The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

There are resources available, in the wake of the pandemic

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As businesses and individuals cope with sudden losses causes by impacts of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19), various agencies and organizations are stepping up to provide information about resources that can help.

The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has compiled a list of useful resources for the business community.

There also is useful information on websites maintained by Pasco and Hillsborough counties, and the Pasco and Hillsborough public school systems.

The local chambers of commerce also are offering information that may prove useful.

Here is a look at some of the resources available, as reported by the Pasco EDC:

  • The Business Damage Assessment survey assesses the impact of COVID-19 on Florida’s local businesses, including those in Pasco County. The survey, managed by the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO), will evaluate businesses affected by COVID-19 and the impacts the virus has had on the local economy, so actions to implement economic relief programs for businesses can begin.
  • The Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program is available to small business owners in all Florida counties statewide that experienced economic damage from COVID-19. These short-term, interest-free working capital loans are intended to “bridge the gap” between the time a major catastrophe hits and when a business has secured longer-term recovery resources, such as sufficient profits from a revived business, receipt of payments on insurance claims or federal disaster assistance. The SBDC Tampa Bay can assist companies through the process.
  • The U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) provides low-interest, long-term disaster loans to businesses of all sizes, private nonprofit organizations, homeowners and renters, to repair or replace uninsured/underinsured disaster damaged property. SBA disaster loans offer an affordable way for individuals and businesses to recover from declared disasters.

Helpful websites:
Chamber websites
PascoEDC.com
NorthTampaBayChamber.com
HillsboroughCounty.org
PascoCountyFL.net
CDC.gov
FloridaHealthCovid19.gov
FloridaJobs.org
SBA.gov
Pasco.k12.fl.us
SDHC.K12.fl.us

Published April 1, 2020

Pasco County Backs Downtown Avalon Park

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The Avalon Park Group has overwhelming support and backing from the Pasco County Commission to create a brand new town center for the Wesley Chapel community.

Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is being planned as a mixed-use development on 215 acres located north of State Road 54, about three miles east of I-75. The plan includes four freestanding office buildings that will have a mix of retail and commercial uses.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel is developing a downtown that includes four freestanding office buildings that will have a mix of retail and commercial uses.

The first phase is already under construction and, when completed, will have 75,000 square feet of commercial space within walking distance to residents living in the community’s single-family homes, townhomes and apartments.

“We are creating a real downtown with businesses offices, shops and restaurants, because we want to greatly reduce the need for our residents to drive outside their community to get to work, take kids to school, shop and dine, and enjoy indoor and outdoor activities,” said Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president for the Avalon Park Group. “And now, with the full support of Pasco County, downtown Wesley Chapel will become a reality within the next few years.”

In February, the Pasco County Commission unanimously voted to approve an incentive package totaling $33.5 million. The agreement outlines that in exchange, the Avalon Park Group will spend about $83.3 million to build roads, multi-story parking decks and transit-related infrastructure.

In all, Avalon Park Group is planning to spend more than $800 million to develop its Wesley Chapel community of homes and downtown center. In return, Pasco County has agreed to provide an annual rebate of the previous year’s property tax payments, which will be capped at $32 million. These county rebates represent 38% of the total cost of public improvements.

David Engel, manager of the county’s office of economic growth, spelled out some specifics at a recent county commission meeting.

Beat Kahli

“The typical buildings are four stories in height. Commercial will occupy the first floor and three floors of residential above it. There also are five to six parking decks and four freestanding Class A office buildings,” Engel said.

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will include 2,695 residences, 165,000 square feet of Class A Office, and 190,000 square feet of commercial space, Engel said. “Fifty percent of the residential trip generation on the site will stay on the site, once the project is complete,” Engel said.

The project is expected to generate 1,065 full-time jobs and have a total economic output of $84.4 million, according to county documents.

“Instead of building subdivisions, we are building towns,” said Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group. “Having jobs within our community is the best way to  resolve traffic congestion caused by daily commutes.”

Kahli’s company already has done a similar project — Avalon Park Orlando — and is currently developing Avalon Park Tavares and Avalon Park Daytona Beach using the same standards.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said he’s aware of Kahli’s “tremendous success” in Orlando.

“I know you’re going to have it right here, as well. I’m glad you picked Pasco County,” Mariano said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey added, “This is cutting-edge planning, right here. Being able to live, work and play in the same neighborhood is a great solution for sprawl.”

Published March 25, 2020

Pinecrest Academy Sends Out Student Acceptance Notices

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School acceptance emails went out earlier this month to families who had applied to Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel, the new K-6 charter school being built at the entrance to Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Aerial photo of Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel

“We are excited to be providing our high-performing school for all of our families. Thank you for applying for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel and creating our inaugural Panther family,” said Principal Aimee Mielke, on the school’s Facebook page.

Mielke also announced that the school’s official website is now up at PinecrestWesleyChapel.com. “We’re LIVE and it is beautiful with lots of information,” she said.

The principal has been receiving lots of inquiries from parents — and these are some of the most asked questions:

What are Pinecrest’s school hours?
8:15 a.m. – student drop-off and breakfast
8:30 a.m. – classes begin
2:50 p.m. – dismissal begins

Are students required to wear uniforms?
Yes. We will be partnering with All Uniform Wear. All items, including jackets/sweaters, must be purchased through our uniform shop. Students also are required to wear black, closed-toe shoes.

When will we be notified if our child has been accepted?
The first acceptance emails were sent out Monday, March 9.

The new school will open this fall with 650 students in kindergarten through sixth grade, and plans to expand to serve up to eighth grade. It is the first Pinecrest Academy in Tampa Bay.

With 16 schools nationwide, Pinecrest Academy Inc., has made a name for itself in the education community. As Principal Mielke would say, “When you walk into a Pinecrest school, you know you’re in a Pinecrest school.”

Mielke is excited about the advanced programs Pinecrest will offer its students, including a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) curriculum, and a dual English/Spanish language program. With the STEM program, Pinecrest students will learn about new technologies, such as robotics, and will have fully functioning STEM labs in all grades — something most schools do not offer.

Pinecrest also will have self-contained classrooms for gifted students, where pacing will be faster and performance tests much more in-depth, to allow gifted students to flourish in their education.

“All Pinecrest schools have an emphasis on high-quality instruction. We’ll continuously be monitoring the data so we know what each student needs, and have many different programs available to focus on the needs of the individual student,” says Mielke.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is one of the most important elements of the goal to build a brand-new town in Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing for the Avalon Park Group. Lerret noted that the developer’s goal is to have the very best school in the entire state.

“Our residents are ecstatic to have the option of sending their children to one of the top charter school operators in Florida,” said Lerret.

Published March 25, 2020

Avex Homes Model Is Open For Tour

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Due to continuing health and safety concerns surrounding the coronavirus, the Avalon Park Wesley Chapel clubhouse/amenities and Welcome Center are closed until further notice. Staff will continue to work remotely, and can be reached if you have questions at , or by calling (813) 783-1515.

The Avex Homes model, at 5216 Autumn Ridge Drive, remains open with the following hours of operation:
Sunday: Noon-6 p.m.
Monday-Saturday: 10 a.m.-6 p.m.

The Beazer Homes model is open by appointment only, by calling (813) 422-5549 or emailing or .

New Townhomes
With tree-lined streets that wind around sparkling lakes and flower-filled parks, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel exemplifies small-town America. Avex Homes of Avalon combines this desirable small town charm with innovative floor plans and luxury features, which are now available in its new townhome community.

Avex Home’s distinctive and affordable townhomes are solidly built with rich architectural detail and floor plans designed for easy family living. All townhomes offer a traditional focus on the front porch to promote its small town community feel.

Two townhomes are available now, each at 1,608 square feet, with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half baths and a two-car garage. These homes are affordably priced at $233,144 and $234,190.

To schedule a tour of these homes, email .

 Few communities offer the recreational activities found at Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, thoughtfully created for residents of all ages. New in 2019 was an expansive second amenity center with a zero-entry pool, splash pad, spa and picnic area. Avalon Park families also enjoy a wide array of other amenities, including another swimming pool, tot lot, basketball courts, pocket parks with mini-libraries, dog park, and trails and walkways that will interconnect with its planned downtown.

Published March 25, 2020

Tiny House Program Builds Construction Opportunities for Area Students

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A tiny house is opening doors to a world of opportunities for area students, thanks to a hands-on homebuilding initiative between a high school magnet program and the Sales & Marketing Council of the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

Students at the Center for Construction Technologies, a magnet school in St. Petersburg, work side-by-side with TBBA members, who mentor students and demonstrate construction trade skills.

“This program provides us with a tremendous opportunity to educate students about our industry, the joy of providing a home to a family and, of course, the many career opportunities in home construction,” says Scott Campbell, a former TBBA president.

Members of the Tampa Bay Builders Association helped build a tiny home with high school students to encourage and support careers in skilled trades. Helping paint the home is Terri Williams (wearing blue) of The Laker/Lutz News and Lauren Morgan.

