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Pasco Dental Adds Former Wharton State Champ To Fold

*The staff at Pasco Dental on S.R. 54 in Wesley Chapel includes (l.-r.) Dr. Ben, Dr. Dan, office manager Trisha and assistant Jan.* ***(Photos: John C. Cotey)***

In almost every medical-related field these days, one visit to the doctor could mean multiple trips to see multiple specialists. Sore throat? Bad back? Throbbing knee?

Specialist, specialist, specialist.

And, dentistry usually is no different, which is why Daniel Hwang, D.D.S., of Pasco Dental takes great pride in his advanced knowledge of all aspects of dentistry and can pass that on to patients instead of passing those patients on to dental specialists.

At Pasco Dental, located in the Wesley Chapel Executive Center on S.R. 54, a little more than a mile east of Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., “Dr. Dan” takes care of everything from a simple teeth cleaning to more complex matters.

“It makes things convenient for our patients,” Dr. Dan says, “because we offer all phases of dentistry, including cosmetic dentistry, Invisalign aligners, sedation dentistry, dental implants, oral surgery and periodontal surgery.”

Dr. Dan also owns Lutz Dental, located at 19105 U.S. 41. Both practices receive high marks from customers — Pasco Dental has 197 Google reviews with an average 4.9-star rating, and the office in Lutz has 133 ratings and a perfect 5-star rating.

And, at Pasco Dental, you get two Dr. Hwangs for the price of one. Two years ago, Dr. Dan’s son, Dr. Ben Hwang, D.M.D., joined the practice.

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Dr. Dan was raised in Mt. Vernon, VA, and moved to Brooklyn, NY, for middle school and Queens, NY, for high school.

He received both his Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree (in 1987) and his Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.) degree (in 1991) from prestigious Columbia University in Manhattan, NY, and spent twelve years learning the ropes of the dental business with his brother, who had a thriving dental practice in Ft. Lee, NJ.

When he was ready, Dr. Dan opened his own chain of Price Dental offices in the Metropolitan New York area.

But, having so many offices took a toll on a father with three young children at home. And in the meantime, Ben had grown into a budding tennis prodigy.

*Dr. Dan (right) and Dr. Ben go over an X-ray at the Pasco Dental office on S.R. 54.*

So, the family moved to Florida, and settled in New Tampa before moving to Wesley Chapel. Dr. Dan, who played tennis at Columbia, trained Ben, who went on to be a key member of three straight State championship teams at Wharton.

His senior year in 2011, Ben — ranked as the No. 10 player in Florida — led the Wildcats to the team title at No. 1 singles, and the next day, also captured the Class 4A individual singles title.

Ben went to prestigious Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, MD, where he earned a B.S. degree in Behavioral Biology. But, he also made the most important decision of his life.

“John Hopkins is pretty well known for medicine and its students becoming doctors, so that is what I was going to do,” Dr. Ben says. “I ended up deciding that wasn’t the best for me. So, I started looking for dental schools and one thing led to another.”

Ben remembered all the time his father had been able to spend with him, training him in tennis and traveling to tournaments. A dentist’s schedule is far different than what a doctor’s might be.

“He was always able to make time,” Ben says. “I thought that might be something I would want to do as well when I have a kid.”

That decision led Ben to the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia, where he earned his Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.) degree, and after earning his degree, joined his father at Pasco Dental and Lutz Dental.

“In school, they always talked about how important it was to find yourself a great mentor,” Ben says. “To have my dad, who’s been practicing for 30 years, I couldn’t have asked for a better mentor.”

That gives Pasco Dental two Ivy League-educated dentists, an impressive feat. Next year, Dr. Dan’s younger son Thomas is expected to join the practice after he graduates from the University of Florida College of Dentistry, also regarded as one of the best in the country.

There’s probably a good chance the Hwangs already buy their scrubs in bulk, as Jan Hwang, Dr. Dan’s wife, helps in the office when she’s not working as an emergency room nurse at Moffitt Cancer Center, while daughter Nina is an oncology nurse at the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York City, NY.

