Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 27. Issue 24, November 15, 2019

Volume 27 Issue 24

WESLEY CHAPEL

Inside:

Beer, Everyone?

NEWS

See pages 36-41!

November 15, 2019

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Tennis Center Adds To ‘Sports Coast’ Brand

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com As large trucks filled with dirt and tall cranes roll by a flattened lot, local Wesley Chapel tennis guru and businessman Pascal Collard smiles.

The trucks are slowly but surely allowing Pascal’s vision come to life.

The parking lot is there, he says, pointing to his left. Tennis courts, pickleball courts and padel courts over there, surrounding the tennis center.

And, what about way over there, all the way to the right?

Pascal says that will be a 30,000-sq.-ft. indoor training facility with space for both more tennis courts and removable turf for other sports.

“It is beautiful, no?,” Pascal asks.

The Sarah Vande Berg Memorial Tennis & Wellbeing Center in Zephyrhills (at 6585 Simons Rd.) has broken ground, and is expected to open in late spring or early summer of 2020.

When it is done, the $4.9-million project will feature 11 tennis courts, including a main court with spectator seating, eight pickleball courts — one of the fastest growing sports in America — and four courts for padel, another racquet sport that can best

Dueling Pianos On Tap

When it came time to name his new restaurant, Jamie Hess turned to Facebook.

Pages 8-9

Wesley Chapel’s Pascal Collard is one of the driving forces behind a new tennis facility in Zephyrhills that is expected to draw many of its members from the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area. (Photo: John C. Cotey) The tennis center is another be described as a cross between, well, feather in the “Florida’s Sports Coast” almost every other racquet sport. cap, joining AdventHealth Center Ice, The 7,400-sq.-ft. indoor tennis Saddlebrook Resort and the Wiregrass center will house a fitness and rehabiliRanch Sports Campus of Pasco Countation center, a restaurant and café, a ty, as the area continues to transform salt room, cryotherapy, a pro shop and a kid’s club.

See “Tennis” on page 5.

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The new Max’s Pet Market & Salon sells the best food, treats, toys & accessories for your fur babies.

Pages 24-25

Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot Ready For 7th Year

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot continues to grow, from roughly 1,400 runners in its inaugural year of 2013 to a total of 2,263 last year.

Will that number be topped again in 2019?

This year’s 5K (3.1 mile) race is scheduled for Thanksgiving morning — Thursday, November 28, 7:30 a.m., with a 1-mile family walk starting at 8:40 a.m.

Since the Wobble began, more than 14,000 people have come out to take on the 5K course that winds around the mall and down Paseo Dr. to kick off Thanksgiving morning.

In that time, more an $170,000 has

been raised and distributed to area charities by sponsors The Rotary Club of New Tampa, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Foundation and FitNiche charities.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Foundation put its Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 2018 proceeds to work by provid-

ing the needed medical/hygiene supplies for Pioneer Medical Group Foundation’s second annual Health Fair. The fair will be at Perry Harvey Park in downtown Tampa and will serve the homeless and underserved.

There is still time to register for the race at WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot. com, which also offers registration for team competitions for families, corporation and schools.

The registration fee is $35 in advance, or $40 on race day.

All runners will receive a tech shirt, with awards for the top three finishers in each 5K age group.

There will be finisher medals for the 1-Mile Fun Run, and post-race festivities and awards from 8:15 a.m.-10 a.m.

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Pages 34-35

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In Honor & Memory Of My Friend Taken Way Too Soon — Rick Ward

An editorial by Gary Nager I first met Mollyana Ward at what was then called a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce event somewhere between three and four years ago.

Mollyana, Jannah and I became close pretty quickly — she was fun, outgoing, smart and she was very interested in helping me with what was then a fledgling idea I had about starting a video program for YouTube and Facebook.

I didn’t meet Mollyana’s husband Rick until a few months later and Jannah and I never spent as much time with him as we did his wife, but there was just something special about the guy. He was super laid back and soft-spoken — which doesn’t always mesh well with my loud, Type A New York personality — but it was hard not to notice how much he loved his wife, his three sons, God, people and life in general.

Like most couples who have raised children together, he and Mollyana had some issues over the years, but one thing was certain — Rick was convinced he “married up” when he married the love of his life.

Three years ago, at the party at our office where Jannah and I first got engaged, not only did I get to know Rick a lot better, I witnessed something that forever changed how I looked at this man.

It was a simple act of kindness. Although the music was playing and adults beverages were being served outside in the parking lot, the food was in my office on the second floor — and even though there is an elevator in the building, the party was at night and the people who occupy the office downstairs had all gone for the day, so there was no access to the elevator.

And, it just so happened that I had a friend in attendance who was in a wheelchair who had no way to get up the stairs to check

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin • Andy Warrener Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Photography & Videography Richard Nasrallah • Andy Warrener Graphic Designers Georgia Carmichael • Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager

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Rick & Mollyana Ward out the food or even use the restroom.

Rick saw my friend at the bottom of the stairs and immediately sized up the situation.

Even though no one asked him to do so — and there were plenty of other men at the party (including yours truly) who could have offered — Rick asked my friend if it was OK if he carried her up the stairs and she got a big smile on her face. So did I. He then carried her up the double flight of stairs, put her in a chair in the office, went back downstairs, carried the wheelchair up the stairs, put her gently back in it, and said to her, “When you’ve had enough to eat and want to go back downstairs, I got you.”

I’m an emotional guy anyway, but I immediately felt tears running down my face. It was such a beautiful gesture — and moment — that summed up the measure of this sweet man. And yes, when she was ready, he put her back in an office chair, carried the wheelchair back down the stairs, carried her down the stairs and put her back in the wheelchair.

Unfortunately, although Mollyana, Rick, Jannah and I did get to spend some more time together after that, it was a little over a year ago that Rick was diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor after suffering a seizure.

Multiple surgeries and treatments (and an infection) later, without seeing the improvement in his quality of life they were hoping for, Mollyana and Rick decided to literally put the rest of his life in God’s hands.

And, although we and many of his other friends and family members did get to spend more quality time with him over the last several months of his life, it was hard for everyone to see him slowly deteriorate. Even so, you could tell how strong his faith still was because the Wards all believed with all their hearts that even though he couldn’t defeat cancer, he wasn’t

going to let cancer defeat him either. He didn’t just believe — he knew in his heart and soul that even though he was going to leave this life before they would, they would all be reunited one day in the Kingdom of Heaven.

Jannah and I got back from New York City the evening of Oct. 29, and Mollyana posted on Facebook that Rick had passed away (at age 49) the following morning. His passing was devastating, but also merciful because those last few weeks were particularly tough on his family, especially Mollyana as his primary caregiver. Her efforts to keep him comfortable were truly amazing.

Rick’s Celebration of Life was held Nov. 4 at the First Baptist Church of Wesley Chapel, and he was buried in the church’s small adjacent cemetery, a few hundred feet from where he often taught Sunday school.

And, Rick’s neverending acts of kindness towards others was a primary recurring theme of the service, as a few of his family members, friends and business associates talked about not only his faith, but of his love for Mollyana, his sons Ricky, Nick and Jack, and his entire family.

I thanked one of his friends who spoke at the ceremony and told him the story about my friend and the party. He thanked me for telling him, but added, “You notice from the look on my face that I’m not at all surprised. That’s just the kind of man he is.”

The kind of man I’m proud to have called my friend, even though I never did get to know him as well as I would have liked. I was glad he was at least able to enjoy mine and Jannah’s wedding in March (photo).

Rest in Peace, Rick. We all miss you.

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Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-17

Raymond James Financial Submits Site Plans............4 Counties To Settle Kinnan-Mansfield Connection?......6 Community Picks Names For Dueling Piano Bar ..........8 Community Market To Debut At The Grove........9 Wesley Chapel Fall Festival A Hit Again..................12 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar.........................16 Winter & Summer Both Come To Wesley Chapel...17

Local Business Updates..............20-27

Noire Nail Bar Has The Location & Services You Need...20 The New Tampa Dance Theatre Turns 25..................21 Cabinet & Stone For Your Next Remodeling Job!.......22 Max’s Pet Food Market For Healthy Alternatives........24

Local Sports News..........................28 Long Middle School Captures Third Straight Title

Neighborhood Magazine

New Tampa Snake Hunter Bags A Big One.........31-32 The Brunchery To Open In December!....................33 Fushia Asian Bistro Celebrates 15 Years Of Delicious!....34 Don’t Miss The 2nd Annual New Tampa Brew Fest!..37 Meadow Pointe Brewer Perfects His Hobby................38 Florida Avenue Brewing Breaks Ground................39 Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes...........44 New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Classifieds...........46 @NTWCNews

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Raymond James Submits Plans To County It has been almost a decade since Raymond James Financial announced plans to bring a massive satellite campus to Wiregrass Ranch.

Finally, last month, the preliminary plans for that complex, which will be located at S.R. 56 and Mansfield Blvd., east of the Shops at Wiregrass, were submitted to Pasco County, as well as a request to meet with county planners.

While the original plans showed six fourstory buildings totalling 1-million sq. ft. on the 65-acres of property in the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI), the actual site plans filed with the county reveal five office buildings and two parking garages (with additional parking in lots around the office buildings).

“I assume you’ll start seeing dirt move in the next couple of weeks,” says District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore. “We’re very excited. It’s nice to see it finally come to fruition.”

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The St. Petersburg-based financial services company announced its original intentions, and promise of 750 employees, in 2011. Pasco County’s Board of County Commissioners approved a $14-million incentive package, but Raymond James Financial postponed its expansion in 2014 and did not close on the property until 2016.

Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter has long touted the impact the Raymond James campus will have, and Moore agrees: “These kind of things tend to be a trigger for other companies to come,” he says.

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Tennis Facility: New complex will offer racquet sports, fitness and more. never stops smiling as he describes the project.

The tennis center, which is located off Eiland Blvd. just a few miles north of eastern Wesley Chapel, is named for former Zephyrhills High tennis standout Sarah Vande Berg, who died in an automobile accident at the age of 21 in 2015.

It will be equipped to host regional (like college) and even national events like United States Tennis Association (USTA) and International Tennis Federation (ITF) tournaments, and also will provide a place for area residents looking for courts on which to play. Pascal would like to see the area active in USTA league tennis, where Saddlebrook Resort may field an occasional team limited by membership restrictions.

