Dr. Sam Jureyda Offers Top-Notch Orthodontic Care At Radiance Orthodontics 

Dr. Sam Jureyda welcomes the local community to his Radiance Orthodontics, located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center, off the Bruce B. Downs Blvd. exit off I-75. (Photo provided by Dr. Jureyda) 

Two decades ago, about 85 percent of dentists owned their own practices, but times have changed drastically. 

The New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas have not escaped the national trend of more dental and orthodontic offices being owned by corporations, instead of the practitioners themselves. 

But, Sam Jureyda, DMD, says he’s not interested in selling his Radiance Orthodontics, although he frequently gets offers from corporations wanting to buy his practice. 

“Dr. J,” as his patients call him, opened Radiance Orthodontics more than eight years ago to provide orthodontic treatments for kids, teens and adults, primarily using braces and Invisalign aligners to move teeth and correct bites. The practice is located in the Tampa Palms Professional Center off of the Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd. exit off I-75, near the New Tampa Recreation Center. 

When patients visit Radiance Orthodontics, they always see Dr. Jureyda personally. He enjoys getting to know the families who entrust their care to him, and considers his patients to be family. 

“In an era of big box stores,” Dr. Jureyda explains, “we’re still a mom-and-pop.” 

He says he wouldn’t even consider giving up the time he spends caring for each individual in his practice in order to meet the demands of corporate dentistry. 

“We value the relationship we build with our patients,” Dr. J says. 

Before moving into private practice in 2006, and subsequently opening Radiance Orthodontics in 2016, Dr. Jureyda taught graduate-level orthodontics at the University of Buffalo, NY. Prior to that, he earned a Doctorate of Dental Medicine (DMD) from the Boston University School of Dental Medicine, a Certificate of Specialty in Orthodontics from the Howard University College of Dentistry in Washington, DC, and completed a clinical fellowship in Orthodontics from the University of Buffalo School of Dental Medicine, Department of Orthodontics. 

His education includes years of studying facial biology and growth dynamics, and his practice has allowed him to treat all types of patients, even those with the most complicated orthodontic needs. 

He’s also pleased to have been recognized again in 2024 by Tampa Magazine as one of the Tampa Bay area’s top dentists, as voted on by dentists across the region. 

His peers have recognized that his education and experience make him one of the area’s best. 

His commitment to private practice allows him to maintain a lower volume of patients and spend more time with each person who comes in, which means that patients at Radiance Orthodontics get customized care from an orthodontist who is invested in them personally, whether they choose treatment via traditional braces or Invisalign aligners. 

“There are so many factors that go into a decision about an appliance that you may wear for 18 months or more,” says Dr. Jureyda. “I am always happy to go over all of that information so that you can make the right choice about the treatment plan that is best for you.” 

These days, general dentists are more frequently also offering aligners. But, Dr. J offers a deeper understanding of the dentofacial orthopedics involved in aligning teeth and jaws over a lifetime, whether it’s during the early years of childhood growth or even in older adults. 

Getting a second opinion from Dr. Jureyda is completely free and may provide additional avenues for treatment or a lower cost than other options. 

“We’re seeing so much inflation right now, which is stretching families,” says Dr. Jureyda. “Radiance Orthodontics is a small business and we are in touch with what’s happening in our community. We try to walk that fine line between meeting the demands of running a business and keeping our fees affordable and payments flexible for our patients.” 

He promises reasonable fees that avoid the need for coupons or complex payment structures. 

He suggests that anyone who wants to learn more about his practice search “Radiance Orthodontics” for his online Google reviews. All 160+ of the office’s reviews on Google are five stars and speak to the way Dr. J cares for his patients. 

Nicole Shuts moved to New Tampa about two years ago. Her sons already had braces, so she needed to find an orthodontist to continue their care. She says the first one she went to “didn’t feel quite right,” so she kept looking and ultimately found Radiance Orthodontics. 

“As soon as I walked in and met Dr. J, I was really impressed with his demeanor,” she says. “He’s very calm, very intelligent, he knew exactly what problems my sons were facing, and his recommendations were conservative, but on point with what we needed.” 

She says one son’s bite was really bad and his molars weren’t even touching. She wanted to bring him to Dr. Jureyda, but she also wanted to double-check her instincts, so she conferred with her son’s previous orthodontist. 

