Nearly a year after it unofficially opened following major renovations, the New River Library at 34043 S.R. 54 finally got its official Grand Opening last month.
The library was closed from October 2019 through a soft opening in April 2021, receiving a major upgrade that was extended by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The New River Library was officially rededicated with a ribbon cutting and ceremonial release of butterflies on April 21, attended by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, Pasco Libraries regional manager Angelo Liranzo, other library officials and the architects of the project.
Liranzo praised the efforts of landscape architect Celia Nichols, who transformed the outdoor space at the library.
“What we have now is completely different and totally transformed into something so wonderful,” he said. “Instead of just a community garden…we have 28 planter beds that can be reserved for a quarter at a time.
Liranzo added that all of the planter beds already have been checked out and that there is now a waiting list.
The library also has a larger and brighter lobby, two soundproof study rooms and a larger one for bigger groups, four new family bathrooms, a larger children’s area, a teen room and an upgraded scanning and printing area.
The new outdoor study area and community garden are highlights. The garden has four water barrels, a butterfly garden and sensory items for children who are on the autism spectrum.
Elijiah Brown (center) and Brendan Collela (right in the maroon jersey) are vying for the starting job at Wiregrass Ranch. (Photos: Charmaine George)
Spring football always presents a host of questions for area coaches to answer.
Who is going to start here, who is going to block there, and who is going to step up in the fall?
But, in Wesley Chapel this month, all three local high schools have at least one question in common:
Who is going to play quarterback?
The game’s most important position at Wiregrass Ranch (WRH), Wesley Chapel (WCH) and Cypress Creek (CCH) was handled by seniors Rocco Becht, Ethan Harper and Owen Walls, respectively. Together, the trio passed for more than 4,300 yards and 45 touchdowns. Their backups threw a combined five passes, completing one.
So, who will line up under center on May 19 when Cypress Creek hosts a jamboree against Pasco and St. Petersburg Catholic and Wiregrass Ranch visits Berkeley Prep at 7 p.m., or May 20 when Wesley Chapel hosts Land O’Lakes at 7 p.m.?
Good question.
Bryson Rodgers is considered one of the top prep receivers in the country.
Nowhere does the quarterback search seem more of a necessity than at WRH, where the Bulls are flush with a pair of fantastic, dare we say once-in-a-lifetime wide receivers.
Rising senior Bryson Rodgers recently committed to Ohio State — which had two wideouts drafted in the first round of last month’s NFL Draft — and rising junior Izaiah Williams picked up a college offer from national champion Georgia last week, to go with those he has received from the likes of Florida State, Cincinnati and Michigan.
Bulls coach Mark Kantor admits it’s not ideal to have to find a new, unproven quarterback for a roster that arguably has the two best receivers in school history, but he has his fingers crossed that the answer emerges from the spring battle between last year’s backup Elijiah Brown and junior varsity starter Brendyn Collela.
“They’re even right now,” says Kantor.
While Kantor would like to see a starter emerge that can take advantage of his star receivers, who combined for 1,200 yards and 18 TDs last year, he does have the area’s top returning running back in Kenneth Walker, who scored seven TDs last year.
Quarterback aside, Kantor does have other issues. He has an offensive line to replace, though he feels good about the spring efforts so far and thinks he has found four of the five future starters, and his defense has to be better.
Last fall, the Bulls lost four of their last five games and surrendered an average of 37 points in those losses.
He is counting on guys like rising senior Nick Johnson (LB) and Elijiah Westbrooks (CB), rising junior Jaden Bering (MLB) and rising sophomore Ola Omaloye (MLB) to pack some extra punch into the defensive unit.
“We’ve got to get back to playing physical defense,” Kantor says. “I gotta find some dudes who want to crack-a-lack.”
CCH Grooming Neimann
Meanwhile, at Cypress Creek, Walls’ departure will hurt, but coach Mike Johnson likes what he has seen in jayvee starter and rising junior Jack Neimann this offseason.
