Tag: ribbon cutting

Fire Station No. 2’s Grand Opening Brings Government & Community Closer Together

Although we told you all about the new Pasco County Fire Rescue Station No. 2 last issue, we had to visit the new station on Wesley Chapel Blvd. again for its official Grand Opening, which was held on Aug. 14.

The event, which also attracted more than 100 local residents, many of whom expressed their appreciation for the station, also featured speeches by assistant county administrator for public safety Joanna Cheshire (in yellow, right), Pasco Fire Chief Ryan Guynn (holding large Ajax scissors), Pasco County District 2 Commissioner & Board vice-chair Seth Weightman (to Chief Guynn’s right) and Board chair Jack Mariano (to Weightman’s right). Also in attendance were dozens of other county fire officials, firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians (EMTs).

Other highlights included tours of the beautiful, modern new facility, a sudden torrential downpour that forced the ribbon-cutting ceremony inside with the doors closed, as well as a call for service that had those in attendance watching Ladder Truck 2 exiting the building.

“What a great day for Pasco County and the people of Wesley Chapel,” Commissioner Mariano said. “It’s very important for Pasco County to protect its citizens and this station was badly needed to reduce our response times. I want to thank our fire and EMS team for being out here every single day, saving lives. This station is built to meet today’s needs and tomorrow’s growth.”

*District 2 Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman.*

Commissioner Weightman added, “The GO (General Obligation) bond for this station was approved by the voters in 2019 because you said, ‘Hey, we need this.’ So, all the thanks goes to you and we can’t express how grateful we are.”

He added, “This facility represents the very best Pasco County has to offer, not just in service, but with the people who live and work out of this facility. This station will not only reduce response times. It also will help your homeowners insurance to go down and that’s [one reason] why we’re working expeditiously to build new fire stations across this county.”

Up next was Cheshire, who spoke on behalf of county administrator Mike Carballa. “This really takes a village,” Cheshire said, also thanking the county attorney’s office for its help, and the adjacent Calvary Baptist Church, “for allowing us to use their parking lot today. We’re becoming good, close neighbors.”

Cheshire also mentioned how much she appreciates the firefighters, “who don’t know a Friday. First responders are always on [duty]. We’re happy to have the ‘D’ shift but they still always work around the clock. This is a Grand Opening, but for them, it’s more of a housewarming. The firefighters and EMTs do everything together and they live here, so we always have to thank them.”

*Pasco County Fire Rescue Chief Ryan Guynn.*

Last but not least was Chief Guynn. “The commissioners were right,” he aid. “The citizens made this happen and it really does take a village. There’s a lot of retired firefighters in the audience here. It was your dream, but we’re the ones getting to bring it together and move it forward.”

Guynn also thanked the crews at the new station for being, “the ones doing the hard work.” He named quite a few members of his senior team by name (but didn’t give first and last names, so I don’t want to get any names wrong). “I know we’ve given the citizens the credit for passing the GO bond, and they deserve it, but I also want to thank our county commissioners. They really care about public safety…our citizens’ safety…and always keep fire rescue on the forefront and we can’t thank you guys enough for that.”

He also talked about how needed the new station was, both geographically and to serve the “9,000 parcels and 20,000-25,000 residents in its zone. Since we opened on July 14 (one month before the event), we’ve run one confined space rescue, four structure fires, we’ve performed 18 advanced life support cardiac calls and various other rescues, so this station is already making a difference.”

*The crowd at the Aug.14 Grand Opening of PCFR Station No. 2.*

North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbon-Cutting Events — Face Foundrié, Hale Law & Drybar

It’s been another busy few weeks for the North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC)’s giant scissors, as there were four NTBC ribbon-cutting events just between Apr. 21 and Apr. 29, including the Face Foundrié, Hale Law Accident Attorneys and Drybar Wesley Chapel.

On Apr. 21, the Face Foundrié not only cut a Chamber ribbon but also opened its doors for the first time at 28249 Paseo Dr., Unit 190, in The Shops at Wiregrass. Its Grand Opening will be held on Saturday, May 30, 1 p.m.-4 p.m.

Local franchise owners Brenda and her daughter Elle Vansteenburg (right) welcomed Chamber members to tour the beautiful new facial spa, one of nearly 90 Face Foundrié locations in 25 U.S. states (10 in Florida). The company was founded in Edina, MN, in 2019 by CEO Michele Henry, and the Wesley Chapel Face Foundrié offers a variety of facials, lashes, brows & skin care products, with memberships available. For more info about the Face Foundrié, call (656) 246- 5141 or visit FaceFoundrie.com.

