Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, Volume 25, Issue 8, April 7, 2017

Volume 25 Issue 8 April 7, 2017

Inside: More Out-Of-Our-Area Dining Favorites!

See page 46!

Co-Creator Of The Wesley Chapel Chamber Of Commerce’s Chairman’s Award-Winning WCNT-tv!

The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993!

For the complete list of neighborhoods that receive this publication by direct mail in Wesley Chapel (zip codes 33543, 33544 & 33545), see page 54!

Two Weeks Later, Restaurants Still Raving About The Taste!

About 1,500 People Enjoyed A Delicious Taste Of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel At Florida Hospital Center Ice Mar. 18!

By John C. Cotey & Gary Nager The Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel returned to the area, after a four-year absence, on March 18, with nearly 50 restaurants and beverage providers attracting a crowd estimated at about 1,500 people (we mistakenly estimated the crowd at closer to 2,000 people when we went to press with our New Tampa issue the same day as the event) to Florida Hospital Center Ice off S.R. 56.

The event — which was a fund raiser for the many non-profits supported by the Taste host Rotary Cub of New Tampa, raised about $10,000 net, according to the club’s president-elect and event chair Karen Frashier of AdvocateMarketingPR. That money will be donated by the Rotary Club, which meets Friday mornings at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club, to more than two dozen non-profits in the area. Included on that list of beneficiaries is the Rotary’s signature project, Feeding America Tampa Bay, four mobile food pantries in the USF area, Meals on Wheels and the club’s many meal-packing events.

Ten percent of the net proceeds (about $1,100) will be donated to the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) to fund scholarships for area high school students at Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch, as well as New Tampa’s Wharton and Freedom high schools.

But, even with some great entertainment, including by host and New Tampa Rotarian Bob Thompson, the food — which was bountiful — was still the star of this year’s Taste.

Each person who bought $25 worth of $1 tickets was given a slip of paper to put in the basket of

See “Taste” on pages 10-11.

Also Inside This Issue: News, Business & Sports Updates Replacing The Quail Hollow Golf Course With Homes Inches Closer; Local Realtor Loses Sale To Gator; Updated Map Shows New Eateries On S.R. 56; Porter Makes A Big Donation To Rotary; Wiregrass Grad Produces Off Off Broadway & The Return Of Our Exclusive Summer Camp Guide; Plus, Lots Of Local Business Features!

Pages 3-36

Neighborhood Magazine

St. Paddy’s Day Celebrated In Wesley Chapel; Cabana Spas All About Relaxation; Updates On La’ Berry & Kwan Ming Bistro & More Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes!

Pages 37-52

Saddlebrook Lands International Women’s Tennis Event Apr. 22-23

Wesley Chapel will be the site of one of the biggest sporting events in recent Pasco County history on April 22-23, when Saddlebrook Resort welcomes the Federation Cup teams from the United States and the Czech Republic — champions four of the last five years — for a best-of-5 semifinal showdown.

The Federation Cup is the women’s version of the men’s Davis Cup. The matches are generally played in front of raucous crowds rooting on their nation’s players.

Saddlebrook, which is nationally-renowned for its tennis from past events like the Virginia Slims women’s tournament events to its youth training academy to being the home to some of professional tennis’ biggest names — like Martina Hingis and John Isner — was approached by the United State Tennis Association (USTA) to host the Federation Cup event because of its reputation and the strong local tennis community.

A temporary 3,500-seat stadium will be constructed around one of the Har-Tru Classic Green Clay courts, and President of Saddlebrook International Sports’ Kevin O’Connor says that he expects a big crowd. “Not only has the local tennis community responded, but we will do a lot of fly-in business,’’ O’Connor said. “It’s a big, international

The U.S. Fed Cup team celebrates it’s victory over Germany in the quarterfinals in Hawaii. (USTA photo)

event. I’d get my tickets sooner rather than later.”

Tickets may be purchased by visiting www. usta.com/fedcup or by calling 888-334-USTA

See “Fed Cup” on pages 32-33.

Neighborhood News & WCNT-tv To Promote Your Business; Plus A Relay Recap!

An editorial by Gary Nager Congrats to my good friend, ACS of the South Nature Coast of Florida (serving Pasco, Hernando & Citrus counties) senior market manager Robyn Liska and everyone else involved in the 2017 Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Relay for Life for another successful event, which was held at the Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) track on March 10 — a little earlier in the year than most of the other local Relays, which are held primarily in April and May. A total of 33 teams and hundreds of participants helped the Wesley Chapel Wiregrass Relay raise about $50,000, a little below its goal of about $65,000, but the ACS Relay for Life is about so much more than just raising money. It’s about a community coming together to lift up those who have been affected by the scourge of our lifetimes — cancer.

This year’s Relay again started with a survivors lap around the track and also featured a free sit-down dinner for survivors and their caregivers, moving speeches, a beautiful luminaria ceremony, great music provided by the Troy Duncan Band and others and the feeling you only get when people come together with a common goal and purpose — like to eradicate cancer.

This wasn’t my first Relay and it won’t be my last. It also likely won’t be the last for Paul Bartell (front left in photo), who has chaired many previous Relays in Wesley Chapel. Paul told me he wasn’t going to be quite as involved in future Relays, as he and his wife Jamie have started the Sean Bartell Memorial Foundation, in honor of their son who died in 2014 from a rare disease called toxic epidermal necrolysis.

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Address: 29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager Billing Manager Stephanie Smith Advertising Sales & Office Assistant Jannah McDonald Assistant Editor / Photographer John C. Cotey Staff Writer Celeste McLaughlin Correspondents Brad Stager • Andy Warrener WCNT-tv Sales & Production Assistant Gavin Olsen Graphic Designers Blake Beatty • Georgia Carmichael Nothing that appears in Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission.

Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion.

The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 25, Issue 10, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Monday, April 24, 2017.

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

Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

© 2017 JM2 Communications, Inc. Neighborhood News

The Bartells’ foundation is hosting its annual fund-raising Spaghetti Dinner on Saturday, April 29, 4:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel (33425 S.R. 54). The suggested donation to enjoy delicious pasta — donated by Carl and Jessica Meyers of Little Italy’s Family Restaurant on S.R. 54 in Lutz (see ad on pg. 40) — is only $10 per person.

Paul promises there will be a special ceremony at 5 p.m., the magic and entertainment of Scott Barhold and local business vendors and that proceeds will benefit scholarships for students at Wiregrass Ranch, Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills high schools.

For more information about the ACS Relay for Life or to make a donation, visit Relay.ACSEvents.org/site/TR?fr_id=81704 &pg=informational&sid=209325. For the Spaghetti Dinner, search “Sean Bartell Memorial Foundation” on Facebook.

commercial, and then have to spend significantly more than that in order for people to actually see those spots, especially on cable TV. Of course, WCNT-tv isn’t a cable network or a local TV station. What it is, however, is a unique way to promote your business in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, as the first 19 episodes and multiple Special Reports now have a combined reach of more than half a million people and have been actually viewed more than a quarter of a million times.

But of course, the best way to reach the most people in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel is to advertise in our two publications, which are directly mailed to a combined total of nearly 50,000 households and more than 120,000 potential readers in zip codes 33647 (New Tampa) and 33543, 33544 and 33545 (Wesley Chapel).

To that end, I am now offering all current Neighborhood News advertisers who are WCCC business members the opportunity to combine both our print and online media.

So, whether you purchase an 1/8-pg. ad in just one of our publications per month or a full-page ad in both publications (or any size in between), the opportunity to have a full-length WCCC Featured Business segment on WCNTtv produced for your business for only $100 additional per month (for 10 months) over the current cost of your print advertising.

And, perhaps best of all, you get to pick when your segment will air. If you want it in the episode before Christmas, or Tax Day or Mother’s Day, we’ll schedule your segment once you start paying the additional monthly amount.

In other words, email ads@wcnt-tv.com or call 910-2575 today to get more info or to get your WCNT-tv segment scheduled!

How To Combine Neighborhood News & WCNT-tv!

We keep getting more and more people telling us how much they love WCNT-tv, although many business owners have told me that it seems a little too expensive for them to do.

Well, my partner Craig Miller and I are doing everything we can to control the cost of being a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) Featured Business on the show, and to provide some additional value for those who do choose to be featured on it.

WCNT-tv is professionally produced by Craig and his Full Throttle Intermedia, a fullservice advertising agency and video production company. Craig and Full Throttle also are partnering with the Chamber to bring you “Explore Wesley Chapel New Tampa,” a video production highlighting many of the great things to see and do in the two distribution areas served by this publication and Craig says that most people pay at least $2,000 to produce one 30-second TV

Table of Contents

Local News Updates.....................3-19

Quail Hollow Golf Course Going Away?.................4 Gator On A Door Step Bad For House Sales...............6 MAPS: S.R. 56 Continues To Add Eateries!.........8 Roadway Connections To Be Discussed April 18........9 Rotary’s Honduras Trip Gets Boost From Porter.....12 ‘Stand Your Ground’ Not Applicable, Judge Says...14 FHWC Opens New Emergency Room & More.......16 Wesley Chapel Community Calendar..........................18 Summer Camp Expo At FHCI Tomorrow!............19

Local Business Updates..............20-30

Touch Nail Spa Will Spoil You............................20 Grey Wolf Armory Moves On 54.......................22 HomeTeam Keeps Your Lawn Looking Fit...........24 Topash Painting Can Transform Your Home......26 Our Exclusive 2017 Summer Camp Guide......28-29

Local Education/Sports Updates......30-34

Wiregrass Grad Living Her Dream In NYC.............30 Federation Cup Coming To Saddlebrook!.................32 Bulls Sweep Track & Tennis SAC Championships.....3

Neighborhood Magazine

Irish Eyes Were Smiling In Wesley Chapel.....37 Cabana Spas Specializes In Revitalization...............38 La Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café..............40 Kwan Ming Bistro Keeps Getting Better..................42 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’.....50 Wesley Chapel & New Tampa Classifieds...........52 Authors Share Secrets At PHSC Symposium....54 @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

3

Quail Hollow Golf Course Inches Ever Closer To Being Replaced By Homes

By John C. Cotey Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club, which opened in 1965, continues to inch closer towards extinction.

On March 9, the Pasco County Development Review Committee (DRC) voted to okay a zoning change and move forward plans to convert the 18-hole golf course into a residential community of nearly 400 multi-family homes. The Dade City courthouse was filled with current Quail Hollow residents who objected to the plan, to no avail.

“Bottom line, this is terrible for our community,’’ said Jack Diamond, who lives on Golf Course Loop.

The DRC didn’t agree, by a 4-1 vote.

The only member to vote against the plan was director of planning Chris Williams.

The project now seeks approval from the Pasco Board of County Commissioners, which meets next on Wednesday, April 12, 11 a.m, although the agenda for that meeting had not been set at our press time.

Andre Carollo’s Pasco Office Park LLC, the owner of the golf course (located at 6225 Old Pasco Rd.), was represented at the DRC meeting by New Port Richey land-use attorney Barbara Wilhite.

Carollo has been seeking to rezone the property from R1, which allows for one home per lot on 20,000-sq.-ft. lots, to a Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD), which would allow for homes on 4,000–sq.-ft. lots.

Most of the Quail Hollow residents in attendance at the Dade City Courthouse, as well as a number from adjoining neighborhoods, argued that 400 homes being built on the 80 or so acres of the 175-acre site was too dense,

4

Next year, if Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners approves the plan, the Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club golf course will be replaced by 400 homes.

and that they would lose the green space they had bought into when purchasing their homes.

“You can’t stop progress,’’ said Scott Winter of Country Club Rd. “But, let’s be realistic about the amount of homes you can put on here.”

Wilhite said she and her staff did everything possible to appease local residents’ concerns while meeting all of the requirements from the county.

The golf course, which closed in 2008 during the economic downturn, was purchased for $1.7-million in 2010 by Carollo and reopened in 2011 after an extensive renovation that was well received.

But in 2015, plans were first disclosed to plow over the course to build homes. In Jan. 2016, according to Wilhite, a rezoning request

was filed seeking permission to build 400 detached homes and townhouses over the golf course, with room set aside for a day care center and a 30,000-sq.-ft. office building.

In April of 2016, Wilhite said a number of changes were made to the plan, including removing the townhomes, removing some residential units from the north end of the project and replacing it with flood draining and open space, and extending buffers between the existing homes and new homes.

A meeting was held with residents in May, and Wilhite said her team continued to work hard with the existing homeowners associations to gain their support for the plan.

“We agreed to a binding conceptual plan,” Wilhite said. “We’ve never done that before... those are the commitments we are making.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Also, Wilhite said the developer is improving Old Pasco Rd. by adding two turn lanes onto Boom Boom Dr., which leads into Quail Hollow. “We’re quite proud of what we’ve done,’’ she said.

To address potential flooding — one of the bigger concerns raised and also a concern voiced by the DRC at the last meeting in January — Wilhite added Gregg Singleton of Singleton Engineering to her team. He presented a stormwater summary to the DRC and said there were plans to alleviate any flooding issues.

“This is just the first step,’’ he said, while offering an overview of the drainage flow on the property. He also promised detailed reviews as the project progressed, and added, “If we find issues, we will remediate them.”

Still, current Quail Hollow residents like Michael Morgan, who said he bought his home on Sandbagger Lane 40 years ago because of the golf course, were not pleased, and cited are other issues as well — traffic on Old Pasco Rd., a two-lane road, which also will be home to new combined middle and high school campus in August, and the loss of privacy for which the homeowners feel they paid a premium, as well as higher taxes.

“Why bother having zoning if every 10 years we change it?,’’ asked James Luczynski, who also argued that traffic and density would devalue the home prices of current residents.

Two DRC members — assistant county administrators Cathy Pearson and Flip Mellinger — who expressed support for the residents at the last meeting seemed satisfied with Wilhite’s updated report.

“I feel for the homeowners, but I also feel the developer has done everything he could to make it right,’’ Mellinger said.

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@NTWCNews

Gator Makes Selling A Home A Little Tougher For One Local Realtor

By John C. Cotey When Wesley Chapel’s Nikki Spirakis was learning to become a Realtor, she thinks she might have missed the day they taught about dodging alligators while showing homes.

She could have used that training on March 29. Spirakis and a client were on their way to look at a home in Heritage Isles on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa when they noticed an alligator approximately 6-feet long heading across the lawn and towards the front door of a house just two doors down from the one she was about to show.

“They didn’t cover that in real estate school,’’ she says.

Spirakis stopped her car to, naturally, take photos with her cell phone. The gator eventually made it to the front door and hunkered down. “It was like it was waiting for someone to open the door,’’ Spirakis says.

The gator hung out for a few minutes, then made its way back to the front of the house and moseyed towards the back of the house. While the houses on the other side of the street backed up to water, the alligator headed in the opposite direction towards nothing but dry land and more homes.

Spirakis says she and some of the other neighbors weren’t quite sure what to do.

“We definitely discussed calling somebody, but I was like, this is Florida,’’ Spirakis said. “As it was walking off, everyone just figured we had our funny story for the day.”

Spirakis says her client, who had two young children along with her, wasn’t quite as fearless. While she hopped out of the car to take a look, she quickly hopped back in with her children.

6

Although we live in an area with homes and businesses going up all around, the last few months have been a reminder to some, like Wesley Chapel resident & Realtor Nikki Spirakis, that the Wesley Chapel/New Tampa area is still flush with wildlife, leading to some interesting recent encounters.

They proceeded to the home Spirakis was and she was like, ‘I don’t like it. I can’t live rakis lately, either. A resident of the new Windshowing, but the Realtor knew there would be in this neighborhood.’” sor at Meadow Pointe community off Meadow no sale that day.

