The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Zephyrhills begins rebranding efforts

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The City of Zephyrhills has begun an initiative to rebrand the community —  an effort that’s expected to take months, and will involve everything from the town’s logo, slogan and perceptions about the community.

The city, which is now the largest municipality, has partnered with North Star Place Branding + Marketing to assist in the effort, according to a news release.

This is a view of downtown Zephyrhills. The city has embarked on an initiative to rebrand itself and is seeking the community’s help in those efforts. (Mike Camunas)

The Jacksonville-based consulting firm will conduct research within the community to uncover how Zephyrhills is perceived, attitudes that people have about it and will explore the city’s unique offerings.

The rebranding effort is aimed at increasing interest and investment in Zephyrhills from residents, entrepreneurs, companies and visitors, the release adds.

The city is looking to “rebrand” itself beyond being widely known as a great place for skydiving and for winter residents. The effort also includes rewriting the city’s current “The City of Pure Water” slogan.

As part of the initiative, North Star has created a community engagement/brand story site to serve as an online tool to direct traffic of residents and stakeholders who are interested in learning more about the rebranding project and getting involved, according to the release.

Those who are interested can take part in the research stage or can become a brand ambassador to help launch the city’s new brand, which is expected to happen in mid-2023.

“Now is an exciting time for the City of Zephyrhills to undergo a rebranding effort amid a period of rapid growth and development,” said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe, in the press release. “We want to ensure we’re telling the right story and have a unified message across all city departments, as well as with our dedicated community stakeholders, to foster a vibrant, distinguishable future for our wonderful town.”

North Place Branding + Marketing has worked with over 200 communities in 44 states over the last 20 years, including Marshall, Minnesota; Gallatin, Tennessee;  Johnson, Tennessee and others.

For more information or to sign up as brand ambassador, visit AuthenticZephyrhills.com.

Published September 28, 2022

Board seeks to end human trafficking

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Kathryn Starkey

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey has been selected to serve on the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking.

She has been appointed for a three-year term.

Starkey was appointed by Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, according to a Pasco County news release.

In a letter to Starkey, Sprowls congratulated the chair for her involvement, the news release says.

“It is a pleasure to appoint you to serve as a member,” Sprowls said. “Thank you for your willingness to serve on behalf of the Florida House of Representatives.”

According to the release, Starkey said: “We need to end human trafficking in Florida, and I’m ready to help with this important mission. If we’re engaged and focused, we can put a stop to this horrible crime.”

The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking is a nonprofit organization created by the Florida Legislature to provide funding, support and assistance to the statewide efforts to end human trafficking. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor of commercial act. Florida ranks third in the U.S., in human trafficking cases reported, according to the Alliance.

Published September 28, 2022

Morris Bridge Road, at State Road 54, to close temporarily

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Morris Bridge Road will be temporarily closed at State Road 54, from Sept. 17 through Sept. 22.

An around-the-clock detour of Morris Bridge Road is scheduled to begin after midnight on ay, Sept. 17.

Motorists are asked to follow the detour signs along State Road 54, U.S. 301, State Road 56, and Morris Bridge Road, according to a news release from the Florida Department of Transportation.

Weather permitting, the detour is expected to be active from Sept. 17 to Sept. 22.   Detour Map

The closure is needed for the contractor to construct the southern side of the intersection of State Road 54 and Morris Bridge Road.

Published on Sept. 14.

Pasco County has redesigned its website

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Pasco County has redesigned its website and invites the public to check it out.

The website has been upgraded, with the aim of creating a user-friendly experience, as well as improved navigation and functionality, according to a county news release.

Here are some of the changes:

  • The site has been consolidated from more than 1,500 pages to 650 pages
  • The drop-down menu features popular web pages and customer tools
  • There’s a department director with contact information
  • The county’s social media icons are prominently displayed on the website’s homepage
  • The news, videos and spotlight sections are in one location

The Pasco County Commission meetings are streamed live on the website’s homepage.

The county calendar has been redesigned, too.

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey offered this assessment of the new website, in the county’s news release: “This is our first website upgrade in five years, and we couldn’t be happier with our new look. Our customers can easily find information on services, events and news items – with a simple click.  We wanted to make the site faster, with an intuitive layout, and that’s exactly what we’ve done.”

Pasco County’s information technology and media relations teams collaborated to design the new layout.

To check out the new site, visit MyPasco.net.

Published on Sept. 14.

The Lutz Branch Library reopens

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The Lutz Branch Library has reopened, with limited services, after being closed for a month because of plumbing problems.

The Lutz Branch Library reopened on Aug. 30, after being closed a month due to plumbing problems. However, the new library now needs minor repairs and is without restroom services to patrons. (File)

The library, at 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road, reopened on Aug. 30.

It was closed temporarily after experiencing septic tank and plumbing problems on July 27.

The problems caused a backup of sewage into the library, causing a small amount of damage and leaving the facility without working plumbing.

The library posted to its social media and on its website that limited service will be available Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and that restrooms will be unavailable.

During that time, the library still had curbside service available, and will continue to offer that to patrons.

In the meantime, the Hillsborough County Library System suggests the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, at 2902 W. Bearss Ave.

All of this comes after the Lutz Branch Library underwent a six-month, $790,000 renovation that gave the interior a fresh, bright new look — from more natural lighting, to new flooring, to new paint and walls, and even new furniture and installations. Those renovations, which also featured new glass walls and a self-checkout hub, were finished in late 2021.

Additionally, the library announced in July that its Friends of the Lutz Branch Library book collection program had returned to providing an array of affordably priced books for patrons’ reading pleasure. The Friends were inactive for some time due to the COVID-19 pandemic and hiatus during the six-month renovation.

Published September 07, 2022

Billy Brown to receive special Pasco EDC honor

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Billy Brown, known for his philanthropy and leadership, will receive a special honor at the Pasco Economic Development Council’s 34th annual awards ceremony on Sept. 8. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council)

The Pasco Economic Development Council (Pasco EDC) is honoring Billy E. Brown with its Leadership Award this year.

The economic development organization always singles out one person who has made extraordinary contributions and this year, it chose Brown, according to a news release.

Brown began his employment with Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative (WREC) in 1956 as a lineman making just $1.10 an hour, the news release says.

Over the years, Brown’s leadership skills were recognized and he rose through the ranks, being promoted into supervisory positions, executive vice president and general manager — a position he has held for 49 years.

During his half-century of leadership, he has contributed to the community in myriad ways.

Brown has made an impact on many local charitable projects including the Boys and Girls Club, the Lacoochee Project, and the Vincent House Project, as well as being instrumental in the development of One Pasco Center, which has served as a catalyst economic development project and provided pad-ready sites for companies looking to locate to Pasco County, the release says.

Under Brown’s leadership, WREC has awarded over $15 million in local scholarships, provided lighting for college baseball fields, and funded equipment and technology for the local school system, release adds.

“Mr. Brown’s footprint is forever embedded in Pasco County; he has touched thousands of lives and made a lasting impression on our community. We are privileged to honor Mr. Brown with the 2022 Leadership Award,” Bill Cronin, Pasco EDC president/CEO, said in the release. “He is an exceptional example of a leader and philanthropist making a difference in the local community.”

Brown will be honored with this award at the Pasco EDC’s 34th annual awards, accompanied by a tribute from family and friends.

The event is set for Sept. 8 from 5 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., at the Pasco-Hernando State College Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC), 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel.

Tickets are available online, at PascoEDC.com.

Published September 07, 2022

Pasco cleanup needs volunteers

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Keep Pasco Beautiful is gearing up for its annual cleanup and is seeking volunteers to help out.

The annual countywide event aims to pick up debris before it has a chance to enter the area’s waterways.

Volunteers will work to pick up litter on roadways and in public spaces all around Pasco County, according to a county news release.

An estimated 80% of the trash that ends up in the county’s waters started out on land, so the cleanup efforts help to prevent pollution from entering the county’s stormwater system, which often leads to waterways and the Gulf of Mexico.

Here are the event details:
When: Sept. 17, from 8 a.m. until noon
Where: Various Pasco County locations.
Info: Visit KeepPascoBeautiful.org.

Registrations are being accept through Sept. 9.

Disposable gloves, trash bags and Keep Pasco Beautiful Cleanup T-shirts will be supplied while supplies last, the news release says.

“We’re excited to have the support of so many community organizations,” Keep Pasco Beautiful Coordinator Kristen King, said in the release.

She also expressed gratitude to Rotary District 6950, in partnership with West Pasco Rotary Clubs of New Port Richey, Holiday, Hudson, Seven Springs, Trinity and West Pasco Sunset for providing grant funding to support this year’s event.

This event is part of the International Coastal Cleanup coordinated by Ocean Conservancy.  The worldwide event has collected more than 348 million pounds of trash with help from around 17 million volunteers – since 1986.

Published September 07, 2022

Pasco Fire Rescue employee named ‘public educator of the year’

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Lisa Brekke, an employee of Pasco County Fire Rescue, has been the focus of attention lately — in a good way.

Lisa Brekke was honored during the Aug. 24 Pasco County Commission meeting. She received a resolution from the county board, recognizing her contributions and for being named the 2022 Public Educator of the Year by the Florida Fire Marshal and Inspector Association. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Most recently, she received a resolution applauding her work from the Pasco County Commission, during its Aug. 24 meeting.

The board acknowledged Brekke for her recognition from the Florida Fire Marshal and Inspector Association, which named her as the 2022 Public Educator of the Year.

The state association’s award recognizes “leadership for superior life safety strategies through inspection, investigation, public education, and code management,” according to the board’s resolution.

