Deacon José Moronta and Mariela Labrador have organized a cancer support group that helps break down the language barrier for Spanish-speaking people. They group meets at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church the third Thursday of each month. (Photo: Charmaine George)
When Mariela Labrador, a long-time parishioner of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church on Cross Creek Blvd., found herself a caregiver for a loved one with cancer, she looked around for resources and support from her community.
As a native Spanish-language speaker, she found it helpful to connect with others who understood what she was going through, and where she could communicate without any language barrier.
She found Latinos Unidos Por Un Nuveo Amanecer (Latinos United for a New Dawn, or LUNA) online at LunaCancerFL.org. LUNA’s mission is to reach out to the Spanish-speaking community to help cancer patients, survivors and their families.
Over time, Mariela began volunteering for the organization, which has been part of the Tampa Bay community for more than 20 years, and eventually, she became a member of the organization’s Board of Directors.
Earlier this year, Mariela says, she decided to connect her work with LUNA to her church and organized a support group to meet at St. Mark’s for Spanish speakers who are facing cancer.
She says she hopes to grow the group to be large enough to support bringing in guest speakers on relevant topics, such as nutrition, relaxation, or pain management. But, at this time, she is focusing on building relationships and growing the group so people can share experiences and lean on each other.
“At this point, I’m concentrating on reaching out to the community and identifying the needs,” Mariela says.
The local LUNA group meets at St. Mark’s on the third Thursday of each month, from 6:30 p.m.-8 p.m.
While the group took a break over the summer, its next meeting will be held on Thursday, September 15. All are welcome to attend. You do not have to attend St. Mark’s or be of any particular faith tradition to participate in the support group, and there is no need to RSVP in advance.
Anyone who has questions or needs more information, can call the church at (813) 907-7746.
Bishop Carl Curry, who also is a Chaplain at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, came to Tampa from New York City with his family and started a new church — The Cathedral of Worship & Praise, located in the Healing Plaza building next to AHWC. (Photos provided by Bishop Carl Curry)
The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center started as a way for people to connect virtually online during the pandemic in December 2020.
Once it was safe to do so, Bishop Carl R. Curry — who prefers to go by “Bishop Carl” and is the independent Pastor of the church — says, “God presented the opportunity,” and The Cathedral began holding services in person on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. in the Healing Plaza building next to AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. The first service was held on Easter Sunday of this year.
He says the services are “concentrated” to last no more than an hour and 15 minutes, and focus on the Word of God, instead of the big production elements (such as lights and smoke) that are often popular in big churches.
“I grew up in big churches, where the lights and the glitz and the gospel singing were stirring and moving,” says Bishop Carl. “But, when it’s all said and done, my moment was good, but it did nothing for my spiritual journey, as far as something that I could take with me when I left the building.”
So, at The Cathedral, Bishop Carl says he focuses on “rendering experiences that are life-changing.”
He says his church is nondenominational, but that he sees all of humanity as the church’s denomination. While many denominations have been created because of disagreements — with some people splitting off to form a new denomination — Bishop Carl is all about unity and, he says, the power of God that comes from the Bible.
“I give people freely what I learned in seminary,” he says. “Sometimes, what you hear from the pulpit is opinion, not rightful interpretation.”
Bishop Carl was first ordained as a Senior Pastor 12 years ago in New York City and was consecrated a Bishop in August 2021 by Churches of The Body of Christ Fellowship. He is part of the Joint College of Bishops for the organization, which is a fellowship of believers, rather than a specific denomination.
Bishop Carl’s wife and Co-Pastor Yonnicka (left) also is an important part of The Cathedral of Worship & Praise, where everyone seeking the Word of God is always welcome to attend online or in person.
Curry holds a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Theology from New Life Theological Seminary in Charlotte, NC, and a Master of Science (M.S.) degree in Christian Family Counseling from New Hope Institutional Academy in Amityville, NY. He also holds a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in psychology from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, and is currently working on a M.S. degree program in spiritual care from AdventHealth University in Orlando.
