(Left, l.-r.) Wesley Chapel residents Brittany Long and her daughter Lillian, with New Tampa residents Reha, Mahi and Rudra Patel and Nicole Tuminella, the Tampa Bay Invention Convention Worldwide affiliate for Hillsborough County Public Schools. (Photos provided by Brittany Long and Reha Patel).
Our sincere congratulations go out to New Tampa resident Mahi Patel and Wesley Chapel resident Lillian Long. These two young inventors recently won some impressive honors at the seventh annual Invention Convention Worldwide (ICW)- Youth National Invention Convention June 5-8, at the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, MI.Â
Representatives from the U.S. Patent Office enjoy checking out Lillianâs unique, award-winning slime.Â
Lillian is a 4th grader at Clark Elementary who invented a âderm-friendlyâ slime that is suitable for people who have eczema and other skin sensitivities. Meanwhile, Mahi, a 5th grader from Chiles Elementary, created an Artificial Intelligence (AI) program through coding to help better â and more quickly â recognize lung cancer in body scans.
First, the girls entered their projects in the Hillsborough Regional STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering & Math) Fair back in March, after each won first place at their respective school STEM Fairs. Both were entered in the Invention categories in their respective grade levels. Out of more than 1,500 projects at the District-level elementary fair, the girls were then chosen to represent Tampa Bay at the ICW-Youth National Invention Convention.Â
Mahi with her âTop Show Boardâ prize winner.Â
Going for the experience and to share their passion for their respective inventions, both girls ended up walking away from the National Competition with two outstanding awards each. Mahi won 1st place overall in the country for 5th grade entries and the Top Show Board award for the entire event, while Lillian won 2nd place overall in the country for 4th grade entries. She also won the top Medal/Health award of all projects K-12 in the entire event. These were surely some huge accomplishments, considering that there were 366 students who were selected to attend the 7th Annual ICW nationwide event.
Both students have personal connections to their inventions and sought out solutions to help others.
Lillian hopes to create a product line that can be used for many purposes in dermatology offices, child psychology offices, and occupational therapy offices as well. She says her primary goal is to create an inclusive product that is safe for everyone.
Mahi hopes that her product, which uses a different algorithm, can help identify a variety of cancers at a much faster rate, allowing more people to have quicker care and less chances for misdiagnosis. Mahiâs brother Rudra, who is going into his junior year at Middleton High, also has competed in (and won) science fairs in the past.
Both girls also have been selected to represent the U.S. and have their inventions at the worldwide virtual competition, which will be held at the end of this month, with the awards to be announced on Aug. 11! Good luck, young ladies!
Rashmi Maharaj and Sunil Mohammed are the husband-and-wife team that owns Totally Blu Pools, located in the Summertree Plaza off Eiland Blvd. and S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel.(All photos by Charmaine George).
Over the past 16+ years in the pool service business, Totally Blu Pools co-owner Sunil Mohammed says heâs seen it all.
His business has survived the last major U.S. recession (2008-09), the pool-building boom and supply chain shortages of the Covid era (2020-22) and pretty much everything in between.
So, what made Sunil and his wife Rashmi Maharaj decide to finally open their first-ever brick-and-mortar store in the Publix- and Home Depot-anchored Summertree Plaza at the corner of S.R. 54 and Eiland Blvd.?
âThere are just so many new homes being built here in Wesley Chapel,â Sunil says. âAnd, most of them have swimming pools. I felt there was definitely room for a new mom-and-pop pool supply store here. Plus, we live 5-10 minutes away from the store.â
Unlike pool supply chain stores, Sunil is able to reassure his customers that he only carries quality pool supplies and will help them keep the water in their home pools clean, with the right pH levels and that he will stake his 16-year reputation on his ability to keep them happy.
âWe give good service,â Sunil says, âand I know we have the best prices.â
And, Sunil adds that even though Home Depot is located in the same plaza, âthe Home Depot guy is not our customer. He already knows what heâs looking for and wants to take care of his pool himself. We attract the customers who are new pool owners or who have no idea how to take care of their pools and who want to ask questions of someone who has that expertise.â
Sunil and Rashmiâs son Savir tests the quality of a customerâs pool water.
