In our Oct. 29 issue, we told you that Box of Cubans restaurant was getting ready to open in the space previously occupied by Mochinutβs New Tampa location at 17512 DoΓ±a Michelle Dr., off Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., just north of the BBD exit off I-75 in the area known as Highwoods Preserve.
(Photo by Katherine Baker)
Well, owners Marcos and Oni Silverio and their son, Marcos Jr. (MJ) have now opened their second Box of Cubans location (the other is in Riverview) and everything weβve sampled so far has been pretty great.
Box of Cubans also serves a variety of breakfast items, even though it doesnβt open until 11 a.m. during the week and 10 a.m. on Saturday & Sunday. βWe sell our breakfast all day,β Marcos told me. βAnd we already have customers coming in at 6 p.m. on a Tuesday ordering our breakfast sandwiches.β
The Cuban-style bakery, with 16 Miami-area locations and one in West Tampa, features freshly made breakfast and lunch sandwiches (like the bacon, fresh scrambled egg & cheese on roll above), plus empanadas, Latin pastries and Cuban coffee drinks. Itβs open Mon.-Sat., 6 a.m.-8 p.m., and 7 a.m.-8 p.m. on Sunday, and does have inside seating. To order online, visit CAOBakeryCafe.com.Β
Speaking of bakeries, although we donβt know when, the 20th location of Paris Baguette Bakery (photo below) will open in the former Orangetheory Fitness spot in Highwoods Preserve (at 17515 Preserve Walk Ln.), next to Cold Stone Creamery.Β
Like Tous Les Jours in the Lotte Plaza Market, Paris Baguette is Korean-owned (with 4,000 locations worldwide, including 200 in the U.S. & Canada) and features a variety of French-style pastries, plus cakes, quiches, salads and breakfast and lunch sandwiches, and a variety of hot & cold beverages. For more information, visit ParisBaguette.com.-GNΒ
The Hillsborough County School Board includes (back row, l.-r.) Nadia Combs (Dist. 1), Lynn Gray (Dist. 7), Henry βShakeβ Washington (Dist. 5), Stacy Hahn (Dist. 2), Patricia βPattiβ Rendon (Dist. 4), new Board Chair Jessica Vaughn (Dist. 3; center) & vice-chair Karen Perez (Dist. 6; right). At the far left in the front row is Superintendent of Schools Van Ayres. (Photo: Hillsborough County Schools)Β
Although the November elections didnβt go too well for other New Tampa residents β with Jim Davison (Hillsborough County Commission) and Rico Smith (State House of Representatives) both losing, Tampa Palms residents Jessica Vaughn (New Tampaβs District 3) and Karen Perez (countywide District 6) not only won reelection in their respective Hillsborough School Board races in August, they have now been named the Boardβs chair and vice-chair, respectively.
Vaughn says this is big news for our area, as New Tampa has never held the Boardβs top two spots before. βKaren already has been a District-wide member, so she has had to have a more βglobalβ perspective and be more all over the county,β Vaughn says, βbut now, as the chair, I also have to be more involved District-wide, even though Iβm still the District 3 member. It means a lot more work, but Iβm ready.β
Vaughn and Perez were elected as the new leaders on Nov. 19, at the Boardβs annual reorganization meeting.
Vaughn says she already has been hard at work, βtrying to put resources into schools which havenβt always had resources.β She says that among the schools she has been pushing for are Freedom High, Turner-Bartels K-8 School and upgrades for Benito and Liberty middle schools. βI have been working closely with Liberty principal Frank Diaz to get him the resources he needs,β Vaughn says.
She says that a hot-button issue right now is the possible expansion of middle school sports programs. βOur residents want sports like lacrosse and tackle football with full equipment in middle schools,β she says. βBut, these are expensive sports and there may not be enough money in our budget to make them work at the middle school level. I support the idea but I donβt know if the Board will support the funding for it.β
Speaking of the budget, Vaughn says she is βso thankfulβ that Hillsborough County voters overwhelmingly (with more than 66% of voters voting βYesβ) passed the millage increase to increase salaries for teachers and staff members. βThat was huge for us, so our teacher and staff salaries can become more competitive with other large districts,β she said.
