Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Church houses only such facility in east Pasco

By Kyle LoJacono

From the beginning, Eric Gilbertson wanted to make the Samaritan Project different from other homeless shelters.
“This is my passion,” Gilbertson, 43, said. “I was homeless when I was 15 to 19 years old and saw what it was like at other homeless shelters. I wanted this to be more than just a place to go for a meal. I wanted it to help people find a way to get back on their feet.”

The project started in 2008 and was run out of the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, but a space conflict forced a move. Tim Mitchell, senior pastor at Chancey Road Christian Church located at 34921 Chancey Road in Zephyrhills, brought it to the church.
“We see this as what we’re just supposed to do as Christians,” Mitchell said. “The Bible tells us when we offer cool water, shelter, clothing or food in the name of Jesus we are doing his work. So it’s just natural for the church to want to do this. That’s just our passion and motivation behind this.”
Last winter, the project opened as a cold weather shelter for homeless people. Gilbertson said he wanted to continue the project as a homeless shelter after the winter. At first his idea was to start a tent city in the back of the church because he felt that was better than having them do the same in the woods. Then the church agreed to let them use its building at night.
“We opened as a shelter July 25,” Gilbertson said. “We’ve had 46 different people or families stay with us and have 15-22 people on any night. We’ve had 10 single moms stay with us. … They can stay for 14 days and then we ask for a donation of $1 a day, but we don’t turn people away if they don’t have it. Also people use their food stamps to bring food back to the shelter and we count that toward the $1.”
One person who has been at the shelter since it opened is Mike Potter, who has lived in Zephyrhills for 13 years. He has become a volunteer while living there, supervising the area while the other residents sleep.
“All the people who help here, especially Eric, are extremely helpful,” Potter, 41, said. “I’ve never seen someone work as hard as Eric does for the people here. He basically works 24/7 and doesn’t get enough credit for what he does. This place has given me and many others hope.”
When Gilbertson started volunteering with the shelter he was only going to donate about three hours a week, but was at the shelter six to eight hours a day.
Another resident volunteer is Stoney Robertson, who came to the shelter the week it opened. Before that he was living in a tent in the woods.
“I think a lot of people are very nervous about coming to a place like this,” Robertson, 46, said. “People need to be wanted and respected. Here they don’t make you feel like a second-class citizen just because you don’t have a home. Really this is the Ritz-Carlton of shelters.”
Both Potter and Robertson attend the church’s services. Gilbertson said while they try to steer the residents toward God, they do not make it a requirement.
The shelter opens each night from 5:30 p.m.-8:30 a.m. Once people check in, they cannot leave and return to prevent people from coming back intoxicated, Gilbertson said. Those at the shelter get a dinner and breakfast plus snacks and drinks available all night. There is also a TV with movies, games and books.
There is a separate room for women and men. Children can stay with either parent and married couples can stay together in a common room.
“Before we let someone stay we do a simple background check to make sure they don’t have any outstanding warrants or anything like that,” Gilbertson said. “For the volunteers it’s a more thorough background check.”
The project is currently looking for a location closer to downtown Zephyrhills. Mitchell thinks a central location could help more people in the future. For now, those who stay the night are driven to Alice Hall Community Center at Zephyr Park the next day by volunteer Brian Lavender.
“We want them to find a job during the day,” Gilbertson said. “We have a computer that I’m getting firewalled so they can look for a job. … To me we’re like the center place where people can come for help. We give them a roof, food, support and then find them help from other places.”
Mitchell said the food costs about $500 a month. Add the costs of electricity and water and the total to keep the shelter going at its current level will be $8,000-$10,000 a year. However, the project is expanding its services.
Gilbertson said they will soon open a new kitchen to make a larger variety of food faster for the residents. They also recently installed two showers. He added that when the cold weather returns they will be able to house about 200 people with the space the project has.
Gilbertson said donations of supplies and money are helpful for the cause, but the biggest need is for volunteers. He said he does not need anyone to stay overnight, just mainly to help serve dinner and cleanup after. Anyone interested should call Gilbertson at (813) 810-8670. Donations can also be dropped off at the church office around the back of the main building.
While Potter and Robertson are still down on their luck, they are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
“My goal is to get my own place,” Potter said. “I’m looking for a job, but the tough part is I don’t have a car. While I’m still looking, I’m feeling better about my chances.”
Robertson said of his goals, “I want to be accountable. I just want to pay this kindness forward to someone else who is down on their luck once I get a job and a place to live.”