Doing It All

Dr. Dan has said that in New York, most general and family dentists provide all dental services, whereas in Florida, many dentists refer their patients elsewhere for braces, dental implants and even gum or root canal procedures.

However, at Pasco Dental, they do all of that, and more. There is an emphasis on patients looking for cosmetic work and implants. Dr. Dan has taken hundreds of hours every year of continuing education, and says he rarely refers patients elsewhere.

Dr. Dan is a Fellow of the International Congress of Oral Implantologists and in Orthodontics, where he focuses on Invisalign, rather than traditional braces.

Dr. Dan says his office also is the only one locally that is both a Lumineers and Snap-On Smile provider. Lumineers is a popular brand of porcelain veneers, which are used to correct things like gaps, chips and discolored teeth. While veneers do the same thing, Lumineers are considered to be an easier and more durable solution.

And, they’re quicker, too. A patient can be fitted with a set of Lumineers in just two visits.

“We can show before-and-after smile makeovers with a Lumismile digital smile makeover,” Dr. Dan says. “We can make your smile look amazing in just two visits — just in time to show off your new teeth after many months of hiding behind a mask.”

Pasco Dental also includes some high-tech solutions for determining which dental procedures are needed, like a 3D CT Scan Sirona Orthophos machine that offers more accurate 3D depictions of a patient’s full head, jaw and sinus cavity, which helps when it comes to being as accurate as possible when creating dental implants.

All in all, Dr. Dan says that everyone at Pasco Dental is eager to give you the perfect smile in as little time as possible.

“We are focused on saving time for our patients by minimizing wait times, and getting the job done with fewer appointments,” he says.

And, when the job is done, you’re not rushed out the door. Pasco Dental has a post-op room for patients recuperating from oral surgery. The room features two large massage chairs, a large flatscreen TV and a fireplace.

Recent patient Kara Psolla recently made the switch to Pasco Dental, and walked away smiling.

“The staff is extremely friendly, the office is clean, and the exam rooms are comfortable,” she wrote in her review. “Love the standing X-ray machine! Very happy with my new dentists.”

Assurances About Insurance

Pasco Dental accepts most major dental insurance plans, and Dr. Dan always works closely with his patients to make sure they understand the costs associated with any work they have done.

“I have years of experience in maximizing patients’ dental insurance, and minimizing out-of-pocket costs,” he says.

Dr. Ben says Pasco Dental isn’t like most of the larger dental chains popping up all over. The practice’s business model is not to suggest unnecessary work, or inflate things like the number of cavities. Instead, the Hwangs say they like to keep it simple and honest, by providing easy-to-understand treatment plans, sterling delivery of their services and making sure your bill offers no surprises.

It’s like the logo says – Bad Teeth? Hate To Smile? Call Pasco Dental.

“We love to see our patients smile,” Dr. Dan says.

Pasco Dental is located at 29450 S.R. 54. Its office hours are 8 a.m.-4 p.m. on Monday, Tuesday and Friday, and noon-7 p.m. on Wednesday and Thursday. For more information, call (813) 502-0531, visit PascoDentalTampa.com or see the ad on page 38 of this issue.

Blue & White Takes 1st!

Advisor Kyle LoJacono, back row, with six of the Blue & White seniors — middle row (l.-r.)Vlada Pitner, Taryn Bartley and Payton Kenny, and front row (l.-r.) Taylor Kaliszewski, Callie Zack and Allie Massey. (Photo courtesy of Kyle LoJacono)

Callie Zack knew this past year would be a tricky one when it came to putting out Wharton High’s school newspaper, the Blue & White.

The onset of Covid-19 practically wiped out the last quarter of 2020, where journalism students generally learn page design, so many new staff members had some catching up to do. Callie’s two associate editors, Allie Massey and Taryn Bartley, would be doing e-learning while she was at school, so teamwork was paramount. And, her ability to pull it all together, as a third of the staff would be learning from home as well, was going to test her organizational skills.

