Wesley Chapelโs newest high school โ the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation (KRAI), which opens this month to 9th and 10th graders for the 2022-23 school year โ held its inaugural student orientation, known as the โNavigator Kickoff,โ on July 29.
Although we werenโt on hand for the kickoff, we wanted to welcome Wesley Chapelโs fourth high school to the community. Although KRAI isnโt a charter school, it is a Pasco school choice magnet school, and students have to apply for attendance by lottery.
The school, which is located north of the entrance to the Watergrass community (and south of the Innovation Prep K-7 charter school) at 32555 Innovation Dr., off Curley Rd., โwas built to provide students with an educational opportunity unlike any other,โ according to its website (krai.pasco.k12.fl.us). Every year after this yearโs inaugural school year, KRAI will add a grade level until becoming a full-fledged 9-12 high school.
Kirkland Ranch offers ten in-demand and innovative programs structured to include an integrated business curriculum that offers a diverse learning experience focused on helping students develop dynamic skillsets that lead to high-paying careers. The ten programs are: Automotive (Diesel), Biomedical Sciences, Building Trades & Construction Technology, Cybersecurity, Digital Media, Electricity, Engineering & Applied Robotics, Patient Care Technology and Welding Technology Fundamentals. If you want to be ready for college, career, and life right out of high school, KRAI is the place to be!
KRAIโs principal is DeeDee Johnson, who previously was the principal at Wesley Chapel High and most recently Pasco Middle School in Dade City, before transitioning to oversee the opening of KRAI.
โI am most excited about the opportunities that itโs going to bring students in the District,โ she says, โwhether itโs college, career, or preparing them for life.โ
She emphasizes that while the school can provide a pathway to an in-demand, high-paying job right after high school, itโs also a great choice for college-focused students.
โThere are industry certifications, but also Advanced Placement and Dual Enrollment courses,โ says Johnson. โItโs going to give students a leg up by having connections with business and community partners.โ
Congratulations to Tammy and Brad Cochran of Tampa Bay CSC, for opening their fifth location (including the one on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Lutz) of Chicken Salad Chick, located on the Wesley Chapel Blvd. extension south of S.R. 56 (in the new building next to Zaxbyโs), on Aug. 2, which was after our latest issue went to press and about two weeks later than the Cochrans originally had planned, due to permitting issues.
North Tampa Bay Chamber CEO Hope Allen helped the Cochrans with those permitting issues so that they would be able to open, as planned, on the 2nd.
We hope to post a video on our Facebook page of the actual opening day โ where the first 100 people in line won a free scoop of chicken salad every month for a year (including one winner who received one scoop a week for a year) โ around the time the latest issue reaches your mailbox.ย
โWeโre thrilled to bring Chicken Salad Chick to the Wesley Chapel area,โ Tammy says. โWeโve already received tremendous support from the local community. We have no doubt that our Wesley Chapel Chick family will fall in love with the food and hospitality, just as we did.โ
We didnโt yet know the opening day for the adjacent Annโs Spa & Nails Lounge, nor for the as-yet unnamed seafood restaurant set to open at the other corner of the same building, but will keep you posted.
The photo above is of the Chickโs chicken salad BLT (with a cup of tomato bisque soup as a side). The left photo is of the WC Blvd. locationโs interior. (Photos by Charmaine George)
For more info about Chicken Salad Chick (25038 WC Blvd., Lutz), call (813) 993-4506 or visit ChickenSaladChick.com โ and please tell them we sent you!. โ GN
More and more new restaurants have been opening at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove at Wesley Chapel and the word is definitely getting out that KRATE is a great destination for a wide variety of cuisine types from all over the world.
eel-sauce-slathered Zukku dumplings
Although it wasnโt open at our press time, Bakery X (pronounced โEeksโ) Authentic French Bakery had a sign inside saying that its soft opening would be on Aug. 3, a few days after we went to press with our latest issue. If you love authentic French croissants, breads and pastries as much as I do, this is another KRATE to get really excited about.
