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- 🚦 41 & 54 Intersection Priority
🚦 41 & 54 Intersection Priority
Plus: A 9-year-old heads to the world stage, local schools earn A’s, and Wesley Chapel leads the nation in storage growth.
Mike Rendel
July 18, 2025
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Good Morning Neighbor. One day, you’ll be successful enough to anonymously drop $5 million on a chunk of Mars. Hopefully you’ll find something better to do with your millions... unless interplanetary rock collecting is your thing. In that case, carry on.
Back to reality.
In this edition of the North Tampa Buzz:
🎓 Cypress Creek & Gaither Highs celebrate A grades, among others
📦 Wesley Chapel tops the nation in self-storage growth
🥋 Local 9-year-old heads to world martial arts games
Great news: Vito, from Tuesday’s newsletter, has been adopted! The goodest boy officially has a forever home, and we’re wishing him a lifetime of belly rubs and couch naps. Overlooked no longer!
Reply to this email if you’ve got something to say. Follow us on Instagram for even more local finds.
Send this to the neighbor who channels Phyllis from The Office and has a weather saying for every drop of rain.
“Schedule” view makes the calendar easier and everything is listed down below as well.
Digest
Land O’ Lakes 9-Year-Old Heads to Martial Arts World Games
Sebastian “Bash” Reyes isn’t your average 9-year-old. The Land O’ Lakes native is ranked #1 in the country for Traditional Forms and Weapons, and he’s now representing Team USA at the World Martial Arts Games in Norway.
Source: ABC Action News
With help from his dad and coach Gabe, Bash trains daily (sometimes right in their living room) and is fresh off competing at the U.S. Open ISKA World Championships in Orlando. He’s got big goals, Olympic dreams, and a gold medal mindset, and he’s taking our community with him to the world stage. 🥇
Last Edition’s Trivia Results
📍 Which of the following is true about New Tampa?
✅ Correct Answer: It was annexed by the City of Tampa in the late 1980s.
☀️ Weekend Weather
🔥 A typical hot Florida weekend. Storm chances climb Sunday... but hey, maybe we get lucky.
Civic News
New SR 54 Traffic Light Activated in Lutz
A new traffic signal is now live at SR 54, Hanley Road, and Stonegate Falls Drive—right by the Stonegate neighborhood and the new Livano Sunlake apartments. It’s a big win for anyone who’s ever tried to make a left turn there without sweating through their shirt.
This is the third new traffic signal added to the area lately. FDOT and Pasco County also lit up:
• A new light on US 41 at Sunterra Drive near Dayspring/Angeline Academy
• A nearly completed four-way light at SR 52 and Sunlake Blvd, by Angeline’s main entrance
Source: Tampa Beacon
Major Spotlight on 41 & 54 Intersection
The intersection at SR 54 and US 41 isn’t just on our radar, it’s now a top priority at both the regional and state level. It’s part of a long-term transportation plan coordinated by the Sun Coast Transportation Planning Alliance, which helps direct funding to the most congested areas across multiple counties.
Community
Cypress Creek High Nabs Its First A
Shoutout to the Cypress Creek High staff. It wasn’t just caffeine that got them that A. After five straight B’s, they finally landed their first A from the state. Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles called it a huge milestone, and the Coyotes were the second-highest scoring traditional high school in Pasco, just behind Sunlake.
Across Wesley Chapel, schools largely held strong. Wiregrass Ranch earned its sixth straight A, Wesley Chapel stayed steady with a B, and Kirkland Ranch Academy kept its perfect record. Sand Pine Elementary bounced back to an A, while Double Branch moved up to a B for the first time since 2019.
Also, Gaither High Reclaims A Rating
For the first time since 2012, Gaither High has earned an A from the state. After a decade of bouncing between Bs and Cs, the 40-year-old school in Northdale hit a major milestone with this year’s top grade from the Florida Department of Education.
