Dr. Sam Jureyda Offers Top-Notch Orthodontic Care At Radiance Orthodontics 

Dr. Sam Jureyda welcomes the local community to his Radiance Orthodontics, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, off the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit off I-75. (Photo provided by Dr. Jureyda) 

Two decades ago, about 85 percent of dentists owned their own practices, but times have changed drastically. 

The New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas have not escaped the national trend of more dental and orthodontic offices being owned by corporations, instead of the practitioners themselves. 

But, Sam Jureyda, DMD, says he’s not interested in selling his Radiance Orthodontics, although he frequently gets offers from corporations wanting to buy his practice. 

“Dr. J,” as his patients call him, opened Radiance Orthodontics more than eight years ago to provide orthodontic treatments for kids, teens and adults, primarily using braces and Invisalign aligners to move teeth and correct bites. The practice is located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit off I-75, near the New Tampa Recreation Center. 

When patients visit Radiance Orthodontics, they always see Dr. Jureyda personally. He enjoys getting to know the families who entrust their care to him, and considers his patients to be family. 

“In an era of big box stores,” Dr. Jureyda explains, “we’re still a mom-and-pop.” 

He says he wouldn’t even consider giving up the time he spends caring for each individual in his practice in order to meet the demands of corporate dentistry. 

“We value the relationship we build with our patients,” Dr. J says. 

Before moving into private practice in 2006, and subsequently opening Radiance Orthodontics in 2016, Dr. Jureyda taught graduate-level orthodontics at the University of Buffalo, NY. Prior to that, he earned a Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, a Certificate of Specialty in Orthodontics from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, DC, and completed a clinical fellowship in Orthodontics from the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Department of Orthodontics. 

His education includes years of studying facial biology and growth dynamics, and his practice has allowed him to treat all types of patients, even those with the most complicated orthodontic needs. 

He’s also pleased to have been recognized again in 2024 by Tampa Magazine as one of the Tampa Bay area’s top dentists, as voted on by dentists across the region. 

His peers have recognized that his education and experience make him one of the area’s best. 

His commitment to private practice allows him to maintain a lower volume of patients and spend more time with each person who comes in, which means that patients at Radiance Orthodontics get customized care from an orthodontist who is invested in them personally, whether they choose treatment via traditional braces or Invisalign aligners. 

“There are so many factors that go into a decision about an appliance that you may wear for 18 months or more,” says Dr. Jureyda. “I am always happy to go over all of that information so that you can make the right choice about the treatment plan that is best for you.” 

These days, general dentists are more frequently also offering aligners. But, Dr. J offers a deeper understanding of the dentofacial orthopedics involved in aligning teeth and jaws over a lifetime, whether it’s during the early years of childhood growth or even in older adults. 

Getting a second opinion from Dr. Jureyda is completely free and may provide additional avenues for treatment or a lower cost than other options. 

“We’re seeing so much inflation right now, which is stretching families,” says Dr. Jureyda. “Radiance Orthodontics is a small business and we are in touch with what’s happening in our community. We try to walk that fine line between meeting the demands of running a business and keeping our fees affordable and payments flexible for our patients.” 

He promises reasonable fees that avoid the need for coupons or complex payment structures. 

He suggests that anyone who wants to learn more about his practice search “Radiance Orthodontics” for his online Google reviews. All 160+ of the office’s reviews on Google are five stars and speak to the way Dr. J cares for his patients. 

Nicole Shuts moved to New Tampa about two years ago. Her sons already had braces, so she needed to find an orthodontist to continue their care. She says the first one she went to “didn’t feel quite right,” so she kept looking and ultimately found Radiance Orthodontics. 

“As soon as I walked in and met Dr. J, I was really impressed with his demeanor,” she says. “He’s very calm, very intelligent, he knew exactly what problems my sons were facing, and his recommendations were conservative, but on point with what we needed.” 

She says one son’s bite was really bad and his molars weren’t even touching. She wanted to bring him to Dr. Jureyda, but she also wanted to double-check her instincts, so she conferred with her son’s previous orthodontist. 

“I told her about the people we interviewed and their proposals,” Nicole explains, “and she steered me toward what I was feeling, which made me super happy because at that point I liked Dr. J already.” 

Nicole says the proof is in the results. 

“It’s a joy to me that he can chew his food better,” she says of her son. “It’s been two years and we’re very happy. We wouldn’t change anything.” 

Nicole also is happy with her other son’s treatment, and appreciates that Dr. J sees her youngest daughter every few months to see if it’s time to start treatment for her yet, as well. Those ongoing consultations are complimentary, as Dr. J keeps an eye on her growth. 

