Volume 24 Issue 25
Inside:
Fushia Adds Chinese Hot Pot Buffet!
December 2, 2016
See Page 50!
Now The Only Neighborhood News Publications Serving Hillsborough & Pasco Counties! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of the neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in New Tampa (zip code 33647), see page 54!
Crist Announces New Tampa Cultural Center Delay & New Partnerships By John C. Cotey The New Tampa Players (NTP) non-profit community theater troupe unveiled its 201718 schedule on Nov. 18 at the Hunter’s Green Country Club clubhouse, but not before receiving a little bad news to kick off the festivities. District 2 Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist, who represents New Tampa’s District 2, speaking before the group of local actors and supporters, said plans to finally get NTP its new home — the New Tampa Cultural Center (NTCC), to be built across the street from Hunter’s Green on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. — had hit a speed bump. “There’s good news and there’s bad news,’’ Crist told an audience of about 50. “The good news — I got the money. The bad news — I don’t like the timeline.” Crist says that the county is now looking to have the foundation for the NTCC in place by April of 2019, meaning the center likely won’t be ready to open until 2020. The news drew a collective groan from the audience. “I am going to go back and work on that schedule and see what I can do to speed it up,’’ Crist said. Until then, the NTP will put on its 2017 season at the University Area Cultural Development Center (UACDC) on N. 22nd St., where so many of the troupe’s previous shows have been performed. Next year’s slate of performances includes “Jesus Christ Superstar” (in Mar.-Apr.), “The Wiz” (July & Aug.) and “The Addams Family” (Oct. & Nov.). The NTCC will be part of the tenativelynamed Village at Hunter’s Lake development, which is being built on 17 acres of land by Harrison Bennett Properties, LLC. In addition to the cultural center, the project was approved
Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates It’s Davison vs. Viera On Dec. 6 For Tampa’s District 7, New Tampa Liked Hillary, Florida Hospital Center Ice Readies For Opening, LPGA Golfer Dawn Coe-Jones Leaves Her Mark, Rotary District 6890 & Wesley Chapel Chamber Celebrate & New Adventist School Coming; Plus, Basketball Previews & Lots Of Local Business Features!
Pages 3-38
Neighborhood Magazine
First-Ever Film Fest A Hit At The Grove, Wesley Chapel Fall Festival Draws 10,000, Little Italy’s Restaurant Adds Amazing New Lunch Items & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!
Pages 39-56
in Dec. 2014 by the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) by a unanimous (7-0) vote to include a three-acre dog park, a green grocery store, shops, restaurants and 100250 condos, townhomes or boutique apartments. Land-use, permitting and rezoning issues have slowed the project. David Harrison, who runs Harrison Bennett Properties, was hoping the inspection and approval process would end by Apr. 2017 so construction could finally begin. On Nov. 18, Hillsborough County Commissioner Victor Crist “The City of Tampa updated the New Tampa Players on the progress of the New is giving (the developers) Tampa Cultural Center at Hunter’s Green Country Club. a difficult time and that’s The hope is that the notoriety provided where I think I might be by such partnerships will help lure the deepable to help,’’ Crist said. He also said that because the NTCC has pocketed residents of South Tampa north for to be self-sustaining, he is working on bringing additional cultural opportunities. Crist also said in multiple partners who will be able to create that he sees that relationship as being reciprocal. Crist also announced a third partner, the those revenue streams. While stressing that the NTP will be the primary resident of the NTCC, Prodigy Cultural Arts Program, which reaches Crist said he has negotiated a deal to bring the more than 3,000 Hillsborough County youth David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing annually who live in high-risk neighborhoods Arts and the Patel Conservatory on board as or have been diverted from the Juvenile Justice well. He said the NTCC would serve as an an- System. And, while Crist told the NTP that he nex for Patel in North Tampa. doesn’t want the NTCC to be a place where “This will be Patel North,’’ Crist said. That is a huge partnership, Crist added, people just walk in off the street, he stressed that because, “it brings ethos, huge credibility to the it needs to be inclusive, not exclusive. The NTCC itself will still be a facility and elevates it from just being a neighborhood cultural clubhouse to a real, high-scale, 25-35,000-sq.-ft. facility that will cost $10-million (according to the county), although Crist quality arts-based programming center.”
thinks the figure should be closer to $15 million. He said the county currently has $5.5-million to spend, and is looking for the rest. “Let me assure you, it is going to be something you’re very proud of,’’ Crist said, even if it gets built in stages. Crist noted that when he was spearheading the construction of the UACDC, where NTP currently practices and performs, it was built in five phases, while he raised money throughout the three-year construction phase to get it finished. As for where he will get the money, Crist simply said: “I’ll find it.” One of the only concerns raised during the 15-minute presentation was how the partnership with the Straz and Patel centers at the NTCC would impact local dance studios like New Tampa Dance Theater and America’s Ballet School. Crist, however, said that he thinks there are more than enough aspiring performers in New Tampa to support everyone. And, Adam Shoemaker, one of the NTP performers, asked if once the NTCC is completed, will his group of local thespians finally have their own home to practice and perform on their own schedule? Crist wrapped up his comments by promising him they would. “You are a guest at the UACDC, a second thought,’’ Crist said. “It was built for Prodigy. But, this will be your permanent home. You will be the lead tenant in that space, and anybody else would have to work around you.” That final line drew the loudest applause of the night. For additional information about the NTP and their schedule for 2017, visit NewTampaPlayers.org or Facebook.com/ NewTampaPlayers.
Another Big Field Highlights The 4th Annual ‘Wiregrass Wobble’ 5K! Before presumably indulging themselves with turkey with all the “fixins” and pie for dessert, nearly 1,7000 local runners started their Thanksgiving Day with a little exercise, kicking off the 4th annual “Wiregrass Wobble” 5K at the Shops of Wiregrass. The 5K race drew another spirited crowd, with 1,690 registered for the event. Runners as young as 5-year-olds Amelia Baldwin of Tampa and Isabella Saa of Lutz and as old as 83-year-old Mary Toulan of Land O’Lakes all competed, with some runners dressed up as pilgrims, some wearing turkey hats on their heads, and others just there to get in some serious racing. Michael Poole of Lutz was the top overall finisher, winning with ease. The 25-yearold finished the 3.1-mile course in a brisk 16 minutes, 14 seconds. Ray Friedman of Tampa, 41, finished second, 16 seconds behind Poole, in a time of 16:30. Wesley Chapel’s Joe Salerno, a senior at Wiregrass Ranch High, was third in a time of 16:34. The top women’s finisher was again Jenn Walton, also of Wesley Chapel. Walton,
30, was the 16th overall finisher and completed the course in 18:06. That was 32 seconds faster than last year, when Walton was also the top female. Tampa’s Micaela Torres, a senior at King High, was second in 18:16. Pioneer Medical Group in Wesley Chapel was the presenting sponsor and the race was again put on by the FITNiche store at the mall and the Rotary Club of New Tampa. The proceeds of These folks may not have won the 5K race, but this was definitely a the 2016 Wiregrass Wob- winning picture! Photo courtesy of Facebook/WiregrassWobbleTurkeyTrot ble — which has raised more than $75,000 since the inaugural run in 2013 — will support the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Foundation, FITNiche Foundation and the Rotary Club of New Tampa’s selected charities The Brass Tap hosted the post-race festivities. — John C. Cotey