Wharton High grad Gabriel Hassan lost his battle withShwachman-Diamond Syndrome after receiving his diploma.
Because of the fact we only have an issue every four weeks in each of our markets, sometimes the stories that appear in our issues are or become “old” even before (or shortly after) that issue arrives in your mailbox.
In our Feb. 6 issue, we had two such stories that really needed to be updated in this issue and a third that was an event that took place after that issue hit mailboxes.
The most important, and saddest, of these was the fact that Gabriel Hassan who was on the cover of our last issue for receiving his diploma for graduating from Wharton High on Jan. 22, while he was still at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital — passed away less than two weeks after that event.
Gabe, who was suffering from terminal leukemia, succumbed to his cancer and was buried by his family on or the day before Valentine’s Day. We also learned that his specific form of leukemia is called Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome, or SDS.
When we posted the story that Gabe had passed, his father Mahmoud Hassan commented on our Facebook page:
“He was my beloved boy — a precious soul who loved people and life.
He loved service to others, EDM music, Roblox, Video Games, Going to the movies.
He was our proud Eagle Scout and graduated HS despite all of his challenges.
Gabriel was a sweet angel and he will be missed dearly. We are grieving for our angel in heaven. We miss him so much.”
Although I never met Gabriel or his family, we join the Hassan family in their grief. Rest in Peace.
To help those afflicted with SDS, please search“Shwachman-Diamond Syndrome Alliance” on Facebook.
Suzy Tkacik Falls Short Of Award
We also knew that our story about Pride Elementary media specialist Suzy Tkacik (photo) being a finalist
for the Hillsborough School District-wide Ida S. Baker Diversity Educator of the Year award would be old news by the time the Feb. 6 issue reached your mailbox.
Even so, we still felt it was important to highlight Ms.Tkacik in these pages, as she was the only finalist for any of the District’s “Excellence in Education” awards from a New Tampa school.
Well, at the District’s award gala on Feb. 1, this year’s Ida S. Baker award went to Dr. Ilfault Joseph, the community resource teacher at Jennings Middle School.
Congratulations again, Suzy. You’re still a winner in all of our eyes!
Wharton TournamentNets $6,400!
The third story we needed to update was the second annual Wharton High Cornhole ithloma. Tournament, which was held on Feb. 10 and ended up raising more than $6,400 to provide teacher grants and classroom needs for the school.
Our congratulations go out to Wharton teacher Matt McKernan (left in photo, left) and his partner (and fellow former Wildcat) Tate Wheeler, who outlasted 28 other teams to take home the top prize, after finishing as the runners-up in last year’s inaugural Cornhole Tourney. The second-place finishers were Benito Middle School teacher Christopher Taylor and his uncle Shawn Quinn. Both winning teams left with prize packages worth more than $700!
The friendly, attentive staff at Bella Nail Lounge in The Shoppes at New Tampa plaza is ready to pamper you! (Photos provided by Bella Nails)
If you want to try a brand-new, affordable, upscale place to pamper yourself in Wesley Chapel, Bella Nail Lounge, a full-service nail salon that has had an original location in Lutz for 12 years, expanded to The Shoppes at New Tampa plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of S.R. 56, in Wesley Chapel in January.
Founder Lap “Andy” Nguyen says the new location is, “central to Wesley Chapel, and I was looking at this plaza for years, waiting for the opportunity. Wesley Chapel is a newer area, with a lot of new people moving in.”
Julie Dang (in red) and Andy Nguyen of Bella Nails.
Julie Dang, Bella Nails’ assistant manager, adds, “We live here in Wesley Chapel, and it is a very high-end, close-knit, family-oriented community, and there weren’t any high-end salons here like in South Tampa. We’re bringing the South Tampa vibe to Wesley Chapel.”
At Bella Nails, you will experience more than just a nail salon. This isn’t the fast-paced, traditional mom-and-pop nail salon you may be accustomed to or expecting. Instead, you will enter a luxurious nail lounge where you will receive relaxing and rejuvenating spa services. Sip on a glass of champagne or wine as you sit back in Bella’s state-of-the-art, full-body massage pedicure lounge chairs, escape the stress of your everyday life and pamper yourself with the best service and quality.
