Volume 17 Issue 24
WESLEY CHAPEL Inside:
The Brass Tap & Circles Team Up!
NEWS
See page 26!
November 27, 2009
The Direct-Mail Newspaper Serving Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge • Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch • Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • West Meadows
Local Experts Share Knowledge In The Great American Teach-In By Michael Smith & Gary Nager Year after year across this great nation of ours, the Great American Teach-In brings moms and dads and other members of the community to schools in their respective areas to share some of their real-life experiences with students in grades K-12. Wesley Chapel’s elementary, middle and high schools were abuzz with visitors who discussed their careers, hobbies and more with local students. There were former Major League Baseball players, representatives of the U.S. Air Force, local firefighters, nurses, puppeteers and so many others. Although the Pasco County School District didn’t have exact final numbers at our press time, more than 1,200 speakers participated in TeachIn events around the county. In other words, a lot of very busy people took the time to chat with our young people, so while we’ve honored a few of these wonderful folks on this page, we appreciate everyone who took part.
Firefighter Richard Hauser models his gear for students at Wesley Chapel Elementary.
Students at Sand Pine Elementary in Meadow Pointe (left) loved watching one of their teachers put into a hard splint, while senior airman William Paskie (right) found a new recruit at Watergrass Elementary.
An armored truck driver (far left) and a video game designer (left) were among the favorite guest speakers at TeachIn events at John Long Middle School & Wesley Chapel High, respectively.
Charges Dropped Against Local Homeowner Who Shot Intruder
NEIGHBORHOOD MAGAZINE!
Firefighters Bring A Local High School Athlete Back To Life, A Loaded Community Calendar, High School Football Wrap-Up & More!
Photographer Jessica Dana Turns Moments Into Memories, Brass Tap + Circles New Tampa Bistro=Delicious, ‘Neighborhood Nibbles’ & More!
See pages 3-19!
See pages 21-36!
ECRWSS
LOCAL NEWS, BUSINESS & SPORTS UPDATES
fied in shooting Kuch. However, after reviewing the case, prosecutors felt that the “stand your ground” law did apply in this case. “We felt that he was legally justified in what he did,” assistant state attorney Manny Garcia said. According to his family, Kuch spent a month in the hospital with wounds to his lung and heart, but he has now recovered from the incident. They did express anger and disappointment, however, that the case was not prosecuted. See “News Briefs” on page 4.
Postal Customer
Also Inside This Issue!
but instead of leaving, the person shook the doorknob again. So, Stewart grabbed his .40 caliber pistol and went outside to investigate, and that’s when he found Kuch, who was obviously intoxicated, standing in his front yard. He said that although Kuch did not make any threats, and only kept asking for a light for his cigarette, the young man refused to leave, and began advancing towards Stewart, even after being warned not to. So, Stewart fired, striking Kuch in the chest. Although Florida residents are protected under the state’s Castle Doctrine, or “stand your ground” law, which allows them to take steps to defend themselves, including the use of deadly force, when they feel threatened, Stewart was charged because the investigators felt that he was not justi-
PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID TAMPA FL PERMIT 2801
The Pinellas-Pasco State Attorney’s Office has dropped the charges filed against a local man who shot a stranger in his front yard in August. Gregory A. Stewart, 32, who lives in the Stagecoach subdivision on S.R. 54 just outside of Wesley Chapel, was charged with aggravated battery with a
deadly weapon after the Aug. 1 incident, in which he shot 23-year-old William Kuch in the chest after Kuch showed up on his doorstep at 5 a.m. and refused to leave. At the time of his arrest, Stewart told investigators that he was awakened that morning when someone rattled the knob on his front door. He called out for whoever it was to leave,
Dated Material Please Rush!
By Michael Smith
For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 17, Issue 24 • November 27, 2009 • www.WCNeighborhoodNews.com
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