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Volume 22 Issue 21

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October 11, 2014

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The Direct-Mail News Magazines Serving New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Since 1993! THIS INDEPENDENT COMMUNITY NEWS MAGAZINE IS DIRECTLY MAILED TO: NEW TAMPA: Arbor Greene • Cory Lake Isles • Cross Creek • Easton Park • Grand Hampton • Heritage Isles • Hunter’s Green • Hunter’s Key • K-Bar Ranch Lake Forest • Live Oak Preserve • Pebble Creek • Richmond Place • Tampa Palms • The Hammocks • West Meadows WESLEY CHAPEL: Aberdeen • Belle Chase • Bridgewater • Brookside • Chapel Pines • Country Walk • Lexington Oaks • Meadow Pointe • New River • Northwood • Pinewalk • Pine Ridge Saddlebrook • Saddleridge Estates • Saddlewood • Seven Oaks • The Lakes at Northwood • The Villages of Wesley Chapel • Watergrass • Wesley Pointe • Westbrook Estates • Williamsburg

Neighborhood News Named WCCC’s Small Business Of The Year!

Wesley Chapel Chamber Also ‘Celebrates Excellence’ By Honoring Parks Ford, PHSC’s Dr. Stan Giannet, Kelly Mothershead & ACS!

By Gary Nager I am thrilled to announce that the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News has won its first-ever award — and we still don’t even know who nominated us for it. On September 18, at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa Tampa, the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News took home one of five coveted awards given out during the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s “Celebrating Excellence in Business” awards banquet, sponsored by Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel. “I guess we’ve never won one of these before because we’ve never nominated ourselves and no one ever nominated us before,” I told the packed house of about 200 Chamber members and guests after being named the Chamber’s 2014 “Small Business of the Year.” “We’ve been too busy the last 20 years trying to make a living while providing as much news and information as possible about our areas to the people of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.” I also was proud my mom Marilyn was in attendance. Ours was the third award presented by Bay News 9 anchor Al Reuchel that evening, as first, the American Cancer Society (ACS), represented by my fellow Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club members Robyn Liska and Jannah McDonald, took home the “Civic Association of the Year” honors.

If you plan to participate in the ACS “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk at the Shops at Wiregrass mall on Sat., Oct. 25, you’ll understand why Jannah, Robyn and ACS are so deserving. Also super-worthy is current Wesley Chapel Rotary (which meets Wednesdays at noon at Ciao! Italian Bistro in the Wiregrass mall) president, WCCC Ambassador and owner of A Focus on Fitness studio Kelly Mothershead, who, not surprisingly, took home this year’s WCCC “Volunteer of the Year” honors. There are a lot of very committed people in the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary, but I can’t imagine that any business owner has ever donated more of his or her free time to help people in need than Kelly has this past year. ‘Nuff said. After our “Small Business award,” Reuchel next named the “Large Business of the Year” winner, which was the event’s sponsor, Parks Ford. Next, Dr. Stanley Giannet, the dynamic Provost of the new Pasco Hernando State College-Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch was named both this year’s “Business Leader of the Year” and next year’s “Honorary Mayor of Wesley Chapel,” which means that this year’s “Mayor,” Cathy Bickham, will be the last person “elected” by fundraising vote, according to outgoing WCCC president Jeff Novotny, who also is the

Chair of American Civil Engineers. Novotny also won an award and gave away a few special recognitions before turning over the (Clockwise from top left): Ron Parks of the Parks Auto Group (left) & PHSCgavel to new WCCC Porter Campus Provost Dr. Stanley Giannet both took home awards at this year’s Board president, Mi- WCCC Awards Banquet on Sept. 18. New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborcah Richeson, D.C., hood News editor & publisher Gary Nager thanked the Chamber for our Small of Cypress Creek Business of the Year award and introduced our entire staff. Bay News 9 anchor Al Reuchel was the evening’s Master of Ceremonies. For more photos, see page 49! Chiropractic. Congrats to event chair Jennifer Cofini of Parks Ford and her committee for a job well-done. For a complete list of the 2014 winners & finalists, visit WCNeighborhoodNews.com or WesleyChapelChamber.com.

Florida House District 63 Seat Is Up For Grabs Again In Nov. 4 Election By Matt Wiley Longtime New Tampa resident Shawn Harrison (R-New Tampa) wants his seat back in Tallahassee and is on the ballot for State Representative for District 63, which includes the New Tampa area. Harrison squares off against a familiar foe, incumbent Dist. 63 Rep. Mark Danish (D-New Tampa), who unseated Harrison in November 2012. A former Tampa City Councilman

who also has spent time serving as the chair of both the Tampa Palms Community Development District and the Hillsborough County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Harrison also is the founder of Shawn Harrison Associates, a Tampa law firm. However, he says he’s ready to continue helping to write legislation, rather than just practicing law. “I feel like I still have something to offer my community from up in Tallahassee,” Harrison says. “My ‘rookie’ term, I

Local News, Business & Education Updates

Neighborhood Magazine

Also Inside This Issue!

Dist. 2 County Commission Race Heats Up, Plans Proposed For Hunter’s Green Land, BBD Widening Contract Awarded, Plus Lots Of Local Business Features & More!

Peabody’s Billiards & Games Is New Tampa’s Spot For Food & Sports, Enter Our Dining Survey & Contest, Plus Neighborhood Nibbles & Biz Bytes!

Pages 1-46

Pages 47-64

was able to get 10 bills passed, as well as a (Florida) constitutional amendment.” The amendment that Harrison originally filed and helped pass (CS/HJR 93) provides a property tax exemption for the surviving spouses of members of the U.S. military and first responders (police and firefighters) killed in the line of duty. Harrison thinks the biggest issue right now for New Tampa is jobs. “We’ve got to work on job creation,” he explains. “We’ve got graduating high school seniors going off to college and graduating University of South Florida students worried about jobs and the economy. There’s a lot of angst out there among our young people who wonder what kind of career they’ll be able to have (locally and even statewide).” Harrison explains that he’d like to take another look at one of the bills (HB 297) he worked on during his first term. His “School to Work” bills was proposed to provide tax incentives for businesses

(Left) Current Dist. 63 Rep. Mark Danish will defend his seat against former Rep. Shawn Harrison on Nov. 4 to represent New Tampa. that create apprenticeship opportunities for post-secondary education students. The students would get college credit for their work in the apprenticeship and the business would receive a tax break for bringing in the college students. See “District 63” on page 4.

So, How Do You Feel About Medical Marijuana?

An editorial by Gary Nager Although marijuana, medical or otherwise, is still illegal throughout the U.S. (according to federal law), as many as 25 of our 50 U.S. states either already have passed or are working on passing state laws allowing the purchase and use of medical marijuana — without possibility of prosecution — and there are now two states (Colorado and Washington state) that even allow (and tax) recreational marijuana use. And, although the too-ugly-to-discuss gubernatorial contest between incumbent Republican Rick Scott and former Gov. Charlie Crist is the biggest “race” to be decided in this year’s General Election on Tuesday, November 4, there’s no doubt that one of the more controversial issues on this year’s ballot is Florida’s ‘Right to Medical Marijuana’ Amendment 2. The measure, upon voter approval, would legalize medical marijuana in Florida. Specifically, Ballotpedia.org says the measure would guarantee the following:

condition” as cancer, multiple sclerosis, glaucoma, hepatitis C, HIV, AIDS, ALS, Crohn’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, “or other conditions for which a physician believes that the medical use of marijuana would likely outweigh the potential health risks for a patient.”

New Tampa Neighborhood News

Supporters of Amendment 2 say the measure will help people with debilitating medical conditions. Many opponents, on the other hand, argue that the amendment is actually “de facto legalization” of marijuana. Those who know me have a pretty good understanding of where I stand on this issue. Whether this amendment is truly “for medical use only” or is, in fact, the beginning of the legalization — for any reason — of marijuana in our state, I believe that most Floridians — and most Americans — would prefer to allow access to it without fear of going to jail, especially parents of teenagers and college students. I also believe that the ability for states (and ultimately, the U.S.) to tax every

• That medical use of marijuana by a qualifying patient or personal caregiver is not subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under Florida law. • That a licensed physician is not subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions for issuing medical marijuana to a person diagnosed with a “debilitating medical condition” under state law. • That registered medical marijuana treatment centers are not subject to criminal or civil liability or sanctions under state law. The measure defines a “debilitating medical

29157 Chapel Park Dr., Suite B Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 Phone: (813) 910-2575 Fax: (813) 423-6533 Advertising E-mail: Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Editorial E-mail: EditorialDept@NTNeighborhoodNews.com Publisher & Editor Gary Nager General Manager Nikki Bennett Assistant Editor / Photographer Matt Wiley Correspondents Amy Gutierrez • Celeste McLaughlin Kelly Miller Advertising Sales Representative Mary Dorey Graphic Design Georgia Carmichael • Chelsie Rosatone Mikaela Williams

Sales & Marketing Assistant Antwon Gildon Nothing that appears in New Tampa Neighborhood News may be reproduced, whether wholly or in part, without permission. Opinions expressed by Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News writers are their own and do not reflect the publisher’s opinion. The deadline for outside editorial submissions and advertisements for Volume 22, Issue 23, of New Tampa Neighborhood News is Monday, October 27, 2014. New Tampa Neighborhood News will consider previously non-published outside editorial submissions if they are double spaced, typed and less than 500 words. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit and/or reject all outside editorial submissions and makes no guarantees regarding publication dates. New Tampa Neighborhood News will not return unsolicited editorial materials. New Tampa Neighborhood News reserves the right to edit &/or reject any advertising. New Tampa Neighborhood News is not responsible for errors in advertising beyond the actual cost of the advertising space itself, nor for the validity of any claims made by its advertisers.

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The Florida Department of Health would be responsible for regulating medical marijuana. The department would issue and regulate patient identification cards and personal caregiver identification cards, develop procedures related to medical marijuana treatment centers and institute regulations defining reasonable amounts of marijuana for medical use. The department would be required to protect the confidentiality of all patients. The constitutional amendment contains six limitations on how the amendment’s language can be construed:

purchase of marijuana could provide a huge boost to the economy, as already witnessed in states where it already has been legalized, despite some legal and logistical issues that are still being worked out in those states. I also believe that there are far too many people in jail today — or who have served jail time in the past — for nothing more than simple possession of marijuana and/or paraphernalia. I believe that, ultimately, legalization would prevent these “victimless” offenders (non-dealers) from being prosecuted in the future, which would save the U.S. economy millions of dollars more per year. But, those are still generalities. I believe that perhaps the strongest voice for Florida’s Amendment 2 is right here in Pasco County. Even though Pasco Sheriff Chris Noc-

co, a Republican, says he is personally not in favor of legalizing marijuana, he says, “My specialty is law enforcement, not medicine. If medical doctors say marijuana has important medical uses, who am I to argue with them?” Note-For a “referred amendment” to win in Florida, it must win a supermajority vote of 60 percent of those casting ballots, according to Section 5 of Article XI (a change that was made via Amendment 3 in 2006). Whether you vote yes or no is, of course, still your personal choice. I just wanted you to have the facts — as well as my opinion — on the issue. Look for a recap of the local Nov. 4 election results in our next edition, as well as at NTNeighborhoodNews.com. Get out and vote, New Tampa!

• The amendment does not, “affect laws relating to non-medical use, possession, production or sale of marijuana.” • The amendment does not authorize, “the use of medical marijuana by anyone other than a qualifying patient.” • The amendment does not allow for the, “operation of a motor vehicle, boat, or aircraft while under the influence of marijuana.” • The amendment does not require accommodations for medical marijuana use, “in any place of education or employment, or of smoking medical marijuana in any public place.” The amendment also does not require, “any health insurance provider or any government agency or authority to reimburse any person for expenses related to the medical use of marijuana.” • The amendment does not require, “the violation of federal law,” nor does it purport to, “give immunity under federal law.”

Table of Contents

Local News Updates....................................4-21

New Tampa’s Dist. 63 Seat Up For Grabs.........................................6 Plans Proposed For Land Across From Hunter’s Green....................8 Traffic Signal Coming To County Line Rd. Intersection.................10 New Tampa News Briefs......................................................12 BBD Contract Awarded For Next Section Of Widening Starting Right, Now Wins $350,000 Humana Grant Mysterious Powder Closes WC Bright House Office Oil Tanker Rolls Over, Snarls Traffic New Tampa Woman Killed In Wrong-Way Crash..........................14 Escaped Convict Arrested Near Brandon, FDC Officer Resigns.....16

New Tampa Community Calendar...................................20

Recapping A Successful MS Fund Raiser At Spa Moritz.............21

Local Business Updates......................24-33 GetMoreOffers.com Shows Your Home To More Online Buyers...20 New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine.....................28 Team Bohannon Will Put You Into Your Dream Home..................32 Tampa Catholic Is A Top Private High School Choice................36

Local Sports & Education Updates......41-43

Chiles Elementary Does Its Own ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’.......41 Upcoming Golf Tourneys Raise Money For Good Causes..............43

Neighborhood Magazine

Recapping Another Great Benefit Event At Peabody’s.........47 Our Exclusive 2014 Dining Survey & Contest!................52-54 Peabody’s Is Still A Favorite Spot For Food & Sports.......56-57 ‘Neighborhood Nibbles & Business Bytes’..........................58

NEW TAMPA COLOR CLASSIFIEDS.......................60 Another Out-Of-Area Dining Update.........................................62

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

‘District 63’

(continued from pg. 1) “I’d like to get some new, expert opinions about the bill and update it,” he explains. Harrison says that so far, his campaign is going well and the Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections office reports that more than $170,000 has been raised for it. “We’re working very hard,” Harrison says. “The campaign is going well. But, it will be up to the voters to decide in November.” For more information, please visit ShawnHarrison.com.

