Category: News

Responding To Those Who Criticized My July 26 Editorial

Gary Nager Editorial

I received about four or five emails and/or phone calls to our office about my recent editorial, which ran in both the July 26 New Tampa and Aug 9 Wesley Chapel issues.

All of these emails and phone calls have claimed that I am anti-Republican (or, at least, a RINO), anti-DeSantis, pro-Democrat and anti-American, but nothing could be further from the truth.

One woman who didn’t leave her name or number and had her number blocked (likely because she knew I would call her back to discuss her call) said that if she ever saw me out in the community, she’d walk up to me, scream and give me the finger to my face. “Do you know what the Democrats have done to this country, a-hole?,” I believe were her exact words.

First of all, RINO or not, I am a registered Republican who voted for Gov. DeSantis and most (but definitely not all) of the Republican candidates in most of the elections since I’ve lived in Florida — which is now almost 30 years — and I don’t believe I’ve ever not cast a ballot in any of those elections (including every city election in March of odd-numbered years when I lived in New Tampa from 1995-2009). The pages of the Neighborhood News also show that I always have staunchly supported our military and charities geared to help them.

But, just as I did when I lived (and cast ballots) in New York, I have never voted strictly along party lines. I have always voted for the candidates and referendums I believed would do the best job of protecting my family, my business, my city, county, state and country.

While I don’t agree with everything Gov. DeSantis has done during his time in office, I greatly appreciate that he kept my business and so many others open during the pandemic and I definitely will still vote for him in November because I believe he is the best candidate in the race. Charlie Crist is a flip-flopper who can’t make up his mind what he is and Nikki Fried boasts about being a “true” Democrat, but based on the many terrible things the Democratic party has done nationwide, I can’t support a gubernatorial candidate who clings to an agenda I don’t support.

The only reason I started with the governor’s race in my editorial is because it’s one of the “biggest” elections being decided in Florida in November, not because I support Crist or Fried. If my critics had read the entire editorial (and their comments suggest that maybe they didn’t), they’d see that I was much more focused on trying to get people in the communities I have served for almost 29 years. who tend to ignore voting in Primary Elections, to cast a ballot this time around — especially those who don’t think public school teachers are paid enough, because they definitely are not.

I and my sons (both of whom make more money than I ever have) all received public school educations only from Kindergarten through college and we all had wonderful teachers who deserve to make (at least) a living wage, too. Since the millage referendum in both Pasco and Hillsborough counties will only appear on the Aug. 23 ballot, those who choose to not vote until November will likely (in my opinion) make it much harder for these two ballot measures to pass, especially in Pasco.

The one thing I do agree with that the emailers pointed out is that I did neglect to mention China as a major national issue and I do believe that President Biden and the Democrats dominating Congress have made our country less safe with many of the stances they’ve taken with regards to China, Russia, North Korea and our enemies in the Middle East. I hope the Republican party can take back at least one, if not both, of those legislative bodies in order to keep better checks on policies that don’t make sense to me.

No, I never voted for Pres. Trump (nor did I vote for Biden or Hillary Clinton, however) because I didn’t like him personally and he’s done nothing since he left the White House to change my opinion of him. But, despite that fact, I do feel our military and our country were stronger when he was our President than they are now.

I’ll also just remind everyone — as I always have when I receive emails/calls like these — is that page 3 is my Editorial page, where I give my opinions each issue on a particular subject. The problem that so often happens is that people 1) often don’t read the entire editorial and, even when they do, 2) they don’t believe I’m entitled to my voice my opinions in my community newspapers, on page 3 or otherwise.

But, after 29 years of putting my opinions out there for tens of thousands of people every two weeks, I wouldn’t still be in business if most of our readers shared that belief — even though they may also disagree with me from time to time. And, despite how some readers may feel about me, I will always support anyone’s right to disagree with me — and appreciate that they still read the Neighborhood News despite their feelings towards me.

Election 2022

Grocery News, Cooper’s Hawk Is Official & More!

Those eager for a green grocer or something other than a Publix in the area, your best bet might be a future grocery store planned for Curley Rd. near the Epperson MetroLagoon.

Plans are in the final stage of permitting to begin a commercial project located at Curley Rd. and Overpass Rd., at the entrance to Wesley Chapel’s lagoon community neighborhood.

Originally reported in December 2019, the project will include an unnamed 55,401-sq.-ft. grocery store with 4,200-sq.-ft. of additional attached retail. The 35-acre site also includes an additional outparcel for future development.

