Miss Petite Wesley Chapel To Compete For Florida Petite Title In March 

Miss Petite Wesley Chapel 2024 Aline Giampietro Trifonov will compete for the title of Miss Petite Florida in March. (Photos provided by: Georgi Trifonov Photography) 

Local music instructor Aline Giampietro Trifonov didn’t have to win a pageant to be named Miss Petite Wesley Chapel 2024, but she did have to apply to the Miss Petite Florida pageant with professional pictures. She says that candidates for the title are selected based on their contributions to their community. 

“Through my performing, teaching and work in the performing arts, I was able to demonstrate a significant contribution to Wesley Chapel,” Aline says, “and I had to show the pageant how my work has {done} exactly that for our community. In addition to being a performer and music teacher, I’m also an entrepreneur and I work as a freelance petite model, and I want to represent other petite women.” 

Aline says the Petite USA Pageant is the #1 pageant in the U.S. for petite women 5’6” tall and under. If you’ve ever watched a Miss America or Miss Universe pageant, it’s obvious that the contestants are tall and willowy. 

“So, the Miss Petite is a great opportunity for me to represent and inspire other women who wish to pursue modeling, regardless of their height,” Aline says. 

Aline is not only a music instructor, but also an aerialist who performed at the Whinge Festival in Ybor City in December.

The 5’-2” classical pianist, performing arts advocate and founder and executive director of the Piano Performance Arts Academy, LLC, in Wesley Chapel, who is originally from Brazil, was selected as a semi-finalist for the 2024 Florida Petite pageant, which is the official state preliminary pageant for the National Petite USA Pageant. The State Division will be held the weekend of March 8-9 at the Embassy Suites hotel on the USF Tampa Campus and, if Aline wins the Florida title, she will advance to the national Miss Petite USA 2024 pageant, which will be held in July 31- Aug. 3 in Chicago. 

Petite USAℱ was founded in 2009 to be a platform for petite women who are 5’6 or less. According to PetiteUSA. com, it is the nation’s largest pageant system for petite women and is proud of its history and past queens. The pageant offers titles for five different divisions: Teen, Miss, Ms. Mrs., and Elite Ms., in more than 50 different states and regions across the U.S. The Petite USA pageant is the official preliminary to the Universal Petite pageant, where petite women from all over the world compete for the coveted Teen, Miss, Ms., Mrs. and Elite Ms. Universal Petite titles. 

“What attracted me to enter this pageant is the opportunity to represent my community, serve others through my leadership and have an opportunity to have a much bigger outreach,” she says. “I love the fact [the pageant] embraces a sisterhood attitude with a healthy competition, and they have their heart in promoting our personal platforms. This is much more than just a beauty competition. It allows women to speak of their leadership, service and how we can use our voices to make a difference. I would love to expand my voice in the performing arts, music education and champion other women’s beauty as well.” 

Aline, who also is the vice president of the Music Teachers National Assn. (MTNA) and an aerialist with the Aerial Dragons group in Ybor City, is seeking sponsorships to support her attempt to reach the national event. In addition to cash sponsorships, she is seeking a seamstress, pedicures, a photographer, help with wardrobe, shoes, hair extensions and more. 

“Help me extend my voice through performing arts, fashion and music!,” Aline says. “Together, we can do it!” 

To help or for more information, call Aline at (813) 528-3638 or email her at PianoPerformanceArts@gmail.com. 

Wesley Chapel Elks Lodge Taking Shape 

Although the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa areas have multiple Rotary Clubs, there has never been an Elks Lodge in our area. The closest Elks Lodge to Wesley Chapel is Lodge #2731 on Wire Rd. in Zephyrhills. 

But, a steering committee is trying to determine if there is enough demand for an Elks Lodge to be built right here in the W.C. 

On Oct. 4, an initial meeting of the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elks was held at the Seven Oaks Community Clubhouse and a little more than 20 people attended. 

Among those in attendance were two past presidents of the Florida State Elks Association — Rudy Masi (left in photo) and Frank Malatesta (right). 

Masi told the Neighborhood News that there needs to be a minimum of 125 people who sign up that they’re interested in becoming Elks — a national service organization with more than 1,750 chapters, 2,100 lodges and 750,000 total members across the U.S. (90 in Florida) — in order to charter an Elks Club. 

“After that, we have to find a place to build a lodge,” Malatesta said. 

Malatesta and Masi said that the Elks primarily focus on service projects to benefit children and veterans and that here in Florida, the State Elks Assn. has two major projects — the Florida Elks Youth Camp, located in Umatilla, and the Florida Elks Therapy Services, a group of about 30 occupational and physical therapists who travel the state providing free rehabilitative services for children. 