Next, on Apr. 23, Hale Law Accident Attorneys cut an NTBC ribbon at the firm’s office location at 6408 E. Fowler Ave. in Temple Terrace. Founded by Patrick Hale (at right in photo, left) in Sarasota in 2018, Hale and co-managing partner Patrick Iyampillai (with microphone in same photo), fellow partner Rose Kasweck and attorneys Patrick Barnes, Maxwell Shrem, James Tanton and Kristi Paschall, are all dedicated to representing everyday Floridians who have been wrongfully injured by someone else’s negligence.

As the official accident law firm for USF, Hale Law does not take on corporate clients or insurance company defense work — “just people who need someone to fight for them,” Hale said. The partners in the highly-rated firm (the Temple Terrace office has a 5.0-star rating on nearly 30 reviews on Google) told everyone who attended the ribbon-cutting event that they should “Go to Hale (Law)” if they’re ever injured.

For more info, call (813) 547-4980 (24 hours/day) or visit HaleLaw.com.

Later that same day, Drybar Wesley Chapel hosted another well-attended NTBC ribbon-cutting event. Already open for several weeks, the location at 28163 Paseo Dr., Suite 135, is an elegant-looking salon that specializes in styling and blow-drying all different types of hair, with catchy cocktail-copying names (putting the “bar” in “Drybar”) for the styles, like “The Cosmo” and “The Old Fashioned.”

Franchise owners LeShundra Haughton (in Drybar yellow in photo, right) and her son Xavier (with sunglasses) and LeShundra’s husband August Haughton (left) and her sister LaTonya DeShazier (far right) welcomed Chamber members to check out all that Drybar has to offer, including not only the blowout services, but also braids, clip-in hair extensions, hair care products, memberships and gift cards.

Drybar, which today has nearly 200 locations (15 in Florida), debuted in Brentwood, CA, in 2010. As LeShundra said, “We want to help everyone have their best hair day.”

For more info, call (813) 702-1066 or visit DrybarShops.com. — GN; all photos by Charmaine George

PTSD Foundation Also Cuts A Chamber Ribbon

The following week, on Aug. 28, the PTSD Foundation of America Florida Chapter also hosted a Chamber ribbon-cutting event at its office in the Mango Coworking Space at 2831 Allegra Way (off Wesley Chapel Blvd.) in Lutz.

Florida PTSD Foundation Chapter general manager Luis Pancha (at right in photo with NTBC president and CEO Hope Kennedy), a Marine Corps veteran, told attendees that the Foundation isn’t made up of therapists, but it does provide much-needed services for veterans and their families, including in-person peer mentoring and putting those who are at risk of becoming another one of the 44 U.S. military veterans each day who commit suicide in touch with licensed therapists. Foundation volunteers also help vets with writing grants and even with finding jobs.

“This office is a place where veterans and their families can come for support, connection and hope,” Pancha said.

Pancha clearly is the right person for the job. He told the attendees, “I’m not here to ask for donations. I ask for word of mouth because that’s how our Foundation can grow. So, I hope five people here will talk to five people to spread the word.”

He also said that the local chapter actually started back in 2023 because, “As a veteran, I know that the need is great. It’s very difficult for people to understand what PTSD really is, but I suffer from PTSD a lot myself and my wife Samantha helped pull me out of the darkness. Now, I get to reach into people’s darkness and help pull them out as well.”

The need is clearly great, as two veterans I met during the event told me that they had attempted suicide more than once.

The event included huge donations of food from multiple sources, and Craving Donuts co-owner Vanzelle Nibbs parked his donut truck at the event and gave each attendee at least one free donut. I had enjoyed these gourmet donuts at previous events, but until you’ve had them hot and crisp outside and soft inside, you haven’t really tasted them! For more info about the PTSD Foundation, call (813) 940-0015 or visit PTSDUSA.org. For Craving Donuts, call (813) 466-9365 or visit CravingDonuts.com. — GN

Brenda Vansteenburg Drybar Elle Vansteenburg Face Foundrié Hale Law LaTonya DeShazier LeShundra Haughton New Tampa North Tampa Bay Chamber Patrick Hale ribbon cutting Wesley Chapel Xavier Haughton

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Cuts A Ribbon On Its New Expansion

Although the title may change hands at some point in the future, Wesley Chapel’s first hospital is still its largest and an exclamation point has been added to that sentence following the Nov. 20 ribbon-cutting ceremony and Grand Opening of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (AHWC) hospital’s “North Tower” upward expansion.

More than 200 hospital staffers, hospital and hospital Foundation Board members, as well as North Tampa Bay Chamber Board members were on hand when AHWC president and CEO Ryan Quattlebaum (left) and chief medical officer Robert Rosequist (with scissors in top photo) cut the ribbon on the 80,373-sq.-ft. expansion. The project adds three additional floors (only the top one of which is open) and 24 more licensed beds, with room for two 24-bed units in the future, as well as 21 additional pre-op and post-op beds, two additional operating rooms, two additional endoscopy suites and one hybrid operating room.

