Where To Find Fireworks In Our Area For Independence Day!

FireworksGreg Lenners, the general manager at the Shops at Wiregrass mall, says pulling out of the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club’s fifth annual Freedom Fest was one of the toughest decisions he’s had to make. But, because of safety concerns – namely young kids darting across S.R. 56 and Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. at 10 p.m. as cars whizzed by – he says it was the most prudent choice.

“We outgrew Freedom Fest faster than we expected,’’ Lenners said.

So where do locals turn now for their Fourth of July fireworks fix until, hopefully, Freedom Fest finds a new new home in 2017?

We have a few suggestions:

Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel will host a Fourth of July celebration Monday beginning at 5 p.m. in its Amenity Center at 5216 Autumn Ridge Dr.

The festivities will include an apple pie bake-off, bike parade, wet/dry bounce park sponsored by Avex Homes, Tampa Bay Lightning mascot Thunderbug, food trucks, free 3D glasses for the firework show provided by Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel and fireworks at 9 p.m.

(It should also be noted that Tampa Palms Golf and Country Club does a fireworks display every year, but it is typically an event for members and requires reservations, though there could be some good parking spots in the area along Bruce B. Downs to catch a glimpse of the pyrotechnics Monday night if you try)

If you’re looking for something relatively close, Dade City is just a short trip and their Sparklebration gets good reviews. There will be eating contests, skydivers, bounce houses, pony rides and, of course, a fireworks display to cap it all off. The festivities kick off on Monday, July 4, 4 p.m., with the pyrotechnics starting at 9:15 p.m.

Temple Terrace is another short drive from the Wesley Chapel and New Tampa area, and the Greater Temple Terrace Chamber of Commerce is hosting its 42nd annual Temple Terrace Independence Day Parade on Monday, July 4, 10 a.m.

The parade will begin on the corner of Whiteway Dr. and Gillette Ave., and head south on Gillette, west on Druid Hills and then south on Ridgedale. The evening festivities begin at 6 p.m. on the first fairway of the Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club and fireworks are at 9:15 p.m. Pro tip: find a nice parking spot on N. 56th street, and avoid the traffic on the way home.

Brandon also is hosting a 4th of July parade, 10 a.m.-12:30 p.m. on Monday. They bill it as the largest parade in Florida, and it begins at 101 E. Lumsden Rd.

If a longer drive doesn’t worry you, check out Cotanchobee Park across from Amalie Arena in the Channelside area on Saturday, where a host of activities are scheduled like an igloo drag race competition, DIY canvas painting and live jazz, all from 5-10 p.m., with fireworks at 9.

And, check out the “Land O’Liberty Salute,” sponsored by the WC Noon Rotary Club’s Land O’Lakes (LOL) satellite club, which is painting LOL Red, White & Blue. For more info, call 817-3011.

Phase II Of Taskforce Gets Green Light Despite Toll Questions

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This was the top Phase I recommendation of the Vision 54/56 Taskforce, but the potential for toll roads in some of the other options is a concern to some Pasco County commissioners. Regardless, the Taskforce will begin its Phase II closer look at the various options for 54/56 in two months.

Pasco transportation engineer Ali Atefi has said almost from the beginning of the “Vision 54/56” Taskforce that he didn’t want the focus during Phase I to be on how any recommendations would be paid for.

That would come later, Atefi said. He simply wanted the best choices forwarded to the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), which would then send the Taskforce to Phase II.

But, it didn’t take long for the concern of how to pay for the top choice — which, along with a handful of other choices studied by the Taskforce, has a toll road – came up at the Taskforce’s presentation to the MPO.

The work of the 54/56 Taskforce will go on, however, as Phase II was approved by the MPO, but not before a few eyebrows were raised by Pasco’s Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).

“I think, as a whole, we have to do something,’’ said District 2 commissioner and vice chairman Mike Moore. “Something has to be figured out, and it was great to see so many people involved in the process. I appreciate that. But, everyone wasn’t in total agreement (about) the options.”

Atefi said he was pleased the 54/56 Taskforce will remain together, but said District 5 commissioner Jack Mariano expressed concerns over any potential toll roads and District 1 commissioner Ted Schrader questioned whether or not the recommendation was from the Taskforce, and not the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT).

Mariano also has voiced his opposition to the Tampa Bay Express (TBX) project that would add an express toll lane to much of Tampa Bay’s interstate system.

“Commissioner Mariano thinks that this is the path that we are going (down), but at this time, I personally don’t even want to talk about how to fund this,’’ Atefi said. “First, we need to figure out what improvements are needed and how we want S.R. 54 to look. Then, we can worry about how to fund it. It’s too premature to talk about tolling. That’s why I didn’t want to get into the discussion.”