It also will offer instructional tennis for children, and training for the more serious players.

FROM PAGE 1

itself from ranches to recreation.

“It fits right in with (our new) Florida Sports Coast vision,” says Adam Thomas, the county’s tourism director.

“This will make an impact.”

The tennis complex is a publicprivate partnership between the City of Zephyrhills, the Sarah Vande Berg (SVB) Tennis Foundation and Pascal, the president of Tennis P.R.O., LLC, and the director — and driving force — behind the new facility.

It is the hope of Pascal, who ran the renowned tennis program at Saddlebrook Resort from 2003-06 and lives in Estancia, that the SVB Memorial Tennis Center reaches far and wide into the surrounding communities to help bring it to life.

“It is something that people want,” says Pascal. “I hear it all the time. It will be a place where mom can do fitness and dad can do tennis, or vice versa, and the kids can do the Kids Club, or daycare. That is huge.”

Pascal says he also is teaming up with Buttermilk Provisions owner Dana Morris for a restaurant at the tennis center as well.

“We think this will be something special and unique,” says Pascal, who

And, speaking of memberships, Pascal is hoping to sign up hundreds at a price he said will be fair and less expensive than the clubs in the area.

Depending on what type of membership you buy, it also could include membership to the Silverado Golf & Country Club, which is adjacent to the tennis complex.

While tennis will be the central focus of the facility, Pascal also has formed the United Global Academy, which will be an online school limited to 32 students from a variety of sports, similar to what IMG Academy in Bradenton

offers but on a smaller scale initially.

Mark Shepherd, former director of student services at Saddlebrook Prep on the resort’s property, will help run the academic side.

Pascal has reached into Wesley Chapel’s sporting community to help develop those athletes, who will be able to train in the 30,000-sq.-ft. indoor facility, which can accommodate four tennis courts and a synthetic turf soccer field.

“Why not create a sports association?,” he says. “Get all the best ex-athletes in the area to come together once a month to promote sports to kids...kids who cant afford it!”

Athletes will be able to receive training from coaches like former English Premier League Soccer player and local club coach Gary Blissett, former New Orleans Saints lineman Mel Williams, Silverado Golf & Country Club golf pro Sean Klotz and others.

“The vision is to bring the community together by offering a familyfriendly experience,” says Pascal, who most recently was the tennis director at Merion Cricket Club, a private club in Haverford, PA, with more than 2,000 members. “There will truly be something for everyone here.”

For more information, visit the SVBTennisCenter.com.

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The grass and bushes in this picture at the end of Kinnan St. in K-Bar Ranch could be cleared, but only for a public safety connection to Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe.

Tampa Pushes For Mansfield Conclusion

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan, who has tried to get Kinnan St. in New Tampa connected with Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe II — the infamous Kinnan-Mansfield connection — for more than a decade, may finally get his wish.

Well, partially, anyway.

While Pasco County is firmly committed to not connecting the two roads to general traffic, it has expressed a willingness to connect them for fire rescue and other emergency vehicles. With no other options remaining, Hagan — who represents New Tampa as part of Hillsborough’s District 2 —thinks it’s time to make a deal.

At the Oct. 16 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, Hagan introduced a motion to direct the county staff to meet with their Pasco counterparts to forge an interlocal agreement authorizing the Kinnan-Mansfield connection, for public safety purposes, to finally become a real thing.

The two sides have met, but no formal decision has been announced.

Pasco County District 2 Commissioner Mike Moore, a long-time opponent of making a connection at KinnanMansfield, said he expects an opening for emergency vehicles, as well as improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists, is something the county will support.

However, a vote is not imminent.

“We are still waiting to see how it plays out,” Moore says.

Hagan hopes his proposal speeds up the process.

“I basically introduced the item because I have been trying to make this connection for well over a decade now and, unfortunately, Pasco has steadfastly refused,” Hagan says. “While they have not completely seen the light, this is certainly a step in the right direction.”

If a deal is struck, the roads will be connected, and an entry-and-exit bar will be installed to keep vehicular traffic out.

The two counties also will be connected at Kinnan-Mansfield by pathways for pedestrians and bicyclists.

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Residents of Meadow Pointe II have fought the connection because they say it would add too much vehicular traffic to Mansfield Blvd., which is home to community entrances and area schools.

Proponents of connecting the roads have argued that it would be good for local businesses and residents and would help ease traffic in the area, while also benefiting fire rescue and emergency medical services, as the two counties have a mutual aid agreement.

Currently, roughly 30 feet of overgrown grass and bushes — and a good deal of junk that has been dumped in the area — is all that separates the two roads, which were never connected when Kinnan St. was completed in 2007.

Since then, the counties have bickered on numerous occasions over whether or not the roads should be connected.

In 2015, then-District 7 Tampa City Council member Lisa Montelione argued for a connection for safety reasons, after K-Bar Ranch resident Otto Schloeter severely burned his arm and did not receive medical attention for 45 minutes. Montelione argued that it took emergency medical services twice as long as it should have to reach Schloeter.

Pasco County commissioned an engineering firm to study potential connections between the K-Bar Ranch area and Pasco County.

In June, Pasco’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) voted unanimously to recommend connections to K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. in New Tampa’s KBar Ranch community at Meadow Pointe and Wyndfields Blvds., while also recommending the first responders connection at Kinnan-Mansfield.

Hagan said it is his understanding that Pasco will vote for the public safety connection.

Hagan secured $250,000 from Hillsborough in September of 2017 for what he hoped would be a connection open to everyone.

That money is still available to build the public safety connection.

Moore said Pasco County has offered to pay for a third of the costs, but if Hillsborough County wants to pay for it all, even better.

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Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar To Breathe New Life Into The Grove

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Jamie Hess was as excited as he could be when he jumped headfirst into a pool built — and filled with hope and dreams — by developer Mark Gold.

Within days of Gold’s $62.7-million purchase of The Grove shopping complex, Hess (and his brother Joe) was one of the first local business people to sign a lease which will allow his idea of bringing a nonchain restaurant and dueling piano bar to Wesley Chapel to come to fruition.

Hess wasn’t alone in his excitement, apparently. When it came to naming his place, Hess turned to four area Facebook pages, including the popular Wesley Chapel Community and Wesley Chapel Network pages, and turned it into a contest.

The result: 1,830 entries, more than a thousand more than he says he expected.

So, welcome to Wesley Chapel, Treble Makers.

“The response has been unbelievably overwhelming,” says Hess, who has owned Gadget Repair in the New Tampa Commons plaza near the Shops at Wiregrass since January. “It has definitely exceeded expectations.”

The credit for coining the name Treble Makers goes to Wesley Chapel’s Rodney

The site of the Treble Makers dueling piano bar & restaurant will be right in the middle of all the new action at The Grove, says owner Jamie Hess.

Beuno, who was the first of three Facebook posters to suggest it.

He will be rewarded with VIP entry at the Treble Makers grand opening, with free food and free drinks, and will also receive a $500 bar and restaurant tab.

Sara Brinkley and Mara Mroz, both of Wesley Chapel, also chose the same name, and will each receive a free VIP experience for their efforts.

With the name out of the way, Jamie is now focusing on bring the piano bar to life.

He will apply for his permit on Nov. 26, he says, and has been ordering kitchen equipment while the designs are being finalized.

“Once that permit comes, we’re running,” he says.

Treble Makers will be located in “The Village,” as Gold now calls it, which is the long-dormant retail/office plaza located across the parking lot from the big box stores in The Grove, closer to I-75.

Jamie and Joe will be located right across a parking lot from the new Double Branch Artisanal Ale brewpub, which is hoping to open by the end of the year.

“That whole area was a ghost town, but they (Gold and his Mishorim Gold Properties) are shaking it up,” Jamie says.

Jamie also says that Treble Makers will

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be a full menu restaurant serving American cuisine from salads to steaks and everything in between.

On most weeknights during dinner hours in the 6,000-sq.-ft. restaurant, a single pianist will be featured. And, on the weekends, dueling pianists — adults only, Jamie says — will take over. There also will be other forms of live entertainment, with karaoke and trivia nights sprinkled in.

Treble Makers will be surrounded by a number of ethnic-themed restaurants, and a short walk from a container park that already is drawing massive interest. Being a part of The Grove was a big deal for Jamie when he signed his lease three weeks ago.

“I’m a big believer in the Wesley Chapel community,” Jamie says. “This is really an exciting time, and I think Wesley Chapel needs something like The Grove.

Downtown Tampa is great and nice, but we need a place like that at home.”

THE GROVE IS BLOOMING: Signs are beginning to go up all over The Grove’s Village area.

Right across the street from Gold’s office, F45 Training is moving in. F45 Training is a quickly growing gym where the F stands for functional, and the 45 is for how many minutes the various workouts last. There are already Tampa Bay locations

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Community Market Kicks Off

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

Venues that feature aex throwing (and even leagues) in a bar atmosphere, like the Kilted Axe coming the The Grove in January, have been a growing in popularity. in Land O’Lakes, Largo, Clearwater, St. Petersburg and Westchase, and according to its website, F45 Training is coming soon to the Oldsmar and Lutz areas, too.

Signs are up at the Village for both a New York Pizza place, and a New York Bagel Shop, though the bagel shop appears to be headed instead to the old Verizon store location at the corner of S.R. 54 and the southbound exit off I-75.

A Burger Brazil restaurant is on the way, as is a yet-to-be-revealed Cuban restaurant that also is expected to have a rum distillery on the premises. Treble Makers owner Jamie Hess says his dueling piano bar will be flanked by a high-end dessert place, and an Italian bakery is coming as well.

One of the more interesting new businesses coming to The Grove? The Kilted

Axe, which boasts “a premier indoor axe throwing range.”

The Kilted Axe will have axe-throwing leagues — you can actually sign up now at TheKiltedAxe.com — and also can host private events and offer other games and beer in a rustic 2,500-sq.-ft. setting.

And while most of the new places in The Grove are still working out some of their details, The Kilted Axe already has a grand opening scheduled — Saturday, January 18, 5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. According to The Kilted Axe Facebook page, more than 200 people have said they are going, with another 2,300 marking themselves as interested.