From mammoth malls to quaint mom and pops, area shoppers went hunting for deals during the holiday weekend. The day after Thanksgiving marks Black Friday, a time to work off those mashed potatoes and start stocking up on gifts for the season. We spent the day with bargain hunters from Lutz to Zephyrhills.

Stories and photos by Tammy Sue Struble

Wells gets early start
Trayci Wells, owner of Little Stella’s Boutique in the Dupree Plaza in Land O’ Lakes, creates made-to-order gift baskets like diaper cakes, baby shower baskets and princess baskets for girls.

She was working on a Grinch child’s holiday basket on Friday. Her shop specializes in upscale kids’ brand name consignment and boutique clothing from baby sizes up to size 14–16.
Trayci got up at 3 a.m. and went to Target and Walmart … not looking for anything specific. “Every year I say I’m not going to do it (Black Friday shopping) again, but I do it anyway! Sometimes you can get really good deals!”
Then, she went to Kmart and Radio Shack and was home by 9 a.m. to get ready to come in and work at her shop. She stated that usually the big ticket items are already gone when she gets to the larger retail stores and admitted that, “The two-day sale is better than the 5–11 a.m. sales.”

Big savings on a wallet
Aggie and Artie DeVirgilio of Land O’ Lakes were at their last stop before home, Franklin Jewelers in the Collier Commons shopping center in Land O’ Lakes. They started shopping around 9:30 a.m. with stops at Bealls, Office Depot and Target.
“It was crazy at Bealls! Lines were really long,” Artie determined. “Target was really good.” She was excited about saving around $75 total at Bealls, and was especially proud of a $24 savings on a wallet.

Half-price Christmas dress
Near Ulta Beauty in the Grove at Wesley Chapel, Mariah Samia of Land O’Lakes was shopping for Christmas gifts for her three Chihuahuas at PetSmart with her mom. It was her first experience with Black Friday shopping. They had spent three hours at Kohl’s in Lutz and stood in a line that was all the way to the back of the store. Why wait?
“I got a really pretty dress for Christmas!” Mariah said. “It was a good deal: half price!”
Her mother said they don’t normally shop on Black Friday because it is so crazy, but they were going to shop until they dropped or at least until they were too tired and hungry. The Samias agreed that most people were jolly. “Only a few were impatient or rude,” observed Mariah.

Waiting for the rush
At Princess Boutique in the VanDyke Commons shopping center in Lutz, employee Lisa Miller was preparing for the afternoon rush on Black Friday. According to Miller, Black Friday shoppers typically hit the big store sales in the morning, and then get to the smaller businesses in the afternoon. The boutique offers “unique ladies apparel and accessories.”

Michela and Chad Mollick of Wesley Chapel don’t normally shop Black Friday but were at Home Goods in Lutz later on Friday morning with their daughter Sophia, 22 months. Michela explained, “We contemplated (Black Friday) shopping before seeing lines. We drove by Toys “R” Us and Best Buy (Thursday) around 9 p.m. and already saw long lines.” They decided not to try the early, early morning shopping.

Sales beautiful at Ulta
Ulta Beauty in The Grove of Wesley Chapel shopping center opened their doors at 6 a.m. Erin Norris of Dade City, a manager at Ulta, said that sales were up compared to last year’s Black Friday. At 1 p.m. over 50 percent of their day was in and Ulta wasn’t closing their doors until 9 p.m. “We have had a line of 10-20 people (at the registers) continually since opening at 6 a.m.,” Norris smiled. The Ulta blockbusters, fragrances, gift sets, and 5 for $5 stocking stuffers were “flying out the door.”