At its March 31 meeting, the East Task Force – which looked at S.R.s 54 and 56 from U.S. 41 to Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. — concluded its survey results. It listed Alternative H — which calls for maintaining six general purpose lanes and an “At Grade” (ground level) exclusive lane for bus rapid transit or rail transportation — as its top recommendation.

But, other alternatives studied and suggested contained potential for toll roads to fund the building.

While choice No. 2 (Alternative J) called primarily for maintaining the current state road and enhancing the bus routes, choice No. 3 (Alternative F) would feature six east-west lanes, but be subject to either a toll lane or an express lane with high-occupancy rules. Another alternative did not score in the top 3, but might be the most ambitious of the alternatives, with six existing lanes and one additional express lane, which buses also could utilize.

“These are only recommendations to be discussed further,’’ Atefi said.

But, the word “toll” is not one to toss around the commission chambers lightly.

In 2014, a proposed elevated highway stretching from the west side of Pasco County all the way to the east — 33 miles along the 54/56 corridor from U.S. 19 to U.S. 301 — stirred a lot of dissent, which eventually helped scuttle the project.

Opponents said the elevated toll road would devastate small businesses along S.R. 54 and put a significant dent in property values.

Spanish firm OHL had presented the original $2-billion private project, which didn’t initially involve any public funds to build but later admitted it couldn’t be financed without a public investment.

“I think that left a bad taste in a lot of people’s mouths,’’ said Moore.

“But, that’s not the case with what we are doing,’’ Atefi said.

Moore said despite any reservations, the public participation in the current debate about what to do with the 54/56 corridor bodes well for the future success of the Taskforce, which will reconvene in two months and begin Phase II, which will incorporate a broader range of public input.

For more information, please visit Vision54-56.com.

Can Walking Soccer take off here?

Colin Eke (center) gives out “golden boots” to the MVPs from two of his adult soccer leagues in our area. Eke is now starting a “walking football” league in our area.
Colin Eke (center) gives out “golden boots” to the MVPs from two of his adult soccer leagues in our area. Eke is now starting a “walking football” league in our area.

Wesley Chapel resident Colin Eke grew up playing soccer. He says that in Ipswich, England, where he was born and raised, “football” was more than a game, it was a passion.

The older Eke got, however, the harder the game got. Factor in injuries to his hips, knees and Achilles tendon, and Eke turned to refereeing games. But now, he’s turning to a whole new game — “walking football,” or as it’s called here, soccer. He jokes that this way, “You can play soccer on Sunday afternoon, and when you go to work on Monday, you’re not on crutches.’’

Eke, who is 60, is trying to start what he believes will be Florida’s first-ever over-50 Walking Football League right here in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. He held a clinic last week at the Benito Middle School soccer fields on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, and is hoping to attract enough players for a 4-team league.

Eke says the concept is no joke – walking football is one of the fastest growing sports in England. He says that everyone should check out YouTube to see how the sport is played. “It’s quicker than you think,” he says.

There is an official organization in England that holds regional and national tournaments – Walking Football United – and the United States Adult Soccer Association will include the game in its Adult Soccer Fest in Denver, CO, July 13-17.

“A good friend in England told me about it,’’ he said. “Most people over the age of 50 can’t run anymore, they’ve chosen to hang their boots up or not play anymore, whether it’s weight, injuries or they’re not fit enough. This game just involves a new mindset.”

Eke is trying to persuade people to that new mindset, hoping to have enough teams for his planned league by sometime later this month — after the COPA America tournament has ended and the Euro Cup is nearing its finale.

“I’ve had some people say ,‘You must be kidding,’’ Eke says. “I just tell them, after five minutes in (of regular soccer), if you’re over 50, you’re either walking anyway, laying on the ground exhausted or wanting to come off for water.”

In walking football, as you might imagine, no running is allowed. You can power walk, but are not permitted to jog, lest you end up being sentenced to two minutes in the “sin bin,” equivalent to hockey’s penalty box.

The game is still quicker than you might imagine (again, check out the YouTube videos if you don’t believe it) and the players need to possess good footwork and solid ball striking skills. Instead of 11-on-11, walking football features 6-on-6 play.

The game is open to men and women. The goals and field are smaller, no one is allowed in the penalty area in front of the net, and there is no offsides, no slide tackling and no over-the-head throw-ins.

“The goal is to let people who love the game to keep playing,’’ Eke says. “It’s still great physical fitness, it’s a great social game and there’s (much less) chance of injury.’’

Eke has run the New Adult Premier Soccer League (APSL) along with partner Miguel Herrera since 2012. Roughly 200 players from the Wesley Chapel, New Tampa and Dade City areas have competed at places like Benito Middle School on Cross Creek Blvd. in New Tampa, the Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Rd., and the New Tampa Community Park in Tampa Palms during men’s and co-ed leagues on Wednesday and Friday nights and Sunday afternoons.