“I think we’ve got some great guys trying to fill those shoes,” Johnson says. “Jack is a guy who has been productive, and we have a lot of confidence in him.”
While quarterback may be the biggest loss, the entire offense is in need of a spring overhaul. Even if Neimann can prove to be the answer at QB, he will need blockers, pass catchers and running backs and the Coyotes went into spring looking for all those things.
Dylan Lolley, a 6-3, 225-pound tight end, is a great route runner and had 28 catches for 329 yards last year, so he’ll be counted on to replace a lot of the 1,200 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns lost to graduation. And, rising senior running back Tre Gibson is expected to take over in the backfield.
As for the offensive line, Johnson says a torn ACL, back surgery and dislocated elbow will keep three of his veteran offensive/defensive linemen sidelined this spring, but he feels good about the fall.
Defensively, it’s been a five-year battle to find a unit that can produce like Johnson wants it to. In the team’s brief history, the Coyotes have been allowing more than 30 points a game.
Can The ‘Cats Run To Wins?
While the Wildcats (6-4 last season) also need a quarterback, they don’t rely on the pass as much as their area counterparts.
Harper threw for 600 yards last season, so whoever inherits the reigns between rising senior Dillon McGinnis, junior Colin Opperman and sophomore Desmond Devore won’t be asked to do too much.
Instead, how they lead WCH’s run-first offense will be the key.
“Whoever shows the leadership for the position will be the guy,” says coach Anthony Egan.
Egan has rising senior bookend tackles in Max Hambrecht (6-4, 325) and Ryan Warren (6-3, 270) and tight end Conner Libby (6-5, 230) to anchor his offensive line, so look for the Wildcats to do what the coach likes best and pound the rock while controlling the clock. The loss of 1,000-yard rusher Jaylan Blake needs to be replaced, and Egan says last year’s fullback Mason Quinn could be that guy.
On the defensive side of the ball, linebacker Josh Poleon will anchor the unit, which is in rebuilding mode. The hardest part about rebuilding, whether it’s finding one player like a quarterback or an entire defensive line, are the number of choices. At Wesley Chapel, Egan’s biggest spring battle could be finding enough players.
“We’re still struggling with numbers,” says Egan, who had about 45 kids out this spring. “It definitely presents some special challenges. We have good kids, with great skills, but we need more of them.”
The local Wesley Chapel office of GEICO Insurance, located in the Northwoods Plaza, on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. north of County Line Rd., is led by Jaime Bryant (center). (Right) Jaime and his wife Shannon may or may not already be training baby Elliott to be a GEICO agent.
When most people think of GEICO Insurance, an image of a friendly talking gecko from countless television commercials is usually what comes to mind.
They also know that 15 minutes can save you 15 percent or more on car insurance, but what they likely don’t know is that they also can walk in to or call a local GEICO office and speak with a local agent, right in their own neighborhoods, including in nearby Wesley Chapel.
The Wesley Chapel office of GEICO was opened by Jaime Bryant a little over a year ago in the Super Target-anchored Northwoods shopping center on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of County Line Rd.
While GEICO is mostly known for its auto insurance — insuring more than 30 million vehicles — the company also offers motorcycle, RV (recreational vehicle), boat, condo and renter’s insurance, as well as life and umbrella policies (which provide extended liability coverage for people with a lot of assets).
Bryant is pleased to announce that his office also can now write homeowners insurance policies, including for mobile and manufactured homes.
He says that GEICO had paused writing new homeowners policies in Florida to be sure it didn’t overexpose its risk in the state, which is susceptible to large major disasters, especially when a hurricane comes through. However, the company recently has opened up to writing new homeowners policies again.
“You get a discount on both policies when you purchase auto and homeowners insurance (also known as “bundling”),” he explains. “So, that increases the chances of saving money.”
Plus, you only have to deal with one office, and Bryant and his team at GEICO’s Wesley Chapel office are happy to handle all of your insurance needs.
Whether you want to use GEICO’s easy-to-navigate app, website, or call the office, or if you’re someone who prefers to walk in and meet with an agent face-to-face, Bryant and his staff are happy to accommodate.
