A session, as the city kicked off the public input portion of the planned redesign of Tampa Palms Blvd.

Cal Hardie, P.E., the City of Tampa’s capital projects manager, said the best solution to the main concerns raised in past meetings about Tampa Palms Blvd. — namely pedestrian safety and speeding along the arterial roadway — would be to reduce it from four lanes to two lanes, while adding other safety enhancements.

“There is a need for traffic calming and there is speeding along the corridor,” Hardie said. “The fact that you can’t enforce the speed limit makes us look for other means of controlling speeds. With that in mind, we developed a concept to take out a travel lane (in each direction).”

According to a recent study, the aver-

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This and other portions of Segment 1 of Tampa Palms Blvd. will be resurfaced and restriped, but city planners have bolder plans for the failing road, like reducing it from two lanes in each direction to one. (Photo provided by the City of Tampa)

age driving speed in the corridor is 47 mph, and 43 mph in school zones. The current speed limit is 40, which would be reduced to 35 mph under the new design.

The loss of a lane didn’t seem to sit too well with some of the residents on the virtual meeting call, where they were able to ask questions and make other suggestions.

Most of those who submitted questions offered other their own solutions, like keeping the four lanes and just narrowing them, worried that reducing the roadway to one lane would cause bottlenecks.

“The prospect of taking (a lane) away from Tampa Palms Blvd. seems to be something of a stretch,” said District 7 Tampa

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City Council member Luis Viera, who represents New Tampa. “But I’m certainly here to listen.”

Hardie said traffic calming could be accomplished by narrowing the existing lanes, “but it’s not nearly as effective as actually removing a travel lane.”

Tampa Palms Blvd. is being resurfaced in two segments – the south loop (or Segment 1, see map on next page), which runs from the north intersection of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to the south intersection through Tampa Palms Areas 3 and 1), and the north loop, or Segment 2, which runs from the south intersection of BBD to Ebensburg Dr. In Tampa Palms Area 2.

Both segments are great candidates for a “road diet” according to Hardie, based on current ADT (average daily traffic) numbers. Segment 1’s ADT number is 9,515 daily trips, a number expected to rise to 11,611 by 2040.

Segment 2, the shorter of the segments, has 3,455 daily trips and is projected to have 4,216 by 2040.

Hardie says anything under 10,000 is considered a great candidate for reduction, and 10,000-15,000 is considered a good

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candidate. Because Tampa Palms is mostly developed out, those numbers aren’t expected to fluctuate or change much, he added.

Hardie unveiled a rather expansive plan, called a Complete Street Project, that goes far beyond just repaving the cracking road from Ebensburg Dr. to the south intersection with BBD, and then continuing on to the northern intersection.

The portion of Tampa Palms Blvd. north and east of Ebensburg Dr. to BBD was previously resurfaced in 2012 and is not included in the project.

A two-lane Tampa Palms Blvd. will reallocate right of way space for buffered bicycle lanes, enhanced crossings, additional school pickup lanes for Tampa Palms and Chiles elementary schools and even include roundabouts at the northern and southern intersections at Compton Dr. Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs), or pedestrian-activated warning devices, would be installed at the highest volume crossings at Amberly Dr. (west & east of BBD), Treeland Ct., Tampa Palms Trail and the northern intersection of Compton Dr.

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The intersections at BBD themselves would remain untouched.

Hardie is aware that there will be resistance to the initial plan.

“This is the beginning of our public input,” he said. “This is not the not final design. This is basically our first stab at what we think is possible, based off some of the feedback we initially received. This is just the beginning of the dialogue.”

And, by the way, none of it is funded, he added. Only the resurfacing and restriping of Tampa Palms Blvd. is accounted for (in the city’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget; see pgs. 6-7) at this point. Hardie said more meetings will be planned in early 2022, before the resurfacing begins.

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New Tampa Scores In City Of Tampa’s Fiscal 2022 Budget

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

The City of Tampa’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget includes money for things like fire stations and better roads, but the process, for a change, didn’t involve having to put out any proverbial fires nor did it even encounter any bumps in the road.

Instead, it was smooth sailing, as the Tampa City Council unanimously approved Mayor Jane Castor’s $1.8-billion budget on Sept. 28.

There was nothing but praise and back slapping as the budget passed its final challenge, and few Council members were happier than District 7’s Luis Viera, whose district includes the city portions of New Tampa.

Not only did Viera help secure millions for fire rescue overhauls in the North Tampa area of his district, but there were also millions more included for a number of New Tampa projects, like a future Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) Station (No. 24) in K-Bar Ranch and $1.6 million for the completion of the New Tampa Inclusive Playground, as well as almost $3-million for the repaving of Tampa Palms Blvd. (see story on pg. 4).

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District 7 Tampa City Council member and New Tampa resident Luis Viera was happy that so much of the City of Tampa’s Fiscal Year 2022 budget benefits our area.

“I want to highlight that this is a really historic public safety budget,” Viera said.

“I’ve talked to a lot of people, and they tell me they have never seen a budget like this.”

While maintaining high standards of public safety is arguably the most important task of City Council members, issues related to fire rescue reached a boiling

point late last year, when a report released by the International Association of Fire Fighters showed major issues with the city’s fire rescue network.

While Fire Station No. 13, located near Busch Gardens and the busiest station in Tampa, also is located in Viera’s district and was of the greatest concern, the four Tampa

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Fire Rescue (TFR) stations currently located in New Tampa are all among the six with the slowest response times in the City.

New Tampa’s four TFR stations include: No. 20 (located on Bruce D. Downs Blvd. in Tampa Palms), Nos. 21 and 22 (both located along Cross Creek Blvd.), and No. 23, which opened in 2019 on Trout Creek Ln., just south of County Line Rd. The budget includes about $5 million to fix the issues in North and New Tampa.

Roughly $3.5 million will go towards building and staffing Station No. 25, a few miles west of the beleaguered Station 13.

The rest will go towards Station No. 21 upgrades ($160,000), a heavy duty rescue vehicle for 21 ($810,000) and $650,000 towards the design and planning of a new station, No. 24, in the K-Bar Ranch area.

“I know the people of District 7 are very, very thankful to the Mayor and the Council for their collaborative leadership,” Viera said at the Sept. 28 Council meeting.

“That means millions of dollars for North Tampa. And a brand new fire station, that is a major thing….as well as millions for New Tampa which has 4 of 6 longest response times in the City of Tampa.”

The new budget went into effect at the start of Fiscal Year 2022 on Oct. 1.

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Kobé Steakhouse To Move; Lotte Plaza Market Starts Permitting

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Kobé Japanese Steak House, which has been located at the corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Pebble Creek Dr. since 2011, is moving down the road to the old Vuelo’s/Señor T’s/Romano’s Macaroni Grill site in front of New Tampa’s Home Depot.

According to Hien Nguyen, a spokesperson for the family-owned mini-chain, as soon as remodeling is completed on the former Vuelo’s, Kobé “will transition from our current location.”

Nguyen says the new location, “will be larger to accommodate our growing team and business. We aim to transition by the end of this year.”

The new site for Kobé is 7,000 square feet — giving the restaurant roughly 1,000 more square feet to accommodate a larger kitchen for it’s growing to-go business — and offers more parking.

The successful and highly-rated Japanese steak house, one of 12 located in Florida, is now going to try to succeed where others have not when it moves into the former Vuelo’s Mexican Restaurant location, which was previously Señor T’s and before that Macaroni Grill, which closed in 2013.

Señor T’s opened in November 2015 but was poorly received and scathingly reviewed by many. It failed to make it through even a year, closing its doors for good in July 2016.

The Mexican eatery was rebranded, redesigned and opened with a new, but still Mexican-based, menu as Vuelo’s a few months later, in November. But, whether it was the food or the location, Vuelo’s died out just over a year later and the restaurant has been empty since 2018.

Can another restaurant succeed in that seemingly cursed location, which can be difficult to get in and out of from BBD? Probably, considering that Chili’s has had staying power right next door. Plus,

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Kobé Japanese Steak House’s move to its new location at the former Vuelo’s Mexican Grill on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (below) could be completed by the end of the year.

Kobé has an established reputation and is popular in New Tampa (at least according to our annual Reader Surveys, which always give the restaurant high marks). And, according to 2,756 Google ratings, Kobé has a 4.7 out of 5 rating. Yelp reviewers give Kobé 4 out of 5 stars.

In addition, Kobé has been the most successful/longest lasting of all of the restaurants to have come and gone from its location in front of the Pebble Creek Collection.

