In this issue of

NewTampa | WesleyChapel Local Pulse

🗓  This Week’s Events

🌦 WEATHER

⚕️ Moffitt Cancer Center Unveils $1.6 Billion Speros FL Campus for Next-Gen Cancer Treatments

🎾Florida Senior Games Return, Anticipating Over 2,000 Athletes in Wesley Chapel

🎄New Tampa Performing Arts Center's Holiday Extravaganza Lights Up the Stage

⚖Stolen Luxury: Florida Troopers Uncover Car Theft Operation in Brooksville

🏈USF Football Stadium Faces One-Year Delay in Opening

🏀Local High School Sports Scores

⚕️Study Suggests Fentanyl Exposure in Pregnancy Leads to Unusual Infant Syndrome

This Week’s Events in the NewTampa | Wesley Chapel FL Local Area

December 7

December 8 — Adoration of the Magi: A Madrigal Dinner - 8pm

December 9 — Adoration of the Magi: A Madrigal Dinner - 8pm

December 10 — 2nd Sunday Harvest Mkt @ The Grove - 10am-2

December 10 — Chanukah Street Fair, Krate at the Grove - 5pm

December 11 — Heralds of Harmony, NTPAC - 730pm

December 12

December 13

Moffitt Cancer Center Unveils $1.6 Billion Speros FL Campus for Next-Gen Cancer Treatments

Moffitt Cancer Center is embarking on its most significant expansion in 40 years with the Speros FL campus in Land O’ Lakes. Spanning 775 acres, larger than downtown Tampa, the $1.6 billion project focuses on life sciences innovation.

A collaboration hub, Speros FL will house Moffitt and other partners, fostering interaction and groundbreaking cancer treatments. With $600 million invested in the first phase by Moffitt, the state, and Pasco County, an additional $1 billion comes from the private sector.

Scheduled to open in late 2025 or early 2026, the campus emphasizes radiation and proton therapies, aiming to minimize damage to surrounding tissues. The design prioritizes nature, incorporating existing wetlands and trees for a patient-friendly environment.

Florida Senior Games Return, Anticipating Over 2,000 Athletes in Wesley Chapel

Wesley Chapel welcomes the 32nd Annual Florida Senior Games, featuring 2,000 athletes aged 50 and older in an Olympic-style competition.

Hosted by the Florida Sports Coast, the nine-day event spans various locations with Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus hosting archery and basketball. Pickleball, the standout sport, sees increased participation, making up a quarter of all competitors.

Last year's success, with an economic impact of $1.1 million and participants from 36 states, sets high expectations. Despite a non-national qualifying year, the competition promises spirited events, including an ambitious 17-event participation by 81-year-old John Disterdick. The games showcase the region's commitment to sports and community impact.

New Tampa Performing Arts Center's Holiday Extravaganza Lights Up the Stage

Get ready for holiday magic at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (NTPAC), where festivities run until December 19. The joyous lineup includes the Kids Film Series presenting "The Muppet Christmas Carol" on December 9, followed by the enchanting Winter Wonder showcase by ATLAS Modern Ballet and New Tampa Players.

On December 11, the Tampa Bay Heralds of Harmony Chorus fills the air with the Sounds of the Season, blending barbershop harmonies with classic holiday tunes.

Closing the celebrations, Tampa City Ballet's performance of "The Nutcracker" on December 17 transports audiences to a magical world of toy soldiers and the Sugar Plum Fairy.

Tickets for these heartwarming events are available through respective websites, promising a season of unforgettable cultural experiences at NTPAC, located at 8550 Hunters Village Road, Tampa. Find more details at NewTampaArtsCenter.org

Stolen Luxury: Florida Troopers Uncover Car Theft Operation in Brooksville

Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) Troopers cracked down on car theft during I-75 enforcement in Sumter County. Yajaira Martinez, owner of a closed Tampa dealership, was caught with a stolen 2018 Cadillac Escalade using swapped VINs. A search revealed materials from another stolen 2018 Escalade. Further investigation led to a stolen 2022 Escalade with altered numbers, linked to Clearwater theft.

Martinez, arrested on felony charges, remains in Hernando County Jail. FHP's ongoing probe aims to unveil more details about the car theft operation.

USF Football Stadium Faces One-Year

Delay in Opening

Tampa's USF Board of Trustees presented a mixed bag of news about the anticipated on-campus football stadium.

While updated renderings showcased a modern design with an East-West orientation, dedicated student section, and premium features, a major setback was announced. Due to supply chain challenges, the stadium's opening is now delayed by at least a year, targeting 2027 instead of the initially promised 2026.

To address the delay, USF is parting ways with its design team to collaborate directly with the builder. Despite the setback, Board Chairman Will Weatherford reassured that the project is on track financially, with over $43 million raised from alumni toward the $50 million goal. The TGH Athletic Complex is expected to open in 2026, maintaining a $340 million budget for the stadium.

Local High School Sports Scores

Study Suggests Fentanyl Exposure in Pregnancy Leads to Unusual Infant Syndrome

Healthcare professionals across the U.S. have uncovered a potential link between prenatal fentanyl exposure and a new syndrome, as evidenced by 10 infants born with shared abnormalities. Characteristics include small head size, short stature, and distinctive malformations like cleft palate and fused toes. With no common genetic cause identified, researchers believe prenatal fentanyl use is the likely culprit.

The findings, detailed in Genetics in Medicine Open, emphasize the potential public health impact amid the ongoing fentanyl epidemic. Initial suspicions of Smith-Lemli-Opitz Syndrome were ruled out, prompting speculation that fentanyl may interfere with cholesterol metabolism, causing similar abnormalities. While more evidence is needed, the study raises urgent concerns about the consequences of fentanyl exposure during pregnancy.

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