O’Brien’s Of Wesley Chapel For Food, Fun, Football, Entertainment & More!

Revamped bar area — Ask for Cherish
Revamped bar area — Ask for Cherish

How many restaurants have come and gone from the dining scene in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel? Too many (and too painful) to count is the easy answer.

So, whenever a new restaurant opens in our distribution areas, one of the first things I find myself asking myself is, “Do I really think this place can make it here?”

Well, in the case of O’Brien’s Irish Pub & Grill — which opened a few months ago in the location in the Wesley Chapel Village Market previously occupied by City Grill (and Winners before that) — I believe the answer is a resounding yes. O’Brien’s, which is more than just an Irish pub, more than just a sports bar and more than just an entertainment venue, is a reasonably priced real restaurant with both traditional sports bar food and some Irish fare you can’t get anywhere else in our area. Unfortunately, even though I’ve now sampled most of O’Brien’s menu, I’m just not happy with the pictures I have of the Irish dishes like the excellent fish & chips (I always order it with red cocktail sauce instead of the tartar sauce that is served with it), the Shepherd’s pie and the bangers (Irish sausage) and mashed potatoes with onions, mushrooms and O’Brien’s Guinness gravy.

OB_ChickenSammich2One of my favorite dishes is the Murphy’s chicken sandwich, which you can get grilled or blackened. It comes with crisp bacon, melted Swiss, lettuce, tomato and onions, a split-top bun and served with your choice of  homemade pub chips with Guinness gravy, pub fries or O’Brien’s soon-to-be-famous pub tots — which are the best tater tots I’ve had recently.

Our office orders our tots extra, extra crispy, but you might want to start slowly and just order them extra crispy the first time. Either way, they’re awesome.

I also really enjoy the pub club sandwich, which adds ham to the traditional turkey, bacon and cheese; both the Irish Cobb and traditional Greek salads, the prime rib and pub French dip sandwiches, the Rueben-like Emerald Isle sandwich piled high with your choice of corned beef or turkey with melted swiss, sauerkraut and Thousand Island dressing (I order the dressing on the side), and the flaky fisherman’s sandwich, which I usually order extra blackened (or try grilled or fried).

OB_ChzburgerTots2O’Brien’s also makes great hamburgers, from the no-frills Wesley Chapel burger to the Florentine burger with spinach and artichoke dip, blue cheese crumbles and bacon bits and the new shamrock burger, which is a grilled burger topped with corned beef and Swiss — and many more.

For starters, O’Brien’s has extra-crispy jumbo wings tossed in your choice of many different sauces, from Celtic tiger hot to sweet Thai chili to the new spicy honey sriracha. Also available are Cajun and jerk wings.

There’s also a couple of new starters on the menu, including the crispy Santa Fe chicken rolls, which are served  with a spicy remoulade dipping sauce.

For dessert, my favorite item is called the “chocolate bombe,” which is an amazing iced chocolate mousse cake. Decadent.

Some History & A Look Ahead

The first local O’Brien’s Irish Pub opened on N. Dale Mabry in Carrollwood 25 years ago, according to Mike Goodwin, who owns and operates the Wesley Chapel location with his brother Randy Goodwin and partners Randy Fairchild and Sean and Liz Lewis. Not really a chain, today there are four locations — each with its own tweaks of the basic menu — in Brandon, Northdale, Wesley Chapel and the Plant City location Mike Goodwin purchased three years ago. 

The Wesley Chapel O’Brien’s should be your pro and college football headquarters, with its recently revamped bar area serving a variety of craft beers on draft, and one of my favorite Irish whiskeys — Powers — always on hand (all at lower prices than you’ll find at most other local restaurants, especially at the mall), plus 26 big-screen TVs strategically situated around the place and food and drink specials during every game.

Speaking of specials, O’Brien’s has something different for you just about every day.