The saga began when Tampa Bay media personality Jack Harris leant his name to (and co-owned) Harris & Co., the original restaurant in Kobé’s location, which opened to rave reviews in 1997 but closed in 2000. But, Harris & Co. would just be the first of five restaurants in the building, which also has been home to

Durango Steak House (2000-02, 2003), the Durango-owned Sammy Frogs (2004) and Wasabi Japanese Steakhouse (2006-11) prior to Wasabi selling its spot to Kobé.

Lotte Starts Permitting!

We told you back in February that the long dormant Sweetbay Supermarket property, after eight years of being empty, was finally sold to the folks who run the popular Lotte Plaza Market Asian grocery stores, and the new owners have officially begun the permitting process.

According to City of Tampa permitting records, Emerald Coast Permitting in Santa Rosa Beach, FL, applied for a zoning review in order to receive approval for a grocery store with a limited food court, which city planners deemed to be acceptable.

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Next up will be a construction permit prior to work beginning to overhaul the old Sweetbay into New Tampa’s largest ethnic grocery store.

The Lotte Market will be approximately 55,000 square feet. Taaza Mart, which opened last year, is 17,000 feet.

Founded in 1976, Lotte Plaza Market is one of the premier Asian groceries in Maryland and Virginia, where it has 12 locations. It opened its first Florida location in Orlando on W. Colonial Dr. in February 2019. New Tampa will be its second Florida location.

All Lotte Plaza Markets offer a wide choice of Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese food items and ingredients, an impressive selection of meats and fresh fish and a huge variety of fruits and vegetables typically not found at your regular American grocery stores.

Although there aren’t yet any detailed plans available, the Orlando store, as an example, also has a hair salon, bakery and a food court that are all draws themselves, featuring restaurants like Seoul Soon Tofu, Joen Korean, Izziban Katsu, Pho 54 and Taglish, a Filipino-American concept.

Marathon Drive-Through?

After months of reviews and permitting issues, Barracuda Stations, LLC, owners of the Marathon gas and convenience store located at the corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and North Palms Village Pl., is ready to go before the Tampa City Council in the hopes the Council will approve its special use request to add a drive-through window and restaurant to the location.

Tampa’s Development Review and Compliance staff says the request by Barracuda Stations, LLC, is consistent with the city’s Land Development Code.

The drive-through window will be located on the north side of the 3,618-sq.-ft. building. There hasn’t been any word yet as to what restaurant will be serving out of it.

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Grand Hampton: The Movie Series

By JOHN C. COTEY

what Merric was looking at, and not to leave them hanging,” Capers said.

So, he didn’t. He shot two more A strange alien-like creature is chained episodes with his son, basing the story on to the wall. Four kids lay motionless on an idea that has been bouncing around his the floor, marked with blood. A menacing head for years — where a community that is woman in a white lab coat steps over them comprised entirely of people in the witness to talk to a baby girl dangling from the ceilprotection program is used to harvest the ing. A light fog flows through the scene. lungs of those who won’t be missed.

This is just a regular Wednesday or With requests for more Thursday night in the Grand episodes, Capers started Hampton garage of 45-yearasking for community volold Antony Capers, where, on unteers to play roles in the this night, he is filming another production. episode of his quirky, campy, Richard Villarino was creepy — and even funny — first, playing a neighbor in web video series that has much Episode 3 concerned that of his community buzzing. children were disappearing.

Capers, a freelance Another neighbor, Andesigner who owns his own nette Simmons-Brown, sent production company, Reelisin a head shot and, perhaps tic Tales, is an accomplished because her bald head (at painter, graphic designer and the time) gave her a more has even written and illustrated minacious look, was pegged children’s books. He also is to be the evil Dr. Annette, the creator of “Grand Hampt’s really a labor of the harvester of kids’ lungs, ton: The Movie Series.” a few episodes later. love for me. I’ve met He says the series, which “I don’t know why he so far has posted 16 episo many of my neighbors, picked me...but I’m glad he sodes and can be viewed on and it’s become a closedid,” Simmons-Brown says.

YouTube by searching for knit production of new “It’s been so much fun. If I “Grand Hampton Movie,” friends.”— Antony Capers had to rate the whole expehas changed his life. The rience on a scale of 1-to-10, series has 151 subscribers, and of “Grand Hampton” I’d give it a 15.” roughly 6,000 total views. A Taabish Ajaney, a 15-year-old North party was held in the Grand Hampton clubTampa Christian Academy student, meshouse for the Season 2 premiere. saged Antony on Facebook looking for a He doesn’t get paid to do the show — a new episode is posted each Sunday — but he role. He landed a part, but also has extensive editing experience and has taken on the role says it has brought him the kind of joy that of intern, helping shoot many of the scenes. is priceless.

Julia Rees, a 26-year-old medical school “It’s really a labor of love for me,” student, donned a red hood, black makeup Capers says. “I’ve met so many of my neighstreaked across her face and a 10-inch knife bors, and it’s become a close-knit production while emerging in the Season 1 finale as a of new friends.” mysterious hero...or perhaps a villain.

What began as a short 45-second clip “He just said I’d be a bad ass,” says morphed into a series of short episodes Rees. “I’m not sure where the character is filmed exclusively in Grand Hampton, stargoing, but I’m along for the ride.” ring only the community’s residents.

Roughly 50 neighbors, many who gath“It’s like my Hollywood playground ered to watch the filming of the latest episode, back here,” says Capers, a Queens, NY native. have played roles. Kelly and Lura Mulroy and Which is not how it all began. His Latasha Scurry play television anchors, Henry initial 45-second clip of his son Merric starScurry is convincing — and arguably the best ing out across a lake in a trance, pointing at actor in the series — as the head bad guy, and something only he could see, was done for Ishban Howard has played multiple roles, Capers’ portfolio. including one as the chained up alien.

But, he decided to post the clip on Nicole Reber is another bad guy who Grand Hampton’s community Facebook page made her debut recently in Season 2, Epifor fun, and the rest, as they say, is history. sode 3, and her three children — Ashton, “Everybody who commented asked john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Above: The scene that started it all for “Grand Hampton: The Movie Series,” with Antony Capers and his son Merric. Below: “Your young lungs can save my planet,” the evil Dr. Annette (played by Annette Simmons-Brown, bottom) tells baby Jahnai.

“I

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Dylan and Skyla — were all snatched by the aliens in the same episode. Others have helped build sets and set up other scenes, while Capers’ next door neighbor Chace Scurry not only played a part, but her infant daughter Jahnai was the one dangling from the ceiling while mom nervously looked on. “Can you believe she let me do that?,” Capers says, chuckling.

Jordan Caviggia read about the show on Facebook, and brought his son Jaxon, 9, to the most recent shoot, where he played one of the children in the garage.

“It sounded like it’s a fun time, and I thought Jaxon would enjoy it,” Jordan said.

Capers thanked him for showing up, and asked the elder Caviggia if he was interested in having a part, too.

Five days later, Caviggia filmed a scene playing the head of a newsroom.

“This has really ended up being about bringing people together,” he says. “It’s not about the show. I mean, there’s a story there, but it’s about community.

It’s weird, and it’s a weird thing that’s happening, and I love it.”

Would Capers love for his show to catch the eye of a Hollywood executive? Of course.

“If not, I’ll just keep filming with my friends,” he says.

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New Tampa Players Cut Ribbon On Uptown Stage Home

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent Although the New Tampa Players (NTP) have big plans for when their permanent home at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (PAC) opens behind the Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza (off Bruce B. Downs Blvd.), the theatre troupe isn’t missing a beat in the meantime, as it brings the performing arts art to the community in and near New Tampa.

Last month, NTP officially cut the ribbon on Uptown Stage, its black box theatre at the University Mall on E. Fowler Ave. Moving from space to space is nothing new for the local community theatre troupe, which is made up of performers from all over the Tampa Bay area. In the nearly 20 years since New Tampa Players were founded in 2002 by Doug Wall, it has never had a permanent home.

While NTP signed a lease for the Uptown Stage in early 2020 and began performances and activities there earlier this year, the troupe held off on an official ribbon cutting until September 14.

“We used Covid to remake the space,” which used to be a Radio Shack, says Nora Paine, NTP’s producing artistic director. “We

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After years without a permanent home, the New Tampa Players could soon have two homes — at the University Mall, where the theatre troupe celebrated signing a lease (above), and at the forthcoming New Tampa Performing Arts Center in the new Hunter’s Lake development. did a soft opening through the summer, just organization for 13 years overall, NTP named to get our bearings and get used to producing her its first official employee. stuff in that space. Then, we scheduled the Because of NTP’s growth and expanded ribbon cutting for September so more people vision, the organization agreed to a governcould attend after summer vacations.” ance change and chose Paine to serve in a role that functions as both the troupe’s CEO Paine’s role as producing artistic director and artistic director. is new. After serving as NTP’s volunteer presiShe oversees all of the activities at Updent since 2017, and volunteering for the

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town Stage and is looking forward to when NTP can move into the PAC, as well.

