The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Local company is expanding with 100,000-square-foot building

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A new 100,000-square-foot building, representing an $8 million investment in Pasco County, is being built in Compark 75 — just off Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The expansion was celebrated in an April 9 groundbreaking ceremony, with Jerry Flatt, CEO of The Soule Co., offering remarks about the company’s expansion. He also expressed appreciation for the role that the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., the Pasco County Commission and Pasco County government have played in helping the company to thrive and grow.

Pasco County Commissioners Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey joined representatives from the Pasco County Economic Development Council Inc., Pasco County government and The Soule Co., to celebrate the groundbreaking ceremony last month. A new 100,000-square-foot building is being constructed by The Soule Co. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

The company — which manufactures packaging materials and also medical foam cushioning — is located at 4322 Pet Lane, in Lutz. That facility will continue operations and will be joined by the new 100,000-square-foot building that is being constructed nearby.

The Soule Co., has two divisions: One fabricates packaging products made to customer specifications; the other fabricates disposable foam positioning products for the medical community.

The professional packaging division distributes a full line of packaging and shipping supplies, including corrugated boxes, poly bags, strapping, stretch films, and tapes, among others.

The medical division works closely with medical entities to design, develop, manufacture and distribute products that assist in patient care, recovery and healing.

The Pasco County Commission approved an economic incentive package worth $177,172 in August 2020, to support the company’s plans.

The incentive package includes $50,000 for creating 25 new jobs; a five-year reimbursement of tangible taxes, which totals $107,171; and, an employee training grant of $20,000 for Pasco-based employees.

The project is expected to generate $4.69 million annually in gross county product, county officials have estimated.

Flatt gave the crowd a brief overview of the company’s history, during the groundbreaking celebration that was recorded and can be viewed on the Pasco EDC’s Facebook Page.

This is what the new 100,000-square-foot building, now under construction by The Soule Co., will look like at completion. The company expects to add at least 25 new jobs.

When the company was established in 1957, it originally produced insulation and decorative foam, such as the type used by florists, the company executive said.

Shortly before 1980, Soule shifted to the packaging industry, he said.

“Then, in about 1986, we began our medical division, and right now, the packaging division and the medical division are working under the same roof, at the facility that’s right around the corner here on Pet Lane,” Flatt said.

He told those gathered at the ceremony: “It’s an exciting time for Soule company, with the expansion of our operation.”

The foam products produced by the company’s medical division is used to position patients and keep them safe during surgeries, he said.

“That part of our business is growing very rapidly,” he said, adding that’s because “we’re able to sell that product all over the country.”

He continued: “We typically have agreements with group purchasing organizations and under those organizations, they have a great number of hospitals. They do the purchasing and get the best deals for those hospitals.

“So that’s where the expansion is needed right now,” Flatt said.

The company has many agreements in place, but needs to hold back on them a little while, until it is able to take on the additional business.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said he’s pleased to see additional jobs being created in Pasco.

County leaders want to create employment opportunities locally, so workers won’t have to leave their communities to drive for work in Hillsborough or Pinellas counties, Moore said.

Mike Bishop, director of stakeholder engagement for Pasco EDC, said “the expansion work with the Soule company is one of the most important things that we do at the EDC.”

The economic development agency seeks to help companies get started, become established and expand, Bishop said.

Published May 05, 2021

Pasco hires a federal lobbyist to act on its behalf

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The Pasco County Commission has selected Van Scoyoc Associates, of Washington D.C., to be the county’s federal lobbyist.

Commissioners considered proposals submitted by Van Scoyoc Associates and Gray Robinson — with each commissioner scoring the proposals individually. When the scores were tallied,  Van Scoyoc received the higher mark.

In approving the selection of Van Scoyoc Associates Inc., commissioners also authorized County Administrator Dan Biles to execute a contract with the firm in an amount not to exceed $90,000 for fiscal year 2021.

Commissioner Mike Moore wasn’t sold on the idea of hiring either firm — not because of their capabilities, but because he’s not convinced that having a federal lobbyist is the best expenditure of the taxpayer’s money.

“I still have concerns seeing what our lack of return on investment was last time,” Moore said.

“I know there are earmarks — that the current president has added earmarks again, so there’s possibility of getting things. I just want to make sure that we’re going to get the best return on our investment for our citizens.”

He asked his commission colleagues: “Do you guys honestly feel that it’s worth us making this hire?”

When she advocated for the county to hire both a state and a federal lobbyist last fall, Commissioner Kathryn Starkey argued the investment would bring dividends back to the county.

She hasn’t changed her mind.

“I chair the federal committee at Florida Association of Counties, and I’ve interacted with other counties’ federal lobbyists and heard all of the things they’ve done for other counties,” she said.

“There are counties in the state that have multiple federal lobbyists,” Starkey added.

Such lobbyists can be valuable on federal issues, such as dredging, the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s flood maps and transportation, Starkey said.

“There’s all kinds of ways — if we learned how to engage better, we could be effective in advocacy for things that are good for our county,” Starkey said.

But Moore said that wasn’t the case with the county’s last federal lobbyist.

“I don’t think we saw one dollar. We didn’t get anything. Let’s be honest. We got nothing,” Moore said.

Starkey responded: “I don’t think we utilized the resource as much as we could have, and I think that part is our fault. I think we need to learn how to use the resource better.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed with Starkey.

“I think it’s very worthwhile,” Mariano said, noting he believes having a federal lobbyist is more important than having a state lobbyist.

He also noted that in this case, patience is a virtue.

“To invest in this, it can’t be a one-year deal. It takes time,” Mariano said. “It’s going to take a commitment for a few years, to get something back.”

Published May 05, 2021

Land O’ Lakes fire station construction approved

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The Pasco County Commission has approved spending nearly $4.8 million to construct Fire Station No. 42, that will be built at 11425 Silver Palm Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Board members approved the expenditure during their April 20 meeting.

The lowest responsive bidder on the project is Trias, which is a company located in Lutz.

The funding for the project is available from the GO Bond Capital Project Fund.

The specifications were prepared by Fleischman and Garcia Architects and Planners, AIA, PA.

On another issue, County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder informed commissioners that a federal judge issued a favorable order in the case involving Sierra Club vs. Pasco County and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, relating to the Ridge Road extension project.

In essence, Steinsnyder said, “the Sierra Club had tried to amend their existing pleading to bring in the federal fish and wildlife agency and allege endangered species violations.

“The court, in a well-written order, said ‘No, you had an opportunity to bring these in your initial cases.

In part, Steinsnyder said, the judge’s order said “it would cause undue harm to Pasco County to continue to delay this project.

“Basically, she shut it down and said, ‘No, you’ve got to file your motion for summary judgment by a date in June, which pushes the briefing schedule out. But that’s probably the best we could have hoped for because she had to give them some time to file their motion,” Steinsnyder said.

Both sides are asking for summary judgment, he added.

In another item, commissioners approved a request by Salem Radio Properties to rezone 77.21 acres of agricultural land to allow 325 residential units in a master-planned development on the south side of Bud Bexley Parkway, about 600 feet west of Ballantrae Boulevard.

Published May 05, 2021

Planning Commission appointments approved

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The Pasco County Commission has approved the reappointments of Jaime P. Girardi and Peter D. Hanzel to the Pasco County Planning Commission. Their term will end on Aug. 9, 2022.

They also have approved the appointment of Don Anderson to fill the vacancy created by the departure of former Planning Commissioner Michael Cox. The term for the seat ends on Aug. 9, 2021.

Girardi, of New Port Richey, is a civil engineer with more than 20 years of experience in that field. Since 2005, he has focused on private development, planning and design.

He has served on the Pasco County Planning Commission since 2015.

Hanzel, of Wesley Chapel, is retired from the U.S. Department of Justice.

He is a past member of the Pasco County Citizens Mobility Board, chairman of the Lexington Oaks Community Development District and a past member of the Lexington Oaks Homeowners Association board.

Anderson, the CEO of the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, was among 19 applicants for the post.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey made a motion to appoint Anderson, which was seconded by Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick.

In calling for Anderson’s appointment, Starkey said she thinks he “brings a really fresh perspective that’s needed to the commission.”

Zoning Administrator Denise Hernandez said the call for applicants for the volunteer post attracted considerable interest.

The pool of applicants was filled with people of varied backgrounds, including a retired employee of the Florida Department of Transportation, civil engineers, community association managers, retired Department of Justice employee, real estate investors, real estate appraisers, real estate brokers, mortgage brokers, folks that formerly served on planning and zoning commissions in other states, architects, folks that served in the public works commission in other states; one certified planner and a few contractors, Hernandez said.

That drew a reaction from Starkey, who asked if there is a way for the county can “find a way to let them have their voices heard.”

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley agreed with Starkey’s suggestion of finding other ways to encourage the applicants to be of service.

“We’re always looking for people to be involved,” Oakley said.

Hernandez said the application did inquire whether applicants would be willing to help in another capacity and many of the applicants said they would.

Published May 05, 2021

Divided Pasco board rejects gas station request

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Although they couldn’t actually be in the Pasco County Commission’s chambers — due to COVID-19 protocols — opponents to a proposed gas station near the Sierra Pines and Meadowbrook Estates neighborhood in Lutz erupted in shouts of jubilation when the request was denied.

The residents were so happy, their reaction could be heard in the board’s chamber — via a televised board hearing — even though the crowd was in an outer room.

Commissioners were divided on the request to change the county’s long-range plan designation on a 1.67-acre site at the southwest corner of State Road 54 and Meadowbrook Drive.

Currently, the land is designated for residential use; the new designation would have allowed a litany of commercial uses.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano supported the proposed change; Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, and members Mike Moore and Christina Fitzpatrick rejected it.

The land is owned by Kiddie Campus University Inc., under contract to sell it to a gas station and convenience store developer. Attorney Barbara Wilhite represented the applicant.

Residents of Sierra Pines and Meadowbrook Estates were persistent in their opposition.

They were represented by Todd Pressman, an independent planning consultant and attorney Luke Lirot. Their presentation included an analysis of the request by Patricia Ortiz, a professional planner.

Neighbor after neighbor also weighed in, raising issues, including the potential environmental hazards that the gas station could pose to residents who rely on private wells for their drinking water, for bathing and for irrigation.

They also contended that the neighborhood’s narrow road is not conducive to big trucks pulling and out.

Perhaps their biggest objection was having a gas station so close to existing residences.

They cited concerns about the 24/7 nature of a convenience store. They showed a simulated photo of signage used by a convenience store, super-imposed on the edge of the existing neighborhood.

They expressed concerns about the big trucks that service the convenience store making turns into or out of their neighborhood — noting the narrow two-lane road can’t support that kind of traffic.

While one of the lots fronts State Road 54, the other lot is directly adjacent to one residential lot and across the street from another one.

The request had received recommendations for approval from the county’s staff, as well as the Pasco County Planning Commission.

Wilhite told commissioners that the site is not appropriate for residential development and that it meets the criteria in the county’s comprehensive plan for a commercial designation.

Both Wilhite and planners said the proposed designation also would require sensitive site design and buffering requirements.

Starkey said the site is more appropriate for commercial use, than for residential.

She made a motion to “let it (land-use designation) become commercial, and let the zoning of this determine the use.”

She called for approving the staff’s recommendation, which was seconded by Mariano.

“Let all of these issues be hashed out in the zoning,” Starkey said.

Moore, however, said he couldn’t support having a gas station so close to neighboring residential development.

Starkey’s motion failed, with two in favor and three opposed.

The board’s April 20 vote came after a previous hearing that had been continued, with commissioners directing representatives from both sides to meet and see if they could come up with a compromise.

Neighbors said they are not opposed to a less-intense use, such as a professional office, but that option was never proposed.

This wasn’t the first time that Kiddie Campus Inc., sought permission to use the property for a different use.

Kiddie Campus’ two previous efforts to gain a special exception to allow a day care at the site also were denied.

Published April 28, 2021

Zoning approved for new Connerton villages

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a rezoning for two new villages in Connerton, and that clears the way for the creation of a 40-acre Downtown Connerton.

Plans also call for creating connections — through trails and mid-block pedestrian crossings — that encourage walkability and reduce reliance on automobiles.

The plan promotes the use of neighborhood vehicles, bicycles and other ways to get about — with strategically placed hubs that feature amenities such as water refill stations, restrooms, places to make bike repairs, and public gathering spaces.

County board members unanimously approved the proposal, by applicant Lennar Homes LLC, for Connerton Villages III and IV.

The master-planned development allows:

  • A maximum of 2,160 dwelling units
  • 150,000 square feet of retail
  • 150,000 square feet of office, including 50,000 square feet in the downtown area and the other 100,000 square feet within downtown or spread throughout the villages
  • A charter school with up to 765 students
  • An 80-acre district park
  • 7 acres for a library/fire/emergency medical services facility within the villages

The proposed development drew opposition from three speakers, who raised concerns about the impacts that rampant growth is having within Pasco County.

Rob Park, who lives on Ehren Cutoff, reiterated his concerns about the traffic impacts — particularly along Ehren Cutoff — from additional growth in Land O’ Lakes.

Maryann Bishop, who lives on Hale Road, told commissioners: “As a longtime resident of Pasco County who fell in love with the rural aspects that Land O’ Lakes had to offer, I am truly sickened by the lack of vision here, across the board, that county officials have about responsible development. I am not against development. But I am totally against the runaway development that is being allowed in Pasco County now.

“You are allowing developers to completely strip the land bare, so they can fit as many dwellings and buildings as possible and then call it proper landscaping when they plant a few water oaks or palms,” she said.

Nicole Miller, who also spoke in opposition, submitted a petition with 1,592 signatures from residents, she said, “who are joining their voices together to speak out against these different development projects.”

But county planners and the Pasco County Commission recommended approval of the rezoning.

County planner Tammy Snyder outlined Connerton’s downtown plans. She also detailed its extensive plan aimed at making it easier to get from neighborhoods to downtown, the district park, shopping, public gathering spaces and various amenities — without having to rely on a vehicle.

Clarke Hobby, an attorney representing Lennar, told the board that when Connerton was approved as a development of regional impact more than 20 years ago, it was planning a regional mall and a community college.

Now, it is calling for a development that will create a community where people truly can live, work and play, he said.

Hobby also noted: “When Connerton began, it was about 8,500 acres. Three thousand of those acres were conveyed for preserves to SWFMD (the Southwest Florida Water Management District). Of those 3,000 acres, there was wetland enhancement done on over 1,600 acres.”

“We’re very proud of the project. We plan on this being a featured community for Lennar,” Hobby said.

Commissioner Mike Moore said he’s excited about the project and he believes the residents of Connerton will be, too.

Published April 28, 2021

Moffitt exceeds early expectations

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When Moffitt Cancer Center at Wesley Chapel formed a medical partnership with AdventHealth, the idea was to bring Moffitt’s brand of oncology services closer to its patients, said Dr. Timothy Kubal, the cancer center’s senior medical director.

“We’re coming to you, as opposed to you coming to us,” Kubal said, explaining that a lot of Moffitt’s patients were coming from Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Dade City or Land O’ Lakes.

“We wanted to get closer to the patient and Wesley Chapel was a great opportunity to do that  with a partner,” he said, during Zoom economic development briefing with members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce on April 22.

As one of the nation’s top cancer centers, Moffitt wanted to deliver its expertise to patients, rather than them having to drive to its main campus in Tampa. At the same time, Moffitt wanted to partner with a high-quality hospital, he said.

“We can augment what they do; they can augment what we do,” he explained.

Moffitt’s center is located on the campus of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

AdventHealth Wesley Chapel has built an entirely new floor for oncology patients, with the long-term prospect of having up to 50 beds for oncology patients, Kubal said.

The center has 20 exam rooms, 22 infusion bays and a linear accelerator.

“I can treat probably 20 to 30 patients a day on this lin-ac (linear accelerator). It delivers radiation specified to a tumor site,” he said. “We can do any body part, from brain to toe, for radiation oncology out here.

The nice thing about being located closer to patients is that they won’t have to drive as far each day to receive the treatment, he said.

“For example, you live in Wesley Chapel, you’ve got a breast cancer. You need 20 treatments over four weeks. You can get it close to your house, as opposed to going into Moffitt, parking your car, getting set up, getting 3 seconds of radiation to hit that tumor, and then doing the hour back.

“We’ve seen a lot of patients want to transfer their radiation oncology care to this site because they live out in this area. So, this is a big draw. Right now, I think they are 1000% over projected volume.

“Their growth far exceeds what we initially thought,” he said.

The center’s 22 infusion bays are in an area that gives patients a chance to be able to see outside.

That’s important for patients because an infusion can sometimes take up to six hours, the doctor said.

The center will be able to handle infusion services for about 100 to 120 patients a day, he said. At the moment, though, those numbers stand at between 30 to 40 patients day.

In addition to its modern equipment, the center will offer a different oncology approach than what’s been available in the area, he said.

“In the cancer community, you either see everything, or you see one thing.

“So, in the Moffitt community, you might just do, for example, right-sided liver lesions. You might just do surgery on the right side of the liver, when there’s tumors there.

“In the community, commonly, you’re going to do everything.

“But what we’ve found is that it’s hard to do everything. People want to do more than one thing.

“So, what we’ve done here is we’ve hired multiple oncologists to do what we call multi-specialists.”

Besides attracting patients from Pasco and Hillsborough counties, the Wesley Chapel center has patients coming from Lakeland and The Villages, Kubal said.

People coming from Lakeland say that driving the back roads is quicker than going to Tampa, he said.

He added: “Those Villages people are willing to drive. They like to park their own car, though.”

At Moffitt’s main campus, in Tampa, patients must valet. At the Wesley Chapel center, they can do self-parking.

Besides liking to park their own cars, people coming from The Villages often have very specific plans for where they want to eat or shop, after finishing their appointment, Kubal said.

But, they aren’t the only ones having an economic impact on the area, the doctor said.

“The money I make, it goes back into the community,” he said.

“I need to eat. I need to go to the gym. I need to be able to have a meeting and grab a beer at the end of the day. My kids need schooling,” he said.

The same economic impacts are true for other staffers, too, because many of them move into Wesley Chapel after they’ve been hired.

Published April 28, 2021

Pasco celebrates national award

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The Pasco County Commission paused during its April 20 meeting to celebrate the work of its community development department, which recently received a national award for its role in a collaborative project known as The Vincent House Project.

The department received the 2021 Audrey Nelson Community Development Achievement Award from the National Community Development Association. The honor was bestowed in January.

Marcy Esbjerg, director of Pasco County’s community development department, appears before the Pasco County Commission to talk about a collaborative project called the Vincent House Project, which received a national award. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

The Vincent House Project is aimed at increasing the availability of mental health services in Pasco County, according to a resolution passed by the board.

The project came about through the county’s donation of 10 acres of land in Hudson, coupled with the expenditure of more than $1 million in Community Development Block Grant Funds to construct a 10,000-square-foot facility.

“Vincent House’s facility and programs exhibit innovation, sustainability and collaboration for the residents of Pasco County experiencing serious and persistent mental illness,” the resolution says.

It also recognizes “the contributions and partnership of Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative in the implementation of this award-winning community project to benefit low- and moderate-income persons living with a serious and persistent mental illness to regain the skills needed to become productive members of our community.”

The mission at Vincent House is to assist, promote and celebrate individuals recovering from a mental illness in their effort to improve social and vocational skills, and become employed in the community, according to the Vincent House website.

Co-founders of Vincent House, Elliott and Dianne Steele, became interested in creating a facility that would help people living with a serious mental illness when their daughter was diagnosed with schizophrenia, the website says.

They tried to find something that would help their daughter overcome the problems related to her diagnosis but could not find anything in the state of Florida.

Eventually, they found just what they wanted in the Clubhouse model, a place that provided hope, respect and dignity; a place where participants, called members, could practice work and then become employed in the community when they were ready, the website adds.

In addition to the Vincent House Pasco, there’s also a Vincent House Pinellas in Pinellas Park and a Vincent House Hernando in Spring Hill.

The Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative is another partner on the project.

Dave Lambert, of the electric cooperative, told board members: “What you’ve done with Vincent House is going to change the lives of thousands of people in Pasco County, for years and years to come.”

Marcy Esbjerg, director of community development, offered some remarks, too.

“This is a national award. We did assist with community development block grant funds, to build the building and you all donated the land. I thought it was a great public-private partnership with Withlacoochee Electric Cooperative,” Esbjerg said.

“I want to take a moment to recognize the staff from community development that were frontline in making sure that the building went vertical, that all of the gopher tortoises were safely removed, all those things that happen behind the scene.”

She singled out Denise Lindsay, the department’s community development specialist, and Michael Ball, its housing rehab specialist.

“They were really on the front lines to assist,” Esbjerg said.

She added that her department had an opportunity to make a presentation about the project.

“The most exciting aspect, was to hear remarks from members of Vincent House,” she said.

“It is just an honor and a privilege to be a part of their journey, of healing and restoration in the community. That’s what this is all about, and we all get to share in that,” Esbjerg said.

Published April 28, 2021

Dade City Chamber bestows its annual awards

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Common themes emerged during the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce’s “Business Connects: A celebration of partnerships” event — held April 22 at the Dade City Women’s Club.

As chamber members moved about the room, mingling and chatting, the value of human connection was on full display.

Diane Kortus accepts the Area Business of the Year award from Justin Sasser, president of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce. (B.C. Manion)

Then, as the chamber’s annual awards were announced — the power of community connection became abundantly clear.

The awards, in the order presented that evening, honored The Laker/Lutz News, as Area Business of the Year; Larry Guilford, as Chamber Member of the Year; and, Cliff Martin as the recipient of the Richard Tombrink Lifetime Achievement Award.

Jason Sasser, chamber president, read the criteria used to choose the recipients, followed by additional commentary.

The Area Business of the Year, he said, was selected for making an “outstanding contribution to the betterment of the Greater Dade City area and business community through commitment of time, talent and resources.”

The winning company, Sasser added, “demonstrates community support, civic participation, charitable contributions — that are not always financial in nature.”

Plus, he said, the business is considered to be “an asset to the greater Dade City business community.

Sasser then offered details about the newspaper’s history and contributions.

“You provided outstanding news coverage of Dade City and Pasco County, particularly important in this past year of COVID.”

The newspaper, he said, is the only weekly publication “committed to reporting on Dade City news, events, sports, pets, health and education, Foodie Friday and people.

“You publish over 47,000 free papers every week — free papers, every week,” he added, noting that 85% of those papers are delivered to homes and the rest are distributed at more than 350 businesses and newspaper boxes.

The Laker/Lutz News, which is independently owned and publishes on Wednesdays, provides coverage of the local communities of Dade City, San Antonio, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa and Lutz.

In accepting the award, Publisher Diane Kortus, told the crowd: “This is such an honor.

“We have a dynamic team,” she said, addressing how the newspaper has responded to the challenges posed by COVID-19.

“Instead of being in despair, we really took charge of our destiny, and the destiny of our communities.

“We invested in our people.

“We never dropped our circulation, like some publishers did.

“We believed in our communities, even though it was tough — we knew that we would all rebound, if we did it together,” she said.

Kortus was obviously touched by the honor.

“I can’t tell you how important this is, to me.

“We have worked hard. I’ve owned the paper for 20 years. To be here today, it makes me tear up. What can I say? Thank you very much,” the newspaper executive said.

Larry Guilford receives the Chamber Member of the Year award from Justin Sasser, president of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Next up, Larry Guilford was named Chamber Member of the Year.

The criteria for that award includes being a member in good standing, playing an active and visible role in chamber functions and events, plus demonstrating enthusiasm and effort.

This year’s selection was easy, Sasser said.

He detailed Guilford’s many contributions to the entire Dade City community, as well as to the business community.

During COVID-19, Guilford has “almost single-handedly” organized the Mega Pantry Food Distribution program, which has helped to feed thousands of struggling families, Sasser said.

“You spent your own time and secured many different locations, when needed, in order for it to continue to happen, week after week,” Sasser said. “You make sure each location is on the public bus route, so everyone is able to get food.

“You’re not shy about drawing public awareness to the ever-present need in our community.

“You continue to invite people to volunteer in our community, in a variety of services, which helps the community, and provides an outlet for people’s desires to be of service,” Sasser said.

He also cited Guilford’s nonprofit, Make A Difference Inc. That organization, Sasser said, aims “to help people pull themselves up by their own bootstraps, by helping them acquire the most basic needs of food, housing, encouragement and opportunity.”

Sasser said Guilford, who is in commercial real estate, has personally invested his resources, time and determination to promote business and the advancement of Dade City.

“I have no problem plugging your latest project, The Block, which is a restored auto dealership on the north end of town. It used to be Pasco Motors. I think that project is going to be the catalyst for things to come for Dade City,” Sasser said.

Cliff Martin receives the Richard Tombrink Lifetime Achievement Award, which exemplifies the meaning of selflessness and going beyond the call of duty to support the needs of the local community.

Guilford, too, was moved by the honor.

“Our community is a very, very tight community. There’s so many needs and there are so many people in here that do so many amazing things,” he said.

In presenting Martin the Richard Tombrink Lifetime Achievement Award, Sasser said the honor “exemplifies the meaning of selflessness, and goes above and beyond the call of duty to support the needs of the local community in personal involvement and/or finances.

“Without personal gain, this person shows a genuine desire to make our community a better place to live,” Sasser said, and “graciously dedicates hours of service to various organizations.”

Sasser then addressed Martin: “Cliff, you have contributed countless hours, volunteer hours, to the chamber and other community organizations in our area. You served on the chamber board since 2005, in various positions, board member, president, past president, as well as multiple chairs and co-chairs of chamber committees.

“You financially supported the chamber and other organizations every single year. You helped mentor other leaders in our community,” he said.

He also brought the Ford Drive 4UR Community and Ford Drive 4UR School Community to Dade City, to benefit Pasco and Zephyrhills high schools, Sasser noted.

“You’re also a member of multiple philanthropic organizations,” Sasser added.

Martin and his wife, Joan, relocated to Port Charlotte in December, after Jarrett Automotive Group added another Ford dealership there. Sid Jarrett — grandson of original founder Dick Jarrett — took over Jarrett Ford Inc., at 38300 Dick Jarrett Way.

Sasser said the community was sad to see Martin go.

But, the chamber president added: “We really thank you for all of your years of hard work and involvement with the chamber.”

Martin, accompanied by his wife, traveled from Port Charlotte to receive the award.

He expressed his gratitude for the recognition.

“This is a great community,” Martin said. “I never thought I’d be receiving the award after 16 years of voting on who was getting it.”

Published April 28, 2021

New community of Two Rivers edges closer to reality

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Two Rivers — a community proposed to rise along State Road 56, between Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301 — will offer people places to live, work and play — under plans submitted to Pasco County.

The community has taken a step closer to development — through the Pasco County Commission’s April 20 approval of a text change in the county’s comprehensive plan, and a change to the county’s highway vision map.

This land, along State Road 56, east of Morris Bridge Road, is now occupied by trees, ponds and open fields. But it is proposed to become the future community of Two Rivers — a place that will feature homes, businesses, recreational options and schools, under proposals going through Pasco County’s regulatory process. (File)

Commissioners approved the changes unanimously. No one spoke in favor or opposition to the proposed changes.

Next, the developer must secure a rezoning to create the proposed community. That request is in process and is expected to come to the county board in coming months.

Once the regulatory hurdles are cleared, efforts can begin to bring the proposed 3,405-acre community to life.

Two Rivers is envisioned as a place that features a mixture of housing types, work opportunities, shopping, recreation and schools, according to previous public hearings involving the development.

The project has been in planning stages — off and on — for more than 10 years, and there have been a number of ownership changes.

The current proposal calls for creating Two Rivers as a master-planned development, on the southern edge of Pasco County. The project would tie into a community that’s under the same ownership, which is just south of the Pasco-Hillsborough line.

County documents detail the proposed plan, which includes:

  • 246 acres of conservation area
  • 3,875 single-family homes
  • 1,400 multifamily homes
  • 1,125 age-restricted homes
  • 1.3 million square feet for a targeted industry
  • 630,000 square feet retail

Other elements include schools for elementary, middle and high students, on property that would be next to an 80-acre county park.

Two Rivers is expected to be a community that emphasizes walkability and includes an extensive trail system that provides connectivity within the community. Alternate modes of transportation, such as golf carts, also will be encouraged, to help residents get from place to place.

The proposed community also calls for numerous recreational amenities, including recreational complexes, multipurpose fields, ball diamonds, an aquatics center, playgrounds, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, and open spaces.

Published April 28, 2021