And, although the camp, which hosts 360 campers per week for seven weeks each summer, isn’t free to attend, “No child who can’t afford to attend is ever turned away,” Malatesta said. “It’s an amazing facility.” 

In addition, Masi says that the Elks’ motto is “As long as there are veterans, the Elks will never forget them.” He said that after World War I, the Elks created the first veterans hospitals in the U.S. and today, every Elks Lodge has representatives at every VA hospital. These reps help veterans get the benefits they need and deserve. 

The Elks will hold a second membership drive and meeting, also at the Seven Oaks Community Clubhouse (2910 Sports Core Cir.) on Tuesday, January 30, at 7 p.m. 

“After that meeting, if the people who attend want to move forward, we will hold another membership drive and a picnic to try to get us closer to 125 people,” Masi said. “We also already have a Realtor¼ looking for locations in and near Wesley Chapel to build a lodge.” For information about the Jan. 30 meeting, see the ad above. 

Update: Roush Family Lays John To Rest 

The Neighborhood News was on hand when (l.-r.) Robert, Laura, Donald and John Roush celebrated the twins’ seventh birthday outside their home in July of 2022. (Photo by Charmaine George) 

On Wednesday, January 3, a Celebration of Life was held for eight-year-old John Roush at the Shiloh Baptist Church in Plant City. The informal ceremony was hosted by his parents, Robert and Laura Roush, and John’s twin brother Donald and was attended mainly by the Roush family and their friends, as well as the entire USF men’s basketball team (of which John was an honorary member). 

Shiloh Pastor Joe Bowles, John’s teachers from Quail Hollow Elementary, one of his uncles and USF head coach Amir Abdur-Rahim (and one of his players) all spoke about John’s sweetness, his intelligence, his tenacity, his courage as he fought what appeared to be a successful two-year battle against leukemia before he passed away suddenly and especially, his amazing hugs. Haught Funeral Home director David Wolf released a single white dove following the service. 

I only ever met Laura and Robert Roush and their 8-year-old twin sons Donald and John twice, but I would be lying if I said the family didn’t have a profound impact on me. 

The first time I met the Roush family, photographer Charmaine George and I attended the twins’ drive-by seventh birthday party outside their Wesley Chapel home in 2022. 

John, who had suffered a recent bout with leukemia, couldn’t have a lot of people around him, because of his chemotherapy-weakened immune system. A fairly large number of people dropped off a number of presents and, knowing that children are much more likely to survive any number of cancers, I was hopeful that John would soon be given a clean bill of health and be able to go back to enjoying his much-deserved childhood. 

It wasn’t too long after that when Jannah and I attended a fund raiser for the family at Chuck Lager America’s Tavern in the Shops at Wiregrass. As anyone who has had a family member suffer from cancer knows, the costs can and usually are astronomical, so Jannah and I were happy to help, especially if it meant that John would be one of the fortunate ones to be able ro survive this unforgiving scourge. 

John Roush (2015-2023) 
Photos courtesy of the Roush Family 

Tragically, it wasn’t meant to be. Now just a little more than eight years old, Donald will now be missing his twin and Laura and Robert will forever be missing half their hearts, as John passed away a few days before we went to press with this issue. And, even though we didn’t know the family well, Jannah and I planned to attend John’s funeral, which had not yet been announced at our press time. 

No, we didn’t know the Roushes well, but John and Donald’s ever-present smiles the two times I met them reminded me of my own two sons — who aren’t twins but are as close as brothers can be. It’s hard for me, who has gotten to see both of my boys grow into amazing young men — both now with families of their own (three boys between them, as of today), careers and their own wonderful lives — to not feel tremendous sadness that Laura and Robert have been denied the feeling I have every time I’m with Jared, Jake and their families. 

I honestly can’t even imagine how Laura, Robert and especially Donald are feeling, I just know that I am willing to do whatever I can to help them. I’m starting with a small donation of my own and, even though I’ve never really been successful raising money for worthwhile causes, I’m also sharing the GoFundMe link so anyone who feels equally affected by the loss of this sweet child can do the same. That link is: https://gofund.me/7f286217. 

No matter what your religious beliefs may be, there’s no doubt that the loss of a precious child is one of the most difficult things in life for anyone to deal with, especially at this time of year. And, the bottom line is that even the most faithful of parents has to understand and feel the magnitude of this loss. 

So, soar high, John. Just know that not only does your family love and miss you, those of us who were only briefly acquainted with you know the genuine beauty of your smile and your deserving soul. Rest in peace. 