Spirakis says that none of the other Re- Pointe Blvd. at the eastern end of S.R. 56 in “She was wigged out,’’ Spirakis says, altors she works with had ever experienced a Wesley Chapel, Spirakis and her husband Erik laughing. “She made sure the door was closed gator squatter. Realtor Gail Beskid, who works Hajek recently encountered a cow that walked behind us when we went into the house.” with Spirakis, has said she is going to one day by their front yard after escaping from a nearby She did joke to one of her children that write a book about all her adventures during a ranch off S.R. 56. she would be a tasty morsel for the gator, decades long career as a real estate agent. While While the neighbors came out to watch but the trip around the home took less than Spirakis’ recent encounter with hippie squat- the cow walk across the street, cowboys on five minutes. ters — “I could hear the music and smell the horses showed up, eventually wrangling the That alligator was the first one she incense right away” — may not make Beskid’s animal and loading it into a trailer.

And, the day after Spirakis avoided the had ever seen in five years living in Florida, book, her reptilian encounter surely will. other than at Busch Gardens,’’ Spirakis says.

“Gail told me I definitely get a chapter for gator, a giant white owl perched itself on a “And, the house she was looking at backed this one,’’ Spirakis says. fence about 10 feet away and watched her play up to water. We zoomed right through it It wasn’t the first wildlife moment for Spi- tennis. “I’m on quite a roll lately,’’ she joked.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Updating Our Exclusive Map Of State Road 56 Near The Tampa Premium Outlets Map Key

Multi - Family 230 Units

By Gary Nager

Wesley Ch a

pel Blvd

It’s been a few months since we updated our maps of everything new that’s happening in Wesley Chapel and of course, the area most people want Undeveloped Parcelto know about is all of the new “stuff” coming to both the north and south sides of S.R. 56, in front of the Tampa Premium Outlets mall.

Rumored Development And, while a lot of people (including yours truly) still complain about having too many chain Proposed, restaurants in our Approved or area, no one could possible deny that we have lots of new Under Construction places to eat that weren’t here or weren’t confirmed when we last updated this map.

Development As you Existing are probably aware as a Wesley Chapel resident, Pollo Tropical became is not to & has been modified the firstMapplace toscale open on the north side of

by Neighborhood News to make it easier to read.

56 near the mall about a month ago. If you like flame-grilled chicken as much as I do, you probably should go and check out Pollo Tropical. Tell them I told you to order the chicken as “well done as possible.”

Right next to Pollo Tropical is the long-awaited second local free-standing location of Ford’s Garage, which will have opened by the time this issue reaches your mailbox. Look for pictures in our next issue, as well as in the episode of WCNT-tv (which might even have some footage from the Ford’s Garage pre-opening VIP party) and is scheduled to be released the same day this issue reaches your mailbox.

Great burgers, craft beer and more have made Ford’s Garage a big hit in Brandon and people are obviously excited about it coming even closer to us.

Meanwhile, on the south side of 56, the location on our map directly west Brightwork of Culver’s, which we previously incorrectly labeled as being Panda Express, will Crossing actually be a drive-through and sit-down Starbucks. Panda Express is still coming, 56 and will actually open a few weeks before Starbucks north of Costco and just west of TPO. And, as you can see from the map, even though the south side of 56 is currently much more filled than the north side, there are still at least three more sizable parcels totalling nearly 30 acres available, including one site that we have heard might include a 54 sporting goods store, although big outdoors it apparently won’t be the previously announced Cabela’s.

Parcel C 12.3+ Acres Parcel B 15.3+ Acres

Parcel F RETAIL SPACE

Parcel D 10.0+ Acres

100,000 sf 56

nd Gra s res Cyp

Parcel S 16.6+ Acres

Dr

Regency Shopping Ctr

ek

Rd

240,000 sf

al Dr

Memori

Firing Up The North Side, Too Just as the south side of 56 has been a hotbed of new restaurant activity since the opening of Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen,

8

Parcel O 4.8+ Acres

Parcel P 8.0+ Acres

Culver’s and Chick-fil-A, the north side of what will soon be the most overcrowded section of roadway in Pasco County (just a prediction) is just now kicking into gear.

In other words, in addition to Ford’s Garage and ParcelPollo Q Tropical, the north side of 56 will1.5+ soonAcres also be home to the latest incarnation of Newk’s (which currently has locations on Central Ave. near Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg and outside Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa), the popular Mellow Mushroom pizza and more chain and Bahama Breeze, which will finally make its way into our area. The island-themed seafood eatery actually was turned down years

Wesley Chapel Blvd

Old

Cyp res s

Cre

56

I-75 ago for a space off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the Highwoods Preserve area of New Tampa (in the space now occupied by TGI Fridays near the Muvico Starlight 20 movie theaters) because the developer for Highwoods Properties thought a tiki bar was not appropriate for an upscale area like New Tampa.

Oh well. At least we’re getting Bahama Breeze, Mellow Mushroom and Newk’s soon, although we haven’t been given a timetable for when construction will start or when they will open.

Also planned for the same area north of 56 between Pollo Tropical and I-75 are

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Wesley Chapel’s second Wendy’s location, yet another Taco Bell, another Mattress Firm location, a T-Mobile store and another Men’s Wearhouse (the closest location being on BBD in New Tampa, too).

And, just for good measure, in addition to the new Holiday Inn Express hotel which has now opened adjacent to Florida Hospital Center Ice, the Hyatt Place hotel has broken ground across I-75 from the new ice rink.

There’s lots of new stuff to report further east of I-75 off S.R. 56 and BBD, as well as on S.R. 54. Look for map updates in our future issues and on WCNT-tv!

@NTWCNews

Roadway Connections Open House Apr. 18!

By John C. Cotey The oft-argued merits of a connection point between Wesley Chapel’s Mansfield Blvd. and New Tampa’s Kinnan Dr. is set to get a new look, but that won’t be the only route back and forth between Hillsborough and Pasco counties that the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) plans on looking at in less than two weeks.

The MPO will hold an open housestyle meeting on Tuesday, April 18, 5:30 p.m.-7:30 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC)’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, in order to gather public comments and other information to be used in the upcoming Wesley Chapel Roadways Connections Study.

The study is designed to evaluate the pros and cons of three potential roadway connections between Wesley Chapel and New Tampa (red circles on map above): Mansfield Blvd. & Kinnan St., a long sought-after connection by many in the Cross Creek and K-Bar Ranch area, though it also has its share of opponents.

Meadow Pointe Blvd. & the Meadow Pointe Blvd. extension, which leads right into the planned K-Bar Ranch Blvd. and would provide easier access to Morris Bridge Rd. Wyndfields Blvd. & the Wyndfields Blvd. extension, which would also connect directly to both K-Bar Ranch Blvd. and Morris Bridge Rd. “We are just starting the process, and the purpose of the first meeting is to get public input about what issues there are on both sides,’’ says Pasco County transportation engineer Ali Atefi, P.E. Kinnan St. and Mansfield Blvd. have

Neighborhood News

been separated by about 50 feet of grass, trees and sometimes garbage, for years. In 2016, Pasco County District 2 commissioner Mike Moore and then-Tampa District 7 City Council member Lisa Montelione met to discuss connecting the roadways, but those talks stalled.

New District 7 City Councilman Luis Viera made the connection point one of the staples of his winning campaign, and continues to say he would like to push to bring the roads together.

“From both sides, we have had a request for a connection and, we’ve had people that don’t want to connect,’’ Atefi says. “But, these connections are shown on our long range plans and we want to do an in-depth study and figure out the positive and negatives.”

The open house, which Atefi says “is not a debate,” will include an MPO summary at 6 p.m., followed by an opportunity for those attending to examine area maps and to voice their opinions. Stations will be set up, and representatives from Pasco County Planning & Development, the MPO and the consulting team will be available to answer questions.

The public is welcome to drop in anytime between 5:30 and 7:30.

Atefi says other meetings will be held in the future, and the public will also be encouraged to take online surveys to help determine what, or if any, connections should be made.

The PHSC-Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch is located at 2727 Mansfield Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. For more information about transportation planning in Pasco County, visit the MPO website at PascoMPO.net.

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

9

‘Taste Recap’

Continued from pg. 1

their favorite restaurant, and the final tally of those ballots gave The People’s Choice title to Bonefish Grill — which served two thick slices of its famous ahi tuna appetizer for just $3, plus ceviche samples and more — although our friends at Bonefish (photo on next pg.) did help pad their lead by offering buy-one, get-one-free entrées for anyone who voted for it. The Taste committee never said such electioneering wasn’t allowed, so it’s hard to fault Bonefish for being the only one to come up with the idea.

In second place was Noble Crust, and thirdplace went to Nothing Bundt Cakes.

“I thought (the Taste) was excellent,’’ said Wesley Chapel resident Jerry Cherpuck, who attended with his wife Debbie. “The portions were large, it was very inexpensive and you can’t leave here hungry, that’s for sure.”

For the Cherpucks, it was their first Taste, which had been held 20 previous years from 19932013. For New Tampa’s David Johnson, it was the third Taste he attended, as well as his favorite.

“I liked it better indoors,’’ said Johnson.

“And, everything seemed not so spread out, which was good, and the food selection was definitely better than the other times I attended.”

Among editor Gary Nager’s favorites were the seared ahi tuna from Bonefish, the fresh sushi from Olde Heights Bistro (bottom right), Little Italy’s meatballs, the angus burgers from OTB Café, the short rib sliders from Twisted Sprocket Café (left), Wok Chi’s spring rolls and pot stickers, gnocchi ricotta from Noble Crust, the chocolate bundt cake from Nothing Bundt Cakes (below left), The Cake Girl’s double chocolate brownies, Cantina Laredo’s ahi tuna tacos, Vuelo’s burritos and Working Cow ice cream from La’ Berry (see story on page 40).

Also popular: celebrity chef George Stella, who, with some help from some teen chefs from Wiregrass Ranch’s culinary program, made his signature Anaheim Shrimp Scampi for a crowd of roughly 50 who surrounded his table as he prepared the dish.

“I thought it turned out awesome,’’ said Gordie Zimmermann, FHCI’s managing partner. “It seemed that everybody and the restaurants were happy, too.”

In fact, in the aftermath of the Taste, many of the restaurants have been expressing excitement about it. Wok Chi GM Mark Pasquale said he got a catering job for 150 people during the event. GM Will Perez of Noble Crust, which was featured in a WCNT-tv Special Report (available now on Facebook) that was seen by more than 10,000 people, said the attnedees made him even more excited about opening sometime in May. And, our friends from Nothing Bundt Cakes said that not only was it one of the best events they’ve been a part of, they had several attendees stop in at their Carrollwood location just hours after the event.

The Taste was held on one of the FHCI’s

10

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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three NHL-sized hockey rinks, and the “sports court” floor that was laid over the ice and the nice crowd helped keep the temp inside the event a lot warmer than anyone previously expected. The crowds (photo above) were able to purchase their tickets and circle the rink in search of the samples of their choice, and while remaining thick throughout the day, it was never a Disney-like shuffling herd.

Congrats also go out to Taste host and New Tampa Rotarian Bob Thompson, who did a great job of not only making all of the announcements and conducting interviews with the restaurants and participants during the event, but also lining up some great entertainment, interviewing former MLB player and current Tampa Bay Rays announcer Orestes Destrade (photo, top left) and even playing an entertaining set of pop music with his Bob Thompson Trio.

“What an amazing event!,” said WCCC CEO Hope Allen. “The Chamber is so proud to be able to have had our name affiliated with the Taste.”

The New Tampa Rotary Club and its Taste committee surely have their work cut out for them to try to top this event next year.

We’ll keep you posted here and on future episodes of WCNT-tv as to when the Taste will return, but until then, visit TasteofNewTampa. org for more info!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

11

Porter Donates $2,000 For WC Rotary’s Honduras Trip

By John C. Cotey The Wesley Chapel Rotary Club is planning its sixth trip to Honduras, and received a boost in that effort from local businessman J.D. Porter, who donated $2,000 to the Rotary at their March 29 luncheon at Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club (see page 4).

The club has raised roughly $25,000 for the upcoming trip. A group of Rotarians will spend a week in a country that is not only one of the poorest and neediest in South America, but also the most dangerous, as one Rotarian pointed out at the March 29 luncheon (to nervous laughter, perhaps). Honduras has the highest murder rate in the world, with more JD Porter (far right) donated $2,000 to the WC Rotary Club for its upcoming trip to Honduras. than 90 homicides per 100,000 people.

Members of the club have taken the trip is now Saddlebrook), “one of the first things he for five years in conjunction with Pure Wa- did was he bought a boat.’’ Porter said he spent ter for the World (PWW), a 501 (c)(3) non the next 2-3 years fishing in Central and South profit organization whose mission is to im- America, in places like Nicaragua and Venezueprove the lives of families in poor countries la. But, his favorite place was Honduras.

While recently cleaning out some of his through sustainable water solutions, sanitafamily’s old stuff, Porter says he discovered pation and hygiene education.

Porter made the donation in the name pers that listed items that his grandfather had of the Wiregrass Ranch Foundation, his fam- continued to send shipments of to Honduras, ily’s not-for-profit corporation, which was items like toothbrushes, band-aids, gum, candy, “random stuff that a lot of us take for granted.” founded in 2012.

“That’s why this clicked with me…not He said the foundation is about, “the community, as we continue to see it grow. only is it special to give back to such a great We started this, and we take no salaries, we group here, it’s almost like continuing a legajust get out and raise money so we can have cy,’’ Porter said. “That’s kind of special. So, I it available for local needs in the community. feel honored to present a check for $2,000 so We’ve had a great time with it. And, we’ve you guys can get out there and do something awesome for people, making a difference in raised a bunch of money.”

The Honduras trip turned out to be someone’s life who truly deserves it.”

For more info about Porter’s foundasomething near and dear to Porter’s heart.

He said his grandfather, after selling the tion, visit WiregrassRanchFoundation. org. first piece of Wiregrass Ranch property (which For the WC Rotary, visit WCRotary.org.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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Reeves To Appeal Judge’s Ruling That He Can’t Use ‘Stand Your Ground’

By John C. Cotey A our press time, Curtis Reeves was still facing second-degree murder charges for the shooting death of Chad Oulson at the Cobb Grove 16 Cinemas in Wesley Chapel, after Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge Susan Barthle ruled March 10 that the controversial “stand your ground” defense did not apply in his case.

Reeves, a 74-year-old retired Tampa Police Captain, and Oulson, who was 43 when he was shot and killed by Reeves, had an altercation at the cinemas during the previews before the movie “Lone Survivor” on Jan. 13, 2014.

Reeves claimed he feared for his life and that Oulson was aggressive towards him after Reeves asked him to stop texting during the movie previews. Reeves claimed Oulson punched or threw a cell phone at him, and that he had no choice but to shoot.

Oulson was shot in the chest and died at the scene.

Reeves’ attorney, Richard Escobar, invoked the “stand your ground” defense, which says a person does not have to retreat when confronted and can use deadly force if they feel they are in danger of bodily harm or death.

If “stand your ground” was permitted by the judge, Reeves would not have to stand trial.

But, a two-week-long hearing (Feb. 20-March 3) failed to convince Judge Barthle that the defense was applicable.

“After careful consideration of all of the evidence provided in this case, this court finds that the defendant did not credibly demonstrate that he reasonably believed it was necessary for him to use deadly force in this situation, therefore, defendant’s motion is DENIED,” Judge Barthle wrote.

Reeves’ attorneys immediately said after the ruling that they planned to appeal it.

Reeves’ defense hinged on his account of being attacked by Oulson and in fear for his life.

According to Reeves, Oulson, who was sitting one row in front of him, was coming over the seat to attack him and practically on top of him when he pulled the trigger.