Also at Epperson, the 7.5-acre MetroLagoon itself is getting some upgrades. An expansion of the amenities will include a 4,500-sq.-ft. clubhouse located at the north end of the lagoon, a 700-sq.-ft. restroom building centrally located on the east side of the lagoon (adjacent to the Epperson Lagoon Townhomes), five gazebo/pavilion shade structures, 97 additional parking spaces and 96 golf cart parking spaces.

SPORTS COMPETITION

Academy Sports + Outdoors (AS + O) has been one of the longest-rumored stores coming to the Cypress Creek Town Center North area. It was on some of the original maps touting the area long before many of the businesses that are up and running were ever mentioned. And finally, it’s just about here.

One of the nation’s largest sporting goods and outdoor sellers, AS + O is in permitting to open a 63,700-sq.-ft. store on the same lot as (and adjacent to) PopStroke, which already is under construction, behind the Chipotle and Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar on the north side of S.R. 56, across from the Tampa Premium Outlets.

AS + O, headquartered in Katy, TX, a suburb of Houston, has more than 260 stores, and says on its website that its 2021 sales exceeded $6.77 billion.

Academy is similar to DICK’s Sporting Goods, selling a variety of hunting, fishing, and camping gear, along with name-brand sports equipment and apparel, footwear and bikes.

The sporting goods chain opened its most recent store in Panama City, FL, but the Wesley Chapel location will be just the second in the Tampa Bay area and the 15th in Florida.

The first Tampa Bay store, in Pinellas Park, is expected to be completed by the end of the year. The Wesley Chapel location will open sometime in 2023.

“Tampa Bay is not only known for its enthusiastic sports fan base but also boasts renowned fishing, beaches and outdoor activities,” said Sam Johnson, Academy’s executive vice president of retail operations. “Whether you’re soaking up the sun on the beach, hitting the bay, or heading to a Lightning game, our team is eager to serve the local community and make it easier to have fun and gear up by providing great value and unmatched service.”

AS + O is one of a number of businesses coming up in the coming months near the Wesley Chapel Blvd. and S.R. 56/54 intersection, such as St. Luke’s Eye Center (next to Miller’s Ale House), El Dorado Furniture (across S.R. 56 from Miller’s, which is opening soon), Chicken Salad Chick (next to Zaxby’s; see story on pg. 44) and Harley Davidson of Wesley Chapel less than a half-mile north of 56 on Wesley Chapel Blvd.

DONE DEAL!

It’s official — Cooper’s Hawk Winery & Restaurant is coming to Wiregrass Ranch.

While we first told you back in early June that it was coming, the much-anticipated eatery finally submitted its plans to Pasco County in July for a 10,570-sq.-ft. restaurant. It will be located at the northwest corner of S.R. 56 and Lajuana Blvd. (the road that leads to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County), just east of the existing Culver’s restaurant.

According to its website, since it was founded in 2005 in Illinois by CEO Tim McEnery as that state’s first winery/restaurant, Cooper’s Hawk has received more than 500 wine awards from various local, national, and international wine competitions.

In 2021, Copper’s Hawk was named by USA Today as the top winery restaurant in the U.S. in a reader’s survey.

It is expected to open in Wiregrass Ranch sometime in mid-2023.

NEW CONVENIENCES

There are two Daybreak Market & Fuel convenience stores now either under construction or in permitting in Wesley Chapel.

One location is at the southeast corner of S.R. 54 and New River Rd., and a second store is being built at the corner of Hueland Pond Blvd. and S.R. 56, right across Hueland Blvd. from where the new Orlando Hospital Wiregrass Ranch (see story on pg. 4) will be located.

Both convenience stores will be roughly 4,800-sq.ft. Daybreak Market & Fuel was founded in 2019, and has six current locations, three of them in Port Charlotte, FL.

Daybreak Market & Fuel carries 76® fuel, which it touts as being top of the line.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

We’re not sure if the name is staying the same, but the Wesley Chapel Latin Market is being built on S.R. 54.

The only thing is, despite its name, the market is located in Zephyrhills, at 35500 S.R. 54.

However, it’s just a short drive (a little more than a mile) east of Wesley Chapel, and will be the area’s first Latin market. The 12,000-sq.-ft. market is in permitting, and there are no other details available at our press time.

