Month: March 2022

Middle School Violinist: Please Support Our Orchestra Programs

Did you know that kids who are involved in music are more likely to score higher on standardized tests? It’s true — papers from respected journals, such as The Journal of Educational Psychology and The British Journal of Psychology have done extensive research on this matter. So, why aren’t our local public school orchestra programs supported by our public school districts?

Mahi Nooka

Unfortunately, not many adults involve themselves with youth orchestra programs, or even bother to learn about them. But, I believe that absolutely needs to change.

My name is Mahi Nooka. I’m 14 years old and I’m an eighth grader at Dr. John Long Middle School. I have been playing the violin for four years and I was invited to give my opinion on this subject by Neighborhood News editor Gary Nager because of a disturbing pattern I’ve noticed: our local youth orchestras are not being supported by the Pasco County School District or the local community.

You see, school orchestra programs in this area aren’t well-known or funded properly. I’m in both my school orchestra at Dr. John Long and in an outside program called the Tampa Metropolitan Youth Orchestra (or TMYO). It’s well known that the arts historically have had a low priority in Florida’s public schools, especially compared to sports and other money-making activities and I don’t think that’s fair or just.

But, even within the arts, there is a hierarchy; specifically, within school music programs. Orchestra programs are almost always given a lower priority than band programs in the amount and quality of resources provided. I’ve seen bands (especially high school marching bands) get larger classrooms, uniforms, and spots on the school’s website, while the orchestra programs are stuck using the same equipment for the past sixteen years or more.

It doesn’t make sense to me, though. I know that music has the ability to change kids’ lives — it has changed mine drastically. I started in orchestra in the 6th grade (although I’ve been taking private lessons since the 4th grade) and came to love it.

In the 7th grade, my private teacher recommended that I join an outside program to supplement my school experiences, and we found TMYO, a youth orchestra program located in Hillsborough County. I auditioned for one of the four groups they had that matched my skill level best, and I loved it so much that I auditioned again this year, for the next higher group. Currently, I’m proud to say that I am sitting fourth chair in the second violin section at TMYO.

One thing I can tell you through my experience is that orchestra is like a family. It teaches teamwork and lets us form incredible bonds. I’m more confident and passionate because of it, and my fellow musicians and I are comparable to siblings. Orchestra gave me that, and I’m hoping that if orchestra programs are better nourished, other kids can have that, too.

However, whether orchestra programs can thrive or not doesn’t depend upon us as musicians. The success of these programs depends heavily upon public participation — on people like you knowing about our programs and taking the initiative to support us.

That brings us to the real question: How can you support us?

Attending an orchestra concert is a great way to help. By attending, you’re showing that the kids’ hard work is not for nothing, and that someone cares. This is vital to developing confidence and allows us to practice performing in front of an audience (two essential skills for musicians).

Trust me, it doesn’t feel good when your auditorium is half-full and you’re performing for barely fifty people. This may seem like a lot of people to some of you, but think of how many people go to sporting events, especially football games.

And honestly, if nothing else, concerts are just a great way to spend time and involve yourself with the community. Though I’m not sure about other programs and schools, the concert for Dr. John Long is on Wednesday, May 4, at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel, and the next concert for TMYO is on Saturday, May 14, at the USF School of Music in Tampa. The general public is invited to attend both of these events.

In addition to simply attending an orchestra concert, many local nonprofit programs have options for donations on their website. I know TMYO does (tmyo.org/make-a-donation) and so do many others in the area: the Florida Youth Orchestra (floridayouthorchestra.org/donate), and the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra (fsyo.org/support-fsyo). Donating lets our orchestras continue to exist and allows young musicians continue to express themselves creatively.

If you’re not interested in donating or attending, you can still help by spreading the word. Discussing the benefits of orchestra programs can help stir up interest in the programs, and some parents might even check out orchestra programs for their own kids. It may seem like a little thing, but it can help a lot.