We’ll have more of the story in the January 23 issue of Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News.

New Apartments To Bring Traffic Changes To Bruce B. Downs 

Research by Joel Provenzano 

The still unnamed new apartment community under construction on BBD Blvd. 

An unnamed, under-construction 248-unit apartment complex on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. (south of the northern terminus of Eagleston Blvd. and the Wells Fargo Bank) in Seven Oaks also includes some future traffic pattern changes on BBD. 

The complex, which is owned and being developed by Mast Capital — which also is redeveloping the nearby Saddlebrook Resort and its surrounding community — is being required to make some significant changes in anticipation of the additional BBD traffic the complex will generate. 

As the apartment community nears completion, construction of these roadway improvements has begun and motorists on BBD will soon notice even more significant mainline roadway work over the coming weeks. 

The map of the new apartments and the changes planned for BBD in the area. 

All of the roadwork on and near BBD is being paid for and completed by the developer of the apartments (currently known only as “5101 Bruce B. Downs Apts.”) — other than a new traffic signal to be located south of the community’s entrance (and the existing Frontier Communications building). That signal, which had no timeline as we went to press, will be paid for by the developers of Wiregrass Ranch, which is located across BBD from the new apartment community. 

Here’s a breakdown of the coming traffic changes on BBD: 

1) The primary entrance (see photo below) to the 16.24-acre complex will be a gated right-in/right-out only. This means traffic intending to enter the development coming from the south on BBD will be required to use a long northbound U-turn lane that the developer will be constructing, which will feed into a new, long southbound right turn entrance to the apartments. The right turn lane is being made extra long so a bus stop pad can be placed north of the area for U-turning traffic to enter the turn lane. The pad will be connected by a sidewalk that will enter directly into the apartments for ease of access. 

2) In order to accommodate this nonstandard median opening for the U-turn, the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is requiring that the existing adjacent median opening on BBD serving Wells Fargo (entrance is in gray on map) will be closed. 

3) In addition, the existing northbound left turn lane serving that opening will just be connected to the existing one for the traffic signal, making for an extra long turn lane going southbound. 

Moreover, because of the size of the apartments, an emergency access driveway is required by the county at the north end of the property, just south of the bank, that won’t be open to other traffic. 

With all of these changes in the works, vehicles both exiting Wells Fargo and the new apartments that intend to go north will have to go down to another new southbound U-turn lane that will be attached to the existing median opening in front of the Frontier Communications Hub building located south of the apartments. 

The U-turn lane is being made long and wide enough for it to be converted in the future to southbound dual lefts, as this median opening will serve as the future location for a traffic signal at BBD and the “Wiregrass Bypass Rd.” that will connect BBD to Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. (south of Walmart) and eventually swing up to connect with SR 54 near Saddlebrook. 

At our press time, we had no word from Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter regarding the anticipated date as to when construction of the new Bypass Rd. or the traffic signal at BBD and the Bypass Rd. will begin. 

But, as always, we will keep you posted as more info becomes available. 


Shown here is the only entrance to the 5101 BBD Apts. The entrance will be gated and vehicles exiting the complex will have to make a right turn out and U-turn at a future median opening on BBD a little to the south of the entrance.

Two Local Property Owners Planning To Develop Using ‘Live Local’ Law 

Research by Joel Provenzano 

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman says that the Adrian Phillip Overpass, LLC, property on Old Pasco Rd. at Overpass Rd. has been negotiating with the county, rather than attempt to force low-income housing on the site under Florida’s new “Live Local” law.

District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman says that he and his fellow commissioners aren’t opposed to more “workforce housing” coming to Pasco, he just doesn’t believe the State of Florida’s new “Live Local” law will actually accomplish that goal. 

Weightman also notes that after the county held a workshop last month where twelve potential sites for possible “Live Local” multi-family developments (such as apartments) were identified that Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners did not threaten to sue the state legislature over “Live Local,” but did threaten to sue developers attempting to develop workforce housing using the new law — which allows those developers to build workforce housing on job-creating sites zoned for commercial and industrial uses, without having to go through a rezoning. This workforce housing is suggested to be affordable housing for individuals to afford the rents near their places of work in order to “Live Local.” 

“The intent of ‘Live Local’ is admirable,” Weightman says. “But, we believe that allowing developers, especially for property owners who are based out of state, to get tax breaks for developing multi-family units on commercial sites is not the way to accomplish that goal.” 