Stuck behind five carts
Black Friday shopper Luis Galarza, pictured with son Brandon, spent the day finding deals around Zephyrhills with his family. One stop — the Bealls Outlet on Allen Road. The outlet store opened its doors at 6 a.m. luring holiday shoppers with huge doorbuster specials, 70 percent off clearance prices, 50 percent off Christmas for the home, and 15 percent off everything storewide on their Friday Club for everyone (Black Friday only).

On his first trip, Galarza explained he, “Had to park way in the back in the parking lot. Then, got behind a lady in checkout line with five shopping carts!”  However, he was happy that he had found a great deal at Bealls Outlet on a PlayStation 3 and Guitar Hero game.
His family did not enjoy their Walmart experience stating they would, “Never do Walmart again for Black Friday.”

Bealls ringing in Zephyrhills
Sheila Thompson, manager of the Bealls Outlet store on Allen Road in Zephyrhills, said the economy may be in a little better shape this year compared to last year. “We had four registers going since 6 a.m.” The store still had already passed 2009’s Black Friday totals around 5 p.m. and weren’t closing their doors until 10 p.m.

‘Definitely not’ again
Nathan n Jaclyn
After two-hours of shopping, Nathan Hunter and Jaclyn “Niki” Rice of Dade City left the long checkout line they were in around 2 a.m. at the Zephyrhills Walmart and had the customer service/returns counter check them out instead. Finished, they said they would “definitely not” do the midnight thing again.

Talked into going by daughter
Hazel Carmona was shopping in Dade City at Williams Fashion Center on Seventh Street, which also houses Lunch On Limoges. “I don’t go out on Black Friday,” explained Carmona, “I usually pretty much stay in!” Yet, her daughter talked her into going to Dade City — they figured it would be less chaotic. They were happy with their choice.
Phil Williams, owner / operator of the store and restaurant, stated that the, “Lunch side was a little busier than normal.” And, saw an increase in the number served compared to Black Friday last year. He was hoping that the Small Business Saturday campaign will help his clothing and dry goods business … and help other local small businesses.  The small business campaign, started by American Express, follows Black Friday in effort to send customers to the smaller retailers.

By Kyle LoJacono

Each year, Toys for Tots allows thousands of needy children in Pasco and Hillsborough counties to have that moment of excitement while opening presents Christmas morning.

