Wawa Opens On S.R. 56


As pieces of the building were put together on S.R. 56 just east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., the anticipation built.

The gas pumps went in, the convenience store took shape. The signs were put up, and turned on.

When it will open? How will it open?

Answer: Quietly.

Just like that, on Nov. 28, Wesley Chapel’s first-ever Wawa was open.

No pomp. No circumstance. Just cheap gas, free coffee and deals on the chain’s famous tasty sandwiches.

“Man, I just went to the bank this morning, and the teller asked me if I knew Wawa was open today,’’ said Juan De La Torres, a retired first responder who lives in Seven Oaks. “I was like, ‘What?’” I had just driven by, I didn’t even notice. So, I rushed right over here.”

Juan De La Torres holds up his free Wawa shirt that he snagged after hearing the store on S.R. 56 had finally opened on Nov. 28.

For many like De La Torres, the opening of the Wesley Chapel Wawa was a surprise, albeit a pleasant one. While certainly one of those places with a cultish following like Chick-Fil-A and Costco, this Wawa location eschewed the normal fan-friendly grand opening and chose instead to let local residents be surprised.

“I’m just glad they are finally open,’’ said De La Torres, who snagged himself a free blue Wawa tee-shirt, and then stuck around for the opening ceremonies and a few free samples of things like a ham sub sandwich, peppermint iced coffee and cinnamon oatmeal. “I feel like I’ve been waiting forever.”

Wawa was open for business at 8 a.m., but at 10 a.m., area manager Rich Morton and Wally Goose, the Wawa mascot, welcomed a quickly growing crowd to Wesley Chapel’s newest hot spot.

Two firefighters from Pasco Fire Station 13 in Meadow Pointe, Frank Torres and Bobby LaBella, took on some  of the store’s staffers in a sandwich-making contest — when they weren’t throwing handfuls of shredded lettuce at each other and into the crowd. Torres and LaBella won the contest, earning a big trophy and a couple of $1,000 checks from Wawa to benefit the Firefighters Charities of Pasco.

Everyone posed for pictures. Then, they cut a ribbon. That made it official.

For Morton, it was a big moment. Though he manages a number of Wawas from northern Hillsborough County throughout all of Pasco and Hernando counties, the idea of a new store right across the street from where he lives was exciting.

Firefighters Frank Torres (left) & Bobby LaBella pose with checks for the Firefighters Charities of Pasco & Wally Goose.

“Very cool,” Morton said. “I’ve been waiting since I first moved down here four-and-a-half years ago. We bought a home right in (Seven Oaks) right away, and I’ve been waiting for a store close to home.”

Morton had nothing to do with the site selection, but he jokes that he hasn’t been shy about making suggestions as he’s been driving around Wesley Chapel.

“The real estate guys are real frustrated with me, because I’m like ‘Look at this site, look at this site, look at this site,’’’ he said, chuckling.

Morton thinks the current location is perfect, catching a lot of the eastbound traffic between the Tampa Premium Outlets and the Shops at Wiregrass malls. He says this won’t be the last Wawa we see here locally. “We’re definitely opening here again,’’ he said.

A Little History…

Formerly a dairy company, Wawa opened its first food market in Folsom, PA, in 1964. It has expanded to many areas in the mid-Atlantic region, but didn’t come to Florida until one opened in Orlando in 2012. The Wesley Chapel location is the 102nd Wawa store to open in the state since then.

Wawa has succeeded by taking the convenience store concept to another level with competitively-priced gas, fresh drinks and expertly-prepared sandwiches and other quality food items that can be ordered right off an in-store computer touch screen.

“Ninety percent of the time, I just come for the food,’’ said De La Torres.

Wawa’s employees start at $10 per hour, above the minimum wage, and because of the friendly benefits, often stick around for years, if not decades, which has helped the company develop. “You don’t see a lot of companies doing health benefits for part-time employees,’’ Morton said. Taking care of his employees, he adds, trickles down to the customer service, which is often lauded in surveys.

Denise Bee, who lives in Meadow Pointe III, said she was just driving by Monday morning on her way home from a doctor’s appointment when she noticed people walking in and out. Like everyone else, she was surprised that Wawa had finally opened.

And pleased, too.

“It’s about time,’’ said Bee. “I’ve been driving by and watching it go up little by little, wondering if it was close. Now I don’t have to drive all the way to Bearss Ave. to get gas…and hot chocolate.”

Wawa is located at 27866 S.R. 56, across from Sam’s Club, just west of BBD. For more information, visit Wawa.com, or call (302) 758-6873.

