New Tampa Neighborhood News, Volume 30, Issue 7, April 5, 2022

Volume 30 Issue 7 April 5, 2022

FISHING TIME! After 14 years as principal at Benito Middle School & 38 years in education, John Sanders is ready to retire.

See page 6!

Photo by Charmaine George

EDITORIAL

Our editor says the transgender swimmer doesn’t deserve NCAA title.

See page 3

TAKING CONTROL

Heritage Isles will gain control of its gate & roads, thanks to new law.

See page 4

STILL GROWING

Palms Pharmacy continues to build a loyal following with personalized service.

See pages 22-23

GRILL AT MORRIS BRIDGE New restaurant changes course to attract more business.

See pages 34-35

Frammi adds more authentic Italian dishes to its delicioso menu!

See story on pages 38-39!

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A Former (Mediocre) Male Swimmer’s Take On The Transgendered Swimmer

By GARY NAGER at the 2018 Ivy League Championships (for same Penn team my friends swam for), Editorial the although Will Thomas did not make the finals

When I saw on the news and the uproar on Facebook that transgendered swimmer Lia Thomas had won the NCAA Women’s 500-yard championship, beating out Sarasota native Emma Weyant by 1.75 seconds, I couldn’t help but think about my own mediocre career as a distance freestyle and butterfly swimmer.

I didn’t want to be a swimmer as a kid, but all of my closest friends joined the Hewlett (Long Island) High swim team in 9th grade.

At that age, I wasn’t big/tall or good enough to play high school football or basketball, so I accepted that swimming was it for me.

All of my friends were better than I was as a swimmer, especially in sprint events. But, I did enjoy being part of a really good team (we always had guys advance to the State Championship meets and some of them even won their events at the County level and at least made it to the finals in their respective events at States). Two of my closest friends were even good enough to swim for the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania.

Meanwhile, I worked to the best of my ability for four years, doing well enough to earn a varsity letter my junior and senior years, based on my results in dual meets during those seasons. I even made it to the County meet my senior year in the 100-yard fly and 500 free, but did not crack the top-20 in either event, despite swimming PRs (personal records) in both. I believe my 500-free time at the County meet was 5:18, but that was nowhere near my goal of breaking 5 minutes.

Even so, I was in the best shape of my life, so I continued swimming to stay in shape in my two years at SUNY Albany, and I even decided to join Albany State’s team my sophomore year. I was relegated to the events none of the other swimmers wanted to compete in — the 200 fly, 500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard freestyle — but I only qualified for the Division III State Championship meet in the 1,650. I had put on at least 10-15 lbs. of muscle since high school and swam my P.R. in the 1,650 at State — somewhere over 18 minutes — and also recorded my fastest-ever times in the 200, 500 (5:07) and 1,000 en route to finishing 18th at that meet.

Three months or so later, I transferred to the University of Florida, a long-time swimming powerhouse, and decided to see if I could walk on the men’s team. After the first 200 yards of warmups, I realized I was completely outclassed and got out of the water cursing at myself. The famous then-Gators coach, Randy Reese, put his arm around me and said he could tell I was a competitive swimmer, and that I could stay with the team as the equipment manager and possibly even a meet-day fill-in if I could handle the thousands and thousands of yards per day and still get the kickboards and hand paddles put away at the end of each session.

Not only did I decline, I joked that I clearly wasn’t even good enough to make the school’s women’s team — and he agreed.

Little did I know, 40+ years later, that anyone would actually attempt such a switch.

The former William “Will” Thomas, who says she began feeling transgendered while still in high school, joined the University of Pennsylvania’s men’s team as a freshman in 2017 and finished in the top-seven in the same events I swam (500-, 1,000- and 1,650-yard free) Neighborhood News

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in any of those events at the NCAA Championships that year or in 2019, the Texas native’s last year competing as a man.

At the end of 2019, Will Thomas told his coaches that he was transgendered and began undergoing hormone replacement therapy to transition to female that year.

Between Covid and transitioning to female, Lia Thomas (right in pic) didn’t swim as a woman at the 2020 or 2021 NCAA Championships, but resurfaced as one of the favorites in multiple events at this year’s NCAA Women’s meet. Lia not only won the 500-yard final (in a time 13+ second slower than Will Thomas’ PR of 4:20.5), she also finished 5th

in the 200 free and 8th in the 100 free.

Now, after previously having met and written stories for the former Bruce (now Caitlyn) Jenner and his Better Health & Living magazine in the 1980s, I do believe it’s possible for adults to realize that the gender they were born into was somehow a mistake, and I wish Lia Thomas the best of luck in life.

What I don’t believe is that someone who was born a man should be allowed to compete as a woman at any level of competitive sports. I’m no doctor or geneticist, but I don’t believe suppressing a male’s natural hormones is enough to not give that genetic man an unfair strength and endurance advantage when competing against genetic women.

Like Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, I believe that Weyant (left) should have won the

Photo source: Yahoo Sports

500-free title, although I blame the NCAA for allowing Thomas — or anyone born a man — to compete as a woman at all.

New Tampa Neighborhood News 28949 State Road 54 Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575

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Publisher & Editor /Ad Sales Gary Nager Managing Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Correspondents Celeste McLaughlin Rodney Page Lead Video Producer/Multimedia Specialist Charmaine George Graphic Designers Morgan Conlin Valerie Wegener Billing Assistant Jannah Nager Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by New Tampa Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisement reservations for Volume 30, Issue 9, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Friday, April 22, 2022.

New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials.

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New Law Will Transform Heritage Isles Into A Gated Community

By JOHN C. COTEY

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A long-running saga at Heritage Isles has come to an end after more than 20 years and repeated efforts by many residents to activate the entrance gates at the front of their community.

Heritage Isles residents voted in favor of asking the City of Tampa to transfer ownership of the community’s roads to its Community Development District (CDD), which will lead to the security gates once again becoming functional.

The resolution needed two-thirds, or 66 percent of the homeowners who voted, to pass; it got 77 percent “yes” votes.

“The vote cemented what the residents want, which I feel really good about,” said CDD chairman Dan Barravecchio, who spearheaded the effort. “This was really about being able to take care of our own assets…and we can maintain a higher standard for our roads (than what the city can provide).”

The resolution is now in the hands of the City of Tampa which, after conducting its due diligence, will vote on it sometime in the coming months.

If it passes, which appears likely, the Heritage Isles CDD intends to install a new system to put the gates at its Grand Isle Dr. and Sandy Point Dr. entrances off of Cross Creek Blvd. back in working order for the first time since 2003.

The gates haven’t been used because the developer, Lennar Homes, conveyed the Heritage Isles infrastructure to the City of Tampa, which said that made the eight miles of roads within the community public.

The city prohibited the gate attendant from denying entry to any vehicle, requiring “unimpeded access” to vehicles turning off of Cross Creek Blvd. into Heritage Isles.

The CDD decided to eliminate the guard service, for which it was paying $77,000 a year, and the gatehouse has remained vacant ever since.

“If we couldn’t secure the gate, and we couldn’t check identifications, then why were we paying $77,000 a year for someone that couldn’t do anything but

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Heritage Isles could soon have its community truly gated for the first time since 2003 after helping write a new state law. (Photo: Charmaine George) their interests in certain roads and rightsflip a switch?,” Barravecchio asked.

Multiple attempts to get control of of-way dedicated in a recorded residential the community’s roads were denied. There subdivision plat to community developwas no legal mechanism in place to transfer ment districts under specified conditions.” the roads to a CDD, only to a homeownIt was signed into law by Gov. Ron ers association (HOA), and that required a DeSantis on June 29 of last year.

100% vote by homeowners.

“This is groundbreaking, this is pioAccording to Barravecchio, the city neer stuff,” Vegas says. “I already know of also was hesitant, due to the community’s two CDDs that are excited to jump on the outstanding bond debt. bandwagon, but this (Heritage Isles) is a Once that debt was paid off early in first for the state of Florida.”

2019, the CDD and its lawyers set out to The CDD rallied support within have a state law written that allowed the Heritage Isles for the vote, which was held conveyance of the roads in a community on March 18. Of the 1,020 homeowners to a CDD with a 66% vote, as opposed to the 100% vote required by Tampa just to transfer it to an HOA. “You had a better chance of winning the lottery than getting 100 percent,” says Mark Vega, the CDD district manager since 2014. In fact, Vega said he could only remember one case more than a decade ago where a community succeeded with a 100% vote, and it was actually two cases — the Huntington (42 homes) and Westover (61) villages in Tampa Palms.

Heritage Isles hired a lobbyist and began the work of having the law crafted.

Piggybacking on House Bill 57, a transportation bill, Heritage Isles was able to get Senate Bill 1194 included, which authorized “governing bodies of municipalities and counties to abandon and convey

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in Heritage Isles, a total of 373 voted, with 286 voting “yes” for the community to gain ownership of its roads.

The CDD held a number of community meetings to explain their plans, conducted all the required road studies and has stockpiled more than $650,000 in its reserve funds for future road work.

Once the city approves the transfer, Heritage Isles plans to install a state-of-theart virtual guard system at its two entrance/exit kiosks, similar to the one used by the Live Oak Preserve community off Bruce B. Downs Blvd., hopefully bringing the gate saga to an official end.

Vega says a lot of homeowners in Heritage Isles “were misled” into thinking they were buying into a gated community.

Now, Heritage Isles finally can deliver on that promise.

“There isn’t a year that has gone by that the gate issue hasn’t come up,” says Barravecchio, who has lived in Heritage Isles since 2002 and has been on the CDD board since 2005. He says the effort was fueled by many of the early residents.

“The more long-time residents, they felt it was something that was taken away from them, so they had a much more personal interest in having it restored,” he says. “Those are the people that when they drive down my block and I’m out washing my car, they stop and say ‘Thank you.’”

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Sanders’ Retirement Is The End Of An Era At Benito

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent

For more than three decades, John Sanders has worked as an educator, starting as a teacher and then becoming one of New Tampa’s most beloved and respected principals. His career was almost everything he loved — helping guide students and teachers alike to set high expectations and meet them, while building relationships to make his school the pride of the community.

However, there are other things Sanders loves, as well. Like spending time with his son Jackson, fishing, playing bridge, tending to his yard and reading.

So, after a 38-year career, including the last 14 as the principal at Benito Middle School, Sanders, 60, is packing up his office and picking up his fishing pole.

“When am I going to enjoy those things?” he asks. “I’m not guaranteed tomorrow, so maybe now I can do some of the things I always thought I might enjoy.”

When the bell rings at the end of the last day of school this year, it will mark the end of an era at Benito. For the students who currently attend the school, and most of their older siblings, he’s the only principal they’ve ever known. Many from his staff, faculty, and even the PTSA say they’re not sure they’re ready to let him go.

They credit Sanders with sustaining a culture that has helped Benito maintain a straight “A” school grade going all the way back to 2002, while some other schools in the area have struggled, such as feeder school Hunter’s Green Elementary and Wharton High, where Benito students are zoned to attend.

But, the reason the school is so successful — with high test scores and low disciplinary problems compared with other schools throughout the District — goes much deeper than its letter grade.

His staff says it’s because of his unique style as a principal. He says it’s because of the people who surround him.

“We have a great student body and a great community, followed up by a fabulous faculty that is, for the most part, stable and successful. They get the best out of the kids,” Sanders says. “You put those together and it just works.”

While he never moved to New Tampa, he brought his only son, Jackson, to spend his middle school years at Benito.

He says he tried to treat every child the way he would treat his own.

When his wife, Rhonda, passed away in 2016, Sanders was surrounded by the faculty and staff, who showed up in force at her memorial service, which he says was planned in part by volunteers from the school’s PTSA. While he can hardly imagine stepping away from his Benito family, he says 6

he thinks now is the time to move on to the next chapter.

But, he says it’s going to be hard, especially leaving the people who have become his family, like the group he brought with him when he was named principal at Benito. In the first 11 years since the school opened in 1997, it had four principals.

Sanders has been there longer than those four combined.

He began his career as a math teacher at Plant High in 1983, then taught at Turkey Creek Middle School, where he was promoted to assistant principal.

He then went to Young Middle School as an assistant Principal John Sanders has left his mark after 14 years at Benito principal before being named Middle School. (Photos: Charmaine George) principal at Benito in 2008.

Sanders says that it’s always been Language arts teacher Chris Ellis was important to him to remember what it’s hired by Sanders 24 years ago at Young. like to be a teacher.