On Monday, regular burgers are just $6 and specialty burgers cost $8. Tuesday is Team Trivia night (7:30 p.m.-9:30 p.m.), with 60-cent wings all day, $8.99 Miller Light, Coors Light & Yuengling pitchers. Wednesday is Karaoke Night (starting at 8 p.m.) and Cheap Beer night ($2.50 domestic pints and $1 off imports), plus one kid 12 & under eats free with each adult meal purchased. Thursday is Ladies Night, 10 p.m.-close, where ladies pay only half their bar tab. There’s also $1 off Irish beers (like Smithwick’s) and $3 Fireball shots. And, there’s live music every Friday and Saturday night. Check the board inside O’Brien’s for the upcoming entertainment schedule.

O’Brien’s also is planning a week-long “Half Way to St. Patty’s Day” event the week of September 12-17. Call or stop in for details, but the partners agree it’ll be awesome. 

O’Brien’s Irish Pub (5429 Village Market) is open Mon.-Sat., 11 a.m.-2 a.m., and 11 a.m.-midnight on Sun. For info, call 973-9988, or visit OBriensWesleyChapel.com.

Crosby’s Is A Place For Billiards And Darts Enthusiasts

Tony 1_CrosbysThe “billiards tabletop-green”-painted building that is home to Crosby’s Billiards & Darts stands as a testimony to Spring Hill’s not-so-long-ago status as the center of the professional pool competition universe.

Located on Spring Hill Dr., 45 minutes west of New Tampa and Wesley Chapel (about 25 miles north of S.R. 54 and U.S. 41 in Land O’Lakes), Tony Crosby’s business covers all aspects of billiards — he sells pool tables and a complete line of accessories, such as  balls, cues, cue holders, retip kits, racks and even overhead table lights. He also provides related services to customers, like maintaining and repairing tables, moving them in a safe and professional manner and properly setting them up.

Crosby’s customers include suburban homeowners with rec rooms, community centers, resorts and military installations around the U.S. He says one reason his customer base is so varied is his philosophy of giving everyone the same high level of service. “As a customer, you’re going to be treated the same, whether you buy a $500 or a $5,000 pool table,” Crosby says. “I have a table for everyone’s budget.”

A lifelong player, Crosby (photo) says he learned the sport growing up in his family’s pub in Manchester, England. After establishing himself as one of the top snooker players in his home country, he came to the U.S. in 2001 to compete professionally in the American style of billiards. Crosby established a professional reputation in the Tampa Bay area and eventually made Spring Hill his home. With major tour sponsors like the Seminole Hard Rock Casino nearby, so did a lot of other pros.

tables“In 2007 and 2008, Spring Hill was the hotbed of professional pool in the United States,” Crosby says. “You had probably 10 of the top 16 players in the country living in the area.”

At that time, if someone who considered himself to be the 21st Century incarnation of Minnesota Fats or Cornbread Red stopped off in Spring Hill thinking the local crowd at Capone’s Billiard Hall offered a chance to make some quick cash in a “friendly” game or two, he would probably go home disappointed and lighter in the wallet.

“If you went into a pool hall on a Monday night, it was like being in the U.S. Open,’’ Crosby says. “This was not the place to come if you were looking to hustle pool.”

Crosby’s own playing achievements include being named 2001 U.S. Pool Association Rookie of the Year, Florida’s State Champion in 2010 and 2011, Top-10 world rankings in 2009 and 2010 and Seminole Pro Tour Player of the Year in 2011. His professional moniker is “The Sniper,” as a result of his sharpshooting playing style.

“When I first came over (to the U.S.), I was used to playing on the 12-foot tables in England, so making the long shots on a nine-foot table was easy,” Crosby recalls.

As the recession forced American companies to end pool sponsorships, the tournament action and money moved to Asia. Preferring the comforts of home with his wife Natalie and their growing family, Crosby began devoting more time to the business of buying used tables and fixing them up for resale.

Refurbishing a pool table can involve replacing the table’s slate top, felt covering and bumpers, as well as refinishing the wood. The result is a piece of recreational furniture that plays well and, just as important, says Crosby, also looks good.