And so, I’ve made my case. The youth orchestra programs need to be supported, and I’ve done my part to ensure that happens by having this article published in the Neighborhood News. I will keep advocating in the background because of my love for orchestra, but there is only so much I can do. I hope I have inspired you to take action. This is your chance to give back and make an impact — one that will be appreciated by young orchestral musicians in our community.

arts orchestra

WC’s Your CBD Store Offering New & Improved Products

Lisa Feigel isn’t a doctor, but she can sound like one when helping a customer figure out what kind of CBD products will help with whatever problem they have.

With her extensive knowledge of CBD, or Cannabidiol, as well as one of the top-rated product lines to sell, Feigel says she can help just about anyone who walks through the door of her Your CBD Store in the Freedom Plaza on S.R. 54.

“I believe in CBD,” says Feigel, who opened her Wesley Chapel store in August 2019. “I believe in what it can do, and I think most people who try it will almost always come back again.”

CBD is related to tetrahydrocannabinol, or THC, the active ingredient in marijuana that produces the “high.”

CBD is derived from hemp, which is a variety of cannabis (as is marijuana), but with less than 0.3% of THC, and thus, does not produce any of the psychoactive effects. However, CBD still retains all of the medicinal benefits of cannabis, the uses of which go back thousands of years.

Considered a holistic product, CBD products are offered as full spectrum — which are generally stronger and contain no more than the legal limit of 0.3% THC — and broad spectrum, which have no THC at all.

Feigel’s SunMed CBD products have a wide range of effects on a wide range of maladies, from anxiety to sleep deprivation to pain management, and more. According to a recent New York Times story, Brightfield Group (a cannabis market research firm) conducted a survey of 5,000 people, revealing that 60 percent of CBD users have taken it for anxiety, followed by chronic pain, insomnia and depression.

“I have suffered intense paranoia and anxiety for most of my adult life,” says Sam Crook, one of Lisa’s regular customers. “Lisa was very VERY informative, patient, and just overall pleasant as she walked me through the options. Taking her advice, I purchased a few products and life has never felt better for me.”

By eliminating some of the things that had been holding him back, Crook says he has gotten a new lease on life with Your CBD Store products.

“With my anxiety and neuroses diminished, I feel more confident, more productive at my job and sleep better than I ever have,” says Crook, “Physically, I have more energy (than I’ve had) in years. These things are literal game changers.”

More and more people are experiencing the benefits of CBD. For a while, it was an uphill battle, as a stigma remained attached to CBD, due to its relationship with cannabis and hemp, and questions and doubts concerning the regulatory landscape.

But, more and more people keep walking proudly through the front door of Your CBD Store.

According to a story posted by Forbes.com, national CBD sales hit $4.6 billion in 2020 (just two years after hemp-derived cannabinoids were federally legalized), and some forecasters are predicting a U.S. market of roughly $20 billion by 2025.

For those who are intrigued but trepidatious, Lisa will do Tupperware-like home shows for those who want to learn, explore and sample in the privacy of their own homes.

Your CBD Store offers SunMed products that Lisa says “are second to none.” SunMed grows its hemp in Oregon and Colorado, and processes it in Palmetto, FL, at a large, new plant. The company uses CO2 extraction, which doesn’t require the heat than can cause CBD to lose some of its potency.

SunMed’s carcinogen-free products have the USDA Organic designation, and each label has a QR code, so users can see exactly what they are putting into their bodies.

“Ours is just so pure,” Lisa says, adding that other places that sell CBD, from Amazon to other brick-and-mortars, cannot make that claim.

A Tale Of Two Deltas

Delta 8, which was introduced last year, has been a big seller, and the newer Delta 9 is close behind. Both have THC, and Feigel is clear with customers that if they have to pass a drug test anytime soon, there are other options, like products with CBN and CBG.

Delta 9 can get you high and produce psychoactive effects, but does not require a medical marijuana card. The difference between Delta 9 and Delta 8 is just one particular chemical bond appearing on the eighth carbon molecule instead of the ninth.

The different chemical configuration makes Delta 8 less potent, and has been reported to provide users with a smoother “high” without the anxiety and paranoia associated with Delta 9. It has nearly the same positive effects of Delta 9, but fewer of the negative effects.

“Delta 8 was a big deal last year and really brought more people in to check us out,” Lisa says, adding that some of her customers have told her using Delta 8 has provided them with “the best sleep of their lives.”