“The defendant testified...that he was grabbing the alleged victim’s chest or body with his left hand while he fired the fatal shot with his right hand, and even stated that he was surprised he did not shoot himself in the hand while doing so: The video evidence and other witness testimony contradicts this assertion also,’’ Judge Barthle’s order stated.

The closest Oulson came to Reeves is when he grabbed Reeves’ bag of popcorn and threw it at him.

“The video then shows the defendant lunge forward with his right arm extended, and fire at the alleged victim, who at that point was

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was to keep nagging at Chad...to keep the argument going.”

According to Reeves, a few seconds later, Oulson stood and confronted him, as Nicole tried to restrain him.

“When I looked up, he was coming over the seat at me, across from where my wife was,” Reeves said. “I saw just a snapshot of something dark Curtis Reeves said he believed he was in a “life-or-death struggle” before in his hand. Almost shooting and killing with Chad Oulson on Jan. 13, 2014, in Wesley Chapel. immediately, I saw what I perceived to so far back from the defendant that he could not even be seen in the video anymore,’’ Judge be a glow from a light screen right in front of Barthle concluded. “He certainly was not on my face, and I was hit in the face.”

Reeves claimed the blow almost knocked top of the defendant, and plainly, the defendant’s left hand was nowhere near the alleged the glasses off his face.

At that point, he testified that he began victim’s body.”

Reeves, who is 6 feet, 4 inches tall, was to fear for his life. “I realized I was in a life-orportrayed by the defense as old, frail and fearful death struggle,” he said. for his life, but the judge concluded that he was More Contradictions anything but that fearful victim.

Witness Mark Turner, a retired U.S. Air “He is quite a large and robust man,’’ she wrote. “He also appeared quite self-assured Force officer who was sitting a few seats down when he was testifying, and certainly did not from Reeves, said he heard Reeves say someappear to be a man who was afraid of anyone.” thing like, “Throw popcorn in my face” almost Reeves testified for six hours during the simultaneously with the shot being fired.

Two other witnesses sitting nearby in the hearing on Feb. 28, claiming that he politely asked Oulson to stop using his cell phone as the theater, also testified that they heard Reeves make the popcorn comment. Another witness previews began.

Oulson swore at him, Reeves said. He said to the shooting, Derek Friedhoff, said the popcorn comment was prefaced by “show you.” that Oulson’s wife Nicole was talking to him.

“I felt like he would ultimately comply,’’ Reeves testified.

Reeves also said that when Chad Oulson returned to his phone, he told him he was going to the cinema manager to complain. When Reeves returned from talking to the manager, he said he noticed the phone was off, and said he apologized to Oulson for involving cinema management.

That contradicted Nicole Oulson’s testimony of Feb. 23, when she claimed that Reeves was anything but polite in asking her husband to turn off his phone, calling it more of an “order” than a request.

And, she said, when he returned after talking to management, Reeves did not apologize, but rather goaded her husband.

“I see that you put the phone away now that I went to get management,’’ she testified that Reeves said to her husband. “It was not a polite, ‘Oh, thank you for putting it away’...It

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Sumter County Sheriff’s Sgt. Alan Hamilton, who was off duty that day but taking in a movie, delivered what was some of the most damaging testimony to Reeves on Mar. 1.

Sgt. Hamilton testified that he saw the popcorn fly, followed almost immediately by the flash of the gun. He moved to where the shot came from, and said he heard Curtis Reeves’ wife Vivian say, “That was no cause to shoot that man.”

He then claimed Reeves scolded his wife.

“He pointed his finger at her and told her to shut her mouth and to not say another f-ing word,’’ Hamilton recalled.

Hamilton said he identified himself as a deputy and took the pistol Reeves had shot Oulson with away from the suspect.

Hamilton also testified that while he was keeping an eye on the altercation, he did not see Oulson climb over a seat to get at Reeves, as Reeves testified, or throw a cell phone or a punch at him.

“Common sense and the credible testimony of the medical examiner casts grave doubt on the likelihood of anything hitting the defendant in the eye beneath his glasses in the manner the defendant described,’’ the judge wrote. “Which begs the question, why did the defendant say he was hit. in the left eye to the point of being dazed, when the video images and basic physics indicate that he did not get hit in the left eye with anything? The logical conclusion is that he was trying to justify his actions after the fact.”

In audio recordings of Reeves’ being interviewed the day of the shooting, Reeves can be heard saying what he had done was “stupid.”

“If I had it to do over again, it would never have happened,” he said. “We would have moved. But, you don’t get do-overs.”

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Local Business: FHWC ER Breaks Ground, New Spin Studio Opens

Now that Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel (FHWC) has completed its recent major expansion, it’s growing outside of Wesley Chapel, too.

The hospital has broken ground on an off-site emergency room on S.R. 54, just east of the Suncoast Pkwy. in Land O’ Lakes.

The building (photo below) will be 18,000 sq. ft., with 24 beds, and will offer fullservice emergency room care 24 hours a day, seven days a week, including on-site laboratory and imaging services, such X-ray, ultrasound & CT scan. The new ER will be staffed with Board-certified emergency medicine physicians and nurses who specialize in emergency care.

“This emergency room facility will provide the Central Pasco community with greater access to comprehensive emergency care,” said Denyse Bales-Chubb, president and CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. “We

16

recently completed a significant expansion at (FHWC) and we continue to add physicians and services to meet the medical needs of our growing community.”

The ER is expected to be open in late 2017 or early 2018. A groundbreaking ceremony was held on April 6. Look for photos and more info in our next issue.

NEW SPIN STUDIO REPLACES PURA: Avid spin cyclers Steve Woody (of Woody’s Pizza & Wings in the Wesley Chapel Village Market) and business partner Jim Upchurch have opened Cycology, a new “spin” (indoor cycling) studio located in the Shoppes of New Tampa at Wesley Chapel plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just south of S.R. 56, in Wesley Chapel.

Cycology is in the space previously occupied by Pura Cycling. Woody and Upchurch, who opened Cycology in January, are hoping to transform the indoor cycling studio into a more vigorous exercise space.

Upchurch also says that Cycology has been able to retain 90-95 percent of Pura Cycling’s former clients, as well as adding 50-60 new spinners since

opening. “We’ll have more classes, we will be open more and will have the best of the best spin instructors,’’ says Upchurch, who says he has been a serious spinner himself for the past 4-5 years.

Upchurch also says he is currently going through permitting in the hopes of adding showers in the back, making it more convenient for people getting a spin class in before having to go to work in the morning.

Cycology, which offers 3-, 6and 12-month agreements, is open until 7 or 8 p.m. on most nights, except for Fri.-Sun. It offers spinning classes as early as 5:30 a.m. on Mon., Wed. & Fri., and also offers yoga, pilates, Zumba classes and semiprivate personal training sessions as well.

Sometimes, Upchurch says, the bikes are even moved out onto the patio in front of Cycology for an outdoor workout.

To check out the class schedule or for more info, visit Cycologyspin.com, or call 907-8710.

DISCOVERY VILLAGE AT TAMPA PALMS, which touts itself as “Resort Style Senior Living,” is located across Commerce Park Blvd. from Freedom High at 17470 Brookside Trace Ct. The new assisted living and memory care facility won’t be fully open until December of this year, but now has model rooms available for touring.

Discovery Village will offer 10 different floor plans, ranging from 345 sq. ft. to 944 sq. ft.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Owner/developer Discovery Senior Living is headquartered in Bonita Springs, FL, and manages twelve other communities in Texas, Alabama, Georgia and Florida.

For more information, visit DiscoveryVillages.com or call 605-2400.

STAFFORD PLACE MODELS OPEN: Stafford Place, a new community of 118 single-family homes starting from $316,990 and touted as one of the last opportunities to buy a brand new home in Tampa Palms (off Tampa Palms Blvd., behind BJ’s Wholesale Club), now has two model homes open for prospective buyers.

The CalAtlantic Homes community will have houses ranging from 1,866-sq.-ft. to the luxury Bedford model that is 3,644 sq.-ft. and starts at $404,990. There are eight one- and two-story floor plans to choose from.

The models are located at 6209 English Hollow Rd. For info, call 605-1515 or visit CalAtlanticHomes.com. — JCC

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APRIL 2017 Friday, April 7

BBD Blvd.). For info, call Vicky McShane to RSVP @ 714-6513.

Networking For Your Success - The Networking For Your Success group meets Thursdays, 8 a.m., at the Lexington Oaks Golf Club clubhouse (26133 Lexington Oaks Blvd.). All are welcome. For more information, call 994-9944.

RGA Network Weekly Meeting - The RGA Networking Group meets weekly for networking at GrillSmith at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Networking begins at 11:30 a.m.; lunch is noon-1 p.m. For more info, visit RGANetwork.net.

Celebrate Recovery - Meeting Thursdays at 7 p.m. at Bridgeway Church (30660 Wells Rd.), the purpose of Celebrate Recovery is to bring freedom from dysfunctional, compulsive & addictive behaviors through biblically-based principles. Dinner & free childcare available. For info, call 907-1313.

John Long Middle School Annual Round Up Carnival - 10th annual event held from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. caters to families with children of all ages, raising funds to benefit the students and school and helping to build community. Mechanical bull, rock wall, skee ball, plinko, and many other activities plus food including pizza, hot dogs, cotton candy and more. Free parking and admission.

GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club Monthly Meeting - The GFWC Pasco Junior Woman’s Club is a non-profit organization dedicated to community improvement by enhancing the lives of others through volunteer service. We welcome women of all ages to attend a meeting and see how you can get involved in your The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Sunrise - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel community. To be held at the Lexington Oaks Clubhouse, 26304 Lexington Oaks Blvd, 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.. For additional information, visit Facebook.com/GFWC- Sunrise meets every Friday at 7:15 a.m. at QHCC (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). For info, call Lynne Morgan at 695-6466.

PascoJuniors.

Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco is a support group for adults in Pasco County living with mental illness or in Family-Friendly Summer Camp Expo - See story, on page 17. recovery. The group meets the 2nd & 4th Friday of each month, 2 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

BayChapel Food Pantry - Free food to help needy families. Open every Satat Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, visit NAMIPasco.org. urday, 9:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., behind Christian Brothers Automotive on Bruce B. Downs Blvd., at 20300 Trout Creek Dr., New Tampa. Visit BayChapel.org.

East Pasco Democratic Club - Meets 3rd Monday of each month at American Live Oak Preserve Farmer’s Market - Open to the public, second Saturday of House, 38130 Pretty Pond Rd. in Zephyrhills from 7-8:30 p.m. For more info, visit each month from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. Features fresh produce, a variety of vendors, www.eastpascodems.com or call Wilson Blount at 505-463-4210. and food trucks. 9401 Oak Preserve. Info at facebook.com/LiveOakPreserve.

Friday, April 14

Saturday, April 8

Monday, April 17

Tuesday, April 18

Tampa Bay Talent Showcase - Avalon Park West hosts a spring community event from 5-9 p.m., with Tampa Bay Talent Showcase finalists ranging from ages 7 to 21 performing at 7 p.m. to compete for the grand prize of $250. Food trucks, local vendors, Easter egg hunt, Easter Bunny photos, hot air balloon rides (weather permitting), karaoke and canvas painting. Info at facebook.com/A.Moment.With.The.Classics/.

NAMI Friends & Family: Mental Health Support Group - NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) of Pasco support group for friends & family of those with mental illness. The group meets the 1st & 3rd Tues. of each month, 7 p.m.-8:30 p.m., at Atonement Lutheran Church (29617 S.R. 54). For info, visit NAMIPasco.com.

Meditation Group - All faiths and all levels of meditation experience are welcome at this free meeting at Sanctuary Wellness Center, 8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 120, 10 - 11 a.m. For more info, see The Sanctuary Wellness Center in New Tampa on Facebook or New Tampa Intuitive Development Center on Meetup.

USTA Fed Cup Tennis Tournament at Saddlebrook Resort - See story, p. 1 Beauty Pageant Preview - Be the first to know all the details for the 2017 Miss Wesley Chapel pageant to be held on Saturday, April 29. This is a free event & refreshments will be served. Special Pageant Packages available for those who attend Pageant Preview! To be held at Mid-Florida Credit Union Community Room (20401 BBD Blvd.), 9 a.m., Please R.S.V.P. to 714-6513.

Sunday, April 9

Monday, April 10

Professional Business Connections (PBC) - PBC meets Mondays at 7:45 a.m. at The Happy Hangar Cafe (at Tampa North Aero Park, 4241 Birdsong Blvd., off S.R. 54, Lutz). For more info, call Matt Archbold at 782-1777.

Wesley Chapel Speaks - The Wesley Chapel Toastmasters meets every Monday at 6 p.m. for networking, 6:30 pm for public speaking, at Wesley Chapel Nissan (28519 State Rd 54). For more info, call Martin at 693-0969.

Tuesday - April 11

Keep It Local - This seat-specific networking group emphasizes small, local businesses. Meets meets every Tuesday, 11:30 a.m., at GrillSmith at The Shops at Wiregrass. For more info, call Marino Cecchi at 513-9001.

Wednesday, April 12

Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business pros dedicated to helping their member businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed., 7:30 a.m., at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (10441 Cory Lake Dr.) in New Tampa. Call Bill Sullivan at 994-1143.

Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel - The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (Noon) meets Wed. at noon at Quail Hollow Country Club (6225 Old Pasco Rd.). First-time guests attend for free. For more info, call 862-8989 or 391-3895.

Thursday, April 13

BNI Networking Meeting - BNI, a networking organization, has a new chapter in Wesley Chapel. Business professionals are invited to attend on Thursdays, 7:30 a.m., at Savannah Church (3758 Maryweather Lane, behind Dunkin’ Donuts off 18

Saturday, April 22

Tuesday, April 25

Wesley Chapel Lions Club - The Wesley Chapel Lions Club meets every 4th Tues., 6 p.m. at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel (27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.). For info about volunteering, community efforts, meetings, helping the vision impaired & more, visit WesleyChapelLionsClub.com or the club’s page on Facebook.

Saturday, April 29

3rd Annual Sean Bartell Memorial Pasta Dinner Fundraiser - Pasta dinner to fund scholarships for deserving seniors at Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills High Schools. Entertainment from The Magic of Scott Barhold, plus local vendors. Dinner from Little Italy, $10. To go boxes available. For more info, visit Facebook.com/SeanBartellScholarship.

Pasco Fine Arts Council Jacaranda Poetry Festival Painting Contest - Artist submissions of a painting representing their rendition of a a poem of their choice or a poem they wrote will be received April 25 and 26 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 4145 Fairford Drive in New Port Richey. Cash prizes will be awarded. More info at PascoArts.org.

Visit NTNeighborhoodNews.com to add your upcoming events that are open to the public to our online calendar. Once approved, they appear in the “Events” section on our home page. With enough advanced notice (at least 3-4 weeks), events that take place in our readership areas may also appear in print, as space allows.

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Summer Camp Expo At FHCI Tomorrow!

By Celeste McLaughlin If you want your kids to have some amazing experiences this summer without having to spend frustrating hours searching the internet or making phone calls for options, Family-Friendly Tampa Bay hosts its first ever Family-Friendly Summer Camp Expo at Florida Hospital Center Ice off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel tomorrow — Saturday, April 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Admission is free.

More than 40 camps are signed up to participate in the Expo. Most are located in and around Wesley Chapel, says event organizer Miriam Cook (photo), but camps from across the Tampa Bay area will be there, including the Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), Busch Gardens, and the Glazer Children’s Museum.

Cook says diverse summer camp options will be presented, including day camps, sports, STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), special needs/autism, art, performing arts and academic camps. “Parents can meet one-onone with numerous Tampa Bay-area camp directors and staff at the expo, talking with the people behind these programs to find the best fit for their child,” Cook says.

