‘Connected City’ Developer Responds To Critics
By Gary Nager
With Wesley Chapel already growing by leaps and bounds, the area known as the Connected City (CC) — conceived by Metro Development Group as a partnership with Pasco County and approved by the State Legislature as a “special planning area” pilot program for the State of Florida — is something completely unique.
Rather than just another collection of developers building nothing but more of the same subdivisions that Pasco seemingly will continue to approve until there is no more vacant land within the county’s nearly 750 total square miles, Metro Development principal Kartik Goyani says that, when it comes to CC, there is a 50-year plan in place to be more than just another series of individual developments of single-family homes, apartments and retail strip centers.
Despite what some critics are claiming, Goyani says that CC, — aka the “First Smart Gigabit Community in the U.S.,” which was approved in 2015 and began development with Metro’s Epperson community in 2017 — is only in year eight of that 50-year plan and, in his estimation, the 7,800acre CC development is indeed proceeding according to plan.
Before we get into the discussion of what is or isn’t happening in CC, here are some geographical
facts, many of which may not be 100% clear from the map (right), which was provided to us by Metro.
The orange lines on the map indicate the boundaries of what is called CC, of which only the western boundary follows a specific roadway — I-75.
The northern boundary extends to a little north of S.R. 52 in San Antonio, with several important commercial developments and yet another (as yet unnanounced) AdventHealth hospital to be located in this northernmost section. Goyani says AdventHealth has owned that property since 2019 or 2020.
Curley Rd. forms most of the CC’s eastern border, although a portion of it extends east of Curley — between Elam Rd. to the north and just north of the eastern portion of Overpass Rd. to the south. It is worth noting that the Watergrass community, which includes property both north and south of that eastern extension of Overpass Rd., is not part of CC.
And, speaking of Overpass Rd., everything north of it from I-75 to the entrance of Epperson is within the CC boundary, but that boundary also extends south of Overpass to include all of the Epperson development, but not the pre-existing Palm Cove or Bridgewater communities.
How It All Got Started
Of course, knowing the
GET READY, CHICKEN JUDGES & BOLTS FANS!
Our editor comes up with the easiest way to find the favorite chicken tenders in Wesley Chapel! Plus, wanna win Lightning playoff tickets?
See page 3
ALL CHILDREN’S BREAKS GROUND!
The first pediatric hospital in Wesley Chapel expands our area’s reputation for quality health care facilities
See page 8
MORRIS BRIDGE RD. UPDATE!
See page 16 Metro Development Group Principal
Pasco and Hillsborough counties and the City of Tampa all have plans to expand our area’s “rural roadway.”
Our Chicken Contest & Our Podcast To Start Soon; Plus, Lightning Playoff Tickets!
An Editorial by GARY NAGER
We now have nearly 40 people who have told us they want to be a “Chicken Judge,” to help us find the favorite fried chicken specialty restaurant in the Wesley Chapel area. We are in the process of replying to each and every one of those “chicken people” by email, asking them whether they prefer their fried chicken spicy or not, which place they think they like best before our blind taste-test contest begins and why they think they should be a judge — in 50 words or less.
Once we hear back from everyone, which we hope will conclude later this month, Jannah and I will pick from five to no more than seven people to judge their favorite spicy chicken and five to seven other people to judge their favorite mild/not-spicy chicken. We may also pick a couple of alternate judges, in case our original choices are unable to complete the process — for whatever reason.
We also decided that it’s going to be too hard to get enough of the owners of the eleven chicken places in our area to participate, so we’re going to do this ourselves. Once a week until we find the winners, we will bring in the spicy and non-spicy chicken judges to the new North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) office next to Dillard’s in the Shops at Wiregrass and give them samples of no more than four of the chicken places — we won’t tell them which four — and have them give each sample a score from 1-10. Once all of the judges have given their scores for each place, we will tell them which place won for that week. We will not tell them who voted for which place or what the scores were for each until the entire contest is over. We will repeat this process once each week until all of the places that specialize in spicy and not-spicy chicken have been sampled and scored.
‘Neighborhood Newsmakers!’
The best part about this, in one editor’s opinion, is that we will be video recording all of the festivities as part of the kickoff for my new podcast, which I am calling “New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood Newsmakers.”
I so appreciated that NTBC president and CEO Hope Kennedy gave me the opportunity to be the first guest on her weekly “Chamber Chatter” podcast because it really got the creative juices flowing on this old University of Florida Broadcast News major. I told Hope before appearing on her podcast that I had been seriously thinking about starting one of my own (who hasn’t, right?), in part because I felt I could interview local newsmakers — some of whom probably won’t be asked to appear on Tampa Bay area-wide news stations — and that it would help me be able to release some stories on a more timely basis than once every four weeks in print in each of our distribution areas.
In other words, I feel a local news podcast will be a great complement to our print editions of the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News. And, what better way to kick off a new podcast than with a contest that I hope people will be excited about — since people in our area clearly can’t enough fried chicken!
In the future, look for interviews with local elected officials, real estate developers and other people you would only normally get to read about in these pages, including folks opening new businesses in both of our distribution areas.
Go Bolts! Wanna Win/Buy Playoff Tix?
The weekend we went to press with this issue, the Tampa Bay Lightning had just clinched a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs, which are scheduled to begin the weekend of April 19-20 — and it just so happens that the Neighborhood News will have a pair of tickets to every home playoff game this season, for the first time ever!
Of course, that opening weekend is my next deadline weekend, so if the Lightning open Round 1 at home at Amalie Arena, Jannah and I will be unable to attend that first game — whether it will be held on Saturday the 19th or Sunday the 20th.
Of course, if the Bolts start Round 1 on the road (and we probably won’t know what place the team will finish in the Atlantic Division, or who for sure they will play in Round 1, until the NHL season ends on Apr. 17), our area’s craziest Lightning fan (Jannah) and I would be able to attend. There also was still a possibility at our press
time that the Bolts could finish first in the Atlantic, which means the team would receive a first round “bye” and wouldn’t start its playoff run until the second round.
But, no matter how things shake out, we are going to give away our two (2) tickets to Playoff Game 1 with a fun online-only contest! All you have to do is visit NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net and tell us 1) Which restaurant in downtown Tampa is your favorite and why (in 50 words or less) and 2) Your favorite all-time Lightning player! We will select one winner and one alternate (in case the winner can’t use the Game 1 tickets, based on when it will be played).
We also will be selling (with the permission of the team) our tickets to any games we can’t attend ourselves, as the Bolts try to advance to win the team’s fourth Stanley Cup, so anyone who wants to buy two tickets should call our office at (813) 910-2575 and leave a message with your name and phone number and we will call you back!
Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News
& Editorial E-mail:
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Publisher & Editor Gary Nager
Correspondents
Celeste McLaughlin • Iris Vitelli
Joel Provenzano
Editorial Research by Joel Provenzano
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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 necessarily reflect the publisher’s opinion.
The deadline for outside editorial submissions & advertisement reservations for Volume 33, Issue 10, of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News is Thursday, May 1, 2025.
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boundaries of CC doesn’t really give you any insight into why Metro Development decided to create a massive employment center where people could live, work and play in a portion of Pasco County that was super-rural, not even suburban, when Metro first proposed the idea of the CC to the county and the state in 2014.
According to Goyani, it all started with internet speed. He says that before the Covid19 pandemic hit in 2020, the last economic slowdown was in 2008, but as business started to pick back up in 2009-10, Pasco County’s goal was to transform the county from a sleepy bedroom community, with thousands of residents leaving the county to work in Tampa, into a thriving selfsustaining economic center of its own.
And, even though other developers may not have been thinking about how to plan for a better future, Goyani says, “We knew from our own experience during the 2008-09 downturn, that before the next downturn hits, we wanted to offer something that it seemed no one else was even interested in — faster internet. So, in 2014, we launched Ultrafi (Metro’s own bundled internet and cable service with ultra-fast internet speeds, up to 10 Gigabits per second) in our Park Creek community in Riverview and planned to include it in Epperson (the first development in CC).”
He says that “everyone asked us ‘Why are you focusing on something that technology companies should do? No one’s asking us for faster internet, because they only have one connected device at home.”
Goyani’s response is that, “We knew that to retrofit a community for faster internet would be very expensive. So, we laid fiber lines everywhere that could get insanely fast speeds at prices we
all can afford. We talked to Google fiber (which wasn’t interested in Pasco County), AT&T, Verizon...and they all said no one wants faster speeds, so we did it ourselves.”
He adds, “Could we use technology for the greater good? Could we create a new community from the internet up?”
In other words, although Metro’s intent, when the CC pilot program was approved by the state in 2015, was to also have the CC connected by walkways and multimodal transportation opportunities, the developer’s primary focus was the internet. “From a fundamental standpoint,” he says, “counties and developers usually focus on the physical infrastructure — roads, water lines, waste water, electrical — because you can’t have a community without those, but no one else was working on the digital infrastructure. That’s how this story ended up evolving.”
But, speaking of physical infrastructure, Goyani says that when CC began development, no other developers were interested in improving S.R. 52 or creating an Overpass Rd. interchange off I-75.
“But, by bringing the CC to Pasco, S.R. 52 is now vastly improved and the Overpass Rd. intersection is open, meaning that the physical infrastructure for the CC is now in place. That is a big reason why we have been able to attract so many employment centers to this development.”
He also notes that while most large-scale developments at that time were offering huge 10,000-20,000-sq.-ft. clubhouses or “amenity centers” that were intended to provide the community’s “social infrastructure,” Metro saw that during the last economic downturn, “people had to decide between being able to afford their mortgage or paying for the maintenance of a 20,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse for the use of the residents only. That just didn’t make sense to me.”
Goyani says he wanted to create something that could benefit the entire region, “that’s why
we put the first Metro Lagoon® in the U.S. in our Epperson community. Nobody was putting these lagoons in a community. We felt that connecting the digital, physical and social aspects — and the ‘Wow’ factor of the lagoons — would help put Pasco County on the map.”
He also says that Metro didn’t even own all of Epperson. “We only own the southern half,” he says. “But we did own Mirada, where we put the second CC lagoon amenity (that is roughly twice the size of the lagoon in Epperson, and the largest such lagoon in the U.S.; photo above).” He also said that the two lagoons in CC have attracted 1.2 million people combined since they opened.
One of the problems for Goyani and Metro is that the 900-acre Epperson community, with roughly 3,000 residences at buildout, and the 2,000-acre Mirada development with 4,5000 residences, represent less than 40% of the 7,800 acres and only about 20% of the planned residences in the CC, so a lot of the CC plan
approved by the state and county is not under Metro’s control.
Commercial/Health Care
Putting the number of residences aside, among the things Goyani is most proud of with the CC is the amount of new non-residential square footage that is planned, especially when it comes to health care.
“Back when we started planning the CC,” Goyani says, “we looked at the amount of new commercial construction for all of Pasco County and I believe the total amount from east to west at that time was only 3000,000 sq. ft. So, as we started planning for the future, the county administrator told us that he wanted to see at least 3 million sq. ft. of commercial over the 50-year plan for the Connected City. Back then, I thought that was unreasonable, with only 300,000 sq. ft. under construction for the whole county, but I agreed that if we’re going to create an economic
engine for Pasco, we have to look forward.”
He adds, “We started talking to the stakeholders in the area and said, ‘This is a 50-year plan and we need to set up large areas where we can get people both living and working and over time, that 50-year goal went from 3 million sq. ft. to 12 million. And, if we could get that done by 2065, everyone would probably be happy, right? But, do you know how many sq. ft. of non-residential is already under development in CC? How does 8 million sq. ft. sound? And, it’s all already approved, having groundbreakings...with real dollars being spent, in 2025.”
I’ll admit that number shocked me. It includes not only the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital that just broke ground in the Wildcat-Bailes property in CC’s southwest corner (see separate story on pg. 8), but also the aforementioned, not-yet-announced AdventHealth hospital just north of S.R. 52, as well as a large BayCare medical office complex that will not only help staff the expandable BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital a few miles south of CC, but also focus on wellness to help people live healthier and longer.
is being developed by Columnar Investments, which also is planning to have 500,000 sq. ft. of retail uses, 3,500 residential units and 200 acres of parks and trails.
Another major commercial project within the CC is the Double Branch/Pasco Town Center, a 965-acre mixed-use project just east of I-75 at S.R. 52 that is already under development that will include up to 4.5 million sq. ft. of industrial space at its build-out. Phase 1 of the project, which is expected to begin delivering finished buildings later this year, includes three industrial buildings totalling nearly 500,000 sq. ft. There also are plans for 1 million sq. ft. of office space, a 1.6.-million-sq.-ft. distribution center and a 400,000-sq.-ft. “cross-dock facility,” which is a logistics hub designed for the rapid transfer of goods to minimize storage time. Double Branch
Some of the other privately owned portions of CC also have commercial entitlements (or are asking for them from the county), such as the Abbey Crossings/Park 52 Logistics piece that will bring 500,000 sq. ft. of light industrial uses to north of S.R. 52 and neighborhood commercial and a hotel to south of 52.
Goyani says that, “Other smart people have seen what we’re doing within the CC boundary, so why not buy land outside of CC for less money and bet on the success of that project in the future? And people quickly gobbled up pieces of that land,” including Target, which bought a large chunk for a distribution center just north of CC.
