Rezoning Requested For Highwoods Land

Highwoods Properties has requested a rezoning for 14 acres of land (in pink) along Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.
Highwoods Properties has requested a rezoning for 14 acres of land (in pink) along Highwoods Preserve Pkwy.

As the construction and development begins to once again increase in our area, it’s not unusual to see property owners try to make their land as appealing as possible to potential developers. Such is the case with a parcel of land along Highwoods Preserve Pkwy. in New Tampa.Continue reading

Montelione Considers 2016 Run For Dist. 63 Seat

dist 63By Matt Wiley

Lisa Montelione’s second term as the District 7 Tampa City Council member has just begun, but murmurs have arisen about a possible bid to take on Dist. 63 Rep. Shawn Harrison (R-New Tampa, see story on page 4) for his seat in the Florida Legislature in Tallahassee in the 2016 election. Rep. Harrison also served two terms on the Tampa City Council representing New Tampa, before taking a run at what is now the  Dist. 63 seat in 2010. He was followed by fellow New Tampa resident Joseph Caetano in 2007, who lost to Montelione in 2011.Continue reading

Rep. Shawn Harrison Recaps The Legislative Special Session

Dist. 63 State Rep. Shawn Harrison represents New Tampa in Tallahassee.
Dist. 63 State Rep. Shawn Harrison represents New Tampa in Tallahassee.

By Rep. Shawn Harrison

In the 2015 Florida Legislative Special Session, the State House and Senate came together to pass a $79-billion budget that includes $400 million in tax cuts, returning money to the pockets of hard-working Floridians, and of special note, extending the normal, three-day “Back to School” sales tax holiday to 10 days. The 2015-16 budget allocates a record-breaking $19.7-billion in funding to Florida’s public schools, approximately $7,097 per student. It was my pleasure to serve on the House K-12 committee, looking out for our New Tampa public school students. Continue reading

Editorial: Focus On Sports — The U.S. Women, Capt. Dave’s Snub & Jimmy Jones

An editorial by Gary Nager
An editorial by Gary Nager

It was only a few years before the last U.S. Women’s World Cup win in 1999 when I saw my first-ever girls high school soccer game. In the years before Paul R. Wharton High opened in New Tampa, most New Tampa kids attended King High on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace and several New Tampa girls were on the King team.Continue reading