Upcoming Events: Cornhole Tournament, Book Signing, Jazz Performance, Book Sale & More! 

Last year’s “Hole Lotta Love” Cornhole Tournament at Wharton High was so successful and so much fun, the school’s PTSA decided to make it an annual event. 
(Cornhole Photos provided by the Wharton PTSA) 

Although we no longer have a regular Community Calendar listing in our print issues, there are a number of upcoming events that merit your consideration, so we decided to include as many of them here as possible. 

If you have an event upcoming that takes place after March 5, feel free to email me at ads@ntneighborhoodnews.com and I will see about getting it included in our next New Tampa issue. 

Saturday, February 10, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. — The Second Annual ‘Hole Lotta Love” Wharton Cornhole Tournament.

This event, held for the first time last year and hosted by Wharton’s PTSA, will again be held on the Wharton football field (20150 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.). This is a community event for players of all ages and skill sets. Tournament play begins at 2 p.m. and check-in opens at 1 p.m. There is no deadline to sign up, but pre-registration is highly encouraged for quicker check-in. Spectators and fans also are encouraged to come and cheer on their favorite teams and best of all, 100% of the proceeds will fund grants for Wharton’s teachers and staff. 

Each two-player team is guaranteed to play four games in the Round Robin qualifier for a chance to enter the Single Elimination Championship! In addition to ultimate bragging rights, the players from the top two teams will each walk away with a prize package. 

Can’t make the event, but still want to show your love from afar? Consider supporting us by purchasing 50/50 tickets or by making a general donation. 

The cost to play is $20 per player and all registrations are considered to be a donation to this fund-raising event. No refunds will be issued for cancelled registrations. For more information, see the ad below. 

Thursday, February 15, 8 p.m. — The Tampa Jazz Club’s USF New Tampa Jazz Series presents singer Alexis Cole with the USF Jazz Ensemble 1. 
New York-based singer Alexis Cole will join the USF Jazz Ensemble 1 at a big band performance at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Feb. 15. 

The USF Jazz Ensemble 1 will present an evening of modern big band jazz with outstanding New York-based singer Alexis Cole at the amazing New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Sponsored in part by the Neighborhood News. Tickets are $20 for adults, $15 for Jazz Club members, $10 for students and just $5 for USF students For more info, see the ad below. 

Friday, February 23, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. & Saturday, February 24, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. p.m. — The Friends of the New Tampa Library’s Annual Giant Book Sale.

The Friends of the New Tampa Library will host their annual Giant Book Sale at the New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). With most books being sold for just 50 cents, all proceeds will benefit the library’s Summer Reading programs for children and events and classes for all age groups. For more information, see the ad to the right. 

Monday, February 26, 7 p.m. — Monthly meeting of the New Tampa Democratic Club.

The New Tampa Democrats are gearing up for the upcoming 2024 Presidential and local election season. For more information, see the ad below. 

Wednesday, February 28, 6 p.m. -8 p.m. — Book Launch Performance & Book Signing for Running From Yesterday by Margarette Allyn.
Margarette Allyn will be dancing and signing her book Running From Yesterday: 
A True Story of Hope, Courage and Love at the NTPAC on Feb. 28. 

Margarette Allyn (photo, left) is an author, speaker and dancer who believes in the healing power of making choices guided by instinct, intuition and faith. 

Two unexpected episodes played pivotal roles in Margarette’s life, introducing her to the world of the performing arts. 

The first was watching “The Nutcracker” on TV. The second was encountering the iconic TV show “Fame,” which struck a chord with its relatable characters and stories that felt just like her own. Dance soon became Margarette’s refuge — a way to escape and express herself. Her dance aspirations took flight when she was accepted into Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts — the real “Fame” school — in New York’s Upper West Side. 

It was a dream that seemed beyond reach, especially for a young woman from Harlem. But, Margarette held onto the idea that the sky has no limits. However, unforeseen circumstances, ego and personal choices halted her burgeoning dance career, crushing her dreams of attending Juilliard and leaving her with a deep sense of loss. 