Your CBD store offers both Deltas in gummies, water solubles, vaping cartridges and even pre-rolled for those who prefer to smoke it.

They are packaged as Above & Beyond, and are geared towards pain (sativa), relaxation and sleep (Indica), and a combination of both (hybrid). She doesn’t recommend either one if a customer is subject to drug tests or has one upcoming, because of the higher THC level.

CBG, or cannabigerol, and CBN, or cannabinol, also are products of cannabis, but CBN is THC-free and helps cause a drowsy effect that can aid with sleeping, while CBG is touted more for its potential therapeutic and anti-inflammatory effects.

Feigel calls it the “super momma of cannabinoids” and the topical pain cream version of it is one of her store’s best sellers.

Whether by cream, oil, gummy, water or vape, Lisa says her store offers multiple ways to get her CBD products into your system.

“Everyone has a preference,” Lisa says. “But really, there’s no wrong way of taking CBD. It’s just a matter of getting it in you.”

And, for those who might need a boost losing weight, there is now TRIM, a new offering that Lisa says is “amazing.”

She says TRIM is the only CBD weight-loss product on the market, adding that, “in a 90-day clinical study of 120 people, participants lost up to 18 pounds, six inches around the waist and eight points in their BMI (Body Mass Index).

TRIM features THC-V, which it says is a non-psychoactive compound in hemp known to naturally suppress your appetite (THC-D9, by contrast, causes appetite stimulation).

“There’s new stuff coming out all the time,” Lisa says. “TRIM has been very popular. It’s just another way that CBD can help make your life easier.”

And don’t forget Fido, aka the family pet. CBD has proven to be effective in relaxing pets who have anxiety and suffer on fireworks-friendly holidays. Your CBD Store has a variety of products, including the newest ones — Chillin’ Out (for relaxation) and Movin’ Easy (for mobility and aches and pains) broad spectrum hemp chews for dogs.

Your CBD Store Wesley Chapel is located at 30044 S.R. 54. It is open Monday.-Friday, 10 a.m.-6 p.m., and 11 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 536-0119, visit CBDrx4u.com/find-us/Florida/Wesley-Chapel or search “YourCBDStoreWesleyChapel” on Facebook.

Delta-8 Your CBD Store

Wiregrass Ranch High Health Fair Draws A Crowd

When Phoebe Taylor put on the drunk goggles and attempted to walk the guided pathway, she thought it would be easy. Instead, the Wiregrass Ranch High freshman was shocked to find herself stumbling throughout and sometimes off the course.

Like Taylor, students at her school are learning the consequences of drinking and driving, the dangers of not wearing their seatbelts and the importance of mental health.

“It’s easy for us to just go and do something dumb and regret it later,” Taylor says. “If that actually happened it could be very dangerous.”

The largest-ever Wiregrass Ranch Wellness & Safety Fair was hosted on March 9 by the school’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) chapter to bring awareness to mental health and promote a healthier and safer lifestyle.

The event brought about 35 community leaders and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) to talk to students and demonstrate the dangers of these acts.

Shaina Finkel, the president of the school’s SADD chapter and the national SADD president for the 2021-22 school year, oversaw the event. Her main goal was to have students talk to these organizations and understand the messages they are spreading.

“It’s not just going in and getting education,” Finkel said. “It’s meeting people and finding things that you might be passionate about that you didn’t know you were passionate about. It’s bringing safety and education and health to our school and it’s just allowing the students to learn.”

Finkel says there have been instances where these messages have not been reached by students; she hopes that through these fairs, students will rethink some of their previous and future decisions.

Ashley Boyles, Wiregrass Ranch High’s assistant principal, also oversaw the Wellness & Safety Fair. She says the fair is eye-opening to students and impacts them for a long time. The last time the fair occurred was two years ago, because of the pandemic, but she says students still remember and talk about it to this day.

“We’re again trying to make sure that our students are safe not only at school, but out in the community, out on the roads,” she says. “We always say to be college-, career- and life-ready and I think this is something to be life-ready.”