“I told her about the people we interviewed and their proposals,” Nicole explains, “and she steered me toward what I was feeling, which made me super happy because at that point I liked Dr. J already.” 

Nicole says the proof is in the results. 

“It’s a joy to me that he can chew his food better,” she says of her son. “It’s been two years and we’re very happy. We wouldn’t change anything.” 

Nicole also is happy with her other son’s treatment, and appreciates that Dr. J sees her youngest daughter every few months to see if it’s time to start treatment for her yet, as well. Those ongoing consultations are complimentary, as Dr. J keeps an eye on her growth. 

“I really appreciate that,” Nicole says. “I know he’s trustworthy and he’s not pushy.” 

Carmen Mitchell and her 15-year-old daughter, Kali, are both in treatment with Dr. Jureyda. Carmen explains she didn’t have braces as a child and her deep bite was causing breakage in her teeth. To prevent further breakage, her dentist recommended Invisalign. And although the dentist gave her a fair price for those aligners, she didn’t feel that the office was fully prepared for the details of the specialty treatment. 

But, it was totally different when she saw Dr. Jureyda for a free consultation. 

“He’s very knowledgeable and gets to know you as a patient,” she says, “and then he makes sure the service he’s providing is tailored to you.” 

When her daughter’s dentist suggested an orthodontic evaluation, she knew she would bring her to Dr. Jureyda, too. 

“I like the way he talks to her as the patient,” Carmen adds. “She’s involved in her own care, which is important.” 

Supporting The Community, Too 

As a former educator, Dr. Jureyda makes it a high priority to support students and educators in our community, and Carmen says she wants to support Radiance so he can continue to do so. 

Not only is Radiance Orthodontics a long-term business partner of all of New Tampa’s public schools (and some Wesley Chapel schools, as well), he also awards scholarships each spring to a graduating senior at both Wharton and Freedom high schools. These scholarships recognize students who have demonstrated a commitment to serving the community through volunteering. Last year, he also offered scholarships to seniors at King and Brooks DeBartolo Collegiate high schools. 

“I often recommend people go to Radiance,” Carmen says. “I tell them, ‘Go, get a quote. You’ll probably fall in love with Dr. J and the staff while you’re there.’” 

Radiance Orthodontics offers Invisalign and braces for kids, teens and adults of all ages. To schedule a free consultation, text or call (813) 972-1100. For more information about the practice, located at 17427 Bridge Hill Court, Suite A, in the Tampa Palms Professional Center or visit MyRadianceBraces.com.

Home Gadgets At The Shops At Wiregrass For Unique & Useful Home Products! 

Radjes Badal (below left), (L.-r.) Rajiv Badal and Ayush Gandhi invite you to check out all of the unique kitchen and home items at the new Home Gadgets store on Paseo Dr. in The Shops at Wiregrass. (Photos by Charmaine George & Gary Nager) 

With the holiday season just around the corner, where can you find the perfect gift for someone who loves to cook? Go check out the new Home Gadgets store, located next to Talbots in The Shops at Wiregrass, which offers a variety of cool and unique items for your home. 

In 2004, Rajiv Badal’s parents, Radjes and Vidia Badal, opened a store in Ocala which originally sold “As Seen on TV” products. Over time, the store began to grow and the Badals added an array of household items, with a special focus on kitchen gadgets. That store became a well-loved and successful business that continues to thrive today and is still run by Rajiv’s parents. Although they stay busy with their own store, Radjes and Vidia now visit Rajiv’s Wiregrass location a few times a week to lend a hand and bring in new merchandise. 

Rajiv has fond memories of growing up in Ocala, where he worked alongside his parents and learned the ins and outs of running a business. He wasn’t just a helper; he was soaking up every bit of knowledge about everything from inventory to customer service. While pursuing his own career as an optometrist — he met his wife, Esha Gandhi, who also is an optometrist, at the Nova Southeastern University School of Optometry — Rajiv says he never lost his passion for the family business. 

After getting married, Rajiv and Esha moved to the Tampa area to be closer to her family. The move was exciting, but to Rajiv, it also felt like leaving behind a piece of his family’s legacy. Even though he loves his job as an optometrist, Rajiv wanted to bring part of his family’s business to the new community he now calls home. So, last March, with the help of his parents, he opened the Wesley Chapel Home Gadgets store. 

