Kathy Steele

Business Digest 10-28-15

October 28, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Randy Surber, president of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, right, greeted family physician, Radu Mercea, at an Oct. 14 ribbon cutting. Courtesy of Richard K. Riley — Randy Surber, president of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, right, greeted family physician, Radu Mercea, at an Oct. 14 ribbon cutting.
Courtesy of Richard K. Riley

Physician welcomed
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce welcomed physician, Radu Mercea, at a ribbon cutting on Oct. 14. Mercea is the newest member of the Florida Hospital Zephyrhills Physician Group. His office is at 38240 Daughtery Road, in Zephyrhills.
Mercea has more than 30 years experience in general family medicine. He formerly served as chief resident in family medicine at McKeesport Hospital in the Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania area. He volunteers in medical mission trips, and was a major for 12 years in the U.S. Air Force. He also is a youth soccer coach.
For information, contact Community Care at (813) 788-3582.

Dos tacos
Capital Tacos is serving its made-from-scratch menu at a new location in Wesley Chapel in the Cypress View Square Plaza, at 27209 State Road 56. Operating hours for now are limited to weekends, Friday to Sunday, from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. The restaurant’s first location in Land O’ Lakes, at 6765 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., remains open. Restaurant reviews on Yelp Tampa Bay recently ranked Capital Tacos as the second best restaurant in the region. And, Business Insider reported the restaurant placed third among the top 50 restaurants reviewed by users of FourSquare.
For information, call (813) 973-3777 or visit www.facebook.com/capitaltacos2.

Chamber honors
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce held its Annual Banquet and Community Awards Dinner on Oct. 15 at the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club. The executive board for 2016 will be Randy Stovall, president; Randy Surber of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, president-elect; Shauna McKinnon of Bayfront Health Dade City, vice president; Steve Hickman of First National Bank of Pasco, treasurer; Kelly Sinn of Sunrise of Pasco, secretary; Bobby Van Allen of Farm Bureau Insurance, immediate past president. Dr. Lisa Richardson of Pasco-Hernando State College and Jason Sasser of JSC Real Estate Group are new board members.
Winners of the 2015 Community Awards were Margaret Angell, owner of Angel Tea Room and president of the Dade City Merchants Association, Business Leader of the Year; Bob Larkin Construction and owner Bob Larkin, Small Business of the Year; Kiwanis Club of Dade City, Civic Association of the Year; Frank Notarianni, Chamber Ambassador of the Year; Bob Hatfield, Chamber Member of the Year; Ed Blommel, the Richard Tombrink Lifetime Achievement Award; Randy Surber, president of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, President’s Award.

Business seminars
Rasmussen College will offer two small business seminars from Pasco-Hernando SCORE on Oct. 29 at 6014 U.S. 19, Suite 302, in New Port Richey. “How to Apply for a 501c3” will meet from 10 a.m. to noon, and “Understanding a Franchise Business” will meet from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Registration is required. The fee is $15 paid through PayPal.
For information, visit Score439.org, or call (727) 842-4638.

Networking women
WOW, Women of Wesley Chapel will meet Nov. 6 from 7:45 a.m. to 9 a.m., in the second floor conference room at the Health and Wellness Center, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. The guest speaker will be Michele Norris, founder of Navigen Leadership.
For information, call the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce at (813) 994-8534, or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

Women-n-Charge luncheon
Join the ladies of Women-n-Charge on Nov. 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, at 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa. The meeting includes lunch and time to network. The guest speaker will be Erin Bess of Simply the Best Photography, who will discuss how to “Showcase Your Business through Photography.”
The cost is $15 for members (Tuesday before the meeting) and $18 for all guests (and members paying Wednesday and after).
To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com. For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Job training
CareerSource Pasco Hernando received an $80,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Labor, according to a news release from Career Source. The funds are from a statewide Sector Partnership National Emergency Grant of nearly $7 million that is targeted at long-term unemployed individuals in health care and manufacturing. The funds will help transition 25 individuals who have been unemployed for longer than 20 weeks. Classroom instruction in manufacturing skills will be offered that will lead to an industry certification. Participants will then be eligible for short-term on-the-job training with a local manufacturer. First enrollments will be in February/March 2016.
For information, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.

