Check Out These Local Events For the 4th!

There are lots of options for area residents looking for some local Fourth of July fun and fireworks, but the best option may be the annual celebration right on S.R. 54 at the Avalon Park West (APW) community.

For the sixth straight year, APW will hold its Fourth of July celebration, which is expected to draw thousands of festive frolickers — and many from the surrounding areas, including Tampa — as it continues to grow in popularity.

“Last year, we had 2-3,000 people, which was definitely the biggest crowd we ever had,” says Marielle Fernandez, APW’s marketing and events coordinator. “It’s grown every year.”

While APW is a growing mixed-use community with roughly 2,000 residents, Marielle says more than half of those that come for the fireworks are actually not APW residents. 

The celebration is scheduled for 5 p.m.-9 p.m. on Thursday, July 4, and as usual the event will include a host of activities to keep families entertained.

While last year’s celebration featured a pie bake-off, this year it will be called a “Patriotic Bake-Off” and will include pies, brownies, cakes and cookies. 

There also will be a bike parade (strollers and wagons welcome) beginning at 6 p.m., with kids showing off their decorating skills, and Fernandez says there will be more food trucks, vendors and community performances than ever.

“I think the response has been really great,” Fernandez says. “It’s nice having something for the community to come together and celebrate. And, we’re happy we’ve become that hub where they come to enjoy the Fourth of July.”

You have to register for the bike parade and bake-off. To do so, and for more information, visit AvalonParkWest.com. 

DINNER & A SHOW!: For those who are interested in a sit-down dinner followed by fireworks, our friends Anass El-Omari and his wife Susana Herrera of Omari’s Grill at the Lexington Oaks Golf Course (which is closed for renovations) are hosting a delicious, family-friendly, open-to-the-public celebration on the 4th, with hamburgers and BBQ chicken on the grill (plus side dishes) served from 5 p.m.-9 p.m.

There also will be live music, a premium alcohol cash bar and what Susana promises will be an impressive professional fireworks display. Reservations are definitely suggested, because brunch events at Omari’s Grill have been known to sell out and people love barbecues and fireworks for the 4th. The cost is just $14.99 per person (ages 13+), with kids ages 4-12 just $5.99. 

Please note that no outside food or drink will be permitted during this event. For reservations, call (813) 907-7270 or see the ad on pg. 39 of this issue for more information.

BOOM!: If you think bigger is better, then you might like this — The City of Tampa will unveil a new Fourth of July celebration of its own.

After back-to-back busts with celebrations organized by private vendors, Tampa is taking over the festivities this year.

New Mayor of Tampa Jane Castor announced shortly after being elected that the city will host a “Boom by the Bay” fireworks spectacle, which she says will be “sparking a brand-new tradition in Tampa.”

Tampa’s Fourth of July celebration will feature four fireworks displays spanning 2.5 miles of the city’s majestic waterfront, from Armature Works to Riverfront Park to the Tampa Convention Center and over to Sparkman Wharf.

There will be activities for the family and live entertainment as well.

“I want to kick off my time in office with a big bang,” Mayor Castor said in a video posted to social media announcing the event.

You can text the word BOOM to 888 777 to receive special notifications about “Boom by the Bay.”

Time To Take Out The Trash!

Those blue bins still have Pasco County District 2 commissioner Mike Moore seeing red.

Moore is renewing an old fight against donation bins that seem to be a breeding ground for mini-junkyards, as a recent spate of trash dumpings have pushed him to ask for stiffer rules and harsher penalties.

Moore, who originally pushed to enact an ordinance passed in 2016 making it harder to leave unmanned bins scattered around the county, is rolling his sleeves back up. The Seven Oaks resident’s district serves most of Wesley Chapel, and one recurrent dumping ground on S.R. 56 just east of I-75 has him particularly unhappy.

“When we did that (ordinance in 2016), a bunch of them did go away,” says Moore. “It wasn’t as bad. But now that the dust has settled, they have been starting to reappear all over the place.”

That may not be much of a surprise. The 2016 ordinance required that those operating the donation bins apply for a permit, which entailed producing a site plan and receiving written permission from the landowner, as well as a regular pick-up schedule to be followed.

And how many bin operators have applied for a permit since then?

“Zero,” says Moore.