“We will keep Uptown Stage even when we move,” says Paine. “It’s a good space for small shows.”

She says the PAC will be a big stage with 350 seats, allowing NTP to bring back big musicals that are loved by the community, such as “Annie” and “The Little Mermaid.”

At the Uptown Stage ribbon cutting, Hillsborough County commissioner Ken Hagan said the PAC will be ready to open sometime between Aug. 2022 and Jan. 2023.

“But, if we want to do smaller shows with less name recognition, or do some things that are normally not done, Uptown Stage will be a great spot,” says Paine, “so we intend to keep both going.”

The Uptown Stage space also allows NTP to stage smaller productions, where people who have never been in a show and would like to try can gain a small experience to help them develop their acting “chops.”

Uptown Stage keeps NTP close to the audience they’ve developed while performing at the nearby University Area Community Center the last few years. As the Center’s own programming grew, however, the performances could no longer be supported and

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NTP had to find a new location.

The first show at Uptown Stage was held in May. For NTP’s summer season, small groups performed “The Amish Project,” “Motherhood Out Loud,” “Bloom” and “Polka Dots.”

The space also is used for Saturday morning arts classes for students at nearby Muller Elementary. These often bring in guests to connect kids to the arts, and range from puppet theatre to acting to painting.

“Uptown Stage allows us to continue to pursue our mission to give as much access to the arts to as many people as possible in Tampa,” says Paine.

More than a half-dozen additional shows remain for NTP’s 2021-22 season. In January, for example, the troupe will present “Black Butterfly, Jaguar Girl, Pinata Woman and Other Superhero Girls Like Me,” in cooperation with Tampa City Ballet, combining the arts of theatre and ballet for the audience. Tampa City Ballet’s Paula Nuñez will choreograph pieces especially for the NTP production.

Coming up next is a production called “The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later,” which is a follow-up to “The Laramie Project,” a show about the 1998 murder of gay University of Wyoming student Matthew Shepard. “10 Years Later” is from the same creators, looking at what happened in

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the decade after that tragedy.

“Lots of people do ‘The Laramie Project,’” explains Paine, “but I haven’t seen ‘10 Years Later’ done anywhere in this area.”

“The Laramie Project: 10 Years Later” opens on Friday, October 15, at Uptown Stage. Tickets are available at NewTampaPlayers.org /tickets.

In addition, this fall will mark Season 2 of NTP’s “Amazing Arts Challenge,” a reality show modeled after “The Amazing Race” on CBS-TV. It sends teams all over Tampa as a way to bring arts organizations together and share with the community all the “cool arts stuff” in the area.

Last season featured well-known spots like the Tampa Theater and Straz Center, along with lesser-known murals, dancing companies, and more.

“We were looking for a way to brings arts organizations together during Covid,” Paine explains. “We wanted to be outside and not have people packed closely together, and give people the opportunity to watch from home but not be sitting in front of a computer for hours.”

Last season’s Amazing Arts Challenge can be viewed on the website, as well.

Anyone interested can learn more on the NTP website at NewTampaPlayers. org or by emailing Nora.Paine@NewTampaPlayers.org.

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Dr. Jureyda Loves Making Patients Smile At Radiance Orthodontics

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent When Sam Jureyda, D.M.D. (Doctor of Dental Medicine), opened his Radiance Orthodontics more than five years ago in Tampa Palms, he often said his practice provided “modern orthodontics for all ages.”

He hardly could have imagined how much the term “modern orthodontics” would have evolved since then.

“Orthodontics is a rapidly-changing, dynamic specialty that offers kids, teens and adults more options than ever before,” Dr. Jureyda explains. “But, that also makes it confusing for patients.”

This happy orthodontist, whose job it is to straighten and align teeth and jaws, has practiced for more than 25 years.

Before moving into private practice in 2006 — and subsequently opening Radiance Orthodontics in 2016 — he taught graduate-level students at the University of Buffalo, after earning his D.M.D. degree from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine and his Certificate of Specialty in Orthodontics from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, D.C.

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Dr. Sam Jureyda, or Dr. J as his patients call him, has been a slam dunk for those looking for the perfect smile at his Radiance Orthodontics in Tampa Palms.

(Photos: Courtesy of Radiance Orthodontics) requires a personalized and completely Dr. J, as his patients call him, says everyone who is considering their options custom treatment plan,” he says. “We can help you understand your many options for improving the alignment of their teeth and choose the best course of treatment and bite can benefit from the free consulfor yourself or your children.” tation offered at Radiance Orthodontics.

At the complimentary, no-obliga“Each patient has unique needs and

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tion consultation, Dr. J will provide a thorough examination and recommend either traditional braces or Invisalign. The choice, however, is still up to the patient, and Dr. J will help you understand the pros and cons of each type of treatment.

Even traditional braces continue to evolve and use better technologies, and are typically available in either metal or clear ceramic. Dr. J also can work with patients if they have a specific request, such as someone who recently asked for gold-plated metal brackets. Radiance Orthodontics will happily accommodate any such customized requests, if it is at all possible.

Dr. J says that Invisalign, which uses a series of invisible, removable, comfortable aligners to straighten teeth, is a constantly improving method that is now so effective, it often works more quickly than traditional braces.

Fancy television commercials may say that “do-it-yourself” options can work just as well, but Dr. J emphasizes that having treatment in person with an orthodontist provides you with access to an expert who will check your progress every step of the way to keep you on track and watch to ensure no problems develop or worsen.

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Radiance Orthodontics uses an iTero scanner to capture images of the teeth and gums. This means no more goop in your mouth to create impressions. Instead, Dr. Jureyda or an orthodontic assistant will use a compact, hand-held wand and optical digital technology to create 3D images of a patient’s mouth. It takes just a couple of minutes, and the process can be stopped and started as many times as necessary if a patient experiences any discomfort.

Dr. J says it’s much more comfortable and easy than taking impressions the old-fashioned way, and streamlines the process of moving from diagnosis to treatment. Patients can view their “before” images immediately on the screen during the appointment, and a proposed “after” image comes via email shortly after.

In between, Dr. J takes time to carefully review exactly how the technology recommends the teeth be moved into position, using his decades of experience to be sure that each of his patients receives a treatment plan that is perfect for them.

While the technology adds some degree of automation, it doesn’t replace his careful eye and expertise throughout the process.

Dr. J’s patients say the best thing about coming to Radiance Orthodontics is the way they are treated as a friend. In

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Dr. Sam Jureyda fact, he encourages anyone interested in learning more about his practice to Google it and read the reviews.

“It warms my heart that every single review anyone has ever posted about Radiance Orthodontics has been five stars,”

says Dr. Jureyda. “I strive to treat all of my patients in a way that shows them the gratitude I have that they are entrusting me with their care.”

You will never feel rushed in Dr. Jureyda’s office. He is genuinely interested in his patients’ lives and families, and wants to ensure that treatments in his office fit each patient’s lifestyle and are comfortable and easy for them.

He takes time to answer every question, even those that come from the tiniest patients. “He made my 5-year-old comfortable and even took time to answer some of her funny questions,” a recent Google review by M. Haloua stated.

While Dr. Jureyda prefers to take a proactive approach to treatment, rather than wait until all of a young patient’s teeth come in to deal with problems, it’s because early intervention is typically simpler and smaller than a full treatment later.

The American Association of Orthodontists actually recommends that all children have an orthodontic consultation by the age of seven to identify any potential issues as early as possible and to keep an eye on them as teeth develop. Dr. J encourages parents to take advantage of his free consultation, and he will never recommend treatment that isn’t necessary.

Supporting Education

As a former educator, Dr. J’s passion is for children and their contributions to the community. He is an avid supporter of students and teachers, working in cooperation with all of New Tampa’s public schools as a business partner. For the past three years, Radiance Orthodontics has awarded a scholarship each spring to a Wharton High senior who has demonstrated a commitment to serve the community through volunteering.

He knows how difficult it can be to work orthodontic appointments into a family’s already-busy schedule, so some evening and occasional Saturday appointments are available.

Radiance Orthodontics also works with patients to determine orthodontic benefits through dental insurance and will provide affordable payment options for treatment.

To schedule a free consultation, text or call Radiance Orthodontics at (813) 972-1100 or see the ad on page 5 of this issue. For more information about the practice, located at 17427 Bridge Hill Ct., Suite A, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, search for “Radiance Orthodontics” on Facebook or visit MyRadianceBraces.com.

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19

Total Air Solutions Keeps Your A/C Cool, Clean & Running

By MIKE CAMUNAS Correspondent Floridians have to face a lot of dreadful things during the summer months.

Pesky pests. Stifling heat. Never-ending afternoon showers. Hurricanes.

