Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 30, Issue 22, November 1, 2022

Volume 30 Issue 22 November 1, 2022

Election Day is Tues., Nov. 8!

Early Voting — Today thru Nov 6!

MORE APARTMENTS ARE COMING See stories on pgs. 6-8!

Photo of Story at WC apartments by John C. Cotey

EDITORIAL

Wesley Chapel’s local guide to the November 8 Midterm Election.

See page 3

PUBLIX STAYING PUT?

The latest news is that the Hollybrook Plaza location isn’t moving.

See page 4

SLOWING THE SPEEDERS?

Meadow Pointe residents organize to slow the “drag strip” on County Line Rd. See page 10

THE BRUNCHERY!

Second area location has quickly become a Wesley Chapel favorite!

See page 34!

Your Last Chance To Vote...& Win! 1

To enter our Dining Survey & Contest, see pages 32-33!

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Your Last-Minute Guide To The November 8 Midterm Election!

WESLEY CHAPEL’S NOV. 8 GENERAL ELECTION BALLOT (Early voting is available thru Nov. 6)

By GARY NAGER Hector Roos/Jerry “Tub” Rorabaugh (LPF) Ryan S. Otwell (NPA) Editorial County Commission District 4

Considering the contentious state of politics in our state and country these days, it’s clear that one of the most important midterm General Elections in recent memory will be held on Tuesday, November 8.

On the ballot for those of you who live in Wesley Chapel, in addition to races for U.S. Senator, a new Representative in the U.S. Congress and Governor of Florida, are also-important races for the State Senate and Florida House, as well as State Attorney General, Commissioner of Agriculture and Chief Financial Officer.

There also is the Pasco County Commission District 4 seat (sort of) up for grabs, as Aug. 23 Republican Primary winner Gary Bradford and his friend and Write-In opponent Cory A Patterson are both technically still on the ballot, although only a space for a WriteIn appears, not Patterson’s name, and our understanding was that Patterson only planned to be on the ballot in August, in order for the Republican primary to not be a Universal primary, where all voters, regardless of party affiliation, would be eligible to vote for the three Republican candidates. Both on our Sample Ballot and at our press time, Patterson had not withdrawn his name from contention, as had Dist. 2 Write-In candidate Louie Rodriguez, which gave the Dist. 2 seat to Republican Primary winner Seth Weightman.

One Pasco School Board seat was supposed to be headed to a Nov. 8 runoff, but Primary Election top finisher Al Hernandez was disqualified because he did not move into his District 1 in time to officially qualify for the election (where he was supposed to face a runoff against second-place finisher James Washington because neither earned 50% of the vote), and third-pace finisher Stephen Meisman, who lodged the complaint against Hernandez’s residential status, withdrew when he was not added to the Nov. 8 ballot, handing Washington the seat. Meisman had planned to appeal the judge’s ruling, but that had not yet happened at our press time, a little more than two weeks before the General Election. Oh boy.

Speaking of confusion, also on the Nov. 8 ballot, following the successful passing of the Aug. 23 ballot measure increasing the property tax millage rate by $1 (per each $1,000 of taxable value) to raise the pay for Pasco’s public school teachers, are the State Constitutional Amendment ballot measures and the continuation of the Penny for Pasco one-cent sales surtax beginning in 2025 (when the current Penny referendum ends). Although the School District will receive 45% of the funds from the Penny (as will the county, with 10% going to the incorporated cities in Pasco), those school funds are for capital projects not salaries, so the School District put the property tax increase on the Aug. 23 ballot, in order to avoid confusion about the two taxes. Mission accomplished? Hmmm.

At the top of the next three columns are the highlights on the Nov. 8 ballot. While we did not have space for the entire ballot, you should have your official Sample Ballot by now.

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Gary Bradford (REP) _____________________ (Write-in)

U.S. Senator

Marco Rubio (REP; Incumbent) Val Demings (DEM) Dennis Misigoy (LPF) Steven B. Grant (NPA) Tuan TQ Nguyen (NPA) _____________________ (Write-in)

Representative in U.S. Congress, District 12 Gus Michael Bilirakis (REP) Kimberly Walker (DEM) _____________________ (Write-in)

Governor & Lieutenant Governor

Ron DeSantis/Jeanette Nuñez (REP; Incumbt) Charlie Crist/Karla Hernandez (DEM)

Carmen Jackie Gimenez/Kyle “KC” Gibson (NPA)

State Attorney General

Ashley Moody (REP; Incumbent) Aramis Ayala (DEM)

Chief Financial Officer

Jimmy Patronis (REP; Incumbent) Adam Hattersley (DEM)

Commissioner of Agriculture

Wilton Simpson (REP) Naomi Esther Blemur (DEM)

State Senator - District 23

Danny Burgess (REP) Mike Harvey (DEM)

State Representative - District 54 Randy Maggard (REP) Brian Staver (DEM)

Countywide Referendum — 2025 Penny For Pasco To Fund Job Creation. Public Safety, Environmental Lands, Education and Infrastructure.

Shall a one-cent sales surtax continue to be levied, beginning in 2025 and continuing through 2039, and shared among Pasco County Schools (45%), Pasco County (45%) and Pasco’s cities (10%) for: job creation and economic development projects (pursuant to Section 212.055(2)(d)3, Florida Statutes; public safety infrastructure, acquiring environmentally sensitive lands; infrastructure for new schools, renovations, additions, athletics, instructional technology and security; parks and recreation infrastructure; transportation infrastructure; and public infrastructure within the cities? ____Yes ____No

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Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondent Celeste McLaughlin Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Morgan Conlin Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed

by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisement reservations for Volume 30, Issue 24, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, November 14, 2022.

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

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3

Publix in Hollybrook Plaza Not Going Anywhere

By JOHN C. COTEY John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com As we’ve reported before, Wesley Chapel is getting a new Publix off S.R. 54, right across Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. from the Wesley Chapel Walmart.

And, guess where the old Publix, which is just a skip, jump and a hop away in the nearby Hollybrook Plaza on S.R. 54 and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., is headed?

Nowhere.

In fact, starting next year, the Hollybrook Plaza Publix will be beginning renovations.

That will probably be news to you, and a good many others, including us. After years of being told, and dutifully reporting, that the Hollybrook Publix would be “moving” or “relocated” to make way for the new store, we, well, stand corrected.

“You (wrote) that the current location was closing,” says Hannah Herring, the marketing manager for Publix Supermarkets Inc., “and that is actually not happening.

We’re keeping that one (in Hollybrook) open, and we’re opening another.”

That is definitely new news. We reported in September that the new Wiregrass Ranch Publix had filed plans with Pasco County for a new 60,548-sq.-ft. center, which would be anchored by a 48,848-sq.-ft. grocery store, which is correct.

But, the opening of the new store does not mean the end of the larger (60,632-sq.-ft.) Hollybrook location, which was built in 1997.

The store closing was something we had reported many times over the years. In 2015, we were told by

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Despite the proximity of the Hollybrook Plaza Publix (above) to the new Publix planned for Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., Publix says it has no plans to move the older location.

(Photo by John C. Cotey)

developers at an old Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s Economic Development Briefing that the Hollybrook Publix would be “relocating.” It has been repeated and reported a few times since.

“That was the story,” says Hope Kennedy, the CEO of the old WCCC and now of the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC). “That was my understanding.”

Heck, there was even a rumor floating around that

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the whole plaza might be razed once Publix was gone in an effort to design an intersection at S.R. 54 and BBD that actually works and would decongest traffic.

Instead, it appears that S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel will be home to two of the closest Publix grocery stores (to each other) anywhere. According to Google Maps, there’s only about a half mile between the two grocery stores if you take the roads, or a 10-minute walk.

“As it stands, we’ll have two locations, and one is going to be fairly close to the other one,” Herring says.

“I’m not sure if it’s the closest, but we do have some locations that are really close to each in some areas.”

New Tampa, for example, has three Publix stores of its own. The New Tampa Blvd. location on BBD is less than five miles from both the Morris Bridge Rd. and Tampa Palms locations.

And, according to the Publix website, there are 15 Publix stores within 12 miles of the 33544 zip code in Wesley Chapel. Considering that Publix has 836 locations in Florida and is known almost as much for its level of saturation as is Starbucks, it does make sense.

Jim Hoff, who owns the Sonny’s BBQ just in front of the Hollybrook Plaza (on the BBD side), said he always thought the day would come that the Publix behind his restaurant would be replaced by the newer Publix once it was built.

He’s glad to hear that is not the case.

“This is the first I’m hearing that it is staying,” says Hoff. “We’re pretty established where we are, but would it have hurt a little? Yes. Publix is Publix. Having it there can only help us.”

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5

Influx Of Apartments Good News For Job Seekers?