After 40 years of ministry in New York City, Bishop Carl says he and his wife (and Co-Pastor) Yonnicka moved their family to Tampa six years ago because God called them here.
They both took jobs at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel — Yonnicka as a respiratory therapist and Bishop Carl as a Chaplain — and then moved into Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa with their three children — 13-year-old Zidan and 6-year-old twins Mordecai and Aviana.
From their home to their jobs, to church, their entire commute is a total of six minutes.
“All of it happened effortlessly,” Bishop Carl explains. While he wasn’t seeking to move away from New York, he and Yonnicka felt called to the area and to starting a new church here.
The Light & The Pandemic
He says that starting during the Covid-19 pandemic was a way to meet people where they were, even as churches went into lockdown phase and some churches couldn’t survive it.
“We were able to help people deal with what was happening to them on a day-to-day basis,” he says.
Now, he’s bringing people together who are looking for more than just a “ritualistic worshipping of God on a specific day at a specific time.”
He says it’s all about relationships, and letting people know that everyone has value, and that both God and the people at The Cathedral are willing to meet you right where you are.
“We’re not called to be perfect or created to be perfect,” says Bishop Carl. “We’re called to be holy.”
Toni is a Wesley Chapel resident who attends church at The Cathedral and asked that we only use her first name.
“I started watching the church services on Zoom,” says Toni, who also said she had Covid early on in the pandemic and was mostly staying home, rather than attending services in person. “Then, when they had their first (in-person) service, I went and it was very good.”
Toni says she grew up in a church where she got there early in the morning and often stayed most of the day, but now, many people don’t want to sit in church all day. She says the 11 a.m. time on Sundays is perfect for her and that she likes that the service only lasts for a little more than an hour.
“The service is awesome,” she says. “I like the music and I like the preaching. (Bishop Carl is) very articulate, very knowledgeable and well-versed in the Word of God.”
Bishop Carl’s experience as both a counselor in New York and now as a Chaplain in Wesley Chapel has given him a lot of insight into how people are feeling about the world we live in right now, saying that many are feeling bombarded with local, national and global problems.
“There’s a lot of depression and anxiety with the rise in the housing market, inflation, parents feeling disconnected from kids, and kids are feeling disconnected from parents,” he explains. “There’s a lot of separatism going on, and we want to move the mindset and focus onto something greater than ourselves.”
Voices For Unity Concert
The Cathedral plans to be a voice for unity in the community, having hosted a program in downtown Tampa bringing Christians together to support Ukraine and co-hosting (with Churches of The Body of Christ) an upcoming Voices for Unity Concert (see ad below) on Friday, August 12, 7 p.m. (at the Healing Plaza), calling for people of every denomination to come together as one.
“The theme is ‘Many Denominations, One Voice,” says Bishop Carl. “It will be a fellowship concert of praise, worship, liturgical dance, prayer and coming together for all humanity. Come and receive your miracle!”
Previously, the church’s online services have been held via Zoom but, beginning in August, they will be live-streamed through a platform called FaithLife. Bishop Carl says links to the live stream will be posted on The Cathedral’s Facebook page, which you can find by searching “The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center” on Facebook.
The Cathedral of Worship and Praise Christian Center meets at 2950 Healing Way in Wesley Chapel in the Healing Plaza building on Sunday mornings at 11 a.m. For more information, visit TheCathedralofWP.com, email TheCathedralofWP@gmail.com, call (813) 943-9773 or see the ad on page 30 of this issue.
When Paul Spalvieri opened the first Max’s 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, Max’s has now grown to three locations, proving that people want and appreciate the premium nutrition and impeccable grooming in cage-free facilities that Max’s offers.
Last December, Paul’s 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.
“We’re 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,” Paul says. “And the grooming area at the new store is also 50-percent bigger than the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa salons.”
The Mirada location provides convenient access to Max’s 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 — Matthew, Martinka and Kristinka.