Also opening at the KRATEs the weekend we went to press was Ato โEdible Art,โ the sister restaurant to Zukku-San Sushi Bar & Restaurant on S.R. 56. Ato features a variety of โcuratedโ and create-your-own masterpiece pokรฉ bowls and sushi burritos as well as some of our favorite Zukku-San appetizers (including both the sautรฉed, eel-sauce-slathered Zukku dumplings and the fried gyoza dumplings).
And, while Ato is well worth a trip to the KRATEs on its own, but there are other newbies to try, too.
The Flipnโ Fries Factory opened as promised (near Beboโs Cheesesteaks & Rhythm Pon de Grill Jamaican Cuisine) in July and although the menu only offers French fries with a variety of toppings, the fries are crispy and always served hot and delicious, no matter what you toppings you choose โ whether you pick one of the Flipโn Fries menu favorites or make-your-own. Jannah and I were surprised how much we loved the bacon & beer cheese fries (photo) from the menu, which are loaded with real bacon and topped with the mildest beer cheese sauce ever.
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Mediterranean food lovers also should try the new Falafel Factory, which is located next to Palaniโs Hawaiโi Noodles (and congrats to Palaniโs for winning a โBest of the Best award as Best Asian Restaurant from the Tampa Bay Times).
We enjoyed the organic chicken shawarma wrap (right), which comes with hummus and your choice of up to four of the Factoryโs fresh veggie salad bar toppings.
Other options at the Falafel Factory are, of course, falafel (fried chick peas balls) pita and wrap sandwiches, a pita burger and even a classic hot dog and a variety of fresh salads.
Other eateries at the KRATEs that also are getting close to opening, albeit without yet announcing their respective opening dates, are Boba Macโs (mac & cheese and boba teas), Cafรฉ Zorba Greek Cuisine, Pisco Express Peruvian Chinese Cuisine and 365 Cafรฉ.
Oh, and a big shout out to my new best friends, Tracy and John Dimillo of Urban Sweets, for serving the best chocolate chip cookie sandwich Iโve had in years! I already loved Tracyโs cupcakes and other desserts, but you have to try the cookie sandwiches! โ Gary Nager; Ato photos above by Charmaine George
When Paul Spalvieri opened the first Maxโs Natural Pet Market & Salon in 2019 on S.R. 54 (about a mile east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., near the entrance to Saddlebrook Resort), he brought a boutique concept in pet care and grooming that is completely different from the big box pet stores to Wesley Chapel.
In just three years, Maxโs has now grown to three locations, proving that people want and appreciate the premium nutrition and impeccable grooming in cage-free facilities that Maxโs offers.
Last December, Paulโs business partners Gregg and Gabriel Clavijo-Hopper opened a franchise location in New Tampa in the shopping plaza on the southeast corner of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. and County Line Rd.
On July 1, Paul opened a new store in Mirada, a new master planned community just north of Wesley Chapel in San Antonio, FL, that will offer a 15-acre lagoon and dog parks, which Paul believes will be a good fit for his business.
โWeโre following the same model of being cage-free for grooming, focused on diet and nutrition for dogs and cats, and having pets at the forefront of what we do,โ Paul says. โAnd the grooming area at the new store is also 50-percent bigger than the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa salons.โ
The Mirada location provides convenient access to Maxโs for customers who live in the northern portions of Wesley Chapel, such as Epperson and Watergrass, as well as nearby communities such as Tampa Bay Golf Country Club in San Antonio and Lake Jovita in Dade City.
Paul and his wife Martina live in Watergrass and are pet parents to both Max, a Bichon Frise, and Missy, a Havanese, as well as three human kids โ Matthew, Martinka and Kristinka.
Paul opened Maxโs Natural Pet Market & Salon when he couldnโt find the type of store he wanted to shop in locally with the kind of grooming he desired for his pup. He set out to create what he was looking for, but now, heโs become passionate about helping all pets, not just his own.