After 11 years together there, when Sand“I have tried to create a family enviers moved to Benito, Ellis was one of many ronment and I think we have it,” he says. who followed and one of several who still “I’ve tried to see the good in my teachers teaches at Benito all these years later. and not focus on the imperfections too “He has had a very profound effect much, except when sometimes you have on my life,” Ellis says. to do that as the boss.”

Ellis drove 24 miles each way to get Sanders half-jokes that the school is to Benito, so, three years ago, he took a successful in spite of him, saying, “all I position teaching at a school closer to his had to do is let the teachers teach and let home, only to return. the families come here.”

“I knew the minute I had walked out Sharon Hineline was PTSA president the door of Benito that I had made a terat Benito when her kids attended and says rible mistake,” Ellis says. His new school she was convinced by Sanders to work at was welcoming, but he missed Sanders the school — first in the front office and and his hands-off management style. now as his secretary.

Like Ellis, math teacher Kelly Broad“Sharon has single-handedly conbelt — who has been honored multiple vinced dozens of families who were on times as the school’s Teacher of the Year, the fence about going somewhere else to including this year — also was hired by come here,” Sanders says.

Sanders at Young.

She says Sanders, as a former math Creating A Unique Atmosphere teacher himself, has influenced her treMeanwhile, Hineline says that she mendously, and that he still pops into her does so because of the atmosphere Sandclassroom occasionally to give the students ers has created. “If you come to Benito a mini-lesson, which they love. and say you need something, he’s going “For sure, he has made me who I am to help you,” she says. “He has created a as a teacher,” she says. “I’ve never taught culture where it’s a partnership and the without him, and because he was a math staff is empowered to resolve problems.” teacher he could be very influential in my Sanders is quick to return phone classroom, because he knows exactly what calls from parents who are upset about I’m doing and how to fix it.” something they heard happened at the Both Ellis and Broadbelt have been school, or to direct a teacher to call a under Sanders’ guidance their entire parent to resolve a misunderstanding. He careers. They say that while they’re tryhas a unique touch that helps calm down ing to be optimistic, they’re also nervheated emotions, whether he’s talking ous about the big transition they expect with parents or students. when he leaves.

Hineline says Sanders recently had “The reason so many people love two girls in his office who hated each working for John is that many times in other so much that they had gotten into education, they treat the teachers like a physical fight. He spent time talking kids,” Ellis says. “But, he treats you like an with each individually, then brought them adult, and allows you the autonomy to go together to discuss their choices, and they above and beyond.” not only resolved their issues but are now

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the best of friends. One of the two went from failing all of her classes to passing them. The care Sanders demonstrated changed the girls’ trajectory at the school.

That same calm demeanor has talked many families out of leaving the school, instead resolving a problem that was accommodated by switching a class or another relatively simple solution, recognizing that at many schools, those resolutions are not always offered because they are more difficult on staff or teachers.

Sanders says has always focused on keeping what he calls “great families” connected to his school.

“That’s the mindset that I think a good administrator has to have,” he says. “You make their kids happy, you make them happy, and everyone wins.

If I send you out the door unhappy, I’m asking for trouble. People are looking at alternatives.”

While he knows what it’s like to turn a school around –—Young was an F school when he arrived, and went up to an A — Sanders says Benito never needed that. It was a great school when he arrived. But, he has navigated some significant challenges, such as the population of students receiving free and reduced lunch — an indicator of socioeconomic factors that statistically align with school success — going from 22 percent to 62 percent.

He says Benito makes sure the kids know the expectations and the rules, and the entire staff “gets out and enforces it.”

Broadbelt, Ellis, and Hineline are just a few of the many who have bought into his philosophy.

“He’s just a good person, a good educator, and a good boss,” Broadbelt says. “He’s willing to do anything to help us.”

While Sanders deflects the praise, he says the community, the staff, and the students will continue to be family to him.

“This is my life and my world, and I’m sure I’m going to miss being the principal at Benito.”

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Local Charity Events Returning For the first time since the beginning of the pandemic, a couple of local fund raisers are able to return to doing their good work this spring.

The first event making its return is the 2022 Tampa Palms Women’s Club (TPWC) Spring Fashion Show.

The event is scheduled for Wednesday, April 20, 10:15 a.m.-3 p.m., at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club.

Mary Field, one of the event’s organizers for TPWC, said this will be the first event the club has held since 2019, other than a small one last year “to help us get our energy back” The fashion show will feature a raffle, live auction and, naturally, a fashion show before lunch.

The local charities supported by the event are Oasis Opportunities, which has provided clothing and personal items for children in need for 20 years; R.I.C.H. (Resources in Community Hope) House, a rehabbed duplex in Sulphur Springs used as a safe haven for at-risk youth; F.E.L.T (Feeding Empty Little Tummies) which is housed at St. James United Methodist Church and feed hungry children, and Kids & Canines, which teaches at-risk teens to train dogs.

The event costs $35, and to reserve a seat or for more information call (813) 977-1162 or email TPWC@ tampabay.rr.com.

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The second local event to return is the Giant Book Sale on Friday-Saturday, May 6-7, from 10 a.m.-5 p.m., at the New Tampa Regional Library, which is celebrating its 25th anniversary this year.

The Friends of the New Tampa Library are sponsoring the event.

The Book Sale, which has raised up to $3,000 in the past, had been held once or twice a year but this will be the first since the onset of the Covid pandemic.

The proceeds go towards the library’s popular summer reading program, other children’s programs and supplies for the library’s 3-D printer.

One of the organizers, Joan Zacharias, joked that during the pandemic, a bunch of households killed time at home by cleaning out their garages and dropping off books they no longer needed at the library.

Most of the books and DVDs will cost only 50 cents, and there will be other “collectible “ items like coffee table books that will be priced separately. She said collectors are a regular at the library’s book sales.

Candy and bookmarks will be available for the kids, and Joan says it’s the perfect time to sign up for a library card.

Cash and credit cards will be accepted and Joan says volunteers are needed. Anyone interested should call (813) 758-7419 or see the ad on pg. 6. — JCC

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Dempsey Family Sells Historic Saddlebrook Resort

By JOHN C. COTEY

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Saddlebrook Resort, the first centerpiece of Wesley Chapel and a forerunner of all the development happening today in the area, has been sold.

But, it’s not going anywhere, says longtime owner Thomas L. Dempsey, who told the Neighborhood News that the sale just marks a new chapter in the resort’s long and fabled history.

“I’m very pleased; it has a long way to go,” said Dempsey. “A great group of people bought it and intend to expand it in the future and we’ll be working with them in the future.”

The iconic conference center, vacation resort and athletic getaway was purchased by Mast Capital and Amzak Capital Management. Financial terms were not revealed.

Dempsey was the Chairman and CEO of Penton Publishing, a subsidiary of the Fortune 500 Pittway Corporation, when he helped develop Saddlebrook Resort after Pittway purchased the 480-acre property in 1979. Saddlebrook Resort opened in 1981, and Dempsey purchased the resort from Pittway in 1988 and has been Chairman and CEO — as well as a full-time resident — ever since.

Saddlebrook Resort, tucked away south of S.R. 54 and east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., is a 500-unit condo and hotel property, featuring restaurants, gift shops and other amenities, including more than 100,000 square feet of conference space.

It is often the choice of visitors with plans to stay in the area for a long time.

For example, in 2018, the U.S. Women’s Hockey Team stayed at Saddlebrook while training at nearby AdventHealth Center Ice for the Winter Olympics, before they won gold at PyeongChang, South Korea.

The Olympic hockey team is just one of many high-profile athletes that have been associated with Saddlebrook.

Both of the 18-hole golf courses were designed by PGA legend Arnold

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Thomas L. Dempsey, who has been the Saddlebrook Resorts owner, Chairman and CEO since 1988, poses with the U.S. Fed Cup tennis team in 2017. Saddlebrook hosted the semifinals, which the U.S. team won, defeating the Czech Republic. (Photo: John C. Cotey) Palmer, but the most famous athletes the resort has hosted and trained have been professional tennis players.

Saddlebrook has been well-known for being a training ground for players like Jim Courier, Jennifer Capriati (also a long-time resident), John Isner, Martina Hingis and Andy Roddick, as well as many others. It hosts many tennis tournaments, most recently (and notably) the Women’s Fed Cup finals between the U.S. and the Czech Republic in 2017.

The property also is home to nationally-renowned tennis and golf training academies, which are part of Saddlebrook Prep, a fully accredited college-preparatory school (grades 3 through 12) with roughly 100 students from more than 25 different countries attending the school the property will receive a major renovawhile getting world-class training in their tion, and may even add residential and respective sports. commercial space in the future.

The gated resort, however, had be“I think there’s a lot of opportunity gun to show its age in recent years. Mast in elevating the property and bringing Capital CEO Camilo Miguel told the back some of its luster,” Miguel said.

Tampa Bay Business Journal (TBBJ) that

“There hasn’t been much investment in the property in decades, so that’s the lowhanging fruit.”

Miguel also told the TBBJ he has already hired HEI Hotels & Resorts to manage the resort, and instead of bringing in a different flagship hotel to the property, feels that the Saddlebrook name still carries enough weight to make it a desired destination.

Dempsey, 97, declined to talk about the sale or why he sold the resort after all these years, but did say he was proud of what his family accomplished with one of the first big-ticket locations in the area north of Busch Gardens.

“From the time we arrived some 40 years ago, there was very little here, practically nothing,” Dempsey said. “It grew to be a prominent part of Florida. and one of the fastest-growing areas. And, we were very much a part of all that, and will continue (to be) for the future.”

Dempsey thinks the outlook for Saddlebrook is promising. He said the new owners have plans to expand and improve it, making them an attractive buyer.

As for what he will remember the most from his stewardship of Saddlebrook Resort, Dempsey says there are too many things to mention.

“It’s been a long series of very good things,” he said. “We had a lot of help along the way with the people here, and also the county and all of that. They were there to work with us and will continue to do so.”

For Mast Capital, a Miami real estate investor/developer, it is the second major purchase it has made in Wesley Chapel in the last six months.

In November 2021, in a joint venture with private equity firm Rockpoint Group, it acquired roughly 16 acres of land located at 5101 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. for $4.5 million with plans to build a 248-unit luxury apartment community later this year. According to Pasco County Clerk of the Court records, Mast Capital and Amzak Capital management purchased Saddlebrook for $15,009,000.

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Developer Not Taking ‘No’ For An Answer On Seven Oaks Apts.

SAM’S CLUB

By JOHN C. COTEY john@ntneighborhoodnews.com After failing to convince Pasco County commissioners to accept one of their proposed projects in Seven Oaks, SD Wesley Chapel and Stock Development, LLC, are appealing the decision under the state’s Land Use and Environmental Resolution Act. At the Feb. 22 Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, county attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told commissioners that SD Wesley Chapel and Stock Development are claiming the 3-2 vote against their project was “unreasonable and unduly burdensome.”

Steinsnyder said the appeal was rare.

“It’s been a while since we had one,” he said.

SD Wesley Chapel and Stock Development LLC want to rezone a 10-acre parcel (S-19) at the southern portion of Seven Oaks (just north of S.R. 56; see map above) currently zoned for commercial and retail so it can build a high-end 320-unit apartment complex as part of a vertical mixed-use development.

The proposed apartment complex would include a pool, a dog park and open space for gatherings in the southern portion of the complex.

Steinsnyder said the developers and county have agreed to meet with a special magistrate, David Mechanik, who is a Florida Supreme Court-certified mediator.

While a site for that meeting hasn’t been chosen, the public is invited to attend, especially those who are affected by the proposed development. If a resolution can be reached, another public hearing would be held and the BOCC would have to vote on the project again.

Pasco’s Planning Commission originally voted down the plan to rezone the 86,000 square feet of retail and office space in September due to a number of concerns.

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After the developers amended their original plan, the BCC voted 3-2 against it at the Jan. 11 meeting, with District 2 commissioner and Seven Oaks resident Mike Moore joining District 1 commissioner Ron Oakley and commissioner Jack Mariano of District 5 in opposition.

The Seven Oaks application was submitted prior to the BCC’s current apartment moratorium.

At the exceptionally long Jan. 11 meeting, dozens of Seven Oaks residents showed up to speak against the project.

Gary Lemberg, the president of the Seven Oaks Property Owners Association, told commissioners at that meeting that he hadn’t talked to a single Seven Oaks resident that favored the project. “Our board is definitely against it,” he said.