But, if you really want to find a ticked-off Florida resident, find one whose air conditioning just went out on a summer afternoon.

Don’t let that person be you. Before it is, you might want to give Total Air Solutions a call.

If the last year or two has taught us anything, it’s that being stuck inside is no fun, especially in the summer. And, the heat is just one reason.

Total Air Solutions offers a number of services, and as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, has evolved to provide its customers even more. With a premium placed on clean air like never before in our homes, schools and businesses, Total Air Solutions co-owner and co-founder Bill Albert says his company has seen a tremendous demand for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) products.

As IAQ experts, Albert says Total

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Total Air Solutions’ technicians can solve just about any problem your air conditioning system may experience, and offer ways to keep it that way. (Photo: Charmaine George) to meet the demand for HVAC (Heating, Air Solutions specializes in customizing Ventilation & Air Conditioning) products,” solutions to best protect your home from Albert says. “As a Carrier factory-authorized these airborne pollutants.

Another side effect of the pandemic has dealer, we have the first right to these units (in many cases) been a shortage of muchas they come out of the factory. You can needed parts when your A/C unit does fail. count on us to deliver your repairs or new “There has been an economic failure units faster than many of our competitors

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— and the last thing you want is to be stuck with no air conditioning and lacking the parts necessary for your repair.”

Total Air Solutions has been serving not only the Tampa Bay area, but areas up and down the Gulf Coast for the last 19 years. But, over most of that time, Total Air had mostly dedicated its business to commercial properties — from offices to medical clinics and more.

Three years ago, Total Air started servicing residential customers.

“We’ve been in Tampa a lot longer than people realize,” Albert says. “We hire local techs and we’re continuing to grow and very interested in growing in the Lutz, New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas.”

Total Air Solutions has made strides in its quest to become the go-to service provider for air conditioning in our area, especially with people spending so much time inside these days, when compared with pre-pandemic times, as well as rising temperatures.

“Everyone needs the service much more because the air is always running,” Albert says. “And, it’s Florida. So, it’s

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been a banner year for our residential side.”

Growing The Right Way

Albert figures that Total Air, which he started in his garage with fellow co-owner/ co-founder Frank Decarlo, has nearly doubled in size over the past year or so.

Albert worked for six years as an HVAC distributor for Carrier Florida, first in Tampa and then in Orlando. Prior to that, he held positions in a solar hot water heating and installation company and at a home energy design system firm.

Decarlo previously was the VP/ general manager at a heating and cooling company in North Port, FL, for seven years, where he was initially hired as a service manager and grew that company’s annual sales fourfold. Prior to that, he was a service technician at an air conditioning firm in New York.

Now, 19 years later and having combined their efforts, Albert and Decarlo and have Total Air offices in Tampa and North Port and nearly 100 employees total.

“There are a lot of air conditioning companies out there, but there are very few qualified technicians,” Albert says.

“We’re also Carrier-certified and (have won Carrier’s) President’s Award three years in a row, but we also can fix any brand because when you call us, we send you service technicians, not salesmen.

There’s an industry term for that — an SID, or “salesman in disguise” — but that’s not what you get from Total Air. We’re not going to sell you things you don’t need. We try to find the total air solution for our customers.”

Keeping Eyes On Those Eyes

Albert says that Total Air is not only keeping homes cool and the air clean, but also is in full hurricane season mode.

While the Tampa Bay area has been fortunate so far this season, there are still two months remaining in the 2021 season.

Any storm that hits the area could require a lot more service requests.

“We’re very conscious of hurricane season because we know there can be damage or people can be without air conditioning,” Albert says. “We want to help them get it back up and running as quickly as possible.”

And, Total Air does that very well and efficiently. It’s one of the reasons the company has been able to keep customers from the very start, and the majority of its Google reviews mention Total Neighborhood News

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Air’s professionalism, responsiveness and punctuality.

“Total Air sent out Carlos, who was professional and knowledgeable about our system, even though they did not install the system,” wrote Greg MacPherson in a 5-star Google review, adding that the company that did install his system was “too busy” to help. “(Carlos) quickly found the refrigerant leak and soldered it, then tested and recharged the system. We had A/C again!”

Total Air has a number of different service plans, and recently added a premium maintenance plan called the “Safe & Healthy Neighbor Plan.” The new plan provides added benefits like a larger discount on replacement parts, high-efficiency filter upgrades and, most important, your annual dryer vent cleaning.

Many companies, according to Albert, charge over $200 for this dryer vent cleaning service alone. But, Total Air’s “Safe & Healthy Neighbor Plan” is available for $46.99 per month (for 6 months).

Total Air also has a new, informative “System Health Report” with each of your maintenance appointments. This report gives you valuable insight into the condition of your A/C unit, plus any preventive recommendations to keep your system running at optimal performance.

Albert says the maintenance of an air conditioning system, even a new unit, is vital to keeping your house cool.

“Just because it’s running doesn’t mean it’s perfect,” Albert says. “I ask (customers), ‘Don’t you change the oil in your car, too?,’” And, of course, Total Air Solutions also provides residential and commercial heating services, including installing heat pumps, as well as duct work services. You can even finance your new Carrier A/C. Total Air Solutions’ Tampa office is located at 1015 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. For more info, visit TotalAirFl.com, call (813) 247-2665 or see the ad on page 39.

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21

Visiting Angels Serves Families & The Community With Compassion

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent When families realize they need a helping hand with an aging parent or grandparent or a disabled family member, they want to turn to someone they can trust to provide care and share their burden.

In New Tampa, Temple Terrace and surrounding areas, that need is being met

by Visiting Angels, located on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace, only minutes from most of New Tampa.

Visiting Angels provides services as an alternative to moving into a nursing home, retirement center or assisted living facility, allowing people to maintain the independence of their daily routines in the comfort of their own homes.

A nationally branded company, headquartered in Pennsylvania, Visiting Angels has 600 locations across the U.S. Franchise owner and director Christal Becton opened the local office of Visiting Angels in 2004.

“We’ve been a staple in the community for 17 years now,” she says, adding that the close-knit group of five people who work in the office give personal attention and care to

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The local office of Visiting Angels on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace includes (l.-r.) office assistant Yesenia Diaz, director Christal Becton, client coordinators Wendy Blackmon and Kim Robinson and billing specialist Kim Fair. (Photo: Charmaine George) every family who reaches out to them when they need assistance.

“Most of our referrals are seniors who need some extra help,” Christal explains.

“We also can help anyone over 18 who needs assistance. Younger people sometimes need help, too, due to their own physical challenges or health issues.”

Visiting Angels caregivers provide home

care services, companion care, personal care and respite care. This can include anything from helping someone temporarily recover from an illness or surgery to providing ongoing companionship to a senior who just needs a friend.

The Visiting Angels home health care aides accommodate their clients’ schedules, whether they need a few hours of assistance

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a week or even 24-hour-per-day, 7-dayper-week care. Day or night, weekends or holidays, temporary or long-term, Visiting Angels can help.

Caregivers include both Certified Nursing Assistants (CNAs) and Home Health Assistants (HHAs). All caregivers have passed a background screening, and most are graduates of medical academies that specialize in home care and also have worked at assisted living facilities or in other health care environments.

Typical care might include grocery shopping and running errands, preparing meals, assisting with personal care and doing light housekeeping.

Christal says some clients require help with bathing or shaving, some just need a hand getting up in the morning and starting their day, while others may need their clothes laundered and linens changed.

Pandemic Assistance & More

With the coronavirus pandemic still ongoing, these continue to be unprecedented times. Over the past 18 months, Christal and the members of her office staff delivered essentials to seniors in New Tampa, even if they weren’t clients. They called it “no-con-

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tact Saturday,” delivering essentials without contact, to minimize any possibility of spreading the virus to someone who might be particularly vulnerable.

While the local Visiting Angels office is no longer doing no-contact Saturdays, calls from clients who are in need of food, meals, or shopping are still being accepted. The Visiting Angels often provide those services, but also are happy to refer families to services that may help them with these tasks, such as Instacart.

“We give a lot of advice to members of the community,” she says.

The office staff currently is getting ready for the annual Thanksgiving distribution, where staffers take meals from local restaurants and deliver them to everyone on the company’s registry who lives alone or has no family expected to join them for the holiday.

Getting Started

The first step to hiring Visiting Angels is a free, in-home assessment, which Christal personally handles. “I like to make a connection with the family. I get to see how they live and learn about their backgrounds, which makes it easier to connect them with the right caregiver.”

She says this is important to communicate to the family that she takes pride in her company and in the quality of care that will be provided.

“Most everyone has heard of Visiting Angels if they watch television, but people are often blown away that the owner of the company showed up in their home. They think that if the owner comes to my house to talk with me, then that’s a company I want to take care of my mom.”

