One Heart

To me, the story of my relationship with the former Jannah Johnson McDonald is so much more than just your usual case of boy-meets-girl, boy and girl fall in love and live happily ever after.

Ours is the story of two people who have been through a lot in their lives — although not nearly as much as some people we know and love — but who somehow figured out how to be there for each other and became two stronger, better people because of our mutual respect for and support of each other.

This marriage may not be the first rodeo for either of us — and, quite honestly, neither one of us thought we’d ever get married again — but after knowing each other for as many as eight years and being together for more than four, we both just knew it was the right time for us to make this thing official. 

Although we actually met when Jannah was working for the American Cancer Society and was putting on the Wesley Chapel Relay for Life and I was covering it for the Neighborhood News, we first got together when I walked into the now-defunct Stage Left (the music venue on S.R. 54 in Lutz), the night of my birthday in 2015. 

The place was packed. Jannah and I were both members of the Rotary Cub of Wesley Chapel, so when I heard and then saw a group of women, all of whom also were members of that same Rotary Club, invite me, rather loudly, to join them at their table, I didn’t refuse.

So yes, ours is a match made in Rotary heaven, and we know a few other couples who also met through the world’s largest service organization.

But, enough of that mushy stuff. Because we decided to put on our wedding ourselves, I knew I would have to pull together a lot  of the contacts I’ve made through the Neighborhood News in order to put on the kind of wedding we wanted.

I owe these businesses and business owners a lot because only with all of their help, could we have the wedding of our dreams. So, the story that follows is my way of thanking them.   

The Business Side of Gary and Jannah’s wedding

 So, when you decide you’re going to get married, the first thing you have to do is pick a location, then set a date that your chosen venue has available. Jannah and I wanted to get married around Valentine’s Day, but once we decided we were getting married at the St. Pete Beach Community Center on Boca Ciega Dr., the closest dates they had to Valentine’s Day were March 24…and sometime in June. Guess which one we picked.

We wanted the band that was playing the night we got engaged — Restless Soul — to play at our wedding, but when front man James Shepherd was going to be out of town that day, we quickly decided on our second favorite “party” band we had seen at Jimmy B’s at the Beachcomber Resort (where Jannah and I have spent many a night dancing). That band is called New Divide, featuring lead singer/guitarist Colin Hughes. 

The third thing we decided was to hire the folks who own our favorite affordable restaurant on Gulf Blvd. — Skidder’s — to cater the event. We also were fortunate to have the Fratelli brothers John and Mario from Fratelli’s Pizza & Café in the Village Market plaza (see ad on pg 38) offer to provide a tray of my favorite broccoli rabe and a tray of penne alla vodka as our amazing side dishes.

And, none of our choices let us down. People who attended our wedding raved about our venue, the food (grouper Francaise, chicken Marsala and rib lamb chops were the main events from Skidder’s) and the music. New Divide played everything from Cheap Trick and Tom Petty to Bruno Mars and Amy Winehouse and the band agreed to learn two of mine and Jannah’s favorite Nathaniel Rateliff & the Night Sweats tunes so we could sing (and she could play the tambourine) along with them.

But, as we soon figured out, a wedding is about much more than just those things. Even if you think you can do everything yourself — and Jannah’s job the last four years at the Pasco Education Foundation is largely about putting on events and I’ve been hosting parties for our office for a quarter-century (see page 3) — you still need a wedding planner. We were blessed to have attended our friends’ Torrie and Keith Weinstein’s wedding in December and long story short, Torrie agreed to help us do our party right.

So, in addition to all of Torrie and Keith’s help, here are some of the Neighborhood News advertisers who provided all of the little touches that made our wedding so special for us:

The Rings: Leiva’s Jewelers, New Tampa — Jonathan and his father Transito Leiva have been customers of mine for years and “Pop” (as I affectionately call him) is a true craftsman who  first designed Jannah’s garnet (my birthstone) and diamond engagement ring, then created a diamond “jacket” for that ring as her wedding band. My picture of our rings above left really doesn’t do them any justice at all.