The need for the program has become even greater in recent years and East Pasco Toys for Tots coordinator Bob Loring did not want to run out of gifts like the program did in 2002.
“That year at the Dade City distribution we ran out of toys early,” Loring said. “It broke my heart that we could not assist many of our folks. I still have that nightmare from time to time.
“We expect more requests for assistance than ever before and I’m hoping everyone will give something to help a child have a Christmas,” Loring continued. “The reasons are self evident. Bad economy, forecloses and layoffs are rampant throughout our fair community.”
The East Pasco chapter covers the entire county east of US 41. Loring is expecting 4,500 children to be registered for help this year. The story is similar in Hillsborough, where Sgt. Anton Spivey will not be surprised if record numbers turn out for help.
“The need is just so great right now,” said Spivey, Toys for Tots volunteer with the Tampa chapter. “You hear from hundreds of parents each day who want to make sure their kids have something special on Christmas.”
Both volunteers are or were involved with the Marines, which started the program in 1947.
“I’m honored to have this opportunity to assist our children in need,” Loring said. “What could be a higher calling?  I firmly believe that we need to mobilize the community around supporting our at-risk children. I still firmly believe in the American dream and I want all our kids to at least have a shot at it. We can do this, and in my view we must try.”
Herb Roshell, coordinator for the Land O’ Lakes distribution site, fondly remembers one parent who received a bike for her child from the program.
“We’d been holding onto a bike at a drive the year before last and wanted to give it to someone who really needed something special,” Roshell said. “Then one lady came in and when we told her she could take the bike for her child she couldn’t even speak. She just hugged us and thanked us for 20 minutes because she knew it would make her family’s Christmas.”
Roshell also thanked the Interact Club at Land O’ Lakes High for helping at the distribution each year and also added a group of Sunlake High students would help the process this year.
In Hillsborough, registered families can pick up their toys until Dec. 17 at 22 different locations. For information on registering or to donate, call (813) 805-7020 or visit tampa-fl.toysfortots.org.
Pasco has five distribution sites east of US 41, including Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City and Lacoochee. All toys will be distributed Dec. 17. Loring works directly with the public schools to identify the most needy children and registers them.
For the children not in public schools, Loring works through Premier Community Health Care, which handles Pasco Medicaid families.
“I am confident that we are assisting the most needy children and families,” Loring said. “These counselors personally know the families and the children. I like our method very much and have great confidence in this dandy partnership.”
To find the nearest toy drop-off location in Pasco or for more information, visit www.toysfortotspasco.org.
Along with the toys, Loring has worked to make a program called Food for Tots, which gives food and other needed items to the children along with toys. He does it with the different name because the Marines have a very specific goal for their program and cannot divert from it.
“It’s just like shopping without a cashier,” Loring said of how the distribution works in Pasco. “At some of the stations, parents also get to take socks and toothbrushes for the kids. We also give out food to the parents. They get frozen chickens with all the fixings for a Christmas dinner.”
To make any donations to the Food for Tots, e-mail Loring at .

How to help
Toys for Tots will hold mailbox toy drives on Saturday, Dec. 4 to help collect enough gifts for the thousands of children. It is the largest drive for the program each year. To donate to the cause, place new, unwrapped toys by a home mailbox and the mail carrier will bring it to the nearest chapter. All toys must be new and unwrapped to be accepted.

By Kyle LoJacono

Lutz Arts and Crafts Festival organizers are hoping for nicer weather and a larger turnout after a 2009 event where attendance was less than half its normal total.

An estimated 35,000 to 40,000 people attend the two-day event each year, making it the largest Hillsborough County art fair after the Gasparilla Art Festival.
However, last year a combination of bad weather on the first day and a new $2 fee per vehicle to enter the park imposed by the Hillsborough Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department brought that number to about 15,000. Edwina Kraemer, president of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Women’s Club, thinks the number will rebound for its 50th rendition.
“It’s a fabulous festival with a family-friendly atmosphere,” said Kraemer. “It’s a great place to do your Christmas or holiday shopping for everyone on your list. There are people who sell toys and clothes for babies, people who sell local artwork, jewelry and other arts and crafts things. If you need something for someone you’ll likely find it there and the great thing is the artists there are the people who made it. They don’t buy things and resell them.”
The event, which is organized by the women’s club, is always the first weekend in December, which is Dec. 4-5 this year. Admission is free for the festival itself after the $2 to park. That money does not go to anyone involved with the event.
The club was not in charge of the event back at the beginning, but has been its organizer for the 31st time this year.
“The festival started at the Old Lutz School on (US) 41 and later moved to the train depot across the street,” said Lutz resident Shirley Simmons, co-chairwoman for the event. “It moved to Lake Park about 10 years ago. We’ll have 260 vendors and several spots we give 20 to local groups for free. We’re all full for vendors and even have a waiting list in case people drop out.”
The Lutz Patriots, Relay For Life and the Boy Scouts are some of those who get free spots.
Kraemer, who was the Lutz Guv’na in 2006, first learned of the event before becoming a club member.
“Friends told me about it,” Kraemer said. “We went and had a great time. It’s kind of hard to live in the area and have not heard about it because of how big it has gotten. It’s fast becoming one of the largest in central Florida.”
Kraemer moved to Lutz from Carrollwood six years ago. She is a retired science teacher who taught at Gaither High during its first year in 1984.
Simmons said there will be vendors from Lutz, Land O’ Lakes, Odessa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City and New Tampa at the event.
Land O’ Lakes resident April Demulia has gone to the craft show for the last few years and loves everything about it.
“I’ve lived in Michigan, New York and Pennsylvania and this is the only place I’ve seen a craft show as awesome as this one,” Demulia said. “It has anything you can think of and prices are good for anyone. You’ve got little crafts you can buy for a few cents to expensive pieces of jewelry and artwork. It has something for everyone, including great food.”
Vendors will be selling traditional and not so traditional festival foods, such as barbecue, kettle corn, funnel cakes, sandwiches, hot dogs, breakfast breads, ice cream, and homemade baked goods.
Kraemer explained the Lutz festival has three goals: to give the community a fun local event, to give artists a place to display and sell their products and for the club to raise money to give back into the community.
“Everything we collect from booth sales will go to great groups in the community,” said Kraemer. “We give money to Boy and Girl Scout troops, the Civil Air Patrol, to youth scholarships, to the Lutz volunteer fire department, to the Lutz (Branch) Library and others.”

