Incoming WC Rotary Club president Dr. Pablo Rivera (right) and current president Erin Meyer, at the club’s meeting at Quail Hollow Country Club in Wesley Chapel on May 11.
The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon has been forced to cancel the 2016 Freedom Fest, which had been scheduled for July 2, after the host site pulled out.
‘The Grove (at WC shopping plaza) just pulled out on us,” said Dr. Pablo Rivera, the club’s incoming president for the 2016-17 Rotary year & the event co-chair. “I literally have major sponsor checks inbound to us as we speak that I now have to return.” The club was hoping to have those sponsors instead sponsor the upcoming Duck Derby.
Rivera said the club tried to quickly relocate the event to a few other locations (including near the Tampa Premium Outlet Mall), “but we can’t pull off a (venue) change by July 2 (the scheduled date for the 2016 Freedom Fest).”
The event had previously been held at the Shops of Wiregrass mall, last year drawing an estimated 50,000 people to the July 3 event and raising more than $25,000 for the club’s selected charitable causes.
The club’s first-ever Duck Derby will be held on Saturday, May 21, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., lakeside at Hungry Harry’s BBQ on U.S.41 in Land O’Lakes. The top prize for the Duck Derby will be $2,500, with more than two dozen other prizes available.
“We’re now focused on making the first Duck Derby another major fund-raising event for our club’s selected charities,” Rivera said.
Current club president Erin Meyer added, “We still plan to host a fifth annual Freedom Fest next year.”
John and Alissa Holcomb with their children (l.-r.) Isaac, Annlee, Jacob and Aliah.
Alissa Holcomb sat in church on Mother’s Day in 2011, when Pastor James Dodzweit asked for all the mothers in attendance to stand and be acknowledged.
That morning, Alissa had suffered her third miscarriage.
She stayed in her seat.
Her story, and journey, started right there.
That summer, Alissa and her husband John had all but given up on having children. Married in 2004, they started trying to make a family in 2006. Alissa had already been through two miscarriages, but the third one, on that Mother’s Day in 2011, was the cruelest of them all.
“Lord, what do you have in store?,’’ she prayed.
They agreed to stop trying for a baby. The pressure, and heartbreaking failures, had become too much.
So, they turned to adoption, which Alissa says they had always planned to do, in addition to having their own babies anyway. Alissa had her heart set on adopting a baby, but twice, when they thought they were close, a pair of matches fell through.
They came to a halting revelation: “Maybe we’re not going to be parents,” she recalls.
But, Alissa continued to attend adoption classes. She learned that older sets of biological siblings were the hardest kids to find homes for, and also the most plentiful in the adoption system. So, while she desired a baby, she came home one night from class and told John she might be open to adopting somewhat older siblings.
She didn’t share this with anyone. And yet, strangely, the adoption agency, which knew she was only looking for a baby, called soon after her conversation with John to ask if she would be interested in a five-year-old African-American boy and his four-year-old sister.
In October 2011, she met Isaac and Aliah, and on Dec. 3, the children moved into their home. She had her kids. She was a mother.
A week later, Alissa found out she was pregnant.
***
With a Dollar Store pregnancy test in the bathroom of a Cracker Barrel, Alissa confirmed the suspicion she had an hour earlier by the sickness she says she felt after catching a whiff of a soiled diaper.
Her previous pregnancy tests had taken longer to reveal a thin double line. This one was instant and “darker than dark.”
She was dumbfounded. She went to the doctor for a quick blood test to confirm, and then met her husband at Walmart, where he was shopping. She surprised him with a baby Christmas stocking.
When he looked inside, he saw the pregnancy test.
“It was crazy, just crazy,’’ she said. “I mean, that’s not a plan. That’s not how this is supposed to happen. But, because of our faith, we felt this was totally God, they way he had orchestrated the whole thing.”
On March 7, 2012, the Holcombs’ adoption of Isaac and Aliah was made official. She spent her first-ever Mother’s Day pregnant with Jacob, eating breakfast in bed, compliments of Isaac and Aliah.
***
Alissa works as the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area director for Young Life, a national, non-denominational Christian ministry dedicated to introducing teenagers to Jesus and helping them grow in their faith.
She doesn’t share the same birthing story most moms do. There are no straight lines from moment to moment, just roadblocks and obstacles and twisting paths headed seemingly nowhere, until they all headed somewhere.
“The moment I laid eyes on Isaac and Aliah, and other adoptive parents can speak to this too, it was like a unique birthing experience,’’ Alissa says. “We were overcome by emotion. We knew. These are our kids.”
Jacob, who was born in July of 2012, made Alissa a mom again. And, after giving up on having a fourth child, the Holcombs found out — surprise — in 2015 that she was pregnant with Annlee, who is now 9 months old.
