As major road projects designed to ease congestion come to fruition this year â the Diverging Diamond Interchange at S.R. 56/I-75 and the widening of S.R. 54 â another smaller project expected to have a big impact should be completed by the end of the year.
Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. (drone photo, right, by Charmaine George), which will run from just north of S.R. 56 all the way north to S.R. 54, will be fully open by December, if not earlier â if weather and the ability to secure construction supplies is not disruptive â according to Wiregrass Ranch developer JD Porter.
While not as massive as the aforementioned projects, Porter says Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. will play a big role in easing traffic in the area and providing the kind of connectivity the county is lacking. It also will serve as a major thoroughfare for future residents of the Wiregrass area.
âI think the changes, at least on a local perspective, will be as great as they were when S.R. 56 was built through Wiregrass Ranch,â Porter says. âThis provides a parallel alternative to Bruce B. Downs, as well as helping with necessary spacing for the S.R. 54/I-75 interchange.â
Mansfield Blvd., which runs from County Line Rd. to S.R. 56, transitions into Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. at the first of three roundabouts.
Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. is located just east of Lajuana Blvd., which provides access to Audi Wesley Chapel, the Fairfield Inn & Suites and the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County.
It runs north past Chancey Blvd, and currently ends at the entrance to Esplanade at Wiregrass Ranch, a community for ages 55+.
There is roughly a mile of construction remaining. The road will run past the Walmart Super Center and end at S.R. 54.
Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. will be a major artery for the Wiregrass Ranch community. Porter says itâs not just another local road or one merely built for the development of homes, but the kind of game- changing road project that will bring more value to area schools, including Pasco Hernando State College on Mansfield, and provide a significant upgrade for local residents trying to get to the areaâs many shopping and dining options.
Once the road is completed at the end of the year, long-awaited development of the Wiregrass Ranch area around the road will begin, including a proposed town center area that will act as the areaâs downtown.
âAlmost immediately once that road opens youâll see users along that road,â Porter says, adding that some are already under contract and just waiting to get in. âIt is kind of the kick off. There will be office people and retail people. Youâre going to see that stuff start to happen.â
Haley Scott still has Olympic aspirations, but the Wesley Chapel figure skater is taking it one leap…er, step…at a time as she recovers from a two-year-long battle with Covid-19. (Photos: Charmaine George)
Haley Scott breathes in the cool, crisp air of the rink as she glides on the ice at AdventHealth Center Ice in her white skates. Gearing up, she makes three rotations in the air â a perfect triple loop. Her excitement to be back at the rink outweighs the muscle and lung aches, reminders of her two years off the ice due to complications of long Covid-19.Â
The 16-year-old Wesley Chapel resident has been skating since she was five years old; however in November 2020, she was forced to stop when Covid prevented her from walking, talking and skating. The virus, which usually leaves the body in two weeks, persisted for Haley for over two years.
Doctors told Haley she may never be able to skate again. However, six specialists later, she is back on the ice and ready to perfect her form.
âIt was definitely a hard journey coming back,â Haley says. âTrying to get used to jumping again, spinning again⌠just even being on the ice.â
Scott is a 2015-19 Sunshine State Games gold medal-winning ice skater. She was awarded the 2016 Betty Stark Award for the highest combined score in the Juvenile Girls Free Skate and Short Program and the 2017 Dorothy Dodson Award winner as the top skater in the two programs for the Intermediate Ladies divisions.
Midway through the pandemic, Haley began suffering from the usual dizzy spells and headaches associated with Covid-19.
She felt fine two weeks later.
But, the third week, her speech slurred and she could barely stand.
âI was definitely a whole different person than I used to be,â she says.
Her mother, Julie Scott, took her to the emergency room but got turned away due to her daughterâs Covid-19 test coming back negative. Julie took Haley to cardiology, neurology, immunology and hematology appointments before scouring the internet for some cures. After ten months in pain, Haley was recommended to IncellDx, a research group in California.
âThey were just a godsend to us,â Julie says. âThey listened. Many doctors will turn you away with no answers and thatâs it. They listened and at least tried things.â
In December 2021, Haley started to see results. She could walk again, talk again, and in January, she actually began to skate again.
The 16-year-old also is completing her high school credits through Florida Virtual School, while also taking college-level classes at Pasco-Hernando State College.
âI feel thankful,â Julie says. âIâm very proud of her and I just want her to enjoy the journey, wherever it may take her.â
Before her battle with long Covid, Haley was practicing at the rink 4-5 hours a day. In January, her mission to get back on the ice started slowly, with just 30 minutes of free skating. But now, she has worked her way back to practicing with her coach, Silvia Fontana, five days a week.