Cook notes that she’s especially excited about offering summer camps for kids with special needs. She says there will be an agency that provides resources for families with children who have disabilities and other special needs. While she didn’t specify camps for only special needs children, she says many of the camps attending the expo are “inclusive” and make accommodations to serve all children, regardless of ability.

“Right now, we have 1,200 families who have pre-registered to attend the event,” says Cook. “When families register for free tickets through Eventbrite.com, they are automatically

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Miriam Cook has more than 40 summer camps signed up for the Family-Friendly Summer Camp Expo at FHCI on April 8. entered to win a free week of camp. We will be donating several weeks of camp at the expo. We will also have other giveaways, as well.”

For example, each family that attends will receive a coupon for buy-one, get-one-free ice skating at Florida Hospital Center Ice, and the first 250 families to arrive will get a “swag bag.”

There will be many activities for the kids, such as face painting, and several mascots will make an appearance, including the mascot from the Tampa Yankees, the Tampa Bay Lighting’s ThunderBug, and the Chick-fil-A cow.

It’s not necessary to pre-register, but it does enter you to win prizes. To register, go to EventBrite.com and search for “Summer Camp Expo” in Tampa (although technically in Wesley Chapel, the site notes that the Expo is in the “Greater Tampa” area). Florida Hospital Center Ice is located at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. For more information about Family-Friendly Tampa, go to FamilyFriendlyTampaBay.com.

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19

Looking For An Upscale Nail Salon? Try Touch Nail Spa On S.R. 56!

By Celeste McLaughlin It’s officially flip-flop weather again in Florida. If you’ve been skipping pedicures during the winter and are looking for a new salon, the great news is that Touch Nail Spa is now open.

Located in the Cypress View Square shopping plaza on S.R. 56 (in the same plaza as Capital Tacos), Touch Nail Spa offers a beautiful, luxurious setting to enjoy a pedicure, a manicure, or one of the salon’s many other services, including eyelash extensions, waxing, facials and massages.

Touch Nail Spa is owned by Timmy Pham and his wife, Tiffany. Originally from Vietnam, Timmy has been in the U.S. 21 years and has been doing nails almost 17 years. Tiffany and Timmy met when he spent a year in Chicago about 10 years ago and have now been married about four years.

Timmy previously owned a nail salon in Kentucky. He moved to Florida seven years ago and has worked at other salons in the area. He says he opened Touch Nail Spa because of his desire to serve customers at a higher level.

“Working at other salons, I’ve seen owners not do right by customers and employees,” says Timmy. “Here, we are all about the customer experience — and the service.”

Touch Nail Spa celebrated its Grand Opening on March 25 by giving a free manicure or pedicure to 89 guests. He says the reaction everyone had when walking into the salon was, “Wow.” With high ceilings, large windows,

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salon offers a menu of options to fit everyone’s individual taste.

From a simple polish, to acrylic or gel nails, or many other options, a wide variety of services are available and the licensed technicians can help each person find the service that’s right for them.

Currently, there are nine people working at Touch Nail Spa, all of whom are State-licensed in cosmetology.

“All of the technicians were very friendly and made an effort to talk to the customers, not just to each other,” Stephanie says. “They want you to feel pampered and feel that you came into a spa, not just a nail salon.”

A variety of spa manicures Tiffany & Timmy Pham (left) invite you to visit their brand new, elegant Touch Nail Spa on S.R. 56, which offers manicures, pedicures, and spa services including, eyelash extensions, waxing, facials and massage. and pedicures is offered, and even the “Simple Touch” pedicure (just (Right) Traditional costumes highlighted the spa’s Grand Opening on March 25. $25) includes a callus treatment, tools sanitized for each individual person. and beautiful décor, Touch Nail Spa is pineapple sugar scrub, hot towel Neighborhood News billing manager 3,200 square feet — much larger than you wrap and lotion massage, along with nail Stephanie Smith, who got a manicure during trimming and shaping, buffing, and cuticle might expect at a typical nail salon. Timmy the salon’s grand opening, agrees. “I like the grooming. designed the salon himself, which includes way everything is sanitized, like bringing out 16 massage chairs for pedicures and 21 For an even more spa-like experience, a new package of tools for each person, and manicure stations. a variety of “Hot Touch” pedicures are using liners in the pedicure basins so that it He says he’s thrilled with the way it offered ($45-$60). These include a hot turned out – beautiful and relaxing, upscale is completely clean, not just rinsed out.” stone massage for your legs and feet, plus and clean. He credits Tien Vuu Construcadditional treatments — such as specialized tion, LLC, with executing his design perfect- Available Services exfoliation for the bottom of the feet and a While the décor reflects a more upscale ly. “They did an amazing job,” Timmy says. mask for legs and heels — along with a seat experience — don’t let that fool you. Touch He describes the way he and his emin the salon’s throne-like chairs reserved just Nail Spa’s prices are very affordable. ployees keep the salon as “flawlessly clean,” for these pedicures (photo on next page).

Timmy says most customers come in including gleaming floors and spotless table“You’ll feel like a queen,” Timmy promises. for a manicure and/or pedicure, and the tops, a tidy restroom, with all surfaces and Touch Nail Spa has two private rooms

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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quiet, for example, and Touch Nail Spa offer a complimentary beverage with every service, such as water or even wine, served in a chilled glass.

Timmy says he chose a location with plenty of parking to be sure that everyone who comes in for services has a place to park.

And, he says, clients will be happy with their service.

“We use good, quality products,” says Timmy, “We fix the mistakes other people do.”

He adds that you’ll always be able to find the color you want, and that every color Guests who choose a “Hot Touch Pedicure” get the royal treat- he carries in a regular polish ment while enjoying their services in one of these thrones. is available as a gel color, too. for services beyond nails, each with a beau“We have five brands of nail tiful floor-to-ceiling stacked stone wall, and polish and 1,000 colors.” its own music. In these rooms, cosmetoloOne final difference you’ll see at Touch gists offer facials, eyelash extensions, neck Nail Spa is when you check out. “Some nail and shoulder massage, and even full-body shops don’t give receipts,” Timmy explains. waxing.

“We give itemized receipts saying what serStephanie also got an eyebrow wax vices you had and what you paid for. We also during the grand opening event. “It was collect your name and email address so that phenomenal,” she says. “They got them we can email you specials.” even and perfect.”

“We want people to come in to try it,” Timmy says. As its grand opening special, A Better Experience Touch Nail Spa is offering 10 percent off all “We want people to relax,” Timmy services (see the ad on page 6). says, so first and foremost, “People are not Touch Nail Spa is located at 27233 rushed when they come in. They don’t have S.R. 56 and is open Monday-Saturday, to hurry.”

9:30 a.m. – 7:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.–5 To add to the relaxing atmosphere, he p.m. on Sunday. Walk-ins and apand his staff pay attention to details. He says pointments are welcome. To make an they immediately greet each visitor as they appointment or ask about services, call walk through the door. The TVs are kept 973-4111.

Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

21

Grey Wolf Armory Moves To A More Convenient Location On S.R. 54

By Celeste McLaughlin After nearly three years in business right on the border of Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, Jeffrey Webb has moved his Grey Wolf Armory store into Wesley Chapel “proper.” Now located in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54 near Bagelicious & More, Grey Wolf Armory offers firearms and ammunition, gunsmith services, surplus military gear, and much more.

Webb opened the new location on Feb. 10 and says he’s already been seeing significantly more foot traffic than he did at the old location, which was five miles east on (and north of 54) at Eiland Blvd.

“We wanted a location that would better serve the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa communities,” Webb says. He admits he also moved because — after two break-ins at the old location — his new location can better accommodate the many security measures he’s put in place.

“I’m not going to have that happen again,” he says. “So we have taken extensive measures and spent a lot of money to ensure [there won’t be a break-in at this location],” explaining that some of the specific measures were not possible at the old store.

“Grey Wolf Armory is family-owned and operated,” Webb says. His wife, Nicole, and daughter, Rachael, who is 10 and a competitive shooter herself, are often at the store, too.

“We’re the only firearms store in Wesley Chapel and the only certified gunsmith in the area,” Webb says. “Others may repair guns, but I’m the only one with the

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formal education.”

Webb completed a master gunsmithing course from the online American Gunsmithing Institute (AGI) in 2014, earning AGI certifications in the repair and maintenance of many different types of firearms.

“I’ve been involved with firearms since I was a kid,” he says. “My dad was in the U.S. Secret Service and a deputy sheriff, so I’ve been trained in firearms and firearm safety all of my life.”

He adds that he was a member of the Civil Air Patrol in high school, which is Jeffrey Webb, with wife Nicole and daughter Rachael, at Grey Wolf the official auxiliary of Armory, now open in its new location on S.R. 54 in the Freedom Plaza but may take longer, based on demand and the U.S. Air Force. In fact, Webb says that he was only 14 when he the type of repair.

In addition to repairing and customizdid his first “trigger job,” which is repairing ing firearms, he also will safety check them. a firearm to make its trigger operate better.

So, he offers gunsmith services and also “If anyone has any questions about whether customizes firearms, including wood-finish- or not their firearm is safe, I will safety check ing services and metalwork. All heavy equip- it for free,” Webb says.

And, he says he always takes time with ment — such as a lathe and mill for cutting each customer who wants to purchase a gun and shaping metal — is located off-site. to figure out which firearm is best for them.

Repairs can sometimes be done overnight,

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

“I try to give people a level of attention to detail they’re not going to get anywhere else,” he says.

At the new location, he’s been able to add more cabinet space for both new and previously owned firearms. He says he buys, sells and trades previously owned firearms, plus does consignments. “I’ll give you a free, honest evaluation of what your firearm is worth,” he says.

Grey Wolf Armory carries new firearms from brands such as Glock, Springfield, Ruger, Sigsauer and many others, including Cimarron, which are engraved, decorated old-style cowboy guns (top photo on next page). “Our inventory is always changing,” Webb says. “I’ve expanded our personal defense and tactical merchandise, too, because that’s what many people are interested in. I want to make sure that my customers always get the right firearm for their needs, so they’ll come back.”

He says that to purchase any firearm, you must have a state-issued ID and a background check is required. It is done in the store and takes just a few minutes.

Pasco County has no waiting period for rifles or shotguns. You must be a resident of Florida to purchase a handgun. And, if you have a Florida concealed carry permit, there also is no waiting period. However, if you do not have that permit, you may still purchase a handgun, but you have to wait three business days before you can receive it from the store. Without the concealed carry permit, you can still use a handgun for home defense, but Webb encourages all gun owners to obtain the permit.

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SPOTLIGHT ON......The RE/MAX Wilde Team!

A wide variety of new and previously owned firearms are available, and Grey Wolf Armory also offers custom finishes, such as the one shown above right.

Although concealed weapons classes are original location opened in July 2014.

“I’ve lived in Florida for 20 years and not available at the store itself, Grey Wolf have been to other shops,” says Hebert.

Armory sells the classes at a discount, and “This man is the most knowledgeable perthey can be taken at the Indoor Shooting son I know. If you want to know something, Company on E. Fowler Ave. in nearby Thohe can tell you all about it. And, he can get notosassa (just east of Temple Terrace).

Webb also gives customers a free box of whatever you want.”

Hebert says the prices are in line with ammo with any handgun purchase. competitors, but the service is better at Grey “I feel like buying a new gun that Wolf Armory. “It’s closer (to him), and at doesn’t come with some ammo is like buyother shops, if you have a question, you ing a car without any gas,” he says. could stand there for 40 minutes and there’s Grey Wolf Armory offers discounts to no one to answer your question.” all active first responders, including police, Not only are Webb’s prices fair, says fire and emergency medical service personHebert, but he carries a lot of oddball nel. Webb plans to add a customer loyalty program where people accumulate points for ammunitions, such as 38 long bolt and 17-50 caliber ammunition. Webb says that’s purchases and get discounts, gift cards and free merchandise — along with rechargeable intentional. “One of my business principals is that if someone wants something and I gift cards — by the end of April. don’t have it on the shelf, I order it. That Grey Wolf Armory also sells survival way, I’ll have it for the next person who products, including MREs (Meals Readycomes in looking.”

To-Eat) and freeze-dried foods, as well as Grey Wolf Armory is located at concealed carry handbags, made by Mon30048 S.R. 54. It is open Tues.-Sat., 9 tana West, which Webb says, does leather a.m.-6 p.m., and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sun. for Harley Davidson motorcycles. “I keep a (closed on Mondays). For additional invariety on hand,” he says. formation, see the ad on page 10, search Eugene Hebert of Zephyrhills is one of Webb’s regular customers. He says he’s been “Grey Wolf Armory LLC” on Facebook or call the store at 591-1305. shopping at Grey Wolf Armory since the

Neighborhood News

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Buying or selling a home can be one of life’s most daunting tasks, but doing business with the Wilde Team of real estate professionals at RE/MAX Premiere Group in the Cypress View Square shopping plaza on S.R. 56 means you won’t go into the deal alone.

Realtor Bruce Wilde (pronounced “Will-dee”) has more than 30 years of real estate experience and has assembled a team of experts who work with clients to get top dollar on a home sale or guide them into the home of their dreams at the best possible price. The team includes real estate agents to show homes, marketers to ensure maximum exposure, title insurance professionals who make sure the property’s paperwork is in good order and a closer to seal the transaction.

“Most real estate agents try to do everything, from the beginning to the end,” says Wilde. “But, we have the team so everyone can do what they’re best at.

I decided to find the best people who can help us get the job done on a day-today basis.”

Among those recruited by Wilde are Karen and Bill Barnaba, owners of Bay City Title Partners. Bill says they take care of a lot of the administrative “heavy lifting” that can accompany a home sale, so that the real estate agent can focus on generating sales.

“That’s what any real estate agent wants to focus on,’’ Bill says. “They don’t want the technical headaches that are involved with the process.”

Wilde expresses confidence that with

The Wilde Team of RE/MAX Premiere Group includes (l.-r.) Karen Barnaba, Kristie Lee Kramarz, Bonnie Amador & Bruce Wilde. the Karen & Bill involved, it’s a sure thing people will leave the closing table happy.

In addition to the expertise of his team, Wilde harnesses the power of marketing to give his clients the benefit of the latest housing market information via his newsletter Market Watch, which is printed and mailed to customers, and through the website FindTampaBayHouses.com.

“Wesley Chapel is one of the most looked-at areas on the internet throughout the country,’’ Wilde says. “It’s a great family place to live. It’s close to everything and the schools are very nice schools.”

You can huddle with Bruce Wilde and the Wilde Team about your real estate needs at the RE/MAX Premier Group Office, located at 27219 S.R. 56 in the Cypress View Square Shopping Plaza, or call 929-7600. To check out home listings and access useful real estate information, visit FindTampaBay Houses.com or see the ad on pg. 55 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

23

The Personalized Touch Is What Sets HomeTeam Lawn & Landscape Apart

By John C. Cotey AJ Negron of HomeTeam Lawn & Landscape, LLC, says he doesn’t look at a property as if it is on a conveyor belt, to be quickly tended to so his crew can move on to the next house, and the house after that.

His is not a monolithic lawn and landscape company that sends out legions of trimmers and mowers to do as many yards as possible.

He says he looks at each property as its own small project, to be completed in however much time it takes to make it perfect.

It’s one of the qualities that he thinks separates his company from others in the crowded lawn and landscape universe.

“We’re never going to do a cheap job for someone,’’ AJ says. “It’s always going to be a quality job. We’re taking that extra five minutes to make it look good. We’re not blowing on and off the property. It’s going to look a little better than the next guy’s yard.”

And, with that, AJ says, comes quality pricing. HomeTeam Lawn & Landscape offers a “full service” that runs from $75 monthly and up. The full-service package includes: mow, edge, trim, blow; hedges, shrubs, ornamentals, low trees; sidewalks, driveways and mulch bed maintenance.