“I really appreciate that,” Nicole says. “I know he’s trustworthy and he’s not pushy.” 

Carmen Mitchell and her 15-year-old daughter, Kali, are both in treatment with Dr. Jureyda. Carmen explains she didn’t have braces as a child and her deep bite was causing breakage in her teeth. To prevent further breakage, her dentist recommended Invisalign. And although the dentist gave her a fair price for those aligners, she didn’t feel that the office was fully prepared for the details of the specialty treatment. 

But, it was totally different when she saw Dr. Jureyda for a free consultation. 

“He’s very knowledgeable and gets to know you as a patient,” she says, “and then he makes sure the service he’s providing is tailored to you.” 

When her daughter’s dentist suggested an orthodontic evaluation, she knew she would bring her to Dr. Jureyda, too. 

“I like the way he talks to her as the patient,” Carmen adds. “She’s involved in her own care, which is important.” 

Supporting The Community, Too 

As a former educator, Dr. Jureyda makes it a high priority to support students and educators in our community, and Carmen says she wants to support Radiance so he can continue to do so. 

Not only is Radiance Orthodontics a long-term business partner of all of New Tampa’s public schools (and some Wesley Chapel schools, as well), he also awards scholarships each spring to a graduating senior at both Wharton and Freedom high schools. These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the community through volunteering. Last year, he also offered scholarships to seniors at King and Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate high schools. 

“I often recommend people go to Radiance,” Carmen says. “I tell them, ‘Go, get a quote. You’ll probably fall in love with Dr. J and the staff while you’re there.’” 

Radiance Orthodontics offers Invisalign and braces for kids, teens and adults of all ages. To schedule a free consultation, text or call (813) 972-1100. For more information about the practice, located at 17427 Bridge Hill Court, Suite A, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center or visit MyRadianceBraces.com.

Home Gadgets At The Shops At Wiregrass For Unique & Useful Home Products! 

Radjes Badal (below left), (L.-r.) Rajiv Badal and Ayush Gandhi invite you to check out all of the unique kitchen and home items at the new Home Gadgets store on Paseo Dr. in The Shops at Wiregrass. (Photos by Charmaine George & Gary Nager) 

With the holiday season just around the corner, where can you find the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook? Go check out the new Home Gadgets store, located next to Talbots in The Shops at Wiregrass, which offers a variety of cool and unique items for your home. 

In 2004, Rajiv Badal’s parents, Radjes and Vidia Badal, opened a store in Ocala which originally sold “As Seen on TV” products. Over time, the store began to grow and the Badals added an array of household items, with a special focus on kitchen gadgets. That store became a well-loved and successful business that continues to thrive today and is still run by Rajiv’s parents. Although they stay busy with their own store, Radjes and Vidia now visit Rajiv’s Wiregrass location a few times a week to lend a hand and bring in new merchandise. 

Rajiv has fond memories of growing up in Ocala, where he worked alongside his parents and learned the ins and outs of running a business. He wasn’t just a helper; he was soaking up every bit of knowledge about everything from inventory to customer service. While pursuing his own career as an optometrist — he met his wife, Esha Gandhi, who also is an optometrist, at the Nova Southeastern University School of Optometry — Rajiv says he never lost his passion for the family business. 

After getting married, Rajiv and Esha moved to the Tampa area to be closer to her family. The move was exciting, but to Rajiv, it also felt like leaving behind a piece of his family’s legacy. Even though he loves his job as an optometrist, Rajiv wanted to bring part of his family’s business to the new community he now calls home. So, last March, with the help of his parents, he opened the Wesley Chapel Home Gadgets store. 

“I really enjoy working at the store,” says Rajiv. “Sometimes, I come straight from work in my scrubs and help out.” 

It’s clear that Home Gadgets is a family affair, with Rajiv’s cousin, Ayush Gandhi, serving as the main person working there. Ayush ensures that every customer gets the personal touch that has made their store in Ocala so successful. 

So, what sets Home Gadgets apart from Bed, Bath & Beyond or even Amazon? According to Rajiv, it’s the combination of both common and unique items, all in one place. 

“You don’t have to wait for deliveries here,” he says. “We have a lot of things that you might not find in bigger stores.” This blend of convenience and new discoveries makes Home Gadgets stand out. 

Rajiv shared a story about a customer who was excited to find a whisk he’d been searching for everywhere — a unique 12” ball whisk, which has 10 little balls at the end of long stainless rods. This design is not only eye-catching but also extremely useful, reaching into the sharp corners of a pot where rounded whisks won’t quite fit. 