Danish Defends Dist. 63 Seat

In 2012, Benito Middle School science teacher and Arbor Greene resident Mark Danish upset Harrison and took the District 63 seat in the Florida House of Representatives. Danish says that he hopes to keep his seat in November. “I have a lot of unfinished business (in Tallahassee),” Danish says. “I believe I got a lot accomplished in my first two years, and I think that there is more that I can do.” So far, Danish has raised more than $138,000 for his campaign to remain the Florida Representative for the New Tampa area. Now a former teacher, he says that one of his main focuses if reelected will remain on education. “I want to increase funding for education,” Rep. Danish explains. “We

haven’t yet restored funding to the level it was at in 2007.” Having served on the State House’s Education Committee, in June Danish said that this year’s state budget will spend $6,937 per student throughout Florida’s public school system. Although that figure is better than last year, he said that before the economy fell apart in 2007-08, the state was spending more than $7,100 per student. But, that’s not the only aspect of education for which he’ll be fighting, he says. “We need to put more focus on public (K-12) schools,” Rep. Danish explains. “We’ve been so focused on charter schools that we’re letting our public schools fall apart.” He adds that he plans to build upon the bills that he helped pass during the most recent legislative session. The one he is most proud of is part of HB 7005, a package of transportation bills that included Rep. Danish’s push for a law that requires attendants at self-serve gas stations to assist disabled customers. The law began as an ordinance right here in Hillsborough County, he says. Rep. Danish says that he also plans to vote against any laws that would allow mining for natural gas (“fracking”) in the Florida Everglades, a topic he says he expects will come up this next session, which begins March 3, 2015. “I feel I represent the people of this community very well,” he says. For more information, please visit MarkDanish.com.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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Elizabeth Belcher, Incumbent Victor Crist Square Off For Dist. 2 Commission Seat By Matt Wiley The ballot is set: incumbent Victor Crist (R-New Tampa) will attempt to retain his District 2 Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) seat against opponent Elizabeth Belcher (DSeffner) on November 4. A relative newcomer to running for elected office, Belcher spent more than 27 years as a criminal investigator for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). She did also run for the Florida State Senate District 24 seat in 2012, but lost to Tom Lee (R-Brandon). Some of the issues in her neighborhood got her interested in local government, she says. “I got involved in a zoning issue in my area and was appalled at the way it was handled (by the county),” Belcher explains. “Then, I got involved in more zoning issues. So, when I retired (from the IRS), I became an activist.” Belcher explains that she fought for Cone Ranch, an undeveloped 13,000-acre parcel in northeastern Hillsborough County that has been renamed the Lower Green Swamp Preserve. “(The BOCC) wanted to sell it to developers,” Belcher said. “Me and two other people saved the Cone Ranch.” Belcher adds that she also has been an advocate for libraries and says that she helped get the Seffner-Mango Branch Library built on land adjacent to Lopez Elementary that the BOCC wanted to use for a traffic control center. Belcher also has served as the president of the Seffner-Mango Friends of the Library group and treasurer of the Hickory Hill (the community she

lives in) Special ‘Crists Dependent Tax Crossed?’ District. Although he “It seems has represented the to me that the New Tampa area (BOCC) is not on the Hillsborresponding to ough BOCC since ordinary citizens,” 2010, CommisBelcher says. “I sioner Victor Crist, called repeatedly to Democratic candidate Elizabeth Belcher (left) is of Hunter’s Green, talk to a commis- running to unseat Dist. 2 incumbent Victor Crist says he is taking this sioner (countrywide in Hillsborough County Commission District 2. race very seriously. Dist. 7 Comm. Al Having already Higginbotham) about the Bass Pro Shop raised more than $97,000 for his campaign, in Brandon (and the tax incentive that was Crist says that this time around, he has been used to bring the store to Hillsborough taking a “grassroots” approach, knocking County), but never was called back. We on doors throughout the district and letting need people who respond to ordinary people know that he’s running for reeleccitizens.” tion. “I’m not a traditional campaigner,” Belcher says that she is very concerned Crist says. “Some people are all about browith the New Tampa Cultural Center deal chures and TV ads. I’m about people.” for the land across from Hunter’s Green. Crist says that the current BOCC has “I’m not sure about what they’re going been productive and that by keeping him to do there,” she explains. “I think they’ve on as New Tampa’s representative, that shoved the idea of development there down productivity will continue. people’s throats.” “These are tough times,” he explains. Another issue that she is concerned “The county needs a BOCC that works well about in the county is mass transit. together, with no in-fighting or the politics “We need to address the mass transit that have plagued previous boards. We’ve issue,” Belcher explains. “If citizens want to been able to get more quality work done vote on a sales tax for future mass transit, because of our congeniality and respect for that’s something for the citizens to decide, the process… and for each other.” not elected officials. If elected, I will follow Crist says that he was an integral part that money to make sure that it’s spent apof bringing the University Area Community propriately.” Development Center to the USF area. “I At our press time, Belcher had raised think that I’ve built a strong reputation of nearly $11,000 for her campaign. For more doing what I say and delivering,”he says. “I info, visit Elizabeth Belcher.com. believe in performance, not promises.”

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Crist says that lately he’s been trying to identify what fixes are needed most throughout the county and getting them funded. “I’ve been working with Tampa Palms residents to deal with noise from (I-75), that has resulted from trees being cut down (for the widening of I-75 from E. Fowler Ave. to S.R. 54),” he explains. “We’ve been able to get some new trees planted and I’ve worked with the City (of Tampa) and the Florida Department of Transportation to try to extend the sound barrier (wall).” Most recently, the former State Representative and State Senator and says that he’s been working on bringing a cultural center to the county property across from Hunter’s Green (see page 8). “We have a variety of small business that offer cultural opportunities (in New Tampa), but what we’re talking about is a venue where they can utilize the space for recitals, shows and activities that they can’t necessarily do at their businesses,” Comm. Crist says. “We want to open a venue to help grow those local businesses and to help get more people involved in the arts and culture.” Before serving on the BOCC, Comm. Crist also spent several years in both the Florida State Senate and Florida House of Representatives. He says that he hopes voters don’t confuse his name with Democrat Charlie Crist’s name, which also will appear on the same ballot. “I hope voters don’t get their Crists crossed,” Comm. Crist says. For more information, please visit VoteVictorCrist.com.

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Two Proposals Presented For Land Across From Hunter’s Green By Matt Wiley Just two months after the Hillsborough Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) sent out a Request for Proposals (RFP) to developers interested in building a long-planned cultural center and dog park on land across Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. from Hunter’s Green in New Tampa, two companies have submitted ideas for the development of the property. The county owns a more-than-80acre parcel of land across from the BBD entrance to Hunter’s Green that was used for a large retention pond needed for the widening of BBD. Now that the widening project is complete in that segment of BBD, the BOCC is looking at a privatepublic partnership (P3) to make use of the 13.4 developable acres on the site. A public meeting was held at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.) in May, and the RFP went out in August. Most recently, a second public meeting was held at the library on September 9 to present the proposals to the public. And, while both proposals address the county’s “requirements,” each takes a different approach.

New Tampa Community Center & Theater

The proposal from Tampa-based Shagbark Properties took a focus on the cultural center aspect of the county’s proposal. “We proposed a site plan that accommodated what the county asked for,” said Shagbark president Michael Leeds. “And, we worked with the New Tampa Players to try to accommodate their needs for a community theater, as well.” The Shagbark design features a 5,000-sq.-ft. community center building that includes an expandable “black box” theater (large performance room with black walls), as well as a 3.3-acre dog park alongside a small lake with nature trails. The community center would be expandable to 30,000 sq. ft. The design features parking for up to 250 vehicles. “We also carved out about 4.5 acres for commercial outparcels (along BBD),” Leeds explained. “The outparcels would provide room for three free-standing buildings, like a bank or restaurant.”

(Left) Shagbark Properties’ ‘New Tampa Community Center & Theater’ proposal includes a ‘black box theater,’ as well as about 4.5 acres for commercial development along Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (Right): ‘The Village at Hunter’s Lake’ by Harrison Bennett Properties, LLC, proposes a community park with a cultural center, dog park, ‘green grocery’ and residential units. development would not allow a gas station provides a great opportunity for the comThe Shagbark design also shows munity,” Lucas said. “It’s inevitable that conceptual signage that looks similar to the or fast food establishment. “We’re doing our best to make this the property is going to be developed.” Hunter’s Green entrance. New Tampa Players theatre troupe development an asset for the New Tampa The Village At Hunter’s Lake community,” Freeman said. “We don’t president Doug Wall said that the group A joint plan from Harrison Bennett isn’t concerned with the commercial dewant to make just another strip center. We Properties, LLC, and Regency Centers also want to make something that feels like it velopment coming in, but that additional is being considered. residential development could make traffic was here from the beginning.” “Our proposal is for a mixed-use more complicated at the intersection. Many speakers at the meeting were ‘village center,’” said David Freeman, presi- concerned about traffic increases, especially Barbara Spalding, of Cross Creek, said dent of Harrison Bennett Properties. Free- with the possibility of additional residential that she’d love to see a walkable communiman explained that his company’s proposal units, while others voiced disdain about ty in New Tampa, but also voiced concern includes the required cultural center and more commercial development along BBD. over increased traffic in the area. dog park, as well as a “town center” that For more information about the Hunter’s Green resident Jeff Lucas also would include the possibility for some proposals, please visit Hillsboroughsaid that he thought the development residential units in the form of condos, County.org and search “Hunter’s Green seemed like a beneficial idea at the meettownhomes or boutique apartments on ing. “To only develop 13 acres of the 80 Property Discussion.” the site. “We’re excited about having an opportunity to create a sense of place for New Tampa,” he said. “In essence, a small downtown for New Tampa.” Freeman added that the development would include residential units in order to provide a “true live-work-play environment,” where residents can participate in social, cultural and community activities within a very short walk of their homes. “All of the successful town centers that we’ve looked at around the country have some sort of residential component, so we think this is a very important element of the project,” Freeman said. Included in the retail portion of the town center would be a “green grocer,” similar to a Fresh Market, Trader Joe’s or Whole Foods, as well as other shops and restaurants. Freeman explained that the

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Pasco To Install Traffic Signal At County Line Rd. & Northwood Palms Blvd. By Matt Wiley

Waiting for several minutes just to make a left or right turn onto County Line Rd. from Northwood Palms Blvd. is nothing unusual. For many Wesley Chapel residents, it’s a daily nuisance, which can make negotiating County Line Rd. tricky for those living in Grand Hampton or The Hammocks during the morning and afternoon rush hours. However, that may not be the case for much longer. A recent study by Pasco County engineers has revealed that the busy intersection along the two-lane road should, in fact, have a traffic signal. On September 23, the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) signed an Interlocal Agreement with Hillsborough County to install and maintain a temporary traffic light signal to replace the current stop signs that seemingly do little to control traffic at the busy intersection. Since the road likely also will have to be widened in the not-sodistant future, the signal erected will be a temporary one Pasco Traffic Operations manager Robert Reck says that it’s now up to Hillsborough County to sign off on the agreement. Because of how County Line Rd. is situated, some parts of the road are located in Hillsborough County, while others are located completely in Pasco County. In some spots, the county line falls right in the center of the road. For this reason, an agreement between the two counties about

requirements to warrant a traffic signal, as laid out in the Federal Highway Administration Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices. However, an intersection only has to meet one of the federal requirements to warrant a stoplight. Among the requirements met for signalization in the study were the traffic volumes during an eight-hour period, a four-hour period and during the intersection’s peak hour. The study found that during an Pasco County is set to install a traffic signal at average 24-hour cycle, nearly 14,000 the intersection of County Line Rd. & Northwood vehicles traveled through the intersection, with 11,762 of those traveling along Palms Blvd. just east of Grand Hampton. County Line Rd. During the time of the the design, construction and maintenance study, seven traffic crashes occurred at the had to be made. “We’re trying to get things worked out with Hillsborough County,” Reck says. “As soon as we get the necessary permits, we’ll get started.” Hillsborough County engineer Mike Williams says that the agreement details had been worked out with Pasco before it was taken to the Pasco BOCC. “We’re on board,” Williams said. “We just have to take (the agreement) to the Hillsborough BOCC for approval.” Williams says that the agreement could be voted on either in October, or in November at the latest, adding that it really depends upon how quickly Hillsborough County staff receives the document. The traffic study, which was completed nearly two years ago, found that the intersection met three of the eleven

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intersection. But, it’s important to note that the study doesn’t take into account any increase in traffic or accidents that have occurred since it (the study) was concluded in October of 2012. Per the agreement, Pasco County will be responsible for the design of a temporary, span-wire traffic signal, held up by wooden poles. Hillsborough County will have the opportunity to review and approve the design. Pasco County also will be responsible for the cost of permitting and actual construction of the signal. Once the final design of the intersection is determined in the future, Pasco will pay to remove and replace the temporary signal with a permanent structure.

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Emergency Room Care. Reimagined.

In early November, Florida Hospital Tampa will open the doors to a new model of ER care. We’ve designed a new state-of-the-art emergency room three times larger than our current ER and reimagined a whole new way of delivering emergency care. Come see for yourself at our November 2 Community Preview.

Get a first look at our new ER. Sunday, November 2 | 10 a.m.– 4 p.m. | 3100 East Fletcher Avenue, Tampa, FL 33613 Free community event. Festivities include: • Guided tours • Food trucks • CPR and poison prevention education • Door prizes • Family entertainment • DJ/music FHT-10891

New Tampa BBD Contract Awarded

The land has been acquired and the contract has been awarded, so the widening of “Segment A” of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. is imminent. At the October 1 Hillsborough County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) meeting, commissioners approved awarding the $36 million Segment A widening project to Prince Contracting, LLC. Prince will be responsible for widening the 3.5-mile segment of BBD from Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms south to Bearss Ave. from four lanes to eight lanes. Prince also will be responsible for constructing sidewalks, widening the bridge over Cypress Creek (just south of Amberly Dr. in Tampa Palms), making improvements at the Tampa Palms Blvd. and Amberly Dr. intersections with BBD (including removing and replacing the existing traffic signals) and creating retention ponds. Currently, Prince also is the contractor finishing the widening of the one-mile stretch of BBD beneath I-75, which is expected to be completed by the end of the year.

