Month: April 2016

New Tampa YMCA Hosting Healthy Kids Day Saturday!

YMCAWEB The New Tampa Family YMCA will host Healthy Kids Day on Saturday, April 30, 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. For 25 years, this event has been celebrated at YMCAs across the nation. This year, the focus of this free event – open to everyone in the community – is to inspire more kids to keep their minds and bodies active, especially as the summer months approach.

This year, after several years of participating in one central event for all nine Tampa Metropolitan Area YMCA branches, the New Tampa Family YMCA will host its own Healthy Kids Day celebration. Located just off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. next to Compton Park in Tampa Palms, the New Tampa Y will open its doors to the community for a variety of fun activities, all encouraging families to focus on an active lifestyle.

“The New Tampa YMCA is here to support families in healthy lifestyle choices,” says membership director Jill Godfrey Rupp. “Everything you will see and experience at Healthy Kids Day will reflect that.”

Godfrey Rupp says there will be a bounce house, face painting and lots of crafts and activities for kids. They can sample activities to get a feel for some of the Y’s summer day camps, as well as camps offered by vendors, including LEGO learning activities provided by Bricks 4 Kids.

There also will be games led by camp counselors, and sports led by youth coaches. The day will include water safety information and activities, and the chance for families to sample wellness classes, such as the popular “family boot camp” classes. The childcare area for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, known as the “Kid Zone,” will have a parachute activity for those ages.

Vendors such as doctors, dentists – including New Tampa Pediatric Dental – and even the New Tampa Regional Library, will help families see how to make healthy choices in many areas of their lives.

“We look at it from a whole healthy lifestyle perspective,” explains Godfrey Rupp, saying that healthy kids need to both be active and make healthy food choices, and also be actively engaged in learning in a way that’s fun. “We want to show families how they can make those choices.”

Since Healthy Kids Day is open to the entire community, non-members can get a glimpse of the amenities available to those who join the New Tampa Y. Members were recently emailed a survey asking about their experiences and the improvements they would like to see. Last year, those survey results led branch leadership to add an additional group exercise room and expand group exercise classes to include Barre, boot camp, Active Older Adults and more. This year’s survey will help drive the next round of improvements at the Y.

The New Tampa Family YMCA is located at 16221 Compton Dr. For info, call 866-9622 or visit TampaYMCA.org/locations/New-Tampa. — CM

Nibbles & Bytes: Ribbon Cuttings Galore, And More!

Congratulations go out to U.S. Army Reserve Lt. Col. and plastic surgeon Raj Ambay, M.D., and his wife, dermatologist Aparna Ambay, M.D. (2nd & 4th from the left in the photo , right), the owners of both Ambay Plastic Surgery and 360 Dermatology in the Summergate Professional Park (behind Sam’s Club on S.R. 56).

On Mar. 28, the Ambays held a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) groundbreaking ceremony at the site of their new Transformations Aesthetic Center, which will be located a couple of miles away, off Cypress Ridge Blvd., behind Tower Radiology Center and the New Tampa Surgery Center.

The day may have been dreary and rainy, but the rendering of the future building, which they hope to open by the end of this year, promises that it will be a one-stop shop for all of your plastic surgery, dermatology and other health and beauty needs.

We’ll provide a more in-depth update about the Transformations Aesthetic Center in a future issue.

For more info in the meantime, visit 360DermatologyTampa.com, AmbayPlasticSurgery.com or call 406-4835. The two practices currently are still located at 27716 Cashford Cir.

Also Cutting Ribbons at…

…Palms Pharmacy, Apr. 15!

The new Palms Pharmacy, located in The Shoppes at The Pointe Plaza in Tampa Palms, hosted its Grand Opening Celebration & WCCC Ribbon Cutting on April 15.

PalmsPharm4 copy “We are truly grateful to be joining the community of Tampa Palms and New Tampa,” said pharmacy director Shahida Choudry. “Our staff looks forward to serving the community and residents for years to come with this new location.”