Old Pasco Rd. Workshop Draws A Crowd

More than 100 residents showed up to the Pasco Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) to view and ask questions about Pasco County’s plans to widen the 6.88-mile-long Old Pasco Rd. from a sleepy two-lane country road to a four-lane divided roadway that can accommodate future traffic demands.

The public workshop, scheduled to start at 5:30 p.m., was practically packed 15 minutes before that.

“This is one the biggest crowds I’ve seen for one of these,” said Michael Cook, a real property professional for Pasco County.

The July 28 workshop was scheduled to give residents their say about the widening project. Many filled out comment cards and put them in a box on the way out.

Pasco County is performing a Route Study and Pond Siting Analysis to evaluate the impacts of widening Old Pasco Rd. from Wesley Chapel Blvd. (C.R. 54) to S.R. 52. Two alternatives were presented, the primary difference between them being one has a more urban design utilizing curbs and gutters, while the other uses swales.

Improvements also will include potential signalization of several intersections, on-street bicycle lanes, a sidewalk on one side of the road, a multi-use path on the other side, and drainage improvements.

“I’m fine with it as long as there’s no damage done to my house,” said Ruben Rosado, who has lived on Old Pasco Rd. since 2002, right around the time that the original Old Pasco Rd. Route Studies were approved by the Board of County Commissioners in March 2001 and April 2003.

Rosado and others also voiced concerns about how close the expanded road would be to their property, the ease of getting out of their driveway and speeding, which some think will be more prevalent on a more open road.

The county says portions of the required road right-of-way already have been acquired south of Overpass Rd. All required road right-of-way has been acquired from north of Overpass Road to S.R. 52.

In addition, the right-of-way for 12 of the 14 pond sites already has been acquired within the corridor.

The county says that Alternative 1, which is a wider build, would affect 47-48 properties, including two residential relocations, and cost roughly $102 million.

Alternative 2 would affect 41-42 properties, also including two residential relocations, and would cost roughly $93 million.

There also is a no-build option, which would cost nothing but seems highly unlikely.

Right-of-way acquisitions account for more than $14-million of each total.

Cook says some suggestions turned in by attendees would likely be incorporated into the design phase, such as placements of right and left turn lanes and the pond locations. The design phase is anticipated to begin starting sometime next year.

Currently, Pasco County has the following phases of the project funded in its 10-year 2022-31 Capital Improvement Program:

• Design Phase: Fiscal Years 2022-23 (a little behind schedule)

• Right-of-Way Acquisition: Fiscal Years 2024-25

• Construction: Fiscal Years 2026-27

Old Pasco Rd.

Is The Grove On Target With New Grocery Store?

The mystery about what grocery store might be coming to The Grove at Wesley Chapel has brewed for more than a year, since it was first teased on social media, but the answer finally may be close to being unveiled.

According to records filed with Pasco County, potential unnamed developers will meet with county planners Oct. 18 in a pre-application meeting.

The preliminary plan filed with the county reveals a 147,000-sq.-ft. retail building, with nearly 500 parking spots located on the parcel of land just south of The Grove’s main property, right across Pink Flamingo Ln. from Cost Plus World Market.

The bad news — if that is the size of the building, you can likely rule out any of the trendy and hip grocery store ideas bandied about online. The square footage of the proposed building is more than twice what you would find at any Publix, Sprouts, Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s.

If The Grove still plans on adding a grocery store component to its massive redevelopment, then we are conjecturing that all signs seem to point to a Super Target, a combo of a regular Target store that sells the usual clothing and other household items, combined with a full-size grocery store.

Neighborhood News graphic with conceptual plans overlayed on a Google map.

According to Target.com, the average Target is roughly 130,000 square feet, with some ranging to over 200,000 square feet.

However, there already is another Super Target in Wesley Chapel, located at the corner of County Line Rd. and Bruce B. Downs Blvd., although proximity to their other stores doesn’t stop big names like Publix, Walmart or Starbucks. And, with the S.R. 54 corridor the future home of thousands of new homes and apartments, there would be still be enough of a second Super Target to go around.

According to The Grove, nothing has been signed with any grocer, so we’ll have to wait and see.

If the grocery store plans have been scrapped entirely — we don’t think they have — than your guess to what the large retail building might be is as good as ours.

R.I.P. to the Trader Joe’s Brigade.

grove target

LOCH IT IN!