By JOHN C. COTEY John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

When District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore argued for his apartment moratorium, he promised people that there were more than enough multi-family projects coming. He was opposed to land zoned for commercial and retail being turned into land slated for sprawling apartment complexes, saying there were plenty of entitlements for multi-family projects already in existence.

Moore may have had a point.

At the moment, there are more than 20 apartment complexes, ranging from the usual to those promising “luxury” and even “elegant” living locations in Wesley Chapel’s three zip codes — 33543, 33544 & 33545 (see map on pg. 7), that are either making their way through permitting, under construction or recently completed.

If you count other projects just outside the border of the Wesley Chapel area, that number grows. There are apartments coming to the Zephyrhills side of Eiland Blvd., just across the street from Wesley Chapel. In Land O’Lakes, Zephyrhills and San Antonio, that number exceeds 30 rental communities.

All in all, Wesley Chapel could be home to nearly 10,000 apartment dwell-

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The Silverslaw Apartments (above) are being built just north of the Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel on the north side of S.R. 56 near I-75, and are one of many large rental complexes on the Wesley Chapel schedule over the nest 2-3 years. (Photo by John C. Cotey) ings in the next two years, if not sooner. already have the multi-family zoning.

And, there are more projects not There’s people holding out or not ready even in permitting yet, large multi-family to develop and are holding on to those communities headed to Wiregrass Ranch, entitlements. That’s a lot more.” the Two Rivers area on S.R. 56 and EpWhile Moore continues to worry person. about apartment oversaturation, the “The message I was attempting to debate still goes on in the County Commission. As recently as Oct. 11, members send is justified by the number we’ve sparred over whether apartments were seen either come out of the ground or more important than jobs. that are already (in permitting),” Moore District 3 Commissioner Kathryn says. “And there’s a ton more parcels that

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Starkey argued that the county has “hundreds of thousands of jobs coming...these people will need someplace to live.” District 2 Commissioner Ron Oakley, who represents the northern and easternmost parts of Wesley Chapel, agreed.

Eric Garduño, the government affairs director for the Bay Area Apartment Association, says Pasco County has always been near the bottom of statistics when it came to apartments per person. And the Tampa Bay area in general has always adopted zoning ordinances that favored single-family home developers over apartments.

“I think that’s starting to change in the sense that you can’t build singlefamily and single-family only to meet the housing needs as a community and a nation,” he says.

Wesley Chapel Blvd., which has expansion plans, is home to a number of large incoming complexes. The area around the bustling Grove Entertainment has close to 1,000 units on tap, including many that are already taking lease applications, and the corridors on S.R. 54 and 56 towards Zephyrhills have already attracted a number of projects.

“I think, generally speaking, policy makers really need to look at attracting jobs, and how that goes hand-in-hand with housing,” Garduño says. “You are starting to see it in a lot of places.”

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New & Future Multi-Family Complexes In & Around Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News map by John C. Cotey & Valerie Wegener

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Developer Finally Gets Approval For Seven Oaks Project

By JOHN C. COTEY John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com The third time was apparently the charm for developers seeking to build a 320-unit apartment complex in the Seven Oaks Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) Master Plan.

After having their efforts rejected by the Pasco County Planning Commission last year and the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) in January, and appealing the decision and going to mediation in the spring, developer DD/SR 56 LLC finally got the vote it needed to build the apartment project.

On Oct. 11, commissioners voted 3-2 in favor of modifying the MPUD and clearing the way for the new apartments and 25,000 square feet of commercial and retail space on 10 acres on Ancient Oaks Dr., just off S.R. 56, adjacent to Sam’s Club (see map).

DD/SR 56 LLC only needed to change one mind, and it succeeded. District 1 Commissioner Ron Oakley, who voted against the project in January, joined Dist. 3 Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Dist. 4 Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick by voting in favor of the project.

Dist. 2 Commissioner Mike Moore, who lives in Seven Oaks, and Dist. 5 Com-

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missioner Jack Mariano remained opposed.

They argued that the commercial designation for the 10 acres should remain because the area needs new jobs more than it needs multi-family housing.

Oakley, whose quote from the January meeting — “I’ve always felt that the size of the project is too large for the site” — was cited on a few occasions by opponents during the four-hour BOCC meeting, said his concerns about parking, traffic and pedestrian safety had been eased by the developer’s changes to the project.

“It’s a better fit on the site than it was prior,” Oakley said.

During the mediation process, the developer made a number of changes to its application, including a new site plan that includes two multi-story buildings. There will be vertical parking, and developers increased the commercial and retail space from 20,000 square feet to 25,000, which will be on the ground levels of the buildings.

There also were pedestrian safety and traffic issues that were resolved, including plans to extend and improve a walkway to Sam’s Club from the complex Opponents argued that allowing 320 apartments on 10 acres was too dense and would not only create additional traffic and safety issues, but also would set a problematic precedent for the future.

“The 32 units per acre will set a dangerous and irreversible precedent,” said Chelsea Waller of Waller Law, who represents the Seven Oaks Community Development District. “Every developer is going to come into the county demanding the same density, and there goes the unique character of Pasco County.”

A presentation by opponents claimed that the 32 units per acre exceeds that of nearby apartments The Enclave (7.2), Bonterra Parc (10), MAA’s Colonial Grand (15.9) and the Windsor Club (16.3).

More than a dozen Seven Oaks residents spoke in opposition at the Oct. 11

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meeting, citing mostly traffic concerns and compatibility with the rest of the MPUD. The location off S.R. 56 and the traffic congestion already in that area were the primary concerns.

One resident warned that such projects would lead to Wesley Chapel becoming like San Francisco (“If you go back there right now you understand what your future may look like if we approve this kind of stuff”), and another warned that the multi-story buildings could cause “sky and sun blocking.”

Waller argued that the changes made by the developers were insufficient to warrant approval. The project belonged in South Tampa or Orlando, she said, and was not compatible with Wesley Chapel’s urban dynamic.

But Joel Tew, the land-use attorney representing DD/SR 56 LLC, said that’s exactly what the developers are seeking.

“This is the poster child for a vertical mixed-use infill project,” Tew said, adding that it is supposed to look like Westchase Park or Hyde Park. “The whole point is to create a walkable look.”

While developers appear to have prevailed in their efforts to proceed with the project, an appeal could still be forthcoming, although it would likely take more than a year to get back to the BOCC.

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Meadow Pointe Residents Ask For Help With ‘Drag Strip’

By JOHN C. COTEY John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Kyle Molder tried a few years back in 2019 to draw attention to the unsafe crosswalks along County Line Rd. in Meadow Pointe Areas I and II, with minimal success.

But, as time went on, the danger only seemed to grow. In 2020, there was a car crash that killed the driver and led to the speed limit being reduced from 40 miles per hour (mph) to 35 mph, but it didn’t stop the speeding. The sounds of revving engines can be heard in the early hours of the morning, say residents who gathered at an Oct. 18 meeting at the Meadow Pointe I Clubhouse.

Another accident, back in September, involved three cars and, while no one died, it was just another example of County Line Rd.’s local reputation as a “drag strip.”

Molder, who is running for Seat 2 on the Meadow Point II Community Development District (CDD), filmed his daughter trying to cross at one of the crosswalks, only to be stuck at the median as cars whizzed by and refused to yield.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Statistical Report requested

by Molder, there have been 37 (FHP only) accidents in 2022 on County Line Rd. between Bruce B. Downs (BBD) and

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This accident on County Line Rd. in Sept. was the latest in a string of speeding incidents that have concerned Meadow Pointe residents who live near the roadway. (Photo courtesy of Kyle Molder). forced,” said Alicia Willis, the Vice-Chair Mansfield Blvds. through Sept. 9. of the Meadow Pointe I CDD (in Seat With nearly four months to go in 3), who helped run the meeting.

2022 when that report was compiled, the Venkat Vattikuti, P.E., PTOE, the total crash number is already more than traffic operations manager for Pasco in any other year going back to 2016.

Molder organized the Oct. 18 safety County, was more than an hour late to meeting, and invited Pasco officials to atthe 90-minute meeting but managed to tend, in order to shine a light on what they squeeze a lot of good news in a short deem is a public safety hazard, as well as period of time to the 35 or so residents help deal with the traffic on nearby Manswho attended. field Blvd., which is home to a preschool, Vattikuti said there is little the county can do about ending speeding. Even three public schools and a college.

“The school zones need to be reinafter reducing the speed limit on County

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Line Rd., a study showed that speeding had actually increased.

“Did we slow them down? No,” Vattikuti said. “We can’t fix the stupids.

And we know all those stupids are in our neighborhoods.”

What the county can do, Vattikuti says, is fix the crosswalk issue. Currently, there are 19 crosswalks along County Line Rd. between Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and Mansfield Blvd.