The Education Piece
Also located on the outskirts of CC is the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation (photo), See “Connected City” on pg. 6
St. Andrew Presbyterian Church of New Tampa 5340 Primrose Lake Circle Tampa FL 33647 813.513.2681 www.StAndrewNewTampa.org
PLEASE CONSIDER JOINING US
for Christian Worship During Holy Week this Year!
Sunday, April 13, 10:30 a.m.
Palm Sunday Service, followed by activities & egg hunt
Thursday, April 17, 7 p.m.
Maundy Thursday Service
Friday, April 18, 12 noon
Good Friday Service
April 20, 10:30 a.m. Easter Celebration Service
which started in 2022 with a high school and now has grades K-8. Two years earlier, Innovation Preparatory Academy (aka InPrep), a charter school, opened for the 2020-21 school year and Prodigy at Epperson Early Learning Center is now open south of the CC border just south of InPrep.
“None of the CC land owners were at the table telling the Pasco School District, ‘take my land for a school,’ or ‘take my land for a park,’ Goyani said. “In fact, I was told that those property owners all said ‘No’ and we had no control over that.”
And, Goyani, who said he comes from a very poor family in India, is a big believer in education. His parents shipped him off to the U.S. with a $500 one-way ticket at age 21 to find a way to pay to get a Master’s degree, which he did, in Construction Management, in the School of Engineering, from prestigious Purdue University, even though, he claims, “I wasn’t really a smart kid. But, I am very passionate about education and my goal is to have one of the best universities in the country, either in CC or in [Metro’s other Pasco development in Land O’Lakes] Angeline (more on Angeline below).”
Goyani also said that last year, Metro commissioned a study by PFM Financial Advisors LLC out of Orlando, which showed that Pasco County is now “the fastest growing commercial corridor in Florida. There is now 30-plus million sq. ft. of non-residential uses in different stages, which is more than any other county in the state of Florida, and I’m like, ‘Wow, that is exciting. Maybe we’re onto something here. If I were to bet, I’d say we’re going to run out of commercial entitlements throughout the Connected City because I think more is still going to happen, based on the plans.”
A big part of that 30 million sq. ft. is Angeline, which Goyani says was created as our round two of turning Pasco into an economic
engine, with the Moffitt Cancer Center owning 775 acres (to be called Speros FL), with plans to build 16 million sq. ft. of lab, medical offices manufacturing and clinical space that will be twice the size of downtown Tampa. “We also ave a working farm in Angeline that is open to the public, and plans for a 150-acre regional park,” Goyani says. “Instead of only developing for people living in a community, we open important elements of our projects to the public, to create a more regional impact. I don’t know any other developers who do that.”
But, What About...
Goyani also is aware that CC as a whole has its detractors, especially the Facebook group known as “Pasco Connected City Residents Group (PCCRG),” which was started by Realtor® and CC resident Michael Pultorak, whom we have featured in these pages before. Pultorak’s group quickly built up to 1,600 members, as he and the group members have consistently appeared at Pasco Board of County Commissioners (BCC) and Planning Commission meetings to ask questions and/or complain about the way CC is being developed, even though many of the concerns expressed have been about the development plans of some of the land owners other than Metro in CC. Pultorak has already met with four of the five Pasco commissioners to discuss his concerns, the first three of which below do also revolve around Metro’s portions of the development:
• The open space & recreational areas detailed in the CC Master Plan have been moved to east of Handcart Rd. (outside of the CC boundaries)
• The walking/jogging trails promised to Mirada and Epperson residents were not delivered and the trails were not placed in the engineering plans nor created in the execution of the development
• The innovative lagoons are private and forprofit amenities
But, Goyani says that between 2015, when the
CC was approved by the state, through 2017, when Metro began building Epperson, there were more than a dozen public meetings held with stakeholders and local residents to discuss the CC plan — “Some had upwards of 300 people attending,” Goyani says — and any concerns about the CC plan was taken into account “to plan for a better future.”
Other concerns of the PCCRG include:
• There are no promised cultural facilities or libraries of any kind planned in CC
• Stormwater concerns at the head of the Cypress Creek watershed with upcoming CC development applications
• King Lake (a 263-acre lake and the largest body of water in CC) flooding issues for current CC residents. (Note - Pultorak says that King Lake has been beyond flood stage since Metro began digging the nearby Epperson lagoon)
• Planned roadways within CC that topographical maps show will be under water
• No schools actually located within the CC boundaries (Goyani says that InPrep and Prodigy actually are within the CC boundaries)
• The large park planned to be within CC has been moved to the adjacent Villages of Pasadena Hills special planning area
• Multi-family apartments and townhomes being approved by the Pasco BCC that are in portions of CC that, according to the Master Plan approved by the state, should not be allowed
• The approved plan for the five Special Planning Area (SPA) Zones within CC has not been adhered to by Pasco, especially with regards to approvals for multi-family apartments
“We are not against responsible growth & development,” Pultorak says. “However, developers need to be held accountable to the residents of Pasco County to fulfill the promises they make before they take profits and move on or, unexpectedly cause flooding of existing residents and communities. That’s why we formed this group.”
Where We Are Now
Many of the concerns outlined above were presented in our recent story (in our Jan. 21 edition) about CC, when the Planning Commission first voted to send the Tall Timbers MPUD on to the BOC for final approval. After giving the nod to Tall Timbers 4-3 on Jan. 9, however, the Planning Commission then voted 6-1 at the same meeting to put a one-year moratorium on all future CC development agreements, site approvals, building permits and zoning changes.
But, since the Planning Commission is only an advisory panel, the final say on both Tall Timbers and any possible CC moratorium still lies with the BCC. Those votes were originally supposed to be held at the BOC meeting on Feb. 11, but the discussions and votes have now been continued twice — first to Mar. 11 and now until the BCC meeting on Tuesday, May 6. On Apr. 9, however, the county staff was set to provide the CC presentation requested since 2023 by Commissioners Seth Weightman and Board chair Kathryn Starkey. Unfortunately, that workshop took place after we went to press and was not open to public comment. We will update this story with any new information after we attend that meeting.
Even if the BCC does vote for a CC moratorium, however, it would have pretty much nothing to do with Metro’s ongoing development of Epperson and Mirada, since those communities are both already fully approved with hundreds of residents already living in each and the two lagoons themselves already in place.
And, while Goyani can’t speak to what the other CC land owners are doing, his primary response to most of the complaints is that, “We are only still in year eight of a 50-year plan. We knew before we started that it would be hard to make everyone happy with this unique development but we believe — and we are proud — that we are helping to put Pasco County on the map with CC.”
Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Wesley Chapel Breaks Ground!
By Gary Nager
I can honestly say I’ve never attended a groundbreaking ceremony quite like the Mar. 27 groundbreaking for the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital (JHACH) now beginning construction on the northwest corner of Overpass Rd. and McKendree Rd. in the “Connected City” (see pg. 1 story) in Wesley Chapel.
With maybe 200 people in attendance (photo below), hospital president K. Alicia Schul hof introduced many of the principals involved in the Johns Hopkins Health System and All Children’s Hospital, a few of whom (including Schulhof herself) brought along young people who had previously been treated at JHACH. It turned the groundbreaking from something that might have been “just another” ceremony into something that not only tugged at your heartstrings but also clearly demonstrated how wonderful and important having a world-class pediatric hospital in Wesley Chapel will be.
Adding to the joy you couldn’t help but feel that day was the fact that the brown dirt pile usually dug into at these events was replaced with seven piles of brightly colored sand (top photo on this page) to match the seven colors
for a new facility,” Schulhof said, “we are laying a foundation for a healthier future for our community, our patients and generations to come.”
Before she introduced Zander (with microphone), Schulhof said, “These brothers are quite familiar with our hospital and services, so
to love each other.” He added that, to him, the best thing about JHACH was, “How the nurses help kids feel better.”
Schulhof then thanked all of the dignitaries in attendance (including Dist. 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman), as well as the members of the Wiregrass Ranch High orchestra, who provided the music for the event.
She also noted that Pasco County is among the fastest growing regions in the Tampa Bay area (as well as in the state and the nation) , with pediatric growth of 12% expected between 2023 and 2032, and that 93% of patients living in Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties have to travel outside of their market for pediatric specialty care.
“That’s why we purchased this beautiful 112 acres we’re all sitting on, to build a 56-bed hospital with 16 rooms for emergency services and room to grow,” Schulhof said. “The complex will begin with four imaging rooms and four op-
on next page). In addition to Aubrey, Sowers brought with him, “Greetings from our 45,000 employees
She then turned the mic over to Kevin Sowers, the president of the Johns Hopkins Health System and his special guest, Aubrey (photo
All photos by Charmaine George
across the states of Maryland and Florida, and from Washington, D.C., and our colleagues ‘across the pond,’ too, where we also have relationships.”
Sowers also mentioned that the clinical care at JHACH is, “the intersection of where we bring education for the next generation of providers and the research that creates the foundation of what Johns Hopkins has been for more than 125 years that is about to come to your community.” (Note-JHACH was ranked as the #1 pediatric hospital in Florida by a 2024-25 U.S. News & World Report survey.)
He then introduced Aubrey, whom Schulhof said has been a JHACH patient since she was two years old. “I’m glad you’re going to become a nurse, but Aubrey also serves on our Teen Advisory Council, which has been actively engaged in the development of this facility.” He then asked Aubrey about the role she has played in that development.
“I’ve gotten to view some of the mock-ups of the rooms and make changes to some of the interiors and exteriors. For example, when you’re in the hospital, it can feel very isolating, so the Teen Council wanted places for the patients to be able to go outside, with a garden, flowers and things to do. We also got to add color-changing LED lights to all of the patient rooms....There also will be a sensory room, in one of the rooms downstairs.”
Sowers also noted that All Children’s joined Johns Hopkins in 2011 and the name was changed to JHACH in 2016. “And, during the 100th anniversary of Johns Hopkins in 2027, we will open the doors to your hospital in your community.”
Congratulations! We can’t wait ‘til you open!
For more information about Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Wesley Chapel, visit HopkinsMedicine.org.
•Wellness Dentistry for kids and teens
•Holistic nutritional counseling for teeth and gums
•Ozone therapy for oral care
•Recommendation of non-toxic materials
•Sedation dentistry (nitrous oxide) and Sedation
•Invisalign First for children & Invisalign Teen
•Digital 3D scans, ITERO (no goop) and digital X-rays
•Laser dentistry (release of tongue tie for infants, children and teens)
•Relaxed environment, so your children can enjoy their visit
Olympus Pools Owner To Be Sentenced May 7
A jury of six people found former Olympus Pools owner and New Tampa resident James Staten guilty on 35 of 36 counts of willingly defrauding customers by accepting money from them knowing he would not fulfill the contracts to build their pools.
Staten, who opened Olympus Pools in 2013, will be sentenced by Circuit Judge Mary Handsel on May 7 and the minimum sentence he can receive is 20 years, but Judge Handsel said that, based on sentencing guidelines, she can sentence Staten to up to 285 years in prison.
Among the felony charges Staten was found guilty of are fraud, grand theft, misapplication of construction funds of more than $100,000, having an organized scheme to defraud and aggravated white-collar crime. The only charge he was not convicted of was one of the grand theft charges.
Investigators said that Staten, who did take the stand in his own defense on the last of ten days of testimony in the trial, stole more than $1.5 million of his clients’ money to fund a lavish lifestyle that included multiple trips, jewelry and Super Bowl tickets.
Prosecutors Stephanie Bergen and Panagiota Papakos of Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier’s office told the jury that Staten continued to instruct his sales people to accept large down payments from customers even though he had no intention of building their pools. Dozens of those custom-
ers were left with holes in the ground on their respective properties and many had no work started at all.
The jurors were apparently unimpressed with defense attorney Dino Michaels’ argument that Staten didn’t intend to defraud his customers: “If you have a business plan, that’s just not a scheme to defraud. It’s a business plan. To sell more pools, unfortunately, is a bad business plan. And so, this company failed.” It took only four hours for the jury to reach their verdict on all 36 counts, with 35 of those coming back as “guilty” verdicts.
According to a press release dated March 17, Attorney General Uthmeier previously “took civil action to shut down Olympus Pools, permanently shuttering the company. As a result of the civil action, [Olympus] is enjoined permanently from conducting business, and Staten is banned for life from operating a pool company in Florida.”
Obviously, Staten, 42, is facing a much more stringent penalty now, as he could spend the rest of his life in prison, depending upon how long Judge Handsel decides to sentence him to serve on May 7. — GN
James Staten (Source: ABC Action News)
Holy Week Mass Times and Services
Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord
April 12th Saturday Vigil Mass: 4:00 pm (Livestreamed)
April 13th Sunday: 8:30 am
10:30 am
12:30 pm (Spanish) (Livestreamed)
5:30 pm
April 14th Monday: 12:00 pm Mass
April 15th Tuesday: 8:30 am Mass
April 16th Wednesday: 8:30 am Mass
April 17th Holy Thursday: 10:00 am MORNING PRAYER
7:30 pm Mass of the Lord’s Supper (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed)
Washing of the Feet / Procession
Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament follows until 11:30 pm in The Venetian
April 18th Good Friday: 10:00 am MORNING PRAYER
3:00 pm GOOD FRIDAY of the Lord’s Passion (Livestreamed) Adoration of the Holy Cross
April 19th Holy Saturday: 10:00 am MORNING PRAYER
(Blessing of Easter Baskets after Morning Prayer)
8:30 p.m Easter Vigil Mass (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed)
April 20th Easter Sunday: The Resurrection of the Lord
6:45 am
8:30 am
10:30 am (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed)
10:40 am in The Venetian 12:30 pm (Spanish) (Incense will be used) (Livestreamed)
Mother Of Four Kayla Long Needs A New Kidney To Keep Singing
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
On Friday nights, if she’s feeling up to it, Kayla Long loves to belt out her favorite karaoke tunes — maybe Carrie Underwood’s “Before He Cheats” or “Jesus Take the Wheel” — while her fiancé, Chris Candelora, and four boys, ages 13, 9, 8, and 7, cheer her on.
