Stonewood Grill Hosts Its Own Celebration Of Dave Rathbun 

I remember very clearly the day Bella Brave general manager Tina Stormer called to tell me that my friend and former long-time Stonewood Grill & Tavern managing partner Dave Rathbun had passed away at the age of 69.

The first phone call I made immediately after I told Jannah was to current Stonewood Grill managing partner Dennis Diaz to ask him what, if anything, he planned to do in order to give all of Dave’s seemingly thousands of long- time customers and friends an opportunity to pay their respects and share their love for Dave.

Apparently, I wasn’t alone. When I asked Dennis how many people had called to ask him the same question, he said “Everybody! But, I don’t know his family or even how to get in touch with them.”

I didn’t either, but I found Dave’s step-daughter Emily Barreira on Facebook and told her that although I knew Bella Brava — where Dave was working the last year+ — was planning a “Celebration of Life” for him at the restaurant located off S.R. 54 near the Veterans Expy., I was concerned that most of his Stonewood customers would not be in attendance at that event.

So, I asked Emily to talk to her mom (and Dave’s truly beloved widow) Gina to see if it would be OK for me to put together a second Celebration of Life for Dave. She got back to me and said it would be fine to do that and that she and her mom would try to be there for it.

As we reported last issue, the Bella Brava event was an amazing recap of Dave’s too-short life, which also included his three brothers and two sisters and what seemed to be at least 300- 400 people — including a few of his New Tampa “peeps.” Among those in attendance were Dennis Diaz and Stonewood’s executive chef Danny Manzur. Together, we set the date for Stone- wood’s “In Remembrance of Dave” event for two weeks later — July 28 — which I announced on the front cover of our last New Tampa issue.

Although I was hoping to hold the event sometime after 5 p.m., Stonewood needed to hold it at 1 p.m., and although that time may have kept the attendance down somewhat, what took place was exactly what I had hoped for — a wonderful celebration of a deeply loved man, with great food provided mainly by Stonewood but also by some of the attendees and of course, great stories about a man they all knew and loved.

So, somewhere between 60-70 people came three hours before Stonewood opened on July 28. There was food and bar stools and booths filled with people, with some of the plaques, awards and photos Dave received over the years.

And, Emily and Gina were not only on-hand (they are in the top photo, with Stonewood’s Danny Manzur, far left, and Dennis Diaz, far right, and several other of the restaurant’s employees who helped make the event a success), they also brought along the memory board that also was on display at the Bella Brava event.

The Neighborhood News sponsored the opening round of drinks and one of Dave’s long-time customers brought along a remembrance guest book that most of the people in attendance signed.

Everyone talked about how Dave always knew not just everyone’s name, but where they preferred to sit, what food and drinks they usually had and more than a lit- tle info about each person’s job, family, etc.

“Dave definitely had a gift,” said long-time customer and friend Debby Amon. “He was just such a wonderful man.”

Many of those on hand at the Stonewood event knew Dave from when he worked at the Carrabba’s Italian Grill on N. 56th St. in Temple Terrace before he helped open Stonewood.

Here are just a few excerpts from the “In Loving Memory of Dave” guest book. I honestly can’t read all of the signatures, so I won’t include any of the signers’ names here — but you all know who you are and what you said:

“We lost a truly remarkable man – someone whose presence lit up every room, every shift & every heart that walked into Stonewood. As GM, he wasn’t just a leader, he was the heartbeat of the place. He had a gift for making everyone feel seen & valued – whether you were a longtime customer or a first-time visitor. He never met a stranger & he never let a day go by without a warm smile, a gentle hug, or a kind word. His employees adored him, not just for how he led, but for how he cared. He built a family, not just a team & that love ran deep. His joy was infectious, his heart was enormous & his legacy is etched into the lives of everyone lucky enough to know him. We will miss him dearly, but will carry his light forward. It was an honor to call him our friend.”

“I grew up in [the Rathbun family’s] neighborhood. Every year when I’d do the food drive, David was so wonderful & charitable. Always had a smile on his face & told us to come to Stonewood. He & his generous spirit will be missed.”

“We experienced Dave’s kindness & generosity of spirit on many occasions. He has served as an example in our lives for what it means to live your faith with simplicity & authenticity. Dave had the heart of a true angel. All his employees always commented that he was the best boss they ever had & we know why.”

“Dave was a man unlike anyone we have ever met. Truly special. He touched people’s lives in ways that left an everlasting impression.”

“Dave was the dearest person we met upon relocating to Tampa. While we were new, Dave made us feel like old friends, or better yet FAMILY! And, to Dave’s family, thank you for sharing Dave with us!”

“Dave trained my sister when she started as a waitress for Carrabba’s. I saw him frequently through the Stonewood days & more recently played golf with him & learned of his transition to Bella Brava. You can’t ask for a better guy or restaurant manager. His spiritual growth was very inspirational to me. We have been spiritual brothers since. You will be doing great things up there!”

“Emily & Gina – We loved Dave so much. From years ago at Stonewood to our long conversations in Publi to always visiting him at Bella Brava.”

Another Crume’s Eagle Scout Project Beautifies Heritage Elem. 