Vattikuti said that is too many. He said the county is recommending consolidating 19 crosswalks into four, each spaced a half-mile apart.

Those crosswalks would have flashing beacons that are activated by pedestrians. According to Vattikuti, studies show that the percentage of drivers yielding at crosswalks goes from 20 percent to 90 percent when there is a flashing light.

Vattikuti said that Pasco County is willing to pay for two of the crosswalks, with the Meadow Point I and II CDDs having to pay for the other two. Once installed, however, the county would maintain all four at no cost to Meadow Pointe.

If Meadow Pointe puts in a request for the enhanced crosswalks, Vattikuti promised they would be installed in early 2023. “That I can guarantee you,” he said.

See “County Line” on pg. 12

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On Oct. 18, roughly MP 30 residents gathered to ask Pasco County for solutions to traffic problems on County Line Rd. and near the schools on Mansfield Blvd. (Photo: John C. Cotey)

‘County Line’ Continued from pg. 10

And, since speed tables are not allowed on County Line Rd. because the roadway exceeds 3,000 daily trips, Pasco is experimenting with raised crosswalks — which would serve nearly the same purpose as a speed table — in New Port Richey. If those prove to be productive, they can be employed on County Line Rd. as well.

Molder said he was pleased with what Vattikuti told the crowd. “I think it will help,” he said. “It’s a good start.”

As for the tangled Mansfield Blvd. school zones, Vattikuti said the county

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would be installing a 4-way light at Oakwood Preserve, in the hopes that it will break up the congestion. Additional signage already has been installed to help keep the sidewalk free for kids walking and riding to school.

Because the county did away with courtesy busing within two miles of the schools in that area — which include Wiregrass Ranch Elementary, John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High, foot and bike traffic in that area has doubled, according to those in attendance at the meeting.

“We have to keep it going now,” Willis told the residents. “Keep emailing.

Keep calling. Don’t stop.”

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Dr. Duga & Dr. Feeney Keep Kids’ Smiles Coming…And Bright!

By NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Young, older, excited, scared — local pediatric dentist Dr. Paul Duga, D.D.S., and his dentistry partner Shawna Adams-Feeney, D.M.D., take on all comers when it comes to caring for your kids’ teeth.

So, when Kelsey Metzmeier was looking for a new dentist to take her children too, including her teenage daughter, who has autism, she asked around online and most of the posters in a popular special needs group for parents in Pasco County agreed — Dr. Duga is your guy.

“We were seeing another dentist in Tampa but needed someone new when we moved to Wesley Chapel,” Metzmeier says. “We needed someone who was good with special needs, and we went to his office and he was fantastic.”

Metzmeier’s sentiments have been echoed by other parents for decades now, as Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates Pediatric Dentistry continues to receive rave reviews for its knack for making children feel safe and at ease in its office, located a few minutes south of Wesley Chapel in the Somerset Professional Park in Tampa Palms, off Bruce

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Drs. Duga and Feeney both have engaging and outgoing personalities, and mix in a fair amount of fun and humor to take the edge off of any patient’s visit.

Both dentists also are reassuring, important in these heightened safetyfirst days in the wake of a pandemic. Dr. Duga assures parents that their kids, and their teeth, are always in good hands.

“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 Dr. Paul Duga has been one of the New Tampa partner in 2009 — gives children the and Wesley Chapel area’s most popular pediat- option to choose the dentist with whom ric dentists for more than two decades. they feel more comfortable.

“I really appreciate having Dr. B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at Amberly Dr. Feeney here,” Dr. Duga says. “If a kid is “We provide one-on-one, private, struggling to connect with me, the next patient-driven care,” Dr. Duga says. visit, maybe he or she might want to go “We provide dentistry that is safe and to Dr. Feeney. We do everything we can healthy, and also non-threatening, so to keep the children comfortable.” kids don’t grow up with an irrational Both doctors are Board-certified fear of dentists.” pediatric dentists.

Metzmeier jokes that her kids still Dr. Duga earned his Doctor of don’t look forward to going to the Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree from dentist, but, “it is definitely something the Marquette University School of they don’t dread.”

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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.

He practiced general and adult dentistry from 1984-88, and has practiced pediatric dentistry and orthodontics since 1988.

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

Many parents like Metzmeier will bring their kids to a dentist at the first sign of teeth. The doctors encourage the 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.

Metzmeier has three children — Kayleigh (14), Hunter (10) and Beckett (4) — and has been bringing them to Dr. Duga for roughly five years.

“There are a lot of dentists in the area, but we definitely wouldn’t want to

See “Dr. Duga” on pg. 16

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Dr. Shawna Adams-Feeney brings both expertise and an outgoing personality to her dental partnership with Dr. Paul Duga. (Photo: Charmaine George)

‘Dr. Duga’

Continued from pg. 14 go anywhere else,” says Metzmeier.

Drs. Duga and Feeney provide examinations, cleanings, sealant placement, 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 the doctors 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 under-

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stand 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.”

The feeling is mutual, according to Metzmeier. “He’s just very patient and a very good person,” she says. “He’s upbeat, he talks to them on their level and he has a great personality.”

The pediatric dental office of Dr. Duga, Dr. Feeney & Associates is located at 15293 Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms. To learn more about the practice, see the ad on page 23, visit DrDugaDrFeeney.com or call (813) 631-1100 to schedule an appointment or to find out more about your insurance/payment options.

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Lifetime Family & Urgent Care Offers Aesthetic Spa Services & More

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent Jonathan Yousef, D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), says his Lifetime Family & Urgent Care, located on S.R. 54 just east of Saddlebrook Resort, offers something that the Wesley Chapel community has been looking for — a primary care medical office that can meet all of their evolving needs.

Dr. Yousef is a Board-certified Family Practice Physician who earned his D.O. degree from Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine in Erie, PA, in 2000. He served patients at a walk-in clinic in Tampa before establishing Lifetime Family & Urgent Care in 2008 in Wesley Chapel. He then opened a Zephyrhills location in 2020.

While the practice still officially has “Urgent Care” in its name, and continues to treat urgent patients as it is able to fit them into the schedule — often the same day — Lifetime no longer accommodates walk-in patients.

“We are transitioning and evolving with the needs of the community,” explains Dr. Yousef, who says the Covid-19 pandemic changed the dynamics of urgent care, making it very restrictive for the practice to operate, “so we’re moving more toward a holistic practice and med spa.”

He says shifting the focus away from

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Dr. Jonathan Yousef and certified family nurse practitioner Yana Lukjantschenko lead the medical team at Lifetime Family and Urgent Care, which has transitioned to no longer take walk-in cases, but instead focus on traditional family practice and expanding its alternative treatments to meet the needs of the community. (Photos: Charmaine George)

the urgent care side of the practice has given him the opportunity to do what he really loves — build relationships with patients and help them experience healing and an improved quality of life.

“We do a lot of different things, including your ‘bread and butter’ medical care, such as blood pressure, diabetes and cholesterol, and we’ve also slowly moved toward more alternative and functional medicine.”

He says that includes providing care such as for weight loss and with herbal

supplements, probiotics, B12 injections, vitamin infusions and bioidentical hormones, including pellet insertions and creams.

And, as many of his patients start feeling better, they want to look better, too. They can take advantage of Lifetime’s aesthetic/beauty med spa services.

These anti-aging treatments include laser skin treatments, laser hair removal, cosmetic skin treatments (including Botox and fillers) and some moderate cosmetic procedures, including the Instalift Silhouette

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Threading. (The available treatments and prices are in the ad on pg. 22 of this issue).

While many of these treatments have been offered for more than a decade, the menu of services at Lifetime continues to expand, along with the training and expertise of the practitioners who provide them.

In the Wesley Chapel office, many of the cosmetic procedures are provided by certified family nurse practitioner Yana Lukjantschenko, M.S.N, FNP-C, and an aesthetician is expected to be added to the staff later this fall.

As an osteopathic doctor, Dr. Yousef has been trained to look at the body as a whole, recognizing that all of a patient’s medical problems need to be treated as one unit. He also performs chiropractic osteopathic manipulative medicine, which is placing his hands on patients to make adjustments.

As an adjunct professor at his alma mater, Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine’s campus in Bradenton, Dr. Yousef teaches these principles and treatments to students, as well.

“Traditional medicine can only take you to a point, and then sometimes it isn’t enough,” he says. “Our practice is looking at alternatives to fit the niche created because with traditional medicine, the community isn’t better. People still have a lot of aches and pains, obesity, mental health

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by using cannabis, and a military veteran who was able to use cannabis to manage pain in a way that allows him to spend an hour outside walking through nature every day, greatly helping both his physical and mental health.