Kayla says it’s the only time she feels normal. “It brings me a whole lot of joy,” she says.
The Zephyrhills mom, who grew up in Wesley Chapel, has end-stage renal disease (ESRD), a condition where the kidneys have permanently lost most of their ability to function. She says it stems from years of taking too much ibuprofen, trying to manage pain after surgery to correct severe scoliosis when she was 14.
“My mom struggled with addiction, so I had been adopted by my grandmother,” Kayla says. “I was afraid to take opiate pills after surgery, so I used ibuprofen instead. But, it was an extreme level of pain and you just can’t take ibuprofen for that.”
The irony, she says, is that she is still in pain, but now from the effects of ESRD.
“I literally killed myself not taking pain pills and there’s nothing they can do,” she says. “It just gets worse and worse.” And, Kayla says, it will continue to get worse.
That is, unless she gets a new kidney.
“I have been on dialysis for the last two years,” Kayla says, adding that those two years have been filled with pain and setbacks.
Unable to work, her days are filled with
traveling to and from Plant City three days a week for dialysis. She’s away from home for about six hours on those days. The other days, she goes to other medical appointments, if she feels up to it.
In addition, Kayla has been legally blind since birth, which adds to her challenges.
It’s all a lot to navigate. Even on the best days, dialysis leaves her tired and unable to do much of anything. “Dialysis is very hard on your body,” she says. “It can cause heart damage, gout and other health complications. I’m exhausted and nauseous all the time.”
She adds that she had two blood transfusions last year, even having to leave her son’s birthday party halfway through for an emergency visit to the hospital.
She’s hoping to receive a kidney as soon as possible. Kayla’s been on the transplant list since February. If someone passes away whose kidney is a match for hers, she would be eligible to receive it. But even better, she says, would be a living donor.
“Transplanted kidneys last an average of five to 10 years from a deceased person,” she says, “but from a living donor, the average is 20 years.”
Kayla is working with the AdventHealth Transplant Institute to find a living kidney donor. She needs a kidney from someone with type O blood, and says it doesn’t matter if it is O positive or O negative.
If she finds a willing donor with type O blood, they would go to AHLivingDonor.com to begin a screening process to see if the donor’s kidney is a potential match for Kayla.
“I have four children,” Kayla says. “I worry all the time. Am I going to leave them before
they’re ready? Am I going to get to see them graduate, grow up, fall in love, play with my grandkids? Can I even grow old and get married to the man I love? On dialysis, that’s all up in the air.”
Kayla first met Chris on the bus to Weightman Middle School when they weren’t even teenagers yet. “He used to ride his bike to my house and hang out with my brother and sister,” she says. “We’ve been together since we were 22.”
She says being sick, blind and in chronic pain makes it so the couple can’t do a lot of things that typical couples in their 30s with young kids want to do, but Chris has stuck by her side through all of the trials.
“My fiancé works so hard to provide for all of us,” Kayla says. “If he’s not at his job, he’s doing a side job or working on our car or fixing something in the house or fixing something at someone else’s house.”
Unless it’s a Friday night.
That’s when they take the kids to Commandough’s in Zephyrhills, where they order pizza, the kids get up and sing and dance, and Kayla will take the stage.
It’s only then that she says she feels true joy.
“Everybody’s happy,” she says. “I’m happy. My kids are happy. I don’t feel self-conscious. I just get up there and sing, and then all of a sudden, I feel normal for a while.”
Kayla says she is working on setting up a trust, with legal fees sponsored by Commandough’s, to help provide for her family so Chris can care for her full-time for a few months after her transplant, a necessary part of her recovery.
To follow Kayla’s journey, search for “KidMe in Your Prayers: Kayla’s Transplant Journey” on Facebook. To start the process to learn more about donating a kidney to Kayla or someone else like her who is on the waiting list for a transplant, go to AHLivingDonor.com.
Kayla Long (left) needs a kidney to continue to be around for her sons Jack, Ari, Keegan & Chris (nephew Leeland is 4th from left).
Louis Cerillo, DDSKim Tran-Nguyen, DMD General Dentists
Homes For Our Troops Introduces Community To Future Wesley Chapel Residents
By Gary Nager
On September 11, 2001, Christopher Lawrence was only in the ninth grade in Wisconsin, but he decided shortly after the tragedy that day that he wanted to serve in the U.S. military.
By 2005, Christopher was a U.S. Marine. Only two years into his stint, in August of 2007, he was Sgt. Christopher Lawrence, a fire team leader with the 3rd Assault Amphibian Battalion, 1st Marine Division, when both of his legs were severely damaged in an improvised explosive device (IED) explosion as the battalion was crossing a bridge in Al Anbar, Iraq. He also suffered damage to his left arm, had internal injuries, tinnitus and a traumatic brain injury. He was in a coma for a week, after being evacuated first to Al Asad Air Base and then to Landstuhl, Germany. After being returned to the U.S., he underwent numerous surgeries and extensive rehabilitation to save his legs and arm.
But, while military doctors were able to save his left leg, his right leg was amputated at the knee in March of 2008 and the toes on his left foot were amputated in August of the following year.
Way too many of our military service men and women have stories like Christopher’s and many of their stories don’t end well.
But, Homes For Our Troops (HFOT), a 501(c)(3) military nonprofit, is doing its part to help these brave former soldiers, Marines and other injured military veterans by building specially adapted homes to help them be able
to perform everyday activities those of us who haven’t suffered these types of injuries take for granted — like going to the bathroom, taking a shower or bath, cooking for themselves, etc.
According to its executive director Bill Ivey, since its inception in 2004, HFOT has completed 407 such homes in 45 states, including as many as five here in Pasco County, with at least two others already completed in Wesley Chapel.
“The Tampa Bay area has been a popular
choice for the vets we build homes for,” said Ivey during the special recognition “kickoff” ceremony on Apr. 5 held at the Pinecrest Academy of Wesley Chapel on S.R. 54 for Sgt. Lawrence, his wife Michelle (Chelly) and their young daughters DeliaMarie and Cristiana. Within the next six months to a year (depending upon weather and other factors), they will all move into their new Wesley Chapel home.
The family has been living in Southern
California, where Sgt. Lawrence has continued to serve as a member of the San Diego Police Department. Christopher, who grew up in a foster family, said he chose Wesley Chapel for his HFOT home by Kent Custom Homes because he has a brother who lives “not too far away” in Jacksonville and, especially, for the climate and proximity to the renowned James A. Haley Veterans Hospital in Tampa.
The event at Pinecrest Academy itself was
The speakers at the Apr. 5 introduction of Marine Sgt. Christopher Lawrence and his family to the Wesley Chapel community by the military nonprofit Homes For Our Troops (HFOT) included (l.-r.) Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman, Jerry Custin of Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ staff, Jocelyn Phipps of HFOT, Sgt. Lawrence, his wife Chelley, their daughters
Cristiana & DeliaMarie Lawrence, HFOT Exec. Dir. Bill Ivey & previous HFOT home recipient Sgt. Russell Carter. (Next page) Jerry Custin give Sgt. Lawrence a Certificate of Congressional Recognition. The Lawrence family is about to arrive at Pinecrest Academy.
All photos by Charmaine George
spectacular, as an escort of Pasco fire trucks (photo above), Sheriff’s Office and Florida Highway Patrol vehicles and a motorcycle motorcade led the Lawrence family to the entrance to the school, where they were greeted by a cheering, adoring crowd of local residents all waving American flags. Once inside, HFOT’s Jocelyn Phipps first asked anyone in attendance who had served in the U.S. military to stand to be recognized. Phipps then introduced the Wiregrass Ranch High color guard and Autumn Rae Estes, who sang a stirring rendition of our national anthem, followed by Sgt. Lawrence’s daughter DeliaMarie leading the 100+ attendees in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Then, Phipps introduced the program’s speakers. The first was Jerry Custin of U.S. Congressman Gus Bilirakis’ staff, who gave Sgt. Lawrence and his family a properly folded American flag and a Certificate of Congressional Recognition (top photo). Next up was Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman, who mentioned that he and Sgt. Lawrence were only a year apart in school on 9/11 and how they went on diverging paths after that terrorist attack on our country. Weightman was followed by Tampa City Councilman Luis Viera, who thanked Sgt. Lawrence for standing up for his country and “for facing significant challenges for all of us.”
Also speaking were long-time HFOT supporter and Vietnam veteran Leo Eineker, previous HFOT home recipient Sgt. Russell Carter (his HFOT home is in Lithia), Chelley Lawrence, Ivey and a clearly moved and appreciative Sgt. Lawrence himself. Also on hand was another HFOT home recipient, Army Master Sgt. Christopher Blauvelt, whose wife Bernadette owns B Creative Painting Studio in The Grove. Their HFOT home also is in Wesley Chapel.
After the shedding of many tears and the
shared camaraderie of everyone on-hand, Jeff and Crista Dean of Bubba’s 33 served delicious sandwiches and salad. It was a wonderful event.
On a personal note, I know there are a lot of charities out there you can support with your hard-earned money, but as Ivey said so poignantly during his remarks, “Homes For Our Troops isn’t a charity. We are a military nonprofit, but we believe that what we’re doing by building these homes is doing the best we can to pay back these veterans who risked everything and sacrificed so much for all of us. And, nearly 90 cents of every dollar we raise goes directly back to support the veterans, which not too many nonprofits can say.”
He also noted that HFOT does not receive any governmental assistance and that 65 cents of every dollar the organization raises comes from private donors, with the other 35 cents coming from corporate sponsors. “We don’t spend big money on TV commercials,” Ivey added. “Our mission is to provide these deserving injured veterans with a home where they can raise a family (the average size of an HFOT home is about 2,800-sq.ft.) and live as independently as possible.”
To make a donation or for more information about Homes For Our Troops, visit HFOTUSA.org.
What Is Being Done About Morris Bridge Rd.?
Will The ‘Rural’ Road’s Flooding Following Hurricane Milton & Clear Need For Widening Ever Be Addressed?
By Joel Provenzano Neighborhood News Correspondent
Editor’s Note - The original version of this story appeared in the Apr. 1 edition of the New Tampa Neighborhood News, and focused mainly on Hillsborough County’s plans to improve Morris Bridge (MB) Rd., which is a county roadway.
District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, however, believes that making the currently unsafe MB Rd. — which was the site of another fatal accident the same day that New Tampa issue hit mailboxes — needs to be a partnership between the City of Tampa and Hillsborough and Pasco counties.
To that end, the story has been updated (see next page) to include Pasco County’s plans for MB Rd., too.
So, what are some of the things New Tampa and Wesley Chapel have in common?
In addition to car washes, nail salons and self-storage facilities, both rely heavily on two “major” north-south roadways — the eight- (in New Tampa) or six-lane (in Wesley Chapel) Bruce B.Downs (BBD) Blvd. and the mostly two-lane MB Rd. — as important daily travel routes.
Due to the explosive growth in both K-Bar Ranch/Easton Park in New Tampa and, especially, in the plethora of new developments in and near Wesley Chapel, dependence upon MB Rd. has continued to grow year after year.
However, traveling on this winding, narrow two-lane roadway from the Fletcher Ave. exit off I-75 in Hillsborough up into Pasco County can be a white-knuckle experience for any motorist, bicyclist or pedestrian — and for more than just one reason.
Development has caused this formerly rural roadway to be plagued by flooding (resulting in closures), as well as by heavy traffic, safety concerns, poor road conditions and some other silly stuff that commuters in both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel have to deal with every day.
With three mattresses tied to a roof, even a single Nissan Altima going 25 mph at rush hour can create havoc on MB Rd., generating a quarter-mile-long backup of angry drivers, all inching over the centerline to see if they can pass. Yes, we observed this while standing outside our vehicle and taking photos from the entrance to Cory Lake Isles!
We reached out to both Hillsborough County and City of Tampa governmental officials to find out their thoughts, and if there are any “real” projects actually moving forward to improve MB Rd. We provided them with a list of questions that did generate some responses.
We specifically asked if there were any planned capacity or safety improvement projects in the works — especially any widening plans to handle future volumes — or how the county (since MB Rd. is a county road that serves both city and county residents, as does BBD) plans to handle those traffic volumes that are expected to significantly increase over next few years.
Yes, development on the north end of MB Rd. — primarily the continuing expansion of K-Bar Ranch and the massive Two Rivers develop-
is Morris Bridge Rd. looking south from the entrance to Cory Lake Isles in New
rural roadway, the daily commute to Tampa can be an absolute nightmare. So,
ment, which is really just getting started building both north and south of the Hillsborough-Pasco county line — isn’t slowing down. If anything, it’s going to accelerate over the next several years.
Hillsborough County’s response, in short, is that much-needed flooding countermeasures have been installed (following the multi-week shutdown of MB Rd. north of Cross Creek [CC] Blvd. after Hurricane Milton last October) and both a safety project and resurfacing project are coming, but any real vehicle capacity/modernization projects are still up in the air.
