Congratulations go out to Strawberry Crest High sophomores — and New Tampa residents — Elizabeth Chettipally, Aditi Nair, Anika Prasad and Netra Vijay (photo), who placed first in their category at the Health Occupations Students of America (aka HOSA-Future Health Professionals) State Leadership Conference held at Orlando Apr. 13-16.
The girls of “Project Pink” will next be representing Florida at the HOSA National Leadership Conference in Atlanta in late June.
The quartet’s project was an attempt to increase breast cancer awareness in our local community and obviously, their presentation at the Conference was effective, as they placed first in the “Community Awareness — Teamwork” category.
Strawberry Crest High, located in Dover, has an International Baccalaureate (IB) program attended by many New Tampa residents and is one of 30 Florida high schools with more than 100 HOSA members. Several other Strawberry Crest students also won awards at the State Conference, including a “Creative Problem Solving” team that also took home first place honors. I apologize that I did not have all of the other winners’ full names at our press time, or I would have mentioned them here, too.
For those seeking unique local options outside of the KRATEs, we also wanted to let you know that the second Tampa location of Mpanitas has opened in the oft-vacated spot in the Mobil gas station plaza at 10865 Cross Creek Blvd.
With delicious Venezuelan favorites like the excellent empanadas shown here (above), stuffed with your choice of shredded or ground beef, chicken, cheese, ham & cheese, potatoes & cheese and even fish, Mpanitas also serves arepas, mini-empanadas, mandocas, sweet tequeños and outstanding café con leché. For more info, follow “mpanitas” on Instagram.
If your home has ever suffered damage like this, make sure you call Shawn Thompson of Compass Claim Solutions. He will see to it that you get paid what your claim is really worth, not just what your insurance company is willing to pay. (Photos provided by Shawn Thompson)
Shawn Thompson, the owner of Compass Claim Solutions, first began advertising in the Neighborhood News in 2022, as Hurricane Ian was expected to make landfall in or very close to Tampa. But, when that major hurricane devastated Ft. Myers and much of southwest Florida instead, Shawn spent a lot of time in that area, helping to make sure that the people there — who had literally lost everything — were properly compensated by their insurance companies.
The New Tampa and Wesley Chapel areas were largely spared from the brunt of that storm, as well as from the wrath of Hurricane Nicole six weeks later, but what if this year’s hurricane season hits even closer to home? Who will make sure you get properly compensated when your insurance company offers only a minimal payment that won’t cover all the damage or even denies your claim outright?
A Licensed Florida Public Adjuster, Shawn is an independent expert who is ready to fight for you. He can help you file or contest property damage claims related to not only hurricanes, but also due to lightning, floods, wind, storms, fire, mold, theft, vandalism, plumbing, and more.
Shawn says it can be extra tricky to understand your hurricane coverage. Does your claim fall under the hurricane deductible? Is flooding separate? With hurricane season fast approaching, Shawn can help with questions like these and more.
“Last year, this area was spared from major hurricane damage,” says Shawn. “I was glad to be able to assist many people in and near the Ft. Myers area by giving licensed estimates of the damage they incurred, filing and adjusting claims, and negotiating with their insurance companies.”
The Thompson family — (l.-r.) Shawn, Luke, Kasey & Lindsay (holding the family’s puppy Wrigley) — has lived in the New Tampa/Wesley Chapel area since the mid-2000s.
Born and raised in Ocala, Shawn graduated from St. Leo University near Dade City in 2003 with a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Business Management. After ten years at CVS Pharmacy, including in upper management, Shawn decided to make a change.
Thankfully, he was introduced to the public adjuster industry by his brother-in-law Leonard Pisciotto, Jr., and, in 2012, began the process of getting licensed himself. This included a one-year apprenticeship with Leonard at his family business — Equitable Public Adjusters — which had more than 50 total years of experience. Shawn also worked for six months handling claims for insurance companies.
Since 2015, Shawn has been working full time as a Licensed Public Adjuster and has helped thousands of clients get fair and better settlements from their insurance carriers.
Shawn provides free insurance claim assessments for homeowners, business owners and organizations like HOAs (homeowners associations) to evaluate for missed opportunities to increase the value of their claims, such as inadequately reported damages, uninvoked clauses in your insurance policy, or loss of business income. He is very familiar with the homes and businesses of this area, having moved to New Tampa in the mid-2000s, and to Wesley Chapel in 2010, where he is now living with his wife Lindsay, their children, Kasey and Luke and their puppy, Wrigley.