Weightman adds that with all of the new residential development already being constructed in Pasco County, especially in booming Wesley Chapel, “We need as many of our potential employment centers as possible to remain as job-creating sites. If we keep building more and more residential units without places in or near the same communities for those residents to work, we’re not helping those lower- and middle-income renters ‘Live Local,’ as it’s supposedly designed to help. (The law) in turn takes away jobs, rather than creating employment opportunities for those who, in fact, Live Local.” 

The legislation known as the Live Local Act offers developers tax breaks for approximately 30 years, and allows them to bypass local zoning rules if enough workforce housing (at least 40% of a particular site) is built. The act is meant to create more housing for middle-income renters who make 120% of an area’s median income or less. In Pasco, Weightman says, that means these “lower-income” rental units are intended for people making $70,000 or less per year. 

“Those aren’t all low-income renters,” Weightman says. “And, even though the tax break savings given to developers under Live Local are supposed to be passed on to the renters, it seems that these Live Local properties are renting at market rates, so the only ones really benefiting from Live Local are the developers themselves.” 

Two Local Sites With Two Different Approaches 

Weightman says that two of the twelve Pasco sites where developers have planned to develop rental housing on commercially zoned property are located in Wesley Chapel proper. 

The first is known as Adrian Phillip Overpass, LLC, which is located on Old Pasco Rd. at the intersection of Overpass Rd., just west of the new Overpass Rd. exit off I-75 (see map above). The 32.26-acre site currently is zoned commercial, which Weightman says makes sense because of its location near the interstate’s new Exit 282. 

Commissioner Weightman says that the developer of the Woods at Wesley Chapel site on S.R. 54 just west of Curley Rd. has not been willing to negotiate anything other than developing a 320- unit rental apartment at that location, despite the site’s current commercial zoning. 

“Under Live Local, this particular developer could just develop apartments without a rezoning,” Weightman says, “but they have been in discussions with the county about at least keeping the property a mixed-use site. As long as they’re willing to work with us, there’s no reason for us to sue the developer. The threat of a possible lawsuit could put properties like these in limbo, so we appreciate developers like these who don’t want to force the county into a position of eliminating a planned future employment site.” 

Weightman notes, however, that the developers of another Wesley Chapel site have been less willing to work with the county on a mixed-use solution. 

The 25.69-acre property known as Woods at Wesley Chapel, is located just west of the intersection of Curley Rd. and S.R. 54. Developer Denton Floyd Real Estate Group is planning to build a 320-unit rental community at the site, which is part of the adjacent Pine Ridge Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD) but is currently zoned for commercial (C1 & C2) uses. 

A previous development application that was abandoned for this site was a Lowe’s Home Improvement Warehouse. That plan was abandoned because of the site’s low potential accessibility for the large trucks that would have to enter and exit Lowe’s from S.R. 54 (and other reasons). 

Weightman says that although the county staff has attempted to negotiate with Denton Floyd to at least allow some neighborhood commercial, like a medical or other professional office building, “The developer is pretty bullish on using Live Local to develop the entire site as rental apartments with minimal amenities for its residents and predict no real cost savings on rent. This is the type of development that the county believes is worth suing the developer over, which allows the county to challenge the constitutionality of Live Local.” 

Not Suing The State 

Weightman is quick to point out, however, that unlike what has been written in some published reports, Pasco is not planning to sue the state over Live Local. 

Florida Senate President Kathleen Passidomo (R-Naples), who has been called the main architect of the Live Local Act, was quoted in a Dec. 7 FloridaPolitics.com article as saying that she didn’t understand why Pasco commissioners would vote to file a lawsuit looking to strike down the portion of Live Local that requires local governments to open up commercial and industrial areas to residential construction that would take away the need for the developer to go through the rezoning process. 

“Why didn’t you call me?,” Passidomo was quoted as saying. “I have a cell phone. Don’t sue me, talk to me. And then sue me if you don’t like it.” 

Weightman says Pasco is, in fact, not suing the state, but rather threatening to sue the developers who plan to utilize the law to develop multi-family housing on commercial, industrial and mixed-use sites without going through the rezoning process. 

“Pasco has more of these Live Local sites than just about any other county in the state,” Weightman says. “We need employment centers for all of the people who are moving here, and we don’t think we should be forced to give up those employment centers to give tax breaks to out of state developers, especially without actually providing any real low-income housing.” 

Weightman says he also fears that other Live Local sites, in addition to the current 12, will likely also pop up in Pasco, especially in our zip codes. “There’s no doubt that these developers are looking at their own pro forma statements, and not at helping low-income people,” he says. “And they definitely want to get into Wesley Chapel.” 

Passidomo also was quoted as saying that the Live Local Act could be tweaked during the upcoming State Legislative session, which begins on Jan. 9.Â