The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

New regional headquarters coming to Pasco County

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Phillips & Jordan Inc., a heavy civil and right of way infrastructure contractor, plans to locate a regional headquarters just east of the State Road 52 and Interstate 75 interchange.

The national company has purchased 5 acres and is investing more than $15 million in a 47,432-square-foot facility, according to a news release from the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

The national company is building the new Class A office building in the One Pasco Center business park.

The site plans for the project have been submitted to Pasco County and construction is expected to start late this year.

The company plans to move 40 employees onto two floors of the office building, leaving one floor available for speculative space, the release says.

“This is going to be a huge project for the area,” Bill Cronin, president/CEO of Pasco EDC said in the release. “Not only is this their regional corporate office headquarters, but they are including speculative space in the project, which is in high demand right now. I’m thrilled to see the investments in that area come to life.”

Art Phelps, vice president of Phillips & Jordan, said “we are excited to continue our growth in the state of Florida having found a perfect site right off of I-75 that is so close to the skilled workforce we are looking to attract.”

“This site is strategically located close to Connected City and Wesley Chapel in north Tampa Bay, and it provides a larger operation base for P&J to serve all of our clients throughout Florida,” Phelps added, in the release.

The Pasco EDC assisted the company with advisory services to its site consultant, regulatory assistance and expedited permitting. It also will assist with workforce and training needs in the future.

Ron Oakley, chairman of the Pasco County Commission, also weighed in.

“The diversification this project brings is great for an area that has long focused on agriculture,” Oakley said, in the release.

Published September 11, 2019

Business Digest 09/11/2019

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East Pasco Networking
Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on Sept. 24. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Tampa ranks high for driving
The personal-finance website WalletHub recently released its report on 2019’s Best & Worst Cities to Drive in, and Tampa ranked fourth best on the list of the 100 largest cities. WalletHub used 30 metrics to compare the cities, including average gas prices, annual hours in traffic congestion per auto commuter, auto repair shops per capita and other factors. Orlando ranked as the second best, and Detroit, Michigan, ranked last among the 100 cities compared in the report.

County administrator to speak
Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles will talk about “The State of East Pasco” during The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting on Sept. 17. Networking starts at 7 a.m., followed by breakfast at 7:30 a.m. The breakfast will be at Scotland Yards Golf Club, 9424 U.S. 301 in Dade City. Reservations are required. Contact Jo Uber at or online at DadeCityChamber.org, to reserve your seat.

Credit Union helps Thomas Promise
The Suncoast Credit Union Foundation granted The Thomas Promise Foundation $10,000 to help the organization fulfill its mission of providing meals to food-insecure children. This is the third time in a row that the credit union provided a $10,000 grant. This latest grant donation will provide more than 20,000 meals.

Membership breakfast
Andrew Fossa, director of emergency management for Pasco County, will be the featured speaker at the Wake Up Greater Pasco Membership Breakfast. Fossa plays a pivotal role in directing resources and protecting citizens in the event of a natural or manmade disaster. The event is set for Sept. 20 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Seven Springs Golf & Country Club, at 3535 Trophy Blvd., in Trinity. Cost is $20 for members and $30 for non-members.

Land O’ Lakes Brochure Exchange
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce is presenting a business card and brochure exchange on Sept. 12 from 11:30 a.m. until 1 p.m., at Pizza Villa, 21501 Village Lakes Shopping Plaza in Land O’ Lakes. Come for networking and lunch, with a special pricing lunch menu.

Chamber board members sought
The North Tampa Bay Chamber has four positions open on its board of directors for the 2020 fiscal year. The nominator and the nominee both must be members in good standing. Board members serve three-year terms. The chamber is seeking representatives from specific sectors of the membership: Financial/insurance; restaurant/hospitality; and sports/recreation.
For more information, reach out to the chamber office at .

‘Catch the Buzz’ spelling bee
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce Chamber Ambassadors is presenting the 17th annual “Catch the Buzz” Spelling Bee on Sept. 12 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., at the Event Center (formerly known as the Verizon Event Center), 8718 Trouble Creek Road in New Port Richey. Proceeds from the event will benefit Take Stock in Children, and the Florida Department of Education will match the donation. For more information, email .

Using the Internet for business
The Pasco Hernando chapter of SCORE is presenting a free business seminar, “How to use the Internet in your business,” on Sept. 12 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at the New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills.

Pasco government actions
The Pasco County Planning Commission:

  • Approved a special exception request by Chancey Road Christian Church Inc., for a recreational vehicle site to accommodate five RVs that will be used by visiting clergy and staff, in conjunction with church operations. The 4.48-acre site is on the north side of Chancey Road, about 200 feet west of Lanier Road.

The Pasco County Commission:

  • Approved a rezoning request by JLP Property Investments to allow 22 single-family detached dwellings within the Boyette Oaks Phase II Master Planned Unit Development (MPUD), on a 24.08-acre site that is about 1,600 feet west of the Boyette Road and Wells Road intersection, about 1,800 feet east of Interstate 75 and approximately 5,500 feet north of State Road 54. The MPUD was originally approved in two phases. Phase one has been completed and phase two had expired.
  • Approved a rezoning request by Joshua LLC, to allow an office and warehouse for an irrigation contractor on a .576-acre lot, on the south side of Warder Road, approximately 450 feet wet of Emmaus Cemetery Road. The applicant agreed to deed restrictions, limiting the use to the office and warehouse.
  • Approved a bid by Right Way Elevator Maintenance Inc., for $102,600 for an elevator project at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse in Dade City.
  • Approved an agreement between the county and The Groves Community Development District for the county to exercise traffic control jurisdiction. The traffic control will be provided by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and, if deemed necessary by the county or Sheriff’s Office, The Groves CDD will pay for traffic control costs.

New $4 million pharmaceutical project in Pasco

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Fleda Pharmaceuticals has announced a two-phase $4 million project to build a manufacturing facility in Odessa, according to the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.

The company expects to open its doors on Byrd Legg Drive this winter.

Fleda purchased an existing office building and a 9,600-square-foot warehouse to initiate the first phase of its plans, the Pasco EDC news release says.

It is expected to create 30 new jobs for the area.

It also plans to construct a 30,000-square-foot facility and a research lab for generic medicine, in phase two.

“Pasco EDC assisted our company with expedited permitting, site consultation, and workforce analysis,” John Wang, CEO of Fleda Pharmaceuticals, said in the release. “Gathering that information for us was a tremendous help. We have been so welcomed already by their team and Pasco County.”

The company is in the process of turning the vacant warehouse into a Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) dietary supplement manufacturing facility where it will produce gummy vitamins.

Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC president/CEO, said Fleda’s “investment in Pasco County will help diversify our economy with high paying jobs and increasing the industrial property tax base.”
For more information on Fleda Pharmaceuticals, visit FledaUSA.com.

Published September 04, 2019

Bible tracker helps reveal family stories

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Andy Smith has been quietly going about the work of helping to reconnect people with their old family Bibles, for more than a decade.

The Laker/Lutz News first profiled Smith and his unusual hobby three years ago, which led to feature stories about him broadcast on two local television stations.

The coverage resulted in people coming forward to ask the northern Hillsborough County man to help them reconnect Bibles — that had come into their possession — with descendants of the original owners.

Andy Smith spends a portion of his free time tracking down people who may be related to the original owners of old Bibles now being sold on eBay. He said the registry and matrimony pages of these Bibles can help tell a family’s story. (B.C. Manion)

Since The Laker/Lutz News story was published on July 27, 2016,  Smith estimates he has helped reunite more than 100 old Bibles with family members.

The buyers of those Bibles lived in such places as Alabama, California, Florida, Colorado, Indiana, New York, Texas, North Carolina, Arkansas, Texas, Maryland, Illinois, Washington, Arizona, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Ohio, Smith said.

And, the family origins in the Bibles he has tracked down include places such as Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Ohio, Tennessee, New York, Indiana, Texas, Maryland, Iowa, Delaware, Ireland, England and Scotland.

“The greatest separation in generations was a man in Vero Beach who purchased a Bible that belonged to Daniel Layton and wife, Jane Vorhees – the man’s seventh great-grandparents,” Smith said. “Remarkably, he was able to purchase the Bible for just $15, which is far less than the selling price for most of these Bibles.”

Typically, the prices for family Bibles on eBay range from about $50 to $350, or more, Smith said.

Smith, who spent decades working as a newspaper professional, noted that his personal interest in old family Bibles stems in part from the Bible he inherited from his grandmother.

The sacred book originally had belonged to his great-great-grandparents, dating back to the 1870s, he said. Pages within the book help tell the story of his family.

After receiving the family heirloom, he decided to see what he could find out about his ancestors, and the more he delved into it, the more fascinated he became.

Pages such as these, in old Bibles, can yield interesting information about a family’s ancestors. (File)

Smith came to realize how much can be lost, when a Bible is separated from its family.

So, he decided to see what he could do to help reconnect families with Bibles that were somehow, over time, disconnected from them.

Smith devotes a portion of his spare time tracking down Bibles on eBay — with some dating back to the 1700s.

He records names and dates from the Bible’s registry pages and then searches for potential matches on family trees listed on Ancestry.com.

When he finds one, he reaches out — sending an email. It goes something like: “Greetings. No, we’re not related, but I’ve come across something that I think might be of interest to you.”

Then he shares the information that he copied from the registry pages.

He makes it clear that he doesn’t own the Bible and doesn’t know the person selling it. He merely acts as conduit, passing along information that may be useful to the recipient.

It’s entirely up to them, if they want to pursue the lead, he said.

His primary goal is to help families salvage information that, in some cases, may not be available anywhere else.

For instance, families typically were larger in previous generations, and there also were more childhood deaths from disease, he said. So, it’s possible that younger children whose names were recorded in the Bible, were never recorded in a census because they were born after one census was taken and died before the next one came along.

Smith said he doesn’t make a dime from his pastime, but enjoys the gratification that comes from helping make a connection.

“The responses that I get are so cool,” he said.

“It’s not how many people respond — it’s that one response that you get. You can just tell how much it means,” Smith said.

If you’d like to reach out to see if Smith can help you reconnect a family Bible, email him at .

Published September 04, 2019

Area prepares for flooding, wind

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With Hurricane Dorian bearing down on Florida, the state is bracing itself for impact.

Gov. Ron DeSantis also declared a State of Emergency in the state’s 67 counties, and Florida Attorney General Ashley Moody activated the state’s Price Gouging Hotline.

Both Hillsborough and Pasco counties have declared a state of emergency.

In an advisory issued at 11 a.m., Aug. 30 from the National Hurricane Center, “life-threatening storm surge and devastating hurricane-force winds are likely along portions of the Florida east coast by early next week, but it is too soon to determine where the highest storm surge and winds will occur. Residents should have their hurricane plan in place, know if they are in a hurricane evacuation zone, and listen to advice given by local emergency officials.”

Pasco County didn’t feel the full fury of Hurricane Irma’s wrath, but some other communities were less fortunate. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council)

The advisory continues, “a prolonged period of storm surge, high winds and rainfall is

likely in portions of Florida into next week, including the possibility of hurricane-force winds over inland portions of the Florida peninsula.”

Dorian could strengthen to a Category 4 hurricane before making landfall on Florida.

The Pasco County Commission last week declared a local state of emergency, which allows County Administrator Dan Biles and Emergency Management Director Andy Fossa the ability to waive everyday procedures, and do whatever they feel is necessary to ensure public health and safety.

The declaration allows Biles and Fossa the freedom to order evacuations, perform public work, make emergency purchases, rent equipment, hire workers, use volunteers, and so on.

The Local State of Emergency remains in effect for seven days, or until Biles rescinds it, if it is no longer needed.

To help residents prepare for potential flooding, Pasco County opened several sandbag locations, which included Land O’ Lakes Recreational Complex, in Land O’ Lakes; Pasco County Public Works (C-Barn) in San Antonio; Wesley Chapel District Park in Wesley Chapel; and, Old Dade City Police Station, in Dade City.

The City of Zephyrhills also opened a sandbag location at Fire Station 2 in Zephyrhills.

In an abundance of caution, the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce cancelled its monthly business breakfast scheduled for Sept. 3.

Hurricanes can easily topple and down trees, which can cause major damage. (File)

It also sent its members links to information that could help them prepare for Hurricane Dorian.

Saint Leo University planned to close on Sept. 1 and to remain closed through Sept. 3, at its main campus and several other locations. Students, faculty, and staff were advised to check the Saint Leo University website at SaintLeo.edu for updates, especially concerning classes on Wednesday.

All Rasmussen College campuses in Florida also were scheduled to close Sept. 1 and remain closed until at least Sept. 3, to give students, faculty and staff time to prepare for weather conditions, and to ensure they are safe.

Pasco County Schools’ Place child care and Beyond-the-Bell programs will be closed Sept. 3.

The Pasco County School Board meeting has been postponed from Sept. 3 until Sept. 10.

AdventHealth West Florida Division leaders also have activated emergency management teams to ensure the safety of patients and staff. Hurricane protocols include team staffing procedures, adequate water supply and backup generator power checks, according to a news release.

As always, emergency officials encouraged residents to take steps to prepare for potential impacts.

The Laker/Lutz News publishes information at the beginning of each hurricane season to help our readers prepare for a possible hurricane, and information intended to help deal with the aftermath of any damage.

Those tips, along with information gleaned from additional sources, is presented here.

Before a hurricane hits

Protect your property:

  • Trim trees and shrubs.
  • Clear out clogged rain gutters and downspouts.
  • Put away outdoor furniture, windchimes, garbage cans, decorations, potted plants and other items that could become projectiles in high winds.
  • If you have a boat, secure it.
  • Cover windows with hurricane shutters or pre-cut plywood.

Protect yourself

  • Assemble an emergency kit: Be sure it has enough food and water to last up to seven days, according to the latest advice from experts.
  • The foods should be nonperishables that are easy to store and prepare, including dried fruit, canned pastas, soups, canned tuna, peanut butter and jelly, crackers, raisins, beef jerky. Be sure to include a can opener in your kit. (See our What’s Cookin’ column on page 5A for food safety advice).
  • The rule of thumb is to have 1 gallon of water per day for each person, for drinking and sanitation
  • Don forget baby formula and baby food
  • Stock up on disposable cups, plates and utensils
  • Sanitation supplies
  • Medications
  • First aid kit
  • A whistle to signal for help
  • A hand-cranked radio, or battery-powered radio with extra batteries
  • Moist towelettes for sanitation
  • Garbage bags and plastic ties (for personal sanitation)
  • Be sure to have an emergency kit for your pets, too. It should include sturdy leashes, harnesses and/or a carrier; pet food, drinking water, bowls, cat litter, a litter pan; pet health records, current photos of your pets, in case they get lost; pet beds and toys.

Shelter

  • A sleeping back for each family member
  • Duct tape and heavyweight garbage bags or plastic sheeting (for shelter-in-place)
  • A wrench or pliers (to turn off utilities)
  • Flashlights
  • Generator: Be sure to follow directions. These can kill, if used improperly.

Protect important documents

  • Keep in waterproof container on a shelf. Carry with you, if you evacuate.
  • Documents should include bank account records, marriage certificates or divorce decrees, driver’s license, Social Security card, passport, titles, deeds, income tax information, trusts, wills and birth certificates.

Prepare to stay, or go

  • If you live in an evacuation area, be prepared to leave. In Pasco County, mobile home residents must evacuate, no matter where they live, if the county issues an evacuation order.
  • Those living in a mandatory evacuation zone should prepare an evacuation plan that includes transportation routes and destinations, and considers all family members and pets.
  • If you plan to shelter in place, notify out-of-area contacts of your decision to stay. Be sure you have assembled your emergency kit and have a safe place to stay in your home.
  • If staying at home, fill up bathtubs or buckets with water to use for cleaning and toilet flushing.
  • Keep your gas tank three-quarters full at all times.
  • Have cash on hand.
  • Stay informed. Listen to an NOAA weather radio, or regularly check local forecasts and news reports.
  • Close all interior doors. Secure and brace exterior doors. Take refuge in a small interior closet, or hallway on the lowest level. Lie on the floor under a table or another sturdy object.
  • Stay away from windows and glass doors.

After the hurricane passes

  • Stay aware of threats from flooding and tornadoes.
  • Do not drive into water when you can’t see the bottom of the road.
  • Do not walk in standing water; it may contain contaminants, it might be deeper than it looks; it may have a strong undercurrent; or, it may be electrically charged with a downed wire.
  • Be careful about the foods you eat. If the power is out, your food may be spoiled.
  • Avoid carbon monoxide poisoning: Do not burn charcoal or gas grills inside a house, tents, garage, vehicle or fireplace. Do not use gas-powered generators indoors or in a garage.

If you have damage

  • Call an agent.
  • Take photos of the damage.
  • Make emergency repairs to avoid more damage, and keep receipts for tarps, lumber, etc.
  • Keep alert to potential scams.
  • Special needs sheltersThe Florida Department of Health in Hillsborough, Pasco and other Tampa Bay area counties is reminding medically dependent people to be prepared for severe weather emergencies.Special Needs Shelters are available for residents who meet specific criteria and should be used as a place of last refuge, according to the health department.

    Online registrations for the shelters stops about 48 hours before impact. Those who have not registered, but believe they should go, should monitor local media to find out which ones are open and are closest to them.

    Registration is preferred, but not required in an emergency.

    There has been some confusion about registration. Many people are under the impression that once they have registered, they are automatically reserved a bed when severe weather is coming. But, that is not correct, according to the health department.

    Residents need to know:

    • There is no guarantee of a reservation at a special needs shelter.
    • If someone is in an evacuation area and has registered, they will be contacted to confirm they are reporting to the special needs shelter.
    • If needed, upon request, Emergency Management will coordinate transportation to the shelter.
    • If they have a caregiver, the caregiver must accompany them and remain with them at the shelter.

    Who qualifies?

    Generally, those who may qualify include those who are oxygen dependent; those who need electricity for the medical equipment; those who have conditions that do not qualify for admission to the hospital, but exceed the capability of a general population shelter.

    To register online, go to:

Tips for businesses:

Before the storm

  • Be sure you have an evacuation plan, with escape routes.
  • Have an emergency communication plan, which includes: A staff text message/email; a method for reaching employees after hours; and, a single point of contact. Be sure to monitor the news, so you are up to date on the latest information.

After the storm:

  • Account for all employees.
  • Gather accurate information about damage. Conduct a full evaluation of infrastructure and coordinate next steps to get doors open.
  • Communicate with all parties involved.
  • Establish a safe place — which may be at your home or in another location — for you to resume your business as quickly as possible.
  • Use social media to keep customers aware of the status of your business. Have you reopened? Do you know when you will? Also, if possible, put a sign on the door of your business conveying the same type of information.
  • Contact your insurance company.
  • Take photographs of damaged assets.
  • Leave damaged property where it is, until the adjuster has made an official report.
  • Accompany the adjuster to point out damage during the inspection.
  • Make only repairs necessary to prevent further damage. Be aware that unauthorized repairs might not be covered.
  • Use care in selecting contractors. Hire only licensed contractors, who secure the appropriate building permits. (Watch for red flags, such as upfront cash only; contractors using leftover materials; incomplete contact information.)
  • If proposed insurance settlement seems unfair, contact the Florida Department of Insurance Regulation at FLOIR.com.