Starting Right, Now Wins $350,000 Humana Grant

A local charity has been named the proud recipient of a giant donation in the form of a grant from a national company. According to a September 16 press release, the Tampa Palms-based charity Starting Right, Now (SRN — a nonprofit that works to eliminate homelessness among Tampa Bay-area youth), received this year’s Humana Communities Benefit charitable grant, a $350,000 donation from the Humana Foundation, the fifth year the company has made such donations. SRN provides homeless teenagers with resources to get themselves on their own two feet, offering programs that include mentoring, employment and a stable home, as well as education in self-sufficiency and financial literacy. The press release states that SRN will use the money to help expand its housing facility for runaway children in Carrollwood, called Haven Poe. The donation is expected to help the facility be able to double the number of kids it currently can

According to Doug Tobin of the Pasco County communications office, around 10:30 a.m. on October 1, Pasco Fire Rescue (PFR) responded to a call about a myshouse. The release says that the organizaterious, white powdery substance found in tion also plans to restore a school in Pinel- the mail at the BrightHouse Networks oflas County that will be used for dormitofice, located at 30432 S.R. 54. PFR arrived ries, offices and a training center. Some of on the scene and called the Hillsborough the money also will be used to purchase County Fire Rescue Hazardous Incident a vehicle to help get teens to medical apTeam because of their capabilities with testpointments and mentorship programs. ing unknown substances. “We’re confident that this $350,000 Tobin says that tests determined that Humana Communities Grant will help the substance was calcium carbonate, which us take a giant leap towards our goal of is similar to talcum powder. ending homelessness in Hillsborough and Tobin says that two employees were Pinellas counties,” said SRN founder and taken to Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel longtime New Tampa resident Vicki Soko- (FHWC), one of whom touched the powlik in the release. “This generous funding der and the other who complained about will allow us to transform the lives of more feeling nauseated. than three times the number of teens we Tobin says that the “all-clear” was mentor each year and help us identify if this given at 1:22 p.m. is a program we can implement outside of the Tampa Bay area.” Oil Tanker Rolls Over, As we reported two issues ago, to Snarls Traffic win the grant, SRN had to collect online Rush-hour traffic on the invotes at the Humana Foundation’s website. terstates around Tampa is almost SRN was up against two other Baynever an enjoyable ride, especially area nonprofits — the Pinellas Education when an oil tanker overturns Foundation and Sunrise of Pasco, which (photo) during peak traffic hours. provides violence intervention services. In According to the Florida addition to earning votes, SRN also had to Highway Patrol, at 3:11 p.m. on make a formal presentation to a panel of judges made up of community leaders from September 18, Andre Whitehead, 43, of St. Petersburg, was drivaround Tampa Bay. ing southbound on I-75, about SRN will receive the money in three three miles south of the S.R. 56 installments over the next three years. interchange, in the inside lane in “By expanding their housing facilihis tractor trailer that was hauling ties, (SRN) will ensure that more homeused vegetable oil that was to be less teenagers are provided with the fundamentals needed to focus on their personal development instead of survival,” said Humana’s Central & North Florida Vice President Al Hernandez. “Humana is pleased to support such a sustainable program, as we know this funding will help area youth maintain stable and healthy lives for years to come.” For more info, please visit Starting RightNow.org.

News Briefs

converted into bio-diesel fuel. At the same time, Warren Sisson, 77, of Venice, was traveling south in the center lane in his Audi A6. FHP reports that Whitehead attempted to merge into the center lane, but did not yield to Sisson. The tanker collided with the left side of Sisson’s Audi. Whitehead overcorrected to the left, causing the tanker to roll onto its side and come to a stop in the center median. FHP reports that the Audi spun around two times, before coming to a stop in the inside southbound lane. Sisson and his passenger Margaret Sisson, 75, were both uninjured and were wearing seatbelts. Whitehead was wearing a seatbelt, but sustained serious injuries and was transferred to St. Joseph’s Hospital. FHP reports that alcohol doesn’t appear to be a factor in the crash that closed all lanes of southbound lanes of I-75 for several hours. All lanes were not completely reopened until about 9:30 p.m. — MW

Mysterious Powder Closes BrightHouse Office In WC

It sounds like the opening scene of a political movie: an employee opens an envelope and a mysterious white powder falls from it, sparking a quarantine. However, this was a reality for the employees of the BrightHouse Networks office on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel.

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New Tampa Woman Killed In Wrong Way Crash On I-75 Near S.R. 52 By Matt Wiley A New Tampa woman has died, following the latest wrong-way crash on one of Tampa’s interstates this year. According to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP), the agency received reports about a wrong-way driver in a 2012 Nissan Altima around 4:30 a.m. on September 22. FHP reports that the vehicle driven by Jessica Rey Mahn, 25, of the Oakwood Village community in New Tampa, was traveling north in the southbound lanes of I-75 (north of S.R. 52). Mahn’s Altima was driving in the inside lane and came into the path of a tractor trailer being driven by Slawomir Plonski, 42, of Port St. Lucie, FL. Seeing Mahn’s vehicle driving toward him, Plonski told troopers that he attempted to move to the outside lane, but couldn’t get out of the way in time. Mahn’s Nissan collided with the left side of the trailer, before coming to rest on top of the concrete barrier in the median. Mahn sustained serious injuries and was airlifted to Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point in Hudson, where she died of those injuries at 6:13 a.m. Although she was wearing her seatbelt, FHP reports that alcohol is expected to be a factor, but the toxicology screening results could take as long as eight weeks to be reported.

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The crash shut down southbound I-75 until 9:20 a.m. Mahn worked as a bartender at Peabody’s Billiards & Games in Tampa Palms and was scheduled to work the morning of the crash. Peabody’s issued an official statement via the restaurant/bar’s Facebook.com page after it was determined that Mahn was the driver. “Peabody’s is deeply saddened by the loss of our employee Jessica Mahn,” the statement says. “Our hearts go out to her family at this difficult time. They will be in our thoughts and prayers. Jessica was a great person and everyone that knew her, knew that she always had a smile on her face. It was a pleasure to work with such a wonderful person.” Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) spokesperson Jason Penny also issued a statement, as Mahn’s boyfriend is a firefighter. “(TFR) is saddened by the tragic event that affected one of our firefighters (Sept. 22),” Penny said. “Our hearts go out to the Mahn family as they deal with their grief. TFR is a family and we stand ready to provide support to

Firefighter Harding during this painful time.” This fatal accident marks the second wrong-way crash on Tampa’s interstates involving New Tampa and Wesley Chapel drivers in a little more than a month, as well as the fifth fatal wrong-way crash this year. The same weekend as Mahn’s crash, two other people were arrested around Tampa Bay for driving in the wrong direction on the interstates and expressways, as well. In April, a Dade City teen was arrested for driving drunk on I-75 near Wesley Chapel and another drunk wrong-way driver was arrested in July on I-275 in the same area. In August, a Wesley Chapel ambulance driver was injured in a crash caused by a wrongway driver near downtown Tampa. “(The crashes are) frustrating,” says FDOT spokesperson Kris Carson. “We’re trying to figure out how they keep occurring, whether it’s people going up the exit ramps or making Uturns on the interstate. When they’re making U-turns, additional signage at the exit ramps won’t help.” Carson is referring to an FDOT “pilot program” that is being tested

that involves flashing red and white LED lights that indicate that a driver is going the wrong way. “These flashing lights will help to grab drivers’ attention,” Carson explains. “But, if someone is driving intoxicated, it’s hard to tell if the signs will be effective. There are numerous wrong-way indicators already.” Carson says another idea being considered is lighted signage on the pavement that also would attempt to let drivers know that they’re going the wrong way. No additional information was available at our press time.

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Escaped Convict Arrested Near Brandon, FDC Officer Resigns By Matt Wiley

A convict is back in custody, after escaping a work detail near Wesley Chapel and having been missing for about a day. Much still is unknown about how the prisoner escaped, but a Florida Department of Corrections (FDC) officer resigned following the incident. According to FDC, officer Henry Blackwelder resigned on September 10, a day after a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office deputy recaptured escaped convict Jason Wayne Adams near Brandon. The deputy spotted Adams riding a bike near the intersection of Harris Parkway Pl. and Broadway Ave. and asked him for identification. Adams provided his actual name and was taken back into custody. According to the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO), Adams, 27, of Brevard County, escaped from a Sumter County Correctional Institute (where he is an inmate) work detail that was working along S.R. 54 near Oak Grove Blvd. in Lutz (about a mile west of S.R. 56) on September 8. FDC reports that Adams walked away from the work detail, after stepping into the woods to go to the bathroom. Blackwelder was supervising the work detail that was helping to clean state roads in the area for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), but Adams didn’t return. “The primary mission of (FDC) is public safety,” said FDC secretary Mike Crews in an official statement. “By working closely with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco,

we were able to quickly identify press conference that there was a a discrepancy between what was possibility that someone may have reported to us by Officer Blackhelped Adams. welder and what actually took “I want to make it clear, if place. As part of our commitment you are aiding and abetting, you to transparency and accountabilwill be charged,” Nocco said, ity, we immediately took action. adding that Adams was considered (Blackwelder) was called in to to be armed and dangerous when explain the difference between the he escaped. report he submitted and the eviAt that time, it was believed dence gathered by (PCSO). When that Adams walked away from the Jason Adams confronted with this information, work detail around 3:10 p.m., Officer Blackwelder submitted his Nocco said, and headed west to resignation.” the Florida Medical Clinic (FMC) facility PCSO discovered through an interon S.R. 54, where he then was taken by a view with Adams that he actually escaped Yellow Cab into the City of Tampa around twice, once previously on August 28, and 4 p.m. Because of the ongoing investigawas able to make his way west to the Metro tion, the location where he was dropped off Food Mart on S.R. 54, where he purchased cartons of cigarettes, alcoholic beverages and chewing tobacco with cash that he said he intended to sneak back into the Sumter County Correctional Facility. PCSO reports that surveillance video from the store shows Adams altering his clothing before entering the store at 11:42 a.m. He stayed for eight minutes, before leaving and rejoining his work group undetected. Crews said that since the incident, a memo has been sent to all FDC wardens about proper procedures and protocol for work details. “What is clear from our review is that protocol was not followed and that is unacceptable,” Crews said. PCSO reports that the agency first received the call about the escaped prisoner from FDC around 4:25 p.m. on Sept. 8. Sheriff Nocco said during a Sept. 9

could not be disclosed, Nocco said. Adams reportedly was smoking cigarettes in front of the facility while he waited. However, this info, which was provided by a FMC employee, was not received until about 8:30 p.m. when the employee realized that Adams was a fugitive. Yellow Cab told PCSO that Adams paid his fare with cash. PCSO launched an overnight manhunt to locate Adams on Sept. 8, using helicopters, deputies and FDC bloodhounds. However, all that was found was Adams’ blue-and-white-striped prison uniform and name tag. Adams was serving the first of a six-year term for burglary and grand theft in Brevard County, but that sentence could change following his escape attempt. The investigation is ongoing.

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MOMS Club Of New Tampa - The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club of New Tampa is currently open to new members in the New Tampa area. The MOMS Club offers a variety of daytime activities for mothers and their children, opportunities for Moms’ Nights Out & many more benefits. For info or to join the club, email MomsClubNewTampa@gmail.com.

Thursday, October 23

October 2014

Creative World School Fall Festival - This year’s Fall Festival begins at 6 p.m. and will feature Mr. Tommy’s Mobile Music Bus & Concert (which was recently featured on the PBS-TV network), a dynamic, fun and educational music classroom and concert. The event also will feature Nicos Arepas Grill food truck and a pumpkin patch with fun and interactive games. For more info, please call 991-5151.

Wesley Chapel Fall Festival At The Grove - See page 56 for details.

Saturday, October 25

Saturday, October 11 Sunday, October 12

Zen Meditation Group - Enjoy meditation? Looking for a new way to relax? Check out the FREE Zen Meditation Group that meets Sundays at 10 a.m. in the Arbor Greene Community Center (18000 Arbor Greene Dr., off Cross Creek Blvd.) Aerobics Room. People of all faiths are welcome. You only need an interest in meditation and a more peaceful and relaxed mind and life. For more info, call Jeremy at 528-6285.

Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - The fight to end breast cancer starts with a single step. Take that step with us at the American Cancer Society Making Strides of Pasco 5K walk at the Shops at Wiregrass mall (28211 Paseo Dr.). The event begins at 9 a.m. For more info, visit ACSEvents.org.

Monday, October 13

Community Acupuncture - A Monday night community acupuncture and discussion group is meeting at Ion Medi-Spa (8903 Regents Park Dr., Suite 130), 6:30 p.m. Topics include needlefree acupuncture, facial rejuvenation and stop smoking and customized weight-loss programs. For more info, call 960-8833 or visit IonMediSpa.com.

Tuesday, October 14

New Tampa Tri Club - The New Tampa Tri Club is open to runners, swimmers, cyclists & triathletes across the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area. The club hosts group bike rides/runs at Flatwoods Wilderness Park (13330 Morris Bridge Rd.) every Tues., Thur. and Sat. at 7:30 a.m. For more info, join the Facebook group or e-mail NewTampaTriClub@gmail.com. GriefShare - This video-seminar-support group is for anyone who is grieving the death of a loved one. The cost is $20 for a workbook and 13 sessions, begin any week to find healing and hope. The group meets Tuesdays at 6:30 p.m. at Lake Magdalene Methodist Church (2902 W. Fletcher Ave., Rm. 310). For info, call 963-1555. English As A Second Language (ESL)- This group meets Tuesdays at Tampa Bay Presbyterian Church (19911 BBD Blvd.), 7 p.m. - 9 p.m. Classes are taught by a native English speaker using several ESL and Bible study resources. The cost is $40 each semester, for the workbook & class materials. For info, call Heather at 753-8567.

