Month: June 2019

End Of An Era at Wesley Chapel Nissan!

Although Wesley Chapel Nissan wasn’t the first auto dealership to open on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel (that was Heritage, now Parks Ford), owner Jay Rosario and his team have certainly been among the most community-oriented auto dealerships in our area since it opened 15 years ago (in 2004).

In one of the more unique business transitions I’ve ever witnessed, the public was invited to watch Rosario and his entire management team (including my friend and Wesley Chapel Rotary Club member Troy Stevenson) on May 20 to hand the baton (and the keys to the dealership) off to Wesley Chapel Nissan’s new owners — the Morgan Auto Group.

CEO Brett Morgan (at left in photo below), known for his TV commercials with Tampa Bay Lightning star Tyler Johnson, brought along new Wesley Chapel Nissan general manager Paul Snedic (right) and the dealership’s new management team to the event, which was attended by at least 100 people, including Pasco County clerk and comptroller Dr. Paula O’Neil, as well as many members of the Wesley Chapel Rotary and the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. Stevenson and the dealership have played integral roles in both organizations.

Wesley Chapel Nissan has hosted Casino Nights for the Rotary and many events for the chamber, as well as several fund raisers for Dr. O’Neil’s “Clerks for a Cure.” She even hosted her book signing for the release of her book Fighting Cancer Like A Girl at WC Nissan.

O’Neil made a presentation of a plaque to Rosario and dubbed him an “Honorary Deputy Clerk” a month or so before she officially retires from her position.

“You have always stood with me, always supported me,” O’Neil (at right in right photo) told Rosario. “You’ve shown us what it means to be invested in a community. Wherever you go, know that we’re always on your side.”

But, the dealership’s internet sales director Crystal Enger (top right photo on next page) stole the show — and the hearts of everyone in attendance — when she gave Rosario a framed card with messages from every employee. The gift was nice, but many tears were shed when Crystal said, “You gave everyone a chance — whether it was somebody who had been sleeping in their car, whether it was someone who used to clean houses or someone who didn’t know where they were getting their next meal — you are the root of why we’re able to grow. We thank you for who you are, and for your heart.”

No, there wasn’t a dry eye in the place after that one. Rosario, who has won many awards for his business acumen, also is an Orange County Reserve Deputy who was one of the first on the scene after the Pulse Night Club shooting.

Of course, the Morgan Auto Group is one of the biggest in the state with 36 total dealerships, and certainly one of the biggest in the Tampa Bay area, with WC Nissan being the 12th under the Morgan umbrella (which also includes MINI of Wesley Chapel).

“We’re all local, we’re all right here in Tampa Bay,” Morgan said at the event of Snedic and the new Nissan management team. “And, the reality is, we do want to continue the relationships in this community.”

nissan

Neighborhood News Online Video Content Keeps Adding Viewers — And Sponsors!

If you’re somehow still not watching our ongoing online video content, you’re part of an ever-dwindling minority. Our team of videographers and video editors, led by Charmaine George, with Richard Nasrallah and Matt Tsvetkov, have been providing the residents and businesses of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel with a wide variety of videos, all with beautiful footage and outstanding editing.

And, there’s no doubt that businesses are starting to take notice and are getting on our video/online bandwagon.

Our very first video partner is Total Air Solutions, which was the first business to sign up with us (in April) for this new “subscription” program.

From the first video we posted on April 7 with Total Air’s sponsorship, the air conditioning company’s logo has appeared on eight videos in less than six weeks. Among those videos were:

1) the groundbreaking for the expansion of the New Tampa Recreation Center (6,733 views, 11,204 FB reach & 262 engagements);

2) my interview with the owners of Smallcakes in Tampa Palms (12,153 views, 22,575 FB reach & nearly 1,000 engagements);

3) the groundbreaking for Pasco’s Performing Arts Center in Wesley Chapel (8,709 views, 12,223 FB reach & 950 engagements);

4) Our most recent News Desk, about new openings on S.R. 56 and the Crystal Lagoons® amenity opening to the public (8,856 views, 14,461 FB reach & 1,925 engagements).

In just those four videos, Total Air Solutions’ logo has been viewed more than 36,000 times, reached more than 60,000 people, with more than 4,100 engagements — and that’s before Total Air’s Video Business Feature airs in early June! Not bad, right?

And now, our second video sponsor, Creative Permanent Makeup by Pam Edmonson, has had her logo sponsoring at least four videos, with her best one being the opening of Chick-fil-A on S.R. 54 (above), which has had a Facebook reach of 18,198 and has been viewed more than 12,200 times.