“Most of the guys I talk to would love to have a pool table but they have to compromise with the wife and get a nice-looking table that doesn’t look like it belongs in a bar,” Crosby says.

One of the refurbished tables in Crosby’s showroom that looks like an exceptional piece of home furnishing is an eight-foot American Heritage model with carved features and leather pockets with tassels that is in mint condition. Crosby is selling the table with accessories, delivery and setup for $2,000.

If the designated pool room is your garage, man cave or kids’ play room, Crosby says, a durable Valley Bar table, known as a workhorse of entertainment venues, might be the perfect addition, for about $1,100.

There’s even a bit of billiards history to be found at Crosby’s.

A restored Brunswick Centennial 10-foot table made in the early 1940s, with aluminum sides that harken back to the time when a chrome look was a designer’s best friend, is available for $13,000.

Crosby says the Centennials were poolhall favorites until the need arose to direct aluminum supplies toward making airplanes for the military in World War II. At the time of manufacture, the tables sold for less than $1,000, but are now considered antiques and are highly sought after, according to Richard Broumpton, who helps Crosby manage the business.

“They (sell for) up to 25-grand,” says Broumpton, who, like Crosby, is an Englishman who came to America to ply his trade as a professional pool player. “They’re pretty expensive to buy, even in bad shape. That kind of retro look has a lot of appeal.”

Crosby says tables available at any particular time will vary, and popular models or bargains are usually quickly sold.

While Crosby has customers all over the country and says he even recently shipped a pool table to Australia, he’s interested in serving pool and dart players closer to home. In order to help attract customers from the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa areas, Crosby is offering a special deal to Neighborhood News readers. “I’ll give a 10-percent discount if they bring in the ad from the paper (see pg 10),” he said.

One Wesley Chapel businesswoman and professional billiards player who speaks highly of Crosby’s work is Stephanie Mitchell, owner of The Corner Pocket billiards parlor on Starkey Rd. in Largo. She counts on Crosby to maintain her establishment’s 10 pool tables in tournament-level condition, since she often hosts high-level competitors, as well as neighborhood players.

“He buys tables and restores them, so in my opinion, somebody who can completely break them down and refinish and redo every aspect of them has to have a lot of knowledge to make them work correctly,” says Mitchell, a resident of New River Township here in Wesley Chapel. Mitchell also says Crosby has been very pleasant to work with from Day One.

Refurbished pool tables are the biggest sellers for Crosby, but he also sells new ones, especially models manufactured by Diamond Billiard Products, Inc.

Darts, Anyone?

For people who prefer a game of darts over pool, Crosby’s has a wide selection of boards, soft and steel-tip darts, shafts, flights (the fins, or wings on the back of a dart) and cases. Broumpton says the inventory available to dart enthusiasts is plentiful.

“We’ve probably got more dart supplies than anybody else in the Tampa Bay area,” Broumpton says.

Crosby’s business has grown to the extent that it sells just about anything a home or commercial game room might need, including bar furniture, memorabilia and even its own line of new poker tables. But, whatever goods or services he provides to a customer, Crosby has one guiding principle: “We stand behind everything that we do.”

Now a business owner, with membership in the Hernando Chamber of Commerce, Crosby’s career has evolved to where he now sponsors events like the Florida Pool Tour for players who are competing, much like he did 15 years ago when he first came to America following his dream of playing professional pool.

Crosby’s Billiards & Darts is located at 10551 Spring Hill Dr. It is open Mon.-Sat., 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m., and by appointment on Sun. For info, visit Facebook.com/Crosby’sBilliardsandDarts or call (352) 556-4855.

New Tampa Dance Theatre Producing Great Students & Performances

NTDT1WEBIt may be housed in a quiet building on a suburban street, but the New Tampa Dance Theatre (NTDT) offers dancers a world-class, professional experience that is unmatched in the Tampa Bay area, whether you like to dance for fun or dream of a career on stage one day.