For leasing & more information about The Grove, contact keren@mgoldgroup.com.

The Grove will begin hosting area vendors every Saturday starting November 23, as it looks to build excitement for the launch next year of its planned container park.

The weekly event, called the Community Market at The Grove, is expected to feature anywhere from 60-100 vendors, who will sell crafts, food, produce and services from 10 a.m.-3 p.m.

It is described by Matheus Gold, public relations manager for The Grove, “as a fall festival, but better.”

According to Steven Morgan of TLC Marketing, more than 30 vendors have already signed up for the first Community Market.

The new market is designed to whet the appetite of local residents and build on the excitement being generated by news of a fresh, hip development in Wesley Chapel.

“We wanted to do something to bring the community together, to give it something to do,” Gold says.

According to Morgan,the idea is to “use the platform of a Community Market to build businesses.”

The Shops at Wiregrass mall,

located a few miles south of The Grove, hosts a popular Fresh Market at Wiregrass, which features produce, crafts and locally-made take-home food products. It is held 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every first and third Saturday of every month, including this Saturday, November 16.

While there is no Fresh Market at Wiregrass scheduled for the same day the Community Market at The Grove launches, the two markets will conflict on other Saturdays.

Morgan says he believes there are enough vendors to go around.

“A lot of these vendors do multiple sites anyway,” he says.

As for the much-anticipated container park that is being developed at The Grove, it will launch in the spring — and Gold says new leases are being signed every day.

The original plan was to have 60 containers in the park area, and although many of those are already under lease, the demand has significantly outpaced supply, according to Mark Gold, who is aggressively developing The Grove since purchasing it less than two months ago.

“We are being very selective,” he says. “But everyone wants one.”

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Fall Festival Scores Again At The Grove!

Congratulations to Simply Events, which again put on a successful Wesley Chapel Fall Festival at The Grove the weekend of October 26-27. Enjoy our little photo recap.

Photos by Richard Nasrallah

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15

S

NOVEMBER 2019

Friday, November 15-Monday, November 18

The Tenth Annual Siesta Key Crystal Classic International Sand Sculpting Festival - See ad, right.

Saturday, November 16

Thursday, November 21

North Tampa Veterans Association meeting - All armed forces veterans & associates are invited to a weekly lighthearted Dutch-treat breakfast meeting to get acquainted & tell your tales, new & old. Location: Steak ‘n Shake, just off BBD Blvd. (17509 North Palms Village Pl.) - every Thursday, 7:30 a.m. Bring your spouse & your brag sheet.

Wednesday, November 27

2019 Kid Care Fair - at Pasco Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch Conference Center (2727 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel), 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Meet vendors, health-care providers, & kid-&-familyfriendly businesses in your area. This FREE event, sponsored by PHSC & the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commence, will provide you with resources & opportunities to be better informed parents, childcare providers, & advocates for early childhood development. FREE food & activities for moms, dads and little ones! For more information, call the North Tampa Bay Chamber office at (813) 994-8534 or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

North Tampa Arts League - The mission of the North Tampa Arts League (NTAL) is to develop, nurture and support the arts and the artists of North Tampa by working in concert with community leaders to make our area a vibrant art community. All are welcome! The NTAL meets 7 p.m.-9 p.m. on the fourth Wednesday of the 1st and 3rd month each quarter (except as noted), at: Compton Park Community Center, Tampa Palms (16101 Compton Dr.). Check out our current exhibit “Fall Traditions” - through December 31, at Jimmie Keel Library (2902 W Bearss Ave., Tampa). For more info, email NTALboard@gmail.com or visit northtampa-arts.com.

Symphony In Lights Tree Lighting & Santa’s Arrival - The Shops at Wiregrass invites you to the annual Symphony in Lights Holiday Extravaganza! Join The Shops for the Tree Lighting celebration & Santa’s Arrival (5 p.m.-9 p.m.) & enjoy a lively array of dancing lights, dazzling décor, & snow too! Symphony in Lights is an amazing holiday light show, choreographed to music featuring the Trans-Siberian Orchestra! Free entertainment for the entire family! For more information, visit TheShopsatWiregrass.com.

Wiregrass Wobble Turkey Trot 5K Run & 1-Mile Fun Run - See story on pg. 1 of this issue!

Thursday, November 28

Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Turkey Gobble - If you know anyone dealing with food insecurities, invite them to the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon’s annual Turkey Gobble feast, serving Thanksgiving dinner with all the fixins, noon-3 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For more info, visit WCRotary.com.

DECEMBER 2019

The Second Annual New Tampa Brew Fest! - For more information, see the special preview section on pages 41-43 of this issue!

Free Community Boot Camp - New Year, Same Hustle - Camp Gladiator is a fitness movement with dynamic, fun & challenging workouts - This is 60-minutes of amazing at your favorite place to shop. This Free event takes place every Saturday, 8:30 a.m.-9:30 a.m. at Tampa Premium Outlets (2300 Grand Cypress Dr., Lutz) - Participants should bring: exercise mat, 1-2 bottles of water, sweat towel, a smile & great attitude. For more info, email Christine Iloni at christineiloni@campgladiator.com.

Bay Chapel Food Pantry - Free food to help needy families. The Bay Chapel Food Pantry is open every Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive on BBD Blvd. in New Tampa (20300 Trout Creek Dr). For more info, call (813) 731-4040.

Fresh Market at Wiregrass - Held the 1st & 3rd Saturday of each month, you can enjoy the Fresh Market at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.), 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Shop for fresh produce, hand-crafted goods, candles, sauces, fresh bread and so much more. For more info, visit TampaBayMarkets.com.

Monday, November 18

Sunday, December 1

Barefoot Massage of New Tamps’s Grand Reopening! - See ad on pg. 19 of this issue!

Friday, December 6

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise meets the 1st & 3rd Fridays of each month, 7:15 a.m., at Happy Hangar Cafe (4241 Birdsong Blvd., Lutz). For more information, call Kathy Schenck at 813-956-4436.

Visit NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net to add your upcoming events to our online calendar. With enough advance notice, events that happen in our readership areas may also appear in print, as space allows.

Yoga On The Lawn - at the Shops at Wiregrass Center Court (28211 Paseo Dr, Wesley Chapel). This Free event is held every Monday, 6:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., weather permitting. This is relaxing beginner to intermediate yoga, sponsored by Energia Wellness Studio. For more info call (813) 973-7300.

Tuesday, November 19

MGM Friends Business Connection - Leap into action monthly with MGM (Meet & Greet Mixers) Friends Business Connection held at the University of South Florida (3802 Spectrum Blvd, Tampa). Held the first Tuesday of the month, 9 a.m.-10:15 a.m. Build strong relationships with like-minded business professionals with no fees. Open to all businesses looking to make real connections. Hosted by Shelomo Solson with Leapcaller.

Facilitator: Georgianna Strickland with Bizzee Bee Marketing LLC. For more info. go to mgmfriends.com or call (813) 477-7306.

Diabetes and It’s Management: Myths and Realities - Lunch & Learn program to be held at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, 4th floor hospital classroom (2600 BBD Blvd.), noon-1 p.m.. In the U.S. alone, more than 8 million people have undiagnosed diabetes. Having diabetes nearly doubles your chance of having a heart attack or other complications. Join endocrinologist Dr. Sheena Chatha to learn the myths and realities of diabetes and how you can manage it while enjoying an active, healthy life. Light lunch provided. To register, or for more information, visit adventhealth.events/event.cfm?id=6228.

Wednesday, November 20

Rotary Club Of Wesley Chapel Noon - The Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club meets Wednesdays at noon at Omari’s Grill, inside Lexington Oaks Golf Club off Lexington Oaks Blvd. First-time guests are always admitted for free. For more info, call (813) 391-3895.

Welcomes Dr. Jennifer Harb!

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Summer & Winter Both Come To Wesley Chapel This Weekend!

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@ntneightborhoodnews.com Santa Claus is coming to town.

The round, cherry-cheeked giver of gifts (if you’ve been nice, that is) will arrive at the annual tree-lighting celebration at The Shops at Wiregrass, marking the official start of its popular Symphony in Lights display in the center of the mall.

The dancing light show, set to music featuring the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, is expected to premiere at 5 p.m., and there will be shows nightly from 6 p.m.-9 p.m. through December 31.

This will be the 11th year of the lights display.

After the trees and lights are unveiled, Santa will waste no time taking his toy requests from the kiddies, starting tomorrow — Saturday, November 16, 7 p.m.-9:30 p.m.

You can even get your pet a photo with Santa on Monday nights from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. between November 18-December 2.

For more information about Santa’s schedule (and his break schedule; it gets hot in that suit!) please visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

The lagoon is transitioning from water events to those The Shops at Wiregrass is all set to unveil the popular “Symphony held on land, as it plays host to its firstin Lights” display this weekend. ever “Parrot Fest.”

Parrot Fest At The Lagoon!

The event will However, if you’re not quite be held tomorrow (Sat., Nov. 16), ready for the holiday season or 5 p.m.-10 p.m., and will feature the prepared to put away your summer Caribbean Chillers (right photo), a clothes to prep for winter, you might popular Jimmy Buffett tribute band. want to take an opportunity to check Bring your own blankets and out the Epperson Lagoon (31885 chairs and get ready to chill out to Overpass Rd.) free of charge. some classic Buffett tunes.

SIESTA KEY

10TH ANNIVERSARY

There will be multiple food trucks on site — you might even be able to get a cheeseburger in, well, paradise — as well as drink specials at the tiki bar.

Although tickets are free to attend the event, Epperson is asking everyone to register online at EventBrite.com. Just go to the site and search for “Caribbean Chillers.”

For more information about the free Parrot Fest, visit LagoonInformation.com or call (813) 527-0775.

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19

Noire Nail Bar Has The Best Location & Outstanding Nail Services!

— anything that requires extra time, attention or precautions.

By Gary Nager Considering how many places there are to get your nails done in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, it can be difficult to tell which one is best for you.

However, considering the old adage of “location, location, location,” one elegant local nail spa has got you covered when it comes to location.

“We’re here in the middle of everything happening on (S.R.) 56,” says John Nguyen, who is the co-owner (with his wife Vanessa) of Noire Nail Bar. “We’re surrounded by popular restaurants and places to shop.”

