Tijuana Flats in New Tampa

Tijuana Flats coming soon to New Tampa at 17501 Preserve Walk Lane!

Fresh market at Wiregrass this Saturday

Don't forget Wesley Chapel's fresh market at The Shops at Wiregrass this Saturday from 10:00 to 3:00.

Orange Theory Fitness coming soon to New Tampa

Located across from Walgreens on BBD and near Starbucks at 17515 Preserve Walk Lane in New Tampa, Orange Theory Fitness plans to open in July.

Porter Campus at Wiregrass

Earlier today, Pasco County approved a seven story building for the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, the proposed Pasco Hernando Community College Campus to be built at Mansfield Blvd. and SR 56 in Wesley Chapel. The building will be one of the tallest in Pasco County.

River Park in Tampa Palms

Corazon de Tampa

This song about Tampa was written by Frank Garcia, a renowned Florida amateur paleontologist featured in last Sunday's Floridian section of the St. Petersburg Times.

Market report for Cross Creek in New Tampa

Nine single family homes in Cross Creek were reported sold by our MLS in May.  Five were traditional sales and four were distressed sales (2 Foreclosures & 2 Short Sales).  Reported sold prices ranged from a low of $104,900 for a three bedroom, two bathroom, two car garage home to a high of $259,000. for a four bedroom, three bathroom, 2 car garage, pool home.  MLS reports the average May sold price for single homes in Cross Creek was $196,322.

Currently there are sixteen single family homes in Cross Creek listed for sale in MLS, Cross Creek is one of the few communities in New Tampa with no CDD fees so it is a community you should consider if you don't want to pay those fees for community amenities.   Prices range from $102,300  to $349,900.  Half of the homes listed for sale in Cross Creek are pre-foreclosures/short sales.     .

Work on New Tampa Blvd. extension and bridge begins

Work on the New Tampa Boulevard extension and bridge over I-75 begins today.  The $14 million .7 mile extension and bridge connecting New Tampa Blvd. and Commerce Park Blvd. is expected to be completed in the summer of 2013.

Fresh market in Wesley Chapel

The fresh market at The Shops at Wiregrass will be held tomorrow from 10:00 AM to 3:00 PM.

Home insurers ask for rate increases

(Big surprise!) Seven home insurers in Florida have requested rate increases. The average rate hike ranges from 10% to 36%. Full Story.

Flag Day

Latin Twist Cafe

Today I noticed this sign announcing the Latin Twist Cafe in the retail center on BBD across from the Wesley Chapel Medical Center. (Dickey's Barbecue and the Hungry Greek are located there too.)  I have no idea when they plan to open.

Hot Air Balloons over Wesley Chapel

We have grown accustomed to seeing two or three hot air balloons over Wesley Chapel on Sunday mornings.  This morning there were at least ten!  Most of them went right over Wiregrass Ranch and early morning drivers, joggers, & bicyclists all enjoyed them.

Retail job fair in Wesley Chapel this Wednesday

Looking for work in retail?  Then you should consider going to The Shops at Wiregrass for their job fair on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 from 4:00 to 7:00 PM.  (Located across from Dillards)

Participating retailers:

Buckle, Champs Sports, Charming Charlie, Coldwater Creek, Dillard's,  Fast Fix Jewelry, Guest Services, Hollister, HQ Salon Avena, Macy's, Motherhood Maternity, Sunglass Hut, Talbots

Florida Couple forecloses on Bank of America!

Symphonic Distribution holds grand opening in Wesley Chapel

Symphonic Distribution held a grand opening yesterday for its new Wesley Chapel location (off of SR 56).  The digital music distribution company President & CEO, Jorge Brea provided the following press release: 

"Symphonic Distribution is a USA based digital and technology services provider aimed at providing digital music distribution (to retailers such as iTunes, eMusic, Rhapsody, Beatport and over 100 more), audio services (mastering & audio restoration), marketing, education, piracy protection services, artist/label development, web/graphic design, mobile app development and more for artists and record labels around the world. Launched in 2007, we are operated by experienced music producers, record label owners, and artists. We have distributed over 100,000 releases from clients based in nearly every continent of the world and developed unique systems to benefit the needs of our clients in the ever evolving music and technology sectors." 