Business workshops
Copperstone Executive Suites is collaborating with Lane Business Consulting to offer a yearlong intensive program called “The Business Mastery Academy.” Each month, the program includes two on-site workshops, one telephone conference call, and a one-on-one coaching session for each participant. Two business consultants and 10 to 15 business owners will offer their expertise.
Copperstone Executive Suites is offering 10 to 15 grants of $600 each to business owners who complete an online application and are accepted into the program. The remaining monthly cost for the business owner is $47 per month.
For more information, and to apply for a grant, visit Copperstone.info, or call Copperstone Executive Suites at (813) 298-7363, or Lane Business Consulting at (813) 486-2837.

Contest giveaway
CenterState Bank is sponsoring the “Community Act of Kindness Contest” through Oct. 30. One winner will be chosen at random to receive a $5,000 Publix gift card. CenterState Bank also will donate $5,000 in cash or a Publix gift card to a nonprofit food bank or charity for use in the county where the individual winner lives. Participating branches also will collect food for their local food banks.
Contest entries can be made in person at any CenterState Bank branch or wherever contest forms are available. A valid Florida identification and contact information are required for registration.
Complete contest rules are available at CenterStateBank.com.

SBA award nominations open
The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting awards for its 2016 awards competition.
The SBA honors successes of small businesses and small business owners during “National Small Business Week.”
All nominations must be submitted no later than 3 p.m., Jan. 11, 2016.
For information about the awards, please visit the website at SBA.gov/districtoffices.

Health care startup to hire 500 workers

October 21, 2015 By Kathy Steele

CareSync, a Wesley Chapel-based health management company, is in the midst of a growth spurt with new investments of $18 million, and a plan to hire 500 new employees over the next 18 months.

About 100 jobs will be in marketing, sales and development. But, most will be for people with medical backgrounds, including registered nurses, certified nursing assistants and clinicians. Some positions also might go to people who have the drive and desire to become a nurse.

The start-up company launched nearly four years ago as a software and service provider for chronic disease management. There currently are nearly 120 employees.

Travis Bond is the founder of CareSync and its chief executive officer. (Images of CareSync) — Travis Bond is the founder of CareSync and its chief executive officer.
(Images courtesy of CareSync)

The company’s users include health care providers, caretakers and individual patients who want to collect, organize and store medical data for quick, easy reference.

The idea is to put everyone involved in a patient’s care on the same page, sharing an entire medical history.

“We are all about creating care plans,” said Travis Bond, the company’s founder and chief executive officer.

The company offers options on how to accomplish that task.

A free app is available for people who want a “do-it-yourself” approach.

However, the company also offers a range of fee-based services where retrieval specialists collect, enter and organize medical information from multiple providers. Physicians, nurses and family members, as well as individual patients, can access the centralized data to coordinate care. This can include scheduling appointments, putting together a list of questions to ask the doctor, tracking medications and avoiding the duplication of medical tests.

“You can invite others to share your data,” Bond said. “That’s helpful, because typically a caretaker feels intimidated because of lack of data. They lack training and confidence.”

About one-third of CareSync’s users are children caring for elderly parents, Bond said.

The program also aids physicians in coordinating care, especially when multiple providers are involved.

CareSync also aids in billing procedures and meeting requirements for Medicare’s chronic disease management goals.

Bond’s motivation in creating his company, in part, came from a friend’s struggle to manage the care of her daughter who has an autoimmune disease.

The friend is a nurse, but even she was overwhelmed trying to cope with 12 doctors and six emergency medical records (EMR) in three states.

“If she can’t do it, no one can,” Bond said. “It bogs down the velocity of care.”

And, he said it creates a “dark space between doctors and appointments. How is it we can help individuals become more informed when not at a point of care?”

While CareSync’s headquarters are in Wesley Chapel, the company operates a nursing center in Wauchula in Hardee County where medical advice and planning is available on a 24-hour basis. Bond hopes to open a nursing center in Wesley Chapel, too.

The $18 million in funding is from new investors Merck Global Health Fund, Greycroft Partners and Harbert Venture Partners, and also current investors Tullis Health Investors, Clearwell Group, CDH Solutions and Bond.

The funding reflects the growth in the chronic disease management industry and recognition by physicians that case management will be here for years to come, Bond said.

