Indoor Sports Facility In Wesley Chapel Sprints Towards Finish Line

This indoor sports facility in Gatlinburg, TN, is seen as the model for the planned indoor sports complex that hopefully will begin building soon in the Wiregrass Ranch DRI in Wesley Chapel.
This indoor sports facility in Gatlinburg, TN, is seen as the model for the planned indoor sports complex that hopefully will begin building soon in the Wiregrass Ranch DRI in Wesley Chapel.

With the $20-million Florida Hospital Center Ice (FHCI) complex nearing completion and Raymond James Financial now cleared for construction in the Wiregrass Ranch area, the S.R. 56 corridor is starting to deliver on much of its promise.

The next big project approaching the developmental runway is the long-awaited county athletic complex, which will be located just east of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel on 126.5 acres of land dedicated by the Porter family.

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) recently extended its deadline from July 6 to Aug. 5 for private companies to submit proposals to develop the new multi-purpose indoor facility, and public meetings to evaluate the proposals could take place in as soon as the next two weeks.

Moore said four bids were submitted.

“It’s getting closer,’’ said Pasco’s District 2 commissioner Mike Moore, who represents the Wesley Chapel area.

After the evaluation committee and public take a look at the bids, the responding firms are tentatively scheduled to go through interviews and give presentations in September, with a potential vote for approval by the BCC sometime in October.

The county is hoping to finally dip more than just a toe into the booming sports tourism market which, according to an April report by the National Association of Sports Commissions, is a $9.45- billion-per-year industry.

Pasco is looking for a private partner who would develop, finance, manage, operate and maintain the facility. The county has previously agreed to contribute $8.5 million to the design and construction of the project in money raised through its tourism development tax, and there would be a revenue-sharing aspect to the private-public relationship.

The private company chosen will be expected to market, solicit, advertise and conduct public relations activities for leagues, sporting events, concerts, tournaments and other gatherings to maximize use of the complex at no cost to the county, which will help with marketing.

Previous attempts dating back to 2001 to build facilities — one for tennis, one for baseball and another outdoor multi-purpose facility — have failed, but Johnson Consulting of Chicago said in a feasibility report last year that the outdoor market was saturated and the county should instead focus on an indoor facility, which was met with support by the BCC.

According to recommendations made by Johnson Consulting in Oct. of 2015, which the county says it would like to move forward with, the project will involve three phases.

The indoor facility will be a multi-purpose complex between 85,000 and 100,000 square feet on 5-7 acres of land. The facility, or Phase 1 of development of the property, would have 6-8 basketball courts, which could be converted to 12-16 volleyball courts, elevated seating for 500-750, concession stands, 4-6 multipurpose rooms and a sports orthopaedic and healthcare partnership.

“When you think about all the indoor sports travel teams, all those indoor sports (like cheerleading, gymnastics, wrestling, basketball and volleyball), there’s really nowhere in this area really focusing on  those,’’ Moore said. “The indoor facility would be much better for our area. It will be a big draw for tournaments year-round, and that means more people staying in hotels and shopping and eating in the area.”

Phase 2 of the project (5-15 acres), according to the Johnson Consulting report, would include 3-4 outdoor rectangular multi-purpose grass fields (two with lights), a Championship area for bigger events, an interactive playground and splash pads.

Phase 3 (10-15 acres) would incorporate an alternative entertainment zone, with indoor skydiving, zip lines, ropes courses and a driving range.

The remaining 25-35 usable acres would be for hotel development, themed retail, a community center, active and passive green space for the community, plus trails for walking, running and biking.

Johnson Consulting conservatively estimates that more than 100,000 participants will use the facility annually. While deficits are projected the first four years, the indoor sports complex is projected to bring in more than $200,000 a year in net profit by year six.

While initially Johnson Consulting expressed concerns over a lack of local lodging, three new hotels (see story on page 13) totaling more than 250 rooms are slated to open in the next year or two.

Moore said the facility that may compare best to what is hoped for in Wesley Chapel is the Rocky Top Sports World in Gatlinburg, TN, an 86,000-sq.-ft. indoor facility with 18 basketball and volleyball courts and seven outdoor synthetic turf fields, including a Championship Stadium Field. “If we do it right, we should be able to draw tournaments from across the nation,’’ Moore said.

Freedom High Athletic Trainer Ian Graulich Named State’s Best

IanTrainer2WEBIf you’re a high school athlete, you want a team trainer who can work out that cramp, tape up that ankle and adjust that shoulder — anything to get you back in the game as soon as possible.

