The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kathy Steele

Nudist tourism needs more exposure

By

Pasco County is the nudist capital of Florida.

The state of Florida is the nudist capital of North America.

But, the clothing-optional lifestyle is an often overlooked tourism market that contributes $7.4 billion to the state’s economy annually, according to a report from the American Association of Nudist Recreation.

Monique Liliensiek, center, filmed a German documentary, ‘World of Nudism,’ at Lake Como Resort in 2014.
(File)

The association wants to put the spotlight on missed economic opportunities across the state, and in Pasco.

How about nudist days at Pasco’s beach parks? Should there be nudist beaches at Sand Island and Anclote Island, or at an undeveloped lake at SunWest Park?

Starkey Wilderness might yield opportunities for nude recreation activities, too.

Those were some of the ideas included in the AANR report, which was compiled by John Heather, a consultant for the organization and an instructor of international tourism & hospitality management at Saint Leo University.

Heather was guest speaker at the Feb. 14 general meeting of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

Pasco could be a role model on how to build on the existing economic base of nudist recreation, Heather said.

“We don’t have the beaches of Clearwater or the vibrant culture of downtown St. Petersburg,” Heather said. “But, we are so fortunate to be on major (highway) arteries. A lot of these resorts are in rural areas. They are something to make your place unique.”

Pasco’s history with the nudist lifestyle began decades ago, with resorts, social clubs and residential communities. Lake Como Resort, for instance, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2016.

Other locations for vacations and permanent residency are Caliente Resort & Spa and Lake Paradise Resort. The Oasis is a gated, upscale subdivision described as a hybrid nudist community.

Nudist communities and resorts are spread across the state.

According to the AANR report there are:

  • 34 nudist resorts, including eight in Pasco County
  • 30 naturist social clubs
  • 5,100 nudist resort rooms available
  • 2 million nudist room nights sold in 2016
  • 22 million visitor nights
  • Visitors on average stay 10 nights, with a high percentage staying a month or more
  • $4.3 billion a year in direct spending by nudist visitors.

While the nudist population in Pasco is sometimes pegged at about 10,000, Heather said it’s difficult to pin down exact numbers.

Some visitors are “snowbirds” who stay during the winter; others are international visitors who might stay 10 days; some are day-trippers from nearby counties; and others are permanent residents, he said.

Pasco clearly is a star in the nudist firmament.

In 2014, a German documentary, “World of Nudism,” was filmed at Lake Como. A TLC reality television show, “Buy Naked,” features local real estate agent, Jackie Youngblood, as she finds and sells homes in Pasco for her nudist clients.

A Bare Dare 5K is an annual event at Caliente and is probably the largest naked runners’ race in North America.

Pasco County’s website has an online link, “Naked People Vacation Here,” at VisitPasco.net.

“They recognize that it is very important to our tourism tax here,” said Heather.

But, much more could be done to promote nudist tourism, he added.

Six new hotels are under construction or newly opened in Pasco, but Heather said they often focus on the business traveler. More resorts and tourist hotels are needed, he said.

Statewide, cruise lines are adding more clothing-optional vacations.

Currently, the only officially sanctioned nudist beach is in Miami, on the northern end of Haulover Beach.

But, nudists are quietly accepted at a few other locations including Playlinda, at the federally owned Cape Canaveral National Seashore.

The AANR report highlighted Haulover’s economic benefits to Miami.

About $988,000 in parking fees from nude beach visitors were collected at the north parking lot in 2015-2016.

The annual expenditures from nudist tourism is pegged at about $1 billion.

“The nude beach is packed with people,” Heather said.

Still, there is acknowledgement that nude beaches would be a challenge. “It could be a political back and forth,” Heather said.

But, the payoff could be significant, he said.

Pasco County set a record last year by earning nearly $1 million from tourist tax revenues.

Overall, tourism has grown in Florida from about $87 billion in 2011 to about $109 billion in 2016.

“Your return on investment is just too great,” he said.

Published February 22, 2017

 

Lexus of Wesley Chapel brings new dealership to Pasco

By

A new dealer will tap into the luxury automobile market in Pasco County with its new showroom under construction near Wiregrass Ranch.

Lexus of Wesley Chapel is being built on about 8 acres, next to Wesley Chapel Toyota, at 5300 Eagleston Blvd., south of State Road 54 and west of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Owners of Williams Automotive Group competed against nearly 130 dealers nationwide who sought to win the coveted Lexus dealership.

