'The Hidden Hunger On Long Island'

Hunger-FlyerCOMING SOON: Our editor takes a look at “The Hidden Hunger on Long Island.” Keep an eye out for it here and in a future issue of the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News.

Glory Days Ahead For New Tampa Selmon's Location

Glory Days Grill, which has 20 locations in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, will open its first Florida location in the space previously occupied by Lee Roy Selmon's on Dona Michelle Dr. in New Tampa.
Glory Days Grill, which has 20 locations in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia, will open its first Florida location in the space previously occupied by Lee Roy Selmon’s on Dona Michelle Dr. in New Tampa.

By Matt Wiley

For more than a year, it has been sitting vacant on Dona Michelle Dr., but it looks as if new life is destined for the former Lee Roy Selmonโ€™s location in New Tampa, according to a press release from the Selmonโ€™s franchise owners.Continue reading

Update: City Council Officially Approves Tampa Palms Area 3 Commercial Developยญยญยญยญยญment

The areas in bright green are the parcels in Tampa Palms Area 3 that recently were approved for commercial use.
The areas in bright green are the parcels in Tampa Palms Area 3 that recently were approved for commercial use.

By Matt Wiley

UPDATE: The Tampa City Council has officially approved the addition of more than 116,000 sq.-ft. of commercial zoning in Tampa Palms Area 3, which will allow for more retail and restaurants in between Compton Dr. and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. The decision came during a “second reading” of New Tampa, Inc.’s proposal before the Council on November 7. Click through for more details.Continue reading

Woman Dies In I-275 Crash Near New Tampa

By Matt Wiley,

A woman is dead, following a traffic crash on I-275 near New Tampa.

The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) reports that around 8:40 a.m. on October 24, Laura Ellen Greco, 54, of Ocklawaha, FL, was traveling southbound on I-275 in her Chevy Blazer in the inside lane at a high rate of speed south of S.R. 56 and the I-275/I-75 split.

At the same time, the FHP report says, James P. Snyder, 59, of Zephyrhills, was driving south on I-275 in his Hyundai Elantra in the outside lane. For unknown reasons, Greco lost control of her vehicle and merged into the outside lane and hit Snyderโ€™s vehicle.

FHP states that both vehicles traveled off the interstate and overturned several times, striking several trees in the process, and came to rest upside down. Both drivers were wearing seat-belts, but Greco died of her injuries at the scene. An alcohol test on Greco still was pending at our press time, but was determined not to be a factor for Snyder.

Grace Episcopal Settles With County On BBD Land

By Matt Wiley

Preparations are under way for the next segment of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. widening, between Palm Springs Blvd. in Tampa Palms and E. Bearss Ave. But, before that โ€œSegment Aโ€ widening can begin, Hillsborough County is in the process of obtaining the land it needs to widen the busy roadway, including a triangular-shaped parcel it just purchased from Grace Episcopal Church in Tampa Palms.Continue reading