But, being a high school athletic trainer goes well beyond the obvious. There are concussions and heat-related issues that can lead to dire consequences for prep athletes, as well as the risk of major infections like MERSA and even cardiac symptoms that often have to be monitored.

The job, at times, can be harrowing.

At Freedom High in Tampa Palms, however, that job is done very well. In fact, it’s done as well, if not better than, at any other high school in the state, according to the Athletic Trainers’ Association of Florida.

On July 17, the ATAF recognized Freedom head certified athletic trainer (ATC) and Tampa Palms resident Ian Graulich as the state’s High School Athletic Trainer of the Year.

“I was very surprised,’’ says Graulich. “I was humbled by that. It was pretty cool.”

Graulich is truly deserving after the busy 2015-16 school year he had. The Washington, D.C., native said in the past year, he had five football players with torn anterior cruciate ligaments (ACL) in their knees, four players with concussions and two others who suffered a spine injury and a broken leg. And, that’s just the football team.

“Unfortunately, that probably helped (me win the award),’’ Graulich joked.

One of Graulich’s key attributes which likely contributed to his winning the award is that he also has helped prepare other athletic trainers, many of whom have gone on to become successful themselves. Graulich has had a positive influence on many of those students, who are now “paying it forward,” he says.

“Anyone who has worked with Ian will tell you this is a well-deserved honor,’’ says Laurie, Ian’s wife of 17 years. “He is highly regarded in the New Tampa athletics community. On many occasions, we’ve been out in the neighborhood, and parents will approach us to say how much Ian helped their son or daughter after an injury.”

Ian and Laurie met at the University of Florida in Gainesville, when their college roommates started dating each other. The roommates broke up after only six months; Ian and Laurie have been together the 23 years since.

The love bug isn’t the only thing Graulich caught in Gainesville — he also caught the athletic training bug.

“I was just very interested in a profession that combined athletics, which I love, with healthcare,’’ he says. “And I find working with young athletes more enjoyable than working with older patients.”

IanTrainerWEBGraulich earned his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Exercise & Sports Science from Florida in 1996. In 1998, he earned a Master of Science degree in athletic training from California University of Pennsylvania.

The Graulichs have lived in Tampa Palms since 2007, with 11-year-old daughter Kaitlyn, who attends Liberty Middle School, and 5-year-old Kristen, a Tampa Palms Elementary student.

He has been Freedom’s head athletic trainer since 2011. He also has worked for 10 years for the SMART (Sports Medicine & Athletic Related Trauma) Institute on the University of South Florida’s Tampa campus, where he is one of 15 certified athletic trainers providing daily, on-site care and coverage to thousands of student athletes at 13 high schools in Hillsborough County.

A typical day for Graulich might involve a few hours in the morning at the USF SMART Institute. Once at Freedom,  Graulich will typically keep a close eye on football practice, because it has the most players (thus more chances for injuries), but he is responsible for every sport at the school. Many nights, he will work whatever Patriots games are being played.

Practices, he says, are where most of the injuries and, especially, heat-related illnesses here in Florida occur. He cited the recent death of Oklahoma State University basketball player Tyrek Coger, who died after a 40-minute workout on the football stadium stairs in hot weather.

“We face those fears on a daily basis,’’ Graulich said. “You always have that worry. Our most important job is to be there for emergency purposes and worst-case scenarios. We want to keep our athletes from being in the newspaper (for the wrong reasons).”

Graulich was the first full-time certified athletic trainer for Northwood University in West Palm Beach in 1998. And, while he enjoyed his work at the college, Graulich said he has found his niche at both the SMART Institute, which affords him an opportunity to teach and take part in research, and as a high school trainer at Freedom.

It doesn’t get any better, Graulich says, and the athletes he is keeping an eye on at Freedom can probably say the same thing about him.

For more info about the USF SMART Institute, visit health.usf.edu/medicine/orthopaedic/smart/index.htm.

New Tampa Eagle Scout Project Gives U.S. Flags Proper Retirement

BoyScoutsAll-American holidays honoring veterans, celebrating our independence and remembering those fallen in defense of it are times when citizens, old and new, proudly display the Stars and Stripes. But, what is to be done with Old Glory when it becomes worn and tattered and needs to be replaced and properly retired?

Grant Collie, a 17-year-old New Tampa Boy Scout, has an answer.

With construction help from family and fellow Scouts, using materials donated by the  Lowe’s Home Improvement store in Tampa Palms, Collie built two drop boxes for people to deposit worn flags as his Eagle Scout service project.