The nail technicians at Bella Nails are friendly, skilled, attentive and are trained in all aspects of safety, sanitation and sterilization of all products. They use only non-toxic, toluene-free nail polish, with more than 2,000 color choices, including organic and vegan options, and the right equipment to ensure your safety and satisfaction.
“People who are pregnant can choose a safe vegan option for a soft gel,” Julie explains.
Even the youngest clients are treated like royalty at Bella Nails.
Bella Nails doesn’t forget the youngsters, either. For kids ages 11 and under, Bella Nails provides organic and vegan choices in Princess pedicures and manicures, gel pedicures and manicures, plus polish and gel polish changes.
So, whether you want a classic French manicure, a trendy nail art design, SNS-dipping powder, gel top coat, polish change, or a spa pedicure — or virtually any other type of nail service, you can enjoy them all at Bella Nails.
Beyond a regular manicure (or, for the gentlemen, a “manli-cure”), Bella Nails also offers a Voesh Mani-In-A-Box with Collagen Gloves. This individually packaged three-step treatment is regarded as the cleanest and most hygienic spa manicure solution, with sugar scrub, mud mask and massage cream.
For pedicures, the selections are vast. You may choose from a mint refresh, coffee-infused, mango-infused, charcoal, volcanic-mineral, honey and milk, mojito lime, CBD volcanic gold, CBD volcanic rose gold, Napa Valley champagne elegance anti-aging pedicure, cooling signature bliss pedicure in cucumber-mint, lemon, and mandarin scent, or Voesh Pedi-In- A-Box. Each service will leave your feet feeling refreshed, revitalized and radiantly beautiful — all in a sanitary and luxurious environment.
Don’t want a mani or a pedi? Have a beer or wine at Bella Nails’ unique bar area.
Bella Nail Lounge also offers less common services, including waxing from eyebrows and lips to back and Brazilians, facials, lash extensions and even IV vitamin injections.
“We go beyond a nail salon,” Andy says. “We’re like a spa attached to a nail salon. On the weekends, when the wife gets a pedicure, the husband can enjoy a complimentary beer or wine at our bar.”
But don’t let them fool you — Julie says that men love to be pampered, too. Whether it’s a soothing manicure or a pedicure, men also can’t resist a little self-care. At Bella Nail Lounge, men and women can equally experience the ultimate indulgence: a pedicure in the massage chair.
“We want to provide an upscale, relaxing spot where moms and daughters, husbands and wives can go,” Andy says. “Many places don’t make it comfortable for the dads or husbands to come along, but with our chairs and pedicure facility, men love it. It’s the Rolls Royce of pedicure chairs. They never want to leave.”
During their pedicure or manicure, guests also can conveniently receive vitamin IV injections. “We do IV injections for better health,” Julie says. “For people who take medication, and can’t absorb vitamins, we provide our clients with vitamin treatments through an IV as a spa treatment.”
Julie also says that manicures and pedicures aren’t just for cosmetic reasons anymore.
The wall of color options at Bella.
“People are always going to want to get manicures and pedicures,” she says, “with pedicures, it’s not even just about pampering but maintaining your health because reflexology is in your feet. For instance, with ingrown toenails, people must maintain their feet to walk comfortably and wear comfortable shoes.”
Julie also explains how the nail salon business has evolved and will continue to do so.
“Before, you only had two options for your nails — paint your natural nails or put on fake nails,” she says. “But now, you have many more natural enhancements that aren’t necessarily acrylic, like natural and gel-powder dips that strengthen your nails. Bella Nails offers all of those options.”
One of Julie’s favorite stories is about a husband and wife. “The husband would never come into the salon,” she says. “He finally came in, and we offered him a Mimosa. Once he sat down in the chair, that was it. He said, ‘I’m coming back without my wife.’ This is our goal. We want to provide a place where you can have an enjoyable and relaxing experience. Our workers can read the clients and know if they do or don’t want to have a conversation. It’s a no-pressure salon.”