So, whether you venture out to 56 to shop at the Tampa Premium Outlets or have dinner at Bahama Breeze or Ford’s Garage, Noire Nail Bar is right there and has everything you need to pamper yourself.

All customers receiving services at Noire Nail Bar are offered a glass of wine, soft drinks or water, and the nail salon is immaculate, with a peaceful atmosphere and professional technicians whose job it is to make you happy.

“We have a great selection of colors, and top gel and dipping powder brands like OPI, SNS, DND and Chisel,” John says. “And, we offer many

Other Services, Too!

John (center) and Vanessa (to his right) Nguyen and their staff of professionally trained nail technicians invite you to check out everything that Noire Nail Bar has for you, in the center of all the action of S.R. 56, across from the Tampa Premium Outlets, next to Mellow different services, from basic manicures and pedicures to our Signature Spa Pedicure and our Special Care Spa.” John says that the Signature Spa Pedicure is the “ultimate treat for your feet,” with a therapeutic lavender rub that exfoliates dry skin while citrus sugar relieves and moisturizes your tired

feet. That is followed by an extensive moisturizing lotion massage and a hot towel wrap.

Noire’s Special Care Spa is designed to cater to clients with special needs, such as the elderly and those with diabetes who may have cracked heels, thick calluses, thick or ingrown toenails

There also are additional services offered, such as hot stone and hot candle wax massages, special prices on manicure and pedicure combos, nail enhancements, full sets, eyelash extensions, waxing services for your face and body and private rooms for your next party — and full nail services for birthday parties, bridal showers and other events are a specialty at Noire Nail Bar. There’s even Prince and Princess manicures and pedicures available for kids ages 12 and under.

Jannah’s daughter Lauren, who is expecting her first child later this month, absolutely loved not only her manicure and pedicure, but also spending quality time with her mom before her upcoming big day.

“It’s a really nice nail spa,” Lauren said. “And, the technicians were super sweet and did a great job, too.”

And, just in time for the holiday season, if you buy $100 or more in gift cards, you’ll save 10%.

“We also give you a coupon for 10-percent off on your birthday,” John says. You will need to prove it’s your birthday, of course.

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New Tampa Dance Theatre Celebrates 25 Years!

The professional staff at the New Tampa Dance Theatre is beaming with excitement about celebrating 25 years of teaching students — young and old, experienced and novice, in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and beyond — how to dance.

“We are humbled by all the support and excited to bring breathtaking choreography to the stage by our talented faculty and guest artists from around the country,” says Artistic Director Dyane Elkins IronWing. It’s going to be a season to remember!“ As a way of giving back, NTDT is offering all new students ages 3-18 $25 per class monthly tuition for their first three months — valued up to $480 (and valid through Dec 2019).

Adult Program students receive 25% off 8-week sessions (also valid through Dec 2019).

Whether you’re trying dance for the first time or a seasoned performer, everyone can take advantage of this offer and celebrate! NTDT is accepting fall registration and classes are popular and fill quickly. Don’t miss out!

NTDT offers dancers a world-class, professional experience that is unmatched in the Tampa Bay area, whether you like to dance for fun or dream of a career on stage. A leveled curriculum offers multiple art forms for students to explore.

Through personal attention and professional expertise, the NTDT faculty provides a positive educational experience based on core principles of respect, responsibility and teamwork.

And, even though NTDT’s adult programs also are extremely popular, Dyane says, “It’s all about the children at NTDT, always has been and always will be.”

She adds, “We are a company that enables children to succeed on and off the stage. The

And, speaking of getting 10-percent off, you can save 10% off all services at Noire Nail Bar every Monday through Wednesday, with the coupon from the ad on page 7 of this issue.

Noire Nail Bar is located at 25682 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz, and is open Monday-Saturday, 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. To make an appointment or for more information, call (813) 536-0161, or see the ad on page 5.

And, please remember to tell John, Vanessa and their friendly staff that the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News sent you!

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@NTWCNews

key is setting high expectations and encouraging their individual passions, all while having fun and building self-confidence.

“We are extremely grateful for the opportunity to guide our communities’ children the past 25 years. Thank you for your trust, it’s a true honor. Join us as we celebrate with an unforgettable 25th anniversary season!“ Among the performances and events coming up are the 20th Anniversary of NTDT’s production of Tchaikovsky’s “The Nutcracker” (Dec 13-15) with performances at USF Theater I and tickets available through Ticketmaster.

Prior to those performances, NTDT will host its 15th Anniversary Sugar Plum Fairy Tea on Sunday, December 1, at USF’s Gibbons Alumni Center and tickets available from NTDT. The New Tampa Dance Theatre offers year-round free trial classes for prospective dancers of all ages. To tour the facility, visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd. or, for more information, visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com, follow NTDT on Facebook and Instagram, call (813) 994-NTDT (6838) or see the ad on page 43..

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 24 • November 15, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

21

Cabinet & Stone International Makes Remodeling Your Home Easy!

By ANDY WARRENER There are tons of options when remodeling your kitchen or bathrooms.

Yet, there are very few businesses that will have a hand in every aspect of the remodeling process.

That’s what makes Cabinet & Stone International different.

The family-owned business is involved with you in every step of the process, from mining the stone and/or sourcing the hardwood you need, all the way to installing it in your home.

Located on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace, near King High School, the Cabinet & Stone showroom has myriad of design options in its 3,000-sq.-ft. space, but that is only a fraction of everything the company has to offer. It also boasts a 70,000-sq.-ft. warehouse, making it one of the largest distributors of pre-made cabinets and granite tops on the east coast of the U.S. “We have hundreds of different types of granite and quartz and we keep seven styles of cabinets in stock (at the N. 56th St. showroom),” says Cabinet & Stone president Hui You, “and we have even more styles available at another warehouse. And, customers are not limited to those styles — we will find any style and

If you’ve been dreaming about remodeling your kitchen (above) or your bathroom (photo on next page), Cabinet & Stone International’s showroom on N. 56th St. in nearby Temple Terrace has all of the countertops and cabinetry you need.

offer a competitive price and get it within the time frame the customer needs.”

Cabinet & Stone directly imports cabinets and granite countertops, eliminating middle-man costs and passing those savings on to the customer. The company, oftentimes Hui herself, inspects the quarries and the woodworking factories in Fujian, China, where Cabinet & Stone has

a 25-year working relationship with the companies that produce the products Hui and her crew sell here in Tampa.

“We are able to see all the processes,” Hui says. “We make sure that there is both quality and consistency in the products and that they meet our expectations.”

Hui promises that the company uses only the highest quality wood for cabi-

nets and the finest granite and quartz for countertops. She says that quartz is one of the growing trends in kitchen remodels, along with lighter colors in cabinetry.

The patterns in quartz are more uniform and more subtle than granite, which coincides with the newest trends in cabinetry.

Cabinet & Stone International’s newest line of cabinets is called Royal White (photo, left).

“White is a classic, timeless style and all of our cabinets are solid wood,” Hui says.

Customers won’t have to shop around for accessories, either. Cabinet & Stone has a wide variety of pulls, knobs and racks, everything needed for an elegant design of your kitchen or bathroom.

Wood species such as oak, maple and birch, top-of-the-line hardware in glides and hinges, even choices between American style (with frame) or European style (without frame) are customizable options at Cabinet & Stone International.

A design consultant will help you find the perfect choice, and Cabinet & Stone backs all of its work with a great warranty.

“Joanne, the designer, was excellent.

She sat down with us and sketched the whole kitchen,” says customer Annette Bridges. “We were very pleased with the

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(ACROSS THE STREET FROM WHARTON H.S. IN FRONT OF LIVE OAK)

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quality and the installation. There were a couple of minor issues with the installation and they came right out and fixed it.

I compared their prices with other places and their warranty on the installation was something no one else did.”

From Start To Finish

Keeping with its start-to-finish mantra, Cabinet & Stone uses a select list of subcontractors, most of whom have installed for the company for the last eight years.

“They were very understanding and helped me find the best cabinets and solutions for my kitchen and bath,” says customer Payton Yang. “I highly recommend them. The owner is very

Neighborhood News

knowledgeable and caring to my needs and goes above and beyond to make sure I get the kitchen design that meets my needs and wants.”

If you have a tight timeframe to work in, Cabinet & Stone is the way to go. Hui says that from the day of ordering, your customized order can be ready in just 2-3 weeks. Installations usually only take one day, as the assembly is prepared in the warehouse.

“We have used Cabinet & Stone hundreds of times,” Bremalie Homes owner Mike Kappaz says. “The main reason we like (them) so much is the sales people are unbelievable. They help with any request the customer has. It’s also great to be able to send the customer into their facility, so they can touch and feel (everything). It helps the customer feel good about the products they are using.”

Even if you’re a DIYer, you can take home written or video instructions that

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take you step-by-step through the installation process. The company’s YouTube channel — Cabinet & Stone INTL — has videos demonstrating everything from a spice rack to a three-drawer base cabinet installation.

Venture To New Tampa

The You family moved to Tampa Palms in 2011 from the Westchase area.

They have become familiar with the area, raising their children and being active in the local tennis community. “(The New Tampa area) is a great area to raise a family,” Hui says.

A key business dynamic surrounding the New Tampa and parts of the Wesley Chapel area is that many homes were built 10 to 12 years ago. Hui says that is about the typical timeframe to update cabinets and countertops.

If you’re getting ready to sell your home, a new customized kitchen and/ or bathroom is an investment that will definitely bring a return.

“A new kitchen or bathroom is one of the best investments you can make if you want to sell your home,” Hui says. “Cabinets and countertops are the only furniture that comes with the house when you sell it. Don’t wait.

Even if you’re not planning to sell for the next couple of years, the cabinets and countertops will still be there for you to enjoy.”

It’s holiday time and there’s no better time to update your kitchen or bathroom. Want to be the toast of your holiday party? Go to CabinetnStoneIntl.com and try out their Virtual Kitchen, applying a number of different countertops and cabinet configurations.

Then, head over to their showroom and get the process started.

To learn more about how Cabinet & Stone International can help with your kitchen and bath remodeling needs, call (813) 887-5658, visit the showroom at 6606 N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace, or visit CabinetnStoneIntl.com. Or, see the ad on pg.