The full-service treatment is where AJ says HomeTeam separates itself from its competiton — and his customers agree.

“I think they are very reasonable,’’ says Wesley Chapel client Orlando Negron (no relation). “For what you get, it’s a great price. I’ve already gotten my neighbor to sign up, and another house in our neighbor-

24

If you want your lawn and landscape to look this good, you should hire AJ Negron (right) and his HomeTeam Lawn & Landscape, LLC. hood is going to sign up with HomeTeam “We run background checks on all of as well.” our employees,” he says, “because a lot of Orlando had just fired his previous customers that complain about other comlandscaper when he saw a story about Home panies complain about not knowing who is Team in the Neighborhood News last year on their property.” and decided to give AJ call. He says that not AJ knows how you feel. He makes it a only is HomeTeam cheaper than his previpoint to know because he says he treats your property like he would his own. In fact, he ous lawn company, but it has been better. often refers to his clients’ properties as his, That begins with a small staff that is carefully vetted. Because AJ knows you because that’s how he views them.

“I’m not just bringing anybody in I just wouldn’t trust just anybody on your property, neither does he. met off the street,’’ he says.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

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To achieve that kind of customized care, AJ says he is pleased to have built what he calls a “loyal and refined” clientele. While he continues to add new clients, from local homeowners to larger commercial properties, he says stressing quality over quantity has yielded positive results for HomeTeam.

“When a property has full-service care with us, as far as I’m concerned, our name is stamped on it,” he says. “There is a big difference between one of our properties with full-service maintenance and another property that just has its grass taken care of but has landscaping needs that aren’t met.”

AJ, along with family friend and manager Chris French, aren’t just the owners/operators of HomeTeam Lawn & Landscape, LLC, they also are the key components of the crew. AJ and Chris have

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some shared history that not only brought them together, but also brought them into business together.

AJ and his family were attracted to the Wesley Chapel area after vacationing down here. After 10 days, they fell in love with the area and his family stayed while AJ made two trips back to Long Island, NY, to move their belongings to Wesley Chapel.

He says he was considering a job with the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office or something in his field of study, psychology.

But, growing up in upstate New York on five acres of property, AJ practically grew up on a tractor, tending to the large property since he was 12.

And, since he was now living in Florida, making the transition to getting back on the tractor and starting his own lawn and landscaping business seemed to make perfect sense. He remembers his grandfather observing just how busy many of the local landscapers seemed to be.

“He would say, ‘Look at all these people making a living,’ because of all the landscaping trucks in the neighborhood,” AJ says. “I knew I had experience doing it, and knew I could be successful with my own business.”

AJ began with a department store push mower, before upgrading, and then his grandmother helped him with the funding to kick the business into a higher gear by allowing him to buy a lawn company from one of his friends. He picked up a trailer, two mowers, some other equipment and all of the business accounts.

AJ began talking to Chris, who grew up on 4.5 acres of property in Ohio and had similar experience in lawn care and landscap-

Neighborhood News

ing, about a partnership. They joined forces in 2015.

“In May of 2015, (Chris and I) did 33 yards in one day,” AJ recalls. “It was a feat, and then I knew we could fly with the business together.”

It was Chris’ first day working as a team with AJ. At the time, AJ was handling a combination of 75 weekly and bi-monthly residential accounts, which he says required “creative summer scheduling.” But, he knew if he wanted to expand further, he’d need full-time help.

French came on board full time and now HomeTeam has more than 130 residential and commercial accounts, with clients all over the Wesley Chapel, Land O’Lakes and New Tampa areas, and ranging as far south as Tampa Palms.

Quick Quotes AND Quality Care!

times just to give them a heads up when something doesn’t look right and requires services they don’t offer.

“He is very reliable,’’ Orlando says.

“I don’t have to be on top of him. I pay him and he does what he is paid to do.

He does it professionally with his partner, and they always keeps me informed what I have to do, like if I need to water my lawn more or if they aren’t going to be there that day because of the weather or something. Sometimes they text me, or send an email. I really like that.”

Sometimes, a patch of brown grass can mean the lawn needs more watering, or that a sprinkler might be broken.

“Taking care of those things is a lot cheaper than paying $1,000 to replace your lawn,’’ AJ says. “We get on the

phone with homeowners all the time to let them know when we see stuff like that.”

AJ and Chris both have an affinity for the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas and they hope to bring even more of their attention to detail to lawns and landscapes in the area.

“It’s nice to work with the homeowners in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel because they see the quality of the work that we do,’’ Chris says. “They don’t need to worry about things getting taken care of. They realize it’s a set-it-and-forget-it type of operation that we’re running.”

HomeTeam Lawn & Landscape, LLC, can be found on the web at HomeTeamLawnCare.com, by phone at 817-9554, or check out the HomeTeam ad on page 52.

AJ brings some New York hustle to his business that he says will always give your property that personalized care HomeTeam promises every client.

“We take pride in our extreme attention to detail,” he says. “We’re not your average landscaper. We do above-average work and try not to ask for much more than average prices.”

He adds that communication is a driving aspect of HomeTeam Lawn & Landscape, LLC. When a customer calls, they get AJ’s cell phone, not a secretary’s.

He also responds to text messages, “always within 24 hours,” he promises.

And, he is just as likely to send a text as he is to receive one. AJ says he is in constant contact with his clients, some-

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

25

Topash Painting — Three Generations Of Painting Homes In Wesley Chapel!

By Celeste McLaughlin

For three generations now, the Topash family has been painting homes in Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas.

“We’ve always been a family-owned business and we’ve been a second-generation business,” says K.T., who bought Topash Painting from his dad, Paul, in 2009. “But now, we’re getting to be third-generation painting company.”

He explains that his son, Cole, who is 16 and homeschooled, often works as his father’s helper. “He’s working with me today, in fact,” says K.T. Paul Topash established his company in the Lutz area in 1978. “About 20 years ago, we moved the business out to Wesley Chapel to keep it local to where we live, and we’ve been there ever since,” says K.T.

Never A Subcontractor

When you hire Topash Painting, you will always work directly with K.T. “Our family is a great team,” says K.T. “My wife, Hollie, does all the bookkeeping, which is a full-time job in itself. Without her, I couldn’t do what I do. She frees me up to do the painting, the estimates, and what I need to do to get the job. Then, my son helps me paint. We all make a great team together.”

K.T. also has a helper for bigger jobs when his son is not available, but Hollie says you’ll always see K.T. at your home when you hire Topash Painting.

“There’s not a job where you won’t see K.T.,” explains Hollie. “His helper won’t be there without him; that will never happen.

26

his hobby,” which is another family affair. K.T., Hollie, and Cole are all licensed falconers, training birds of prey. Hollie explains, “They hunt for squirrel or rabbit or pheasant, and are taught to come back to us on a whistle. K.T.’s bird is a falcon that hunts ducks or other birds. The falcons develop a real bond with their trainers.”

K.T. adds, (L.-r.): Cole, K.T. and Hollie Topash hope that when you need or want “Whenever we’re not painting, that’s to have your home painted, you’ll think of Topash Painting first. our life.”

K.T. does each estimate, does every job himHow To Hire A Painter self – from start to finish, including pressure K.T. stresses the importance of protectwashing – on every job.” ing your investment in your home by painting Because his services are so in demand the exterior when needed. and he doesn’t hire subcontractors or labor“Paint helps to seal off the wood and ers, he often books well in advance, somekeep moisture out,” he explains. “Using a times as much as 90 days in advance. good quality paint makes a tremendous differ“When I say I’m going to be there, I’m going to be there,” he says. Hollie adds, “The ence in how long the paint lasts. Some paints can be really expensive, but there’s a place only thing that gets us off schedule is rain – where you get the biggest bang for your buck or the occasional illness or emergency – but as far as quality.” we’re usually able to swap an interior job for K.T. will help you get the best paint an exterior, and it works out so that we stay for your personal circumstances, such as if on schedule.” you’re planning to sell your home soon or K.T. jokes that he, “works to support

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

if it will be your “forever home.” He offers some additional helpful tips for anyone who is considering hiring a painter for interior or exterior work: • Ask friends and neighbors about painters they’ve used.

• A clean vehicle indicates a neat painter who takes pride in his or her work. Observe the vehicle he or she arrives in when they come to do the estimate.

• You shouldn’t be asked to buy your own paint before the job.

• Painters should return your calls in a timely manner.

• They must be able to show they are licensed, bonded and insured in your county.

“Always ask,” says Hollie. “If someone gets hurt at your house and isn’t insured, you’re liable. Make sure they’re bonded, too.

If something expensive gets broken at your house, K.T. is bonded so you can replace it.”

She adds that if you’re not specific and you only ask, “Are you licensed?,” some contractors might answer “yes,” meaning they hold an occupational license. “Anyone can pay $35 at the county and get an occupational license,” she says. “Ask if they are a licensed paint contractor.” Hollie says this is what K.T. is, and he’s had training, invested money, and had to take a test to earn it.

“There are a lot of companies in Pasco and Hillsborough counties who are not licensed,” says Hollie. “There’s a big difference between an occupational license and a proper paint contractor license. It doesn’t benefit us to be properly licensed; it protects the customers.”

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Painting His Whole Life

“K.T.’s dad, Paul, painted for me and my family when K.T. was a kid,” says Michelle, a long-time Wesley Chapel resident who didn’t want to share her last name. “The minute K.T. could hold a paintbrush, he was painting.

I’ve seen him grow and watched him become the dad to his son that his dad was to him.

He’s just a great guy.”

Neighborhood News

She says that K.T. also is a man of integrity, which she believes is rare. “I’ve watched him hold tight to his moral code,” Michelle says. “This is a time of uncertainty with contractors.

You wonder if they’re coming, if they’ll be on time, (if they’re) using the product they say they’re using. K.T. is true to his word and he really cares.”

She adds, “I think that’s why he has so many repeat customers.

Sometimes he gets really busy, but I don’t mind waiting. I just tell him to put me on his list.”

K.T.’s truck touts that Topash Painting is the home of the “neat and tidy professionals,” and Michelle says that’s absolutely true. “I have white carpet in my house that’s 25 years old. It’s that old because I take really good care of it. He’s painted every wall but you don’t even know he’s been in the room.”

For estimates or appointments, call Topash Painting cat 780-2511 or e-mail topashpainting@gmail.com. Or, you can search “Topash Painting” on Facebook or see the ad on pg. 48.

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SPOTLIGHT

ON...............Olympus

Backyard pools in Florida are pretty common, but Olympus Pools has helped hundreds of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel homeowners make a uniquely personal statement with theirs.

“We take pride in giving people the most bang for their buck,” says James Staten, who owns Olympus Pools with his wife, Alexis.

The options available to homeowners who want to build a pool are extensive with Olympus, ranging from traditional models that tend to be linear in shape, to blends of rustic and contemporary styles that combine the basic elements of fire, stone and water into a backyard oasis.

Designs can accommodate features such as a dry, sunken living room, swimup bar or a cozy grotto illuminated with LED lighting and fire bowls. Water and lighting features can be managed from anywhere there’s a phone signal, via a smartphone app.

While an Olympus Pools design will always be one of a kind, Staten says the level of customer service also is uniformly high.

“We build them the same way for our customers that we build them for ourselves,” he says.

Olympus Pools is licensed for commercial as well as residential pool construction, but Staten says creating the perfect backyard water wonderland for each customer’s needs is the heart of the business. In fact, he adds, his company built 240 pools in 2016 and he attributes this success to focusing on three

Pools!

key elements: design, construction and service. “We try to make sure we’re the best in each of these three areas,” he says.

Making a splash (pun intended) with a great backyard pool starts with design and Staten says meeting each customer’s individual needs, interests and construction requirements are always considered in that process.

“Every design we do is custom,” he says.“ “Every single one. We don’t have any templates or cookie-cutter designs.”

Staten says the goal is creating a pool that’s well-designed, meets your budget considerations and suits your lifestyle.

“We’re known for building pools very quickly, too,” he says.

In addition to the Facebook page, you can visit OlympusPoolsFL.com, call 983-7854 or see the ad on pg. 25. The Olympus Pools office & design center is located 20-30 minutes from Wesley Chapel at 4422 N. Lauber Way in Tampa.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

27

Have you already figured out what you’re doing with your kids this summer? This is the last Wesley Chapel issue that will have our exclusive 2017 Summer Camp Guide!

On these two pages are 14 LOCAL summer camps and other programs your kids can (and should) get signed up for today!

Congratulations and thanks again to staff writer Celeste McLaughlin for again making sure that all of the advertisers on these pages got their information and photos to graphic artist Blake Beatty in time to be completed for this issue.

This exclusive Summer Camp Guide also will run one more time, in our April 21 New Tampa issue. — GN

Music

Crash Course in Crim Just

Music and Piano Camps

Ages 14-16

Ages 5-9

USF Department of Criminology hosts a one week immersion into the criminal justice system from June 19-24. Utilizing a traffic homicide investigation, students learn how a case proceeds from investigation to arrest and makes its way before a judge and jury. Students will visit the Tampa Police Department’s training facility to see a SWAT team demonstration, participate in jury selection exercises with an ASA and be sworn in as a mock jury by a judge at the Hillsborough County courthouse!

Piano and music camp for students ages 5-9. Learn the basics of music and piano playing! Camp activities include learning piano pieces, games involving rhythm and musical concepts, ear training, creating compositions at the piano, and singing. Campers will use spacious facilities, a digital piano lab for group activities and grand pianos for performances. Instructors hold masters and doctorate degrees. Programs for preschoolers, older children, teenagers, and adults are also available. Call us to learn more!

813-994-2452

www.usfcriminologycamp.eventbrite.com

www.NewTampaPPA.com

Special Needs

VBS, Camp

STEM

USF STEM for Scholars

Grace Episcopal New Tampa

SUMMER SCHOOL PROGRAM

Rising 10th-12th Graders

Ages 4-18

Ages 5-15

STEM for Scholars is a four-week, college credit, summer program, July 10 – August 4, 2017, at USF Tampa. It is for high achieving, high school students entering grades 10 – 12. The program is designed to expand student horizons in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM), and prepare them for academic and college life. Students will be engaged and challenged, through active, hands-on participation in all aspects of the program.

Courses will be taught by outstanding USF faculty.

VBS Rainforest June 5-9, 9 am - 12 noon for ages 4-11 Smart Start Summer Camp June 12-16 for ages 8-18 academic coaching and explanation with Khan Academy, critical thinking debates, and field trips details/register gracenewtampa.org

813-974-4068

www.usfstem.com 28

Criminal Just.

8 weeks and our topics are: • Fun & Fitness • Destination U.S.A or Stars & Stripes • Superheroes and Princesses • Let’s Go Camping • Animal Adventures • Aloha Splash • Storybook Summer • Show your talents

813-971-8484

813-973-7938

gracenewtampa.org

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

www.newleaps.org Neighborhood News

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Dance

Leadership

Dance

NEW TAMPA DANCE THEATRE!!

Summer Spectacular at JDP

TeenMax Leadership Camp

3-Adult

2.5 through Adult

New Tampa Dance Theatre offers exciting half-day and full-day programs including a break for lunch with 1, 2, or 3 week options held Mon-Fri, June 5th-23rd, beginneradvanced levels. Students explore the creative world of dance in Classical Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Tap, Hip-hop, Tumbling, Arts & Crafts, and Costume Design. Each week culminates with a performance celebration including costumes, pizza, and cookies! Campers will be immersed in the FUNdamentals of dance technique within a safe and nurturing environment.

Ages 12-16

The Jansen Dance Project Summer Spectacular 2017!