“I really enjoy working at the store,” says Rajiv. “Sometimes, I come straight from work in my scrubs and help out.” 

It’s clear that Home Gadgets is a family affair, with Rajiv’s cousin, Ayush Gandhi, serving as the main person working there. Ayush ensures that every customer gets the personal touch that has made their store in Ocala so successful. 

So, what sets Home Gadgets apart from Bed, Bath & Beyond or even Amazon? According to Rajiv, it’s the combination of both common and unique items, all in one place. 

“You don’t have to wait for deliveries here,” he says. “We have a lot of things that you might not find in bigger stores.” This blend of convenience and new discoveries makes Home Gadgets stand out. 

Rajiv shared a story about a customer who was excited to find a whisk he’d been searching for everywhere — a unique 12” ball whisk, which has 10 little balls at the end of long stainless rods. This design is not only eye-catching but also extremely useful, reaching into the sharp corners of a pot where rounded whisks won’t quite fit. 

“A large percentage of the items we carry are made in the U.S., with some coming from Florida,” including Counter Art placemats, which are made in Ocala and Radjes says he has been stocking them at his Ocala store for 20 years. 

Rajiv is particularly proud of the store’s relationship with companies that support smaller, family-run businesses like his. 

“We work with some big companies like Nordic Ware, which makes the original bundt pans,” he explains. “These pans are durable, thick, and beautifully made. 

Among the unique items you’ll find under one roof at Home Gadgets are a ball whisk (above right), Lodge cast iron cookware (below right), Counter Art placemats (below left) & Nordic Ware bundt pans (above), to name just a few. 

Among Home Gadgets’ top-selling items are beautiful wood charcuterie/cutting boards shaped like different states. Other interesting items include copper tumblers, Microplane graters and Tervis stainless steel tumblers featuring popular sports team emblems. The store also stocks Corkcicle bottles and cigar glasses, which are rocks glasses with an indentation that allows cigar smokers to hold their glass and cigar with the same hand. 

“We’re always adding new things,” Rajiv says. “I have a bunch of items in the back that we haven’t even put out on display yet.” So, every time you visit Home Gadgets, you might find something new and interesting. 

In today’s world, where more people are looking for healthier cooking options, Rajiv is happy to offer items like cast iron pots and pans made in Tennessee by Lodge. Lodge can be found in other stores, but what makes Home Gadgets stand out is that the store doesn’t just stock one or two sizes — it features a wide variety of Lodge cookware, including a pizza pan and even a cast iron wok. 

Speaking of cast iron, Rajiv says that carbon steel pans are similar to cast iron but weigh a lot less. For people who love the benefits of cast iron but prefer something lighter, carbon steel is a fantastic alternative. 

“You have to treat it the same way as you treat cast iron after cooking, but it’s much easier to handle,” he explains. The carbon steel pans have wood handles that you can remove when you put the pan in the oven to treat. “Curing a cast iron pan or carbon steel,” he says, “has to be done in the oven or on the stovetop but it has to be a flame not electric.” 

Home Gadgets also has an online store, though Rajiv admits that it’s still something of a work in progress. Building a website that reflects the range of products the store offers takes time, and Rajiv says, “We have way more products in the store than we show on the website.” 

When you spend at least $75 online, your shipping is free. Or, if you prefer, you can order online and pick up your items at the store without paying any extra fees. This option makes it convenient for locals to shop online while avoiding shipping costs. 

To encourage customers to visit the store, Home Gadgets is offering a special promotion. Simply bring the store add below with you, and you’ll receive a free kitchen utensil with any purchase (one utensil per customer or family and the offer expires December 31.) 

Home Gadgets is located at 28250 Paseo Dr., Unit 180, in The Shops at Wiregrass. It is open Monday-Thursday, 10 a.m.–8 p.m.; 10 a.m.–9 p.m. on Friday and Saturday; and 11 a.m.–6 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (813) 388-9422, visit BuyHomeGadgets.com, @buyhomegadgets on Instagram, search “HomeGadgetsStore” on Facebook. 

