The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Pasco County approves tourism marketing study

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The Pasco County Commission has approved spending $48,000 for an economic impact study related to tourism.

During the board’s Oct. 6 meeting, commissioners approved a consulting services agreement with Downs & St. Germain Research Inc. (DSG), to perform the analysis.

The company, a market research firm based in Tallahassee, specializes in developing marketing and strategic recommendations from survey results and focus groups through tourism studies such as visitor tracking, potential visitor research, branding research, event research, return on investment research and other methods, according to agenda backup materials.

A second-floor mezzanine area offers a bird’s-eye view of all activity inside the 98,000-square- foot indoor complex at the Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The consulting company has substantial experience in Florida tourism market research.

Commissioners previously approved an agreement with the market research company, known as DSG,  on Jan. 23, 2018, to conduct the county’s first Visitor Profile and Economic Impact Study of Tourism.

Since then, the research company has partnered with several events organizations, tourism attractions, venues, and short-term rental accommodations to run face-to-face, phone and online surveys to Pasco County visitors. As a result of these interviews, DSG has been able to profile visitors coming to our destination and quantify the economic impact that the tourism industry brings to Pasco County, according to the agenda item.

In addition to providing a venue for tournaments, the new Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus also creates new opportunities for area youth and adults — who have access to the field house during weekdays, with the opportunity to participate in recreation leagues, camps and clinics.

The market research company has provided visitor profile and economic impact studies, and the reports have provided insight on the demographics and geography of Florida’s Sports Coast visitors, activities while in the destination, trip planning behaviors, satisfaction with the destination, spending behaviors, the importance of vacation attributes, and the

best approach for attracting new visitors, agenda materials say.

The information has been used by the county’s Destination Management Organization (DMO) to develop marketing strategies and establish a blueprint for a marketing plan to increase visitation, visitor satisfaction, and marketing effectiveness.

The county’s DMO considers the tourism research work to be in the best interest of the Pasco tourism industry to keep annual track of our visitors and the economic impact that this industry is generating to the county in general, the agenda material adds.

In recommending approval of the agreement, county staff characterized the study as an important tool to “identify the right audience as well as when, how, and where to allocate marketing dollars to promote a destination.”

Published October 21, 2020

Pasco County’s COVID-19 cases surpass 10,000 mark

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As Pasco County’s COVID-19’s positive cases surpassed the 10,000-mark, local officials continue to consider their best responses to the threats.

The Pasco County Commission and the Pasco County School Board were both scheduled to take up the issue during their meetings on Oct. 20, which occurred after The Laker/Lutz News’ deadline.

Pasco County commissioners were expected to hear an update on local COVID-19 conditions, from the health officer for Department of Health-Pasco County, during the board’s morning session.

Efforts continue to come up with a vaccine to provide protection from COVID-19. The United States has recorded nearly 8.1 million positive cases and more than 218,000 deaths. (Courtesy of metrocreativeconnection.com)

During a September update, Mike Napier, the public health officer for Pasco County told the board he realized there was significant interest on when it would be appropriate to lift mask mandates and social distancing restrictions.

At that time, he told them the best time would be when a vaccine was available, or medication was available to treat it.

From a practical standpoint, though, he told commissioners that the positive cases would need to be lower — and he said he would report back in October.

Napier also told commissioners that he’s on regular conference calls with health officers and county officials around the region, and they were leaning toward trying to come up with a regional response to the issue of face coverings.

The idea is to come up with a consensus on the numbers and benchmarks to use, and to consult with academics to determine the approach, Napier said.

Presumably, the presentation at the board’s Oct. 20 meeting provided an update on those issues.

Meanwhile the Pasco County School Board was set to take up the issue of masks and other personal protective equipment during its afternoon workshop on Oct. 20.

Board members were expected to consider a proposed rule change that would require mask or face coverings for everyone on a school campus, through the end of the 2020-2021 school, in the interest of protecting the health and welfare of students, staff and visitors.

The proposed rule also calls for observing social distancing, washing hands frequently and using other personal protective equipment, as may be necessary.

The workshop session is a discussion only, the issue will come back for a formal vote at a later meeting.

The local government boards are considering these issues at a time when Pasco County reported 10,238 positive cases and 224 deaths, as of the latest information available on the morning of Oct. 19.

Pasco’s public school district reported 170 student cases and 68 staff cases, requiring 3,225 students and 338 staff members to be quarantined, as of the same time.

Also, Hillsborough County reported 45,290 positive cases and 751 deaths, and its public school district reported 741 cases, including 337 staff cases and 404 students.

Meanwhile, the number of positive cases across Florida stood at 756,727 cases, with 747,183 being Florida residents. The death count stood at 16,021 resident deaths and 201 non-residents, according to the Florida Department of Health.

Nationally, nearly 8.1 million positive cases have been reported, with 218,511 deaths recorded, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Wear a mask
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends you wear a mask in public settings, when you are around other people and not able to maintain a social distance of at least 6 feet.

  • Wear masks with two or more layers to stop the spread of COVID-19.
  • Wear the mask over your nose and mouth, and secure it under your chin.
  • Masks should be worn by people age 2 and older.
  • Masks should not be worn by children younger than 2, by people who have trouble breathing, or people who cannot remove the mask without assistance.
  • Do not wear masks intended for health care workers, for example, N95 respirators.
  • CDC does not recommend the use of gaiters or face shields. Evaluation of these face covers is ongoing, but effectiveness is unknown at this time.

The CDC also recommends you choose masks made of two or more layers of washable, breathable fabric. Be sure your mask completely covers you nose and mouth. Be sure that your mask fits snuggly against the sides of your face and don’t have gaps.

The best prevention is to avoid exposure.
Older adults and people with underlying conditions, such as heart disease, lung disease or diabetes, are at greater risk of a severe illness from COVID-19

Reduce your risk of becoming infected by wearing a mask, staying socially distant and frequently washing hands your hands with soap and water.

Source: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Published October 21, 2020

Dining and shopping options expand, near Wesley Chapel

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Impacts from the COVID-19 pandemic have forced businesses to shutter, and others to regroup — but activity continues to hum along at the Cypress Creek Town Center, near Wesley Chapel.

Crews are busy working on this massive store that offers a wide assortment of hard-surface flooring materials. A nearby sign says it’s coming soon. (B.C. Manion)

Located at Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56, the outdoor mall features a broad array of shops, restaurants, stores and a hotel on the north side of State Road 56.

Meanwhile, across the way, on the south side of State Road 56, Tampa Premium Outlets occupies a large chunk of real estate, but is surrounded by free-standing restaurants, big box stores, an entertainment venue and other things.

The assortment of places to eat, drink, shop and have fun continues to grow.

The newest development is a massive Floor & Décor, now under construction at 25737 Sierra Center Blvd.

Crews were busy painting an exterior wall recently, and a sign hung on a chain-link fence made this promise: Coming soon.

Floor & Décor, headquartered in Atlanta, offers a wide assortment of in-stock, hard-surface flooring, including tile, wood, laminate/luxury vinyl plank, and natural stone, along with decorative and installation accessories.

Hockey enthusiasts can get their gear at Pure Hockey, a sporting goods store that specializes in that sport.

A number of other new businesses have opened nearby, or are expected to open soon.

They include:

  • Pure Hockey, 25629 Sierra Center Blvd., sporting goods store that specializes in hockey gear
  • La-Z-Boy Home Furnishings & Decor, a 13,560-square-foot store at 25960 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • Five Guys, a restaurant specializing in handcrafted burgers and fresh fries, at 25598 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • Crumbl Cookies, a dessert shop offering specialty cookies, at 25922 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • European Wax Center, at 25914 Sierra Center Blvd., provides a range of waxing services for the entire body.
  • Woof Gang Bakery and Grooming, a specialty shop for pet grooming, pet food and supplies, at 25912 Sierra Center Blvd.
  • Charles Schwab, at 25926 Sierra Center Blvd., which provides a range of brokerage, banking and financial advisory services
  • IVX Health, at 25930 Sierra Center Blvd., offers biologic injections and infusions for patients with health care issues, including Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, lupus and multiple sclerosis.
  • Zukku Sushi, at 25916 Sierra Center Blvd., is opening soon, according to its Facebook page. It offers a menu of sushi burritos, curated pig bowls and curated sushi bowls, sashimi and nigiri.

Meanwhile, at the western end of Sierra Center Boulevard, Bloomin’ Brands plans to open a trio of restaurants.

Bonefish Grill, which is part of the Bloomin’ Brands family of restaurants, is expected to open soon, near Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 56.

The first of those, Aussie Grill, opened in May, at 25340 Sierra Center Blvd. It is the first stand-alone restaurant in this brand that the chain has opened anywhere.

A Bonefish Grill is expected to open this fall, and a Carrabba’s Italian Grill is expected to open early next year, according to the company website.

The three restaurants will be clustered together with a shared parking lot.

On the southern side of State Road 56, Rock & Brews is in the process of hiring, in anticipation of opening soon.

Rock and Brews has been busy filling positions, in anticipation of opening soon.

The restaurant, at 26000 State Road 56, will have décor that features rock n’ roll posters. Televisions will play music videos, and diners will be able to play shuffleboard, corn hole and foosball.

The restaurant’s menu includes burgers, pizzas and salads — made from scratch with locally sourced ingredients. Plus, there’s a large selection of craft beers and an outdoor patio.

Nearby, Cigars International, at 2691 Creek Grass Way, recently opened — offering a selection of 1,300 cigar brands, a full-service lounge, an outdoor lounge and other amenities.

This sushi restaurant, in the Cypress Creek Town Center, is expected to open soon, according to its Facebook page.

Another recently opened attraction, Main Event, at 2839 Creek Grass Way, is a 49,000-square-foot venue offering 22 bowling lanes, billiards, laser tag, gravity ropes, shuffleboard, games, banquet rooms and various food options.

Future plans in the development call for a 70-seat Zaxby’s restaurant and a 3,120-square-foot  Tidal Wave car wash, in the general vicinity of the Aldi grocery store, which opened earlier this year, at 2215 Sun Vista Drive.

Beyond what’s already been developed, there’s also room available for future growth, according to a marketing brochure prepared by Colliers International.

The brochure reports an estimated population of 112,600 within a 5-mile radius of the center, with an average age of 37.8 years old and an average household income of $99,937.

Those statistics may explain why the area has fared so well, despite the COVID-19 pandemic.

Published October 21, 2020

Wesley Chapel woman pens children’s book

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A conversation Jessica Valentin had with her daughter, Isabella, inspired the Wesley Chapel woman to write her first children’s book.

Jessica said they were in the car on the way to an appointment, when she was encouraging her daughter to use her writing and drawing skills.

To make the conversation more concrete, she asked her daughter what kind of story she would like.

Jessica Valentin teamed up with illustrator Stephanie Richoll for the book, ‘Tony and His Mythical Friends.’ Valentin is already working on a second book, in what she hopes will become a series of books. (B.C. Manion)

Isabella responded: “Mom, I love unicorns.”

So, they began brainstorming about a story that would involve the mythical creature, and from that kernel of an idea, Jessica fleshed out the outline of a story.

They decided that Jessica would write the story, and Isabella would draw the characters.

“It became a family affair,” Jessica said.

Kayla, Isabella’s twin sister and the twins’ younger sister, Iliana, suggested names for the other characters in the story, and shared their perspectives.

They decided to try to publish the story, and Jessica decided to hire a professional artist to illustrate the book. She selected professional artist Stephanie Richoll to illustrate the book, and the two plan to continue the collaboration on future projects.

Jessica’s husband, Anthony “Tony,” a retired New York City police officer, has been a huge supporter, the author said. He’s the one who is covering the costs for the venture.

Initially, Jessica had hoped to find a literary agent and a publisher for the project.

But, when she wasn’t making any progress, she didn’t want that to be the end of the story.

So, she decided to self-publish the book, “Tony and His Mythical Friends,” and is selling the book on Amazon.

At one point, the book reached No. 59 on Amazon, in the Children’s Folklore and Myths category, she said.

The book tells the tale of a camping trip, where a boy notices a flickering light at a nearby campsite and decides to check it out.

He discovers a group of unusual-looking campers.

It’s a story that touches on the themes of kindness, inclusion, empathy and friendship.

Of course, publishing a book in the time of COVID-19 has its complications.

On the one hand, the pandemic gave Jessica time to work on her first book, and another one that’s in progress.

On the other hand, book readings she’d hope to give to help promote the book have been put on hold.

Meanwhile, she’s using social media tools — such Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — to help get the word out about her book.

She realizes that she is an unknown author, with much to learn.

She’s undaunted.

She wants to help children to develop a love for reading, and she hopes this book — and others she has planned, will help make that happen.

“They can escape their world or their stress,” Jessica said.

Surprisingly, the author did not enjoy reading or writing when she was young.

“I wanted something different for my girls,” she said, adding that she frequently read to them when they were small, hoping to help them appreciate the power of stories.

She has big ideas for where she wants to take her writing.

“I want to reach more kids. I’m just at the beginning,” the author said.

She acknowledges achieving her goals will take time and won’t be easy.

“You always start at the bottom. No one really starts at the top,” she said.

Even if her books never become No. 1 bestsellers, she thinks her efforts are worthwhile.

“It’s a love letter to my kids,” the author said.

To find out more about the book, go to Facebook: Tony and His Mythical Friends by Jessica Valentin; Instagram: @tonyandhismythicalfriends; or, Twitter: @TMythicalFriends

The author also can be reached at .

Published October 21, 2020

Big decisions on the ballot in Election 2020

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Voters already have begun casting their mail-in ballots in Election 2020 — making decisions that will have enormous consequences.

The top of the ballot features a choice between reelecting President Donald J. Trump and Vice President Mike Pence, or electing challengers former Vice President Joe Biden and U.S. Senator Kamala Harris.

Early voting will begin in Pasco and Hillsborough counties at several locations on Oct. 19.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley said his office will work with Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco’s office to ensure that elections are safe, just like they have in other elections. (File)

Pasco County voters, for instance, will decide who should represent them in District 3 and District 5 on the Pasco County Commission. They also will choose the superintendent of Pasco County Schools.

A number of other key races are on the Nov. 3 ballot.

In Hillsborough County, voters will select the county sheriff, county tax collector, the county property appraiser, and seats on the Hillsborough County Commission and Hillsborough School Board.

Voters also will choose their congressional representatives and state lawmakers, in contested races.

Key races at the local level include Florida’s 12th congressional district; District 36, District 37 and District 38, in the Florida House; and District 20, in the Florida Senate.

Statewide, voters will  decide the fate of a half-dozen constitutional amendments.

All of this comes in the midst of the global COVID-19 pandemic.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer and Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley are encouraging voters to consider voting by mail, or taking advantage of Early Voting, to reduce waiting time for voters on Election Day, Nov. 3.

They also assure that steps will be taken to protect both voters and poll workers at election sites — through social distancing, face coverings and other precautions.

In addition to the pandemic, Election 2020 comes at a time of bitter partisan divide.

Political scientist Susan MacManus put it like this: “Obviously, everything that we thought we knew about politics has been turned upside down this election year.”

The national party conventions were different. The presidential and vice presidential debates have been different. The way people will vote — with experts predicting a record number of mail-in ballots — is different, too.

And, the constant frenzy of breaking news on social media and cable networks has made an impact.

“We’ve seen issues change by the hours, making it very difficult for campaigns to come up with a clear message,” added MacManus, a retired distinguished professor of political science at the University of South Florida.

“The nation is the most partisan/polarized in its history. The partisan divide is the deepest ever and so is the generational divide, really, politically,” added MacManus, who has been a close observer of elections for decades.

“Democrats are seen as moving more toward Socialism, and Republicans are seen as more toward, what they call maintenance of the Capitalistic system,” she said.

Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer says voters can be assured of a safe and secure election in Hillsborough County. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections)

On top of that, she said, “you had a health care and an economic meltdown at the same time, basically reconfiguring how people live — in every facet, whether it’s no toilet paper in the grocery, to the point of, ‘Now, do I send my kid to school in person, or do I not?’

Plus, there are clashes over racial injustice and the role of police.

The political landscape is changing, too, MacManus observed.

“The demographic shift that’s taking place across the country is very evident in the registration, and the makeup of Florida’s electorate. It’s much more racially and ethnically diverse, and much more age diverse than it was, even in 2016,” MacManus added.

“Many women are running in the Legislature and Congress this year, and a lot of them are women of color.

Turnout is a big question for both Democrats and Republicans
MacManus, who is frequently called upon to share expertise with national news outlets, said each political party is struggling to reach specific groups of voters.

Democrats are seeking to attract working class whites, particularly men; the Latino vote; and Minority School Choice voters, she said, noting in the past those groups were predictably Democrat voters.

This is what it looks like when voters drop off ballots in Hillsborough County. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections)

Republicans are seeking to reach college-educated white women; suburban moms with kids; and older voters, especially women. In essence, Republicans are struggling with a gender gap, she said.

“Then, each of them, of course, has a big, big, big, big turnout question,” MacManus said.

For the Democrats, the big turnout question is how many young voters will turn out.

Young voters, she said, want to be inspired, they want genuine discussions of their issues, and they value diversity.

Republicans, on the other hand, are worried that moderate Republicans will cross over and vote Biden. They’re also concerned that voters deemed as ‘Never Trumpers’ just won’t bother to vote, she said.

Despite those issues, MacManus believes that turnout will be higher for this year’s election.

She thinks it’s important for voters to understand that it may be awhile before the final results are known.

“There are legitimate reasons why you may not know on Election Night in a very close state like Florida,” she said.

Election privacy booths are spaced out, to provide social distancing and privacy for voters. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections)

A delay in counting overseas ballots is one of those reasons.

“Military and overseas ballots aren’t due until 10 days after the Election, and we have a lot of people that meet criteria,” MacManus said.

“No. 2, if you vote early and you forget to take your ID, you can still cast what’s called a provisional ballot. Then, after the election is over when the canvassing board meets, they can check it. If you are indeed registered, your vote counts. In 2000, they would have been tossed out.

“The third reason is that you can get an onslaught of mail-in ballots that get there on Election Day or a day or so before.

“If it’s really, really tight in Florida, you may go to bed thinking it’s one candidate (who won), and then a couple of days later it will be different — and, it won’t be because anybody’s fraudulent,” MacManus said.

Even after the votes are counted, it might not be over, she said.

“Each side is already lawyered up to the max,” MacManus said.

Voting
There are three ways to vote:  Vote By Mail, Early Voting, and voting on Election Day.

Voters who vote by mail can either mail in their ballots, or drop them off at an early voting site. Your ballot must be received by your Supervisor of Elections office by 7 p.m., on Nov. 3.

Those voting by mail are encouraged to mail in their ballots early, to ensure they arrive on time. When voting in person, bring one or two forms of ID, which include your signature and photo. If you do not bring proper ID, you can vote a provisional ballot. A canvassing board will evaluate it for eligibility.

Important dates to remember
The deadline to register was Oct. 5.

Early voting in Hillsborough County begins Oct. 19 and ends Nov. 1, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., daily

Early voting in Pasco County begins Oct. 19 and ends Oct. 31, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily

Election Day voting nationwide is Nov. 3, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.

For a list of Early Voting places and other information, go to PascoVotes.gov for Pasco County and VoteHillsborough.org for Hillsborough County.

Safe and secure at the polls:
Steps are being taken in Pasco and Hillsborough counties to keep voters safe. Those include:

  • Limiting the number of people inside the polling place at one time.
  • Ensuring that poll workers have face coverings
  • Providing hand sanitizer
  • Reminding voters to wear a mask and follow social distancing guidelines

Election security: 10 reasons your vote is safe and secure
Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer offers these 10 reasons that voters can be assured their vote is safe and secure.

  1. The Florida Division of Elections checks each voter registration form to verify the applicant’s identity.
  2. Our voter registration database is updated regularly to remove deceased and ineligible voters.
  3. Voters have to show photo and signature identification to vote.
  4. Our voter records are updated electronically to record when a voter has requested a mail ballot or voted. If someone comes to vote in person, their mail ballot is immediately canceled. And vice versa.
  5. The state-certified equipment is tested before each election with a public logic and accuracy test to make sure machines are counting votes correctly. During this test, pre-marked ballots are put in a randomly selected sample of our machines to make sure the count is what it’s supposed to be and that every position on the ballot is being read by each machine.
  6. Our ballots and equipment are under 24-hour camera surveillance and stored in areas with restricted key card access until they are deployed for voting. During voting, the ballot scanners are kept in plain sight and secured with seals to prohibit tampering.
  7. We use a stand-alone server, not connected to the Internet, to tabulate and report results.
  8. Electronic results from each ballot scanner are encrypted and backed up by printed results that are posted on the doors of each polling place and driven to our central office.
  9. Paper ballots are held for 22 months and can be rescanned if there is a problem with the equipment or question about results.
  10. After every election, we run a post-election audit using a separate system to re-tabulate the ballots and confirm the accuracy of our results.

Source: Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections’ website

Published October 14, 2020

Efforts underway to encourage tourism

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It’s no secret that Florida’s tourism economy has been decimated from impacts of COVID-19, and Dana Young, president and CEO of Visit Florida, recently detailed tourism losses the state has suffered during a Zoom breakfast meeting with the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

At the same session, Young outlined efforts that have started to spur a tourism rebound.

“Prior to the pandemic, Florida tourism had just capped off our 10th consecutive year of record visitation. We welcomed over 130 million visitors to our state in 2019,” Young said, during the Oct. 6 meeting.

“And, these folks contributed $91 billion to our economy and supported 1.5 million jobs,” Young added.

In fact, she reported that Florida’s State Economist Amy Baker warned last year that tourism-related revenue losses posed the greatest potential risk to Florida’ economic outlook.

“A little over a year later, that prediction has come true. In the long-range financial outlook released last month to the Legislature, the economists reported that the pandemic’s fiscal impact on tourism accounts for half of Florida’s $2.7 billion budget shortfall,” Young said.

Hotels have been hit hard, Young said, in response to a question from a Zoom listener.

“The latest number I saw was that hotels in Florida had lost over $5 billion, and that was several weeks ago, so I’ve got to think that number is significantly higher,” she said.

But, Young said Visit Florida is ready to meet the challenge.

Speeding up recovery, if only just by a few months, will restore millions of dollars in tax revenues and create thousands of jobs for Floridians, she said.

“Since the pandemic began, Visit Florida and my great research and marketing professionals have been carefully monitoring public health data, travel-related metrics and trends, to guide our decision-making process,” she explained.

When the virus began making news in China, Visit Florida decided to stop advertising in that market.

“When travel essentially ceased to exist in March, Visit Florida pulled out all of our advertising, in preparation for the recovery,” Young said.

Doing that saved $13 million that is now being invested in a recovery campaign, she said.

“The timing of our recovery plan, as in everything at Visit Florida, is driven by data.

“We’ve been monitoring traveler sentiment, destination readiness and all sorts of trends out there — to determine in a data-driven way, when we should start advertising again.

“We want to make sure that people are ready to book travel, or receptive to seeing messages about travel,” she said.

“In these early stages of recovery, we know that people are more likely and more comfortable to travel closer to home. So, in-state travel is absolutely critical to our rebound.

“Floridians hold the key to our recovery, particularly in these early stages.

“In our first round of ads, we’re looking to remind Floridians of why they should be so proud to live here, and live in a state where the world dreams of vacationing.

“We want to take that pride and we want to channel that into getting Floridians to travel within our state, and harness that into supporting our Florida businesses, so many of which are hurting badly right now,” Young said.

“We’re trying to introduce them to maybe a part of Florida that they’ve never seen.

“Maybe they thought they would have to fly to another state or another country to have experiences that they can have right here at home,” she added.

The budget for the in-state marketing campaign is $3.4 million.

Visit Florida also understands how important it is to attract out-of-state visitors, too, Young said.

It launched a new effort last week that focuses on key drive markets to Florida, around the United States, particularly in the Eastern United States.

The tourism organization’s research reveals that people are willing to travel about 700 miles for a Florida vacation, Young said. So domestic marketing focuses on areas such as Atlanta, Charlotte, Houston, Birmingham, Nashville and Philadelphia.

The budget for that campaign is around $10 million, Young said.

“While we have heard anecdotally that other states are at a complete standstill about marketing to out-of-state visitors, we at Visit Florida plan to continue to be very aggressive in our approach, to save as much of the winter season and early 2021 as possible,” Young said.

“We want Florida to be the first destination that comes to mind when travelers sit down and plan a vacation, and heavy marketing is the best way to accomplish that goal. So, that is what we are doing,” Young said.

During the pandemic, the North Tampa Bay Chamber has shifted presentations that typically were given at in-person breakfast and luncheon meetings to Zoom sessions instead, allowing members to hear from speakers on a broad range of topics — without risk of exposure to COVID-19.

Published October 14, 2020

Starkey Ranch K-8 is set to open next fall

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A new kindergarten through eighth grade school that’s being constructed in the Starkey Ranch community now has an official name: Starkey Ranch K-8.

The school is scheduled to open next fall, and will part of a complex that includes a district park, a theater and library. The district park opened in November 2017.

This is what the Starkey Ranch K-8 School campus will look like. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

The quartet of community amenities resulted from a public-public-private partnership involving Pasco County Schools, Pasco County and the Wheelock Communities, the private developers of Starkey Ranch, a community off State Road 54 in Trinity.

Starkey Ranch K-8 School is the public school district’s first school specifically designed for elementary and middle school students.

The school is expected to have about 1,000 elementary school students and 600 middle school students. The campus includes a gymnasium, athletic fields, a running track and sports courts that will be available during non-school hours to residents, through a shared-use agreement.

Additionally, the third part of the partnership involves Pasco County, and involves the construction of what’s been dubbed TLC, which stands for theater, library and cultural center.

The TLC will accommodate public library patrons and students. It also will have a 250-seat theater and three makerspaces.

The Pasco County School Board approved the school’s official name during its Oct. 6 meeting. The board prefers to name schools after the general location, features of the area or historical information about the area.

Published October 14, 2020

Embracing the changing world of education

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When people arrive on the campus of Sunlake Academy of Math & Science, in Lutz, they are greeted by a place that sets a positive tone.

“Welcome back Ravens, we missed you,” proclaims a sign near the school’s driveway.

“We support our students. We support teachers. We support our administration. We love our school,” a sign on a fence declares.

“Go Ravens!” a third sign encourages.

Sounds of children — playing outdoors—  fill the air.

Principal Judy Moore came to Sunlake Academy of Math & Science last year, after a lengthy career leading schools in North Carolina. (B.C. Manion)

And, near the front door of the public charter school, there’s a reminder of today’s COVID-19 times. A sign reminds those entering that they must wear a face mask and maintain social distancing.

Inside, there are other clues regarding the ongoing pandemic.

There’s hand sanitizer on the counter, plexiglass separating office staff from visitors, and social distancing signs.

Children seem to be taking it all in stride as they walk down a corridor in single file, dressed in school uniforms and wearing their masks of various designs.

They wave to Principal Judy Moore, as they make their way to Spanish class.

Finding the balance between safety and normalcy has presented new challenges, but Moore said that adapting to change is part of an educator’s way of life.

As it relates to COVID-19, she said, “I think, like everybody else, you just take it as it comes, do the best job that you can.

“The challenge with COVID, all of the way back to March when it started — the information changes every 10 minutes. Whatever the standard is right now, is probably not going to be the standard tomorrow, or the day after,” she said.

That’s been a frustration for everyone, but the school has proceeded — giving parents an option for their children to learn at home or at school.

The children are assigned to a specific class, wherever they’re learning.

“If they happen to be at home, they’re basically on the screen and the teacher is interacting with the kids that are at home and the kids in the class, at the same time,” the principal said.

Teachers sometimes will group kids, so one teacher is working with the kids at school, while others instruct the online kids. And, then they will swap.

Some teachers feel they are better able to serve both groups that way, Moore said. But, other teachers are teaching both groups, simultaneously.

Moore knows that’s difficult to do, and she’s impressed.

Adapting to COVID-19 has required changes, but the school also is getting ready to embark on another big change — this one, of its own making.

Parents have raised $30,000 to pay for a new STEAM lab.

Sunlake Academy of Math & Science, in Lutz, is a public charter public school for kindergarten through eighth grade. It is operated by Charter Schools Associates Inc.

Initially, the hope was to open it at the beginning of this school year, but that was thrown off by COVID-19. Now, plans call for opening it within the next couple of months.

A space initially that was designed for a media center is being converted into the STEAM lab. (The acronym stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.)

A group, which Moore calls the STEAM Team, led the planning efforts. Moore joined that team, the executive area director from Charter School Associates and one of CSA’s math coaches during visits to STEAM labs at Corbett Prep, Jesuit High School and Academy of the Holy Names to glean ideas.

The lab will be equipped with Virtual Reality headsets, which individual classrooms can check out. It will have 3D printers, a 3D laser printer, tablets, and other devices and programs aimed at unleashing new ways of learning.

Children in kindergarten through fifth grade will visit once a week, and the technology will be incorporated into middle school classes.

The idea is to harness the power of technology to broaden learning experiences.

“You kind of have to change up the way you think, and the way you teach,” said Moore, who did her doctoral work in technology integration.

“It’s about higher order thinking skills. It’s about problem-solving. It’s about teamwork, creative thinking and creative problem-solving,” said Moore, who worked in the Gaston County school district in Charlotte, North Carolina, for 21 years before arriving last year at Sunlake Academy.

Educators must connect how they teach with how students learn, the principal added.

“For me, it became not so much about technology, not so much about how we teach, but it’s about how kids learn — and how they’re wired these days,” the principal added.

Today’s students are part of the digital native generation. They live in a world of Google, digital on-demand, virtual reality and other technical advances, Moore said.

Education must go deeper
“How do you make the students think through the problems versus the teacher just giving the question and the answer?” Moore said.

Students are challenged to consider: “How do you use your creativity to come to more than one solution, to the same problem?

“The truth of the matter is the jobs that we’re trying to prepare them for, don’t exist. And, they’re not going to exist anytime soon,” Moore said.

The principal and her husband moved to the area because he was offered a new job opportunity, and she set out seeking the right match for her interests and skills.

Moore said she was attracted to Sunlake Academy because she’s been interested for years in  differentiated instruction and higher-order thinking skills.

“We’re (Sunlake Academy) very data-driven. Our teachers are constantly checking in on where kids are in terms of their proficiency and growth, on different curriculum strands and skill sets.

“We have differentiated groups,” she said, adding there are multi-tiered systems of support for students who need extra help.

“I had a lot of opportunity to go where I wanted,” Moore said. “I chose to come here because they’re speaking my vision.”

The promise of stability was attractive, too.

In her previous district, the management style involved transferring principals around a lot.

“I really want to be in a place where I can make some change and be long-term,” Moore said.

Students attending the school, at 18681 N. Dale Mabry Highway, come from Hillsborough and Pasco counties. It draws primarily from the communities of Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Tampa, Carrollwood, Cheval, Wesley Chapel and Odessa. It has some openings, so parents interested in learning more should contact the school.

Other details that may be of interest to parents of potential students:

  • Before and after school care is available, with doors opening at 6:30 a.m., and closing at 6:30 p.m. Full-time or part-time child care is available to suit parents’ needs.
  • The school’s car line begins at 7:20 a.m., with classes beginning at 8 a.m.
  • Dismissal times are staggered, with the school day ending for kindergarten through second grade at 2:30 p.m.; and, for grades three through eight at 3 p.m.

For additional information about Sunlake Academy, visit SunlakeAcademy.org.

Published October 14, 2020

Pasco County purchasing land in Land O’ Lakes

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The Pasco County Commission has approved the purchase of 24.87 acres from Lennar Homes LLC, for $1.25 million, plus closing costs and $50,000 to be paid to Connerton Commercial Property Association, the closing agent.

The property is part of the Connerton Employment Center master-planned unit development.

The county’s Fleet Management department plans to use the vacant property, which is centrally located within the county, for the department’s future growth.

The property is strategically located adjacent to the 300-acre central campus of the Utilities Department and the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, according to the board’s Oct. 6 agenda materials.

Commissioners also passed a resolution declaring Oct. 4 through Oct. 10 as Fire Prevention Week in Pasco and acknowledging this year’s theme of “Serve up fire safety in the kitchen.”

The resolution notes that 2,630 people were killed nationally in home fires in 2019, including five in Pasco County. The resolution also points out that cooking is the leading cause of home fires in the United States, with two of every five home fires starting in the kitchen and 31% of these fires resulting from unattended cooking.

The resolution offers these suggestions to prevent fires related to cooking:

  • Stay in the kitchen when cooking food on the stovetop
  • Keep a 3-foot kid-free zone around cooking areas
  • Keep anything that can catch fire away from stove tops

To reduce potential deaths, the resolution advises that residents have smoke alarms that are in working order, and practice fire escape plans.

On another matter, County Administrator Dan Biles told commissioners that the county’s Animal Services department is going to affected areas of Hurricane Sally and bringing back animals for adoption.

In other actions, commissioners:

  • Approved a rezoning to allow up to 150,000 square feet of retail and commercial uses on approximately 38.62 acres at the southeast quadrant of Gunn Highway and State Road 54.

Plans call for construction of a maximum of 7,000 square feet for two fast food restaurants with drive thrus; a 10,000-square-foot day care (with a maximum of 180 students); 100,000 square feet of mini-storage; and, 33,000 square feet of general commercial.

  • Approved a large-scale comprehensive plan amendment to the future land use map, which will allow light industrial and commercial on slightly more than 90 acres at the northeast corner of the Interstate 75 and Blanton Road interchange, extending northerly along I-75 to the Hernando County line. The previous designation was for an employment center and agricultural uses.
  • Approved an increase of $304,000 in the fund used to pay for medical autopsies because of an increase in autopsies performed by the medical examiner this fiscal year.
  • Approved up to $800,000 in purchases of library books, resource subscriptions, and related items within fiscal year 2021. The items will be purchased from various vendors.

Published October 14, 2020

Business Digest 10/14/2020

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Small Businesses Growing Global
Entrepreneurs can learn how to expand their business into international markets by utilizing resources and tools that are available. Small Businesses Growing Global, presented by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., is scheduled for Oct. 22 from 8 a.m. to noon.

Highlights include a consular discussion on “The Importance of Trade,” featuring Juan Jose Sabines, Consul General of Mexico in Orlando; Andreas T. Siegel, Consul General of Federal Republic of Germany, in Miami; and Rodrigo da Costa Fonseca, deputy consult of Brazil, in Miami.

The opening session will be presented by Manuel “Manny” Mencia, senior vice president of international trade and business development for Enterprise Florida Inc. His presentation will focus on “Florida’s Trade.”

The U.S. Small Business Administration, the Florida SBDC, the U.S. Commercial Service and Enterprise Florida Inc., will be represented at the event, which will provide information grant opportunities, financing opportunities, benefits of trade missions, and information about markets.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey talked up the value of the conference during a recent board meeting, noting that companies can learn about all sorts of opportunities to extend their business to international markets. Businesses can travel to other countries and have meetings set up for them with potential customers, she said.

Some speakers at the event will be from Pasco businesses, who will be sharing their success stories.

The free event will be at Hyatt Place Tampa, Wesley Chapel, 26000 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. In addition to the in-person seminar, participants can attend virtually via the Pasco EDC YouTube Channel. Registered is required online at PascoEDC.com/events.

Realty group office opening
Roman Group, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices and Florida Property Group are having a ribbon cutting and grand opening at their new location, 6013 Wesley Grove Blvd., in the Grove, in Wesley Chapel. The event will be on Oct. 15 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and will include refreshments, entertainment and a raffle for a gift basket. The North Tampa Bay Chamber will do a ribbon cutting at 4:45 p.m. For more information, call (813) 997-9775.

Florida has high rate of uninsured
WalletHub compared the health insurance rates for 548 cities and the 50 states. Florida’s uninsured rate is 13.16%, according to the study, giving it a rank of 47 out of 50. Florida did not have any cities in the top 10 or bottom 10 cities ranked in the survey. WalletHub is a personal finance website, and these figures were in its report, Uninsured Rates by City.

Appreciation and awards banquet
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce is set to have its annual Member Appreciation and Awards Banquet on Oct. 22, beginning at 6 p.m., in the new event center at Silverado Golf & Country Club, 36841 Clubhouse Drive in  Zephyrhills.

This year’s theme, “Z’Hills & all that Jazz,” will focus on the community and what makes it special.

Limited seating is available, following CDC guidelines. For more information or to purchase tickets, go to ZephyrhillsChamber.org, or call (813) 782-1913.

The following businesses, individuals and organizations were nominated:

Small Business

  • Carts Unlimited
  • Head to Toe Salon & Day Spa
  • Saigon Café Vietnamese Restaurant
  • Sky Dive City
  • Zephyrhills Community Pharmacy
  • Zephyrhills Brewing Company

Large Business

  • AdventHealth Zephyrhills
  • CenterState Bank
  • City of Zephyrhills
  • First National Bank of Pasco
  • Publix
  • San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union
  • Staples

Diamond Award (Non-Profit)

  • East Pasco Meals on Wheels
  • Fraternity of the Eagles #3752
  • Make a Difference
  • Pasco County Schools
  • Restored Hope
  • The Church at Chancey Road
  • The Thomas Promise Foundation
  • Zephyrhills/Wesley Chapel Ministerial Assoc.

Citizen of the Year

  • Beth Aker, East Pasco Meals on Wheels
  • Greg First, Retired
  • Kevin Bahr, Bahr’s Propane Gas & AC
  • Mayor Gene Whitfield
  • Tim Mitchell, The Church at Chancey Road

Chamber Member of the Year

  • AdventHealth Zephyrhills
  • Bahr’s Propane Gas & AC
  • CenterState Bank
  • Pasco News Publication
  • San Antonio Citizens Federal CU