Paul opened Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon when he couldn’t 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, he’s become passionate about helping all pets, not just his own.
“When we first opened the store, it was all about Max, but our focus has changed,” says Paul. “Now, it’s 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 cat’s best interest at heart, and they are the number one reason why we open our doors every day.”
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 Max’s customers have come to love at its other locations — customized for small to large dogs. Bathing tubs are oversized to accommodate very large dog breeds — even those more than 150 pounds — 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.
“The following week we do a review and build on those skills with new skills,” explains Paul, “such as sit, stay, watch me, how to walk on a leash and avoid distractions.”
Advanced training also is offered. The training schedule is on the store’s 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, Max’s 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 pets’ diets.
Scott Kresh discovered the original Max’s shortly after it opened. He and his wife, Lorri, have two pit bulls — 14-year-old Maya and Niko, who is 3 — and a cat named Kara.
Maya had always had allergy and skin issues, and the staff at Max’s offered some ideas to help. Over time, Scott tried various diet changes suggested by Paul and his sales associates, and he says that Maya’s issues have been almost completely resolved.
“It’s too bad she’s so old because this is the best she’s ever looked,” says Scott. “In 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 Paul’s food knowledge.”
Scott says every issue he’s had with his pets — from needing a specialized harness for his strong, young Niko to trying to address spraying with his older cat — Paul has been able to address.
“He’s got an answer for everything,” says Scott. “It’s amazing. I’m not exaggerating at all. I credit him with helping us so much.”
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.
“We’re looking at future growth,” says Paul, “and I will continue to be very involved in both our corporate and franchise stores.”
Anyone interested in Max’s franchise opportunities can get more information and submit a request for details on the store’s website.
Max’s Natural Pet Market & Salon has three locations that are open every day from 8 a.m.–7 p.m. The original Max’s 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.
Cole (left) and K.T. Topash of Topash Painting are part of three generations of Topash men who have been painting homes in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa dating all the way back to 1978. (Photos: Charmaine George)
When K.T. Topash of Topash Painting is out working on a job with his son, Cole, it reminds him of when he was younger, painting the exteriors and interiors of local homes and businesses alongside his dad, Paul, before K.T. bought the company from Paul in 2009.
Cole became part owner when he turned 18 and, over the past few years, has grown into a partner his dad trusts to carry on the family name with the same commitment to excellence and customer service that he and his dad built a generation ago.
That’s three generations of Topash men who have been painting homes in Wesley Chapel and the surrounding areas since Paul started the company in 1978.
So much has changed since then, but K.T. and Cole still hold on to the values that have helped them build a business with a stellar reputation and customers who have been loyal to them for many years.
First and foremost, K.T. and Cole always do the work themselves. When you hire Topash Painting, you know exactly who will be painting your home, and it’s never going to be a subcontractor.
Typically, both father and son will be on the job site together. But, even if they bring on another employee to help the business, either K.T. or Cole will always be on site with them, and you can be sure their helper will be someone who is trustworthy, reliable, safe and will do the job with excellence.
“So many times in this industry, the customer hires a company, but the company subs it out to someone who has no responsibility,” says K.T. “That’s not who we want to be.”
That’s why Jason Christiano says he continues to hire Topash Painting for all of his painting needs at both his home in Grand Hampton in New Tampa and for his business in Wesley Chapel.
“The work is very high quality and the pricing is fair,” says Jason. “What’s most important to me is who you’re hiring. It’s just K.T. and his son, so I don’t have to worry about my daughters or be concerned with day laborers or background checks.”
Jason was first introduced to Topash Painting close to 10 years ago when he saw the trailer in his neighborhood. He says K.T. painted his house then, and has been his go-to painter ever since.
Despite rising costs, K.T. says Topash Painting will not skimp on its always-high-quality paints just to save a buck.