Construction is underway on Lexus of Wesley Chapel. The luxury car dealership is expected to open by the end of 2017.
(Courtesy of Lexus of Wesley Chapel)

The new Lexus showroom is expected to open by the end of 2017 and employ about 100 people. Williams Automotive Group is the parent company for Wesley Chapel Toyota, Wesley Chapel Honda and Tampa Honda.

Lexus of Wesley Chapel will be the second to sell luxury, high-end vehicles in Pasco County.

In 2015, AutoNation opened Pasco County’s first Mercedes Benz dealership at the corner of State Road 56 and Interstate 75, also in Wesley Chapel. It is within the orbit of Tampa Premium Outlets, Cypress Creek Town Center and Florida Hospital Center Ice.

For Lexus fans, the nearest dealership is more than 20 miles away in Tampa.

A study and review of the area’s demographics found Wesley Chapel to be “a perfect fit for the luxury car buyer,” according to an email statement from John Williams, co-owner of Williams Automotive Group.

The market for Lexus of Wesley Chapel covers not only Pasco but northern Hillsborough County, Hernando County and beyond, Williams said in the email.

According to 2015 census data, the annual median income in Wesley Chapel is about $75,000. By comparison, the Pasco overall median income is about $45,000.

Average household income is even higher at more than $85,000 in Wesley Chapel, and $60,000 in Pasco.

With the ongoing growth in the county, Williams said the market can handle even more luxury dealerships in future.

The main Lexus showroom will be a two-story building with about 58,000 square feet. There also will be a double-tunnel car wash of about 3,800 square feet, and a covered outdoor pavilion of about 1,900 square feet.

The dealership will have nearly 500 parking spaces.

A 10-acre adjacent site has room for more than 600 additional parking spaces, and a future collision center. Williams said construction on the collision center probably will begin in 2018.

The indoor showroom will feature 12 Lexus vehicles while another 10 vehicles can be displayed outdoors. There will be 30 service bays, including eight detail bays, with room for expansion.

In addition, there will be several customer lounges, quiet rooms, business offices, a children’s play area, technology center, and an upscale cafe with coffee and cappuccino.

Published February 22, 2017

Business Digest 02/22/2017

By

 

Carlos Carrazana opened Carrazana Chiropractic at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 16, in Land O’ Lakes.
(Courtesy Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce)

Chiropractic ribbon cutting
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce welcomed its newest member at a ribbon cutting for Carrazana Chiropractic on Feb. 16, at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 16.

Dr. Carlos Carrazana’s clinic specializes in car injury accidents, according to the clinic website. Clients can receive chiropractic services, as well as physical therapy and massage therapy.

For information, visit CarrazanaChiropractor.com, or call (813) 591-2506.

 

 

 

 

Take 5 ribbon cuttings planned
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host two ribbon cuttings for Take 5 Oil Change.

The first event will Feb. 23 at 4 p.m., at Take 5 Oil Change, 5309 Gunn Highway. The second event will be Feb. 24 at 11:30 a.m., at Take 5 Oil Change, 4319 Ehrlich Road.

Light refreshments will be served.

For information, contact the chamber at (813) 563-0180 or .

Job promotion
James Hall, the chief operations officer of Goin’ Postal Franchise Corporation and GP Brands, has been tapped as chief executive officer of GP Brands Inc., as of Feb. 13.

GP Brands offers franchises to serve an array of potential business owners and their consumer markets, including Goin’ Postal neighborhood shipping stores, GP Postal stores (inside Walmart stores), Hut no. 8 clothing and accessory stores, and Sir Face Lift mobile commercial kitchen services.

Marcus Price, former chief executive officer and co-founder of Goin’ Postal, will now focus on the creation of GP Brand’s newest franchise chain, with an estimated launch in the first quarter of 2018. No details on the franchise were available.

Doing business with government
Pasco County will sponsor the Pasco County Reverse Trade Show on March 2 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

A reverse trade show allows suppliers, consultants, contractors and other company representatives to meet with procurement professionals and department staff from government offices. In addition to Pasco County, participants include Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, County Clerk of Circuit Courts, Dade City, New Port Richey, Port Richey, the City of San Antonio, and the Town of St. Leo.

The goal is to encourage more vendor participation. It also allows departments to see products, and can help streamline the process for contractors and vendors who want to do business with government.