Haley has trained under her coach for four years. When Silvia learned of the news of Haley having long Covid, she was devastated. Everything needed to become a professional ice skater was taken away by the illness, she says.
âAt one point I just wanted her to have a regular life and just to be happy again,â Silvia says. âFor us as coaches, the skating and athleticism are important. But, we care about them as people first. So, that was the main concern.â
Silvia says Haley is one in a million. Even through the hardships, her coach has seen Haley fight back and excel. And, she still believes that Haley can represent the U.S. in the Winter Olympics in four or eight years.
âI want her to always remember where she came from,â Silvia says. âWhen you get to the higher level, it gets more stressful and she needs to know the strength and resilience she had during that really difficult time.â
Haley is training for the qualifying season in July. For athletes struggling with long Covid, Haley says, âitâs not a sprint, itâs a marathon.â
âDonât lose hope,â she says. âYou just have to stay positive and remind yourself who you are.â
So, how many of the restaurants at the KRATE Container Park at The Grove have you tried so far? I have tried all of them, although I definitely havenât tried every dish at every KRATE eatery yet, so below is a list â in alphabetical order by the name of the KRATE â of my favorite dishes so far at the now-18 open restaurants and bars at the KRATEs. I plan to keep on sampling everything I can at these mom-and-pop eateries, and I will list my favorite KRATE desserts next issue, so stay tuned! â GN
Bacon Boss HQ â Although I have them put the BBQ mayo on the side, my favorite menu item at the Bacon Boss is the Bugsy Siegel Burger, which features a grilled-to-perfection burger topped with two slices of American cheese, crispy bacon, lettuce & tomato. So good.
Blush Wine Room â Despite its billing as a wine bar, this is definitely one of my favorite KRATE restaurants. I already love the bruschetta, beef & pork meatballs with spicy marinara and the chicken with vodka sauce flatbread (photo, left). The wines (including wine flights) also are great, but my favorite drink is the strawberry frosĂŠ â perfect on a hot day.
Cachapa
Chamo Bites Venezuelan Cuisine â Iâve always been a fan of arepas, and Chamo Bites tops them with a great variety of meats and cheeses, but Iâm absolutely addicted to the Cachapa (a sweet corn pancake) filled with queso de mano, or âhand cheese,â which is like mozzarella only better.
El Prince Mediterranean â The meat shawarma sandwich, which is delicious, marinated sliced ribeye beef roasted with Middle eastern spices in a pressed pita-style wrap, topped with onions and tahini sauce (that I had them put on the side) is still my favorite at El Prince, although the diced El Prince salad is also a delicious option.
La Creacion Express â You donât have to be a fan of Puerto Rican cuisine to enjoy La Creacion, although I havenât yet tried the more hard-core items like octopus or alcapurria (green bananas & taro root) empanadas, I love the tripleta sandwich (with steak, ham and pork).
Mojo Grill Latin Fusion â The menu really is a mix of so many Latin favorites you really canât go wrong, but my favorites so far are the steak chimichurri sandwich (thinly sliced skirt steak, caramelized onions, melted cheese and house-made chimichurri sauce on a toasted baguette) and the build-your-own bowl with grilled chicken, cilantro rice, black beans and Cuban slaw.
Palaniâs Hawaiâi Noodles House of Saimin â To date, the only dish Iâve tried is the saimin noodles in a savory clear broth garnished with barbecued char sui pork, kamaboko and crisp green onions, but it definitely makes my list of KRATE favorites. I suggest paying $4 for additional Chinese-style char sui pork. So good.
Shake-A-Salad â Since it was one of the first KRATE restaurants to open, Iâve tried more than one option of all three parts of the menu â the salads (my favorite is The Cobb), the wrap sandwiches (the Chicken Caesar is my fave) and the signature rice bowls (I absolutely love the Asian Marinated Chicken Rice Bowl).
Tacos El Patron â Already a family favorite, we love the savory pastor quesadilla filled with marinated pork, the huge carnitas burrito (filled with pork chunks, rice, beans and cheese) and the asada (steak) taco salad.
Tasty Ramen â Although Iâm not as much into the variety of ramen bowls as I am the appetizers, I definitely love the pan-fried gyoza dumplings and crispy spring roll.
TJâs Hot Dogs â Although TJâs has a great variety of topping for its gourmet hot dogs, I only really have one favorite type â a kosher-style dog with brown mustard and sauerkraut (above) and TJâs satisfies that craving for me. I plan to try some of the other options…eventually.
On Saturday, June 25, at 9 a.m., the MOMs Club of Wesley Chapel (photo) will host the first-ever Team Tampa Bay âClimb out of the Darknessâ event at Wesley Chapel District Park (7721 Boyette Rd.).
