Volume 27
WESLEY CHAPEL
Inside:
Taste Of New Tampa 2019 Preview Section?
See Neighborhood Magazine
NEWS
Issue 6 March 8, 2019
Now Celebrating 25 Years As New Tampa & Wesley Chapel’s Primary News Source! The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 46!
Roads, Roads and More Roads! S.R. 54 is being widened, SR. 56 is being extended, and the intersection of I-75 and S.R. 56 is being fixed with a futuristic diverging diamond interchange, or DDI. All at the same time. It’s part of an expensive game of catch-up for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) as it tries, mostly in vain, to accomplish the impossible task of keeping up with Wesley Chapel’s rapid and no-end-in-sight development with $134.7-million worth of road projects. Roughly a dozen officials from FDOT held a public information meeting Feb. 26 at Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch to provide an update on its progress with videos, large poster board layouts of the projects and even Matchbox cars to show how the flow of traffic will work in the DDI.
“The area is changing quicker than the roadway network is, as you can see,” says FDOT spokesperson John McShaffrey. “We’re just doing these projects to manage the traffic that we already have. It’s obviously going to help, but the area is going to keep growing, too. These projects won’t be the end of work in this part of Pasco County at all.” The $33-million diverging diamond, considered the (pardon the pun) gem of the three projects, is what Florida Department of Transportation officials used matchbox cars to dem- Wesley Chapel retirees Dan and Judy Whaley showed See “Roads” on page 6. onstrate how the diverging diamond interchange at I-75/S.R 56 will work.
Women’s Hockey Legend To Christen New Museum Tomorrow Margaret “Digit” Murphy was strolling through the Pro Football Hall of Fame in Canton, OH, one day, and asked one of the employees if there were any exhibits about some of the women — either executives, referees or television announcers — that had left their mark on the game. “Follow me,” the employee said, and proceeded to take Murphy on a fruitless tour. Apologizing, the employee simply said, “Well, it used to be here.” Murphy thought for the richest sports league in the world, pro football’s $100-million Hall of Fame would at least have something dedicated to women. But, she wasn’t really that surprised it didn’t. “We can’t tell our story anywhere,” sighed Murphy. But, that sparked an idea. Along with Wesley Chapel’s Jeff Novotny, Murphy has hatched an idea to bring those kind of stories, in this case,
basis of sex, from being excluded from participating or denied the benefits of sports, or being discriminated against those specifically related to ice hockey, to under any education program or activity that receives Federal financial assistance. the people. She was having dinner with Novotny First stop: Saturday, March 9, 1 one night when she mentioned the idea p.m. at AdventHealth Center Ice (AHCI). of creating a “mini” museum, one that That day will mark the grand openwouldn’t require its own building but ing of the “Herstory Museum,” which could make use of technology to offer will feature interactive displays on the a wealth of important information and second floor of Center Ice, in a viewing overlooked stories in a smaller space. room next to the Top Shelf restaurant Novotny, a project manager for and sports bar, overlooking two of the American Consulting Professionals, LLC, skating complex’s ice rinks. immediately thought AHCI would be The grand opening will coincide the perfect place for it, having taken in with a large girls hockey tournament at AHCI, providing for a perfect backdrop. more than a million visitors in less than Murphy will be on hand to introduce the two years after opening, hosting dozens of hockey tournaments and serving as the newest feature at the rink. home training facility for the 2018 U.S. And, admission to the museum will Women’s Hockey gold medal winners. be free. After Novotny presented the idea to Murphy is one of women’s hockey’s pioneers, as well a key force behind some AHCI general manager Gordie Zimmerhigh-profile cases involving Title IX, the mann, a three-year agreement was signed See “Herstory” on page 28. federal law prohibiting anyone, on the
First Look Inside:
He Ain’t Heavy...
Wesley Chapel’s Howie Taylor and his ‘Lil Bro Hunter are Tampa Bay’s Big Brother & Little Brother of the Year. Pages 4-5
Tax Season Has Arrived
Murtha & Murtha CPAs can help you figure out how the new tax laws will affect your 2018 tax return.
Pages 20-21
Nom Nom Nom
Publisher Gary Nager has once again tried virtually every restuarant in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, and reveals his favorites from 2018.
Pages 31-35