Small businesses, minority-owned businesses, women-owned businesses and disadvantaged businesses are encouraged to attend and network with other companies.

Company representatives can move from table to table on the trade show floor to meet with representatives of government agencies and share information on their goods and services.

Registration is free.

For information, email Christine Davis at .

Women-n-Charge
Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge on March 3 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa. The women share their talents and resources, and they build relationships with other women in business.

No guest speaker is planned. Instead, there will be extra networking time. Each attendee also will have a minute to introduce herself and talk about her business.

The cost is $15 for members and $18 for non-members.

To register, visit Women-n-charge.com.

For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Business Link breakfast
Business Link will have its monthly networking breakfast on March 8 from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Wesley Chapel Toyota, at 5300 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The monthly gathering, held at various locations, provides networking and an information-sharing platform for the small business community.

A complimentary breakfast will be provided. The event is sponsored by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union.

RSVP to Rebecca Gaddis at (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237.

General meeting
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have a general meeting on March 9 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Iavarone’s Steakhouse & Italian Grill, 3617 Humphrey St., in Tampa.

The guest speaker will be Barry Coziahr of Postcard Mania.

For early bird registration, RSVP online with credit card or to the chamber office at by 5 p.m., on March 7, at the discounted rate of $20 (whether you eat or not). After that date, the cost is $25 (whether you eat or not), payable at the door by cash, check or credit card.

For information, call the chamber office at (813) 563-0180, or visit NorthTampaChamber.com.

Breakfast meeting
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet on March 14 at 7:30 a.m., at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

The guest speaker will be historian and author Madonna Jervis Wise, who will discuss “Women’s History Month: A Look at Women Who Rocked!”

For information, contact Chairman Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or , or Vice Chairwoman Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149 or .

NetFest sponsorships

The Pasco Economic Development Council is seeking sponsors for the 15th Annual NetFest (Networking Festival) on April 6 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Starkey Ranch on State Road 54 in Odessa.

The annual mixer is a night of food, drink, music and networking. Dress is casual. Hats and boots are proper attire.

Sponsorships range from $500 to $2,000 for the “sponsor-only chili cook-off.”

Sponsorship forms can be downloaded at PascoEDC.com.

For information, call (813) 926-0827, ext. 226, or email .

 

 

 

 

 

Construction to extend State Road 56

By

Contractors on the State Road 56 extension are cleared to begin turning dirt.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issued a permit for the roadwork on Feb. 2.

The extension is considered an important project by residents, commercial interests and government officials, because it provides an important link for motorists traveling east and west across Pasco County.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has granted a permit to allow construction to begin on the widening of State Road 56 between Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills. The project provides an important link for motorists.
(File)

“I’m excited,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “It will bring traffic relief…and economic development all along the corridor.”

An official groundbreaking is in the planning stages but Moore said Cone & Graham Inc., would begin work as soon as possible. “We don’t want to hold them up,” he added.

A previous groundbreaking had been targeted for late January, but it took longer than expected for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to review additional information that had been requested.

The road project will provide a four-lane extension of State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Initial plans called for a two-lane extension.

However, nearly two years ago residents lobbied hard during a town hall meeting in Zephyrhills for an expanded project.

Area residents and Zephyrhills’ officials see the road as a major factor in easing traffic bottlenecks and supporting greater economic development.

Money became an issue.

But, Pasco County qualified in 2016 for a state loan of nearly $23 million to finance the project.

A loan repayment schedule allows the county to collect funds from developers and landowners along the corridor through mobility surcharge fees, or special assessments, if needed.

Property owners and developers along the route provided rights of way to Pasco County.

About half of the 6.7-mile extension runs through Two Rivers Ranch.

Cone & Graham is expected to cover any shortfall in expenses, with the county and the city of Zephyrhills as fall back in the event the contractor is fired or a new contractor hired.

In that scenario, estimates peg the county’s responsibility at about $1.5 million with Zephyrhills contributing 10 percent, or $150,000 to that amount.

Published February 15, 2017

 

Truflight expansion will add 100 jobs

By

TRU Simulation + Training makes flying as real as it gets for pilots getting a virtual experience of soaring into the skies.

The company manufactures flight simulators, and provides the commercial and military markets with pilot training. The subsidiary of Textron Inc., also provides FAA-certified Part 142 OEM-supported pilot training.

TRU Simulation + Training manufactures full flight simulators and provides pilot training on-site. The simulators weigh between 25,000 and 40,000 pounds.
(Courtesy of TRU Simulation + Training)

TRU Simulation + Training celebrated the opening of a $30 million expansion of its Pilot Training Center in Lutz on Feb. 8. The facility opened nearly two years ago in a 15,000-square- foot facility at 1827 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway.

The expansion is expected to add 100 jobs.

“This more than doubles the capacity of this facility,” said David Smith, vice president of TRU training centers.

The newest flight simulator resembles a large white capsule perched atop black stilts. The simulators can weigh between 25,000 to 40,000 pounds each, and cost $6 million to $10 million to build.

Another three simulators can fit into the expanded space.

In addition, the facility added classrooms and flight training devices, as well as a fitness room and lounge area.

TRU Simulation has contracts with companies such as King Air, Boeing and Cessna.

When Textron builds an aircraft, the purchase price includes flight training. Simulators are custom-built to meet each client’s needs.

TRU Simulation recently delivered a Bell helicopter simulator to a training academy in Valencia, Spain.

“We also have people who just bought a plane and want to join us,” said Chad Martin, TRU training center manager.

Others are pilots who need to meet annual insurance requirements.

With about 400 clients who come to the training center annually, Smith said the local economy also gets a boost.

They stay in hotels, dine at restaurants and visit tourist attractions.

In the future, Smith hopes to see more development within the Northpointe Village shopping and office complex where TRU Simulation is located.

New restaurants are on the wish list, but Smith said, “We want anything that supports the feel of a small, walkable community that is self-contained.”

Published February 15, 2017

Commissioners approve Connected City

By

A champagne toast and tethered hot-air balloon rides heralded the groundbreaking for a 7-acre manmade Crystal Lagoon that — when finished — will be large enough for six football fields, end to end.

In the background, construction workers stirred dust and hammered nails into model homes for the first master-planned community in Epperson Ranch, along the Connected City corridor. The Crystal Lagoon is the splashy jewel at the center of Epperson.

Connected City, if successful, could become Pasco’s economic jewel.

Pasco County commissioners voted unanimously on Feb. 7 to approve the framework to establish the Connected City, as a state-approved 10-year pilot program to foster a technology-based “city of the future.”

Dignitaries picked up shovels and tossed dirt at a ceremonial groundbreaking for Crystal Lagoon, a 7-acre, manmade lagoon at Epperson Ranch.
(Courtesy of Cole Media Productions)

At its 50-year build out, the Connected City is expected to have more than 96,000 residents within multiple neighborhoods; 37,000 homes and apartments; as many as 7.2 million square feet of employment facilities; and, a role-model reputation for technology innovation.

But, for now, all eyes are on Epperson and the Crystal Lagoon in northeastern Pasco, at Curley and Overpass roads. The mammoth swimming pool, with clear blue, see-through waters, is a global phenomenon, with locations in Chile and Cabo San Lucas in Mexico. Pasco’s Crystal Lagoon will be the first in the nation.

“It’s like swimming in a bottle of Zephyrhills water,” said Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group. “It’s so incredibly clear.”

It took more than two years of planning, workshops and negotiations to reach the groundbreaking at Epperson on Feb. 2, followed by the Connected City vote nearly a week later.

“It was worth the time. I say congratulations to everybody,” said Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “I think we’ll see great things for our neighborhoods. All eyes are going to be upon us now. People will be coming to Pasco County, to follow suit.”

State lawmakers carved out about 7,800 acres in northeastern Pasco, in 2015, for a special development district. The boundaries are Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

State law, and now county approval, set in motion a 10-year pilot program to encourage mixed-use development projects and master-planned communities built from the ground up with cutting edge technology.

“At the end of the day, I feel it’s the right thing for the county,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells. “It comes down to job creation for me.”

Still, the excitement level created by Connected City isn’t shared by everyone.

Resident Jennifer McCarthy has been a frequent critic of Connected City at prior meetings. She and her husband, Chris McCarthy, attended the final hearing on Feb. 2, but neither spoke during public comment.

They both remain worried about property rights of residents who have lived in the area for decades. Increased traffic is another issue, especially on Kenton Road where they live.

They also aren’t convinced that the area can become another technology-heavy Silicon Valley.

“This isn’t California,” said Jennifer McCarthy.

Resident Nancy Hazelwood worries about preserving the rural character of the area.

She objected when county commissioners voted to carve out a portion of the Villages of Pasadena Hills, and to add it into Connected City boundaries.

County commissioners said that made sense because the state-drawn boundaries overlapped into one of the Villages’ neighborhoods.

It was the third time, Hazelwood said, that the county gave up rural land to accommodate urban development.

“You keep taking things from what we were given at one time,” she said.

Change is coming.

Metro Development Group anticipates completion of the lagoon in 2017, with the opening of model homes in late 2017 or early 2018.

Metro Development Group is working in a public-private partnership with Pasco County on the initial development within Connected City. The development company controls about 35 percent of the targeted area.

A second community – known as Mirada – is planned by Metro Development Group, along with a second Crystal Lagoon of more than 10 acres.

In return for meeting more than 50 development criteria, the county is offering mobility fee credits and a faster-than-usual review process to Connected City projects.

Technology is the premier feature in what is expected to entice high-paying jobs to Pasco.

The vision is for the entire area to become a northern gateway into the Tampa Bay region, with links to commerce and education centers to the south, including the research-oriented University of South Florida.

“I am doing everything I can to hook them up with tech companies,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Published February 15, 2017

Business Digest 02/15/2017

By

New Wiregrass restaurant
Wok Chi opened at The Shops in Wiregrass, at 28152 Paseo Drive, on Feb. 6, according to a news release from Wiregrass.

This is the third location for Florida-based Wok Chi, which offers fast, casual Asian stir-fry and fresh dim-sum. Additional restaurants are slated to open in New York City and elsewhere in Florida in 2017.

The restaurant’s first franchise launched in Dubai in 2016.

Wok Chi focuses on fresh, healthy foods promising “no batter, just what matters.”

The 2,400-square-foot restaurant has wok-shaped light fixtures, red and white tile, and bamboo accents. Diners craft their own bowls of Asian stir-fry cuisine, from a selection of all-natural, hormone-free chicken, beef, pork and shrimp; organic tofu; and, fresh seasonal vegetables, sauces and bases.

Each bowl is made to order in the restaurant’s open kitchen.

Dim-sum items, unique to the Wiregrass location, include Spi-Chi Shrimp/Vegetable and Cheese Fritters; Crab Rangoon; and, Lemongrass Pot Stickers. There also are salads and desserts.

Wok Chi is open daily from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

For information, visit WokChi.com, or call (813) 862-2315.

New Race Trac
Newland Communities, developer of the master-planned community of Bexley, will add a Race Trac gas station and convenience store at the northeast corner of State Road 54 and Bexley Village Drive.

Race Trac, which is based in Atlanta, currently has 35 stores in Tampa Bay, including eight in Pasco, with another five under development in the area.

The Race Trac store in Bexley is expected to open in 2018. It will feature “made-to-order” food and beverages, enabling customers to personalize their sandwiches, pizzas, smoothies, milkshakes and espressos. There will be a Swirl World frozen treat station featuring ice cream, frozen yogurt, Italian ice options and an array of toppings.

Customers also can enjoy free WiFi and a covered outdoor seating area.

For information, visit BexleyFlorida.com.

Take 5 ribbon cuttings planned
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host two ribbon cuttings for Take 5 Oil Change.

The first event will Feb. 23 at 4 p.m., at Take 5 Oil Change, 5309 Gunn Highway. The second event will be Feb. 24 at 11:30 a.m., at Take 5 Oil Change, 4319 Ehrlich Road.

Light refreshments will be served.

For information, contact the chamber at (813) 563-0180 or .

School job fair
The Pasco County School District will host a Spring Instructional Job Fair on Feb. 23 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Wesley Chapel High School gymnasium, 30651 Wells Road.

The district is seeking teachers and student services employees. Positions are available at the elementary, middle and high school levels for reading, math, science, emotional and behavioral disorders/autism spectrum disorder, school nurse and behavioral analyst.

Applicants can have on-the-spot interviews.

For information, visit PascoSchools.org and click the Job Fair banner, or contact human capital partner Lori Perreault at (813) 794-2845 or .

Women-n-Charge
Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge on March 3 from 11:15 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa. The women share their talents and resources, and they build relationships with other women in business.

No guest speaker is planned. Instead, there will be extra networking time. Each attendee also will have a minute to introduce herself and talk about her business.

The cost is $15 for members and $18 for non-members.

To register, visit Women-n-charge.com.

For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Breakfast meeting
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet on March 14 at 7:30 a.m., at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Guest speaker will be historian and author Madonna Jervis Wise, who will discuss “Women’s History Month: A Look at Women Who Rocked!”

For information, contact Chairman Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or , or Vice Chairwoman Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149 or .

Efforts continue to extend Ridge Road

By

It’s been two decades and Pasco County is still waiting on a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to extend Ridge Road — but, a push is on to try to speed things up.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis is seeking to take advantage of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to accelerate reviews of “high priority” infrastructure projects.

Gus Bilirakis

The extension of Ridge Road, which would create another east/west evacuation route, has long been considered essential by Pasco County government officials.

In an effort to help move things along, Bilirakis sent a letter on Jan. 25 asking President Trump and the Chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality to grant priority status to the project.

The congressman also plans to reach out to Gov. Rick Scott, who has strong ties with Trump. While no formal meeting is scheduled, Bilirakis anticipates a personal appeal, as well, to Trump on Ridge Road. He counts Reince Priebus, Trump’s chief of staff, as another potential contact on the matter.

Pasco County commissioners are pressing the issue through Washington D.C.-based lobbyists. They also sent a letter to the governor requesting his support for the project.

“This is a priority for me because it’s a priority for our community,” said Bilirakis. “It’s really a nonpartisan issue. We’re talking about public safety.”

In his letter, Bilirakis cited Hurricane Hermine, which damaged 2,672 homes in Pasco County and, in total, caused $89 million in damages to Pasco County.

A favorable decision on the permit could come from U.S. Army Corps in mid-March, Bilirakis said.

But, if the permit is denied or delayed further, Bilirakis said, “The executive order overrides that.”

Trump’s executive order cites infrastructure projects that “have been routinely and excessively delayed by agency processes and procedures.”

A decision on a project’s priority shall be made within 30 days by the chair of the Council on Environmental Quality, according to the executive order.

However, the council, which was created by President Richard Nixon, currently doesn’t have a chairperson. It’s not known when the Trump administration will appoint someone to fill that position.

Pasco County submitted its application for an 8-mile extension of Ridge Road in 1998. The road dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey. The extension would link to U.S. 41, with a connection to Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers issues permits based on regulations within the Clean Water Act.

About 58 acres of the 6,000-acre Serenova Preserve are at issue. The land was set aside years ago to mitigate wetlands lost during construction of the parkway. For permit approval, federal law requires a minimum of damage to the environment.

Pasco County had one application rejected for insufficient data.

Dawson & Associates helped county officials with a second application, which is awaiting a final decision.

The county’s budget, for several years, has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project, if approved.

“The good people of Pasco County deserve for this (project) to happen,” Bilirakis said.

Published February 8, 2017

Business community buoyed by Trump administration

By

The business community is mostly bullish about the Trump administration and Trump’s plans to cut taxes and roll back regulations, according to Mark Vitner, managing director and senior economic advisor for Wells Fargo.

The Pasco Economic Development Council featured Vitner as guest speaker at its annual Economic Forecast Luncheon at the Florida Hospital Center Ice on Feb. 3.

President Donald Trump is shaking up the old way of doing business, Vitner said. “It’s a 180 degrees from policies we’ve been following and not what most people expected to be following.”

But, Vitner said the business community generally likes Trump’s rapid-fire issuance of executive orders that are delivering on his campaign promises.

Bill Cronin, president of the Pasco EDC, agreed.

There has been an uncertain climate in past years with road blocks in getting loans to invest, particularly to build on speculation, he said.

“The president said a lot of things during the campaign, and now he’s starting to do those things,” Cronin said. “Now it gives predictability and certainty in the market place. Whether you agree with him or not, you want certainty before you invest.”

Vitner said tax cuts, fewer regulations and better trade agreements are “very, very good for growth.”

He expects the Gross Domestic Product to rise 2.3 percent in 2017. The GDP is based on the total value of goods produced and services provided nationwide in one year.

Some cities, such as San Francisco and Houston, are outpacing the nation’s growth, increasing their local GDP faster than the rest of the country.

Florida also has a growing economy “from Pensacola to Key West,” Vitner said.

He anticipates about 4 percent job growth in Pasco County, up from about 3.6 percent in 2016.

But, Vitner also cautioned against expecting too much, too soon.

“It takes time to formulate policies,” he said. “It takes time to impact the economy.”

One of Trump’s campaign promises was to spend $1 trillion over the next decade on infrastructure. But, Vitner said, “I don’t think dirt will move for two to three years.”

He anticipates court challenges that could delay those types of projects.

The economy likely will see more immediate results from deregulation, he added.

“The thing I’m most positive of is rolling back regulations,” Vitner said. “And, regulations are strangling small businesses.”

Unemployment ticked up slightly from 4.7 percent to 4.8 percent. That’s technically full employment, but Vitner said employment remains a problem.

“There are a whole lot of people not fully employed,” he said.

Some people may only work a few hours at an online job, or drive for Uber part-time, but still are counted in employment data, he said.

But, some people have dropped out of the labor market or maybe don’t feel secure in the jobs they have, he added.

The recent holiday season also was telling.

Vitner said brick-and-mortar retailers hired fewer seasonal workers “because they knew they were getting strangled by online.”

Technology and energy will be economic drivers for the country, Vitner said.

He also expects reforms to the Dodd-Frank law, which enacted financial reform following the economic meltdown in 2008. Vitner said changes likely will make it easier for people to qualify for loans.

“Regulations are well-intentioned,” he said. “But, there are unintended consequences.”

February 8, 2017

East Pasco Rocks plays hide-and-seek

By

East Pasco County residents are having a rockin’ good time – with hide-and-seek painted rocks.

On a recent Sunday, members of a new club, East Pasco Rocks, packed a pavilion at Zephyr Park in Zephyrhills for their first group painting party.

They brought art supplies, creativity and – rocks.

Afterward, children gathered up the pretty stones, hidden for a treasure hunt in the park.

Wesley Chapel resident Marlo Sue Johnson, a member of East Pasco Rocks, painted cartoon-style animal faces onto rocks. The group enjoys hide-and-seek treasure hunts to find painted rocks. The social-media driven hobby is a nationwide trend.
(Courtesy of East Pasco Rocks Facebook page)

“There’s nothing grander than sitting down and watching kids find rocks,” said Renee Crum, founder of East Pasco Rocks.

Her daughter painted a rock with a Pokemon character. Later, a friend’s daughter found the rock.

For 15 minutes, Crum said, “All she did was hear this girl squealing (with joy). It’s a giant game of hide-and-seek.”

The group has nearly 600 members, brought together largely through Facebook.

Members live in Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes, San Antonio and Dade City.

A few, who frequently visit east Pasco, live in Lakeland and Plant City.

Many have never met their rock-painting buddies in person.

East Pasco Rocks plans a second painting party on Feb. 11 from 3:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., at Hobby Lobby, at 7325 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

The club is part of a growing national trend. Members often meet up on Facebook or Pinterest.

First, comes the arts and craft part. Rocks are painted with colorful designs or a written message.

“There is nothing specific about what they have to do or how they do it,” said Crum. “Sometimes we write a word – hope or love.”

But, mermaid tails, penguins or pretty patterns also are popular.

The finished artworks are hidden, but not too well because it’s the discovery that counts.

A rock found is a rock that can bring delight, or at least a smile, to someone who stumbles upon something unexpected, pretty and a bit mysterious.

Crum started painting rocks when a friend in Missouri suffered the loss of her son. The friend painted a rock in his honor.

Renee Crum, founder of East Pasco Rocks, painted a Florida gator on one of the rocks she hid in Zephyrhills.

About the same time, Crum also saw a Facebook page about a group in Lakeland.

She started Zephyrhills Painted Rocks in November, beginning with a few members, and a Facebook page.

She quickly heard from residents in Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, San Antonio and Dade City who wanted to find out how to start their own clubs.

Turns out it was easier to expand Crum’s group and rename it East Pasco Rocks.

“This started as a community project, but it has grown to a multi-community effort,” said Crum. “It’s a good way to bring east Pasco together so we can share with each other.”

It’s a pretty free-wheeling pastime.

Anyone who finds and keeps a rock is expected to paint and hide two replacement rocks.

If a rock is put back in its hiding place, a Facebook posting of the rock or better still, a selfie, is appropriate.

But, Crum said safety also is paramount.

Don’t hide rocks in parking lots, for instance, or in grassy areas where a lawnmower could kick up a hidden rock.

The Facebook posts can bring attention to area businesses where rocks sometimes are left, Crum said.

A couple of businesses have asked not to be included, Crum said. But, overall, she added, “It’s a win-win for everyone.”

For information on joining East Pasco Rocks, visit Facebook.com/groups/1218099624929213/.

Published February 8, 2017