Home Gadgets stocks Tervis tumblers with a variety of team logos. 

Feel Like A Run Before The Feast Tomorrow? Here Are Three Local Options!

7 a.m. – BayCare Wobble Turkey Trot.

At Tampa Premium Outlets. Run. Walk. Wobble! The BayCare Wobble Turkey Trot (photo), presented by BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel is coming back for another race at Tampa Premium Outlets. Events include 5K, 1K and virtual 5K runs. Proceeds to benefit the New Tampa Family YMCA. 

The cost for the 5K is now $45. For the 1 “Tur(K)” Fun Run, the cost is now $27.50. For more information, visit runsignup.com/Race/FL/Lutz/BayCareWobbleTurkeyTrot5k. 

8 a.m. – Wiregrass Turkey Trot.

At The Shops at Wiregrass. Join your neighbors at the 12th annual Wiregrass Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day, hosted by the Rotary Club of New Tampa and AdventHealth. This year’s events include the annual 5K Run/Walk, 1-Mile Fun Run and Kid’s Turkey Dash for all under 12 years old, as well as selfie stations, a costume contest, awards, music and fun for the entire community. 

The cost for the 5K run is $45 between Nov. 20-26 or $50 Nov. 27-28. For the 1-mile Fun Run, the cost is $25 anytime. There’s also a Kids Turkey Dash for ages 12 & under, which costs $20. 

For more info, visit TheShopsatWiregrass.com/events. 

8:30 a.m. – TPE Trot for Tessa

This year Tampa Palms Elementary School is hosting a 5K Walk/Run around the Tampa Palms Boulevard loop. They are hoping to enjoy this community event as a school family in honor of a former TPE Eagle, Tessa Wiseman, who loved to learn. loved to read, and who loved running.

Even through two cancer diagnoses Tessa continued to run. It was therapeutic for her, and she shared her passion for running with many people she encountered. In addition to being an avid runner, Tessa was a guide for visually impaired runners during races. Tessa inspired so many people through her journey and reminded her family, friends, and strangers who became fast friends, that focusing on the future, celebrating life with every breath and every mile, and aspiring to love and help others is the only way to live, no matter what difficulties may arise along the way and what insurmountable obstacles we may face. These are values they hope to inspire and cultivate within all of their TPE students. At the end of the race they will plant a tree on the TPE campus in memory of Tessa to create a living legacy for years to come.

For more info, visit app.givebacks.gives/trotfortessa/Campaign/Details

Blue Park Dental, Inside Out Aesthetics & Lightning Orthodontics All Cut Chamber Ribbons! 

At the NTBC ribbon-cutting event at Inside Out Aesthetics on Nov. 2, attendees got to check out the many treatment rooms at Inside Out’s new location north of S.R. 56. (Photos by Charmaine George)

Even as the holidays approach, the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) is still helping its new and existing member businesses get the word out with ribbon-cutting ceremonies — and we are proud to partner with the Chamber to help publicize these businesses and events. Here are a couple of those events that have been held since our last issue hit mailboxes four weeks ago: 

Blue Park Dental 
On Oct. 24, Dr. Jordan Brown of Blue Park Dental and his wife Shakirah celebrated the official Grand Opening of the new dental office on Wesley Chapel Blvd. with an NTBC ribbon-cutting event. 

Blue Park Dental, the office of Jordan Brown, DDS, is located at 5470 Post Oak Blvd., Unit 170, in the same plaza off Wesley Chapel Blvd. as the new Moe’s Southwest Grill and Jimmy John’s, in Wesley Chapel. 

Dr. Brown and his wife Shakirah hosted a Grand Opening and NTBC ribbon-cutting event on Oct. 24, attended by at least 50 people, including members of the Browns’ family, friends and of course, NTBC members. 

He told those who were there that he was inspired by the work ethics of both of his parents — Colin and Patricia Brown (who were both in attendance) — and said, “Blue Park Dental is a dental office that advertises comfort, trust and honesty. It emphasizes technology but also makes sure you feel comfort and safety at the same time.” 

Dr. Brown also thanked his wife. “You have no idea how much Shakirah has been in this process. She has helped so much, every step of the way, so thank you for being my rock and my support.” 

For more information about Blue Park Dental, call (813) 742-6227 or visit BlueParkDental.com. 