“It’s been a crazy journey,’’ Alissa said, “and I’m really grateful. As hard as it’s been, I’m really grateful for the (now four) children I have.”
Alissa works hard at making her family work. Despite her biological attachments to two of her children, she has worked hard at ensuring that she has that same feeling of attachment with Isaac and Aliah. They come from hard places.They have questions. The Holcombs attend family counseling to help seek those answers out.
“Being parents is the hardest thing we’ve ever done,’’ Alissa says. “But, we are committed to the overall health of the family. It’s a work in progress.”
***
For Alissa, Mother’s Day brings on a wave of emotions. It it is a reminder of pain and suffering, but mostly of hope and salvation. She thinks there were reasons for everything, from the miscarriages to failed adoptions to her change of heart that brought Isaac and Ali
ah into her heart, to her first and second successful pregnancies.
Since that lowest point in 2011 when Mother’s Day was only a reminder of failure, it now brings her joy.
Just a year after that, when Pastor James asked all the mothers to stand, she jumped to her feet, smiling, with one thought:
“Oh my gosh,’’ she thought, “I’m here, and I’m a mom.”
West Palm Beach-based commercial developer John Dowd played a pivotal role in the development of the Wesley Chapel and Wiregrass Ranch area near S.R. 56 when, with the stalwart help of JCPenney as the lead anchor, he helped spearhead the birth of The Shops at Wiregrass mall.
Dowd admitted that it wasn’t easy. Right before the mall finished, the economy started to slow. Had it been six months later, Dowd doesn’t think the mall would have ever been built. “We had tenants come to us who had literally just signed leases and wanted out,’’ he said. “Everybody was so afraid of what was going to happen to the world.”
But, thankfully, the world did survive. And, so did the mall.
John Dowd shows a map of the Wiregrass Ranch DRI and where some of the planned construction will take place.
Dowd is back in the area, and is again teaming up with local landowner/developer JD Porter to help give the Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) another economic shot in the arm.
At the Wesley Chapel Economic Development meeting at Mulligans (inside New Tampa’s Pebble Creek Golf Club) on April 28, Dowd and Porter regaled a crowd of more than 100 local business leaders with tales from the past, but mostly of a future they see as bright and bustling.
The Wiregrass mall, which Dowd said didn’t have the start everyone had hoped when it opened in 2008, is now enjoying the kind of success that was expected. That is triggering further development in the area, as the Porter family carefully and judiciously parcels out its land to businesses and developers who fit into their long-range plans.
Dowd said he was attracted to working with the Porter family because of the family’s deliberate style. Unlike many landowners, JD Porter said he is no rush to sell to the highest bidder and turn an instant profit. Instead, the Wiregrass Ranch DRI continues to only greenlight projects the Porter feel add value to the entire area.
Wiregrass Ranch Set To Expand
Here’s some of those plans Porter and Dowd shared at the Economic Development meeting:
1. On S.R. 54, just down the road from Walmart, the first project between Dowd and Porter will be a 12,600-sq.-ft. strip center, with two nicely designed buildings. Two restaurants are already signed up, with two more close to coming aboard as well. The project will feature a typical mix, including a cell phone store, nail and hair salons, restaurants and “good neighborhood use” businesses.
“We already have more interested tenants than we have space for,’’ Dowd said.
2. On S.R. 56, east of the Wiregrass Mall expansion (which will include restaurants, a movie theater and a grocery store), Porter and Dowd are doing is having site work done at another shopping center, to be called Wiregrass Commons at 56, which will include a “green” or specialty grocery store.
Nothing has been signed yet, Dowd said, and “we’re not doing any of the small stuff until we get an anchor signed up. Once that happens, that will be a 50,000-60,000-sq.-ft. project in total and a nice addition to the area.
3. Porter also said a hotel would be finalizing a deal within 30 days, and that is expected to also immediately east of the Wiregrass Commons at 56 project. He did not say which hotel, but we have heard rumors it will be a Marriott Fairfield Inn.
4. Even further east on S.R. 56, the long-awaited Raymond James Financial campus is close to officially announcing its arrival.
No, seriously.
JD Porter (left) says big things are coming to Wiregrass Ranch, including Raymond James.
Porter joked that he was sick and tired of talking about the long-rumored project, which some had begun to doubt. But doubt no more.
“We got good news (April 27) and I truly believe within the next 2-3 weeks we’ll have a permit,’’ Porter said. “Having that permit triggers the closing. Having that closing means the other two or three office users, which we are we are talking to right now — anywhere from 600,000 square feet to another 1.2-million-sq.-ft., Fortune 50 companies — they close, and I would suspect we’re going to see movement within the next 4-6 months after that.”
Porter said Raymond James will add between 4,000-6,000 jobs, and that you can double that total to 8,000-12,000 jobs with the other unnamed businesses set to follow.
That will also begin to create some of the day traffic that Dowd says is necessary if the area is going to attract more quality restaurants, as well.