At the age of 24, Margarette embarked on a new path, joining the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Despite battling an overwhelming cloud of dread, despair and her complex relationship with alcohol, she clung fiercely to her discipline, determination, and the will to truly live. 

Supported by her loyal friends and colleagues, she dedicated twenty years to her police career, retiring as a Sergeant in 2019. 

Today, Margarette resides in New Tampa with her husband and two sons. 

This remarkable journey serves as the focal point of her inspiring memoir, Running From Yesterday, A True Story of Hope, Courage, and Love. Grateful for the grace and mercy bestowed upon her, Margarette finds purpose in giving back to those she mentors, is dancing once again, accepts motivational and inspirational speaking engagements and looks forward to many more years of being on stage. 

Tell Me Why You Want To ‘Leap Into The Next 30 Years!’ 

As I told you last issue, my 30th anniversary of owning and being the editor of the Neighborhood News is February 25 and we will be celebrating with a big, by-invitation-only party on “Leap Day” — Thursday, February 29 — at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center. 

The event will be called “Leaping Into Gary’s Next 30 Years Of Neighborhood News” and will feature “A Taste of the Neighborhood News,” which means that several of my Favorite Restaurants from our last issue will be providing samples that will show everyone in attendance why I actually do love all of them. 

Another really cool thing about the upcoming anniversary party is that the 325-350 theater seats (right photo) used for performances of “Grease,” “Shrek the Musical” and “Dreamgirls” will magically disappear and be replaced with cabaret-style table seating for about 150 people (left photo), which means that seating for this event will be extremely limited, considering how many people in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel I’ve gotten to know and have come to consider to be friends over the past 30 years. And, that’s not to mention so many of my amazing advertisers who have kept — and continue to keep — me in business where too many other publications, including daily newspapers, have gone the way of the dinosaur. 

And, if you attended my 25th anniversary party at Bayscape Bistro at the Heritage Isles Golf Club five years ago, you know that there will be entertainment again for this year’s bash — and yes, that entertainment will again be karaoke, this time provided by mine and Jannah’s friend Tabitha Pollard of Luna Tunes, LLC. Tabitha not only has most, if not all of the songs that Jannah and I like to sing, she also is a bit of a Broadway buff who will surely be providing lots of opportunity for those who want to belt out a hit from anything from “Grease” to “Sweeney Todd.” 

The only thing that will cost anyone any money at the party is the alcohol, which will be a cash bar because of the PAC’s rules. The good news, however, is that we get to select the premium adult beverages that will be offered for sale. 

In other words, it’s going to be a blast! 

Here’s How You Can Attend! 

Despite the fact that there will be plenty of invited guests, one of the things that isn’t lost on me is that I wouldn’t still be doing what I do 30 years later if not for all of you — our loyal readers! 

To that end, if you’re interested in getting your name on the guest list for the “Leaping Into Gary’s Next 30 Years” party, send me an email to ads@ntneighborhoodnews.com with 50 words or less (and yes, that is a hard limit) as to why you want to or should be included, by no later than Friday, February 23. Please include your name, the community you live in (Tampa Palms, Pebble Creek, etc.) and your daytime phone number from your valid email address. I will read all of the emails and choose as many people as I have seats left for, whether that’s two or 22, by no later than Monday, February 26. Please put “I Want To Leap!” in the subject line! 

And here’s the thing — you Gary haters out there are invited to send me an email, too. If I get any good hater emails, I will likely invite those folks to attend because I prefer to meet my haters in person than to allow them to remain anonymous. See (some of) you on the 29th! 

Get Your Tickets Now To The Last Weekend of “The Putnam County Spelling Bee!”

If you like your musical comedies to be fun, with great songs and maybe a little bit of vulgar language, you should get your tickets now to “The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee,” the laugh riot being presented tomorrow — Thursday, February 9 — through Saturday, February 10, by Mad Theatre of Tampa at the Shimberg Playhouse at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa.