Dance and Musical Theatre Camps, Intensives, Workshops and technique classes for students of all ages. Our professional dance and theater educators are the very best in the community; providing a joyful, compassionate and professional approach to arts education and enrichment. JDP students have gone on to pursue their passion studying at ABT, BTP, Julliard, NYU Tisch, Jacksonville University, Florida State, University of Florida, U.S.F. and Princeton University. Come Celebrate the Arts with Us!

Help your teen to be more focused and successful in school, at home, and in life! Mission statements, vision boards, relationship building, compassion, fitness, cooking, relaxation techniques and more are all rolled into one camp! Your teen will also learn to prioritize their schedule by learning to effectively use their academic planner. New this year is a mindful attention component that is designed to foster social and emotional awareness, enhance mental well-being, and promote academic success! Space is limited.

813-994-NTDT(6838)

813-979-2222

newtampadancetheatre.com

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29

Wiregrass Ranch High Grad Is Taking A Bite Out Of The Big Apple

By John C. Cotey Wesley Chapel’s Angelica Vicens isn’t on TV or in the movies. Yet. However, her story is a familiar one.

You’ve seen her before, or those like her — you know, the young aspiring actor/writer/ producer, who chases her dreams all the way to New York, NY, who works a day job to pay the rent, spends the rest of her time in one of the Big Apple’s many theaters hustling to put something together. And yes, she shares one of those tiny, one-bedroom, overpriced flats where the living room and kitchen are interchangeable and where she dreams of making it big.

That’s Angelica, a 20-year-old who just made her director/producer debut earlier this month, just a mere three years after graduating from Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH).

With her parents, Angel and Zulma, in the audience, Angelica recently completed a four-show run of “Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier,” a popular musical by Team Starkid productions, a Chicago-based theatre troupe known for its musical comedies.

“Twisted” parodies the Disney movie “Aladdin,” but told from the antagonist Jafar’s point of view.

Angelica produced four shows March 31-April 2, at The Producer’s Club, a black box “Off-Off Broadway” theater on W. 44th St. in Manhattan. Black box theaters are typically simple and square with black walls, resembling a black box, with seating for roughly 50-100 for a production that relies on the actors to create the setting and atmosphere, rather than props and elaborate stage decorations.

While she also has auditioned multiple times for parts in plays, Angelica wanted to try

30

Angelica Vicens (left) has been performing since she was a little kid, and is hoping to find success in New York City as an actor, writer and producer. her hand at being on the other side. It didn’t matter than she was only 20 and at the very beginning of her career — she says she was ready for the challenge. A longtime fan of Team Starkid’s productions, she decided she wanted to do a version of “Twisted.”

“I’ve wanted to do this all my life,’’ she says. “Might as well go for it.’’

She reached out to Team Starkid for the rights to do “Twisted.” Her father Angel, who said the family has always supported Angelica’s dream, paid the $400 for the rights, and after signing the contract, pre-production began last December for a bare-bones production of a musical that has had nearly 1.8-million views on YouTube.

In January, although it was an unpaid gig, Angelica said more than 150 actors applied for a role in her show, and 16 made the cut, 17 if you count the replacement she had to find when the lead bowed out midway through rehearsals.

“That was a setback,’’ she said, “and a learning experience.”

She adds, however, that all of the challenges were well worth the experience.

“For me, it’s the beginning of my own personal career,’’ she said. “As an actor, you’re auditioning for other people’s projects. This is the first step seeing if I can do (my own project), and so far it has been a really great experience,’’ Angelica says. “I’m realizing that I do have potential to direct and put on comedies.”

Angel said Angelica was always ready to perform, even as a child. She would have friends over to watch a movie in fourth grade, and they would then perform it afterwards. In the fifth grade at Sand Pine Elementary, she and her friends put together an after-school show for their classmates.

“It was obviously her passion,’’ says Angel, who plays bass guitar (with Zulma, who plays guitar) on Sundays at St. Mark the Evangelist

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Catholic Church in New Tampa during 12:30 Spanish mass. “We are not surprised at all that she is doing this.”

Angelica’s brother Luis, a WRH junior, also is a talented singer and musician, and plays the drums, piano and bass guitar.

Considering Angel and Zulma played in popular bands in their native Puerto Rico, it’s only natural the Vicens kids would take early to performing.

Angelica was in the show choir from first grade through sixth grade with New Tampa’s Show Kidz, performed in the drama club and played the violin in Orchestra at John Long Middle School and also performed in the Drama Club at WRH. She played the Marimba in the school band, and her junior year played Grizabella in the Jansen Dance Project (located in Tampa Palms) production of “Cats.”

While many her age went off to sort

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out their futures on college campuses, Angelica followed her passion to New York City, where just two weeks after graduating from WRH, she enrolled at the American Musical Dramatic Academy (AMDA), a college conservatory for the performing arts located on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. She completed that program in 2015.

“I don’t mean to brag,’’ Angelica says, chuckling, “but I’m doing what I always said I was going Angelica Vicens directs the actors in preparation for her debut as a director/ to be doing.” producer in the “Off-Off Broadway” production of “Twisted.”

It was at AMDA that she discovered Carol Burnett, Ethel Mer- Angelica says. “A lot of people trying to be in man and “The Dick Van Dyke Show,”and fell the industry believe acting is reaching a certain amount of fame and success. They think in love with old variety comedy.

“I wanted to find something parallel to if you’re recognized on a world level, you are an actor. But, it’s about the craft, no matter that in modern times,’’ she said.

She says she has binge-watched all 42 the level.”

While honing her own craft, Angelica seasons of “Saturday Night Live,” as well as takes online business classes through Florida “Cheers,” “Frazier” and “Seinfield.”

Whether as a writer, producer, singer or International University, and works 40 hours actor, Angelica knows she is where she wants a week in the NBC Universal (NBCU) gift to be. Her dream job would be working for shop in Rockefeller Plaza’s Comcast Building.

“I’d love to be an NBC page, and be a a variety show, like “Saturday Night Live,”or part of that program,’’ Angelica said. becoming a writer for a late night talk show.

Until then, she’ll continue to sing, act, “A lot of friends of mine who always said they were going to be actors, they don’t re- write and produce, and take as big a bite out ally understand the reality of the situation,’’ of the Big Apple as she can.

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31

Women’s Federation Cup Tennis Coming To Saddlebrook Resort Apr. 22-23

By John C. Cotey On Saturday & Sunday, April 22-23, at Saddlebrook Resort, two of the top women’s national tennis teams in the world will clash in a much-anticipated Federation Cup by BNP Paribas World Group Semifinal.

One team, the United States, is trying to reclaim its former glory, as a 17-time champion that hasn’t won the Fed Cup since 2000.

The other, the Czech Republic, is trying to maintain its status as the best team in the world, winners of four of the last five titles.

“We’re the underdogs,’’ says Kathy Rinaldi, in her first year as U.S. team captain. “But it is going to be a thrilling match for everyone involved. We’re in it to win it.”

It is the first time the Tampa Bay area has hosted a Fed Cup event.

The best-of-five match series begins on Saturday with two singles matches beginning at 11:30 a.m.. Then, on Sunday, the teams will play two reverse singles matches beginning at 10:30 a.m., as well as the doubles match.

“Saddlebrook is an iconic tennis venue, and we are very pleased that Fed Cup will be showcased here for the first time,” said USTA Chairman of the Board, CEO & President Katrina Adams.

Federation Cup tennis is the world’s largest annual international team competition in women’s sports, as roughly 100 teams from across the globe compete. It is marked by patriotism and raucous, festive crowds who roundly cheer for their country, and the atmosphere is completely different from the typical intense quiet you might see on television. Loudly celebrating in between points is not only allowed, it is encouraged.

32

player development for the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA) when she was tasked with directing the Fed Cup team back to the top of the international heap.

The Williams Factor

Despite American tennis boasting the likes of Serena Williams, arguably the greatest player of all-time (and 16-1 in Fed Cup action), her sister Venus and Although the U.S. roster for the upcoming Federation Cup semifinal won’t more than a dozen officially be announced until April 12, Coco Vandeweghe (above) is expected top-100-ranked players, its shortcomings to be part of the U.S. team playing at Saddlebrook Resort off S.R. 54, which is in the Fed Cup comconstructing a 3,500-seat venue for the event.(Image courtesy of USTA). petition — started in “To see the red white and blue, so many 1963 as the women’s great fans with their faces painted and wearing version of the men’s Davis Cup — have been colorful wigs, it’s just a real great time,’’ says magnified in recent years by the absence of the Rinaldi, who as a member of the U.S. Wight- top American women, mainly Venus and Serena. man Cup team in the 1980s is no stranger to Can the Williams sisters, who would be a international competition. “You can really feel huge draw, show up in Wesley Chapel in two the enthusiasm. In Hawaii (for the quarterfinal weeks? It’s possible. Rinaldi says she will pick win), the fans were loud and behind us, and we her four players by Wednesday, April 12. expect it to be the same way at Saddlebrook.”

“Obviously, you would love to have Venus Rinaldi, 49, is a former pro who has and Serena play every time,’’ Rinaldi said. “I am trained at Saddlebrook and reached the quar- hoping they will play, like everyone else.” terfinals of the French Open as a 14-year-old. A Serena Williams is 35 and hasn’t played a three-time winner on the Women’s Tennis As- WTA event since winning the Australian Open sociation (WTA) tour and once ranked as high in January, due to injuries. Venus is 36, and as No. 7 in the world, Rinaldi was working in recently reached the semifinals of the Miami

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Open. Players who compete in international events, though, must balance the grind of that with the WTA tour.

The Saddlebrook Fed Cup weekend is sandwiched by WTA events in Zhengzhou, China, and Stuttgart, Germany.

“You have to understand, these players have a lot of demands on them,’’ Rinaldi said.

“At their age, it is absolutely amazing what they are doing. It’s a lot to ask. (Fed Cup) takes a lot of emotion, too.”

In their last Fed Cup tie (or match), the U.S. team beat Germany 4-1 on Feb. 11-12 behind CoCo Vandeweghe, an Australian Open semifinalist ranked 22nd in the world, rising star Alison Riske (ranked 38th) and the world’s No. 1-rated doubles player, Bethanie Mattek-Sands.

The Czech Republic is likely to be led by No. 20-rated singles player Barbora Strycova, No. 2-rated doubles player Lucie Safarova and Karolina Pliskova, the third-ranked singles player in the world who has eight WTA tournament titles to her credit, including her best major finish last year as 2016 U.S. Open runner-up.

The winner at Saddlebrook advances to the Fed Cup final Nov. 11-12. It will meet the winner of the Belarus-Switzerland tie being played in Minsk, Belarus.

“This is the highest level of team tennis,’’ said Kevin O’Connor, president of Saddlebrook International Sports. “This is like what most of the local community does with the USTA, team tennis. Imagine one of the best communities in the U.S. for organized tennis, and to have the pinnacle of team events in your backyard, it’s a no brainer and very exciting.”

Tickets may be purchased by visiting USTA.com/fedcup or by calling (888) 334USTA (8782).

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

33

Notebook: Bulls Rule The SAC With Boys & Girls Titles In Tennis & Track

By John C. Cotey The Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) spring sports program had a big day last week, when the boys and girls tennis and track teams all took home Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) championships.

The boys tennis team, coached by Dave Wilson, has long been the class of Pasco County, and their SAC title was the seventh straight for the Bulls. In fact, the team hasn’t lost a match to a Pasco County school in that span, going 83-0.

The Bulls have been led this season by senior Noah Makarome, who won the U.S. Tennis Association (USTA)’s Boys 14 Singles National Clay Court Championship in 2013 but has never played high school tennis, and Destiny Okungbowa.

The girls tennis team won the conference title by beating Pasco 4-3.

In track, the host Bulls swept the boys and girls team titles at the SAC East meet for the second straight year.

The girls outscored Sunlake 143-134, pulling past the Seahawks with their dominance in the 800 meters.

The Bulls trailed Sunlake by 24 points heading into the 800. However, Kerry Reilly, Brenna Moran and Kate Moore finished 1-23, and Abbie Dodge came in fifth, as the Bulls picked up 26 points and surged to the lead.

Kyra Swain won the next race, the 200 meters, to give WRH some cushion, and then Reis Ehman (fourth), Julia Blankenbaker (fifth) and Lauren Payne (sixth) scored seven points in the 3,200 meters to help offset Land O’Lakes’ 18 points in the race, thanks to a 1-2 finish.

The WRH boys built a big lead in the field events, thanks to long jump champ Rashaun

34

The WRH track teams celebrate their SAC sweeps (left) & offensive linemen Evan Hogan is looking forward to helping start a new college football program.

Dominic Moreno also was a triple win- team rush for 2,282 yards (228.2 yards a game) Wiliams and discus winner Dillion Teets, but the Bulls put the meet away with their work in the ner, capturing titles in the 800m, 1,600m and and 29 touchdowns.

4x400m relay (with Cameron Boger, Raymund As a long snapper, Hogan has been ranked hurdles races, scoring 36 points.

In the 110m hurdles, Dylan Ridolph and Reddick and Leverett). among the top 50 in the nation by the Kornblue For the WCH girls, who finished fourth Kicking/Snapping Academy.

Josia Gadeen finished 1-2, and in the 330m hurdles, Ridolph, Gadeen and T.J. Ridgel finished with 77 points, Sydney Parker was a winner in The son of Florida International Univer2-3-4. The Bulls boys literally ran away with the the 100m, and Faith Mercer took the title in the sity sports information director Mike Hogan, title with 166 points, followed by Land O’Lakes 400. Cache Simmons added a third first-place Evan will get a unique opportunity at Keiser, finish to the Wildcats’ haul in the triple jump.

(80) and Wesley Chapel (79). which is starting football in the fall of 2018.

Keiser competes in the National AssociaFOOTBALL COMMITMENT: Evan WILDCATS SPRINTERS SHINE IN SAC, TOO: Wesley Chapel High (WCH) Hogan, a 6-foot-3, 305-pound offensive line- tion of Intercollegiate Association (NAIA) and speedster Isaiah Bolden won the 100- and 200- man and long snapper for Wiregrass Ranch plays in the Sun Conference against three colmeter races at the SAC meet, and also teamed High (WRH), orally committed to Keiser Uni- leges in Polk County and one near Naples.

Hogan will play for head coach Doug up with Dexter Leverett, Nick Merilan and versity in West Palm Beach.

Deion Watkins to capture the 4x100 relay to Hogan was a starter for the Bulls last sea- Socha, who was an offensive assistant for the lead the third-place Wildcats. son and part of an offensive line that helped the NFL’s Buffalo Bills last season.

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New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Celebrate St. Patrick’s Day In Style!

I have to say that the bars in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel really know how to throw some great St. Patrick’s Day parties.

It’s hard to say which “wearing o’ the green” celebration was the biggest or the best, as Mulligan’s Irish Pub at the Pebble Creek Golf Club, The Brass Tap at the Shops at Wiregrass mall and O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill (see pg. 41) in the Wesley Chapel Village Market all had live bands, fun activities, great food, excellent live music and big crowds.

On this page, clockwise from top left, are photos of the Troy Duncan Band performing at O’Brien’s, a couple of other familiar faces from O’Brien’s, corn hole and entertainer Cal Oliver at The Brass Tap and the corned beef at Mulligan’s. In the Neighborhood Magazine header on this page, we have some colorful characters from O’Brien’s (left) and Mulligan’s.

I hope everyone had a safe and fun St. Patty’s Day and woke up to attend the Taste of New Tampa the following day. — GN

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37

Cabana Spas Has So Many Ways To Help You Relax, Refresh & Renew!

By Brad Stager When chaos and stress are running up the score in the game of life, Cabana Spas offers a place to call a personal time out.

Located in the Seven Oaks Plaza on S.R. 56, Cabana Spas promotes itself as a place to, “Relax, Refresh & Renew.”