“To offer the most benefit, I always recommend contacting me first, as soon as you think you might need assistance with your insurance company or a claim,” says Shawn. “There are three main ways I can initially help with insurance companies: directly communicating with their insurance adjusters on site with required documentation, providing a licensed estimate of all damages and interpreting insurance policy language.”
But, he adds, it’s never too late to involve a public adjuster, even if your claim already has been closed.
“We can get involved at any point of the process,” he says. “Sometimes, a claim is evaluated as falling under the deductible, so the insurance company will only pay the deductible — or less — and it’s not enough to cover the loss. We can argue this as a diminished payout to recover additional funds. And, if a claim is denied outright, we can look for opportunities to overturn that claim.”
If there is ever a reason to dispute an insurance claim, Shawn says the next step is to negotiate with the insurance company and their claims adjusters. But sometimes, talking to the insurance company can become a long, drawn-out process.
As recent client Jackie Graziano describes, “Shawn really stepped up to resolve my homeowners claim. I was struggling for two years and, in a few short months, Shawn had it done and I was financially compensated by the insurance carrier.”
Another client, Carolyn Mayer, says her only regret was that she didn’t reach out to Shawn earlier. “We had a major loss that was very tricky to navigate with the insurance company,” she says. “Shawn took a HUGE burden off our chests and took sole responsibility to help us navigate the very tricky process of insurance claims. His knowledge and persistence allowed us to recoup about three times what the insurance company initially offered. If we had called him earlier, he could have prevented the very poor clean-up done by the insurance contractor and helped to prevent further damage.”
Shawn says that negotiations are usually successful for the majority of claim disputes. But, if further actions are ever needed, such as involving an independent appraiser, going through mediation or, as a last resort, taking legal action, Compass Claim Solutions is prepared to do whatever is necessary keep you from leaving money on the table.
“Legally, there are only two parties that can represent a policyholder through the insurance claim dispute process — a public adjuster like me and an attorney. In all the cases I’ve been involved in, I can count on my hands the number of times litigation was required. Contacting a public adjuster to help contest a claim is always a good first step.”
So how much does it cost to hire a licensed public adjuster? With Shawn, the answer is zero dollars up front. He will only collect if you collect.
“In Florida, a public adjuster’s fee is capped at 20% of what’s recovered. But, I always tell my clients that my fee is negotiable,” says Shawn. “My goal is to help you recover much, much more than you would have gotten before my involvement. It’s not unheard of to get 10-20 times more than what you would have gotten initially.”
Compass Claim Solutions is available 7 days a week, 7 a.m.-6 p.m. For more information, see the ad on pg. 22, call (352) 502-5928 or visit CompassClaimSolutions.com.
If you don’t already like Tandoori-style chicken (Above), vegetable samosas (Below), butter chicken with butter naan (bread) (Below), gulab jamun (Indian-style donuts) (Below)or chicken biryani (Below) at most Indian restaurants, our editor says you should still try all of these new favorites of his at Desi Flavors Indian Cuisine, located in the Telecom Park off E. Fletcher Ave., a couple of miles west of I-75.(Photos by Charmaine George)
Long-time readers of this publication no doubt realize that Indian food has never my favorite cuisine type. On the other hand, if more Indian restaurants served the subtly delicious flavors I’ve sampled at Desi Flavors Indian Cuisine, I might have spent more time in Indian eateries.
Owner Sree Alla, an information technology (IT) guy who worked for many years at an Indian restaurant in Atlanta, opened Desi Flavors, the first restaurant he has owned himself, in the Tampa Telecom Park off E. Fletcher Ave. in December 2020 — in the middle of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Even so, Sree says he has continually built a loyal following since opening and he is hoping that his ads and this story in the Neighborhood News will help him continue to reach new customers in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel.
The food, at least what photographer Charmaine George, her boyfriend Brendan and I sampled on a recent visit, is pretty impressive. While most Indian cuisine is curry-based, Sree explains that there are so many different types and heat levels of curries that the same dishes at every Indian restaurant can taste different from every other place.
Whatever the reason, there’s no doubt that Sree’s dishes from all regions of India are full of flavor, which explains the “Flavors” in the restaurant’s name. The “Desi” in the name means “country person,” or “one from our country,” and also can refer to people from Pakistan and Bangladesh.
About The Menu…
Vegetable Samosas
The only way to describe the two-sided menu at Desi Flavors is HUGE! The starters on the front of the menu are divided into “Veg” and “Non-Veg.” To date, we’ve only sampled the vegetable samosas (minced potato and green peas deep-fried in pastry dough), but they were crispy and had a milder, more delicate flavor than many of the samosas I’ve sampled elsewhere, and were served with two different chutneys (sauces).