Source: Brian Ellis, Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council

Pasco Shelters, tiered activation
Tier 1: Fasano Regional, Wiregrass High, Wesley Chapel High, Centennial Middle, Fivay High

Tier 2: River Ridge Middle/High, Weightman Middle, Stewart Middle, Sunlake High, Cypress Creek Middle High

Tier 3: Mitchell High, Odessa Elementary, Veterans Elementary, Oakstead Elementary, Pasco Middle, New River Middle, Bexley Elementary

Tier 4: Double Branch Elementary, Seven Oaks Elementary, Sanders Memorial Elementary, Connerton Elementary, Trinity Oaks Elementary, Schrader Elementary, Longleaf Elementary

Tier 5: Trinity Elementary, Chasco Elementary, Lacoochee Elementary, Denham Oaks Elementary, Watergrass Elementary, Pine View Elementary

Published September 4, 2019

Chamber’s goal: Being there to meet members’ needs

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When the North Tampa Bay Chamber began two decades ago, it was known as the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

In the beginning, it had 65 members and met in a garage.

Now, it has 734 members — with some based as far away as Brooksville and St. Petersburg.

It attracts a wide range of political and business leaders to speak at, and attend its monthly breakfasts and luncheons.

Hope Allen, president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber, believes chambers can help businesses thrive by advocating on their behalf, and creating opportunities for connection. (B.C. Manion)

The chamber also hosts numerous networking and learning opportunities each month.

It frequently celebrates with businesses through grand openings and ribbon cuttings, too.

Beyond that, the chamber seeks to help businesses as they navigate through government bureaucracy and learn about community organizations. They also act as an advocate on issues affecting businesses.

“We’ve come a long way in 20 years,” said Hope Allen, president and CEO, during the organization’s breakfast meeting earlier this month.

The chamber was born long before the area’s widely known developments, such as The Shops at Wiregrass, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, Tampa Premium Outlets, and Cypress Creek Town Center. And, that’s not to mention the scores of subdivisions, schools, restaurants, hotels and small businesses that now make up Wesley Chapel and nearby communities.

Over time, the North Tampa Bay Chamber has moved from the garage to an old flower shop to a storefront at The Grove, to its current home in Lutz.

It has shifted direction, too, Allen said.

“In 2013, the board of directors decided we were going to switch our focus from being ‘the parties, pageants and parades’ to the connector, the convener and the catalyst.”

“It was scary for everybody. We went from a nonprofit organization that was robbing Peter to Paul, to a membership-based business organization,” Allen said.

“We said we’ve got to stop what we’re doing with all these things, and really focus on the needs of our business community.

“So, we went on a listening tour. We went around. We visited all of our members.

“We said, ‘What is happening with your business? What is happening with Wesley Chapel? How can we help?’” Allen said.

The businesses responded: “They said we need somebody to be an advocate for our businesses, we need somebody to go to, when there’s an issue,” she said.

The chamber stepped up to accept the challenge, Allen said.

When someone broke a water line on State Road 54, for instance, the chamber set about to make sure it got fixed, Allen said.

Now, the chamber fields all sorts of calls.

“We know code enforcement now. I have his personal cellphone number now,” she said.

Creating a strong business network
“We’ve grown and evolved, and made ourselves important. We weren’t very important way back in the day, to the elected officials. We weren’t important to the region, as a whole, until everything started happening up here. Then, they were saying, ‘What is going on in Wesley Chapel?’

“We had built this amazing network of businesses and built this amazing network of community,” Allen said.

In 2015, it  combined with the New Tampa Chamber, keeping the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, but adding a tag line: Serving New Tampa.

“It was seamless,” Allen said. “We started to really grow. We started to really have the pulse on what was happening.

“Businesses were coming to us and they were saying: ‘We need this.’

“The developers would come to us, ‘We’ve got this land, we want to do something with it.’

Allen recalled that a man walked into the office, then at The Grove, seeking information about Wesley Chapel. He wanted to take a look around, so Allen took him on what she calls her first “windshield tour.”

It turns out that he represented the hotel developer who built the Fairfield Inn & Suites, in Wiregrass, which opened last year — three years after that initial visit.

The chamber often is involved in work that won’t come into fruition for years, Allen said.

She credits the chamber’s board, ambassadors and members for the progress the organization has made.

“What we have going on here is incredible. We all know it. We can feel it. This community is incredible. This business community is amazing. We support each other. We grow with each other. We cry with each other,” she said.

She and her staff are committed to serve chamber members, she said.

“We stand behind all of our members. We speak with one voice for our membership,” she said.

In 2018, the chamber rebranded itself as the North Tampa Bay Chamber.

“We didn’t leave Wesley Chapel behind, we just brought everybody into the arms of what is North Tampa Bay,” said Allen, who is passionate about the value that chambers can bring to communities.

Across the country, she said, “chambers of commerce are having the conversation now, ‘Are we relevant? Do you need a chamber of commerce in your community?’”

In her view, chambers “are here to serve a purpose, in every single community.

“If you’ve seen one chamber, you’ve seen one chamber.

“We’re all different. We’re all governed by our own board of directors. We all have our own programming that’s different.

“We’re not in competition with other chambers of commerce.

“If you can join every single chamber of commerce in the region, do it. Because you’re going to get something out of each and every one of them, “ Allen said.

Published August 28, 2019

County continues tackling traffic issues

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Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said there’s no specific solution in sight yet for congestion motorists face daily at U.S. 41 and State Road 54. But, the commissioner outlined a number of other projects underway that should improve mobility on the county’s roads.

Moore’s comments came during a sold-out luncheon meeting of The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce on Aug. 13, at the SpringHill Suites by Marriott Tampa North, in Land O’ Lakes.

There are plans for a temporary fix at U.S. 41 and State Road 54, Moore said, noting some turn lanes are being extended — which should improve traffic flow.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore talked about the county’s efforts to address traffic congestion, during a luncheon meeting with The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce. (B.C. Manion)

But, the final plan to address that intersection is not yet known, Moore said.

“We know something needs to be done, but,” he added, “funding obviously always is an issue.”

Plus, there’s not a consensus on the best approach.

“Do you use eminent domain and take out businesses? Do you do a flyover? We have a community that is split,” Moore said. “Our county staff is going to continue to work very closely with FDOT (Florida Department of Transportation) to come up with a viable solution.”

Addressing the issue is important, he added, because the entire stretch of State Road 54 is going to get busier as the area continues to grow.

“Do you look at Bus Rapid Transit? I’m kind of a fan of Bus Rapid Transit,” he said, but added he would like to see how Bus Rapid Transit has worked elsewhere.

While there’s no definite solution for the U.S. 41 and State Road 54 intersection, the county is making progress in other areas, Moore told chamber members.

The county is awaiting a federal permit to proceed with a project to extend Ridge Road, and Moore said he thinks the county is closing in on securing that.

He also talked about other road projects that are underway or planned.

For instance, plans call for widening U.S. 41 from Connerton Boulevard, north to State Road 52. Improvements also continue to widen State Road 52.

Moore also noted that construction is underway on the Diverging Diamond, a project that is expected to ease congestion at the Interstate 75/State Road 56 interchange.

State lawmakers helped get that project built much faster than originally planned, Moore said.

The commissioner also talked about a planned interchange at Overpass Road and I-75.

“State legislators helped us get $15 million toward that. It’s about a $70 million project. We’re allowing FDOT to control that project because they’re the professionals, and they know what they’re doing when it comes to design-builds.

“That is moving forward now,” Moore said.

He also noted that State Road 56 has been extended from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel over to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

“That is an amazing extension.

“Now, we’re even looking at punching it (State Road 56) through, so it goes to (U.S.) 98, too,” he said, but that plan remains under discussion.

Moore also touched on the positive impact that tourism has had in the county.

“Tourism is booming right now,” Moore said.

It generated an overall economic impact of $615 million in 2018,  he said, noting the county had 965,000 visitors that year. There were 7,480 tourism-supported jobs, and tourism generated  $156 million in wages.

Published August 28, 2019

Electronic Arts encourages girl coders to ‘Get in the Game’

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When Madeline Murch headed off for summer camp in late July, she had high expectations.

After all, the Sunlake High student was one of just 15 young women selected to take part in a summer program presented by Electronic Arts Inc., a global interactive entertainment company.

“Going into the experience, I had really high hopes for it,” said Murch, one of 57 applicants for the program. “It was just everything I hoped for, and more.”

Pasco eSchool’s Madeline Murch of shows off her MoCap avatar during ‘Get in the Game,’ a summer program for local high school girls that explored the applications of STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and math) in video game development. (Courtesy of Electronic Arts/ Carol Berru-Linsenmayer)

The young woman from Land O’ Lakes said she’s been interested in computers and gaming from a young age, and both her mom and her uncle know how to code.

She learned about EA’s “Get in the Game” summer camp from her computer science teacher, Lea Weber, who sent the link to her.

Madeline decided to apply for the week-long camp that took place at the EA Tiburon studio, in Maitland.

Since the campus doesn’t have housing, it wasn’t clear if  Madeline would be able to go.

But, her mom, Renee, stepped up — taking her to the camp. They stayed in an area hotel.

“I just really thought it was a great opportunity that we couldn’t pass up,” Renee said. “It seemed like she’s always had an affinity for coding and gaming. I thought if she saw what went on at the studio, she might really like it and want to pursue that.”

Besides, Renee added, “they’re (EA) leaders in video game development. So, there’s no better place to start than there.”

EA, based in California, is a global leader in digital interactive entertainment. The company develops and delivers games, content and online services for Internet-connected consoles, mobile devices and personal computers. It has more 300 million registered players around the world.

Madeline said a typical day at “Get in the Game” camp would include presentations and hands-on work.

The presentations were interesting and informative, she said.

“They were all on totally different topics, which was cool. We got to see every single aspect of the video games,” the 16-year-old said.

“During the second half of the day, we actually were working on developing a game while we were there. So, we broke into small groups, and we had a couple of software engineers who would help us every day.

“Some days, we did more interactive things,” she said.

For example, Madeline said she saw technology used to make realistic 3D renderings of people’s faces.

“We got to play around with some of their motion capture technology,” she added.

And, one of the artists they met, who gave a presentation on story-telling, had actually worked at Pixar and Disney Animation, she said.

The week was enjoyable and inspiring, Madeline said. “I definitely think that I want to continue learning how to code, and I want to pick up another coding language.

“I think that after this week at EA, I’d like to maybe be a software engineer,” she added.

Reducing the gender gap
Encouraging more young women to consider careers in the technology sector is precisely the point of the week-long summer camp, according to Daryl Holt, vice president and group chief operating officer of EA SPORTS Worldwide Studios.

Holt came up with the idea for the camp, which began last year with 10 participants and expanded this year to 15 young women.

Fifteen female coders from local high schools showcase their ‘golden tickets’ guaranteeing them an internship interview with Electronic Arts (EA) while pursuing STEAM subjects in college. Also shown are Daryl Holt, vice president and group chief operating officer of EA SPORTS Worldwide Studios (far right), and Seth Reichelson, computer science teacher at Lake Brantley High School and ‘Get in the Game’ coding instructor (far left).

Madeline was the only participant from Pasco County.

Holt explained the motivation for creating the camp.

“We were seeing a lack of gender diversity in those fields. That’s no secret,” he said.

“We’ve got to solve the supply problem,” he said.

The tech sector can’t rely on going into elementary and middle schools and giving a talk that might light a flame — to inspire young girls to pursue careers in these fields, he said.

“We’re not trying to ignite a spark, we’re trying to fan a flame,” Holt said.

The program was designed for “young women who already had some exposure to coding,” he said.

Applicants had to submit a teacher recommendation and an essay, explaining why they were interested in the camp.

The essays played a big role in the selection process, he said.

For instance, an essay writer might say something like: “I’m truly interested in this, and one of the things holding me back is that I don’t have access to a computer. I have to go to the library to do it (coding),” he said.

Holt’s reaction? “Wow, here’s someone that is taking the extra step to do what they are passionate about and the way they’re having to do go about doing it, is certainly a demonstration of their dedication to it.

“Not only can we fan that flame, we might be able to make it easier for them.”

The camp aims to educate, entertain and energize the young women, Holt said.

“Whether it’s at EA, or some other technology-based company, we want them to go on and do great things,” he said. “We want them to plan and we want them to train, but we also want them to dream and believe — because that combination is what will truly take them to the next level,” Holt said.

While at the camp, the young women work with mentors and they’re invited to stay in touch with them after they leave.

They also can earn the right to interview for an internship, and they get to take the laptop they’ve been working on home with them, Holt said.

“Our expectation is that they have it in their power to do this, to follow their dreams in an educational pursuit. And then, we’ll be talking to them later about an internship that hopefully leads to a career,” Holt said.

Computer and video game industry facts

  • 90% of parents pay attention to the game their child plays
  • 75% of Americans have at least one gamer in their household
  • 63% of gamers play with others
  • 56% of gamers have a creative hobby (singing, writing, etc.)
  • 32% of gamers play a musical instrument

Source: The Entertainment Software Association

Published August 28, 2019

Residents generally pleased with county services, surveys say

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Overall, Pasco County fared well in recent citizen surveys intended to help inform the county’s planning in its allocation of resources, and to improve its programs and policies.

“This is what we call our voice of the customer,” Marc Bellas, performance management director for Pasco County, told the Pasco County Commission during a recent meeting.

In terms of overall government services, the county scored above the national benchmark of 67%, Bellas said.

“This is the highest rating we’ve ever had, since we’ve been doing this here in Pasco County since 2009,” he said, noting the goal in the county’s strategic plan is to score 70 percent.

“We believe in the next year that we’re going to be able to do that,” he said.

According to the survey, 72% of Pasco residents rated the county as a good or excellent place to live. That’s up 5% over last year.

Two-thirds gave the county excellent or good ratings for its customer services.

In terms of the economy, Bellas said all of the dimensions are trending up.

“That’s very good news in Pasco County,” he said.

“Usually, employment opportunities and Pasco’s a good place to work have always been the very lowest, but you can see that we’re now trending upwards from 2014. That’s good news. That means that we’re moving in the right direction,” he said.

Those were just some of the findings from the National Community Survey, which was conducted through the National Research Center Inc., in collaboration with the International City/County Management Association.

The survey was developed to provide a statistically valid survey of resident opinions, regarding their community and services provided by local government. About 350 communities participate in the survey annually, according to Bellas’ presentation to commissioners.

This year’s survey was distributed to 1,600 selected addresses in Pasco County, with 263 surveys completed, representing an 18 percent return rate. The results have a plus or minus 6% margin of error.

In addition to the surveys that were distributed, the county conducted an online citizen survey, using the same questions.

The county does the online survey primarily for comparisons, Bellas said.

“It is not a statistically valid instrument, but we find the correlations between the two to be very, very close,” Bellas said. The online survey gives citizens who were not selected for the survey a chance to express their views. This year 1,748 citizens took part.

Bellas said the survey looks at eight facets of livable communities: safety, mobility, the natural environment, the built environment, the economy, recreation and wellness, education and enrichment, and community engagement.

“In our particular survey, for our folks, the three most important areas were safety, mobility and the economy,” Bellas said.

“When we look at the Impact on the overall quality of life, safety is always at the very top.

Safe neighborhoods, and safe and uncongested roadways — are No. 1 and No. 2.

“The folks who took the survey consider these to be essential, or at the very least, very important,” he said.

Most of this year’s ratings were similar to last year’s, Bellas said.

But, the county did see “some significant downward movement in the mobility piece,” he said.

Regarding mobility, the people using Pasco County’s bus system gave it favorable marks.

But, motorists were less complimentary.

“There are some downward trends here, ease of car travel, specifically, traffic flow, traffic enforcement — those are some concerns for us, because they are downward trends,” Bellas said.

There also are concerns about traffic congestion, light timing and speeding, Bellas noted.

Sgt. Steve Gaskins, of the Florida Highway Patrol, said there are 24 troopers assigned to Pasco County.

“We work everything in unincorporated areas of the county,” he said, noting “we had roughly 5,000 crashes so far (this year). We worked 85 percent of them with our 24 troopers.

“We’ve had 55 fatalities in the county, this year alone,” Gaskins added.

“One of our big issues is getting to people who need help, as quickly as possible,” he said.

He also acknowledged concerns about speeding.

“Speeding is one of the huge complaints that I get all of the time from residents across the county,” Gaskins said.

If there were more troopers, they could be more proactive, Gaskins said.  “We could do more activity to stem the tide of those crashes,” he said.

Additional equipment also would help with speed control and enforcement, he said.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore asked how many troopers Gaskins thought were needed.

“If I had a wish list, I would say 50,” Gaskins responded.

Chase Daniels, of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, said efforts are being made to identify problem areas for speeding, and in the development of enforcement action plans.

Daniels also noted: “We are increasing our radar-certified officers.”

In terms of mobility, both Moore and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley noted a number of recent improvements and projects that will be coming soon that they expect to create much better mobility across the county.

Specifically, they mentioned the Diverging Diamond being built to relieve congestion at State Road 56 and Interstate 75; the recent extension of State Road 56 to U.S. 301; and work underway to widen State Road 52 and State Road 54.

Other future projects that will be done in coming years include a new alignment for State Road 52 near Dade City and a new I-75 interchange at Overpass Road.

Published August 28, 2019

Changes recommended for Connerton’s master-plan development

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of changes to the Connerton Village II Master Planned Unit Development to adjust the boundaries for the regional park and elementary/middle school, and to remove the extension of the Plains Parkway north of Connerton Boulevard.

These changes are based on a land swap between Lennar Homes LLC, the Pasco County School Board and Pasco County.

The applicant also proposes to add an additional neighborhood encompassing 268 acres, adding 225 single-family units from the remaining Phase I entitlements. The changes also call for updating the Connerton Village II internal access points to reflect the pending development.

The county’s planning staff recommended approval of the changes, which they said are consistent with the previously approved land swap.

No one from the public spoke for or against the proposed changes, during the Planning Commission’s Aug. 22 public hearing on the request.

In backup materials provided to the planning commission, the county’s planners noted that the previously proposed extension of Pleasant Plains Parkway north of Connerton Boulevard would “bifurcate the new district park site and frustrate the basic purpose.”

Planners also noted that “the additional 225 units are being drawn from the remaining Phase 1 residential entitlements approved for the Development of Regional Impact. With the additional 225 units, the total aggregate units in Village II increases from 1,704 to 1,929.

The property is on the east and west sides of Flourish Drive, and the north and south sides of Connerton Boulevard.

The request is slated for public hearing before the Pasco County Commission on Sept. 18, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., in the board’s chambers at the West Pasco Government Center, at 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey.

Published August 28, 2019