Eke hopes the addition of walking football is as successful as the rest of his leagues have been. “The whole point is to get players who are older to be healthy and active,’’ he says. “It’s like a stroll on a Sunday afternoon, so why not kick a ball at the same time?”

For more information about Eke’s walking soccer league and how to sign up, check out NewAPSL.com or email him at Colin@NewAPSL.com or Miguel@NewAPSL.com.

For additional information about the sport of walking soccer, check out WalkingFootballUnited.co.uk.

More Than 100 Preview WCNT-tv During Our VIP Premiere Party!

IMG_040637Check out the Premiere Episode of WCNT-tv Now at WCNeighborhoodNews.com!

If you somehow haven’t already seen the first-ever episode of WCNT-tv, I suggest visiting our website — WCNeighborhoodNews.com — right now, even before you read this article. The photos on this page and on page 3 are from the incredible Premiere Party we hosted at our Neighborhood News offices on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel on June 23 for the first-ever webcast dedicated to the residents and businesses in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area and there’s no doubt the premiere episode of our bi-weekly webcast has already captured the attention — and the imagination — of a pretty impressive list of major business owners and representatives who were on hand at the Premiere Party.

Among the people already talking about WCNT-tv — which has its own Youtube channel, but also can be accessed from the front page of our website, our Facebook page and/or by clicking on the “WCNT-tv” tab on the front page of WesleyChapelChamber.com — included our Premiere Party attendees Gordie Zimmerman of ZMitch, LLC, the developers of Florida Hospital Center Ice, our first video news feature; Tampa Premium Outlets GM Stacey Nance; marketing director Tracy Clouser of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, which is

Left to right: FHWC’s Tracy Clouser, Susanna Martinez, Gary Nager, Vicki Hutto (VIP Pest Control), Craig Miller & Dirson & Ana De Mesquita of OTB CafĂ©.
Left to right: FHWC’s Tracy Clouser, Susanna Martinez, Gary Nager, Vicki Hutto (VIP Pest Control), Craig Miller & Dirson & Ana De Mesquita of OTB CafĂ©.

the studio sponsor of WCNT-tv’s news segment; WCCC CEO Hope Allen and membership coordinator Jennifer Reightler; Pasco County commissioner Mike Moore; New Tampa’s State Rep. Shawn Harrison; Peter Gambacorta of the Private Chef of Tampa, which provided some of the food for the event (as did Little’s Italy’s Family Restaurant);  and Troy Stevenson of Wesley Chapel Nissan and his Acme On the Go Movies (which provided the amazing 17’x9’ screen) technician Harry Wilkins, as well as many WCCC business owners & New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Rotary Club members.

Also special thanks to our first chamber-featured business sponsor, VIP Pest Control, and restaurant sponsor, OTB Café. 

Special thanks also goes out to John Fisher of The Polar Pod, which provided 50Âș comfort on a hot and humid night for all of our attendees, to my WCNT-tv co-anchor Susanna Martinez; Mike McDonald, who provided the entertainment; WCCC Featured Business host Jill Reilly (who also is my Neighborhood News billing manager), my WCNT-tv sales & production assistant Lauren McDonald, as well as asst. editor John Cotey (who took these great pictures at the event) and my entire staff at Neighborhood News, which have allowed me the freedom to pursue a dream; cameraman Brad Hall and especially, my partner and WCNT-tv executive producer Craig Miller of Full Throttle Intermedia.

Look for new episodes of WCNT-tv every two weeks and more to come!

Your Children Will Love Panda Hugs Child Care Learning Center!

PandaHugs9Panda Hugs Child Care Learning Center — located on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. just south of Tampa Palms — has been family owned and serving the children of New Tampa since 1997, by Sue Anne Allbaugh, who serves as the center’s educational director, and Sue Ann’s daughter and son-in-law, Andrea and Tom Driscoll.

Panda Hugs offers full-time childcare for infants (ages six weeks and older) to age five, VPK (Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten), plus after-school programs and summer camp for elementary-aged students (registration is now open for camps from June 13-August 9).

At Panda Hugs, the classrooms are large and roomy, and filled with toys for fun and learning. And, there are big windows from the halls looking into the classrooms, so parents can easily watch what’s happening. Panda Hugs has an open-door policy, where parents and caregivers are encouraged to stop in anytime to see what their kids are learning, and the learning center’s owners say they welcome the inevitable comments, questions, and even complaints that arise.

They point to the longevity of many of the school’s teachers as an example of what makes Panda Hugs special. Of the school’s 20 employees, six have worked there for more than 15 years, including the school’s director, Elsa Espinosa.