The arguments against the project varied, from traffic concerns on Ancient Oaks Blvd. (a major north-south route through Seven Oaks) to the effects on school capacity to general compatibility.

Opponents of the project, including attorney Chelsea Waller-Douthard of Waller Law, mentioned the number of apartment complexes already in that area.

Windsor Club at Seven Oaks to the east has 240 units on 14.7 acres, and the Colonial Grand at Seven Oaks rental community to the west has 318 units on 20 acres.

In addition, the Enclave at Wesley Chapel has 312 units on 43 acres, and Bonterra Parc has 264 units on 26.3 units.

Both are located across the street from Seven Oaks, on the south side of S.R. 56.

The proposed project “is double the density of any apartment community in Seven Oaks, and two-and-a-half times the density of other apartments in the area,” Waller-Douthard said, adding that it was more of a fit for South Tampa or Orlando than Wesley Chapel.

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Lifestyle Medicine Meets Primary Care In New Millennium Physician Group Office Submitted to the Neighborhood News Expanding its foothold in the Tampa area, Millennium Physician Group has opened a new office in New Tampa, centrally located on Cross Creek Blvd. between Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and Morris Bridge Rd. The primary-care office is the new medical home of Family Medicine Physician Jennifer Wetherington, M.D., who brings with her a focus on the growing field of what has become known as “lifestyle medicine.”

“I gravitated to family medicine as a medical student because I always had an interest in health and wellness, and fitness and prevention,” says Dr. Wetherington.

“I really believe that if you’re living a healthy lifestyle, you’re doing everything you can to prevent disease.”

Prevention was one of the cornerstone premises Millennium Physician Group was founded on in 2008 in Port Charlotte, FL. A nation-leading physician group with 700 health care providers and growing, Millennium is focused on achieving better outcomes for their patients, as well as providing a genuinely connected health care experience for patients.

“I explain to all of my patients that I am a family medicine physician who

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Dr. Jennifer Wetherington (left) is the Family Medicine Physician at Millennium Physician Group’s new office on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa.

focuses on lifestyle medicine,” says Dr. Wetherington. “Lifestyle choices and interventions are first-line treatments for almost everything. Whether people are healthy or already have chronic conditions, I always talk about their lifestyle choices and try to optimize them.”

Thousands of studies have proven

that a healthy diet, regular physical activity, maintaining a healthy body weight, getting enough sleep, limiting stress, and not smoking all profoundly affect health.

But, Dr. Wetherington says, knowing these facts and incorporating them into your own life are two different things.

“Many doctors recommend liv-

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ing healthier,” says Dr. Wetherington.

“But the conversation doesn’t go much further than that. We can, and should, do so much more to help people down that path.”

This also is where Millennium Physician Group’s commitment to value-based care comes in. Value-based programs are guided by patient outcomes. Often referred to as “value over volume,” the approach holds health care providers accountable for the quality and cost of the care they deliver.

“In today’s world, moving toward a more value-based model, lifestyle medicine really goes hand in hand with that approach,” admits Dr. Wetherington.

“You’re trying to keep patients healthy and out of the hospital by doing anything you can do to improve their health and work on their medical issues before they become problematic. Prevention is key.”

She adds, “(Lifestyle medicine) is as much for the young person with no medical issues as it is for the 85-year-old on multiple medications and living with chronic conditions. They can all experi-

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“I really believe that if you’re living a healthy lifestyle, you’re doing everything you can to prevent disease.” — Dr. Jennifer Wetherington

The Six Pillars Of ‘Lifestyle Medicine’ The American College of Lifestyle Medicine (ACLM) defines the field as, “the use of evidence-based lifestyle therapeutic intervention; including a whole-food, plant-predominant eating pattern, regular physical activity, restorative sleep, stress management, avoidance of risky substances and positive social connection as a primary modality, delivered by clinicians trained and certified in this specialty, to prevent, treat and often reverse chronic disease.”

1. Nutrition - A whole-food, plant-predominant diet 2. Exercise - Regular physical activity 3. Stress - Stress management 4. Sleep - Restorative sleep 5. Substance abuse - The avoidance of risky substances 6. Relationships - Positive social connections

“It’s really the foundation. If you go to any primary-care provider and ask for recommendations for controlling or preventing diabetes, cholesterol, or hypertension, they’re going to advise lifestyle modifications first. What we’re doing is shedding more light on what that means

For more information, visit LifestyleMedicine.org. ence improved health and feel better every day.”

The American Heart Association has reported only 5% of the American adult population practices all of the positive lifestyle measures known to significantly reduce the risk of developing cardiovascular disease (see graphic above). This is where the growing field of lifestyle medicine can play a valuable role.

Dr. Wetherington says she goes beyond simply advising her patients to “adopt a healthy lifestyle.” She offers specific details about how they can do that.

“I try to apply lifestyle choices and interventions as first-line treatment for almost everything,” she says. “I want patients to be able to leave with something

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and how best to implement it.”

Dr. Wetherington tells her patients that she is there to not just be a doctor but to also be a health coach and help them meet their goals.

“I want to partner with my patients and support them,” she says, “by actually giving them the tools to meet their goals, achieve vitality, and live their healthiest life.”

Millennium Physician Group’s New Tampa office (the office of Jennifer Wetherington, M.D.) is located at 10311 Cross Creek Blvd., Suites B, C & D. For more information, call (813) 771-7200, visit MillenniumPhysician.com or see the ad on page 39 of this issue.

they can reference, something concrete.

Then, they can come back and talk about what worked.”

The ACLM reports that 80% or more of all health care spending in the U.S. is tied to the treatment of conditions rooted in unhealthy lifestyle choices. Instead of simply managing a patient’s health with medication, lifestyle medicine addresses the root cause. This approach can be especially beneficial for managing common chronic diseases including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, high cholesterol, obesity, inflammation, and hypertension. Lifestyle medicine does this focusing on six key pillars.

“It’s not replacing traditional medicine,” Dr. Wetherington clarifies.

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13

The ExerScience Center’s ‘Biohacking’ Retreat Can Help You Heal! my facility stand out from the other physical therapy, chiropractic and wellness centers,” Leiva says.

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Doctor of Physical Therapy (DPT) Lauren Leiva of The ExerScience Center on S.R. 54 in Lutz prides herself on helping people be their best selves, whether that’s through physical therapy, injury and surgery rehabilitation or other treatments.

And, she says she keeps an open mind about the many ways wellness can be achieved.

That mindset has led her to a unique idea: Dr. Leiva is putting together a unique retreat — The Best Self Biohacking Retreat — designed to explore the many alternative and holistic ways people can find wellness.

“Biohacking,” also referred to as a form of do-it-yourself biology, is a growing trend. Although it has many different definitions depending upon who you talk to, it is essentially “hacking” your own body and mind’s biology with the use of science and technology in an effort to optimize performance. It can be as simple as intermittent fasting or meditating, or as complex as having stem cells injected into your joints or trying to rewire your brain.

It is not a proven science, so it may not be for everyone, but Dr. Leiva and others swear by it.

“It’s basically things you can do, things

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Healing Your Mind & Body

At the “Best Self Biohacking Retreat” Apr. 22-24 at The ExerScience Center on S.R. 54 in Lutz, Doctor of Physical Therapy Lauren Leiva (photos) can help your mind tap into your best self with the BrainTap headsets created by Dr. Patrick K. Porter (with Lauren in right pic).

(Photos: TheExerScienceCenter.com & The ExerScience Center Facebook page)

that are available, that can help make you feel better,” Dr. Leiva says. “It is hacking into your own biology to help you do things that maybe you couldn’t achieve before.”

Dr. Leiva’s Biohacking Retreat is scheduled for the weekend of April 22-24 at her ExerScience Center, which opened at her current brick-and-mortar location in 2020 (although the ExerScience Center has been around since 2015).

She says the retreat will include three days worth of healing the mind, body and

soul. She has scheduled superfood lunches and dinners with speakers scheduled to discuss the importance of eating the most beneficial foods for your mind and body.

There also will be an energy dance party, hyperbaric oxygen treatments, IV therapy, electrical stimulation assisted exercise, massage therapy, infrared treatment, neurobioelectric meditation and mind fitness with BrainTapping, yoga and more.

“There’s so many things people don’t know about and that’s really how I make

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BrainTapping is one of those things. It was developed by Patrick K. Porter, Ph.D., and uses a Bluetooth headset that produces unique frequencies and sounds for brainwave entrainment. BrainTap Technologies “has a library of more than 400 guided audio programs (all voiced by Dr. Porter) and creative visualization processes, allowing users to relax, reboot, and revitalize while achieving peak brain performance,” according to its website.

This unique therapy offers programs for things like sleep, weight, stress and even learning for children.

Dr. Leiva is a big proponent of brain tapping. She claims that it produces dramatic improvements for those who can’t sleep or have suffered from some kind of trauma, as well as for children who have concentration issues.

“After 15-30 minutes, you take it off and it’s absolutely magical,” says Dr. Leiva, who attended a recent Health & Wellness conference where she tried BrainTapping for the first time.

“I bought 10 of them (the headsets) right away,” she says.

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Leiva, who earned her DPT degree from Nova Southeastern University after earning Bachelor of Science degrees in both Biomedical Science and Biomedical Physics from the University of South Florida in Tampa, says it is that mind-body connection that is most important in recovery, and what immediately attracted her to biohacking.

She says her physical therapy practice has shifted dramatically to also treating wounded vets, boxers, MMA fighters and others who have suffered brain trauma, in addition to those with physical injuries.

“So not only am I doing physical therapy for the body,” she says, “but I am going in through my patients’ minds…I’m helping people walk and talk again. It’s truly a blessing.”

Don’t Forget The Neubie

Dr. Leiva also is a Level 2 Neubie practitioner. The Neubie by NeuFit is an FDA-cleared and patented machine that sends direct current stimulation to the exact point of a patient’s pain or muscle movement limitations, and re-educates the muscles by “tapping into the power of the nervous system.”

“It is one of the hallmarks of my practice,” Dr. Leiva says.

Imagine a TENS (transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) unit — which offers the same type of electrical stimulation and can be picked up on Amazon — on

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Biohacking Retreat attendees will have access to the ExerScience Center’s infrared sauna. steroids. “A TENS unit is like a bicycle compared to the Neubie, which is more like a Tesla,” Leiva says.

All of these things — the BrainTapping headsets, the Neubie machine, infrared and hyperbaric oxygen treatments, IV and salt therapy, dry needling as well as large doses of meditation and yoga, will be available at The ExerScience Center’s Best Self Biohacking Retreat. Dr. Leiva plans on limiting the retreat to 10-12 people, and anyone who is interested can contact her by calling (813) 803-7070 for Retreat pricing.

If you’re not looking to commit to a weekend of self-improvement, you can

still check out The ExerScience Center for your other physical therapy and rehabilitation needs. Dr. Leiva offers physical therapy, personal training, nutrition, group fitness and yoga, all with the goal of helping people feel their best.

Certified by the National Academy of Sports Medicine as a Certified Personal Trainer and a Fitness Nutrition Specialist, Dr. Leiva can tackle a myriad of maladies or just help you get into better shape.

The ExerScience Center is located at 24706 S.R. 54, in Lutz, less than two miles west of the Tampa Premium Outlets. For more information, call (813) 803-7070, visit TheExerScienceCenter.com or see the ad on pg. 26.

The Neubie by NeuFit helps rehabilitate injuries with electrical stimulation.

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15

Big Or Small, Taylor Gardner Gutters Meets Your Home’s Needs

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

If you’re like most homeowners, you probably haven’t put a lot of thought into your home’s gutters.

They generally aren’t admired by your neighbors while sitting out by the pool, like a fence might be, or like when you’re enjoying a cold drink in the driveway while basking in the glory of your perfectly manicured and green lawn.

But, those gutters might just be more important to your home than any of those other aesthetic changes you can make to the outside of it.

At Taylor Gardner Gutters, there is nothing more important, or serious, than making sure homes are equipped with the best gutters possible, because without them, the foundation of your house is susceptible to water damage that can create big problems down the road.

“I tell customers that gutters are the least expensive thing you can do to your home to improve the quality of the look of the home and quality of the life of your home without spending a fortune,” says Taylor Gardner, the owner of Taylor Gardner Gutters since taking over from his father Ed in 2019. “A fence can be five grand easy, and new floors can cost you $5,000-$10,000. But, new gutters?

