Volume 22 Issue 12
Inside:
Stonemill Artisan Bakery For Real Croissants & More!
June 7, 2014
See Neighborhood Magazine!
The Direct - Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Bridgewater • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • The Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Watergrass • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg OUR NEW TAMPA EDITIONS ARE MAILED TO: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Easton Park • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key K-Bar Ranch • Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • The Hammocks • West Meadows
Zimmerman Closes On Ice Rink Land; Another Rink On The Way? By Matt Wiley
It seems that Wesley Chapel is going to be pretty cool in the coming years, as two ice hockey rinks now are in the works for our area, although one of the two is significantly closer to becoming a reality. On May 29, Seven Oaks resident Gordie Zimmerman of Tampa-based Z Mitch, LLC, held a press conference after closing on the 13 acres of land adjacent to American Consulting Engineers in the Cypress Creek Development of Regional Impact (DRI), located adjacent to I-75 off S.R. 56. “To have a good hockey team, you need the right players,” Zimmerman said during the conference before unveiling conceptual renderings of the ice rink. “The county, King Engineering and everyone else have been terrific (in helping make this happen).” The 150,500-sq.-ft., two-story rink will feature four ice pads, one Olympicsized and one arena-style, with 450 seats for spectators, as well as a canopied entrance because, Zimmerman noted, “it rains a lot in Florida.” One pad will have removable ice and can will be able to be used for other sports or events, even high school graduations that currently take place at the University of South Florida Sun Dome in Tampa. The conference, held inside American Consulting Engineers, was a packed house
former National Hockey League official Pat Delorenzo is working to build a two-rink ice facility that he says also could serve as a future convention center for the Wesley Chapel area. “I’ve been working on this for the past six years,” Delorenzo explains. “I’ve got everything Seven Oaks resident Gordie Zimmerman (left) unveiled his plans for Wesready to go. We’ve ley Chapel’s first ice hockey facility that will feature four ice pads and space just got to get it for other sports within the building during a press conference on May 29. built.” Delorenzo adds that he is set to close “That hurts the bigger picture. All of these on the land for the $10-million, 80,000-sq.- rinks can feed off of each other.” Delorenzo says that he plans to keep it ft. dual pad rink in July. He explains that his plan is for more of a community center than low-key at his facility for all to enjoy. “I don’t like seeing expensive ice just a hockey rink. Depending upon the success of the initial concept, Delorenzo says time,” he says. “I want to make it affordthat he plans to expand to up to 115,000 able for everyone. I want the kids to have sq. ft. with a 3,000-seat arena that also can fun and learn to play hockey or figure skate. serve as convention, performing arts or con- It builds self-confidence. These sports are great for kids.” cert space. Another Ice Rink In WC? For more information about this “(My concept is) not trying to steal A few miles northwest, adjacent to other planned facility, please visit WesleyLexington Oaks on Wesley Chapel Blvd., from any other rinks,” Delorenzo explains. ChapelIceRink.com
of Pasco County and Tampa Bay-area officials, including State Senator Wilton Simpson, Pasco County Commissioners Jack Mariano, Ted Schrader and Pat Mulieri, the Cypress Creek Group’s Chip Skinner and several Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) members, as well as former Tampa Bay Lightning Stanley Cupwinning (in 2004) captain Dave Andreychuk, who is now the team’s “Vice President of Fans.” Currently in the site plan stages, Zimmerman says that the building itself should take between 8-9 months to build and that investors for the nearly $20-million project are all already in place. With the Brandon Ice Sports Forum (which Zimmerman says he helped bring to the Tampa market) just more than 20 miles south on I-75, he says that he doesn’t see other rinks as competition. “It’s more ice for the kids,” Zimmerman said at the press conference. Jeff Novotny, the president of both the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and American Consulting Engineers, said at the press conference, “My daughter and I can’t wait to lace up our skates.” For more info, visit ZMitch.com.
Freedom Festival To Be Held July 3 At The Shops At Wiregrass Mall! By Gary Nager
Mark your calendars now, because you don’t want to miss all the fun when the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club (which means Wednesdays at noon at Ciao! Italian Bistro in the Shops at Wiregrass Mall) hosts the third annual Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Freedom Festival & Fireworks Show at the Shops at Wiregrass on Thursday, July 3, 5 p.m.-9 p.m., and celebrate your love for not only our country, but also
for the Wesley Chapel community. This year’s activities again include the Bicycle Decorating Contest, Little Miss & Mr. Firecracker Pageant (presented by Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel), as well as a new Watermelon Eating Contest, plus Wesley Chapel’s biggest and best fireworks show. and so much more. And of course, big events like these don’t happen without lots of wonderful sponsors and this year’s Freedom Festival is
News, Business, Sports & Education Updates
Neighborhood Magazine
State Budget Gives PHSC $10M For Arts Center, S.R. 54/56 Elevated Toll Road Turned Down, WCH/WRH Graduations, Lots Of Local Business Features & More!
Summer Movies Are Here, Get Tasty Gifts From Edible Arrangements, Branchton Farms Has Fresh Produce & Much More; Plus, More Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!
Pages 1-28
Pages 29-48
Also Inside This Issue!
no exception. In addition to FHWC and Parks Ford, this year’s Freedom Festival sponsors include “White” sponsors McIlwain Family Dentistry and “Blue” sponsors Pasco Hernando State College; Barbizon Modeling & Acting Careers; Mike Moore for Pasco County Commissioner; Ken Chase of Home Buyers Marketing II, Inc.; Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco; Cash for Gold of Wesley The bicycle decorating contest at the annual Wesley Chapel Chapel and SmartHealth, Inc., Licensed Health & Freedom Festival at Wiregrass Mall is always star-spangled! Life Insurance Agency. For more information, including info about sponsorships (which are still available) visit Facebook.com/Freedom FestivalWesleyChapel.