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Wednesday, October 15

BNI Millionaire Makers - The BNI Millionaire Makers chapter meets every Wednesday at Pebble Creek Golf Club at 7:15 a.m. (10550 Regents Park Dr., off BBD Blvd.). The $13 meeting fee includes a hot breakfast. Call Lisa Jordan (621-6015) for info. Business Networking International (BNI) - BNI, a group of business professionals dedicated to helping their respective businesses grow through qualified referrals, meets every Wed. morning at 7:30 a.m. at the Cory Lake Isles Beach Club clubhouse (18630 Plantation Bay Dr., off Morris Bridge Rd.). Call Steve Hopper at 918-8609. New Tampa Noon Rotary Club- The New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meets every Wednesday for lunch at noon at Café Olé (10020 Cross Creek Blvd., in the Cross Creek Center plaza (behind the Shell gas station). Guests are always welcome. GFWC Woman’s Club of New Tampa - The club is looking for new members! GFWC Woman’s Club of New Tampa is a small group of women that meet the third Wednesday of each month from noon - 1 p.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church, (5340 Primrose Lake Circle in Tampa Palms). Contact Kay Lehmer at KLehmer@verizon.net for more info. New Tampa Evening Rotary Club - The New Tampa Evening Rotary Club meets every Wednesday at 6:15 p.m. at Hunter’s Green Country Club (10101 Longwater Run Dr. inside the Hunter’s Green entrance gate). New members are always welcome. For more info, call Liz DeAmbrose at 956-6487 or email homenet@gte.net. 9-12 Toastmasters - Great speeches & great topics. Come hone your public speaking skills. Tampa Toastmasters meets Wednesday, 7 p.m., at the New Tampa Family YMCA (16221 Compton Dr., Tampa Palms). Guests are always welcome. Call 428-6356.

Thursday, October 16

CBC Networking - Come together with like-minded professionals at the Christian Business Connections (CBC) Networking group, which meets every Thursday at 7:30 a.m. at St. Andrew Presbyterian Church (located at 5338 Primrose Lake Cir., off Commerce Park Blvd. in Tampa Palms) for a “meet & greet,” followed by a meeting of the group. For more information, please send an email to Shawn@TPACorp.com.

Friday, October 17

New Tampa Rotary Club - The original New Tampa Rotary Club meets for breakfast at 7 a.m. at Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC, 5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). The guest speaker will be Alisa Persad, founder of Taking Opportunities to Reach Compelling Heights. For more information, call Eric Longphee at 202-1105 or visit NewTampaRotary.org. 20

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MS Event Raises More Than $3,000

For diseases without current, known cures, money for research is everything. One local event took this idea seriously and raised thousands to go towards research to find a cure for multiple sclerosis (MS). On September 20, Spa Mortiz in Tampa Palms hosted a fund-raising event to benefit the National Multiple Sclerosis Society (NMSS), put together by long-time former Hunter’s Green resident Bonnie Bishop, whose husband Bob suffers from the disease. “The event was spectacular,” Bishop says. “It went very well.” Bishop says that more than 125 people showed up to the event at Spa Moritz, which is located off Commerce Park Blvd. It included drinks, food from Stonewood Grill & Tavern (also in Tampa Palms), a silent auction and complimentary spa services. All that was asked of attendees was a $15 donation to NMSS. “We raised more than $3,000,” Bishops explains. “Some people came from as close as Tampa and some from as far away as Hudson. We also had people come out from 15 different MS support groups.” Bishop says that one of the big surprises was an appearance by former Tampa Bay Lightning captain and longtime New Tampa resident Dave Andreychuk, who is now the team’s “VP of Fans,” and his wife Sue. Although Bishop says that the Andreychuks are

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Real estate broker Keith Gordon is the co-owner of Florida’s largest discount real estate brokerage firm, ADDvantage Real Estate Services. Keith and his partner, Erin Knorr, created GetMoreOffers.com (ADDvantage’s website) in 2005, with the belief that the traditional real estate commission model is flawed. If you’re thinking about selling your New Tampa or Wesley Chapel home, you might consider the discount route via ADDvantage Real Estate Services and GetMoreOffers.com. The company’s hybrid-full-service “Professional ADDVantage” plan is just $499 up front, with only 3.25 percent of the sale going towards commission, which is about 46-percent cheaper than a traditional agent, says Gordon — who negotiates with buyers’ agents for you. GetMoreOffers.com also features a popular “MLS (Multiple Listing Service) ADDVantage” plan, which costs just $299. With this MLS plan, there is no fee at closing and the seller is completely self-represented through all aspects of the listing, including negotiations, buyer vetting and all contract paperwork. “We market for them extensively on the Internet just like any other agent and we still support them with our live phone service seven days per week,” Knorr explains. “But, the client doesn’t have representation.”

Keith and Erin’s intention was to build a “customer first” discount real estate brokerage and the company has grown to carry an average of more than 500 active listings state-wide, with sales of more 553 homes valued at more than $157 million in the past 12 months alone. Gordon and Knorr believe real estate should be more transactional, allowing sellers to gain more control while saving a considerable amount of money in commissions. But, at the same time, ADDvantage clients have access to experts who can navigate the selling process and net you the most possible. “We sold more than 500 homes sold statewide during the past 12 months, 80 of which are here in the greater Tampa Bay area,” Keith says, “including 15 homes in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area.” Erin adds, “Our services are discounted, but when it comes to marketing and service, we are exceptional. We have a social media director, web developers, professional listing administrators, professional team specialists and general office staff on hand to help our agents service our customers and prospects. We believe in seven-days-perweek live support.” Keith says that right now, Wesley Chapel and New Tampa have a similar market strength to Westchase, stronger than Trinity, but not as strong as some parts of South Tampa. However, he

says, both of our distribution areas currently have good market conditions for sellers. “Our last large sale in Wesley Chapel sold in 35 days, at a sales price of $725,000 — a commission savings of $19,440 — and the appraisal came in $75,000 lower than the asking price,” Keith exKeith Gordon of GetMoreOffers.com & ADDVantage Real Esplains. “A combitate Services will personally negotiate the sale of your home. nation of a strong market in Wesley short term top) and now there are signs Chapel and my appraisal shortfall skills of rates heading up.” were enough to convince the buyer to Will this hurt the market? The close at $725,000, despite the appraised answer, he says, is yes for properties value of only $650,000.” on the low-end, although not so much He adds that, lately, he has been for those on the high-end. Short term sending his customer base a weekly though, he adds, “a bounce in (interemail encouraging sellers to be vigilant est rates) should stimulate the market about price and to not hesitate to drop by motivating both buyers and sellers prices now, as opposed to later, if that to get busy.” With his 30 years as a fits their plan. Broker, you can trust that Keith always “Mortgage interest rates are artifiknows how to properly analyze current cially low and the stock market is sendreal estate market conditions. ing a clear signal that the Fed will raise He adds that, “The factors currentrates in the short term,” Keith explains. ly influencing the economy are: strong “The real estate market is already weak, industrial production numbers, an prices in Tampa Bay have been trending upward trend in wages (sorely needed in down since August of 2013 (a possible the U.S.) and an extremely bullish stock

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market. But, the backdrop is a weak real estate market. New home builders are now competing with existing homes for customers and there is no stopping large corporate home building corporations from chasing building profits. We know this from 2004-06.” Gordon says that he thinks that there is a fundamental problem with the housing market. The top end is healthy, he explains, because the stock market has made many middle-to-upper-class Americans wealthy the past five years. “These days, I find that selling a $600-800k home easier than a $150,000 home,” Gordon explains. “The $150k buyer is tough to get approved for financing, while the high-end buyer is generally well-qualified.” ADDvantage and GetMoreOffers. com help sellers succeed in selling at any price. Gordon attributes this to his company’s comprehensive marketing and superior customer service. Other factors may have an influence on the market health as well, Keith says. “Mortgage rules have made getting a loan more difficult than ever and the short sales of 2008-11 hurt the poor, not the rich. The low-end home buyer that sold their home short is now renting instead of building the next breeding ground for the $200-300k market. That is what is fundamentally wrong with our real estate market.” Gordon adds that he also feels that the investor groups have once again affected the current state of the market. “Greed strikes again, as hedge

funds and Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) bought massive numbers of low-end ($220,000 range and under) three- and four-bedroom homes in the Tampa Bay area during the past four years,” he explains. “They took this irreplaceable inventory away from the low-end buyer, creating a larger gap in housing disparity. These corporations are now landlords extracting money from Tampa Bay and giving the revenues to shareholders. So, we lose!” He adds, “Instead of the prices going down or staying low in 2011-13, allowing market conditions to balance and get the low-end buyers buying again, they just gave up and rented. These buyers were supposed to sell and buy again in 2016-20 to help fuel and support the market.”

On track to sell more than 600 homes this year through GetMoreOffers.com, Gordon says, “I personally negotiate more than 250 of the transactions each year and can say, without any doubt, that most buyers never bring up Zillow, just my sellers. I tell my buyers to pay no attention to Zillow. The homes that have views and great kitchens that are located in the best school zones sell the fastest and for the most money, regardless of their ‘Zestimate!’” ADDvantage Real Estate Services is located in downtown St. Pete (2515 1st Ave N). ADDvantage also is affiliated with Frontier National Title. GetMoreOffers/ADDvantage can be reached at (727) 942-2929 or by visiting GetMoreOffers.com.

So, What’s The Real Story With Zillow.com?

Gordon notes that many folks look to Zillow.com to find out a home’s value, but he says he believes that Zillow is misleading. “I have been a Florida broker since 1984, licensed in Colorado and currently studying for my California brokerage license and I love the dynamics of real estate, but this Zillow phenomenon that sellers are enamored with amazes me,” he says. “No one should be. The listings on Zillow are based upon an algorithm that doesn’t take into consideration what actually makes one home worth more than another.”

Cannot be combined with any other offer/coupon. Must present coupon at time of purchase. Expires 10/31/14

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HOMESITE 0041 0019 0018 0038 0036 0050 0013 0084 0022 0040 0016 0021 0015 0087 0017

BD/BA/GAR 5/3.5/Game Rm/3 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 5/3.5/Game Rm/3 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 5/Flex/Game Rm/3/3 5/3.5/Game Rm/3 5/Flex/Game Rm/3/3 5/3.5/Game Rm/3 5/3.5/Game Rm/3 5/Flex/Game Rm/3/3 4/Flex/2.5/2 5/Flex/Game Rm/3/3 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 5/3.5/Game Rm/3 5/Flex/Game Rm/3/3

SQ. FT. 3,777 2,919 3,777 2,919 3,288 3,777 3,288 3,777 3,777 3,288 2,720 3,288 2,919 3,777 3,288

WAS $391,840 $350,340 $374,990 $359,340 $371,840 $387,490 $364,840 $374,490 $379,340 $366,340 $311,990 $361,840 $350,340 $372,490 $359,340

SAVE $51,850 $48,350 SOLD $46,350 $45,850 SOLD $44,850 $44,500 SOLD $44,350 SOLD $43,850 $43,350 SOLD $43,350

NOW $339,990 $301,990 SOLD $312,990 $325,990 SOLD $319,990 $329,990 SOLD $321,990 SOLD $317,990 $306,990 SOLD $315,990

FLOORPLAN Orleans Orleans Provincetown Provincetown Peabody Provincetown Provincetown Orleans Provincetown Eastham Orleans Peabody Orleans Orleans Harwich

HOMESITE 0039 0020 0082 0085 0083 0042 0035 0086 0012 0046 0034 0026 0011 0081 0050

BD/BA/GAR 4/Flex/2.5/2 4/Flex/2.5/2 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 5/Flex/Game Rm/3/3 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 4/Flex/2.5/2 4/Game Rm/2.5/2 4/3/2 4/Flex/2.5/2 5/Flex/Game Room/3/3 4/Flex/2.5/2 4/Flex/2.5/2 5/3.5/Game Room/3

SQ. FT. 2,720 2,720 2,919 2,919 3,288 2,919 2,919 2,720 2,919 2,065 2,720 3,288 2,720 2,720 3,777

WAS $338,840 $316,990 $349,340 $350,340 $354,990 $341,490 $353,340 $328,840 $337,490 $271,490 $337,340 $351,490 $318,490 $329,840 $384,490

SAVE $42,850 SOLD $42,350 $42,350 $42,000 SOLD $41,350 $38,850 $37,500 SOLD $37,350 SOLD $34,500 $32,850 SOLD

NOW $295,990 SOLD $306,990 $307,990 $312,990 SOLD $311,990 $289,990 $299,990 SOLD $299,990 SOLD $283,990 $296,990 SOLD

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New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine Can Help Ease Your Pain By Celeste McLaughlin

At New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine in the Seven Oaks Professional Park (located off of S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel), José De La Torre, MD, treats patients who are experiencing back and/or neck pain, arthritis, headaches or other conditions that cause them chronic pain. Dr. De La Torre is Board-certified by the American Board of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation and received his MD degree in 1999 from Ponce School of Medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico. He also completed a residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, in 2003. At that time, Dr. De La Torre decided he wanted to continue practicing medicine in the U.S., but wanted to be as geographically close to his native Puerto Rico as possible, and that’s when he landed a job in New Tampa. “I’m from San Juan, which is a big city, so I felt more at home in Tampa than in the smaller towns in Florida,” Dr. De La Torre says. “I love sports and I always wanted to be in a city with sports teams.” Dr. De La Torre and his wife Anna are raising their five children in the area, and now his parents and grandparents also have moved to New Tampa from Puerto Rico.