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Many big builders in the area, as well as individual homeowners that need gutters or repairs, choose the crew at Taylor Gardner Gutters. (Photo: Taylor Gardner Gutters) The average is $1,500-$2,000, tops.”

Why are gutters, which Taylor Gardner Gutters can customize, install and repair, so important? Well, Taylor says there are many reasons, but one of the most important ones is that they take the downpour from those heavy Florida rainstorms and redirects the water away from your house.

Without gutters, the chance of

water creating a river between you and your neighbor and settling at the base of your home’s foundation are much greater. When saturation occurs, the water gets under the house, and can cause the wood or laminate floors in your house to pop, or pucker up.

The water also can bring erosion to the side of your home, which can cause cracks in the stucco and window ledges,

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and form unsightly trenches.

“Gutters will protect the integrity of your foundation, and that’s the important thing,” Taylor says.

Sarah DiMonarco, a Tampa-based Realtor, was referred to Taylor Gardner Gutters by a friend and hired Taylor and his crew for a house she was flipping.

Sarah was so impressed with the work and the price that she recommended the company to her friends and clients, and even her roofer.

When she had her gutters installed, the crew rerouted her downflow.

“I asked why they were doing that, and they said it was because the water was washing dirt out to my driveway,” Sarah says. “They made sure it was redirected where it should be going. I’ve been very happy, and the price was right.”.

At Taylor Gardner Gutters, Taylor and his five crews take the job seriously and set out to prove that not all gutter companies are created equal.

The company offers a thicker gauge aluminum than many of its competitors, which prevents the gutters from ever buckling under the weight of the water.

Taylor’s crews use rivets instead of screws. Unlike screws, rivets are made of aluminum and won’t rust.

“Most of our competitors use

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screws,” Taylor says, “and unless they are zinc-coated screws, they will rust. But, zinc-coated screws are more expensive than rivets, so no one does that.”

Rivets also are a stronger way to hold things together, and Taylor says he tells his customers to consider how airplanes are constructed. “They are riveted together,” he says, “and there’s a reason for that.”

However, what may separate Taylor’s company from its competition more than anything is the warranty. He says he offers a lifetime no-leak — and no questions asked if it ever does leak — warranty. Taylor says Seamless gutters like these can keep the rain from flooding your favorite spots to gather and hang out. he is unaware of any other gutter comand David Weekley Homes, suggests that pany that offers a lifetime warranty.

Taylor Gardner Gutters does exceptional And, for the best results, Taylor recwork using the best quality materials. It ommends an aluminum, seamless gutter also offers free estimates. system. While he says a handyman may be And following in Ed’s footsteps, able to throw gutters on your house, they Taylor is hoping to build a following by are probably using vinyl gutters purchased sending out salespeople who are there to from a big box store. build relationships and explain the need “I never paid a lot of attention to for gutters, not just sell them. In many gutters, but they are kind of like crown of New Tampa’s communities and some moulding,” Sarah says. “They really do of the older ones in Wesley Chapel, most enhance the look of the home.” homes built 20 years or more ago or so were built without gutters, but many have A Legacy Of Honesty added them because, well, it’s just smart.

Taylor learned the gutter business “I don’t hire a salesperson to be a from his father Ed, who started Gardner salesperson, I hire them to be an educaGutters back in 2000 but passed away tor,” Taylor says. “They have to underfollowing a long battle with cancer in stand (our business) to be able to explain 2020. Ed was highly regarded for running it to the customer, and not just give a sales his business with honesty and dignity, pitch.” and Taylor says the business he now runs So, if a customer is complaining about strives to continue much of what his father a flower bed against the side of the house taught him. flooding or cracks on the outside of the Taylor, who did a tour of Iraq while house, the company offers solutions. in the Marines for nine years and earned “If necessary, we’ll tell them you need a Business Administration (B.A.) degree gutters or you are going to have a serious from Liberty University in Lynchburg, problem,” Taylor says. “That’s not a sales VA, afterwards, took over completely pitch, it’s just the honest truth.” in 2020 after Ed passed away. Gardner In addition to custom gutter installaGutters was rebranded that year as Taytions and repairs, Taylor Gardner Gutters, lor Gardner Gutters. which is proud to be veteran-owned-andHe says the business was flagging operated, also provides screen room instalat the time, but now is booming. Taylor lations and window replacements. opened a new office in Land O’Lakes, Taylor Gardner Gutters is located added more crews with new equipment at 6202 Land O’Lakes Blvd. in Land and trailers, and has pivoted to working O’Lakes. The store hours are Mondaywith builders on new construction, espeFriday 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more inforcially in the busy Wesley Chapel area, to mation, visit TaylorGardnerGutters. help the company grow. com, call (813) 515-0844 or see the ad Taylor says the fact that his company on page 43 of this issue. is trusted by big builders like GL Homes Neighborhood News

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17

Berkshire Hathaway Can Help You Navigate A Hot Real Estate Market

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent Like most of Florida, the real estate market in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa is on fire.

For the agents of the New Tampa/ Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills offices of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices (BHHS) Florida Properties Group, located east of I-75 on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel (next to Buffalo Wild Wings), that means getting creative when placing offers on behalf of buyers and helping sellers navigate a fast-paced and often overwhelming number of offers as soon as they list their homes.

“For the past year, depending upon the price point, sellers have been receiving anywhere from 10 to 30 offers on their homes,” says Veronica Davidson, market president and managing Broker.

Those offers are often $50,000 or sometimes even $100,000 more than the list price.

“Our agents have to educate buyers that the property will likely not appraise for that,” she explains, and help them include the appropriate legal verbiage for the contract and navigate the steps it will take to actually close on the house, including bringing cash to their closing.

Davidson says with many people

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As market president & managing Broker for the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills offices of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, Veronica Davidson leads 115 agents who can serve all of your real estate needs. coming from out of state in larger, more price of a home in Florida in 2021 was expensive markets — many from Caliup 23 percent over 2020, and Davidson says those prices are still rising. fornia — local buyers have to have cash on hand to compete. The experienced “The demand has priced out a agents at BHHS can present options lot of local buyers,” Davidson exthat may help a local buyer hold their plains. “There are so many people own in such a crazy market. who couldn’t buy a home in their own It’s so crazy, that the average sales neighborhoods right now.”

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But, Davidson says her agents are well prepared for such extenuating circumstances.

“They know how to navigate this type of market to get offers accepted and to help sellers make it convenient and seamless for their move,” she says.

In fact, she adds, this is a crucial opportunity for homeowners who have fallen on hard times.

“Most people have equity in their homes right now,” she explains. “If you’re behind on your mortgage payments, don’t let your home go into foreclosure. Sell it and get your equity.”

In this situation — or if you have any questions about whether it’s the right time to sell your home or buy a new one — give the agents at Berkshire Hathaway a call.

Davidson says you can feel confident that you’ll be working with someone who is experienced and committed to integrity. As evidence of her team’s success, she says that MLS (Multiple Listing Service) data shows that her team of 115 agents was the highest producing real estate office in Wesley Chapel for 2021.

Name Recognition

If the name Berkshire Hathaway seems familiar, it’s because it is derived from the holding company Berkshire

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Hathaway, Inc., which is chaired by billionaire financier and company CEO Warren Buffett.

The local Berkshire Hathaway office is part of HomeServices of America, Inc., which is owned by Berkshire Hathaway Energy, a subsidiary of Berkshire Hathaway, Inc. In fact, what is now called Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group was originally founded in 1959 as Tropical Realty. Dewey Mitchell and Allen Crumbley acquired the business in 1984, then aligned with the Prudential Real Estate Network in 1988.

In 2012, Berkshire Hathaway purchased that group, including the local Prudential Tropical Realty office on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel.

The New Tampa/Wesley Chapel office is one of 20 offices under the Florida Properties Group umbrella. Davidson says her agents are committed to an exceptional culture, where they practice the company’s mission statement of teamwork, integrity, passion and excellence.

They also are committed to serving the community around them. Every year, the local office holds a food and toy drive for Metropolitan Ministries during the holiday season. The agents also support the company-wide charity, called Sunshine Kids, which gives children who have terminal diseases a week in Orlando to go to Walt DisneyWorld and Universal Studios.

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This was one of our Berkshire Hathaway’s listings in Estancia. They offer help buying and selling homes in this tricky and quickly changing market.

Davidson says many agents will parhelp of Berkshire Hathaway Realtor ticipate in a clay shoot coming up in April, Cynthia Filippi. with all proceeds going to Sunshine Kids.

“In two transactions, there were no At the office’s annual “Be The Sunhiccups, and everything went smoothly,” shine” event, agents take the day off to he says. “I’ve dealt with buying and serve a charitable organization. Earlier this selling homes quite a bit, and I found year, they volunteered at the Community Cynthia and Berkshire Hathaway to be Food Pantry in Carrollwood. very professional in their approach.”

He says the people who bought his More Than Just Agents home were from Canada, so dealing with Kevin Blatz sold his New Tampa an international transaction was unique. home of 20 years in May 2021 and They also didn’t see the home before moved to Lakewood Ranch with the buying it, and he says Cynthia partnered

closely with their agent to be sure the transaction was easy for both parties.

“It was truly seamless,” he says.

Davidson says that’s always the goal.

“Our agents are not just transactional,” she says. “We want to do such a good job that our customers become customers for life.”

She adds that Berkshire Hathaway strives to simplify many aspects of real estate, because customers have access to a wide range of services, including its mortgage and commercial division, as well as property management resources for both investors and renters.

“For investors, we have a strong property management team,” she says. “The (local) rental market is just as hot, so we can rent very quickly for a great price.”

On the flip side, people who are looking to rent can take advantage of the resources available in the local Berkshire Hathaway office to help them find a rental property.

To browse properties available for rent or learn about property management services, visit the Berkshire Hathaway online portal at RentAHomeWithUs.com.

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group is located at 26771 S.R. 56. For more information, visit BHHSFloridaProperties.com, call (813) 9078200 or see the ad on pg. 33.

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19

New Products Give Your CBD Store Something For Everyone

By JOHN C. COTEY

john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

On a sunny Saturday afternoon, Debra and David Curler are taking turns handling customers at their Your CBD Store of New Tampa in the Pebble Creek Collection.

Debra takes the first customer, who is looking for something to handle her stress but won’t make her sleepy. Meanwhile, David helps a guy looking for Delta 8 vapes, hoping they can help him relax.

They each spend about 15 minutes with their respective customers, answering more than a handful of questions, making a few recommendations and offering a few samples to go along with their purchases.

“It’s all about customer service,” David says, proudly, before joking that sometimes he might hand out too many samples. “We want them to try it and see what works for them,” he says. “Everyone is different.”

CBD, or cannabidiol, is one of more than 100 cannabinoids that grow on cannabis, of which both hemp and marijuana are varieties. Like “weed,” CBD originates from hemp, which contains less than 0.3% of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which causes the “high,” while marijuana has much higher levels of THC. The Curlers will tell you that not all

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Owners David and Debra Curler say more and more customers are stopping by Your CBD Store of New Tampa in the Pebble Creek Collection as the reputation of CBD as a tool for helping anxiety, stress, insomnia and chronic pain grows. (Photos: Charmaine George) CBD is created equal. Your CBD Store offers SunMed products that the company says are vigorously tested. SunMed grows its hemp in Oregon and Colorado, and processes it in Palmetto, FL, at a new, large plant. The company uses CO2 extraction, which doesn’t require the heat that can cause CBD to lose some of its potency.

The carcinogen-free products have the USDA Organic designation, and each label

has a QR code, so users can see exactly what they are putting into their bodies.

“That’s a big deal,” says David.

“This is the biggest brick-and-mortar CBD store in the country. You can order CBD (products) from Amazon, but do you know where you are getting it from?

Here, you do.”

Most of the CBD products at Your CBD Store of New Tampa are offered

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as “full spectrum,” which are generally stronger but still contain no more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC, and “broad spectrum,” which have no THC at all. They have been touted for easing stress, anxiety and insomnia, relieving chronic joint pain (in an award-winning cream form) and even helping your fireworks-fearful dog make it through New Year’s Eve. According to a recent New York Times story, Brightfield Group (a cannabis market research firm) conducted a survey of 5,000 people, revealing that 60 percent of CBD users have taken it for anxiety, followed by those taking it for chronic pain, insomnia and depression.