Palms Pharmacy is a full-service pharmacy open six days a week. Convenience and service are paramount. The store is a traditional retail pharmacy, including local delivery, custom medication packaging, medication reviews, specialized vitamins and probiotics, refill reminders via text and email, patient counseling and drug adherence, friendly staff with prompt service and Spanish translation.

For more info, call 252-9063, visit ThePalmsPharmacy.com or stop in at 17008 Palm Pointe Dr.

…7 Layers Bakery, Mar. 24!

Congratulations also go out to my fellow transplanted “New Yawkas” William Morello and Evelyn Barreno on the Mar. 24 WCCC ribbon cutting at their new 7 Layers Bakery, which truly does have New York-style cupcakes (my fave was the “peanut butter surprise” cupcake), cannolis, cookies and of course, cakes. About 100 well-wishers packed into 7 Layers’ small space in the Grand Oaks Plaza (next to Amici Pizza) at 26306 Wesley Chapel Blvd. (S.R. 54) in Lutz.

For more info, call 388-2771, visit Facebook.com/7LayerCookieCakes or stop by and please tell William and Evelyn that you read about them here!

…Signarama, Apr. 14!

If you missed the Apr. 14 Grand Opening & multi-Chamber ribbon-cutting celebration held at the new unified location for Signarama of New Tampa/Wesley Chapel/ Lutz (at 1917 Passero Ave., just off S.R. 54 in Lutz), I just have to say that it was both one of the best — and best attended — Grand Opening events this reporter has ever seen…and I’ve seen a few!

SignoRama_RibbonWEB Owners Beatriz and Rob Hiller and their amazing staff received an outpouring of love from about 200 people, including many elected officials and Chamber and Rotary friends from New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Central Pasco, Zephyrhills, Dade City and Carrollwood (to name a few).

Those who attended also received an outpouring of free, delicious food from six different providers — including local favorites like Little Italy’s and Latin Twist Café and new favorites like the gourmet tapas and Basque fusion cuisine from Kaixo Tapas Gourmet (photo above, right) catering — as well as a pouring of delicious wine samples from our friends at Time for Wine.

There also were dozens of free prize drawings with DJ John Jay of Finest Deejays (JohnJaytheDJ.com) hosting, and lots of warm wishes for Signarama’s new, combined sales and maufacturing office in Lutz, as the Hillers closed their location on BBD in Wesley Chapel (next to NutriSmart).

“We started with us and two employees,” Beatriz told the energetic crowd. “Today, we are at 26 employees and still growing, so thanks to our amazing staff and all of our wonderful friends, clients and Chamber and Rotary members.”

For more info, stop in to take a tour of the new Signarama, call 994-0101 or visit Signarama.com/fl-new-tampa-wesley-chapel. For the complete upcoming WCCC calendar and membership and other info, call 994-8534, or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

Think ‘A Special Rose’ For Mother’s Day!

Our good friend Rose O’Berry at A Special Rose Florist, located in the middle of the BBD “Segment A” widening just south of Tampa Palms (at 14546 BBD, next to what has been a Shell gas station but is now being converted to a Chevron.

“The construction on BBD and now the gas station has cut down on our walk-in traffic a lot,” says Rose, who always has an awesome selection of fresh-cut flowers, plus plants, gift baskets and other great gifts. “I just want to make sure everyone knows that we are still open during all of this construction and ready to serve all of your Mother’s Day, prom, graduation, wedding and other floral and gift needs.”

For info, call 979-9453 or visit ASpecialRoseFlorist.com.

Check Out Serenity Spa & Salon Suites!

Pam Edmonson, the owner of Creative Permanent Makeup by Pam, says, “We are so excited about our new and beautiful place of business — Serenity Salon & Spa Suites (33913 S.R. 54, Suite 101, in Wesley Chapel). Our clients are loving it and the feedback from everyone has been amazing!”

