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Rotary Club of New Tampa looks to revive Taste event

 
Published Sept. 22, 2016

NEW TAMPA — A deal to resurrect a three-year curbed, yet crowd-pleasing event has been reached and its new organizers say it is not one that will have them skating on thin ice.

At a recent agreement signing, the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce turned over its rights to host the Taste of New Tampa to the Rotary Club of New Tampa.

In turn, the club has partnered with officials at Florida Hospital Center Ice — a 150,500-square-foot ice rink and sports complex in Wesley Chapel nearing completion — to bring the event back to life on March 18, 2017. The facility's features will include a multiuse flooring area for other undertakings such as the Taste event.

Prior to its last run in 2013, the Taste of New Tampa enjoyed a 20-year history. It was founded, trademarked and presented by the New Tampa Community Council, which later became the New Tampa Chamber of Commerce and in 2015 merged with the Wesley Chapel chamber.

Going forward — at least for the next five years — the Rotary Club of New Tampa, presently led by president Brice Wolford, will take charge of the event.

Wolford, who jokingly noted he didn't want to be quoted saying club members were "jumping up and down with excitement" over it being held at what is being touted as the largest complex of its kind in the southeastern United States, called it a win-win for everyone involved.

"We are thrilled about this because rain or shine, we'll have the event," Wolford said.

Gordon "Gordie" Zimmerman, a Wesley Chapel resident and managing partner of the facility's development company, ZMitch LLC, believes it's a perfect setting for hosting such an event.

"First off, by having the Taste of New Tampa in this venue, we'll make people aware of what all we do and we'll also have the opportunity to work with great partners like the Wesley Chapel chamber and the New Tampa Rotary," he said. "Plus, there is not much up here for doing events like this."

Equally delighted is New Tampa Rotarian Karen Frashier, chairman of the Taste of New Tampa committee.

"Gordie Zimmerman and Florida Hospital Center Ice are really rolling out the rubber carpet for the people in New Tampa and Wesley Chapel," she said. "They plan to join in the fun, by sponsoring skating and demos of figure skating and hockey."

The family-friendly event, according to Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber chairman of the board Terry Clouser, is one that's meant to showcase and bring together the community's residents, businesses and service organizations.

"We're very excited to work with the New Tampa Rotary," Clouser said. "They do so many wonderful things and this is something that has been a staple in our community."

Ten percent of the Taste of New Tampa proceeds will go to the Wesley Chapel chamber and the remainder will help fund scholarships for area high school seniors and purchase food and other supplies for Feeding America Tampa Bay projects, one of the Rotary Club of New Tampa's primary focuses.

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"We're very much looking forward to it," said Hope Allen, Wesley Chapel chamber's president and CEO. "It was always such a popular event and the Rotary Club of New Tampa is a great partner to take it on."

Visit tasteofnewtampa.org for periodic updates.

Contact Joyce McKenzie at hillsnews@tampabay.com.