Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

The $3.67 million project to improve the Suncoast Parkway interchange at SR 54 is set for completion on schedule by the end of July, according to Pasco County Chief Project Manager Robert Shepherd.

“The project was needed to help prevent backups on SR 54 in both directions,” Shepherd said. “We’re adding turn lane storage, which means more turn lanes for drivers getting onto the Suncoast. That will take them off the main lanes for people going straight, so they don’t block traffic.”

The project is on the border of Land O’ Lakes and Odessa and is being paid for by The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, also known as stimulus money, funneled through the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). The department is handling the project management and field inspection.

The job began last July and is being completed by Ajax Paving Industries of Florida.

Shepherd said there are some other minor improvements being done to SR 54 as part of the project, including road resurfacing.

FDOT statistics show 37,500-46,000 vehicles make the daily trip through the project zone on SR 54, while another 24,500-32,600 drivers travel over the construction on the Suncoast. Additionally, 3,800 vehicles use the Suncoast on/off ramps at SR 54 daily.

For more information on Pasco road projects, visit portal.pascocountyfl.net. For news on other FDOT projects, visits www.dot.state.fl.us.

W. Lutz-Lake Fern Widening

The project to widen W. Lutz-Lake Fern Road from just east of the Suncoast Parkway to the Boulevard of the Roses continues to progress.

The $9.9 million project, which is being completed by Pepper Contracting Services, is making Lake Fern a four-lane divided roadway. The project was originally planned for completion by the end of May.

The job is the second step in a three-phase plan to make Lake Fern four lanes from the Suncoast Parkway to Dale Mabry. The last step of the project is still unfunded and would not happen for likely some time, according to Hillsborough Public Works spokesperson Steve Valdez.

Project helps lay way for future widening

By Kyle LoJacono

Drivers who frequent I-75 in Pasco County have been without a rest stop for almost a year, but that should change before those same people change their calendars.

John McShaffrey, public information officer for the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT), said the stops between SR 54 and SR 56 on both the north and southbound lanes are on schedule to open by the end of the year.

“Progress on the replacement rest areas is very good,” McShaffrey said. “The largest task that remains, and it’s a big one, is to build the concrete parking areas. Weather would seem to be the biggest obstacle at this point. If there is extensive rain this summer/fall we could see the opening slide into the new year. However, at this time, project managers are forecasting project completion by the end of 2011.”

Cone and Graham Inc. is building the stops at a cost of $25.1 million. It was originally scheduled for completion in the spring of 2012.

Both locations will be larger than the older ones. Each will gain 2,199 square feet of air-conditioned indoor space, plus an additional 7,557 square feet apiece of additional area on the grounds.

McShaffrey said the older rest stops were opened in 1987, making them 23 years old when closed. The new facilities will have several upgrades from the ones torn down last July.

“The new rest areas and parking are designed to meet users’ needs for 30 years,” McShaffrey said. “These were among the oldest facilities in the state and became candidates for replacement due to ongoing maintenance costs, lack of adequate truck parking spaces and other operational deficiencies.”

There will be 32 additional parking spaces for trucks and four for recreational vehicles (RV) at the northbound location while reducing spots for standard cars by 15 to make room. The southbound site gets 27 for trucks and two for RVs while losing 18 for cars.

McShaffrey said FDOT studies showed the demand for truck parking should continue to increase during the next few decades. The standard parking spaces for cars at the old locations were not big enough for these trucks.

Similar studies showed the usage of the rest stops’ restroom facilities have also been increasing. There will be 24 additional bathroom stalls for women at both sites and six for men plus another eight urinals when the new buildings open.

“In order to accommodate the additional demand, the existing rest area circulation and configuration had to be completely revised,” McShaffrey said. “In other words, we could not just restripe the parking lot and add pavement here and there.”

McShaffrey said remodeling of the older buildings was considered, but was ruled out early in the process.

“The age and condition of the facilities and utilities, combined with long term maintenance costs, led to the decision to reconstruct,” McShaffrey said.

McShaffrey added FDOT decided it was best to do the upgrades now before any widening construction begins on I-75 through the area. He said the department has been widening the interstate system in the Tampa Bay area for about the last 20 years and the plan is to continue the trend north, but no start date is set.

The department is currently widening I-275, which splits with I-75 just south of the rest stops, from two to three lanes in each direction from Bearss Avenue to I-75. It is also improving the exit ramps to SR 56 from I-75 and I-275. The total cost for those two projects is $50.4 million.

By B.C. Manion

T. Rowe Price is still high on Pasco County and plans to create a corporate campus here – just not any time soon.

The global investment management firm will relocate its Tampa operations into central Pasco “as the economic factors that drive growth warrant,” said Mark Ruhe, a vice president for the company, based in Baltimore.

Ruhe’s remarks on the company’s plans came last week during a meeting of the Pasco Alliance of Community Associations in Land O’ Lakes.

The company’s 72-acre site at the southwest corner of SR 54 and the planned extension of Sunlake Boulevard is expected to become the new home for the firm’s Tampa operations, which have about 400 employees in Tampa’s Westshore business district.

The site will accommodate as many as 1,200 additional workers, Ruhe said.

When that relocation and hiring will occur remains uncertain, Ruhe said.

While the timetable remains indefinite, company officials have a clear vision of what the new corporate campus will include.

The office buildings will be designed with the environment in mind and with the intention of allowing easy collaboration among employees.

The buildings will have well-lit interiors, on-site training facilities, an employee cafeteria and possibly a health club.

Parking will be in a structure that is just a short walk from employees’ desks, Ruhe said. The building also will meet stringent environmental engineering standards, he said.

He also pictures green spaces on the property, where employees can take a break and relax.

Green building is a high priority for the kinds of employees the company attracts, said John Townsend, a vice president who oversees the firm’s Tampa operations.

When the new campus opens in Pasco, it will serve as a regional campus for the international firm.

The firm has been enthusiastic about the Tampa Bay region for nearly two decades and is pleased it can remain in the market, the company officials said. The area has a rich pool of talent and a great quality of life, Ruhe said.

Townsend said the company has done some research and has found that a large percentage of its employees already live near the firm’s Pasco site.

It’s hard to predict whether employees will want to move into Pasco when the office shift occurs, Townsend said, in response to a question from the audience.

T. Rowe Price sees significant growth potential in Pasco County, Ruhe said.

Once the firm moves to its Pasco location, he said, “we plan on having a presence here for a long, long time.”

Townsend said the firm is already engaged in a number of initiatives with the University of Tampa and the University of South Florida. He expects it will branch out to educational institutions in Pasco in the future.

“We rely very extensively on relationships with colleges and universities,” Townsend said.

Officials at Rasmussen College, a new private college across the road from the T. Rowe Price site, have said one reason they chose their site is because of its proximity to T. Rowe Price. They have expressed a high degree of interest in working with the investment firm to ensure its graduates are ready to move into the work force. Saint Leo University and Pasco-Hernando Community College are likely to be interested, too.

By B.C. Manion

Less than a year ago, Susan Sisk was looking at a set of blueprints, envisioning the kind of gymnastics and dance studio that she and partner Jill Bosack would be opening in Land O’ Lakes.

Sisk pictured a place with plenty of space for a wide assortment of gymnastics and dance classes for children and adults. She envisioned parents watching their children, in a spacious observation area — with glass windows looking into the dance studio and the gym.

Her dream is closer to becoming a reality.

The interior of the 12,000-square-foot facility will be finished over the summer, Sisk said. In the meantime, The Dance and Gymnastics Academy of Tampa is gearing up to begin holding classes and summer camps at its new location, 33633 Venezia Drive (near the corner of SR 54 and Livingston Road).

The new building is a multi-colored concrete structure that exceeds even the latest hurricane codes, Sisk said.

She and Bosack are so eager to show off their new location that they’ve planned a slate of special grand-opening activities for May 26-28.

“This project has been a long time coming,” said Bosack, who oversees the gymnastics program. “We are just so excited and thrilled to be able to offer this new building, with our great programs, to the community.”

Those familiar with the former dance and gymnastics center will notice some big differences right away.

The new location is about 2.5 times as large as its previous location. It also has much more parking. The new building has a 2,000-square-foot dance floor.

Breaking the dance studio into four separate spaces and hiring other teachers would have allowed the academy to make more money, Sisk said.

But she’s not in it just for the money, Sisk said.

“I have many girls in my studio right now that I’ve known since they were just out of pull-ups and now they’re getting their license. I watched them get their first boyfriend. I watched them get their first part-time job. I get to watch them grow up. How many jobs do you get to do that?

“I love it that I saw her when she was 8 and 12 and 15. I saw her in her homecoming dress and went to her wedding. That’s the part of this business I don’t ever want to get away from,” Sisk said.

The larger facility also will be able to accommodate the equipment needed for men’s gymnastics and will have an in-ground pit, giving gymnasts a safe place to practice new skills before they can stick the landings.

Another advantage of the new location is the ability to host meets, Sisk said. In the past, its team always had to travel to meets to compete.

Besides being sturdy, the building lacks windows and a lot of people may wonder why, Sisk said. It was a decision she and Bosack made, after careful deliberation.

“I just didn’t want anyone to sit in my parking lot and be able to look in this window at little girls in their leotards.”

“I hate that that’s a consideration,” Sisk said. Unfortunately, she said, it is.

If you go

5 p.m. Thursday, May 26: Ribbon-cutting ceremony with the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

7-10 p.m. Friday, May 27: Open gym, with a $10 per child charge which includes pizza dinner, snacks and drinks, lots of game and free play time.

9 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturday, May 28: Open house with a bounce house, a magician, balloon animals, face painting. There will be a minimal charge for popcorn, snow cones, cotton candy. Money raised from the refreshment sales will benefit the girls’ competitive team.

For more information, call (813) 949-7875 or visit www.dgatampa.com.

By B.C. Manion

It wasn’t exactly a marauding band of pirates looting the place and capturing hostages.

Indeed, these pirates smiled broadly as they stormed the campus of John Long Middle.

The invasion was just one in a series of events in the school’s annual quest to create a buzz about reading.

Last week, pirates from the Krewe of Shamrock, the Krewe of Grace O’Malley, and other Gasparilla krewes invaded the campus, accompanied by John Long teachers and staff wearing bandanas, brandishing nose rings and wearing swashbuckling costumes.

Principal Beth Brown, known that day as Bootlegger Bossy Brown, amped up the crowd.

So did Richard Hellbaum, a science teacher and Sharon Cypriano, who teaches language arts.

Gene Monroe and Diane Jimenez, of the Krewe of Shamrock, needed no instruction or encouragement. They’re pirates. They knew what to do.

Dorrit Morgan, a member of the Krewe of Grace O’Malley, did, too.

As they and other pirates streamed across campus, kids pointed and laughed.

“You all have lost your dignity,” one student teased, as costumed teachers passed by.

Girls swooned when they saw Monroe dressed in a kilt, with a sword sheathed in his scabbard.

And, boy and girls went wild in the gym, when pirates accompanied by Pasco School Board Chairwoman Joanne Hurley tossed beads to the crowd.

Kids and adults were obviously having fun.

Twelve-year-old Jailine Bonillo got a kick out of seeing the teachers in costumes, especially her science teacher.

“You don’t really see your average teacher doing something crazy like that,” agreed 13-year-old Arden Ratmiroff.

“It was fun. We got to get books and beads and everything,” said eighth-grader Nicole Nocerino.

Besides giving out more than 1,700 books, the pirates were there to help the school celebrate its official designation as a BookCrossing Zone.

The program, which likens itself to a World Library, allows readers to label a book with an ID number and to track the book’s travels, after it leaves their hands.

The concept is this: After someone has labeled the book with an ID number, readers read the book and have the option of recording their thoughts about it on a website.

Then they leave the book somewhere, where someone else can pick it up.

Over time, theoretically, the book will pass through various readers’ hands, and readers will be able to track where the book has gone and read what others think about it.

The website, www.bookcrossing.com also allows book lovers to hunt for books around their neighborhood or around the world by using its “Go Hunting” pages. Reader can chat in forums about books. They can connect with members and go to conferences all over the globe.

Arden is clearly impressed by the concept.

“You get a book and you read it. Instead of just leaving it on your bookshelf to just do nothing for a long time, you just send it out and whoever wants it can get it,” she said.

As an avid reader, 12-year-old Sebastian Castillo-Sanchez loves the idea. Reading has so much to offer, he said, noting that when he reads he encounters new ideas and expands his vocabulary, too.

Besides enjoying the festivities, Brown took a moment to give credit to the committee who put together the literacy events. They are Rory McLeod, Ryan Fisher, Ron Bruno, Theresa Hewitt, Toni Lazzaro, Suzanne Kleim and Marti di Primo.

It took months to plan and organize the events, Brown said, which included a family night at Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass, a book swap for students handled by the school’s Parent Teacher Student Association, the pirate invasion and the launch of its BookCrossing Zone.

The committee worked hard, Brown said. They bounced ideas around and they enlisted the help of others.

