Thursday night at the offices of the Neighborhood News, the first episode of WCNT-tv was shown to a select crowd of more than 100 at the launch party.  Now it’s your turn.
The new YouTube-based video news show is a partnership between Full Throttle Intermedia and the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, and also is the exclusive webcast partner of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. The program will come to you from the Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel Studio, and will be released bi-monthly, featuring local news, businesses and restaurants.
Somehow, even though he passed away on May 29 and friends and family were invited to be received by his family at a memorial service on June 5, I didnât find out until June 9 that my friend and Cross Creek resident Dick Strom, 61, had lost his battle with cancer. A friend asked me if I had heard Dick had passed at an event that day and, even though I knew he wasnât doing well following multiple rounds of chemotherapy, I felt my knees buckle when I heard the news.
Kathy, his wonderful wife of 38 years, and Dick didnât have much time to mourn the passing of their son Patrick, who died in a single-car accident in Hunterâs Green in 2012 before Dick was first diagnosed with cancer.
The Stroms and their friends started a nonprofit organization in Patrickâs honor in 2014, called âTrickâs Kicks,â which has held two golf tournaments and other fund raisers, all with the purpose of donating âKicksâ (athletic shoes, which Patrick, who liked to be called âTrick,â loved) to children in need.
I reported about the second âTrickâs Kicksâ golf event in October of last year and Dick was already battling cancer, where I first met the Stromsâ older son Michael and Michaelâs future wife Dee.
âCancer sucks,â Dick told me, âand chemo is really hard on your body. But, Iâm not giving up. I have so much to live for.â
His only âcomplaintâ or âquestion?â
âIf youâre going to take me anyway, God, why did you have to take Patrick first?â
One of the events Dick was on hand for was Michael and Deeâs wedding, but since then, he started posting on Facebook about the toll not only the cancer but also the treatments themselves were taking on him.
Even so, it feels like yesterday that Dick and I were coaching youth basketball against each other at Benito Middle School, when both of our younger sons were playing in a Saturday youth league.
I, of course, was among the most…letâs say vocal…of all of the coaches and Dick was one of the quietest (although some of his on-court expressions while biting his tongue were priceless), but somehow, we developed a mutual respect for each other.
I didnât really get to know him, however, until he and Kathy lost Patrick, but the love he had for his entire family (including his new daughter-in-law) was just so obvious every time we spoke.
Dick was a Project Manager for KFORCE who managed installation of EMC Hardware for federal customers for many years. He also was a faithful and devoted member of St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church and the consummate family man.
Itâs never easy for me to say goodbye to someone, especially a true fighter and amazing man like Dick Strom, but itâs even harder to not express my feelings about it here.
Rest in peace, Dick. I know your only consolation is being reunited with Patrick.
The Cory Lake Isles CDD Board of Supervisors is negotiating with M/I Homes, which plans to take down the monument sign on Cory Lake Dr. just off Cross Creek Blvd. to build one of three new homes.
When you enter Cory Lake Isles (CLI) off of Cross Creek Blvd., and weave your way down Cory Lake Dr. until you can only turn left or right, you canât help but notice the perfectly manicured orange brick marker with resplendent palm trees rising towards the clouds from behind it.
For many residents, the sign symbolizes what Cory Lake Isles is all about, with a nod to its brick roads and driveways and gorgeous landscaping that reflects a nature-centric view. âIt gives you the first impression of the community,ââ said Cyril Spiro, the chair of the CLI Community Development District (CDD).
That is why the CDD is trying to save the marker, as builder M/I Homes is poised to build a home over it.
The three lots M/I is building on â with the marker situated on the middle one â were bought from the original developer and founder of Cory Lake Isles, Gene Thomason, who named the community for his son Cory (who is now a local Realtor).
Whereas the view of the property when approaching the âTâ at Cory Lake Dr. used to be the marker in front of a swatch of green grass, trees and a glimpse of Cory Lake, one home already has been built and two more would completely obscure the lakeâs view.
Roughly eight months ago, M/I Homes went to the CLI Property Owners Association (POA) for approval to build on the lots.
At first, residents assumed that Thomason had an easement around the marker, essentially making it public property and meaning that any home construction would have to be built around it, thus preserving it.