Meanwhile, District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera, in his final term in his seat, at least has an idea about how to address the everincreasing everyday traffic on MB Rd.
Councilman Viera’s Perspective
Although MB Rd. is entirely a county roadway, roughly 1/3 of the people living along the roadway live within Tampa’s city limits, with all of those residents (at least until the Hillsborough portion of Two Rivers begins building) living in the city-based New Tampa developments of Cory Lake Isles, Easton Park and K-Bar Ranch.
As such, we were grateful to interview Viera to get his opinion about some of the county’s responses, and what he’d like to see done as a proven champion of innovative intergovernmental (meaning city and county) collaboration.
He specifically notes that there’s a, “Need to modernize Morris Bridge. The city has to work with the county on long- term solutions,” indicating that county officials can’t, and shouldn’t have to, try to fix MB Rd. all by themselves.
Viera believes that one of the biggest issues in the past (in regards to capacity improvements) has been the obvious environmental concerns, since MB Rd. winds past thousands of acres of multiple county parks (Flatwoods, Morris Bridge Park, etc.). He explains that, “We need to be
respectful of the environment, but the environmental issues have been the biggest roadblock [to improving MB Rd.].”
Viera, who has announced that he is seeking the Dist. 67 State House seat that Florida House minority leader Fentrice Driskell will relinquish (due to term limits) in 2026, clearly believes that NOW is the time for a change.
To that end, Viera made a motion to City Council on Mar. 24 that was approved to create a shared city-county vision for MB Rd. “It will come back as a written report in about two months,” he said. “It’s obvious that its something that’s really needed.
Since the road actually winds through two counties, Viera says he also recently reached out to District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman (who represents the portion of Wesley Chapel directly to the west and north of the county line at MB Rd.) to also try to get Pasco’s buy-in and help with that shared vision.
Since several places of worship, and multiple new businesses and communities are quickly popping up along the route, he feels the “rural nature” of the road isn’t keeping up with the times or its now more modern suburban context.
A Little History
While the original Morris “Bridge” is long gone, a bridge that was originally located just north of the Pasco County line (near where an underwhelming box culvert now sits), MB Rd. still exists as an “old” rural road abutted by suburban communities.
How old? Apparently, more than 100 years old! In fact, MB Rd. may be one of the oldest surviving (and continually used) county arterial roads in Tampa, coming from a time when maps of the county and state were more likely to show railroads than roads, because that was the primary form of transportation for those traveling long distances.
Without these primitive roads being shown on maps, their existence, location, and purpose had to be shared by word of mouth and/or in newspaper articles, especially for newer routes. What was written over a hundred years ago about MB Rd. as a fledgling route was absolutely fascinating. In its June 1, 1923, edition, The Dade City Banner had the following article:
GOOD ROUTE OPEN TO TAMPA BY WAY OF MORRIS BRIDGE
“The recent heavy rains having made the route [where S.R. 39 sits today] to Tampa by way of Crystal Springs and Plant City impassable, there has been considerable inquiry as to another route that could be used by parties who found it necessary to visit the South Florida metropolis and did not care to avail themselves of the convenient train schedules. A number of people have been making the trip lately by way of the Morris Bridge and pronounce that route not only perfectly passable but a surprisingly good one. It is about 12 miles shorter than by way of Plant City.
To follow this route one turns west at the railroad crossing at Zephyrhills, goes to Will Ryals farm, about a mile from town, from there to Jim Hills’ place. Here take a plain road running southwest and at all forks take the one running in that direction. This road is said to be graded the entire distance and, from the Morris Bridge at the county line to Harney has been clayen [sandclay]. From Harney a brick road leads to Tampa.” This is funny, because to this day, Morris Bridge Rd. still becomes Harney Rd. at its very southern terminus in Temple Terrace.
Flooding Concerns
Speaking of flooding and impassable roads, our field review showed where repairs had been done when the road was flooded (and closed) multiple times last year. We asked Hillsborough
This
Tampa on a usual weekday morning. For those who live along this formerly
what, if anything, is being done about it? (Photo by Joel Provenzano)
County staffers if these repairs were permanent fixes that will reduce flooding and road closures in the future, or just temporary fixes to repair the damage?
Todd Pratt, who is with the Hillsborough County Media Relations Department, says that, “The repairs done after [Hurricane] Milton were permanent fixes that consisted of replacing culverts that convey water under and across Morris Bridge Rd. These culverts had collapsed/washed out during the hurricane.” Time, and the next major rainy season, will tell if these repairs will hold, or if new ones will still be needed.
Safety Improvement Project
Regarding MB Rd. safety projects, Hillsborough senior media relations strategist Chris Wilkerson says that, “Morris Bridge Road has a planned safety improvement project (see below) slated to begin later this year. The contract for the project is planned to go before the BOCC (Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners) in April. If approved, the project would address safety concerns on the roadway, including documented consistent high rates of speed and distracted drivers. The project is designed to address speeding and motorist lane departure crashes.”
Proposed Safety Improvements - $2.1 million:
•No Passing Zones w/Vertical Delineators
•Reflective & Profiled Lane Line Markings
•Speed Feedback Signs, Flashing Beacons for Intersection Ahead and Curve Warning and Signal Head Back Plates
•Bike Lane and Safety Enhancements at Bridge over Hillsborough River
•Bicycle Signs and Lane Markings and Wildlife Signs
Meanwhile, Viera says that, “$2.1 million is wonderful, but we need to push that envelope!,” although he says he is really happy to see that “speed feedback signs” and “no passing” enhancements are part of the safety project, as these would address issues his constituents have discussed with him.
Prior 1% Surtax to Fund Resurfacing
The last time MB Rd. (at least north of CC Blvd.) was resurfaced was way back in 2002. The portion south of CC Blvd. is in somewhat better shape, as it was last resurfaced in 2017.
A physical review we conducted of the corridor noted aging/deteriorating pavement with potholes, multiple patches, narrow, worn or no shoulders, no sidewalks (except self-funded ones in front of a few businesses) and very narrow lane widths at a few points (mostly north of Cory Lake Isles approaching and heading into Pasco County).
So, is MB Rd. on the county’s list of roadways to be resurfaced? We hadn’t previously seen
or heard of MB Rd. as being on any 3R (Resurfacing, Restoration, Rehabilitation) project list.
But, Pratt told us, “The Florida Legislature has identified repaving projects to be completed in Hillsborough County using a portion of the previously collected Transportation Surtax funds (see below). One of the roads to be repaved is Morris Bridge Road. The County will need to coordinate this paving to be done in conjunction with the safety improvement project.”
Confused? You may recall that back in 2018, Hillsborough County voters had passed a one-cent sales tax to fund needed transportation projects. This tax ended up being legally challenged, and was found to be unconstitutional by the Florida Supreme Court in March 2021. But, by then, the county had already collected about $589 million from local taxpayers.
After the tax was eliminated, state lawmakers went ahead and made a plan to split that collected money up between county road improvement projects, a Hillsborough tax holiday, reimbursement of the county’s legal fees, and a settlement fund that would allow Hillsborough taxpayers and residents to receive refunds of up to $100 without showing any receipts.
That plan began about a year ago, when county commissioners met to start dividing up the funds. It was decided that about $256 million would go towards road projects (including road resurfacing). At the beginning of March of this year, the first $17 million of that money started being distributed, with all of the funds expected to reach the long list of target projects by 2030.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is slated to make sure the county completes these projects by the deadline. That overall plan will be up for approval at one of the upcoming BOCC meetings in April.
Capacity Concerns
At our press time, Hillsborough officials had not yet responded to our most pressing question — How does the county plan to handle MB Rd. volumes that surely will significantly increase over next few years, due to development on the north end of the road (from K-Bar Ranch, Two Rivers and other Pasco developments), and what those forecasted volumes (if they’ve been forecasted through traffic studies or other models) might be, compared with recent historic volumes (meaning, how much growth in percentage or number of vehicles is expected?).
Current state data shows an annual average daily traffic (or AADT) of 15,000 vehicles per day for MB Rd.. (Note-AADT is the total number, in both directions, of vehicular trips taken on that
road each day, divided by 365 days in a year.)
Based on our preliminary calculations, it would not be unreasonable to see an increase of 20% in the traffic volumes over the next few years, given the size of the future developments that will be connected to the road.
As we had written in a previous article from April of 2024, the final phase of K-Bar Ranch in Hillsborough will add hundreds more homes, and open up ALL of K-Bar to MB Rd. via an extension of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to the east, past Easton Park. Once that extension has been completed, this also will subsequently open all of the Union Park and Meadow Pointe developments in Wesley Chapel to MB Rd. as well, via the planned Wyndfields Blvd. extension to the south, and the existing Meadow Pointe Blvd. extension.
The 6,000-acre Two Rivers development on the edge of Wesley Chapel and New Tampa (although it actually is located in Zephyrhills in Pasco and Thonotosassa in Hillsborough) will be adding an estimated 7,500 more residences, plus commercial developments, the Peak Surf Park and schools, with its north-south traffic to be split between U.S. Hwy. 301 and MB Rd. But, as anyone living in the area might imagine, Two Rivers will still have a significant impact on MB Rd., both north and south of the county line.
Bridge ‘Scouring’
The current bridge over the Hillsborough River on MB Rd. was built in 1963. Since then, its piers have experienced significant base erosion, which is referred to as “scouring,” a critical problem that can affect the bridge’s structural sturdiness if not properly addressed.
Based on a fact sheet put out in January 2025, Hillsborough plans to spend roughly $864,000 to, “install an articulating concrete block revetment system as a scour countermeasure.” Revetment is just a fancy way of saying a sloping structure that is usually made of stone or concrete, that is used to protect the riverbed around piers from erosion caused by river currents or other forces. Otherwise, the piers can become unstable if too much of the bed is eroded, which is why this is a critical repair.
Construction of the revetment system is expected to be completed by early 2027.
So, What About Pasco?
According to Pasco County engineer Nick Uhren, Pasco intends to widen MB Rd. to four lanes from south of Chancey Rd. to Wesley Chapel Blvd./Pure Water Way/S.R. 54 in Fiscal Year (FY) 2028 and then to widen the southern segment from S.R. 56 to south of Chancey Rd in FY 2029.
“We have also been in discussions with a proposed commercial development at the southwest corner of S.R. 56 and Morris Bridge Rd. to have them construct the 4-lane widening from their southern entrance to S.R. 56,” Uhren told Dist. 2 Pasco County commissioner Seth Weightman in a memo dated Apr. 1, “but an agreement on that has not yet been finalized.”
How Can I Get Involved?
Believe it or not, your elected officials actually want — or even, make that need — to hear your traffic and safety concerns about MB Rd. So, how can you get involved? In addition to contacting your local county representative — Weightman or District 1 Comm. Ron Oakley (and District 2 Hillsborough County Comm. Ken Hagan) — Councilman Viera wants everyone to know that he has an upcoming New Tampa Community public meeting, on Tuesday, April 15, 5:45 p.m. — either the day you receive this issue in your mailbox or a day or so after it shows up — at the Easton Park Community Pool Clubhouse (10776 Pictorial Park Dr., Tampa).
Viera says he will be on hand at that meeting to receive input, answer questions, and talk about MB Rd., as well as about crime, education, housing, the progress on the planned park in K-Bar Ranch and pretty much anything else New Tampa or even Tampa-related.
Viera will be joined by a representative of the Tampa Police Department at that Town Hall-style event, as well as by District 6 (countywide) Hillsborough School Board member Karen Perez. For more information about that meeting, email luis.viera@tampagov.net.
Upcoming Events — ‘Absolutely Avalon,’ Charity Golf, ‘Arsenic’ & More!
Tuesday, April 15, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. – Easter Egg Hunt. At the St. Leo University Campus Lawns (33701 C.R. 52). Children up to age 12 (divided into three age groups) can hunt for 1,889 eggs. There will also be craft stations, photos with the Easter Bunny, bounce houses, train rides and a dinner buffet. The hunt is free to attend but the dinner buffet is $10 for ages 6 and up. For more info, call (352) 588-8992 or email student.involvement@saintleo.edu.
Wednesday, April 16, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. –North Tampa Bay Chamber Coffee Social. At San Antonio Federal Credit Union (28909 S.R. 54). Wake up and join the Chamber for your morning brew and network with your fellow members. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com/events.
Wednesday, April 16, 6 p.m. – Central Pasco Democratic Club Monthly Meeting. At Meadow Pointe 1 Clubhouse (28245 County Line Rd.) and also on Zoom. Beverly Ledbetter will speak on Fighting Back Teams. All friends of the Democratic Party are invited. Free to attend. For more info, visit CentralPascoDemClub on Facebook or call (813) 453-1663.
Saturday, April 19, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. – Absolutely Avalon: A Celebration of Culture & Community. At Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel (4424 Friendly Way). This family-friendly event has something for everyone, so gather your friends and loved ones for a magical evening. Event highlights include a laser light show, kids activities, food trucks, cultural performances and artisan, craft and business vendors. Free to attend. For info, call (813) 783-1515, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com or see the photo above or the ad on pg. 19.
Saturday, April 19, 5 p.m.-9 p.m. – Plein Air Paint-Out. At Downtown Avalon Park (4424 Friendly Way). Join the Zephyrhills Art Club for this outdoor live painting event. Artists are responsible to bring their own art supplies and don’t forget your easel and a chair. Free to attend, but to be eligible for artist perks, you must register. For more info, call (813) 783-1515, email Info@ AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com or visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com/news-events/calendar/#!