Topash Painting has painted Jason’s home and office, both inside and out. In fact, Jason hired him to paint the exterior of his house again, even though K.T. told him his previous paint job was still holding up and he didn’t need to do it.
“I like to be proactive, so I told him I wanted to get it done,” says Jason.
Jason also says that he has always found Topash Painting’s pricing to be appropriate for the market. “He’s not high, he’s not low,” Jason says. “He’s fair.”
K.T. says that he always tries to give the best possible prices and that he has absorbed many of the cost increases that have happened over the years. However, right now, the cost of materials is extremely high.
“Our paint and materials costs have gone through the roof,” K.T. says, “and we’ve seen at least a 45% increase over the last 18 months or so.”
He says that he keeps costs down as much as possible, but won’t skimp on the quality of the products he puts on (or in) your home.
“A lot of customers don’t know that there’s good, bad, and ugly in the painting product world,” he says. “Even Sherwin Williams offers so many lines of paint, from new construction paint that is cheap and won’t last long, to paint that currently costs $100 a gallon.”
K.T. says his experience means he knows exactly how to purchase the right products and do the work in a way that will allow you to enjoy your paint job for many years to come.
“We use a lifetime warranty paint,” K.T. explains. “If the painter does the prep work right, you’ll never have to worry about the warranty. It’s definitely not enough to just slap some paint on a wall.”
It’s always been hard for professional, high-quality painters such as Topash Painting to distinguish themselves from the guys who just want to get paint on the wall and collect their payment.
Topash Painting has always distinguished itself by being licensed, insured and bonded, so K.T. and his wife Hollie, who handles the bookkeeping for the business, were shocked when they learned that the state of Florida no longer offers painting licenses. In the past, K.T. had to take a test and pay a fee to be licensed, but now there is no licensing available. That means it’s even harder nowadays to distinguish the true pros from the non-pros.
Topash Painting continues to carry liability insurance to protect its customers.
“As a consumer, you have to ask those questions,” K.T. says. “Most people’s biggest asset is their home, and it’s in your best interest to protect it.”
So, while they feel like doing away with licensing just makes it more difficult for consumers to find the best professionals for the job, K.T. and Cole are committed to continuing their family tradition of providing quality paint jobs at the best possible prices for homes and businesses, year after year.
“It’s more important than ever to do your due diligence,” K.T. says. “Check references and be sure the painters are using the materials they say they are. You don’t want to hire some weekend warrior who is just trying to make a buck.”
K.T. says he loves working with Cole, who makes him very proud.
“He is a huge asset to me,” says K.T. “And, it’s a lot of fun.”
K.T. says Cole knows everything about the business and represents Topash Painting well.
“Sometimes better than I do,” K.T. says. “You find out truly who your kid is when you’re working with him. When I see Cole talking with a customer and handling himself the way an adult does, it’s very rewarding.”
For estimates or appointments, call Topash Painting at (813) 780-2511 or e-mail topashpainting@gmail.com. For more info, search for “Topash Painting” on Facebook.
As the much-anticipated KRATE container park at The Grove in Wesley Chapel is finally opening, people are flocking there to try all kinds of food and check out little shops. As they wander through the rows of converted containers, they also can pop into Budget Blinds for inspiration on how they might transform their home with blinds, shades, shutters and drapes.
Wesley Chapel residents Adriane and Mike Wonderlin own one of the top Budget Blinds franchises in the country, serving a territory that stretches all the way north to San Antonio and south to Palmetto and includes showrooms on W. Fletcher Ave. (near I-275, two exits south of Wesley Chapel’s S.R. 56 exit) and in Riverview, covering nearly 90 zip codes.
The Wonderlins employ a team of nearly 40 people, including design associates who come to your home with what Adriane describes as “a ton of samples” to help determine the best look and functionality for window coverings in your home.
But, for anyone who isn’t quite ready to have a design consultant come to their homes, a quick visit to Budget Blinds at KRATE will allow you to see the many possibilities.