‘Diverging Diamond’ Exchange For S.R. 56 At I-75 Moved Up To 2018 Start

Above is a rendering of a Diverging Diamond Interchange, like the one planned for the S.R. 56 exit off I-75, which has been moved up to a Fiscal Year 2018 start date. Source: FDOT.

Relief is coming to the congested, frustrating and oftentimes maddening S.R. 56 interchange of I-75 sooner than expected, as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) announced it was moving up its plans to build a diverging diamond interchange (DDI).

That project is now slated to begin in fiscal year 2018, the beginning of which is July 1 of 2017.

“That is great news,” says Mike Moore, the new Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) chair who represents District 2, which includes most of Wesley Chapel. “I thought the diverging diamond was a great idea from the start, and the other commissioners did too. I’m glad we can start it sooner.”

Moore and District 38 State Rep. Danny Burgess (R-San Antonio) played key roles in getting the project, which will cost around $18.5-million, fast-tracked. FDOT officials presented their new proposal to the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization Dec. 8 at the Dade City Courthouse.

Construction of the DDI was originally scheduled to begin in 2024, but last November was moved up to 2020. The additional shortening of the timeframe will be good news to many travelers, especially around the holiday season, who have seen the lines of traffic to get off or on I-75 or through the interchange at S.R. 56 increasing.

DDIs, according to the website DivergingDiamond.com, are designed to create fewer conflict points when traveling through them, have better sight distance at turns, shorter pedestrian crossings and wrong-way ramps that are extremely difficult to access.

Despite looking like a confusing, diamond-shaped jumble of roads in pictures, the diverging diamond is said to cause virtually no driver confusion. A Springfield, MO, study showed a 60-percent reduction in collisions in a five-month period compared to a traditional exchange, and the website claims that in a five-year span of a DDI in Versailles, France, only 11 crashes have been reported.

Florida is building its first DDI at the University Pkwy. exit (No. 213) off I-75 in Sarasota. The Wesley Chapel location would be the state’s second DDI interchange.

The I-75/S.R. 56 junction continues to be one to avoid if at all possible for those in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel area, and the 2.3-mile-long northbound exit routinely experiences back-ups of a mile or longer, sometimes even reaching the I-275 apex at the Pasco County line. The opening of the Tampa Premium Outlets on S.R. 56 west of I-75 last year hasn’t helped.

The S.R. 56/75 interchange was opened over a decade ago, and in 2011 a new ramp was constructed to ease congestion, to the delight of many in the community.

Roughly 100,000 drivers (combined heading east or west) pass through the I-75/S.R. 56 interchange, according to FDOT.

Steve Domonkos, the specialty leasing manager for the Shops at Wiregrass mall and a member of a Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (WCCC) transportation task force, is happy to see the DDI construction moved up. But, Domonkos worries that even by 2018, with the rapid rate of development happening in both Wesley Chapel and Lutz, it still may be too late.

The sooner the better, he says, “but sooner than sooner would have been even better. It’s great to hear they are finally moving it up because traffic is already horrendous,’’ Domonkos says. “It’s a shame that the state and county didn’t get together before the Outlets opened, though. That intersection is already maxed.”

Moore, who drives through the intersection almost daily, says he has heard the same complaints from his constituents. But he thinks they will be happy to see progress considering the project was initially slated to begin in 2024.

“This shows what can happen when everyone works together to get something done,’’ he says.

Public hearings on the DDI project were scheduled around the region on Dec. 14, which was after we went to press with this issue. The Florida DOT will accept written comments until Tuesday, December 27, through D7wpph.com, by U.S. Mail (Attn: Ed McKinney, Florida Department of Transportation, 11201 N. McKinley Drive, MS 7-500, Tampa, FL 33612) or by email to D7wpph@dot.state.fl.us.

Austin Named Top All-Star Lineman But West Falls To East In OT

Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman Christian Austin rushes the quarterback in the second annual Pasco County East-West All-Star game, which was played on Dec. 8.

Wesley Chapel High (WCH) defensive lineman Christian Austin wreaked havoc on the West team’s offensive line to earn Most Outstanding Defensive Lineman, but it wasn’t enough to lift his fellow All-Stars to victory Dec. 8 in the second annual Pasco County East-West Classic, which was played at Sunlake High in Land O’Lakes.

The East team, with Austin and 13 other players from WCH and Wiregrass Ranch High (WRH) on the roster, fell to the West 27-21 on a quarterback scramble in overtime.

