As a true New Yawka and lover of real New York pizza, Iāll be honest that Iāve never been a fan of Little Caesars Pizza, which recently opened its second Wesley Chapel location at 5482 Post Oak Blvd.,off Wesley Chapel Blvd., in the same retail strip plaza (photo above) as Jimmy Johnās.Ā
To me, Little Caesars is more about convenience and competitive pricing than it is about deliciousness, but Iāll admit that I enjoyed the new (at least to me) pepperoni āCrazy PuffsĀ®ā (bottom photos) on the menu and I definitely also will try the Cookie Dough Brownie made with M&MsĀ® minis, which the location was out of the day we visited.Ā
But, Little Caesars does offer specialty pizzas like the ā3 Meat TreatĀ®ā (shown above) for just $12.99 (itās also available in a larger āDetroit-style deep dishā rectangular version for just $15.99).Ā
The āHot-N-ReadyĀ®ā options are even less expensive, with the āClassic Cheeseā and āClassic Pepperoniā both starting at just $7.29, and the āExtramostbestestĀ®ā cheese or pepperoni pizzas starting at just $8.29 each. And, āStuffed Crazy Crustā pizzas start at just $$13.99. Also available are pretzel crust pizzas (starting at $6.99), breadsticks, Italian cheese bread and more.
And, with Little Caesarsā new āThe Pizza Portalā (right photo), picking up your to-go order is as easy as grabbing an Amazon package at an apartment complex. And yes, DoorDash delivery is available, too. For more info, call (813) 923-0715 or visit LittleCaesars.com. ā GN
Dr. Ronika N. Newbold (left) and BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital president Nanette Wilcox shared the scissors while cutting the ribbon at the new BayCare Medical Group offices inside the hospital. (All photos on this page by Joel Provenzano)Ā
Congratulations to the new BayCare Medical Group (BMG), which celebrated its Grand Opening on the second floor of BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital (4501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 205) with a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting event on May 8.
(l.-r.) Dr. Newbold, BayCare Medical Group director of operations for specialty care Jennifer Jusino, Dr. Vaswani and North Tampa Bay Chamber president & CEO Hope Kennedy.Ā
The new BMG office currently features three medical specialties ā General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Family Medicine. According to site manager Rjaye Lowe, who led us on a tour of the 8,600 sq. ft. of new offices, the BayCare Medical Group may expand to an additional floor and specialties in the future. Considering that the entire BayCare system has more than 1,100 providers in 54 specialties, that seems like a pretty safe bet.
āWe have the space to continue to grow and expand beyond the current specialties and we are anticipating adding cardiology in the near future,ā Lowe said.
The X-ray room at BayCare Medical Groupās offices located inside the hospital.
He added, āOver 30 rooms are dedicated to the BayCare Medical Group General & Orthopedic Surgery and Primary Care,ā Lowe said. āThe benefit to it being in the hospital is that everything is in one location, in just one building. Having the physicians in-house means that patients can get their lab work and imaging services done all in one location.ā
Three physicians were introduced during the ribbon-cutting event, with each of them heading up one of the three BMG specialties now available inside the hospital.
(l.-r.) General surgeon Dr. Sahand Bamarni, BayCare Medical Group primary care site manager Alexa Jordan, Dr. Newbold, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ravi Vaswani and BayCare Medical Group site manager Rjaye Lowe at the Grand Opening of the BayCare Medical Group office.Ā
Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ravi Vaswani can treat patients as young as 12 years old, while general surgeon Dr. Sahand Bamarni and Family Medicine Dr. Ronika N. Newbold see patients ages 18 and older. All three physicians expressed their excitement about being part of the opening of the new BMG offices inside the 86-bed hospital (which also has room to grow).
The new medical offices are designed to provide integrated, patient-centered care, offering residents greater access to primary and specialty services within the BayCare network.
BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital president Nanette Wilcox said, āWeāre very excited to officially open our new BMG offices. As we continue to grow our footprint here in Wesley Chapel, weāre committed to providing seamless access to high-quality care for the community, and this is a big step in that direction.ā
Of course, there already is a BMG office on S.R. 54, in the same plaza as Glory Days Grill, but according to BayCare spokesperson Cherie Miller, āThe doctors at the S.R. 54 office will be unaffected. The only change is that their patients will now have the added benefit of being able to utilize the new outpatient imaging and lab services at the hospital.ā
For more info about BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital and BMG, visit BayCare.org.Ā
Wesley Chapel resident Shawn Thompson (2nd from left) and his team at Compass Claim Solutions will work hard to make sure you receive the insurance settlement you deserve when your home or business suffers damage, whether from a storm, fire, flood or any other cause. (Photo provided by Shawn Thompson)Ā
When disaster strikes, dealing with an insurance company can be one of the most stressful and frustrating parts of your recovery. For many homeowners and business owners in Florida, navigating the complexities of insurance policies and securing a fair settlement can feel overwhelming. Thatās where Compass Claim Solutions steps in ā offering expertise, advocacy and a guiding hand through the often-confusing world of property insurance claims.