Located minutes from most of Wesley Chapel on Cross Creek Blvd. (across from Heritage Isles) in New Tampa, the 7,500-square-foot NTDT is the largest professional dance training facility in New Tampa. Owner and artistic director Dyane Elkins IronWing is in her 22nd season of creating dance memories and futures for her New Tampa-area students, many of whom have gone on to study and perform dance professionally.

This year, 2016 graduates Alexis Brake and Elizabeth Laches are both going to double major in Pre Med and Dance; Megan Peeples will major in Physical Therapy and minor in Dance; and Christina Pittarelli will major in Dance.

“I’m so proud of our graduates,” says Elkins IronWing. “Our dancers become excellent college students with their impressive time management skills, perseverance and creative thinking.”

Elkins IronWing herself started dancing at age 5 and later studied at the Ballet Metropolitan in New York City.

She moved to Tampa in 1995 to be near family and friends and almost immediately opened NTDT in the Pebble Creek Collection on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. In 2006, she purchased land on Cross Creek Blvd., and designed her spacious new studio herself.

With the bigger location, she was off and running, offering smaller class sizes and larger, more varied schedules.

She also has a larger pool of students today with the explosive growth of Wesley Chapel.

“NTDT’s name might say New Tampa; however, our location to Wesley Chapel is much  closer than one might assume,” says Elkins IronWing. “(We are) conveniently located only 7 miles (10 minutes) from S.R. 54 and Morris Bridge Rd., and 6 miles (12 minutes) from S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs. This is extremely convenient to all the exciting growth in Wesley Chapel.”

All Ages & Experience Levels

Elkins IronWing caters to both the casual dance lover as well as the devoted pre-professional, and every level in between.

A leveled curriculum offers multiple art forms for students to explore. Through personal attention and professional expertise, the NTDT faculty provides a positive educational experience based on core principles of respect, responsibility and teamwork.

NTDT3WEBTeen/Adult classes include four 8-week sessions (from Sept.-May) of Cardio Funk, Adult Tap, Ballet and Modern.

Children ages 3-4 can participate in the Early Childhood Program, ages 5-8 can participate in the Children’s Program, and ages 9-18 can participate in NTDT’s Youth Program.

As well as classical ballet, the studio offers full programs in creative movement, modern dance, jazz, tap and hip hop.

Each program has its own directors and specific syllabuses guiding students in a structured manner through their studies.

Elkins IronWing’s husband, Troy IronWing, is director of tap and Dyane teaches jazz. Both also have toured nationally with the Rhythm Extreme Performance Troupe for 12 years.

In addition, NTDT ballet director Cristy Garcia Tanner started her dance lessons at age 3 in Puerto Rico, and at 13, was invited to join the Ballet Concierto Company in San Juan.

Jazz director Kristine Morgan has been a professional dancer since age 19, and has a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in Dance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA.

Modern dance director Carla Armstrong, who joined the NTDT faculty in 2005, graduated from the prestigious Juilliard School with a BFA degree in Dance. Hip hop director Dreama Davidson, who also has been with the school since 2005, has 18 years of performances to her credit, including Katonga at Busch Gardens.

The facilities are as top notch as the instructors, and include maple flooring for the tap classes, 15-20 ft.-tall mirrored walls, student locker rooms and a large studio space that can accommodate up to 200 people. Sprung floors provide shock absorption to protect the dancer’s joints, and an on-site physical therapist ensures the health of the dancers. There also is a café offering light meals, snacks and drinks.

The Training You Need

NTDT has developed a reputation for creating strong, professional dancers with alumni placing in highly respected companies, Broadway productions and for the Walt Disney Company.

New Tampa Dance Theatre owner Dyane Elkins IronWing.
New Tampa Dance Theatre owner Dyane Elkins IronWing.

Because NTDT students learn to be proficient in multiple art forms, these students have an edge in the competitive world of dance and many NTDT students have been accepted into prestigious summer intensive programs, including the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theater in New York City, The Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, the Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and the Boston Ballet.