Flags that are turned in at Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 on Green Pine Ln., off of Cross Creek Blvd. (about one-half-mile east of Bruce B. Downs {BBD} Blvd.), will be respectfully retired in ceremonies conducted by Boy Scout Troop 148, which is chartered by St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church in New Tampa, where the troop also meets.

Collie undertook the project as part of his quest to become an Eagle Scout. One of the requirements to obtain that status is to complete a service project that benefits the community and demonstrates leadership.

Collie says he became aware of the need when he attended a flag retiring ceremony a few years ago.

“My Boy Scout troop had a flag retirement ceremony at the Lazydays RV Resort campground in Seffner a few years ago, and since then, people have been asking at the office there if they can turn in flags,” the Wharton High grad says.

BoyScout2WEBAccording to the United States Flag Code, organizations such as the Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, the military and some veterans organizations are authorized to conduct flag retirement ceremonies.

Collie hopes the boxes, which will be placed at Lazydays RV Resort in Seffner and Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 in New Tampa, will make it easier for people to turn in their flags. “My troop will periodically empty the boxes, collect the flags and perform a flag ceremony,” he says.

Collie has been involved in Scouting since he was a first-grader at Richard F. Pride Elementary.

He credits the Cub Scout and Boy Scout leaders, specifically Bryan Noll and current Troop 148 Scoutmaster David Thompson, for helping him “Be Prepared” for his future endeavors, starting with attending the University of Florida in Gainesville this fall to study electrical engineering.

“Scouting has been a huge part of my life,” Collie says. “It’s taught me about responsibility and independence. ‘Be Prepared’ is the motto, and I live my life by that.”

According to Thompson, the leadership Collie is demonstrating with his flag box project is consistent with what he has shown in his Troop 148 activities.

“He has been a great mentor, teaching younger Scouts about the flag,” says Thompson, who suggests people fold their flags and put them in plastic bags when they deposit them in the box.

Collie’s parents are proud as their son advances toward becoming an Eagle Scout and appreciate the role Scouting has in their son’s life.

His father, Phillip Collie, says the flag box project revealed an emerging side of his son’s character to him as he observed the work in progress. “He was very much in charge and showed a lot of leadership skills,” Phillip says.

Laura Collie is similarly pleased with the influence Scouting and the service project have had on her son.

“I’ve seen him grow in maturity and respect toward others,” she says.

Fire Captain John Donnelly is in charge of Tampa Fire Rescue (TFR) Station No. 21 and sought approval to place the box at the station.

In the letter to TFR Chief Thomas Forward, Donnelly wrote, “I think this would be a great way to assist Grant in achieving his goal, while allowing the citizens of Tampa a dignified way to retire their American flags.”

Forward granted permission and a box was placed at Station 21 on Aug. 2.

When Collie delivered the box (far right), Donnelly commented on the project’s alignment with TFR’s purpose.

“Our goal is to aid the community and this goes along with that,” he said.

People wanting to drop flags off at Fire Station No. 21 should enter through the main office door and they will be directed to the box, says Donnelly.

Collie expressed optimism the boxes at the fire station and at Lazydays RV Resort will get a lot of use. 

“I know there’s lots of people around here who have (old or tattered) flags, so I’m hoping they’ll bring them here so we can have ceremonies and retire them,” Collie says.

Tampa Fire Rescue Station No. 21 is located at 18902 Green Pine Ln., off Cross Creek Blvd. Lazydays RV Resort is located at 6210 C.R. 579 in Seffner.

Did You Blink & Miss The Summer? Local Schools Are Back In Session!

benito
Incoming sixth-grade students listen to Benito Middle School principal John Sanders offer some words of advice in the school’s cafeteria last month during an introductory camp.

That wailing sound you may have heard echoing across New Tampa on Wednesday morning was likely the sound of local elementary, middle and high school students bemoaning the start of the 2016-17 school year in Hillsborough County.

Already?

Yep, already.

Thanks to state lawmakers responding to the Hillsborough County School District’s request for changes to the school schedule a few years ago, kids went back to school Wednesday, the earliest first day of school in years. And, students in New Tampa were not alone, as 40 of the 67 school districts in Florida returned to school Wednesday as well.

Nearby Pasco County returns to school Monday, August 15.

While summer vacation is one of this country’s great and most treasured traditions — just ask anyone toting a backpack to the bus stop today  — chances are if you blinked this year, you missed it.

But, don’t blame the schools; blame Labor Day. Because so many school districts try to start the school year around the holiday — which is Mon., Sept. 5 this year, — it can interfere with classroom time, with schools having to end the second grading period after winter break.

With Labor Day taken out of the equation and finishing the first two grading periods at a more convenient break in the schedule, it led to starting school earlier.