Wesley Chapel Tops the Charts
A new report from RentCafe says Wesley Chapel has seen the fastest self-storage growth in the country over the past decade, rising 672 percent from 76,000 to 587,000 square feet since 2014.
Source: www.extraspace.com
That growth tracks with the area’s rising population and steady wave of development. With about 4.6 square feet of storage space per person, the report notes there may still be more on the way.
Events North of Tampa
If you have an upcoming event you'd like us to feature at the top of the newsletter, just let us know. You can also drop any suggestions or thoughts in the comment section below the calendar.
Featured Event
We were at this market a few weeks ago. It’s a great location and has some good live music playing as well.
Tiki Cove, Land O’ Lakes | Moon Market | 5–9 PM
Friday, July 18
Art's Tap House, Trinity | Embry Brothers | 8–11:59 PM
Banana Wind Bar and Grill, Zephyrhills | Mark Shane Full Band (The Shane Gang) | 8–11:59 PM
Dade City Tap House & Spirits, Dade City | Tyler Dusek | 7:30–11 PM
Double Bogeys Tavern, Lutz | The Truth | 7–11 PM
In the Loop Brewing, Land O’ Lakes | Fred Chandler | 6–10 PM
Jerry's Crystal Bar, Zephyrhills | Southern Creek | 9 PM–1 AM
MDP Liquor 2.0 + The Drinks @ 9, Lutz | Sunny Situation | 7–10 PM
Moose Lodge, Zephyrhills | Jaded | 8–11:30 PM
O'Brien's Irish Pub, Carrollwood | Twisted Revolvers | 9 PM–1 AM
O'Brien's Irish Pub, Wesley Chapel | Nightly Brew – Live 80s Music | 8–11:59 PM
Pete’s Place North, Tampa | Charles & Manny | 7–11 PM
Skipper’s Smokehouse, Tampa | Grateful Dead Nite | 8–11:30 PM
SouthernEaze Bar & Grill, Lutz | Rachel Duffen | 6:30–9:30 PM
Starkey Market, Trinity | Josh Carroll | 6–9 PM
Stonewater Bar and Grill, Land O’ Lakes | SOULYARD | 7–10 PM
The Tiki Cove, Land O’ Lakes | Fitz & Peachy | 7–10 PM
The Twisted Oak, Dade City | Billy Ray Wheaton | 8–11:59 PM
Thomas P’s Sports Bar, Citrus Park | Matthew McCartney | 4–7 PM
Tom’s Tavern, Tampa | Westside Band | 7–11 PM
Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar, Wesley Chapel | Dueling Pianos | 7–11 PM
Ukulele Brand’s, Land O’ Lakes | Daniel Sprouse Band | 7:30–11:30 PM
Saturday, July 19
Art's Tap House, Trinity | FM Station | 8–11:59 PM
Banana Wind Bar and Grill, Zephyrhills | Brittany Baldwin and The Bee Stings | 8–11:59 PM
Commandough's, Zephyrhills | Louie B | 5–8 PM
Dade City Tap House & Spirits, Dade City | Arthur Meyers | 7:30–11:30 PM
Double Bogeys Tavern, Lutz | Sunny Situation | 7–11 PM
Moose Lodge, Zephyrhills | Bone Cartel | 7–11 PM
O'Brien's Irish Pub, Carrollwood | Reality Bites | 9 PM–1 AM
Pete’s Place North, Tampa | Vintage Sounds | 7–11 PM
SouthernEaze Bar & Grill, Lutz | BSide | 6:30–9:30 PM
Starkey Market, Trinity | Jariah Higgins | 6–9 PM
Stonewater Bar and Grill, Land O’ Lakes | JT Curtis Duo | 7–10 PM
