There Are Some Interesting Listings In Wesley Chapel!

They say Wesley Chapel has a little something for everyone.

Newly buily communities? Check.

Homes with land? Check.

Crystal clear lagoons? Check.

A house that can survive a missile strike? Check.

Wait
What?

Yes, you read that right. Built on a 4.5-acre lot and located right off Quail Hollow Blvd. at 25910 Queen Sago Pl., this $500,000 listing has just what someone expecting the end of the world could want.

The listing, which was active when we went to press but is now off the market (and expected to be re-listed eventually), actually sounded pretty peaceful — the home “provides the luxury of being close to all the shopping centers, biking trails, and hiking routes while living in a peaceful wooded abode.”

Then, you get to the part about the 8-inch-thick, 4,000 pounds per square inch (psi) concrete roof, and you realize, that these folks weren’t messing around when it came to home security.

The home, or fortress if you prefer, was built in 1982 by David VanDercar, a survivalist, and his wife Candy. It is 3,000 square feet, has two bedrooms, two bathrooms and, naturally, a bunker.

Oh, and did we mention that the master bedroom doubles as a panic room, which features a thick bulletproof picture window and steel door? Check.

The VanDercars were quite thorough, however, in prepping for that missile strike.

The property has a hidden trail through the heavily-wooded area to ensure “adequate area land and wildlife in the nearby vicinity,” according to the listing on Realtor.com, plus a 10-foot deep pond “stocked with several species of fish,” a well and water source “designed and installed to avoid contamination and ensure an independent water supply, in case of local services shutting down.”

Secure living lifestyle, indeed! 

And, to answer your obvious question —yes, there’s even a hot tub, too.

But, this isn’t the first listing in the area to generate some serious buzz. Back in May, the manufactured home (photo above) at 3650 New River Rd., with 1,089 square feet of living space, was listed for a whopping $450,000 (it can now be had for $399,000).

That may still seem outrageous, until you considered that the garage is twice the size of the home and can accommodate six cars, and probably more important for whoever built it, a Class A motor coach.

While the 2BR, 2BA living area may be small — and the garage a tad oversized — for most of us, the property is located on more than an acre of land gorgeously landscaped with flowers and bamboo trees, and also featured a botanical garden and beautiful rock-scaped pool with a tiki hut. 

But, that garage though!

Lima Peruvian Cuisine Celebrates One Year With New Menu Items!

I remember very clearly  when I first met Oscar Escudero, the owner of Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine in the New Tampa Center plaza on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd.

It was when Oscar opened, only a couple of weeks before the Covid-19 pandemic shut down the world in March of 2020. We wondered together not just if, but also how long, the pandemic would affect his new eatery.

Needless to say, it wasn’t an ideal time to open a new restaurant. But, while Lima is a true sit-down restaurant, it also adapted very well to take-out (and delivery) only and, while it’s been a rough 15 months, Lima has weathered the storm, thanks to its outstanding food and an owner committed to success.

When I did my first review of Lima, I mentioned that Peruvian food has long been considered the best of the Latin cuisines and was actually named the #1 cuisine in the entire world by Bloomberg.com in 2017.

But, whether Peruvian food is already among your favorites or you’ve never previously tried it before, you owe it to yourself to give Lima a try.

  • Whole chicken
  • Tllarin Sal Tado de Pollo
  • Salad
  • Pescado a La Chorrillana
  • Pascado a la Macho
  • Jalea
  • Ceviche de Pescado

When you walk into Lima, the heady aroma of Peruvian-spiced rotisserie chicken immediately lets you know you’re in for a delicious meal. But, while the crispy skin and moist, delicious chicken is hard to resist, it’s far from the only reason to visit Oscar’s place. Last year, I told you about the Conchitas Parmesana (baked scallops on the half-shell, topped with butter and parmesan cheese) and the perfect fresh fish Ceviche de Pescado appetizers (there also is a fish ceviche served with a trio of sauces, and a shrimp, mussels and calamari ceviche, too), as well as the Lomo Saltado Lima, which is hearty beef tenderloin tips wok-sautĂ©ed with spices, sliced onions, fresh tomato wedges, cilantro and a touch of soy sauce and vinegar, served over a bed of crispy French fries.