Before joining Panda Hugs 16 years ago, Elsa was the director of a preschool in Miami that was part of a large corporation — unlike Panda Hugs, which is independent, and not part of a chain.

“Here, it feels more like home,” Elsa says. “There, it was of a lot of paperwork. Here, our focus is more on working with kids, parents and teachers.”

A Unique Learning Environment

At Panda Hugs, kids don’t stay in one classroom all day. In addition to the large, open classrooms, the facility has a “music and movement” room for all kids older than age one. Teachers lead their students through activities such as singing and dancing, walking on the balance beam or playing with hula hoops.

Kids also get to visit “Rainbow World,” a fun, colorful room designed to look like a small town. There are “shops” and a “theatre” where kids play dress up and put on puppet shows. Plus, they can climb up to the “second story” and peek out of windows, then slide down a big slide into a ball pit.

Panda Hugs offers a truly unique learning environment, where the kids love to play. They also spend time each day on the school’s outdoor playground.

“The most important thing we emphasize is that children learn through playing,” says Elsa. “We provide an introduction to language, writing, math, the alphabet, phonics and reading,”

Elsa notes that the young students learn in small groups through centers. “We make it fun,” she says, “because the interaction with what they’re learning is the most important part.”

The school’s curriculum is a “blend” of programs created by Kaplan Early Learning Company and a curriculum created and developed personally by Sue Ann, who oversees how the curriculum is implemented in each classroom.

Sue Anne says that she spent 35 years teaching kindergarten, first and second grade in New Jersey, New York, Texas and Ohio. She holds a Master’s degree in Education from Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, NY, and a Bachelor’s degree in Education from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, OH.

Voluntary Pre-Kindergarten

Panda Hugs also is a provider for Florida’s free voluntary pre-kindergarten program, known as VPK. This year, more than 50 kids are getting ready to celebrate graduating from the school’s VPK and move into kindergarten.

At Panda Hugs, VPK is offered five days a week (9 a.m.–noon), or three days a week (Monday, Wednesday, & Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m.). There is no cost to parents for the part-time VPK program, and parents have the option to choose extended care so their children can attend Panda Hugs full-time.

Elsa says in VPK, teachers are focused on preparing kids for kindergarten. Plus, Pand Hugs offers some extras parents might not expect.

“We teach sign language and also implement Spanish into the curriculum,” says Elsa. It’s a natural fit, she explains, since each classroom has one teacher who is Latin American. This diversity is reflected in the school’s students, too. “Our kids are very multicultural,” she says. “We are close to USF and have kids who are Asian, Arabic and Latin.”

When Jada McAlpin was looking for a VPK program for her daughter, a trusted friend who is an elementary school teacher recommended Panda Hugs. “I love that it’s a smaller, cozy facility,” Jada says. “From day one, it’s seemed like a family.”

She also appreciates the safety and security measures in place, like the fact that kids can’t open the front door (you have to be a certain height or the door doesn’t open) and she says she’s never seen a child standing alone in the hall.

“My daughter is doing so great, I can’t believe it,” Jada says, explaining that Shannae hasn’t just memorized her numbers and letters, but truly understands what she’s learning.

She also appreciates the teachers’ confidence to handle whatever comes up.

“There were some days where Shannae was crying and didn’t want to go to school, but the teachers just told me to go on and they would handle it,” Jada says. “As moms, we worry so much, but then I pick her up at the end of the day and she says she’s had the best day! I am in love with Panda Hugs!”

After-School Care

Panda Hugs also offers after-school care for elementary school kids, offering transportation from five local elementary schools: Chiles, Clark, Hunter’s Green, Pride and Tampa Palms.

Kids in kindergarten through fifth grade are picked up at their respective schools at the end of the day and arrive at Panda Hugs around 3 p.m. Their afternoons include homework, arts & crafts, snack, and time outside on the playground.

Summer Camp

For any parent looking for fun, full-time care for their children over the summer – Panda Hugs offers a unique summer camp program.

Kids who have completed kindergarten through fifth grade can participate in fun and engaging programs while on summer break from school. This summer, activities will center around the theme, “ROCK-it!” From learning about rocks to rockets, and even rock music, summer camp will be all about rocks.

The price of summer camp includes all field trips – three or four each week – to favorite places such as MOSI, Gator Fred’s Party Center on Ehrlich Rd, the movies, Hillsborough River State Park, and more. There are also activities that fit the theme offered on the school’s premises, such as a scheduled hip-hop class.

Panda Hugs Child Care Learning Center is located at 15051 BBD Blvd. It is open Mon.–Fri., 6:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. For more information, visit PandaHugs.com or call 977-8195.

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