However, Elkins IronWing also is diligent about providing the same quality of instruction to the roughly 60 percent of students who are enrolled in NTDT’s popular recreational programs.

“Even though a student doesn’t choose to pursue a career in dance after high school, they can reach a level of artistry to be accepted into college dance programs,” says Elkins IronWing. “Believing in yourself and having a well-rounded dance education gives them the tools to continue their passions.”

Great Productions, Too!

All students get to perform in the “Spring Production” and — through NTDT’s nonprofit-partner, the Dance Theatre of Tampa (DTT) — in the “Summer Concert Series” held every June at USF.

DTT provides more than 300 free tickets to NTDT’s corporate sponsors, local community supporters, alumni members and students. A small costume rental fee for recitals is the only cost over the tuition that parents have to pay at any time — there is never a requirement to buy advertising or pay performance fees.

New Tampa residents Paula and Ron Nelson say they enrolled their daughter Malia in Creative Movement classes at NTDT when she was only 3. Eight years later, she’s moved up to the youth program, where she’s enrolled in ballet, tap, jazz, modern and hip hop.

“As a result of the yearly recitals at the University of South Florida (USF), Malia loves performing on stage and has absolutely no stage fright,” Paula explains. “This has carried over to school, where she’s comfortable making presentations to her classmates and participating in yearly school plays.”

NTDT2WEBEvery holiday season, local residents look forward to the studio’s interpretation of Tchaikovsky’s classic ballet “The Nutcracker,” now in its 17th year. This year, it will be held December 16-18 at USF’s College of the Arts Theater 1.

You can catch free sneak peeks of NTDT’s “The Nutcracker” at the Shops at Wiregrass mall on Saturday, November 26, and Friday & Saturday, December 2-3 and 9-10, as well as on Sunday, December 11.

NTDT’s much-awaited Sugar Plum Fairy Tea fund raiser is now in its 12th season and will be held Dec. 4 at USF’s Gibbons Alumni Center. This popular event features a light lunch, desserts (including a chocolate fountain), giveaways, a sneak preview of “The Nutcracker,” and an opportunity to dance with Clara (the lead role of the young girl who receives the beloved Nutcracker as a Christmas gift) and Clara’s “party friends.”

Each year, a portion of the proceeds from the Tea are donated to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in South Tampa. Tickets for both events (which will be held at USF) go on sale on Monday, October 17.

“It’s all about the children at NTDT, always has been and always will be,” Dyane says. “We are a company that enables children to succeed. The key is setting high expectations all while having fun and building self-confidence. We have an amazing season ahead of us. We want to thank all of our trusting and loyal families over the years and the organizations that continually support us. Without their recognition and time, this wouldn’t be possible.”

NTDT offers year-round free trial classes for prospective dancers of all ages. Classes began Aug. 15. To tour of the facility or to rent it for a meeting, party or function, visit NTDT at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd. For more info and to check out the exciting lineup of fall classes, visit NewTampaDanceTheatre.com, or call 994-NTDT (6838).

New Tampa Piano & Pedagogy Academy Students Perform Royally

piano academy group WEB
First row, left to right: Abraham Schrader, Pavani Parashar, Tanvi Balan, Vinesh Mesaros, Sofia Gonzalez. Second row, left to right: Jane West, Dr. Judith Jain, Aline Giampietro, Benjamin Scotch, Ashley Viradiya, William Piriou and Bhavya Gudaru.

Achieving a high level of proficiency at playing the piano requires dedication and the right instruction. Students at the New Tampa Piano & Pedagogy Academy (NTPPA) on Cross Creek Blvd. demonstrated that they have both, as all 16 of the academy’s students participating in a recent Royal Conservatory of Music exam scored 90 or higher, earning the highest classification — First Class Honors with Distinction.

The Royal Conservatory of Music is the largest and oldest independent arts educator in Canada. The Toronto-based institution’s influence extends internationally through its examination program, which measures a musician’s performance skill and technique. In addition to a grade, participants receive a certificate and written feedback about their performance.