The expansion also gives the award-winning hospital — which has been named one of the top hospitals in the U.S. by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report magazines, as well as earning an “America’s 250 Best Hospitals” grade by Healthgrades and a 21st consecutive semester Hospital Safety Grade of “A” from Leapfrog — expanded sterile processing and imaging capabilities, including MRI and radiology.

All told, AHWC now has 193 private patient beds, 34 ER beds, 12 operating rooms, three endoscopy suites, two heart catheterization labs, one C-section suite, and too much other robotic surgery and other advanced technology to mention here.

Following an opening prayer, Quattlebaum said, “This expansion project is truly monumental for AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. I am so excited to celebrate with everyone here today because this is truly a celebration for our community.”

Quattlebaum then thanked all of the elected officials in attendance, including District 1 Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, District 2 Commissioner Seth Weightman (right) and District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano. He also acknowledged and thanked all of the hospital Board members, medical executive committee members, AdventHealth West Florida Division leaders and fellow Pasco County AdventHealth leaders, as well as all of the companies that participated in building the hospital expansion project.

“The journey at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel is one that reads like a fairy tale storybook, as it relates to health, faith and community,” Quattlebaum said. So, I’ll go back to the beginning — to 2012, when this campus opened (as Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel) with 80 beds and a community that welcomed us with open arms. And, as the community has grown, we have grown with it. And, what that growth really signifies is that we have [greater] access to care.”

He added that when he first heard about AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, “I was in California and I heard about this amazing place where they have these great, quality stores and the team is so engaged. It really speaks to the heart of what makes Wesley Chapel special — our people. A building is a place where people receive care, but it’s delivered by people and the people who work here are truly what makes us unique and special.”

Quattlebaum concluded by saying that when they had orientation for the new expansion, he asked his team members where they came from, where home was for them. “One of them said, ‘I live in Zephyrhills but I remember this spot, this part of Wesley Chapel, as a place where we used to come to watch meteor showers.’ And I thought that meteor showers are moments that reminds us how brilliance is possible. It’s fitting that our hospital stands here today because it symbolizes what brilliance can look like. Our mission calls us to continue to be brilliant for our community every single day and to extend Christ’s healing ministry through healing, comfort and hope. While meteor showers come and go, the light and brilliance that extends at this place endures.”

Next up was Commissioner Weightman, who said, “AdventHealth entered Pasco County in 1985 and the reason for that was that Commissioner Oakley’s dad donated the land that AdventHealth Zephyrhills sits on today. And it’s an honor to sit with him today, as Commissioner Oakley has carried on that legacy by being part of that foundation. And, here we are today in Wesley Chapel, on a road that used to be called the ‘road to nowhere.’ But now, that roads leads somewhere, to the North Tower of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. How spectacular is that?”

Also speaking at the event were AHWC chief of staff Dr. Kalpesh Patel and Dr. Rosequist, but before the ribbon-cutting and tours of the new wing, Quattlebaum also thanked the AHWC marketing team for putting the event together.

For more info about AdventHealth Wesley Chapel (2600 BBD Blvd.), visit AdventHealth.com or call (813) 929-5000. — GN, all photos except the rendering above by Charmaine George

AdventHealth AdventHealth Wesley Chapel AHWC expansion hospital ribbon cutting Robert Rosequist Ryan Quattlebaum Wesley Chapel

Former Gator All-American Celebrates Grand Reopening Of Sonny’s BBQ

As a former Gator, I remember when former University of Florida guard Shannon Snell — who recently became the franchise owner of the Sonny’s BBQ (Note-Snell took over for previous franchisees and New Tampa residents Jim and Cristina Hoff, who ran the local Sonny’s since it opened in 1998) on Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel — was a first-team All-American back in 2003.

What I didn’t know was that Snell lived in Tampa Palms, but attended Hillsborough High instead of Wharton (where he was zoned to attend), and he was a three-year starter for the Terriers and a USA Today High School All-American.

But, Snell told me that he injured his shoulder during his junior season at Florida and somehow went undrafted by the NFL because he never had the shoulder repaired and couldn’t pass a physical. “It just kept getting worse,” he said. “But, I just wanted to rehab it and not have surgery.”

Between 2004-06, he had brief stints with the Denver Broncos, Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys, but told me, “I loved football, but I knew I didn’t have the passion to play that some guys did. My dad said that when you find your passion in work, it’s more fun, more like a hobby.”

So, when he was still living in Gainesville, Snell says he, “started at the bottom with Sonny’s. But, it had everything I wanted — a chance to move up, with a corporate structure.”

He adds that today, all Sonny’s franchisees have to also become barbecue pitmasters.

“Every location has a real person who really knows how to do barbecue,” he says. “And, since every pitmaster does barbecue a little different, you’re allowed to have your individuality, but within our corporate standards. We go to Florida BBQ Association competitions and even have corporate competitions, so we’re always learning how to do barbecue better.”

