Land O' Lakes News

Development is heating up in Land O’ Lakes

January 20, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Recent rezoning applications suggest that Land O’ Lakes is on the radar for new development.

Potential projects on tap are a craft brewery, new retail and townhomes —all along a single stretch of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, north of State Road 54.

Each project received a recommendation of approval on Jan. 13, from the Pasco County Planning Commission, a voluntary group that advises the Pasco County Commission, after reviewing recommendations from the county’s planning staff.

The Pasco County Commission is scheduled to consider the three proposals at its Jan. 26 meeting.

Imperial Buffet is applying for a license to sell beer and wine at its location in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Imperial Buffet is applying for a license to sell beer and wine at its location in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

Representatives of Interior Elegance Inc., and In the Loop Brewing have applied for a beer and wine license at a building located at 3338 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

County records show plans call for a 540-square-foot brewery, a 2,800-square-foot tap and tasting room, and an outdoor beer garden of nearly 6,800 square feet.

Just south of the proposed brewery, owners of E List Properties are proposing to build about 7,500 square feet of retail, and five townhomes with a boat dock fronting Lake Padgett.

That nearly two-acre site is at 3300 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., north of Stiverson Road.

Real estate broker Jim O’ Brien represented E List Properties at the planning commission meeting.

O’ Brien told planning commissioners that no decisions had been made yet on the type of retail the project would include.

E List Properties is seeking to rezone a vacant lot on Land O’ Lakes Boulevard for townhomes and retail development.

After the meeting, O’ Brien said it is not surprising to see new interest in the Land O’ Lakes area based on residential development on U.S. 41, given the county’s new growth spurt. “It’s going to create more opportunities,” O’ Brien said. “People want to work where they live.”

He doesn’t anticipate a quick start to construction by E List, but he said, “Everything north of State Road 54 is booming.”

Brother Investments Inc., rounded out the three proposals, with a plan to build a contractor’s office, with storage, at 3228 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. The zoning, if approved, would change from residential to commercial and light manufacturing.

In other rezoning requests in Land O’ Lakes, Imperial Buffet in the Village Lakes Shopping Center, off State Road 54, is seeking a beer and wine license. The restaurant opened Jan. 15 at the former location of Ichiban Buffet.

In another request, John D. Jones is seeking to rezone property at 7329 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., north of Gator Lane, from general commercial to commercial and light manufacturing. He proposes to remodel an existing building as a contractor’s office, with storage space.

Published January 20, 2016

Woman’s Club scrambles for donations

January 20, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The sinkhole that developed at Lake Park in October hasn’t done anyone any favors, especially the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

The nearly 6-foot-wide, 100-foot-deep sinkhole forced the closure of the park in early December, forcing the cancellation of what would have been the 36th Annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival.

The event, which has attracted nearly 30,000 people in recent years, typically provides the club with several thousand dollars to give back to the community in the form of donations to nonprofits and college scholarships for local students.

“We’re really hard-pressed for funds as a result of the event being cancelled,” said Pat Serio, head of public relations for the woman’s club. “It is our largest fundraiser of the year and, as a result, our budget and our treasury is going to seriously suffer.

“Our scholarships in particular (will be affected) because we usually give upwards of $20,000 a year in scholarships, as well as the rest of the money we donate to the library, the Old Lutz School, Boys Scouts, Girl Scouts, Relay for Life, veterans’ charities and all that across the board,” Serio said.

The club is currently scrambling to put together some smaller fundraisers while seeking help from local community members to raise funds.

Upcoming events include a Valentine’s Day celebration on Feb. 12 and the club’s annual Flea Market at Old Lutz School on March 7 and March 8. In June, they will partner with Burger 21 for a one-day project, in which a percentage of the restaurant’s sales for that day will go to the club.

“We’re just working on lots of different little things, because it’s really hard to do a huge thing like the (arts & crafts festival) as a startup, so we’re going to be doing a lot of little things for this year,” said Cathy Mathes, president of the woman’s club.

Mathes, who took over as president in December from Kay Taylor, said it was frustrating to have the festival cancelled on such short notice, preventing the organization from having enough time to find a temporary location.

“At some point, we thought they could maybe just put some dirt in it,” Mathes said about the sinkhole. “But, they didn’t know the extent of it, until they did more investigating.”