For the past 10 years, Dr. De La Torre has worked as a physiatrist (another name for a doctor of physical medicine & rehabilitation) for health care practices in New Tampa. He’d always considered opening his own independent office and, in January of this year, he says the perfect opportunity came along. Dr. De La Torre had been working for Gulf to Bay Integrative Pain Medicine and Rehabilitation (which has three offices around Tampa Bay) when its parent company made a business decision to close its pain practice in Wesley Chapel, where he already was working. So, when he was offered the opportunity to keep his patients and the location, but operate independently, he jumped at the chance. “As an independent doctor, I can focus more on my patient’s needs,” Dr. De La Torre says, explaining that he has added Licensed Massage Therapy and some surgical procedures to his practice, including epidural injections, spinal blocks and joint injections. “It’s much more convenient for my patients to have certain surgical procedures done in my office, and also less expensive.” He adds, “I take a conservative, multi-disciplinary approach to try to help patients avoid surgery. We do this through physical therapy, licensed massage, medicine, modalities such as electric stimulation or heat and ice, and

any combination of treatments that will provide pain relief for our patients.” He credits his staff with making patients feel welcome in the office. Anna is a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist who currently serves as the practice’s administrator. Two medical assistants, Karen and Priscel, both worked at the previDr. Jose De La Torre and his friendly staff at New Tampa Interventional ous practice with Dr. De La Torre and & Sports Medicine off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel invite you stop in to the office to find out how they can help alleviate your unwanted pain. have many years of experience in pain headaches, causing her to be hospitalmedicine. In fact, Priscel is a physiized several times a year. Just a few cian in the Dominican Republic, so months ago, another health profeswhile she is not licensed to practice as a sional recommended she try Dr. De physician in the U.S., she has extensive La Torre’s office. “Pain management medical knowledge that serves New doctors usually just prescribe medicine, Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports but that’s not what I was looking for,” Medicine’s patients well. The practice’s Victoria explains. “He gave me other staff also includes a receptionist and a options, including massages and even Licensed Massage Therapist. Botox injections” (which are used One patient who is grateful for the exclusively to provide pain relief for pain relief she has experienced from migraine headaches, not for cosmetic Dr. De La Torre is Victoria Burch, a purposes, at Dr. De La Torre’s office). Registered Nurse (RN) who works for Victoria explains that as an RN, a home health care agency. Victoria says she tends to be critical of other health she has suffered from chronic, severe care professionals, but she’s had a great

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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The Best Care it’s your choice at Florida Medical Clinic Whether it’s your child’s sore throat or your father’s diabetes, you can rest assured that our exceptional team of board certified doctors will treat you like their own. At our Adult and Pediatric Primary Care office, our family focused physicians are dedicated to caring for your family as well as educating you on prevention and wellness strategies to keep your family healthy, active, and safe. We offer convenient appointments for both well and sick visits. After hours our Wesley Chapel Urgent Care office is available 8am to 8pm, 7 days a week - and everything is connected on one electronic patient record. The best care for your family is at Florida Medical Clinic. Make an appointment today in our Wesley Chapel office.

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Team Bohannon Gets You Out Of Your Old House & Into A New One In No Time! By Celeste McLaughlin

In the one year since the most recognizable real estate team in New Tampa joined Keller Williams and moved its offices a few miles north to a new professional center in Seven Oaks off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., Team Bohannon has grown to a staff of 21 people. Led by Broker associates Doug and Annette Bohannon and their son Dale, a Realtor, the team continues to help home sellers and buyers in New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and the surrounding areas. A fixture in our community since they moved from Carrollwood to New Tampa in 1994, the Bohannons have perfected a series of systems to ensure that no detail is overlooked in the process of selling or buying a home, Annette says, and that every home the team markets is therefore provided with the industry’s best possible tools and practices for success. Doug and Annette actually have been working together for almost 30 years. Dale joined the team about 12 years ago, and the Bohannons’ daughter Laura recently began working as Doug’s assistant. Doug and Annette spent nearly 20 years at the Coldwell Banker office in the New Tampa Center shopping plaza, but they are now affiliated with Keller Williams. Being in the business for so long

gives the team an unparalleled breadth and depth of real estate experience. “Every possible situation that can happen, we’ve experienced,” says Annette. Team Bohannon’s expertise — which includes representing buyers and sellers in an average of more than 200 home transactions each year — means they can confidently help their clients navigate and avoid surprises in what otherwise can be a complicated Team Bohannon’s massive team of real estate agents, located off BBD Blvd. in Seven Oaks, can easily help you buy a and, for some, an over- new home or sell your old one in almost no time at all. Need to move something? Consider using Team Bohannon’s whelming process. box truck (above). It’s free to use to anyone in the community, regardless of whether or not you’re one of their clients. Annette says that and follow their advice, which resulted (listed at $635,000), I was hoping we Team Bohannon conin the quick sale of his home. “From stantly is innovating to always provide would be able to sell in one or two the moment Annette walked into my months,” he said, but his expectations and maintain the highest standards home, she looked at it from — and were surpassed when his home sold in the industry. “We keep perfecting gave me — a buyer’s perspective. She within 24 hours of being listed — and what we’re doing, and we get better helped us to put things in order so for its full asking price. and better at what we do because of that our home would sell quickly.” “Originally, I wanted to sell even that experience.” Although this was Mohsin’s first higher, but (Team Bohannon was) For clients such as Mohsin Zatime working with Team Bohannon, well prepared and brought me all of man, this commitment to excellence there are many families in our comtranslated into a fantastic home-selling the market data and analysis,” says munity who have bought and sold experience. Mohsin just sold his home Mohsin, who adds that the team’s professionalism and attention to detail multiple homes over the years with in Watermark Village in Seven Oaks. the team. One such client is Greg “Because our home was high-end convinced him to hire the Bohannons

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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N t t t f t t i h r G L

y o n

c D

a G a l t T

l B i a a h

a t m w

Nielson and his wife, Cindy, who says they have conducted several home transactions with the Bohannons over the last 15 years, as the needs of their family have changed. Many years ago, the Nielsons hired Team Bohannon to help them sell a home they built in Tampa Palms and then purchase a home in Hunter’s Green. They just recently sold that home in Hunter’s Green and have now moved to Cory Lake Isles. “Fifteen years ago, our kids were young,” says Greg. “Now, with both our kids out of the house, we found a new home that fits us really well.” He explains why he and his wife continue to hire Annette, Doug and Dale when they have real estate needs. “They really put forth the effort and take as much time as necessary,” Greg says. “They are willing to show a home on short notice and will do lots of research, if you want it, to (get the latest info about) all of the New Tampa neighborhoods.” He adds that, even though he has lived in the area for many years, Team Bohannon’s professional perspective is valuable. “They know all of the ins and outs about builders and the pros and cons of living in each neighborhood in the area.” Annette says that people such as Mohsin and Greg are the reason the Bohannons enjoy their work so much. She explains that, typically, when someone comes to them to sell a

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home, it’s because something significant in their life is changing. She says, “We love the area, love the people and have touched a lot of lives by helping people who have a need — more than 4,700 families — during our career.” She explains that the local market is healthy. “We’re seeing so much growth in Wesley Chapel, especially in Seven Oaks, (the new) Estancia (neighborhood in Wiregrass) and in Watergrass,” she says. “We sell many homes in New Tampa, but the growth right now is in Wesley Chapel.” “In fact,” she laughs, as a stack of freshly printed, colorful brochures is brought into her office, “we often sell homes before we can even get the brochures made.” She shows off an oversized pamphlet advertising Mohsin’s home, which had been sent to the printer just that morning. The house had already received an offer. “We love what we do, we do it well, and we enjoy helping people,” Annette says. “That’s how we know we’ll be around for many more years to come.”

also market every listing through a network of more than 1,000 websites. And, their marketing efforts are truly international, as they have specialized tools available as a Keller Williams Global Property Specialist. The team has recently started a new VIP seller program, offering 101 steps to sell your home for top dollar. “We like to give homeowners all the information they need to simplify the process of selling their home and help set expectations,” Dale says. “We explain what things are typically sold with the house, and which items the seller will take with them when they go. We discuss the importance of professional photography. We explain what to expect with the appraisal and explain how we, as your real estate agents, help throughout the appraisal process. We also provide an inspection checklist to help sellers understand that the appraisal itself should be treated like a showing — perhaps the most important (showing).” All of this written information is a tool to help sellers prepare to sell their home quickly, and for top dollar. For people who are looking to Get More From Your Agent both sell an existing home and buy a Team Bohannon offers worldnew one, Team Bohannon has recently class marketing, as Annette, Doug, introduced its “Premiere Program,” and Dale watch what works with which offers the team’s expertise on their many home sales. They know whether to sell or buy first, and the that top-notch photography in all financing and logistics of selling and online and print ad materials is key, buying simultaneously. The program and bright, glossy brochures garner attention for the homes they sell. They includes several services for free that

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would usually be paid by the homeowner out of pocket. When someone signs up for the Premiere Program, they receive professional home staging, a home warranty during the listing period, a pre-inspection and a desktop appraisal – all at no cost. Annette says the included perks are offered as an incentive to take part in the program and that there is no additional commission or cost involved. And, you don’t even have to be in the market to buy or sell a home to take advantage of one of the team’s perks. Team Bohannon offers anyone in the community the use of their 15foot box truck, which is available free of charge for use by anyone age 25 or older with a driver’s license and insurance, within Hillsborough and Pasco counties. To reserve the box truck, visit TeamBohannon.com/truck. In addition to offering the community the use of their truck, the Bohannons also have supported many local sports teams and schools in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area. Team Bohannon is located at 3902 Flatiron Loop, Suite 102, in the professional plaza located adjacent to Bright Horizons Children’s Center of Seven Oaks off BBD at Mystic Oak Dr. To contact Annette, Doug or Dale, call 979-4963, visit TeamBohannon.com, ‘Like’ their Facebook page at Facebook.com/ TeamBohannon or see their current listings on page 2 of this issue.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Tampa Catholic High School Educates The Mind & Spirit By Kelly Miller We’re lucky enough to live in an area where there are so many high schools to choose from, including four highly-rated public high schools in just New Tampa & Wesley Chapel alone. Yet sometimes, it can be difficult for parents to know which school would be most beneficial for their children. Tampa Catholic High School (TC) is definitely one option that should be on many parents’ short list. With a reputation for academic excellence, TC promotes lifelong values by weaving Catholic traditions, teachings and faith into its curriculum for students in grades 9-12, although students of all faiths are invited to attend (more on that below). The Diocese of St. Augustine opened TC in 1962, with a one-classroom building and a convent on its property. Over the years, the school has grown to a sprawling campus that sits on the east and west side of N. Rome Ave. (south of W. Hillsborough Ave.) in Tampa. Now, there are eight buildings, athletic facilities and a residence for The Congregation of Christian Brothers, an association with which TC is affiliated that is a religious order of men who work chiefly for the evangelization and education of youth. Two men from the Congregation work on campus. TC is the only Diocesan coeducational Catholic high school in Hillsborough County. It has a smaller enrollment of only 685 students, which gives the school a close,

tight-knit feel, compared with public high schools, which usually have more than 1,500 students. There are 27 sports teams on campus, including a rowing team that takes advantage of the school’s proximity to the beautiful Hillsborough River. The TC Crusaders recently celebrated their 50th anniversary and strive every day to live their school motto of “Faith, Excellence & Family.” Principal Thomas Reidy says, “TC has a lot of high achievers, but what makes our school different is that we have programs for kids all along the spectrum of learning. Whether school doesn’t come easy to your child or they’re an advanced learner who is taking the highest level courses, TC has a program for them.” Accredited by AdvancEd (a non-profit organization that accredits primary and secondary schools), TC offers three programs: an Honors Program, a College Preparatory Program and an Academic Assistance Program. The Honors Program includes honors classes, AP (Advanced Placement) and dual enrollment classes, while the College Preparatory Program technically is the mid-level of instruction, although TC officials call it their main level of instruction. For the small group of students who need extra help in their courses, the Academic Assistance Program helps remediate them so they can earn their high school credits and graduate. However, Reidy notes that in some cases, students can take classes in each of the

different programs simultaneously. Principal Reidy received a B.S. in Business Administration at Florida Southern College in Lakeland and then went on to get his M.Ed. in Administration & Supervision from National Louis University in Tampa. Reidy started teaching business education at TC 17 years ago, and in 2007, he became the school’s principal. Students graduating from TC will have 28 credits when they leave, as opposed to public high school gradu- Tampa Catholic students work on an experiment during a science ates who receive 24 credits. class at the private high school, located off N. Rome Ave. in Tampa. “Those 4 extra credits are obnurturing their emotional, spiritual and tained from a yearly religion course which is academic needs.” mandatory for all students to take, although Scheehorn says that three of her chilstudents don’t have to be Catholic to attend dren excelled in AP classes. She explains, TC,” Reidy says. “All faiths are welcome.” “My investment in their high school educaFor those students who wish to attend tion paid off at the college level with all of mass, services are offered before school the scholarships they received.” three times a week. The entire student body One of Scheehorn’s sons, Daniel, has celebrates together mass once a month. learning disabilities and she says that many Lutz resident and mother of five Molly of the other private high schools wouldn’t Scheehorn believes that choosing TC was accommodate his special needs. Because TC the best decision she could have made for accepts students of all academic levels, Danher children. iel was able to attend TC. Scheehorn says “In terms of environment and academthat he thrived there and has gone on to St. ics, I choose TC,” Scheehorn says. “(The Leo University in Dade City, where he’s curfaculty) take into account the whole child, rently working on a degree in social work.

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In 2013, 70 percent of graduating TC seniors earned Florida Bright Futures Scholarships. In total during the past two years, TC’s graduates were awarded approximately $18 million in scholarships. For those students who need financial assistance to attend TC, the school offers $500,000 in need-based tuition assistance each year. Two state-funded programs, Step Up For Students (a scholarship for special needs and low-income children who want to transfer to private schools) and the McKay Scholarship (for children with diagnosed learning disabilities), also are accepted as forms of financial aid.