He says his office has grown considerably since it opened in 2021, now employing 10 people, all of whom are experienced and trained to be sure the customer is neither over insured or under insured, but properly insured.
When first meeting people who are considering switching to GEICO, Bryant says, “We often ask why they have certain specific coverages and they don’t know. It’s just what they were sold. The amount of coverage doesn’t necessarily fit their personal situation.”
And, while he says he can’t speak to what other insurance agencies tell their clients, he says his clients are often surprised to hear the explanation of why they have too much coverage, or not enough, or may want to make certain decisions to lower the price of their policies. He says it seems his agents are often giving people information they haven’t heard before.
For example, sometimes when families have children of driving age, it may be beneficial to have the children separated off the policy.
“It always varies, so we have to make sure we are asking the right questions to get the right policy,” he says. “Nothing’s ever one-size-fits-all.”
And he says, more often than not, his team finds that people are carrying more insurance than they need.
“Our goal is to make sure people are properly insured, not paying more than they need to pay,” Bryant says, “and that what we provide to them is tailored to their needs.”
Orville Harness is getting ready to move to the Tampa Bay area after retiring from law enforcement in Indiana.
“It’s so different between Indiana and Florida,” Harness said. He was confused as he looked for quotes online and had lots of questions.
Fortunately for him, he submitted a request for a quote from Bryant’s office, and an agent called back to answer all of his questions.
“It was really nice to talk with someone in Florida who knows what they’re doing,” he said, instead of talking with someone in a call center who may or may not know or understand the nuances of insurance in this state.
“They really helped us understand what to spend our money on and what not to spend our money on,” he said. “They saved us a bunch of money.”
Some History
GEICO was founded in 1936 by Leo Goodwin and his wife Lillian to provide auto insurance directly to federal government employees and their families. Bryant says many people don’t know that the name GEICO is actually an acronym for Government Employees Insurance Company.
Bryant also says GEICO was the first insurance company that he can recall that began selling insurance directly to customers, as opposed to working only through agents. That has helped the company, headquartered in Maryland, become the second-largest auto insurer in the U.S. (behind State Farm), as well as the largest auto insurer here in Florida.
Bryant says that’s because GEICO offers two very important things for those looking for insurance: competitive rates and great customer service.
Although GEICO has had a Tampa office for 40 years, as well as others in Clearwater and New Port Richey, Bryant’s location, which features an aquarium with a real gecko, is the first in or near Wesley Chapel.
Bryant has lived in the Tampa Bay area for more than 20 years and is a University of South Florida graduate with a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree.
He worked for GEICO in Lakeland for 16 years, the last few while driving a long commute from his home in Live Oak Preserve in New Tampa, where he lives with his wife, Shannon, and their new baby son, Elliott.
When GEICO decided to open an office in Wesley Chapel, Bryant says he jumped at the chance to apply, both to have the opportunity to be his own boss and to build a business in the community he calls home.
He’s working hard to earn people’s trust and make sure the agents in his office are ready to help meet their unique and individual needs.
“It’s hard to find good customer service anymore,” says Harness, the retiree who is moving to Florida. “They were very patient, and they took the time to explain everything. The world needs more of that.”
The GEICO-Wesley Chapel local office is located at 1227 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. It is open Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-7 p.m., and 9 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, visit GEICO.com/Wesley-Chapel-Bryant or call (813) 953-4200.
Noire Nail Bar, located next to Mellow Mushroom on the north side of S.R. 56, west of I-75, is one of the most spacious and beautiful nail salons in our area.
Ana Mendez is a nail loyalist. Do her nails right, and she’ll be with you forever.
She had been going to the same salon since high school, even though she had moved and it was a haul. Then, one day in 2018, she walked into a new place that had just opened, Noire Nail Bar, located on S.R. 56 in the Cypress Creek Town Center (near Mellow Mushroom).
She was sold.
“I come in every two weeks,” Ana says, getting her nails done by the same technician, Amy, each time. “She is the only person I let touch my nails.”