Speaking of wok-sautĂ©eing, I also mentioned that I was surprised that Peruvian cuisine was heavily influenced by the Chinese engineers and builders who came across the Pacific and settled in Peru to help build the railroad that went from the desert coast of Lima on the Pacific Ocean to and through the Andes mountains that divide the north from the south of the west coast South American country. 

Among the wok-sautĂ©ed dishes available at Lima include the “lo mein”-style Tallarin Saltado de Pollo that features pulled “a la brasa” (rotisserie) chicken (although you also can have it with steak or seafood), with sliced onions, tomatoes and cilantro, blended with delicious lo mein noodles, soy sauce and vinegar. The fried rice has scallions, egg and a distinctively nutty taste and is topped with everything from chicken and crispy noodles to the Arroz con Mariscos (seasoned rice topped with mixed seafood — shrimp, clams, calamari and mussels).

Speaking Of Seafood… 

As you long-time readers know, I’m highly allergic to shrimp, mussels and lobster, so I can’t indulge in many of the newer seafood dishes on Lima’s menu. However, since my last review of Lima in these pages, I have found at least one new favorite — the Pescado a la Chorillano (fresh snapper or basa fillet, lightly fried and topped with sautĂ©ed onions, tomatoes, cilantro, spices and a splash of wine) shown in the top left photo on the previous page. 

However, in addition to the new fish dish I love, Oscar says the pandemic caused him to add some new menu items to make sure he utilized all of the seafood he already was ordering, so I had photographer Charmaine George, who took the pictures on both of these pages, sample Oscar’s other new seafood options on the menu.

Among those are the Jalea, which is breaded and seasoned seafood deep-fried and topped with Peruvian salsa, and the Pescado a la Macho, which includes a mix of seafood atop a breaded filet of fish sautéed in a creamy yellow pepper/wine sauce. Charmaine and another patron at Lima the day we shot most of these photos gave enthusiastic thumbs-up to all of these dishes.

Lima also features Cusquena Peruvian and other domestic and imported beers, plus delicious soups, salads and chicken and beef tenderloin sandwiches, as well as sides of yuca, tostones (fried plantain slices) and some of the tastiest black beans and rice I’ve ever tasted.

Lima Rotisserie Chicken & Peruvian Cuisine (19062 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.) opens every day at 11:30 a.m. and stays open until 7 p.m. on Sun., 8 p.m. Tues.-Thur., and until 9 p.m. on Fri. & Sat. For more info, call (813) 304-0205, visit LimaTampa.com or see their ad in our latest issue for a great 15%-off coupon!

Looking For Places To Celebrate the Fourth of July?

Here’s some spots to catch a party and some fireworks:

Avalon Park continues to be the best spot in Wesley Chapel to celebrate Independence Day. The annual Fourth of July Festival will be held from 5-9 p.m., and features face painters, caricature artists, a wet/dry bounce park, community performances, an apple pie bake off, vendor booths and a bike parade. The fireworks are held at 9. The celebration will be held at 5060 River Glen Blvd. Avalon Park is located 3.5 miles east of I-75 on S.R. 54. 


The 6th Annual Zephyrhills Summerfest and Fireworks Show is just a short drive from Wesley Chapel and has a day of family-free fun planned, beginning at noon with live music, hot dog and watermelon eating contests, kids dance off, live music, vendor market, bounce house and water slides, food trucks and more. Fireworks are expected to begin around 9:30 p.m. The event will be held at Zephyr Park in Zephyrhills at 38116 5th Ave. 


Boom By The Bay is the City of Tampa’s big bash, and kicks off with a boat parade along the Tampa Riverwalk at 5 p.m. The public can take part in a number of family-friendly events, food vendors and other entertainment at six locations: Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park (starting at 7 p.m.), Armature Works (5 p.m.), the Tampa Convention Center/The Sail Pavilion (5 p.m.), Sparkman Wharf (3:30 p.m.), Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (7 p.m.) and Bayshore Boulevard (7 p.m.). Fireworks will be coordinated from each location beginning around 9:15 p.m.

The 46th annual City of Temple Terrace Independence Celebration is a great option for New Tampa residents looking to put some Boom! into their celebration. A parade through Temple Terrace starts at 10 a.m., with the actual Fourth of July festivities kicking off at 6 p.m. on the first fairway of the Temple Terrace Golf & Country Club, with live music, children’s activities and food trucks. Fireworks start at 9:15 p.m. The golf course is located at 200 Inverness Ave.

