My Visit To The Islamic Society Of New Tampa’s Open House

Mosque
The Daarus Salaam Mosque of the Islamic Society of New Tampa, located at 15830 Morris Bridge Rd.

For those of us who live in or near New Tampa who aren’t of the Islamic faith, it can be difficult, considering the state of the world these days, to embrace those who are or consider themselves to be Muslims.

And, considering that I was living in New York City when the first Islamic mosque, or place of worship, opened there — and the number of people of the Islamic faith who I have known, done business with or utilized as physicians in this community, I was a little embarrassed to admit that I had never stepped foot inside a mosque until February 21, when the Islamic Society of New Tampa, located at 15830 Morris Bridge Rd. (just a little bit north of Cross Creek Blvd.), hosted an Open House at its Daarus Salaam Mosque.

Like many of the hundreds of people who had never visited the New Tampa mosque before Feb. 21, I found out about the Open House from the ad in our publication, although I also received a personal invitation to attend from Bilal Saleh, the owner of Zaytoun Mediterranean Grill, which is located less than a mile away. In fact, Bilal told me that at least 65-70 percent of the people who visited the mosque for the first time that day, found out about the Open House from this publication.

And, although I already knew some of the facts about the Muslim religion presented on the two dozen or so information boards displayed inside the mosque that day, there was quite a bit of historical and other information that I had never heard before or simply misunderstood.

Despite my embarrassment about my lack of knowledge about the Muslim views of the faith’s relationship to Judaism and Christianity, the role of women in Muslim society and some of the teachings of the Qur’an (Koran), the central religious text of Islam, I was at the event to learn more about the faith, so I read every message board and even found a group of young ladies who were more than willing to help teach me things I didn’t know or understand before.

A Very Special Remembrance

MosqueBilal introduced me to several people as I walked around the grounds of the mosque. One of the people I met, a local physician, told me we had actually met once before…shortly after 9-11, when the Islamic Society and leaders of other local churches (as well as the now-defunct Temple Ohev Shalom of Tampa Palms) came together for a joint prayer vigil held at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church. The doctor had hand-written and mailed me a note asking me to attend the event. He was so touched that I not only attended, but that I sought him out to thank him for taking the time to write and send me such a beautiful invitation.

I know some people…and even some candidates for president…dislike or distrust people of the Muslim faith, but I don’t believe in judging people, especially without meeting or getting to know them. All I know is that I felt very welcomed at the New Tampa mosque and saw beautiful families who love not only their faith and their place of worship, but also the community in which they live and work.

Bartell Honored By WC Rotary

There is no doubting the contributions Paul Bartell has made to the Wesley Chapel community.

Paul Bartell
Paul Bartell

His yearly appearances as Santa Claus, where he makes sure there is a small gift for every child who visits his family’s Wesley Chapel home on Christmas Eve, has thrilled thousands of kids; he has been a high-level participant and even the chair of the American Cancer Society (ACS)’s Wesley Chapel/Wiregrass Ranch Relay for Life; and, in the memory of his son Sean, he has helped raise enough money in the past year to award four high school seniors $1,000 scholarships (story on previous page).

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon (which meets Wednesdays at noon at Quail Hollow Country Club) decided to honor him on March 8 with a Paul Harris Fellowship, which almost always has been reserved for Rotary Club members who donate $1,000 to The Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, which funds various grants, services and the organization’s “End Polio Now” programs.

“We decided that even though he is not a Rotary member, Paul exemplifies what Rotary is all about, and that’s putting service before self,’’ said Rebecca Smith, the club’s Foundation Chair and district area representative.”

During the club’s first “Foundation Dinner,” which was held at Hunter’s Green Country Club in New Tampa, the club broke tradition by honoring Bartell. Rotary District 6950 governor Will Miller presented the Paul Harris Fellowship to Bartell, and District 6950 Foundation Chair Carl Treleaven was the keynote speaker.

“It’s a great honor,’’ Bartell said. “It feels funny being honored for just doing what I do.”

Bartell, a vacuum sales engineer for Innovative Vacuum Solutions in Tampa, is as well known in Wesley Chapel for his long Kris Kringle white beard as he is for his generosity. When Smith opened up the award to a community member and asked club members to nominate someone, she said, “his name came up a lot. He is an excellent example of giving back to your community.”

The Paul Harris Fellowship was established in 1957, and Bartell said it was nice to be included on a long list of notable honorees.

“I was reading a little about it and saw that Jimmy Carter and a few other people (like U.S. Astronaut James Lovell and Polio cure inventor Jonas Salk) that have gotten it before me, some important people,’’ Bartell said. “It is very nice to be recognized.”

Other community nominees included Jackie Sayles, Yvonne Perkins, Joel Eason, Dr. Micah Richardson, Ronald Parks and Ernesto Fuentes.