 Getting in Shape: Samantha Taylor Fitness (her) and Fit 4 Life and the Advent Health Wesley Chapel Wellness Center (me) — Jannah started working out 2-3 days a week at the Samantha Taylor studio in Wesley Chapel in November. She’s lost 17 pounds. I’ve been working out at Fit 4 Life in Tampa Palms with my friends Travis and Fiona Monday for years and also stepped up my saltwater kayaking and swimming at the Wellness Center to drop almost 20 lbs., although you may not be able to tell it from these pics, but Jannah says she can tell and that’s what matters most to me.

Hair & Makeup: New Identities Salon and Facial Accents by Leanne Carter — Although Jannah’s daughter Lauren curled her hair and did her makeup for the wedding, Jannah has been getting her hair styled and cut by Tara at New Identities (see ad on next page) for over a year and she always looks great.

Leanne, who is getting ready to open a new studio near the Fetcher Ave. exit off I-75, is an eyebrow expert who did an amazing job with Jannah’s brows.

Manicures & Pedicures: Touch Nail Spa — I figured I needed a manicure for the wedding and Jannah and Torrie both got perfect pedicures from our friend Timmy Pham and his amazing staff at Touch Nail Spa (see pg. 29).

Spray Tans By Lulu — Jannah and Torrie also had our friend Luisa give them that perfect glow for our pictures.  

Smiles: Pasco Dental — Our friend and dentist Dr. Daniel Hwang at Pasco Dental (below left) has worked on not only myself and Jannah, but also her daughter Kristen and we can all vouch for what an outstanding and gentle dentist he is.

Flowers: A Special Rose Florist — We didn’t go all out for flowers, as some folks do, but every bouquet and arrangement from A Special Rose was more than special.

Cake: Nothing Bundt Cakes — O.K., so they’ve never advertised with me, but Jannah and I have loved Nothing Bundt Cakes since the first time they gave samples out at the Taste of New Tampa & Wesley Chapel (see pages 37-39) three years ago. And, after we priced cakes from other wedding cake folks, we knew we made the right decision.

Videography & Editing: Gavin Olsen & Charmaine George — Gavin, my senior Neighborhood News Online video producer, shot the entire wedding and Charmaine edited two videos that we showed during the event. You can’t do better than these two. Check out Charmaine’s photos from the Taste (pgs. 37-39).  

Photography: Jillian Joseph Photography — I have to tell you that Jillian and her husband Joe are consummate professionals who shoot what you ask and then go above and beyond, and their work — as you can tell from just these few pics — is outstanding, And ladies, if you want boudoir photos (see ad below left), I know she’ll make you look and feel beautiful. 

Thanks also to the Wesley Chapel residents who attended, to my sons Jared and Jake, Jared’s wife Mary and Jake’s fiancée Meghan, and my mom Marilyn for making it so special for us.

Get On The Guest List Now To Celebrate My 25 Years Of Neighborhood News!

So, even though I’ve also had a lot of haters over the 25 years I have owned and been the editor of the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, the fact is that I get the most amazing feedback from all of you — our readers — about what we do to bring our communities together.

A case in point is our now-finalized plan to celebrate my 25 years at the helm of the primary news and information source for New Tampa and Wesley Chapel residents and businesses. Even though we didn’t (at that time) yet know when the celebration would be held, we’ve still have at least 60 people register to be part of that celebration — and another 30 or so of our advertising business owners who say they plan to attend.

So, let’s see how many of you will register to be on our guest list now that we are officially announcing the details of that little shindig.

Although my 25-year anniversary was actually February 25 of this year, the celebration will be held on Friday, April 12, at the awesome Bayscape Bistro at Heritage Isles Country Club (off Cross Creek Blvd.), with heavy hors d’oeuvres being put out at around 6 p.m. and karaoke with my friend Gary Carmichael of Heart & Soul Karaoke kicking the musical festivities into high gear by 7 p.m.

The food will be outstanding, as Bayscape owners Eddie and Lourdes Bujarski (who ran the culinary arts program at New Tampa’s Wharton High for nearly two decades) will put out everything from fruit and cheese to some of Bayscape’s Friday Fiesta fare like tacos, fajitas and more. We’re still working on an exact menu (and Bayscape’s complete menu will still be available for purchase) and the bar will be a cash bar, but this is a unique opportunity to hang out with not only my amazing staff at the Neighborhood News, but also the owners of many of the businesses you see advertised in every issue of this publication.     