Today, Sonny’s has almost 100 locations throughout the Southeastern U.S., owned by CEO Jamie Yarmuth, and Snell says that even though Yarmuth is young himself, he has been “a mentor to me. After I was the GM of a Gainesville location for ten years, he came to me and said, ‘Wesley Chapel is coming available and we’d like you to become the new franchisee.’”

So, after a couple of months with Sonny’s “back home,” Snell held a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting (top photo) on Oct. 29, that Yarmuth and other Sonny’s execs also attended.

Snell likes to show off the seasonal menu, with items that aren’t always available — like the maple BBQ turkey club sandwich (left) and the maple BBQ pork burnt ends (above right), which were my favorites of the seasonal items. There’s also a pulled pork stack on “corncakes” (cornbread “waffles”), sweet potato fries, pulled pork mac & cheese and seasonal wings tossed in maple or golden BBQ sauce.

My favorite thing at Sonny’s, since BBQ sauce doesn’t always agree with me, are the grilled steakburgers (like the candied bacon burger below right) and the new loaded tots (topped with crispy onion straws, queso & drizzled with BBQ sauce, top left). We added some pulled pork because the tots just didn’t seem messy enough (just kidding — they were definitely messy!).

Every attendee at the ribbon cutting also received a free “Pork Big Deal” with any other entrée purchase. It included a big pulled pork sandwich, a side and a drink.

And of course, Sonny’s — “Pitmasters since ‘68” — also still has “Signature BBQ” like St. Louis-style and baby back pork ribs, beef brisket and more. We believe Snell is going to do great at his Wesley Chapel location!

Sonny’s BBQ (5324 BBD Blvd.) is open every day for lunch & dinner (11 a.m.-9 p.m.). For info, call (813) 994-8989 or visit SonnysBBQ.com. — GN

Cristina Hoff grand opening Jamie Yarmuth Jim Hoff ribbon cutting Shannon Snell Sonny’s BBQ University of Florida Wesley Chapel

North Tampa Bay Chamber Helps The Performance Lab Host A Truly Grand Opening!

It’s not every day that we cover the Grand Opening of a business located on N. Dale Mabry Hwy. in Tampa. But, when North Tampa Bay Chamber (NTBC) president & CEO Hope Kennedy tells me “This is one you shouldn’t miss,” I generally take her at her word.

And, oh boy! The Grand Opening and NTBC ribbon-cutting event for The Performance Lab (TPL) not only included Tampa Bay Lightning coach Jon Cooper, (as the Lightning have a partnership with TPL), it also unveiled a state-of-the-art, 25,000-sq.-ft. facility “uniting world-class medical care, advanced diagnostics, and progressive rehabilitation under one roof.”

As described by founder Bahir Manios during the Grand Opening event attended by more than 200 people, TPL features top-of-the-line imaging (MRI, X-ray, ultrasound & C-arms) technology, including wide-bore MRIs, more than 25 exam/treatment rooms (including handicapped-friendly rooms and exam tables), multiple procedure rooms for interventional pain management, a dedicated brain health suite equipped with multiple modalities to assess and treat patients, including hyperbaric oxygen therapy (bottom photo), a rehabilitation suite equipped to allow patients of all abilities to progress to complete recovery in a comfortable environment and a unique performance center.

“In other words,” said Manios, “TPL is much more than a medical center. It’s a destination for recovery, performance and total wellness. Whether you’re a first responder, an athlete, a veteran, or just an ordinary person simply seeking strength, clarity and recovery from an ailment, TPL was built for you, and it’s all under one roof. We’ve put together physical medicine and rehabilitation, interventional pain management, brain health and neuro recovery, advanced imaging and diagnostics, sports performance and recovery, and life care planning for long term support.”

The event was as spectacular as the place itself, with a catered lunch outside, the ribbon cutting with (l.-r., top photo) Hillsborough County Sheriff Chad Chronister, Coach Cooper, Manios and TPL chief revenue & legal officer Shant Melkonian. Once inside, Manios played a short video showing the remarkable technology patients can expect to be treated with, and there was an informative panel discussion featuring (right, l.-r.) executive director of brain & strategic partnerships Marissa McCarthy, MD, executive medical director Michael Lorenz, MD, and chief medical officer Hadi Shah, MD, plus tours of the former (but completely gutted and recreated) Harley-Davidson dealership.

In other words, if you missed it, you really did miss something special.

For more info about TPL (6920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy.), visit TPLTampa.com or call (844) TPL-TAMPA. — GN, photos by Charmaine George

Bahir Manios grand opening Hope kennedy Jon Cooper New Tampa North Tampa Bay Chamber NTBC ribbon cutting The Performance Lab