5. Porter said they will be closing on an assisted living facility, “in the next 45-60 days”. Porter didn’t disclose any other information, but the facility will be called Beach House at Wiregrass Ranch Assisted Living & Memory Care, which is owned by the Prevarian Companies.
The facility will be multiple stories when completed next to North Tampa Behavorial Health, which also is expanding and will be adding 48 rooms by the end of the year.
6. As part of trying to force vertical integration into the development plan, Porter said that in 30-45 days construction also should begin on a condo project, called Altis at Wiregrass, which will be located directly north of Wiregrass Commons at 56.
“If I would’ve said condos in Pasco County 3-4 years ago, you probably would have told me to get the hell out of here,’’ Porter said. “Well, it happened.”
Porter hinted at four-story structures, with rooftop pools and verandas. “Something typical of Hyde Park and South Tampa,’’ he said. “But not typical Pasco County.”
The condos, which according to site plans will include 394 multi-family dwellings in 15 separate buildings, are part of Porter’s plan to build new and different projects in the area. “If you wanna play in the sandbox, you have to step it up,’’ he said. “We are very fortunate to be in the right area. If people want to be here, bring something new to the table.”
Just The Beginning Of New Phase For Wiregrass Ranch
Porter promised other major announcements concerning major retailers still to come. But for now, he is pleased with the area’s progress, citing the proximity of an expanding hospital, a state college with room to grow into a full-fledged university and more retail in the area. He also expects an increase in new homes as well, and once the residential areas mature a mixed-use town center can be developed.
Members of the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce Board, including past President Jeff Novotny (holding plaque) were honored to present the plaque that will adorn the boardroom at the WCCC office in The Grove named for the late Don Porter to Don’s son JD and daughter Quinn (center), during the Chamber’s Economic Development briefing at which JD and commercial developer John Dowd spoke about Wiregrass Ranch.
Porter also said his family is rethinking its commitment of donating 120-acres to the county to build a park in the area. A tennis center fell through more than a decade ago, as did a proposed baseball complex on the site last year. In November the county announced it would be seeking partners in a public-private relationship to build an indoor facility on land that also would include outdoor fields.
But Porter, frustrated with the county’s inability to move forward on donated land, says he may take back some of it back by the end of the year and build the park privately, as part of his long-range plan to provide the area with “synergy”.
“We are looking to create something we can be proud of out here not just tomorrow, but 10-50 years down the road,’’ he said.
Three hooded and gloved suspects knocked a hole in the Grey Wolf Armory wall and made off with more than 30 weapons early Sunday morning, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office said.
The PSCO says that between 2:53 and 2:57am, the suspects entered through the east side of the Wesley Chapel gun shop, located at32733 Eiland Blvd., after smashing the exterior lighting and taking advantage of the fact that that side of the building is obscured by hedges.
The suspects made off with 30 hand guns, two long guns and one sniper rifle, leaving in an unknown direction. Other more expensive guns were left untouched.
The business has an alarm, but it was never activated, and the suspects crawled around to avoid surveillance camera and motion detectors, the PCSO said.
This is the second time in two months the Grey Wolf Armory has been broken into. According to a post on the business Facebook page from March 14, someone broke in and damaged a half-dozen guns while smashing a glass display unit, but was only able to make off with a single hand gun thanks to the PCSO’s quick response.
“If I was a conspiracy theorist, I would wonder if someone had it in for us,” a post reads on the Facebook page of the Grey Wolf Armory. The new post suggests that the Sunday break-in was orchestrated by the same people from March, because they tried to break in at the same point as March but found the walls had been reinforced and moved to a more vulnerable spot. They also, the post says, took several guns Sunday that they tried but failed to take the first time.
Anyone with information is asked to call investigators at (800) 706-2488.
(l.-r.) Astrid Coffey, Nick Diorio and Jolene Baldwin today run First in Tampa Bay Real Estate, which has a nearby office on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace.
Mary Ann Diorio was one of the first advertisers in the New Tampa Neighborhood News. For two decades, she advertised her property management business on these pages. After a battle with non-Hodgkin lymphoma, Mary Ann passed away in September 2015.
Her husband, Nick Diorio, and daughter, Jolene Baldwin, are continuing Mary Ann’s legacy through their business, which is called First in Tampa Bay Real Estate and uses the website MaryAnnRents.com, finding tenants for property owners in New Tampa and the surrounding areas, and managing properties for those owners.
Nick has been a licensed Realtor since 1987. When he retired from a 20-year career at Verizon in 2008, he got his real estate Broker’s license and opened First in Tampa Bay Real Estate. Mary Ann had been working at other area companies, and Nick says they “joined forces” at First In Tampa Bay Real Estate in 2013. Astrid Coffey, a Pebble Creek resident and licensed Realtor since 1998, has been with the company since 2014.