So, all you have to do to be part of the celebration is email us from a valid email address with your first and last name, the community you live in (Tampa Palms, Live Oak Preserve, etc.) and the first and last names of any other people you plan to bring with you.

There is no admission fee to attend my “25 years of Neighborhood News” celebration, but you’re not officially on the guest list until you receive a confirmation email from us. If you want to get an idea of how crazy Jannah and I and some of our friends are about karaoke, check out my article on page 44 of our latest New Tampa issue. 

And no, you don’t have grab a mic to sing at all to attend, but you do have to email us at Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com and put “Neighborhood News Guest List” in the subject line! See you there!

The Latest On Google…

It’s been almost exactly two months since we were among only 23 news organizations in the U.S. and 87 worldwide to receive funding support from Google — and lead video producer Gavin Olsen, our new in-house videographer/video editor Charmaine George and managing editor John Cotey and I are all pretty excited  about how things are going. As you’re receiving this issue, you have the opportunity to watch a new “Neighborhood Dining News” segment with owner Steve Falabella of 900° Woodfired Pizza at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, our second “Chappie Chatter” segment with Wesley Chapel Community Facebook page administrator Jennifer Ames and even a new video about Liberty Middle School’s human hot fudge sundae.

Many of our latest videos have done very well for us, both on Facebook and on our WCNT-tv (Wesley Chapel & New Tampa television) YouTube channel.

Of the videos that we have released since my last update in these pages, our video about the new Twistee Treat in Wesley Chapel has been viewed 8,500 times, our story about the Pasco County School District’s planned purchase of property for a new school in Wesley Chapel has been viewed 5,600 times and our video about Wharton’s boys basketball team defeating the Freedom boys in the Regional playoffs has been viewed 4,600 times.

And, although I wasn’t available to go myself, Gavin and I were invited to travel to New York City to be part of a global conference call among all of the news organizations who received funding from Google. He surely will report about that conference in our next issue.

And, by the time this issue reaches your mailbox, most of our existing print advertisers and many people who have requested information about our video and online subscriptions will have received that information. 

So, if you’re interested in having a Featured Business video produced about your business, or you’re interested in the only truly multimedia advertising opportunity for businesses in New Tampa & Wesley Chapel, please email us at Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com ASAP!

And, look for more info in these pages about our soon-to-launch new website — NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net! 

Florida Executive Realty Celebrates The Opening Of Its Newly Expanded Office!

(L.-r.) Neighborhood News’ Gary Nager, with Doug Loyd and Kristy Darragh of Florida Executive Realty

When I first met Kristy Darragh in 1995, she was a relatively new agent with Florida Executive Realty (FER). Since 1992, or two years before I purchased the Neighborhood News with a former partner, FER has been operating out of what was once called the “Tampa Palms Information Center.”

At that time, Kristy bought one 1/8-page ad, sold the one house in the ad and called me to say she was buying a full-page ad with us. She’s been on our back cover of every New Tampa issue ever since.

“I’m also going to tell my boss, Doug Loyd, that he should buy a full-page ad, too,” she said. And, the rest of that story is history. Part of that history is that FER is the real estate office that we named, back in 2000, as our “Advertiser of the Millennium.”

Fast forward about a quarter of a century. FER has grown from just that one office and two people — Doug (who actually opened the office with former partner John Zielenbach) and his now-VP/general manager Michelle Weinhold (affectionately called “Red” by many in the office) — to six offices and 200 agents and staff. In addition to helping buyers and sellers of homes, FER today also offers full-service property management, mortgage and title services and even new construction services.

I sat down with Doug and Kristy recently to not only write this story, but also to do a WCNT-tv/NeighborhoodNewsOnline.net Video Business Feature about the expansion and tell more about FER and its rich history.

The building which is home to FER today — and which, rumor has it, was built in about 30 days — was one of the first two constructed in Tampa Palms back in 1986.

“This building was here before Tampa Palms Country Club, before Tampa Palms Elementary and definitely before any homes or shopping centers,” Doug says. “They were just starting to build the first subdivisions in Tampa Palms — Ashmont, Coventry and Canterbury.”

Through it all, the building has held up pretty well, but FER kept outgrowing it.