During the in-home assessment, Christal reviews each client’s needs and asks about the types of services desired, noting the patient’s daily routine, meals, proximity to doctors’ offices and number of regularly scheduled appointments. She then prepares a care plan and selects the caregivers who are best suited to meet those needs.

but will wait on-site until the appointment is concluded. Once the patient is delivered safely home, post-op care can be provided, as well, if desired.

Christal says this service is not typical, and that it relieves any stress someone may feel, wondering if a ride is coming to get them and how long they’ll have to wait.

Having the Visiting Angels transportation waiting for them means patients don’t have to wait or wonder, or experience any undue anxiety about how to get to their medical appointment(s).

Visiting Angels’ transportation is not just for seniors. While seniors often take advantage of the services, anyone can use it.

Christal says many of the rides she gives are to and from plastic surgery appointments, anything from cosmetic facial surgeries, to tummy tucks and liposuction.

“Our office works very closely with a number of plastic surgery centers in the Tampa Bay area,” she says. “The patients or even the surgery centers call us to schedule and they tell me Visiting Angels is one of the few providing this service.”

Christal says many people don’t want to ask a friend or family member for a hand, especially when it comes to a plastic surgery appointment. She and her team are happy to help anyone who would prefer the discretion of using Visiting Angels if any post-appointment care or transportation is needed.

The Visiting Angels office serving New Tampa is at 9812 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace. For more information, call (813) 929-7067, see the ad on pg.

42 or visit VisitingAngels.com/Tampa or Facebook.com/VisitingAngelsTampaFL.

Transportation To Appointments

In addition to in-home care, Visiting Angels provides transportation to doctor’s appointments and medical treatments.

Unlike other services, Visiting Angels caregivers do not leave the appointment,

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Kids Are All Smiles When They Visit Dr. Duga & Dr. Feeney

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent Deanna Crawford was enjoying dinner with her best friend Julie Simon 20 years ago when she first met Paul Duga, DDS (Doctor of Dental Surgery). Dr. Duga, who recognized Julie as the mother of three of his patients, came over and chatted for a bit.

“This guy comes to the table, she introduces him and he was the nicest, jolliest guy I think I’ve ever met in my life,” Deanna says. “I was like, ‘Who was that?’”

“That’s the kids’ dentist,” Julie said.

“Well, he’s going to be my kids’ dentist, too,” said Deanna, even though she didn’t have any children at the time.

Guess how the story ends?

Eight years later, Deanna showed up with her son Tyler, who was 2, for his first dental appointment.

“He made a great first impression,” Deanna says, chuckling. “I don’t think I’ve ever even told him that story.”

Tyler is now 14, and about to have his braces removed. Deanna’s daughter Ella Grace, 7, is a patient as well. And, well, not that Deanna is bragging or anything, but — zero cavities!

Deanna’s choice was simple — she wanted someone who would make her kids feel at ease, maybe make them laugh or smile, and make a trip to the dentist

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something the kids would look forward to, rather than dread.

Since opening his pediatric dentistry office more than two decades ago, that’s the one philosophy that has always guided Dr. Duga.

“We provide one-on-one, private, patient-driven care,” he says.

“We provide dentistry that is safe and healthy, and also non-threatening, so kids don’t grow up with an irrational fear of dentists.”

For veterans of the office, there is nothing threatening about Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates Pediatric Dentistry, located in the Somerset Professional Park in Tampa Palms, off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Dr. Paul Duga has built a large, loyal following in his more than two decades in Blvd. at Amberly Dr. New Tampa, where a fun atmosphere is a hit with kids...and their parents.

Duga and his partner, Shawna While some modifications were made because Adams-Feeney, DMD (Doctor of of Covid-19 — such as adding Plexiglas barriers at Medical Dentistry), both have engaging and outgothe front desk — Dr. Duga says there were no drastic ing personalities, and mix in a fair amount of fun and changes because his office always considered most of humor to take the edge off any patient’s visit. the health and safety precautions as standard practice.

The dentists also are reassuring, important in these “As far as social distancing is concerned, our office heightened safety-first days of a pandemic. Dr. Duga aswas almost designed for it,” Dr. Duga says. “Our floor sures parents that their kids, and their teeth, are always plan allows us to keep families all separated and safe.” in good hands.

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He recognizes, however, that many people are even more anxious these days, so the staff does everything it can to counter that.

“We always try to maintain a spirit of positive-ness,” he says.

About The Doctors

While Dr. Duga established the practice in 1998, he says working with Dr. Feeney — as he has since she joined the practice in 2005 and became his partner in 2009 — gives children the option to choose the dentist with whom they feel more comfortable.

“I really appreciate having Dr. Feeney here,” he says with a smile.

“If a kid is struggling to connect with me, maybe the next visit he or she might want to go to Dr. Feeney. We do everything we can to keep the children comfortable.”

Both doctors are Board-certified pediatric dentists.

Dr. Duga earned his DDS degree from the Marquette University School of Dentistry in Milwaukee, WI, and then worked as a general dentist in Milwaukee. He went on to earn his Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the Louisiana State University School of Dentistry in New Orleans.

Dr. Feeney earned her Certificate in Pediatric Dentistry from the University of Connecticut Children’s Medical Center in Hartford, after receiving her DMD degree from the Tufts University School of Dental Medicine in Boston.

Parents like Deanna will bring their kids to a dentist at the first sign of teeth.

The doctors encourage parents of their youngest patients (they treat children from age 1 up to about age 18) to bring their kids in every six months to maintain good dental health.

Drs. Duga and Feeney provide examinations, cleanings, sealant place-

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Dr. Shawna Adams-Feeney’s happy demeanor takes the fear of sitting in the dental chair away for even the youngest children. (Photo: Charmaine George)

ment, tooth repairs (such as fillings and crowns), as well as cosmetic whitening and orthodontic alignments.

“We do continuous growth evaluation, bite evaluation, and provide guidance through early orthodontic care,” explains Dr. Duga. The practice also offers braces and Invisalign invisible aligners for its patients, although they do also refer some patients to orthodontic offices, when needed.

For a child who has special needs or is too young to cooperate, a parent can choose sedation dentistry. An anesthesiologist comes in to safely manage the sedation, so the dentist can focus on fixing the teeth and getting them healthy.

“We do accept dental insurance, but we’re not an insurance-driven office,” says Dr. Duga. “Insurance is a contract for paying bills, not health care.”

The staff will gladly help parents

of patients and potential new patients understand their insurance benefits.

Happy Patients

Kids like the perks, too, such as fun in the lobby — including video games

and TV screens on the ceiling and headphones in the chair, so they can watch while laying down. Plus, they get to pick the flavor for their toothpaste and receive a coin at the end of each visit, which they can exchange for a small toy.

“I’ve seen kids since they were one or two and now they’re going off to college,” says Dr. Duga. “You get to know these families. It’s been a wonderful thing.”

Deanna couldn’t agree more. She lived in Land O’Lakes when she started bringing her kids to the dentist, but now lives in Spring Hill. She jokes that she drives past “a million dentists” on the way to Dr. Duga, but when her dad asked her why she doesn’t find someone closer, the answer was simple.

“Why do I need to when I know what I’m going to get with Dr. Duga?,” she told him. “I’m happy and my kids feel safe and happy there. What else do I need?”

The pediatric dental office of Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates is located at 15293 Amberly Dr. To learn more about the practice, visit DrDugaDrFeeney.com, see the ad on page 30 or call (813) 631-1100 to schedule an appointment or to find out more about your insurance/payment options.

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New Tampa Residents Teach Area Youths How To Play Cricket

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

While many New Tampa parents can sign their kids up for leagues in sports like baseball, basketball, football and soccer that they themselves played as kids, the same opportunity hasn’t existed for the area’s large Indian population.

But now, that has changed.

Nagesh Nayak and Prahlad Madabhushi, the president and managing director, respectively, of the Tampa Premier League (TPL) — which is based at Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd. — have begun holding youth cricket camps at New Tampa’s Community Park on Thursday nights. The hope is to take younger kids and spark interest, and provide the tools and knowledge, in a game that is near and dear to the hearts of their parents and their Indian culture.

“The reason we started it was there was a great deal of interested parents, asking if there was any cricket coaching for their kids,” said Madabhushi. “There is a large Indian population in New Tampa, so there was a lot of demand.”

Nayak and Madabhushi reached out to City of Tampa Council member Luis Viera for a place to hold their camps, and Viera helped secure the New Tampa location.

While you can find kids learning how to play in the streets and playgrounds in India (like American children learn baseball, basketball and soccer), that is not the case for cricket in the U.S. Nor are there any leagues for younger players, like Little League baseball or Pop Warner football.

