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- Issue #301: Wood Carving Revival, AI for Small Business & Exciting News from Busch Gardens
Issue #301: Wood Carving Revival, AI for Small Business & Exciting News from Busch Gardens
1/30/2025
Ted Grellner
30 Jan
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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse
Our Event Calendar
Local News
— Elev8 Indoor Entertainment Park Brings High-Speed Fun to Citrus Park
— Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Unveils New Details on Wild Oasis, Opening Spring 2025
Of Interest
— Keeping Wood Carving Alive: Hernando Club Seeks New Members
— Small Businesses Embrace AI to Handle Tedious Tasks
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Elev8 Indoor Entertainment Park Brings High-Speed Fun to Citrus Park
Zoom, Zoom!
What was once a tire shop is now a hotspot for high-speed thrills. Elev8 Indoor Adventure Park, which took over the former Sears anchor store at Citrus Park Town Center, has quickly become a favorite for families and thrill-seekers alike.
Among its many attractions, the upstairs indoor go-kart track stands out as a top draw. The multi-level track lets racers zip around at speeds of up to 35 miles per hour, making it a perfect activity for both casual riders and competitive spirits.
The entertainment center, which opened in July 2023, is part of the mall’s revitalization efforts. Other recent additions include Neighborhood Cinema Group, which renovated and reopened the mall’s movie theater in March 2024.
Beyond racing, Elev8 offers bowling, laser tag, an arcade, glow mini golf, a ropes course, and axe throwing, making it a go-to indoor destination for all ages.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Unveils New Details on Wild Oasis, Opening Spring 2025
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is set to debut Wild Oasis, a rainforest-inspired kid-friendly area, in spring 2025, replacing the former Jungala section.
A major highlight will be the Tree Top Drop, a 35-foot drop tower featuring immersive jungle visuals, sound effects, and lasers, offering a thrilling yet family-friendly ride. The 45-foot Canopy Climb will also be revamped, adding a new ADA-accessible Habitat Hideaway with capybaras, giant anteaters, squirrel monkeys, and tropical birds from accredited institutions.
The Enchanted Falls splash pad is also getting an upgrade with new fountains and spray towers, while the old mini mushroom play area is being removed.
Busch Gardens has been expanding family-friendly attractions, including Phoenix Rising, which launched last year. Park officials are aiming to open Wild Oasis in time for spring break in 2025.
Keeping Wood Carving Alive: Hernando Club Seeks New Members
For nearly three decades, the Nature Coast Carving Club has been a hub for creativity, craftsmanship, and camaraderie. However, with an aging membership, the club is looking for new members to keep the tradition alive.
Wood carving, one of the oldest art forms—dating back nearly 10,000 years—allows for endless creativity. Whether it's intricate caricatures, detailed animal sculptures, or hollowed-out designs, each piece tells a unique story.
For Don Short, who has been carving for over 50 years, the craft is more than a hobby—it’s a therapeutic escape. "When I'm carving, nothing else in my mind is there," he says.
Beginners like Gracie McKeown have found joy in learning from seasoned carvers. No experience is needed to join, and members hope younger generations will take an interest.
To learn more about joining, visit the club’s website.
Small Businesses Embrace AI to Handle
Tedious Tasks
For Amy Hart of Continental Plumbing, artificial intelligence feels like a new 24/7 employee—one that never takes breaks and costs just $20 a month.
AI is helping her business with scheduling, invoicing, and even refining estimates, allowing her to focus on more important tasks. “Some of our plumbers aren’t writers, so AI helps make estimates sound more professional,” she said.
Ryan Thompson of Hydrus Connect teaches business owners how to integrate AI. One rising trend is AI agents that answer phone calls, saving businesses time and money. These systems, costing a few hundred dollars a month, can even analyze customer sentiment, helping businesses prioritize urgent calls.
While AI can assist with emails and marketing, Thompson emphasizes that it can’t replace human creativity. A recent PricewaterhouseCoopers survey found that most workers see AI as a tool for efficiency, not a job threat.
One astonishing but little-known fact about wood carving is that some of the world's oldest known wood carvings date back over 12,000 years—yet they have survived despite wood’s natural tendency to decay.
One of the most remarkable examples is the Shigir Idol, discovered in Russia in 1890. This intricately carved wooden statue, made from larch wood, is estimated to be 12,500 years old, making it more than twice as old as the Egyptian pyramids! Scientists believe it was preserved so well because it was buried in a peat bog, which prevented decay by sealing out oxygen and bacteria.
This ancient carving features mysterious geometric patterns and humanoid faces, leading some researchers to speculate that it might have held religious or cultural significance for prehistoric civilizations.
It's amazing to think that early humans were crafting intricate wooden sculptures long before the rise of agriculture!
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25 Biggest Music & Comedy Acts Coming to Tampa Bay
& Sarasota
Source: heraldtribune.com
Best Live Music in Tampa Bay this week
Source:
Top Things to do in Tampa Bay & Wesley Chapel
1/ - 1/
Source: tampabeacon.com
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Useful Arts & Entertainment Event Links
The Arts
- USF College of the Arts
- USF Steinway Piano Concert Series
Theater
-NTPAC - New Tampa Performing Arts Center
- New Tampa Players
- USF School of Theatre & Dance
- Wesley Chapel Theater Group
- Carrollwood Players Theatre
Misc
For Kids
- Fun4TampaKids
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