So, shortly before Kristy bought into FER as Doug’s partner 16 years ago, a second floor was added to the original 3,200-sq.-ft. building, but despite several interior re-dos since then to accommodate the office’s growing staff, Doug and Kristy have been talking about expanding and upgrading it.

Well, with Kristy and Doug, talk usually becomes action, and so today, the Tampa Palms office has been expanded by about 1,200 sq. ft. inside, and a beautiful patio and garden area (perfect for special events and even weddings that is dedicated to the memory of former FER Realtor Mark Stern) have been created outside. And, the entire building has received a wi-fi and wiring upgrade.

And, while Doug is thrilled to finally have a legitimate office, Kristy is proudest of the new “virtual agent” office that is adjacent to the new conference room.

“Because everything is online today,” she says, “agents don’t have to work 9-to-5 anymore. So, we created a space where agents from all six of our offices can stop in, plug in and then get going again.”

Doug adds, “It’s hard to believe we’ve been in business this long and haven’t had a proper conference room. But maybe, the most popular thing we’ve built is the patio. And, Phase 2 of the expansion will be to redo the rest of the existing office to match this new look.”

Still Truly Local…

Doug says that despite the fact that there are many real estate companies with offices in every U.S. state, “real estate, by definition, is still a truly local business.”

Kristy adds, “And, while Tampa Palms is still the mother ship for us, I have listings and have sold homes throughout New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and beyond. Doug has had a vision for this company and it’s working.”

Part of Doug’s vision has been to duplicate what he did in Tampa Palms, as FER’s Westchase and Fishhawk Ranch offices also are in the former community centers/information offices for those developments.

And, all six offices — Tampa Palms, Westchase, Fishhawk, South Tampa, Carrollwood and Brandon — participate in FER’s HOPE Foundation, a Florida 501(c)(3) charitable nonprofit organization established in 2015 (HOPE is an acronym for Housing, Opportunity, People and Education).

Doug says, “The HOPE Foundation is our way of giving back to those in need throughout the areas we serve.”

There currently are four nonprofit organizations receiving contributions from the Foundation — the Academy Prep Center of Tampa, A Kid’s Place of Tampa Bay in Brandon, Quantum Leap Farm of Odessa and former Tampa Bay Bucs WR Vincent Jackson’s Foundation — Jackson in Action.

“With contributions from all six offices, we’ll be donating about $40,000 to those charities (total) this year,” Doug says. “We’re pretty proud of that.” The Foundation also names a “Humanitarian of the Year” every year at FER’s “Awards of Excellence” ceremony. The 2018 Humanitarian of the Year was Sue Dei from FER’s Carrollwood office.

The Tampa Palms office of Florida Executive Realty is located at 15802 Amberly Dr. For more information, visit FloridaExectutiveRealty.com or call the office at (813) 972-3430, or Kristy Darragh at (813) 931-6700. And, please visit YouTube.com/WCNT-tv or search “Neighborhood News” on Facebook to view FER’s Featured Business video segment.

 

Why Would Anyone Do Five Straight Days Of Karaoke? Because You Can!?!

The amazing Torrie Weinstein rocked O’Brien’s

So, when Jannah and I attended a great Super Bowl party at our friends Torrie and Keith Weinstein’s beautiful motor home at the Quail Run RV Park off Old Pasco Rd. in Wesley Chapel, we had no idea we would end up singing karaoke every night for the next four in “The Chap” (plus a fifth night in New Tampa).

How did this come about and why would anyone subject themselves to not just attending five consecutive karaoke nights, but singing every one of those nights?

To be honest, none of us are really sure how it all happened, but it started with an innocent comment during the Super Bowl from Torrie that “they have karaoke here tomorrow afternoon. Wanna go?”

So, Jannah and I made our way back through the private gates of this really nice RV park the following afternoon — as karaoke at Quail Run begins promptly at 6 and ends even more promptly at 9. Unlike most karaoke locales, which are bars, you can bring your own “liquid courage” to Quail Run, which provides the karaoke just for its residents and their guests. 

The really funny thing was that these mostly-older-than-us local residents found a way to line dance to every song the entire night. I mean, of course they’d line dance to “I Got Friends in Low Places,” but I was flabbergasted that they also did a different line dance when I sang Billy Joel’s “Piano Man.” Line dancing to “Piano Man?” Really? 