27 of this issue.

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23

Check Out Max’s Natural Pet Food Market & Salon!

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN When Paul Spalvieri talks about how Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon came to be, it’s immediately apparent that the entire business — from the store to its name — exists only because of his pet dog, Max. Max is a 2-year-old bichon frisé who lives in Watergrass with his pet parents, Paul and Martina, who also have three human kids.

Paul and Martina want the very best for Max (and now, for his dog sister, Missy, a six-month-old Havanese) but they kept finding themselves disappointed in what they could get in Wesley Chapel.

“I couldn’t get it in the community,” says Paul, “so I started the business.”

Paul says it took him about 18 months to get ready — including researching the best pet brands, the recall rates of many brands of pet food and how they are sourced — before finally opening the store on September 21. It’s located on S.R. 54, about a mile east of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., near Saddlebrook Resort.

He says the focus of the store is to provide the highest level of organic nutrition available for dogs and cats, along with the best of other products, as well as an unparalleled grooming experience.

box stores, pet parents who want the very best for their dogs and cats know it’s worth the cost.

“A lot of the issues we have with dogs and cats are caused by poor nutrition, such as allergies and sensitivities, throughout the animal’s life,” Paul explains. “A lot of that can be corrected, so you won’t be faced with exorbitant vet bills in later years, because they haven’t been eating pesticides their whole lives.”

In addition to food, the store carries products for all breeds of dogs and cats, including a wide variety of treats, beds, supplies, collars, leashes, toys, vitamins, supplements, natural remedies for fleas and ticks, shampoos and more.

“What haven’t I bought here?,” laughs Marlene Kiser, a Watergrass resident who shops for her dog and cat at Max’s Natural Pet Market and laments that she still has to go to a big box store for items for her hamster and chameleon.

She brought Corbin, her golden Paul and Martina Spalvieri opened up Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon in order to provide the finest quality foods and grooming for their pets and yours. retriever, to the store’s grand opening, (Photo: Charmaine George) which happened to be on Corbin’s ninth tion. In many cases, customers can scan birthday, and then booked a birthday “Everything in the store is strictly party for him. vetted,” he says. “There isn’t one product the package and see where the protein “It was super cute,” she says. “There in here that I’d have any hesitation to feed in the bag came from, even the name of was a custom cake for the dog, a birthday the farm. or give to my pets.”

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for her cat, Lily, and when it didn’t work out, she says Paul gave her a 100% refund and helped her choose an alternative, which has been perfect for her finicky kitty.

“The food they have in the store is all natural, so even the canned food is not mush. It’s shreds of fish and chicken and little actual shrimp,” says Marlene. “She loves that.”

Marlene also raves about the cat litter, saying that it’s better than any she’s ever used before.

She also takes advantage of Max’s Marlene Kiser’s golden retriever Corbin recently celebrated his rewards program, on birthday at Max’s Ntural Pet Market, complete with a custom her way to earning free cake and lots of fun with his dog friends. products, such as a free bag of cat litter or food lot of dogs there running around. Corbin absolutely loved the cake. Whatever it was, after buying 10, which she says makes the products — which are already well worth he chowed down.” the cost — even more affordable.

Marlene says the staff helped her to pick the perfect food for Corbin, based Top-Notch Salon Services on his breed, size, age and other factors.

While the high-quality products They also helped her to choose a food

available at Max’s Pet Market already set it apart from every other pet store in Wesley Chapel, Paul wants the store’s pet salon to be a cut above (pun intended) everything else out there, too.

He says he hand-picked three groomers who not only have more than 15 years of experience each, they also show a passion for the entire experience of grooming dogs and cats. He says that all of the groomers know breed-specific cuts, and have certifications such as National Certified Master Groomer, certified by the National Dog Groomers Association of America.

“Our facility is cage-free, so when pets come in, they are greeted by the groomer and start the grooming process immediately,” Paul explains. “Dogs aren’t sitting around in cages, barking and anxious and stressed.”

He adds that it’s much more pleasant for the pup and the groomer this way.

“She can take her time with the pup and not rush through the whole experience,” he says.

Meanwhile, Marlene says she has had Corbin in for grooming twice since the salon opened and that the experience has been better than any other in all of Corbin’s nine years — and she’s had him groomed in many, many places.

“I’ve never had a dog that has stayed so well groomed for so long after,”

Marlene explains. “It’s a huge change.

He stays so soft for so long afterward, it’s crazy. He’s still soft and it’s been four weeks now.”

Marlene says that’s not the only difference. When she arrives, she’s greeted by the groomer, who wants to hear exactly how she wants Corbin groomed. When Marlene picks Corbin up, the groomer meets with her and makes sure everything has been done properly.

“I had something I wanted a little different, and she took care of it right then and there,” says Marlene. “The next time I went, she remembered what I wanted and I didn’t even have to say it.”

That’s what Paul says he wants for all of his customers.

“When you boil it all down, I want this to be a very different experience for the pet parent,” says Paul.

Not only will you have a superior experience at the salon as their dog or cat is groomed, but also, “you can rest assured that the products I have in the store are organic, all natural and the absolute best type of nutrition for their dog or cat.”

Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon is located at 28838 S.R. 54. It’s open Monday–Saturday, 8 a.m.–7 p.m., and 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. Learn more about the store online at MaxsPetMarket.com, call (813) 649-3939, or see the ad on page 38 of this issue.

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27

Longhorns Make It Three Straight County Championships

By JOHN C. COTEY John Long Middle School football coach Damon Zassenbraker has an unusual approach to kicking the ball off during games.

He doesn’t.

Instead, he orders onsides kicks, where the ball needs to only travel 10 yards before the Longhorns can recover it, unless the receiving team beats them to the ball, which they usually don’t.

After 23 straight wins, including a third consecutive Pasco County middle school championship on Oct. 28, it’s hard to argue with his strategy.

The Longhorns defeated local rival Weightman 35-6 to cement themselves as an official dynasty in Pasco’s middle school ranks. Behind two touchdowns apiece from quarterback Isiah Williams and running back Gavin Zassenbraker and, of course, some key recoveries of onsides kicks, the Longhorns capped off another undefeated season.

“It feels good, I’m happy for the kids,” said Zassenbraker, a world history teacher at Long and the head football coach for two different stints totalling six years. “We give them a game plan, and they go out and execute it. It’s wonderful to get to this point again.”

The Longhorns were able to attack the outside edges with success against Weightman. Williams, who improved throughout the year, scored the first touchdown around the right end, as Gavin Zassenbraker sealed

Coach Damon Zassenbraker (left) gets a victory dousing after the Longhorns’ third straight Pasco County championship. Right: Kicker Cameron Canard was a key offensive weapon in the championship victory. (Photos courtesy of Valerie Sercu/Celebrate Everything Photography) Longhorns scored on a great catch by Jaden the edge with a block to clear the way for playing soccer — kicked one deeper that Ramos in the left corner of the end zone to the 40-yard score, and then Zassenbraker his teammates recovered.

Those kicks limited Weightman to only tie it up with a little over a minute remaining. followed that up with his first touchdown, four offensive possessions in the game.

Canard’s extra point made it 13-12, and then covering 24 yards on an inside run.

Weightman struggled with the Long“Cameron has an amazing ability to his onsides kick was recovered to seal the win.

Opponents only scored 24 points horns’ offense all evening. Coach Zassenbraker make the ball bounce just right, it’s unreal,” against Long this season, and only 12 of described his offense formations as a combina- Zassenbraker said. “I think we had to recovthose were against the Longhorns’ defense. tion of the stuff the University of Oregon and er at least two every game.”

The other 12 were scored on onsides kick Auburn University run, and it produced early Doesn’t that peeve the other coaches? returns for TDs. results that put Weightman on its heels.

“Oh, absolutely,” Zassenbraker said Long’s kicker Cameron Canard’s Can the Longhorns make it four straight? with a chuckle. amazing ability to make his onsides kicks Ironically, Weightman’s only score came Zassenbraker isn’t sure. Because of school rehard to recover was more than enough to zoning, he will lose a large number of his playwhen Gacanica Armani grabbed one of the provide the cushion the rest of the way. ers to the new Cypress Creek Middle School. onsides kicks and ran it back the other way Williams and Jayden Ramos recovered two for a touchdown.

But, he says he can’t wait to try again.

“It’s always satisfying to see the smile onsides kicks, and with Weightman playing Canard’s foot saved Long’s season at on the kids’ faces,” he said. “I always tell ‘em up to defend against it later in the game, least once this year.

Trailing Pine View Middle 12-6, the no matter what, they’ll always be my boys.”

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New Tampa Resident Helping Rid The Everglades Of Pythons!

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com

AHWD-XXXXX

Kevin Reich was driving through the Grand Cypress National Preserve in Ochopee, FL, one evening back in late July, and was about to give up and head home when the tail of a Burmese python caught his eye.

“Just by the tail, I knew it was going to be a big one,” Kevin says.

So, he did exactly the opposite of what you might expect — but something perfectly normal for him — he parked his car on the side of the road, hopped out and walked up to the snake.

Armed only with his bare hands, Kevin grabbed the tail and dragged the python out, the two dancing a slithery dance, as he deftly avoided attempts by the python, which are non-venomous constricting snakes, to wrap itself around him.

After 15 minutes, the snake was tuckered out. Kevin grabbed it by the neck and victoriously bagged it.

He was right about the size, too: it checked in at a goosebump-inducing 17feet, 9 inches long, and weighed in at 83 pounds, 12 ounces.

At the time, it was the second-longest ever caught by a member of the Python Action Team.

“I knew it was going to be a challenge and a bit of a battle,” Kevin says. “Big

TURNING 65?

snakes don’t come along much. It was a very big, very strong animal. When it started to lose its steam, I just went in for its head and got a hold of it. I could tell it was still very strong. It was trying to turn its jaw around to bite me. The hardest thing sometimes is getting them in the bag.”

While Kevin’s full-time job is in the U.S. Coast Guard, he finds plenty of time to do his part to help the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) try to tame the ever-growing population of Burmese pythons in the Florida Everglades and surrounding areas.

The FWC created the Python Action Team in 2017, to combat the invasive species, and has captured nearly 1,000 pythons since.