Shops at Wiregrass Mall Offers Diversity With Latest Offerings

Vom Fass casks.
Vom Fass casks. Shops at Wiregrass Mall .
Vom Fass casks, coming soon to the Shops at Wiregrass Mall.

The Shops at Wiregrass mall in Wesley Chapel will welcome a handful of new stores in the coming months, and while Wiregrass officials aren’t looking to compete with bigger malls like Westfield Brandon, the latest batch of new choices for area shoppers gives the local mall a unique mix that general manager Greg Lenners thinks will continue to make it a prime destination.

Currently seeking an alcohol permit for tastings, Vom Fass is slated to open sometime this spring. Construction already has begun on the store, which will be near Macy’s and the mall’s Center Court.

Vom Fass, which takes it’s name from the German phrase “from the cask”, will offer premium culinary oils, traditional balsamic oils and vinegars, vinegar specialties, and exclusive fruit balsamic vinegars, as well as rare spirits and liqueurs and a boutique selection of wines. Many of the store’s products are cask-aged and stored in cask pyramids.

“What’s made us great for the community is the diverse mix of retailers we’ve always carried here,’’ Lenners said. “It’s kind of a unique blend of stores. We thought Vom Fass would be a perfect fit. No one in the area that has that kind of store.”

This will be the seventh Von Fass store in Florida; the closest ones are located in Sarasota and St. Petersburg.

Candy, 3D And More On Tap For Shops at Wiregrass Mall

Rocket Fizz Soda Pop & Candy Shop also is coming this spring, to Suite #115, near JC Penney.

Founded in 2007 in California, Rocket Fizz has become the largest and fastest-growing soda and candy shop brand in the country, according to its website. The 74 stores nationwide all offer a massive selection of candy, soda, retro and gag gifts, concert and movie posters and tin signs.

“A pretty cool concept, in my opinion,’’ Lenners said. “It’s got a 1950s, specialty convenience store feel to it.”

3D Musketeers Printing, offering custon color-printed three-dimensional figurines, is expected to open by the end of the month.

And as we were the first to report back in January, this fall will see the Wesley Chapel debut of Irish 31. The popular restaurant is referred to as “The People’s Pub” by their customers and dubbed “Irish-plus-gourmet” by Neighborhood News publisher and foodie Gary Nager.

Irish31 in Hyde Park. Shops at Wiregrass Mall.
Irish31 in Hyde Park. Construction has begun on a location at the Shops at Wiregrass Mall.

Irish 31 is being built next to Panera Bread. Lenners said he thinks the mall has already hit a home run with its food offerings, and Irish 31 only strengthens that opinion.

Visionworks, which has roughly 700 optical retail stores in 40 states, is expected to open this fall as well. Construction has begun on the building, which will be across from Moe’s Southwest Grill on the S.R. 56 side of the mall.

Another tenant will share that property (though Lenners was unable to announce it at our press time because the lease hasn’t been signed).

A few stores that have recently opened include Lola Perfume, located in Suite #160 (next to Hollister), and Soleciety Sneaker Boutique,which sells collectible athletic shoes from around the globe, in Suite #170 (next to Zales), and has only been open a few weeks.

For more information about the Shops at Wiregrass, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com.

Hunter’s Green Country Club’s Tennis & Athletic Center Is Getting A Makeover

niniIn the first six weeks of 2016, none of the 300 or so clubs under the Club Corp. of America (CCA) umbrella has grown as fast or added as many new members as Hunter’s Green Country Club, says general manager Dave Taylor.

That could just be the beginning of a great story. Taylor has revealed that HGCC’s Tennis & Athletic Center (TAC), tucked just inside the main gates of the Hunter’s Green community off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., and a few hundred yards southwest of the main clubhouse and Tom Fazio-designed golf course, is about to begin a “seven-figure renovation” that is going to do more than just put a fresh coat of paint on a facility that is starting to show its age a little bit.

“Before we’ve even done the renovations and before even any of this got out, we’ve had momentum with the club,’’ Taylor said. “We lead the entire company in member growth for the first six weeks of the year…it’s the first time Hunter’s Green has ever seen anything like that. So, that’s very good for us.”

Taylor says the TAC facelift, which follows the substantial renovations at the main clubhouse’s restaurant and bar area, known as Fazio’s Grille, will add amenities on par with some of the new housing developments (he used Estancia at Wiregrass Ranch as an example) going up in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel that offer lavish clubhouses and pools geared towards the family experience.

In addition to the 17 clay tennis courts, which aren’t included in the renovation plans, the TAC will soon boast things like a re-invented café with expanded hours and an emphasis on a quality menu, a new weight room, a new-look pool plus miniature golf and a water slide.

While you don’t have to live in Hunter’s Green to be a member of HGCC, the area within a five-mile radius continues to see growth — in much of Wesley Chapel and K-Bar Ranch in particular — thus making the market on comfort and family-friendly experiences competitive.