“There’s something for everyone,” Debra says. “We can help you find what you need.”

Products featuring Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol, or Delta-9 THC, and Delta-8 THC remain the store’s hottest sellers. Since they first showed up in the store last year, Debra says “they fly off the shelves.”

Unlike most of the CBD products in the store, which would not affect a drug test in most customers, Delta 8 will, as it contains a higher level of THC. Delta-9 is the most well-known cannabinoid because it is the most powerful and helps with anxiety and insomnia, and Delta-8 shares some similarities although it pro-

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Clockwise from top left: Products to help with weight loss, joint pain, pet anxiety and insomnia are among the dozens of solutions offered at Your CBD Store of New Tampa.

duces a gentle, smoother “high.”

“It’s great for relaxation and to help you sleep at night, so it’s pretty awesome,” Debra says. “And it comes in edibles, gummies, water solubles, vapes…people just love it.”

A new product, called Above, blends Delta-8 with other cannabinoids, which SunMed says delivers a high that is described as “gentle body feels” as opposed to a psychoactive high.

Another new product, known as Beyond, contains 400 percent more cannabinoids, including Delta-9, than your usual full-spectrum products. It has indica (calming) and sativa (uplifting) versions.

There also is a hybrid version.

The newest product, however, is Immune+, a tincture blend that contains CBGA, the “grand daddy” of cannabinoids, and CBDA. Both are acids which are converted to CBG and CBD, and Immune+ combines them with cinnamon, clove, blue gum eucalyptus, and lemon essential oils and then adds Vitamin A and D3 to give your immune system a boost.

Your CBD Store continually adds new products, like TRIM, its first foray into weight loss. TRIM features THC-V, which blocks your appetite-stimulating CB1 receptor (THC-D9, by contrast, causes appetite stimulation).

According to SunMed, in a 90-day clinical study of 120 people, participants lost up to 18 pounds, six inches around their waist and up to eight points in their respective BMIs (Body Mass Indexes).

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fective as an appetite suppressant.

“So far it’s been good,” he says. “It has made me less hungry.”

And while Your CBD Store of New Tampa has always carried products for your pets, two new treats are available — Chillin’ Out (for relaxation) and Movin’ Easy (for mobility and aches and pains for senior dogs) broad-spectrum hemp chews.

Debra says as CBD becomes more accepted and loses the stigma that comes with being associated with cannabis, more and more customers are finding their way through her front doors — including Sundays, which they added in December.

Many times, new customers are shocked by the cleanliness and warmth of the boutique-style store.

“I think they expect a smoke shop, or one of those hookah lounges,” she says.

While there may still be hurdles for CBD to clear in order to gain universal acceptance, Debra says she believes in the products enough to do her part to help get CBD there.

Your CBD Store of New Tampa has a 4.9 (out of 5)-star rating on Google, where the Curlers are applauded for their knowledge, passion and sterling customer service. “It’s been a struggle to get where we are today,” Debra says, “but it’s definitely been worth it.”

Your CBD Store New Tampa is located at 19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite B-1. It is open Monday-Saturday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 1 p.m.-5 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 994-0599, visit CBDRX4U.com/ find-us/florida/new-tampa or see the ad on pg. 26.

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Attention To Detail, Personal Service Hallmarks Of Palms Pharmacy

By CELESTE McLAUGHLIN Correspondent When Palms Pharmacy opened its doors six years ago this April, owner and Doctor of Pharmacy (Pharm.D.) Shahida Choudhry was determined to create a place that felt different from a typical chain pharmacy, where she knew her customers by name and gave them specialized, concierge-style service.

Her dream is being realized as Palms Pharmacy, located in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, just south of the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit off I-75, continues to grow.

Through the height of the Covid pandemic, the pharmacy was an essential part of the community, making its own hand sanitizer when it was in short supply, finding ways to both sell and donate personal protective equipment (or “PPE”), and keeping stocked up on new essentials, such as disposable masks, anti-fogger sprays for glasses, KN95 masks and a spray to sanitize your reusable masks.

Palms Pharmacy then began offering Covid vaccines and — when it was allowed — provided monoclonal antibody treatments for Covid, even having nurses travel to patients’ homes for infusions.

“It was really helpful to a lot of patients,” says Dr. Choudhry. “We helped a

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The staff at Palms Pharmacy in The Shoppes at The Pointe in Tampa Palms includes (l.-r.) compounding Pharmacist Jake Johnson lead tech Brittany Celik, front of store manager Duneshka Valez, pharmacy tech Leighann Pericott, staff Pharmacist Gina Fernandez & Dr. Shahida Choudhry. (Photos: Charmaine George) lot of seniors who were Covid positive.” continued to meet her customers’ needs.

As restrictions continue to be relaxed, She’s busy on social media, where Covid has left its mark on the pharmacy, a chance encounter on Instagram with which offers PCR testing for those who Marcus Lemonis, the famous multimilneed it to travel, as well as rapid testing. lionaire businessman and star of CNBCThroughout all of the unexpected TV’s most popular reality television show, twists and turns, Choudhry has kept a “The Profit,” led her to work with him smile on her face as she innovated to to implement some best practices to help ensure the pharmacy remained open and improve her business.

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And, Lemonis isn’t the only one who has noticed Choudhry’s determination to do things differently and provide both an excellent experience for her customers and a successful small business. She will be presenting a Continuing Education class for independent pharmacy owners called “Growing Your Business — A Pharmacist’s Playbook” at Independent Pharmacy Cooperative’s annual conference in San Diego this month.

She’ll talk about how the very front of her store welcomes people in, with glass shelves to show off niche products, such as locally grown honey from Pinellas County, Zumbar and Old Whaling Co. soaps, and fun snacks such as TeaPops and Fatty Sundays chocolate-covered pretzels.

Choudhry pays attention to the details, such as ensuring the store smells nice and has pleasant music playing whenever you walk in.

“We’re trying to make your pharmacy experience different,” Choudhry says.

“It’s more concierge- and boutique-like.”

While she tries to keep the product selection fresh and new, there also are the expected high-quality pharmaceutical products as well, such as Ortho Molecular specialty vitamins, pharmaceutical grade CBD products and durable medical equipment like crutches, braces and more.

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In addition to medical prescriptions, Palms Pharmacy carries everything from health & beauty aids and all-natural vitamins to Mother’s Day gift ideas and even durable medical equipment (above) — all at prices that often match or even beat the pharmacy chains. her to start her own business.

The staff has grown to 10 and includes two pharmacists in addition to She received her Bachelor of Science Dr. Choudhry, including compounding degree in Pharmacy, then went on to receive Pharmacist Jake Johnson, who handles the her Pharm.D. degree in 2001, both from most customized medications for patients.

Long Island University in Brooklyn, NY. “He compounds hormones, weight loss medications, topical creams and pain A Better Experience management medication,” explains Dr. West Meadows resident Myron Choudhry.

Harmon first went to Palms Pharmacy Palms Pharmacy has found success when it was newly opened. A local chain by offering exceptional customer service, store pharmacy couldn’t get a medication above and beyond what you would typihe needed and suggested he try the new, cally expect from a pharmacy. specialized independent pharmacy. He For example, the staff thrives on and his husband, Hector Rojas, have been helping patients with especially compligoing to Palms Pharmacy ever since. cated health or insurance issues, which are “They’re very relationship-driven and becoming more and more common these customer-focused,” Harmon says. “They days. Choudhry says that when insurance know us, call us by our name, ask ‘How’s companies decline to cover a patient’s mediyour day?’ and ‘How was your trip?’” cations, that’s when she picks up the phone.

He says he values that relationship “I know the doctors and the medical and appreciates that Dr. Choudhry will assistants,” she says. “I work with them to come out and talk with them about their get their patients what they need, usually medications, adding her perspective and within the same day.” expertise to the information he gets from She says her staff recently has been his doctors. helping patients who need assistance to “I’ve told many friends about Palms pay for their medications, by connecting Pharmacy,” Harmon says, “and some of them to grant programs that can help pay them have started going there. They’re their high insurance deductibles. reliable and trustworthy and they make “We have a patient who has been you feel comfortable.” getting his diabetic medication for free for That’s Choudhry’s goal, to make the past 18 months,” she explains. “Typieveryone who visits Palms Pharmacy feel cally, it would cost him $1,200 a month.” both comfortable, and also valued.

Palms Pharmacy will celebrate its “We enjoy what we do and really sixth anniversary in Tampa Palms in April. appreciate our customers,” Dr. Choudhry While a date hasn’t yet been chosen, says. “We know you can go anywhere, so Choudhry says to check the store’s social if you’re willing to park your car and come media and promises that the celebration through our doors, we’re going to try to do will include a food truck. a little bit extra to make you feel welcome,” Last year’s food truck was actually including bringing your prescriptions out to a mobile coffee bar called The Bean Bar you curbside.

Co. Since the Palms Pharmacy celebraPalms Pharmacy is located at tion last April, The Bean Bar Co. actually 17008 Palm Pointe Dr., and is open opened up a storefront, not coincidentally Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-6 p.m. For more just two doors down from the pharmacy. info, call (813) 252-9063, text Palm Choudhry opened Palms Pharmacy Pharmacy’s secure text-only line at in 2016, after 10 years as the pharmacist (727) 513-3210, visit ThePalmsPharat the Publix in Tampa Palms. She loved macy.com or see the ad on pg. 37. Folher job and her customers, but her search low Palms Pharmacy on Instagram and/ for a better balance of her work and home or Facebook for announcements about life, where she had two small children, led its upcoming anniversary celebration.

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Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus To Host RADD Summer Camps!

By GARY NAGER If you have kids as young as age 6 and as old as high school-age, and you’re not sure what to do with them this summer, RADDSports at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County has a variety of great camps during the 2022 RADD Summer Heatwave.

RADD is offering everything from All-Sports camps to individualized training camps in its core sports of basketball, volleyball, soccer and cheerleading, some of which are broken down by age and/ or skill level and others for kids of all ages and abilities.

All-Sport Camps!

To give your kids (boys and girls) ages 6-16 exposure to and training in volleyball, basketball, soccer and cheerleading, as well as Yo Murphy Performance Training, RADD’s All-Sport Camp is a great choice. There are three separate one-week sessions — May 31-June 3, June 20-24 and July 18-22 — and the camps group kids by age (6-8, 9-11, 12-14 & 15+), are all held indoors from Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-4 p.m., in airconditioned comfort and include lunch each day, plus a camp T-shirt.

“Campers will get an introduction to each sport and learn basic skills, rules and components of each sport,” says RADD

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A variety of cheerleading camps are among the many summer camp programs available for kids of all ages during the RADDSports 2022 Summer Heatwave. (Photo: Charmaine George) Sports CEO Richard Blalock. “This summer’s camps will focus on sport-specific skills Cheerleading Camps! for everyone from novice to elite athletes.”

There are three levels of cheer camps this summer, including three one-week Basketball Camps! sessions for Youth Cheer Camps (June There will be three week-long 6-10, June 27-July 1 & August 1-5, all RADD Basketball Camps for boys and 9 a.m.-4 p.m.; with late pickup and dropgirls ages 8-16, which are designed to fooff available for an additional charge) for cus on individual skills development, the ages 5-12. No previous cheer experience is importance of basketball fundamentals necessary and athletes will learn foundaand developing a healthy team attitude tional skills for stunts, tumbling, cheers and will be held indoors only, 8:30 a.m.and dance in a fun environment. The 4:30 p.m. The basketball camp dates are cheer camps also will include daily fitness June 6-10, June 27-July 1 and August education by Yo Murphy Performance.

1-5, and also will be broken down by age The next level up is the RADD Team and skill level.

Cheer Camp for ages 6-14, which will be

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held June 13-17 only, 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day, for athletes who have been through or would like to join RADD’s competitive cheer teams. The focus will be on new skills for stunts, tumbling and dance before fall team placements, with daily fitness education provided by Yo Murphy Performance.

High school cheer teams also have their own three-day (July 27-29) School Team Cheer Camp, 9 a.m.-5 p.m. each day. The School Team Cheer Camp is appropriate for both sideline and competitive cheer teams.

Teams also will receive two follow-up sessions to be scheduled throughout the year.

Soccer Camps!

There will be three one-week RADDSports Soccer Camps for ages 8-17 — June 13-17, July 11-15 & July 25-29.