Inside Out Aesthetics & Wellness 
Family nurse practitioner Tracy Burke (left) and licensed esthetician Amanda McEwan. 

Then, on Nov. 2, it was Board-certified family nurse practitioner Tracy Burke who hosted an NTBC ribbon-cutting event at the new location of her Inside Out Aesthetics & Wellness — at 27613 Cashford Cir., which is located behind Sam’s Club on the north side of S.R. 56 in the Summergate Professional Park. Inside Out previously was located on an outparcel of The Shops at Wiregrass. 

Tracy also thanked the Chamber, as well as all of her friends, clients and her entire family, but especially her son Michael, who recently earned his Florida general contractor’s license and who was instrumental in creating every room in the new med spa to Tracy’s exact specifications. 

“I want to thank all of you for coming,” Tracy said prior to cutting the Chamber ribbon. “I have dreamed about having a location like this and now, that dream has come true.” The event also introduced Inside Out’s new licensed medical esthetician Amanda McEwan, who specializes in skin care and custom facials that blend advanced treatments with a holistic approach. 

Inside Out also offers neuromodulators, injectables, PDO threads, bio-stimulators, bioidentical hormone replacement therapy & semaglutide for weight loss. For info, call (813) 602-6100 or visit insideout-aesthetics.com. 

Lightning Orthodontics 

And finally, on Nov. 7, it was time for Lightning Orthodontics, the office of Isis El Ghannam, DDS, to cut a Chamber ribbon. 

Located in the small strip plaza at 24795 S.R. 54 in Lutz that also includes Fazoli’s, Lightning Orthodontics (which is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Tampa Bay Lightning) is a beautiful, new office equipped with the latest in orthodontic technology and with room to add additional orthodontists if and when the need arises. 

Dr. El Ghannam is Board-certified and says she is especially drawn to challenging cases as she finds it rewarding to make a positive impact on the lives of her patients. She also is a new mom who says the experience has deepened her empathy and enriched her interactions with families. 

The office, which promises that patients will be, “heard, understood and cared for with the speed of lightning,” offers online appointments, virtual consults and remote treatment options. English, Spanish and Arabic are all spoken at the office. 

For more info about Lightning Orthodontics, visit LightningOrthondtics.com or call (813) 733-0007 and please tell them we sent you!

Totally Blu Pool Builders Will Have You Swimming In Your New Pool In 60 Days!

Whether you want a pool with a beach entry and a waterfall (above) or bubbling jets (below left), Savir and Sunil Mohammed of the Blu
Water Pools store, located north of S.R. 54 on Eiland Blvd., and Blu Water Builders is one of few pool builders that have established a great reputation with
customers. (Below right) If you want your pool to also include an outdoor kitchen, Totally Blu Builders uses grills and accessories made by Bull Outdoor Kitchens.

Sunil Mohammed, owner of Totally Blu Pools, has been in the pool servicing business for more than 17 years. Just last year, he and his wife, Rashmi Maharaj, opened a pool supply store by the same name, located at the corner of S.R. 54 and Eiland Blvd. in the Publix- and Home Depot-anchored Summertree Plaza. At that time, he decided to venture into pool building, as well, and established Totally Blu Builders.

The community was suffering from a number of failed builders who left behind unfinished pools, and Sunil saw an opportunity to help.

“We started off by finishing pools that were started by Staycation,” he says, referring to one of the pool companies that went out of business.

“We’ve built more than 100 pools in about 18 months,” Sunil says, “including finishing about 60 Staycation pools. We just do one pool at a time, and we just kept finishing them.”

Sunil hired former Staycation and Olympus Pools installer Doug Griffith and other staff members who have experience in the industry, including at those failed companies.

He says that while Doug’s knowledge of construction is vast, Sunil brings a new approach to managing his company’s finances that will protect Totally Blu’s customers.

“Doug’s knowledge in construction is amazing,” Sunil says. “Now that I’ve dug pools with him for more than a year, I can say he backs it up by also being a good person. He came from two failed companies, but he had no part in the finances of those businesses that went down.”

Sunil explains that there’s not a lot of profit margin in pool construction, so, he says, “you have to manage your finances well.”