A Local Connection

“Although TC is about 23 miles southwest of New Tampa, the highest concentration of our students come from the New Tampa area,” Principal Reidy says. To help with transportation to an from our area, TC has a carpool program in place to assist families in connecting with each other. Those families wishing to carpool are sent a list of students who also live in their zip code. Parents can reach out to each other using the included email addresses and set up their own carpools. Seneca Oxendine, a Tampa Palms resident and senior at TC, says that she and her family chose the high school after checking out all the others in the area. “TC had a friendlier atmosphere, and I knew they had a reputation for high academics,” she explains, adding that she attended a public elementary and middle school, but she and her family decided it

was worth the commute from Tampa Palms. “All of the teachers are great, and they’ve really helped prepare me (for college).” And, all of her hard work paid off last year, as Seneca received the “AP Scholar with Distinction” award because she scored a 5 (the highest score possible) on all five of her AP exams. “I’m proud of our academic program,” says Reidy. “Our teachers and administrators have worked hard collaborating to create a rigorous curriculum that has resulted in increased student achievement on standardized tests.” If your child is interested in checking out the TC campus (located at 4630 N. Rome Ave.), eighth graders are encouraged to attend the TC “Crusader for a Day” program, which will be held consecutive Thursdays this month—October 23 & 30. Registration is available for the “Crusader” program on the school’s website at TampaCatholic.org. Registration information for attending TC also is available online. Open houses also are available to any parent or student wishing to tour the school, view departmental presentations and meet the faculty and staff. The next two such presentations will take place on Thursday, November 6, 4:30 p.m. - 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.. For more information about attending any of these sessions or setting up a private tour, contact Sherry Copestick at SCopestick@TampaCatholic.org. For more information about Tampa Catholic High School, call 870-0860.

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Chiles Elementary Takes Part In ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ By Matt Wiley

The social media phenomenon that has produced millions of videos of people having buckets of ice water poured on their heads has now also soaked much of Lawton Chiles Elementary in Tampa Palms. In fact, according to a press release from Chiles, students learned about Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (aka ALS; better known as “Lou Gehrig’s Disease”) throughout the month. The school also collected donations throughout the month to donate to the ALS Association. As a culmination, on September 19, Chiles students in kindergarten through fifth grade gathered on the sports fields at the school to take part in the actual challenge. More than 800 students and 50 faculty members were handed a plastic cup of ice water, and on Chiles principal Dr. Terri

Evans signal, everyone in the crowd poured the frigid liquid onto their own heads. Chiles third grade teacher Tracey Tupler said in the release that while class instruction focused on a general understanding of ALS, the students were able to better appreciate the impact of serious diseases and how they can make an impact through activism and fund-raising efforts like the “Ice Bucket Challenge.” “I felt it was important for students to understand the meaning behind all of these people pouring ice water on themselves,” Tupler said. “My next-door neighbor was a special adult in my childhood. He fought ALS for many years. Our challenge provided the students with valuable lessons. Not only did they learn about ALS, they raised money to help find a cure and, most important, learned that they actually can make a difference and have a positive impact on society.” In addition to doing the actual challenge at school, during September, Chiles families raised and donated more than $2,400 to the Hillsborough County chapter of the ALS Association. “Chiles’ families are so generous!,” said Jennifer DiCecco, treasurer of the Chiles Parent-Teacher Association (PTA). “It was fun to see the envelopes stuffed with quarters, nickels and dimes come in. I could just see the kids emptying their piggy banks to donate.” According to the ALS website, between June 29-August 29, more than

$100 million was raised for ALS research, due in large part to the popularity of the Ice Bucket Challenge. Last year, only $2.8 million was raised during the same time period. ALS is a progressive neurodegenerative disease with no known cure affecting about 30,000 Americans at any one time. ALS causes those diagnosed to lose the ability to control their muscles, which leads to paralysis and, ultimately, death. For more information, Lawton Chiles Elementary staff & students take part in the please visit ALSA.org. ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’ on September 19.

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Peabody’s Billiards & Games — For Great Food, Fun & Entertainment! By Gary Nager Photos by Matt Wiley

Although everyone here at the New Tampa Neighborhood News loves our new Wesley Chapel office, one of the things most of us miss most about our old location in the Shoppes at Amberly plaza in Tampa Palms is that we used to be located directly next to Peabody’s Billiards & Games. But, even though we moved a few miles away, Peabody’s is still very near to our hearts — and our appetites. Peabody’s used to be a smoking bar, but now, with no smoking and an improved and expanded menu — and still with eleven beautiful, professional pool tables, electronic dart boards and other games, dozens of big-screen and other flat screen TVs and great entertainment — we still go out of our way to visit on an ongoing basis. Always known for great wings and attractive servers and bartenders, Peabody’s is really so much more than that. Yes, the wings are still hot, crisp and large and available with a variety of great sauces, from mild, medium, hot and nuclear Buffalo sauce to my new favorite, the spicy and sweet Heaven & Hell sauce. I normally order the sauce on the side, but for the purposes of these pictures, I ordered assistant editor & photographer Matt Wiley’s second favorite sauce, the Daytona spicy BBQ sauce to get your taste buds salivating. And yes, Peabody’s still has some of the best burgers in town, including my new favorite new menu item, the breakfast burger, which comes topped with perfectly melted cheddar, applewood-

Neighborhood News

smoked, crispy bacon and a sunny side up or over easy fried egg. And, all of Peabody’s burgers and delicious sandwiches and wraps are served with some of the crispiest, tastiest fries in town. I order mine without the seasoning salt usually added to them because everything is made Among our editor’s favorites at Peabody’s in Tampa Palms are from scratch, so the kitchen can happily and (clockwise from above) the new margherita pizza and breakfast burger, the signature strip steak and the wings & fries. easily accommodate special orders. turkey wraps, the Peabody’s club and My other favorite new menu item the authentic Italian sub. is Peabody’s margherita pzza, which When you add this excellent cuiis usually served without pizza sauce sine to Peabody’s ongoing entertain(although I will probably add it to mine ment, like weekly beer pong, darts and the next time I try it), but it is generpool tournaments, NFL and college ously topped with fresh tomatoes, basil, football packages, pay per view boxing fresh mozzarella, a little olive oil and and UFC matches (all with no cover lots of fresh garlic. Double yum. charge), live music and DJs, plus PeaBut, probably the best deal at body’s own liquor store, I’m sure you Peabody’s (in addition to the great new can understand why $5 “You Pick Two” sandwich & side or we miss this place entrée salad lunch special) is on Fridays, so much. when the tasty and tender signature Peabody’s 10-oz. NY strip — which is served with (15333 Amberly grilled corn on the cob, fries and topped Dr.) is open every night until 3 a.m. with caramelized onions and normally sells for $15.29 — costs just $9.99! I’m For more info, call 972-1725 or pretty sure you won’t find a better deal visit PeabodysBilon a better steak anywhere else. liards.com. Also, Peabody’s also has great appetizers see page 57 for a like spinach artichoke dip, bistro onion recap of a recent soup, homemade chili, Spanish nachos fund-raising event and more. Among our favorite sandwiches are the roast beef and West Coast at Peabody’s.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

An Authentic American Diner Wesley Chapel’s Neighborhood Diner Is Still Serving the BEST Breakfast, Lunch & Brunch in Wesley Chapel!

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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‘Chamber’

Continued from page 1 So, since we had a little additional available space in the issue, we decided to also run this photo collage from the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC)’s “Celebrating Excellence in Business” Awards Banquet at Saddlebrook Resort on September 18 (see page 1). I am proud to be a member of not only the WCCC, but also of the Wesley Chapel Noon Rotary Club, whose members took home most of the Chamber’s 2014 awards. Even if your business is located in New Tampa, you owe it to yourself to check out the WCCC, which continues to host free ribbon cuttings and mixers throughout New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and beyond. For more information about the WCCC, call 994-8534 or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com. — GN

(Clockwise from top left): The American Cancer Society’s Jannah McDonald (left) & Robyn Liska accept the award for “Civic Association of the Year.” Several awards were won by members of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club. The banquet hall at Saddlebrook Resort was packed. Outgoing Chamber president Jeff Novotny was named “Chamber Member of the Year.” Our editor’s mom Marilyn was on hand to see us win.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

You Can Still Win Our Dining Contest! There are a lot of wonderful things about living in our area — such as great schools, beautiful, well-maintained communities and recreational opportunities, as well as easy access to great shopping. Unfortunately, one of the areas where both New Tampa and Wesley Chapel fall sadly short, at least in my opinion, is in our access to top-notch independent dining options. In fact, while our distribution areas are loaded with mostly average (at best) regional and national chain restaurants, there’s no doubt in my mind that what we’re sorely lacking are enough great independently-owned eateries to support — with the only real exception being our great selection of Chinese, Japanese and Thai restaurants. Helping people in our area think about and support their local dining locales is one reason why I started our annual “Reader Survey & Dining Contest” 20 years ago. So, while there’s no doubt that some of the local editions of those chains — like Stonewood and Bonefish — are good choices, my goal always has been to get more people to care about the type of mom-and-pop places we’d likely have more of if local restaurateurs could see more of our existing independents succeed. To that end, most of the dining reviews I write are about those local eateries whose owners literally sweat blood to open something different than Chili’s, Applebee’s or Olive Garden.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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So, I keep trying to offer better and better prizes in order to give more of you more incentive to fill out the entry form on the next two pages — and this year’s best-ever Grand Prize (see next page) already seems to be having that effect, as the entries are coming in even faster than they did for last year’s record-breaking Dining Survey & Contest. And yes, there’s still time to enter. So, my suggestion is that those of you still using “Groupons” and other online coupons should go ahead and try any of the independents named on the following pages and, while you’re there, fill out an entry form if you haven’t already. You can win not only the great two-night stay on Clearwater Beach Grand Prize, but also any of up to four other free dining prizes, all while helping local restaurant owners find out just how much you like them. Oh, and here’s a correction from last issue’s first 2014 appearance of the Dining Survey & Contest: In the “Your Favorite Bar, Tavern or Pub in NT & WC” category, we somehow called The Brass Tap at the Shops at Wiregrass mall “World of Beer,” which no longer has its New Tampa location. Any votes for “World of Beer” will count for The Brass Tap, which is now correctly included on this issue’s entry form. I apologize to everyone at The Brass Tap for any inconvenience my error may have caused and hope more readers will choose to enter this year’s contest. — GN

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Win A Two-Night Clearwater Beach Stay In Our 2014 Dining Survey & Contest! Our annual Reader Survey & Dining Contest is always one of our most popular features every year, with last year’s contest bringing in a record number (nearly 2,000!) of entries, and we believe this year’s 20th annual New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News Reader Dining Survey & Contest will surpass last year’s because we have our biggest & best Grand Prize ever! Just for filling out the entry form on these pages and sending it by mail, fax or email (you also can enter at NTNeighborhoodNews.com), you can win a two-night stay at the totally revamped (and beautiful) Shephard’s Beach Resort (look for a full-length feature story about Shephard’s in our next issue!) on Clearwater Beach, plus a one-hour Jet Ski ride & a $100 gift card to use at any of Shephard’s revamped restaurants, including the “interactive” new Ocean Flame gourmet buffet restaurant. This spectacular Grand Prize has a total value of about $700! And, as always, our contest is still 100-percent free to enter! There are 18 categories on these two pages. To be eligible to win our Grand Prize (or ANY of our other great dining prizes; see below for details), you MUST vote for FIVE (5) restaurants in the two categories below, and ONE (1) restaurant in AT LEAST HALF OF THE CATEGORIES ON THE NEXT PAGE! The restaurants in our two distribution areas really do appreciate your votes, so we hope that this year’s big prize will attract more voters who will take the time to give us as much input as possible. Yes, we know that some restaurants try to have their loyal customers stuff the ballot boxes every year, but so many of the people who enter at the restaurant locations themselves only fill in one name for every category or just a couple of categories and those ballots will NOT be counted, nor will those who don’t fill in enough categories be eligible for either the Grand Prize or our runner-up prizes of a $50 gift card to the restaurant of your choice, or any of three other dining gift certificates worth at least $25 each. And, we’re making it easier than ever for you to enter, by providing the names of all of the independently-owned and small (fewer than 20 locations) chain restaurants in each category. And yes, you can still write-in the names of the larger chain restaurants in any category, but we only provide the names of the “Mom-and-Pops” because they don’t have the benefit of being able to afford regional and national TV, national magazine and local radio ads that the large chains have running all year-’round. So, have fun. Only one entry per person will be accepted, and this is the last New Tampa issue in which the contest will run this year. The entry deadline is Monday, November 3, 2014. No purchase is necessary and the Grand Prize winner must be age 18 or older. — GN

Your FIVE Favorite Restaurants In New Tampa (NT) Your FIVE Favorite Restaurants In Wesley Chapel (WC)

(Number your 5 favorites #1-#5; You also may write-in your favorites not listed here in the spaces provided) (Number your 5 favorites #1-#5; You also may write-in your favorites not listed here in the spaces provided)

__Acropolis (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Biagio’s II Pizza & Pasta (CC Blvd.) __Big Papa’s Pit (Bearss Ave.) __Burger 21 (Trout Creek/BBD) __Café Olé (Cross Creek Blvd.) __Cappy’s Pizza (City Plaza, TP) __Casa Ramos (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __China City (City Plaza, TP) __China Wok (County Line Rd. off BBD) __Ciccio’s Cali (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Cross Creek Deli (Shell station, CC Blvd.) __Full Circle Pizza (Pebble Creek) __Fushia Asian Bistro (Sh. of Amberly, TP) __Hawkeye NYS Pizza (CC Blvd./BP) __Heritage Isles CC Restaurant (CC Blvd.) __Ho King (BBD/Highwoods) __Hunter’s Green Country Club __Kabab House (BBD/Live Oak) __Kobé Japanese Stkhs (BBD/PC) __Koizi Hibachi Grill (Tampa Palms) __La Cubanita Café (BBD/New Tampa Ctr) __La Fuente Mexican Cuisine (Closed!) __Lanna Thai (CC Blvd.) __Las Palmas Café (BBD/Pebble Creek) __Liang’s Bistro (North Palms/BBD) __Little Greek (BBD/New Tampa Center) __Mr. Dunderbak’s (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Mulligan’s Irish Pub (Pebble Creek CC)