As the name indicates, Serenity Salon & Spa Suites offers a serene & peaceful environment with a professional salon area offering the most up-to-date styles and colors with highly educated stylists. We also feature beautiful, individual suites offering many different services, including facials, permanent makeup, massage, waxing, micro-needling, scalp therapy, gels & pedicures and much more.

For more info, call 731-3350 or email serenitysuites@icloud.com.

Tampa Premium Outlets Welcomes New Retailers

Simon, a global leader in retail real estate, is pleased to announce that GNC Value Nutrition, Journeys & Oakley Vault have recently opened their doors at Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO).

“Since the groundbreaking of (TPO), Simon has remained dedicated to offering our customers the best names in outlet and value shopping,” said Sarah Rasheid, director of marketing and business development at TPO. “These new retailers are a continuation of this promise.”

Tampa Premium Outlets is a 441,000- sq.-ft. outlet center that houses more than 110 retailers delivering great brands at great prices. For more info, visit PremiumOutlets.com/tampa. — GN

Hargreaves III Is Headed To The NFL, But Where?

The best high school football player in New Tampa history is about to become the highest-drafted National Football League (NFL) player in New Tampa history.

Former Paul R. Wharton High star defensive back Vernon Hargreaves III, who went on to a standout career at the University of Florida in Gainesville, is expected to be taken in the first round of the NFL Draft, which will pick the first round tonight beginning at 8 p.m.

Hargreaves will attend the draft, which runs through the weekend and is being held at Roosevelt University’s Auditorium Theatre in Chicago.

While other Wildcats football grads have flirted with the NFL (linebacker Larry Edwards was signed as an undrafted free agent by the Buffalo Bills in 2007, and linebacker Josh Jones played in some preseason games for Jacksonville in 2012), none has had the impact Hargreaves is expected to.

According to NFL.com’s analysis, “With top-notch ball skills and exceptional instincts that drew praise from Alabama’s Nick Saban, Hargreaves possesses the football makeup to become a Pro Bowl corner.”

Hargreaves — whose sister Chanelle graduates this spring from Wharton after a sterling volleyball career and who also will attend Florida — grew up in Miami and Greenville, NC, where his dad Vernon II was an assistant football coach at the University of Miami Hurricanes and at East Carolina University, respectively.

In 2010, Hargreaves II took a job at the University of South Florida in Tampa, eventually enrolling his son at Wharton.

Hargreaves did not play football until high school, but was clearly a natural and excelled from the start.

According to various NFL draft experts and analysts, as well as most mock drafts, Hargreaves should be a top-10 pick as arguably the purest cornerback in the draft (although FSU safety Jalen Ramsey is rated a notch higher on most boards). ESPN draft guru Mel Kiper, in one of his most recent mock drafts, has Hargreaves going No. 14 overall to the Oakland Raiders.

“Hargreaves lacks some measurables, but the tape doesn’t lie,” Kiper wrote, alluding to the one knock on the former Wildcat — his 5-foot-11, 207-pound frame. That did not stop Hargreaves, though, from earning all-Southeastern Conference honors every year as a Gator, nor does the former Wildcat see that as a negative.

“Playing in the SEC, I’ve covered Amari Cooper (currently with the Oakland Raiders), I’ve covered Odell Beckham (New York Giants), Jarvis Landry (Miami Dolphins) and Kelvin Benjamin (Carolina Panthers),’’ Hargreaves said at the NFL Draft Combine last month. “You gotta compete. At the end of the day, it’s all about competing. Height, size, that doesn’t matter. At the end of the day, if you can play ball you can play ball.”

Hargreaves can certainly play ball. He was an All-State pick every season he played at Wharton, and excelled everywhere coach David Mitchell put him. On special teams, he returned kicks when called on and blocked a handful of field goals and extra point attempts. He also filled in at quarterback and wide receiver, rushing for 237 yards and seven touchdowns as a junior and adding 313 yards and three more touchdowns receiving that same year.