The soccer camps, which will be held both outdoors (weather permitting) and indoors, will focus on improving fundamental skills and game technique.

“I really don’t think there’s anything like

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our camps in this area,” says RADDSports director of soccer (and former English Premier League player and Tampa Bay Rowdies player and coach) Stuart Campbell.

Volleyball Camps!

RADDSports also is offering seven different sessions of Volleyball Camp.

The Attacking Camp (June 13-15, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) will focus on individual

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techniques for attacking, with proper footwork, proper arm swing mechanics and the transition part of the attacking position.

For the Defense Camp (also June 1315, 9 a.m.-12:30 p.m.) campers should come ready to work hard and focus on the technical aspects of playing the libero position, including ball control and overall defense.

The two-day Setting Camp (June 16-17, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) will focus on offensive strate-

gies, proper hand and body positioning and mental and emotional aspects of the game.

Younger players (ages 5-9) can attend the Eaglets Volleyball Camp (July 11-13, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.), where they will be taught the fundamentals of volleyball utilizing lighter balls and a lower net, all while having a great time building a passion for the sport.

There’s also a Co-Ed All Skills Camp (July 11-14, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m.) for boys and girls ages 10-18, designed to teach the fundamentals of volleyball to those ranging from elite to beginner levels.

The Team Camp (July 11-14, 9 a.m.4:30 p.m.) is a four-day camp designed for Varsity and JV teams who want to get a jump start on their high school seasons! Coaches and players are encouraged to attend together

with focus on skills development, competition against other high school teams, team building and goal-setting.

There are two different Elite Camps (July 25-28, 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. and July 2728). The first Elite Camp includes 21 hours of training for Elite Varsity-Level Setters (grades 9-12), Developmental Setters (non-varsity, grades 7-10) and First Contact (serve, serve receive & defense for grades 7-10). The second Elite Camp is eight hours of training for grades 5-7 and beginning 8th graders.

For more information about all of the RADD Summer Sports Camps at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County (3021 Sports Coast Way, Wesley Chapel), visit wiregrass-sports.com/camps or see the ad on pg. 29.

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Tampa Team 2nd At Cricket President’s Cup This area is quickly becoming one of the top amateur sports locations in all of Florida, and you can now add cricket to the long list of sports and tournaments that plan to make our area their regular home.

On Feb. 18, a ribboncutting ceremony was held at the Wesley Chapel District Park to kick off the Major Cricket League (MCL)’s President’s Cup tournament, featuring teams from Canada, Arkansas, Connecticut, New Jersey, Tennessee, Tampa, and, of course Wesley New Tampa residents Prahlad Madabhushi (far left) Chapel’s own Legends, which is and Nagesh Nayak (talking) are interviewed prior to the comprised of players from Wesley Major Cricket League’s President’s Cup. Chapel and New Tampa and capimprove, we can easily do 12-16 (teams).” tained by New Tampa’s Nagesh Nayak, the president of the Tampa Nayak, who helped organize the event.

Premier League (TPL), has been searchThe Arkansas Titans defeated the ing for a dedicated cricket pitch in the Tampa Tigers, captained by TPL managarea for a few years, and the Wesley ing director and New Tampa resident Chapel District Park has accommodated Prahlad Madabhushi, in the President’s him for several local events.

Cup final.

Brian Taylor, Pasco County Parks & “Next year, we hope to have more Recreation Department manager, cut the international teams,” Nayak said. “We had ribbon and threw (or in cricket parlance, more people interested in coming, but “bowled”) out the ceremonial first pitch. we didn’t have the grounds and didn’t The entire event was broadcast by want to bite off more than we can chew.

MQTV.com. — JCC We had eight teams, but if the facilities

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Wesley Chapel Man’s Beekeeping Hobby Is As Sweet As Honey

By JOHN C. COTEY john@NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Tucked away in Angus Valley, one of the few remaining places in Wesley Chapel that business and residential development haven’t touched, Jeff Hajari gets back to nature.

On this day, he is tending to his bees, all eight hives of them. It doesn’t take a lot of work, really, now that he has been doing this for two years, but he works to keep his hive small and strong.

In his kitchen, his countertops are filled with 16 oz. mason jars of the sweet elixir his troops have produced, roughly 400 pounds in all during his most recent harvest.

A large wedge of beeswax sits nearby on the floor, below a counter of vials filled with propolis (“bee glue”), a byproduct of the hive used by people with diabetes to heal wounds, combat allergies and even soothe toothaches.

“Bees are amazing,” Hajari says.

“There are so many benefits to everything they produce.”

Which is part of the reason why Hajari is so fascinated by them. Truth is, we couldn’t live without bees, as they, along with butterflies, pollinate approximately 75 percent of the world’s flowering plants and 35 percent of the world’s food crops, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

Hajari, 59, was born in Kerman, Iran, and came to the US in 1987 to start a new life. He settled in New York and began a career as a home improvement contractor, but then relocated to Florida and eventually bought a home in Angus Valley.

With an affinity for nature and being self-sustaining, Hajari started with chickens and goats in his backyard, and while his attempts to make goat’s milk failed, he did successfully manage to make some soap.

But, he really wanted his own honey. Because he returns to Iran every year to help take care of his mother, barnyard animals required too much care. So, three years ago, he bought his first beehive from a woman in Dade City for $250. He transferred the hive in his truck, and says that setting it up was, well, a bit painful.

“I got stung like crazy,” Jeff says. “Probably 20-25 times. But, it was okay.”

Hajari continued to add more hives — at one point he had 12-15. But, they were weaker hives, and he has found by limiting the hives to

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Jeff Hajari is a beekeeper who produces and sells his own dark honey on Facebook Marketplace from his home in Angus Valley.

eight or so, he has a stronger, healthier group able to resist attackers like ants and other pests.

Two years ago, he designed a new entrance for the beehive to fight against varroa mites, who were capable of wiping out an entire colony.

Hajari says he learned how to keep bees like you would learn about anything — the internet and trial and error. He watched documentaries and YouTube videos, read articles and purchased a beekeeping suit. Handy with wood working, he constructed frames for the bees to expand their honeycombs. He has made mistakes, losing bees and entire hives. “Like anything, there is a science to it,” he says.

Every few months, his kitchen becomes a laboratory, where he extracts the honey from the combs and bottles it.

“It takes two days to get it all done and jarred and ready,” Jeff says. “It’s a labor of love. As long as I have enough for my coffee and tea, and my friends.”

He says that the taste each time is different, and that it all depends on what flowers were pollinated. One of his recent batches was particularly dark and bitter.

“I don’t know why, but my honey looks almost like coffee,” he says. “I’ve been to stores but I have never seen anything that looks that dark. It’s extremely dark. But, I read where the darker the better, as it has more antioxidants and antibodies. So I’m like, ‘Okay, I’m good with it.’”

He sells his honey and propolis on Facebook marketplace, which you can find by searching “Local Honey Wesley Chapel.”

Hajari will even come remove a colony of bees from your yard, if need be.

“It’s a hobby, and it’s fun,” he says.

But, there’s always something new to learn, and Hajari has now added mushroom hunting — “Not the crazy ones, the edible ones” — to his nature quest. He joined a

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group that goes hunting in places like Ocala National Forest, the Croom Wildlife Management Area in Brooksville and even Hillsborough River State Park. One trip yielded a basket of Chanterelle mushrooms, which he cooked up. “I’m addicted to them, they were so good,” Jeff said.

Because he has so many trees and logs in his backyard, he ordered a mushroom growing kit and is hoping to produce Shitaki, Golden Oyster and Lion’s Mane mushrooms in his own backyard. He said it takes a year.

And,before he left for Iran recently, he planted a banana tree, avocados, blueberries and blackberries.

“I just like to be self sufficient,” he says, “especially when it comes to nutrition. I want everything organic, and I like to produce it myself.” What’s next for Jeff? He’s not sure, but he seems to be just beginning. “I always like to try something new,” he says.

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33

The Grill At Morris Bridge Making Major Menu Changes!

By GARY NAGER Photos by Charmaine George

When The Grill at Morris Bridge opened on Cross Creek Blvd. (next to Publix) in late 2021, many locals raved about having a locally owned sit-down dinner place that wasn’t a chain. Others said it was a little pricy for what it was and some even (incorrectly, in one editor’s opinion) complained that the portions were small.

Well, owners Frank and James Gouveia heard the calls and they’ve been working with new chef Wally Dawson (who previously was the Executive Chef at Roy’s and at Lake Jovita Country Club) to revamp The Grill’s menu, reducing the prices on many menu items, adding a few new goodies and removing some items altogether. The Grill also has put additional emphasis on a great, reduced-price Bar Menu.

Frank, who spent a lot of years in the wine distribution business, also promises some lower-cost glasses and bottles of wine, and the new Happy Hour (Tuesday-Friday, all day until 6 p.m.) features a number of specially-selected bottles for just $28, as well as $4 draft beers and $5 Corazon tequila, Spring 44 (indigo) gin, Svedka vodka, Benchmark bourbon and Bacardi rum drinks.

The bar menu includes Cacoila paprika-braised pulled pork sliders, an outstanding blackened chicken sandwich (usually served with fries, but I get it with delicious sautéed broccolini), “smash” burgers and a variety of crisp-crust, oven-baked pizzas.

Our new favorite of these is the slightly spicy, slightly salty linguiça sausage pizza shown on this page, although the curiously named Route 140 pizza combines the same linguiça with banana peppers and onion. You also can dress up your own cheese pizza with a variety of veggies, meats and extra cheese.

There are a number of items that Frank treated me, Jannah and photographer Charmaine George to on our most recent visit — items that are so new, they hadn’t even been added to the menu at that point, but they’re awesome.

Mine and Jannah’s favorite was the bacon-and-parmesancrusted mahi-mahi, served on a bed of asparagus, fried capers and roasted red potatoes, with a lemon butter sauce. The crust is thick and crispy, but not overpowering and Frank and Wally said that the mahi will cost about $22, which — take my word for it — is a bargain.

Another new entrée that Jannah and I didn’t get to sample (because of my accursed shellfish allergy) but Charmaine raved about was the blackened shrimp fettuccine Alfredo. She said the sauce, pasta and shrimp were all spot-on. Wally and Frank also promised that other new menu items will be announced shortly — possibly as soon as by the time this issue reaches your mailbox.

The only thing that could make some of our favorites at

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The Grill at Morris Bridge features everything from (clockwise from top left on this page) the bacon-and-parmesancrusted mahi-mahi, Empress Yourself cocktail, linguiça pizza, blackened shrimp fettuccine Alfredo, grilled pork chop & Caesar salad. Next page, top to bottom: Cacoila sliders, blackened chicken sandwich and creme brulée and cappuccino.

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The Grill at Morris Bridge even better would be lower prices.

Among those favorites are the most authentic-tasting Caesar salad I’ve had in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel, the grilled pork chop (served with fingerling potatoes, sautéed Brussels sprouts and Romesco sauce, although shown just by itself in the picture on the previous page), the 8-oz. grilled filet mignon (there’s also a tasty 12-oz NY strip and Frank says a ribeye might be added) and the chicken & broccolini (with rigatoni, diced chicken, garlic, broccolini and lemon cream sauce) and the true New England clam chowder.

Our favorite desserts are the creme brulée and the chef’s cheesecake (try either one with the perfect cappuccino or regular coffee) and The Grill also has “New Tampa’s Best Sunday Brunch” with tasty egg dishes (including a variety of Benedicts), brioche French toast and more, and the kids menu has four different items all priced at just $9.

“We don’t want The Grill to be just a ‘special occasion’ destination,” Frank says. We want it to be an affordable, family-friendly place you’ll want to visit every week.”

The Grill at Morris Bridge (10920 Cross Creek Blvd.) is open every day except Monday for lunch and dinner. For more information, call (813) 388-5353, visit TheGrillat MorrisBridge.com. search “The Grill at Morris Bridge” on Facebook or see the ad on pg. 43.

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35

Zukku-San Sushi Owners To Open Astro Ice Cream & Ato Sushi & Poké

By GARY NAGER Photos by Charmaine George

Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill, located on the north side of S.R. 56, just west of I-75, has been my favorite Japanese restaurant in our area since the day it opened.

I love sushi, and Zukku-San has an incredible variety of some of the best sushi in our area, but for me, it’s always been more about everything else on Zukku-San’s delicious menu that sets it apart from its competition.

