Wesley Chapel has been without a library for more than a year since the only previous location, the New River Branch Library on S.R. 54, began a major facelift. That facelift, which will feature areas for teens and children, remodeled bathrooms, new furniture, an improved community garden and covered learning space, should be completed by January, but that hasn’t stopped … [Read more...]
High School Fall Sports Season To Be ‘Challenging’
At our press time, Freedom High was expected to open its 2020 football season on Sept. 11, hosting its New Tampa neighbor and archrival Wharton High, but the toughest opponent for both teams to combat that night likely wasn’t each other. It was Covid-19. And, that doesn’t just go for football. Avoiding the virus is arguably the biggest challenge facing teams across … [Read more...]
New Tampa Students, Teachers Get Back To School
Following a summer of indecision and fear of the unknown, New Tampa’s schools finally opened their doors to students for in-person learning for the first time since they closed in March due to Covid-19. “Woo hoo!,” shouted one parent, as she drove off smiling after dropping her two kids off at Benito Middle School. Students spent the first week of the 2020-21 school year … [Read more...]
Students Learning Virtually (For Now) At Excel Music
John and Sheri Thrasher opened Excel Music on Cross Creek Blvd. in 2006. They have adapted their business model to meet online student needs during the pandemic. For more than 14 years, Excel Music on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa has been teaching private music lessons to students of all ages. But lately, something has been very different than “business as … [Read more...]
Climb To The Top No Easy Task For Freedom Valedictorian
Taravat Tarahom didn’t get to bask in the glory of being Freedom High School’s Class of 2020 valedictorian, thanks to the outbreak of Covid-19 cutting short her senior year. Nor did she get to give her speech in front of a throng of her classmates in an arena, instead settling for a safe and socially distant recorded message. What Taravat says she did get out of being … [Read more...]