 Even so, the folks were very hospitable and they did seem to like the rendition of the Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton hit “Islands in the Stream” that Jannah and I do as one of our many duets. But of course, they especially loved Torrie, who is this tiny little girl with a true set of pipes. I’m pretty sure that the Quail Run folks would pay a cover charge to sit and listen to an evening of just Torrie singing “This Ain’t Your Mama’s Broken Heart” and other line-dance-able tunes. In fact, someone even suggested it to the management at Quail Run.

But, when we all realized that we were doing karaoke on a Monday night for the first time, we also recognized that in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel alone, you currently can sing at an open-to-the-public karaoke bar every Tuesday through Friday. I can’t tell you exactly how we went from saying that we could to agreeing that we were going to, but here’s how the rest of our week went:

Tuesday Night — The Brass Tap

 In stark contrast to Quail Run, the Brass Tap in the Shops at Wiregrass starts its karaoke on Tuesday later than any of the other locales in our area (it usually starts at around 9:30), and it definitely attracts the youngest crowd. And, even though Torrie is the only near-millennial in our happy group, we always have a lot of fun singing at The Brass Tap. Keith even sang once — “Tequila” by The Champs. (Look it up!)

Wednesday Night — O’Brien’s

 O’Brien’s Irish Pub (see ad on pg. 35) is where Jannah and I first sang together and I’ve written before about karaoke jock Gary Carmichael of Heart & Soul Karaoke and our awesome crowd of fellow regulars at O’Brien’s, which also was where we first met Torrie and Keith.

One of those regulars is our friend Derrell Newell, also known as “Elvis D,” a professional Elvis impersonator who also did a great Roy Orbison impression helping Jannah and me on “Handle With Care” by the Traveling Wilburys. 

We also were excited that a few of the folks from Quail Run met us at O’Brien’s — we assumed to watch Torrie again.

Thursday Night — The Basement

Even though it “only” has beer and wine, we all agreed that we also always have fun at The Basement, where our friend Gary also runs the show — and Gary has probably the best “legal” list of karaoke songs to sing of any karaoke jock I’ve met.

We all agreed that this would be the earliest night for us of this now-too-long week of ruining our hearing, so that we could still make it to Friday intact. Once again, Torrie brought down the house with her current favorite karaoke tune — “Killing Me Softly With His Song,” the Roberta Flack hit from the 1970s that was redone with an almost reggae beat by the Fugees in 1996).

Friday Night — Bayscape Bistro at Heritage Isles Golf Club

The Bayscape Bistro at Heritage Isles Golf Club on Cross Creek Blvd. (near Morris Bridge Rd.) in New Tampa (see “Gary’s Favorites” on pages 31-35) is more than just one of my favorite new restaurants in our area.

Owners Eddie and Lourdes Bujarski, the couple who ran the Culinary Arts program at New Tampa’s Wharton High for nearly two decades, have a great little neighborhood restaurant and bar with a fun crowd of regulars. 

We also were happy that we convinced our friend Ron, the O’Brien’s regular who first introduced us to Torrie and Keith, to come out to join us at Bayscape Bistro.

And, even though neither Torrie nor Jannah agreed to do the same, I decided that I was going to try to make it through the week without repeating even one song, just to challenge myself. And, judging by the 22 tunes on my “set list” (right), I accomplished my goal, even though I have no idea why I would even try it.

So, there you have it…our five-day Karaokethon. It was a lot of fun, but would we ever do it again? “Oh hell no,” we all agreed.

Nibble & Bytes

The New Las Palmas Is Open!

For those who have been waiting to find out where and when everyone’s favorite Latin restaurant in New Tampa was going to reopen, Ramses Garcia, the owner/chef of Las Palmas Latin Grill, says that you should come check him at his new location, in the same plaza as Five Guys Burgers & Fries off County Line Rd. at Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

Ramses and his wife Ana promise that the new menu includes all of your old favorites from his former location in the Pebble Creek Collection, with even more authentic Cuban recipes for you to sample.

Of course, I had to try Ramses’ mojo roast pork the day before he opened and I loved the new red beans served with his always moist, but with a crispy edge, roast pork.