Bella Nails is located at 1700 Bruce B Downs Blvd. To book your appointment, visit BellaNails.com, call (813) 578-7878.
Although we didn’t even find out about it until we went to press with our Feb 6 issue, OishiExpress, a decent fast-casual Japanese place, lasted only about a year in the spot at 17503 Preserve Walk Ln. in Highwoods Preserve — between Taste of New York Pizza and Lapels Cleaners (behind EggTown) — the new fast-casual Namaste Express(or XP) has already replaced Oishi.
I’ve only visited once since Namaste opened, but the new eatery can be summed up pretty easily — it’s a small place with a huge and what seems to be a very tasty menu.
On my visit, I enjoyed the chicken stir-fry bowl (left), which had just a hint of spice, with lots of chunks of chicken and clearly fresh vegetables. The savory sauce tasted like a completely unexpected cross between the curry flavors so prevalent in Indian cooking with a nod to Szechuan Chinese cuisine. I told the chef (I sadly forgot his name) that I would be back to try his biryani, the delicious-sounding Apollo fish (a fish filet tossed with ginger, garlic and a spicy sauce, which is specialty of Hyderabad) and the marinated, fried (but not breaded, because they’re gluten-free) chicken lollipops shown here.
Namaste has menu options from every region in India and even offers a unique “Grab & Go” menu that the restaurant’s website says is “meticu- lously crafted through cutting-edge flash chilling processes.” It definitely sounds unique.
Although there is clearly a sizable Indian population in New Tampa, considering how many Indian restaurants there already are in zip code 33647 — including Saffron, Minerva, Raaga, Dosa Hut, Bang-Bang! Bowls and the café inside the Taaza Mart (as well as the Nepalese Gorkhali Kitchen, which also offers Indian specialties) — we hope that Namaste Express will be able to find its footing in what has so far proven to be a difficult location.
For more information, call (813) 866-1300 or visit NamasteXP.com.
Update On Qdoba
At our press time, Qdoba Mexican Eats,which we told you last issue was getting ready to open in the same plaza in Highwoods Preserve as Namaste (at 17509 Preserve Walk Ln.) last issue, was still not open, but co-owner Liz Montante says that she and her husband and co-owner Mike were expecting the New Tampa Qdoba to open “on or around March 1,” or a few days before this issue hits your mailbox.
In other words, if you’re a fan of Moe’s Southwest Grill (which Qdoba is replacing in Highwoods), Chipotle or any other fast-casual Mexican fare, you definitely should check out Qdoba, too.
“It’s been a long struggle, but we’re finally almost there,” Liz told me the day before I finished this issue. “We can’t wait for New Tampa to experience our fresh Mexican eats.”
For more information about Qdoba Mexican Eats, call (813) 761-0005 orvisit Qdoba.com to check out the menu online.
Alan Torres (Center) of O.M. Yoga & Training is certified as both a personal trainer and a yoga instructor, and he is happy to come to your home or office or a park. (Photo provided by Alan Torres)
Alan Torres was studying business at Cleveland State University in Ohio in 2014 when he says moving in with his uncle changed his life.
Alan’s uncle talked about his days in the U.S. Army, and it inspired Alan to “be all that he could be” by enlisting, as well.
“I always cared about people and I wanted to serve,” says Alan, “and I wanted to max out my own potential and give myself a challenge.”
The Army gave Alan the opportunity to do just that. He served in field artillery with the Army from 2014-18.
Alan was based out of Fort Bragg, NC, and was deployed for nine months to northern Syria.
“It was the biggest experience of my life,” he says. But, he decided one deployment was enough for him, so he left the Army when his contract ended.
Alan says that time in his life, after his service, was difficult. He didn’t have any direction, started gaining weight, didn’t want to leave the house and noticed changes in the way he was handling himself. He says he had a lot of fear and aggression and began boiling over at simple things.
He realized that he was navigating the difficult experiences he had while deployed, and he wanted to change.
“When I came back to yoga, it was a last resort trying to manage myself,” he says. “It gave me the ability to manage my emotions and thoughts, and space to heal.”