Dr. Yousef says another type of patient he finds very rewarding to help are those with attention deficit disorder (ADD). He says that often people with this disorder go undiagnosed for years and, when they are finally prescribed the right treatment plan, they find all kinds of rewards, such as improved relationships and better productivity at work.

“Treating attention deficit is a niche I’ve built up because of family and close friends with a history,” he says. “I’ve treated Cosmetic injections are among the med spa treatments available, where trained medical profes- kids as young as eight to people up to age 70. It’s a field that I’m passionate about.” sionals offer anti-aging and cosmetic procedures to help people look and feel their best.

Wesley Chapel office manager Crystal and other problems. Here, you can see a who have cancer and they want medical Bond says patients love Lifetime’s small doctor who wants to talk with you about cannabis,” Dr. Yousef explains. He did staff and the fact that their practice is all of that.” his research, then training, certification owned by the doctor. and registration, to be able to help those “Our staff is wonderful,” Bond says. patients. He says these appointments for Medical Cannabis, Too “You can look at our reviews and see that Dr. Yousef says the services provided medical cannabis patients are often the are in response to patients asking for them. most rewarding of the day.

“They bring me joy,” he says. “It’s Dr. Yousef is proud to continue to add a progression of healing from when they in-house services so that Lifetime’s patients first come in to where they’re doing betcan get all of their needs met under one ter at work and feeling better, become roof, without being referred out to other more functional, and are able to resume providers. active lifestyles.”

He says medical cannabis (marijuana) He cites one cancer patient who was is one example of this. able to stop taking opioid pain medication “We have patients in severe pain or

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patients are always saying how wonderful their care is.”

Since the practitioners see ages two and older, the entire family can come to one office, and receive a variety of services at the same time.

“You can bring your child in for a physical and get Botox (for yourself) at the same time,” she says.

As the practice continues to grow in the areas of functional and alternative medicine and its beauty med spa services, Dr. Yousef and his staff are here in the community for every patient.

“If you just want to come in and get your blood pressure meds, that’s fine,” he says. “For those people who have other complaints and are seeking out holistic care, we offer many services under one roof to meet those evolving needs.”

The Wesley Chapel location of Lifetime Family & Urgent Care is located at 5801 Argerian Dr., off S.R. 54.

For more information, visit LifetimeUrgentCare.com, call (813) 991-4991, or see the ad on page 22.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

19

NTDT — New Tampa’s Place For Dance Since 1995!

Special to Neighborhood News Whether you or your child likes to dance for fun or dreams of a career on stage one day, the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT) offers dancers a worldclass, professional experience that is unmatched in the Tampa Bay area.

Located on Cross Creek Blvd. (across from Heritage Isles) in New Tampa, the 7,500-sq.-ft. NTDT is the largest professional dance training facility in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. Owner and artistic director Dyane Elkins IronWing is in her 28th season of creating dance memories and futures for her students, many of whom have gone on to study dance in college and/or dance professionally.

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

Our hearts are bursting with excitement, seeing our beautiful students again. We are continuing to give back to the community during this pandemic with our “Pay It Forward” program and offering all new students $25 per month tuition for every class!”

“Our students are extremely excited being back dancing at the school again and spending time with their dance family,” says Elkins IronWing. “We’re extremely proud of our faculty and students’ dedication and perseverance during this pandemic. They are all truly living up to the NTDT motto of ‘Respect, Responsibility and Teamwork.’”

A Chance To ‘Do As I Have Done’

Elkins IronWing says she started dancing at age 5, later trained in New York City and performed with Ballet Metropolitan in Columbus, OH. She moved to Tampa in 1995 and immediately opened NTDT in the Pebble Creek Collection. In 2002, she purchased

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The New Tampa Dance Theatre on Cross Creek Blvd. can help you train for a professional career in dance (above left), but it’s also a super-fun place for younger children to learn how to dance. (Photos provided by New Tampa Dance Theatre)

The studio’s leveled curriculum offers multiple art forms for students to explore. Through personalized attention and professional expertise, NTDT’s professional faculty strives to provide a positive educational experience.

Children ages 3-4 can participate in the school’s Early Childhood Program, ages 5-8 can take part in the Children’s Program and ages 9-18 are invited to join NTDT’s Youth Program.

In addition to classical ballet, NTDT offers full programs in creative movement, modern, jazz, tap and hip-hop.

Each program has its own directors and specific syllabuses guiding students in a structured manner through their studies.

The facilities at NTDT are as top notch as the instructors, and include maAll Ages & Experience Levels ple flooring for the tap classes, 20-25-ft.NTDT caters to both the recreational tall mirrored walls, student locker rooms dance lover as well as the devoted pre-pro- and a large studio space that can accomfessional — and every level in between. modate up to 200 people.

the current NTDT property on Cross Creek Blvd, and moved her school to the new building in January 2006.

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

She says NTDT also has a larger pool of students today, with the ongoing explosive growth in Wesley Chapel, as well as in New Tampa.

“Our name might say New Tampa,” she says, “but our location is much closer to Wesley Chapel than one might assume.

We are extremely convenient to all of the current growth (there). Wesley Chapel families are shocked to discover just how close we are and are excited because of how quickly they can drive to our school.”

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Sprung floors provide shock absorption to protect the dancers’ joints and an on-site physical therapist ensures the health of the dancers. NTDT also features a café offering light meals, snacks and drinks.

The Training You Need

NTDT has developed a reputation for creating strong, professional dancers with alumni who have moved on to highly respected dance companies, Broadway productions, national tours and even the Walt Disney Company.

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

“With just passing our milestone 25th

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Dance Theatre of Tampa’s 2022 performances of “The Nutcracker” will be held the weekend of Dec. 17-18, at USF ‘s College of the Arts Theater 1.

2.0 anniversary celebration season, it’s a time for reflection with extreme gratitude and love for all the amazing people who have been a part of our dance programs and family,” says Elkins IronWing.

One local former student certainly agrees with that assessment.

“I credit all of my success as a professional dancer to the foundational training I received at NTDT from ages 6-18,” says Victoria DeRenzo, who today is a professional dancer and choreographer who has toured internationally in 28 countries on four continents, most notably with the renowned Pilobolus Dance Theatre in Washington Depot, CT. “I loved every second of my experience growing up there,” DeRenzo adds, “but I had no idea how spoiled I was until I graduated. Not many people receive a top-notch dance education in multiple artforms during their lifetimes, let alone at the age of 6.”

If a student doesn’t choose to pursue a career in dance after high school, they can still reach a level of artistry to be accepted into many college dance programs, says Elkins IronWing.

“Believing in yourself, respecting the process of working towards a goal, and having a well-rounded dance education give our students the tools and confidence to continue discovering new passions throughout their lifetimes,” she says.

Great Productions, Too!

All students have the opportunity to perform in NTDT’s “Spring Production” and — through the studio’s nonprofit partner, the Dance Theatre of Tampa (DTT) — in the winter production of “The Nutcracker,” as well as the “Summer Concert Series,” held in June at the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus.

DTT provides more than 300 free tickets to NTDT’s corporate sponsors, local community supporters, alumni members and students. A small costume rental fee for productions is the only cost over the tuition that parents have to pay at any time — Elkins IronWing says there is never a requirement to buy advertising or pay performance fees.

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New Tampa residents Gary and Charity Hartley relocated here in 2018 from Virginia, and enrolled their daughter Hope at NTDT. “The New Tampa Dance Theatre and the entire staff were the linchpins for our transition into the New Tampa area,” Charity says. “The warmth of the studio, quality of instruction and wonderful students have made us feel right at home.

We especially love the way (NTDT) manages the educational aspect of their DTT company members, ensuring they have exposure to various dance forms in their weekly training, master classes and dance performances they attend as a group.”

Every holiday season, Elkins IronWing says local residents look forward to the community’s largest and longest-running interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet, “The Nutcracker,” now in its 23rd DTT season. This year, it will be held Saturday & Sunday, December 17-18, at the USF Tampa College of Arts Theater 1.

Prior to the performances at USF, DTT also will perform “The Nutcracker Suite” Saturday & Sunday, December 3-4, at 6, 7 & 8 p.m., at The Shops at Wiregrass.

“It’s all about the children at NTDT, always has been and always will be,” she says. “We are a company that enables children to succeed. The key is setting high expectations, all while having fun and building self-confidence. With the new season ahead of us, we would like to thank all of our trusting and loyal families over the years and the organizations that continually support our vision. Without their recognition and time, NTDT wouldn’t be the magical place it has become!”

The New Tampa Dance Theatre offers year-round free trial classes for prospective dancers of all ages. To tour the facility or to rent it for a meeting, party or function, visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd. For more information and to check out the exciting lineup of Fall 2022 classes, visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com, call (813) 994-NTDT (6838) or see the ad on page 30. You also can follow NTDT on Facebook and Instagram at “New Tampa Dance Theatre.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

21

Organic Safe Lawns Delivers A Safer Approach To Green Lawns

By NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS Keeping lawns green, free of pests and healthy is Organic Safe Lawns’ specialty.