Although Vaughn didnβt know exactly when the additional funds would begin showing up in paychecks, because the District is currently without a Chief Financial Officer (former CFO Romaneir Johnson took the same position with Broward County Schools), βbut weβre hoping to have a new CFO in place by Jan. 1.β
Vaughn also was happy that Hillsborough voters decided to renew the half-cent Community Investment Tax (CIT), so the District also will continue to have funds for capital outlays like improvements at District schools.
βIβm also thrilled that voters across Florida voted against making School Board races partisan,β she says. βIt seems that people really want politics out of education.β
Speaking of partisan politics, Vaughn says she was relieved to have won reelection following a negative campaign spearheaded by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis and her opponent, Myosha Powell, who accused Vaughn of being a βcivil servant who thinks that weβre her subjects.β Vaughn was reelected with about 59% of ballots cast, as all four incumbents running for reelection ended up holding onto their seats. βIβm proud to have support across the aisle,β she says.
Montessori & TOY News
Another issue Vaughn is working on is converting Heritage Elementary on Cross Creek Blvd. into a Montessori school, beginning with one grade and adding an additional grade every year.
βItβs working well at Essrig Elementary (near Citrus Park,β she says. βThe community seems to like it and a lot of people are choosing private Montessoris over public schools these days. Weβre losing families in New Tampa and Temple Terrace to it.β The only issue, she says, is that Montessori education doesnβt always translate well to standardized tests.β
And, while the finalists werenβt announced until after we went to press with this issue, Vaughn says New Tampa and Dist. 3 have, βthe most finalistsβ for Teacher of the Year and the other Hillsborough Education Foundation awards.
Attorney Derek Usman of the Usman Law Firm can handle any type of business or employment law case. (Photo provided by Derek Usman)Β
With a location near where New Tampa meets Wesley Chapel on Bruce B. Downs (BBD) Blvd., attorney Derek Usman stands out as a dedicated advocate and litigator in the fields of employment law and business law. Derek moved to Wesley Chapel from Chicago in 2015 to be closer to family and began his journey with a small office on Bearss Ave. In 2018, he expanded to the office on BBD, and has quickly made his legal practice a respected name in the area.
Derekβs journey as an attorney started after he earned a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business from Indiana University in Fort Wayne and his Juris Doctor (J.D., or Law) degree from the Northern Illinois University College of Law in DeKalb in 2001. His is licensed to practice law in both Florida and Illinois, as well as in federal courts, including the U.S. Tax Court, U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida, and U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Illinois. This wide reach allows Derek to assist clients across jurisdictions with a deep knowledge of litigation and business law.
Three years ago, Derek expanded his practice to an office in downtown Tampa. As to why, he says, βMany of my opposing counsels have offices downtown, and having an office there makes it easier for me to meet with them and negotiate. I also am closer to the courts.β
Derekβs enthusiasm for the legal field goes beyond standard litigation. βI like the dynamics of this type of law,β he says. βYou have to interact with opposing attorneys and judges a lot. The process (of business and employment law) is unique.β
He explains that his clients often deal with complex issues, like defective products. Unlike more clear-cut cases, Derekβs work requires him to prove each element of every complaint β a task that demands analytical skills and a solid understanding of the law.
βThe difference between this type of law and other types is simple,β Derek explains. βFor example, if there is an accident, everyone knows there was an accident, but with this type of law, I often have to prove that something actually happened.β
Employment Law A Specialty
One of the core areas Derek specializes in is employment law. His work in this field involves representing employees and businesses in disputes centered around agreements and contractual obligations. βThis is again something that I have to prove happened,β he explains.
One example is when an employee leaves a company and signs an agreement that might have language that misleads the employee. Derek highlights the importance of finding misleading language and ambiguities, using his legal skills to protect his clientsβ rights. βIt is my job to prove that it was misleading, to find those ambiguities, and I have been successful in doing this,β he says.