Co-owner Ferdian Jap and co-owner/ executive chef Gia Tran have created something special in their unassuming space next to Crumbl Cookie. And, while Zukku-San is an elegant, but still casual, sit-down restaurant with a full premium liquor bar (with craft cocktails like the lychee nut martini and coconut mojito shown center right on this page), Ferdian and Gia actually started together with more of a fast-casual poké-bowl-andsushi-“burrito” concept in Tampa’s Armature Works, with a similar location also open in Charlotte, NC, and they are getting ready to open a similar concept called “Ato” in the KRATE Container Park at The Grove (Ferdian says Ato likely won’t open until late May or early June).

And, since they’re obviously not busy enough with just those eateries, Ferdian and Gia also have an Astro Craft Ice Cream location in Armature Works, and plan to open a second Astro location where Great Clips closed on the north side of S.R. 56. next to Mellow Mushroom. The signage is up at the new Astro Ice Cream, but Ferdian says the new location likely won’t open until June or July (more on that below).

But, this article will focus on Zukku-San, which continues to add new favorites to my list every time I try anything new.

The Best Starters!

I have been raving about the Starters at Zukku-San from Day One, including the most perfect deep-fried gyoza (pork dumplings) with house-made Ponzu sauce, crispy vegetable spring rolls served with an amazing semispicy orange chili sauce, skewered traditional Japanese chicken and beef tenderloin yakitori (with fresh veggies; there’s also shrimp and veggie-only varieties) served with teriyaki sauce, steamed or garlic edamame, crispy fried Karaage

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Among our editor’s favorites at Zukku-San on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel are (clockwise from top left on this page) the unique grilled short ribs entrée, the spicy bluefin tuna chu-toro and the wide variety of tempura options. (Bottom right) Zukku-San also has great craft cocktails, like the lychee martini (left) and coconut mojito. chicken served with spicy mayo and a wonderful tuna tataki, plus it’s the only place I know of that serves Tempura a la Carte options.

The tempura is lightly battered and fried to golden perfection and allows you to order individual portions of your favorites. The bottom right picture on this page was our most recent order, which includes four pieces each of carrots, sweet potatoes and zucchini (only $2.95 per order each), as well as a whole soft shell crab ($9.95), which was cut into bitesized pieces for us. Other a la carte tempura options include shrimp, tofu, broccoli, while giant squid, avocado, hamachi (yellowtail snapper) collar, asparagus, onion, red and jalapeño peppers and whole lobster tail. So good!

On our most recent visit, we also ordered the chef’s special spicy bluefin tuna chu-toro crudo (top right photo), which has thin slices of bluefin tuna (which is a fattier tuna they call medium-fatty, than their regular ahi tuna tataki appetizer), topped with jalapeños and scallions in an incredible sriracha/chili-based spicy sauce.

It’s also served with a side of seaweed salad.

The Best Entrées!

We’ve usually stayed pretty basic when it comes to our favorite entrées “from the Wok & Grill” at Zukku-San, but on our most recent visit, we tried three new dishes (in addition to our usual chicken fried rice) and no one was disappointed.

My favorite was my grilled short ribs (above), which are marinated in Asian pear juice, grilled to perfection and served with jasmine rice and sautéed veggies. These aren’t your falloff-the-bone short ribs; they’re more like Chinese-style BBQ spare ribs, but the flavor is definitely unique.

Photographer Charmaine George ordered the wok-fired Udon Noodles with fried tofu (top right photo on next page) and we all raved about the sauce covering the chewy soft noodles, the tofu and the sautéed broccoli, onion, carrot, red peppers and zucchini. Like ZukkuSan’s fried rice and wok-fired hibachi (egg) noodles, you can order them with just veggies,

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chicken, tenderloin steak or shrimp, too.

Of course, Jannah and I also had to bring our granddaughter Rosie with us, since ZukkuSan has been her favorite restaurant since she was just over a year old. Rosie and her mom Lauren love all the starters we order (the carrots are her favorite) and the perfect California roll, but her dad Albert also raved about the soy butter glazed baked salmon entrée. Lauren also always gets a Mexican roll, with tempura shrimp,

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avocado, cucumber, sesame seeds, masago (fish roe) and spicy mayo.

For those who only crave sushi, try Zukku-San’s Masterpiece sushi rolls like the shrimp volcano and lobster Masterpiece roll.

Zukku-San also has a wide variety of nigiri (sliced fish on rice) and sashimi (no rice), hand rolls, as well as sushi and sashimi palettes with from 24 pieces of up to four different sashimis (for $50) up to small and large sushi palettes with as many as six Masterpiece rolls or 8 classic or hand rolls for $120.

For lunch, Zukku-San has makeyour-own poké bowls with rice or mixed greens, up to two proteins (try the panko chicken and ahi tuna), up to two sauces and up to three toppings, as well as Bento Box lunches with short ribs, chicken teriyaki, shrimp tempura or sushi-only, served with ginger salad, pork gyoza and miso soup.

Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Grill is located at 25916 Sierra Center Blvd.) and is open seven days a week for lunch and dinner (although the lunch menu isn’t available on weekends). For more info, visit ZukkuSushi.com, call (813) 419-1351 or see the ad on pg. 45.

Astro Ice Cream Set To Open!

For those of us who love ice cream, the announcement that Zukku-San’s owners also are opening a second location of their Astro Craft Ice Cream in our area is very much welcome news.

The Armature Works location features a

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variety of unique flavors that, according to its website, “feature new twists of traditional flavor combinations that reflect the diversity of our Tampa Bay community & honor its rich history.”

Ferdian says no one else has flavors like creme brulée café con leche, whiskey cookie dough, Tampa guava cream cheese or banana pudding peanut butter cookie, Ybor spiced run toasted coconut meringue pie, or options like ice cream sandwiches made with real pressed Cuban bread from La Segunda Bakery (photo above). “The bread gets crispy and the ice cream stays cold,” says Ferdian. Wow! Stay tuned to these pages for updated on Astro Ice Cream’s expected opening.

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Frammi Italian & American Cuisine Adding More Italian Fare!

By GARY NAGER

Photos by Charmaine George & Gary Nager

For everyone who hasn’t yet tried Frammi American Grille & Italian Food, located on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. just north of I-75, I only have one question — Why not???

For those who loved the burgers at the old Oakley’s Grille, which Luca and his wife Erika took over nearly four years ago, Frammi does still serve those award-winning burgers, crispy fries and other American favorites, but Luca and Erika have brought, as he says, “the genuine cuisine that you find in the homes of Italians, in the everyday kitchens of Sunday family lunches.”

Luca, who is from southern Italy, and Erika, who is from the north of the bootshaped country, have each contributed their favorite recipes of their respective regions to Frammi, which was changed from Oakley’s during the pandemic — and folks from New Tampa and beyond have been rightfully thrilled with the results.

“We import many ingredients in our dishes from Italia to maintain authenticity,” Luca says, “and all Italian and American dishes are prepared from scratch, so please realize that cooking fresh food from scratch takes time.”

And, speaking of fresh, Luca adds, “We apologize if we don’t always have your favorite dishes, but we don’t freeze anything and our quantities are limited.”

So, What’s New?

Luca has definitely committed to expanding both the Italian and American sides of his two-sided menu. Our favorite new American dish is the fried chicken sandwich, which is a full breast filet, lightly battered and flash-fried to golden crisp on the outside, but still incredibly juicy on the inside. When you add in those perfect fries (which are included), you really can’t go wrong.

But, as much as we love Frammi’s American food (the chicken fajitas, which really are more like fajita meat soft tacos,

are pretty great, too), it’s the alwaysamazing Italian fare that keeps bringing us back. And, Luca says the Italian menu items are definitely from both the north and south of the country.

My favorite from Luca’s southern region is probably still the linguine alla vongole (with clams, diced tomatoes, parsley, extra virgin olive oil, red hot crushed peppers, white wine and garlic) and Jannah’s favorite is the parmigiana di melanzana (eggplant parm), but the new, lightly spicy pasta Amatriciano (rigatoni with fresh tomato sauce, pancetta, diced tomatoes, pecorino Romano cheese, red hot peppers and parsley) is an amazing addition.

Our favorite dish from Erika’s northern region is the ragu di salsiccia (penne with Italian sausage ragu (onions, celery, carrots, tomato sauce, Italian sausage and red wine), although the Black Angus beef ragu also is outstanding, and the lasagna (made with bechamel sauce, instead of ricotta) is both authentic and a best-seller.

And, although they aren’t new to the menu, on our most recent visit we also loved two of the other pasta entrées we hadn’t tried before — the fettuccine carbonara (with crisp pancetta, parmesan and pecorino Romano cheeses, eggs and black pepper) and the fusilli alla pesto

(Above) Owner Luca Ammirati sautées his pasta carbonara before adding the crisp pancetta for the finished product (above left). (Below) Frammi’s fried chicken sandwich is a crispy new entry into the chicken sandwich wars...with perfectly crispy fries. (Below left) The huge Italian salad is a meal unto itself.

(made with basil and pine nut-rich pesto sauce imported from Genoa). All of Frammi’s pasta dishes are served al denté (firm) without having to ask for them that way and are so authentic, they’ll have you singing “O Sole Mio” in no time.

One of the other dishes from the Italian side of the menu that we tried recently but hadn’t gotten to sample before is the vegetable soup (with carrots, onion, celery, potatoes, extra virgin olive oil, parmesan cheese and rosemary), which Luca says is like real Italian minestrone, but not like the red broth-based minestrone you may have had at other places.

We also enjoy the bruschetta (diced tomatoes, garlic, extra virgin olive oil on crisp Italian ciabatta bread) and the meatball sandwich, which are Luca’s famous authentic fried Black Angus meatballs topped with mozzarella cheese, but with a 38

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side of tomato sauce for dipping, instead of served on the sandwich itself. The mixed Italian salad is a huge portion of romaine and iceberg lettuce, diced tomatoes, carrots, hard-boiled eggs and fresh imported mozzarella cheese served with Italian dressing. The hot pressed Cuban spicy Italian and mufaletta sandwiches proudly include Boar’s Head meats, and include a free soda if you order one of them on Saturday.

Other daily specials are served Tuesday-Saturday — Burger Tuesday, Chicken Wednesday (both specials include a free soda), Philly Thursday (get $1 off the ribeye or chicken cheesesteak and fries) and Healthy Friday (all salads are $1.50 off).

And, while we rarely leave room for dessert, the tiramisu and Nutella crepes are great options and Frammi also offers beer, wine and soft drinks.

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(Clockwise from above left) The pasta Amatriciana, chicken fajitas, fusilli alla pesto,doublecheeseburgerand vegetable soup are all among our editor’s favorite dishes at Frammi.

Frammi (17631 BBD) is closed on Mon. but is open Tues.-Sat, 11 a.m.-8 p.m., and noon-8 p.m. on Sun. Call (813) 523-5075, visit Frammi.com or see the ad on pg. 42. Delivery is available through DoorDash, Mobile Meals and Uber Eats.

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41

Cheers Liquor Store Is Open In The Village At Hunter’s Lake, Despite The Owner’s Untimely Passing

NEW TAMPA New Latin Fusion Cuisine Coming To Cross Creek Blvd.

When the Cheers Liquor Store opened a couple of months ago at 8606 Hunters Village Rd. in the Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza (next to Starbucks), Jannah and I met the owners and discussed the possibility of the store advertising in the Neighborhood News.

I ended up not writing about Cheers in that issue and when I went back to take pictures for a write-up a month or so later, the store was closed — on a Saturday — so I put it off for another issue.

When I went back to Cheers last week, the owner’s son, Ajay Bathija, informed me that his father had passed away the day before I visited when the store was closed.

“The store was my father Daleep’s baby,” Ajay told me, getting understandably emotional. “He designed the store, chose the inventory and then passed away less than two months after it opened.”

Ajay and his family continue to operate Cheers, which has a nice selection of not

only unique liquor bottles, fine wines and craft beers, but also gift items like toy cars, fine chocolates like Ferrero Rocher and more. The store also offers free tastings.

For more information, call Cheers at (813) 360-1984 and tell Ajay and his family I sent you. — GN

Lotte Plaza Market Finally Files Plans To Renovate Former New Tampa Sweetbay Location

It’s been something of a rough ride for the former pizza place on Cross Creek Blvd. (behind the Mobil gas station) which originally opened as Hawkeye’s NYS Pizza, and later became Deano’s Pizza, Fish Fiesta and (very briefly) Halal Café. The restaurant is in the process of getting ready to re-open as Macaw, a Latin Fusion restaurant co-owned by the same owner as New Tampa Auto Care, which is located in the same plaza.