The show — the first of MAD Theatre’s 25th anniversary season — which promises some audience participation in the craziest Spelling Bee (with six mid-pubescent spellers, all played by young adults) ever, features a super-talented ensemble cast that includes two lead characters from recent New Tampa Players (NTP) productions — Chris Cordero (who played Shrek in “Shrek The Musical”) and Dylan Fidler (who played Danny Zuko in “Grease”), as well as choreography by Evan Lomba (who played Donkey in NTP’s “Shrek”). The MAD Theatre show’s director is Casey Vaughn, with music direction by Megan Zeitler and artistic direction by Tony Gilkinson.

And, after checking out one of the show’s rehearsals — which included at least two spelling words I’m ashamed to say I couldn’t spell — I can assure you that “Spelling Bee” is not only fun and funny (the dialogue won both the Tony and Drama Desk awards in 2005 for Best Book of a Musical by Rachel Sheinkin), but also chock full of great, catchy songs, with the fresh and vibrant score by William Finn. 

But, tickets (starting at just $20) are going fast, so to get yours, visit StrazCenter.org or MadTheatre.com.

All Remaining Performances Of The New Tampa Players’ “Dreamgirls” Are Now Sold Out!

After seeing the New Tampa Players production of “Dreamgirls” at the New Tampa  Performing Arts Center last weekend, I can understand why all three remaining performances this weekend are already sold out!

Anyway, here are some pictures from last weekend. Look for more info In upcoming issues of the Neighborhood News!

Visit NewTampaPlayers.org to get on the waiting list!

Double The ‘Big Game’ Squares, Double The Fun! 

We had so many entries so quickly for this year’s “Big Game” Squares contest that I decided to add a second grid of 100 squares for the “Big Game” between the San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday, February 11! That means we will have two $100 prizes, two $50 prizes and four $25 prizes, all to be awarded as gift certificates to the restaurants of each winner’s choice! And, best of all, there is no purchase necessary to enter or win any of our prizes!

As of today, we have fewer than 40 squares left out of the 200 total between the two grids, so either completely fill out the entry form by clicking HERE or email your entry with your Name, Street Address, the Community You Live In (Tampa Palms, Seven Oaks, etc.), your Daytime Phone Number & your Valid Email Address and email your entry to Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com by no later than this Friday, February 9, to be eligible. 

Please note that NO entries sent by U.S. Mail will be accepted for this contest!

We will continue to accept entries until all 200 squares are taken. Once both grids have been filled, I will email you your square, so you can have a little added excitement when you watch the Big Game! Good luck to all! 

Official Neighborhood News ‘Big Game’ Squares Contest Rules! 

1. No purchase of any kind is necessary to enter or to win. 

2. To enter, completely fill out the entry form by clicking HERE.

*Note—Entries sent by U.S. mail will NOT be accepted. 

3. Only one entry per person, whether online or by email, not both. 

4. All entries must be received by Friday, February 9, to be eligible. 

5. Entrants will NOT get to choose their squares. 

6. The first 200 properly filled out entries we receive will receive one of the 200 available squares. 

7. The publisher will assign squares at random on both grids on Saturday, February 10. 

8. If we receive fewer than 200 entries, those spaces will have no name entered in them and no one will be eligible to win a prize for any of those spaces. It doesn’t appear that this will be a problem, based on the overwhelming response so far. 

9. After all eligible names have been entered, the publisher will assign numbers 0-9 at random in both the top row and the far left column of the grid. 

10. The contest has been posted at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net since January 9. The filled-out grids will be posted before kickoff on Feb. 11. 

11. Prizes to be awarded (one prize per quarter per grid): 1Q-$25; Half-$50; 3Q- $25; 4Q or OT-$100. ALL prizes will be gift cards to the restaurant of each winner’s choice. Winners must submit the name of the restaurant of their choice or no prize will be awarded. 

12. Contest results will be posted at NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net by Feb. 14 & in our Feb. 20 Wesley Chapel & March 5 New Tampa issues.