However, Callie and Co. passed the test with flying colors. In May, the American Scholastic Press Association (ASPA) named the Blue & White the best high school newspaper in the country.

More than 90 schools entered the Senior High School category, which is judged by journalism teachers who have entered outstanding publications in the past.

The Blue & White received 960 out of a possible 1,000 points in the contest this year, the most scored by any other newspaper, earning the Wharton publication the ASPA’s highest honor, Most Outstanding High School Newspaper for 2020-21.

“Adviser Kyle LoJacono and the entire staff of the Blue & White newspaper should be congratulated on this excellent achievement,” Dr. Richard Plass, Chairman of the ASPA, told the Neighborhood News in an email.

“It was very rewarding,” says Callie, who will attend the University of Florida in Gainesville in the fall. “It was difficult to get things done this year. Trying to connect and make deadline was very weird.”

While the year was plagued by Covid-19, it wasn’t short on providing news for the four, 16-page issues the staff put out.

Callie thinks that what separated the Blue & White from its competition was its visual appearance, a new section that focused on hot topics called “The Spotlight,” great photography, a generous use of infographics and a plethora of big national stories — Covid-19, Black Lives Matter, the election, the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC, that the staff localized.

“We were a complete newspaper,” Callie says. “We had a staff with a lot of different strengths and we played to them. They didn’t try to be good at one thing, they tried to be good at a lot of things.”

Personally, Callie says she was most pleased with her Feb. center spread about the events of Jan. 6. “I loved writing that piece,” she says, adding that, at 960 words, it was the longest thing she had ever written.

Callie, whose sister Ashley (editor in chief) and brother Taylor (sports editor) are former Blue & White staffers, said she is happy to end her tenure, and high school career, being named the best in the country, especially considering the circumstances.

“There were so many things, like just getting cameras to kids who weren’t on campus,” Callie says. “So many things that we would have never even thought of before. But, to have the organization and skill to make it all happen, I’m just really proud of this group.”

The Show Must Go On For Wharton Prom(s)!

From Homecoming to field trips, the Covid-19 pandemic has stolen quite a bit of the typical senior year experience from the graduating class of 2021.

At Wharton High, senior Taryn Bartley was determined that it wouldn’t steal the senior prom, too.

Taryn didn’t know if her fellow classmates would even be interested in attending a prom planned by another student, so she took to Instagram and posted a poll asking Wharton seniors if they would go, where they would want the prom to be held, and how much they would be willing to spend on a ticket.

“I got 144 responses to that survey,” she says, “and it snowballed from there.”

After touring a few venues, she chose The Italian Club in Ybor City and set the date for May 28. She drafted rules, like no alcohol and identification being required, and only sold tickets to students whose parents signed a form acknowledging the rules.

While school prom committees typically spend all year planning for the big day, Taryn had just 44 days from the day she posted the survey until the day the prom was held. Her mom Amy provided guidance and signed the contracts with vendors, and they benefited from Taryn’s older sister’s experience, who helped plan the Wharton prom two years before.

Taryn knew she needed to sell at least 100 tickets to have enough money to rent the venue. An additional 40 tickets would allow her to hire a deejay.

She was told a typical Wharton prom often has about 300 or 350 students attending, so she was thrilled when she sold 201 tickets.

Then, her mom says, “She worked really hard to spend all the money because she didn’t want to make a profit.”

Taryn held the event the day after graduation. She didn’t want any repercussions from the school for students who attended, and wanted to minimize the chance that anyone might have to quarantine due to exposure to Covid at the prom.

“If I was the reason someone couldn’t walk at graduation, I would have felt terrible,” Taryn says.

The night of the event, Taryn’s parents and a couple of other adults took over as chaperones so she could enjoy herself, going out to dinner in a party bus with friends.

But first, they gathered at the Hunter’s Green Captain Nathaniel Hunter Park with dozens of others, taking pictures as they’ve done for many other events over the years.