“A large percentage of the items we carry are made in the U.S., with some coming from Florida,” including Counter Art placemats, which are made in Ocala and Radjes says he has been stocking them at his Ocala store for 20 years. 

Rajiv is particularly proud of the store’s relationship with companies that support smaller, family-run businesses like his. 

“We work with some big companies like Nordic Ware, which makes the original bundt pans,” he explains. “These pans are durable, thick, and beautifully made. 

Among the unique items you’ll find under one roof at Home Gadgets are a ball whisk (above right), Lodge cast iron cookware (below right), Counter Art placemats (below left) & Nordic Ware bundt pans (above), to name just a few. 

Among Home Gadgets’ top-selling items are beautiful wood charcuterie/cutting boards shaped like different states. Other interesting items include copper tumblers, Microplane graters and Tervis stainless steel tumblers featuring popular sports team emblems. The store also stocks Corkcicle bottles and cigar glasses, which are rocks glasses with an indentation that allows cigar smokers to hold their glass and cigar with the same hand. 

“We’re always adding new things,” Rajiv says. “I have a bunch of items in the back that we haven’t even put out on display yet.” So, every time you visit Home Gadgets, you might find something new and interesting. 

In today’s world, where more people are looking for healthier cooking options, Rajiv is happy to offer items like cast iron pots and pans made in Tennessee by Lodge. Lodge can be found in other stores, but what makes Home Gadgets stand out is that the store doesn’t just stock one or two sizes — it features a wide variety of Lodge cookware, including a pizza pan and even a cast iron wok. 

Speaking of cast iron, Rajiv says that carbon steel pans are similar to cast iron but weigh a lot less. For people who love the benefits of cast iron but prefer something lighter, carbon steel is a fantastic alternative. 

“You have to treat it the same way as you treat cast iron after cooking, but it’s much easier to handle,” he explains. The carbon steel pans have wood handles that you can remove when you put the pan in the oven to treat. “Curing a cast iron pan or carbon steel,” he says, “has to be done in the oven or on the stovetop but it has to be a flame not electric.” 

Home Gadgets also has an online store, though Rajiv admits that it’s still something of a work in progress. Building a website that reflects the range of products the store offers takes time, and Rajiv says, “We have way more products in the store than we show on the website.” 

When you spend at least $75 online, your shipping is free. Or, if you prefer, you can order online and pick up your items at the store without paying any extra fees. This option makes it convenient for locals to shop online while avoiding shipping costs. 

To encourage customers to visit the store, Home Gadgets is offering a special promotion. Simply bring the store add below with you, and you’ll receive a free kitchen utensil with any purchase (one utensil per customer or family and the offer expires December 31.) 

Home Gadgets is located at 28250 Paseo Dr., Unit 180, in The Shops at Wiregrass. It is open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 388-9422, visit BuyHomeGadgets.com, @buyhomegadgets on Instagram, search “HomeGadgetsStore” on Facebook. 

Home Gadgets stocks Tervis tumblers with a variety of team logos. 

Blue Park Dental, Inside Out Aesthetics & Lightning Orthodontics All Cut Chamber Ribbons! 

At the NTBC ribbon-cutting event at Inside Out Aesthetics on Nov. 2, attendees got to check out the many treatment rooms at Inside Out’s new location north of S.R. 56. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Even as the holidays approach, the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) is still helping its new and existing member businesses get the word out with ribbon-cutting ceremonies — and we are proud to partner with the Chamber to help publicize these businesses and events. Here are a couple of those events that have been held since our last issue hit mailboxes four weeks ago: 

Blue Park Dental 
On Oct. 24, Dr. Jordan Brown of Blue Park Dental and his wife Shakirah celebrated the official Grand Opening of the new dental office on Wesley Chapel Blvd. with an NTBC ribbon-cutting event. 

Blue Park Dental, the office of Jordan Brown, DDS, is located at 5470 Post Oak Blvd., Unit 170, in the same plaza off Wesley Chapel Blvd. as the new Moe’s Southwest Grill and Jimmy John’s, in Wesley Chapel. 

Dr. Brown and his wife Shakirah hosted a Grand Opening and NTBC ribbon-cutting event on Oct. 24, attended by at least 50 people, including members of the Browns’ family, friends and of course, NTBC members. 

He told those who were there that he was inspired by the work ethics of both of his parents — Colin and Patricia Brown (who were both in attendance) — and said, “Blue Park Dental is a dental office that advertises comfort, trust and honesty. It emphasizes technology but also makes sure you feel comfort and safety at the same time.” 