*Angie Ng, top left, celebrates swimming the length of the Loch Ness Lake with her team of friends, and poses in front of the stories lake the day before the swim. (Photos: Courtesy of Angie Ng)*

As it turns out, there is a Loch Ness monster.

Her name is Angie Ng.

Swimming the final 1,500 meters on a four-person relay, after already logging 6,000 meters on two previous legs, Angie (above) churned her arms and fluttered her legs faster than she ever remembered, cutting through the famous Scottish Lake Loch Ness, the seconds ticking away.

When she finally reached the end, tripping and falling on the rock-covered beach, the Seven Oaks resident had helped set a Loch Ness record for a 4-person relay team in the 23-mile long lake.

Not bad for a 52-year-old mother of two.

Angie, and her friends Eliza Chang, Ryan Leung and Chun Kong Mak, finished the July 27 swim in the frigid lake in 11 hours, 29 minutes, 27 seconds. The British Long Distance Swimming Association still needs to certify the record, but for now it tops the 11:38.20 mark set in 2019 by a four-person all-male team.

“Two days before the swim, we realized breaking the record was doable,” Angie says. “But our goal was just to complete a skin swim (without a wet suit) in the cold Loch. We tried our best and are very happy with the results.”

It was an eventful final leg.

Angie, who didn’t think she would be needed again after her two previous legs, was told by one of the observers she needed to swim the final 1,500m. Oh, and she had to do it in roughly 38 minutes if they wanted to set a record.

“At that moment, I realized the burden to break the record has landed on a 52-year-old mom who has not been competing in 30 years, and who just re-started training barely six months ago,” Angie says.

Those months of doing laps in the early morning at the Seven Oaks Clubhouse pool were about to pay off. It was a tough swim – the current seemed to be taking her to the right, so much so that, at one point, the boat had to move from her left side to her right to keep her from swimming into a channel where there were other boats.

“I sprint and I sprint,” Angie says, adding that she focused on her breathing and keeping her shoulders loose.

She swam the final 200 meters alone, as the boat could go no further, due to the depth of the lake.

Because her luggage was lost when she arrived in Scotland, Angie was without her contact lenses and prescription goggles. She says that all she could see was a big patch of yellow, which was the beach, “and I was told just swim straight into it. So I swam and swam, yet the beach was so near yet so far, like it can never be reached.”

She finally saw some rocks on the lake floor, and crawled and fell and crawled and fell again across the slippery rocks on the shore. When she was completely on shore and not touching any water, the swim was officially over.

“I raised my arms, signaled to the boat and there, we completed our marvelous Loch Ness swim,” Angie said.

Not only did Angie finish her swim in borrowed goggles, she was fortunate enough to get the last one-piece swimsuit in her size from Primark, a discount store, for six pounds, or seven U.S. dollars.

Angie has been swimming since she was 3 years old, her mother starting her in the pool to combat her bronchitis. She continued to swim as she grew up, competing on the Chinese National Team in international and Junior Olympic events.

She also swam competitively for two years at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, before work, marriage and children took her out of the pool.

Despite participating in the mile-long Hong Kong Cross Harbour Race in 2016 and 2018, the last year the event was held due to Covid (until resuming in December 2021), she barely has had time to get in the pool.

But, now that daughter Kristen is at the University of Central Florida and son Kelvin is at the University of Washington (in Seattle), Angie’s mornings are free for swimming.

She just needed a mission.

In January, she found one when Eliza called with the crazy idea to swim Loch Ness. Angie eagerly jumped into training to be part of the first relay team from Hong Kong to even attempt the challenge.

While Angie trained at the 89º Seven Oaks pool, the water in Loch Ness averages around 59º in July. It was 55-57º during her swim.

Because she was rusty, she could only swim 500 meters when she started training, but soon added more distance, with 24 laps becoming 250 laps and more this summer. Most days she swam 5,000 meters, or a little more than three miles, and even managed a few longer (10,000m) workouts.

In preparation for chilly Loch Ness, she filled her bathtub at home with ice and water 3-4 times a week, taking 15-minute soaks hoping it would prepare her for the lake.

Angie and her team started a Facebook page documenting their preparation, and to raise money for charity. A nurse practitioner at the University of South Florida, Angie is donating 100% of her portion to Doctors Without Borders.

As for Nessie, Angie can’t be sure if Loch Ness’s famed monster was around or not, because she didn’t have her goggles.

But, if Nessie was there, she wasn’t the only monster in Loch Ness that day.

Loch Ness seven oaks