Founded by Shawn Thompson in Wesley Chapel, Compass Claim Solutions is a public adjusting firm dedicated to representing policyholders during ā and even after ā the insurance claims process. With more than a decade of experience in the industry, Shawn has built a reputation for helping clients secure the compensation they deserve after damage from storms, fires, floods and other disasters.
From Retail To Advocacy
Shawnās journey to becoming a public adjuster is an inspiring story of career transformation. A Florida native, Shawn graduated from St. Leo University near Dade City in 2003 with a degree in Business Management. He spent 10 years climbing the corporate ladder in a āFortune 5ā retail company, honing his skills in management, negotiation and customer service. However, in 2012, a family connection introduced him to the world of public adjusting, which is when he says he found his true calling.
āWhen I learned about public adjusting from my brother-in-law, I saw how much of a difference an advocate could make for homeowners,ā Shawn says. āI knew I wanted to be part of that process ā helping people when they need it most.ā
After completing a year-long apprenticeship, Shawn obtained his public adjusterās license and has since helped thousands of clients navigate their insurance claims. Today, Compass Claim Solutions serves homeowners and businesses across Florida, often traveling to communities hit hardest by hurricanes and severe storms.
What Does A Public Adjuster Do?
Insurance policies can be complex documents, full of jargon and fine print that many policyholders struggle to understand. When property damage occurs, the insurance company sends out its own adjuster to assess the damage and estimate the payout ā but that adjuster works for the insurance company, not the policyholder.
A public adjuster like Shawn, however, works exclusively on behalf of the policyholder. His job is to thoroughly evaluate the damage, prepare detailed estimates and negotiate with the insurance company to ensure that the client receives a fair settlement.
āOur goal is to level the playing field,ā Shawn explains. āInsurance companies have experts working for them ā policyholders should have [an expert] on their side, too.ā
Compass Claim Solutions handles a wide range of claims, including those related to hurricanes, floods, lightning, wind, fire, mold, theft and plumbing issues. The company offers free consultations, guiding clients from the initial claim filing through the final settlement.
The āUmpire Processā
One of the unique aspects of Compass Claim Solutionsā services is Shawnās involvement in the insurance appraisal and what is known as the āumpire processā ā a little-known but critical step when claims are disputed.
If an insurance company and a policyholder cannot agree on the amount of damage or the cost of repairs, both parties may choose to enter into the appraisal process. Each side hires an independent appraiser to assess the damage. If the two appraisers cannot reach an agreement, they select a neutral third party ā known as an āumpireā ā who reviews the estimates and makes a final, binding decision.
As a certified insurance umpire, Shawn is often called upon to serve as that neutral third party in these disputes, bringing his extensive knowledge and fair judgment to the process.
āThe umpire process helps ensure that both sides get a fair shake,ā Shawn says. āItās about finding common ground and making sure the policyholder gets what theyāre owed.
Going The Extra Mile
Clients of Compass Claim Solutions consistently praise Shawnās professionalism, dedication, and attention to detail. The companyās 4.9 stars out of 5 on Google (on 50+ reviews) attest to his prompt communication and proactive approach.
āShawn is amazing,ā client Brian S. wrote in his 5-star review on Google. āHe was prompt on returning calls, very thorough in his evaluation of the damage, and extremely proactive in dealing with the insurance company. He turned a stressful situation into a positive outcome.ā
Client Carol G.ās 5-star review says, āI was denied by my insurance company for not taking pictures after my front doors blew open during Hurricane Ian. Shawn worked wonders for me and got me enough money to fix the important issues in my home. He was very kind and easy to work with. I highly recommend using Compass Claim if you ever need a public adjuster. Iād give him 20 stars if I could.ā
Itās this commitment to going above and beyond that has earned Compass Claim Solutions a stellar reputation in the community.