βI highly recommend Mr. Usman, who ensured our process was transparent and thoroughly explained every detail, which was crucial for our non-locally based business with significant operations in Florida. We required someone trustworthy, a rarity nowadays, but Iβm delighted to have found Derek Usmanβs law firm, exemplifying integrity, honesty, genuineness and a strong work ethic. Mr. Usman demonstrates expertise and efficiently completes tasks, even with challenging parties. For that I am grateful and will continue to do business with Usman Law Firm.β β Alexandra Ciles, Flores Ciles Contractors, LLC
Another area where Derek offers assistance is in fraud cases, including often-complex issues like mail and wire fraud. The stakes in these types of cases are often high, and clients depend upon Derekβs expertise to guide them through the legal process. βThis area includes anyone who may have embezzled funds or has committed any type of fraud that includes money,β he explains.
And, when these cases involve the use of the internet or wire transfers, they often have to be tried in a federal court, so you need an attorney who has the ability to do just that. His experience in these cases ensures that his clients receive knowledgeable support, whether their cases are settled out of court or go to trial.
The Usman Law Firm charges clients by the hour, although in some cases, such as those going to court, he works on a contingency basis. This flexibility allows him to serve a wide range of clients, from individuals and small businesses to larger entities with significant legal needs.
One of the distinguishing features of the firm is the personalized service Derek offers.
βWhen you go to one of the βlargeβ law firms, you are never sure who will be working for you,β he explains. βIf you ask for one of the partners, you should be ready to pay a very high hourly rate. However, with me, you get the one person who has all the experience.β
At the larger firms, he adds, cases are often handed off to junior associates or teams. For Derek, being the primary point of contact means he can ensure each case receives the same high standard of dedication and expertise.
βWe were looking for great representation for our business and personal legal advice and I cannot express how much of a headache we had until we met Derek Usman. No other attorneys would call back or have time to listen and assist with our business needs. As our business attorney, Derek has been excellent, and I certainly recommend him to anyone. He knows exactly what our needs are, is very professional, intelligent and provides the best advice. Derek is very detailed and pays very good attention to our needs. My experiences with Usman Law have been and will continue to be stupendous through and through.β β Jose Ferrer, CEO, Mor-Stor Medical
Although he operates a solo practice, Derek notes that he doesnβt work in isolation. He participates in bar associations and networks that allow him to connect with other attorneys and brainstorm when needed.
Commitment to Community Service
Outside of his legal work, Derek is deeply involved in community outreach. He is active with the Holy Trinity Presbyterian Church in Hyde Park and participates in the Rotary Club of Tampa. Through these organizations, Derek has engaged in a variety of service projects. βI have participated most recently in the Food Pantry,β he shares, highlighting his desire to make a difference both inside and outside the courtroom.
For more info about Derek Usman and the Usman Law Firm call (813) 377-1197. You also can visit UsmanFirm.com or email derek@usmanfirm.com. His offices are located at 20701 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 207, and 505 E. Jackson St., Ste. 305, in downtown Tampa.Β
Although photographer Charmaine George and I couldnβt get to all eleven New Tampa public schools for the Great American Teach-In on Nov. 21, we did make it to four local schools for that event and on this page are photos from our respective visits.
Charmaine was at Benito Middle School when teacher Justin Swaim brought members of the Wharton High orchestra (l.-r. in left photo) Travis Bivins, Eliza Connell, Zoie Bowers and Sofia Salazar β all of whom are Benito alumni, to their former middle school, as well as for Michael Harvey of the Florida State Guard Aviation Response Squadronβs visit to Richard Royβs math class (bottom left photo).Β
She also visited Heritage Elementary, where the Kids and Canines organization visited Heather Leitzkiβs Exceptional Student Education (ESE) class (top photo). Charmaine also took pics at when Waste Connections lead truck driver and instructor Thomas Benton (middle photo below) demonstrated how the trucks work.Β
I was able to stop in at Tampa Palms Elementary for online star Zackery Turgeon (below right) captivated all of the schoolβs 4th-grade classes (where most of the kids wanted to follow in his footsteps) with his discussion of how he makes a living, thanks to the 700,000+ subscribers to his βCornyβ channel on YouTube.Β
I then visited teacher Jamie Millerβs class at Freedom High (bottom right), where I talked to her students about not only the Neighborhood News, but also writing and editing in general, and I was thrilled that some of her students actually asked me questions about my job. β GN