Three of the dumping locations — there are many all across the county, Moore says — that have gained a lot of attention among Neighborhood News readers the past month are in Wesley Chapel, including one near his home.

A pair of bins placed across the street from the Wesley Chapel Mini car dealership near the Texas Roadhouse restaurant, and another near the Sam’s Club (also on S.R. 56) have been attracting items not intended as donations.

Photo: Dan Ballman (Facebook)

Resident Dan Ballman posted the photo above on the Wesley Chapel Community Facebook page on June 9 pleading for an answer to the illegal dumping problem, with a two pictures of the dumping site between Texas Roadhouse and TD Bank.

One picture, he wrote, was taken on May 26, and the second was taken two weeks later, after the junk pile had doubled in size.

A dresser, at least five couches, six mattresses, a television set and what appears to be a dishwasher can be seen in the pictures. it looked as if enough items were dropped off to fully furnish a one-bedroom apartment. 

Facebook page members have called the dumpers “lazy,” “horrible” and “disgusting,” while suggesting that the county install cameras in certain hot spots to catch the lawbreakers in the act.

Moore says the county already has asked code enforcement and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office to investigate, and said cameras have been placed at other locations he cannot reveal.

Moore said some bins have been seized as evidence for potential criminal proceedings. Although the bins are labeled for charitable donations, the commissioner thinks they are full-fledged businesses cashing in.

“Companies are collecting textiles to be reimbursed for it, to sell it,” Moore says. “Some say they give a portion of the funds to charity. We can’t confirm or deny that, because when you call the number on the bin, there’s no answer.”

While the bins themselves — which are not picked up in a timely fashion and are often overflowing — are a problem, District 1 commissioner Ron Oakley pointed out that those dumping items with no intention of putting anything in a bin also are an issue. 

Commissioner Moore, however, said it is the bins themselves that begin the process of sites turning into junkyards. Commissioner Kathryn Starkey called the bins “magnets” for junk haulers to unload their stuff.

Moore said he suspects some of the junk dumpers are professionals who get paid to haul away large items but then decide to unload it somewhere other than the nearest junkyard — the Pasco County Transfer Station (PCTS) at 9626 Handcart Rd. in Dade City — to avoid paying a fee.

The PCTS charges $2.96 for every 100 pounds dumped.

When the county has to clean up these eyesores, it is at the taxpayers’ expense, Moore says.

On May 21 at a Board of County Commissioners meeting in New Port Richey, Moore suggested that the county ban unmanned collection bins altogether, which would affect legitimate collection bins like those used for recycling and those used by churches. County assistant attorney Kristi Sims said that the county would “quite definitely” be sued.

“I cannot stand up here and tell you we will win,” Sims said.

What the county has done is that it has begun monitoring various sites and seizing bins, and some sites that have been cleared out have since been repopulated with more bins — or more junk. 

The county also sent 40 letters to property owners where the bins are being placed, asking if they had given permission; 15 of those letters involved bins from one company.

About 20 have responded, “and not a single one has said they gave permission,” Moore said.

Those who haven’t replied have until July 1 to do so.

Sims suggested that Moore hold off on pushing for a ban and allow for renewed enforcement efforts this summer to take hold. “Let’s see how this shakes out,” she said.

Moore said the county needs to end the problem as soon as possible. He is promoting strict enforcement of the ordinance and stiff penalties — including third-degree felony charges for dumping more than 500 pounds (or 100 cubic feet in volume), which carries with it up to five years in prison.

“I’m frustrated,” Moore said, “That’s why we’re taking it to next level. Now, we’re going to go out, and we’re going to catch them. We’re going to prosecute (them). We need to catch a few of them, and if they meet the criteria for a felony, they are going to be in bad shape.”

Nibbles and Bytes

Full Circle Pizza Gets New Owners!

It’s always difficult to know how a popular local mom & pop restaurant will go once the original owner sells the business. However, in the case of Full Circle Chicago Pizza, located in the Pebble Creek Collection, it seems that new owners Julia and Freddy Nova are off to a great start.

Freddy, who previously worked as a sous chef at the historic Ridgewood Country Club in Paramus, NJ, and Julia, continue to serve New Tampa’s most authentic Chicago-style deep-dish and thin-crust pizzas (and they now serve deep-dish pizza every day), but they also have expanded Full Circle’s already impressive menu.