Now, there is an even break after the first two quarters, in December — as opposed to finishing the second quarter sometime in January — and schools can start fresh with the third quarter when school returns in January (on Tue., Jan. 3, 2017, in Hillsborough).

“Change is always complicated, but the reality is, it’s  nice to have those first two quarters finished when we break at winter break,’’ said Lawton Chiles Elementary principal Teresa Evans. “I can see in secondary school how that is important.”

While the early start may be a shock to the system — in Evans’ case, she said many of her international students who travel back to their countries over the summer had a harder time planning their vacation — it’s not all bad.

In fact, Evans says, she didn’t hear any complaints from students as last year wound down, and she hasn’t heard any moaning about it from the students she talked to this summer.

“By this time, they’re excited,’’ she says, admitting things might be a little different with the younger students at an elementary school, as opposed to say, budding teenagers heading back to middle school. “Everyone I’ve talked to is excited about coming back to school.”

For the 2016-17 school year, the summer will begin right after Memorial Day. And, at the end of the day, students are going to school the same number of days they always have — usually, right around 180 days.

Which solves another problem — in years past, many teachers admit, the 10-12 remaining days after kids come back from Memorial Day are not always purposeful and it’s difficult to keep students focused.

But, even if the students weren’t ready to return, the schools certainly were ready for them. Rooms were being dusted and cleaned last week, floors were mopped and teachers spent the final days of summer in planning meetings, while their students tried to soak in every last second of it before hitting the books again this week.

“We planned for it,’’ Evans said. “I think that’s the real key. It’s not like it hit us in the middle of the summer. The custodial schedule was the hardest thing to do, to get everything clean before school. That was a real priority for us.”

2016-2017 school schedule

Mon., Sept. 5: No school, Labor Day

Fri., Oct. 7: First grading period ends.

Mon., Oct. 10: No school, nonstudent day.

Fri., Nov. 11: No school, Veterans Day.

Mon.-Fri., Nov. 21-25: No school, Thanksgiving/Fall break.

Mon., Nov. 28: Students return from fall break.

Wed., Dec. 16: Second grading period ends.

Mon.-Fri., Dec. 19-30: No school, Winter break.

Tue., Jan. 3, 2017: Students return from Winter break.

Mon., Jan. 16: No school, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Mon., Feb. 20: No school, Presidents Day.

Fri., March 10: Third grading period ends.

Mon.-Fri., Mar. 13-17: No school, Spring break.

Mon., March 20: Students return from Spring break.

Fri., April 14: No school, nonstudent day.

Wed., May 26: Last day of school. Fourth grading period ends.

Students are released one hour early every Monday and, on the last day of school, are released 2œ hours early.

Seven Oaks Pet Depot & Hospital Offers Vast Selection For Your Pets

7OaksPet
Dr. Sree Reddy, DVM (with scissors) cuts the ribbon at the Seven Oaks Pet Depot & Hospital opening. on S.R. 56.

I have known Sree Reddy, DVM (Doctor of Veterinary Medicine) since he first opened his Seven Oaks Pet Hospital on S.R. 56 almost ten years ago (in 2007).

Today, Dr. Reddy and his team are proud to call the new Seven Oaks Pet Depot & Hospital, in what is being called the Pet & Fit Center, also on S.R. 56 (next to Buffalo Wild Wings, about 1/2-mile west of the former location), their new home.

“It has been a dream of mine to own my own building (he actually owns both buildings in the Pet & Fit Center; more on that below), and have both a full-service pet hospital (exotic pets welcome, too) and a fully-stocked pet store in one location,” Dr. Reddy says. “We designed this much larger new space in order to provide the best possible service and prices at both our pet hospital and our pet supplies retail store.”

Dr. Reddy graduated from the College of Veterinary Medicine in Hyderabad, in his native India, before earning his Master’s degree in Veterinary Microbiology from Tuskegee University in Tuskegee, AL. The Lutz resident worked as a veterinarian in Iowa and Clearwater prior to opening his practice in Seven Oaks.

In addition to Dr. Reddy, there are two other veterinarians on staff at Seven Oaks Pet Hospital. Lisa Clifford, DVM, earned a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Zoology from the University of Hawaii in Manoa in 1998 and her DVM degree from the Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine in Ames in 2005. She’s been on staff at Seven Oaks Pet Hospital since 2009.

Dr. Teresa Kho, DVM, received her Bachelor’s degree in Biology and attended veterinary school at Ross University. in North Brunswick, NJ.  She was born in Hawaii, raised in California and moved to Florida in May of 2015. Dr. Kho enjoys all animals, but is particularly interested in seeing exotic pets and focusing on preventive care.