WRH and WCH had seven players each named to the team, which is comprised of only seniors. The event was sponsored by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes and Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

“This is a great thing, what we’re doing here,” said WRH head coach Mark Kantor, who was the head coach of the East team. “We should keep it rolling. It’s fun to coach the kids (from other schools) and just to be part of this.”

Wesley Chapel-area players showed up early and heavily on defense for the East squad. WRH’s 6-foot, 180-pound linebacker Ryan Scamardo made a touchdown-saving tackle and had a quarterback pressure on the West’s opening drive, but the West still found the end zone on a third-and-goal for the game’s first score.

A fumble recovery then set up a short field for WCH quarterback Jacob Thomas and the East offense. Thomas completed a first down pass to the 13, and then Zephyrhills Christian’s Mykh’ael Chavis ran it in from there to tie the game.

Austin, who is undersized for an interior player at 5’-10’ and 190 lbs., but able to use his edge in quickness to make plays, was a menace from his defensive line position. He beat behemoth 6-8, 350-pound lineman Darrin Bright of Ridgewood for a tackle-for-loss on the West’s fourth drive, forcing a punt.

On the next West drive, they tried a halfback option play, and Scamardo was there to break it up for a loss of yardage and force a fourth down.

Scamardo’s WRH teammate and fellow LB Jason Winston, tripped up the West quarterback on the ensuing drive to force another fourth down. Another Bulls player, safety Dylan Bryan, made a huge play on the next drive, intercepting the ball and returning it to the West 36.

In the third quarter, the West took a 13-7 lead but local defenders kept making plays, as Winston and Bryan combined to force another West fourth down.

The offensive players from WCH and WRH began making their marks, as well. On first-and-goal from the 5, Thomas ran a bootleg to his left and beat the West defense to the corner for a touchdown to give his squad a 14-13 lead.

And then, Austin logged another sack on the West’s ensuing possession.

With time winding down, the East got in the end zone again to take a 21-13 lead with 1:12 left to play, but the West charged right back with a touchdown and two-point conversion with 18 seconds left to send the game into overtime.

But, even though the West team fell short, WCH coach Tony Egan, who served as an assistant for the East squad, said, “This was an awesome experience, mixing it up with other coaches, no one wanting to give up any secrets, keeping it very vanilla. It’s also another chance for some of these players to get something on film.”

Egan mentioned that Thomas had finally received his first of what Egan expects to be multiple scholarship offers, from Ave Maria University near Naples, FL.

GL Homes’ The Ridge At Wiregrass Ranch To Add Clubhouse Soon

This beautiful 12,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse and other amenities at GL Homes’ The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch are expected to be completed and open by February 2017.

On S.R. 56 in Wesley Chapel, a couple of miles east of the Shops at Wiregrass, behind a stunning entrance with an eye-catching waterfall feature, a brand new community called The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch is taking shape.

Families who want to enjoy the best possible Florida lifestyle in luxurious, custom homes began moving into the community earlier this year. Of the more than 180 homes that have been sold in the community so far, 50 have been completed. The Ridge is expected to eventually include 562 homes.

Homes in The Ridge are priced starting from $295,000 to $615,000, with sizes from just under 2,000 sq. ft. to more than 5,000 sq. ft. Most homes back up to ponds or conservation areas, and the few homes that back up to another home feature deeper lots and green space in between.

The Ridge is being developed, built and sold by Sunrise, FL-based GL Homes. GL Homes is a privately owned company that has been in business for more than 40 years. It started in Palm Beach and Broward counties and has grown to include communities throughout Florida.

The company is different from many community developers, because it also is the builder. “We purchase the land, work with engineers to create a site plan, go through the approval process, develop each home site and build each home,” says Marisa Lufkin, project manager for The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch.

Although Marisa just recently began working at The Ridge, she says she has been with GL Homes for 17 years, most recently at Valencia Lakes (the only other GL Homes community in the Tampa Bay area), which is for adults ages 55 and older and located in the Sun City Center area of southern Hillsborough County.

She explains that being both the developer and the builder has its advantages. “We control the standard of the overall aesthetics,” Marisa says. “We start with the entrance and follow through with the elevations of the homes. We tie it all together, from the guardhouse to the landscaping, to the exterior of the clubhouse and the homes themselves.”

The elevations of the homes in The Ridge all include concrete roof tile, stacked stone exterior details, a covered patio, and brick pavers on driveways, walkways, entries, and covered patios.