“Every one of our services fulfills at least one of those categories,” says Glen Harrod, who co-owns Cabana Spas with his wife, Jill.

Services available at Cabana Spas include hydro massage, oxygen therapy, facial LED therapy, an infrared sauna for multiple people, teeth whitening and more.

The rejuvenation begins as soon as a customer steps through the door, leaving the hustle and bustle of 21st century Wesley Chapel far behind. Within, it’s a “New Age” atmosphere at Cabana Spas, according to MacKenzie Carr, area manager of Glill (“It’s a combination of our names, Glen and Jill,” says Glen), Inc., parent company of the business “The energy of the store is relaxing,” Carr says. “You’re not really walking into a business; you’re walking into our home.”

At Cabana Spas, the concierge service is more like hospitable pampering.

“We want to make sure our clients are taken care of and we give them the royal treatment” says Carr, who explains that firsttime customers begin their Cabana Spa experience with a conversation about what they want to achieve.

“We’re going to sit down with a client and have a consultation with them and ask them, ‘Do you want to relax, do you want to refresh, or do you want to renew?’”

38

wood Plaza; see below), Cabana Spas does harness the reputed cosmetic power of light in the forms of facial LED therapy, which uses intense illumination from different colored lights as treatment.

According to Wesley Chapel store manager Tiarra Irish-Phillips, each of four different colors used in the LED light therapy at Cabana Spas has specific benefits.

“Blue light is going to kill bacteria, so it’s really good for acne-prone skin,’’ she says.

“Red light is going to help with scarring and fine lines or wrinkles and the green light is really good for oily or sensitive skin and blackheads. The yellow light has a relaxing effect and it’s really good for sunburn on the face.”

The hydration station is another popular service with Cabana Spas’ clients. It’s an open-ended capsule that mists the body with steam, which can include ingredients such as an aloe-based moisturizer.

“It’s like a steam bath from the neck down and is really good for hydrating the skin,” says Irish-Phillips.

Jenny, Sasha, Astrid & Gina enjoy a day at Cabana Spas on S.R. 56, receiving just some of the ofGetting the benefits of a dry sauna has ferings available to the spa’s clientele to help them “Relax, Refresh & Renew!” typically meant enduring not only heat, but the tedium of inactivity during a sweat sesA Unique Menu Of Services treatments such as teeth whitening and facial sion. That is not the case at Cabana Spas, masks themselves after receiving instruction Options are selected from Cabana Spa’s which features an infrared-heated space called menu of services and treatments based on de- from a Cabana Spas team member. Likewise the FitBomb. It is cozy in size, with a capacity sired outcomes, such as relieving muscle ten- with services such as the hydro massage, a for 2-3 people, but is configured so customdeep-tissue stimulation delivered via a table sion or improving skin conditions. ers can use their session to exercise, includ“We’re big on making our customers with a mattress-like top that transmits energy ing resistance training with built-in D-ring feel good about themselves internally and ex- from pulsating jets of water to a client’s body. fixtures, or relaxing by watching videos on a One service not available at Cabana Spas ternally,” says Carr. “We have a lot of services monitor inside the FitBomb. that take care of the skin and the hydro mas- is indoor tanning (although that is available sage that makes you feel good on the inside.” nearby, at Glen and Jill’s South Beach Tan- The Oxygen Bar — It’s A Services are provided in a self-directed ning Company location on Bruce B. Downs Social Thing manner, meaning clients generally apply Blvd., in the SuperTarget-anchored NorthA session at Cabana Spas can be breath-

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MacKenzie Carr and Tiarra Irish-Phillips will make sure you have all of the information you need before you try any of the relaxing and refreshing therapies at Cabana Spas, including (right), the FitBomb Infrared Sauna, where 2-3 people can relax or even enjoy an workout together. taking, and for clients who want to top off their lungs with some flavored oxygen, the members-only Cabana Room features an oxygen bar.

Customers partake of the life-giving gas through disposable “nose-hose” masks, that allow for drinking beverages such as coffee or water and having conversations.

Carr says the atmosphere often becomes festive and has generated the idea of a Cabana Bash, whereby customers can rent out the facility to have a private oxygen party for a few hours after 7 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

It is popular with customers who gather in the Cabana Room to inhale the fragrant gas and often bond over the experi-

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ence, perhaps comparing the merits of berry over mint and otherwise getting acquainted.

It is a popular feature at “high-end Las Vegas casinos” according to Carr.

“It’s a really good place for members to get to know other members,” says IrishPhillips. “They’ll just start talking and build up a friendship.”

Cabana Spas has been open for about eight months, with its official Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce ribbon cutting occurring in January.

The Harrods often partner with other Wesley Chapel businesses to promote their shopping center oasis, and that’s how Astrid Jean-Paul discovered it.

She’s a busy executive who runs the

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J&M Consulting Firm in New Tampa, and the complimentary certificate she received from Mercedes Benz of Wesley Chapel for being a loyal customer has also now made her a loyal customer of Cabana Spas.

“I made an appointment not knowing what to expect, thinking deep tissue massage, hot rocks, etc…,” says Jean-Paul. “I was in another world of innovation, technology, deep muscle detoxification, and so many more surprises. I now continuously invite my dear friends and family to experience this phenomenon of alternative health and beauty.”

Cabana Spas’ services are available as individual sessions or as part of a monthly membership. Jill says they want to offer flex-

ible access to meet the lifestyle needs of as many people as possible, whether they have 30 minutes or three hours available to indulge themselves.

“We’re affordable to your budget and also convenient because some people just want to run in on their lunch hour for one service or enjoy the oxygen bar,” she says.

The Harrods are true lifestyle entrepreneurs, as they also operate three South Beach Tanning Company franchises (including the aforementioned one in Wesley Chapel), a LaVida Massage franchise in Carrollwood, and expect to open their second Cabana Spas location in the Van Dyke Commons shopping center on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz around the time this issue reaches your mailbox.

While they take pride in serving the unique needs of each of their businesses’ customers, Cabana Spas occupies a special place in the Harrods’ entrepreneurial hearts.

“With Cabana Spas, there’s nobody else doing this,” says Glen. “It’s building a brand based upon personal services at a great value. Our membership costs less than you would typically spend on one service at a resort-style spa.”

Jill sums it all up by saying, “Cabana Spas is truly our own unique brand.”

Cabana Spas in Wesley Chapel is located at 27607 SR 56. It is open Mon.Thur., 8 a.m.-9 p.m., 8 a.m.-7 p.m. on Fri. and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sat. and Sun. For more information, see the ad on page 44, call 991-4433, or visit CabanaSpas.com. You also can get timely updates about special offers and events by searching “Cabana Spas-Wesley Chapel” on Facebook.

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La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café Has Great Food, Too!

SOME PEOPLE

By Gary Nager

love La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café in the Trout Creek area of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa (in the same building as Burger 21) for its varieties of frozen yogurt. Others (like yours truly) love it for the new Working Cow ice cream and still others for its variety of tasty, healthy sandwiches and other food items.

In other words, even if you think the name of the café is a little long to remember, just remember “La’ Berry” and you can enjoy a variety of great, healthy lunch and dessert items in a clean, casual environment. La’ Berry’s new owners — my friends Urvesh and Trina — have both worked in the health care field, so they’re particularly proud of the café’s many healthy options.

For example, La’ Berry always has several gluten-and dairy-free and one or more soy-free frozen yogurt options (all for just $0.59 per ounce) among its always-rotating flavors, as well as one or more flavors with no sugar added.

“We have a lot of people who love the taro, chocolate almond milk and even rose (yes, like the flower; it was available for a limited time in Feb. for Valentine’s Day) flavors,” Trina says. “And, we will be adding more flavors for people with dietary restrictions in the future.”

And, Urvesh says that Working Cow (which is based in St. Petersburg) is a healthier alternative in super premium ice cream.

The company’s website says that everyone at Working Cow is, “proud of the fact that all of the dairy we use contains no hormones or high fructose corn syrup. Our goal is and will always be to provide you with the freshest healthiest ice cream available.”

And yes, it is delicious, as anyone who tried the Working Cow samples at last weekend’s Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel can attest. My favorites so far are the chocolate peanut butter, cookies & cream and espresso chip flavors, although the kids will go crazy for the “Superman” and “Cookie Monster,” too.

And, if you’ve never had authentic and creamy “kulfi” Indian ice cream on a stick (photo top left on next page), ask Urvesh or Trina to give it a try.I’ve only sampled the cream-flavored kulfi as I’m writing this story, but...yum!

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I also really love the toppings — especially the various sauces — that you can add to your frozen yogurt cup or your Working Cow sundae at La’ Berry, especially the hot fudge, marshmallow, peanut butter and white chocolate sauces, although there are at least 80 items — from brownies to gummy worms to fresh fruit and from Reese’s cups to boba juice balls (and so many more), so everyone will find something they like to put on top of their tasty frozen dessert.

Outstanding Sandwiches, Wraps & Salads

But, if you’re looking for a quick and healthy lunch or dinner any day of the week, you also really need to try some of La’ Berry’s delicious salads, sandwiches and other food items.

For sandwiches, my favorite is the foza chicken panini, which comes with grilled chicken, fresh spinach, basil and mozzarella, plus tomatoes, sundried tomatoes, red peppers, red onions and a delicious pesto sauce, all on artisan white or whole grain panini bread. I had Urvesh hold the artichoke mayo and give me an extra side of the excellent pesto sauce.

I also loved the chicken Greek wrap, the chipotle chicken panini (which has chicken, bacon, cheddar cheese and a zesty chipotle spread) and our WCNT-tv sales and production assistant Gavin Olsen raves about his Philly steak panini). Our office also enjoyed both the big garden salad (which costs just $6.95, or add grilled chicken for just $1 more) with La’ Berry’s excellent Greek dressing (there’s also a Greek salad on the menu) and the La’ Berry salad, which includes fresh strawberries, blueberries, candied walnuts, bleu cheese crumbles and a tasty raspberry vinaigrette dressing.

On a future visit, I definitely plan to also try the gourmet grilled cheese (with fresh mozzarella, jack and cheddar cheeses) and the new tuna melt sandwich.

And, best of all, Trina and Urvesh always make everything fresh for you when you order your lunch or dinner, and all of these menu items cost just $6.95-$7.95.

All sandwiches are served with your choice of chips or pasta salad or you can upgrade your side to fresh fruit cup, a cup of soup or a nice side salad for just $1 more.

For you vegetarians out there, La’ Berry also has not only a tomato and mozzarella panini, but also a Cali veg wrap and

Foza Chicken Panini w/Fresh Fruit

Greek Salad Chicken Greek Wrap w/Pasta Salad

even authentic Indian potato-and-veggie samosas. These crispy, fried appetizers (photo above) are like a slightly spicy potato knish inside, but with a super-crisp shell, and served with a deliciously spicy dipping sauce.

I have yet to sample any of La’ Berry’s different soups, but I meant to during the recent run of colder-than-normal weather.

La’ Berry also has a nice kids menu, with everything from PB&J sandwiches to corn dogs to a chicken melt sandwich, all for either just $3.95 or $4.95 per item.

And, if you or your kids are into that whole smoothie craze, La’ Berry has you covered there, too, with ten different flavors, including my favorites — the peanut butter cup

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Chicken & Cheese Panini (above) and bananas Foster flavors, and other fresh fruit options like strawberry, blueberry and even “razz matazz” and “mango madness.”

And, once you get the kids to eat a delicious, healthy meal, you’ll want to reward them with La’ Berry’s delicious frozen yogurt or Working Cow ice cream — and you should reward yourself, too.

“We’re committed to healthy food and serving people with dietary restrictions,” Trina says. “We’re still adding menu items and specials, so please keep stopping in to give us another try if you haven’t been here in a while and feel free to make suggestions

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Kulfi Ice Cream

about items you’d like us to add.”

La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café is located at 20304 Trout Creek Dr. It is open 11:30 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sun., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m. on Mon., & Tues.-Sat., 11 a.m.-10 p.m.

For more info, see the ad on pg. 47 of this issue, search for “La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café-Tampa” on Facebook or call 345-8537. La’ Berry also offers fund-raising events on-site for school and other groups.

La’ Berry Frozen Yogurt & Ice Cream Café wants to be the first place you think of for a quick and delicious lunch or dinner, as well as for delicious frozen yogurt and ice cream with more than 80 different toppings!

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Kwan Ming Bistro Keps Improving Its NY-Style Chinese Cuisine!

THE CUISINE

By Gary Nager

that I miss the most from when I lived in New York City is still Chinese food, hands down.

To be honest, there still isn’t a place in New Tampa or Wesley Chapel that really compares to the incredible Chinese food I have loved all of my life.

That having been said, I do still enjoy quite a few of the Chinese places in our area and one of the places that has really grown on me the last few months in Kwan Ming Bistro, located on S.R. 56, in the same Seven Oaks Plaza as Wolf’s Den and Cabana Spas (see story on page 38). Owner/chef Henry Lo opened Kwan Ming in 2012, but I will admit that I didn’t like it as much then as I do now.

I believe that Henry, who has 40 years of Chinese cuisine experience and is known for his creative specials printed on a specials board inside the restaurant, has grown as a chef and the addition of assistant chef Nick Shalna in 2015 has given Henry the freedom to explore his more creative cuisine options and better control the quality of the food at his restaurant.

Kwan Ming bills its food as Hong Kongstyle Chinese cuisine, but I believe several of its offerings are as close to NY-style as you’ll find in our area.

“Don’t give me any credit,” says Nick. “Henry is the chef. I’m just trying to help him make sure that the fact that the two of us cook everything here will continue to make sure that our quality stays consistent.”

I believe the formula is working. Let’s start, as I always do, with the appetizers. I can’t really enjoy a Chinese meal without spare ribs, egg or spring rolls and dumplings and Kwan Ming’s are all very good.

I like my Chinese-style ribs with as little sauce as possible, but while the honeyglazed ribs at Kwan Ming are slathered with a little more sauce than I usually like, they are tender, meaty and delicious, albeit a little bit on the messy side. And, speaking of messy, the gooey General Tso’s chicken wings are very tasty, although not as spicy as some of the General Tso’s recipes I’ve had at other places.

The pork egg rolls and veggie spring rolls aren’t particularly large, but they are

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served crispy and the homemade duck sauce makes for a nice dip. I also prefer my pork dumplings more pan-fried than a deep-fried, but the flavor of Kwan Ming’s fried dumplings is excellent, as is the homemade dumpling dipping sauce.

I also enjoy the Beijing hot-and-sour and Hong Kong-style wonton soup and plan to try Henry’s unique vegetable garlic soup on a future visit.

Ahh, Yes, The Entrées

I’m still exploring the huge selection of entrées at Kwan Ming Bistro, but I do have a number of favorites. My two favorites to date are probably the beef with fresh asparagus and the Su Choi Chow fish with fresh vegetables, which features nicely sautéed chunks of fresh, white fish.I usually order the sauce a little spicy, but I will suggest that if you like your food spicy, ask for it that way. I love the heat I feel when I enjoy a great Szechuan or Hunan-style Chinese dish, but I think Henry and Nick tone down the spiciness unless you specifically ask for your dish extra spicy.

Other favorites among our Neighborhood News staff include the General Tso’s chicken, the kung pao chicken (shown as one of several available lunch specials in the photo on the next page), the beef with broccoli and the Mongolian pork.

I also really love Kwan Ming’s fried rice, from the house special fried rice shown on the next page (I order it without the shrimp, of course), which actually gets a nice flavor boost from the addition of fresh red peppers, to the simple pork fried rice. I’m not the biggest lover of Chinese noodle dishes, but Kwan Ming has a wide variety of not only lo mein dishes — there’s even a mixed seafood lo mein and a k-krab special lo mein — but other noodle dishes, too. For example, Nick says that those who like broader Chinese-style noodle dishes will love Kwan Ming’s beef ho fun, which is made with hand-cut, house-marinated flank steak and homemade rice noodles.