โWhen we first opened the store, it was all about Max, but our focus has changed,โ says Paul. โNow, itโs all about your pet. We offer the highest-quality advice, products and grooming that you can get in the New Tampa or Wesley Chapel areas. We have your dog or catโs best interest at heart, and they are the number one reason why we open our doors every day.โ
Cage-Free Grooming
At all three locations, the cage-free grooming environment means your dog will never be locked up. Appointments run strictly on time to avoid pets feeling stressed and anxious in a cage while waiting to be picked up.
The new store has the same high-tech features that Maxโs customers have come to love at its other locations โ customized for small to large dogs. Bathing tubs are oversized to accommodate very large dog breeds โ even those more than 150 pounds โ and are walk-in and electronically raised and lowered for comfort and safety. Those same tubs also have a sizing adaptor to be comfortable for tiny dogs, such as Chihuahuas and Yorkies.
Groomers have the technical expertise to give breed-specific cuts, with certifications such as National Certified Master Groomer, as certified by the National Dog Groomers Association of America.
The groomers are led by Misty Garcia, services director, who is responsible for both grooming and in-store dog training. Misty has 26 years of experience as a groomer, and also been training dogs for more than 20 years. She has two Australian shepherds, including one she shows competitively.
In-Store Dog Training
As a one-stop-shop for pets, the Wesley Chapel and new Mirada locations both offer pet training in the store (although the Mirada store has not yet begun its in-store training). The five-week program is geared toward new puppies or beginners with no training. It lays the foundation to teach both owner and dog commands, which they practice in store. Then, the pet parent continues the training at home.
โThe following week we do a review and build on those skills with new skills,โ explains Paul, โsuch as sit, stay, watch me, how to walk on a leash and avoid distractions.โ
Advanced training also is offered. The training schedule is on the storeโs website at MaxsPetMarketAndSalon.com. Sign up online or call the store to register. The next beginner class starts July 28 in Wesley Chapel and will be held on consecutive Thursday nights from 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Pet Nutrition
In addition to grooming and training, Maxโs Natural Pet Market is focused on providing highly nutritious food and treat options, along with educated sales associates who can help customers make the best decisions for their petsโ diets.
Scott Kresh discovered the original Maxโs shortly after it opened. He and his wife, Lorri, have two pit bulls โ 14-year-old Maya and Niko, who is 3 โ and a cat named Kara.
Maya had always had allergy and skin issues, and the staff at Maxโs offered some ideas to help. Over time, Scott tried various diet changes suggested by Paul and his sales associates, and he says that Mayaโs issues have been almost completely resolved.
โItโs too bad sheโs so old because this is the best sheโs ever looked,โ says Scott. โIn the past, she would get bumps that would ooze, but now she gets no bumps and no yeast flare ups, and I credit that to Paulโs food knowledge.โ
Scott says every issue heโs had with his pets โ from needing a specialized harness for his strong, young Niko to trying to address spraying with his older cat โ Paul has been able to address.
โHeโs got an answer for everything,โ says Scott. โItโs amazing. Iโm not exaggerating at all. I credit him with helping us so much.โ
Future Growth
Paul says his business will continue to grow as he is working toward potential franchises across the state and country, including in Fort Myers, Sarasota, Jacksonville, and even as far west as Arizona.
โWeโre looking at future growth,โ says Paul, โand I will continue to be very involved in both our corporate and franchise stores.โ
Anyone interested in Maxโs franchise opportunities can get more information and submit a request for details on the storeโs website.
Maxโs Natural Pet Market & Salon has three locations that are open every day from 8 a.m.โ7 p.m. The original Maxโs is located at 28838 S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel and can be reached at (813) 649-3939. The New Tampa store is located at 6431 E. County Line Rd. and can be reached by calling (813) 591-5368. The Mirada location is at 30945 Mirada Blvd. and can be reached at (352) 437-6677. For more information, visit MaxsPetMarketAndSalon.com or see the ad on page 26 of this issue.
New signs and crossings will bring added safety to the Compton Dr. intersection with Tampa Palms Blvd., one of Tampa Palmsโ most dangerous, according to the City of Tampa.
The City of Tampa may have had some grander plans for Tampa Palms Blvd., but after some back and forth with residents, the road to getting the project completed appears to be…well…paved.