Lutz Arts and Crafts Festival
Where: Lake Park
When: 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Dec. 4, 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Dec. 5
Parking: $2
Admission: free

By B.C. Manion

The patrons file in and find their seats. The lights dim. The show begins at the Pasco County Schools Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel.

On any given day the performance could feature a magician, a saxophone player, ballet dancers or singers.
But these aren’t just any entertainers.
The magician, Bradley Fields, has appeared on international stages and uses magic feats to promote mathematics skills and problem-solving in his showed called “MatheMagic.”
The saxophone player, Eric Darius, is Blue Note jazz musician who did a clinic to help aspiring young musicians, in an addition to doing two performances.
The ballet dancers from DanzAmerica’s Project Inc., presented Tchaikovsky’s classic fairy-tale ballet, “The Nutcracker” and will do an encore this year. The performances feature dancers from America’s Ballet in New Tampa. Performances are scheduled for Dec. 9-10 for Pasco County students and on Dec. 10-11 for the general public.
Numerous student performances occur on the center’s stage, including a recent music concert by a group of 220 kindergarten through fifth-graders from Connerton Elementary, under the direction of music teachers Kristen Hillstrom and Barbara Falkingham.
Those children are among students from 43 elementary, middle and high schools from Land O’Lakes east to Zephyrhills, who take advantage of the professional theater located on the campus of Wesley Chapel High School, 30651 Wells Road.
The center, which celebrates its 10th year this year, offers incredible educational opportunities for students, said Patrick L. McDermott, the center’s director.
The recent visit by Eric Darius offers a prime example of the benefit that students derive from the performing arts center, McDermott said.
Not only did Darius wow the crowds with his performances, he also did a clinic with aspiring musicians from Charles S. Rushe Middle School, Wesley Chapel High School, Sunlake High School and Pine View Middle School.
“Eric Darius is an amazing musician and a fantastic showman,” McDermott noted in an e-mail following the musician’s two shows. “Both the matinee student audience and the evening public audience were blown away by this fantastic concert.”
McDermott also raves about Fields, the performer who teaches mathematics through magic.
Fields, who is set to appear at the center again on Jan. 27, applauds Pasco County Schools for giving students the opportunity to learn through the arts.
Schools make a mistake if they focus only on preparing students to take tests, at the expense of the arts, said Fields, who, in addition to being a magician is also a former New York City school teacher.
“What makes a difference is real, live performances,” Fields said. “Nobody knows where a kid is coming from, or where they are going,” he said, noting his show is intended to inspire kids and provoke them to think.
“I might have a 1,000 in a crowd,” Fields said. “Maybe one or two will have their lives completely turned around.”
The Pasco County Schools Center for the Arts offers an excellent venue for shows both large and small, McDermott said. It can handle virtually any show – but can’t afford to offer the more expensive Broadway shows because it would take too many performances to cover the costs.
Working out the schedule for the 927-seat theater is like putting together a jigsaw puzzle, he said. Last year, the center had 260 productions.
Every year, McDermott books between 12-15 professional groups to perform for students, the general public, or both. The shows come from places like Toronto, London, Dallas, California, New York, Omaha and other places.
“I think this is one of the jewels of the Pasco County school district,” McDermott said.
The theater is well equipped. It has a 48-by-35-foot stage, a 48-channel sound board, a large dressing room and two smaller dressing rooms for the production’s principal players. It has tall doors on the side of the building to enable large sets to be moved in and out.
Unlike most stages, which drop straight down, this one has steps leading down into the theater. That allows actors to walk out into the audience and enables singers to use the stairs as risers.
The stage is also used for special events, McDermott said, noting music teachers from Wesley Chapel, Seven Oaks and Watergrass elementary schools put on a Broadway Spectacular each year to raise money for the schools.
“Their level of musicianship is amazing,” said McDermott, who has a master’s in music composition and used to play trumpet in orchestras for Broadway musicals.
Besides providing performances for students at a nominal charge, the center also hosts public performances at much lower prices than many other professional theaters, McDermott said.
For instance, tickets for the Florida Orchestra sold for $20 each and tickets for Grammy award-winner Arturo Sandoval went for $15 each – both exceptional bargains, McDermott noted.
For more information about the arts center, its upcoming schedule and ticket availability, visit www.cfawesleychapel.com or call (813) 794-8772.