Speaking of special, the aforementioned specials board always attracts a lot of attention at Kwan Ming Bistro, for good reason. Although none of these dishes are pictured here, Nick says the following are his favorites: the true king crab lo mein, the deep-fried Chinese eggplant,

Beef with Fresh Asparagus

Honey-Glazed BBQ Spare Ribs

Pork Egg Roll

the lobster kew and the seafood volcania, which features krabmeat, U10 scallops, white fish and shrimp.

“We also have an extensive number of vegetarian options,” Nick says. “We will even use water to cook your vegetarian meals, instead of chicken broth.”

And, although neither whole Maine lobster nor Hong Kong-stye whole duck aren’t on the menu, Nick says they can get them for you — with a day’s notice.

“We don’t keep a lobster tank here,” he says, “but, if you give us one day’s notice, we will gladly order a whole lobster for you.” He adds that Kwan Ming serves Halal meats as approved on Zabiliah.com.

He also notes that the duck also takes a day because Henry will hang the ducks — as I remember them doing in Chinatown in New York City — to help the fat drain out and leave nothing but succulent duck with crispy skin. I definitely plan to try this one sometime in the future, too.

And of course, even though Kwan Ming certainly isn’t a fancy place, it does accept and recommends reservations for weekend evenings and also offers beer and wine, including Tsingtao Chinese beer and others. There’s also a variety of hot teas, including some Chinese specialty teas.

Kwan Ming Bistro is located at 27607 S.R. 56. It is open every day

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Su Choi Chow Fish

Fried Dumplings

General Tso’s Wings

House Special Fried Rice

except Monday for lunch and dinner, as follows: Tues.-Fri., 11 a.m.-9:30 p.m., and noon-9:30 p.m. on Sat. and Sun. For more info, see the ad on pg.

40 of this issue, search for “Kwan Ming Bistro” on Facebook or visit KwanMingRestaurant.com. For dinner reservations, call 994-2328. And, Kwan Ming Bistro stays open on Christmas Eve & Day and New Year’s Eve & Day.

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Kung Pao Chicken Lunch Special

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Love This Weather? Here Are Three Of My Favorite Restaurants On St. Pete Beach If you’re loving the weather we’ve been having lately and plan a visit to one of our area’s world-class beaches over the next few weeks, I have some suggestions about some amazing restaurants you should try.

And, if you’ve been watching WCNTtv (YouTube/WCNT-tv), you know how much I love St. Pete Beach. In fact, I’ve featured one of these three excellent eateries in my “Neighborhood Dining News” segments, and all three of them are located basically within walking distance of each other on St. Pete Beach proper.

All three offer not only still-swimming fresh seafood, but also other equally- highquality entrées and appetizers. Two are on the pricier side, while the other is one of my favorite value places for my money on any of our local beaches.

In other words, you can’t go wrong with any of them — and please tell them that you heard about them from Gary of the New Tampa Neighborhood News and WCNT-tv! — GN

tieth century visitors who travelled to St. Pete Beach by railroad.

Although it looks to me, from the outside, more like the diners I grew up loving in Long Island, NY (but they never had food like this!), Chef Oliver has brought the old school dining car experience into the future, with innovative new dishes and twists on classic favorites, providing the ultimate dining experience to locals and travelers alike.

Whether you love the look of the place from the outside or not, there’s no doubt that inside this train car, the elegant interior and awesome food, wine and craft beer (not having full liquor is perhaps its only drawback) attract a great-looking, upbeat crowd...for very good reason.

I’ve enjoyed several wonderful meals at Mad Fish, including the 10-oz. aged filet mignon pictured in the previous column, as well as the Chilean sea bass and, since I can’t risk an allergic reaction to what I’m certain is an incredibly crispy lobster-crusted grouper on the menu. I’ve had the grouper without the crusting, and it was amazing. I also can recommend the ahi tuna poke and flash-fried Brussel sprouts appetizers (all of the veggies are awesome) and I plan to try either the chateaubriand for two or the rack of lamb on my next visit, which I will likely pair with a glass of the Familia Zaccardi Malbec “A.” If you’ve never been to Mad Fish, you really need to check it out soon.

about a quarter mile or so further south on St. Pete Beach than Mad Fish, is the most upscale of Nick Skiadotis’ restaurants and it is a big, beautiful, elegant place with prices very similar to those at Mad Fish and even though many of the menu items also seem similar and are also absolutely delicious, both restaurants have different takes on everything from fresh fish to steaks.

Among my favorite dishes to date at Selene are the pistachio-crusted black grouper (photo below), the branzino (whole grilled sea bass), the 16-oz., grain-fed ribeye steak and the beef pappardelle (large, flat noodles with beef short rib ragout, red wine and a rich beef stock with tomato and fresh parsley). There’s also three amazing seafood pastas I unfortunately can’t try as-is, although I’m sure the kitchen would probably make the seafood Americain for me without the Gulf shrimp, as I’m not allergic (at least not so far) to the scallops, clams or grouper in the dish, which is served in white wine, EVOO olive oil, fresh lemon and herbs over linguine with Pecorino Romano cheese.

Selene also is famous for its grilled octopus, fried calamari and crab cakes appetizers and I plan to enjoy the duck spring rolls on my next visit. Selene also features an ultra-premium full-liquor bar, Sunday brunch and live music on Wed., Fri. & Sat. nights.

Selene Fresh Fare & Bar 4945 Gulf Blvd.

St. Pete Beach SeleneRestaurant.com (727) 317-2064

Mad Fish

5200 Gulf Blvd.

St. Pete Beach MadFishOnline.com (727) 360-9200 Under the direction of Head Chef Oliver Harris, Mad Fish was founded in 2016 to recreate the spirit of early twen-

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My frequent weekend trips to St. Pete Beach have helped me become very well acquainted with the Skiadotis family — the patriarch Nick, who owns Neptune Grill in Gulfport and two of my favorites on St. Pete Beach proper (Selene and Skidder’s; see next item), as well as his son, Teddy, who owns the almost-too-good Craft Kafe in St. Pete, less than ten minutes from the beach.

Selene Fresh Fare & Bar, located

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Skidder’s Restaurant 5799 Gulf Blvd.

St. Pete Beach SkiddersRestaurant.com (727) 360-1029

My first experience with any of the Skiadotis family’s eateries was with Skidder’s Restaurant, which is located almost directly across Gulf Blvd. from the Tradewinds Resort. And, although I’ve heard some people compare the interior of Skidder’s to a diner or IHOP (in part because it is open for breakfast, lunch and dinner), I can assure you that this casual, comfortable restaurant with full liquor bar is the place to go for not only an absolutely delectable grouper or flounder Francaise for dinner (for $20 or less), but also for whatever you’re craving, from rack of lamb to Greek salads and souvlakis and for Italian-style veal and chicken dishes with pasta and even great New York-style pizza.

Families are welcome, as Skidder’s has a great kids menu, with everything from grilled cheese and hamburgers to spaghetti and meatballs, fried flounder and shrimp, all for just $4.95-$7.95.

Oh, and save room for dessert, as Skidder’s has a great New York-style cheesecake and authentic Greek baklava.

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The Latest & Greatest News About Dining, Retail, Health Care & More In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel!

WCCC Keeps Cutting Ribbons!

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) continues to cut ribbons at new businesses in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel, including at the new and very cool Imagine Escape Games, located at 2830 E. Bearss Ave., in the Palms Connection plaza (next to PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub) on March 8.

I will say that Imagine Escape Games was not what I expected — I thought it was going to be some sort of video arcade or maybe a place that sells video or role-playing games.

Wrong! Imagine Escape Games is the ul-

50

timate team-building exercise as you are (gulp) locked behind a gate and have to use clues and teamwork to escape from those locked cells.

If you’re at all claustrophobic, you may not want to try it, but if not, there currently are two rooms available for escape as you’re reading this. The team I was on of mainly WCCC members escaped the first challenge in a little more than 10 minutes, almost five minutes sooner than our allotted 15 minutes.

For more info, visit ImagineEscape. com or call 693-BOOK (2665), and please tell them the Neighborhood News sent you, even though I didn’t have a pic to show you because I was part of the game.

I also was on hand for the Grand Opening and WCCC ribbon cutting at (Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel participating restaurant) Wok Chi (28152 Paseo Dr., in the Shops at Wiregrass mall; photo, left) on Mar. 10, at the amazing new information center for the Avalon Park West (APW) community off S.R. 54 (top right), and at the Meraki Aesthetic Center (26907 Foggy Creek Rd., off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel; photo top of next page) on Mar. 16.

For my money, Wok Chi is now one of the two best Chinese restau-

rants in Wesley Chapel (see page 42 for the other). Fresh, crisp veggies and tasty chicken, pork, beef and seafood (more on that below) are sautéed with white, brown or fried rice (there’s even fried brown rice), whole wheat or egg noodles or even quinoa while you wait and topped with some excellent sauces (my favorites so far are the spicy Sichuan and kung pao sauces) and the dim sum also is pretty great. My favorite appetizers so far are the crispy chicken and veggie spring rolls and the Chi-licious spare ribs. You can even enjoy

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two kinds of free, delicious hot tea, as well as purchase soft drinks, to go with your meal.

Please tell GM Mark Pasquale that you’re a friend of mine and, if you just happen to have a shellfish allergy like I do, so he can cook your food in a separate, clean wok.

For more info, call Wok Chi at 8622315 or visit WokChi.com.

I can’t wait for the new sections of Avalon Park West (APW) to open. If you’ve driven past the building on S.R. 54 (almost to Zephyrhills) shown in the photo above,

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you may have wondered what it was. Well, it’s a representation of APW’s new multi-family community with businesses on the bottom floor of the buildings (some call it neo-traditional) to be built from where the information center currently sits to where it will meet up with the existing homes in APW, about a mile west of the center. APW is part of the New River Township Development of Regional Impact (DRI), which is approved for 4,800 residential units and 700,000 square feet of commercial uses. One of the new sections of the community that is certain to attract a lot of attention to APW is a K-12 charter school that should begin building shortly. We’ll keep you posted as things start to heat up.

As for upcoming events, we hope you’ll check out the WCCC ribbon cutting for the new Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen (28014 Wesley Chapel Blvd.) on Friday, April 7, 10 a.m.noon. There also will be a free monthly Business Mixer at Happy Feet Plus (1051 BBD Blvd.) on Thursday, April 13, 4 p.m., and a Monthly Coffee Social at Buttermilk Provisions (2653 BBD Blvd.), on Tuesday, April 18, 8 a.m.-9

Neighborhood News

a.m. There also will be two ribbon cuttings on Wednesday, April 19. The first will be at Axiom Bank (19910 BBD Blvd., New Tampa), 11 a.m.-1 p.m., and the second will be at Kaji Harmonizing Therapies (2748 Windguard Cir., Suite 102), 4 p.m.-6 p.m.

And finally, good luck to the Chamber and my WCNT-tv partner Craig Miller, as they host “Explore Jam,” live from the Shops at Wiregrass soundstage on Saturday, April 22, 7:30 p.m..

Photographer/performer and New Tampa Rotary Club member Bob Thompson, who hosted the Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, will be performing and recording a music video for the WCCC’s “Explore New Tampa & Wesley Chapel” video package. Admission is free and Chamber CEO Hope Allen says “Explore Jam” is definitely open to the entire community.

For the full upcoming WCCC schedule, visit WesleyChapel Chamber.com.

New Owners At Bosco’s

Although I was never a big fan of Bosco’s Italian to Go in the Freedom Plaza at 30122 S.R. 54, the new owners, Charles and Nancy Franculini, have not only gotten a boost from participating in the Taste of New Tampa, they also have done a great job of upgrading the menu (check out the triplepepperoni pizza above) and have a terrific offer for you. See the ad on page 42 for details. —GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Authors Share Writing & Publishing Tips At PHSC-Porter Campus Symposium Special To The Neighborhood News A panel featuring English professor Joseph Ward, J.D., Pasco Hernando State College student and author Taylor Gibson and local author Madonna Jervis Wise regaled a crowd of about 50 people at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch about the process of writing and publishing at a seminar on March 23.

Each author shared their experiences in the field while the lively audience of diverse community members posed questions for the panel. The event is part of PHSC’s ongoing Community Awareness Series that aims to increase public awareness of resources available to community members at the state college.

Gibson, a native Floridian and a current student at PHSC, has written and published The Spark: A Phantasy Novel.

Taylor told the audience that as a child, he spent hours with books and movies, and conceived his fictional characters in his head before he began writing in high school. He explained that he was diagnosed with a highfunctioning autism as a young child, and endured trials during adolescence which further inspired his writing.

Taylor hopes to write a movie script about his experiences and bring it to fruition after he graduates from college. His second novel in The Spark series is currently with the editor, and he has nearly finished the third book in a series of four planned novels.

Fantasy is a popular genre for twenty and thirty-somethings, Taylor said. He added that his characters transform as fantasy becomes reality through thought. Taylor’s self-publishing company is AuthorHouse.

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Ward is a founding faculty member of the PHSC Porter Campus and he sponsors the Literary Artists and Scholars Troop (LAST), a creative writing organization at the school.

He has published four true crime creative non-fiction novels under a pen name.

Having graduated from law school at Florida State in Tallahassee as well, and as a member of the Florida Bar, Local author Madonna Jervis Wise talks about her experiences researching hisWard shared his tory books and the business of self publishing at PHSC. (Photo: Courtney Boetcher) unique perspecWard went on to publish three additiontive about the al crime novels, and currently is working on world of crime.

“Writing a book was on my bucket list of two sequels. He recommended that potential things to do,’’ he said. “My first book began authors check out the book, A Guide to Litto take shape with a discussion I had with my erary Agents, for the process of developing a father about a 1980s serial killer in the State query letter and book proposal. He also recommended WritersMarket.com. of Florida.”

Ward humorously shared that mystery The professor gave some useful, if not sobering, advice to the aspiring writers in the writer Agatha Christie had five years of rejection before her first novel was published, and audience.

“Don’t expect fame or fortune,’’ he said. J.K. Rowling was told by a publishing com“It is analogous to the adolescent athlete who pany that she needed to take a writing class dreams of the NBA. In reality, writing is a sat- during the 12 years she sought a publisher for isfying endeavor and brings some supplemen- the Harry Potter series.

Jervis Wise, who has published Images tal income in the monthly royalty checks.”

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 •Volume 25, Issue 8 • April 7, 2017 • WCNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

of America: Wesley Chapel and eight other books, shared the acquisition and publishing process of working with Arcadia Publishing/ History Press of Mount Pleasant, SC. She also discussed working with Create Space for self-publishing.

“You need to surround yourself with words through book clubs, workshops and professional organizations,’’ she said, while encouraging locals to attend the Florida Writers Association of Wesley Chapel, which meets the first Saturday of each month at the New Tampa Regional Library on Cross Creek Blvd.

Jervis Wise also explained that creativity is not linear for most people. “My mantra is ‘write it now, fix it later,’” she said. “Even Ernest Hemingway said, ‘The first draft of anything is garbage.’”

During the Q & A with the audience, attendees inquired about the research process for crime and history books. Ward said that he often reads court transcripts and records from government sources, while Jervis Wise described her research, including extensive interviewing and mining the archives of historical newspapers.

Taylor described the process of self-marketing for his books.

All three authors were asked if they experienced writer’s block. The three agreed that writing was an intensive yet creative process that required stimulation and inspiration.

They advised taking a break from the process to regenerate the creative juices anytime a writer feels blocked.

For more information about PHSC’s Community Awareness Series, contact Natalie Epo at 527-6629 or by email at epon@phsc.com.

@NTWCNews