Judith Jain, Doctor of Musical Arts (D.M.A.), founder and executive director of NTPPA, says the Royal Conservatory exam results validate the teaching methods she and her instructors use.

“It’s not a coincidence that you have 16 students taught by just the three of us (see below) all scoring 90s,” says Dr. Jain, a Pebble Creek resident. “It’s the methodology.” She notes that her students’ high scores indicate flawless execution and a high level of artistic expression in performing the exam’s musical pieces.

The name of Dr. Jain’s music instruction studio, one mile west of Morris Bridge Rd. on Cross Creek Blvd., reflects her background and approach to teaching music. She earned her D.M.A. in Piano Performance and Pedagogy (the method and practice of teaching, especially as an academic subject or theoretical concept) from University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, OH. She has performed as a soloist, with chamber groups and orchestras.

Visitors to NTPPA’s website will read this quote from Dr. Jain: “I teach children so that I can learn from them.” It’s a teaching perspective that Jain says distinguishes her academy from others.

“That’s basic to our philosophy,” she says. “We’re looking at music from all angles because music is not one dimensional.”

Jain opened NTPPA two years ago, when the number of students she was teaching as a private instructor grew beyond what she could accommodate herself. After finding a space adjacent to the New Tampa Dance Theatre (see story on page 22), she outfitted it with a selection of Yamaha grand and upright pianos, as well as a Clavinova digital piano laboratory. Jain also hired faculty to teach, all of whom have Master’s degrees related to music or education.

“I found the right people to work with,” Jain says. “The degree is a given, but the mindset is important.”

Speaking Of Those Instructors…

NTPPA instructor Jane West is a pianist and music scholar with a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Historical Musicology from Tufts University in Medford, MA. She has experience as a soloist and chamber music performer. According to West, there is no age limit to learning about music and playing the piano.

“From the moment a child is born up to the point they can take private lessons, which would be roughly 5 or 6 years old,” West says, “there’s that period when you can teach a child concepts and musicianship skills; a sense of rhythm, pitch, being able to sing back and clap back. Those are all skills that then a student can develop in a private (instructional) setting.”

Dr. Jain says that integral to early childhood music education is NTPPA’s Musikgarten program, which is under the direction of Beth Maberry, who has a Master of Education (M.Ed.) from the University of South Florida in Tampa at the Academy.nt piano WEB1

Music is appreciated by people of all ages and anyone who wants to learn how to play the piano can do so at NTPPA, no matter what stage they are at in their lives.

“We believe music is for everybody and we’re here to facilitate your relationship with music,” says Dr. Jain.

For adults who are seeking to expand their skills and horizons, there is the opportunity to combine private lessons and a bit of socializing with occasional group performances and recitals. Dr. Jain says her academy can even create a music education plan for a busy professional or someone with extra time to fill.

“We will craft a program with the person in front of us in mind,” she says.

Even For Recreational Pianists

A new program that the Academy is beginning in the fall is called Recreational Music Making. Jain says it is oriented toward older adults and their needs and interests.

“It’s about wellness and engaging the mind and improving the quality of life for senior citizens, rather than mastering a piece of music,” she says.

As a member of NTPPA’s piano faculty, Aline Giampietro, who has an M.A. degree in Piano Performance from Eastern Washington University in Spokane, sees the commonality of students whatever their age or purpose.

“I want them to really love music and get that in their lives,” Giampietro says. “We teach such a range of students that we can gear the lessons to whatever their goal is.”

Jain says whatever goals or learning styles her students have, she and her faculty will accommodate them.

“We teach to the way you learn,” she says. “Usually it’s the other way around.”

Jain also says she is conducting a search for another faculty member because the demand for instruction at NTPPA is increasing.

While a career in music may be the goal for some students, there are plenty of benefits along the way, as parents of some of Jain’s youngest students will attest.

Sonia Mesaros of Grand Hampton has two children, ages 6 and 10, enrolled at NTPPA. She appreciates how it has helped them develop their educational skills, as well as being a creative outlet.