Please tell Ramses and Ana that Gary at the New Tampa Neighborhood News sent you and please tell them how hard you’ve been trying to find out about their new location.

The new Las Palmas Latin Grill is located at 6431 County Line Rd., Tampa. For more info, call (813) 907-1333 or search Las Palmas Cafe on Facebook.

 Hummingbird Jerk House is open!!

We told you months ago a new Jamaican restaurant was coming to the space formerly occupied by Dairy Queen, and it’s now officially open and you can’t miss the giant sign that says only “Jamaican Cuisine,” but is actually for the Hummingbird Jerk House.

Located in North Palms Village on BBD (next to Oakley’s Grille), the Hummingbird Jerk House offers a variety of authentic Jamaican delights. 

There are daily lunch specials, jerk and curry chicken, oxtail and beef stew, curry goat and cow foot and butter beans, as well as seafood dishes, including Jamaica’s national dish of ackee and saltfish. A wide-ranging menu also includes deserts like Jamaican fruit cake and sweet potato pudding, as well as Jamaican beers and coffee.

Coming Soon: Smallcakes!

Do you have a sweet tooth? Doesn’t everyone? The good news is that Smallcakes is coming to the Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, next to our friends at the Palms Pharmacy, between Koizi and Ciccio Cali.

The bad news is that this cupcakery (is that a word?), which has an existing location in Oldsmar, looks to still be more than a month from opening. We’ll keep you posted.

Checking Out Saltgrass Steakhouse & Main Event…In Orlando!!

With all of the restaurants and stores that have opened on the north side of S.R. 56 (across from the Tampa Premium Outlets), the eatery coming to our area that I’m now most excited about is the Saltgrass Steakhouse, which recently broke ground on the south side of 56, between the outlet mall and I-75.

My son Jared and his wife Mary live in a new section of Orlando — also near a new outlet mall — which is home to many of the same restaurants we have, including Longhorn Steakhouse and others. But, the one that caught my eye was the sign for Saltgrass Steakhouse, which is the steakhouse chain under the Landry’s Seafood House umbrella.

Of all the restaurants in our area, price-wise, Saltgrass is probably closest to Stonewood Grill & Tavern in Tampa Palms, with most steaks at least $30. But, whether you choose a filet (Jannah and I split the huge 12-oz. version) or Jared’s bone-in ribeye (at least 22 oz.), the Angus steaks are truly tender, well-seasoned and delicious. There are fresh veggies galore and the salad, bread and desserts are all top-notch, too.

Jared and Mary also live near International Dr., which is home to a Main Event entertainment center — which also is coming to the same area of S.R. 56 as Saltgrass. The feel is like a big Dave & Buster’s, with video games, a bar and cafe, but with really nice bowling alleys — and the food looked pretty decent, too. Jannah and I will have to go back and visit Main Event for dinner to tell you more about it, but I’m certain it will become a major attractor for our area.

Also coming to that part of S.R. 56 is Rock & Brews, a scratch kitchen with a rock & roll theme. In addition to a nice-looking menu, Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley of the rock group KISS make appearances at every opening. Fun stuff.

Blaze Pizza & Sweetea Café Open!

If you’ve been waiting to find out what the Sweetea CafĂ© on S.R. 56 (in the same plaza as Mellow Mushroom) is all about, wait no more. The cafĂ© is all about delicious. I like hot and cold tea and I’m OK with the Boba (bubble) tea featured at the Sweetea CafĂ©, but the most pleasant surprise on my first visit was the delicious, authentic Vietnamese cuisine. 

I really enjoyed the grilled pork rice plate shown in the photo left, and, especially, the crisp, overstuffed chicken & veggie wegg rolls and sweet dipping sauce.

Meanwhile, in the same plaza as Chipotle, a little west of Mellow Mushroom, Blaze Pizza, our area’s second fast-casual pizza place, has opened  almost directly across S.R. 56 from MOD Pizza, its biggest competitor nationwide. Think: more tasty pizzas and salads, plus desserts.

For more info about the Sweetea Café, visit SweetTeaFL.com or call (813) 406-5961! For Blaze Pizza, call (813) 907-0097 or visit BlazePizza.com and tell them both I sent you! — GN