Still, Kevin says that in certain areas, where racoons, rabbits and opossums should be bountiful, there too often is nothing, due to the spread of the Burmese python.

He says he knows what animals do and don’t belong in a certain area. Growing up in Cory Lake Isles, he says he was your typical Florida outdoor boy, exploring his nature-rich community.

“There isn’t one little portion of those lakes or islands that I don’t know,” he says.

“I fished on that lake every day. It’s where I learned a lot about the outdoors in Florida.”

Kevin joined the Coast Guard in 2016, See “Python” on next page.

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31

Python: Kevin Reich takes his snake-catching skills to the Everglades CONTINUED FROM PAGE 31 after graduating from New Tampa’s Wharton in 2012.

He was stationed in Miami, which was a perfect fit, in part because it allowed him to explore the Everglades.

It was while doing so with a buddy that he caught his first Burmese python — a freshly hatched 2-footer.

By the way, his second catch was a 15-and-a-half foot python.

He became a certified volunteer Burmese python hunter, before the FWC and Southwest Water Management District began programs that

32

contracted people to help rid the area of pythons.

“It’s awesome,” Kevin says. “You get paid to go out in these places in the Everglades and explore and help remove these snakes.”

Python Action Team members make just $8.46 an hour, plus $50 for each snake measuring 4 feet, and $25 for each additional foot beyond that. So, a 17-foot Burmese python would net the hunter $375.

That’s a nice bonus for something Kevin confesses he would do for free just to help.

He says that 95 percent of contrac-

tors do not euthanize pythons on site.

Instead, they bag them and hand them over to the FWC for research, as the wildlife commission tries to figure out a way to more effectively remove the snakes.

Since he began trapping pythons, Kevin says he has captured well over 100 of them.

It does not come without its perils, however.

He says he has been bitten numerous times, and has been sprayed with the snake’s musk, which he says leaves one the foulest odors he has ever smelled. He keeps Lysol disinfectant

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wipes in his equipment bag to wipe off his arms anytime he gets tagged.

The longest python ever caught in Florida was 18-feet, 8-inches (in 2013), and the longest ones caught by the Python Action Team are 18’-4” (in September) and 18’ (last December).

“Most of the folks that know me are not at all surprised that I do this,” Kevin says. “It’s definitely a challenge and something I enjoy. I know what animals do and don’t belong, and some of these places just don’t have any small mammals or birds left. These snakes are everywhere. I’m doing my part to help, and preserve the area.”

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The Brunchery, one of Valrico’s favorite breakfast & lunch places, is coming to New Tampa!

The Brunchery Looking To Open Doors By December

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com When it comes to grabbing breakfast off busy Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa, there is no shortage of places to grab a pastry, donut, breakfast sandwich or a cup of coffee.

But, if you want a couple of eggs over easy, a strip of fresh bacon, a slice of warm toast and coffee in a ceramic mug, you’re pretty much out of luck.

However, the good news is that your luck is about to change.

The Brunchery, a popular Valrico restaurant locally owned for 30 years by Kevyn Farley and known for its stuffed French toast, grilled muffins and six kinds of eggs Benedict, is planning to open in the old Boston Market space on BBD the first week in December, if not sooner.

New owner Stanley Athan is enthusiastic about his latest venture. He grew up in Washington state, in a family that has spent more than 50 years in the restaurant business.

Athan’s first job was washing the dishes in one of his father’s restaurants at age 14, so he could earn enough money to buy a car when he turned 16. He is the youngest of three brothers, all of whom now own restaurants — Stanley owns Voula’s Good Eats, named after his mother, in Mountlake Terrace, WA. When he started looking for new a new business to buy, however, a number of factors pointed him towards Florida.

He spent eight months searching for a pizza place or a diner — anything but a chain eatery.

“Floridians are sick of chains,” he says. “They go because they don’t have other choices.”

When one of his old high school friends mentioned that the restaurant he lived down the street from, The Brunchery, was for sale, Athan quickly hopped on a plane.

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“When I first walked in, it was exactly what I was looking for,” Athan says.

On his second visit, they got his order wrong. He ordered stuffed waffles, and instead was brought stuffed strawberry French toast. He said it was so good, however, he left a $10 tip.

The Brunchery wasn’t “broke,” so Athan didn’t have much to fix. The restaurant uses the same recipes that Farley used, continues to buy their products —bread, fruit, etc. — from the same vendors, and perhaps most important, serves the same coffee.

Athan merely added some social media muscle to the operation, and sales have been up since he took over in December of 2018.

Now, he is looking to duplicate the rooster-themed, country feel of his prized mom n’ pop at his 2,300-sq.-ft. space in Valrico to his new 3,100-sq.-ft. space in New Tampa, which will have seating for 100.

He is fully aware that a place to have breakfast in New Tampa is high on the wish list of many area residents.

The Brunchery is best known for its breakfast items — made-from-scratch Belgian waffles and French toast (for the special this week, they were stuffed with blackberries), homemade home fries, steak and eggs and breakfast scrambles — but it also has a lunch selection that includes burgers and sandwiches.

Athan said one of the best compliments he has gotten since taking over the restaurant came from one of his customers who is from New York, and said The Brunchery’s Reuben sandwich was the best he’s had since moving to Florida.

With chef and general manager Al Marku, Athan hopes to build the same loyal customer base in New Tampa that he has built in Valrico.

“We know what customers want and like,” Athan says. “We will be bringing that to New Tampa.” @NTWCNews

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33

Fushia Asian Bistro — Happy To Celebrate 15 Delicious Years In Tampa Palms!

By GARY NAGER

When you consider the number of restaurants that have come and gone in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel the past 15 years, it’s pretty impressive that Fushia Asian Bistro, located in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms, is celebrating its 15th anniversary in that same location.

Owners Sharon and Charlie Wang actually have been in the plaza for 20 years, as they previously also owned Joy-O-Wok, which was much more of a takeout Chinese place, rather than the affordable fine dining restaurant that Fushia is today.

The restaurant is so named not so much because of the color fuchsia, but because it offers a fusion of different Asian cuisines, especially some unique Korean fare.

Sharon always has kept up with the latest trends in her business, and in recent years has added all-you-can-eat, cook-it-yourself options like Korean-style barbecue and a hot pot buffet (more on these below). She also recently expanded Fushia’s dim sum (appetizer and dessert) options. She even offers multiple private karaoke suites with thousands of song titles available, another popular Asian trend.

But, despite all of these other options, I still say that Fushia has the best (and most authentic) Chinese cuisine in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel — and one of the best things I can say about it is that even though I have my always reliable (and yummy) favorites, I keep finding new ones. But, I would really like to give you just a little taste (pun intended) of why I love this place so much.

Dim Sum

The dim sum appetizers craze in New York started shortly before I moved to Florida in 1993. Even so, I’m still more of a traditional egg roll, barbecued spare ribs and pan-fried dumplings guy for starters because it’s the Chinese main dishes that I crave most.

Therefore, it’s not too disappointing to me that many of the items on Fushia’s extensive dim sum menu have shrimp in them, which (as you loyal readers hear ad nauseum) I’m too allergic to for me to risk trying any of them. However, if you love crispy shrimp balls or steamed shrimp dumplings, the folks around me on my most recent visit who ordered the shrimp balls said they’re the best in town.

Although Fushia’s pan-fried pork dumplings are as good as they get, I did recently sample and enjoy the pork soup dumplings,

which a lot of people were eating when Jannah and I visited an excellent Chinese restaurant in New York. The soup dumplings (lower left photo on next page) have a different texture than the pork wontons in most wonton soup, and they’re excellent. I also love the flavor of Fushia’s spare ribs dim sum, which are cut-up sections of pork ribs cooked in your choice of two different sauces — I love ‘em both, but probably prefer the garlic and black pepper sauce to the black bean sauce.

And, although dim sum is only served 11 a.m.-3 p.m. every day for lunch, many of the items are desserts — like the egg tart dim sum (think sweet mini-quiches) and the sesame dessert balls (lower center photo on next page), which are filled with sweet red bean paste — to name just two.

“We make everything fresh, cooked-to-order here with the best ingredients,” Sharon says proudly. “Many of our regular customers tell me they can’t eat Chinese food anywhere else.”

in a boiling hot pot, but I will say that the few times I’ve had the hot pot buffet at Fushia, I’ve loved it. Several of the sauces are outstanding. It just will never be my first choice.

Even so, the all-you-can-eat hot pot buffet, which also includes soft drinks and a huge variety of desserts, is still a pretty good deal at the regular price of $25.99 per person.

However, in celebration of Fushia’s 15th anniversary, you can try the hot pot buffet for only $19.99 per person (with the ad on page 42), which truly is a bargain for everything

Korean BBQ Buffet

One option I’ve yet to try — but that lead videographer Charmaine George says is amazing — is Fushia’s Korean BBQ buffet.

Charmaine loved grilling her steak, pork, shrimp and veggies on the Korean BBQ grill right at her table (top left photo on next page). “Everything was fresh and delicious,”

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Hot Pot Buffet

I’ve written about Fushia’s hot pot buffet (photos on this page) before and even though it’s a great, different way to enjoy the restaurant, I’d still rather order dishes off the menu and have them served to me, rather than have to pick my own ingredients (including raw meats, veggies, broth to cook them in and sauce) and have to cook it myself

you get. And, even though there’s raw shellfish available for the hot pot buffet, I’ve never gotten a reaction from it at Fushia.

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she said afterwards. “I will definitely try that again!” Again, you choose your own ingredients, so those with allergies don’t have to worry about cross-contamination.

And, with the ad on pg. 42, the Korean BBQ Buffet (with soft drinks and desserts) is just $21.99 per person — a $5 savings!

The Main Event!

But, despite all of these other options, I still prefer Fushia’s authentic Szechuan (or Sichuan) cuisine. Two of my favorite dishes appear on this page — the Young Chow (mixed ingredient) fried rice (right). Fushia always holds the shrimp for me and gives me extra chicken and pork. My new favorite Sichuan dish is the spicy chicken dry pot (top right), which comes with a variety of fresh veggies and features a stinging spicy sauce which is given a kick from jalapeño peppers. The chicken is the opposite of dry, but the sauce is definitely less runny than at most Chinese places. And, although I might order it next time without the thick potato slices it comes with, there’s also plenty of snow peas, carrots, broccoli and celery — and they will sub out any veggies you don’t want. Too good!