Pam also sponsored our video about the groundbreaking for the Blue Heron Adult Living Facility in Seven Oaks (5,291 Facebook reach, 2,600 views) and not only sponsored, but also appeared in, our video about my “25 Years of Neighborhood News” celebration, which reached more than 5,700 people and had been viewed more than 3,200 times. For those three videos alone, Pam’s logo has been viewed more than 18,000 times and had reached nearly 30,000 people. Look for Pam’s upcoming Video Business Feature, which will be released in late-June.

However, Pam is currently only sponsoring our videos, which costs her business only $100 per month in addition to her print advertising cost, and includes that 2-3-minute-long Video Business Feature.

Total Air, however, also has a “clickable” ad our website, NTNeighborhoodNews.com, which costs only $50 per month, on top of Total Air’s video sponsorship of $100 per month and the cost of Total Air’s print advertising.

And, there is value in sponsoring our website, too. Managing editor John Cotey posts different news items each day on our “Neighborhood News” Facebook page, which get online readers to click through to our website at a fairly impressive rate. Our top posts over the last few months include “Chick-fil-A Sets a Date” (17,705 FB reach & 2,800 link clicks), “Cypress Creek Town Center Lands Three Restaurants” (16,886 FB reach & 2,457 link clicks) and “Sprouts/Hunter’s Lake” (12,913 FB reach & 2,077 link clicks).

To sponsor our online and video content, call (813) 910-2575 or email me at ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com.

Chick-fil-A total air solutions

Lucas Budd Is Cypress Creek Middle/High’s First Valedictorian

Although it’s now wrapping up its second year, the “firsts” keep on rolling in for Cypress Creek Middle/High School (CCMH).

And, the honor of being one of the most significant firsts at the school certainly belongs to Lucas Budd, Cypress Creek’s first-ever class valedictorian, who on Wednesday, June 5 at, 8 p.m. at the University of South Florida Yuengling Center, will give the first-ever valedictorian speech to the first graduating class of 226 students in CCMH history.

“I will have my box of Kleenex ready,” says his proud mother, Brenda.

It was Brenda who first learned that Lucas was the Cypress Creek valedictorian. When she got the call, she couldn’t help but cry. Then she called to share the news with Lucas.

While Lucas knew his grades were going to put him near the top of the senior class, he was surprised by the news, but thrilled that his 4.577 weighted grade-point-average was No. 1 amongst the seniors.

Caitlin Scates was the 2019 class Salutatorian

“I wasn’t expecting it,” Lucas says. “It’s an honor, and I take a lot of pride in being Cypress Creek’s first valedictorian. I was pretty happy when I found out.”

Lucas has always been a great student, and actually began high school at Wiregrass Ranch High, before the district’s school borders were redrawn and he was zoned for Cypress Creek following his sophomore year.

Lucas never thought about being the valedictorian while he was at Wiregrass Ranch because he says the class ranks weren’t really publicized.

During his first year at Cypress Creek, however, he knew he ranked fairly high.

“I had seen that I was in the, maybe, top 5, but I wasn’t expecting to be valedictorian,” Lucas says. “I had never really thought about it, but of course every student who takes school serious would like to be valedictorian. I guess you could say it’s the ultimate goal.”

That’s why when other students would dodge the tougher classes, Lucas reveled in registering for them. “Everyone is capable of being the valedictorian,” Lucas says. “It’s just a matter of putting in the work. And sometimes, a little extra work.”

Lucas says he is proud of the way he balanced school with volunteering (more than 100 hours at St. Joseph Church) and his duties with club-related service involvement at school, which he says has positively impacted his view of community involvement.

“That was a great experience,” he says. “That’s one of the things I will remember most from high school.”

Academically, he is most proud of earning his Associate’s degree from Pasco Hernando State College (PHSC) as a dual enrollment student with a 4.0. He also has worked as a tutor at the PHSC Academic Success Center since last September, tutoring in English, Calculus, Biology, Statistics, Psychology, Chemistry, Anatomy and Physiology.

Lucas was awarded the National Hispanic Scholar by the College Board for scoring in the top 2.5 percent of high school juniors of Hispanis descent, and the National Merit Commended Scholar by the College Board for scoring in the top 3 percent of all juniors who took the PSAT as a junior.

Lucas spends his free time fishing in the lakes around the Stagecoach community he lives in, and particularly likes fishing for bass. The largest one he’s caught is 6-8 pounds, and when he’s not fishing, he is shooting hoops on the nearest basketball court.

A National Honor Society member at CCMH, and Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society at PHSC, Lucas will be attending the University of Florida in Gainesville in fall, where he hopes to study Biochemistry or Biomedical Engineering.