Neighborhood News

__New China King (CC Blvd. @ MB Rd.) __Asian Buffet (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Oakley’s Grille (BBD/North Palms Vlg.) __Amici Pizza (Grand Oaks Plaza, SR 54) __Peabody’s Billiards & Games (Amberly) __Bagelicious & More (Freedom Plaza/54) __Petra Mediterranean (Highwoods Psrv.) __Best NY Pizza (Pinebrook Plaza/S.R. 54) __Bonsai Sushi (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Pita’s Republic (County Line Rd.) __Pizzazone (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Bosco’s Italian To Go (Freedom Plaza/54) __Burger Monger (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub (E. Bearss Ave.) __Café Fresco Express (S.R. 56) __Saffron Indian Cuisine (CC Blvd.) __China Taste (BBD/Shoppes at New Tampa) __Seasons Fresh Café (E. Bearss Ave.) __China Wok (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Soho Sushi (E. Bearss Ave.) __City Grill (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Stonewood Grill & Tavern (TP) __Ciao! Italian Bistro (Wiregrass Mall) __Sushi Café (BBD/Highwoods) __CineBistro (The Grove/54 off Oakley) __Sushi Ko (BBD/New Tampa Center) __D’Alessio Italian (Across BBD from FHWC) __Sushi Raw (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __Dempsey’s Steak House (Saddlebrook) __Sukhothai (Across from Muvico) __Dempsey’s Too Lounge (Saddlebrook) __Takara Sushi & Sake (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Dolce Gelato & Crepes (C.Line Rd./MP) __Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club __Don Pan Int’l Bakery (Shoppes @ NT ) __Taste of New York Pizza (Highwoods) __Fine Thai Express (SR 54) __Thai Ruby (TP, Shoppes of Amberly) __Gonna China (Hollybrook Plz, BBD@54) __Toast Wine & Café (BBD/Oak Ramble) __GrillSmith (Wiregrass Mall) __Top Thai (BBD/Live Oak) __Hibachi Express (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Vallarta’s (City Plaza at Tampa Palms) __Ho Wok (BBD next to Target) __Woodfired Pizza (E. Bearss Ave.) __Hungry Greek (across BBD from FHWC) __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Kwan Ming Bistro (S.R. 56) __Write-In (must name)_______________ __La Prima Pizza (BBD, next to Target) __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Latin Twist Café (across BBD from FHWC) __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Lexington Oaks Golf Club (off SR 54) __Write-In (must name)_______________ __Meadow Pte Café & Deli (C.L. Rd./MP)

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__900º Woodfired Pizza (Wiregrass Mall) __NY NY Pizza (BBD in Seven Oaks) __OTB Café (Across BBD from FHWC) __PDQ (S.R. 56) __Pinchers Crab Shack (Wiregrass Mall) __PizzaMania (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Poolside Café (Saddlebrook) __PrimeBar (Wiregrass Mall) __Quail Hollow Country Club __Shang Hai Chinese (Eiland Blvd./Publix) __Taste of Boston (Shoppes at New Tampa) __TD’s Sports Bar (Saddlebrook) __365 Caffé Italiano (Wiregrass Mall) __Tokyo Grill/Sushi (Eiland Blvd./Publix) __Vallarta’s (Village Mkt, BBD@54) __Woody’s Pizza/Wings (WC Village Mkt) __Wolf’s Den (S.R. 56) __Yamato Japanese Stkhs (Wiregrass Mall) __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Write-In (must name)_________________ Please only put each numeral (#s 1-5) on each of the two lists on this page only once each, including any write-ins. We apologize for any inconvenience to independent restaurants in NT & WC somehow not listed here.

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Your Favorite

Your Favorite Latin/Mexican Restaurant In NT & WC

Chinese Restaurant In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

(Pick or write-in one)

__Asian Buffet (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __China City (City Plaza, TP) __China Taste (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __China Wok (County Line Rd., off BBD) __China Wok (Village Mkt/BBD@54, WC) __Fushia Asian Bistro (Shps of Amberly, TP) __Gonna China (Hollybrook Plz, BBD@54) __Ho King (BBD/Highwoods)

__Ho Wok (BBD next to Target) __Kwan Ming Bistro (S.R. 56) __Liang’s Bistro (North Palms/BBD) __New China King (CC Blvd. @ MB Rd.) __Shang Hai Chinese (Eiland Blvd./Publix) __Sushi Ko (BBD/New Tampa Center) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Japanese/Sushi Restaurant In NT & WC (Pick or write-in one)

__Asian Buffet (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __Bonsai Sushi (Shoppes @ New Tampa, WC) __Hibachi Express (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Kobé Japanese Steakhouse (BBD/PC) __Koizi Hibachi Grill (Tampa Palms) __Soho Sushi (E. Bearss Ave.) __Sushi Café (BBD/Highwoods)

__Sushi Ko (BBD/New Tampa Center) __Sushi Raw (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __Sukhothai (Across from Muvico) __Takara Sushi & Sake (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Tokyo Grill/Sushi (Eiland Blvd./Publix) __Yamato Japanese Stkhs (Wiregrass Mall) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Thai/Indian Restaurant In NT & WC (Pick or write-in one)

__Fine Thai Express (S.R. 54, WC) __Lanna Thai (CC Blvd.) __Saffron Indian Cuisine (CC Blvd.) __Sukhothai (Across from Muvico)

__Thai Ruby (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __Top Thai (BBD/Live Oak) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Pizza Place In NT & WC

(Pick or write-in one) __900º Woodfired Pizza (Wiregrass Mall) __Amici Pizza (Grand Oaks Plaza, SR 54) __Best NY Pizza (Pinebrook Plaza/S.R. 54) __NY NY Pizza (BBD in Seven Oaks) __Peabody’s Billiards & Games (Amberly) __Biagio’s II Pizza & Pasta (CC Blvd.) __Bosco’s Italian To Go (Freedom Plaza/54) __PizzaMania (BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __Cappy’s Pizza (City Plaza, TP) __Pizzazone (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Ciao! Italian Bistro (Wiregrass Mall) __Taste of New York Pizza (Highwoods) __Ciccio’s Cali (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Woodfired Pizza (E. Bearss Ave.) __D’Alessio Italian(Across BBD from FHWC) __Woody’s Pizza/Wings (WC Village Mkt) __Wolf’s Den (S.R. 56) __Full Circle Pizza (Pebble Creek) __Hawkeye NYS Pizza (CC Blvd./BP) __Write-In (must name)_________________ __La Prima Pizza (BBD, next to Target)

Your Favorite Hamburger In New Tampa & Wesley Chapel

(Pick or write-in one) __Burger Monger(BBD/Shoppes @ New Tampa) __OTB Café (Across BBD from FHWC) __Burger 21 (Trout Creek/BBD) __Peabody’s Billiards & Games (Amberly) __Café Fresco Express (S.R. 56) __PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub (E. Bearss Ave.) __City Grill (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club __Dempsey’s Too Lounge (Saddlebrook) __Poolside Café (Saddlebrook) __GrillSmith (Wiregrass Mall) __Taste of Boston (Shoppes at New Tampa) __Hunter’s Green Country Club __TD’s Sports Bar (Saddlebrook) __Lexington Oaks Golf Club __Wolf’s Den (S.R. 56) __Mulligan’s Irish Pub (Pebble Creek CC) __Oakley’s Grille (BBD/North Palms Vlg.) __Write-In (must name)_________________

__Café Olé (Cross Creek Blvd.) __Casa Ramos (Shoppes of Amberly, TP) __Don Pan Int’l Bakery (Shoppes @ NT ) __La Cubanita Café (BBD/New Tampa Ctr) __La Fuente Mexican Cuisine (Closed!)

__Las Palmas Café (BBD/Pebble Creek) __Latin Twist Café(across BBD from FHWC) __Vallarta’s (City Plaza at Tampa Palms) __Vallarta’s (Village Mkt, BBD@54) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Greek/Mediterranean Restaurant In NT & WC (Pick or write-in one)

__Acropolis (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Hungry Greek (across BBD from FHWC) __Kabob House (BBD/Live Oak) __Little Greek (BBD/New Tampa Center)

__Petra Mediterranean (Highwoods Prsv.) __Pita’s Republic (County Line Rd.) __Write-In (must name)_________________

Your Favorite Bar, Tavern or Pub In NT & WC

(Pick or write-in one) __Acropolis (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Peabody’s Billiards & Games (Amberly) __Heritage Isles CC Rest. (off CC Blvd.) __PJ Dolan’s Irish Pub (E. Bearss Ave.) __Ciccio’s Cali (The Pointe @ Tampa Palms) __Poolside Café (Saddlebrook) __PrimeBar (Wiregrass Mall) __CineBistro (The Grove/54 off Oakley) __Quail Hollow Country Club __City Grill (Village Mkt/BBD@54) __Skinny’s Sports Bar __Dempsey’s Steak House (Saddlebrook) __Stonewood Grill & Tavern (Tampa Palms) __Dempsey’s Too Lounge (Saddlebrook) __Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club __GrillSmith (Wiregrass Mall) __TD’s Sports Bar (Saddlebrook) __Halftime Sports Lounge (NT Center) __Toast Wine & Café (BBD/Oak Ramble) __Hunter’s Green Country Club __The Brass Tap (Wiregrass Mall) __Lexington Oaks Golf Club __Linkster’s Tap Room (Highwoods) __Write-In (must name)_________________ __Mulligan’s Irish Pub (Pebble Creek CC)

Your Other Favorites

(Write-in one in each category below) Your Favorite Bakery In NT & WC Your Favorite Lunch In NT & WC _________________________________ _________________________________ Your Favorite Coffee In NT & WC _________________________________

Your Favorite Pasta In NT & WC _________________________________

The Most Kid-Friendly Restaurant In NT & WC _________________________________

Your Favorite Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt/ Dessert Place In NT & WC _________________________________

Your Favorite Chain Rest. In NT & WC ______________________________________

Restaurant w/The Best Service In NT/ WC _________________________________

Your Your Your Your Your

Name ______________________________________________________________________ Community (Tampa Palms, Meadow Pointe, etc.) __________________________ Mailing Address __________________________________________________________ Daytime Phone #__________________________________________________________ Valid Email Address _______________________________________________________

Please submit BOTH pages by fax, mail, email or on our website (see pg. 3) by Monday, November 3!

Expires 10/31/14

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

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_ _ _ _ _

Neighborhood News

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Wesley Chapel’s Fall Festival Returns To The Grove On October 11! With temperatures here in sunny Florida finally feeling a little more fall-like, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) is putting on its sixth annual Fall Festival (see ad on next page), in conjunction with the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel (which meets Wednesdays at noon at Ciao! Italian Bistro in the Shops at Wiregrass mall). On Saturday, October 11 (the day after this issue reaches your mailbox), local residents can look forward to a FREE day of live music and entertainment for all ages at The Grove shopping plaza, sponsored by Javic Homes, Wesley Chapel Nissan, DigitalTap, The Tampa Bay Times, Spinner Law Firm, this publication and The Grove. There, of course, also will be carnival-style food and beverages for sale, and plenty of other vendor tents. The WCCC expects to draw more than 10,000 attendees to this year’s event. Although last year’s Fall Fest took place during the course of an entire weekend, to better serve the community and make it easier for the vendors and sponsors, this year’s event will take place on just one day. “The Festival is now just a one-day event,” says WCCC executive director Hope Allen. “But, we will still have a great line up for a full day of entertainment.” Headlining the performers this year is Bryan Edwards, who was nominated twice for the 2013 Grammy Awards. His album

“Nothing Left to Burn” was nominated for Country Album of the Year and his song “Still” was nominated for Country Song of the Year. The Florida native also earned his first major songwriting credit on Jason Aldean’s 2011 CMA Album of the Year, “My Kinda Party” as a co-writer on the smash hit song “If She Could You can do everything from adopting pets like this Bengal cat mix (above) See Me Now.” to checking out the WingHouse girls Also appearing this year and the wings that won an award is 10th Concession, a Tampa- during last year’s Wesley Chapel Fall based rock/pop breath of Festival, which returns to The Grove fresh air fronted by brothers shopping center on Oct. 11. Ian and Evan Koteles. The band has earned titles such as “Ultimate Local Band” by the Tampa Bay Times and “Best Indie Rock/pop Band” by Creative Loafing (2010-13!). The Fall Festival will again feature the annual “Wing Battle” between the area’s chicken wing-oriented eateries. Last year’s stand-out performances came from Beef O’Brady’s, Ker’s WingHouse & Lexington Oaks Golf Club. Rotary’s event co-chair Sabrina di Roma says the Wesley Chapel Rotary will again host the annual Little Miss & Mr. Pumpkin Patch Pageant, a Pumpkin Patch and Hay Rides, and this year the club also will sponsor a pet contest and the first-ever Rotary Village for kids! For more info, please visit Facebook.com/WesleyChapelFallFestival.

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

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Recapping The September 29 ‘Benefit For Billy’ At Peabody’s!

Although we, unfortunately, were unable to attend, I wanted to give kudos to Peabody’s Billiards & Games and Busch Gardens for hosting an outstanding event on September 29 to help Billy Edwards, a Busch Gardens employee stricken with late-stage pancreatic and liver cancer. The event, which was actually put on by the folks from Busch Gardens, featured a $10 cover donation to enter, plus silent auctions and a 50-50 drawing and manager Moe Amer of Peabody’s says that more than 150 people were on hand to help raise more than $4,000 to help Billy, who is facing several rounds of major chemotherapy treatments in an effort to eradicate two of the deadliest forms of cancer from his body.