But, when subsequent CDD meetings with engineers revealed that there was no easement for the sign, Spiro says he and other CDD supervisors were shocked.
âMy immediate reaction was, âHow can that be?,âââ he says. âI had assumed that was public property ⊠and thatâs when the confusion set in.â
The CLI CDD then asked M/I Homes to consider the marker when building a home on the lot where the sign sits, suggesting a wraparound driveway that comes in from the left side. The house, then, would be behind the marker, which Spiro thought was reasonable because it would also keep nighttime headlights from shining through the front of a new home.
M/I was initially unwilling to consider that, Spiro says, but in a meeting last week the POA presented a design variance that the home builder has agreed to look at.
Another possible solution: M/I officials have told the CDD to make them an offer for the property.
Now, after some additional meetings and study, the CDD is preparing to do just that. The land has been privately appraised, âand we are ready to make M/I an offer,ââ Spiro says.
Spiro, who also is running for the Tampa City Council (see story on page 4), is pitching the idea of buying the property as less of an expense and more of a community asset. Doing so would put Cory Lake Isles in control of the land. Any homebuilder the CDD chooses to use to put a home on the lot would have to do so while preserving the marker.
To pay for the cost of the land, which could approach six figures, the CDD could tap into its reserve funds, where the District would essentially be borrowing the money from itself and paying itself back, or it could take out a standard loan.
He estimates the cost could be as little as $12 a year to each of the roughly 1,000 homeowners in the community to save the marker.
Spiro, who is campaigning for the City Council on a platform that includes using technology to connect communities and their representatives, hopes to get Board approval to poll CLI residents about how they feel about the marker. However, he says in many conversations with residents, has never heard from anyone who thinks the marker isnât worth preserving.
And, while the CDD isnât in the business of buying and selling real estate, thereâs a good chance the land could one day turn a profit, paying back the loan and then some.
Spiro and the CDD are continuing to negotiate and fight for ways to save a marker they feel is important to the community.
âI know that the attraction of Cory Lake Isles to owners is the lush green of it all,â Spiro says. âThe red brick roads, the trees at every home, the lake…Take out (the marker) and youâll have a home and a big front door (that greets visitors), and it just sends a completely different message. We are a community of big homes, but thatâs not all that we are, and I think (this would) give the impression that this is a community that was developed and put together to make a profit as opposed to appealing to the people and the lifestyle they want to live.â
Iâve also never had a sub-par steak, lamb or veal shank or lamb chops and although the prices arenât cheap, neither is the quality of the food. Although Iâve had very good lamb chops at other local restaurants, the grilled lamb chops (in some sort of red wine reduction sauce) were the best Iâve had in New Tampa this year. And, Iâve had everything from New York strip to filet mignon to bone-in cowboy ribeyes from the specials list and all were tender and tasty, with sauce or without.
The recently revamped bar areas is now much more spacious, and still features premium liquors, Spanish and other imported, micro-brewed and domestic beers and the best wine list in New Tampa. I recommend any of the Spanish reds (ribero del duero, tempranillo, rioja, etc.) or other equally upscale (but not overpriced) red or white wines.
Luis Viera is the latest candidate to officially enter the race for Tampa City Council.
After two months of lining up support and organizing a campaign, Tampa lawyer and Hunterâs Green resident Luis Viera has officially entered the race for the Tampa City Council District 7 seat being vacated by Lisa Montelione.
Montelione turned in her resignation June 10 with intentions of challenging Republican incumbent Shawn Harrison for the Florida House District 63 seat in November. Montelione, who earns $42,078 as a City Council member, will continue to serve on the Council through Nov. 8.
Viera joins three others in the upcoming special election âDr. Cyril Spiro of Cory Lake Isles, newspaper editor Gene Siudut of Tampa Palms and former police officer Orlando Gudes of the Copeland Park area near Busch Blvd.
City Council elections are usually held in March in odd-numbered years. An official date for the special election had not been announced at our press time, but the winner of it will serve until the District 7 seat is up again in 2019.
Viera, a single father whose son attends Lawton Chiles Elementary in Tampa Palms, is an attorney with Ogden & Sullivan, P.A., a civil trial practice firm in Tampa, and a former Temple Terrace resident. This is his first time running for public office.