Whether it’s because your kids play in the grass or your pets like to run around in the yard, making sure they stay danger-free is a big deal for owner Jim Schanstra.

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

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

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

In 2006, just before a scheduled sales meeting with an organic fertilizer manufacturer, Schanstra says that one of the associates said that he’d read a recent news article that claimed Florida was using more chemical-based fertilizers and pesticides on residential properties than the rest of the U.S. combined.

“That statement hit me like a lightning bolt,” Schanstra says. “It was in that

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Jim Schanstra says you can get green, healthy lawns with all-natural products, despite conventional thinking that harmful chemicals are more effective.

moment that I decided to do something about it. That was the conception of Organic Safe Lawns.”

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

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

Schanstra isn’t alone. The demand for organic fertilizers will grow 5.8% a year through 2024, according to Freedonia Group, an international industrial

research company. Organic fertilizers will make up 7% of the $3-billion fertilizer market, thanks to a number of issues — including demand for organic food products and rising awareness of the potential negative effects chemicals can have on your health and the environment.

That also extends to lawns, which are gathering places for millions of families and their pets.

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

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

Organic Safe Lawns, Inc., has now designed and manufactured more than 30 different organic fertilizer products of its own that are owned and trademarked by the corporation.

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

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

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

“Once those little balls dissolve, those chemicals end up running off into our

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aquifers, which are sometimes only a foot or two deep below, and can get into our water, streams and ponds and cause algae blooms,” he says.

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

Schanstra says those forms of release may be fine for more moderate northern climates. However, Florida’s famously erratic weather — sometimes too much rain and often too much heat — can sometimes cause the release of a month’s worth of fertilizer in a week or even a day.

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

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

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

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“A weakened root structure is like candy to bugs,” Schanstra says. “After using our treatment, you’ll see the bugs moving over into your neighbor’s yard.”

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

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

Top-coated lawns treated with synthetic pesticides and herbicides put people and pets in danger. Why do you think people applying pesticides wear rubber boots?

Because, Schanstra says, they don’t want to get any of the application on themselves.

In that case, he adds, why would you want you, your children or your pets to track that into your house?

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

The chemical herbicide Atrazine is still used widely across the U.S. and Florida to prevent pre- and post-emergence of broadleaf weeds, especially during the summer. It was found by the Agency for Toxic

Here are some important ways Jim Schanstra of Organic Safe Lawns says you can help keep your lawn green and healthy:

1. Check you irrigation regularly. Make sure all the heads are working properly.

Check that all heads pop up through the lawn and spray fully. If they do not pop up check to see if the turf has overgrown the heads. If so, take a small spade and cut the turf away from the heads, and check spray for clogged nozzles, which may need to be removed and cleaned. Uncontrollable spray could mean a broken head, which would need to be replaced.

2. Follow Florida University Watering guidelines! Apply ½” to ¾” of water at each interval. This translates to approximately 20 minutes on a spray zone, pop up in the turf, spray heads in the bushes; 45 minutes per interval on rotor heads that spray and rotate like on a golf course; 30 minutes on drip irrigation found in the bushes.

3. Never water at night! Set up your ir-

rigation system to complete its cycle by 8 am.

This allow the water to go into the soil, and the sun will dry the leaf blades preventing unwanted fungus.

4. Never water midday! The sun will burn the leaf blades like a magnifying glass lens.

5. Proper mowing is very important!

Mow every week in the growing season, April 1st through November 1st. Mow every other week in the winter months. Why is this important? Weeds grow much faster than turf.

Allowing the turf to grow 10 days to 2 weeks in the growing season will allow the weeds to get to seed head, and then by mowing you will be planting weeds all over your yard.

6. Sharpen your blades monthly for a clean crisp cut.

7. Never mow wet grass. This will cause the cut to rip and tear the turf blades weakening the plant.

Substances & Diseases (ATSDR) to have adverse effects on the endocrine systems of mammals and that it likely also contributes to some birth defects.

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

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

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

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

Schanstra says he recommends treatment every 30 days, and that it isn’t any more expensive than hiring the lawn care chains.

Organic Safe Lawns, Inc., services homes in Tampa, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes. For additional information, call (813) 3939665, email organicsafelawns@verizon. net, visit OrganicSafeLawns.com or see the ad on page 30 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

23

American Flooring Has A New Name, But With Same Great Service!

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent American Flooring may have dropped the word “Wood” from its previous name — American Wood Flooring — but owner and CEO Andy Dunning says wood is an increasingly popular choice for customers in his store.

American Flooring has been located in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwoods Plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., north of County Line Rd., since 2008.

Dunning says the word “Wood” was removed to ensure that customers understand that American Flooring sells and installs all kinds of floors — including tile, carpet, vinyl and laminate. Even so, he says he is seeing more and more people adding wood to their home’s décor these days.

He notes that wood floors are for the homeowner who wants an even more stunning floor covering than his most popular choice, called luxury vinyl plank, which sometimes is referred to as LVP. While he’s currently putting in more wood floors than in previous years, “the trends continue toward that vinyl plank because of its durability, the fact that it is waterproof, dent-proof, and super scratchresistant,” Dunning says.

Vinyl plank floors may look like wood, but they aren’t the same product.

They are made from a PVC-type material with a tight lock-and-fold system to keep moisture out, even from the attached padding underneath that is made from an anti-microbial melamine material.

The current LVP flooring options also are dent-proof, which Dunning says is an upgrade from when the vinyl planks first arrived on the scene and were made from a wood composite material.

“They’re always coming out with newer, more innovative ways to keep the product getting better and better,” he says.

You can choose the flooring that matches your taste, lifestyle and budget, and the experts at American Flooring can direct you to the materials that will work best for you. Dunning says that some

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Andy Dunning, the owner & CEO of American Flooring in the SuperTarget-anchored Northwoods Plaza on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. just north of County Line Rd., can get your new, quality flooring professionally installed quickly. (Photo: Charmaine George)

customers want as little as just one room, while others want to upgrade every room throughout their homes.

Quick Turnaround

While supply delays are normal in all industries these days, Dunning says his crews are typically installing new floors for clients in about a week.

“From order to install is about seven to 10 days out,” Dunning says, although he admits that some materials currently are on back-order, which means that some clients could have back-ordered materials delayed for several months.

That’s not normal, though, and for those who are waiting, it’s not on the installers. Dunning says American Flooring has 12 crews that are kept busy working six days a week with all the families who are remodeling their homes or upgrading their builder flooring, especially at this time.

“We do a lot of new construction,” Dunning says. “Customers are buying new houses with cheap carpet and then come to us. We do the floors before they move in, because builder prices are ridiculous.”

The process normally doesn’t delay move-in day very long. An American Flooring crew starts immediately, as soon as the sale of the house closes. It’s typical

for a crew to install 500-600 square feet of flooring per day.

Dunning says that if you have a mortgage, the builder has to install a floor covering to close. If his company pulls out brand new carpet, he will donate it to the Salvation Army or Habitat For Humanity to be used for another purpose.

For buyers who pay cash for their homes, the builder can leave the subfloor and skip the installation and removal process altogether.

But, it’s not just new construction keep-

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ing the crews occupied. Dunning says the store has been busier than ever with remodels, especially over the last couple of years.

“A lot of people are working from home and want to get something new in there,” he says.

Tammy Hellman is a repeat client who not only uses American Flooring when she wants to make changes in her home, but as a real estate agent, she refers her clients to the company, as well.

“I’m very particular about who I refer to my customers to,” she says, “and I’ve gotten lots of positive reviews from them.”

Hellman adds that she recommends Andy and his team because they have done an excellent job for her multiple times, and they also did a good job at both her mom’s and her sister’s homes, as well.

“They moved all my furniture with extreme care,” Hellman says. “They cleaned up well after themselves and did a great job on the flooring. It was a very positive experience, with a good price and great customer service.”

American Flooring also has another location in New Port Richey. That location was opened first, by Dunning’s dad and stepmom, before he opened the Wesley Chapel location in 2008.

Between the two locations, American Flooring crews travel far and wide to meet their customers’ needs, covering all

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of the Tampa Bay area and beyond.

American Flooring offers free in-home estimates, and financing through Synchrony Bank is available that allows many customers to pay zero interest for 12 months.

The company also offers a nontransferrable lifetime warranty on every installation. “A lot of companies won’t offer a lifetime warranty on the install, but we do,” says Dunning. “Sometimes the transition pieces will pop up or boards get loose, and we’ll fix that for as long as you own the house, as long as it’s an installation problem.”