Alan had been introduced to yoga back in his college days, and when he needed it most, he says yoga helped him learn to turn his reactions into response.
Three years ago, he moved to Fort Myers, FL, to live near his mom, then decided to continue his studies at the University of South Florida in Tampa. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Communication in 2021.
“I had no plans at all post-graduation,” he says, “but somehow, it all lined up.”
He realized his passion for yoga could help others like himself who wanted to be more mindful.
He began taking classes and eventually was certified with a 200-hour yoga instructor certificate from My Vinyasa Practice in Austin, TX. He also earned a certification in Pranayama, which is an ancient Indian practice that focuses on breathing techniques.
Alan also earned a personal training diploma and certification from the National Personal Training Institute (NPTI) in Tampa in 2022.
The yoga and personal training certifications, along with his communication degree, made his next step feel natural.
He launched an insured mobile business offering one-on-one and group yoga instruction, mobility training, traditional personal training sessions and workout programs.
Why Is It Called ‘O.M.?’
Alan says his business is named “O.M.” Yoga & Training for multiple reasons. One is the military term, “Oscar Mike.” When used as a call sign, “Oscar Mike” is interpreted as code for “On the Move.”
“Being that we are a mobile and veteran-owned company that promotes holistic wellness through intentional body movement, staying ‘On the Move’ is a vital part of our mission,” says Alan. “Addition- ally, O.M. also pays tribute to the roots and history of yoga. In the yoga realm, ‘om’ is recognized as the highest vibration and purest energy that connects all things in existence. ‘Om’ symbolizes the positive experiences and meaningful connections we aim to cultivate.”
He brings his classes to you, whether you want to practice in your home, office, or a nearby park.
“I bring everything you need,” he says. “If you don’t have a mat, I bring the mat. I bring props, bolsters, straps, a speaker, my playlist, even aromatherapy. I bring a full yoga studio to your location.”
He says this is especially helpful for people like him, who don’t feel they fit in at the typical yoga studio.
“I want to help people who want to gain confidence and build the fundamentals,” he says, “then they can do their own thing, if they want.”
Besides the mindfulness that yogis learn, the practice of yoga offers other benefits, as well. Alan says his instruction also focuses on stress reduction and the need to decompress through everyday life. Every class opens and closes with meditation, which helps yoga practitioners come into the present moment, leaving behind the chaos of work or traffic or whatever their lives have just thrown at them.
He says yoga also helps with mobility. He teaches people to have better movement quality so they set themselves up to age more gracefully. He is careful to teach the correct alignment for every yoga pose so his clients don’t risk being injured.
Alan says he typically first works with people once or twice to be sure he’s a good fit, then offers packages of eight classes.
Most people prefer classes once or twice a week. After they’ve finished their packages with Alan, they might feel more comfortable going to a local studio or practicing yoga on their own.
He also offers group lessons for anyone who has a group of friends or family members who want to learn together, but emphasizes that individual lessons go much deeper.
“I pride myself on connecting,” Alan says, “especially when it’s one-on-one. It’s amazing to watch people change.
Sometimes when I first meet them, they’re down, they’re quiet, but, in a month or two, there’s a big change. That’s so rewarding.”
He says his prices are based on how far he has to travel from his home, so while he travels as far as Sarasota, clients in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area will find his fees more affordable.
Although O.M. Yoga & Training is a fairly new company that doesn’t have many Google reviews yet, every single review Alan has received is five out of five stars.
For example, Jessica Washington says, “Alan can change your life, whether it be in gaining strength, learning to breathe and release tension, setting intentions or simply learning mobility through his well thought out yoga classes.”
Aaron Baca’s review says Alan is a “phenomenal teacher. (His) explanations during each session (are) second to none. Five stars each time he comes out and gives a class!”
It’s incredibly meaningful for this Army veteran to connect with people who benefit from learning yoga.
“I’m very passionate about what I do,” says Alan. “I’ve learned how to manage my- self and I want to share that with people.”
For more information about O.M. Yoga & Training, visit OMYogaandTraining.com or email AlanatOscarMikeYT@gmail.com.