“These are standard features in all of our homes,” explains Marisa. She adds that the high-end standard features continue inside, as well, where you won’t need to upgrade to get stainless steel appliances, granite countertops, 42” upper cabinets in the kitchen or luxury bathroom finishes.

“In this community, you really can have it all,” Marisa says.

Clubhouse & Pools

As homes are being constructed throughout the community, so is The Ridge’s amenity center. The 12,000-sq.-ft. clubhouse currently is under construction and GL Homes plans to open it in February. The clubhouse will include a fitness center with 24-hour resident access, aerobics room, indoor sports court, game room, kids room and even an arcade.

Outdoors, a resort-style pool is accompanied by a lap pool, kids water play area and a water slide. There also are four tennis courts, a shaded tot lot, a full-size, full-court basketball court, open play field and party pavilion.

“There’s nothing else like it in a community this size,” says Marisa. “We’re different for the market, and that’s what attracts buyers to this community.”

When the clubhouse is complete, a social director will be hired to build programs based on what the residents want, and schedule those programs based on when they want them.

“That’s the beauty of a brand new community,” she says. “We can mold it into an outstanding (facility), and the residents will dictate what those programs will be.”

“I can’t wait for the clubhouse to open,” says Steven Nguyen, a resident at The Ridge. “No doubt my two kids will use the pools.”

Steven says he moved from New York, “to get away from the cold weather.” The family moved into the new home in May.

“We bought a four-bedroom home,” he says, “where I live with my wife, my children and my parents. My brother lives next door.” He adds that the entire family chose to move into The Ridge because, “This community is definitely one of the best in all of the Tampa Bay area.”

He adds, “Here, everything is convenient. Shopping is just minutes away, and everything is close.”

Steven has that in common with many other residents of The Ridge, who also say they were attracted to it because of the location. In growing Wesley Chapel, with close proximity to The Shops at Wiregrass, Tampa Premium Outlets, and I-75, the community is where families want to be.

Steven also researched local schools and liked where students in The Ridge were zoned to attend. The community’s rear entrance, which is not yet open (and will be gated for residents only), backs up to Dr. John Long Middle School. Students also are zoned to attend nearby Wiregrass Elementary and Wiregrass Ranch High.

Marisa says Steven and his brother aren’t the only families who have purchased two homes next door to each other; other families have their parents next door. She adds that a wide variety of people are coming to live at The Ridge, “from newlyweds to families with children to empty nesters.”

She says many of the buyers are local. “Our community gives people who have outgrown their New Tampa homes an opportunity to build a bigger home in the area,” she says, adding that other local buyers are looking to downsize once they become empty nesters. “Other families just want to live in a brand new home with all the finishing touches and these amazing community amenities.”

In addition, she says, “GL Homes offers the whole package. From the multi-million-dollar entry that makes you feel like you’re coming into an upscale community, to our many floor plans and hundreds of options for customization, along with the great lifestyle.”

The sales center at The Ridge at Wiregrass Ranch is open every day, 10 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information about The Ridge, see the ad on the inside back cover (pg. 55) of this issue, visit GLHomes.com or call (855) 671-1700.

Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic Serves The Community’s Health Care Needs

In the healthcare business, an ounce of prevention can be less expensive than 10cc of medicine. That approach to treating patients is one of the core principles of Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic, located in the Canterbury Professional Park, off SR 54, two miles east of I-75.

Welcoming senior citizen patients insured by Medicare Advantage plans is one way Dr. Mahmud Ahmed, M.D., fulfills his medical practice’s healthcare vision.

“The concept of Medicare Advantage plans is to provide the best possible care with the least use of medical resources — such as tests and medications — without cutting corners, which also saves money,” he says. “The idea is to keep the patient from getting sick.”

Medicare Advantage plan providers that Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic accepts are Freedom Health, Optimum HealthCare, Humana Gold Plus, CarePlus Health Plans and WellCare.

You can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan from three months before your 65th birthday to three months after, during the annual election period between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 of each year, when Medicare beneficiaries can change their coverage. They also can enroll during the general enrollment period Jan. 1 through March 31 of each year, with coverage beginning July 1 of the same year, and during special enrollments based on individual circumstances.

More information about enrollment options can be found online at Medicare.gov or by calling 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

Dr. Ahmed’s professional perspective was shaped by practicing medicine for 13 years in Canada, which has a substantial national health plan, after earning his M.D. degree from Dow Medical College of Karachi University in Karachi, Pakistan.

He completed his medical training at Winnipeg General Hospital and St. Boniface Hospital in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. Dr. Ahmed is Board-certified in internal medicine and specializes in cardiology.

He is happy to explain how  his clinical experience in Canada compares with medical practices in the U.S.

“Here, doctors do test after test after test,” he says. “In Canada, you do the test that provides the most information.”

Established in 2000, Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic provides primary medical care with an emphasis on providing services for senior citizens.

According to Marcus Dunmire, Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic’s office manager, taking proper care of patient health with medical screenings before a medical emergency arises or chronic health condition develops is an important part of Dr. Ahmed’s approach to medicine.

“We do offer a lot more tests (on-site) than a typical internal medicine practice would offer,” he says.

Among the tests that can be performed onsite include glucose checks, electrocardiograms (EKG), spirometry to check lung capacity and tuberculosis skin tests. The clinic also offers a non-invasive onsite colon cancer screening as an alternative to a colonoscopy.   

Other services available include school and sports physical exams, Department of Transportation physicals, flu shots, vaccinations for things like tetanus and the flu (but no children’s vaccines), anti-inflammatory injections like cortisone shots, blood tests (phlebotomy) and nebulizer treatments for respiratory distress.

Dunmire adds that the staff works hard so the patient experience goes beyond encounters with stethoscopes and tongue depressors. “The staff is a big part of the experience,” Dunmire says. “With patients, we always want them to feel important. We take pride in how we treat our patients and in making sure that whatever issues they have are taken care of here.”

And when it comes to treating illness, sooner is almost always better than later.

“So, when we have a patient who needs to see a doctor, we’re always going to try to get them in the same day,” Dunmire says.

That’s an approach to medicine appreciated by George Taber, who says he has been a patient at the Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic for eight years.

“Dr. Ahmed and his crew are all great,” the Zephyrhills resident says. “He has a very caring attitude. He doesn’t rush you in and out and you’ll have answers to your questions before you leave.”

Elaine Faria, also a resident of Zephyrhills, likewise speaks highly of the medical treatment she’s received at the clinic.

“I think they’re the best around,” she says. “It’s a triple plus. The staff is wonderful, Dr. Ahmed is wonderful and the physician assistant, Kirti is wonderful.”

Certified Physician Assistant Kirti Patel, PA-C earned her MPAS (Master Physician Assistant Studies) from Nova Southeastern University in Orlando and is Board-certified in her profession. She says an attentive ear is as important as a healing hand.

“It’s hard to treat the patient if you can’t listen to them,’’ Kirti says. “Listening to the patient’s concerns allows me to bring whatever clinical knowledge I have to help them.”

One of the reasons Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic is able to respond in a flexible and caring manner is the availability of two medical doctors and a physician assistant to accommodate its patient population.

In addition to Dr. Ahmed, Neeraj Mahajan, MD also is on the staff. He is Board-certified in family medicine and graduated from Gajra Raja Medical College of Jiwaji University in Gwalior, Madhya Pradesh, India. He completed his residency at St. Joseph’s Hospital Health Center in Syracuse, NY.

Mental Health Services, Too

Besides having their physical health taken care of, patients also can avail themselves of mental health counseling through Mindful Inspiration Counseling, LLC.

Erum Ahmed, LMFT (Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist) provides the counseling services. She earned her Master of Public Health (MPH) degree from Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health in Atlanta, and a Master of Arts (M.A.) degree in Rehabilitation & Mental Health Counseling from the University of South Florida’s School of Behavioral Sciences in Tampa.

“It’s not just taking care of medical problems, but the whole person,” says Erum, who is Dr. Ahmed’s daughter.

Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic also carries out its work beyond the patients who come through its doors. The practice often holds presentations about medical issues for Wesley Chapel residents gathered in their community clubhouses and churches.

“We are glad to speak on any health issue,” says Dr. Ahmed. “The idea is to keep our community healthy.” 

The good work performed by Dr. Ahmed and his team recently received an award from Freedom Health/Optimum HealthCare for achieving high marks on the Healthcare Effectiveness Data & Information Set (HEDIS), which health plans use to measure a provider’s performance level of care and service.

Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic is one of three clinics operating as Healthflo Medical Clinics, Inc. The other two clinics are in Bushnell and Ridge Manor. Readers interested in a healthcare relationship with Dr. Ahmed and his team should use the name “Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic” if they do their own research online and to determine if their insurance plan is accepted.

For more information, call Wesley Chapel Medical Clinic at 994-0800 or see the ad on pg. 24. The clinic is located at 5819 Argerian Dr.