Dr. Brown also thanked his wife. “You have no idea how much Shakirah has been in this process. She has helped so much, every step of the way, so thank you for being my rock and my support.” 

For more information about Blue Park Dental, call (813) 742-6227 or visit BlueParkDental.com. 

Inside Out Aesthetics & Wellness 
Family nurse practitioner Tracy Burke (left) and licensed esthetician Amanda McEwan. 

Then, on Nov. 2, it was Board-certified family nurse practitioner Tracy Burke who hosted an NTBC ribbon-cutting event at the new location of her Inside Out Aesthetics & Wellness — at 27613 Cashford Cir., which is located behind Sam’s Club on the north side of S.R. 56 in the Summergate Professional Park. Inside Out previously was located on an outparcel of The Shops at Wiregrass. 

Tracy also thanked the Chamber, as well as all of her friends, clients and her entire family, but especially her son Michael, who recently earned his Florida general contractor’s license and who was instrumental in creating every room in the new med spa to Tracy’s exact specifications. 

“I want to thank all of you for coming,” Tracy said prior to cutting the Chamber ribbon. “I have dreamed about having a location like this and now, that dream has come true.” The event also introduced Inside Out’s new licensed medical esthetician Amanda McEwan, who specializes in skin care and custom facials that blend advanced treatments with a holistic approach. 

Inside Out also offers neuromodulators, injectables, PDO threads, bio-stimulators, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy & semaglutide for weight loss. For info, call (813) 602-6100 or visit insideout-aesthetics.com. 

Lightning Orthodontics 

And finally, on Nov. 7, it was time for Lightning Orthodontics, the office of Isis El Ghannam, DDS, to cut a Chamber ribbon. 

Located in the small strip plaza at 24795 S.R. 54 in Lutz that also includes Fazoli’s, Lightning Orthodontics (which is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Tampa Bay Lightning) is a beautiful, new office equipped with the latest in orthodontic technology and with room to add additional orthodontists if and when the need arises. 

Dr. El Ghannam is Board-certified and says she is especially drawn to challenging cases as she finds it rewarding to make a positive impact on the lives of her patients. She also is a new mom who says the experience has deepened her empathy and enriched her interactions with families. 

The office, which promises that patients will be, “heard, understood and cared for with the speed of lightning,” offers online appointments, virtual consults and remote treatment options. English, Spanish and Arabic are all spoken at the office. 

For more info about Lightning Orthodontics, visit LightningOrthondtics.com or call (813) 733-0007 and please tell them we sent you!

News from AdventHealth — Wangsness Moves On To AHT; Quattlebaum Takes Over At AHWC; Beam Signing At New Meadow Pointe ER

(01/18/2023) ALTAMONTE SPRINGS, FL – USA – AdventHealth. AdventHealth Executive Leadership. Matt Rainey/AdventHealth

AdventHealth has certainly been busy the last couple of weeks. On Nov. 8, the new freestanding Emergency Room on S.R. 54 at Meadow Pointe Blvd. had a beam-signing event that you can read about below. Then, just last week, the nonprofit health care giant announced that Erik Wangsness, who has been the president & CEO of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (AHWC) since Sept. 2019, will assume the same position at AdventHealth Tampa, effective December 15. Taking over from Wangsness as the president & CEO at AHWC, as of Dec. 29, will be Ryan Quattlebaum, who previously held the same titles at AdventHealth North Pinellas in Tarpon Springs.

For more details about these two latest moves, check out the full stories in the December 10 edition of New Tampa Neighborhood News and the December 24 edition of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News.

AdventHealth Meadow Pointe ER Beam Signed! 
Pasco County Comm. Seth Weightman (3rd from left) & the executive team for the new AdventHealth ER in Meadow Pointe sign the beam. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

George Butler, the construction superintendent for Robins & Morton, the firm building the freestanding AdventHealth emergency room (ER) in Meadow Pointe (AHMP), told the crowd of nearly 100 people in attendance on Nov. 8 that, “Today is a major milestone for this project. The next major milestone will be the Grand Opening.”

The milestone in question that day was the signing and raising of a beam that will be above the sliding door main entrance to the ER located at the corner of S.R. 54 and Meadow Pointe Blvd.

“Every time you go through that sliding door, you will all think of this beam that you signed,” Butler said. 

AdventHealth Zephyrhills president & CEO Mike Murrill thanked all of the people & companies that made the project happen. (Photos by Charmaine George) 

Butler was introduced by William Villegas, the chief operating officer of AdventHealth Zephyrhills (AHZ), who then said that, “You’re here with us today because you were part of the process of getting this building off the ground…and by signing this beam, you are acknowledging all of the hard work of the crew that is sitting here. And, each and every one of you has played a role in it, whether as a support member, an executive or an engineer with Robins Morton.” 