The distinction “signifies dedication and leadership in preventative risk education and fire safety,” the resolution adds.

Brekke joined Pasco Fire Rescue in 2018.

She has served as the lead contact for Pasco County’s Prom Promise, a program that educates high school students throughout Pasco County on the dangers of driving under the influence.

She also coordinates both Pasco County’s smoke detector installation program and the Knox Box program, which allows firefighters quick access into citizens’ homes during emergencies.

Brekke also is a program instructor for the Juvenile Fire Starter Intervention Program, according to the resolution.

The county’s commendation also notes that “Lisa does not hesitate to assist her coworkers in whatever way she can. She will do whatever it takes to ensure her team’s success, even if it includes working early in the morning, late at night, or on the weekends.”

The resolution goes on to credit Brekke’s “work ethic and spirit of cooperation” for bringing her team together, and it notes that beyond her work on countless safety events and programs, she also serves as “a preventative safety instructor in Pasco County Fire Rescue’s Community Risk Reduction division.”

Published September 07, 2022

Family gets warm reception, and a mortgage-free home

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National homebuilder PulteGroup’s Built to Honor program, in partnership with the national nonprofit Building Homes for Heroes, turned over the keys to a new, mortgage-free home last week to 22-year-old Nazeraeh Montrond and her three younger siblings at a ribbon-cutting ceremony, according to a news release.

The celebration was held on the morning of Aug. 25, in the Centex community of Wesley Reserve at Chapel Crossings, 5369 Elmview Crossing in Wesley Chapel.

Sean Strickler, PulteGroup division president for West Florida, helps Kevyn and Nazeraeh Montrond and their younger siblings, Arabella and Bentley, cut the ribbon outside their brand new townhome in Wesley Chapel. The family lost father Army Sgt. Alberto Montrond in February 2006 when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near his Humvee while he was serving in Afghanistan. (Courtesy of Building Homes for Heroes)

Nazeraeh Montrond lost her father, Army Sgt. Alberto Montrond, in February 2006, when an Improvised Explosive Device (IED) detonated near his Humvee. He was serving in Afghanistan with the Group Service Support Company in the new Group Support Battalion (GSSC, GSB) for the 7th Special Forces Group, the release says.

Sgt. Montrond deployed at least four times in support of the Global War on Terror, supporting Special Operations forces in Iraq, Jordan and Afghanistan.

The children’s mother, Christl, passed away in March 2021, after suffering with several health issues, leaving Nazeraeh to care for her three younger siblings. Kevin is 18, Arabella is 15 and Bentley is 10.

Today, she manages the demands of a full-time job and a full-time college schedule, while raising her two brothers and sister. Nazeraeh currently is completing her bachelor’s degree in health sciences, according to the release.

The date of the ribbon-cutting holds a special place for the family, since it’s their mother Christl’s birthday.

The Montrond family’s new 1,762-square-foot, two-story townhome features 3 bedrooms, 2.5 baths and a one-car garage. Located in the master-planned community of Chapel Crossings, residents will soon enjoy several state-of-the-art amenities including a community pool with lazy river, clubhouse and fitness center.

“The story of Nazeraeh and her siblings has touched all of us,” said Sean Strickler, president of the West Florida Division of PulteGroup, in the release. “Everyone involved in this project knows what having this new home means for the family. We’re so proud to be involved, and we hope Naz, her brothers and sister make many new memories in their new home.”

Founded by Andy Pujol, after he volunteered in the search-and-rescue in the aftermath of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, Building Homes for Heroes is a national nonprofit organization that builds and modifies homes and gifts them, mortgage-free, to veterans and their families. The organization averages one home gifted or modified every 11 days. In September, the organization will reach its milestone 300th home.

This is the fifth Built to Honor home delivered in Tampa Bay since 2016. Earlier this year, PulteGroup celebrated awarding its 75th mortgage-free home through the program in Dallas, Texas, according to the release.

Published August 31, 2022

Lutz scouting leaders to be honored at breakfast

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(Courtesy of Boy Scouts of America, Greater Tampa Bay Area Council)

Lutz residents Fifi and Mark Rose will be honored at a breakfast, open to the public, on Sept. 8 at 9 a.m., at Busch Gardens, at the Gwazi Pavilion.

The event will raise funds for Scouting programs, through the Boy Scouts of America, in the Tampa Bay area.

Mark and Fifi have been involved with Scouting for decades, and have volunteered at the unit, District, Council, Area, Region, National, and International levels.

They are being recognized for their work with disadvantaged youth and are being awarded the Whitney M. Young Award, according to a flier detailing the event.

Mark and Fifi have generously decided to match donations up to $35,000 for this event, and every dollar the event raises will support Scouting.

To RSVP, go to the Boy Scouts of America, Greater Tampa Bay Area Council’s website. For more information, call 813-872-2691.

Published August 24, 2022