Brea added that they have delivered music to iTunes & Amazon from 20,000+ artists including songs from Justin Timberlake, Nelly Furtado, OneRepublic, and more. If you want to record a song and get it on iTunes, they are your team!
Additional information:  Phone:  813.907.3128.  Website:  http://www.symphonicdistribution.com/ .

Fresh market at Wiregrass today (10:00 to 3:00)

Today is National Donut Day

Get a FREE donut with beverage purchase at participating Dunkin Donuts!

Trout Creek Commons seeking tenants for New Tampa retail center

A commercial retail center is under construction in New Tampa, just south of County Line Road.  The two buildings will make up 15,000 square feet of additional commercial space in the desirable New Tampa market.  Additional info:  troutcreekcommons@gmail.com .

Little Caesars Pizza coming to Wesley Chapel

Sign announcing Little Caesars coming to the shopping plaza at the intersection of BBD and County Line Road in Wesley Chapel (in front of Target).

Hurricane Preparedness Checklist

The official hurricane season begins today and while we have been fortunate to live in an area that has been virtually free of hurricanes we still must be prepared.

The following is a suggested list to use for hurricane preparedness. While it is not intended to be an all inclusive checklist, it serves us all as a good starting point to be prepared.  Remember, the first 72 are on you!
□ WATER: Drinking water—at least 1 gallon per person/day for one-two weeks
□ MEDICAL: 4 weeks supply of prescription medicines, First Aid Kit, antiseptic, pain reliever, bandages, & insect repellent
□ ICE CHESTS: Two, one for ice, one for food & don’t forget the ice
□ CASH/GAS: ATM’s, credit cards, & gas pumps may not work
□ REPAIR SUPPLIES: Plastic tarp for windows or roof repair, duct tape
□ TOOLS: Manual can opener, hammer, nails
□ PAPER/DISPOSABLE PRODUCTS: Paper towels, disposable plates, cups, toilet paper, & eating utensils
□ INFANT NECESSITIES: Medicine, sterile water, formula, diapers, bottles, OTC meds
□ BATTERY OPERATED APPLIANCES: Radio, camera, portable television, fans, and batteries
□ CLEAN UP SUPPLIES: Mop, buckets, towels, plastic garbage bags, bleach/disinfectant
□ FIRE/LIGHT: Charcoal, lighting fluid, propane, matches, lanterns/flashlights and batteries
□ LINENS: Pillows, blankets, sleeping bags, air mattresses Try to wash all laundry prior to storm.
□ PERSONAL HYGIENE: Deodorant, disposable wipes, contact lens solution, toothpaste, etc.
□ NONPERISHABLE FOOD: Powdered/canned milk, canned/bottled juice, canned meats & fish—Spam, chicken, ham, tuna, cereal, cookies, crackers, peanut butter, jelly, bread
□ WATER TIGHT CONTAINERS FOR DOCUMENT STORAGE: Place insurance policies, birth certificates, wills, proof of pet vaccinations, etc. in water tight containers
Pet food and pet carriers.  Don't forget about Fido and Fluffy!  Should you decide to leave the area with your pets and need motel accommodations, visit:  http://www.petswelcome.com/  for "pet friendly" accommodations.

Also, visit http://floridadisaster.org/ for disaster planning, etc.

Additional useful websites:
National Hurricane Center:  http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/
Bay News 9 Klystron radar pictures:  http://www.baynews9.com/weather/klystron9
There are even iphone apps for hurricane tracking! 
Lastly, consider purchasing an emergency radio/flashlight such as this one.