Donovan’s work crew (All photos provided by Jean Josephson)

Heritage Elementary is grateful to Donovan Crume and the New Tampa Scouting America Troop 148, which meets at St. Mark the Evangelist Catholic Church, for their accomplishment at Heritage Elementary.

(l.-r.) Davis, Donovan & Dylan Crume are all now Eagle Scouts whose Eagle projects have helped beautify Heritage Elementary.

On Aug. 2, Donovan completed another Eagle Scout project at Heritage Elementary off Cross Creek Blvd. He is now the third member of the Crume family who chose a Heritage Elementary beautification project as his Eagle Scout project!

Donovan took the initiative and coordinated the meeting times to assess the scope of the project and to make a supply list. He also confirmed project days and times, put together a fund-raising event to secure the funds needed and then purchased all of the materials he needed.

Donovan’s project consisted of spreading 10 cubic yards of mulch throughout the school’s learning butterfly garden and pressure washing and painting 16 concrete benches that are used both in the parent pickup area and as seating at the learning garden.

Members of the crew paint the benches (above) for the school’s new Butterfly Waystation (left).

The week prior to the project’s execution, Donovan and his brothers (Davis and Dylan) loaded the extremely heavy benches into their Dad’s truck to transport them home to do the pressuring washing and prepare for painting the following week.

On the day of the event, Donovan and his family arrived at 7:30 a.m. to set up a comfort tent with food and drink for their crew and soon, about 20 scouts, leaders and parents from Troop 148 arrived, ready to work!

Donovan showed great character and leadership skills in all his communications, not only with me, but also with his fellow scouts. He made sure everyone was hydrated throughout the day and suggested cooling off breaks, especially for the younger scouts. He made sure everyone knew their tasks and had the supplies to complete it. Even the 100-degree heat did not keep these scouts from completing the project and the transformation is amazing!

Heritage is a designated Monarch Way Station, so we take our butterfly, bird and insect habitats seriously, as well as our learning gardens for our students, families and staff. — Submitted by Jean Josephson,Gifted Elementary Teacher, Heritage Elementary.

New Tampa’s Kids Are Back At School!

 As you’re receiving this issue, the 2025-26 school year is about a week old, but because our deadline to finish this issue was the day before school started, we couldn’t get photos from the actual opening day of school onto these pages, so our amazing photographer Charmaine George went to as many “Meet the Teacher” events at as many of our area schools as she could. 

Charmaine included shots from each of these events not only in the beautiful collage on this page, but also put together the best of the best photos she took and gave us dozens of options to fit on these pages. 

A few things to note: 

1) Neither Freedom nor Wharton high schools held their own “Meet the Teacher” events, so we have no photos from those schools on these pages. 

2) Charmaine was careful to ask permission at each school, so the faces of children who are not allowed to be photographed were not included. 


Charmaine was able to get photos at Clark, Heritage, Hunter’s Green, Pride and Tampa Palms elementaries and at Turner Bartels K-8 School. We apologize that she was not able to get pictures at Chiles Elementary, Benito or Liberty middle schools or Freedom or Wharton high schools. — GN

Haraz Coffee Coming Soon?!

I was excited to see a sign posted next to Fine Ink Studios (the former location of Pinot’s Palette) that Haraz Coffee House was “Brewing Soon” at 1722 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in the Publix-anchored Shoppes at New Tampa of Wesley Chapel plaza. 

I’ll admit that I’d never heard of Haraz before, but any coffee shop that isn’t Starbucks that opens in our area is definitely worth a try and Haraz’s website says that the brand and founder Hamzah Nasser are “on a mission to share the rich heritage of Yemeni coffee with the world. By sourcing the finest beans and honoring traditional craftsmanship, we bring the bold, authentic flavors of Yemen to every cup. As we expand across the U.S., we’re committed to creating unforgettable coffee experiences that connect communities and celebrate culture.” 

Since starting off in Detroit in 2021, Haraz has grown to 31 locations in 13 states (with the closest one to us, and the only one in Florida, in Orlando), with 185 more “in the pipeline.” 

Whether you like traditional lattes or cappuccinos or prefer Turkish, Saudi, French Press or cold brew coffee, or even coffee with cardamom, ginger or other spices, Haraz has got you covered. 

There’s also hot chocolate, green and matcha tea and pistachio and saffron lattes. Haraz also features milk cakes, cheesecake & cinnamon rolls, and sells items like coffeemakers and bulk coffee. 

I called the Orlando location but they said the Wesley Chapel shop is owned by another franchisee, so they had no idea when our Haraz is expected to open. Of course, we’ll keep you posted, both in these pages and on our Facebook page. 

For more information, visit HarazCoffeeHouse.com. — GN 

Taylor Gardner Gutters — A Family Tradition That Continues To Grow 

Taylor Gardner Gutters owner Taylor Gardner is proud of his new location in Dade City, but he and his crew (photos below) are still installing and repairing gutters at homes and businesses in Wesley Chapel and New Tampa, too. (Photo by Charmaine George)

Although Gardner Gutters had been serving the Tampa Bay area since Ed Gardner established it as a small business in Lutz in 2000, Ed’s son Taylor has grown the business immensely since taking it over in 2020 and renaming it Taylor Gardner Gutters. 