Busch Gardens has been doing nightly fireworks since Thursday, but on the Fourth of July will hold an Independence Day Extended Fireworks Show. The 9:15 presentation of “Spark!” promises an “an extra patriotic finale.” Busch Gardens is located at 10165 N. McKinley Dr.

Diverging Diamond Looking For New Contractor

FDOT photo taken June 15, 2021.

Unable to meet the milestones set forth by the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), D.A.B. Constructors has been defaulted and removed from the diverging diamond intersection (DDI) at S.R. 56 and I-75.

One of the milestones needed to be met by June 28, and was not. In addition, on June 25, “DAB notified FDOT they were demobilizing from the project,” according to FDOT spokesperson Kristen Carson.

Carson said FDOT will work with the surety company, which is required to provide a replacement contractor, to complete the project. 

A message left with DAB vice-president Bill Bachschmidt was not returned.

The DDI construction has been ongoing since early 2019, and had an original schedule of 800 days, resulting in a finish date of April 2021. That did account for delays due to rain and holidays, but Covid-19 made a major impact when it caused delays and shortages of materials for the project.

But last fall, Pasco County and FDOT addressed issues with DAB, when county commissioner Mike Moore, who represents District 2 where the diverging diamond is located, delivered a harsh attack on what he saw as lackluster progress.

Moore criticized the lack of urgency and number of workers he noticed when driving through the construction site, and the Cypress Creek Town Center Property Owners Association (POA) — which includes the Tampa Premium Outlets, Costco and more than 20 other businesses located west of the interchange — made their concerns known as well.

David Gwynn, the FDOT secretary for District 7, imposed penalties on D.A.B. Constructors and threatened more if the deadlines could not be met. 

According to Carson, in November 2020, FDOT issued a Notice of Intent to Default (NOI) to the contractor due to concerns they were not proceeding at the pace required to meet the contractual completion date.

“DAB Constructors’ response included a recovery schedule showing a project completion date of October 2021,” Carson said. “From this schedule, (FDOT) established interim milestone dates that the contractor would need to meet in order to avoid being defaulted.”

Moore said after the public admonishment, he had seen some improvements early in 2021, but once again was noticing a lack of workers at the DDI site. The news this week was not shocking, and the project will likely not be completed until 2022, and by another company.

“I’m not surprised, I’m disappointed,” Moore says, “because they stated on multiple occasions they would be able to meet the deadlines.”

More than 100,000 vehicles pass through the interchange on a daily basis. The long-awaited DDI is designed to create fewer conflict points at the interchange, and despite looking more confusing, similar interchanges (like Florida’s first DDI at Exit 210 off I-75 in Sarasota) has been lauded for being safer and more efficient than your traditional junctions. 

Carson says FDOT is empathetic to impacts any project delays may cause to motorists, residents, and businesses, and will make adjustments to traffic signals and any other traffic control devices to accommodate extra traffic volume during the upcoming holiday season.

Excellence In Eye Care Expands Focus On Kiddie Eye Care

The staff at Excellence In Eye Care, located inside the Costco on S.R. 56, includes (l.-r.) optometric technician Jill Wagner, Dr. David Scamard and office manager and optometric technician Eileen Aldrich. (Photos: Charmaine George)

For nearly 20 years, independent optometrist David Scamard, O.D., has taken care of patients’ eyes in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. Even before his practice was called “Excellence In Eye Care,” that’s exactly what he always strived to deliver.

Since 2017, Dr. Scamard’s Excellence In Eye Care, LLC, has been located inside the Costco next to the Tampa Premium Outlets on S.R. 56. Prior to that, it was located off of S.R. 54 in Lutz.

He has been practicing much longer than that, however, since he opened his first private practice in New Tampa way back in 2002. 

He had previously earned his undergraduate degree at the University of South Florida in Tampa and earned his Doctor of Optometry (O.D.) degree from Nova Southeastern University in Fort Lauderdale.

Some people who see Dr. Scamard inside Costco have been his patients over the last two decades and originally found him at one of his previous locations.

For example, patient Jill Bonnville and her husband Frank Filippone saw Dr. Scamard for about 10 years when he was located on S.R. 54, but then lost touch. They saw several doctors closer to their home in Town ‘N Country, but every year, when it was time for their exams, Jill would again try to find Dr. Scamard.