What made a loyalist like Ana change shops? Well, other than the location in the heart of the S.R. 56 corridor, which she frequently visits due to the plethora of places to eat, shop and, well, get your nails done, she says Noire Nail Bar has everything she is looking for in a salon.
It’s quiet and serene with an upscale feel, offers a wide variety of services and delivers on what she requires the most — a set of killer nails.
That definitely makes John Nguyen, who owns Noire Nail Bar along with his wife Vanessa, smile.
“If they are happy, they will come back,” Nguyen says. “That’s what we try to do. That’s what separates us from other nail salons.”
Nguyen says the salon’s look and feel are intended to cultivate a calm atmosphere, which you can feel as soon as you step foot in the place. In other nail salons, you may notice the technicians chatting with each other while taking care of their clients. Nguyen says he prefers that they don’t talk amongst themselves, instead focusing their attention on the task, well, at hand.
“I want them to pay attention to the customer,” he says. “People come here to relax, because it’s very quiet.”
Nguyen says he employs 15 technicians or so, and on the weekends, they are all busy.
And, just because Covid is finally in many people’s rear-view mirrors doesn’t mean that the salon is no longer kept sparkling clean. Many of the sanitation procedures that were put in place during the pandemic are still adhered to, and while customers aren’t required to wear masks, the technicians still do.
Most of Noire’s staff is experienced. It’s one of the things that Nguyen values most in his employees, because they know what to expect and familiar faces are always nice for the salon’s returning customers. And, Nguyen says, a good many of his customers do return, like Ana.
“It’s a really nice place, and I like going to places with a great ambiance and this place does,” Ana says. “Sometimes, I even bring my laptop and can get some work done. There are no distractions at all.”
Although they’re not required, Noire encourages appointments to be sure you’re not turned away — especially on weekends.
Once you arrive, you’ll always be offered a complimentary glass of wine, or a soft drink or water with all services. Those services include a wide variety of manicures, pedicures, massages, full sets, dipping powder, nail enhancements, eyelash extensions and face and body waxing.
Noire Nail Bar has a separate area for pedicures, where chairs are grouped together, including facing each other, which is convenient for groups of friends or family, so you can enjoy conversations with each other as opposed to being spread out in a long line. This setup allows small groups to enjoy privacy and intimacy in their time together.
Pedicure stations are lined along the other side of the large salon, and also can accommodate small groups.
The range of different services includes everything from basic manicures and pedicures to the popular Noire Nail Bar Signature Spa Pedicure and Special Care Spa, and everything in between.
Nguyen says the Signature Spa Pedicure is the “ultimate” treat for your feet, with a therapeutic lavender rub that exfoliates dry skin while citrus sugar relieves and moisturizes your tired feet.
That is followed by an extensive moisturizing lotion massage and a hot towel wrap.
Noire’s Special Care Spa also is designed to cater to clients, with an Organic Spa Pedicure and even services for those with special needs, such as the elderly and those with diabetes who may have cracked heels, thick calluses, extra thick or ingrown toenails — anything that requires extra time, attention or precautions.
Prince and Princess manicures and pedicures also are available for kids ages 12 and under.
“We also use only the best products,” Nguyen says, “like O.P.I., DND and others.”
And, if you need a nail design you saw somewhere, or have thought of one yourself, the technicians can meet your desires.
Ultimately, it was one of the biggest reasons why Ana says she changed salons.
“I liked the other place, but if I showed them something new, they couldn’t achieve it,” she says, “and I’m very particular. So now I’m committed here, and I love it.”
Noire also offers all of its services for birthday parties, bridal showers and other events. Be sure to call ahead to reserve your time and services in a space just for you.
Noire Nail Bar offers 10% off all services every Monday through Wednesday, if you use the coupon from the ad on pg. 28 of this issue. A 10% discount also is offered on your birthday, with proper identification proving that it’s your birthday.
Noire Nail Bar is located at 25682 Sierra Center Blvd., Lutz, and is open Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-7:30 p.m., and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sun. For appointments or for more information or call (813) 536-0161.