The new pet hospital occupies about 5,000 sq. ft., and the retail store occupies another 3,000 sq. ft. in the building closer to S.R. 56 on the 2.4-acre site.

Dr. Reddy says the new location also has allowed him to expand Seven Oaks Pet Hospital’s on-site grooming and boarding for its clients.

Also located in the front building is the 2,400-sq.-ft. Hammerfist Krav Maga, while CrossFit gym now occupies the 12,500-sq.-ft. second building in the plaza. Both businesses came from the same plaza where the pet hospital used to be located.

A Truly Caring, High-Tech Veterinary Office

One reason clients are so pleased with their experience is that Dr. Reddy’s practice stays ahead of the curve with new technology and treatment options. “We are proud that we update our practice with two or three new services every year,” says Dr. Reddy. For example, Seven Oaks Pet Hospital recently added an underwater treadmill. “This is great for doing rehab with older dogs to build muscle, while taking weight off the joints,” Dr. Reddy says.

And, for many years now, Dr. Reddy says, Seven Oaks Pet Hospital has been the only animal hospital in Florida to do single-port (incision) laparoscopic surgeries, such as spays for animals who weigh more than 10 pounds, liver biopsies or gastropexy (to eliminate twisting of the stomach). Dr. Reddy says that, while some facilities offer these services with multiple incisions, his office is the only ones in the state that uses a single port. And, he performs all of these surgeries on-site himself. Dr. Reddy says he learned to do these surgeries through specialized training in 2005 at the International Veterinary Acupuncture Society in Ft. Collins, CO. “I’ve done hundreds of these surgeries and it really has helped a lot of pets,” he says.

The single port laparoscopic spay is just one reason why (as we reported a year or so ago in these pages) Mary Groezinger, a volunteer with Labrador Retriever Rescue of Florida, raves about Seven Oaks Pet Hospital.

Mary also also said she was grateful for Dr. Reddy’s support of the Labrador Rescue. He provides dozens of discounted laparoscopic spays for the organization every year.

On a personal note, although I haven’t had a dog of my own for about five years, Dr. Reddy helped me and my son so much when we had to put our golden retriever Goldie down. You can just tell when someone loves your pet as much as you do. And, Dr. Reddy and his staff all seem to have that quality.

Dr. Reddy says he also is one of very few local animal clinics combining traditional and holistic treatments.

“Traditional and holistic treatments actually complement each other,” says Dr. Reddy, who also offers laser therapy for pets. For example, if a pet has an issue with one of its knees, the laser is applied right to the knee for a targeted approach, instead of using an oral anti-inflammatory medicine. The laser can be used for hip dysplasia, knee pain and to reduce post-operative pain, as well as for dental extractions.

He also says veterinary medicine is changing because clients want to know exactly what’s wrong with their pet, not just how to treat their symptoms. So, Seven Oaks Pet Hospital can do all diagnostics in office, from X-rays to ultrasounds.

Also popular are dental cleanings with no anaesthesia. “I enjoy it, because I like helping the pets,” he says. “And, we want to minimize the risks of anaesthesia.”

Seven Oaks Pet Hospital also offers wellness plans. Dr. Reddy says the plans are “a success story for us,” because his staff audits the plans and finds that most clients save anywhere from $100 to $2,000 annually by choosing a wellness plan. Wellness plan members get unlimited free exams, plus vaccines, (an annual) heartworm test and more. The wellness plan also entitles the pet to a reduced co-pay at an after-hours emergency facility. Different plans are available for puppies and kittens and for adult pets. “And, if the plan doesn’t save you money, we’ll tell you not to renew it.”

Your Pet Store…Your Way

Dr. Reddy says the Seven Oaks Pet Depot store absolutely does compete with the pet superstores for selection and price.

From the popular Blue Buffalo and Royal Canin foods to Greenies natural treats to the huge selection of pet toys, Dr. Reddy says the inventory at the store will evolve with the needs of the community. “If a client prefers a certain type of food, we can get it for them,” he says. “We’ve already added many requested items, so if you don’t see what you want when you’re in the store, tell us and we’ll get it for you and start stocking it.”

Seven Oaks Pet Hospital is located at 27029 S.R. 56 (look for the big, inflatable dalmation). Call 973-4779 or visit SevenOaksPetDepot.com for more info.

Dr. Reddy also is a partner at North Tampa Pet Depot (16033 Tampa Palms Blvd.). For info, call 866-7387 or visit NorthTampaPetDepot.com.