Mike, the co-owner, is from Venezuela, but he promises to also have Cuban, Mexican and other Latin cuisine items available.

He says he hopes to open in the next month or two, but based on the picture I was able to take (above) when I visited last week, it looks to be a super-cute new place to eat.

We’ll update you as soon as we have more information.— GN

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Lotte Plaza Market has filed plans with the City of Tampa to renovate the former Sweetbay Supermarket off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., next to the Home Depot, as it prepares to open what will be New Tampa’s largest Asian marketplace.

The renovation project on the 49,432sq.ft. building, roughly 11,000 square feet of which will be storage and cooler space, will transform the inside of the former grocery store into a marketplace that sells Korean, Chinese, Japanese and Vietnamese food items and ingredients, a wide selection of meats and fresh fish and seafood and a huge variety of fruits and vegetables not found at American grocery stores.

The Lotte Plaza Market also will include at least three restaurants in its food

court, as well as a bakery and a tea stand.

The renovations will cost roughly $4.5 million, according to the plans. The owners of the small Maryland-based ethnic grocery store chain focusing on Asian groceries and goods purchased the old Sweetbay Market for $7 million in January of 2021.

The Sweetbay building closed in 2013 and has been unoccupied since. KNK Tampa, Ltd. bought it in 2001 and leased it to Kash n’ Karry for a 20-year term beginning in November of that year. Kash n’ Karry operated under the lease until June 14, 2006, when its Belgian parent company Delhaize America, Inc., converted it into a Sweetbay. But, despite its rebranding, Sweetbay never gained the popularity of nearby Publix or Walmart stores.

In October of 2013, Jacksonville-

based Bi-Lo Holdings bought 72 Sweetbay stores, plus the leases to 10 other underperforming Sweetbay locations that had already been closed. One of those leases belonged to the New Tampa location, which had six years remaining on it, but Bi-Lo Holdings declined to do anything with the property other than pay the rent until the deal expired in 2020.

Founded in 1976, Lotte Plaza Market is considered to be one of the premier Asian and international groceries in Maryland and Virginia, where it has 12 locations. The minichain also has one location in New Jersey, and opened the only other Florida location in Orlando on W. Colonial Dr. in February 2019.

Lotte Plaza Market is hoping to open 50 new locations by 2030. — JCC

Here & There, This & That — New Tampa Comings & Goings • In a previous issue, we told you that Gu Wei Noodles & Grill, the authentic Chinese restaurant that opened in the former location of Sukhothai on Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. at Galbraith Rd. (near the AMC Highwoods 20 movie theater) was closing temporarily to revamp the concept.

Well, when I visited recently, it didn’t appear that the restaurant was getting ready to

re-open, so I checked the Chinese restaurant’s website, which thanked its customers for their support the past two years but said, “We’re sorry to announce we’re permanently closed.”

We had no word at our press time what, if anything was moving into the space.

• Meanwhile, it looks as though the final two spaces in the Village at Hunter’s Lake plaza will be filled within the next couple

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of months, as Woof Gang (pet) Bakery & Grooming (which has a location on S.R. 56) will open between The Coder School & Poke Island Plus, and Caribbean Mystique Massage & Wellness Spa, which currently is located in the New Tampa Professional Park in Pebble Creek, will open next to the UPS Store in Hunter’s Lake. We’ll update you as to when these will open soon. — GN

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43

Mojo Fusion Latin Cuisine & MaeBerry Co. The Latest KRATEs To Open; Several Others Delayed

WESLEY CHAPEL El Prince Mediterranean

Is Delicious!

Continuing our ongoing tour of the newest KRATEs to open at The Grove, El Prince Mediterranean, which has only had locations in Middle Eastern destinations like Dubai and Qatar, has opened its first U.S. location right here in Wesley Chapel.

I’ve only sampled a couple of items at El Prince so far, but both the meat shawarma (photo; which is delicious, marinated sliced ribeye beef roasted with Middle eastern spices, topped with onions and tahini sauce that I had them put on the side) and the El Prince salad (with dice lettuce, tomatoes, cucumber, peppers, onions and a savory vinaigrette dressing) were super yummy.

El Prince also offers shish kebab (cubes of marinated lamb) and shish tawook (cubes of marinated chicken) platters, kofta kebabs (grilled, seasoned ground beef) and a mixed grill of all three, plus bone-in grilled chicken and the specialty of the house — roasted lamb shank, and more.

For the full menu and more info, search “El Prince Restaurant” on Facebook or visit ElPrinceRestaurants.com.

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As we went to press with this issue, three new businesses had opened at the KRATE Container Park in The Grove at Wesley Chapel — El Prince Mediterranean (see separate item, left), Mojo Fusion Latin Grill and MaeBerry Co. MaeBerry Co., the brainchild of Monica Russo, a Wesley Chapel resident who previously sold her baby clothes and accessories online only, opened the day before we went to press and I was so impressed with MaeBerry’s super-soft, breathable Hanlyn Collective Game-On bamboo pajamas (right pic, bottom) that I bought a pair for my grandson Jackson.

MaeBerry has lots of baby teethers, Itzy Ritzy diaper bags and so much more in one of the smallest spaces we’ve seen at the KRATEs that you really should check it out for yourself. For more information, visit “MaeBerryCo.com” or search “MaeBerry Co.” on Facebook.

Although it wasn’t quite open when we went to press (it is open as you’re reading this), Jannah and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend the Friends & Family pre-opening of Mojo Fusion, the Latin Fusion restaurant owned by Luis Ledezma and his family. Ledezma, who has years of experience in the food business, is from Venezuela, but promises that his menu at the first restaurant he has owned also includes Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican and even Argentinian-style dishes on

its smallish — but delicious — menu.

We got to sample the super-tasty Argentinian-style Choripan chorizo sandwich shown above (the chimichurri sauce is legit) and the Cuban nachos (plantain chips topped with shredded pork, chicharrones, melted cheese, pico de gallo, cilantro aioli and fresh chopped cilantro), as well as the “fantastica” house-made red sangria. For more info, call (813) 406-5385 or visit MojoGrillLatinFusion.com.

Other KRATEs that were hoping to open by the time this issue reached your mailbox but will likely take a little longer to open are The Bacon Boss (one of our

favorite local food trucks, with amazing burgers and more, opening its first actual restaurant) and Palani’s Hawai’i Noodles, both of which are now planning to open sometime later this month.

Other KRATE restaurants getting ready to open over the next couple of months include Ato Sushi Burritos & Poké Bowls (see pages 36-37 for more info), Tasty Ramen, Boba Mac’s Tea & Eat, Tacos el Patron, TJ’s Hot Dogs, Flipn’ Fries Factory, Bakery X, Cafe Zorba and more. — GN

Also Now Open At The KRATE Container Park: All Good Things Gifts (below) & The Rebellious Hippie (next pg.)

Despite the supply chain, parking and other economic issues delaying so many planned openings at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove, new KRATEs have continued to open and we believe it’s our responsibility to show them to you.

Among the newest KRATEs to open is All Good Things Gifts, owned by Nickole Davis, which actually opened on Valentine’s Day, but we weren’t able to get in and take pictures until the weekend we went to press. But, wow, what a cool and unique assortment of eclectic gifts the 273-sq.-ft. KRATE has in stock!

If you’re looking to give a gift that shows your love for Wesley Chapel and its individual communities, All Good Things has a variety of glasses and candles inside tins with every community from Avalon Park to Watergrass, throw pillows with all three Wesley Chapel zip codes and more. There also are natural soaps and bath bombs, cool water and other toys for your kids, scented hair brushes, tea holders, luggage tags, Carmie’s Kitchen dip and cheeseball mixes, cocktail cubes in your favorite drink flavors (you just have to add alcohol), jewelry and so much more. For more info, visit AllGoodThingsGifts.com or call (813) 838-8207. — GN

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Another new KRATE that opened last month is The Rebellious Hippie, which owner Jasmine Sanchez (photo, right) has dedicated to the sale of unique herbs for cooking like sea moss, burdock root, cassia senna alata and ashwagandha (look them up), as well as gifts that support the hippie lifestyle, like the celebrity candles shown above (and Blazin’ Zodiac candles, too), cool necklaces, herbal and other house plants, smokable non-cannabis herbs (like blue lotus, damiana, lavender and more), agave and other tinctures, clothing and much more. For more info, search “The Rebellious Hippie” on Facebook. — GN

Here & There, This & That: More Wesley Chapel Dining News • We told you last issue that The Brunchery was close to opening its second local restaurant on S.R. 56, in the former Wolf’s Den location. That opening happened last month, so I hope you’ll go check them out for breakfast or lunch (like the amazing chicken salad croissant below) and tell owner Al Marku that I sent you. For more information, see the ad on pg. 35.

• In the same plaza as Blue Water Dental on S.R. 54 near Saddlebrook Resort, two restaurants are significantly closer to opening the second Wesley Chapel location for each.

• Jersey Mike’s Subs (photo above), which already has a location in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on

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Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. south of S.R. 56, is nearing completion, and is now hiring, with an anticipated opening sometime in early April.

• First Watch, which also already has its first location in the same plaza as Wesley Chapel’s original Jersey Mike’s, doesn’t look quite as close to opening, but is applying for its permit to serve alcohol on the premises and its sign also recently went up on the building.

We’ll keep you posted about both of these new eateries.

• We also have an update on The Living Room, the popular Dunedin restaurant and live music venue that is coming to the former location of Ciao! in the Shops at Wiregrass.

Co-owner Zach Feinstein says that supply chain issues have delayed the opening of The Living Room here and that it looks like the fully gutted and revamped eatery likely won’t open before sometime in June of this year. — GN For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 30, Issue7 • April 5, 2022 • NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HOME IMPROVEMENT

CUSTOM INT. WINDOW COVERINGS! Cust. fabrication of all types of window coverings — plantation & hurricane shutters, vert. blinds, roller, cellular, woven wood & Roman shades, cellular vert., panel tracks, retract. awnings, motorization experts, alum., wood & faux wood blinds & more!

FREE installation on orders over $250! Call Henry @ 813-948-6363, email TampaBlindsbyDesign@ gmail.com or visit TampaBlindsbyDesign.com.

AMBLER ENTERPRISES Home Improvement.

Call James at 813-385-6402. 30 Years of exp.

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. Google us to see pictures: Wesley Chapel Ambler Enterprises. See our display ad at the bottom of this page!

WESLEYCHAPELPRESSUREWASHING.COM Soft pressure ext. house cleaning, screen enclosures, pool decks, driveways, sidewalks, fences, roofs, paver sealing & deck staining. We clean everything. No job too big/small. Exp. the difference when you hire a pressure cleaning pro. Licensed & insured. Owner operated. Call for a free estimate 813-433-6015.

RAYMOND PAINTING. Ext. & Int. Svcs. Ext: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks & wood rot repair. Int: 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.

DRY WALL SPECIALIST. Not a handyman. Affordable, Quality Work repairing water damage, ceilings & walls, re-texturing, popcorn removal, room addt’ns, cracks, holes, plaster & stucco repair. 26 years exp.

WC resident. State Certified. Call Ron for a free estimate: 813-784-5999.

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Classifieds

All Neighborhood News Classified Ads appear in both New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News!

7 issues — $120; 13 issues — $200; or 26 issues (1 year) — $300!

COMPUTER & BUSINESS SERVICES

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, Installation, Networking & Virus Removal. WE COME TO YOU! Residences & Businesses, more than 25-Years Experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at 813-973-4507, visit WSICA.COM or email Wsica@wsica.com.

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TRANQUILITY POOL SERVICE. New Tampa owned & operated. Great Pricing w/outstanding customer service! LICENSED, BONDED & INSURED. See why we are New Tampa and Wesley Chapel’s #1 Choice!! Call or Text Chris today @ 813-857-5400 or visit TranquilityPoolService.com. New customers get ONE MONTH FREE! NEIGHBORHOOD POOLS. Wesley Chapel owned & 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.

If you don’t see your long-running Classified ad on this page, it’s because you didn’t respond to our attempts to receive a new payment from you.

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Your Classified ad can still be renewed going forward, but only at the full-year Classified rate.

For more information, call (813) 910-2575.

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