It’s grown so much, in fact, that the business outgrew its previous location in Land O’Lakes and recently moved to four acres in Dade City. 

“We have 15 vehicles on the road every day,” Taylor says. “Our front two acres are filled with trucks, trailers and an employee parking area. It’s more space than we need right now, but I know we’ll end up growing into it.” 

Taylor Gardner Gutters installs and repairs gutters, soffits and facias, and also offers gutter cleaning, which keeps the gutters on your home or business working properly and in good repair. 

Taylor says that adding gutters is the least expensive thing you can do to protect the value of your home, ensuring that Florida’s famous summer downpours don’t destroy its foundation or even its aesthetic upgrades. 

“Protecting the foundation of your home is the main purpose of gutters,” he says, “but they also protect your paint and will help your grass and sod last longer, too. Gutters protect anything on the outside of your house to help it stay in great shape for as long as possible.” 

Without gutters, Taylor says water is much more likely to settle at the base of your home’s foundation. With that saturation, the water can cause erosion to the side of the home, leading to cracks in the stucco and window ledges and forming unsightly trenches. Water under the home also can cause wood floors in the home to pucker or pop. 

Taylor first joined the business to help his father after serving in the Marines for nine years, including a tour of duty in Iraq. He used his experience and his Business Administration degree from Liberty University in Lynchburg, VA, to start a different career, but came home when his dad needed his help after receiving a cancer diagnosis. 

Taylor took over the business when Ed passed away, and Taylor’s older brother, Brandon, who had decades of experience working with their dad, led installations. Unfortunately, Brandon was then diagnosed with cancer as well and passed away just eight months later. 

So now, Taylor continues the legacies of his dad and older brother, running the business in a way that would make them both proud. 

Photo provided by Taylor Gardner

“Our installers are great, and we have several who have been with the company more than 15 years,” Taylor explains. “They know exactly what they’re doing.” 

That’s important to Taylor because his company offers a lifetime warranty on its installations. He says this is what sets Taylor Gardner Gutters apart from its competitors. 

Company policy is that any customer who experiences a warranty issue will have the problem inspected within 48 hours and fixed as soon as possible — no matter how many years it’s been since the gutters were originally installed. 

“One of reasons we’ve been successful in this business is because we always answer the phone, especially if there’s a problem after installation,” Taylor explains. 

He contrasts that with many of his competitors, who are often just one-person companies doing as many jobs as they can, without employees to keep up with other things, such as going back and fixing something if it isn’t right. 

“My focus from the beginning has been to really hit customer service as our number one priority,” Taylor says. “We give people what they ask for at a very reasonable price.” 

Taylor says some of his customers have been coming back to the company for two decades, since his dad first started the business. 

The company’s lifetime no-leak guarantee is a another unique way Taylor builds those lifelong relationships. 

“All gutters will leak eventually,” he says. “Mine won’t leak for at least 10 years, but if they do and you still live in that house, call us and we’ll fix it.” 

He has one team that is dedicated to only doing repair work, even if it’s not a job originally done by Taylor Gardner Gutters. The repair team also handles any warranty calls that come in. 

“After the hurricanes last year, that team was very busy,” Taylor says, with homes that had a gutter or piece of soffit that came down. “Nine times out of ten, it’s not something we did wrong — sometimes it’s because a customer has done no maintenance — but as a courtesy we still take care of the problem. They then tell their neighbors how much they love us and how good we are, and that’s really good for our business.” 

It’s also good for his business that there is such a construction boom in our area. Taylor Gardner Gutters also works with several homebuilders to install gutters on newly built homes, including many of the new neighborhoods in Wesley Chapel, such as The Ridge, Winding Ridge, Valencia Ridge and all David Weekley Homes throughout the area. 

Photo provided by Taylor Gardner

Those builders are growing in other areas, too, such as further north in and around Brooksville. And, Taylor says his business is expanding into Lakeland, which he describes as “even crazier in construction than Wesley Chapel.” 

In addition to helping homeowners, the company installs, repairs and cleans gutters on commercial building for business owners. 

Taylor Gardner Gutters just did its largest job ever, replacing gutters at the CENTCOM building at MacDill Air Force Base. 

“It was a huge job on a seven-story building that took us four weeks,” Taylor says. 

Taylor Gardner Gutters has 200+ reviews on Google, with an average rating of 4.8 stars out of 5. Recently, Scott Hutchison said the company’s crew “arrived on time and did a fantastic, professional, careful, and respectful job of adding new gutters to my two-story metal roof.” 

Scott added that he highly recommends Taylor Gardner Gutters, writing, “[The] house looks great! No more water pooling up near my foundation.” 

Taylor Gardner Gutters is now located at 10301 U.S. Hwy. 301 in Dade City and serves homeowners in Hillsborough, Pasco, Hernando, Polk and Citrus counties, including New Tampa and Wesley Chapel. For more info, visit TaylorGardnerGutters.com or call or text (813) 515-0844.