All of the work had a single goal: To make reading more exciting for students, Brown said.

The committee’s work, the principal said, represented “synergy at its finest.”

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco Regional Medical Center started its bariatric surgery program in 2002 and the Dade City facility was recently given one of the discipline’s top certifications.

The Bariatric Surgery Center Network of the American College of Surgeons (ACS) accredited the hospital’s service as a Level 1 program. Criteria for the distinction include meeting standards for overall outcomes after surgery, accessibility to equipment needed for the procedure and patient satisfaction with their treatment.

“We’re thrilled because we’ve all put a lot of hard work into making our bariatric program the best,” said program coordinator Bonnie Lamb. “It’s taken a lot of teamwork.”

The procedure done in the bariatric program is called Lap-Band surgery. A surgeon places a band around the top of someone’s stomach. This constricts the space for food, making the person feel full faster to help them lose weight.

One reason Pasco Regional went for the accreditation is it makes it easier for patients to get coverage from their health insurance provider to help pay for the operation, according to Lamb.

“That way people don’t have to go outside of the area to get the procedure done and paid for by the healthcare provider,” Lamb said. “It’s a selective surgery, so patients also shop around for the best place to have bariatrics done. This will help people see we’re one of the top places in the state.”

Dr. Lee Grossbard has performed many Lap-Band procedures at Pasco Regional and even had the surgery done on himself.

“It is safe, reversible and does not require stomach stapling or cutting of the intestines like other surgical options,” Grossbard said. He added that people can eat normal food without fear of losing nutrients.

The other main type of surgery to help with weight loss is gastric bypass, which involves removing a part of the intestines to prevent calories from being absorbed by the body. That is a much more invasive option and also prevents a large amount of vitamins and minerals from being taken in.

Lap-Band is put on using arthroscopic surgery using a much smaller hole than a bypass requires. The band is also adjustable, which is especially important for women who plan on having children later in life.

The actual surgery takes about 20 minutes and patients are usually headed home only a couple of hours after the procedure.

Pasco Regional also has a lecture about the Lap-Band option the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m. at the hospital, 13100 Fort King Road, in Classroom A. One of the bariatric surgeons is always at the class to answer questions.

For more information about the bariatric program at Pasco Regional, call (352) 518-1090 or visit www.PascoRegionalmc.com.

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco Regional Medical Center isn’t the largest or most used hospital in the Southeast, but the Dade City facility can boast one of the region’s top medical directors.

Dr. David Wilcher, Pasco Regional’s medical director of emergency services, was named Medical Director of the Year by TeamHealth Southeast. TeamHealth is a national hospital-based clinical outsourcing services provider based in Florida.

Wilcher said it is the first award of its kind he has ever received, which made it even more special.

“I felt very honored that I was chosen for this award,” Wilcher said. “I was especially excited for the physicians, nurses and techs that made the move with me to Pasco Regional Medical Center. They’re the ones that helped make this possible.”

Wilcher and his staff joined Pasco Regional last October from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. The other four in his group that made the move to Dade City include Drs. Frank Ruisi, Steven Land, Kaivon Madani and Venugopal Palani.

“(The award) just shows that cutting-edge medicine isn’t just in the larger cities,” Wilcher said. “I’m thankful that I’m able to bring that kind of care to the people who are a part of the community I love.”

Wilcher said he first got into healthcare because he has, “A passion for health and human science and a desire to help others,” he said. “It was a perfect fit for me.”

Phil Minden, Pasco Regional’s CEO, said Wilcher’s passion for medicine shows as he, “Is a tremendous asset to the emergency department here.”

Wilcher was recognized for his leadership abilities and commitment to creating the best possible clinical outcomes. An important part of the award was the comfort of the patient.

According to TeamHealth, physician candidates must meet the following criteria to be considered:

–Kindness and compassion in patient caregiving

–Ethical, intuitive and street-smart behavior in the politics of his/her duties

–Innovative and proactive administrative skill

–Strong advocacy for excellence in clinical care

–Team leadership and team membership

–Excellent communication and negotiation skills

–Willingness to frequently go above and beyond the call of duty

–Accountability and stewardship in his or her duties

Wilcher received the award at TeamHealth’s leadership conference this month. He also will be recognized at the American College of Emergency Physicians national meeting later this year.

For more information on TeamHealth, visit www.teamhealth.com. For additional information on Pasco Regional, call (352) 521-1100 or visit www.PascoRegionalmc.com.