Mathes added the club plans to find a new permanent location for the arts & crafts festival this December, saying they’ve encountered “other issues at Lake Park,” such as flooding on park roads that vendors and attendees would have to constantly maneuver around.

“It’s time to just find a new location,” Mathes stated. I think we can still have a really good show.”

While nothing has been finalized, the plan is to host the festival at one of the “big schools” in the area.

“I heard someone recently say how they looked forward to going to the festival, and they were disappointed. We’ve had lots of that,” the club president explained. “And, lots of people have asked me, ‘Are you going to do it again?’ and I say, ‘Yes. Yes we are.’”

The closure of Lake Park also has affected Hillsborough County as well. According to Forest Turbiville, the county’s director of conservation and land management, the park generated $119,000 in 2015 through a combination of entry fees, canoe rentals, shelter rentals and other special events.

“Keeping the park closed is going to have an impact,” Turbiville said. “What that impact is right now I’m not sure, but we can probably extrapolate those numbers based on previous years and business that we’ve done from November to December to January.”

Turbiville said the county is still looking into solutions for the sinkhole, with the assistance of Ardaman & Associates, an environmental consulting firm.

“We’ve discussed different ideas as far as filling it, keeping it fenced off,” Turbiville said about the lone sinkhole amidst the park’s nearly 600 acres of land. “I’ve asked our consultant to give me a proposal to take a look at the entire park and give out some kind of assessment…as far as any sinkhole activities, risks and things like that, because we need to make sure the public is safe before we start putting people back in there.

“This whole area has had a history of being quite abundant with sinkholes,” he said.

Being that the park’s land is actually owned by the city of St. Petersburg, Turbiville said he would need to get its approval as well before there’s a remedy for the sinkhole. But, he added: “If we were to do anything out there, I’m sure they would approve it.

“We just need to come to some consensus as far as what the plan is moving forward,” he said. “We’ll lay out a plan looking at the entire park and sinkhole risks, and we’ll have a better timeline on the park reopening, whether that’s going to be a month from now or two months from now.

“My guess is it’s going to be awhile before the park reopens,” Turbiville said.

Published January 20, 2016

Wesley Chapel Boulevard workshop set

January 13, 2016 By Kathy Steele

New growth in and around the intersections of State Road 56, County Road 54 and Interstate 75 is generating traffic jams.

The developments just keep coming.

Tampa Premium Outlets opened in October.

Culver’s and Cheddar’s Casual Café – are under construction.

Motorists round a curve leading from two lanes of County Road 54 into a more expansive four-lane divided roadway, with turn lanes, at the intersection with State Road 56. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — Motorists round a curve leading from two lanes of County Road 54 into a more expansive four-lane divided roadway, with turn lanes, at the intersection with State Road 56.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Site plans are filed, or on the way, for additional retail, hotels and offices as part of Cypress Creek Town Center.

Florida Hospital Center Ice — a sports complex featuring ice rinks and other sports courts – also is under construction.

One proposed traffic fix calls for widening County Road 54, which is also known as Wesley Chapel Boulevard, from north of State Road 56 to north of Magnolia Boulevard.

A public workshop will be held on Jan. 15 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., to discuss the estimated $53 million project and to gather public input on the road’s design.

The workshop will be held at Veterans Elementary School, 26940 Progress Parkway in Wesley Chapel.

People can view maps of the project, as well as ask questions of Pasco County officials and consultants from Kisinger Campo & Associates.

Representatives of the Florida Department of Transportation also are invited.

“It is a very big priority,” said Deborah Bolduc, the county’s program administrator for engineering services.

An initial study completed in 2003 recommended widening the two-lane road to match the now widened portion of the county road on its approach to the intersection with State Road 56.

Florida Hospital Center Ice, a new hockey and sports complex, has begun construction east of Interstate 75 and north of State Road 56. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Florida Hospital Center Ice, a new hockey and sports complex, has begun construction east of Interstate 75 and north of State Road 56.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

But, for motorists who turn off State Road 56 on to County Road 54, it’s only a short jaunt just beyond Old Cypress Creek Road before the four-lane, divided highway suddenly narrows to two lanes.

In the past decade more homes and businesses have been added to the area. Area residents often confront long waits along the road’s two-lane stretch waiting to navigate into the flow of traffic.

