By Gary Nager of the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News

“It’s the best-attended ribbon cutting I’ve been to,” said one Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber Board member who attended our ribbon cutting event at our new office (in the Brookside Professional Park on S.R. 54) and the party to celebrate my 20 years as the owner and editor of the New Tampa & Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News on March 6. Somewhere between 100-150 people took part in the festivities and I was thrilled that so many of them decided to record messages in Milorian Studios, the impressive TV studio on the first floor of the building of which we’re now the second floor occupants.

We had to go to press two days after the party, so I’ve only had a chance to see a few of the video comments attendees that were recorded so far, but hopefully by the time the print issue reaches you, you’ll be able to see all of them for yourself right here on WCNeighborhoodNews.com. But, all I can say is that I’m touched, honored, proud and excited about not only the videos from the event but also for the momentum we’re building for some of the new ways we’re working on to promote your business.

I have to thank Gerry, Kasia and the folks at City Grill (973-9988) for the amazing food (the penne with baby broccolini, the feta-stuffed mushrooms and more), Hector and his crew at Toast Fine Wine & Spirits (632-3105) for the delicious wines and also for serving our beer and six different upscale whiskeys, karaoke man and DJ extraordinaire Gary Carmichael (561-441-5617) for giving me a microphone and getting out of my way, Party Now Rentals (336-9595) for providing the tents, tables and chairs, Roberto and Beatriz Hiller and everyone at Sign-A-Rama of New Tampa (994-0101), for getting our beautiful office signs up on time, despite the short notice, my boy Jay from Glow Wheels Auto Detailing (966-1530), for repainting our outside staircase, Rose, Valerie and the gang at A Special Rose Florist (979-9453) for providing the flowers, Hope, Cindy and everyone from the Wesley Chapel Chamber (994-8534), the support I got from my many friends, including those in the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club, my aunt Sue and Uncle José, our business advisor Jerry Hurley of Business Sense Solutions (220-1918), Carlos Flores-Gordon of Milorian Studios (907-1166, top far right photo), my GM Nikki Bennett and my entire staff. I promise we won’t wait 20 years to do it again!