Other “Veg Starters” I am looking forward to trying include the spring rolls (minced veggies wrapped in rice paper and fried), the chilli paneer (crispy paneer tossed in a spicy sauce made with soy sauce, vinegar and chili sauce) and the gobi Manchurian (cauliflower florets dipped in corn flour, deep fried and tossed in ginger, garlic, spring onion and chilis).
The “Non-Veg Starters” I look forward to trying include the non-veg samosas (with chicken or lamb), the chilli chicken (crispy chicken in the same spicy sauce as the cauliflower) and the fried fish pakora (fritters).
Charmaine, Brendan and I did try one of the “Tandoori Sizzlers” on the front side of the menu — the chicken kababs, which are boneless pieces of chicken marinated in the Tandoori spice mix and cooked in a clay oven, served with fresh onions and peppers. Yum! There also are chicken on the bone, shrimp, fish (filet or whole), paneer (cheese)and mixed grill Tandoori options.
Chicken Biryani
The chicken biryani Sree had us sample also had a completely different flavor than most others I’ve tried. The long-grain basmati rice is flavored with unique spices and the rice and bone-in chicken served on top of it are sealed in a thick pot and cooked over a slow flame. The chicken seemed spicier than the rice, but both were very tasty. I definitely plan to try the goat and lamb options in the future, but there are eleven different biryani on the Desi Flavors menu.
On the menu’s flip side, there are 20 non-vegetable entrées, but all we tried was the butter chicken, another dish I’ve not always enjoyed elsewhere. The tender pieces of boneless Tandoori chicken are cooked in a rich, creamy (and very mild) tomato sauce with butter. It is served with a side of perfect butter naan bread (one of 12 baked-to-order breads on the menu) and basmati rice with peas and carrots.
Butter Chicken with Butter Naan (bread)
Other non-veg entrées include chicken tikka masala, kadai chicken or lamb with pan-sautéed veggies, butter lamb and Chef’s Signature lamb, goat, shrimp or fish curry.
There also are 18 different vegetable entrées, from Chana (garbanzo bean) masala to palak paneer (spinach and cottage cheese seasoned with ginger, garlic and aromatic spices) and malai kofta (dumplings of fresh veggies and cheese cooked in a mild cream sauce).
Craving something different? Desi Flavors also offers Indo-Chinese options like fried rice or hakka (similar to lo mein) noodles, both with your choice of veggies, egg, chicken, shrimp or mixed.
There also are eight South Indian options, including Idly (steamed rice and lentil patties served with chutneys), chole poori (minced veggies wrapped in rice paper and fried), upma (thick porridge made with coarse rice flour and different veggies and nuts) and eight different dosa crepes made from rice and lentils, served with sambar (lentils in tamarind & coconut), tomato and coconut chutneys.
Mango Lassi
Gulab Jamun (Indian-style donuts)
Save room for dessert, too. We got to sample the gulab jamun (Indian-style donuts made from evaporated milk solids deep-fried and served in a light sugar syrup) and rasmali (which reminded me of rice pudding) and I particularly enjoyed the gulab. Charmaine also really raved about the mango lassi, a super-creamy drink made with mango, yogurt, milk, a little sugar and a dash of cardamom. I also felt the hot masala chai tea was super-smooth.
Desi Flavors also has a variety of specials throughout the week. On Wednesdays (5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.), the South Indian menu options are buy-one, get-one free. The same offer goes for biryanis on Thursday evenings. On the weekends (Fri.-Sun), get a family biryani pack with a free appetizer or house special dessert to go for only $29.99 (veggie) to $45.99 (shrimp).
And, Saturdays and Sundays, 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Desi Flavors is proud to offer its 35-item Grand Lunch Buffet for only $16.99 per person, or $11.99 per child under age 12.
Desi Flavors Indian Cuisine (13418 Telecom Dr. in zip code 33637) is open Tues.-Thur., 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m.; 11 a.m.-3 p.m. & 5 p.m.-10 p.m. on Fri.; 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.-10 p.m.; and 11:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. & 5 p.m.-9:30 p.m. on Sunday, For more information, call (813) 615-0004, visit DesiFlavorsTampa.com. And, please tell Sree and his staff that the Neighborhood News sent you!