Saturday, April 19, 7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m. – Pieces of Eight: A Tribute to Chicago. At the
New Tampa Performing Art Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Pieces of Eight is Tampa Bay’s favorite soul & funk horn band! They’ll bring all the great hits from Chicago, Tower of Power and more. Tickets cost $15-$20 depending upon seat selection. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. For tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events.
Friday, April 25, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber Final Friday. At Pincher’s Crab Shack, The Shops at Wiregrass (28330 Paseo Dr. Ste. 185). Come out, engage and network with fellow Chamber members in a relaxed environment. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534. Or, to register, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com/Events.
Saturday, April 26, 1 p.m. – “Back the Line” Charity Events’ Fifth Annual Golf Tournament. At Heritage Isles Golf & Country Club (10630 Plantation Bay Dr.), New Tampa. Proceeds from this event benefit Hillsborough County Fire Rescue worker Christopher Wells, to help with medical expenses for his son Joshua’s cancer treatment. Sponsors, raffle donations and monetary donations are still needed. All proceeds go to the family. Tournament includes a 50/50 drawing, raffles, silent auction and dinner. $600 per team to play. For more info, call Heather (813)625-1507. Or to register, visit BackTheLineCharity.ticketspice.com/wells-fami-
ly-charity-golf-tournament-april-26-2025.
Saturday, April 26, 5 p.m.-8 p.m. – The Fourth Annual “Dance your Dream.” At Wesley Chapel District Park (7727 Boyette Rd.). If you or someone you know has a disability and are age 14 or older, you/they are invited to attend. There will be music, dancing, raffles and a silent auction. Meals and refreshments provided by Chick-fil-A. Wear your best party formal attire. Free to attend, but registration is required. For more info and to register, visit HopeGetsJobs.com/dance.
Saturday, April 26, 7 p.m. & Sunday, April 27, 2 p.m. – The Wesley Chapel Theater Group Presents: “Arsenic & Old Lace.” At Zephyrhills Lions Club (5827 Dean Dairy Rd., Zephyrhills). Tickets cost $27.38. For more information, see the story on pg. 19. To purchase tickets, visit SimpleTix.com/e/arsenic-and-oldlace-tickets-202354.
Sunday, April 27, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. – Shops at Wiregrass Auto & Truck Showcase. At the Shops at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.). Stroll along palm tree-lined Paseo Dr. to check out the area’s best cars and trucks, while enjoying live DJ music, family activities, shopping, and over thirty eateries to choose from for a quick bite, brunch, or sit-down dining. Free to attend. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/events.
Sunday, April 27, 1 p.m.-4 p.m. AdventHealth Meadow Pointe Emergency Room (ER) Grand Opening Community Celebration. At AdventHealth Meadow Pointe ER (5170 Chapel Commerce Dr.). This community event will have food trucks, safety education, preview of the new ER and giveaways. Free to attend. For more info, visit MeadowPointeER. com or see the ad on pg. 7 of this issue.
Sunday, April 27, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. – Spheres Bubble Show. At the New Tampa Performing Art Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Spheres Bubble Show, as seen on “America’s Got Talent,” is an immersive and interactive bubble experience that will blow audiences away! A truly unique show that’s fun for the whole family. Tickets cost $20. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. To purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter. org/events.
Friday, May 2, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. –North Tampa Bay Chamber Leading Ladies Network. At USF Credit Union (20610 Bruce B.Downs Blvd. (in the Conference Room). This meeting aims to empower and support women in various fields. Johanna Amarante is this month’s speaker on holistic approaches to hair loss — hair loss solutions and wellness. $15 to attend and you must register online. For more info, call (813) 994-8534. Or, to register, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com/Events.
Sunday, May 4, 8 a.m.-12 p.m. – The Fifth Annual Cassidy Otto Stomp Out Cancer 5K Run & Fashionista Festival. At the Shops at Wiregrass (28211 Paseo Dr.). Take on the 3.1mile course, then celebrate at the post-run family fun festival with fashion-themed activities, live music, face painting, kids’ activities, and a silent auction for a great cause. Moffitt Cancer Center will provide free head and neck and skin cancer screenings. All proceeds to benefit the Children’s Cancer Center, Cassidy Otto Stomp Out Cancer Foundation Therapy Dog Fund, The Cassidy Otto Scholarship Fund & Moffitt Cancer Center. The 5K Run can be done in person or virtually for $40, Kids Fun Run (9 and under) costs $15. Festival is free to attend. For more info visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/events.
Thursday, May 8, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. – North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbon Cutting and Grand Opening for BayCare Medical Group General and Orthopedic Surgery. At BayCare
Medical Group (4501 Bruce B Downs Blvd., Ste 205). Join Chamber members to welcome the new specialists to the Wesley Chapel Community. Hors d’oeuvres and beverages will be served. Free to attend. For more info and to R.S.V.P. call Amanda Jammel (813) 624-9922 or email Amanda.Jammel@BayCare.org.
Friday, May 9, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. – Tampa Bay Symphony Spring 2025 “Scheherazade!” At the New Tampa Performing Art Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). The Tampa Bay Symphony consists of more than 80 musicians and has been described as “one of Tampa Bay’s hidden jewels.” Come and experience the excitement of live classical music. Tickets $25, student tickets are free, student ID required for students 18 and over. For more info call (813) 829-2760. To purchase tickets visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events.
Sunday, May 11, 10:30 a.m. & 12:00 p.m. – Mother’s Day Buffet Brunch. At Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel, Sierra Ballroom (26000 Sierra Center Blvd.). Featuring a large selection of delicious house-made breakfast, lunch & brunch items. Tickets $75, children 12 and under $25. For more info and to make reservations, call (813)803-5600. See the ad on pg. 39 for the complete list of items that will be served.
Sunday, May 11, 3 p.m.-5 p.m. – “New Tampa Unplugged” — The Women of Jazz. At the New Tampa Performing Art Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). This special “Unplugged” performance features The Women of Jazz. The program includes instrumental and vocal jazz, showcasing songs written or made famous by women. This concert has been delivered to
sold-out crowds over the past several seasons at the Palladium, The Suncoast Jazz Classic, The Villages and Swan City Jazz Festival. Theater seat $15, table seat $20. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. To purchase tickets visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events.
Wednesday, May 21, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. –New Tampa Jazz Nights: Ken Peplowski & Diego Figueiredo. At the New Tampa Performing Art Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). The Jazz Nights season finale brings together two world-renowned virtuosos. Ken Peplowski’s clarinet and saxophone artistry is known to jazz listeners from hundreds of recordings, and Diego Figueiredo’s sensational guitar playing has earned him fans worldwide. Their magic as a duo is not to be missed. Tickets $10 - $30. For more info and to purchase tickets visit TampaJazzClub.com.
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WCTG Presents ‘Arsenic & Old Lace’
Get ready for an evening of laughter and thrills as the Wesley Chapel Theater Group (WCTG) brings the classic comedy “Arsenic & Old Lace” to the stage. This timeless play will be directed by Colleen DeFelice at the Zephyrhills Lions Club (5827 Dean Dairy Rd.) on Saturday, April 26, at 7 p.m., and on Sunday, April 27, at 2 p.m. First premiered in 1941, “Arsenic & Old Lace” is a farcical dark comedy by Joseph Kesselring revolving around the eccentric Brewster family. The play is filled with witty dialogue, quirky characters and a hilarious plot that
will leave audiences laughing from start to finish.
Founded in 2022, the Wesley Chapel Theater Group has quickly become a beloved part of the local arts scene, bringing both new and classic productions to life. With a commitment to fostering creativity and community, the WCTG continues to bring quality entertainment to the region.
Don’t miss out on this unforgettable performance – “Arsenic & Old Lace” promises to be a hit!
Tickets are available for just $25 and can be purchased online at Simpletix.com/e/ arsenic-and-old-lace-tickets-202354. Be sure to get yours before they sell out! For more information about the Wesley Chapel Theater Group, visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org.
These North Tampa Bay Chamber Members Recently
We continue to promote the ribbon-cutting events hosted by members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC). A recent one we attended was for Peak Brain & Body (2404 Creel Ln, #101, Wesley Chapel; top far right photo) on Mar. 11.
Peak is the office of Family Nurse Practitioner and Chiropractic Physician Dr. Spencer Zimmerman, who moved with his family to our area from Idaho and is the only dual-licensed nurse practitioner/chiropractor using advanced neurological diagnostics, functional neurology, functional medicine and peptide therapy in Florida. For more info, call (813) 437-9630 or visit PeakBrainandBody.com.
Our photographer Charmaine George also was on hand for the ribbon cutting at Jachimek
For more information, call (813) 960-2225 or visit JachimekChiro.com.
And then, on Mar. 26, Tiny Tots Playtown (photo above & top left), located at 24412 S.R. 54 in Lutz (in the Eagle Plaza, behind Brunchies), cut an NTBC ribbon. Owner Lauren Pratt introduced
Chamber members to her super-cute, shoe-free (don’t forget to bring your socks) little indoor play center for young kids — which surely will be a welcome respite from Florida’s summer heat and rains, which are fast approaching.
Tiny Tots can host kids parties and has gift cards and unlimited play opportunities available. For more info, call (813) 406-4124 or visit TinyTotsPlaytown.com. — GN
Ehrlich Rd., Ste. 128, Tampa (left) on Mar. 20. Chiropractic physician Juliet Marvenko, or Dr. J, cut that Chamber ribbon.
Taylor Gardner Gutters — A Family Tradition That Continues To Grow
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
While Gardner Gutters had been serving the Tampa Bay area since Ed Gardner established it as a small business in Lutz in 2000, his son Taylor has grown the business immensely since taking it over in 2020 and renaming it Taylor Gardner Gutters.
It’s grown so much, in fact, that the business outgrew its previous location in Land O’Lakes and recently moved to four acres in Dade City.
“We have 15 vehicles on the road every day,” Taylor says. “Our front two acres are filled with trucks, trailers and an employee parking area. It’s more space than we need right now, but I know we’ll end up growing into it.”
Taylor Gardner Gutters installs and repairs gutters, soffits and facias, and also offers gutter cleaning, which keeps the gutters on your home or business working properly and in good repair.
He says adding gutters is the least expensive thing you can do to protect the value of your home, ensuring that Florida’s famous summer downpours don’t destroy its foundation or even its aesthetic upgrades.
“Protecting the foundation of your home is the main purpose of gutters,” Taylor says, “but they also protect your paint and will help your grass and sod last longer, too. Gutters protect anything on the outside of your house to help it stay in great shape for as long as possible.”
Without gutters, Taylor says water is much more likely to settle at the base of your home’s foundation. With that saturation, the water can
cause erosion to the side of the home, leading to cracks in the stucco and window ledges and forming unsightly trenches. Water under the home also can cause wood floors in the home to pucker or pop.
Taylor first joined the business to help his father after serving in the Marines for nine years, including a tour of duty in Iraq. He used his experience and his Business Administration (B.A.) degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, to start a different career, but came home when his dad needed his help after receiving a cancer diagnosis.
Taylor took over the business when Ed passed away, and Taylor’s older brother, Brandon, who had decades of experience working with their dad, led installations. Unfortunately, Brandon was then diagnosed with cancer as well and passed away just eight months later.
So now, Taylor continues the legacies of his dad and older brother, running the business in a way that would make them both proud.
“Our installers are great, and we have several who have been with the company more than 15
years,” Taylor explains. “They know exactly what they’re doing.”
That’s important to Taylor because his company offers a lifetime warranty on its installations. He says this is what sets Taylor Gardner Gutters apart from its competitors.
Company policy is that any customer who experiences a warranty issue will have the problem inspected within 48 hours and fixed as soon as possible — no matter how many years it’s been since the gutters were originally installed.
“One of reasons we’ve been successful in this business is because we always answer the phone, especially if there’s a problem after installation,” Taylor explains.
He contrasts that with many of his competitors, who are often just one-person companies doing as many jobs as they can, without employees to keep up with other things, such as going back and fixing something if it isn’t right.
“My focus from the beginning has been to really hit customer service as our number one priority,” Taylor says. “We give people what they ask for at a very reasonable price.”
Taylor says some of his customers have been coming back to the company for two decades, since his dad first started the business.
The company’s lifetime no-leak guarantee is a another unique way Taylor builds those lifelong relationships.
“All gutters will leak eventually,” he says. “Mine won’t leak for at least 10 years, but if they do and you still live in that house, call us and we’ll fix it.”
Taylor Gardner Gutters owner Taylor Gardner is proud of his new location in Dade City, but he and his crew (photos on next page) are still installing and repairing gutters at homes and businesses in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, too. (Photo above by Charmaine George; photos on next page provided by Taylor Gardner)
“After the hurricanes last year, that team was very busy,” Taylor says, with homes that had a gutter or piece of soffit that came down. “Nine times out of ten, it’s not something we did wrong — sometimes it’s because a customer has done no maintenance — but as a courtesy we still take care of the problem. They then tell their neighbors how much they love us and how good we are, and that’s really good for our business.”
It’s also good for his business that there is such a construction boom in our area. Taylor Gardner Gutters also works with several homebuilders to install gutters on newly built homes, including many of the new neighborhoods here, such as The Ridge, Winding Ridge, Valencia Ridge and all David Weekley Homes throughout the area.
Those builders are growing in other areas, too, such as further north in and around Brooks-
company installs, repairs, and cleans gutters on commercial building for business owners.