My other favorite dishes (all of which I order spicy) are the beef with Chinese broc-

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coli, the already-spicy Yan Jian pork and the boneless Sichuan duck with mixed vegetables.

But, Fushia’s menu is so extensive, I know there are dozens of other dishes I’ve yet to try that could one day make my list of favorites. Sharon says, “There’s no other Chinese place with a bigger menu than Fushia. I know we have what you want, whether you’re American, Asian, an adult or a kid. We have something for everyone!”

And, the local community agrees — as many of Fushia’s reviews on Yelp tout the food as “the best” and “most authentic” in all of Tampa. High praise, indeed!

And of course, with all that spicy food, there’s nothing better than an ice cold Tsingtao (from China) or Sapporo (from Japan), although Fushia also offers a nice variety of reasonably priced wines.

So, please check it out and tell Sharon and her amazing staff that I sent you!

Fushia Asian Bistro (15317 Amberly Dr.) is open every day except Monday, 11 a.m.-midnight. For more info, call (813) 903-6705, visit FushiaChinese.com or see the ad on pg. 42.

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New Tampa Brew Fest 2019!

By JOHN C. COTEY 2019 New Tampa Brew Fest john@ntneighborhoodnews.com WHERE: The Venetian Center at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church, (9724 Cross When the New Tampa Noon Rotary Creek Blvd., New Tampa). went looking for an idea to create a signature event that would raise thousands of dolWHEN: Saturday, November 16, 6 p.m.-9 p.m. lars for the club’s favorite causes, it wanted something hip, trendy and successful.

TICKETS: $30 online at NewTampaBrewFest.

Now, heading into its second year, eventbrite.com, or $40 at the door. the club members have high hopes for their New Tampa Brew Fest, which will be WHAT TO EXPECT: There will be more than held tomorrow — Saturday, November 100 different beers available for sampling, 16 — at the Venetian Center at St. Mark ranging from well-known brands like Cigar The Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross City to smaller homebrews, including Wesley Creek Blvd. in New Tampa Chapel’s Wiregrass Brewing Company. Food “We actually stole the idea from the trucks also will be on site.

Temple Terrace Rotary Club,” says Jeff The New Tampa Brew Fest is by Ulbrich, the event’s co-chair. far the biggest fund raiser put on by the According to Ulbrich, his fellow Noon Rotary, and the plan is to conRotarians in Temple Terrace have been tinue building it until it rivals the one holding a craft Brew Fest in the spring for five years, and it has been wildly successful, held in Temple Terrace.

The numbers have been encouraging. drawing more than 2,000 attendees from Last year’s event had 28 breweries, but more than 70 zip codes to sample the wares from roughly 35 different breweries. dipping further into Tampa and St. PetersThe Temple Terrace event has made the burg’s deep bench of craft breweries, close to 35 of them will be represented this year, kind of impact that the New Tampa Noon serving more than 100 different kinds of Rotary is hoping for with its Brew Fest. Debeers. “I was stunned by how many craft spite some nervous moments leading up to breweries there are,” Ulbrich says. the event, last year’s inaugural New Tampa The craft beers available for tasting Brew Fest was deemed a success, drawing 28 come from such noted craft breweries as breweries and about 500 attendees.

Cigar City, Big Storm Brewing, CopperThe event raised enough money to tail, Florida Avenue (which is opening a cover expenses and contribute thousands new brewery on S.R. 56; see pg. 39) and of dollars to U.S. military troops and the 3 Daughters, as well as smaller brewers second Fisher House at the James Haley like Krazy Eddie’s Garage (KEG) Brewing, VA Hospital on BBD, which is a “comwhich is made in garage in Odessa, the fort” home where active U.S. military and new Double Branch Artisanal Ales (which veteran families can stay while their loved is opening next month at The Grove in ones are being treated in the hospital.

Wesley Chapel)l, and Wiregrass Brewing, “The purpose behind the Brew Fest was for our Rotary Club to create an event another independent brew which attended last year’s event (see pg. 38). that the whole New Tampa, and greater Ulbrich says the bigger craft brewerTampa Bay area, can take part in,” says coies use big distributors like Pepin and JJ chair Chris Stennett. “The dollars go back Taylor, which also will provide beers for the into civic projects, so we wanted something that had the biggest value. We aren’t event from 24 breweries, with the rest coming from smaller independent brewers. “We a big club, so for us to make a big impact, are trying to find a balance,” Ulbrich says. we had to dream big.”

The mega-popular White Claw hard seltzer, which is fighting a nationwide shortage of its product, will again have a booth at the event as well.

This year’s Brew Fest also will have three new food trucks on hand – Bacon Boss, BBQ Time and Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese.

Still smoker friendly!

“Last year was our first year, and we had no idea how many people would show up,” says Stennett. But, we knew it could work, and we knew the event could be a lot of fun and engage the community.

We want to be able to do more (with our donations), and we feel we’re on to something here.”

• Full Liquor Bar! • Watch all the games here!

• Karaoke & Entertainment

(813) 973-8336 27429 County Rd 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544

YouTube.com/c/NeighborhoodNewsOnline Facebook.com/NeighborhoodNews NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Wiregrass Brewing Company — One Of The Brew Fest’s Best

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com Randy Gailit liked to spend his Saturday mornings doing crafts.

Craft beers, to be exact.

In the garage of his Meadow Pointe home, he meticulously measures, mixes and mashes, making sure the right ingredients are producing the perfect results for what he hopes will be a tasty craft beverage.

“It’s like a science class,” he says.

He won’t know for weeks, in most cases, as the process is just beginning. Sometimes, he needs three weeks for his concoctions to ferment. Other times, depending on the style of beer, the fermenting process can take eight weeks or more.

Patience is a virtue, and in Gailit’s cased, his patience is rewarded with a cold, tasty beer.

Gailit and his one-man Wiregrass Brewing Company will be one of the many returning brewers at this weekend’s New Tampa Brew Fest, which is again being held at the Venetian at St. Mark The Evangelist Catholic Church in New Tampa tomorrow (Saturday, November 16).

While the process for a small home brewer can take a while, don’t worry — the beers Gailit will be bringing for those at the Brew Fest have long been fused in his garage, and will be ready to sample at the event, which raises money for causes supported by the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club.

Like last year, he is bringing his Ginger Island Ale, which he says is his most popular beer, and a tasty Rotary Red Ale, named for Gailit’s affiliation with the Land O’Lakes Rotary Club, a spinoff from the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon.

In a nod to the upcoming holi-

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Wesley Chapel’s Randy Gailit goes through a cooling process as he prepares another batch of his craft beers for fermentation in his Meadow Pointe garage. (Photo: John C. Cotey) or so people he works with at Mediagisday season, Gailit also has brewed a tic, a marketing and advertising agency Peppermint Porter for the event, and in Tampa, and his neighbors who, at a will have a fourth drink to sample — a recent party, went through four 5-galStrawberry Margarita Cider, the most lon Cornelius kegs (the kind primarily popular cider he has brewed. used for soft drink fountain machines, as “I’m pretty happy with how they opposed to the larger barrel-style kegs). turned out,” Gailit says.

“The garage door is always open,” Gailit’s brewery is highly efficient, he jokes. making amazing use of a third of his three-car garage’s space.

There are multiple refrigerators, an actual bar — with 4-5 beers usually on tap — and shelves filled with equipment, malts and yeasts, as well as a small room he built for the fermentation process.

Wiregrass Brewing doesn’t sell any of its beer, so the primary beneficiaries of Gailit’s weekend hobby are charities.

Gailit will provide beer at 5-6 charity events a year, like the New Tampa Brew Fest. He has provided the beverage for charities that work with a hospice in Land O’Lakes, for a cancer walk in Dunedin and a Wounded Warrior event in St. Petersburg.

And, in between the charity events, he shares his latest brews with the 100

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Gailit has always enjoyed drinking beer, but when one of his friends was selling one-gallon home-brew kits, he decided to buy one. It ended up being the first item at the Wiregrass Brewing Company — but it sat on a shelf in his garage for two years.

It wasn’t until he signed up for a brewing class at the Land O’Lakes World of Beer that he says he finally cracked it open.

“I was in there one day and they were doing the class, and I thought, ‘Hey, I can do this,’’’ he said. “So I did it, and it was a lot of fun. I’ve been brewing ever since.”

A former restaurant owner in Pennsylvania, Gailit has been mulling for a while now about moving his home brewing company into a bigger building, but he says the right space at the right price hasn’t presented itself yet.

And that’s fine, he adds. His Saturday mornings are quiet and relaxing, and the results of his efforts makes those around him happy. Being able to help worthwhile charities is simply an added bonus.

“No matter where I do it, it’s something I really enjoy,” he says. “I’m glad everyone seems to like it.”

For additional information about Gailit’s home brewery, search “Wiregrass Brewing Company” on Facebook.

@NTWCNews

F

t

Florida Avenue Brewery Aims To Be A ‘Cool Destination’

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com The craft beer craze may be a little late making its way into Wesley Chapel, but Anthony Derby promises it will be worth the wait.

Speaking to a group of local business leaders at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce Economic Development briefing last month at Hunter’s Green Country Club, Derby said it’s full speed ahead on the new Florida Avenue Brewery.

“We want to make sure we are building a destination, a gem, that people in Pasco County will refer to as a cool place,” Derby says.

Derby, the founder and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brew Bus Brewing and Florida Avenue Brewing Co., says his company is pouring millions of dollars into the old Sports + Field Family Athletic & Fitness Club complex on S.R. 56 to create what he says will be the largest locally-owned brewery in the state of Florida.

The new facility, located at 2029 Arrowgrass Dr. on S.R. 56, will be one of 285 licensed craft breweries in the state. It will provide 32,000-sq.ft. of space to brew both beer and

Neighborhood News

ciders, while also provide ample space for dining and entertainment.

Derby says he has visited a number of breweries across the country, like those operated by Sierra Nevada and New Belgium brewing companies, and is hoping to incorporate many of the best ideas he has come across so far into his new venture.

“We have a blank slate,” Derby says. “We want to put everything that is the best into one market, and that’s what we are coming up with.”