By B.C. Manion

Choosing a Christmas tree is pretty simple, right?
Well, that depends.
Do you want a Frasier fir or a Douglas fir? A blue spruce or a Scotch pine. Maybe you’re in the market for a white pine.
So, what’s the difference?

Matt Marsh, who works at a tree lot on SR 54, just west of Collier Parkway in Land O’Lakes, said “the best-selling tree” on his lot is a Frasier fir. People tend to like the shape of the tree and they have nice branches upon which to hang ornaments, he said.
Douglas firs are bushier and have a nice fragrance, he said.
Blue spruces have a nice shape, but sharp needles.
And Scotch pines are quite durable, but have very little scent, Marsh said.
In the end, it’s generally boils down to customer preference and the space they need to fill, Marsh said.
“Some people want a real skinny tree,” Marsh said, while others prefer plump trees.
Super large trees typically find a home at a church or hotel or other place that needs to fill a big space, he said.
Prices can vary, too.
At his lot, the Scotch pines sell in the $30 range, while the other trees generally go for about $10 a foot. However, Marsh noted, prices are negotiable.
Christmas tree lots were just beginning to pop up around northern Hillsborough and Central Pasco last week. No lots were easily visible from the main roads in Zephyrhills, and just one stand was going up on SR 54 near Interstate 75 in Wesley Chapel.
A lot had been set up at Gaither High and also at the Seal Swim School on North Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz. Another lot was operating on North Florida Avenue, just north of Bearss Avenue.
Sales for fresh trees usually peak around Thanksgiving and continue at a good clip for the next couple of weeks, Marsh said.
The trees are trucked in from Michigan and new shipments will come throughout the season to replenish the supply.
When the trees arrive, they often still have snow on their branches, Marsh said.
“Some have birds’ nests in them.”

For the glance box, perhaps we could imbed it into the tree lot photo? Just a thought…

Tree lot
A look at a tree lot before the rush begins to find that perfect tree.

Tips for choosing a fresh Christmas tree
The rush is on to find that perfect Christmas tree – a time-old tradition for many families, churches and businesses. If you’re in the market for a fresh tree, these tips from the National Christmas Tree Association may come in handy:
–    Be sure you know what size (height and width) you need before heading to the retail lot.
–   If you want to learn about the species of trees that are popular in your area, browse the National Christmas Tree Association’s website, www.realchristmastrees.org before heading to the retail lot.
–    Go to a retail lot that is well-lit and stores trees in a shaded area.
–    Ask the retailer when he or she gets his or her trees. Are they delivered at the beginning of the season, or do they come in several shipments throughout the season?
–    Look for indicators of dryness or deterioration such as excessive needle loss, musty odor, discolored foliage or wrinkled bark. A good rule of thumb: If you’re not sure a tree is fresh, choose another one. If none of the trees on the lot look fresh, go shopping elsewhere.
Maintenance and safety tips
–    Get a fresh cut on the trunk of the tree before leaving the tree lot. A fresh cut will help the tree absorb water
–    Put your tree in a sturdy stand to keep it from toppling over. Fill the base with water and replenish it frequently.
–    Use a tree skirt to help make it easier to clean up the needles that drop from the tree.
–    Use only indoor lights on the tree. To prevent potential fires, check for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, or loose connections. If a light string is damaged, don’t use it. Avoid overloading extension cords.
–    Turn off tree lights and decorations when you go to bed or leave the house.
Sources: The National Christmas Tree Association, the University of Florida/Institute for Food and Agricultural Sciences and the National Safety Council

Three state studies focus on Pasco, northern Hillsborough

By Kyle LoJacono

Rail systems have come to dominate the conversation for public transportation in recent months, but that is not the only way to increase movement in Pasco and northern Hillsborough counties.
The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is currently funding three studies on transportation corridors in conjunction with the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transportation Authority (TBARTA). The affected roads include:
–SR 54/56
–Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway
–Bruce B. Downs Boulevard
The SR 54/56 corridor study began last December and is scheduled to take two years. Elba Lopez, FDOT’s public transit/intermodal administrator for the area, said the goal is to decide if the 30 miles between Wesley Chapel and New Port Richey would benefit from managed traffic lanes for express bus travel.
“Managed lanes just means lanes devoted to buses and could also be used for carpoolers,” Lopez said. “That allows the buses to get through during peak levels of traffic and so they don’t slow down traffic either. There isn’t a set number of stops or anything like that yet. That corridor was identified as one of the priority one areas by the Regional Transportation Master Plan.”
Lopez said some of the reasons the area has been designated as priority one is the number of people that travel the corridor and the potential for growth in the coming years.
The boundaries for the project are Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, also known as CR 581, to US 19. The study is being done by RS&H at a cost of $500,000.
At this point, about 18 alternative plans have been proposed for the corridor. Once the more realistic ones are identified, FDOT will discuss them with the various stakeholders and the public.
In another study, the more than 100 miles of the Veterans Expressway/Suncoast Parkway from Tampa to Inverness in Citrus County is also being looked at for an express bus route with managed lanes. That study, which comes in at a price of $530,000, started very recently and is many months from completion, according to Lopez.
The last and most expensive study involves Bruce B. Downs from SR 54 in Wesley Chapel south to the University of South Florida, a stretch of about 50 miles. This project has more than just buses as a potential conclusion.
“That’s looking at bringing possible short-distance rail,” Lopez said. “It’s just conceptualizing it at this point. It’s not like tomorrow we’ll be putting down rails or anything like that, but it’s looking at the possibility.”
That rail study is only two months in and comes in at a $1.7 million price tag.
Stops along a future rail route are also not set, but stops in the area could include the Grove at Wesley Chapel, The Shops at Wiregrass and University Community Hospital.
FDOT spokeswoman Kris Carson said the public will be able to voice their opinions and get more information on the future of these corridors at later public meetings.
Information on these three studies or anything else related to the master plan is available on the TBARTA website, www.tbarta.com. The public can give their opinions and concerns there as well.

By B.C. Manion

A wrap-around porch and the sweet smell of barbecue smoke invite passersby on SR 52 to take a brief detour and grab a bite to eat at On Q Smokehouse Grill.

Linda Bailey, who lives between St. Leo and Dade City, has been enjoying the foods prepared by Willie Flott ever since he set up his mobile business on the vacant lot next to the wood-frame house in St. Leo about a year ago.
Flott set up the temporary shop to get to know the community and to find out whether there was a demand for the kind of food he serves, which is primarily, but not exclusively, barbecue.
When Flott found the community was receptive to his offerings, he decided to rent the house at 33030 SR 52 and do some renovations to get it ready for his business.
Bailey is glad Flott decided to settle in.
“I was one of his first customers,” Bailey said. She enjoys his barbecue chicken, his greens, his catfish and pork tenderloin – but she’s simply wild about his fried green tomatoes.
“I really haven’t had them like this since my mom made them for me when I was a girl,” Bailey said. “That was a long time ago.”
Paul Brenot and Marcia Stone shared a meal there recently, when one of the specials that day was a Fried Green Tomato BLT.
Stone said she enjoyed the fried green tomatoes and found the bacon to be smoky and meaty. Brenot reveled in the restaurant’s atmosphere.
“I love sitting outside here,” he said. “The weather we’re having right now is exquisite.”
Flott said he built the porch on the restaurant and reconfigured some spaces inside before he moved his business into the house.
“I personally thought the porch was my biggest selling point,” Flott said. He thinks it creates a welcoming ambience and lures patrons — especially when the building is lit after dark.
Flott said he prepares his barbecue by rubbing a mixture of spices onto the meats and cooking them over charcoal on custom-built championship smokers.
“We don’t put any sauces on anything. We want the customer to taste the flavor of the meat,” he said.
Customers can choose from a variety of sauces, including one concocted by Flott. The sauce, which has a mustard base, is also available by the bottle.
The menu includes sandwiches and burgers, salads, appetizers, platters, kids’ meals, beer, wine, coffee, tea and soda.
Besides fried green tomatoes, appetizers include asparagus fries, corn nuggets, fried pickles, fried mushrooms and chicken wings.
The restaurant also sells bulk items and offers catering.
Flott said he can handle parties of any size and has catered funerals, church picnics and other gatherings.
The name of the restaurant is a play on the phrase, “on cue,” which is how Flott wants to serve up his food — prepared properly and served right on time to satisfy his customers.
The restaurant is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday and from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m. on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
For more information about On Q, call (352) 668-4821 or visit www.onqsmokehousegrill.com.

By B.C. Manion

New River Township, a development on SR 54 in Wesley Chapel which came to a virtual standstill during the housing crisis, is now getting a jumpstart thanks to a deal involving $20 million in community district development bonds.
The bond deal took about two years to consummate, according to a news release from the Avalon Park Group, the project’s developer.

“The bond restructuring took time because it was complicated,” said Eric Marks, senior vice president at Avalon Park Group. That deal, coupled with homebuilder interest, is revitalizing the project, he said.
“Now you’ve got bonds that are appropriately sized for the market,” Marks said.
“We have a lot of builder interest,” Marks said, noting talks have been ongoing with local and national homebuilders. He expects to be able to announce the names of homebuilders soon.
Marks said he’s aware that the housing market remains challenging, but he said the houses will be competitively priced. He’s also optimistic that the new activity is beginning at a time when the housing market is beginning to recover.
Development of 365 lots and a clubhouse with pool have been completed for the new phase. Only four homes currently stand in that phase of the neighborhood.
There also are plans to construct a town center containing more than 700,000 square feet of retail, civic and commercial space.
When the entire project is done, the 1,800-acre New River development will include more than 4,800 residential units, with a mix of single-family and multi-family housing, as well as a town center.
The development plan includes more than 600 acres of natural preservation, walking and biking paths and man-made lakes, according to a company news release.
A community development district assesses taxes on property owners to pay for common infrastructure expenses such as roads and utilities.