Brenda has taken great delight in listening to Lucas practice his valedictorian speech, which has been polished and is ready to go. She can’t wait until he shares it with the rest of his class.

“It’s inspirational, and it’s positive,” she says. “That’s just who he is.”

graduation

Wesley Chapel Craft Brewery deal finalized

Brew Bus Brewing, Inc., the company behind Florida Avenue Brewing Co. and Brew Bus Brewing, has officially announced that it has purchased the former Sports + Field location on S.R. 56. The new owners will convert Sports + Field into a brewery with a beer garden, full-service restaurant and event space.

The 34,000-sq.-ft., two-floor facility in Wesley Chapel was originally opened in 2005 as $10.5-million multi-purpose fitness center that trained professional athletes while also offering fitness programs for local residents. It closed in 2015.

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Brew Bus Brewing Inc., Anthony Derby, told the Neighborhood News last month that his company was taking a close look at property, located at 2029 Arrowgrass Dr., and saw a craft brewery as a missing part of the local Wesley Chapel/New Tampa scene.

“We are excited to expand our operations into Pasco County to provide the community with a family-friendly brewery, event and restaurant destination,” Derby said in a statement. “By this time next year, Pasco County residents will not only be working in our expanded operation, but also enjoying our products a bit closer to home.”

The completed deal is expected to create 46 new local jobs and more than $8.7 million in new capital investment in Pasco County.

“It’s great to reactivate a dormant property with high-paying manufacturing jobs in a unique industry,” Bill Cronin, the president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council, said in a press release. “A company like Brew Bus Brewing, Inc., is a win for the whole community, as they embody the live, work, play notion so important to our community’s future economic growth.”

Brew Bus Brewing, Inc., created in 2011, currently operates both a brewery and buses that travel to breweries throughout the Tampa Bay area. In addition to brewing its own Brew Bus beer, the brand expanded in 2015, with the acquisition of Florida Avenue Brewing Co., in an effort to revive one of the area’s most historic breweries. Both Brew Bus and Florida Avenue brands are distributed throughout the entire state of Florida.

“We are happy to welcome Brew Bus Brewing, Inc., to Pasco,” said District 2 Pasco County commissioner Mike Moore. “Not only are they creating jobs, but their new tasting room and restaurant will be a great destination for residents and tourists alike. Breweries are a huge part of the tourism market.”

brewery craft beer Florida Brewing Co.

Cypress Creek Middle/High Students Get Police Academy Training

*Nicolas Gordon leaps over the 4-foot-tall “wall” as he begins the obstacle course at Cypress Creek Middle/High School*

While the rest of her classmates were inside classrooms and sitting at their desks, Cypress Creek Middle/High (CCMH) seventh grader Rose Macapinlac was running in a dead sprint towards the school’s athletic fields.

When she reached her goal, she turned around and ran back, then attacked an obstacle course that included a four-foot-tall wall she had to drag herself over, hurdles she was required to leap, orange cones she zig-zagged around and a low crawl she slithered through before reaching a 100-pound dummy she had to drag across the grass.

And, that only marked the halfway point of the modified Physical Abilities Test (PAT) that is required for Florida Department of Law Enforcement Capitol Police.

“Once they pull that dummy, that’s when the legs turn to jelly,” said April Heuss, the teacher of CCMH’s criminal justice program, which she says she believes is the first of its kind in the state of Florida.

After a school year of teaching students things like proper radio procedures, teamwork, leadership and the importance of law enforcement, Heuss wrapped up the school year by putting her classes through the arduous demands of a simulated PAT, which has to be passed by prospective law enforcement officers.

Students in her classes had to exit a vehicle (in this case a golf cart) with a flashlight in hand, run 220 yards, complete an obstacle course, drag the dummy, do the obstacle course again, run 220 yards, dry-fire a plastic gun six times with each hand, and call in their report.

While law enforcement applicants have to complete their course in 6 minutes, 4 seconds, Cypress Creek students were wrapping up their modified course (with a 100-pound dummy compared to the 150 pounder dragged by law enforcement) in 3:30-5 minutes.

“Getting over the wall with a flashlight in my hands was the hardest,” said Rose. “My legs hurt.”

Gabriel Linck was the fastest boy on the day, with a time of 3:35, running it twice with plans to do it again.

Anna Ritchie was the fastest girl, finishing in 4:03.

“They are all wanting to see who got the best time, who is going to win,” Heuss said. “This was supposed to be a one-day thing but the kids were so stoked and excited about it we decided to keep doing it for three days. They love it.”