Nayak says he would like to provide something close to that for interested players in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. The goal is to develop new players who could then advance to playing actual matches in local adult leagues.

Roughly 40 eager players showed up on Sept. 23 for the first New Tampa camp, which has 4-6 coaches available to teach each week. The kids, who range in age from 5 to 16, are shown how to throw and hit the ball, while also learning the rules of the game.

“I think everyone liked what they were experiencing,” says Nayak, an accomplished cricket player himself. “Hitting the ball, throwing the ball, catching the ball....especially hitting the ball...they enjoyed it.”

Madabhushi has been pleased with the early reception to the camps.

“It’s been amazing,” he says. “The kids are so into it, some of them don’t 28

Young New Tampa residents are learning how to play cricket at youth cricket camps led by (below left, l.-r.) Ash Suvarna, Dhir Shah, Nagash Nayak, Prahlad Madabhushi and Srikanta Patra at the New Tampa Community Park in Tampa Palms.

want to go home. And, the parents appreciate it as well.”

While the first camp hosted all children of Indian parents, Nayak says the camps are open to everyone. In fact, he says, because of the similarity to baseball — both sports involve a pitcher (called a bowler in cricket) throwing to a batter whose goal is to hit the ball — he’d be interested to see current and former baseball players take a shot at cricket.

“I think that would be a good transfer of talent,” he says.

Nayak and other adult players in the area typically play on Saturdays and Sundays on a makeshift pitch on some extra, unused land at the Wesley Chapel District Park, roughly five miles north of New Tampa. Their hope is to eventually secure a regulation field, level and wellmaintained, at the same park, for future matches and tournaments.

As the new players at the New Tampa camp develop and learn the game, they could graduate to games in Wesley

Chapel with the better players.

“Out of the kids we had out there, 25 are between the ages of 5-12,” said Madabhushi. “But, there’s also about 8 or 10 of them who are ages 13-16, who we can take it to the next level. The first step is to move up to the adult league, and when they get familiar with that

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level, to take them to tournaments.”

Weather permitting, the camps are held every Thursday from 6:30 p.m.8:30 p.m. and cost $70 for eight weeks of training.

For more information, email tampapremierleague@gmail.com, or visit Facebook @TampaCricket.

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29

Freedom Volleyball Is Spiking Its Way Towards A District Title!

By JOHN C. COTEY

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Turning a program around sometimes takes small steps.

In the Freedom High volleyball team’s case, that small step may have come on September 23, when the Patriots shocked local volleyball powerhouse and New Tampa rival Wharton High by winning the first set 25-22.

While the Wildcats roared back to easily take the next three sets and beat Freedom for the 19th straight time, that one moment, that small step, was a significant boost to the Patriots, who are off to their best start in years with a 7-2 record.

It was the first set they have won off Wharton since 2015, and just the seventh since their last victory over the Wildcats in 2007.

“It was definitely the best we have ever played against them since I’ve been here,” said senior captain Kiera Gonzalez.

Junior setter Mallory Yee said there was so much energy at the beginning of the Wharton match, the Patriots may have been unprepared for the moment.

30

Dahlia Palacios (84 kills) is one of four Freedom players with more than 25 kills this season, as the Patriots have leaned on a balanced attack to get off to a 7-2 start. (Photo: Charmaine George)

“We got in our heads,” said Yee. “We totally should have beaten them.”

Third-year coach Amber Corbett thinks she is turning around the program, which had won only six games the previous two seasons. She had a nice group of returning players like Yee, Gon-

zalez, sophomore libero Addison Barno and junior outside hitter Dahlia Palacios, who leads the team with 84 kills.

Dahlia’s sister, Liliana, is a freshman hitter and second on the Pats in kills with 55 in her first season, and junior hitter Dylan Panganiban joined the team this

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season and has been a sparkplug.

“It’s a great group,” says Corbett.

We have more talented players, and they are all coachable and work well together.

I know for a fact this is the best team I’ve had since I’ve been here.”

Corbett has tweaked the practice dynamic, focusing on conditioning and new drills, and says she knew during tryouts that her Patriots would be much improved. In Class 5A, District 7, Freedom is 3-0 and is the only team in the District with a winning record.

“I expect to the win Districts,” Corbett said. “They can take this as far as they think they can go.”

In their two toughest matches of the season, Freedom took a set off Wharton and nearly toppled Strawberry Crest, letting a 2-0 lead in sets get away in a 3-2 loss. The losses, however, have emboldened the Patriots.

“We are definitely better than I thought we’d be,” said Yee. “I’m really proud of the team. We can win some matches at Districts (and beyond).”

“We definitely have a fighting chance,” Gonzalez chimed in.

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31

Here’s Your Last Chance To Win Free Dining In Our Annual Survey & Contest!

The Switch Is On! As I mentioned last issue, in this issue, New Tampa residents will get to vote for their favorite restaurants in Wesley Chapel, after having two issues to vote for their favorites in New Tampa. I know a lot of you enjoy all of those Wesley Chapel eateries as much as I do, so why not give you a chance to vote for those favorites, too?

The best news, for you, is that by voting for your Wesley Chapel-area faves, you’ll have an additional chance to win free dining — and who doesn’t love that?

On page 33 (right), we have listed what I believe is every non-fast-food restaurant located in Wesley Chapel’s three zip codes (33543, 33544 & 33545), plus those located on Wesley Chapel Blvd., and S.R.s 56 & 54, within a mile of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

As always, in case I missed any Wesley Chapel restaurants — or if you really prefer Chick-fil-A or Jersey Mike’s to the restaurants we’ve listed — you can write in up to five restaurants in the spaces provided, as long as your write-ins are located in either zip codes 33543, 33544 or 33545.

If you’re not sure if your write-in favorites are located in The Chap, please Google search them to make sure, as some

32

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people this year have already written in restaurants located in other areas.

Then, on page 34, there are the same five additional categories — Favorite Pizza Place, Favorite Dessert Place, Favorite Latin and Asian Restaurants and Favorite Bar — that have appeared the last two issues in our New Tampa Survey, only this time, in Wesley Chapel.

The same rules as always still apply, as in order for your entry to be considered for one of our three free dining prizes — $100, $60 and $35 gift cards to the restaurant of your choice in the Tampa Bay area — you must select or write-in five restaurants on page 33 and select or write-in one restaurant or bar in at least three of the five categories on page 34 or none of your votes will count!

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

Have fun! — GN

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2021 Reader Dining Survey & Contest!

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

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

(*Note - Do not number your selections in order, just circle, select or write in your five favorites. Although we include some restaurants located in Lutz that are outside of the Wesley Chapel zip codes on the list below, ALL write-ins must be located in zip codes 33543, 33544 or 33545.

365 Café Italiano 900º New York Pizza (The Grove) 900º Woodfired Pizza (Wiregrass) Amici Pizza & Deli (Lutz) Applebee’s Grill + Bar Arepa Mia (Lutz) Arroy Thai (S.R. 54) Asian Buffet Aussie Grill (Lutz) Bagelicious & More Bahama Breeze (Lutz) Beef O’Brady’s (2 locations) Best NY Pizza BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse (Lutz) Blaze Pizza (Lutz) Bonefish Grill (Lutz) Bonsai Sushi Bosco’s Italian to Go Brooklyn Water Bagels Brunchies (Lutz) Bubba’s 33 Buffalo Wild Wings Burger Monger Cantina Laredo Capital Tacos Caprese Pizza House Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen Chili’s China Gourmet China Wok Chipotle Mexican Grill (Lutz) Chuck E. Cheese

Chuck Lager America’s Tavern Chuy’s Tex-Mex (Lutz) Cracker Barrel Culver’s (2 locations) Dempsey’s Too (in Saddlebrook Resort) Dickey’s BBQ Don Pan Int’l Bakery Entre Panes (Lutz) Falabella Family Bistro First Watch FJ Express Florida Ave. Brewing Co. Ford’s Garage (Lutz) Fratelli’s Pizza & Café Garden Mediterranean Grille (Lutz) Glory Days Grill Gonna China Green Market Café (NEW!) Grillsmith Grove Theater, Bistro & Ent. Happy Hangar Café (Lutz) Hibachi Express Hilton Garden Inn/Garden Grille Honeybaked Ham Ho Wok Hot Wok 88 Hyatt Place Hotel/Gallery Restaurant Irish 31 Keke’s Breakfast Café King of the Coop Latin Twist Café