Students watched as a rolling car simulator demonstrated the dangers of drinking and driving and not wearing a seatbelt in a car crash. As the car spun, dummies inside not wearing a seatbelt flew out. Florida Highway Patrol spokesperson Steve Gaskin said he still gets people coming up to him and saying they remember the visual impact, and it is one of the reasons why they buckle up today.

“If I can make an impact on each one of these kids, then that’s one crash I won’t have to work and it’s one family I won’t have to go talk to and say, ‘Hey, your child’s not coming home tonight,’” he says.

Kelsey Strigler, the vice president of Wiregrass Ranch’s SADD chapter, says the car simulator is likely the most effective demonstration to show students the importance of wearing their seatbelts.

“Looking at it, I would be terrified,” she says. “I already do wear my seatbelt, but If I was a student who didn’t, that would really drive the point across that like you really need to wear that or you’re going to end up like the dummy on the floor.”

Among the booths was the American Foundation of Suicide’s Tampa Bay chapter run by board member Teresa Daniels. She is spreading her son Tristan Daniels’ story in hopes of saving another student’s life.

“There is hope out there,” she said. “They could be lifesavers. They can help anyone in need.”

Gabriella Nieddialek, a SADD member, recognized the importance of this booth and is glad to now be learning about these tools.

“A lot of teens don’t really like to come forward about mental health, and it’s definitely something that I’m glad the school introduces and is comfortable talking about,” Nieddialek said. “Definitely encouraging us to talk to people and get help.”

Wiregrass Ranch’s SADD chapter advisor Gregory Finkel is proud of how the event turned out. He watched how students interacted with community members as they talked to each other about what they learned. He says that is what the event is all about.

“You don’t really get these opportunities too often,” Gregory Finkel said. “If we can hit one of them, just one kid right, make a difference in their lives, the better.”

wiregrass ranch high

Touch Nail Spa Celebrates Its 5-Year Anniversary In Wesley Chapel!

Tomorrow, Touch Nail Spa on S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel will celebrate its fifth anniversary with a special event. The first 50 people at the Wesley Chapel location (not available at the New Tampa spa) when it opens at 11 a.m. will receive a free “Simple Touch” pedicure (a $27 value). Simple Touch is the spa’s basic pedicure that includes nail trimming, shaping and buffing, cuticle grooming, callus treatment, pineapple sugar scrub, hot towel wrap, lotion massage and polish with one of Touch Nail Spa’s 1,700 colors.

The husband-and-wife team of Timmy Pham and Tiffany Ha opened Wesley Chapel’s Touch Nail Spa in 2017. At that time, the Wesley Chapel location was 3,200 square feet, but the spacious, clean salon with great customer service soon saw a need to expand. Now, at 5,000 sq. ft., it is the largest nail salon in Wesley Chapel.

Timmy and Tiffany expanded their business again in December 2020 by opening the second Touch Nail Spa location in The Village at Hunter’s Lake, near Sprouts Farmers Market off Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

The pair is excited that later this spring, they will be launching yet another new location in the Odessa/Trinity area. That Touch Nail Spa is expected to open in mid-April.

The two current Touch Nail Spa salons both offer high ceilings for better ventilation, rows of comfortable leather pedicure chairs, plenty of manicure stations and a complimentary beverage with any manicure, pedicure or other services, including eyelash extensions, waxing, facials and massage. Complimentary beverages include bottled water, soda, or a glass of chardonnay, cabernet sauvignon, moscato or sangria, served in a chilled glass (wine is for adults age 21 and older with proper identification, of course).

While Timmy tells us social distancing is no longer required, the staff will gladly accommodate anyone who asks to be seated more than six feet away from others. For manicures, plexiglass partitions separate the technicians from their customers, with enough room on the bottom to slide your hands through.

“We want people to be comfortable,” Timmy says, explaining that while CDC guidelines have relaxed and many customers are no longer seeking social distancing, the salon still follows strict health and safety procedures to be sure all areas are always clean and disinfected. While this cleanliness has always been part of the Touch Nail Spa experience, it has been especially emphasized during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The most important thing people are looking for right now is that everything is clean and sanitized,” Timmy says.

The salon’s cleanliness and bright atmosphere is one of the reasons it has been so popular since it opened five years ago.