“He could do it all,’’ Mitchell said.

It was as a lockdown corner, however, that Hargreaves achieved fame, with nine career high school interceptions and more than 203 tackles while twice earning All-American honors, winning two national titles on Team Tampa in 7-on-7 and earning MVP honors as a senior at the prestigious Under-Armour All-America Game in St. Petersburg.

Hargreaves was a freshman starter at Florida, and a sensation his first two seasons. He proclaimed himself to be the best cornerback in the country prior to his junior season, and went out and totaled 33 tackles, 4 interceptions and 4 passes defended.

So, where will Hargreaves, who is lauded for his quick-twitch athleticism, aggressiveness and 39-inch vertical jump allowing him to get his hands on passes intended for taller wide receivers, be drafted?

While Kiper (and CBSSports.com) has him at No. 14 in mock drafts, he also said on a national conference call that Hargreaves could be in the mix to go to the Baltimore Ravens at No. 6. Most recently, however, he has been more critical of Hargreaves and his chances at an All-Pro career.

Drafttek.com says Hargreaves will be taken 8th by the Philadelphia Eagles, WalterFootball.com has him going No. 10 to the New York Giants, and SBNation.com has the Chicago Bears taking him at No. 11.

Chances are, however, that local fans of Hargreaves are hoping that NFL.com analyst Charles Davis and Sports Illustrated’s Don Banks are correct:

They both have Hargreaves lasting until the No. 9 pick, where the hometown Tampa Bay Buccaneers could address a glaring need and snatch up the local kid.

The NFL Draft will air live on the NFL Network, with Round 1 tonight at 8 p.m. Rounds 2-3 will be held Friday, Apr. 29, and rounds 4-7 will be held Sunday, Apr. 30.

Those Who Serve Again Benefit From Noon Rotary’s Bike Rally

More than 60 riders turned out March 19 at the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. entrance to Flatwoods Wilderness Regional Park for another successful “Cycling for our Vets, Military & First Responders” — the third annual bicycle “rally” hosted by the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club.

“It was another great turnout,’’ says current club president and longtime member Valerie Casey, whose club meets Wednesdays at noon at Café Olé on Cross Creek Blvd. “We had a lot of new riders and interest, and more than last year. There were riders of all ages, and, as always, it benefited a great cause.”

This year’s event, which took off from Chili’s Grill & Bar, located at 17643 BBD Blvd. (just south of the BBD entrance to Flatwoods), raised $3,500 to help benefit the Navy Seal Foundation, Hillsborough County Fire Rescue, Support the Troops and the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center.

Romy and Gabriela Camargo, who run the Stay In Step Spinal Cord Injury Recovery Center (located at 10500 University Center Dr., south of E. Fowler Ave.) were on hand to encourage the riders, who had their choice of distances to bike — 4, 18 or 39 miles. Also participating again was long-time New Tampa resident and former Stanley Cup-winning Tampa Bay Lightning captain Dave Andreychuk.

In three years, the event has attracted nearly 200 riders and raised about $18,000. “We’re already planning for next year’s event,’’ Casey says. “We’re hoping to tie it in with the return of the Taste of New Tampa.”

For more info about the great organizations that were the beneficiaries of this year’s bike ride, visit NavySealFoundation.org, HCFRFoundation.org, OurTroopsOnline.com or StayInStep.org. For more info about the New Tampa Noon Rotary, check out Facebook.com/NewTampaNoonRotary.

900° Woodfired Pizza Wiregrass — Try It For The Pasta, Too!

Do you crave great pasta living here in Wesley Chapel? I know I do. I can enjoy the pasta at most local pizza places, but you’d be making a big mistake if you were to confuse the made-to-order pasta at 900° Woodfired Pizza, which is located next to Orangetheory Fitness in the Shops at Wiregrass mall, with anyplace else.