LongHorn Steakhouse (Lutz) Main Event (Lutz) Medilish Mediterranean Grill Mellow Mushroom Pizza & Spirits (Lutz) MOD Pizza (Lutz) Moe’s Southwest Grill Moschella’s Italian Eatery & Market New York New York Pizza Noble Crust O’Brien’s Irish Pub Omari’s Grill at Lexington Oaks Golf Club Omnivorous (at Double Branch Artisanal Ales) Outback Steakhouse Panda Express Panera Bread Pasta di Guy PDQ Pholicious Pinchers Crab Shack PizzaMania Poké Falls Pollo Tropical Pomodoro Pizza Provisions Coffee & Kitchen (NEW!) Raining Berries (Lutz) Red Robin Refuel Energy & Nutrition Rice-n-Beans Rock & Brews (Lutz)

Señor Tequila Shang Hai Chinese Sonny’s BBQ Sweetea Café (Lutz) Taco Bus (Lutz) Taco Son Texas Roadhouse The Hungry Greek Tijuana Flats Token Ramen Tokyo Grill & Sushi Top Shelf Sports Lounge (at AdventHealth Center Ice) Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant Umu Japanese & Thai Urban Grid Nutrition Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant Waffle House Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar WingHouse Wing Stop Wolf’s Den (closed; see pg. 38) Yamato Japanese Restaurant Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill WRITE-INS (Must be located in zip codes 33543, 33544 or 33545): ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________ ______________________

YOU’RE NOT DONE YET! SEE PAGE 34 FOR THE REST OF THE CATEGORIES! Neighborhood News

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33

2021 Reader Dining Survey & Contest (Page 2)!

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

Your Favorite Asian/Middle Eastern Restaurant In Wesley Chapel

Your Favorite Place For Pizza In Wesley Chapel

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

All of the Wesley Chapel/Lutz restaurants listed below are either pizza places or have NY-, Chicago- or flatbread-style pizzas on their menus.

NY NY Pizza Hilton Garden Inn/ 900º New York Pizza O’Brien’s Irish Pub Garden Grille 900º Woodfired Pizza Papa John‘s Pizza Little Caesar’s Amici Pizza & Deli Pasta di Guy Marco‘s Pizza Best NY Pizza Pizza Hut Mellow Mushroom Pizza Blaze Pizza PizzaMania & Spirits Bosco’s Italian to Go Pomodoro Pizza MOD Pizza Caprese Pizza House Villa Fresh Italian Kitchen Moschella’s Italan Eatery & Chuck E. Cheese WRITE-IN: Market Fratelli’s Pizza & Café _____________________ Noble Crust Grillsmith

Your Favorite Latin Restaurant In Wesley Chapel

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

All of the Wesley Chapel/Lutz restaurants listed below specialize either in Mexican, Southwestern U.S. or Latin American cuisines Moe’s Southwest Grill Arepa Mia Pollo Tropical Cantina Laredo Rice-n-Beans Capital Tacos Señor Tequila Chili’s Taco Bus Chipotle Mexican Grill Taco Son Chuy’s Tex-Mex Tijuana Flats Don Pan International Bakery Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant Entre Panes WRITE-IN: _____________________ Latin Twist Café

Your Favorite Dessert Place In Wesley Chapel

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

All of the Wesley Chapel/Lutz places listed below specialize in desserts (or smoothies), they’re not just restaurants offering desserts — no matter how yummy!

Dairy Queen Raining Berries 35 Below Smoothie King Don Pan Int’l Bakery 365 Café Italiano Snowie Dunkin’ Donuts Barnes & Noble Café Starbucks (3 locations) Fresh Healty Café Baskin Robbins Sweet Dreamz Ice Cream Green Mango Bianco Gelato & Dessert Parlour Ice Dreammm Shop Blondie’s Cookies Twistee Treat Clean Juice Le Macaron Urban Grid Nutrition Coffee Latitudes Menchie’s Yogurt Café WRITE-IN: Crumbl Cookie Nothing Bundt Cakes _____________________ Culver’s Provisions Coffee & Kitchen

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

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

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

Arroy Thai Panda Express Asian Buffet Pholicious Bonsai Sushi Shang Hai Chinese China Gourmet Sweetea Café China Wok The Hungry Greek FJ Express Token Ramen Garden Mediterranean Grill Tokyo Grill & Sushi Gonna China Umu Japanese & Thai Hibachi Express Yamato Japanese Restaurant Ho Wok Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill Hot Wok 88 WRITE-IN: _____________________ Medilish Mediterranean Grill

Your Favorite Bar Or Tavern In Wesley Chapel

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

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

Applebee’s Bahama Breeze Beef O’Brady’s BJ’s Brewhouse Bonefish Grill Bru Florida Growler Bar Buffalo Wild Wings Cantina Laredo Cheddar’s Chili’s Chuck Lager America’s Tavern Chuy’s Tex-Mex Cigars International Double Branch Artisanal Ales Florida Ave. Brewing Co. Ford’s Garage Glory Days Grill

Grillsmith Grove Theater, Bistro & Entertainment Hilton Garden Inn/ Garden Grille

Hyatt Place Hotel/ Gallery Restaurant Irish 31 Joe Whiskey’s Longhorn Steakhouse Main Event Mellow Mushroom Metro Lagoon Bar Noble Crust O’Brien’s Irish Pub Omari’s Grille/Lex Oaks Outback Steak House Pinchers Crab Shack Red Robin

Rice n’ Beans Rock & Brews Señor Tequila Sonny’s BBQ Texas Roadhouse The Brass Tap Top Shelf Sports Lounge Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar & Restaurant Vallarta’s Mexican Restaurant Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar WingHouse Yamato Japanese Restaurant Zukku-San Sushi & Grill

WRITE-IN: _____________________

If You Write-In A Restaurant Or Bar That Isn’t Located In Wesley Chapel’s 33543, 33544 or 33545 Zip Codes, Your Write-In Vote Will Not Count! This Includes Any Place Located In New Tampa!

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

Enter online at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net or mail your COMPLETELY FILLED IN entry form, by Monday, November 8, 2021, to: NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 2021 DINING SURVEY & CONTEST • 28949 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 34

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35

Host Your Next Event At Omari’s Grille At Lexington Oaks GC!

By Gary Nager

When classically trained chef Anass ElOmari and his wife Susana Herrera purchased Lexington Oaks Golf Club about three years ago, I was excited about the prospect of having another real restaurant in Wesley Chapel.

And, although Anass at first revamped the existing golfer-oriented menu at the golf course’s restaurant, which he re-named Omari’s Grille, he ended up scaling back his everyday offerings of fresh fish, pasta and filet mignon, and has kept the menu smaller and simpler since reopening Omari’s after the Covid-19 pandemic shut it down for a few months in 2020.

But now, while Omari’s regular menu is still mainly comprised of burgers, sandwiches, wings and other fast, simple foods favored by the golfers who frequent his completely renovated golf course, Anass has brought back some of the dishes I loved on his original Omari’s menu as specials on Friday evenings.

Anass loves both cooking and talking about cooking. So, in conjunction with this article, we recorded our second “Cooking With Anass” segment that was released a few days before this issue arrived in your mailbox, where he made an amazing Cajun pasta, with both Andouille sausage and top sirloin steak in a semispicy cream sauce that’s as good as anything you’ll find in any fine dining establishment.

“Good food is actually really simple to make,” he said as he set some hot oil on fire before sautéeing the steak and sausage together.

“The key is knowing what ingredients and how much of each to use. I love sharing my secrets.”

And, I love tasting his recipes, because Anass is a true culinary artist who serves up some of the best food in our area, even if many locals still don’t know it. So, whether you want to start with authentic Colombian empanadas, crispy calamari or shrimp tempura salad, or enjoy a great grilled chicken caprese or salmon teriyaki entrée, you can’t go wrong at Omari’s.

Great Events, Too!

Now that things have gotten a little more normal in this Covid-crazy world, people are again looking for great places to host events like

36

(Above left) Owner/chef Anass El-Omari of Omari’s Grille fires up his sautée pan to create (below left & above right) delicious Cajun pasta. (Photos by Charmaine George) (Below right) Tasty finger foods beautifully presented will help make your next event at Lexington Oaks Golf Club & Omari’s Grille a success.

weddings, quinceañeras, baby showers, anniversary parties and even memorial gatherings and you can’t go wrong if you host your next event for 20-80 people at Lexington Oaks.

Omari’s offers a complete appetizer catering menu — featuring burger sliders, minicroissants stuffed with chicken and tuna salad and more — as well as a sit-down dinner menu for events, so you can serve London broil with mushroom sauce, orange chicken and a variety of shrimp dishes, plus a dessert bar. Anass and his staff also can custom-design pretty much anything else you’d want to serve.

And, while the indoor space currently is

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limited to 80 people, Anass says he plans to extend the room out to the existing patio area, so that up to 120 people could fit in the air conditioned, indoor space. And, there is an additional covered outdoor space that can fit another 60 or so people.

