Building Stronger Community Creating a Stronger Neighborhood Begins with the Small, Easy Steps
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Deer Park Principal | Hurricane Season | Sprouts | Mary Bryant Kindness NorthwestSM SERVING HIGHLAND PARK, MANDOLIN, WESTCHESTER, WEST HAMPTON, WESTWOOD LAKES AND WINDSOR PLACE HOAS westchasewow.com Volume 3 · Issue 6 JUNE 2019 Building Stronger Community Creating a stronger neighborhood begins with the small, easy steps. Page 4 Contents JUNE 2019 WOW | VOLUME 3 | ISSUE 6 1 WOW contents | publisher’s notes 8 HOA/CDD park place cdd | news and notes 12 COMMUNITY odyssey of mind | farnell volunteer | deer park principal | egg hunts | mompreneur | q and a | A strong sense of home of the month | profile | sprouts| good neighbor | community is what makes real estate round up a neighborhood special, 44 KIDS & EDUCATION basketball camp | elementary round up | davidsen | but it takes involvement state champs | moms club | and some effort. kids’ craft | lacrosse 58 HEALTH & HOME Page 4 fitness | crime stats | pet 64 CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS seniors HURRICANE SEASON 70 ENTERTAINMENT wow in world | library programs | June 1 marks the beginning of a new dishing it out | diversions | hurricane season. Do you know your events calendar | rec center | lighter side Northwest evacuation zone? 86 REFERENCE Cover photo from James Broome Photography Page 26 90 BUSINESS DIRECTORY WOW | publisher's notes 3 How Can We Build Community? In an era where increasing amounts of community interaction occur through screens and social media, how can our neighborhoods maintain a sense of identity and cohesion? BY CHRIS BARRETT, PUBLISHER ost young adults, when they weigh begins with a lot of small, rewarding steps purchase needed supplies in case our M the purchase of their first home, that are pretty easy to take. Check out area experiences a major storm. There is are looking for more than a way to build Karen’s cover story, beginning on page 4. no need to panic, but there is very good equity rather than pay rent. They weigh It may spark some ideas we all can use reason to be prepared. Please see page 26 the quality of schools—one of the most to make our neighborhoods even better and join Westchase Neighborhood News tangible symbols of community. But they places to call home. (the group with 7,300 members) for addi- also have an eye out for a neighborhood This edition of WOW Northwest is tional storm updates, advice and tips. in which their children may grow, play, filled with stories that reflect community. Please remember to let our valued meet friends and thrive. Some great local volunteers sent in photos advertisers know you have seen them on They are looking for a community to of the spring egg hunts they organized these pages. WOW is a non-profit charity call home. and held last month. We’re always grateful whose mission is to support local kids, Yet communities don’t occur organ- for the opportunity to share the bright, schools and charities and organize com- ically. Great communities are far more smiling faces of our youngest readers munity-building events. Its sole source of than a set of rules about landscaping or (Yes, kids love seeing themselves in revenue is WOW’s advertisers. Each time a shared assessment to pay for a pool. WOW, so never hesitate to send us your you use one and tell them you found them Successful, cohesive communities emerge stories and photos about them.). in WOW, you help keep our Northwest from hard work, much in the same way And while summer vacation has communities strong. that cherished family traditions are cre- kicked off, we share some great school Happy summer! ated and maintained. Community building news. We introduce Deer Park’s new is purposeful. principal. We also share an idea currently WOW’s Assistant Editor Karen Ring embraced by Mary Bryant Elementary – has spent a great deal of time thinking an official Kindness Certification – that all about communities and their lifeblood. schools could embrace to build a stronger While all of us are busy with work, family community on their campuses. and life, a strong community needs folks June 1 also starts Florida’s new Hurri- like you and me—folks who are not only cane Season. It’s time to educate yourself Barrett serves as WOW Publisher and Managing Editor well informed but residents who also get on your hurricane storm surge evacua- and can be reached at editor@ involved. Fortunately, community building tion zone, create an emergency plan and westchasewow.com. ADVERTISING THE WOW TEAM DEADLINES Visit worldofwestchase.com www.westchasewow.com | 12157 W. Linebaugh Ave., PMB #224, Tampa, FL 33626 and select the advertising ADVERTISING PUBLISHER/MANAGING EDITOR (SPACE & AD MATERIALS) link at the bottom of the Chris Barrett | T: 920-9809 | F: 200-7073 | [email protected] page. Advertising deadlines 5th of each month are the fifth of each month. WOW NORTHWEST ASSISTANT EDITOR Contact Advertising Manager Karen Ring | T: (317) 701-6188 | [email protected] ADVERTISING/BUSINESS MANAGER ARTICLES, COMMITTEE/ Advertising Manager | T: 926-0596 | F: 920-8311 ADVERTISING MANAGER CLUB REPORTS & [email protected] Stephanie Montini | T: 926-0596 | F: 920-8311 | [email protected] PICTURES BUSINESS MANAGER 12th of each month Leslie Blaze | T: 926-0596, Ext. 2 | [email protected] Contact Chris Barrett EDITORIAL & AD DESIGN WOW, INC. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Hillary Hufford-Tucker | [email protected] NOTE: The individuals listed below are responsible solely for WOW magazine. All issues regarding Westchase’s homeown- ers association should be directed to the WCA board, listed in the reference section at the back of the magazine. WOW DISTRIBUTION AND NOTICE operates entirely with advertising revenue; homeowners do SUBSCRIPTIONS World of Westchase (WOW) is published monthly by World of Westchase, Inc. not pay for any portion of WOW production. WOW is delivered for free to Westchase (WOW, Inc.). WOW is a Florida not-for-profit corporation and a tax-exempt chari- Jon Stein, President residents and is available for free at table organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Editorial T: 818-4547 | [email protected] several distribution points, including policy and guidelines are set by the WOW, Inc. Board of Directors. All views and the Westchase Swim & Tennis Center opinions expressed in the WOW are those of the authors. Lists are for reference Mary Griffin, Vice President T: 926-3119 | [email protected] and the Maureen B. Gauzza Public only and do not imply official sanction or recommendation of WOW, Inc. Paid Library. WOW has a readership of over advertising is not an endorsement by WOW, Inc. All rights reserved; content may Jeff Seligsohn, Treasurer 10,000. Annual subscriptions are $78. not be reproduced without written consent from WOW, Inc. This newsmaga- [email protected] Individual copies can be mailed for zine has been recognized by adopted resolutions at the May 1997 Westchase Joe Odda, Secretary $6.50; due to high postage costs, copies Community Association Board of Directors meeting as the “Official Publication” of [email protected] | 391-5706 cannot be mailed for free. Contact the Westchase community. Profits from the newsmagazine and other WOW, Inc. Carolyn Reynolds, Director WOW's Advertising Manager to arrange efforts are distributed to deserving beneficiaries and projects in Westchase and in T: 334-8869 | [email protected] payment. the broader Tampa Bay community. JUNE 2019 | WOW 4 WOW | cover feature Maintaining a Sense of Community in our Neighborhoods WOW | JUNE 2019 WOW | cover feature 5 Community. It is a word with dual meaning. BY KAREN RING; COVER PHOTO BY JAMES BROOME PHOTOGRAPHY n the one hand, it is defined as “a lighting ceremony help bring neigh- “We have truly made lifelong friends O group of people living in the same bors together on a regular basis over that are like family,” Stockton added. place or having a particular characteristic the course of the year. “We organize all “That is invaluable.” in common.” On the other hand, it refers different events throughout the year from to “a feeling of fellowship with others, family events to adult only events,” said Join a group as a result of sharing common attitudes, Alisha Stockton, who heads up the neigh- From book clubs to bunco groups, interests and goals.” borhood’s social committee. “We strive to mahjong clubs to mom groups, our When a neighborhood is able to find provide something for everyone!” neighborhoods are filled with opportuni- a way to merge these two meanings – Both Highland Park and West Hamp- ties for regular interaction. If you have a creating a space where people living in ton have social committees that make it specific interest, put feelers out on your close proximity also experience a feeling possible to keep larger-scale community neighborhood Facebook page or use the of fellowship – it becomes a coveted com- events organized throughout the year. Next Door app to see if a group already munity to call home. But traditions often start small. Host an exists. If not, start your own. Social media In this fast-paced, digital age, it is easy annual pre trick-or-treating get together platforms and free software programs like to get caught up in the day-to-day and on your block or a New Year’s Eve gath- Sign Up Genius make organizing regular rely on technology as a primary source of ering around a fire pit (sans fireworks, club gatherings easier than ever. Whether communication with the outside world. of course). Sometimes it is just a matter joining an existing group or launching Research has shown, however, that a of throwing a few chairs in the driveway your own, this is a great way to meet new strong connection to our neighbors keeps and seeing who stops by – you might be people and connect with neighbors who us safer, saner, healthier and happier.