Neighborhood News

Among the performers at the “Benefit for Billy” was the Deacon Blues, the local band which is no stranger to such benefit events. Almost exactly a year ago, Peabody’s hosted a similar event to benefit another Busch Gardens employee, Marlana Lacivita, who we heard was on hand at the Benefit for Billy and looking so much healthier. We wish the same results for Billy. The photos on this page were provided to us by Busch Gardens. — GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

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

Fit 4 Life Martini Party Recap

Congratulations go out to my friends Travis and Fiona Monday, the owners of Fit 4 Life Personal Training & Physical Therapy Studio in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off Commerce Park Blvd., and their staff (photo, right) for hosting a successful Open House & Martini Party on Sept. 10, or just after we went to press with our last issue. More than 50 Fit 4 Life personal training and physical therapy clients and several others who were interested in touring the facility were on hand for the fun event, which included great appetizers and martinis provided by the nearby Stonewood Grill & Tavern. I’ve been training off and on since Fit 4 Life opened a dozen years ago in another location in Tampa Palms and I can assure you that whether you want to lose weight, get in better shape or rehab an injury, you won’t find better equipment, better trainers or better people. For more info about Fit 4 Life (17419 Bridge Hill Ct.), call 9077879, see the ad on pg. 62 or visit Fit4LifeTampa.com.

La Fuente Closes; Smoothie King Re-Opens

I’m always sad when a mom & pop restaurant with promise closes in our area, so I was saddened to see that La Fuente Mexican Restaurant, which was located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd., had closed just before we went to press with our last issue. Sadly, we had no update from owner Roger Rubio about why La Fuente closed, nor do we yet have any information about what might replace it in the plaza. And, while I’m not that big a fan of smoothies myself, I do know that a lot

Wesley Chapel Chamber Of Commerce Update

of you were thrilled to see that Smoothie King — which previously was open in the space now occupied by Jimmy John’s (next to Starbucks) on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the Highwoods Preserve area — had reopened to the newest section of the same plaza, at the intersection of BBD and Doña Michele Dr., next to Tijuana Flats, at 17501 Preserve Walk Ln., Suite 104. In fact, although we weren’t on hand for it, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) cut a ribbon (see below) at the new Smoothie King on September 11. For more information, visit SmoothieKing.com or call 979-1000.

niche for City Grill — as a great place for hosting live entertainment. City Grill still has the same outstanding menu (some of the best and most reasonably priced steaks and fresh fish in either of our distribution areas, plus the biggest and best blackened wings anywhere), but now, it also has trivia on Tuesday nights, karaoke (photo below) with my buddy Gary Carmichael of Heart & Soul Karaoke on Wednesday nights and live bands Friday and Saturday nights. For more info about City Grill, visit CityGrill.us, call 973-9988 or see the ad on page 54 of this issue.

Williams Auto Group Donates To Everyday Blessings!

City Grill Under New Management

The same afternoon as the Chamber mixer and the Smoothie King ribbon cutting, we also were happy to be on hand for the presentation of a check for $11,780 (photo, top of next page) that was donated by the three Williams Automotive Group dealerships in our area — Wesley Chapel Toyota, Wesley Chapel Honda & Tampa Honda — to

And, while I was a little sad to see that the delicious City Grill (5429 Village Market, at the corner of BBD and S.R. 54), perhaps my favorite restaurant in Wesley Chapel, was suddenly under new management, I have to say that Eric, the native Frenchman who took over, seems to have found the proper

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

It appears the pace has finally slowed for the WCCC in terms of the number of ribbon cuttings the Chamber has hosted since our last issue. Of course, the Chamber did host its “Celebrating Excellence in Business” Awards Banquet on Sept. 18 (see page 1) and will host its annual Fall Festival (see page 56) on October 11, so it’s not as though anything has really slowed at all for this vibrant Chamber. In fact, although it wasn’t a ribbon cutting per se, we did attend the WCCC Mixer at Hyundai & Mazda of Wesley Chapel (2700 Wesley Chapel Blvd.,/ S.R. 54, across from Lexington Oaks) on September 11, where at least 100 Chamber members and guests (bottom photo on next page) had chances to win great prizes in support of the American Cancer Society’s “Making Strides Against Breast Cancer” walk (MakingStridesWalk.org/Pasco), which will be held on Saturday, October 25, at the Shops at Wiregrass mall. Hyundai of Wesley Chapel is a Premier Sponsor of this year’s walk. For more info about WCCC membership, or about other upcoming WCCC events, call the Chamber (6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., #105) at 994-8534 or visit WesleyChapel Chamber.com.

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E i f s t

b n w n C t t p W A S w

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Everyday Blessings (EverydayBlessingsInc.org), the Thonotosassa-based foster home which works hard to place siblings in permanent adoptive homes together, rather than splitting them up. The event was held at WC Toyota, but all three Williams dealerships donated $20 for each car sold the last two weeks of August, which sounds like nearly 600 vehicles in only two weeks! Congratulations to Williams Automotive store partners David Williams, Patrick Abad and Mike Speigl for a job well done! For more info about Everyday Blessings, call Pam Bell at 982-9226, ext. 227.

I also wanted to congratulate the Wesley Chapel Lions Club for hosting a super-successful $5 all-you-can-eat pancake breakfast at the Atonement Lutheran Church on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel on Sept. 27. Board member Cathy Bickham says more than 200 people attended. Sorry we didn’t have room for a pic on this page, but look for pics at NTNeighborhoodNews.com.—GN

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

New Tampa & Wesley Chapel HELP WANTED

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For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

HOME IMPROVEMENT RAYMOND PAINTING - Exterior & Interior Services. Exterior: Painting, pressure washing, clean & seal pavers, stucco, roofing, leaks and wood rot repair. Interior: Painting, plastering, ceiling & wall repairs, & tiles. Licensed & Bonded. References available. Free estimates. YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD ARBOR GREENE RESIDENT. We work 7 days. Call (813) 994-5124.

HAIR & BEAUTY

SPACE AVAILABLE - Private suite in busy upscale Salon / SPA available for Hairstylist / Aesthetician / Massage Therapist / Tattoo Artist or Makeup Artist Located Behind Sam’s club on SR 56 / Bruce B. Downs, near Wiregrass Mall. Equipped with wireless internet, wash/dryer, wheelchair access washroom, reception area. 24 x 7 accesses to your suite. Few equipment provided Utility, maintenance included in rent. Lowest rent in the Area. If you have established clientele, opportunity to work on commission basis as well. Call 813-997-3414 for more information. Angie’s Hair Styling - Special offer: $25 OFF on your next chemical service with cut and blow dry (new clients only). I am a Paul Mitchell hair stylist specialized in hair cutting and color with 7 years of experience. Please call Angela for an appointment at 813-846-5677 Located 27607 SR 56 Suite 109 Wesley Chapel, FL 33544. Inside Nirfa’s Beauty Salon.

MISCELLANEOUS

ALL SEWN UP LLC. Custom alterations & tailoring Services. Free pick up and delivery...No Alterations too big or too small. Will also do fittings so all your clothing fit perfect! We Specialize on Alterations on prom and wedding wear. Hems, take ins, zippers, let outs, etc... Will beat any tailor or dry cleaners prices... guaranteed! Call SARAH: 813-4763085 or email smccorry12@yahoo.com. Mention this ad and receive 20% off your entire order.

ERRANDS & PERSONAL SVCS CAR RIDES - Call SMILES CONCIERGE @ 813-263-4244 for: Errands- Airport Rides/Car Transportation Services- Doctor AppointmentsGrocery Shopping Assistance- House Sitting- Girl Friday/Office Support and Personal Concierge Services- Event Planning. Hourly, Daily & Long Term Rates: Tampa Palms/New Tampa Area. Friendly, Trustworthy, Responsive, Reliable. www.SmilesConcierge.com. GET A RIDE - Don’t Have a Ride? Don’t Want to Leave Your Car? Shouldn’t Drive? We Drive You and Your Car Home! Night Clubs, Corporate Events, Sporting Events, Concerts, Appointments, Airport or Stranded. Call Jay at (813) 966-1530.

@NTWCNews

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

JASMINE’S LANDSCAPING - Complete lawn maintenance, Tree, palm and hedge trimming, Planting, mulching, stones, Sod replacement, Pressure washing, Gutter cleaning and more. Cited by your HOA for violations? Need to comply for: Pressure washing, Trimming, Mulching, Sod replacement, Sprinkler repair or Mailbox repair or replacements? Ask about our HOA SPECIAL & FREE ESTIMATE! For more info, call (813) 420-4465. AMERICAN PRIDE LAWN CARE SERVICE, LLC - Our services include weekly lawn maintenance with mulching decks on all mowers, precision edging, string trimming, hedge, shrub, palm, and tree trimming. We also offer landscaping, pruning, sod replacement, and pressure washing. Free estimates. Licensed and Insured. We are an Owner/Operator Company built on service and trust. References available. For more information, call (813) 458-4778. TAMPA LAWN SALON, INC. has been providing New Tampa & Wesley Chapel residents service for over 10 years! We not only provide weekly landscape maintenance but are also licensed in

LAWN & LANDSCAPING

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pest control. Our services include: Lawn & Ornamental Fertilization, Pest Control, Landscape Design, Landscape and Sod Installation, Lawn and Landscape Maintenance, Landscape Lighting, Irrigation, Pressure Washing. Please call us for an estimate at (813) 417-7301 & ask us about our FREE irrigation inspection!

COMPUTER / BUSINESS SERVICES PROFESSIONAL TECH SUPPORT — in your home or small business. A+, Certified computer tech with 20 years of exp. Maintenance & repairs, upgrades & tutoring. More affordable than the large chains! Friendly, personalized svc. Technical jargon explained in plain English. Remote assistance available. References available upon request. Call (813) 957-8342 for a free estimate.

DO YOU HATE YOUR COMPUTER?!? WE CAN HELP YOU! Troubleshooting, installation, networking & virus removal. WE COME TO YOU! Servicing residential & businesses, w/ more than 25 years of experience. Contact Jeffrey Blank at (813) 973-4507, visit WSICA. COM or email Wsica@wsica.com today!

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GLOW WHEELS AUTO DETAILING

150

We Come To You!

Gal. Water Tank

New Look. Same Company. Serving the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel area for 9+ years

HAND WASH

HAND DRY

Call Jay For Estimate Neighborhood News

HAND WAX

966-1530 @NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Out-Of-Area Update — Besa Grill, Mise En Place & The Dancing Ball By Gary Nager

We had just enough space available in this issue to tell you about just a few more of the out-of-New-Tampa-&-Wesley-Chapel restaurants I frequent, so here is one of my absolute favorite upscale dining spots, a new fave and the place I go to shoot pool when I venture outside of our immediate distribution areas. I hope you’ll check them out and tell the owners/management that I sent you!

passion and flair” of the same owners as Flamestone American Grill (in Oldsmar) in our cooking and in all we do.” I’ve only eaten at Besa Grill once, but I was very impressed with the food (especially the fire-grilled, lime-&-cilantromarinated skirt steak chimichurri style (photo, left), the hand-crafted cocktails (including unique margaritas) and its full line of tequilas. There’s also great starters (duck confit nachos, ceviche, tuna crisps & many more unusual, delicious choices), flatbreads, soups, salads, wonderfully fresh fish and more.

Chef Marty Blitz’s “Modern New American Cuisine,” like the amazing seared fish (grouper in the photo, below left) or tofu lunch entrée of the day with jasmine rice, wilted greens , citrus basil vinaigrette and house-pickled red onions. Mise en Place also is home to one of the SoHo area’s most happening restaurant bar scenes, in part because of “First Plates” like market oysters with a coriander citrus passion fruit mignonette and “Second Plates” like sautéed calamari with edamame, shitake mushrooms, Thai chilies, “Thai-friendly” herbs and Yuza sake butter.

The Dancing Ball Billiards 8405 N. Himes Ave.

Tampa 33614 802-5387

I am proud to call Maria, the owner of the Dancing Ball, my friend. I still enjoy shooting pool at Peabody’s (see pg. 47), too, but if you’re looking for a fun after-dinner activity at a non-smoking, beer-&-wine-only pool hall with amazing tables, beautiful bartenders (who will even shoot a game with you) and the best Latin music always playing, the Dancing Ball opens every night except Monday at 7 p.m. Tell Maria (who beats me in pool regularly) I sent you.

Proudly Servicing Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties

Besa Grill

2542 N. McMullen Booth Rd. Clearwater, FL 33761 (727) 400-6900 BesaGrill.com

I was very impressed with the bar area, the service and the unique cuisine at Besa Grill, which is described on its website as a “contemporary grill with a modern American-Latin twist, bringing vibrant flavors and fresh ingredients into the local culinary spotlight.” Besa, of course, is the Spanish word for “kiss,” which “demonstrates the

Mise en Place

442 W. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 110 Tampa, FL 33606 254-5373 MiseOnline.com Mise en Place has long been one of my favorite South Tampa dining hot spots. Despite its French name, Mise en Place isn’t really a French restaurant, although it does live up to its motto of being, “For the adventurous in palate & spirit” with

Residential and Commercial

      

Water Heaters and Tankless Heaters Water Softeners Garbage Disposals Toilets and Faucets Clogged Drains Broken Pipes And So Much More!

Service

Repairs Installs CFC 057162

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Neighborhood News

24 Hour Emergency: 727-546-2059 OR 813-777-5780

@NTWCNews

Neighborhood News

@NTWCNews

For Advertising Information Call 813-910-2575 • Volume 22, Issue 21 • October 11, 2014 • www.NTNeighborhoodNews.com

Out-Of-Area Update — Besa Grill, Mise En Place & The Dancing Ball By Gary Nager

The Dancing Ball Billiards 8405 N. Himes Ave.

Tampa 33614 802-5387

Proudly Servicing Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas Counties

Besa Grill

2542 N. McMullen Booth Rd. Clearwater, FL 33761 (727) 400-6900 BesaGrill.com

Mise en Place

Residential and Commercial

      

Water Heaters and Tankless Heaters Water Softeners Garbage Disposals Toilets and Faucets Clogged Drains Broken Pipes And So Much More!

Service

Repairs Installs CFC 057162

24 Hour Emergency: 727-546-2059 OR 813-777-5780