My favorite dishes so far are the chicken & broccoli with garlic & oil shown above (with garlic knots) and the Chicago Italian beef sandwich with melted mozzarella. I’ve also been told that the jumbo wings and the Italian sausage parmigiana sandwiches also are excellent.

Full Circle Chicago Pizza (19651 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Unit B-2) is now open every day for lunch and dinner. For more info, call (813) 994-3700 or visit FullCircleChicagoPizza.com.

Why You Should Be A Samantha Taylor Fitness Sister!

As we’ve chronicled in these pages several times, Samantha Taylor Fitness (STF) now has five Tampa Bay-area locations — including one at 26908 Ridgebrook Dr, Suite 101, off S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel.

Since all five locations are for women only, it can be tough for a man to understand why so many women love and appreciate Samantha and her amazing staff.

I understand it a little more clearly now, because I joined my wife Jannah (who trains at the Wesley Chapel STF studio) for Samantha’s most recent celebration for her six-week challenge participants. Held at the Hilton Garden Inn near the Suncoast Pkwy. (off S.R. 54), Jannah and I were among 220 people in attendance, including many husbands/significant others of the participants, and Samantha said she had a waiting list because she had to close off attendance at that number. 

Challenge participants from all five studios were on hand (having lost about 1,500 pounds between them in only six weeks!).They enjoyed a special Keto die-friendly dinner, but there was electricity in the air as Samantha and her sorority of women who work out together in classes (many also do one-on-one personal training), and her compassionate staffers, received a variety of honors. 

Which women won which prizes (there were some great ones) wasn’t particularly important to me, but if you’re a woman who wants to get in better shape, feel and look better, in the company of others who share your goals, I now know that you can’t beat Samantha Taylor Fitness. What a great night!

For more info, visit SamanthaTaylorFitness.com or call (813) 377-3739.

Here & There, This & That

• I wasn’t particularly surprised to learn that Primebar in the Shops at Wiregrass mall had closed (the always-changing menu was never great and the drinks were the priciest in our area), but I was a little stunned that Union 72 BBQ next to and owned by members of the same group that also owns The Brass Tap, closed the same week. 

• Speaking of the mall, our friend Wendy O’Neill recently moved her Creativity Unpinned store from the former Gymboree location to the former Crazy 8 location. Congrats on the move, Wendy!

• If you’re looking for something fun to do with the kids this summer, I suggest a visit to the Licciardello Stables equestrian center, located at 3007 Sunset Ln. (just east of Livingston Ave.) in nearby Lutz. 

I was on hand for the North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cutting event at the stables, judging by the multitude of happy kids in attendance (photo, right), it’s worth checking out this summer! For more info, call (813) 951-1690 or visit LicciardelloStables.com and please tell them that Gary from the New Tampa Neighborhood News sent you!

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).  — GN

The Lagoon Review: Pricey, But Definitely Worth Checking Out!

Since opening its gates to the public, the Crystal Lagoons® amenity at Epperson Ranch has been a hot topic in and around Wesley Chapel.

Depending upon who you listen to, it’s the world’s greatest amenity, or just a glorified community swimming pool; it’s a great day out with the family, or a money pit; it’s just like the beach, or a charmless knockoff.

Nothing seems to fire up the locals more than lagoon talk. And, while we’re not here to settle the debate, after spending a day there with the wife, two teen-age boys and some friends, I can say this: While pricey, it’s definitely worth checking out.

First off, the lagoon is not an amusement park. It isn’t Adventure Island, a comparison some derisively make. It isn’t a river, it isn’t a lake and it isn’t a beach.

If you plan to look at the Crystal Lagoon through any of those prisms, you will be disappointed.

Here, however, is what it is: a pretty cool and unique nearby getaway with sand, palm trees, crystal clean water and enough food, drink, music and activities to entertain your family for most of a full day.

If you live in Epperson, congratulations. It is a fantastic amenity, and for $25 a month, I say it’s well worth it. It’s a slam dunk, really, unless you’re one of the residents unhappy that the public is taking up some of that beach space, but someone has to pay for the lagoon maintenance until many more of the 4,000 planned homes in Epperson are built and occupied.

If you don’t live in Epperson, your perspective may differ (but remember, it wasn’t built for you).

It is $25 per person to visit, but only $5 if you go with a resident (so make some friends while you’re there!).

