Justin Vick

WESLEY CHAPEL – The Kirkland family is donating 4.5 acres at the corner of Curley and Kiefer roads to Pasco County Schools on the condition that the million-dollar property be used for educational purposes. 

The school district began negotiating with the family about the purchase of 100 acres of Kirkland Ranch property back in 2019. The two sides worked out a deal, allowing Pasco County Schools to open Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation in 2022 and the Kirkland Ranch K-8 in 2024. 

“The Kirkland family has been a part of Pasco County for generations and has always held education in high regard,” said Chris Williams, the district’s planning director, during the Nov. 4 school board meeting. “This campus sits as a testament to this family.”

Caesar Rinaldi, president of Kirkland Ranch Inc., told former school administrator Ray Gadd that the family intended to donate an additional 4.5 acres to the district. 

“Caesar is the kind of man that personal relationships are important to him,” Gadd told the school board. “I think we probably had six meetings at Denny’s before we ever locked the deal up at Kirkland Ranch.

“Caesar will tell you that every other day they got a letter from developers wanting that property. The Kirkland sisters wanted it to be sold and given to charities. We’re lucky enough to get a piece of that land. It’s all because of Caesar’s hard work that we got there.”

In August, the Southwest Florida Water Management District decided to purchase Kirkland Ranch for $30.8 million to conserve the 974-acre parcel. Brian Armstrong, executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, said at the time that the purchase will help preserve the region’s land and water resources for generations. 

“Those of us who live on the east side of the county are extremely excited about this,” Williams said. “Because the Kirkland Ranch is just such a beautiful gem of a piece of property. We are extremely excited that it will remain in its natural state.”

Gadd sees the potential for the property becoming a preserve or state park that people can enjoy. He praised Rinaldi and the Kirkland family for donating the additional 4.5-acre parcel to the district. 

“It has to be used for educational purposes but the fact that they’re giving away a million dollars’ worth of property for us is just incredible,” Gadd said. “Caesar is one of the finest gentlemen I have ever met, a good friend and he kept promising me he was going to get that land for us and he did. He kept his promise.”

Rinbaldi was able to attend the Nov. 4 school board meeting and meet the school board. 

“On behalf of the Kirkland and the Holloway family, we’re happy to give this gift to the school board,” Rinaldi said. “This family has always been big on education. We hope that it benefits our future.”

Cynthia Armstrong, chair of the school board, expressed her gratitude.

“We built two beautiful schools on that property already,” Armstrong said. “It’s just a lovely site up there on the hill. Thank you so much for all your hard work in making that happen.”

ST. LEO – Saint Leo University shared a message of hope Oct. 8 at its Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee 2025 Concert. 

From African American spirituals like “Go Down Moses” to contemporary Christian tunes like “Hold on to Me” by Lauren Daigle to the classic rock of The Beatles’ “Here Comes the Sun,” the event showcased the musical and vocal talents of students and faculty while highlighting themes of hope and renewal.

“Our world hungers for hope,” said senior Luigi Meschino, president of the Student Government Union. “Wars, poverty, injustice all diminish and almost destroy human dignity and the joy of human life.”

Meschino noted the late Pope Francis declared the Jubilee Year of Hope that will began in December 2025, saying, “In the heart of each person, hope dwells as the desire and expectation of good things to come, despite our not knowing what the future may bring … Looking to the future with hope entails having enthusiasm for life and a readiness to share it … The coming Jubilee will thus be a Holy Year marked by the hope that does not fade, our hope in God.”

In his welcome to the concert, Meschino said, “May the words, songs and music that we hear and experience lead us to become heralds of hope.”

Edward DeBerri, chair of the Catholic Identity Advisory Committee, shared the words of Pope Leo XIV: “Where there is evil, we must seek the comfort and consolation that can overcome it. In the church, this means never being alone. Resting your head on a comforting shoulder. Finding someone who cries with you and gives you strength. All are signs of love. Where pain is deep, the hope that comes from communion must be even stronger. And this hope does not disappoint.”

Saint Leo students and faculty members provided the music of hope in many forms. 

From Handel’s “Let the Bright Seraphim,” featuring a trumpet solo by Dr. Orlando Ruiz and piano by Jeffrey Chodil, to the beautiful rendition of “The Prayer” by Dr. Cynthia Selph, director of Saint Leo’s music program, and Chris Romeo, vocalist and faculty member, the music created a sense of belonging and joy for those attending.

“A jubilee calls us to remember, to rejoice and to renew our commitments,” Saint Leo University President Jim Burkee said. 

Burkee quoted St. Paul, who in Romans 5:5 stated, “Hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.”

The concert also served as a call for Saint Leo to become a university that hopes.

 “Let me offer three simple practices,” Burkee said. “First, we remember. The Benedictine tradition teaches us that memory matters, remembering who we are and whose we are. Second: We accompany. At Saint Leo, hospitality is not a courtesy; it’s a habit of the heart. Third: We build. Ora et labora, pray and work. Hope is not a feeling we wait for. It is a future we build together.”

Saint Leo’s Pilgrims of Hope Jubilee 2025 Concert served as a reminder that “hope has a melody,” Burkee said. “Sometimes, it’s a chorus we all can sing. Sometimes it’s a quiet harmony beneath the noise of the day. But it’s always there, asking us to add our voice.”

Upcoming Performances

Saint Leo University will host its annual Christmas Celebration on Dec. 3 and the Department of English, Music and the Arts will present two holiday concerts: 4 p.m. at Holy Name Monastery, 12138 Wichers Road, and 7 p.m. at the Saint Leo Abbey Church with parking at University Campus, 33701 County Road 52.

ZEPHYRHILLS – AdventHealth has been granted more flexibility to develop 23 acres next to its Zephyrhills hospital.

The hospital system applied to rezone four parcels east of Dairy Road and north of Daughtery Road to general commercial uses. Most of the land is undeveloped wooded area, with the exception of some unpaved parking and a community garden.

William McCaw, a planner for the city, told the Zephyrhill City Council on Sept. 22 during the first reading that AdventHealth will use the site across Dairy Road to replace parking as it expands the hospital.

The hospital system will also continue to maintain the community garden.

AdventHealth offered deed restrictions to eliminate certain uses from the commercial zoning.

Some of these uses include big box retail, convenience store, gas station, hotel, landscape supply, garden center, pawn shop, drinking establishment, distillery and auto service, repair, retail, wash or detailing.

Barbara Wilhite, who spoke on behalf of AdventHealth on Oct. 13 during the second reading, said the petitioner has met with staff for three rounds to discuss prohibited uses. The most recent round of restrinctions included mini-warehouse and recreational vehicle storage.

“These are voluntary deed restrictions for the record,” Wilhite told the council. “We were not told we had to do this. We volunteered to do this. We were asked about those uses and we said, ‘absolutely, we’ll prohibit those as well.’”

The city advised AdventHealth that a traffic study would be needed for the intersection of Gall Boulevard and Daughtery Road prior to construction, according to McCaw.

City leaders have also expressed a desire for the parking area to be well-lit to protect pedestrians.

Public Works Director Shane LeBlanc assured the council that he has been working with the petitioner to add flashing pedestrian crossings to the site that are ADA-accessible.

“We’re working behind the scenes with them to make sure it’s a safe intersection,” LeBlanc said.