The Orpheum, Tampa | Retro Red Square Recap | 9–11:59 PM
The Twisted Oak, Dade City | Zachary Westervelt | 8–11:59 PM
Thomas P’s Sports Bar, Citrus Park | Alan Rizzo | 4–7 PM
Treble Makers Dueling Piano Bar, Wesley Chapel | Dueling Pianos | 7–11 PM
Ukulele Brand’s, Land O’ Lakes | Magnum Opus | 7:30–10:30 PM
Sunday, July 20
Commandough's, Zephyrhills | Donnie Ray Reynolds | 2–5 PM
Double Bogeys Tavern, Lutz | Banjo Steve | 2–6 PM
Moose Lodge, Zephyrhills | Little Big Band | 2–5 PM
Pete’s Place North, Tampa | Markus Lee | 2–6 PM
Starkey Market, Trinity | Kris Mikhel | 1–4 PM
Stonewater Bar and Grill, Land O’ Lakes | Nunes at Night | 5–8 PM
Thomas P’s Sports Bar, Citrus Park | Gary Coco | 1–5 PM
Ukulele Brand’s, Land O’ Lakes | Buddy Fitz | 4:30–7:30 PM
Saturday, July 19
Angeline Place, Land O’ Lakes | Angeline Farmers Market | 5–8 PM
Dube's Farm and Market, Wesley Chapel | Local Food Farmer’s Market | 10 AM–3 PM
Hampton Inn, Odessa | Trinity Crafters Market – Christmas in July | 10 AM–3 PM
The Grove 16, Wesley Chapel | Market at the Movies | 4–7 PM
The Shops at Wiregrass, Wesley Chapel | Fresh Market | 9 AM–1 PM
Tiki Cove, Land O’ Lakes | Moon Market | 5–9 PM
Friday, July 18
Thirsty Buffalo Brewing Company, Lutz | Rotary Club w/ Brian Ford, COO of Bucs | 8–9:15 AM
Florida Farm School & Animal Rescue, Land O' Lakes | Toddler Time | 10:30 AM–12 PM
The Book Shack, Lutz | Friday Story Time | 1:30–2 PM
6405 Clifton Down Dr, Zephyrhills | Food Truck Night | 5–9 PM
Young Chefs Academy, Wesley Chapel | Farm to Table Workshop | 6–8 PM
Krate at the Grove, Wesley Chapel | Keepin’ it Country | 7–11 PM
Commandough's Pizza, Zephyrhills | Karaoke | 7–10:30 PM
Side Splitters Comedy Club, Wesley Chapel | Shaun Murphy | 7:30–9 PM
The Grove 16, Wesley Chapel | Game Night (Free) | 8–11 PM
Side Splitters Comedy Club, Wesley Chapel | Shaun Murphy | 9:30–11 PM
Saturday, July 19
AdventHealth Care Pavilion, Land O' Lakes | Free Sports Physicals | 7–10 AM
Lutz Whistle Stop Depot, Lutz | Christmas in July | 10:30 AM–5 PM
Krate at the Grove, Wesley Chapel | Jazz at Sunset w/ Dr. Nathan Mitchell ($) | 6 PM
House of Brews, Lutz | Karaoke | 7–10 PM
Side Splitters Comedy Club, Wesley Chapel | Shaun Murphy | 7–8:30 PM
Side Splitters Comedy Club, Wesley Chapel | Shaun Murphy | 9:30–11 PM
Sunday, July 20
Side Splitters Comedy Club, Wesley Chapel | We’re So 813 | 7:30–9 PM
Monday, July 21
Thirsty Buffalo Brew Factory, Lutz | Trivia Night | 6:30–8:30 PM
Dade City Brew House, Dade City | Trivia | 7–9 PM
Tuesday, July 22
Florida Cracker Fish Company, Citrus Park | Kids Night | 5:30–8:30 PM
O’Brien’s Irish Pub, Wesley Chapel | Trivia | 7–9 PM
What was the SECOND high school in Wesley Chapel? |
We’ll be on Instagram with updates wherever we end up. Feel free to DM us to let us know we’ve forgotten a venue.
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