Part of that expertise is testing the pool water for what Sunil calls âthe four basic food groupsâ of your pool â chlorine (or salt) level, the pH, as well as calcium and stabilizer levels. âWe have everything you need to make sure that all four levels are properly balanced,â he says. âIf all of those levels arenât correct, you could have a problem.â
And, although Sunil says that he handles both residential and commercial clients, âWe are really focused now on residential pools. Back in 2008-09, we had mostly commercial clients, but when that recession hit, we could have lost the business. So now, Iâm very selective about taking on commercial clients. I have to know who they are.â
He adds that because of Totally Bluâs great reputation, some developers do get in touch with him to service or even help design their community pools, including Siena Cove and Bridgehaven here in Wesley Chapel.
Totally Blu Pools stocks a wide selection of pool cleaners.Â
âI have licensed contractors working with me,â Sunil says, âso now, not only can I service your pool, I also can help complete, refinish or repair your pool. With all of the fallout from local pool companies that didnât treat their customers fairly during Covid, we may even get into designing and installing pools in the future, too.â
Totally Blu Pools also has a current special on an ICHLOR salt chlorine generator from Pentair. Sunil says you can buy it for $1,000, âor, if you become a new service customer with me, I will install one for free. In that case, I would still own it and Iâd take it back out if you fire me, but I know itâs a great deal. I love Pentair because the replacement parts for their systems are so much less expensive than others.â
Totally Green Lawns, Too
For the last four years, Sunil also has had his Totally Green Lawn Service. Even though he had never had a lawn service before, when one of his pool customers asked if he knew anyone who could cut their grass, he said he could do it. Four years later, he now has 700 residential lawn accounts, mostly in the Wesley Chapel area.
âWe cut, do the fertilizing and even pesticide application (in partnership with another company that is licensed to do that),â Sunil says. âWe can take care of your pool and your lawn.â
Sunil adds that giving back to the community also is important to him, and he has raised funds to help buy ice time for the Wiregrass Ranch High hockey team that his son Savir plays for (although Savir actually attends Wesley Chapel High).
âWe have helped people who couldnât afford their lawn or pool service,â he says. âAnd we currently have a promotion where if you spend $50 with us, weâll give you a $5 discount and match that with a $5 donation to a local elementary school in need.âÂ
Totally Blu Pools is located at 32781 Eiland Blvd. For more information, call (813) 788-7665, or visit totallybluh20.com.
Co-owner Elijah Pratt (left) and store manager Jay Ewanish of One-Stop Landscape Supply on S.R. 54 (almost to Zephyrhills) invite you to check out their extensive supply of plants, rocks, soil, pots and other accessories to keep your yard looking its best. (All photos by Charmaine George).
At One-Stop Landscape Supply on S.R. 54, just west of Eiland Blvd. and across the street from the New River Branch Library, owner Elijah Pratt says his family business is the culmination of generations of his familyâs experience in the industry.
âOur family has worked in landscape businesses from my great-grandpa down to me,â says Elijah. From lawn maintenance, to landscaping maintenance and design, and now the garden center, the decades of experience help Elijah to understand what customers need when they visit One-Stop Landscape Supply.
Whether someone is looking for a few plants or wants a complete overhaul of their entire yard â or somewhere in between â One-Stop Landscape Supply is ready to help with a wide variety of products and exceptional customer service.
One-Stop stocks large varieties of beautiful plants (above), as well as flower pots and supplies (below).
âWe have nursery and garden center expertise and plant knowledge,â says Elijah, âWe pretty much always have someone walking around with you, talking through ideas and answering questions, such as which zone a specific plant goes in or how a certain tree will work in a specific location in your yard.â
Many times, that person walking around with you is One-Stop store manager Jay Ewanish. While heâs not part of the family ownership that includes Elijah and his dad, Matt, Jay has been at the store since it opened in July 2020.