Taylor Gardner Gutters just did its largest job ever, replacing gutters at the CENTCOM building at MacDill Air Force Base.
“It was a huge job on a seven-story building that took us four weeks,” Taylor says.
Taylor Gardner Gutters has 200+ reviews on Google, with an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. Recently, Scott Hutchison said the company’s crew “arrived on time and did a fantastic, professional, careful, and respectful job of adding new gutters to my two-story metal roof.”
Scott added that he highly recommends Taylor Gardner Gutters, writing, “[The] house looks great! No more water pooling up near my foundation.”
Taylor Gardner Gutters is now located
Tampa City Ballet Brings Beautiful, New Life To ‘Don Quixote’ At NTPAC
Jannah and I were sad that we weren’t able to attend either performance of the classical ballet “Don Quixote,” as performed by the Tampa City Ballet, at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC) the weekend of March 21-23.
The good news is that our photographer Charmaine George was able to attend and take the beautiful photos on this page. Charmaine says that Tampa City Ballet artistic director and choreographer Paula Nuñez, Ballet Master Osmany Montano, who also portrayed Sancho Panza, the servant of protagonist Don Quixote de La Mancha (portrayed by Wilson de los Santos), Kali Bartasavich (who played Don Quixote’s “Beloved Fantasy” Dulcinea and the entire cast of “Don Quixote” all did an amazing job of bringing renowned Spanish author Miguel de Cervantes’ 17th century novel to life.
Charmaine also particularly raved about the costumes and sets (which also are hallmarks of all Tampa City Ballet performances) and was hopeful that her pictures could do justice to this amazing spectacle!
For more info about the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Tampa City Ballet (TampaCityBallet.org) or the ballet company’s incredible school, the Tampa City Dance Center (15365 Amberly Dr.) — which trains dancers of all skill levels in many different dance genres — call (813) 558-0800, visit TCDanceCenter. com For more info about Tampa City Ballet’s upcoming fund-raising gala “La Septima Society,” see the ad below. — GN
The New Tampa Players (NTP)’s production of the Tony Award-winning Stephen Sondheim musical “Into the Woods” concluded its run at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Apr. 6 and photographer Charmaine George, who took these pictures on opening night of the show, said “Into the Woods” was one of NTP’s best shows yet, with singing, dancing, costumes and sets that were all outstanding.
Starring the super-talented Richard Brown (last seen as Seymour in NTP’s “Little Shop of Horrors”) as The Baker and amazing NTP newcomer Hope Lelekacs as The Baker’s Wife, NTP’s “Into the Woods” also re-introduced audiences to a whole slew of beloved fairy tale characters, including Cinderella (Genesis Rodriguez) and her stepmother
(Kayla Bennett), Jack (Blake Boles), known for his magic beanstalk beans, scene-stealer Lena Wigfall as Little Red Ridinghood, plus NTP veterans Makayla Raines as “Witch,” Dylan Fidler as Rapunzel’s Prince, Kristin Nelson and Alexandra Greenberg as Cinderella’s stepsisters Florinda and Lucinda, respectively, and too many more great performances to include here (sorry).
The next NTP production will be Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man,” which won the 1957 Best Musical Tony Award (the 1962 film adaptation was nominated for “Best Picture,” and won the Oscar for “Best Music”). For tickets and audition and more info, visit NewTampaPlayers.org. “The Music Man” will be performed at NTPAC in July. — GN, photos by Charmaine George
OF WESLEY CHAPEL
Call Welter Law For Estate Planning Experience With Compassion
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
When Shari and Bill Daniel had small children more than two decades ago, they realized immediately that they needed a plan in case something ever happened to them.
A friend highly recommended attorney Denise A. Welter, Esq., who was practicing estate law in South Florida, so they reached out.
“She is so easy to work with,” Shari says. “It gives me such peace of mind knowing we have every legal document we need. I have this overwhelming sense of calm that my kids won’t have to worry.”
Even though Shari’s children are now grown and have never yet had to reach for that paperwork, Shari has referred a stream of rela tives and friends to Denise, who prepared them for many scenarios that can happen — from incapacity to illness to, of course, death.
“Denise helped my mother before she got sick,” Shari says. “The only non-stressful part of her illness was knowing I had everything I needed at my fingertips. I had medical power of attorney, so I could make the decisions I needed to make. Her wishes were very clear and I could follow them to a ‘T,’ thanks to Denise’s amazing planning.”
Shari says that many people think all they need is a will, but Denise showed her that there are many other options to consider. Denise provides a comprehensive binder for her clients, encouraging them to document family values, funeral preferences and account passwords.
“Just to pay my mom’s water bill, I had to have a durable power of attorney,” Shari says. “But, all I had to do was open the folder and it was there.”
When Denise’s husband of more than four decades retired, the couple moved from South Florida to New Tampa.
Two years ago, Denise opened her Welter Law Office in the Cypress Glen Professional Park, just east of I-75 and north of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, where she helps families with estate planning, wills, trusts, probate and advanced health care directives.
In addition to her legal expertise and making it easy for families to organize important legal documents, Shari says the best thing about working with Denise is her compassion.
“Doing this type of paperwork is very emotional,” Shari says. “[Denise] has empathy beyond her legal experience and really understands the emotional aspects of the process.”
Denise had been a legal secretary for 17 years when she was let go from her position, a turning point she describes as the “best worst thing that ever happened to me.”
As a busy mom of two young boys, she then made the decision to pursue a law degree.
Over the next five years, she obtained both her Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree, majoring in Legal Studies, and her Juris Doctor (J.D.) degree, both from Nova Southeastern University, which is based in Ft. Lauderdale.
A member of the Florida Bar since 2002, Denise passed the examination on her first try. After assisting in another firm’s real estate department, she found her calling in estate planning and probate.
“I found my niche, and I’ve been doing it ever since,” she says.
Emphasizing the importance of wills and trusts, Denise highlights the role of these important legal documents in providing directions to the courts regarding asset distribution.
When someone passes away with assets solely in their name and without a designated
beneficiary, their estate has to go through the probate court process before their assets can reach their heirs. In order to bypass probate, Denise advises her clients of the benefits of trust planning, which transfers assets into a trust, creating a separate legal entity that holds and manages them, ensuring a smooth transition to the deceased’s beneficiaries.
“With a trust, because you technically don’t own the assets at your death — the trust
owns them — so nothing has to go through the probate process,” she explains. “Most people do trusts to avoid probate and to protect their assets, especially for their minor children.”
She adds that trust planning serves as a preventive measure against court involvement and the necessity for guardianship in situations involving dementia or other illnesses that render individuals incapable of handling their own financial decisions.
Highlighting an often-overlooked scenario, Denise also suggests that parents of 18-year-olds should consider having health care surrogate designations, living wills and powers of attorney for these new adults to navigate potential HIPAA law challenges.
Otherwise, if their 18-year-old is hospitalized or otherwise incapacitated, medical providers are unable to give parents any information about the adult child’s condition.
Denise says that the most important skills she needs in this field are the ability to listen to what her clients’ want and expect and then put together what they need for their family dynamic. “A lot of attorneys like to do a lot of the talking, but when clients come in, they want someone to hear their story,” Denise says.
She notes how helpful that can be, especially when connecting with clients who face difficult and complicated family dynamics, whether it’s a blended family or adult children who are estranged from their parents.
“It’s a very sad trend I’m seeing, but one of
Attorney Denise Welter of the Welter Law Office in the Cypress Glen Professional Park wants to be the attorney you turn to when you need any type of estate planning. (Photo by Charmaine George)
our roles as an attorney is as a counselor,” Denise says. “So, I help clients analyze those is sues and give them tips to navigate those wa ters that can sometimes feel overwhelming.”
digital follow-ups annually to inform her clients of any law changes that could af fect them and encour ages them to review their estate plans every five years or during important life changes.
of the National As sociation of Elder Law Attorneys, Academy of Florida Elder Law Attorneys, The National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, The Real Property Probate & Trust Law Section of the Florida Bar, Lawyers of Distinction and Lead Council Verified.
Denise offers a free consultation to sit down and talk through a client’s needs and wants and understand what their complications might be. Then, she quotes a flat fee of the cost to prepare the needed documents.
Denise and her paralegal, Jackie Shoemaker, are committed to great client communication. Jackie joined the firm after Denise’s former paralegal moved out of the area.
she can be found at the beach with Bob, her high school sweetheart, visiting her sons Chris and Eric, playing with her three grand-daughters, Abbey, Amelia and Lillian, traveling, or participating in a marriage communications weekend with United Marriage Encounters. For more about info about the Welter Law Office (2405 Creel Lane, Suite 102, Wesley Chapel), call (850) 388-3845, visit WelterLawOffice.com or see the ad on pg. 13.
Wellness Now Offers Telehealth Weight Loss, Skin Care & More (Soon)!
By Celeste McLaughlin Neighborhood News Correspondent
A New Tampa resident named Steve, who asked that we use only his first name, had tried several different types of weight-loss treatments but says he has finally found success with local telehealth provider Wellness Now.
“I ended up losing about 25 pounds in just a couple of months,” Steve says. “I actually feel fantastic. I have more energy to work out and I love it for the all-around benefit.”
Steve says his experience with local nurse practitioner Jennifer (she goes by “Jenn”) Sauer of Wellness Now has been “nothing but great.”
Jenn Sauer, MSN, APRN, FNP-C, earned a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (B.S.N.) degree from the University of Delaware in Newark in 2014. She then earned a Master of Science in Nursing (M.S.N.) degree from Chamberlain University in Chicago, IL, in 2019. She is licensed as both an Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN) and Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP-C) in Florida.
“Our Telemed platform provides affordable service and accommodates people at their own homes,” Jenn explains. “We even provide weekday and weekend hours.”
Jenn says the process starts with a very thorough intake form that includes a comprehensive health history and labs that patients may have had with their primary care and/or a specialist physician.
Steve says he could tell right away that
Wellness Now was different from any weightloss program he had tried in the past.
“Jenn took the time to read through all the information I provided,” Steve explains. “I never felt rushed and she seemed to really care about me. I’ve used other weight-loss platforms where it feels like they’re always trying to upsell you, but Jenn seemed to want to get me on what would work for me.”
Wellness Now was launched in 2023, offering patients a way to take advantage of medications that were new on the market at that time to treat diabetes and other health conditions, but which also just happened to help those patients lose weight.
Over the past couple of years, the practice has expanded to also help people with skin and scalp care, and the company’s management intends to continue to expand its available services to offer acute care for illnesses such as sinus and urinary tract infections, with a vision to open a brick-and-mortar location one day.
For people looking for weight loss and help with medical conditions related to weight, such as diabetes, heart disease, arthritis and others, Jenn currently meets patients virtually through secure software to determine if they are a good candidate for medications generically called semaglutide and tirzepatide.
weight-loss medications at a much lower cost than the brand-name versions of these drugs.
that semaglutide can help you, you could possibly stock up on it before the ban takes effect. However, if you aren’t able to do that, Wellness Now can still write prescriptions for the weight-loss medications that will work best for you, and provide information as to how to obtain them in the most affordable way.
Wellness Now appointments are designed to be affordable for patients, too. An initial consultation is just $55, with follow up appointments only $45. All appointments are self-pay, however, as insurance is not accepted.
Jenn counsels patients on how to make lifestyle changes along with prescribing medications that she says are an aid to a healthy lifestyle. She encourages monthly follow-up appointments for accountability and to check in on current and future goals. Jenn says patients can call or message her anytime they have questions. “We’re not a substitute for primary care,” she explains, “but we are a supplement.”
Skin Care, Too
Previously, if Wellness Now healthcare providers determined those medications would be helpful for a patient, they wrote prescriptions that could be made at the company’s partner Palms Pharmacy, a compounding pharmacy
However, because of lobbying by pharmaceutical companies, by the time you’re reading this, compounding pharmacies are now no longer allowed to make their own versions of tirzepatide (the generic form of the brand Zepbound). And, semaglutide (the generic form of Wegovy) will no longer be available as of April 22. Only the brand names will be available.
If you hurry, you can set an appointment with Wellness Now and, if Jenn determines
In addition to weight loss, Wellness Now is using the telemedicine model to offer great prescription skin care medication to patients in a convenient and affordable way.
Jenn will conduct a virtual skin exam, listen to your concerns and prescribe products if they are a good fit for you.
In the next year or so, Jenn says Wellness Now is hoping to expand to a brick-and-mortar location that will bring renowned Korean and Japanese skin care products to New Tampa
that are not currently available locally.
“I’ve always had an interest in dermatology,” Jenn explains. “At a young age, I dealt with acne and eczema, so skincare is something that I am particularly passionate about. Sometimes, there is information overload, especially with social media. I want to educate people and help develop treatment plans using evidencebased practices and research from medical and cosmetic dermatologists.”
Jenn is currently traveling to Japan and South Korea to check out their world-famous skin care and dermatology scenes.
“K-Beauty (Korean skincare) has become known in the U.S. markets in recent years, due
to its holistic and innovative products that promote healthy and radiant skin,” Jenn explains. “Japan also is a leader in dermatology, known for cutting edge anti-aging treatments as well as treating medical skin conditions such as atopic dermatitis and itching.”
She says that Wellness Now partners with Palms Pharmacy for in-house compounding of products for the face, under the eye area and scalp using prescription-strength formulations.