American Flooring’s Wesley Chapel showroom is located at 1285 BBD Blvd. and is open Monday-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday; and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Sunday. For

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more information, call (813) 991-7999, visit FlooringforFlorida.com or see the ad on page 28.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

25

Hot Start Has Coyotes Feeling Cool

By JOHN C. COTEY John@NTNeighborhoodNews.com When Jack Niemann was told it was time to give up his goal of playing wide receiver and instead would have to learn how to be a quarterback, he wasn’t thrilled.

Someone, however, knew what they were doing.

The junior varsity starter for Cypress Creek High last year, Niemann inherited the varsity team from school record-setter Owen Walls and has engineered a surprising — at least to some — 7-1 start for the Coyotes. The latest win, on Oct. 21 was 30-27 in overtime over Parrish High, after trailing 27-10 in the third quarter.

“Surprised? Not really,” says Niemann, who said he could feel the good vibes in the spring and summer. “I knew we had some good players, we had a good spring game, and we worked hard. I could see this.”

Niemann is just one of a number of Coyotes who expected big things this season. Head coach Mike Johnson called his group “weird and funny,” and while they can be ferocious Coyotes on the field, they are nothing but Cool Cats off it.

“If there was an EKG of this team, it would be a straight line,” Johnson says. “They are never too high, never too low, never get down on themselves. It’s just a really great group to coach.”

In the spring, Johnson was concerned his offensive

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(L.-r.) Running back Malachi Askin, quarterback Jack Niemann and wide receiver Shaan Patel will all likely rewrite the Cypress Creek High record book this year as the Coyotes charge towards a playoff berth. (Photo: Charmaine George)

line would be a hole too big to fill. But, sophomore Lucas Pavlikovic turned out to be a find at center, allowing last year’s center, junior Austin Slusher, to move out to right tackle to better utilize his athleticism. Senior left tackle Josh Dimarco finally found a solution to his chronic back injuries, and junior Duncan McAllister, who missed most of last season with a torn ACL, is rotating back into the

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lineup and meshing with the other guards, seniors JT Agnes and Andre Hall, the biggest Coyote lineman at 6-foot-3, 400 pounds.

“I can’t say enough about them, I talk about that group every day,” Johnson says. “They have been terrific.”

They have helped protect Niemann, who has been outstanding, throwing for 1,300 yards and 15 touch-

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downs, while completing 60% of his passes with only three interceptions.

Niemann thought around this time in his high school career, he’d be catching passes, not throwing them. But freshman year, the coaches remembered when Niemann was slinging passes at one of their youth camps he participated in before high school and moved him to QB, though he broke his finger before he could start a game.

“They told me I wasn’t fast enough to keep up with the other receivers, but I was smart so they thought I’d be a good quarterback,” Niemann says. “I wasn’t happy, to be honest. At first, I didn’t like the pressure of being the quarterback. I thought it was too much for me. But, after I started playing it, I loved it.”

Niemann, who has a quarterback’s build at 6-3, 175 pounds and throws a nice, tight spiral, spreads the ball around.

Led by sophomore Shaan Patel, who has 26 catches for 590 yards and a schoolrecord-tying six TD catches, there are 14 other Coyotes who have caught passes this year, and four have more than 100 yards and two touchdowns each.

And, junior running back Malachi Askin, who didn’t even start the spring game, has not only been keeping defenses honest this season, he has done so in record-setting fashion.

Through seven games, and with likely at least four remaining, Askin’s 810 yards rushing and 11 TDs both already are the most in the six-year history of the Cypress Creek program.

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“My main goal was just to start, because I didn’t start in the spring,” Askin says. “I didn’t really set too many goals when it comes to yards and stuff. I just wanted us to win.”

The Coyotes have been able to open up the offense this year under first-year offensive coordinator Aman Patel, Shann’s father, scoring 33 or more points five times.

That includes the 44 scored in a 44-6 romp over rival Wesley Chapel, the Coyotes firstever win over the Wildcats.

“That was fun,” Niemann says, who showed maybe he wasn’t as slow as coaches thought he was back in his freshman year, by busting out a 30-yard run.

Because the offense has been able to limit the turnovers and put together drives, the defense isn’t on the field all game like in the past, when it has given up points in droves. This year, the Coyotes have given up more than two touchdowns in just one game, its only loss to Pasco High.

Linebackers Alex Dulaski (52) and Coy Martin (36) lead the way in tackles, Zyon Davis has 4 interception and the team has 9 INTs and 12 fumble recoveries.

Cypress Creek lost its spring game 25-6 to Key West, but the road trip built a camaraderie that can’t be duplicated. Months later, Johnson still marvels at the results.

“We have balance, and I like that,” Johnson says. “These guys look out for each other. They pick each other up. That’s really been a key to our success. These guys want to all help each other succeed. And so far, we have.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

27

District Champs...Again!

It’s playoff time!

The Wesley Chapel High Wildcats (20-5) beat rival Cypress Creek High for the second straight year to win the Class 5A, District 5 championship.

The 25-12, 25-22, 25-20 victory was the sixth straight for the Wildcats, and gave them a 14-0 record this season against Pasco County competition.

Wesley Chapel’s Chloe Danielson, last year’s Pasco Player of the Year, Grace Korta and Emily Teets each had nine kills in the win over the Coyotes.

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It was the first step towards returning to the Region championship game for Wesley Chapel. Last year, the Wildcats finished just one win away from advancing to the Class 4A final four; this year, they are playing in Class 5A. According to the last Florida High School Athletic Association rankings, Wesley Chapel was ranked No. 1 in their Region.

Cypress Creek (16-7) also advanced to the playoffs as the District runner-up.

The Regional playoffs were Oct. 26 and 29, with the Regional final Nov. 2. — JCC

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Spotlight On: Siesta Key Crystal Classic!

Whether you’re an expert sandcastle builder yourself, or you’ve never done much more than overturned a kids’ plastic bucket filled with sand to make one, you should definitely check out the Siesta Key Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition, which will be held Friday, November 11-Monday, November 14, on beautiful Siesta Key Matt Long & Brian Wigelsworth’s “Twas The Tide Before …”

Beach in Sarasota. was the Peoples’ Choice Doubles Winner at the 2021 Siesta Key This year, 24 artists Crystal Classic Master Sand Sculpting Competition. converge on Siesta Key to bar, “The Learning Curve” sand-sculpting compete and the sculptors lessons, “Quick Sand” speed-sculpting will create a large community carve. There contest, kids activities all weekend and an also will be eight solo sculptures and eight amateur competition on Saturday. Although two-person team sculptures. the Master competition is professionally On Saturday evening, you can enjoy judged, attendees also can vote for the the sculptures under colored lights after Peoples’ Choice award, which will not be sunset. The timed competition is judged awarded until Tuesday, November 15. and the winners will be revealed on Sunday There also will be more than 80 food, afternoon. The Crystal Classic has been held beverage and retail vendors, compared with since 2010 and is among the favorite such 70 last year, which had more than 30,000 events for Master Sculptors from around the paid attendees, and that number is expected world because of the beauty of Siesta Key to grow this year. and Sarasota, and the outstanding sand on For more information about the Siesta Key Beach.

2022 Siesta Key Crystal Classic, see the In addition to the Master Sculptor ad on this page, call (941) 349-3800 or competition, the Crystal Classic also features visit SiestaKeyCrystalClassic.com. — GN live bands performing each day, a full-liquor

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31

Your Last Chance To Win Free Dining!

Whether or not you’ve already entered our 2022 Neighborhood News Reader Dining Survey & Contest, you still have time to enter again. We realized, as soon as our first Wesley Chapel entries began coming in, that we didn’t give some of you enough information to properly provide answers to some of the categories in order to enter — and win free dining prizes in — this year’s contest.

The first problem was that we asked you to name your Three Favorite Restaurants in New Tampa (NT) and Wesley Chapel (WC). But, we assumed logic would dictate that one restaurant can not be your favorite, 2nd favorite and/or 3rd favorite place to eat. Even if a restaurant has locations in both of our distribution areas (for example, The Brunchery), that restaurant still can only be named as one of your three favorites and will only be counted as one vote for that restaurant, so please name three different restaurants as your number 1, 2 and 3 favorite places to eat in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel.

Two other categories that caused confusion were that we asked you for your Favorite Dish and Favorite Appetizer in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. We wrongfully (again) assumed that our readers would realize that we were asking you to name not only your favorite dish, but also the restaurant that serves your favorite version of that dish.

Of the first 300 entries we’ve received, however, at least 60 or 70 of them just answered “coconut grouper” as their favorite dish or “onion rings” as their favorite ap-

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

petizer, without telling us which restaurant actually serves their favorite grouper or onion rings. Yeesh.

And, considering that this is a Dining Survey, we didn’t think anyone would write in non-dining options when we asked you for your Favorite KRATE at The Grove. Although we enjoy Katie Beth’s Boutique and MaeBerry Co. as much as the next guy (or girl), these are clearly not places to eat, which is what we are looking for in a Dining Survey.

Check The New Entry Address!

And finally, although we are happy about our move, we regret the timing — in the middle of this year’s contest — of us leaving our old address on S.R. 54 to move to our new location at the Medallion Corporate Park, also in Wesley Chapel. As of Oct. 1, we already are at that new address — 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102D, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544. Therefore, even though we have given the U.S. Post Office our change of address (which means that all mail received at our old location should be forwarded to us), in order to guarantee that your mailed entry will reach us on time, please use the new address (which does also now appear on the entry form).

Of course, the new mailing address doesn’t affect the entries you’ve made on our website — NeighborhoodNewsOnline. net — but if you know you got any of the categories mentioned above wrong, feel free to send us a second entry anyway. — GN

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NEIGHBORHOOD NEWS 2022 READER DINING SURVEY FAVORITE RESTAURANTS IN NEW TAMPA & WESLEY CHAPEL (must be 3

1.

BEST AMERICAN RESTAURANT

2.

BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT

3.

BEST NEW RESTAURANT

BEST PLACE FOR BURGERS IN

BEST GREEK/MEDITERRANE-

FAVORITE DISH IN NT/WC

BEST PLACE FOR PIZZA IN

BEST ASIAN RESTAURANT

FAVORITE APPETIZER IN NT/WC

BEST FRIED CHICKEN/WINGS

BEST THAI RESTAURANT

FAVORITE DINING KRATE AT

BEST RESTAURANT FOR STEAK

BEST INDIAN RESTAURANT

BEST MEXICAN RESTAURANT

BEST BREAKFAST/BRUNCH REST.

RESTAURANT W/BEST SUSHI

BEST LATIN (NOT MEX.) REST.

BEST FULL LIQUOR BAR IN

BEST BEER OR WINE BAR

BEST ICE CREAM/FROYO/GE-

BEST BAKERY/DESSERT IN

FAVORITE COFFEE SHOP

NEW YEAR, NEW RULES!

There are 24 categories in our 2022 Reader Dining Survey on this page.

Please fill in as many categories as you like, but to be eligible to win this year’s FREE Dining Gift Cards (to the restaurant of your choice), you MUST tell us your top three favorite restaurants (of any cuisine type) in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel AND provide an answer in at least 18 of the 24 total categories. Please note that this year, your votes will still count if you don’t provide answers to at least 18 categories, you just won’t be eligible to win this year’s prizes.

Three winners will be drawn at random from all correct entries, whether you enter by mail or at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net by no later than Wednesday, November 23, to win a $100, $60 or $35 gift card to the restaurant of your choice. Mail-in entries must have all requested personal info (right) & be mailed to our NEW address: Neighborhood News 2022 Dining Survey & Contest, 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102-D, 102-D, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544. — GN Neighborhood News

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YOUR NAME________________________________________ COMMUNITY YOU LIVE IN (Epperson, Tampa Palms, etc.) ____________________________________________________________ YOUR DAYTIME PHONE #________________________________ YOUR EMAIL_________________________________________ Enter online or by mail by Wednesday, November 23!

Neighborhood News 2022 Dining Survey & Contest 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102D, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544 To Enter Online, visit: NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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The Brunchery Serving Breakfast & Lunch In Wesley Chapel & New Tampa!

By GARY NAGER

Photos by Holly K Photography

Since opening the second local location (the other is on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in New Tampa) of The Brunchery Breakfast & Lunch on S.R. 56 in March of this year, owner Alket (Al) Marku says he is thrilled with the way the Wesley Chapel community has already embraced the former long-time location of Wolf’s Den. Despite having some competition nearby, Al says, “Our Wesley Chapel location is actually beating our sales in New Tampa, which is kind of amazing to me.”

Al, who was originally a partner in the New Tampa location when it opened in 2019, bought it outright from his former business partner in 2021. He and his wife Erinda Kostandini will open their third Brunchery location in the Lithia area sometime later this month and will open a fourth location in Riverview in the summer of 2023. “We plan to open many more locations,” Al, 37, says. “We think we have a great variety of menu items that will be welcome wherever we open.”

Unmatched Breakfast Options!

Breakfast at The Brunchery definitely offers a little something for everyone. My favorite is what is known as the “Breakfast Feature,” which features two eggs any style, with your choice of bacon or sausage, seasoned home fries and a homemade biscuit, which I sub out for The Brunchery’s tasty marble rye toast. Oh, and although you can sub grits for the potatoes, I add a side of grits because it’s so worth having all of it!

But, if you don’t “just” want eggs for breakfast, The Brunchery more than has you covered. There are nine different Benedicts,

(Above left) Our editor’s favorite “Breakfast Feature” at The Brunchery (photo by Gary Nager). Other breakfast favorites at The Brunchery locations on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel and BBD Blvd. in New Tampa include (above right) stuffed strawberry French toast, (below left) loaded pancakes, (below right) chicken & waffles, (bottom, l.-r.) bagels & lox, Brunchery skillet & full crepes. (All other photos on these pages by Holly K Photography) including smoked salmon, corned beef has, crab cake and chorizo sausage Benedicts. There also are four different skillet breakfasts, including Al’s favorite chorizo skillet.

Need something sweet? There are four varieties of French toast, including plain, orange pecan, loaded (with strawberries, blueberries and bananas) and the awesome stuffed strawberry French toast shown on this page.

There also are homemade muffins, breakfast crepes, three different pancake and three waffle options, including excellent crispy fried chicken & waffles.

“Our sweet breakfast items may be our most popular,” Al says, although he says items like avocado toast, fluffy omelettes (including heart-healthy egg white omelettes) and bagel & lox breakfasts also are popular.

And, even the coffee is delicious, and there are specialty and iced coffee drinks available, too.

What About Lunch?

Although Al says that the majority of people who

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Among our editor’s favorite lunch items at The Brunchery include (top) the chicken salad croissant and grilled chicken melt sandwiches (above).

visit The Brunchery at lunch time still offer breakfast items, Jannah and I really enjoy his smaller lunch menu.

My favorite lunch item is the grilled chicken melt with crispy bacon and Swiss cheese on a Kaiser roll. Jannah raves about the chicken salad croissant and I also am partial to the Reuben sandwich (corned beef, sauerkraut and Swiss on grilled marble rye with thousand island dressing. Also on the menu are a BLT avocado wrap, chicken Estrada (grilled chicken breast, spinach, mushrooms, feta and Swiss cheese and may) and even a half-pound cheeseburger.

Please note that while The Brunchery’s New Tampa location serves wine-based cocktails like mimosas and peach mango sangria, Al says they aren’t yet available at Wesley Chapel, but should be within the next few months.

Special Thanks Go Out To...

Al, who is originally from Albania, says that his entrepreneurial spirit was instilled in him by his family, especially his father Alexander. However, he says his training in (and love of) the restaurant business was provided by the man he calls his mentor, Anthony Moissis, who still owns Anthony’s Family Restaurant in

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Eastlake, OH, where Al first moved when he was just 15 years old. “It was a great learning experience for me,” Al says, “Anthony taught me everything I know about the restaurant business, especially how to take care of not only my customers, but also my employees. My parents were still back home in Albania, so Anthony’s family became my family in the U.S.” About three years later, Al and his brother Alphonse opened Alexander’s Restaurant in Ohio. Years later, when Al and Erinda (who are expecting their first child in a month or so) decided to move to Florida, he brought those experiences with him to The Brunchery.

“I love this community,” Al says. “I appreciate all of the customers who support us.”

Speaking of support, Al says he and Erinda would appreciate your vote when you enter the Neighborhood News Reader Dining Survey & Contest (see pg. 33).

Both Brunchery Breakfast & Lunch locations — 27607 S.R. 56, Unit 110, and 17507 Preserve Walk Ln., New Tampa — are open 8 a.m.-2 p.m. every day. For more info, call (813) 994-9666 (WC) or (813) 533-7271 (NT), visit LoveBrunchery.com or see the ad on pg. 37.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Café Zorba Completes Phase I At The KRATEs!

Congratulations to my friends Stacy Esposito and Eddie Nasr, as their new venture, Café Zorba finally opened on Oct. 7 in the KRATE Container Park at The Grove.

The opening of Café Zorba, which features Greek and Middle Eastern food, completes Phase I at the KRATES, which now has 29 restaurants with a multitude of cuisine types and 17 retail shops.