County officials decided to give the public a new look at the project and another opportunity to offer their thoughts.

“There could be some tweaks made based as a result of comments,” Bolduc said.

The widening project will be presented to the Pasco County Commission in spring. If approved, funds are budgeted for the next two years for design and right of way purchases.

Construction currently is scheduled for 2022, though Bolduc said that date could be pushed forward depending on availability of funding.

Published January 13, 2016

Festival seeks to become signature event

January 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is launching a new event aimed at giving people an annual music festival they can enjoy, while area businesses showcase their goods and services.

The festival is a new take on the chamber’s annual business expo that has been held for two decades at the Land O’ Lakes Parks and Recreation Complex.

The event, slated for March 11 and March 12, will be at the Fraternal Order of Police Pasco Lodge 29 property, at 21735 Camp YMCA Road, on Bell Lake, east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard (U.S. 41) in Land O’ Lakes.

Organizers have lined up Taylor Hicks, winner of season five of American Idol, to be the headliner on March 11, the first night of the Spring Music Festival & Expo.

Hicks’ appearance is deliberately timed to coincide with The Farewell Season of American Idol.

Hicks will perform after Solar Exposure, the opening act. The evening also will feature food trucks and beer/wine sales. No coolers or pets will be allowed.

The second day will spotlight businesses and family fun.

“This is super exciting. I can’t believe the energy and enthusiasm that’s already been generated,” said Elayne Bassinger, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

“The tickets have been selling (for the concert),” she said, noting that some Taylor Hicks fans will be traveling from out of state to attend the concert.

The second day of the event will combine music, a business showcase and fun activities for kids, said David Gainer, co-chair of the event.

“It’s really going to be more of a festive, community type day,” Gainer said. “We’ll have a kids’ zone. We’re going to have a whole bunch of games and bounce houses and those kinds of things,” Gainer said.

The musical lineup for March 12 includes local bands, including Ashley Smith & Josh Higgins, Bad Rabbit, Stonegrey and Bobby Summers.

The second day also gives businesses a chance to shine and the community a better chance to see what they have to offer, Bassinger said.

It also gives area residents “the opportunity to shop local,” she said.

Bassinger credits Gainer and event co-chair Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager of The Laker/Lutz News, for coming up with the new approach to the chamber’s annual business expo.

Bassinger is excited about the event’s new location.

“It’s a beautiful piece of property back there,” she said.

The new venue also offers organizers more options, Gainer said.

“If we were going to do a festival-type atmosphere and be able to provide certain beverages and foods, we had to have it on a non-county owned property,” Gainer said.

Tim Hennigan, president of the F.O.P. Pasco Lodge 29, said his organization is pleased to be involved in the effort.

“We’re very much a part of this community,” Hennigan said.

The event also gives his organization a chance to raise its profile.

“We want people to know who we are. We’ve always been in the shadows,” Hennigan said.

In addition to benefiting the chamber, the event will help to raise money to pay for a permanent memorial for Pasco County’s fallen law enforcement officers, he said.

Tickets for the March 11 concert are now on sale. The cost is $25 for open lawn seating, and $40 for preferred seating.

Tickets can be purchased online at CentralPascoChamber.com.

Published January 13, 2016

Connerton and Pasco on the path to new homes

December 30, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Kyle and Melody Marks fit in nicely with the demographics that are driving residential growth in Pasco County.

And, these young professionals are clear on the lifestyle they want for themselves and their two children, Amelia, age 5, and Brody, age 7.

In six months, they plan to move from a starter home to a new and larger home in Connerton, a master-planned community off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, also known as U.S. 41.

Kyle Marks, left, Amelia, age 5, and Melody Marks sit on a couch in the Lennar model home that is similar to one where they’ll live. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Kyle Marks, left, Amelia, age 5, and Melody Marks sit on a couch in the Lennar model home that is similar to one where they’ll live.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

Connerton is one of Pasco’s up-and-coming neighborhoods attracting eager buyers who want bang for their buck, a touch of the rural, and the amenities of big city life.

The Marks are saying goodbye to the temptation to cross the county line into Hillsborough or Pinellas, in search of a good restaurant or a shopping excursion.

“There is no more traveling back to Tampa for everything,” said Melody Marks.

The Marks set their sights on Connerton months ago, and became the first buyers of a Lennar-built home in the community.

