Volume 24 Issue 23
Inside:
Acropolis Now Serving Greek Brunch!
November 4, 2016
See Neighborhood Magazine!
Now The Only Neighborhood News Publications Serving Hillsborough & Pasco Counties! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 58!
West Meadows Mom Shares The Story Of Her Son’s Tragic Passing ‘If you know something, you have to tell, you have to snitch. Would you rather have a friend be angry with you or have to live with a decision you made for the rest of your life?’
By Gary Nager Although we never met until about a month ago, Laura Sun Engelberger and I have a lot in common. We’ve both raised our families here in New Tampa, we’re both divorced and we both were blessed with two amazing sons. But, the reason Laura and I met at her home in West Meadows a few weeks ago isn’t a happy one. Laura’s older son, Brandon Sun, tragically passed away a few months ago, five months before his 17th birthday. Laura still doesn’t know exactly what transpired the day he died, but she waited to talk about what happened until after she got back the autopsy and toxicology report ten weeks after he passed (on June 22), which said her son died from an “accidental drowning,” even though she already knew he also took two “tabs” of LSD that night. “And, unfortunately, I have since learned that this wasn’t the first time Brandon took LSD,” she said. “It’s a nightmare that I never thought I would go through with either of my kids, but certainly not this sweet, wonderful honor student with everything to live for.” Laura says she knows teenagers can be sullen and moody, especially when the family is going through a divorce, and she admits that Brandon’s personality had started to change when she and her now-ex-husband first separated two years ago. “Brandon definitely seemed angry,” she says, but she added that during the weeks before he passed away, Brandon had seemed more like his old self, “and his grades (he was at Freedom High in Tampa Palms) never suffered.”
Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates Bruce B. Downs Construction Causing Consternation On North & South Ends, Local Candidates Try To Make Inroads With Voters, Perfect Weather For ‘Making Strides’ Fund Raiser, Lacrosse Tournament Seeks Help, Wharton & Freedom Kick Off Soccer Seasons; Plus, Local Business Features!
Pages 3-40
Neighborhood Magazine
Vuelo Hopes To Succeed Where Others Have Failed, 7 Layers Bakery Offers Up Tasty Desserts, Acropolis Adds Authentic Greek Brunch Menu, PHSC Discuess Cybersecurity & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!
Pages 41-60
Laura admits that, especially when she was raising Brandon and his brother Austin herself during the separation period, “I was and I guess I still am that over-protective mom. I wouldn’t let Brandon have a car unless he had a job, I made him sign a contract to have a cell phone in eighth grade and I thought I always made sure I knew where he was and who he was with.” She also admits that she had concerns about some of Brandon’s friends, but is quick to say she doesn’t blame the four boys who were with him the night he passed away. “I’ve told the other boys I forgive them,” Laura says. “Now, I’m just hoping that by telling our story, maybe another family might not have to go through what we have.”
Laura told me that Brandon and four of his friends had driven to the rest area located near the north end (in St. Petersburg) of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge that night to drop acid together. “Five boys left together, supposedly to go to one of the other boys’ houses, on a Monday night, but only four came home,” she told me through tears. “They left the campground without him around 10:30 the next morning and didn’t tell anyone what happened until I started calling and texting his friends looking for him at 3:45.” The problem, she said, was that the boys all said the same thing — while being interviewed by the police later on Tuesday — that they all took the LSD together that night, but they honestly didn’t know and couldn’t remember if Brandon went walking off by himself or what
(Left): Brandon Sun (November 25, 1999-June 22, 2016) and (right) Laura Sun Engelberger. naldi, whose mother used to work for me, died happened to him at all. “But, they were so afraid of getting in several hours after her eyes rolled back in her trouble themselves that they decided to leave head following a night of partying due to an apand not say anything,” she recalls. “If they parently lethal mix of drugs because her friends would’ve called 9-1-1 as soon as they realized were too afraid to call an ambulance. Laura says that her son did not jump off they couldn’t find him, maybe my son would still be alive today. I don’t know. All I know is that the Skyway Bridge, as his body showed no signs his body was literally “caught” by a high school of that kind of trauma. I also was surprised to kid near the (North Skyway Fishing) Pier while learn that neither she nor her ex-husband had to identify their son’s body in person. he was fishing two days later.” “Brandon’s body was identified from a That’s the lesson Laura hopes other parents photograph, not in person,” she says. “There will tell their teenagers after reading this story. “There is a ‘Good Samaritan 911’ law here was an official autopsy and toxicology report that in Florida (see page 39) that would have protect- we didn’t get until ten weeks later.” She adds, “Some people have asked me ed those children from any possible prosecution if they would have called the police,” she said. how I could not have identified him, didn’t I “But, young people are so afraid of ‘getting in need that closure? The closure is that my son is trouble’ that they will do everything they can to gone. Knowing exactly how he died isn’t going avoid talking to the police or even their parents, to change that.” She cautioned, however, that if you’re the especially when they’ve been taking drugs.” As Laura spoke, the case reminded me all parent of a teenager, don’t just assume you know too much of a similar one about a decade ago, if your child is doing drugs or not. when former Wharton High student Sara RiSee “Brandon” on page 39.
It’s time to dust off your running shoes and consider building up a nice little calorie (and maybe oxygen) deficit that might just let you indulge in an extra piece of pumpkin pie later in the day, as a pair of Thankgiving Day 5K (3.1-mile) races — both of which will be held on Thursday, November 24 — are right around the corner. The fourth annual “Wiregrass Wobble” 5K is scheduled for Thanksgiving Day at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, with 5K runners heading out at 7:30 a.m. and the 1-mile Fun/Run/Walk (which might earn you half an extra piece of pie) will be held at 8:15 a.m. The event has raised more than $75,000 since the inaugural run in 2013, with proceeds this year supporting the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Foundation, FITNiche Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Tampa’s selected charities. The Brass Tap will host post-race awards and festivities, 8:15 a.m.-10 a.m. and Pioneer Medical Group is the presenting sponsor. The pre-registration donation is $30, and can be done online at Wiregrass-
WobbleTurkeyTrot.com. If you register the day of the race, the suggested donation is $35. The event also will feature the School Team Competition (won by the Wiregrass Ranch High boys and Wharton High girls last year) and a Corporate Team event. Looking to be part of an even bigger crowd of runners? The Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA’s “Goody Goody Turkey Gobble” 5K and 1-Mile Fun Run/Walk will also be held Thanksgiving morning, starting at 7 a.m. Goody Goody, the title sponsor, is providing free breakfast to all participants in the race, which begins and ends at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa. The race route takes runners across the Platt St. Bridge and along scenic Bayshore Blvd. Strollers and dogs are welcome. The YMCA says 100 percent of the proceeds raised will support the Livestrong at the YMCA program for cancer survivors and their families. Registration is $35 for the 5K, and $15 for the 1-mile. Prices go up on the day of the race. To register, visit RunSignUp.com. — John C. Cotey
So, What Actually Happened?
The ‘Wiregrass Wobble’ & The YMCA’s ‘Turkey Gobble’ 5Ks...Oh My!
The Wharton girls won the high school team competition at last year’s Wiregrass Wobble.