“I’m seeing that it’s transferring into their academics, especially mathematics and the ability to multitask,” she says.

Mandel Pickett also has two children receiving lessons from Dr. Jain and her faculty. He appreciates how the lessons have encouraged his nine-year-old son to become a musical mentor to his seven-year-old brother.

nt piano labWEB“He plays his entire lesson from memory and he helps his brother out, which really impresses me,” Pickett says.

Eighth-grade student Ashley Viradiya of Tampa Palms attends Terrace Community Middle School in Thonotosassa and has been playing piano for six years, the last two at NTPPA. She is enthusiastic about how music has enhanced her life.

“The piano can help you with creativity and it helps you with many skills,” Ashley says. “It can open up your senses and help you understand things.” Her father, Naresh Viradiya, concurs.

“I have observed a great improvement in her skills,” Naresh says.

While Dr. Jain is pleased with the Royal Conservatory of Music test scores, she puts the results in perspective.

“Whether or not a student takes the test, we teach the same way,” she says.

Of the 16 students taking the Royal Conservatory of Music exam, 12 are from New Tampa and four are from Wesley Chapel. The New Tampa students are: Tanvi Balan, Phu Doan, Niral Gaddi, Bhavya Gudaru, Aeon Johnson, Micah Lawrence, Priya Majethia, Vinesh Mesaros, Pavani Parashar, Abraham Schrader,  Ashley Viradiya and William Piriou. The  Wesley Chapel students are: Milana Schemkes, Sofia Gonzalez, Lauren Scotch and Benjamin Scotch.

The New Tampa Piano and Pedagogy Academy is located at 10701 Cross Creek Blvd. You can learn more by visiting NewTampaPPA.com, or calling 994-2452.

Get ‘Back To Wellness’ With Chiropractic Care, Physical Therapy & Licensed Massage

Dr. Justin Spiegel (left), Dr. Jonathan Hancock (right) & Dr. Alexandra Ellison-Cherny (sitting) offer chiropractic, physical & massage therapy under one roof at the Back To Wellness Center.

Sitting at a red light in January of this year, Wesley Chapel residents Cindy Griffiths and her husband James were suddenly rear-ended. It was especially scary for Cindy, who had brain surgery in 2000 after a car accident. After an MRI following the more recent accident, she was looking for a chiropractor for treatment of two bulging discs and two herniated discs in her neck.

In an online search, James found the Back To Wellness Center Chiropractic & Physical Therapy, located in the Summergate Professional Center behind Sam’s Club off of S.R. 56.

“I was in pretty bad shape the first time I walked in,” says Cindy, “but I felt wonderful when I left.”

Cindy says what she liked about the Back To Wellness Center was the integration of chiropractic care, physical therapy and massage, all in one practice. Owner Jonathan Hancock, D.C. (Doctor of Chiropractic), says that’s what sets his office apart from others in the area.

“By combining chiropractic care with physical therapy and massage therapy, we’re not just going to get you out of pain,” Dr. Hancock says, “Our goal is to rehabilitate you so the condition doesn’t become chronic.”

Dr. Hancock opened the Back To Wellness Center in 2012. He was born and raised in Dade City, where his family business is in agriculture. He earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in political science from the University of South Florida in 2006, then attended Palmer College of Chiropractic in Port Orange, FL, earning his D.C. degree in 2010.

Alexandra Ellison-Cherny, D.C., joined the staff nearly two years ago, after also earning her D.C. degree from Palmer College in 2014. Prior to that, she earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Biology from the University of Central Florida in Orlando in 2011.

The integration with physical therapy happens because of the close partnership between the chiropractors and the Back To Wellness Center’s staff physical therapist (PT) Justin Spiegel, DPT (Doctor of Physical Therapy). Dr. Spiegel also is a Certified Mulligan Concept Practitioner, which he explains is a specific type of manual technique that restores joint function without increasing pain. He says he is one of just a handful of practitioners with this particular certification in the state of Florida.

“We work closely together and even sit down and brainstorm specific conditions,” says Dr. Hancock. “We give patients a higher level of care because we are right under the same roof.” He says having patients work directly with the physical therapist means he and Dr. Ellison-Cherney have more time to ensure they properly diagnose and treat underlying conditions, not just symptoms. “Patients get better quicker because we’re all on the same page.”

The staff also includes physical therapy assistant Robby Bell, PTA, RCA (registered chiropractic assistant), two licensed massage therapists (LMTs) and office manager Sierra Robinson.

“What drew me to this practice is that we have all these different modalities to treat people,” says Dr. Ellison-Cherny. “In my experience, it’s never just one thing that’s the answer. By using chiropractic, physical therapy and massage therapy, we help people to (not only) feel better, but stay better.”

The Back To Wellness Center treats a wide variety of musculoskeletal pain or conditions. “We cater to all walks of life,” says Hancock. “From workers comp injuries to auto accidents to athletes.”

A major focus of the doctors is that their patients have to be able to continue the exercises designed for them at home, so that they can stay well and pain-free.

Dr. Spiegel says most physical therapy exercises are designed to use the body’s own weight.

“We don’t need weight machines in the physical therapy room,” says Dr. Spiegel. “We’re trying to reeducate muscles to be strong enough to support the body. Those muscles don’t need a lot of resistance to restore function.  We start with a set of stretches and exercises using a resistance band, and we’ll even give you the resistance band to take home with you so you can continue at home.”

Dr. Hancock echoes this important sentiment. “We teach our patients to be proactive,” he says. “When they do the exercises at home, they don’t have to come in to the office as often. We provide papers with pictures to show patients how to do the exercises, and we practice them here. By the time they leave, it’s ingrained in them what they should do. When they are disciplined and follow through, we really see the results.”

Dr. Ellison-Cherny and Dr. Hancock say anyone can benefit from visiting their office. “Pain is the last thing you feel,” says Dr. Ellison-Cherny. “Unless you’ve experienced a traumatic accident, usually the conditions are there a long time before you feel pain.”

They agree that while every treatment plan is tailored to the individual, the Back To Wellness Center often offers shorter treatment plans than patients might expect, because of the integration of physical therapy and massage therapy on site. “I would say we average three to five visits to get out of pain for non-traumatic injuries,” says Dr. Hancock.

He adds that the office accepts all insurance plans and is “in network” for the vast majority of plans. “We also offer flexible, affordable cash pay plans, and work with CareCredit financing, too,” he says.

A Pain-Free Education

For Cindy and James Griffiths, their treatment at The Back To Wellness Center was just what the doctors hope each of their patients will experience.

“They really, really educated us and were very helpful,” says Cindy. “In addition to the chiropractic care, the physical therapy and massage therapy really helped. I didn’t have physical therapy after my brain surgery in 2000, because it wasn’t offered to me. I wish it had been, because it’s been really good.”

In fact, she says the Back to Wellness Center helped her and James change many of their “bad habits,” such as teaching James how to properly get up from a lying down position. For Cindy, “Since my brain surgery, I had been holding my neck in a very stiff way, and Robby showed me how to not be so stiff. Just the other day I was saying, ‘I can’t believe I can turn my head like that.’”

Cindy adds that she and James came in for treatments for about six weeks, but after five weeks, they were completely off Ibuprofen and aspirin and felt much better. “If we have any problems, we would go back, but so far we haven’t had any,” says Cindy. “I’m still practicing what I was taught. I do the exercises and I feel great.”

The Back To Wellness Center Chiropractic & Physical Therapy is located at 27454 Cashford Cir., in the Summergate Professional Center, behind Sam’s Club off S.R. 56. The office is open Monday-Wednesday, 9 a.m. – 6 p.m.; 3 p.m.-7 p.m. on Thursday; and 9 a.m.- 3 p.m. on Friday. For more information, visit WesleyChapelChiropractor.com, call 973-4747 to make an appointment.