Lennar is the newest homebuilder to offer homes at Connerton.

The Marks are part of an overall resurgence of home buying in Pasco County, which is recovering from the disastrous economic downturn in 2008.

Back then, new home construction constricted.

And, many residents saw their existing housing values plummet.

Some are still underwater, with mortgages that are higher than their property values.

But, that is changing, said Jeff Morin, vice president of sales for Lennar Homes.

“People wouldn’t sell before, because they were upside down,” he said. “This uptick has allowed people to be more comfortable that they can break even or make a little money.”

Developers are building more rooftops, and a growing population has hit critical mass and pay dirt for retail.

The sign at the entrance to Connerton is decorated for the holidays. The master-planned community is seeing an uptick in housing sales.

Tampa Premium Outlets is the most visible tip of an explosion of new shops, restaurants, hotels and offices that are here or on their way.

“We do everything over here,” Melody Marks reiterated.

When the Marks signed their contract, it wasn’t just for the shops and restaurants or because Kyle Marks’ parents already live in Connerton.

“It’s a lot more affordable here,” said Kyle Marks.

Statistics bear that out.

The year-to-date median price of a home in Hillsborough and Pinellas is about $218,000, while Pasco’s median price is about $154,000, according to data from My Florida Regional MLS.

Connerton’s housing prices generally begin in the low $200,000s, said Stew Gibbons, president and chief executive officer of Gibbons Group.

That price falls into the sweet spot for Pasco housing sales of between $140,000 and $250,000, again based on data from My Florida Regional MLS.

More than 350 families live in Connerton.

Connerton’s new home sales have averaged 100 or more annually in the past two years, and Gibbons anticipates that will increase by 50 percent in the next year.

Gibbons pioneered living in Connerton when he bought a home in 2006. He and a few other residents waited out the recovery.

“We knew ultimately it’s cyclical, even though this is one of the worst cycles ever seen and the worst downturn the nation has seen.” Gibbons said.

But, he said now, “That’s created pent up demand. It’s growing as confidence grows.”

For a time, the economic downturn turned the master-planned community into a poster child for a stalled future.

New construction of roads and streetlights stuck out in a neighborhood of blank spaces where hundreds of homes should be.

The future is much rosier now.

Kyle, Amelia and Melody Marks, left, will wait about six months for their new Lennar home to be built in Connerton. Stew Gibbons, president of Gibbons Group, and Jeff Morin, vice president of sales for Lennar joined them at the newly opened Lennar model home.

Plans for a town center and shops are back in the picture, likely to happen within two to five years, Gibbons said.

Pasco County owns about 20 acres that is set aside for a government center.

Connerton Elementary School is open, and Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM School, an elementary magnet school, is located to the south, off U.S. 41.

Residents currently can enjoy about two miles of nature trails.

Connerton is unique in pegging its housing numbers to job creation, as part of a state incentive program.

At 2,000 homes, for instance, 500 jobs must be documented within a one-mile radius.

More houses, shops, offices and hotels are on the way.

“Pasco should be pretty robust,” said Gibbons. “The number of rooftops relates to retail that can be supported. They withheld until the market returned. It’s rising everywhere.”

At the height of the housing bubble, 6,000 homes were selling annually. Gibbons said it hit a low of about 1,000 homes a year, but has risen to about 2,500 this year.

There is potential within five years to reach between 6,000 and 7,000 housing sales a year, he said.

Gibbons remains sold on Pasco’s economy, and Connerton, in particular.

“It’s easy to meet people. I’m still here. I still love it,” Gibbons said.

Published December 30, 2015

Land O’ Lakes stage project makes progress

December 30, 2015 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County School Board approved a contract that gives the school district the lead on constructing a stage at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park.

The contract between Pasco County and the state Division of Cultural Affairs calls for the construction to be completed by June of 2017.

The school board’s vote on Dec. 15 approved an agreement between the board and the county for the school district to assume the responsibility for getting the design work, permitting and construction done.

Future performances, by groups such as Pine View Middle School’s band, will take place on a new stage at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park, once the new stage is completed. The project must be completed by June 2017, according to an agreement between Pasco County and the Pasco County School Board. The band, shown here, recently performed at Traditions on the Green. (File Photo) — Future performances, by groups such as Pine View Middle School’s band, will take place on a new stage at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park, once the new stage is completed. The project must be completed by June 2017, according to an agreement between Pasco County and the Pasco County School Board. The band, shown here, recently performed at Traditions on the Green.
(File Photo)

“The school district is able to make the process a bit faster,” said Sandy Graves, of the Heritage Park Foundation, who played a pivotal role in securing the funding for the stage.