“Prescription-strength skincare products offer potent targeted treatment that provide faster results,” Jenn says. “These formulations are backed by clinical evidence and are formulated to meet higher standards of quality and safety. Not to mention that they are freshly compounded at the pharmacy to ensure maximum efficacy.”
She adds that these products also can help with anti-aging, hyperpigmentation and skin texture and also address scalp health and hairloss concerns.
Whether it’s skin care, weight loss, or other services that will be available in the future, Jenn Sauer says Wellness Now is committed to affordability and accessibility for their patients.
“We want to provide quality consultations and guidance,” she says, “while providing products that are proven to be efficacious at an affordable price for patients from the comfort of their homes.”
Wellness Now is offering $10 off for any patient who refers a friend. For more info about Wellness Now or to schedule a telehealth appointment, visit WellnessNowHealth.com, email info@WellnessNowHealth.com, or see the ad on page 44.
Dr. José Matos’ BBD Dental Care — Bridging Cultures & Creating Happy Smiles
By Iris Vitelli
Neighborhood News Correspondent
General dentist José Matos, D.D.S., of BBD Dental Care, which is located at the corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. and E. Bearss Ave. (in the Oakmont Professional Park), is making a last ing impact, not just through his dental expertise, but with his ability to connect with a diverse and growing community. As one of the few Spanishspeaking dentists in the area, Dr. Matos offers more than just dental care, he provides comfort, understanding and a sense of belonging to patients who might otherwise feel overlooked.
Born and raised in Venezuela, Dr. Matos’ journey to becoming a respected dentist in the U.S. is a story of resilience and determination. The dental degree process in his native country is a bit different from the U.S. Dr. Matos attended the University of Carabobo College of Dentistry in Valencia, Venezuela, for five years and obtained his degree in 2004 as “Dentist” (which is equivalent to a D.D.S., or Doctor of Dental Surgery degree here). He then attended the same school for an additional two years to obtain his specialization in Endodontics in 2010. For four years after graduating, he dedicated his practice to doing root canals in Venezuela.
ing the name BBD Dental Care. And, in Dec. 2024, the practice officially opened its doors. Great Tech & Greater Compassion Dr. Matos takes pride in offering advanced technology to enhance patient care. BBD Dental Care features the DEXIS CBCT imaging machine, which provides high-resolution 3D images. This cutting-edge equipment offers both conventional X-rays and detailed scans, all with reduced radiation exposure. The highresolution X-rays and scans are seamlessly transferred into a computer system, which Dr. Matos says helps him make accurate diagnoses.
“I also use dental microscopes,” he says, “which I used in my specialty of endodontics in Venezuela.” In the past, these microscopes were reserved primarily for doing root canals to help endodontists enhance precision. Dr. Matos positions the microscope right above the patient’s mouth area (photo on next page). “This technology,” he explains, “allows me to see the smallest of things so I can perform minimally invasive treatments, reducing the need for exploratory procedures and ensuring a faster, more comfortable recovery for my patients.”
Dr. Matos says that transitioning to dentistry in the U.S. wasn’t easy. “Florida requires internationally trained dentists to complete [at least] a rigorous two-year residency program to receive their D.D.S. degree,” says Dr. Matos. “It was a challenge that I embraced head-on.”
He secured a spot at the Orange Blossom
Health Center in Orlando, which is run by Larkin Community Hospital, a highly competitive program with its main office in Miami that trains dentists in comprehensive general dentistry. After years of specializing in endodontics, he described the experience as “like riding a bike” — the general dentist skills came back naturally. After completing his residency, Dr. Matos worked in Winter Haven for three years while living in
Tampa, but says the long commute took a toll on his family. His wife Rebeca encouraged him to open his own practice closer to home.
“Bruce B. Downs holds a very special place for us because it always seemed that wherever we lived or the kids went to school, it was always near Bruce B. Downs,” Dr. Matos shares. It was only fitting that Rebeca, a Realtor®, found a location right off this familiar road, inspir-
Dr. Matos is a general practitioner but has years of experience doing root canals and can perform them if a patient needs it. In the state of Florida, a general dentist can only advertise as a general dentist but can perform other procedures if he/she is trained to do them. A dentist who is a “specialist” (endodontist, orthodontist, etc.) can only advertise that specialty and only perform that specialty. So, even though he is not an endo-
(L.-r.) Dental assistant Josemig Chavez, Dr. José Matos and front desk attendant Zoila Gonzalez are the happy faces you’ll meet when you visit the aptly-named BBD Dental Care in the Oakmont Professional Park at the corner of Bruce B. Downs Blvd. & E. Bearss Ave. in Tampa. (Photo by Charmaine George)
dontist, Dr. Matos can perform root canals as a general dentist.
While the technology he uses is impressive, what truly sets Dr. Matos apart is his ability to connect with his patients. Fluent in both English and Spanish, he ensures that language is never a barrier to quality care.
“For many patients, it’s not just about comfort, it’s about trust,” Dr. Matos explains. “Being able to speak their language makes them feel more understood and cared for.”
He says his Spanish-speak ing patients often express relief and gratitude when they realize they can communicate openly about their dental health in their native tongue.
“At many practices, you have ‘someone’ who speaks Spanish, who will translate,” he says. “But, I can speak directly to my (Latin) patients.”
Happy Patients With Happy Smiles
At BBD Dental Care, your entire family is welcome. Dr. Matos is happy to see children as well as adults. Although his practice has only been open since Dec. 2024, BBD Dental has an overall Google rating of 5 stars out of 5 on nearly 40 reviews. In her 5-star review, patient Maria Jose
you feel super comfortable. They also provide assistance in Spanish. Thank you.”
See “BBD Dental Care” on pg. 32
Continued from page 31
Family is a cornerstone of Dr. Matos’ life. He and Rebeca have been married for nearly 20 years and have three children — Francisco, 17, Diego, 15, and Julieta, 9, as well as the family’s beloved Goldendoodle, Coco. Weekends are often spent enjoying Florida’s natural beauty, whether boating near Tarpon Springs or camping at Hillsborough River State Park.
Dr. Matos and Rebeca met at a gym in their hometown of Valencia when they were young. Rebeca’s family had already settled in Tampa, and she moved to the U.S. to finish her last year of high school while Dr. Matos was on his way to dental school, so they ended up breaking up. A year later, she decided to return to Venezuela, since she had been accepted to law school. They met up and rekindled their relationship, which led to them getting married. Frequent visits to Tampa to visit Rebeca’s family made it clear they wanted to build their future together here.
Today, their family is deeply rooted in the New Tampa community. They are parishioners at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and Rebeca and Dr. Matos actively participate as facilitators for matrimony preparation for Spanishspeaking couples, and also coordinate the Hispanic “Liturgy of the Word” Ministry. Their children attend local schools, and Diego has even expressed interest in becoming a dentist, like his father.
For Dr. Matos, New Tampa isn’t just where he works, it’s his home. His wife’s family has lived in the area for more than 25 years, and his brother also resides nearby. Opening his practice on BBD, the main artery of the community, felt like a natural extension of his family’s life here. It’s more
than just a convenient location; it’s a statement of commitment to the people and the place they love.
As he looks to the future, Dr. Matos remains dedicated to providing compassionate, comprehensive dental care. Although he is trained in many areas, he also collaborates with a network of dental specialists he can recommend if needed.
“I believe in educating my patients,” he says. “Dental care should be a partnership, where patients feel informed and empowered to make decisions about their own oral health.”
Speaking of education, in her 5-star review, patient Isabela Hernandez says: “Excellent. They educate you in everything, they are patient and Dr. Jose Matos is very good. 100% recommended.”
Dr. Matos’ advice to aspiring dentists, especially those from international backgrounds, is rooted in his own journey:
“Take it one day at a time,” he says. “There will be obstacles, and some doors may close. But, if you stay focused and consistent, new doors will open. The key is to never give up.”
Dr. Matos knows first-hand how challenging the road to success can be. From navigating a new country and a new language to enduring the rigor ous process of re-establishing his career.
“I hope my story inspires others to pursue their dreams,” he says, “no matter how daunting the path may seem.”
You can follow Dr. Matos of BBD Dental Care on Instagram @bbddentalcare. To schedule an appointment, call the office at (813) 515-5995 or email info@bbddentalcare.com. BBD Dental is located at 3232 Cove Bend Dr., Tampa,. The office is open Mon.-Thur., 8 a.m.6 p.m., as well as two Saturdays each month. For more information about BBD Dental’s $49 opening promotion, see the ad on pg. 41.
Final Touch Quality Cleaners — Amazing People &
By Gary Nager
Reggie Wakefield and Erica Poniatowski, the owners of Final Touch Quality Cleaners, have become mine and Jannah’s friends over the course of the last two years, since they took over cleaning our previous apartment and especially, since they have been cleaning our larger, new apartment at the Silversaw Apartments.
Jannah first met both Erica and Reggie at her Business Networking International (BNI) meetings. Erica joined the group and we all hit it off instantly.
Both Erica and Reggie have cleaned our place, but Erica is more focused on her career as a Realtor® with Great Western Realty in Tampa, while Reggie...well, I’ll let him tell you.
“I was cleaning houses and apartments in New York City when I was seven or eight years old, when my mom used to take me and one of my sisters (Brittany) with her. We were both young, so we thought she was just doing favors for our neighbors, but we later found out she had made a business out of it!”
He adds, “We were both kind of chunky kids, so we loved cleaning food trucks because they would pay us with free food!,” he laughs.
And, although Reggie got into the home alarm business when he and Erica graduated from the same high school in southern New Jersey, he says, “I’ve just always loved to clean! I get a feeling of satisfaction when I leave someone’s home or business sparkling.”
So, when both he and Erica made the decision to move from New Jersey to Florida, after both of them left different alarm companies, it was Reggie who pushed for them to start their own cleaning service in the Sunshine State, especially since Brittany, the sister he used to clean with when they were kids, already owned a successful “sister” cleaning company in Norfolk, VA.
The couple ultimately settled in nearby Lutz and Erica became the public face of the new Final Touch Quality Cleaners — despite Reggie’s winning smile and hard-to-resist personality — so he could focus on the cleaning side while she ran the business and handled the billing and marketing.
“Even though she’s great at it, I know that cleaning isn’t Erica’s thing,” Reggie says. “When Erica said she wanted to get her real estate license, I was happy for her to go for it.”
In the meantime, Final Touch has continued to grow, with all-5-star reviews on 16 reviews on Google. Customer Jackie P., in a 5-star Google review, says, “I’ve used Final Touch Quality Cleaners for everything I have! My home and my business! They do phenomenal work and their detailed approach is very reassuring. They also make our appliances look like new each time they leave and we always have a great smelling house afterwards. 10/10. Will always recommend and use.”
One thing I’ve noticed when Reggie cleans our apartment is how methodical he is. We haven’t had an actual office for him to clean, but I can imagine how he would be able to expand what he does for us for a much larger space.
Speaking of larger spaces, after Erica and Reggie met Rock & Brews general manager Kareem Nelson at a BNI function at the restaurant a year ago, they immediately were hired to clean it.
“Kareem told me they had an in-house cleaning crew they weren’t happy with,” Reggie says. “I told him ‘I got you’ and we’ve been cleaning it ever since. I’m sad they’re closing it, not
just because we’re losing a commercial client, but because Kareem has been so great to work with.”
So, as of now, Reggie says he and Erica are focused on finding another big commer cial account to replace Rock & Brews. ness always looks as good as your home when we
(L.-r.) Reggie, Ryder, Erica & Ryleigh invite you to check out Final Touch Quality Cleaners, which will make sure every inch
apartment, busi ness or Airbnb will be sparkling when they leave. (All photos on these pages by Charmaine George)
finish cleaning.” Reggie and Erica also are happy to clean your Airbnb, and provide move-in, move-out and post-construction cleans, too.
Final Touch also is looking to hire additional cleaners after an amazing occurrence with part of their crew. “We had a couple working for us but they recently won a million dollars on a scratch-off ticket!,” Reggie says. “At first, they said they would keep on working...after all, a million dollars isn’t worth as much today as it once was... but they ended up leaving anyway.”
Erica and Reggie have a daughter named Ryleigh and a son named Ryder and you can see how much they love their little family.
“We’ve got to make it work for them,” Reggie says, “and I have no doubt we will.”
New clients who mention this story, the ad on pg. 47 or the Neighborhood News will receive 10% off their first clean with Final Touch Quality Cleaners. For more information and a free estimate, call (813) 530-5591 or email FinalTouchQC@gmail.com.
The Dee Strom Difference: A Commitment To Clients & Results!
By Iris Vitelli Neighborhood News Correspondent
When Dee Strom transitioned from the hospitality industry (see below) into real estate, she never imagined how deeply she would fall in love with her new career. Encouraged by her husband Michael, she took the leap and quickly realized that being a Realtor® wasn’t just a job for her — it was her passion.
Since joining Florida Executive Realty (FER) in 2014, Dee has made a name for herself as one of the top-performing agents in the area. Now with more than a decade in the business, she consistently sells more than $20 million in real estate annually, placing her in the top 1% of Realtors nationwide. Her dedication and exper tise have earned her multiple awards. She was named FER’s “Agent of the Year” company-wide (for 2023 & 2024). She also was the top earner in the New Tampa office for the years 2019-22.
“I am all about my clients,” Dee says, “and about this wonderful business that I love. The awards show my commitment to this industry but, more important, to the people I work with and represent.”
For Dee, success in real estate is about more than just sales.