The $25 gets you in the door and, if you get there early enough, a spot on the beach, as well as access to the swimming areas of the lagoon. 

We heard no complaints about the refreshingly chilly water — now that the summer weather is turning all of our smaller pools into oversized bath tubs — but we did hear a few requests for more, or larger, swimming areas. Parts of the lagoon are roped off for the water obstacle course known as Wibit, and to make room for paddleboarders and kayakers to make their way around the lagoon. The swimming areas did seem a bit small, but that probably all depends upon the size of the crowds the day you visit.

The water is everything developers said it would be — clean, clear and refreshing. The beach area was filled with folks relaxing in chairs, enjoying a beverage and working on their tans. Because the surrounding areas aren’t fully landscaped, the lagoon can feel a bit sterile, but there were a lot of happy faces and energy in the crowds. You may miss the expanse, the salty air and the waves lapping at your feet while walking in the cool sand along the shore of an actual beach, but otherwise, the lagoon does a pretty good impression. 

We did wish there was more shade, but personal umbrellas are not allowed. If you can’t find a seat with some respite from the sun, there are shaded areas — in what is called “premium seating” — a few steps away from the beach that will cost you $12 for two chairs and an umbrella, and $20 for four chairs and an umbrella. It’s a gorgeous area, and is a purchase we agreed will be well worth it on our next visit. 

The a la carte pricing at the lagoon — yes, even for residents, although they get a discount — can make for an expensive day, and some will find it annoying.

The slide will cost you $10 for the day, not a bad deal for those who plan on using it over and over. A rock wall, which wasn’t open the day we went, costs the same. And the Wibit, which was a huge hit with the teenage boys and everyone else who tried it, is available for $10 for a 45-minute session. 

You can buy all three together for $20, which will save you some money, but you might want to skip the rock wall and save your money for an extra session on the Wibit, pictured here (left).

Kayaks and paddleboards are available to rent for $10 an hour. Those who are serious about each might want to skip both — there’s none of the waves, scenery and wildlife that makes saltwater or whitewater kayaking and paddleboarding fun — but it’s great for those who don’t often get the chance and the always-calm waters make it ideal for first-timers. 

For example, we have friends who will spend seven hours on Crystal River paddleboarding, and we told them the lagoon might not be for them. But another friend, who is convinced alligators, sharks and snakes will devour her and her family if she joins us on a river one weekend, went to the lagoon a week later on our recommendation and rented a paddleboard and kayak and absolutely loved it, with plans to return every chance they get this summer.

The lagoon does not allow outside food, although you can bring your own water. We brought a large thermos, but were shocked to see bottles of water on sale for only $1. There also were $5 mimosa and bloody Mary specials, beers were between $4-$6 and things like hot dogs ($3) and nachos ($4) were very reasonably priced. 

Tampa Sammich, one of the popular food trucks that rotate in and out at the lagoon, was selling Cuban sandwiches — and they were quite tasty — and other grilled sandwiches for $9, grilled cheese and chicken wraps for $6, and canned and bottled sodas for only $2.

Perhaps we have been scarred by the ridiculous prices at concession stands at sporting events — raise your hand if you’ve ever bought a $15 beer — but we found the food and drink at the lagoon to be a bargain, and certainly much cheaper than we anticipated.

The lagoon also has a stage for live bands and DJs, although nothing was playing the day we attended, and a shaded, sunken bar that also offers not only reasonably priced drinks but also great respite from the heat.

One minor nit: the artificial green grass in parts of the lagoon gets amazingly hot, so watch your step. We learned our lesson when starting a game of cornhole. 

So, is the lagoon pricey? A little. A family of four that decides to partake in all or most of the activities, and then grab lunch, will spend at least $200. That’s an expensive day trip. 

But, bypassing the 45-minute drive to one of our Bay-area beaches, missing the traffic and parking hunt and not having to lug your chair and cooler across the sand might make it a more convenient option at times.

The lagoon may never replace the beach, or a river or lake, or Adventure Island, but it’s not trying for that anyway.

It is what it has been advertised as — a first-of-its-kind-in-the-U.S. amenity designed to sell thousands of homes and keep those local residents entertained.

Is it worth a visit? You bet, if just to say you’ve been to the lagoon.

We have. And, as everyone in our group agreed — we’ll be back.