“I think Wesley Chapel really needs an event space like this,” Anass says, “and the food will always be good. “Plus, we have the area down by the water (photo above) for weddings (as in the photo above) and the people love it.”

Omari’s Grill at Lexington Oaks Golf Club (16333 Lexington Oaks Blvd.) is open Wednesday & Thursday, 11 a.m.-7:30 p.m., 11 a.m.7:30 p.m. on Friday, 11 a.m., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday & Sunday. For additional information, call (813) 929-4217, visit LexingtonOaksGolf.com. or see the ad on pg. 32. Or, call the golf course’s main number — (813) 907-7270 — to talk to a catering specialist about scheduling, and designing a menu for, your event.

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37

Pick Of The Week: Balanced Foods Opens Next To Target!

WC Quick Bites

• Cluckin’ Fun To Replace Hardee’s?

A month or so ago, a new banner sign went up on the former location of Hardee’s on Wesley Chapel Blvd. (next to Goodyear Auto Service) announcing that Cluckin’ Fun, an apparent chicken restaurant, was going to replace the burger chain, but as of the day before we went to press with this issue, the sign was gone, but we hope the re-painting is for Cluckin’ Fun. • Shake-A-Salad To Open At KRATE We told you last issue that Provisions Coffee & Kitchen (previously Buttermilk Provisions) was the first former shipping container to open at the KRATE container park at The Grove.

It looks like the next crate to open may be Shake-A-Salad, a new salad-and-wrap concept from fellow transplanted New Yawkas with fresh, tasty and healthy food options and homemade dressings. Visit ShakeaSaladfl.com. — GN

In case you missed it, Balanced Foods, the six-store chain which started in Woodlands, TX, is now open in the former La Prima Pizza location next to Super Target in the North Woods Plaza at 1211 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (just north of County Line Rd.) in Wesley Chapel.

I’ve already visited multiple times and enjoyed both lunch- and dinner-sized portions of fresh, healthy, house-made entrées like the roasted vegetable and tenderloin entrée (above) and the city grilled chicken with mashed sweet potatoes and green beans. There are different lunch and dinner entrées, and all come in small, medium and large sizes to fit your diet, taste and budget.

Balanced Foods also offers a variety of snacks, from its own freshly made chunky chicken salad dip (served with gluten-free crackers, apple and celery sticks), to packaged items like yummy ChipMonk banana chocolate chip sunflower Keto Bites and addictive ICON Meals peanut butter vanilla Protein Popcorn. For more info, visit BalancedFoods.com or call (813) 778-4874 and please tell them you read about them in the Neighborhood News. We also plan to do an update on the explosion of healthy eating locations in Wesley Chapel in a future issue. — GN

Lüfka Refillables Hosts A Chamber Ribbon Cutting!

Congratulations to co-owners Danielle Howard (right in photo) and her mom Gail Strickler (center), who hosted a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting event on Sept. 23 at their new Wesley Chapel location of Lüfka Refillables Zero Waste Store at 27221 S.R. 56.

Lüfka, founded by Kelly Hawaii (left) and her husband Parosh in Seminole Heights in 2019, offers eco-friendly personal care (Jannah loved the handcrafted soap I bought for her) and cleaning products, including many refillable and zero-waste items.

For info, call (813) 596-9376 or visit lufka.com. — GN

Wolf ’s Den Closes; First Watch To Open 2nd WC Location?

For those of us who prefer mom-and-pop restaurants to chains, this may not be great news for you, as Wesley Chapel recently lost the always-popular Wolf’s Den Restaurant located on S.R. 56, but will apparently soon have a second location of First Watch, The Daytime Café, on S.R. 54, about a mile east of BBD, in the same plaza as Baybreeze Dental (see story below left).

Wolf’s Den owner Tony Carbone, who had to close temporarily a couple of times earlier this year because of a lack of help in the kitchen, closed for good before the end of August. “It was time,” he told me. “It’s been a real struggle with employees this year.”

Meanwhile, First Watch, which has a Wesley Chapel location in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on BBD south of S.R. 56, as well as in the new Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza on BBD in New Tampa and on S.R. 54 in Lutz, has not yet confirmed that it will open next to Baybreeze Dental, but we’ve been told by multiple sources that the currently empty end cap in that new plaza (also home to a BayCare Medical Group office) will be a First Watch. — GN

Now Open Or Coming Soon To NT: Bean Bar, Mint, Bagels & More?

By the time this issue reaches your mailbox, the new The Bean Bar Co. Coffee & Artisanal Eats should be open in the Shoppes at The Pointe at Tampa Palms plaza, near Koizi Endless Hibachi and Palms Pharmacy (see ad on pg. 27) at 17018 Palm Pointe Dr. The place looks awesome inside (there were still ladders and construction materials everywhere when I visited a few days before I went to press with this issue, so I couldn’t get any good interior shots, but if you’ve ever enjoyed The Bean Bar’s coffee

38

drinks from their mobile unit, you know you’re in for a treat. So, go check them out in person, or visit BeanBarCo.com or call (814) 442-7699 and please tell them I sent you.

• Speaking of beverages, both the second location of Provisions Coffee & Kitchen and the new Mint Cocktail Lounge are expected to open soon in the Palms Connection plaza on E. Bearss Ave., just west of BBD. As mentioned above left, the first Provisions is now open at the KRATE at The Grove

container park. The second Provisions is expected to open a week or two before Mint, which is owned by the same owner as the Bearss Tavern & Tap in the same plaza. Mint will have full liquor and bar snacks and it is beautiful inside.

• And, although it’s only an unconfirmed rumor as we go to press, we’ve been told that the end cap in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms previously occupied by McNatt’s Cleaners (and Cotney’s Cleaners before that) will be a drive-through bagel place. — GN

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39

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

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

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40

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CNA/HHA available to do private duty care in your home. 30 years of exp. Will attend to all of your daily needs. References upon request. Call Rhonda at 850-586-1868.

SENIOR OVERNIGHT COMPANION SITTERS Two kind senior sisters seeking work safeguarding your loved one during the overnight hours. We’ve been working w/the senior population for 10 years & have seen a need for local, English-speaking, backgroundchecked, Covid-tested, dependable companions w/their own transportation. Very reasonable rates. Call Diane or Elisa at 813-938-8614.

COMPUTER & BUSINESS SERVICES

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.

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CLEANING SERVICES

PATY CLEANING SERVICE. Comm’l or resid’l cleaning service. We have our own supplies & 6 years of exp.

Free estimates. Call 813 943 6054 or email patycleaningservice@hotmail.com.

A-to-Z CLEANING & ORGANIZING. Home & Ofc Cleaning & Organizing Svcs! We use our own supplies. Affordable & Reliable. Family-Owned & Operated. WC resident. Weekly & Bi-Weekly / Deep Cleaning/ Move-In / Move-Out. Serving WC & NT. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: 813-4621270. Local references supplied upon request.

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years exp.! Comm’l & Resid’l; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & postconstruction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in & move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates.; Refs. avail.

Call 813-531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com

LAWN & LANDSCAPING _

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ALL DIMENSIONS LANDSCAPE & EXTERIORS, LLC. Complete resid’l & comm’l landscape, hardscape & softscape. Mulch & decorative stone. Patios, decks, retaining walls, property maintenance & lawn care. Sod & lawn install’n, artificial turf, fencing, railings, soft & hard pressure washing, painting. We do anything exterior. Call (724) 541-2535 or (813) 485-6661 for a 25% discount on labor & materials.

NTLC Property Maintenance. Residential & Commercial lawn maintenance for New Tampa & Wesley Chapel.

Sprinkler repairs, tree trimming, mulching, landscaping & clean-ups also available. Licensed & Insured. CALL BILL @ (813) 973-3825.

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

CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296).

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

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

TREE SERVICE

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

Affordable Rates. 24-Hour Emergency Storm Service.

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

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 21• October 12, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News Classified Ads Are the Ones Your Neighbors READ! All Classified ads appear in both New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News!

7 issues — $120; 13 issues — $200; or 26 issues (1 full year) — $300!

To order yours, visit neighborhoodnewsonline.net/Classified Listings POOL SERVICES

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

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

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

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

PHOTOGRAPHY

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

FITNESS & WELL BEING

YOGA, PERSONAL TRAINING, NUTRITION & PHYSICAL THERAPY w/DR. LAUREN LEIVA, DPT! Phys Ed for everyone, including all children, w/a certified personal trainer who also is a degreed Dr. of Physical Therapy. Ask Dr. Leiva about her PE4ME sliding scale pay program! For more info, visit TheExerscienceCenter.com, call 813.464.0313 or see the ad on pg. 17 of this issue.

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 21• October 12, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 21• October 12, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 21• October 12, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • New Tampa Neighborhood News • Volume 29, Issue 21• October 12, 2021 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews