The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Pasco population expected to top 1 million by 2050

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The signs of Pasco County’s explosive growth are everywhere.

New residential communities and apartment complexes are springing up. Hospitals and schools are opening. Shopping and restaurant choices are increasing. Large companies are moving in, and small businesses are setting up shop.

Tampa Premium Outlets, which is at Cypress Creek Town Center, off State Road 56, is one of many new shopping attractions that have opened in recent years. The county has become home to a much broader variety of shops, restaurants and entertainment attractions than it had in the past, generating an increase in service-oriented jobs. That trend is expected to continue, according to experts working with Pasco County on long-range plans. (File)

The trend is expected to continue.

By 2050, Pasco is projected to have 1,018,000 residents and the county’s workforce is expected to more than double — increasing to 424,000.

Those are the figures shared at a Feb. 8 Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) meeting by William Roll, who is a transportation planning expert for Kimley-Horn.

Kimley-Horn is the consultant hired by the Pasco MPO to prepare a socioeconomic forecast for the county’s Innovate Pasco 2050, the county’s long-range transportation plan that will guide future projects to address all types of transportation needs.

The Pasco MPO board, made up of elected leaders from Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Port Richey, is responsible for addressing transportation needs and setting priorities across Pasco.

Innovate Pasco 2050 will consider all modes of transportation — which include motorized vehicles, public transportation, bicycles, walking, freight and goods movement, and air travel.

A new interchange was created at Overpass Road and Interstate 75, creating a new way to get on and off of I-75. It also has led to complaints regarding increased truck traffic in nearby residential areas.

Forecasting the county’s expected population and job growth are key elements in the planning process.

Roll said he’s confident the county’s population growth will reach expectations.

“If we’re a little overly optimistic we don’t have a 2050 plan — we have a 2053 plan, and that’s OK,” Roll said. “The same improvements need to be made. The same type of development is going to take place.”

But he added: “If we underestimate them, now we’re shooting low and that can be a real problem.”

Roll also noted that the figures will be updated in five years, when the county does its 2055 plan.

The consultant told the MPO board that Pasco is expected to have a “pretty dramatic change” in terms of its employment figures.

Angeline Academy of Innovation is just one of the schools that has opened in recent years. The school addresses the county’s growing population, as well as adding jobs to the economy.

In 2019, the county had a workforce of about 187,000; in 2050 it is projected to have 424,000, Roll said.

“If you drove any distance through the county, you could see why. This county has changed over the course of the last 10 to 15 years,” Roll said. “I have watched over the years that you have developed a threshold that you can support other employment activities.

“When we were doing this 20 years ago, we didn’t have a Wiregrass (Wiregrass Ranch and the surrounding development). We didn’t have that type of economic item. We didn’t have some of the facilities and resources that you now have.

“Now you have those things and that growth is going to continue to happen,” Roll said.

An expanding population has created the need for more health care services. BayCare Wesley Chapel is just one of the hospitals that has opened or expanded in recent years. More hospitals are on the way.

Much of the change can be attributed to a fundamental shift in the county’s demographics, he said. Pasco is trending much younger now than it was in the past.

Roll told officials to expect to see a bit more growth on the industrial side of development, than on commercial.

“That’s following just the general trend — more of us are ordering stuff online, as opposed to going to a brick-and-mortar store,” Roll explained.

However, he added, Pasco will have disproportionate commercial employment growth than other counties because it is adding activities it traditionally lacked.

“You can buy in Pasco County now, and not have to travel to another county,” the consultant said.

The most dramatic employment increase will come in the service sector, Roll said. That includes finance, insurance, real estate, professional services, education, medical and government workers.

It doesn’t take much investigation to find evidence of the creation of new jobs, which are available now and are on the horizon.

Construction crews continue kicking up dirt, chambers of commerce continue to host ribbon-cuttings and the county board keeps celebrating announcements of big companies moving to Pasco.

The Pasco MPO approved the figures provided by Roll to be incorporated into its long-range transportation plan.

There are many other steps that are necessary before the long-range transportation plan is adopted and begins to guide future projects aimed at improving safety and the movement of people and goods through Pasco County.

Published February 21, 2024

Pasco figures show reduction of traffic deaths and serious injuries

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On the one hand, there’s good news. 

Pasco County has reduced both the number and rate of deaths and serious injuries resulting from crashes on its roadways, based on a recent report delivered to the board of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO).

Travel demands in Pasco County continue to increase, but the county is making some progress in reducing both the rate and number of fatalities and serious injuries, according to a February 2024 report. The board that oversees transportation planning in the county has adopted a goal of a 10% reduction in traffic-related deaths and serious injuries. (File)

On the other hand, the county’s statistics are higher than the state averages, reported Johnny Koors, a transportation planner for the Pasco MPO.

And, despite the improvement, Pasco must do what it can to continue to make it safer to travel around the county, said  Koors, a transportation planner for the MPO.

Each statistic represents a person, he said, and when the ripple effect is considered, “we’ve got 10s of thousands of people that are affected by these crashes every year. So, we know we’ve got more work to do.”

Still, there are some bright spots. Based on the five-year period ending in 2022, the Pasco MPO is one of four MPO planning areas in the state that has seen improvements in each of the categories measured in the report.

In terms of traffic fatalities, Pasco saw a decrease of 1.3% in the number of fatalities, based on a comparison of the current and previous five-year rolling averages.

The decrease in the fatality rate, based on 100 million vehicle miles traveled, was even greater, Koors said. He explained that’s because the number of fatalities went down, while the number of vehicle miles driven went up.

So, in the comparable years, the fatality rate decreased by 3.4%.

Johnny Koors, a transportation planner for the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization, said it’s important to keep working toward greater safety for drivers and pedestrians. Each statistic represents a person, and the consequences of traffic crashes are far-reaching, he said.

As far as the number of serious injuries, the county saw a decrease of about 8%, and again, because of the higher number of miles driven, the serious injury rate declined even more, reaching nearly 10%, Koors said.

While those figures are taking the county in the right direction, its results still exceed the state average.

To meet a federal requirement of setting targets, Koors said the MPO staff is recommending that Pasco submit a goal of a 10% reduction in fatalities and serious injuries, which he said is aggressive compared to some other counties.

The MPO board adopted the recommendation.

Last year, after staff gave the MPO board a presentation on the number of deaths and serious injuries related to traffic crashes, the board asked for a more detailed look at the issue.

That report was delivered by Tina Russo, an MPO staffer who spends much of her time working to improve safety.

She analyzed crash reports for 2022 and identified some of the key issues.

According to her report, the largest number of crashes in 2022 occurred at intersections. There were 4,486 wrecks at intersections resulting in 308 serious injuries and 33 deaths, according to information previously reported in The Laker/Lutz News.

Russo also noted that lane departures were another significant factor, with 3,246 crashes resulting from vehicles straying on the road. Those wrecks resulted in 236 serious injuries and 45 fatalities.

She also noted that two simple behaviors by motorists — wearing a seatbelt and wearing a helmet — would go a long way toward reducing traffic deaths.

An examination of crash reports in Pasco County in 2022 revealed that the greatest number of crashes occur at intersections.

TRAFFIC SAFETY FIGURES

NUMBER OF FATALITIES
Across Florida: 2017 to 2021: 3,306.4; 2018 to 2022: 3,387.2: Difference: 2.4%
Across Pasco: 2017 to 2021: 104.2; 2018 to 2022: 102.8; Difference: -1.3%

RATE OF FATALITIES (Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled)
Across Florida: 2017 to 2021: 1.52; 2018 to 2022: 1.54; Difference: 1.6%
Across Pasco: 2017 to 2021: 2.06; 2018 to 2022: 1.99; Difference: -3.4%

NUMBER Of SERIOUS INJURIES
Across Florida: 2017 to 2021: 18,029.8; 2018 to 2022: 17,146.2; Difference: -4.9%
Across Pasco: 2017 to 2021: 988.4; 2018 to 2022: 910.6; Difference: -7.9

RATE OF SERIOUS INJURIES (Per 100 million vehicle miles traveled)
Across Florida: 2017-2021: 8.35; 2018-2022: 7.79; Difference: -5.6%
Across Pasco: 2017-2021: 19.5; 2018 to 2022: 17.64; Difference: -9.7%

Source: Report to the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization, February 2024

Published February 21, 2024

‘Nothing is off the table’ in Pasco school district budget talks

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Speakers came to the Pasco County School Board meeting on Feb. 6, urging the district to keep positions that are paid through federal funding that was provided to districts to address deficits caused by the COVID pandemic.

The speakers spoke during the board’s public comment portion of the meeting, urging the district to retain employees — especially instructional assistants —  they said are essential in the district.

Later in the meeting, Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning offered this response: “I would agree with every speaker who came to the podium this morning about the impact that our IAs – our instructional assistants – have had on our students and in our classrooms, on our schools and in our district.”

Pasco County Schools is facing a tough budget year. (File)

However, the superintendent explained that the district is in the position it‘s in because the federal government created the American Rescue Plan (ARP) and the Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund (ESSER) to respond to impacts from the pandemic.

“That ARP ESSER money was set aside — a specific amount, a specific timeframe and a specific purpose.

“They were wanting districts across the country to use the proceeds of those dollars primarily to support academic instruction and make sure that our students did not fall too far behind. And, I think they were a little fortuitous because they knew there was going to be a significant academic impact to our students.  

“There has been, there has been — with COVID,” the superintendent said.

When the federal funding was provided, Browning said, it was done so “with the understanding those dollars were going to disappear after three years. We’re coming up on that three-year mark, I believe it’s September of this year.

“And so, as we begin the very, very, very early stages of budget preparation for the ’24-’25 year, we are planning that those COVID dollars, COVID ARP/ESSER dollars are not in play.”

Browning reminded school board members that when the federal dollars initially were provided, there was a concern that local entities receiving the funding would become dependent on them, and that they would face a “fiscal cliff” when the funds ended.

 “One of the things that we set off early to do was to avoid any fiscal cliff,” Browning said.

Positions always intended to be temporary
“There was a specific point that I made, a caveat that I made three years ago, when we started receiving these dollars … that these positions are for three years. They will not move forward, beginning the fourth year,” Browning said.

That being said, the district hired student service coordinators, discipline instructional assistants, kindergarten institutional assistants, tutors and other employees with those funds, Browning said.

In total, about 600 district positions are funded with the federal money.

“We cannot absorb almost 600 positions into the district payroll. We can’t do it,” Browning said.

“However, in the early conversations that we are beginning to have with budgets, we are going to look at not only the GR (general revenue) that we have in the district, but also how is that GR being spent?

“We have a meeting set up to look at grants — the grant dollars that we have, and are there expenditures that can be made with grant dollars that are currently being made with GR dollars.

“I will tell you, nothing is off the table.

“We will be asking our staff: Is this required, or is it just a want?

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said the school cannot absorb 600 positions that have been funded with federal COVID relief money. The district, however, plans to do what it can to help employees who may be displaced to land work in different school system roles.

“Are we required by law to do it? If we are not required by law to do it then we really need to look at the impact of what those dollars are meaning to our students,” Browning said.

Tough decisions must be made
“There are a lot of things that we do in this district that are not required by law — but we understand that they impact families and they impact kids significantly.

“So, it comes down to the proverbial age-old question of, ‘Whose ox is going to get gored?’

He added: “We really need to start at the sum zero number and then what are the things that we’re willing to sacrifice? What are the things we are willing to cut in this district, in order to afford the discipline IAs, the student services coordinators, the kindergarten IAs, the behavior IAs. You get my drift on how this process is going to go.

“I want to make it clear that before COVID, or ARP/ESSER funding, this district was funding and had funded for a number of years instructional assistants out of GR for our schools. Those are not going away.

“We plan on budgeting for those through GR dollars (for next year).

“I don’t think there’s anybody on my team that would disagree with any of the speakers this morning about the value of the instructional assistants. But I will tell you, there’s going to have to be some tough decisions that have to be made, and some prioritization about which positions we’re going to attempt to keep and those we cannot keep.

“When folks were hired for those positions under ARP/ESSER, they knew that it was going to be a three-year commitment, or they knew it was going to be a two-year commitment, if they came in Year 2; and, they knew it was going to be a one-year commitment, if they came in in Year 3.

“We are not even filling empty positions. We are not filling empty slots. Because why would I want to hire an instructional assistant now only to let them know that come July 1 or June 30, you’re not without a job,” Browning said.

School board member Colleen Beaudoin said she has been a huge advocate of IAs in the past, but also understands financial restraints.

“We’re going to look at the budget. We have decisions to make,” Beaudoin said.

Beaudoin also emphasized that eliminating specific positions doesn’t correlate to eliminating people.

“We don’t know yet how many we’re going to be able to keep in the current positions, but maybe other positions,” she said.

Assistant Superintendent Kevin Shibley said, “We’ve been planning for this moment for a while. So, any positions that we are not able to move into other funding sources going into ’24-’25, HR (Human Resources) is going to be ready and willing to work with those folks throughout the spring either to find other positions of that same type, or if there are not going to be any positions of that type anymore help them to transition into other vacancies.”

He’s confident the district will be able to help employees who may be displaced.

“Our goal is to not put anyone on the street. We have jobs available,” Shibley said.

Published February 21, 2024

Pasco’s 2023 tourism numbers estimated at roughly 1.5 million visitors

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Pasco County attracted roughly 1.5 million visitors during fiscal year 2023, with a tourism impact on the local economy of more than $1 billion, according to a report prepared by Downs & St. Germain Research Inc.

In terms of direct spending, tourism generated more than $712.5 million, up 12% over fiscal year 2022.

Spending by visitors to Florida’s Sports Coast supported 12,370 local jobs, up 8% from 2022. Wages generated exceeded $332,301, up 15% from 2022.

Scalloping is a popular activity, bringing a significant number of visitors to the area during Pasco’s summer scalloping season. (File)

Typical travel parties spent $238 per day during their stay, with a total of $1,089 during the course of their visit.

For every 121 visitors, a job was created in Pasco County, according to the report.

In terms of revenues, the county received nearly $6.8 million in Tourist Development Tax revenues, up about 35% from the previous year. The increase includes the impact of a 1% increase in the tax rate, as the tourist development tax increased from 4% to 5%, in June 2022.

Pasco restaurants, gas stations, hotels, shopping and entertainment venues experience increased business from tourists visiting the area, but Pasco residents benefit, too.

The report estimates that visitors saved every household in Florida’s Sports Coast $417 in state and local taxes in fiscal year 2023.

That figure is based on how much more revenue the county would have had to generate, without the economic boost provided by tourism.

Skydive City in Zephyrhills attracts skydivers from around the world, contributing to Pasco County’s annual tourism revenues.

Most people visiting Pasco drove into the area, with the research showing that figure at a whopping 91%. Those flying in typically came through Tampa International Airport, the report says.

The report also shows that 49% of the visitors planned their trip within a month of traveling.

Forty-four percent of those visiting the area were day-trippers. Of those staying in the area, 25% stayed in a hotel or motel and 17% stayed with family or friends.

The typical visitor stayed 4.5 nights.

Of those visiting, 72% came from eight states, with 54% coming from Florida, 3% coming from each of these states, New York, Georgia, Ohio and Michigan; and, 2% coming from Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky.

The typical travel party was made up of 2.6 people, and 36% traveled with at least one person under 18 in the travel group, according to the report.

Tourists said they would like to see additional dining options added in Pasco County.

The majority of those coming to Pasco reported they were visiting family or friends, with 30% falling into that category. The next largest group — 19% — were there for a sporting event. The next largest group, which made up 18%, were there for vacation.

Tourists gave the Sports Coast an 8.6 rating, with 10.0 being the highest possible score. Sixty-six percent indicated they definitely will return to the area.

The survey revealed visitors’ top activities: 71% casual dining; 56% shopping; 53% visiting family and friends; and, 53% visiting nature and parks.

It also showed that 28% of visitors said they’d like the area to have more restaurants; 23% wanted more family activities; 23% want more shopping options; and, 20% want more sporting events.

The survey results are based on 2,667 interviews completed with Pasco County visitors, online and in person at local attractions, parks, hotels and events between Oct. 1, 2022 and Sept. 30, 2023.

The information in this story is based on the report contained in the Pasco County Commission’s Feb. 20 agenda materials. That meeting was scheduled to occur after The Laker/Lutz News’ publication deadline.

Pasco tourism by the numbers
These figures are from a report compiled by Downs & St. Germain Research for fiscal year 2023

Economic impacts:

  • Overall economic impact: $1.03 billion, up 12% over fiscal year 2022
  • Direct spending: $712.5 million, up 12% over fiscal year 2022
  • Visitors: 1,491,700, up 0.8% over fiscal year 2022
  • Room occupancy: 61.8%, down 9.3% from fiscal year 2022
  • Average daily rate: $126.30, up 6% from fiscal year 2022
  • Room nights: 1,471,000, down 3% from fiscal year 2022
  • Local jobs supported: 12,370, up 8% from fiscal year 2022
  • Wages and salaries: $33,301,400, up 15% from fiscal year 2022
  • Tourist Development Tax: $6,776,922, up 35% from fiscal year 2022

Visitor profile

  • Average visitor: Is 50 years old, female, with income of $81,700
  • 91% drive into the area; those who flew primarily traveled through Tampa International Airport
  • The typical stay is 4.5 nights
  • Travel parties spend $238 per day; $1,089 over course of visit

Top visitor activities

  • Casual dining: 71%
  • Shopping: 56%
  • Seeing family and friends: 53%
  • Visiting parks and nature: 53%

Top desired additional activities

  • More restaurants: 28%
  • More family friendly activities: 23%
  • More outdoor activities: 23%
  • More sporting events: 20%  

Published February 21, 2024

Planning for regional transportation board continues to take shape

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Pasco County’s Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) — which oversees transportation planning for the county — is continuing to weigh in on the development of a regional transportation board for Pasco, Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

The Pasco MPO is a nine-member board, consisting of the five-member Pasco County Commission and one elected official each from the cities of Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey has been a staunch advocate for regional transportation planning. She said it’s imperative to address the pressing needs for better ways to get around. (File)

Under a proposed regional MPO, the elected board for Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties could range from five to 25 members — that membership would be divvied up based on population.

Pasco’s MPO voted during its Feb. 8 meeting to recommend a preference for the regional board to be made up of nine to 15 members, or as a second choice, for the board to have 17 to 25 members.

They rejected the idea of the board being made up of five to seven members, saying that size would be too small.

On another issue, the Pasco MPO said they think that representatives from the Tampa Aviation Authority and the Tampa Port Authority should be counted as part of Hillsborough’s membership on the regional board.

Pasco MPO board members Jack Mariano and Kathryn Starkey said Pasco’s population limits its membership to 19% of the new board, so they don’t want Pasco to have any additional reductions.

The composition of the new regional board and all of the other details remain to be worked out, but the recent Pasco discussion is necessary to continue the planning efforts, said Tania Gorman, executive director of the Pasco MPO.

Starkey, a staunch advocate for a regional approach to transportation planning, said Pasco and Pinellas counties already work well together and that Hillsborough appears to be warming toward combining forces with the other counties.

Future discussions will focus on other issues, such as how to involve the municipalities in transportation planning and decisions.

One possibility would be to have rotating board membership. Another would be to have weighted seats. Subcommittees to the main board and non-voting membership are other options.

“We want to be sure that all our cities have a voice,” Starkey said.

Gorman said there are various ways to ensure representation.

“Don’t be dismayed by us being smaller,” she said, referring to Pasco’s relative size to Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.

David Gwynn, secretary for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation, previously has said that creating a regional transportation planning board would put the region in a stronger posture when competing for federal funds.

It is expected to take a couple of years more to iron out all of the details.

Starkey is enthused about the prospects.

“I’m encouraged — big money coming our way,” she told her Pasco MPO colleagues.

Additional discussion was expected at a Feb. 16 meeting of the TMA, which is a subcommittee of the Sun Coast Transportation Alliance. Its membership is made up of local representatives of the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), the Hillsborough County Transportation Planning Organization (TPO) and Forward Pinellas, which is the lead planning organization for transportation and land use in Pinellas County.

That meeting occurred after The Laker/Lutz News’ deadline, which was completed early last week because of the President’s Day holiday.

Published February 21, 2024

Saint Leo University inducts new Hall of Fame athletes

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Saint Leo University Athletics has announced its 2024 Hall of Fame inductees and plans to celebrate their athletic accomplishments at a ceremony that kicks off the university’s Alumni Weekend at the end of the month.

The Hall of Fame inductees for 2024 are Arielle Kabangu, Colett Rampf and Terlynn “Chanita” Olds, according to a Saint Leo University news release.

The Saint Leo University athletics department recently announced a celebration honoring members of its 2024 Hall of Fame, and some inductees from the 2020 class, as well.

The event also includes honoring some inductees from the Class of 2020 in person — who were not previously able to be part of a celebration because of COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns. Those inductees are Hannah Beard, Marcus Ruh, Matt Obermeyer and Jaclyn Mailoto, according to the release.

The Hall of Fame induction ceremony is set for the evening of Feb. 29, at the Saint Leo University Wellness Center, on the university’s campus at 33701 County Road 52, in St. Leo.

The Hall of Fame was organized by the Saint Leo Alumni Association and Athletic Department in 1986-1987, to honor former students, coaches and administrators who excelled in Saint Leo athletics in the prep school, junior college or senior college. 

According to the Hall of Fame’s mission statement, its purpose is “to perpetuate the memory of those persons who have brought distinction, honor and excellence to Saint Leo athletics, and familiarize the entire campus community and alumni with the university’s rich athletic history.”

Marcal Lazenby, director of Athletics, Recreation & Wellness, expressed the university’s pride in honoring these recipients.

“This is an extraordinary group of individuals who we are proud to officially induct into the Saint Leo Hall of Fame,” Lazenby said, in the release. “We have inductees who are at the top in the record books, and others who helped propel their teams to NCAA postseason play. These two classes not only excelled during competition, but in the classroom too, as evidenced by the diversity of the recognition they received during their careers for the Green and Gold.”

Lazenby said the university also is pleased to be able to celebrate the achievements of Beard, Mailoto, Obermeyer and Ruh, during the in-person ceremony, since the university was unable to do that in 2020.

Here’s a closer look at the athletes being honored:

2024 Hall of Fame inductees:

Arielle Kabangu, of the class of 2017, left an indelible mark on Saint Leo’s women’s soccer. She finished her playing career at Saint Leo as the all-time leader in goals (65), points (151), shots (305) and multiple-goal games (18). (Courtesy of Saint Leo Athletics Department)

Arielle Kabangu, Class of 2017, women’s soccer
Arielle Kabangu’s Hall of Fame-worthy career with the Saint Leo women’s soccer team stands as a testament to her unparalleled skill and dedication to the sport. She finished her playing career at Saint Leo as the all-time leader in goals (65), points (151), shots (305), and multiple-goal games (18). She set single-season records for multiple-goal games (seven in 2013) and shots (85 in 2016), showcasing her consistent excellence.

By the end of her career, she was in the top six of all seven offensive categories.

She earned All-American honors three times (2013, 2014, 2016) and secured two Sunshine State Conference (SSC) Player of the Year titles (2013, 2016). She also was the SSC Freshman of the Year in 2013. In addition to her exceptional achievements, she later returned to the Saint Leo bench as an assistant coach in 2021.

Colett Rampf, of the class of 2018, displayed her brilliance across both cross-country and track. She achieved All-American status three times in each discipline.

Colett Rampf Class of 2018, women’s cross-country/track
Colett Rampf’s Hall of Fame career as a former Saint Leo women’s cross-country and track student-athlete demonstrates a remarkable journey of athletic excellence and academic achievement. A six-time All-American, Rampf’s brilliance shone across both cross-country and track, earning her the prestigious honor three times in each discipline. Her dedication to both athletic and academic pursuits resulted in her twice achieving the distinction of Academic All-American. She was the only athlete in Sunshine State Conference (SSC) history who achieved SSC Runner of the Year for four consecutive years. During her senior year, she clinched victory in every race leading up to the National Championship, where she finished eighth. Rampf’s South Region championship win in 2016, coupled with a 14th-place finish at the NCAA Championships, showcased her national prowess. She also achieved a notable third-place finish at the Outdoor Track and Field Championships in 2018 in the 3,000-meter steeplechase and qualified for the Outdoor Championship in the 5,000-meter.

Terlynn ‘Chanita’ Olds, of the class of 1998, was a standout forward on the women’s basketball team. She later returned to be the team’s head coach.

Terlynn ‘Chanita’ Olds Class of 1998, women’s basketball
Terlynn “Chanita” Olds was a standout forward on the women’s basketball team and later came back to Saint Leo where she was the head coach from 2005 to 2011. She represented the Green and Gold with integrity and honor on and off the court and represented the core values that Saint Leo expects out of its very best. As a player, Olds stepped up in times of adversity, including when the team was struggling to fill a roster. Many nights she carried the load, playing the entire game as a post player. She displayed a high degree of desire and competitiveness. Olds served as a team captain for Saint Leo. During her playing career, she led the team to its first winning record in program history. She averaged 35 minutes per game, 14.7 points per game, 7.6 rebounds per game and shot 55% from the field. She ranked fourth in the SSC in scoring and was named All-SSC first team as well as earning conference player of the week honors. After she graduated, she broke the gender barrier by becoming an assistant coach for the Saint Leo men’s basketball team for the 1998-1999 season. Following stops at Spring Hill College, Florida A&M University, Flagler College and Palm Beach State College, Olds returned to Saint Leo in 2005. She took over a Saint Leo women’s basketball program that had won three total games in its previous three seasons and laid the foundation for the program you see today that is competing for conference titles and berths in the NCAA tournament.

She currently is vice president for athletics and recreation at LaGrange College.

Hall of Fame Class of 2020

Hannah Beard, of the class of 2009, is one of the most decorated women’s soccer-student athletes in Saint Leo University’s history. She set numerous records at Saint Leo and was named All-Sunshine State Conference four times.

Hannah Beard
Hannah Beard, in the class of 2009, is one of Saint Leo’s most decorated women’s soccer student-athletes. She was a four-time All-Sunshine State Conference selection and set numerous program records. She still holds two career marks, one single season record and three single-game highs. She is the all-time leader in assists (31) and games played (76) while holding the single-season record for assists with 12 in 2008. Beard was a two-time NSCAA Scholar All-American, three-time NSCAA All-Region honoree and was named an NSCAA All-American as a junior.

She was honored as the SSC Offensive Player of the Year as a junior and was named to a pair of SSC All-Tournament teams. As a junior she helped lead Saint Leo to its first SSC Tournament Championship in program history. She ended her time at Saint Leo with 76 career games played, 46 goals, 31 assists and 123 total points. Following her time with the Lions, Beard went on to play professionally in both the United States and Australia.

Jaclyn Mailoto, class of 2014, ran the Saint Leo women’s volleyball offense as a setter, earning first-team All-Sunshine State honors in 2013, following an All-Freshman team selection in 2010.
Her 3,222 career assists currently is the second-highest in the Saint Leo career record book.

Jaclyn Mailoto.
Jaclyn Mailoto, of the class of 2014, enters the Saint Leo Athletics Hall of Fame following a four-year career in volleyball. She was known for her leadership, running the team’s offense as a setter. She earned First Team All-Sunshine State honors in 2013 following an All-Freshman Team selection in 2010. As a senior, she was named to the AVCA All-South Region First Team as well as Honorable Mention All-America. She led the competitive SSC in both assists (1,366) and assists per set (11.78); the 11.78 assists per set still holds the single-season mark at Saint Leo. Her 3,222 career assists currently rank second in the Saint Leo career record book while her 8.57 assists per set come in at fourth. Mailoto went on to coach club volleyball for 850 Elite Volleyball Academy in Valparaiso.

Matt Obermeyer, of the class of 2014, spent four years as a member of the Saint Leo men’s lacrosse program and currently holds four records in the top 10, including 135 career goals, 2.5 goals per game, 158 career points and 2.93 points per game.

Matt Obermeyer
Matt Obermeyer, of the class of 2014, played four years for Saint Leo’s men’s lacrosse team. He was a dynamic goal scorer and currently holds four records in the top 10 including, 135 career goals (first), 2.5 goals per game (third), 158 career points (fourth), and 2.93 points per game (seventh). As a freshman, he made an instant impact charting 33 goals and five assists on the season. Those numbers eventually led to him being named the Deep South Freshman of the Year. The next three years the accolades continued to roll in. He earned First Team All-Conference honors from 2012-2014, was named Capital One CoSIDA Academic All-District in 2012 and 2013, achieved USILA Scholar All-American honors in 2014, and topping the charts would be the Deep South Player of the Year award in 2013. Obermeyer graduated from Saint Leo in 2014 with a major in marketing, and is currently the Director of Operations at SpotX, a global video advertising platform.

Marcus Ruh, class of 2013, played two seasons on Saint Leo’s men’s basketball team and during that time scored 859 points, for an average of 14.8 points per game. He also excelled in the classroom and was named the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2013.

Marcus Ruh
Marcus Ruh, of the class of  2013, played basketball at Saint Leo for two seasons, and with that time he scored 859 points, an impressive 14.8 points per game. He excelled in the classroom, too, receiving the NCAA Division II Conference Commissioners Association Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year in 2013. He also was the CoSIDA Capital One Men’s Basketball Academic All-American of the Year. He earned First Team All-Region honors for his work on the court and was the South Region Scholar-Athlete of the Year. He earned Third Team All-American honors from the D2Bulletin and was the 2012-13 SSC Player of the Year. He also earned the SSC Male Scholar-Athlete of the Year honor while earning the Saint Leo Male Athlete and Scholar-Athlete of the Year honors. During his junior campaign he was named a First Team All-SSC selection and to the 2011-12 All-SSC Newcomer Team. Following his time at Saint Leo he pursued a professional career in Australia spending one season with the Ringwood Hawks. Ruh also spent time as a coach with the Green Bay Storm on the AAU circuit before moving into his current role as a sales representative for Cintas.

Join the celebration: Festivities on Feb. 29 will begin with a reception at 6:30 p.m., for the inductees, their families and guests. That will be followed by a dinner beginning at 7 p.m. Registration is required, at Your.SaintLeo.edu/events/alumni-weekend/registration.

Published February 21, 2024

Saddlebrook tournaments

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Saddlebrook recently hosted the International Tennis Federation (ITF) World Tour $25,000 men’s event, which was won by University of South Florida graduate Roberto Cid Subervi, according to information provided by Christopher Rosenke, a teacher, college advisor and print and digital media coordinator at Saddlebrook.

The facility also hosted the ITF’s women’s event, which Leoni Kung won.

This is the first time Saddlebrook has hosted the men’s and women’s events in the same year, and the women’s event was the first in the partnership between Saddlebrook and Pro Tennis Registry (PTR), which just moved its headquarters to the Saddlebrook property, according to an email from Rosenke.

Roberto Cid Subervi lost only one set in single main draw and that was in the semifinal. He defeated Nick Chappell in the final, 6-3, 6-2. (Courtesy of Christopher Rosenke)
Leonie Kung appeared in both the singles and doubles finals. She defeated Sophie Chang 6-4, 3-6, 6-3 in the singles final. She didn’t lose a set until the singles final. In the doubles, Kung and Weronika Falkowska lost to Maria Kozyreva and Maria Kononova, 7-5, 6-1.

Elite sports training program sets up in Trinity

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Student athletes will soon find world-class instruction and facilities supporting 10 different sports disciplines in Trinity, as part of the Generations Christian Academy (GCA) at Trinity Commons, according to a news release.

G-Sports will offer facilities, instructors, and programming to support a wide array of sports including basketball, football, volleyball, golf, hockey, figure skating, soccer, lacrosse, baseball, and mixed martial arts, the release says.

Many of the sports programs are already in place and operating or in space being temporarily used for their respective G-Sport training; additional buildings and facility preparation continues as part of the ongoing construction work at the school expansion site, the release says.

“Incredibly exciting to see the growth in Pasco County with this tremendous program extension of GCA in the new G-Sports program,” Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, said in the release.

Head of School Josh Hoag, anticipates increased capacity in time for the coming school-year enrollment season and is pleased with the ongoing construction, the release says.

G-Sports facility expansion plans include a full-size ice rink to support the sports of hockey and figure skating. 

Ice rink developer, Gordie Zimmermann with IceMann Development  will lead the new ice facility and program operations, the release says.

“It’s great to provide available ice for student athletes – finding a program and partners that can help develop and facilitate the changing needs of athletes as they grow and improve is so important,” Zimmermann said, in the release.

A key partner in helping establish G-Sports’ programs is AdventHealth, which has signed on to serve the needs of G-Sports Athletes as medical provider.

Wiregrass Marching Bulls honored

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The Pasco County Commission on Feb. 6 honored the Wiregrass Ranch High School Marching Bulls for winning the Florida Marching Band 2023 Class 4A State Championship. The county board adopted the resolution, by title only, which may mean a future appearance at a board meeting for band members to be honored in person, or could mean a presentation at the school or some other venue. The resolution highlights the program’s many accomplishments.

Business Digest 02/21/2024

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Bill Cronin, left, and Skip Skairus hold a check representing a $5,000 donation to the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart Microloan Program. Cronin is the president/CEO of Pasco EDC and Skairus is the regional vice president of SouthState Bank. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

SouthState Bank supports SMARTstart microloans
SouthState Bank has donated $5,000 to the Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart Microloan Program, bringing the bank’s total donations to the program to $55,000, according to a news release.

The program, which began in 2011, provides a source of funding for qualifying entrepreneurs who want to start to expand their businesses.

SouthState has been contributing to the microloan program since its inception.

“We are excited to see the true impact donations like this make in the Pasco County entrepreneurial community,” Skip Skairus, regional president of SouthState, said in the release from Pasco EDC.

“The Microloan Fund provides loans to businesses who are beginning their entrepreneurial journeys, and we would not be able to support them without the help of the local community through donations like these,” Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC president/CEO, added, in the release.

Since the program began, it has assisted over 75 local businesses and created over 260 jobs.

For additional details, visit SmartStartPasco.com/microloan, or contact Dan Mitchell, the SMARTstart program director, at .

Local business networking breakfast
The Starkey Ranch Library Theatre Cultural Center will host a free networking breakfast for local businesses featuring information resources available through the Pasco public library system and through Pasco County that help businesses meet their goals. Those attending are encouraged to bring business cards and promotional materials about their businesses.

The session will be on Feb. 29 from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., at the library, 12118 Lake Blanche Drive, in Odessa. Registration is required. Email Jayde Archbold for more information at .

Reporters receive ‘Climate Champion’ awards
Jessica Meszaros and Steve Newborn have been selected to receive “Climate Awards” from the Climate Adaption Center (CAC) for their expansive coverage of the impact of climate change on Florida residents, animals and landscapes, according to a news release.

“Steve and Jessica are tremendous reporters who continue to serve this region with extraordinary research and reporting, and we are thrilled that the CAC is recognizing them with these awards,” WUSF General Manager JoAnn Urofsky said, in the release. “Florida faces serious threats from climate change and helping the residents of Florida understand these challenges is an important part of our mission.”

The awards were expected to be delivered at a gala in downtown Sarasota on Feb. 15.

SCORE webinars
SCORE provides free business mentors and webinars that focus on specific topics aimed at helping businesses to thrive. Here are some upcoming webinars:

  • Feb. 27, 1 p.m.: Business insurance basics: What you need to know
  • March 7, 1 p.m.: How to create a budget that works for you
  • March 12, 1 p.m.: Social media marketing strategies for your small business

Go to SCORE.org/pascohernando to register, or email or call 727-842-4638 for more information. 

HART recognized for financial reporting excellence
The Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) has awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the Hillsborough Transit Authority (HART), according to a news release from HART. The GFOA Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, the release says. The award recognizes HART’s Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, 2022. Visit GoHART.org for more information.

Zephyrhills chamber breakfast
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has its breakfast meeting at 7 a.m. on the first Thursday of each month at the Golden Corral, 6877 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. The cost is $15.  

Economic development briefing
The North Tampa Bay Chamber will host an economic development briefing featuring J.D. Porter, the owner/developer of Wiregrass Ranch and the founder of the Wiregrass Ranch Foundation. The session is set for March 12 from 11:30 to 1 p.m., at NTBC at Signature Workspace at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28210 Paseo Ave., No. 190, in Wesley Chapel. RSVPs are required. Email for more information.

GROW Pasco
Take advantage of the opportunity to learn about a wide array of business topics at Grow Pasco, which is set for March 14 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Saint Leo University Wellness Center, 12338 Priory Circle, in San Antonio. Grow Pasco features 15 breakout sessions, led by some of the best business minds in the area. Go to the Pasco Economic Development Council’s website, PascoEDC.com, to find out more about the topics, the speakers and how to register. 

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group invites speakers in on a variety of topics and gives people a chance to do some networking of their own. The group’s meeting begins at 7:30 a.m., at the IHOP in Dade City, 13100 U.S. 301, in Dade City. Here is its list of upcoming speakers:

March 12:  Melonie Monson, past executive director/CEO of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and mayor of Zephyrhills; Randy Stover, provost dean emeritus of Pasco-Hernando State College; Kathryn Starkey, Pasco County Commission, District 3

April 9:  Dr. John Legg, candidate for Pasco County Schools Superintendent; Christopher and Tammi Dester, director and founder of the Academy of Spectrum Diversity

May 14: Madonna Wise, retired educator and author

June 11: Peter Castellani, founder and director of Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers; Amy Yarborough, director of the Pregnancy Care Center; Dr. Chris Dunning, candidate for Pasco County Schools Superintendent

July 9: Mike Fasano, Pasco County tax collector; Vicki Wiggins, CEO, the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce

Aug. 13: Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco Economic Development Council

Sept. 10: Brian Corley, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections

Oct. 8:  Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller

Nov. 12: Todd Vande Berg, planning director of the City of Zephyrhills

Contact Nils R. Lenz at 813-782-9491 or , or any of the board members for suggested topics that you would like to hear about or to suggest specific speakers. If you would like to speak, contact the networking group now to schedule a time during the group’s meetings.

Pasco EDC seeks NetFest sponsors
The Pasco Economic Development Council is seeking sponsors for NetFest 2024. For more information, contact Amber Lake at .