Of all the doctors who have tried to help her with her admittedly difficult eyes, Jill says, “He’s the only doctor who nails it the first time, every time.”

And, while it takes her nearly an hour to get to his office, she says it’s worth it.

Jill says she went back to another doctor for several months in a row to get a prescription that would allow her to see better, but that doctor kept getting it wrong.

When she finally found Dr. Scamard again, “I couldn’t believe it,” Jill says. “It was very similar to when I first had to get glasses as a kid. When I put them on, I went, ‘Wow. This is what everything is supposed to look like.’ I didn’t even realize it was that bad until he fixed it.”

Wee Care Eye Care Coming Soon

Coming this fall, Excellence In Eye Care will introduce Wee Care Eye Care, offering a new experience that is focused (no pun intended) on children’s eye care.

While Dr. Scamard has always seen babies and children, the new program will expand the practice’s focus on kids, with a specially-designed, kid-friendly exam room and education targeted at parents.

Dr. Scamard uses state-of-the-art equipment to elevate his practice beyond just a place to get glasses.

“A lot of times, parents are under the false impression that their kids’ eyes are being checked thoroughly at school or they can address problems once a child starts having them, but problems are missed in school screenings,” explains Dr. Scamard. “Children think that’s just the way the world looks. They don’t realize they should be able to see better. They could even end up with visual problems, such as a lazy eye, that may never be fully corrected because the visual pathways haven’t formed properly.”

He says that parents should bring their children in for an eye exam once a year and that children’s eyes often change even more quickly than that.

Dr. Scamard also is a charter member of a program called Infant-See. For babies who are at least six months old but not yet one year, Dr. Scamard will do their first eye exam for free. “It takes less than 10 minutes and allows us to check everything out from an optometrist’s point of view.”

New Technology For Sports

Also this fall, Dr. Scamard and his team will introduce a sports vision therapy program for people of all ages to improve their sports performance.

Using a specialized machine called the Sanet Vision Integrator (bottom photo on next page), patients can improve their hand-to-eye coordination and reaction time. Dr. Scamard says it will help athletes in many sports, including baseball, hockey and others.

Eileen Aldrich, the practice’s office manager, who also is an optometric technician, explains, “It will give them better visual perception, such as when to use a racket to hit the ball, and gets them more focused on using vision to reach their training or sports goals.”

The machine hooks up to a large, touch-screen television, which provides exercises for the person being trained to respond to, while they work on balance using a Wii Fit board.

“There’s no one else in the area who has this instrument,” Dr. Scamard says, “so we’re very unique in that regard.”

He says many patients are impressed with all of the latest technology available at Excellence In Eye Care.

For example, Dr. Scamard uses a high-tech retinal imager to view the internal structures of the eyes. He also uses a digital refractor, which he says is faster, more accurate and more efficient than the old-style analog devices, and patients like that they don’t have to have their eyes dilated. 

“We’re state of the art,” he says.

The entire process from eye exam to putting the glasses on your face or the contacts in your eyes can be completed right there in Costco. However, while you do not need to be a member of the wholesale club to visit Excellence in Eyecare and have an exam, you do need to be a Costco member to get your glasses and contact lenses from the wholesale giant’s eyewear department right next to the office. 

Excellence In Eye Care does not accept vision insurance plans. However, Eileen says, “We do offer a detailed, itemized bill once a patient is seen. The patient can then send that bill to their insurance company for reimbursement.”

Dr. Scamard, Eileen and optometric technician Jill Wagner will do whatever it takes to help you with your eye care needs.

“We want our patients to feel comfortable,” says Dr. Scamard. “We listen to our patients, address their needs, and we take our time with them. We really pride ourselves on making sure our patients are happy — that’s always our goal.”

Jill Bonnville says she is one of those very happy patients.

“He’s very kind, he’s extremely patient,” says Jill. “I ask a lot of questions and he explains both the scientific stuff and what it means. It’s always a nice experience.”

Excellence In Eye Care is located inside the Costco Wesley Chapel Warehouse at 2225 Grand Cypress Dr. (on the south side of S.R. 56) in Lutz. The office is open Tuesday and Thursday, 1 p.m.-7 p.m.; 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Wednesday and Friday; and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. on Saturday. For more information, call (813) 279-7038 or visit ExcellenceInEyecare.net.