“These are lasting, long-term careers. It’s really a big deal,” he said.

For information call CareSync at (800) 587-5227, or visit CareSync.com.

Published October 21, 2015

Art plus wine, creates a perfect picture

October 21, 2015 By Kathy Steele

James Serrano found a new career direction in an unexpected place – a “paint and sip” art studio.

After more than 20 years as a financial advisor and stockbroker, he now is planning “paint parties” at his new business, Pinot’s Palette.

On Oct. 23 at 6 p.m., he will open the doors and cut the ribbon to a new adventure as a first-time business owner of his art studio and bar at The Shoppes in New Tampa, at 1718 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

And, the sign inside Pinot’s Palette gets right to the point on what an art studio and bar are all about – “Paint. Drink. And have fun.”

DSC_0139 rgb — (Photos courtesy of Pinot’s Palette)

Serrano is no artist, but he swirled a paintbrush across canvas at a similar studio owned by a friend. At the time, he was rethinking his career options.

The combination of artwork and wine brought him a “light bulb” moment. With encouragement from his wife, attorney Carol Serrano, he researched what is known as the “paint and sip” industry and found Pinot’s Palette.

A trip to the company’s headquarters in Houston sold him on the franchise. And the social aspects of the business seemed a natural fit for him.

“I love people,” Serrano said. “I love to meet people.”

Pinot’s Palette began as a small, local business in Houston, Texas, in 2009. Soon after, its founders, Craig Ceccanti, Charles Willis and Beth Willis, began franchising their concept nationally. They now have about 100 locations in more than 30 states.

The idea is that anyone, with a little guidance, can discover the “inner” artist waiting to be set free. Dipping into the creative palette with a glass of wine or a craft beer gives it all a party fizz.

Eight local artists will guide two- or three-hour evening sessions at Pinot’s Palette on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The first session will be on Oct. 28.

Pinot’s Palette welcomes anyone who wants to enjoy meeting people or share a night out with friends. There are opportunities for “girls’ night outs,” bachelorette parties and date nights. The studio also can host corporate team-building events, anniversary parties or other special events at appointed times.

Pinot’s Palette provides canvas, easel, brushes, paint and an apron. And, Serrano said, everyone takes away a “masterpiece” drawn from an example set on an easel and also visible on a monitor. Artists take people step-by-step through the process.

Guests are welcome to bring their own appetizers, and Pinot’s will provide plates, silverware and napkins. Beer, wine and soda will be available for purchase.

Evening sessions are adult-oriented, and no children under age 12 will be permitted. But, there will be Little Brushes and Family Day classes.

It will be a family-oriented business, said Serrano.

He and his wife have three sons and a passion for soccer.

In the future, Serrano said he plans to have “drop and shop” opportunities, where parents can sign up their children for art classes and then explore The Shoppes at New Tampa or cross the street to The Shoppes at Wiregrass for a couple hours of shopping. Also, Paint It Forward events will be hosted to benefit local charities.

“I want to give back to the community,” said Serrano.

The Serrano family currently lives in the master-planned community of Westchase in Tampa. But, they will shortly be looking to relocate to the Wesley Chapel area.

Serrano knew he wanted Wesley Chapel for his business. Pinot’s Palette is centrally located at one of Pasco County’s busiest commercial intersections at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. More rooftops also are on the way.

“It is a growing area,” Serrano said.

For information or to enroll in classes, contact Pinot’s Palette at (813) 928-8131, email to , or visit PinotsPalette.com/WesleyChapel.

Published October 21, 2015

Chamber director ready to move forward

October 21, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Ideas come readily to Rod Mayhew; sometimes they can wake him up in the middle of the night.

The city of Zephyrhills and its future growth are where his thoughts have been focused, day or night, for the past two weeks.

He is the new executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, stepping into the leadership role held by Vonnie Mikkelsen for six years.

Mikkelsen departed in July to accept a similar chamber position in Springfield, Oregon.

Rod Mayhew, the new executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, is focused on the city’s future growth. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — Rod Mayhew, the new executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, is focused on the city’s future growth.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Mayhew, 61, is starting at a particularly busy time as the chamber prepares for the Pigz in Z-Hills BBQ & Blues Fest coming up in January. This annual shindig takes thousands of volunteers and months of planning.

“I’m still getting my feet wet,” Mayhew said. “But, I enjoy this. I’m the person who doesn’t like to sit idle.”

Less than one week into his new job, Mayhew woke up in the early morning hours thinking about a Leadership Zephyrhills program.

He is putting his experience in business ownership, marketing and publishing to use, as he sorts through what’s next on his plate, day to day.

The Zephyrhills’ chamber position opened up just as he was rethinking his career options. The opportunity to take the helm of a chamber proved too good to pass up.

“I’ve been working with chambers all my life,” Mayhew said. “I know how the economy works. I know what makes businesses successful. I know what makes communities grow.”

His dual perspectives of business owner and chamber enthusiast makes him a good fit, according to Tim Linville, the chamber’s president and search committee chairman.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for Zephyrhills to continue to move forward with somebody that has previous skills, both in business and working with the chamber on the other side of the fence, as he has in his past other jobs,” said Linville in a press release announcing Mayhew’s selection. “It should be a good move for Zephyrhills in its future.”

Some early ideas from Mayhew include the nine-month leadership program and increasing the number of education programs available for business owners to keep up with technology and resources in the community.

He is excited about the growth potential in Zephyrhills, especially with plans to redesign and widen roads into and out of the city.

“The way to growth is coming,” Mayhew said. “It’s coming in this direction. There is so much that is happening. It’s just primed for growth. It’s a good, central hub.”

He is a believer in teamwork at the chamber and among other chambers in the area.

“I want to see everyone all working together,” he said.

Mayhew has experienced, first-hand, growth in other counties. He moved his mortgage company – Presidential Mortgage – to Brandon when that area was still largely cow pasture.

“There wasn’t too much there,” he said. “I saw the growth coming.”

He also met his wife Cathy when she became office manager at Presidential. They live in Brandon with daughter Danielle who is a mass communications student at Hillsborough Community College. The 20-year-old plans to transfer to the University of South Florida.

The Mayhew family will soon move to Zephyrhills.

Mayhew grew up in Annapolis, Maryland, across from the U.S. Naval Academy. In fact, he was born at the academy during a blizzard.

“It was either give birth at home or go to the Naval Academy,” he said.

Mayhew initially considered journalism as a career but steered toward marketing and public relations. He has an associate’s degree from Anne Arundel Community College in Arnold, Maryland; a bachelor of science marketing from Towson University in Towson, Maryland; and, a master of business administration from the University of Miami.

It was in 1984 when he headed to Tampa, where he got into banking.

He also did a “financial facts” column for the Tampa Bay Builders Association, and occasionally appeared on Channel 8 with anchor Gayle Sierens, discussing financial matters.

He has worked as a mortgage broker and real estate agent, and owned his mortgage company for about 15 years.

And wherever he has gone, Mayhew has published magazines focused on real estate.

His first magazine went from zero to 100 pages in five months, Mayhew said. He has done magazines in Brandon, Riverview and Apollo Beach.

“This was before the Internet became really popular with real estate companies,” said Mayhew, who also created the hometown magazine website.

He has always been a chamber supporter and served on the board of directors of the Ruskin Chamber of Commerce.

Real estate interests took him to Pennsylvania, where he and his wife have a second home. Mayhew helped with a Main Street initiative in Bedford, Pennsylvania.

For a time, he was marketing director for Pierpont Community & Technical College in West Virginia. He created a campaign to name the school mascot, Montgomery “Monty” the Lion.

In upcoming months, Mayhew will put his marketing and business skills to the test.

With more than 450 businesses enrolled as members, he sees room for growth, as new jobs and development come to Zephyrhills.

“Our membership is ready to take off,” he said.

And then there is the annual barbecue festival, and volunteer recruitment that will keep Mayhew and his staff busy.

“I’m always looking for volunteers,” he said. “We want people who want to participate.”

For information or to volunteer, contact the chamber office at (813) 782-1913, or visit ZephyrhillsChamber.org.

Published October 21, 2015

Business Digest 10-21-15

October 21, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Ribbon cutting
Delectable Delights will have a ribbon cutting on Oct. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at 16541 Pointe Village Drive in Lutz. The shop is in Northpointe Village on the south side of State Road 54, east of Suncoast Parkway.

For information, contact Delectable Delights at (813) 920-4200, or visit Facebook.com/DelectableDelights.

North Tampa luncheon
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will host a network luncheon on Oct. 22 at 11:30 a.m., at IHOP, at 408 E. Bearss Ave., in Tampa. The theme is relationship building with business neighbors. Order from the IHOP menu. Senior lunch menu will be available to all. Minimum payment of $5 is required if you do not order food, plus you must pay for your drinks.

For directions, call (813) 960-2679.

Manufacturing job fair
CareerSource will have a Manufacturing Job Fair on Oct. 22 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College, 450 Beverly Court, Room B105, in Spring Hill.

For information, job seekers should contact Margie Burnham at (727) 816-3227 or . Employers should contact Ana Segovia at (352) 293-1335 or .

Registration is required. The fee is $15 paid through PayPal.

For information, visit Score439.org, or call (727) 842-4638.

For information, call the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce at (813) 994-8534, or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

The cost is $15 for members (Tuesday before the meeting) and $18 for all guests (and members paying Wednesday and after).

To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com. For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

For information, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.

Copperstone Executive Suites is offering 10 to 15 grants of $600 each to business owners who complete an online application and are accepted into the program. The remaining monthly cost for the business owner is $47 per month.

For more information, and to apply for a grant, visit Copperstone.info, or call Copperstone Executive Suites at (813) 298-7363, or Lane Business Consulting at (813) 486-2837.

Contest entries can be made in person at any CenterState Bank branch or wherever contest forms are available. A valid Florida identification and contact information are required for registration.

Complete contest rules are available at CenterStateBank.com.

SBA award nominations open
The U.S. Small Business Administration is accepting awards for its 2016 awards competition.

The SBA honors successes of small businesses and small business owners during “National Small Business Week.”

All nominations must be submitted no later than 3 p.m., Jan. 11, 2016.

For information about the awards, please visit the website at SBA.gov/districtoffices.

Tampa Premium Outlets headed for its debut

October 14, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Cranes lift construction workers to the top of pastel-colored towers.

Shelving and a few boxes filled with merchandise are stowed behind glass storefronts.

A deck is being built around a lagoon that soon will be filled with crystal clear water.

The signs of construction, and a bit of dust, are everywhere at the Tampa Premium Outlets.

The centerpiece of the new Tampa Premium Outlets is the rock-walled lagoon in its final stages of construction. Soon, the lagoon will be filled, linking the Market Hall to other shops along the tropical concourse. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — The centerpiece of the new Tampa Premium Outlets is the rock-walled lagoon in its final stages of construction. Soon, the lagoon will be filled, linking the Market Hall to other shops along the tropical concourse.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

But the airy, breezy vibe of Key West is evident as the outlet mall approaches opening day on Oct. 29.

A gaggle of media got an up-close tour of the site on Oct. 8, led by General Manager Stacy Nance.

More than 90 percent of the mall is completed, leaving mostly interior details and landscaping as the finishing touches.

Opening day has been all but set in stone for months, in bold letters splashed across a banner in full view of motorists passing by on State Road 56.

“There has been such great planning with this, that I know we can do it,” Nance said.

Special events and family friendly activities are scheduled from opening day through Nov. 1.

A special appearance by reality television star, Bethenny Frankel, is set for Oct. 31 from 1p.m. to 4 p.m. Frankel is founder of Skinnygirl Cocktails, and is one of The Real Housewives of New York.

She will take part in various activities, including two autograph sessions in the VIP Shoppers Club Lounge. To enroll in the club and attend the sessions, visit PremiumOutlets.com/vip.

More details will be announced closer to the grand opening.

The 441,000 square-foot mall will feature 110 outlet shops including Calvin Klein, Nike, Brooks Brothers, Fossil, Coach and Puma.

Operations Director Dallas Stevens, left, was on hand with General Manager Stacey Nance to take questions during the tour of the new shopping outlet at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Valet parking will be available near the entrance to the mall’s anchor store, Saks Off 5th. WiFi will be available throughout the mall, and plugs to charge cellphones or other technology will be located wherever there is seating.

Cool pastels in green, blue and beige give pop and splash to exterior walls.

More than 300 palm trees will dot the landscape. And, though this is an outdoor mall, there will be coverings to give shade and relief from Florida’s heat and rain.

A bridge crosses over the lagoon, which is a major water attraction outside the Market Hall.

Inside the hall, shoppers will be able to dine in the food court or visit guest services.

In the next week or so, retailers are expected to set up their stores.

More than 800 jobs were up for grabs in August at a job fair, coordinated by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and Career Central at Pasco-Hernando State College.

Exact hiring numbers aren’t available, but some openings may remain.

“They continue to work with us,” said Nance.

For additional information about job opportunities, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.

Published October 14, 2015

Diggin’ in the dirt at the library

October 14, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Judy Curran enjoys seeing people having fun outdoors.

So, when the chance came her way to get library patrons — young and old, digging in the dirt — she seized the opportunity to put her passion for gardening into motion.

“I get so much peace and joy from it,” said Curran, the youth services provider at the New River Branch Library in Zephyrhills. “It’s my hobby, and I want to share that,” she said.

A Pasco County work policy made it possible.

Marigolds fill the foreground as Judy Curran checks the variety of plants, vegetables and flowers planted in the community garden of the New River Branch Library. Curran, and about a dozen adults and children, tend the garden. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — Marigolds fill the foreground as Judy Curran checks the variety of plants, vegetables and flowers planted in the community garden of the New River Branch Library. Curran, and about a dozen adults and children, tend the garden.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

A few years ago, employees were encouraged to choose a project that excited them. They could then devote 10 percent of their work hours to making it happen.

This “10 percent initiative” of the county was Curran’s signal to step forward and organize a community garden at the New River branch. It is the only community garden in Pasco sponsored by a library.

Curran put a flier on the bulletin board and got the kind of feedback she needed.

Nearly a year ago, the first sprouts in the garden were small, and so were her first volunteers.

Daisy Scouts planted herbs in a handful of rain barrels that were cut into two halves. The barrels – painted by the Scouts – flank the parking lot and walkway leading to the library’s entrance.

“To me that adds charm,” Curran said. “It’s obvious kids painted these barrels.”

Over time, these first plantings gave way to dwarf fire bushes that now drop their roots into the soil of the rain barrels, and attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

Judy Curran, youth services provider at New River Branch Library, shows off bouquets of lantana.

And the garden grew again, but this time as a memorial to a friend of the library – Samuel Smith. The teenager died in 2011. He came to the library nearly every day after school.

“He was a volunteer and helped with troubled kids,” Curran said. “It was heartbreaking when that happened.”

One weekend, his friends planted a flowering garden that blooms with lantana, firecracker bushes, ginger plants and 4 o’ clocks.

Nearby, community gardeners tend raised beds filled with pepper squash, oregano, sorghum and carrots, and a cluster of marigolds. A Japanese plum tree and a peach tree stand tall as stand-alones planted inside more half-size rain barrels.

About a dozen people tend these garden beds. There are individuals, a mother and daughter, and friends.

There is no fee, and Curran hopes to enlist more gardeners.

“I want it to be all inclusive,” she said. “I want families to come and 4-H gardeners. I don’t want anyone to think ‘Oh, I can’t do that’.”

A spider inhabiting a Japanese plum tree fends off an invading insect.

Three plastic swimming pools filled with dirt, rest next to the raised beds, ready for children to try out their green thumbs.

“I have a lot of seeds,” Curran said. “They can come in and plant seeds, and see what happens.”

Curran said books and gardening go together naturally.

“It’s about sharing information,” she said.

Seeds and plants also are shared at plant exchanges.

At the rear of the library, two cisterns catch rainwater.

“That was all the water we used during the dry season,” she said. “We’re trying to go as natural as possible.”

In the future, a compost tumbler is on the wish list.

A mound of mulch is piled next to the garden beds.

A small grant helped seed the garden, and pay for lumber. County employees built the raised beds, including one high enough for disabled gardeners to use. Master gardeners and the Pasco County Cooperative Extension provide expertise and teach classes at the library.

A small sign identifies Nancy G., as the community gardener for one of several raised beds at the community garden at the New River Branch Library.

