The year 2019 has been extremely eventful for Wesley Chapel (and for yours truly) and the forecast for 2020 is (drumroll, please)...for much more of the same for the fastest-growing designated area in Florida. So yes, a lot of new businesses and restaurants opened between S.R. 54 and S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel in 2019, but there’s so much more to come. For example, while … [Read more...]
In Honor & Memory Of My Friend Taken Way Too Soon — Rick Ward
I first met Mollyana Ward at what was then called a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce event somewhere between three and four years ago. Mollyana, Jannah and I became close pretty quickly — she was fun, outgoing, smart and she was very interested in helping me with what was then a fledgling idea I had about starting a video program for YouTube and Facebook. I … [Read more...]
If Someone Tells You Print Is Dead, Tell Them About The Neighborhood News!
Almost every day when I go to North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting and other local events, I have at least one local business owner tell me that they don’t do any print advertising at all — and that Facebook, Instagram and other online advertising outlets are the only places they spend their money these days. And then, inevitably, there’s always at least one person, who … [Read more...]
Congrats To The North Tampa Bay Chamber & A Tip Of The Hat To Mike Moore!
NTBC president Hope Allen shows off the Florida Chamber of the year award. (Right, l.-r.) Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, Hope and NTBC Board chair Karen Tillman-Gosselin at the Chamber’s Monthly Business Breakfast held Oct. 1 at PHSC’s Porter Campus. (Big congratulations go out to the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce (NTBC) and its president and CEO (and, I’m proud … [Read more...]
A Restaurant Survey & Contest Update & My Wife’s Exciting New Job!
Jannah & Gary Nager at a wedding on Cape Cod Aug. 17. Pretty much every year since I took over the Neighborhood News in 1994, we have held our annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest. At one time, it was just our most popular contest for our readers but today, it is the only one we still run year after year. And honestly, it’s also a tremendous amount of work to put … [Read more...]