“We’ve all gone to school with most of these people our whole lives,” says Taryn. “We’ve added more people as you go on, but there are a lot of the same people, and it was really nice to have everyone together.”

Officially, Wharton did offer some activities to replace prom, so Taryn also was careful to include the school’s student-elected prom court in her event.

“Out of 10 members of the prom court, we had eight of them come to our prom,” she says. The two who were missing participated in a separate prom organized by different students and parents.

Taryn says that all of the hard work definitely was worth it. “I think it turned out great,” she says. “It really came together like a last hurrah.”

K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. Receiving Safety Upgrades

With more than 1,000 homes scheduled to be built in the coming years in the sprawling K-Bar Ranch development in New Tampa, District 7 Tampa City Council member Luis Viera has been keeping a close eye on the transportation issues already plaguing the community.

Whether it’s poorly marked roads, unsafe crosswalks or simply ways to get in and out of K-Bar Ranch, the infrastructure needs to keep pace.

By the end of this year, a number of improvements along K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. are expected to be completed.

The parkway itself is still under construction and less than half complete, but when completed, it will be the spine road of the growing community. At that point, it will run from the Kinnan St. entrance all the way east to Morris Bridge Rd., to an exit/entrance just a little north of the current entrance to the Easton Park subdivision.

Residents have complained about the lack of definitive striping on the completed portions of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy., resulting in some near-accidents. Two auto-related deaths, in 2012 and 2019, were both blamed on speeding.

Viera says he has experienced the concerns first-hand. After conducting one of his community meetings at K-Bar Ranch, Viera says a vehicle almost hit him on his way out.

“Me and my son were driving out on the same K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. residents had just been complaining about, and, lo and behold, I had to swerve out of the way of another car in what could have been a tragic accident,” Viera says.

Viera requested that the City of Tampa take immediate action. He also plans on holding a K-Bar Ranch workshop at a City Council meeting in September to address other issues related to public safety.

Improvements now planned for K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. include:

• Departing Kinnan St. eastbound, the existing 30-mph speed limit signs will be upgraded with enhanced and more visible panels above.

• Approaching Kinnan St. westbound, upgraded stop signs and bright sticks will be added.

• Departing Hawk Valley Dr (private road) eastbound, adding a two-way traffic warning sign.

• Departing Redwood Point Dr. east- and westbound, installing new 30-mph speed limit signs and with enhanced conspicuity panels above.

• The skipping yellow center line along the original section of K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. will be updated with a double yellow center line and raised pavement markers.

• Departing Laurel Vista Way (private road)/Wild Tamarind Dr. east- and westbound, new 30-mph speed limit signs and more visible panels above will be installed.

• Approaching Paddock View Dr. eastbound, end-of-road marking signage (red diamonds) and an advanced T-intersection warning sign will be added, as well as a refreshing of all markings as needed and adding raised pavement markers.

• Departing Paddock View Dr. westbound, new 30-mph speed limit signs will be installed with enhanced conspicuity panels above.

“It is pivotal that the City of Tampa and local governments invest in the requisite infrastructure, roads and public safety systems, as a community grows,” Viera says. “K-Bar Ranch is a growing community and needs this constant attention. Transportation is pivotal.”

CONNECTION COMING: Another primary improvement along K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. will be a connection to Meadow Pointe Blvd. into Wesley Chapel. However, the developer, MI Homes, has targeted Dec. 31 as a completion date, although there are still some permitting issues to resolve that could stretch that completion date into 2022.

The Meadow Pointe Blvd. connection will be the only northbound way out of K-Bar Ranch (other than Morris Bridge Rd.) when K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. is completed.

The Meadow Pointe Blvd. connection is the consolation prize for those who wanted to see Kinnan St. in K-Bar and Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe connected to give residents on both sides of the border easier access and to reduce congestion on BBD.

But, as we’ve reported previously, after years of negotiating with Hillsborough County, Pasco County commissioned a study that recommended connecting the roads only for emergency use, and instead agreed to connect K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to Meadow Pointe Blvd. and Wyndfields Blvd. for vehicular traffic.