Owner Steve Falabella — who can trace his roots back to Italy but who was raised in New York and is a die-hard Yankees fan (as a Tampa Bay Rays fan, I definitely won’t hold that against him, especially when we finish ahead of “dem bums from da Bronx” this season) — appreciates the way I talk about his pizza and pasta, but especially the pasta.

The sauces on the pasta are so good, including the featured Tortellini della Casa above, which is spinach-and-cheese-filled tortellini in a sautéed tomato sauce with black olives, chopped garlic and fresh spinach; the penne with pesto Genovese and grilled chicken; and the veal and beef tortellacci (oversized, overstuffed, beef & veal-filled pasta pockets in a classic Bolognese meat sauce).

One thing I love is how 900° Woodfired never oversauces the sizable, reasonably-priced portions of always-al-denté (without asking for it) pasta. Just as you’d find in authentic Italian restaurants from Naples to New York, the bowls glisten with what’s left of the sauces, rather than leaving behind a whole bowlful of sauce. I love dipping, say, 900° Woodfired’s homemade garlic knots, in flavorful sauces as much as the next guy, but pasta should never be swimming in sauce — or overcooked.

The penne with pesto Genovese and chicken is actually a “Create Your Own Pasta,” which can be spaghetti, penne or tagliatelle (long, flat ribbon pasta, similar to fettuccine) and gluten-free also is available, with your choice of five sauces — pomodoro (classic tomato), Bolognese (meat), Alfredo (butter and cream), pesto Genovese (basil and pine nuts) or rustica (Bolognese with chopped shitake mushrooms and garlic). I can vouch for all but the rustica,

Don’t They Have Pizza, Too?

You got ‘dat right! I love the fact that 900° Woodfired Pizza has not only excellent traditional New York-style ‘za, but also the woodfired Neapolitan style and even a not-to-be-confused-with- Sicilian-style Grandma pizza that Steve says is really a pizza “made backwards. The fresh garlic and onions are baked into the (rectangular) crust, then covered with fresh mozzarella and garlicky tomato sauce.” You have to at least try it.

And, although no super-thin-crusted woodfired pizza will ever be my favorite, you have to appreciate the quality ingredients Steve and his happy, dedicated crew use to create these flash-baked pizzas.

“We make the mozzarella for the woodfired pizzas here every day,” he says proudly.

There’s also “Create Your Own Pizzas,” where some customers get really creative, pizza by the metre and (of course) by the slice — but it’s almost too many options for a true pizza lover like me.

Of course, 900° Woodfired has other great items available, including a variety of great salads — from a slightly spicy Caesar to the unique Insalata della Casa, which combines spring mix, cherry tomatoes, thick slices of fresh mozzarella and marinated grilled eggplant in yummy balsamic vinegar and extra virgin olive oil.

There’s also calzones, baked lasagne, foccaccia bread and great antipasti (appetizers) like Il Gran Piatto, a big plate full of authentic Italian meats, plus fresh mozzarella, olives and roasted peppers. There’s also a fried ravioli appetizer, a zesty bruschetta, fried calamari, mozzarella sticks and even a great kids’ menu. And yes, catering is definitely a specialty, too.

There’s even Peroni Italian beer on draft, as well as a variety of bottles beers and wines by the glass and by the litre-size carafe.

Although I’m usually too full to enjoy dessert at 900° Woodfired Pizza, there’s also an impressive variety of dessert pizzas and other option, many featuring Nutella chocolate hazelnut spread, although I have enjoyed the New York-style cheesecake (go figure), double chocolate layer cake and even the Granny apple crisp.

So, the next time you’re at the Wiregrass mall, whether at lunch or dinner time, stop in at 900° Woodfired Pizza and tell Steve and his crew that the Neighborhood News guy sent you!

For more info about 900° Woodfired Pizza (28152 Paseo Dr., open seven days for lunch and dinner at 11 a.m.), call 527-6940, or visit onljne at 900DegreesWoodfirePizza.com or Facebook.