With Sunil’s nearly two decades in the industry, he already has established good relationships with vendors and customers.

“We’ve have made a good name for ourselves, which is difficult in this day and age because of the bad reputation of pool builders overall,” Sunil says.

In fact, his fairly new business has a perfect five-star (out of five) rating on Google. While there are only a few ratings, they are all positive.

One of the keys, Sunil explains, is not to overpromise, but instead to over-deliver.

“Once we get county approval, which usually takes about a month,” Sunil says, “we finish pools within six to eight weeks. We also call every customer every Friday while their pool is in process. When someone is spending $75,000 to $125,000 on a pool, it’s a huge investment. We reassure them as constantly as possible that we are not running away with their money. At every stage, we are being careful with what we do, and are always giving our customers what we promised.”

So, why did Sunil even get into the construction business, knowing how nervous customers are to trust a pool company these days and knowing that the profit margins are thin and potentially how hard it can be to please customers making such a large purchase?

He says first, it’s about serving the community and helping people who have been put in a difficult position by other pool builders or who have heard the horror stories? “More pools being built in the community means more customers for our pool service and supply businesses,” he says. “We are servicing nearly all of the pools we’ve built. If we can build the pool and keep the customers happy, then we can also do their pool service, and that’s how we will make our money for the next 10 years.”

In other words, Sunil is in it for the long term, so Totally Blu’s reputation is of the utmost importance to him.

Building That Reputation

As Totally Blu continues to complete pools, the word is spreading and customers are referring their friends.

The Neighborhood News spoke with Ami Rivera while her pool was being filled, just a few hours before it would be ready for swimming.

“Our goal was to have the pool ready for my daughter’s eighth birthday,” Ami says. “It’s in four days and she’s already put her feet in.”

Ami, who lives in the Watergrass community off Curley Rd., says that when she bought her home in 2020, she was content to swim at the community pool, but as it became obvious that she, her husband Lorenzo, and their daughter Anabel would be staying in their home long-term, they wanted to have their own pool.

“Everyone’s heard the horror stories,” she said, referring to lost deposits and unfinished pools, “so we had a lot of questions and concerns.”

As a Realtor, Ami also is a business owner who knows the importance of supporting the local community.

She says she interviewed four companies, and that all four had very similar pricing. But, she says, her conversation with Sunil stood out. Since he also lives in Watergrass, she saw a neighbor and a fellow business owner who expressed his commitment to the people of Wesley Chapel.

“Customers are valuing communication and transparency, and doing a lot more due diligence,” Ami says. “We had such a great conversation and I felt such ownership from him. I love being able to use someone in my own community.”

While Sunil knows his long-term success depends upon his company’s reputation, he’s building his business not only for now, but also because he says Tru Blu will be a legacy for his son, 17-year-old Savir, who is a senior at Wesley Chapel High.

“Savir came to work with me this summer,” says Sunil. “This kid has taken off and really become my right hand. He has even started designing pools, he goes out on the construction sites, and he has increased sales in the store by 20 percent.”

Savir plans to study electrical engineering in college, while living at home. He is already a Certified Pool/Spa Operator (CPO), a national certification by the Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) that recognizes expertise in cleaning and servicing pools and spas. Next, he plans to take courses in designing pools.

The Totally Blu Pools store also serves as the Totally Blu Builders showroom.

“I’m teaching him to be ethical in how we deal with people,” Sunil says. “Customers come in here and ask for him by name. He has become an integral part of my business and, for that, I’m very proud.”

While Totally Blu also has offered lawn service in the past, Sunil says he is moving away from that business, although he can still help people who are looking for landscaping services.

With a focus on pool service, supplies and now construction, Sunil believes Totally Blu is in a good position to serve the community and provide for his family for years to come.

And, with Totally Blu’s happy customer list growing, it seems Sunil is on the right track.

“I find it very important to have business owners in our community who you can put your trust and confidence in,” Ami says. “The product is sitting in my back yard and we’re thrilled.”

Totally Blu Pools & Totally Blu Builders are located at 32781 Eiland Blvd. For information about the pool supply store or pool service, call(813)788-7665 or visit TotallyBluH2O.com. To get started with a free digital design for your new pool, call(813)550-2023 or visit TotallyBluBuilders.com.