Be My Valentine?
In a few days children throughout our community will exchange dozens of little cards with their friends.
While these Valentines are now often accompanied by actual sweets, their sweet written messages and signatures annually bring back memories of my own childhood Valentine’s Days.
They also remind us of something more important. Each of us who shares – or who has shared – a life with another has a sweet story to tell. In meeting a new couple, my favorite question to ask is, “How did you two meet?”
No matter how silly, convoluted, funny or ordinary, the stories I hear are the most significant ones in the lives of those couples and their families. This month we interviewed a handful of residents and asked, “How did you two meet?” WOW reporter Karen Ring opens the door to their answers in our great cover feature on page 4.
While I often use this space to detail other fun articles that await you within the magazine, I’d like to take this month’s remaining space in a different direction.
I’d like to request a favor.
Yes, I’m asking a favor of you individually.
WOW is unique. The magazine is thrown each month in front of each Westchase home at absolutely no cost to homeowners. There is no subscription fee and we receive no portion of your HOA assessment to pay our bills. All of our costs are paid for by our generous advertisers. In recent years we’ve even been able to present over $100,000 annually to Westchase’s schools to enhance their technology and curricula.
For this to continue, we need your help. If you’ve noticed your vastly shrinking newspaper in recent years, you likely understand the challenges print publications face. Our struggling local economy has reduced the number of advertising businesses while the Internet poses further challenges.
If you value what WOW brings to you each month, I’d ask a simple favor in return. When you are making the decision to hire service providers, please consider our advertisers. Most important, when you do hire an advertiser in WOW, be sure to tell them, “I found you in WOW.”
By doing so, you show businesses that their WOW advertisements work.
Taking this simple step each month will be an important way you can help keep WOW strong. In turn, a strong WOW means a stronger community.
Thanks for being a dedicated reader!
By Chris Barrett, Publisher
WOW’s January Traditions
Like the Roman god Janus, whose two faces gaze in opposite directions, January’s WOW again looks forward and backward.
January, his namesake, represents both beginnings and endings. In a nod to the past, WOW takes its traditional look back at Westchase news in 2011 on page 14. We also conclude our 20th anniversary History of Westchase series with a fascinating 20-year timeline of community events on page 20.
In a nod to the future, WOW’s cover story presents our annual Health and Wellness special. Joey Johnston’s feature helps everyone avoid the false, temporary hope of fad diets so prevalent each January. Instead, to help everyone with a new start, he’s interviewed two Westchase personal trainers to determine what really works for those who stick to their health resolutions each year.
Each January I observe another tradition in this space – one that gives me great happiness. I announce the donations WOW made to its local public schools the previous December.
WOW is unusual. While it’s the newsmagazine of our Westchase Community Association, it is not subsidized by any association homeowners’ dues or assessments from our CDD. WOW is financially independent, paying for all of its editorial, publishing and distribution costs solely with its advertising revenues. WOW’s mission, however, goes further. Each year its revenues in excess of expenditures are returned to the community in important, positive ways.
After a very successful year in 2011, I’m happy to report WOW was able to make gifts of $19,000 to Westchase Elementary, $7,500 to Lowry Elementary, $12,000 to Davidsen Middle School, $19,000 to Alonso High School and $10,000 to Robinson High School’s IB program, which serves over 100 Westchase teens. WOW donated these funds to enable the schools to purchase technology and curricular enhancements to strengthen our youngest residents’ educations. With this year’s donations, we’ve helped Alonso build a modern television studio and provide four mobile smart boards for its classrooms. Davidsen will purchase classroom projectors and install wireless access points in all classroom buildings. Lowry and Robinson are purchasing document cameras, projectors, smart boards and software. Westchase Elementary will purchase Mimio Teach Interactive Systems, mini laptops and DVD players.
WOW is able to do this because of the generous and dedicated support of its advertisers and its readers. I encourage all readers to thank WOW’s advertisers for their support and encourage their favorite businesses to advertise here. Doing so pays dividends to Westchase’s children.
Happy New Year!
By Chris Barrett, Publisher
Westchase’s Favorite Elf
Which person has graced the most WOW covers?
Yes, it’s old Kris Kringle, and this month he’s there again!
Santa and the Westchase Charitable Foundation’s Pre-Flight Parade take to Westchase streets on Saturday, Dec. 10. The bead and candy-tossing Santa parade is one of Westchase’s most cherished traditions. Each year the same group of merry elves pitch in to bring joy to Westchase kids and adults alike. Recently I sat down with the parade’s organizers – as well as Santa himself – to hear what motivates them to hold the parade each year. Their stories were both funny and moving. Don’t miss them on page 5.
Financially backed by WOW, the parade is organized by the Westchase Charitable Foundation (WCF), which assists families who have sick children or who have experienced some tragedy. During the event, parade organizers will be collecting unwrapped gifts for Sincerely Santa, a toy drive for needy kids. If you find joy in the parade, make this the year to say thanks by offering an unwrapped gift and a donation to the WCF.
After a very successful Great West Chase 5K and a great Westchase Thanksgiving Food Drive, I have many people to thank. Please see the race article on page 40 and the food drive article on page 20 for lists of these special folks. I also want to thank you, our participating readers, who made these traditions so wonderful.
I do, however, want to single out WOW Business Manager Tracy Urso. Every year Tracy is the primary drive behind the success of The Great West Chase. Anyone who has ever participated comes away impressed. Thanks, Tracy, for doing such a phenomenal, dedicated job!
As always, we welcome your shout outs and letters to the editor. Please also let our valued advertisers know you saw them in WOW.
I wish you and your loved ones a wonderful holiday!
By Chris Barrett, Publisher
Westchase’s Greatest Asset
Westchase has beautiful and well-maintained commons areas, facilities and parks. But none of these are the community’s greatest asset.