A second online presentation by the city went better than the first and, barring any major changes, the plans for repaving and adding safety enhancements to Tampa Palms Blvd. should be ready by October. If the city can settle on two contractors โ bids are in, so it should be a timely process โ for the roadwork, the $3-million-plus project should begin sometime in the first half of 2023, if not sooner, and will be completed by the end of next year.
One full-depth reclamation project contractor will be hired to basically churn up the base material, take out all of the old asphalt and repack it, while a paving contractor will โcome in and makes it look all pretty,โ said Cal Hardie, the City of Tampaโs capital projects manager, who added that the repaving should only take roughly three months.
โThe good news is that Mayor Jane Castor has put some ARPA (American Rescue Plan Act Grant Program) money into the project, so weโre able to expedite the repaving,โ Hardie told those participating in the online presentation. โItโs a high priority.โ
The repaving of Tampa Palms Blvd. will go forward in two segments โ the south loop (or Segment 1), which runs from the north intersection of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. to the south intersection through Tampa Palms Area 3, and the north loop, or Segment 2, which runs from the south intersection of BBD to Ebensburg Dr. in Tampa Palms Area 2.
Not only will the road โ which is showing its nearly-40-year-old (in some sections) age and has been labeled โfailedโ by a few city officials โ be repaved, a number of enhancements will be added in the hopes of addressing a number of concerns, including speeding, intersection safety, pedestrian access and school pick-ups and drop-offs.
The multimodal paths, used by pedestrians, skaters, bikers and even golf carts, will not be reconditioned as part of the project.
โWe only have the budget for inside the curbs,โ Hardie said. โIโm reserving funds because construction costs are skyrocketing. Even though we have a healthy budget, Iโm actually a little nervous about being able to fund everything once the bids come in. There is no extra money.โ
The city is proposing narrowing the width of the four road lanes to 10 feet each, making room for 2-foot striped buffer on the outside of each lane (curb and median sides).
And, while residents previously shot down the idea of losing a lane which would have made room for a dedicated bike path, there will be shared lane markings added to the outside lanes as a reminder to drivers that bicyclists also may use the lanes.
Hardie said the biggest and most common complaints the city receives about Tampa Palms Blvd. is speeding. The speed limits in various parts of the 4-mile loop are 35 and 40 miles per hour, and the city is recommending a 35 mph speed limit throughout.
There likely will be speed tables or removable street cushions placed at key locations. The removable street cushions are rubber speed tables that are uniquely spaced to allow emergency vehicles (with their wider wheel base) and bikes to pass through unimpeded. If it is determined they would be effective in a different area, they can be easily transferred, unlike your typical cement speed table.
Hardie said enhanced crossings will be added throughout the road at key points. He showed a map that had four marked crossings, and two marked crossings with Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons, or RRFBs, at Compton Dr. (southern intersection) and Tampa Palms Trail (the TECO easement). However, since the trail at the TECO easement is not an official road and is on private property, a few residents suggested moving the RRFB to another location, with which Hardie said he agreed.
RRFBs are pedestrian-activated, and Hardie said St. Petersburg installed quite a few of them and found that they were effective in increasing the numbers of cars yielding for pedestrians.
โThey (RRFBs) do work very well,โ Hardie said.
RRFBs will be a good option at Compton Dr. and Tampa Palms Blvd., which Hardie says is the most dangerous intersection along the roadway. A roundabout was suggested by a few residents.
โA roundabout is not off the table,โ Hardie said, โbut, with safety needs across the city, weโd have to have a crash history study to fund a roundabout because they are quite expensive. Weโre not saying no, but they are not a part of this project.โ
The residents online for the presentation, which was followed by a Q-n-A session, seemed in favor of most of what Hardie had to say, a far cry from the first online presentation in September 2021. At that presentation, Hardie pitched the idea to convert the four-lane Tampa Palms Blvd. into two lanes โ one in each direction โ as a traffic-calming measure. That concept, however, was soundly rejected by residents, who sent more than 100 emails of displeasure to the city.