When her mom passed away, Jolene also became licensed as a Realtor and joined the company.
“If you’re a landlord and we manage your property,” Nick explains, “we act as your representative.”
So, for example, the tenant pays rent to First In Tampa Bay Real Estate, and calls the company to schedule necessary repairs. “It takes the emotion out of being an owner and having to deal with tenants.”
For example, he says landlords often give tenants the benefit of the doubt, so if tenants say they’ll be a “little late” on rent, they grant them extra time to pay.
“But then, all of a sudden,” Nick says, “it’s the middle of the month, then it’s the end of that month and that ‘slow pay’ turns into a ‘no pay.’”
He works with tenants whenever possible, but will start a 45-day eviction process if the tenant doesn’t pay as agreed. “We don’t want to evict,” he says, “and I would say less than three percent of our properties ever get evicted.” But, he adds, there’s a process in place to ensure that all rent is paid on time.
The Diorios’ friend (and former New Tampa resident) Linda Crenshaw, with Nick & Mary Ann Diorio.
A Pebble Creek resident named Joan says she started working with Mary Ann 18 years ago, when Joan became responsible for a property a family member owns in Tampa Palms.
“I had a camaraderie with Mary Ann for so many years,” Joan says, “but the company hasn’t changed. They’re very helpful and friendly, the rent is always on time, and they take care of business.”
Ernie Angelilli owns a townhome in Tampa Palms and had worked with Mary Ann for the past eight years.
“Mary Ann was always there, but over the past couple of years, Nick became more integrated with the business,” Ernie says. “The transition was seamless and you couldn’t even tell Mary Ann was getting sicker.”
Ernie also says that First In Tampa Bay Real Estate is “fabulous” and lists many reasons why he recommends the company. “They’re pleasant, easy to work with, and very responsive,” he says. “They properly screen tenants and I’ve never had any problems with payments. They always let me know in advance if there’s a problem and give me options to resolve it. Then, they give very detailed statements on anything they do.”
Nick says, “This business has always been Mary Ann’s business,” and explains that his role was always more behind the scenes. “For the two years she was sick, we began building trust with her clients, and our clients have stayed with us since she passed away.”
Mary Ann’s way of handling her clients set the standard for how Nick, Jolene and Astrid now continue running the business.
“Our tagline has been, ‘We manage your property properly,’ and that’s what we do,” Nick says. “Mary Ann was always honest and straightforward. For example, she’d rather give you her honest opinion, even if she risked losing the business when a client didn’t hear what they wanted to hear [about what their property is worth on the rental market].”
‘Priced Right & Shows Well’
“If a property is priced right and shows well, it’s going to rent right away,” Nick says, warning that asking for too much rent can backfire on a property owner. “If you let it sit for a month, you’ve lost that rent (for that month).”
First In Tampa Bay Real Estate recently listed a 4-bedroom, 3-bathroom home in Hunter’s Green for $2,950 per month. It was rented in 6 days for a monthly rent of $2,850.
“We’re coming into the busy season because people are starting to look now so they can move when school gets out,” says Nick. “But, even in the middle of winter, a house will still rent if the price is right.”
As for showing well, when the Realtors at First In Tampa Bay Real Estate take on a new client, they give their professional opinion as to what needs to be done, usually easy fixes such as painting or removing wallpaper.
“Making a small investment often makes a big difference,” Nick explains. “We give you advice to get the price you want. If you don’t want to do these things, you might get less, and your home might be the last one rented.”
When a renter moves in, a member of the First In Tampa Bay Real Estate team does a walk-through via video to record what the property looks like. When that tenant moves out, another walk-through is conducted to determine what needs to be corrected before the property goes back on the market. “This provides proof to both the owner and tenant of the condition of when they moved in and when they move out,” says Nick.
Someone from First In Tampa Bay Real Estate also checks on each property in person at least once every six months, to check on the property’s condition. Checklist items include being sure sprinklers are on, air filters have been changed, and there are no bugs, since pest control is normally the responsibility of the tenant.
First in Tampa Bay Real Estate currently manages about 90 properties.
“We’re not a large company,” says Nick, “so we’re able to offer personalized services, but we have the benefits of a larger company because of technology.” He says this includes a 24-hour emergency phone number that is always answered.
“It’s not about the number of accounts we have,” Nick says, “but about having accounts that are happy with us.”
First In Tampa Bay Real Estate is located at 9385 N. 56th St., #312. Hours are Mon.–Fri., 9 a.m.-5 p.m., with other hours available by appointment. For more information, go to MaryAnnRents.com, call Nick at 417-9575 or email nick@nickdiorio.com.
She was dumbfounded. She went to the doctor for a quick blood test to confirm, and then met her husband at Walmart, where he was shopping. She surprised him with a baby Christmas stocking.