In addition to the Simple Touch Pedicure, Touch Nail Spa offers other services with an even more spa-like experience, including a variety of “Hot Touch” and “Organic Touch” pedicures, ranging from $47 to $62. These include a hot stone massage for your legs and feet, plus your additional treatments, such as specialized exfoliation for the bottom of your feet and a mask for your legs and heels. Timmy says the Orange Burst and Milk & Honey pedicures are among the services most requested by customers because of the excellent results they provide in leaving feet feeling soft and smooth.

Whether you prefer a simple mani/pedi to keep your fingers and toes neat and polished, or are looking for the perfect technician to provide the latest trend in nail shapes and designs, the experts at Touch Nail Spa can help.

At both locations, Touch Nail Spa offers dipping power, acrylic nails and all kinds of nail designs. French manicures and gel polish (which lasts longer than regular polish) are available. The color choices are seemingly limitless. Touch Nail Spa carries roughly 1,700 colors, available in both regular polish and gel. For those who prefer dipping powders, which add a layer to your nails that is as strong as acrylic but healthier for your nails, there are 2,000 choices.

While Timmy says the pandemic has been difficult for the entire industry and has increased his costs, the prices at Touch Nail Spa have remained the same.

“We also haven’t cut the quality because of the economy,” Timmy says. “Everything is more expensive now and a lot of salons have had to increase their prices, but we haven’t done that. We have kept the prices the same, but also kept the quality of our products the same or better.”

Touch Nail Spa’s Customer Rewards Program helps keep the services even more affordable. Upon arrival at either salon, customers sign in on one of Touch Nail Spa’s iPads. There, you register for your free membership and start earning points. Members receive 1 point for every dollar spent. When you reach 500 points, you receive $25 off any a pedicure service.

Touch Nail Spa also offers discounted prices for children age 11 and younger.

Both locations have plenty of technicians waiting to serve you, and Timmy promises that the customer service experience will always be top-notch. The Wesley Chapel Touch Nail Spa has 48 employees, while the slightly smaller New Tampa salon currently has 32 employees and Timmy is looking to hire a full-time receptionist for that location. Please call either location if you would like to apply.

Touch Nail Spa also now has e-gift cards available for all occasions that can be used at both locations. They are available for purchase at the spa’s website, TouchNail AndSpa.com.

Appointments are welcome if you want a service with a specific nail technician. For services with any available technician, please just walk in.

The Wesley Chapel (27233 S.R. 56) and New Tampa (8630 Hunter’s Village Rd.) Touch Nail Spas are both open Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.–7:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.–5 p.m. on Sun. To make an appointment with a specific nail technician or for more information about the Wesley Chapel location, call (813) 973-4111. For the New Tampa location, call (813) 536-1003.

pedicure Touch Nail Salon

Weekend Closure A Sign DDI Getting Closer

The Diverging Diamond Interchange (DDI) is nearing completion and, as a result, S.R. 56 will be closed to all traffic at I-75 from approximately 11 p.m. on Friday, April 1, to sometime during the day on Sunday, April 3.

No traffic will be permitted to travel through the work zone across I-75, according to the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). S.R. 56 is being closed to switch the roadway to the DDI traffic pattern.

S.R. 56 traffic will be detoured using S.R. 56, Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (S.R. 581) and S.R. 54/C.R. 54 (Wesley Chapel Blvd.) as shown on the map above.

FODT says the DDI will not be at full capacity until closer to the expected project completion this summer. The contractor, Superior Construction Company Southeast, LLC, has more work to do to open an additional lane on both eastbound and westbound S.R. 56, and another turn lane from the northbound I-275/I-75 exit ramp onto westbound S.R. 56.

While S.R. 56 is closed, two ramps will be available to use at the I-75/SR 56 interchange — the eastbound S.R. 56 entrance ramp onto southbound I-75, and the northbound I-275/I-75 exit ramps onto eastbound S.R. 56. All other traffic will be directed via detour signs to use the I-75 interchange at S.R. 54/C.R. 54.

You can access detour descriptions and a full-size map are available on the project web page at www.fdottampabay.com/project/262/430573-1-52-01.

DDI diverging diamond interchange S.R. 56