Villegas added that, “So far, this building has endured two storms, and it’s still standing. On April 29, 2025, when we open this building, we will be providing 32,000 square feet of capacity with 12 beds, two triage rooms and advanced lab and imaging services that will provide freestanding emergency room services to the Pasco community. As we expand our reach, build facilities, touch more lives and care for more patients in Pasco County, we fulfill our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ. And, that’s what we’re here for, to serve our communities and provide the highest quality of care for our patients. None of this would be possible without everyone here today..”

Villegas, the executive sponsor for the AHMP ER, then introduced Mike Murrill, the president and CEO of AHZ.

“I want to thank William Villegas for guiding this team the last several months,” Murrill said. “He just joined our team six months ago and hit the ground running by connecting our community partners and the construction team and it’s exciting to get to this point in the journey.”

Murrill added, “I would just like to take this moment to thank several of our partners who are here this morning — our Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman, Arash Kamangar of Hunton Brady Architects, George (Butler) and our Robins & Morton construction team, all of the subcontractors who have contributed to this project, ans well as our Division Team. We thank you all for your collaborative spirit, your work with each other and what it means to have something new in this community.” 

Villegas then said a short prayer to thank God and to pray that “the patients who end up at this new ER find healing.”

For more information about the new AHMP ER, visit AdventHealth.com. — GN 

Former Beef O’Brady’s On BBD At S.R. 56 In Wesley Chapel Is Now Inchin’s Bamboo Garden 

I don’t know how they did it so fast, but the former Beef O’Brady’s located at 1660 Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. in the Shoppes at New Tampa plaza in Wesley Chapel, has reopened (only about four months after Beef’s closed) as Inchin’s Bamboo Garden, a small (30 units in 13 U.S. states and Canada) chain of “IndoChinese Fusion” restaurants, with an existing Florida location in Orlando. 

All I can tell you after two quick visits to my new friends Mohan and Suresh’s new restaurant is that it no longer looks anything like Beef’s (it’s actually quite elegant), has a beautiful full-liquor bar (with at least ten beers on tap and many others in bottles) and absolutely everything I’ve sampled so far has been en pointe. 

My favorite Indian dishes so far are the fried momo dumplings (I had them with chicken, photo left; they’re also available in veggie and with paneer, or Indian cheese, and steamed); the “Toothpick lamb,” which is skewered chunks of lamb with mild rendang curry sauce, bite-size potato cubes, green onion, curry leaves and chili peppers; and my current favorite hakka noodles (thin eggless noodles, shredded vegetables, Napa cabbage and celery) with chicken (top photo). 

Other Indian dishes recommended by friends of mine who also happened to be visiting the new Inchin’s are the garlic naan bread and the “Chicken 65” (with curry leaf, bell peppers, onion, dry red chili & cumin). 

Considering that most Chinese restaurants in Wesley Chapel are take-out only, you also have to sample some of Inchin’s Chinese dishes. My faves to date include the crunchy veggie spring rolls, the crispy chili baby corns (bite-sized pieces of baby corn, deep fried with onion and green chilis) and the delicious Mongolian beef (above left), sautéed with onions and served on a bed of crispy rice noodles. It also was served with a side of white rice but I definitely plan to try it with one of Inchin’s four different fried rice options — burnt garlic chili (which sounds amazing), spicy Thai basil, Szechwan-style and just “regular” fried rice. You can get any of these with veggies, chicken, shrimp or “mixed” (with chicken, lamb and shrimp). 

Other Chinese-style entrées include Manchurian, Szechwan, hot garlic, chili, extra-spicy Szechwan peppercorn and AK 47 (with ghost pepper sauce, described on the menu as “dangerously spicy”) dishes. I’ve also been told I need to try Inchin’s version of Chinese “Hot Pot,” which is described on the menu as “numbing.” Many of these entrées are available with vegetable “coins,” cauliflower, tofu, paneer, chicken, lamb, beef or shrimp. 

I’ve also yet to sample any of the soups or any other starters, so you can rest assured that Jannah and I will be visiting Inchin’s Bamboo Garden again in the future — and soon! 

Inchin’s Bamboo Garden is open every day for lunch (11:30 a.m.-3 p.m.) & dinner (5:30 p.m.-11 p.m. daily, except Sun. until 10). It closes daily between 3 p.m.-5:30 p.m. For more information, call (813) 388-2818 or visit Bamboo-Gardens.com. And, please tell Mohan and Suresh I sent you! — GN