Author: Celeste McLaughlin

Cory Lake Isles Resident Yogi Goswami Inducted Into FL Inventors Hall of Fame

Thomas Edison. Henry Ford. Yogi Goswami.

These three are among the 20 inventors who have been inducted into the Florida Inventors Hall of Fame since its inception in 2013. Only one, though, lives in New Tampa.

Yogi Goswami, Ph.D., P.E. (Professor Emeritus), is a University of South Florida Distinguished Professor and director of the university’s Clean Energy Research Center. The Cory Lake Isles resident is one of seven inventors honored at an induction ceremony and gala at the Inventors Hall on the USF Tampa Campus on September 16.

Dr. Goswami has lived in New Tampa with his wife Lovely for 10 years, since he left his position as director of the University of Florida’s Solar Energy Research Lab in Gainesville. He came to USF because he says it gave him, “more opportunities for doing groundbreaking research.” For example, Dr. Goswami says, “To establish a new research lab, you need space to do that, and USF was able to give me that space. Because the university is newer, it is open to a lot of things that may be harder to do at a (more) well-established university.”

The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame chose Dr. Goswami for his work in solar energy and indoor air quality. “I have 18 patents,” he says. “Some are related to solar energy, some to energy storage, and six are related to indoor air quality and the technology to disinfect and clean air.”

He says the key to being chosen for this honor is for those patents to be in use and helping people.

“My inventions are being used around the world,” Dr. Goswami says, “especially my invention to disinfect

When his now-grown son, Dilip, was much younger and suffering from allergies and asthma, Dr. Goswami began to look for a way to help him. He used his expertise to develop the technology that actually destroys the pollutants in the air that were making his son sick.

“The air inside homes and offices has a lot of pollutants, not just bacteria, viruses and mold,” says Dr. Goswami, “but also volatile organic chemicals that come from paints and other materials we use inside our buildings. Those things make us sick. Before air conditioning was so widely available, we used to have open windows so we would have fresh air. Now, these pollutants concentrate inside. This technology is the first on the market that destroys them.”

Dr. Goswami and Dilip co-founded Molekule, the company that is now producing an indoor air purifier that uses this technology. The first two production runs of the device, also called Molekule, have completely sold out, and the company currently has a waiting list for the next batch of air purifiers, which are expected to be available for sale in November.

He says many of his other inventions are related to making solar energy conversion more efficient, to bring the cost down.

“Costs have come down quite a bit over the last few decades in solar energy,” says Dr. Goswami. “We can make it more efficient and bring the cost down even further in the future.” He also has inventions related to storing energy more effectively, since solar energy is “intermittent,” meaning it’s not available at night or when it’s cloudy. His work in this area is directed toward large- scale power plants that produce solar energy.

“The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is very prestigious,” says Dr. Goswami. “I feel honored to be inducted, especially seeing the people who were inducted before me, such as Henry Ford, Thomas Edison and Dr. Robert Cade, the inventor of Gatorade.”

The Florida Inventors Hall of Fame is located in the USF Research Park at 3702 Spectrum Blvd., Suite 165, and is online at FloridaInvents.org.

For more information about the Molekule air purifier, visit Molekule.com.

Florida Inventor Hall of Fame Yogi Goswami

Hanaq Prana Yoga To Visit Peru

A group of women from New Tampa are headed to Peru Oct. 16 to give students in a disadvantaged, mountainous area of the country laptop computers to enhance their educations.

The women are students of Hanaq Prana Yoga Studio, located at 10323 Cross Creek Blvd., Suite E., and the group is led by studio founder and director, Lorena Saavedra Smith, who is a native of Peru.

The group will spend a week at the Willa T’ika wellness retreat near Cusco, Peru, and will have a “packed itinerary” of doing yoga, experiencing the local attractions and serving the community.

“I’ve been planning this retreat since February,” says Lorena. “It’s a time of self discovery, time to reconnect, and for many of these women, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to visit such a fascinating country.” She says the 10 available spots for the trip were filled quickly and she has a waiting list of three or four women who will be first to attend next year’s retreat.

“We’re going to explore the ruins, enjoy the beautiful scenery, visit the (15th Century Incan citadel) Machu Picchu, taking in all this amazing energy from the mountains,” Lorena says. “Then, the service part is the last day of the retreat, so after we’ve cleansed the body, and taken in the energy, we can serve these kids.”

Tony Selvaggio, owner of eSmart Recycling, has provided 10 laptop computers to be donated for the trip.

“Tony has an amazing business of keeping old electronics out of landfills,” Lorena says. “Thanks to this donation, students in the small village of Cusco will have the opportunity to succeed academically with the access to technology that this donation of laptops will provide.”

For more information, visit HanaqPranaYoga.com.

Hanaq Prana Yoga Peru

Mobley Homes — A 40-Year Tampa Bay Tradition Now Building In K-Bar Ranch!

Celebrating its 40th year of building homes in the Tampa Bay area, Mobley Homes is a private company that touts its customer-first philosophy and devotion to excellence as the cornerstones of its business. Since 1976, Mobley Homes has been building homes for families in and around Tampa. In New Tampa, the company previously has built 1,000 homes in West Meadows and 400 in Tampa Palms, and has been building in K-Bar Ranch since 2007.