“It’s a very cooperative effort between the library, the county’s cooperative extension, master gardeners and the facilities department,” Curran said.

Curran herself is not a master gardener, but gardening is a tradition in her family. She worked side by side in gardens with her father and grandfather.

“I want people to see that they can grow their own food,” she said. “Everywhere I’ve lived, I’ve always had a vegetable garden. There’s a lot you can grow in small spaces.”

The library hosts community garden meetings every third Thursday of the month. The next meeting is Oct. 15 from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

For more information, call New River at (813) 788-6375, or email Curran at .

Published October 14, 2015

Views exchanged on ending Pasco blight

October 14, 2015 By Kathy Steele

A proposed ordinance to tackle blight and enforce minimum standards for maintaining commercial buildings drew mostly favorable reviews at a town hall meeting.

But, some remain skeptical about what they see as more government bureaucracy.

Pasco County Commissioners are expected to vote on the proposal on Oct. 20, following a public hearing.

The issue has sparked considerable interest.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore talks with about 100 people at a town hall to discuss proposed regulations aimed at ending commercial blight in the county. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore talks with about 100 people at a town hall to discuss proposed regulations aimed at ending commercial blight in the county.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

About 100 people met at the Pasco County Utilities Administration Offices in Land O’ Lakes on Sept. 30 for a town hall meeting, hosted by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder, Senior Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco joined Moore at the town hall session.

Moore proposed the ordinance during discussions for the county’s fiscal 2016 budget. It is similar to one adopted by Hillsborough County and mirrors codes currently applied to residences.

The new regulations would focus on the major commercial corridors of U.S. 19, U.S. 301 and U.S. 41.

According to Moore, the lack of commercial standards is hurting property values and driving away investors who scout locations in Pasco.

“There’s a good chance they’ll turn their car around and go home,” said Moore. “It brings down surrounding property values. Tell me somebody who says it doesn’t, because they’re wrong.”

In August, Moore met with about 50 Land O’ Lakes residents and business owners. Many at that gathering characterized the ordinance as an example of government overreach.

Among the mostly friendly town hall crowd, some were still unhappy with Moore’s approach on curbing blight.

“Small businesses need a helping hand instead of being slapped around,” said Russell Adams of Russell Adams Realty Inc.

Casie Holloway of the family owned Holloway’s Farm Supply said there is no evidence that new regulations are needed. She said a code enforcement officer could show her only one report from July of blight in Land O’ Lakes, and that case was closed as unfounded.

“I understand the concerns, but if it’s not showing up in (county) logs, I question it,” she said. “The codes are already in place to make this work.”

County code currently defines a blighted structure as “extensively damaged by fire, flood, wind or other natural phenomenon.”

Demolitions can be ordered if the building poses a public safety risk. And, the county can place liens on properties to seek re-imbursement of demolition costs from property owners.

But, supporters say the proposed ordinance would provide stronger enforcement tools.

The ordinance would introduce citations and fines for failure to maintain commercial structures to public safety standards.

For example, regulations would require repairs to holes or defects to exterior walls and roofs, and keeping outside stairs safe and sturdy.

New Port Richey resident Hugh Townsend liked the idea of fines.

“When people get hit in the pocketbook, they conform,” he said.

The ordinance also would be a boost for law enforcement in pushing out squatters and drug dealers from derelict buildings, Nocco said.

If approved, the ordinance would allow a six-month grace period for property owners to bring their commercial buildings into compliance.

“This isn’t to nitpick somebody who doesn’t have a painted window,” said Kelly Miller, president of Colonial Hills Civic Association in New Port Richey. “This is the only way we are going to be able to start getting a handle on this problem.”

Published October 14, 2015

Urban food park could sprout in Pasco

October 14, 2015 By Kathy Steele

A St. Petersburg-based entrepreneur is hoping to persuade Pasco County planners that an urban food park would be a boon to the county’s economy and its tourism.

Emmanuel Roux, a longtime restaurateur, and his business partners, presented their concept to members of Pasco County’s Citizens Advisory Food Policy Council. They have met with the county’s planners, as well.

The project, which still needs financial backers, would need about 20 acres.

It could include a community garden, a food-related business incubator, restaurants, rooftop gardens, a bakery, a butchery, yoga classes, a wellness center, and activities that are educational and promote healthy, locally grown food.