Beyond his work in public adjusting, Shawn is an active member of the Wesley Chapel business community. He serves on the Membership Committee of BNI Alliance, a local chapter of Business Networking International (BNI) of West Central Florida, where he collaborates with other professionals to foster business growth and networking opportunities. āI believe in giving back to the community that supports us,ā Shawn says. āWhether itās helping homeowners through the claims process or participating in local events, we want to make a positive impact.ā
Navigating an insurance claim can feel like an uphill battle, especially in the wake of a disaster. With Compass Claim Solutions, clients gain more than just an advocate ā they gain a partner dedicated to serving their best interests.
From the initial consultation to the final settlement, Shawn Thompson and his team provide the knowledge, persistence and compassion needed to help clients rebuild and move forward. With Compass Claim Solutions on your side, you donāt have to navigate the claims process alone ā you have a trusted partner and guide every step of the way.
Shawn Thompsonās Compass Claim Solutions offers free consultations. For more info, visit CompassClaimSolutions.com or call (352) 502-5928.Ā
I remember seeing part (but not all) of the 1944 movie classic āArsenic & Old Lace,ā starring Cary Grant and directed by the great Frank Capra, one day during my teenage years as I flipped through my 13 channels before the days of cable TV. From what I could remember, I thought the movie, adapted from the 1939 play by Joseph Kesselring, was a ācute, but darkā comedy.
So, seeing the Wesley Chapel Theater Group (WCTG)ās performance of āArsenic & Old Laceā at the Zephyrhills Lions Club on Apr. 26 was basically like seeing it for the first time. Directed by Colleen DeFelice (who told the audience she had played one of the lead roles, Aunt Abby, 13 years before), WCTGās āArsenicā was a fun, if understandably dated, macabre comedy about some murderous ā and sometimes hilarious ā family members.
The play starred Alex PeƱa in the Grant role of Mortimer Brewster, who loves but doesnāt seem to want to marry his cheeky, somewhat pushy girlfriend Elaine (performed to perfection by Aliza Rivera). Mortimer is a theatre critic who lives in Brooklyn with his seemingly sweet spinster aunts Abby (played by Danielle Warren) and Martha (Jennifer PeƱa), while Elaine lives with her father, Rev. Dr. Harper, across a graveyard from Mortimer, his aunts and his brother Teddy (Chad Allen). Teddy believes he is actually former U.S. President Teddy Roosevelt ā and everyone who visits the Brewster house plays along because Teddy is a little craz…letās just say āout there.ā
āArsenicā takes its first sinister turn when Mortimer finds a dead body in the house and Abby and Martha admit that there are eleven more dead bodies buried in the basement ā all lonely, older men who drank their homemade elderberry wine laced with arsenic, strychnine āand just a pinch of cyanide.ā Teddy has been digging the menās graves in the basement, thinking they are locks for his Panama Canal, and believing that the men died of yellow fever.
But, it turns out that Mortimerās long lost brother Jonathan (David Sparano), āwho looks like Boris Karloffā (and was actually portrayed by Karloff during the stage playās five-year run on Broadway, and by Raymond Massey in the movie), also is a murderer. Jonathan has traveled the world with Dr. Einstein (James Hernandez), a plastic surgeon who changes Jonathanās face after every murder. The two have brought along a dead body of their own to dispose of at the Brewster home and Jonathan plans to murder Mortimer (and maybe his aunts and Teddy, too) to replace his brother in theĀ house when he also discovers his auntsā most recent victim, thinking Mortimer was the killer.Ā
But, Officer OāHara (Arturo Delacruz) shows up to pitch his own play idea to Mortimer, which throws a monkey wrench into Jonathanās plans. Jonathan ends up being arrested, Mortimer signs the papers committing Teddy to a sanitarium and Abby and Martha agree to join Teddy (convinced by Mortimer to keep them from being prosecuted for the murders). Mortimer and Elaine can finally live happily ever after, when Abby and Martha tell Mortimer that he was actually adopted and not related by blood to his murderous family. Still with me?
WCTGās āArsenic & Old Laceā was funnier than the plot actually sounds and was well-received, with some out-loud laughs from the sold-out crowds of maybe 100 people at each performance.
The next WCTG performances will be āA Night of One Acts,ā also at the Zephyrhills Lions Club, the weekend of July 12-13.
WCTG, which does not have a permanent home of its own, would love to find one in Wesley Chapel and will definitely need to raise more money to be able to afford one.
To make a donation, volunteer to join the group or for tickets to āA Night of One Acts,ā visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org. ā GNĀ