Renée Riordan has worked as a new home specialist for Mobley for 15 years. The company, “feels like a family,” she says.

“Our company is family-owned and run,” says Renée. “Everyone has been with the company a long time. Once you purchase a home with us, you become our family, too.”

She says Mobley Homes works closely with its buyers to customize each home exactly the way a homeowner wants, so they will love their home for many years to come. “Buyers in these higher-end homes want flexibility, and that’s what we offer,” says Renée. “We can move walls, make bigger closets, add a rain shower or a sauna, add a fireplace, or redesign a kitchen. As long as you start with one of our base plans and it fits on the lot, we can do it.”

Renée says that she and the other new home specialists – Neisha Roberts and owner Tim Mobley’s daughter Maureen Mobley Groom – at Mobley Homes enjoy meeting homebuyers’ needs and desires, and matching those up with what works for each person’s budget and the lot size.

She gives an example of a house that Mobley Homes built in K-Bar Ranch. “

We had a customer who is a car collector, so we built a home with a six-car garage,” Renée says. “In fact, we raised the ceiling to accommodate a lift, so he actually keeps about 10 cars in there.”

This level of customization is not unusual for Mobley Homes. “It’s what our clients appreciate,” she says. “This is probably the largest purchase you’re going to make, so as long as the lot can accommodate what you want, we’ll do it.”

Renée adds, “Our homes speak for themselves as far as quality,” explaining that over the years, many of the builder’s models have won numerous awards, including Parade of Homes awards, given by the Tampa Bay Builders Association (TBBA) during its annual event showcasing new homes throughout the Tampa Bay area. She says the homes are always spacious and well-planned by award-winning architects.

Mobley Homes are currently for sale in four communities throughout the Tampa Bay area, including two located very close to Wesley Chapel.

New Tampa

In K-Bar Ranch, Mobley Homes offers a variety of luxurious floor plans in the Bassett Creek subdivision, all ranging from four to six bedrooms. Each floor plan is more than 2,500 square feet, with homes starting in the mid $300,000s and conservation views on most home sites.

Amenities throughout Bassett Creek include a community pool, basketball court and playground.

Stop by to see the model home at 19301 Yellow Clover Dr. (photo above). It’s the builder’s best-selling Briarwood model, a traditional two-story home that’s designed to fit virtually every size family.

“Every once in a while you just have a home that’s so well-designed by the architect that it’s a great use of space and makes sense for the size of the home and the price you pay,” says Renée. The model is a 5-bedroom, 3.5-bath home that also includes a den and a bonus room, plus a three-car garage. In its 3,400 square feet, the kitchen opens up to the family room and the home includes a huge master suite and a sitting room.

“There are endless possibilities with this model,” says Renée, explaining that converting the bonus room to a media room is just the first of many customizations that are offered. “The options are only limited by your budget.”

Land O’ Lakes

The Manors on Lake Padgett, located 15 minutes from most of Wesley Chapel, features eight home sites in a brand new, private, gated subdivision, with home prices starting from the low $600,000s. “These are gorgeous, lakefront home sites, and each has its own private dock with access to a huge ski lake,” says Renée.

Carrollwood

“In New Tampa, you have these big, master-planned communities with a minimum of 1,500 homes,” Renée says. “But in Carrollwood, there are much smaller pieces of land, so a community might only have 15 homes.” She adds that while these homes lack the community amenities of their larger counterparts, they also lack the expense of a CDD (community development district), and people enjoy the fact that everyone in the neighborhood knows each other.

Lakeside Oaks Reserve features 15 home sites in a brand new, gated, private subdivision located in the heart of what is considered “the original Carrollwood area,” off of Orange Grove Blvd. near N. Dale Mabry Hwy. Home prices start in the $400,000s. Many of the home sites are lakefront, so residents will enjoy relaxing water activities and breathtaking sunsets from their backyards.

Mobley Homes also is building in Cypress Estates in Carrollwood Village, with 16 conservation home sites in a new, gated community. Home prices start in the $500,000s. Renée says this community is selling quickly, with more than half the available homes already sold.

Also in Carrollwood, Mobley Homes is selling villas in a new, private subdivision called The Villas on Twin Lakes. There are 18 maintenance-free homes, so there’s no mowing your own lawn in Twin Lakes. Homes start at 1,600 square feet and are priced in the high $200,000s.

For more info about all of the available homes and communities where Mobley Homes is building, visit MobleyHousing.com. You also can call Renée at 629-3367, Neisha at 629-2921, or Maureen at 695-3628. The model home in Bassett Creek at K-Bar Ranch is open Mon.–Sat., 10 a.m.–6 p.m. and noon–6 p.m. on Sun. Anyone who purchases a “quick move in home” in New Tampa will receive up to $10,000 in closing costs and a one-year membership to Hunter’s Green Country Club.

mobley homes

Local Volunteers Walking For Freedom

a21walkweb The average age of a victim of human trafficking is just 12 years old. Only 1-2 percent of victims are ever rescued. Worldwide, an estimated 27 million people are currently in bondage.