K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. is being constructed in segments, and once each road segment is completed, it will permit the developers to build more homes in that area.

Segment C, starting at the Kinnan St. entrance, is currently completed. Segment D, which is partially completed, will connect to the Meadow Pointe Blvd. extension, which also is under construction right now.

Segment F also is under construction, and will take the parkway almost to the westernmost part of Easton Park.

Completion is targeted for Dec. 31 for those segments.

The remaining segments to complete the parkway are pending permitting, meaning that completion will most likely not happen until 2022.

k-bar ranch

Prep Notes: Wharton New Field, Spring Football Update

Wharton High will be playing its football games this fall on a brand new artificial turf field, with construction expected to be completed by the end of July.

The Wildcats will debut the field for their regular season football home opener against rival Freedom High on August 27.

“Oh yeah, they are excited about it,” says Wharton’s athletic director Eddie Henderson.

According to Henderson, Hillsborough County Public Schools is doing a rotation of 3-5 fields each summer, with the final goal being to install artificial turf at every public high school.

Last year, the first schools in the rotation — Sumner, Sickles and Hillsborough — had new fields put in. This summer, Steinbrenner, Lennard and Blake are getting new fields, along with Wharton. Each field costs roughly $2 million, but Henderson says the District will make up a lot of those costs with what it saves in maintenance and re-sodding.

“I think that there will be a lot of money saved over the long run,” Henderson says.

Plant High was the first county public school to put in an artificial turf field in 2010, after raising $600,000 for the project.

SPEAKING OF WILDCATS: Wharton recently wrapped up its spring season with a 14-0 loss in one half of play against Tampa Bay Tech, but second-year coach Mike Williams wasn’t concerned about the score.

“The spring is about evaluating our kids and seeing who is ready to move up to varsity,” Williams says. “And we liked what we saw.”

Although the Wildcats graduated all of their varsity quarterbacks, Williams was pleased with last year’s junior varsity starter, Tyree Works, who handled all of the spring snaps. But, Works will have more competition in the fall from some promising freshmen and transfers. Williams is hoping to transition from a power-based offense to one featuring more perimeter passes to spread out the game.

With leading rusher Keith Morris and some key wide receiver transfers ready to beef up the offense, Williams expects to score more than the 19 points per game the team averaged last year.

Almost every defensive player is back, including a linebacking crew that could make an argument for being the best in Tampa Bay and includes All-Staters Daveon Crouch, who recently committed to Boston College, and Henry Griffith and second-team MaxPreps Freshman All-American Booker Pickett Jr.

The Wildcats went 7-2 in 2020 because the defense was top-flight, allowing only nine points per game and posting three shutouts.

“This is going to be a big summer for a lot of the guys,” Williams says.

NUMBERS GAME AT FREEDOM: Freedom High, coming off a winless season, picked up an 8-7 jamboree win over King last month to wrap up spring football.

Quarterback Alex de la Cruz threw a touchdown pass to Greg Underwood Jr., and then found RJ Broadnax for the two-point conversion and the win.

De la Cruz will enter the fall as the starter, after promising freshman and last year’s leading passer Taquawn Anthony said he would not be returning to Freedom.

The Patriots suffered a more serious blow when their best player, Robby Washington, transferred to Eagle’s Landing High in McDonough, GA. Washington led Freedom in rushing, receiving and touchdowns last year, and averaged more than 12 yards every time he touched the ball. He has offers from Alabama, Miami and Boston College.

Third-year coach Chris Short will continue trying to rebuild the Patriots, though only 22 players dressed out for the spring game and very few of them had any previous game experience.

He says a lot of players are waiting on paperwork, but admits that adequately filling a football roster for the upcoming fall season will be a tough chore.

“The hardest thing I’m dealing with right now is the same as when I was an assistant, and that’s getting kids to come out,” Short says. “I’m hoping it’s a cyclical thing with us, but if we can get these kids signed up we’ll be okay.”