The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Kathy Steele

New restaurants planned for Cypress Creek Town Center

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BJ’s Restaurant & Brewhouse and the Panda Express are eyeing retail space at the Cypress Creek Town Center.

The proposed mall is located off State Road 56 at the Interstate 75 exchange. Adjacent to the site, the shops at Tampa Premier Outlets are taking form and shape for an anticipated October opening.

Representatives for BJ’s and Panda Express both had scheduled sit-downs with Pasco County planners within the past week to discuss their applications, according to county records.

Conceptual plans also are filed for both restaurants.

The restaurants join a growing list of retailers that have filed plans with Pasco County as part of the town center including Kohl’s, Chick-fil-A, Costco’s, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.

BJ’s is planned as a 7,500-square-foot restaurant with a menu that offers the eatery’s signature deep-dish pizza, as well as salads, pastas, steaks, baby back ribs and a kid’s menu.

The California-based restaurant was founded in 1978, and added its own handcrafted line of beers in the mid-1990s, according to its website.

Plans on file with the county show Panda Express as a 2,600-square-foot restaurant, located within Cypress Creek Town Center at Grand Cypress Drive and Sun Vista Drive.

The family-owned restaurant also got its start in California in 1973, first under the name Panda Inn. Nearly a decade later, the Cherng family changed the name to Panda Express and now have more than 1,700 restaurants in the United States and Puerto Rico, according to the restaurant’s website.

Company representatives for Panda Express and BJ’s were not available for comment.

Published June 24, 2015

 

Florida could decide 2016 presidential election

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Predictions as to which Republican candidate will come away with the prize of the national party’s presidential nomination is an impossible task this early in the race. But there is no doubt that Florida will be a pivotal state in a hard-fought 2016 election, according to Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida political scientist.

“There’s not another state in the country that will be this competitive,” she said. “It’s considered a bellwether, a microcosm.”

Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida, offered insights into the 2016 presidential race to members of the Conservative Club of East Pasco. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida, offered insights into the 2016 presidential race to members of the Conservative Club of East Pasco.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

MacManus addressed about 30 people at the Conservative Club of East Pasco on June 15 at the group’s monthly meeting in Zephyrhills.

The Interstate 4 corridor will be key to carrying the state, she said.

Gov. Rick Scott had just a 1 percent edge in votes along I-4 in his re-election victory over former Gov. Charlie Christ in 2014. And, past presidential elections were decided by about that same slim margin.

“Almost half of registered voters are between Pinellas County and Daytona Beach,” MacManus said.

Florida mirrors the nation in demographics such as population age and diversity among registered voters, though not among total population.

It is a myth, MacManus joked, that people in Florida are 95 years or older. Also untrue is the perception that all Hispanics in Florida are Cuban, she said.

Along I-4, for instance, Puerto Ricans are the largest Hispanic demographic.

One of the most intensely fought over groups will be the millennials. The generation from about age 18 to age 24 is going to be as influential as the baby boomers were in their day, she said.

“I see a little bit more movement (of millennials) back to the Republicans,” MacManus said. “A lot of that is over fiscal issues.”

To date, 12 candidates have announced among Republicans including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Donald Trump.

MacManus was dismissive of Trump.

And, her first encounter with Gov. Scott Walker, who has not officially announced as a candidate, was not impressive.

“I was rather disappointed,” she said, though she will give him another chance. “I didn’t think he’d had a lot of sleep.”

Bush’s launch of his campaign, however, was masterfully done, she said. He spoke to a crowd that reflected the diversity in Miami and across the country, dispelling the criticism that Republican crowds are mostly white.

MacManus also noted that the Republican field of candidates is more diverse than Democrats running for president.

Bush’s first speech as a candidate struck an anti-Washington tone, MacManus said. She expects he will tout his economic record in Florida and his education reforms, as well.

The question MacManus is asked most often is who will win Florida’s Republican primary, Bush or Sen. Marco Rubio.

She doesn’t have a crystal ball on that one.

“So much is volatile,” she said.

She does predict that the 2016 presidential race will be the most expensive ever, and Tampa Bay will be in the thick of it.

“This is really going to a happening spot,” MacManus said.

However, local and state candidates may face challenges because national races, including Congressional elections, will compete for donations and media attention. They could be “starved out a bit,” MacManus said.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the front-runner for the party’s nomination. But MacManus said, “It is surprising to see the interest in (Sen.) Bernie Sanders…People find him very interesting.”

She also has been surprised that there are women voters who like Sen. Elizabeth Warren “but wouldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton.”

Some of Clinton’s support comes from women voters who believe she got a “raw deal” in 2008 when then-candidate Sen. Barack Obama won the nomination.

But there is another reason.

“She would be the first woman president,” MacManus said. “People love people that can break the mold. That’s why Obama got elected. He broke one of the biggest barriers – race.”

Voter turnout will be crucial for both parties.

“The emphasis, and rightly so, will be to get people to vote,” she said. Though extended and early voting is popular, the trend hasn’t boosted overall turnout, she added. “Both parties have felt the sting of bad turnout.”

With the election about 17 months away, residents should be prepared for campaigns that likely will be fought through social media, scare tactics and negative advertisements, MacManus said.

“That’s kind of sad,” she said.

But on the plus side, Florida and Tampa Bay will be the place for politics.

“Thank God, I don’t live in North Dakota,” MacManus said. “How very dull.”

Published June 24, 2015

Developers could buy Hercules Park; donate land

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The city of Zephyrhills lost its bid to purchase Hercules Park, but there is hope still that a large swath of the park and its aquatic center can become city property.

The Pasco County School Board unanimously voted to begin negotiating the park’s sale with developers from Gh&G Florida LLC. Their bid for $2.3 million topped Zephyrhills’ bid of $1.7 million for the 15.5-acre park.

A fence, with a stop sign, blocks vehicles at the former entrance to Hercules Park. A faded sign lists park rules. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
A fence, with a stop sign, blocks vehicles at the former entrance to Hercules Park. A faded sign lists park rules.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

But Deputy School Superintendent Ray Gadd said any deal brought back to the school board must stipulate that between 10 acres to 11 acres of the park would be donated to the city of Zephyrhills.

The acreage would include a fitness trail, the children’s playground and the aquatic center.

School board member Allen Altman said he agonized over his vote.

He explained: “We just don’t have the ability to turn down additional money right now.”

The school district is recovering from significant budget cuts resulting from the economic crash in 2008. The lack of funding for capital improvement projects is critical, said school board member Cynthia Armstrong.

“It is our constitutional duty to do fiduciarily what is best for our people, our students, who are also the people in Zephyrhills,” she said.

Other board members echoed those sentiments despite impassioned pleas from Zephyrhills’ Mayor Gene Whitfield and others to accept Zephyrhills’ bid.

“I’m disappointed,” Whitfield said. “We want the park. We’ll do everything we can. We’ll wait to see what they offer and proceed from there.”

Prior to the school board’s vote, Whitfield recounted the park’s history. He described a “handshake” agreement nearly 50 years ago between Hercules Powder Co. and the school district that the park would be used for children and for education but not for commercial use.

At one time Hercules Powder Co. was the largest employer in Zephyrhills. The company processed pine stumps into rosin, turpentine and pine oil on about 80 acres. The property later became sites for the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

Some residents had feared that a gas station would be built on a corner lot at U.S 301 and County Road 54, adjacent to the park. But a $1.7 million bid from Del Lago Ventures Inc., affiliated with Race Trac Petroleum Inc., was rejected.

Belleair Development Group, with a $1.6 million bid, also lost out.

“Something needs to be worked out, because we in Zephyrhills need that (park),” said resident Fern Williams. “I’m not even seeing what your vision is with a gas station on that corner.”

A jungle gym, picnic table and swing set go unused at Hercules Park, which was closed by Pasco County four years ago for lack of funding.
A jungle gym, picnic table and swing set go unused at Hercules Park, which was closed by Pasco County four years ago for lack of funding.

In April, school officials announced plans to put the corner parcel on the market for commercial sale. Zephyrhills’ City Council previously agreed to rezone the site with expectations that the school board would consider leasing the remaining acres to Zephyrhills for $1 a year for 100 years.

City and school officials have somewhat different recollections on what happened next.

Gadd said as far back as 2011, the school board raised the possibility of a lease, but city officials rejected the offer.

Following the recent rezoning of the corner lot, he presented the lease option to the school board but never heard back from Zephyrhills for follow-up. City officials said the lease agreement would have precluded them from applying for grants. Buying the property was the best option, they said.

The city planned to use several funding sources including Community Development Block Grants and the Penny for Pasco program. The bid also included the right to sell about 2 acres, south of the corner lot. City officials said, if they needed the funds from the lot’s sale, it would be developed for a purpose compatible with the park.

The future of the park has been under discussion since Pasco County’s decision to close it nearly four years ago. County officials said the county could no longer afford to operate and maintain the park and its aquatic center.

Under a prior agreement, the park had to be used or returned to the school district.

School officials estimate that Zephyrhills could receive about $50,000 annually in property and gas tax revenues if the deal goes through with Gh&G.

Zephyrhills’ officials dispute those numbers, saying the city will receive very little from gas taxes.

They peg property tax revenues at about $6,000 a year.

Gadd said school officials are in agreement with Zephyrhills on the goal to reopen the park and see the pool again hosting swim meets.

During the long closure, he said the pool has been vandalized and homeless people have been found living in the woods.

Law enforcement has been called there on several occasions.

“To me its sad to see the pool has fallen into disrepair,” Gadd said.

Zephyrhills’ City Manager Steve Spina remains hopeful of a good outcome.

“I understand their position,” he said of the school board’s vote. “I think it’s good if they can work it out, and we get the bulk of the land. It’s a win-win.”

Published June 24, 2015

Business Digest 06-24-15

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Arthur Kirk, center, is joined by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Moors, left, and board member David West, at a breakfast to honor Kirk, the outgoing president of Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)
Arthur Kirk, center, is joined by the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce Executive Director John Moors, left, and board member David West, at a breakfast to honor Kirk, the outgoing president of Saint Leo University.
(Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Honoring Arthur Kirk
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce honored Arthur Kirk, retiring president of Saint Leo University, at its June Business Breakfast. Kirk was recognized for his years of service and support to the university, the community and area businesses. Kirk epitomized the motto “Good to Great” by moving Saint Leo forward, and he believes the university’s best years are yet to come.

For information, contact the chamber at (352) 567-3769, or email .

Publix construction
The first Publix in Dade City likely will open its doors by early fall, according to Publix spokesman Brian West. An official announcement will be made about three weeks prior to the opening date. The approximately 45,000-square-foot grocery store will anchor the Shoppes of Dade City, at the corner of U.S. 301 and Clinton Avenue. The nearest Publix currently for Dade City residents is in Zephyrhills.

Ribbon cutting
Flowers by Viktoriya will have a ribbon cutting on June 24 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at 5132 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Lutz. The shop is off the east side of U.S. 41, just south of Dupree Drive and the U.S. Post Office.

For information, contact the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce at (813) 909-2722, or email .

Networking
East and Central Pasco Marketing Mania will take place June 25 from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m., at The Commons on Pretty Pond, 38130 Pretty Pond Road in Zephyrhills. The guest speaker will be Dominick De Petrillo, executive director of the Alzheimer’s Family Organization in New Port Richey.

Please RSVP. A continental breakfast will be provided. For information call (813) 779-4501.

Chamber lunch
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have a business luncheon on June 25 at 11:30 a.m., at IHOP, at 408 Bearss Ave., in Tampa. Lunch is ordered from the IHOP menu with costs starting at $6.39. All attendees will be able to order from the senior lunch menu. A minimum cost of $5 per person applies if no meal is ordered.

To RSVP by June 23, call Jenn Beaumont at , or phone AIG at (813) 334-8998. For directions to IHOP, call (813) 960-2679.

40th anniversary festivities
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will host its 40th Annual Awards & Installation Banquet on June 26 at 6 p.m., at The Event Factory, at 7565 W. Hillsborough Ave., in Tampa. The event will celebrate award nominees and winners and include the introduction of newly elected board of directors.

For information, contact the chamber office at (813) 909-2722.

Family mixer
The East Tampa Networking Group will have a family oriented mixer – “You’re Invited” – on June 29 at 6 p.m., at the Village Inn, at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. This is a Dutch treat event with door prizes and a 50-50 drawing that will benefit Helping Hands Pantry of Atonement Lutheran Church. The guest speaker will be Linda Boan, the retiring city clerk of Zephyrhills.

All of the group’s Ovation Award Winners, and the best speakers from the last two years, have been invited.

To RSVP by June 23, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email him at . Guests can also contact Vice Chairwoman Rosie Paulsen at (813) 909-6965, or email her at .

New incubator
Micro Drone Vision is the newest on-site business to join the SMARTstart Business Incubator in Dade City. The program is operated by the Pasco Economic Development Council to encourage startups and grow new businesses.

Micro Drone provides education, safety training and Federal Aviation Administration certification training for unmanned aerial systems operators. Currently, the company is working with public and private schools to integrate drone flight training with their curriculum through workshops and summer camps.

For more information about Micro Drone, visit MicroDroneVision.com.

Business awards
Pasco Economic Development Council will hand out Industry of the Year awards at its 29th annual banquet on Sept. 3 at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. More than 600 business and community leaders in Tampa Bay and Pasco County attend the event each year. There also will be a business trade show.

The awards recognize outstanding companies in the categories of manufacturing service, technology and nonprofits that operate in Pasco County.

The 23 nominees for this year’s awards are: Applicant Insight Inc.; Aviation Instrument Technologies Inc.; Big Storm Brewing Co.; Can Can Concealment LLC; Covanta Pasco; Easy Business Software Inc.; Electro Tape Specialties Inc.; Evolution Trikes; Fifth Third Bank, New Port Richey Branch; Florida Custom Mold Inc.; Florida Hospital Zephyrhills; Freedom Scooter & Supply LLC; Manufacturers Distributor Inc.; Millian-Aire Enterprises Corp.; Morton Plant North Bay Hospital; Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers of Pasco; Polaris Sales Co.; Preferred Materials; Retail Process Engineering LLC; SAHM Co.; The Laker/Lutz News; and Veterans Alternative Therapy.

Dade City native is a writing wizard

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Wendell Speer is a prolific note-taker.

Paper and pen are ready at hand.

“You’ll get a million ideas wherever you go. If you don’t write them down, you’ll never remember them all,” he said.

Children at libraries in Poland lined up to get autographed copies of Wendell Speer’s book, ‘Simon Peppercorn, Log in to Magic Space.’ (Courtesy of Wendell Speer)
Children at libraries in Poland lined up to get autographed copies of Wendell Speer’s book, ‘Simon Peppercorn, Log in to Magic Space.’
(Courtesy of Wendell Speer)

Notes on slips of paper, written down in quiet moments on walks in the woods or in the hushed quiet of the local library, laid the trail that led to “Simon Peppercorn, Log in to Magic Space.”

Speer published his fantasy tale of the young wizard apprentice, Simon Peppercorn, more than eight years ago on his own. A Polish publisher translated the story and introduced it to a young reading audience in that country about three years ago.

About 2,000 copies sold in Poland, Speer said.

The American version is available at Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. Copies also are available at the Hugh Embry Branch Library in Dade City.

Speer is at work currently on a series of “first-chapter” books including one about a magic pencil box and a young girl who brings it to life. He hopes to find an agent and publisher for his newest creations.

But Speer said he is realistic about his chances.

“I know I’m the underdog,” he said. “I don’t have the contacts. I don’t know people who know people.”

What he does have, Speer said, is a passion for writing that began with a sixth grade classroom assignment and a mystery story. By age 18, he knew that he wanted to write a book.

He followed his heart to the fantasy world and found Simon Peppercorn.

The book follows 12-year-old Simon on his journey into “Magic Space” in quest of adventure and a special crystal with powers to save him from being transformed into a werewolf. His journey begins in a typical small town in the real world, known as “Hardspace.”

Once he enters an alternate realm, Simon learns he is a novice wizard who must confront dragons, werewolves, wicked witches, goblins and trolls.

The target audience is children ages 9 and older. As film, it would be a visual treat and even has theme park potential, Speer said.

Except for the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Speer said there were few other books about wizardry. It seemed a natural to find his own niche with young readers.

“I read all the Harry Potter books,” he said. “I was enthralled by them.”

But Simon Peppercorn is different, said Speer who cites other influences such as the King Arthur tales, Polish folklore and Mark Twain.

“Harry Potter is very much a mystery book,” Speer said. “Simon Peppercorn is an adventure story. It’s like Huck Finn with magic.”

Speer has had his own adventures and a bit of wanderlust.

He grew up in Dade City and graduated from Pasco High School.

A scholarship took him to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where he earned a degree in mass communications. That wasn’t his first choice as a major.

“I had always had an interest in film,” he said. But the university didn’t have a film program, so he settled for classes in film theory.

He also landed a nine-week film production internship. He helped out when actor Paul Newman taped a public service announcement and again when Newman taped a special segment for a television show honoring actor and director John Huston.

One summer, in the midst of his college studies, Speer took a trip to Europe where he met his future wife. She was a native of Poland and for the next 20 years or so, Speer lived much of the time in his wife’s country.

At the time, Poland was a Communist state under martial law. Later, the Solidarity uprising brought a revolution and the end of Communism.

“The people had a special spirit about them at that time,” he said. “That was truly amazing.”

His son was born in Warsaw in 1984.

Speer learned Polish and got work in film production, largely hired by foreign film companies that chose Poland as a backdrop for their movies.

When his book was published in Poland, Speer appeared on television shows to promote sales. He also visited local Polish libraries.

“I was a big hit with the 10-year-old Polish kids,” he said.

In the early 2000s, Speer returned to Dade City and worked as a substitute teacher, and also for two years as a child protective investigator for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

He works part-time now at a local home improvement store.

In his spare time, Speer keeps dreaming up new stories and maybe imagining more Simon Peppercorn adventures.

“I plan eventually to do a real series,” he said. “There are possibilities for many spin-offs, with many characters. I have the same dreams as every creative person.”

Published June 17, 2015

Pasco County launches mobile app for citizens

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Cellphones with the “smarts” of cutting edge social media technology are the newest tools to bring residents and public servants together.

See a pothole? Want an illegal dumping site cleaned up? Just want to reserve a pavilion at a county park?

The county has an app for all that, and more.

Residents can download MyPasco, a mobile app with interactive links to government services. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Residents can download MyPasco, a mobile app with interactive links to government services.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

On June 9, Pasco County officially launched MyPasco, a mobile app that’s available free for users of Android, Apple, Blackberry and Windows products.

One feature allows county officials to do surveys to find out residents’ views on specific issues.

“It’s a great way for the community and government to find out what’s on the minds of our citizens,” said Pasco County spokesman Doug Tobin. “This really is a way of doing more with less.”

Pasco County commissioners got a hands-on demonstration at their regular meeting on June 9 in Dade City. Todd Bayley, the county’s chief information officer, showed off the app’s features during the demonstration.

Once the program is downloaded, residents can link to the county’s website, as well as to a menu of interactive links to report problems, ask questions, or find out what’s going on around the county.

For example, alerting the county to a pothole is a quick and easy task, county officials said. The mobile app relies on GPS to pinpoint the location and then allows the phone’s user to upload a photo along with contact information.

Reports also can be made to departments such as code enforcement and animal services.

Want to adopt a pet? You can start the process via your phone.

You can send general inquiries, too.

“Residents can also see how many people are making requests,” Bayley said.

As the mobile app evolves, new functions will be added, including the ability to pay utility bills by phone.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano likes the new app.

“What a phenomenal program to bring forward…probably saving a few phone calls to us about fixing a pothole.

“So fantastic,” he said.

Published June 17, 2015

 

Pasco County growth puts strain on budget

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A tentative hike in storm water fees and a proposal to hire five additional K-9 deputies highlight growing demands on Pasco County’s budgets for 2016 and into the future.

At their June 9 meeting, Pasco County commissioners gave the go-ahead for Sheriff Chris Nocco to apply for a federal COPS grant that would pay 75 percent of the costs for five additional K-9 deputies.

The cost to the county for the deputies over three years would be about $757,000 in matching funds.

The application deadline is June 19, with grants announced in October. If awarded, the sheriff’s office expects no additional funding needed from the county’s 2016 fiscal year budget.

“We anticipate being able to absorb (the expense) in its entirety,” said Pasco Major Mel Eakley.

The sheriff’s office has current vacancies as well as funds from the Penny for Pasco program that could be applied in 2016 to cover salaries and equipment, Eakley told commissioners.

“I like the program. I think it’s a good program,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.

By 2019, however, the county’s budget would pick up personnel costs for the five deputies as a yearly recurring expense, fully funded by Pasco County taxpayers. A hike in the millage rate, which determines a homeowner’s property taxes, might be needed.

Another option would be to layoff the K-9 deputies hired through the grant.

A decision would be based on a “reassessment of what our budget looks like,” said Eakley.

Hiring additional K-9 deputies means the sheriff’s office can provide 24-hour coverage from this unit, he said. Currently, the drug and bomb-sniffing dogs and their handlers are scheduled only on the night shifts, he added.

“We think it’s a great return on our investment,” Eakley said.

Pasco County commissioners also agreed to boost storm water fees by nearly 21 percent from $47 to $57 a year.

That’s not the final word, however.

“It can always come down,” said Chairman Ted Schrader.

Pasco County commissioners had to settle on a maximum rate that will be published in the annual notice sent to area residents from the property appraiser’s office. The deadline for providing the rate is July 15.

The final public hearing on the rate is set for Sept. 2.

In response to a query about the county’s growth driving the need for more services and revenues, Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said, “That’s a growth curve. Yes, it is.”

The current $47 annual fee per residence was set in 2007 with the anticipation of collecting about $10 million a year. Revenues since have been closer to $12 million but are insufficient for a budget that covers operation and maintenance and capital improvement projects. Reserve funds over the years have all but vanished.

At $57 a year, fees are expected to increase to about $14.7 million a year. The funds would be used for maintenance chores, such as cleaning out ditches and culverts.

Without more revenue, there would be delays in service, Baker said.

“People would be on the waiting list longer,” Baker said. “We get new calls for service every day.”

Published June 17, 2015

Citizens’ coalition to pursue charter commission

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A group of residents critical of current efforts to determine Pasco County’s future government structure are banding together to follow their own path toward a charter-style government.

On June 8, the newly formed Pasco Citizens Charter Coalition announced plans to gather 45,000 petition signatures needed to establish a charter commission. If successful, the commission would be a counterpoint to the 15-member charter panel appointed by the Pasco Commission and the legislative delegation.

Members had a press conference outside the Dade City Courthouse shortly before the start of the panel’s second meeting.

“We want to keep government simple…and answerable to the people,” Clay Colson, a community activist, and a former Independent candidate for the Pasco Commission, said in an interview. “We want government to be one that gives citizens control, not one that gives government control of citizens.”

Colson said the petition is being drafted with language that will make clear that the charter commission should represent all segments of Pasco County.

The existing panel has been widely criticized for its nearly exclusive makeup of white men. Only one woman serves on the panel.

“We’re ambitious,” Colson said. “We think we can do it in three months. We’ve set a goal.”

The group hopes to forge an alliance with State Rep. Richard Corcoran. The lawmaker pushed Pasco County commissioners to create a charter commission back in January.

Under state law, a charter commission – once established – must write a charter that then has to be put on the ballot for voters to decide. County commissioners could not make changes to the document.

The appointed panel, in contrast, is nonbinding with a final decision of what, if anything, goes to voters in the control of county commissioners.

The panel will consider issues such as term limits, single-member districts and whether to allow an elected county administrator or mayor. Members can take as long as 18 months to complete their task.

Meetings to date are scheduled into July.

Corcoran could not be reached for comment.

In March, he sent a letter to Chairman Ted Schrader naming the legislative delegation’s five appointments to the panel.

“We strongly urge you to make the commission’s report binding,” he wrote. But he also complimented Schrader for statements that county commissioners would distance themselves from the panel and “not micro-manage.”

Coalition members have not met with Corcoran as yet, Colson said. The lawmaker in recent weeks has been in Tallahassee attending a special session of the Florida legislature.

“We’re waiting until he is back in Land O’ Lakes,” Colson said.

The coalition and Corcoran don’t agree on every issue.

Corcoran has said he wants an elected county administrator, but coalition members want to keep that a non-elective position.

Other issues supported by the coalition include term limits, single-member and at-large districts, a $250 limit on campaign contributions, nonpartisan elections, ethics reform and a process for residents to recall elected officials.

The petition will be promoted through social media and online.

Published June 17, 2015

 

Central Pasco and Hispanic chambers unite

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Two chambers of commerce can be better than one.

In the next weeks, Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will unite into a single organization.

“We are so excited to join forces, making our chambers and our communities stronger and more diverse,” Charlene Ierna, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce wrote in a letter sent to chamber members in May.

The two chambers have hosted joint social mixers recently, and the Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is creating a Hispanic business group, known as Hispanic Business Leaders.

“Leaders from both organizations worked hard to determine what would be best for our members,” John Jay also said in the letter to chamber members. Jay is past president of Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

A team of board members from both organizations is finalizing the transition that likely will be completed by June 26. On that date, Central Pasco will celebrate its 40th anniversary at its Annual Awards and Installation Banquet.

“We will literally become one,” said Mary Lynn Gorsline, the incoming president for Central Pasco. “We’re pretty excited about it. There’s a huge Hispanic population in this area.”

There is more strength and efficiency in joining the two organizations, she said.

“There is a lot of duplicate work,” Gorsline said.

Published June 17, 2015

Business Digest 06-17-15

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Business awards
Pasco Economic Development Council will hand out Industry of the Year awards at its 29th annual banquet on Sept. 3 at Saddlebrook Resort in Wesley Chapel. More than 600 business and community leaders in Tampa Bay and Pasco County attend the event each year. There also will be a business trade show.

The awards recognize outstanding companies in the categories of manufacturing service, technology and nonprofits that operate in Pasco County.

The 23 nominees for this year’s awards are: Applicant Insight Inc.; Aviation Instrument Technologies Inc.; Big Storm Brewing Co.; Can Can Concealment LLC; Covanta Pasco; Easy Business Software Inc.; Electro Tape Specialties Inc.; Evolution Trikes; Fifth Third Bank, New Port Richey Branch; Florida Custom Mold Inc.; Florida Hospital Zephyrhills; Freedom Scooter & Supply LLC; Manufacturers Distributor Inc.; Millian-Aire Enterprises Corp.; Morton Plant North Bay Hospital; Oasis Pregnancy Care Centers of Pasco; Polaris Sales Co.; Preferred Materials; Retail Process Engineering LLC; SAHM Co.; The Laker/Lutz News & Community News; and Veterans Alternative Therapy.

Farewell to Vonnie Mikkelsen
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will host a social mixer on June 18 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Manolo’s Italian Restaurant, at 38445 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills. Come say farewell to Vonnie Mikkelsen, whose last day as executive director of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce is July 2. Pasco News Publications is sponsoring the event. RSVP to receive the first drink free.

For information and to RSVP, contact Pat at the chamber office at (813) 782-1913, or email .

Lunch N’ Learn forum
The Lunch N’ Learn Business Forum will meet on June 18 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce boardroom, 6013 Wesley Chapel Blvd., Suite 105, in Wesley Chapel. Join chamber members to learn how to target your market and build your business around its most profitable audience.

The $15 cost includes lunch, and RSVP and prepayment are required. No walk-in seating is available.

For information, call the chamber office at (813) 994-8534.

Ribbon cutting
Rejuva Med – The Center for Dry Eye and Hormonal Disorders will host a ribbon cutting and grand opening on June 18 from 4 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., at 28945 State Road 54, Suite 101, in Wesley Chapel. Meet Dr. Kenneth Andronica, a specialist in ophthalmology as well as anti-aging, functional and regenerative medicine.

The grand opening will offer free food and fun.

For information, call (813) 907-0950.

Grand opening
Divine Connections Massage and Spa will host a grand opening on June 20 from noon to 7:00 p.m., at Van Dyke Crossings Plaza, 6052 Van Dyke Road in Lutz. Meet and greet owners and sisters, Maggie Malast and Mercy Terrill. There will be food and a drawing for a free massage or facial. As an opening special, visitors can buy three massages and get one free.

For information or to RSVP, contact Marketing Director Erica Everett at (813) 857-8678, email , or visit DivineConnectionsMassage.com.

Double ribbon cutting
It Works and TapSnap will host a joint ribbon cutting on June 23 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m., at Grow Financial Credit Union, at 2579 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. Meet owners Heather Goodloe of It Works and Deb Fry of TapSnap.

It Works offers that “crazy wrap thing” for tightening, toning and firming. TapSnap is a mobile photo entertainment service.

Enjoy free food and wine by Time for Wine. There will also be door prizes and individual and group photos by Deb.

For information on It Works, contact Heather at (813) 300-2502, or email .

For information on TapSnap, contact Deb at (813) 4259, or email

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Chamber lunch
The North Tampa Chamber of Commerce will have a business luncheon on June 25 at 11:30 a.m., at IHOP, at 408 Bearss Ave., in Tampa. Lunch is ordered from the IHOP menu with costs starting at $6.39. All attendees will be able to order from the senior lunch menu. A minimum cost of $5 per person applies if no meal is ordered.

To RSVP by June 23, contact Jenn Beaumont at or phone AIG at (813) 334-8998. For directions to IHOP, call (813) 960-2679.

40th anniversary festivities
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will host its 40th Annual Awards & Installation Banquet on June 26 at 6 p.m., at The Event Factory, at 7565 W. Hillsborough Ave., in Tampa. The event will celebrate award nominees and winners and include the introduction of newly elected board of directors.

For information, contact the chamber office at (813) 909-2722.

Family mixer
The East Tampa Networking Group will have a family oriented mixer – “You’re Invited” – on June 29 at 6 p.m., at the Village Inn, at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. This is a Dutch treat event with door prizes and a 50-50 drawing that will benefit Helping Hands Pantry of Atonement Lutheran Church. The guest speaker will be Linda Boan, the retiring city clerk of Zephyrhills.

All of the group’s Ovation Award Winners, and the best speakers from the last two years, have been invited.

To RSVP by June 23, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email him at . Guests can also contact Vice Chairwoman Rosie Paulsen at (813) 909-6965, or email her at .