Climb out of the Darkness is the largest annual fund raiser supporting Postpartum Support International (PSI), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to helping women and families have access to information, social support and professional care to deal with mental health issues related to childbearing. PSI provides help for families that suffer from PMAD (perinatal mood and anxiety disorders), including anxiety, depression, bipolar disorder and other postpartum issues.
The local Climb will include a community walk (bring your strollers, talk with other families) followed by family fun, including a bounce house, large yard games for the kids, raffle prizes (gift cards, zoo passes, swim lessons and more) and snack items. And, a hockey puck signed by Brayden Point of the Tampa Bay Lightning will be auctioned off.
MOMs Club president Joy Clark explains why the club chose to host a Climb as its annual philanthropy this year.
âWe took on this project when I was only two weeks out after having my second son. I myself suffered severe anxiety and depression during both of my pregnancies. I know this is real and I found my support in MOMS Club. We are honored to support PSI . (Postpartum) mental health problems are real, and I want people to know they are not alone.â
No. 1 singles boys tennis standout Ninad Raut led the Bulls to the Class 4A State semifinals.
There was little doubt which of Wesley Chapelâs three high school athletic programs had the best spring this year â Wiregrass Ranch High.
The Bulls dominated the Sunshine Athletic Conference (SAC) East selections, capturing three team titles, three Coaches of the Year and four Players of the Year, as well as putting 25 athletes on all-SAC first teams and another 28 on second teams.
WRH was the only area school to have at least one All-SAC first-team performer in all 10 sports offered â baseball, softball, boys weightlifting and wrestling, and boys and girls tennis, track and field and lacrosse â during the Spring 2022 season.
Softball Player of the Year Kylee Johnson, a junior shortstop, had arguably the best season ever for an area player, batting .506 with 34 RBI, 8 home runs, 10 triples and 12 doubles for a whopping slugging percentage of 1.149.
Other Bulls Players of the Year included:
⢠Girls lacrosse standout Luna Khatib, who scored 83 goals and had 33 assists in 17 games this season in earning POY honors for a second straight year
⢠No. 1 singles boys tennis standout Ninad Raut, who led the Bulls to the Class 4A State semifinals
⢠Hurdler Catherine Fleming, who advanced to the State championships in the 100- and 300-meter hurdles as well as the 4×100 relay and, like Khatib, was a repeat POY winner.
Coaches Craig Havermann (girls lacrosse), Dave Wilson (boys tennis) and Mark Kantor (weightlifting) were all named Coaches of the Year after leading their respective sports at WRH to SAC championships.
Other highlights for the Bulls included:
⢠Brothers Maddox (sophomore infielder) and Mason McDougal (senior outfielder), who made the All-SAC first team for baseball.
⢠Seniors Mackenzie Smith (offense) and Alessia Lloyd (defense) and junior defender Aly Allen joined Khalib on the All-SAC lacrosse team.
⢠Boys tennis players Raut, Vld Shumakov, Zak Herrmann, Belal Mansour and Leonardo Rodriguez all made the All-SAC first-team, and all are juniors, so they will return next season.
⢠Track & Fieldâs Ava Schmitt, a freshman, made the first team in two events â the 1600m and 3200m.
Meanwhile, Cypress Creek High produced two SAC Players of the Year â senior infielder Ethan Petry, who led the Coyotes with a .479 batting average, 33 runs and six homers at the plate and a 5-2 record and 60 strikeouts in 42 innings as a pitcher, and freshman weightlifter Jayden Cruzado, who finished third at the Class 2A State championships in the 129-pound weight class. Cruzado also made first team All-SAC in wrestling at 129 pounds
Other highlights for Cypress Creek included senior Kione Roberson making the track & field first team in the long jump and second in the high jump, and junior Tiffany Colin making first team in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter sprints.
Wesley Chapel Highâs baseball team won the SAC title this season after going 6-2 in the conference, and the Wildcats also were represented on the All-SAC teams by girls track & field Athlete of the Year Latia Dove â a senior who advanced to the Class 2A State championships in the long jump and 4×100 relay â and 199-pound senior Jorden McCaslin, the SAC Wrestler of the Year and a competitor at the Class 2A State championships.
Other highlights for the Wildcats included McCaslin also making first team for weightlifting and second team for track (in the 4×100 relay); senior pitcher Zach Showalter (team-high .333 average, four homers, 21 RBI, 0.78 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 45 innings) making first team for baseball; and Kandace Means capping a great career (.390 batting average, 19 doubles, 15 home runs and 91 RBI in 73 games) with first-team softball honors.
Here’s all the Wesley Chapel-area choices by school:
