Wharton Boys Turn In Best Finish Ever At State Cross Country Meet

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The Wharton High boys cross country team hoists Tre Rivers into the air after his first-place finish at the District championship meet. (Photo courtesy Kyle LoJacono)

The best finish in Wharton boys cross country history went anything but smoothly.

There were critical injuries, tough courses and some flat performances to overcome. But in the end, the Wildcats managed to do something no other boys cross country team at the school had — crack the Top 10 at the State Championship race with a ninth-place finish on Nov. 5.

“It was really a testament to the kind of kids we had on the team this year,’’ said third-year head coach Kyle LoJacono.

Behind sophomore Tre Rivers’ ninth-place finish in a personal best of 16 minutes and 16 seconds, the Wildcats finished with 286 points at the Class 4A State race at Apalachee Regional Park in Tallahassee.

Juniors Noah Damjanovic (71st), Sahil Deshenes (89) and Frankie Godbold (99) all cracked the top 100, while freshman Casey Pleune was 113th.

The Wharton finish was the second-best of all the Hillsborough County public school teams competing at the event, behind only Newsome, which was third with 185 points.

It was a deserved ending to a season that resembled a run through tough, wandering terrain.

It began with high hopes. Wharton lost seven seniors, but returned a strong group of underclassmen, led by Rivers. Pleune joined the team in the fall, and set a number a freshman school records.

“We 100-percent expected to do what we did,’’ LoJacono said. “We knew the group coming back not only had the talent, but the right kind of mindset to do it.”

In the summer, though, the Wildcats lost senior Veyd Tandel to a broken leg, a disheartening injury considering Tandel was something of an inspirational leader after running with the team for three years before finally making varsity for the first time.

Meanwhile, Damjanovic broke his foot in the summer, and saw his times early in the season hang around 18 minutes, a tough start for a runner who was used to finish in the mid-17-minute range.

And at the Region 4A-2 race, Dennarius Murphy injured his calf and couldn’t run at States, so Zach Kane had to step up.

But, perhaps the biggest obstacle for the Wildcats to overcome was a race at the University of Florida Mountain Dew meet at the UF Golf Course in Gainesville in which they finished 15th overall (after being seeded to finish 10th), only placing three runners in the top 150.

“They were really demoralized after that race,’’ LoJacono said.

Two weeks later, however, the Wildcats took on another big hurdle, traveling to Tallahassee for the pre-State FSU Invitational race, which was disrupted by Hurricane Matthew, causing some teams to drop out. That opened the door for Wharton to be moved into the elite race — where the Wildcats finished eighth and placed all five scorers in the top-100 runners.

The Wildcats also closed the gap with District 4A-6 rival Steinbrenner, their average time just 15 seconds behind the Warriors, who finished fifth at the FSU race.

“That is where things turned around,’’ LoJacono said.

So began a series of races where the Wildcats chased down, and eventually passed, their rivals. At the Hillsborough County Championships, Wharton finished third, just eight points behind champion Steinbrenner.

At the District race the following week, Rivers broke through to win the individual title in 16:41, and the Wildcats were just two points behind first-place Steinbrenner.

Finally, at the Region 4A-2 race, the Wildcats caught the Warriors. Behind another strong finish by Rivers, Pleune and Deshenes, Wharton finished fourth overall, a whopping 43 points ahead of Steinbrenner.

“That was the first time we were ever able to beat Steinbrenner,’’ LoJacono said, and the following week they did it again at state, as the Warriors finished one spot and 13 points behind Wharton.

Now that the Wildcats have caught the rabbit, the target could be on their backs next season. They return everyone, and plan on using a strong track and AAU season to bolster their chances at finishing even better at States in 2017.

“I told them, now you have to set your bar and your motivation higher,’’ says LoJacono. “They may be chasing us next year.” 

Samhouri Finishes Strong

Wharton senior Rania Samhouri, who was featured in our last Neighborhood News issue, was the only girl ‘Cat to advance to States, where she finished ninth overall.

Samhouri, who improved on her 30th-place finish last season, ran the race in 18:49.

Exclusive Clientele Salon Adds Breakthrough Technology To Analyze Hair

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(L.-r.) Asia Wilson, Ashley Glover, Kenya Bryant-Long & Christy Johnson want to style, color, extend and analyze your hair at Exclusive Clientele Salon in the Cross Creek Center plaza.

Christy Johnson has been using her talent as a hair-styling artist to enhance the appearances and lift the spirits of her clients for more than 30 years. Now, the owner of Exclusive Clientele Salon, located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. at Kinnan St. in New Tampa, wants to use state-of-the art technology and knowledge to promote hair and scalp wellness a few miles south of Wesley Chapel.

Exclusive Clientele Salon has gained a reputation in the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel communities as an upscale, full-service salon offering a wide range of services, from basic cuts and colors, blow drying to weaves, in a comfortable, clean and friendly environment. Johnson and her staff take the expression, “Look good, feel good,” to a higher level.

“I want all of my clients to feel like they are exclusive,” Johnson says. “We’re all about making people feel good from the inside out, spiritually and beautifully.”

That approach has earned Exclusive Clientele Salon a loyal customer base and plenty of positive online comments, such as Dana Barnes’ Google Review.

“Christy is my stylist at Exclusive Clientele Salon,” Barnes writes. “Her customer service is always great when I am there. I highly recommend (this) salon.”

The ambiance of Exclusive Clientele Salon is more like a relaxing spa than a bustling hair cuttery. Paintings illustrate natural scenes throughout the salon and the subdued lighting in the dryer room complements the “Quiet” sign posted there. 

Johnson says her focus has always been on promoting healthy hair, and that has a lot to do with why she’s venturing into the field of trichology — the scientific study of human hair and related disorders, including hair loss and scalp problems.

How Trichology Can Help You

“We know that a lot of people are suffering from hair loss from alopecia, chemotherapy, radiation and medicines, and that there’s also a lot of elements in the environment that affect skin and hair,” Johnson says. She also cites improper maintenance of some hair styles as causing scalp and hair problems.

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The digital scope in this private room at Exclusive Clientele Salon can help analyze your hair.

Johnson and stylist/hair wellness consultant Kenya Bryant-Long have earned certificates for completing trichology courses taught by Rodney Barnett, a pioneering practitioner and teacher of trichology.

“He’s known all over the world as one of the best trichologists and teachers,” Christy says.

In addition to learning trichology, Christy is outfitting her hair restoration and wellness center with the latest technology (photo, right) to put that knowledge into practice. A client’s introduction to trichology begins with an extensive consultation in a private room. Christy says it’s important to have a space that’s conducive to discussion and analysis of what might be affecting someone’s hair and scalp health.

“Everything we do will be behind closed doors,” explains the 14-year New Tampa resident. “You don’t have to worry about anyone else knowing your business.”

And, Kenya says a lot of the conversation will revolve around the client’s lifestyle and health habits.

“We’ll do an in-depth consultation with them about what they eat and what kinds of medications they’re on,” she says.

Clients will able to get a good look at their hair and scalp with a digital scope that magnifies a view of their head surface and transmits it to a 50-inch monitor. To find out what’s going on inside the body that may be affecting their hair’s health, a biochemical assessment will be conducted using a trichological device known as a compass which, according to Kenya, “reads biomarkers in the body.”

One of the treatments administered at Exclusive Clientele Salon uses what is called an “oxygenator” to hydrate and cleanse the scalp and hair follicles with a nutritional solution.

Trichology is sometimes characterized as a para-medical practice, bridging the fields of dermatology and cosmetology. One way that relationship comes into play is with platelet rich plasma (PRP) hair restoration therapy administered by a dermatologist. PRP therapy works by injecting platelets from a patient’s blood into their own scalp. Human blood contains stem cells and other products that assist in tissue regeneration and healing. The therapy is based on the principle that growth factors in the platelets stimulate hair growth in follicles that are not producing hair but are still viable and capable of doing so. Post-procedure monitoring and maintenance of the scalp and hair is done by a trichologist.

But Wait, There’s More!

Other technologies used by Exclusive Clientele Salon are cool, low-laser treatments which Kenya says, “will help stimulate hair growth,” a micro mist treatment that she says will, “restore the moisture and help retain it,” and an exfoliating mask that loosens and removes scalp debris.

In cases where hair rejuvenation in bald spots does not occur, Johnson offers a non-surgical hair replacement option with hair prosthetics. A hair (or cranial) prosthesis is a more exact fit than a wig and often incorporates considerations in terms of material allergies and scalp sensitivities such as the sensitivities cancer patients may have.

It’s a family affair at Exclusive Clientele, with Christy’s daughter, Ariel Glover, and Kenya’s daughter, Asia Wilson, both working at the salon. The two daughters have spent their young lives following their mothers’ careers and finding not only inspiration, but also their own professions, from the experience.

Ariel, who does a lot of the hair coloring and extension work, shares her mother’s holistic approach to the business.

“We make people feel good on the inside by making them look good on the outside with an exclusive experience,” Ariel says. “It creates confidence in the client and brings out the best in them when they feel beautiful.”

Like Ariel, Asia decided at an early age to follow her mother’s example of a career in the beauty industry and according to Kenya, “[Asia] can pretty much do anything” in the salon, including hair coloring, highlighting and extensions.

Johnson adds that, “Asia has a warm spirit and makes everyone feel comfortable and relaxed.”

As a family business, Johnson credits her husband Thomas for much of Exclusive Clientele’s success. Thomas is the CEO of Capital Financial Services and, according to Christy, “really motivates me and gives me that push I really need.”

Whatever the motivation, Johnson says Exclusive Clientele Salon’s venture into hair restoration reflects the approach she takes toward personal and professional growth.

“We’re not just stuck behind the chair,” she says “We’re keeping up with technology to help men and women with their hair problems.”

Exclusive Clientele Salon is located at 10026 Cross Creek Blvd. For more information, visit ExclusiveClienteleSalon.com, call 994-2393, or see the ad on page 24.

LongHorn Opens; Ford’s Garage Goes Vertical

For those of us who want more restaurants in our area, the area on S.R. 56 near the Tampa Premium Outlets (TPO) mall continues to give us new options.

Since last month’s opening of BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse, another chain has opened and two others have gone vertical.

The newest restaurant to open (on Nov. 14) is LongHorn Steakhouse. The steakhouse chain definitely has the best steak of the three sit-down restaurants located in front of TPO (Cheddars Scratch Kitchen and BJ’s are the others), and the service and food are always dependable.

fordsBuilding up quickly, between LongHorn and BJ’s, is a new McDonald’s. But, perhaps the most eagerly awaited eatery to go vertical recently was the latest incarnation of Ford’s Garage, which has locations in Brandon, Cape Coral, Ft. Myers and Estero. The Wesley Chapel location will be the first building to open on the north side of S.R. 56 in the Cypress Creek Town Center Development of Regional Impact.

Try Little Italy’s New Lunch!

Although I’m OK with the chains that are opening in our area, there’s no doubt I’m still much more into local mom-and-pop restaurants like Little’s Italy’s Family Restaurant & Catering, located a couple of miles west of TPO at 24436 S.R. 54 in Lutz.

1103161241aOwners Jessica and Carl Meyers have a great new lunch menu, where most items are just $6-$9, like the amazing mini-meatball “grinda”, which is served with excellent homemade potato chips. Other new lunch options include smaller-sized servings of chicken parmigiana, ravioli, lasagna, personal hand-tossed pizzas and even seafood pasta options like shrimp and mussels marinara (for a little more).

Stop in Tues.-Sat. for lunch or dinner, call 909-2122 or visit LittleItalyFamilyRestaurant.com.

Takara Sushi Closes

Although we still have quite a few very good Japanese restaurants in our area, we were still saddened to learn that Takara Sushi & Sake, located in the Oak Ramble Plaza (the same plaza as Acropolis Greek Taverna; see story on pg. 42) on BBD south of Tampa Palms, had closed.

We didn’t have any word at our press time as to why it closed or what might move into the space, but Takara was doing very well again in this year’s annual Reader Dining Survey. Those results are coming soon!

Parks Lincoln Unveils New Model

I also was excited to be on hand for the unveiling of not only a new model from Lincoln Motor Cars, but also for the Grand Re-Opening of the beautiful Parks Lincoln of Tampa dealership at 10505 N. Florida Ave., south of Fowler Ave, in Tampa.

lincoln2-revOwner Ron Parks, who also owns the Parks Ford, Fiat & Alfa Romeo dealerships on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel, cut the ribbon at the revamped dealership and unveiled the new 2017 Lincoln Continental (left) during a VIP event on Oct. 13.

With live entertainment and upscale food provided by Puff n’ Stuff Catering (like amazing beef short ribs, seared scallops and homemade ravioli), Parks kicked off the new dealership and model reveal in style.

The event was organized by Parks’ Jennifer Cofini, who was recently honored as Volunteer of the Year by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

lincolnAllthough I didn’t get to test drive the new Continental, I was treated to what Parks calls a “Date Night,” where I got to test drive a new Lincoln MKZ for 24 hours and receive a $100 Visa gift card to enjoy a great dinner. It’s been years since I drove an American car, but Lincoln definitely has affordable luxury down to a science.

To schedule a “Date Night” test drive, call (800) 398-7989 or visit Lincoln ofTampa.com & tell ‘em I sent you! — GN

The Gift Box Boutique Is Ready For The Holiday Season…Are You?

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Save yourself the hassle of finding a parking spot at the mall and check out The Gift Box Boutique in Tampa Palms, where owner Jennifer ColĂłn promises that there is something for everyone.

The Gift Box Boutique isn’t anything like your typical big box “department” or mall store.

It’s quaint and warm, with a variety of items that belies its just-the-right-size corner location in The Shoppes at The Pointe plaza in Tampa Palms, between Ciccio’s Cali and Stonewood Grill & Tavern.

But, what owner Jennifer Colón says really sets her shop apart is the customer service. You won’t want to hustle in and out, and you are invited to stay as long as you need to in order to find the perfect gift items.

“We have spent the last 2-Âœ years listening to customers every day tell us what they like, what they would like to see more of and what they just can’t live without,” Jennifer says. “We always strive to take our customer service to the next level, know our customers on a first-name basis and provide a pleasurable shopping experience.”

It must be working. Jennifer says she has dozens of regular customers who stop in every few weeks to see what is new, and there’s always something. Colón makes sure the store brings in new items frequently, especially around this time of year, as the holiday season cranks up with Thanksgiving and Christmas decorations, trinkets and clothing for just about everyone.

“These days, it’s every day we get a delivery,’’ Jennifer says. “It’s rapid fire in here right now.”

gift-box2The store continues to be continually updated  —  from adding the personal touch of monogramming on everything  from Corkcicles, cups, compacts, keychains, notepads and holiday ornaments to embroidery on totes, hats and  scarves. You name it, and Jennifer and her crew will monogram or embroider it.

The shop is always adding new items and brands.  This year alone, The Gift Box has added Spartina, Simply Southern, Kate Spade, Lokai, Pura Vida, Judith March and endless new options in ladies apparel.

Some of the more well-known and popular brands the store carries are Veronica M., the slim-fit NYDJ (Not Your Daughters Jeans), and Lysse Leggings, to name a few.

“I think we offer the uniqueness of the items that we carry,’’ Jennifer says. “We don’t offer a ton of any one item. That makes it a more special, personalized customer experience. In women’s apparel, we only buy about six of any one item. So, you’re not going to see yourself, your outfit, walking down the street.”

Your Holiday Headquarters

ColĂłn is looking forward to her third holiday season in New Tampa. She says that virtually any gift you are looking for, from home dĂ©cor items, on-trend women’s apparel and accessories, and gifts for kids, babies and a wide variety of special occasions can be found at The Gift Box.

gift-box4This time of year, the store can be an especially nice shopping experience if you are afraid of fighting the mall traffic or just want something less stressful.

“So, why not do your holiday gift shopping at The Gift Box?,” Colón says. “Not only will you find something unique, but we’ll also wrap it so it is ready to give. That’ll be one less thing you have to worry about!”

Colón and her Santa’s helpers have recently stocked the store with a ton of new Christmas goodies, from candles to reindeer with candy cane antlers to display to stylish holiday clothing.

“We have so many options for your Thanksgiving and Christmas needs, and many great hostess gifts for everyone, whether it’s Christmas-related or a general gift,” she says.  And, don’t forget about the sweet little ones, she adds, as the shop is currently stocked with adorable little outfits and fun gift items for them as well.

“We also have a lot of serving dishes and platters and outdoor home dĂ©cor items for your front porch,” Jennifer says, as well as many other whimsical gift ideas. The Gift Box even has tea kettles, Christmas picture frames and high-quality Stonewall Kitchen food and snack items.

Go Team!

The Gift Box also currently carries a “ton” of collegiate items, because after all, the holidays have to share their season with America’s most popular sport. So, whether you’re stopping by for a new outfit or to accessorize your personal look, why not grab something for the sports fan at home, too?

gift-box5While maybe not football-related, you can find plenty of University of Florida, Florida State and University of Georgia (yes, Jennifer says, the Bulldogs are a big seller in the New Tampa area)-adorned items like ornaments, cosmetic bags, cutting boards and drink coozies. The same goes for other Florida-themed items that are unrelated to the colleges.

Jennifer credits her many regular customers for their loyalty and honesty as the business was getting started a few years ago, and she and her team — a group she calls “amazing” — has used that feedback to improve the boutique every year.

The Gift Box also continues to support local Tampa businesses, such as Toffee to Go, which has been endorsed by the “Media Maven” for selling her favorite toffee;  Seventh Avenue Apothecary Candles, with candles that are made with 100-percent soy wax; Tipsy Candle Company, which makes candles in re-purposed wine bottles; and items from the Columbia Restaurant, one of Tampa’s most famous eateries.

The Gift Box is located at 17032 Palm Pointe Dr. For the rest of November, the boutique will be open Mon.-Sat., 10 a.m.-7 p.m., and noon-5 p.m. on Sun. And, in December, there will be extended hours — until 8 p.m., Mon.-Sat., and 11 a.m.-6 p.m. on Sun. For more information, visit Facebook.com/The Gift Box Boutique or call 284-5986.

Acropolis Adds Greek Brunch To One Of Our Area’s Favorite Places

acropolis-wafflesEVERY year around this time, we always seem to be writing something about Acropolis Greek Taverna, located in the Oak Ramble Plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., south of Tampa Palms in New Tampa, only 15-20 minutes (despite the traffic on BBD) from most of Wesley Chapel.

The reason is simple — Acropolis is always highly rated among our readers in our Annual Reader Dining Survey & Contest (results to be announced in our December 16 issue) and usually even higher-rated when I tell you my favorites for the year in our January 13, 2017 issue.

Never resting on its already-impressive laurels (it also recently was voted the Best Greek Restaurant by its peers in a recent Tampa magazine survey), Acropolis, which now has five Tampa Bay-area locations (including South Tampa, Ybor City, St. Pete and Riverview as well as the BBD location) continues to add new menu items.

The most recent additions are a new Ouzo mussels appetizer, a new feta cheese dip called Tirokafteri, a new Castoria chopped salad with chicken (none of which are pictured here) and an all-new weekend brunch menu.

I’ll be honest and say that, at our press time, the brunch was so new that I haven’t had time to sample any of the new items before we went to press. But, rest assured, I wacropolis-brunch-tableill. After all, this is one restaurant that never disappoints with its Greek cuisine, so I expect that the brunch items — like waffles, omelettes and baklava crepes — will also be outstanding and not overpriced, just like the rest of owner Sam Waez and general manager Tarek Armoush’s New Tampa menu.

The brunch, which is served Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., also is offered with bottomless champagne or mimosas for just $15 per person and $5 Bloody Marys. That alone is enough to make me want to sample it this weekend.

And of course, Acropolis — which has consistently been ranked in yours truly’s top-three restaurants in New Tampa every year since it opened — still has so many of my favorites (and yours) that it’s always a pleasure to write about the place.

The restaurant’s elegant bar area has been revamped a couple of times and of course, there’s what I call Greek-line-dancing servers and bartenders, entertainment and lots of plate-breaking every weekend evening.

So, here are some of my favorite dishes. For starters, you can’t beat Acropolis’ Greek salad. Although the zesty dressing is more of a creamy vinaigrette than a traditional oil-and-vinegar Greek dressing, it’s a perfect complement for the salad. The spinach dip appetizer is served with these amazingly crisp Lavash crackers and topped with Tirosalata, which is another feta-based dip with garlic, oregano and olive oil. More adventurous tastes will enjoy the grilled octopus appetizer and the delightfully different fried calamari. And yes, there’s still house-made hummus, baba ghanouj, tabbouleh salad, dolmades and even a great Saganaki appetizer, which is grilled Kefalograviera cheese flambĂ©ed with Cognac that is as much fun to eat as it is yummy.

If you’re into pastitsio, or Greek-style lasagne, Acropolis offers it with meat or without and both are excellent. There’s alsobest-gyro-tampa mousaka, which is similar to pastitsio, but with potatoes and eggplant.

Favorite Entrées


My two favorite entrĂ©es at Acropolis haven’t changed since the place opened. The grilled Greek-style lamb chops are always tender and tasty — they rank up there with the best lamb chops in our area — and the pan-fried Athenian fish is simply to die for.

The Athenian fish is flaky and white and comes with a crispy coating, topped by a small dollop of homemade pesto. I always order an extra side of the pesto because, really, how can anyone spread that one dollop out enough to give you pesto in every bite without it?

My only “complaint” about these entrĂ©es is that they’re always served with the same grilled veggies — primarily zucchini and squash with onions. I’ve asked Tarek to maybe add sautĂ©ed spinach or broccoli to the mix or at least offer a few other veggie options to go with these superb main dishes.

I’m also partial to the steak and chicken shish kabob entrĂ©es, especially the tenderloin medallions. There’s also a Greek meatballs entrĂ©e, as well as dolmades, a mixed grill (with steak and chicken kabobs, pork souvlaki and gyro meat), as well as the chicken Santorini (sautĂ©ed tenders in a creamy Santorini lemon wine sauce mixed with mushrooms, onions, pesto, green and red peppers over penne pasta, topped with shaved parmesan cheese), chicken Manitari (which is sort of Acropolis’ own Alfredo-style pasta) and chicken Rhodes, which is grilled chicken breast in a lemon white wine sauce with artichokes, sun-dried tomatoes, spinach and olives, topped with crumbled feta.

My other fish favorites include the Psari mahi-mahi (blackened and topped with pesto and red peppers) and the grilled, fresh, whole red snapper (although it is messy to eat) . Other seafood entrĂ©es include charbroiled Siros salmon, a mixed seafood pasta and shrimp Mykonos (sautĂ©ed in a creamy lemon wine sauce), but of course, I can’t eat shrimp because I’m allergic to it, so I can’t personally vouch for these last two choices.

There’s also a nice selection of unique wrap and other sandwiches on the menu, as well as gyro, pork and chicken souvlaki platters. I don’t usually order a sandwich at Acropolis, but I have enjoyed their American burgers (there’s even a Crete burger topped with feta), as well as the Athenian fish, mahi-mahi and fried Fira fish sandwiches. Other sandwiches and wraps on the menu include the Mediterranean chicken wrap (with spinach  leaves, onions, grapes and candied walnuts), a (vegetarian) falafel wrap and the Thessaloniki wrap (another choice for vegetarians), which has Mediterranean roasted vegetables, sliced feta and hummus.

For those who enjoy a glass of wine with their meal, Acropolis has a nice variety of unique Greek red and white wines, as well as popular choices like a malbec, a chardonnay, multiple sparkling options and a cabernet sauvignon. Please ask for samples of the Greek wines; I know you’ll find one to your liking.

Acropolis also features a nice kids menu, with options like pizza, meatballs, chicken skewers and a kids gyro or chicken gyro.

And, save room for dessert, because Acropolis has some great ones, although my favorite is probably the baklava cheesecake.

  Acropolis Greek Taverna’s New Tampa location is open every day for lunch (and weekend brunch) and dinner and is located at 14947 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., at the north end of the Oak Ramble Plaza.

For more information, call 971-1787, visit DineGreek.com or Facebook/DineGreekinNewTampa. And, don’t forget to check the website for Acropolis’ other great locations, including the newest one opening soon in Sarasota.