âWeâre a family-owned business, so we take a lot of pride and joy in our work,â Jay says. âWe always have smiles on our faces.â
Jay explains that he previously worked for his brother in a family-owned business, so he takes his responsibility very seriously. In a corporate environment, a single employee might not be too concerned if each and every customer is happy, but itâs different at One-Stop.
âItâs just plants, but people take pride in their lawns here in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa,â Jay says. âSo, I learn more, to be sure Iâm giving out the right information.â
Jay adds that the storeâs Google reviews â an average of 4.9 out of 5.0 stars â speak for themselves, as many customers rave about the great experience theyâve had, and often mention Jay and Elijah by name.
âPeople pick us because of the knowledge we have and the pride we take in everything we do,â Jay says. âWe go above and beyond for every customer.â
Chuck Battino lives in Forest Oaks in Wesley Chapel and says heâs a frequent customer of One-Stop Landscape Supply, purchasing many palm trees, shrubs, topsoil and mulch since the store opened three years ago.
âWhen you call,â Chuck says, âthereâs always someone knowledgeable who can answer your questions and give you recommendations.â
He adds that when he bought his new home, it needed a lot of landscaping work. Purchasing a few items at a time from One-Stop Landscape Supply was a budget-friendly way to improve his yard over time. He says every recommendation given to him has worked out well.
âIâve lived in Wesley Chapel for 10 years and, based on my experience, I can say they are the best â the most accommodating and the least expensive company in the area.â
Chuck adds that he often takes advantage of the delivery service, which has impressed him. âThe delivery staff is well trained and they are hardworking people,â Chuck says. âMost of the time they can deliver within a few hours and itâs right to my home.â
In addition to the wide variety of plants and trees at One-Stop Landscape Supply, the store offers a selection of rocks, mulch and soil. Its 3,000-sq.-ft. warehouse also is stocked with fertilizers, irrigation products and tools.
Elijah says he works with many homeowners who have just moved into a new home. Often, theyâve built a new house and want to upgrade their builder-grade landscaping. But, some homeowners call or stop in after they have purchased a home thatâs new to them and they want to re-do their entire yard.
For those clients, Elijah schedules an appointment to come to your home for a free consultation, then uses software to map out a design for your front yard, back yard, or whatever area of your home you want to spruce up. He then provides an estimate that can include delivery and installation.
He says that, typically, homeowners are looking for low-maintenance plants and materials, so once they are installed, they donât require a lot of time or effort to sustain.
Elijah adds that many new customers find One-Stop Landscape Supply when they see what a great job the company did for one of their neighbors.
âWeâll do one house in a section of a neighborhood we havenât been in before,â he says, âand, all of a sudden, a bunch of the neighbors are calling.â
Since One-Stop opened in July 2020, its customers have had to navigate ongoing road work on S.R. 54 in front of the store. While that has been a challenge, Elijah hopes the end is finally in sight.
âWeâve been told the construction will be completed in August,â he says, âand then, weâll finally be able to put up a sign.â
He hopes the sign will help his business to be more visible to passers-by and help customers find it more easily.
Coming from the west, One-Stop Landscape Supply is on the right and is easy to turn into. However, coming from the east, Elijah says thereâs now a median, so customers need to pass One-Stop on the left, then make a U-turn to get back to the store. Alternately, he says anyone coming from the east can turn left at the new Taco Bell. That road leads to a back gate at the store that is open whenever the store is open, allowing drivers to get to One-Stop without having to make that U-turn.
One-Stop Landscape Supply (34100 S.R. 54) is open Monday-Friday, 7:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m.; and 9 a.m.-4 p.m. on Saturday. It is closed on Sunday. For more information, follow One-Stop Landscape Supply on Facebook (@OneStopLandscapeLLC) and Instagram (@OneStopLandscape). Or, call (813) 355-3480, visit OneStopLandscape.com.