There are sites under consideration and the final design would depend on which site is selected, as well as the community’s interests.

“This is not something we come in with that is cookie-cutter,” said Roux, a principal in the nonprofit Urban Food Park Inc. “It is essentially building synergies. People want more than just a food program. They want to learn something. They want it to be good for the community.”

Roux operated The Garden Restaurant and Redwoods in St. Petersburg. He currently owns Gateau O Chocolat, specializing in flourless, gluten-free cakes.

He has been a longtime supporter of community gardens and the farm-to-table organic food movement.

There are two potential sites for the urban food park, along U.S. 19, near New Port Richey. The most promising is a residential area near the intersection of U.S. 19 and Moog Road, around Holiday.

But, rural sites near Dade City and San Antonio also might be considered.

Roux and his team are in discussions with county planners.

“We may see this as a pilot project,” said Todd Engala, a planner with Pasco’s Long Range Planning Group.

Engala also advises with the citizen’s food policy group, which has a long-range goal of recommending policies that promote nutritional, and affordable food in Pasco.

The food park concept could potentially unite rural and urban sites in east and west Pasco, Engala said.

But, there is a sticking point.

Roux’s proposal is for the county to enter an agreement with his team for consulting services.

“The development process really is a consulting process,” said Derek Spilman, a partner in Urban Food Park and also in UFB Consultants Inc.

But the county wants a business plan.

“This is new ground for both of us,” said Engala. “We want to see this idea flourish, but it would need some kind of backing or funding. We’re at the point of trying to figure it out.”

Roux initially began looking for a site in St. Petersburg along the Fred Marquis Pinellas Trail. That has not yet materialized, but some vendors, including owners of a flower shop and ice cream shop, have expressed interest in the Pasco venture.

Food policy council member Jeff Wright said he would like the group to provide more details on their project.

“I would encourage them to talk to Pasco businesses that want to expand that are already here,” he said. “You’ll get more traction doing that.”

The intent is for Pasco residents to take the lead on this, said Roux. “The first choice should be given to residents in Pasco County. We are fully aware of that.”

Published October 14, 2015

Pasco denies medical marijuana zoning appeal

October 14, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners denied a zoning appeal from a local businessman who wants to qualify for Florida’s program to manufacture and distribute a non-euphoric form of medical marijuana.

Florida legislators approved the use and sale in 2014 of a low-strain of medical marijuana, known as “Charlotte’s web,” but the state has yet to launch the program.

An announcement to award permits to five of 28 applicants is expected shortly.

Steven Smith, a partner in Good Life Development & Investment Group LLC, had planned to be among those applicants.

Smith has a warehouse at One Pasco Center, off State Road 52, and an adjacent property that both are zoned light industrial.

Smith and his partners were preparing an application for the state, when he sought a letter from the county that would show the company’s properties were zoned for medical marijuana uses.

In a July 6 letter, Pasco County Zoning Administrator Denise Hernandez notified Smith that his stated use of the properties “to grow medical marijuana” is not permitted in light industrial.

Commissioners unanimously upheld her decision.

But, Smith said, “They are making a decision not based on law. It’s based on how they want things in the county.”

However, Assistant County Attorney Kristi Sims backed up that ruling at the public hearing.

Ronnie Deese, a property owner at One Pasco Center, said he agreed with the zoning administrator’s decision and didn’t feel comfortable with Smith’s plan.

Attorney Larry Hersch, who represents Smith, argued that his client’s inquiry wasn’t focused solely on growing marijuana. Light industrial zoning allows manufacturing, compounding, processing, packaging, treatment and distribution of products, including pharmaceuticals, Hersch said. Retail sales of drugs also are permitted, he added.

As Pasco County Chairman Ted Schrader called for a vote by commissioners, he said, “We’re not going to sit here and split hairs.”

Afterward, Smith said he has spent thousands of dollars preparing his application to the state including a $60,000 fee. His business missed the state’s application deadline, but Smith said he could still pursue a partnership as a subcontractor for another company. Or, if the legislature increases the number of permits, he could apply then.

“This decision is ridiculous,” Smith said. “We’re not going to stop here.”

Published October 14, 2015