From greens to Green, the battle over what to do with the former Pebble Creek Golf Club (PCGC) is now headed to the courts.
PCGC owner Bill Place and his company Ace Golf are suing Pebble Creek resident Leslie Green, seeking more than $30,000 in damages for defamation and tortious interference (or interfering with a contractual relationship) as well as attorney’s fees, after Green chased off potential developers, says the suit filed March 28 in Hillsborough Circuit Court.
Green, who has lived along the 10th hole at PCGC for nearly 30 years, has been a vocal critic of Place’s efforts to sell the 54-year-old golf club, which was shuttered back on July 31, 2021.
She started the “Save Pebble Creek” Facebook page in March 2019, leading the opposition against Place’s efforts to secure a so-called brownfield designation to offset the costs of removing pesticides and other chemicals from the property, a requirement before he could sell the 150-acre property for development.
The application was denied after residents banded together to fight it, leaving Place to shoulder costs that he said would be more than $1 million.
Green has posted more than 600 times on the Facebook page, according to the lawsuit.
Place declined to comment on the suit itself.
Green, in a statement released through her lawyers at Stanton I.P. Law, P.A., said, “This is not about who lives on what side of the street, this is about protecting our neighborhood’s quality of life. In my opinion, the proposals that have been presented will drastically change our neighborhood. My neighbors and I have the right to voice our concerns and advocate for the type of neighborhood we can all be proud to live in. This lawsuit does not change my resolve and will not be used to silence my disapproval with the proposed changes.”
No court date has been set, but Green has filed for an extension to respond to the suit until May 10.
The lawsuit alleges that Green’s fight against efforts to develop homes on the course were “personal and selfish motivations on the part of Green and an animosity against Ace Golf and Place,” and she also conducted a mail campaign to reach out to developers, city, county and state officials and others, established a GoFundMe page to pay legal fees for her “personal endeavors,” communicated with the press, engaged in mass mailing letter writing campaigns and contacted developers and officials through multiple phone calls.
All of these efforts are categorized in the lawsuit as the “Green Method.” According to the lawsuit, she “made things personal and pervasive through a campaign of harassment and dissemination of blatant falsehoods through multiple channels.”
Place also says Green made false statements in an effort to publicly shame him by saying he engaged in a “golf course flopping scheme” and intentionally sabotaged the course so he could sell it.
This Pebble Creek resident is opposed to development on the former golf course.
The results, says the lawsuit, were that two developers ended up withdrawing their interest.
In July of 2020, KB Homes, Pulte Homes and several other builders provided bids to redevelop Pebble Creek, and, in June 2021, Place came to terms with Pulte. Place alleges that Green used the “Green Method” to directly contact Pulte Homes and deliver “blatant falsehoods” that led to the builder pulling out in August 2021.
When a bid by KB Homes was then accepted, Green again sent “targeted communications,” according to the suit.
“It worked again,” the lawsuit alleges, as KB Homes also withdrew its bid.
Place told the Neighborhood News last week that he is currently working with another builder, and hopes the rezoning process can begin by the end of the year.
He said the builder, which he did not name, has already presented a preliminary development plan and has met with small focus groups in an effort to convince residents that the project would be a benefit to the area. There are roughly 1,400 homes in Pebble Creek, and 130 of them are on the golf course.
“I completely understand why the people who live on the course are upset,” Place says. “But, for the people that don’t live on the course, most of them are not part of this Leslie Green movement. They are just people out there living their lives who probably never play golf and don’t care about golf. That’s most of the people out there. They are not the ones trying to cause issues. In the long run, those are really the people who will decide things, whether or not we’re allowed to do any development or not.”
Place says he already has the zoning credits for 600 homes, but the plans have always been to build only 260 or so.
“I have to find a use for the property,” he says. “I pay $30,000 a year in property taxes, I pay a guy $50,000 a year just to maintain the property the best we can. I’m not looking for a fight, I’m looking for a solution, and I’m absolutely wanting to work with residents.”