Taylor says the TAC’s Center Court Cafe will be completely rebuilt, with a more rustic scheme, bigger TVs, more events and better food. An outside area will be remodeled and will include a new fire pit. The pool will lose the long green awning that covers half of the deck area. They will be replaced by four individual cabanas with electricity, fans and poolside food and beverage service.

With the goal of having plenty to do for new families who can spend their weekends at the club , the kiddie pool is being replaced by a splash pad, all new furniture will line the deck and one of the highlights of the renovations — a 10-foot-high water slide with a 45-foot-long flume — will be added.

Taylor says the pool renovations should be completed by Memorial Day, where it will be unveiled for the TAC’s annual Memorial Day Bash, which he says draws the biggest crowd each year to the pool.

Next to the 25-meter junior Olympic heated pool (which is big enough that it hosts a multitude of junior and even high school swim meets), a small 6-hole miniature golf course will be built, and next to that will be an activity area with field turf for after-school campers and other on-site sports programs.

“Our membership is getting younger, and this is what they want,’’ Taylor says. “They want the splash pads and they want the water slides and they want the miniature golf. They want the ability to be able to have a café restaurant that is open with pool service so they can bring the kids and still hang out themselves.”

A former professional golfer on the PGA’s Nationwide Tour, Taylor joined Hunter’s Green in 2014 after stints as director of operations at East Lake Woodlands in Tarpon Springs and general manager at The Club at Hidden Creek in Navarre, FL. At Hidden Creek, he spearheaded the rebuilding and redesign of all 18 greens on the golf course, and at East Lake Woodlands, he helped improve service. At Hunter’s Green, he already has done similar work on the golf course and the club house.

“If you get the right employee partners, and get them happy, that carries over to the members, they start using the club more and the club is better off financially,’’ Taylor said. “If you don’t have the first two legs of the stool, the third won’t happen.”

The third leg, in this case, is the TAC.

The current café is expected to draw bigger crowds upon its completion sometime this summer. The exercise room will have all of its current equipment replaced by new more modern machines and weights. The spinning (indoor cycling) room, one of the TAC’s more popular destinations, will be re-done with all new cycles. The men’s and women’s locker rooms will get a fresh look as well, and the all-purpose room where exercise and yoga classes are held daily — the classes are included in the membership cost — also will be refinished.

Aesthetically, Taylor says the TAC will be a more welcoming facility, with a newly designed entrance, a larger pro shop and an open design with plenty to offer the family, inside and out.

“We’re providing a lifestyle,’’ says head tennis pro Allegra Campos. “It’s going to be a family-style, safe environment where everyone can get into the act.”

Taylor says he is currently going through the permitting process for the work to be done, and that he expects it all to be completed by the end of this summer.

“There’s a lot of excitement about it,’’ Taylor says. “(Some) people are still like, ‘Yeah yeah, we’ve heard it all before,’ but I tell them, ‘Look, it’s done, and it’s happening.’ We’re moving pretty quickly.”

The HGCC Tennis & Athletic Center is located at 18050 Hunters Oak Ct. For more information, visit ClubCorp.com/Clubs/Hunter-s-Green-Country-Club/Amenities/Tennis or call 973-4220. For membership information, call Ann Pereira at 973-1000, ext. 237.

Local Eagle Scout Speaks To Congress!

A group of Boy Scouts from across the nation -- including New Tampa's N'Jhari Jackson from Boy Scout Troop 142 in Tampa Palms -- spoke Tuesday to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan (pictured here) and President Obama, as part of the organization's annual Report to the Nation.
A group of Boy Scouts from across the nation — including New Tampa’s N’Jhari Jackson from Boy Scout Troop 142 in Tampa Palms — spoke Tuesday to Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Paul Ryan (pictured here) and President Obama, as part of the organization’s annual Report to the Nation.

N’Jhari Jackson, an Eagle Scout with Boy Scout Troop 142 in New Tampa, was selected as one of 10 Boy Scouts from across the nation and delivered the “BSA 2015 Report to the Nation” to U.S. Congressional and governmental leaders Tuesday, March 1 in Washington, DC.

“JUST GAVE MY SPEECH TO OBAMAAAAAA,” Jackson texted to friends. “(It went) Great, I didn’t stutter either. OMG. I’m awesome ohhh I feel gosh!”

N’Jhari is still just 13 years old, but has already earned an incredible 121 Merit Badges and has set a personal goal to earn all 136. He has been recognized extensively (including in this publication in March 2015) for his outstanding volunteer service, with projects he has created and implemented, such as collecting 1,200 pair of socks for children’s group homes in the Tampa Bay area, delivering more than 4,000 Pajama Buddies and Pajama Grab Bags to hospitalized children, raising money to donate an AED (automated external defibrillator) to his school, and delivering blankets and other items to the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital.

“I am excited and nervous about my trip to Washington, DC,” N’Jhari told the Neighborhood News prior to his trip. “I know it will be something I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”