These shocking statistics are according to A21, an organization that gets its name from its mission, which is, “Abolishing injustice in the 21st century.”

A group of local volunteers is supporting this organization and its mission by participating in A21’s annual “Walk For Freedom” with an event in Wesley Chapel on Saturday, October 15, 9 a.m., beginning at the Shops at Wiregrass mall.

“A lot of people aren’t aware that human trafficking is in our own neighborhoods and communities,” says event organizer Rachel Martinez. “We are hosting this walk to bring awareness to this issue.”

Rachel is a Wesley Chapel resident who participated in the walk last year, along with her family and about 100 others. She’s hoping that this year, even more will participate, so that many people throughout our community will see the line of walkers, dressed in black, as silent ambassadors for a cause they want others to care about, too.

“This year, the sidewalks are complete, so we can walk west along S.R. 56,” Rachel says. “We want people to see us in our shirts as we walk all the way to I-75.”

She also says that local churches have supported the walk by paying for necessary permits, and fund-raising efforts cover costs for items such as bottled water for the walkers. There’s no cost for participants to attend, although they are encouraged to purchase an official A21 Walk For Freedom T-shirt from the website A21.org.

Rachel became interested in supporting the mission of A21 when she heard the founder of the organization, Christine Caine, speak at an event at her church. Caine is a Bible teacher, activist, and evangelist from Hillsong Church, an Australian megachurch.

“Her story and her passion really hit home for me,” says Rachel, who adds that in her job handling statewide permitting for a construction company, she’s often on websites for various municipalities, and she’s struck by how often those local governments have task forces and resources dedicated to fighting human trafficking.

For example, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) has information on its website (PascoSheriff.com) that underscores Rachel’s concerns. The PCSO website says that human trafficking is an industry worth billions of dollars, and is one of the largest criminal enterprises in the world, second only to the illegal drug trade. And, there are more people held in slavery in the world today, than at any other time in human history.

The National Human Trafficking Resource Center ranked Florida third among all states in the U.S. in the number of calls received by the center’s human trafficking hotline in 2015, as it has in past years, and many of those calls were from the Tampa Bay area.

“It’s big, big money, but maybe by bringing awareness to this issue, we can nip it in the bud,” Rachel says. “Maybe kids will learn something that will keep them safe from an unfortunate situation.”

To register to participate in the walk, visit A21.org/WesleyChapel or email FL4Freedom@hotmail.com.

human trafficking

Mural Spices Up Media Center At HG Elementary

The ribbon was cut by (left to right) Hillsborough Country Public Schools supervisor of library media services for K-5 John Milburn, Elliott, HGE PTA president Jamie Priest and principal Gaye Holt.

Hunter’s Green Elementary (HGE) media specialist Nancy Elliott celebrates the unveiling of a new mural in the school’s media center.

As students returned to school on August 10, they probably couldn’t help but notice that the media center at Hunter’s Green Elementary (HGE) had undergone a major transformation.

Previously, the walls were decorated with banners, representing books that had been enjoyed by students during the school’s 25-year history.

“They were nice, but they were kind of old and dated,” says PTA president Jamie Priest.

It was the vision of HGE principal Gaye Holt to transform the walls to come alive with pictures that would inspire students as they visit the media center.

“The media center is the hub of the school, and we want our kids in here,” said Holt during her remarks at the official ribbon-cutting ceremony for the school’s newly painted mural on Thursday, Aug. 25.

“The media center has been transformed into a warm and inviting area for students as they choose a book, learn new things and explore their world through technology,” said HGE media specialist Nancy Elliott during her remarks.

From fiction and fantasy to science and math, the mural represents many different genres of books that can be explored in the media center.

“Nonfiction is a big part of reading,” Elliott explained later. “Math and science are a big part of our curriculum and I felt that they should be represented in our mural.”

Priest added, “Every time I look at the mural, I feel like I see something new.”

“I love the variety of it,” agreed Elliott, pointing out a kid investigating, a dolphin that looks like it’s about to swim right off the wall, a space ship soaring through outer space and realistic-looking animals such as a giraffe, panda and elephant.

Elliott is just the second media specialist in the school’s history and has b
een in the position for 10 years. She helped to design the mural with local artists J.P. and Vanessa Parra of CAP Murals, who worked all summer on ladders and scaffolds to create it. It was finished the day before school started.

“It was the shortest summer,” said Holt, “but it was my favorite. I came up to the media center to visit three times a day because it amazed me.”

The process of painting the mural was commemorated in a media center display that shows the before, during and after of creating such a significant piece of art.

The mural was funded in part by the PTA, by the media center budget and by the school budget. The PTA contribution included a legacy gift from the class of 2015, and a large butterfly was painted in the mural as, “an extension of the memorial butterfly garden” planted outside in memory of Nick Wolf, a fifth grade HGE student who passed away shortly before he would have graduated from the school.

“Our school is taking big steps forward,” says Priest. “This is another step, and something I think the kids are going to remember, even after they leave this school.”

Hunter's Green Elementary library mural