He says that by the time Florida Avenue Brewing opens in the spring — he is hoping for sometime in March — roughly $10-million will have been spent on the project, including purchasing the land and the building, as well as high-end equipment to increase brewing capacity.

The first year, he expects the brewery to produce 20,000 barrels of product, with a goal of 60,000 by the end of the third year.

Some of Florida Avenue Brewing’s products will be available to sample at this weekend’s New Tampa Brewfest (see pages 36-41) The building is getting a facelift on the outside, which will have a whitewashed brick exterior with red

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accents and a dark gray metal roof.

The old entrance, which used to be behind the building when you faced it on S.R. 56, will now be on the east side of the building. Upgraded water lines and an additional electric transformer are part of the utility upgrades.

Derby showed renderings of the new brewery, which will require significant modification inside. “A lot needs to happen,” he says.

He already has given away some of the old athletic equipment, and said he was still trying to unload the old Jumbotron that used to overlook the basketball court (yes, someone took him up on the offer afterwards).

Florida Avenue Brewery will include a retail outlet and large, glass walk-in cooler, as well as bar seating and high tops in various areas. It will feature a traditional dining room, with an open kitchen that Derby compares to Noble Crust, as well as a larger closed kitchen.

He said the current Florida Avenue location in Seminole Heights serves “upscale bar food” but added that a decision has not yet been made about what kind of food will be served at the Wesley Chapel location.

To go along with the public

outdoor areas, which will feature a live stage for bands and games like bocce ball and corn hole, there will be private event space with seating for 100, with sliding glass doors leading to a private beer garden.

“It’s a great indoor, outdoor atmosphere,” Derby says. “We want it to be innovative, and we definitely want to activate that outdoor area.”

Derby grew up in Carrollwood and said he had never been to our area until getting married — his mother-in-law lives in Grand Hampton in New Tampa, just south of County Line Rd. When he started looking for property last January, he was eyeing 15 acres on S.R. 56 just west of the Tampa Premium Outlets.

That same day, ironically, he found out the Sports + Field property had been put back on the market after previous failures to sell it.

He said that while there are a number of deed restrictions that have been a nuisance, the actual building is in great shape.

And, Derby is eager to transform it into something special.

“Everyone has been super pumped about it,” he says. “I hope that holds true.”

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2019 NEW TAMPA BREW FEST PARTICIPATING BEVERAGES

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2019 BREW FEST FOOD TRUCKS

No matter how good or how many beers there will be at the New Tampa BrewFest, the good news is that there will be great food available for purchase again this year.

Although we haven’t yet sampled the offerings from BBQ Time (above) or Mr. C’s Grilled Cheese (right), there’s no doubt that the burgers from the Bacon Boss are top-notch and, if last year’s BrewFest food trucks were any indication, it’s a pretty safe bet this year’s food will be outstanding, too.

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Nibbles & Business The Latest & Greatest News In Dining, Shopping & Business In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

What (Teriyaki) Madness Is This?!?

In our last (Oct. 18) Wesley Chapel edition, I mistakenly called the new restaurant known as Teriyaki Madness by a different name, a restaurant that also was a fast-Asian concept that closed at The Shops at Wiregrass several years ago. I already have apologized to the general manager at the new eatery for my mistake, so I hope you will read this and go... experience...Teriyaki Madness soon. Feel free to make fun of me when you do visit.

Teriyaki Madness is located at 28152 Paseo Dr. For more information, call (813) 803-3749, search “Teriyaki Madness” on Facebook or visit TeriyakiMadness.com.

The Learning Experience Celebrates Wesley Chapel Grand Opening!

It was a festive atmosphere when The Learning Experience of Wesley Chapel, located off Wesley Chapel Blvd. (aka S.R. 54) near the entrance to Lexington Oaks, celebrated its official Grand Opening with a North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) ribbon-cutting and Trunk or Treat event on Oct. 25.

Wesley Chapel franchise owner Kristen Nyilas, area manager Jennifer Tibbetts (left in photo above left) and their staff welcomed not only the Wesley Chapel community but also The Learning Experience’s elephant mascot Bubbles, to a fun, carnival-like atmosphere,

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with food, beverages and lots of fun things to do for kids, many of whom showed up in costume, as did other local businesses and residents who dressed up their vehicles for Halloween.

The Learning Experience (TLE) is a national company with 300 locations in more than 20 U.S. states, including a nearby center in New Tampa. Nyilas, a longtime New Tampa resident, says that it was an easy decision to open her center in booming Wesley Chapel, and hopes anyone interested in finding out more about the WC TLE will call to schedule a tour.

For more information, call (813) 9943865, stop by at 5440 Post Oak Rd. or see the ad on pg. 11 of this issue.

Havertys Unveils Its Remodeling!

Cutting a ribbon with the NTBC a couple of weeks before The Learning Experience was Havertys Furniture, located off S.R. 56, just east of I-75, which unveiled its newly remodeled showroom on Oct. 10 (right photo).

Wesley Chapel store manager Brandon Young says the store’s new look will appeal not only to Havertys base clients, who tend to skew a little older than some furniture stores, as well as younger furniture shoppers who will appreciate getting outstanding furniture at a fair price.

For more info, call (813) 994-0541 or stop by at 26450 Golden Maple Loop and tell Brandon and his crew we went you!

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 24 • November 15, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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Bowls, Bowls & More Bowls!

In our previous issue, we told you about the impending opening of Island Fin Poké Co. (see ad below), which is now open (and delicious!) between Winn-Dixie and Ginza Endless Hibachi & Sushi off County Line Rd., just south of Wesley Chapel. Island Fin owners Jeff and Brenda Sproat say that so far, locals do seem to be hopping on the poké bowl bandwagon.

And, with the ad below, you’ll receive a free (and super-cold) Dole Whip (a $4 value) with the purchase of a poké bowl.

But, the Sproats aren’t the only ones bringing bowl culture to our area. The next to open will likely be Mahana Fresh, which will be

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located in the plaza that also is home to Mattress Firm and Pier 1 on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. near I-75 in New Tampa.

Mahana Fresh, which has an existing successful location in Bradenton, has a great Hawaiian-inspired menu that includes Key West, Asian BBQ and teriyaki chicken, as well as spicy ahi tuna, miso-roasted tofu, Hawaiian grilled steak and more. We don’t know exactly when Mahana Fresh will open, but the hope is for before the end of this year.

And finally, we know even less about Raining Berries, which also is under construction, but on the north side of S.R. 56 in the as-yet unfinished strip center between Earth Fare and Ford’s Garage, but it promises to have coffee, acai bowls and more.

Fresh Healthy Café Celebrates 10 Years

Congratulations also go out to Emily and Michael Schaefer, who celebrated the 10year anniversary of the Fresh Healthy Café in The Shops at Wiregrass with an NTBC ribbon cutting (photo, above) on Oct. 16.

Fresh Healthy Café originally opened under another name, and Emily and Michael have only owned it for three years, but it’s still a perfect complement to the Fit Niche running and fitness store located next door and its delicious smoothies, bowls, wraps, sandwiches and fresh juices have kept custom-

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ers coming back for more.

The Schaefers are both U.S. Army veterans and genuinely cool people, so I hope you’ll let them know that you read about them in the Neighborhood News or perhaps saw our video of their ribbon cutting on Neighborhood News Online. Fresh Healthy Café is located at 28139 Paseo Dr. For more information, call (813) 973-3578 or visit FreshRestaurants.com.

Canterbury Hall Now Open!

Congrats go out to Grace Episcopal Church of Tampa Palms and my friend Peter Gambacorta on the opening of Canterbury Hall, our area’s newest catering location, which celebrated a Grand Opening at Grace on Oct. 5.

Canterbury Hall is a beautiful new venue for weddings, corporate meetings and celebrations and hopefully, if enough of you tell Peter (photo below), who also owns The Private Chef of Tampa catering company, and my friends at Grace that you read about the opening in these pages, we’ll tell you even more about it in a future issue. Canterbury Hall is located at 15102-A Amberly Dr., Tampa. For more information, info, call (813) 380-4014 or visit PrivateChefTampa.com. — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 27, Issue 24 • November 15, 2019 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

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CLEANING SERVICES

A-to-Z CLEANING AND ORGANIZING. Office-House Cleaning Services! Free estimates. We use our own supplies. Affordable & Reliable. Family-Owned & Operated. Wesley Chapel Resident. Weekly / Bi-Weekly / One-Time Cleaning / Move-In / Move-Out & DeepCleaning Services. Serving Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. Call today for a FREE No-Obligation Quote: 813-462-1270.

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AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement. Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years Experience. 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.

Please Google us if you would like to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises.

D-ULTRA CLEANING SERVICE We have our own supplies and more than 400 clients in New Tampa!

For more info, Call 813-758-9710.

HELP WANTED

RAYMOND PAINTING. Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Interior: 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.

HIRING PERSONAL TRAINER. Private Women’s Studio with Boot Camp & Personal Training in Wesley Chapel & Land O’ Lakes owned by Samantha Taylor.

Please no phone calls or walk ins.To apply part time: www.lolfitbodybootcamp.com/hire-pt.

BOSCO’S ITALIAN-TO-GO is hiring! Inside & Delivery positions available. Must be 18+, have a good attitude & have your own reliable transportation. Stop in at 30122 S.R. 54, Wesley Chapel to fill out an application.

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

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A.T.B. Landscaping & Lawn Service. Licensed and insured serving the Tampa Bay area over 20 years. Family owned and operated. Quality work at affordable prices. We provide services in gutter clean-out, screen repair, pressure washing and sprinkler repair. Landscaping and property maintenance including: sodding, trimming trees and hedges, and clean ups. Other services are available. CALL 813-907-LAWN (5296)

Jasmine Landscaping, Inc. Complete lawn maintenance: 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! Licensed & insured.

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We accept Visa, MC, PayPal, Zelle, AmExp. Call or text 813-420-4465. Now hiring full-time workers.

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TREE SERVICE FITZPATRICK’s TREE SERVICE. 25-years of Professional Service. Licensed & Insured. Free Estimates. Tree Trimming & Tree Removal. Stump Grinding. Dead-Wood Removal. Affordable Rates.

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POOL SERVICES TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing with outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-8575400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS Wesley Chapel owned and 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.

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2019

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