âI took a long look at the process and took a look at lifeâs responsibilities, and made that personal assessment that I felt this was something I could do,ââ Viera says of his approach. âI wanted to make sure there was good support for me in this race. I wanted to make sure Iâm doing well in that regard.â
Which he is, if endorsements are any indication.
While all municipal elections in Tampa are non-partisan, Viera already has a number of top Democrats lined up behind him. Since entering the race on June 1, he already has big-name endorsements, such as from U.S. Rep. (14th Congressional District of Florida) Kathy Castor.
âAs an active member of our Tampa community, including work in the City of Tampa Civil Service Board, with the Tampa Hispanic Bar Association and with his autism foundation, Lawyers Autism Awareness Foundation, he (Viera) has proven to be a strong advocate for our community and a fighter for those who need a clearer voice in the community, something that I strive to do everyday in the halls of Congress,ââ Rep. Castor said in a statement.
Viera also claims the endorsements of current Tampa City Council chair Mike Suarez, former state Rep., U.S. congressman and Florida gubernatorial candidate Jim Davis and former state Rep. Mary Figg, who represented the Lutz area in the Florida Legislature in the 1980s.
âWeâll have more endorsements forthcoming and more community leaders supporting our efforts,ââ Viera says.
Will endorsements translate to votes in New Tampa and throughout the diverse District 7? Perhaps. Viera says the support he has already received will help when it comes to building on the work already done in the district, which runs north from Waters Ave. to County Line Rd. and includes Forest Hills, Terrace Park, the University of South Florida and New Tampa. âI plan on fighting for respect for this part of the city,ââ he says.
Viera, who held a fund-raising event in June, has another scheduled for Friday, June 29, hosted by Columbia Restaurant Group president Richard Gonzmart.
Spiro Leads District 7Â Candidates in Funds Raised
Cyril Spiro’s campaign kickoff fundraiser is June 23 at Peabody’s Palm Lounge in Tampa Palms 7:30-9:30 p.m., but he already leads the field after raising more than $10,000 in May.
Speaking of raising funds, Spiro, who works in health care data analytics and has been on the Cory Lake Isles Community Development District (CDD) Board of Supervisors the past five years, had a good first month and led the District 7 pack with $10,989.83 raised in May, including $1,989.83 of his own money, plus six $1,000 donations.
Spiro was pleased with his first monthâs total, considering he has yet to hold an official fund raiser.
Meanwhile, Siudut, who recently held a fund raiser at the University Club in downtown Tampa, raised $9,425 in May, according to financial reports.
âWe wanted to get to $10,000 our first month, and including in-kind (non-cash, which totaled $1,280.22) donations, we did, so weâre very pleased,ââ said Siudut.
Viera, who wasnât in the race at the time, and Gudes, who said he has yet to begin fund raising, did not file financial reports for May.
Gudes said he has been spending his time setting up a campaign headquarters, meeting with the local community to identify their needs, and was waiting for Montelione to officially resign, âbefore we put things in full gear.â
There is absolutely no doubt in my mind that Café Olé, the continental and authentic Spanish restaurant located in the Cross Creek Center plaza on Cross Creek Blvd. (at Kinnan St.; behind the Shell gas station) is still the best restaurant in New Tampa, hands down.
Iâm also partial to CafĂ© OlĂ©âs Little Neck clams tapas in garlic, white wine and onions and Galician-style grilled octopus (pulpo a la Gallega), both of which are still among the non-fish seafood I can safely eat). If youâre craving lobster, shrimp, mussels and scallops, Thereâs even unique bruschetta, fried calamari and traditional Spanish chorizo sausage Salteado (in herbs and a light red wine sauce) on the tapas menu.
Iâve also never had a sub-par steak, lamb or veal shank or lamb chops and although the prices arenât cheap, neither is the quality of the food. Although Iâve had very good lamb chops at other local restaurants, the grilled lamb chops (in some sort of red wine reduction sauce) were the best Iâve had in New Tampa this year. And, Iâve had everything from New York strip to filet mignon to bone-in cowboy ribeyes from the specials list and all were tender and tasty, with sauce or without.
CafĂ© OlĂ© also hosts the New Tampa Noon Rotary Club meetings every Wed. at noon. Attend one time as a guest and youâll love the food so much youâll probably join.