Adriane describes it as almost like a kiosk, where visitors can see videos of the products in motion on the TVs, ask questions about how something functions or how it would look, and learn about the different types of window treatments.
There is a variety of styles from which to choose. Blinds come in vinyl, wood, fabric, faux wood and aluminum. Shutters are made from real wood or composite material that will not fade or warp.
In June, Budget Blinds is offering a special that gives anyone purchasing plantation shutters a free upgrade to an “invisible tilt” option, which eliminates the rod that typically runs down the middle of the shutters. The invisible tilt allows for an unobstructed view and is typically an expensive upgrade, but is being offered completely free for the month of June.
If you prefer shades, you can choose from roller, pleated, Roman, cellular, woven wood, bamboo, sheer, solar or graphic, plus a variety of panels, valances and drapes.
All of these options can be explored at the Wesley Chapel KRATE location, where Adriane says she and Mike are excited to support the growing Wesley Chapel community.
“It’s almost like its own downtown area for Wesley Chapel,” she says. “You can bring your kids and your dog and come to a friendly area where people are gathered together. A couple of years ago there was nothing like that here.”
Adriane says Budget Blinds signed its lease for a spot in the KRATE container park in December 2019, hoping to open by the summer of 2020. After a number of delays – including, of course, the Covid pandemic – the park is finally coming to life and with more than 70 percent of the converted shipping containers ready to go, the Grove has scheduled an official Grand Opening for June 4 (see pg. 12).
“A lot of these local small businesses have been around for a long time, but you only see them in passing as a food truck, for example,” Adriane says. “They haven’t had the opportunity to be open year ‘round, until now.”
She hopes that as others gather and enjoy the area – even if they’re not shopping for window treatments – they may stop in and be inspired.
“There’s always a new trend,” she says. “You can always come in and see it because we’ll be switching up the displays.”
The trends right now, Adriane says, are motorization and draperies.
“The functionality of the shutter is great and the look is classic,” she says, “but now we’re adding a soft piece of fabric, too. In the 80s and 90s, draperies were everywhere, but in the 2000s, no one did drapes because it looked like your mother’s house. But now, it’s back.”
She says that motorization continues to improve, with motors that are nearly completely silent and a trend that continues to make these “smart home” features more affordable.
For high places you can’t reach, motorization is ideal. It’s also great for businesses to set times to automatically open as the business opens, or to automate window shades to help kids or teenagers wake up in the morning.
With these options, you can use the traditional wand in the window, or you can use a smartphone, remote, wall switch or even voice command to open or close your window coverings.
While Adriane says you can get ideas from the showrooms or the container at KRATE, the best way to determine the ideal products for your unique home is for the design consultant to spend time there with you.
Kristine Dugas, who lives in Land O’Lakes, says she has used Budget Blinds twice and they have now covered almost every window in her house. She says she highly recommends the company.
“Budget Blinds was by far the best value and had the best selection,” says Kristine. “They have tons of selections to choose from, and the design process was fun and easy.”
She says the designer who came to her home was on time, professional and helpful, and so were the installers, who left everything clean and tidy when they finished the job.
“My experience with the office, customer service and communication with Budget Blinds was top notch,” Dugas says. “If I had any questions, they got back to me right away, the ease of scheduling my appointments to work around my busy schedule was wonderful.”
Budget Blinds was founded in 1992 in Orange County, CA, and has more than 1,000 franchises in the U.S. and Canada. The Wonderlins’ franchise, which they purchased in 2018, was awarded Budget Blinds’ national Franchise of the Year for 2020, the franchise’s third such honor since 2016.
To schedule a complimentary in-home consultation or learn more about the June promotion of a free upgrade to invisible tilt on plantation shutters, call (813) 968-5050. For now, the KRATE location is only open on the weekends. Call (813) 340-3360 to check when it’s open. For more information, follow @BudgetBlindsofGreaterTampa on Facebook or Instagram or visit BudgetBlinds.com/NorthTampa.