Whether or not youâve ever entered one of our previous Reader Dining Survey & Contests, I hope youâll consider entering at least once this year.
Yes, while we still have at least three (there could be more) free dining prizes, from $35 to $100 â to the restaurant of your choice, no less â weâre making it easier than ever before for you to enter.
Instead of a full page or more of different dining categories, all weâre asking you for is to answer one or two questions in every issue between now and Thursday, November 16, and youâll receive one entry into those random prize drawings for each Survey question you answer.
This issue, weâll start with one question that asks you for FIVE (5) answers â âName your Five Favorite Restaurants (of any kind) located in Wesley Chapel or near the Tampa Premium Outlets (aka Lutz).â
For your entry to be valid, you must name five different restaurants. If you only name one or two restaurants or fill in the name of the same restaurant in all five spaces, youâll only have one or two votes counted and your entry will not be eligible for any of our prizes.
Then, in each of the next five issues, weâll ask you to name only one or two of your favorites â for example, your Favorite Chinese Restaurant, Coffee Shop or Pizza Place â and weâll give you one additional entry into our random prize drawings for each valid entry you submit. We feel as though this should stimulate more people to enter the contests, because the task wonât be as daunting as having to completely (or nearly completely) fill out an entire page of favorites.
As always, thereâs no purchase necessary to enter or win a prize. All we ask is that you follow the following rules:
1. Enter by filling out the entry form in the issue or by filling the form out online by clicking HERE.Â
2. You can drop your filled-out entry form in the mail (send it to â2023 Neighborhood News Dining Contest,â 2604 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Suite 102D, Wesley Chapel, FL 33544) or even email it to us at Ads@NTNeighborhoodNews.com. *Note-Entries filled out on our website do not need to be mailed or emailed to us.
3. Please check the address and zip codes of the restaurants you choose, as only votes for restaurants in zip codes 33543, 33544 and 33545 (Wesley Chapel) and zip code 33559 (Lutz, within 1-2 miles of the S.R. 56 exit off I-75) will be counted as âWesley Chapelâ votes. When we ask you next issue for your âFive Favorite Restaurants (of any kind) in New Tampa,â only restaurants located in zip code 33647, or in the Oak Ramble Plaza on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. (in zip code 33613) and in or near the Palms Connection Plaza on E. Bearss Ave. (zip code 33559) will be counted as âNew Tampaâ votes.
4. In order to be eligible to win any of our free dining prizes to the restaurant of your choice, your entry form with a response to at least one of our questions over the next five months must include your name, full mailing address (including your zip code), the community you live in (Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, Seven Oaks, etc.), a daytime phone number where you can be reached and your valid email address.
We look forward to seeing how this yearâs contest shakes out. Good luck!
If you love songs like âYouâre the One That I Want,â âHopelessly Devoted To You,â âGrease (Is The Word)â and âBeauty School Dropoutâ from the Broadway musical and subsequent movie (starring John Travolta and the late, great Olivia Newton-John) âGrease,â I can personally guarantee, in all sincerity, that you will not be disappointed if you check out the New Tampa Players (NTP) production of the 1972 Tony Award winner later this month.
The performances will be presented at the all-new New Tampa Performing Arts Center (PAC) off Bruce B. Downs Blvd. the weekends of July 21-23 and July 28-30 and tickets are already selling very well.
âWe had less than 100 tickets left (of the 350 available for each performance) for the two Sunday matinee shows (on July 23 & 30),â said NTP producing artistic director Nora Paine shortly before we went to press with this issue. âWe definitely expect to sell out all six shows.â
The hard-working cast (photo above), under the direction of G. Frank Meekins with choreography by Sarah Walston, features the tremendous talents of Dylan Fidler as Danny, Olivia Carr as Sandy, Kyle Fisher as Kenicke and Alyson Gannon as Rizzo. But honestly, as someone excited to be playing a minor character (Vince Fontaine) in this show, the entire ensemble is amazing.
For tickets & more information, see the ad below or visit NewTampaPlayers.org. â GN