Our community’s greatest asset appears on this month’s cover – Westchase’s residents. Only people can give Westchase its true spirit of community. This month, we take a look at what the 2010 Census tells us about the people who make up Westchase. Beginning on page 6, our cover story may hold some surprises for you.
Of course, there’s no surprise that our neighbors are both generous and proud to call Westchase home. On Oct. 29 both traits were apparent in the tenth running of The Great West Chase and the 20th Anniversary Party WOW held in West Park Village to celebrate Westchase’s birthday. As both events occurred after November’s print deadline, we will have greater coverage of them in December’s WOW. I do, however, want to thank all who participated in and sponsored the events. They were successful because of you – and our generous volunteers.
This month one of Westchase’s great community traditions continues. On Sunday, Nov. 6, the community will hold its annual Thanksgiving Food Drive, benefitting Metropolitan Ministries. At 1 p.m. that day, dozens of your neighbors will travel through our neighborhoods collecting your contributions. For more information on donating or participating, please see page XX.
This month – a month of thanks – I want to single out five individuals who represent Westchase residents’ selflessness and dedication. An important and historical event occurred without a fuss on Sept. 20 and Oct. 4. While it occurred without great notice, the merger of Westchase’s Community Development Districts (CDDs) is a rare bird in Florida. Why? It actually required five of Westchase’s ten CDD supervisors – individuals who receive a stipend of $200 per meeting – to set aside their personal desires, goals and their financial self-interest for the greater good of the community. Without their willingness to step aside the merger would not have occurred.
I want to thank Bob Argus, Susan Edgerley, Keith Heinemann, Joseph Lechman and Lewis Patterson for their many years of service – and for being great neighbors. If you see them, be sure to offer your thanks as well. They represent what is great about Westchase.
As always, we welcome your Shout Outs and your letters to the editor and encourage you to tell our advertisers you saw them in WOW.
By Chris Barrett, Publisher
You’re Invited to Westchase’s Birthday Bash
There’s no need to bring a gift. We just want you to join the fun! Those who read this space monthly already know that 2011 is a special year for Westchase. This year marks the 20th anniversary of the community’s founding. Residents have had great fun at the Movies in the Park, a concert in West Park Village, the opening of the West Park Village pool and the Westchase Gala, held in August.
While the fall series of Movies in the Park will begin again on Oct. 14, WOW also invites you to commemorate Westchase’s birthday in a special way. We invite all Westchase residents to a community birthday bash – a street festival on Saturday, Oct. 29, from 3-9 p.m. Held on Montague Street’s green in West Park Village, the party will feature great family entertainment and food and drink from local restaurants. It will end with a 6:45 p.m. showing of Rio on a giant movie screen. Except for any inexpensive food and drink you purchase, it’s all free! Come on out, grab dinner, let the kids have a ball, enjoy some birthday cake and catch the movie. It’s WOW’s way of saying, “Happy Birthday, Westchase!” Please see page 4 for more details.
The morning of Oct. 29 begins with another fall tradition, the tenth annual running of The Great West Chase 5K and Children’s Fun Run. If you haven’t yet seen this great event, roll out of bed early that Saturday and discover why it’s one of the most popular road races in all of Tampa Bay. With the help of many wonderful volunteers and sponsors, we throw the best race and post-party around! With runners’ and sponsors’ help last year, Just Elementary, which serves one of the poorest communities in Tampa, raised their FCAT school grade from F to C. Please see page 5 and the race site www.thegreatwestchase.com for more details.
This month we also bring you our great School Special, beginning on page 94, and thank the private schools and daycare centers that made it possible.
As always, we welcome your Shout Outs and your letters to the editor.
Don’t forget to send us your Halloween photos and please remember to thank our valued advertisers for supporting the community.
See you Oct. 29!
By Chris Barrett, Publisher
WOW Rolls Out New Web Site
If you’ve ever wished you could leave comments after WOW articles, now you can.
This month WOW rolls out a new and improved version of its online self at www.WestchaseWOW.com. The New WOW Online features all the great news items and columns you’re accustomed to finding there. There is, however, much more. For the first time residents will be able to leave comments about all articles and columns. The new Web also features an expanded business directory of local service providers. On each of their pages, residents are able to offer reviews of their services. Offering a new look and feel, WOW Online also features an expanded classifieds section and calendar for residents to post events and gatherings. From it you can e-mail content, “Like” articles on Facebook or Tweet about one you’ve enjoyed. Be sure to log on to www.WestchaseWOW.com and register your resident profile to use its great new features.
September marks the beginning of WOW’s busiest part of the year. Staff is gearing up for the Oct. 29 tenth anniversary running of The Great Westchase 5K and Children’s Fun Run. We’re also currently preparing a fun 20th anniversary bash that afternoon to celebrate Westchase’s birthday. While they’re more than a month off, mark your calendars for these events so you can join the fun.
This month’s cover story announces another important October event. The Bauder family of Kingsford is holding their annual tailgating party to raise funds for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. The event and their story are the subject of this month’s cover feature on page 4. After reading it, you’ll feel compelled to land a hand.
This month on pages 96-103 we also offer our traditional September Dining Special, including the results from our 13th annual dining survey. We thank all the restaurants who helped make it possible. Be sure not to miss Shires resident Joey Johnston’s humorous take on Guys Tips for Healthy Eating Out, which appears on page 97. We also offer a new twist on our Restaurant Guide of menus. Instead of running with the inserts, it appears as a tear-out section between pages 96-97. Be sure to pull it out and tuck it in a kitchen drawer by the phone.
As always, send in your shout outs and letters and tell our valued advertisers you saw their ads in WOW.
By Chris Barrett, Publisher