The weekend Grand Lunch Buffet at Desi Flavors offers a wide variety of the restaurant’s most-requested dishes for just $16.99 per person. (photo provided by Sree Alla) Look for this sign when you turn off E. Fletcher Ave onto Telecom Dr. or you could drive past Desi Flavors Indian Cuisine.
The crew at Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors takes the business of cleaning out and/or installing new rain gutters at your home very seriously. (Photos provided by Taylor Gardner)
Your home’s rain gutters may not be high on your list when it comes to home improvement or maintenance. But, Florida is one of the rainiest states in the country with an average rainfall of 40-60 inches per year, so it may be more important than you think.
“If you don’t have gutters, you are risking water damage to your home’s foundation,” says Taylor Gardner, the owner of Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors. “If you have gutters and neglect them, that’s actually more of a disadvantage, as you risk standing water collecting and building up right against your roof.”
Taylor Gardner
Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors is a family-owned business with more than 31 years of experience in installing and repairing residential and commercial gutters. The business was first started in Lutz by Taylor’s father Ed Gardner, and was officially transitioned to Taylor (a Wharton High graduate) in 2019 after Ed passed away. In 2021, the business expanded and the office was moved to U.S. Hwy 41 in Land O’ Lakes.
In addition to working on gutters, Taylor Gardner Gutters also can repair soffits and fascia, which are the supporting structures for gutters located behind the gutters and underneath the roof. The company also performs gutter cleanings and leaf guard installations, screen room installations, and even window replacements. Taylor Gardner Gutters can reroute underground water drainage away from a building’s foundation towards preferred locations, such as private ponds, sidewalks or sewers.
Taylor, a U.S. Marine for nine years who served in Iraq and later earned a Bachelor of Science (BS) degree in Business Administration from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, has been involved in the business since childhood. Assisting his dad in his youth, he remembers that the early days of the business consisted of “me and Dad and one truck and one trailer.” Today, Taylor is the leader of five gutter crews and three soffit and fascia crews with 15 employees and 10-15 others in partnership. Improving water drainage around your home can have so many benefits.
“Our customers’ homes can vary from a 30-year-old house in New Tampa to a newly constructed house in Wesley Chapel to a mansion built over swamp land,” says Taylor. “Houses settle over time, causing cracks in walls and stucco, allowing water to move underneath the house. Windows are intentional cracks in the foundation for light and ventilation, but mold and mildew can grow there too. With tiles and wooden floors, spots can pop up as water gets in. Sometimes swamps are drained, clay is put on top and homes are built on top of that, but the water table (the boundary between groundwater and dry land) is already high, and it will move up in crevices.”
He adds, “Sometimes homes already have gutters, but they are neglected and that’s actually a worse situation. Blocked gutters keep standing water against the house, weighing the gutters down with hundreds or even thousands of pounds of water, leaves and debris easily. That can lead to cracked fascia and roof leaks.”
Here are some examples of the types of gutters that can be installed by Taylor Gardner Gutters.
Taylor also says that gutters can even add unexpected aesthetic appeal. Copper gutters can last up to 100 years and add a beautiful shining element to the outside of the home. Half-round gutters were more common in older homes and can add a more traditional look. Rain guards are alternatives to gutters that use long chains to redirect rainfall. With more than 20 different colors to choose from, your gutter color and style can vary from subtle to bold.
While the company serves locations in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, and Polk counties, Taylor says, “Hillsborough and Pasco counties are our bread and butter.” In fact, as Hillsborough and Pasco counties continue to grow, Taylor says his business is growing right alongside them.
“We work directly with GL Homes, the builders for The Ridge and Winding Ridge communities in Wesley Chapel,” he says, “and with the new construction by the former Pebble Creek golf course, to install all of the gutters for their properties.”
Taylor recommends spring as the best time to consult a gutter professional, especially for gutter cleaning. Taylor Gardner Gutters offers free gutter estimates. In anticipation of the rainy season from May to October, the company currently is offering a special rate of 15% off leaf guard products, such as Leaf Blaster Pro and Leaf Relief, which can block leaves and debris from entering gutters and creating blockages.
“Gutters are the least expensive upgrade you can do to improve the value of your house,” says Taylor. “It generally costs less than painting your whole home, getting floors done, or getting new landscaping.”
Taylor Gardner Gutters & Exteriors is located at 6202 Land O’Lakes Blvd. The office is open Mon.-Fri., 8 a.m.-5 p.m. For more info, visit TaylorGardnerGutters.com, call (813) 515-0844, see the ad on pg. 39 or visit the company’s pages on Facebook and Instagram.