“Building a solid relationship with your clients is key in the real estate business” she explains. “Both buyers and sellers should collaborate with a Realtor they genuinely connect with, like and trust.” That’s why her work schedule is based on her clients’ availability, not the other way around. Unlike many real estate agents,
her deep-rooted relationships with builders. Whereas some agents walk into a new construc tion site without knowing anyone, Dee often already has established connections with not just the builder’s sales agents, but the builders themselves. She understands their preferences, habits and flexibility, which gives her an edge when negotiating on behalf of her clients. “My job is to advocate for you, the client, and the best way to do this is by having information.”
Dee’s extensive marketing reach is another factor. As a member of “Leading Real Estate Companies of the World” (LeadingRE), she ensures that her listings are marketed both locally
Dee also prides herself on her ability to tru ly listen to her clients. “I feel many people talk more than they listen,” she says. “When I speak with my clients, I want to know about them. You may have someone who has one request or two, but when we start having a conversation, as I listen and get to know them, I may find that they need a whole lot more or a whole lot less.”
For example, some families might not immediately think about community amenities that would benefit their children. Others, with hectic work schedules, may need a home where landscaping is taken care of by the HOA. Dee
As a child, Dee says she was shy, but her time working in the hospitality industry helped her break out of her shell. She was a hospitality manager for bars and clubs in South Tampa and was part of the opening team and management in 2008 for Aja, a club that was located in the Shops at Wiregrass. The original Aja opened in Channelside in the early 2000s, but when the Wiregrass location closed in 2012, Dee then worked for Ceviche Tapas Bar and Restaurant, overseeing the company’s books/accounting for all of its locations.
“This background has been a great tool
(Above, left) Realtor® Dee Strom, of Florida Executive Realty’s office in Tampa Palms, helps clients like Dr. Alex Lteif (above) and the Moyer family (left photo on next page) find their dream homes. (Right photo on next page) Dee and her husband Michael, with daughters Sloane (left) and Stella. (
to help me in my career,” Dee says. “I learned about customer service, and I believe it is a very important part of what I do. Real estate is a customer service industry. People sometimes forget that. We are here to satisfy the needs of those looking to sell or purchase a home.”
The residential real estate market is constantly changing, and Dee understands the importance of staying informed. She says she uses social media to network, but also actively networks with top agents in the area as well as builders and industry professionals to stay informed about market trends and opportunities. She visits new construction communities, meets with the on-site agents and stays up to date on upcoming inventory and incentives. She also participates whenever there is a real estate event.
“Networking gives me insight into some of
these changes and what is to come,” she says. “It helps to know what is out there.”
Dee is passionate about earning her clients’ trust, and she believes that chemistry is vital. She has an impressive 4.9-star overall rating on about 50 Google reviews, and the majority of the reviewers say they love Dee and how she went above and beyond to help them. But, she says her overall 4.9 rating comes from a single one-star review — from a seller on the other side of a transaction. “I was advocating so well for my client that the seller left me a one-star review,” she laughs. At first, she was devastated, but then she realized it was a testament to her commitment. “I can’t make everyone happy,” says Dee. “In that case, the person I needed to make happy was my client, and I did my job.”
Dee takes pride in handling all aspects of a
“The only thing I won’t do for them is help them pack, but if that’s something they need, I can make the arrangements. It doesn’t mean everything is always smooth, but I will be there to face any issues head-on.”
She adds that there are other Realtors out there, “without the proper contract and market knowledge and education to know how to professionally operate. I have had sellers come to me to switch [to me].” Dee says one of the biggest problems in selling is that some Realtors, “simply look at homes they believe are comparable to determine a home’s value, but knowing the home’s history is critical, too.”
Dee also says, “Experience is not how many years you have been doing the job but how
many homes you have actually sold.” She firmly believes that experience plays a crucial role in doing the job right. “You can be a Realtor for 40 years and only sell one house per year — that will give you the same number I sell in just one. You can’t compare years on the job with the number of homes sold. The experience comes from doing it consistently. It’s about having faced all types of real estate challenges multiple times.”
When discussing the local market, Dee explains that some areas are currently built out but remain stable. The Wesley Chapel area, though, is still booming with new construction. As an expert in the area, she helps clients navigate builder incentives and contract negotiations.
“For my clients who are selling, new construction can create competition,” she says, “but with the right marketing strategy, I can position their listings to stand out and sell for top dollar.”
Dee utilizes professional photography, video tours, social media and targeted outreach to attract the right buyers. “Every home has a story,” she says, “and I make sure it’s told in a way that captivates potential buyers.”
To Dee Strom, real estate is about strategic marketing, dedicated advocacy, and building lasting relationships. Her passion for her clients and her deep knowledge of the industry makes her a Realtor unlike any other.
And that …is “The Dee Difference.” Realtor® Dee Strom is based at Florida Executive Realty’s Tampa Palms office at 15802 Amberly Dr. For more information, visit DStrom.floridaexecutiverealty.com. You can find her @DeeStromRealtor on Facebook and Instagram or by calling (813) 525-7851. Or, see her ad on this issue’s back cover.
PeppaJak Is Already Open In Former Bacon Boss HQ Spot At The KRATEs
We were saddened to see that The Bacon Boss HQ, one of the original — and most pop ular — restaurants to open in the KRATE at The Grove container park (at 5888 Grand Oro Ln., #112), had closed on March 30.
In their Mar. 20 announcement on the Best of Wesley Chapel Facebook page, however, own ers Christy and Joshua Norland did say that the Bacon Boss food truck will “continue to grow” and be available and that a new chicken concept food truck called Cluckology (photo below) also is in the planning stages, so at least the delicious burgers, hot dogs, fries, tots, chicken sandwiches and mac & cheese options so many of us have come to know and love will still be available now that the Bacon Boss HQ has closed.
I did visit The Bacon Boss HQ one last time a few minutes before it opened on the day
thick and juicy and the skin-on fries were crispy and not over-seasoned. Alex then gave me a small sample of two of the menu items that are available at the new location — crispy and delicious mac-&-cheese bites and some super-yummy boneless chicken tenders. I told Alex I don’t really do spicy (and they are available plain), but I really liked the sweet-&-spicy sauce he suggested!
Alex says a new online ordering system should be available by the time this issue hits your mailbox, “and we’ll also have a new phone number for this location by then, too!”
For more info about The Bacon Boss and Cluckology, visit “The Bacon Boss” on Facebook or call (813) 922-9290. For PeppaJak, visit PeppaJak.com or call (813) 374-5846. — GN
Grilltopia Brings South American Cuisine To The KRATEs!
Although the KRATE at The Grove con tainer park already has a wide variety of Latin cuisines — including Peruvian, Puerto Rican, Mexican and Venezuelan, the new Grilltopia offers a unique mix of South American cuisines.
Whether you like Brazilian, Colombian, Venezuelan, Argentinian or even Uruguayan food, Grilltopia — which has been open for less than two months in the space previously occu pied by Yummy Tablas in the KRATEs — has something for you to try. Grilltopia’s exterior sign says that owners Patricia (whose parents are from Uruguay) and Miguel (who is from Venezuela) want to “Meat You Here.”
Start with pinchos (top left photo), which are kabobs that are popular all over the South American continent and are available in perfectly grilled beef or chicken (or a combo of each) with crisp, delicious fries.
Speaking of grilled meats, the parrillas (top right) are grilled meat combos that can include skirt steak, pork chops, sausages, chicken, picanha (a Brazilian sirloin or rump cap), tenderloin, short ribs, blood sausage or pork belly, in a variety of combina tions. Parrillas are served with a variety of dipping sauces and two or three side dishes, from yuca bites, to rice & beans, potato salad and our new-found favorite, a thick slab of fried white cheese (above center).
Also available is a variety of pepito sandwiches (far right), a Venezuelan delight with
the same meats, as well as bacon, are available on these sandwiches, which also offer lettuce, toma toes, cheese, string potatoes and different sauces.
The different meats also are available on bowls with quinoa, fried or cauliflower rice,
and there are fresh juice drinks, smoothies and Grilltopia is not an inexpensive dining experience, but the portions are large and the flavors are unique, so give it a shot and please tell Patricia and Miguel that I sent you!
info, call (813) 909-6354 or visit “Grilltopia Krate” on Facebook. — GN; photos by Charmaine George
A new fast-casual “bowl culture” restaurant has opened in the Pebble Creek Collection plaza at 19651 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (behind Hungry Crab Juicy Seafood) in New Tampa.
Sushi Bowls by Kazoku Sushi, which features not only fresh raw tuna and salmon and cooked snow crab poké bowls, but also amazing appetizers like chicken gyoza dumplings, crispy vegetable spring rolls, crab Rangoon (all shown in the top left picture) and deliciously unique “Sushi Fries,” which you really have to taste to “get it!” (middle right photo).
James Gouveia,
The husband-and-wife team of Sergio and Cristina Chanquin (top right photo), who also own House in Ybor City, are proud to bring their skills to New Tampa and our first visit definitely ex ceeded all of our expectations.
by Executive Chef
Brunch!
Bowls by Kazoku Sushi — which is open Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-8 p.m. & noon-6 p.m.
grand-opening-of-sushibowls-b/1296410661425913. Please tell ‘em I sent you! — GN
FRESH NEW YORK BAGELS BREAKFAST & LUNCH SERVED ALL DAY
Pre-order NEW YORK BAGELS and PAY LESS with us than ordering directly with them! * Half-dozen, full dozen, or even a couple dozen! * We can also cater small events with our bagels and specialty coffee! Ask us to cater your next event! Call 732-803-1435
Frozen SMOOTHIES offered in a variety of flavors! We also have BURSTING BOBA!
34100 S.R. 54, WESLEY CHAPEL (in front of One-Stop Landscape Supply) SILVAS COFFEE GRIND @SILVAS.COFFEE.GRIND
HOURS OF OPERATION: MONDAY-FRIDAY, 7:30 AM-3:30 PM • SATURDAY, 9 AM-3 PM
Korean Eatery Sorimmara Opens Next To Smoothie
If you’ve never heard of Sorimmara, which just opened next to Smoothie King at 17501 Preserve Walk Ln., off Bruce B Downs (BBD) Blvd. in New Tampa, you’re probably not alone.
Sorimmara is a fast-casual chain based in South Korea, where it has more than 200 locations. The only other current U.S. location is in the Koreatown section of Los Angeles, CA.
Despite its Korean roots, most of the menu at Sorimmara is made up of Chinese dishes that have been given a Korean twist. Confused? Just what until you visit!
Sorimmara offers a large variety of raw meats (beef, pork, lamb, chicken, etc.), seafood (shrimp, clams, fish, etc.) and veggies (everything from broccoli and collared greens to Napa cabbage, baby corns, a variety of mushrooms & much more).
You wait to be seated, but you’re immediately invited to grab a bowl and fill it with as much “stuff” as you like — but you’re told you need to have at least 1 lb. of ingredients in your
similarly to the popular Chinese hot pot soups, except the restaurant’s kitchen cooks it for you and brings it to your table in a metal bowl placed on top of a lit burner.
Charmaine enjoyed her malatang (top right), but we both included way too many ingredients because we didn’t know until the restaurant weighed our bowls how much “stuff” we had. There’s also creamy rose malatang available.
I also liked my tomato xiang guo (bottom right), or “stir fry dry pot,” which is like a stir-fry dish at a Korean or Chinese restaurant.
When I visit Sorimmara again, I plan to try the guobaorou, which means “fried pork” in Chinese, but also is available in crispy, sweet&-sour chicken, shrimp, cream shrimp and mala mayo shrimp varieties. There’s also four actual Korean street food options called tteokbokki, which features tube-shaped rice cakes that are described as a blend of sweet, spicy and savory.
One piece of good news for less adventurous diners is that all of the dishes at Sorimmara
pre-made options like a delicious creamy sesame sauce and make-your-own options where the restaurant provides you with the recipes! There also are Chinese standards like egg fried rice and egg rolls, as well as unique spicy
11:30 a.m.-10 p.m.
call (813) 252-6643 or visit SorimmaraTampaBay.com. — GN, photos by Charmaine George
Residents of New Tampa also will soon have another unique option for dessert, as the third Tampa-area location of Twisted Rolls Chimney Cake is expected to open any day now in the same strip plaza at 19406 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. as Dan’s Fan City and Subway, across BBD from the Pebble Creek Collection.
As long as you don’t go there (as I did when photographer Charmaine George and I visited the six-month-old Temple Terrace location at 12212 N. 56th St.) expecting it to also have some kind of rolls, you probably won’t be disappointed.
The “Twisted Rolls” at Twisted Rolls Chim ney Cake are made of dough and sugar that is rolled around a stick and then baked in an oven until hot and semi-crispy. Then, the hot dough is dipped in one of a variety of glazes and then rolled in one of nine different flavors — anything from crushed Oreo cookies to pistachio nuts and
Twisted Rolls Chimney Cake Gets Ready To Open Across BBD From Pebble Creek
placed inside the bottom of the freshly-baked cone. The heat makes the cookie melt in your mouth because clearly, the Chimney Cake isn’t decadent enough without it. Just kidding! It is!
Charmaine also sampled a mixed berry smoothie, which she said was yummy, and I
dozen hot and iced coffee beverages on the Twisted Rolls menu. And, there’s even Italian sodas in eight different flavors. For more info about Twisted Rolls Chimney Cake, visit TwistedRollsChimneyCake.com. — GN; all photos by Charmaine George
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