Our favorites so far at Café Zorba are the lamb gyro wrap (left photo), the chicken souvlaki platter (right), the pan-fried crispy fish sliders (with garlic aioli) and the house-made spanakopita (spinach pies), but everything from the Zeus burger and homemade moussaka to appetizers like lightly fried calamari, dolmades (stuffed grape leaves) and shrimp

skewers have been drawing critical raves from Café Zorba’s early visitors.

For more info about Café Zorba

(5804 Grand Oro Ln., #102), call (813) 606-6666 or visit CafeZorba.com and please tell them I sent you! — GN

Leonidas Chocolates Now Open At Wiregrass Mall!

Congratulations also go out to coowners Mary and Eleni Caravellos, who officially opened the new Leonidas Belgian Chocolates & Cafe store in the Shops at Wiregrass on Oct. 6, with a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting event.

According to the store’s website, Leonidas Kestekides opened his original praline store in Belgium more than 100 years ago.

Four generations later, the brand is now an international favorite, with more than 1,300 locations, including the Wiregrass store, and all of the hand-crafted chocolates are still made in Belgium. Today, Leonidas is improving the living and working conditions of more than 2,000 cocoa-growing families mainly in Africa.

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The chocolate itself, whether you choose the hand-crafted truffles and other confections (in 50+ flavors) or prepackaged bars (and everything in between) is made from 100% pure cocoa butter and is amazing, but so are the tiramisu, espresso brulée and torta Nicola. Perhaps best of all, the Wesley Chapel Leonidas store sells chocolate, vanilla and twist soft-serve ice cream with 14 different chocolate-dip toppings — everything from my

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

favorite milk chocolate banana to salty caramel to dark sea salt, pistachio and more. In short, Leonidas is pure decadence.

For more info about Leonidas (28163 Paseo Dr., Unit 105), call (813) 388-9653 or visit LeonidasWesleyChapel.com. — GN

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The Living Room WC Celebrates Its Official Grand Opening!

Still more congrats go out to owners Christina & Zach Feinstein (holding scissors in left photo) of The Feinstein Group and The Living Room, which has been open in the Shops at Wiregrass for a few months, but which also celebrated the official Grand Opening of this second location on Oct. 12.

In addition to a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting, the Grand Opening event included free samples of many of The Living Room’s great menu items on a day blessed with perfect weather. Congrats!

For more info about The Living Room, call (813) 934-7911, visit TLR. restaurant or see the ad on this issue’s back cover. — GN, photos by Charmaine George

Ha Long Bay Vietnamese & Asian Fusion Restaurant Opens On BBD! Congrats, too, to my new friends Nhan Nguyen and her husband Hai Chu, the owners of the new Ha Long Bay restaurant, which is now open in the space at 20685 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa previously occupied by Aroi Thai-Tsuyu (not to be confused with the still-open Arroy Thai on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel).

We had announced in these pages that the new restaurant would be a new location of Hana Sushi, but when that deal fell through, Nhan and Hai jumped at the opportunity to open the fourth location of Ha Long Bay (the others are in St. Petersburg, Dunedin and Largo). The couple previously owned Ocean

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Blue Sushi Bar in Carrollwood.

The new Ha Long Bay features a variety of Vietnamese and Asian fusion favorites, including pho soup (left photo), banh mi sandwiches, Chinese-style stir-fry dishes (right) and fried rice, Japanese-style gyoza dumplings, poké bowls, rice combination plates, sushi and a large variety of boba teas.

Beer, wine and saké should be available soon.

Ha Long Bay is managed by New Tampa residents Kay and Mandy Vongsa. “They;re like family to us,” Nhan says. And, with food like this, they’re kinda feeling like family to me, too. For more info, call (813) 406-4917 or visit HaLongBayNewTampa.com. — GN

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Classifieds

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

JUNK HAULING SERVICE! We handle all types of furniture removal — bdrm sets, chairs, mattresses & box springs • Hot water heaters & hot tubs - take apart & remove • Construction material • Carpet removal • Estate, eviction, yard, garage & attic clean-outs • Ofc, home & factory • Comm’l/res’l. GorillaJunkremovalExperts.com. For appts, call/ text Nigel @ 888-346-5865.

CUSTOM INT. WINDOW COVERINGS! Cust. fabrication of all types of window coverings — plantation & hurricane shutters, vert. blinds, roller, cellular, woven wood & Roman shades, cellular vert., panel tracks, retract. awnings, motorization experts, alum., wood & faux wood blinds & more! FREE installation on orders over $250! Call Henry @ 813-9486363, email TampaBlindsbyDesign@gmail. com or visit TampaBlindsbyDesign.com.

AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement. Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years of exp. Specialist in Kitchens & Bathrooms.

Referrals upon request. All interior work: Drywall, Texture Paining, Doors, etc. Use us once & you won’t need to look elsewhere. Google us to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises. See our display ad below!

WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHINGCOM. Soft pressure ext. house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing & deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big/small. Exp. the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning pro. Licensed & insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate 813-433-6015.

HOME IMPROVEMENT (Cont.)

RAYMOND PAINTING. Ext. & Int. Svcs. Ext: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Int: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs & tiles.

Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free estimates. Your Neighborhood Arbor Greene Resident! We work 7 days. Call 813-994-5124.

DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable, Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, re-texturing, popcorn removal, room addt’ns, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years exp. WC resident. State Certified.

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

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TREE SERVICES___

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FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE, INC. 27-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.

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.

PROF’L TECH SUPPORT in your home or small biz. A+ Cert. computer tech w/20 years exp. Maint. & Repairs, Upgrades & Tutoring. More affordable than chains! Friendly, personal svc. Tech jargon explained. Remote assistance & refs. avail. Call (813) 957-8342 for free estimate!

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FOR SALE___

Holland Lop-Eared Dwarf Baby Bunny Rabbits! Full grown will be in the 3- or 4-pound range. Call 813-407-1990 or visit PattysPetsLLC.com or facebook. com/PattysPetsLLC

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CLEANING SERVICES

Rosseler Solutions has the cleaning solution your home or company needs. We are specialists in Basic Cleaning, Deep Cleaning, Move-In & Move-Out, Commercial & PostConstruction Cleaning. Please contact us for a free estimate. Call Roseli or Anne at 401.543.4638 or 407.338.8700.

A-to-Z CLEANING & ORGANIZING. Home & Ofc Cleaning & Organizing Svcs! We use our own supplies. Affordable & Reliable. FamilyOwned & Operated. WC resident. Weekly & BiWeekly / Deep Cleaning/ Move-In / Move-Out. Serving WC & NT. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: 813-462-1270. Local references supplied upon request.

MARY’S CLEANING SERVICES. We provide flexible domestic & office cleaning. “Jesus is the Lord.” Give us a call at 352-206-8809 for a free estimate or email marynovociclo@ gmail.com.

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.

B CLEANING SERVICES: Over 18 years exp.!

Comm’l & Resid’l; Weekly, bi-weekly, monthly; New house & post-construction clean-up; Window cleaning; Move-in & move-out cleanings; Pressure washing; FREE estimates.; Refs. avail. Call 813531-0154 or e-mail: bcleanings@hotmail.com.

HELP WANTED

The New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is looking to fill the following positions: • Sales Assistant — 20 hours/week to start; promotion to full-time possible • Freelance Writers — 1-2 stories per issue (ONE writing sample required)

Experience preferred, but not required.

Please email (no phone calls, please) your resumé to Gary at AdsNTNeighborhoodNews.com.

MISCELLANEOUS

Hughes School of Music now accepting new students! Study Saxophone, Piano, Music Production, Composition or Theory with a Master of Music. Zoom sessions also available! Contact us at 813-748-3216.

FAITH COMPASSIONATE HOME CARE. Providing medical & non-medical home health care services: Nursing services, Friendly companionship, Home health aide, respite care, live in, bowel care service & education, medication & case management, Spinal Cord Injury patient care & more. Call (813) 602-4431 for information & pricing.

Private pay only with affordable rates.

AUTOS WANTED! Autos/trucks/small campers/small boats wanted! We pay top dollar! Any condition, Free Removal 24/7. For more info, call (813) 461-0062.

ELITE RIDES. Private rides in a sanitized 2020 Tesla, plus concierge services. Airport, schools, medical appointments, shopping, etc.

Courteous, reliable professional. New Tampa to Tampa Int’l Airport - $40 (one way). Driver vaccinated w/two shots. Cory Lake Isles resident. Call/text 813.765.2037.

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JASMINE LANDSCAPING, INC. Complete lawn maint, including 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.

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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 & in-ground vinyl liner replacements avail. Quality salt & ozone generators, pumps, motors & filters. 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!

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All Neighborhood News Classified Ads appear in both New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News!

Here are our Classified ad rates: 7 issues — $120 13 issues — $200 26 issues (1 year) — $300!

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

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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.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue 22 • November 1, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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