The program was established in 2018 when TBBA members recognized the immense need to encourage and support careers in skilled trades for high school students and young adults.

“Students relate what they learn in the textbook to what they see during the field experience,” says Lincoln Yates, assistant principal of the magnet school. “They’re attentive and ask great questions.”

“The Tiny House Project is a great opportunity to help our local youth while also helping our industry,” says Michael Kramer, vice president at Sharp Design Studio Architecture, which donated design plans for the program’s tiny house.

“Finding talent is always challenging, and anything we can do as an industry to promote jobs and provide proper training will set them up for success,” Kramer says. “This kind of engagement has the potential to lead to full-time jobs for these students, and hopefully a full-fledged career.”

The Tiny House Project also benefits the local economy, says Jennifer Motsinger, executive vice president of TBBA.

“We are providing an alternative housing product that is sustainable, portable and affordable, and when it’s all done will be enjoyed by homeowners for years to come,” says Motsinger.

Over the past seven months, the 28-foot custom tiny home was built by Tampa Bay area skilled-trade professionals, interior designers and suppliers, while actively teaching and mentoring the 123 students participating in the program.

TBBA members donated over 80% of the supplies and labor, and the remaining materials were purchased through monetary donations.

The Laker/Lutz News was one of the TBBA members involved in the project from its inception, through the leadership of Terri Williamson, senior account manager for the newspaper. Williamson is the president elect of the Sales & Marketing Council, which presented a $10,500 check to help finance the Tiny House Project.

“The tiny house capstone project has allowed us to better prepare our students for college, career and life, by bringing student apprenticeship opportunities into our classroom. Students have had the opportunity to hear from the various trade professionals, work alongside them and gain valuable experience and insights that would have otherwise not been possible,” says Assistant Principal Yates.

The tiny house will be showcased at a future Suncoast Tiny House Festival. Funds generated from the home’s sale will support the magnet program for years to come.

For more information about this project, please visit TBBAtinyhouse.com, where you can see a full list of participating companies.

Published March 25, 2020

Paynes Prairie State Preserve is something special

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Wild horses on Paynes Prairie are descendants of horses that lived on the prairie in the 1600s, when it was part of a Spanish cattle ranch called Rancho de la Chua. Today, a trail in the park is named for the ranch. For more on this nature lovers’ paradise, see full story.

(Courtesy of Florida State Parks)

Paynes Prairie: An awe-inspiring place for nature lovers

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Sometimes, you have to go inland to see “The Real Florida.”

To see the “Real Florida” at its very best, visit Paynes Prairie, stretching 2 miles on both sides of U.S. 441 in Micanopy, a hamlet south of Gainesville.

Paynes Prairie offers wide-open views of the sky, marshes and ponds. Even the most traveled naturalists are in awe. (Karen Haymon Long)

The 50-square-mile prairie is protected within Paynes Prairie State Preserve. Even speeding past to a Gator game, or heading north for vacation, you’ll know it’s something special.

Blue skies and billowy clouds arch high over tawny grasses swaying in the breeze. Fish leap from ponds. Shorebirds stand tall in swampy marshes. The sun rises on one side of the prairie and sets on the other.

If you’re lucky, you may see flocks of migrating sandhill cranes, grazing bison, wild Spanish horses, roaming cattle, and alligators slipping into tranquil waters.

The 22,000-acre park offers a world of exploration, whether you hike, fish, birdwatch, horseback ride, camp, boat or kayak.

It’s a photographer’s paradise, with 300 species of birds, river otters, bobcats, Florida black bears, wild pigs, white-tailed deer, coyotes, marsh rabbits and hundreds of other critters.

Paynes Prairie State Preserve park encompasses 22,000 acres. The main entrance is off U.S. 441 in Micanopy, south of Gainesville. (Karen Haymon Long)

Hiking through canopied forests on the prairie’s edge and staring out over prairie grasses, I thought about the pachyderms, bigger than our elephants, that lived on this land 2.6 million years ago. They shared it with camels, llamas, tortoises as big as bulls, bison, horses and nearly 20-foot-long sloths.

We felt lucky to see American eagles, Great Blue Herons, snowy egrets, turtles, moorhens, limpkins, coots and woodpeckers.

When visiting, you may want to bring binoculars. We were glad we had them when we needed to use them to see the bison, wild horses and cattle far out on the prairie.

We took peaceful hikes through forests of palms, giant oaks, pines, magnolia trees and palmettos bordering the prairie. Often, we were alone and trails were silent, but for the crunch of leaves under our feet.

The great naturalist William Bartram, who visited the prairie in 1774 when it was called the Alachua Savanna, wrote about seeing those same types of trees.

American bison in the park descended from 10 bison transplanted to the prairie in 1975 from Oklahoma. Long ago, bison lived in the prairie and roamed throughout the southeastern United States. (Courtesy of Florida State Parks)

He said emerging from the dark forests to the wide open prairie made him feel “on the borders of a new world! On the first view of such an amazing display of the wisdom and power of the supreme author of nature, the mind for a moment seems suspended, and impressed with awe.”

Bartram met with Seminoles and their chief, Ahaya the Cowkeeper, who lived nearby and ran cattle on the prairie. The “Siminoles,” as he called them, slaughtered cows, prepared a feast for him and let him hunt for plants on their land.

They called him Puc-Puggee, which means “the Flower Hunter.” Today, the park’s campground is named Puc Puggy. The prairie was named for the Cowkeeper’s eldest surviving son, Payne.

The ancient prairie was formed by the collapse of limestone bedrock and the merging of sinkholes. Its waters drain into a sinkhole at the northeast region of the prairie and into Orange Lake to the south.

Back in 1871, that sinkhole – called the Alachua Sink – clogged up and water rushed over the prairie, forming what locals called Alachua Lake. It was so deep steamboats ran on it, carrying passengers, lumber, oranges and other cargo between Micanopy and Gainesville. In 1891, the sinkhole opened up, the lake drained 8 feet in 10 days and became a marshy prairie again.

Today, it’s wetter than some years, and some trails were partially closed on our visit due to flooding.

Bald eagles often soar over the vast prairie. They are among 300 species of birds you might see there. (Courtesy of Florida State Parks)

The best way to see the prairie is to head to the park’s main entrance at its southern end, where you’ll find the Visitor Center with exhibits and a video on the history of the prairie, an observation tower, hiking trails, the campground, picnic area, playground, boat ramp and access to Lake Wauberg.

Farther north, off U.S. 441, look for a sign for the 3-mile, roundtrip La Chua Trail, a boardwalk/grassy trail around Alachua Sink and marshes to an observation platform. (This was partially closed on our visit).

A fishing pier north of that trailhead offers panoramic views of the prairie and some good fishing. On our visit, a fisherman looked at a huge catfish he just caught and said proudly, “That’s the first fish I’ve caught in years.”

North of the prairie, off Williston Road in Gainesville, find Sweetwater Wetlands Park, which offers 3.5 miles of gravel and boardwalk trails over wetlands, ponds and grasses dotted with turtles, moorhens, Great Blue Herons, limpkins, anhingas and other birds.

The 125-acre Gainesville city park was created to protect the quality of water that drains into Paynes Prairie and the Florida Aquifer by filtering out pollution and harmful nutrients.

Its use is more restricted than the state park’s because of the filtering processes. No boats, fishing, bikes, horses, drones or pets are allowed. But, it’s a wondrous place to walk for watery views and birdwatching.

A lone hiker walks toward Cones Dike Trail, an 8-mile round-trip trail in Paynes Prairie State Preserve park. (Karen Haymon Long)

Tips for the Trip

Note: Visiting Paynes Prairie is worth the trip, but it will have to wait awhile. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection announced March 22 that it would be closing all state parks effective immediately to ensure social distancing in light of concerns about potential spread of coronavirus diease-2019. It is uncertain when the state parks will reopen. Before heading that way, be sure to call ahead.

Paynes Prairie State Preserve is at 100 Savannah Blvd., Micanopy.
Hours: 8 a.m. to sundown daily; Visitor Center open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., daily.
Fee: $6 per car with two to eight passengers; $2 for one passenger, and for walkers and bikers.
Events include: Coffee with a ranger; talking to naturalists about William Bartram; gazing at stars with members of the Alachua Astronomy Club; birding with members of the Alachua Audubon Society.
For the events schedule and other information, see FloridaStateParks.org, and click onto Paynes Prairie State Preserve, or call the ranger station at (352) 545-6000 or the Visitor Center at (352) 466-4100.

Sweetwater Wetlands Park is at 325 SW Williston Road, Gainesville.
Hours: 7 a.m. to sunset daily.
Fee: $5 per car; $2 for walkers and bikers.
Contact: SweetwaterWetlands.org; (352) 393-8520.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published March 25, 2020

The Porch of Peace

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Steve Melton (Christine Holtzman)

Come now, pull up a chair, on the porch of peace.

Stay and rock awhile, let your worries cease.

We’ll tell a few stories, maybe a joke or two.

It’s good to be together when the day is through.

Feel the gentle breeze as it blows

from east to the west.

It carries away the heat and your cares,

It makes you feel at rest.

We’ll watch the sun go down,

see the sky turning red

Stop thinking about your troubles, before we go to bed.

Stop. Listen to the quiet.

We don’t hear that much anymore.

We need to hear it more often,

It gives our hearts and minds time to restore.

Next time you are in the area, please stop and stay awhile

The porch of peace will leave you

with a smile.

-By Steve Melton, cowboy poet

Editor’s note: The Laker/Lutz News typically doesn’t publish poetry, but we decided to make an exception to offer a counterpoint during these trying times.

Steve Melton is a cowboy poet and a native of East Pasco County.

Published March 25, 2020

Snowbird — Who’s Watching Your Home While You’re Away?

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Jodie Patrone-Sullivan

By Kelli Carmac

 If you’re a snowbird, odds are you’re getting ready to head back north. As you say goodbye to Florida, do you find yourself wondering if your home will be okay while you’re hundreds of miles away?

While you hope your home will be fine until you return, that’s not always the case. Unforeseen damages can happen— broken A/C unit, hot water tank leak, mold, roof and storm damage, rodent infestations and even break-ins.

But, now there’s a solution to your worries. Snowbird Home Patrol can help prevent potentially damaging and costly problems from harming your home, and give you peace of mind.

Snowbird Home Patrol is a family owned home-watch service that will come to your home on a consistent basis to make sure everything is in tip-top shape.

Owner Jodie Sullivan got the idea for her business 10 years ago, after her father’s hot water tank in his condo rusted out while he was gone for the summer. “After the cleanup, my dad hired a home-watch service company to prevent such a thing from happening again, and told me he thought my background was ideal to start a home-watch company in Florida,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan owned a special event business in Land O’ Lakes for 23 years and has an impressive background in customer service. She also is the incoming president for the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon.

 “My event business was successful because I provided outstanding customer service, and I bring this knowledge and philosophy with me to my new business,” said Sullivan.

Sullivan founded Snowbird Home Patrol after becoming a Certified Home Watch Professional through the National Home Watch Association. As a homeowner herself for over 26 years, she knows her way around a house.

Snowbird Home Patrol provides clients with weekly or bi-weekly home inspection. After a home is inspected, she uploads her findings to a secure customer portal, where clients can see a full report on their home.

Sullivan stresses the importance of having a trained professional inspect your home, instead of asking a neighbor or friend to stop in periodically to check on things.

“When a serious issue arises, you need someone to act quickly and professionally,” said Sullivan. “We take care of problems in a timely and cost-effective manner, and prevent you from overstepping a friendship.”

Snowbird Home Patrol also offers additional home services, including package pick-up, opening and closing home for the season, general cleaning and hurricane preparations.

Protect your home by calling Snowbird Home Patrol — it’s affordable, dependable and personable. The company services homes in Zephyrhills, Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Tampa, New Port Richey, Palm Harbor, Safety Harbor, Hudson, Crystal River and The Villages.

(813) 927-2730 • www.SnowbirdHomePatrol.com

Published 3/18/20

East Pasco land donated for fire station

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The Pasco County Commission passed a resolution at its March 10 meeting recognizing Schikedanz Bros.-Hammock Pines Ltd., for its donation of 3.8 acres for a fire station to improve fire rescue services in East Pasco County.

Scott Cassin, fire chief for Pasco County Fire Rescue, expressed appreciation for the gift.

The site is just east of Fox Ridge Boulevard, on the south side of State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel.

Construction is tentatively set for 2023, and when it opens it will be known as Station 4.

The station will enhance services to Watergrass, Meadow Pointe and Zephyrhills, Cassin said.

“This is a great location, it’s going to serve so many people,” the fire chief added, noting that the station will be constructed using funding provided through general obligation bonds approved by county voters.

Gunther Flaig, who spoke on behalf of the land donor, said, “As a father of a current EMS student, trying to become an EMS worker, I know a little bit about the difficulty that you’re facing.”

He said the company was happy to “do a little bit” for the county.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey also expressed gratitude for the donation, noting that she and Flaig have been friends for a long time.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said, “We very much appreciate your donation.”

As the county continues to grow, Moore said, so will its need for more fire stations.

Published March 18, 2020