“I am elated that the school board is taking on the project,” Graves said, via email.

The money for the project came from a $250,000 appropriation by the Florida Legislature, following years of lobbying efforts.

The quest for a stage at the park has been nearly 20 years in the making, Graves said, during a previous interview. It took three governors to finally get the state’s support.

Construction of the stage follows the completion of a $2.3 overhaul of Land O’ Lakes Community Park. That improvement included the installation of a Bermuda grass practice field, a Bermuda grass football field and a 300-foot Bermuda grass softball field.

The upgraded park also has a new concession building with restrooms and a meeting room, a maintenance building, open space, two shelters, new parking lots, a new playground and a remodeled patio area. There’s also a four-tenths-of-a-mile walking trail.

Over the years, the Heritage Park Foundation has had all sorts of fundraisers and events to draw attention to its cause.

Foundation members sold turkey legs at the community’s Flapjack Festivals, sold coffee at the opening of the Suncoast Parkway, sold water at a balloon festival at Starkey Park, and sold doughnuts and coffee at the Central Pasco Chamber’s community expos.

They also had events, such as Traditions on the Green and Scarecrows ‘N Stuff, to keep the issue in the public eye.

Both the county and the school district will benefit from the project, by using it for various public and school cultural activities, including music, dance, theater, creative writing, visual arts and other art forms, according to the agreement the school board approved.

Graves envisions the stage as becoming a popular place for people to gather, to have good old-fashioned fun.

Published December 30, 2015

Christmas cheer dispensed here

December 16, 2015 By B.C. Manion

If you want to have yourself a merry ‘little’ Christmas, you may want to bypass Bill and Debbie Tuttle’s place.

They’re not into merry ‘little’ Christmases — they prefer presenting a mega-dose of holiday cheer. And, they deliver it through thousands of artfully arranged decorations.

Beyond the mere size and variety of the décor, there are stories behind scores of items in their display.

Bill Tuttle, from left, holds the family’s dog, Bailee, while posing in front of the family’s Christmas tree with his granddaughter, Kalise Mabingnay, and his wife, Debbie. The trio of elves has been busy decorating just about every square inch of their home for the holidays. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Bill Tuttle, from left, holds the family’s dog, Bailee, while posing in front of the family’s Christmas tree with his granddaughter, Kalise Mabingnay, and his wife, Debbie. The trio of elves has been busy decorating just about every square inch of their home for the holidays.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

And, in a true spirit of Christmas, the couple will open their home to the public on Dec. 18, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., so people can take a peek. The couple’s home is at 2308 Camp Indianhead Road in Land O’ Lakes.

When visitors arrive, they’ll see a lighted display in the front yard, and decorations adorning the house.

But, that’s just a prelude to what lies ahead inside.

Every room in the house is dressed up for the season.

Near the front door, a giant figure of Santa, welcomes those who enter.

There are trees, with various themes, in different rooms of the house.

In the office and crafts room, for instance, there’s a tree with ornaments made from old wooden spools and decorations depicting various crafts.

There’s a Mickey tree and a Minnie tree that Debbie Tuttle made, to complement the animated Disney characters adorning a shelf in the couple’s living room.

There’s also a massive tree illuminated by 5,000 lights and decked out with ornaments depicting moments of the family’s life through the years.

The couple’s zeal for Christmas is on display everywhere.

The sunken tub in the master bath, for instance, is off limits for the holidays because decorations encircle the tub.

Snowmen add to the festive feel at Bill and Debbie Tuttle’s home in Land O’ Lakes.

Even the dog crate, in the couple’s master bedroom, is decked out for the season.

There’s a holiday bedspread that Debbie made, on the couple’s bed.

There’s homage to her late father, too, featuring a miniature John Deere tractor, a small tree decorated with tiny John Deere hats, and a small figure of a fisherman — depicting the things that he loved best.

The dining room features an 11-foot bottle tree that Debbie made this year, using bottles she bought at Dollar Tree stores. “I went to 13 stores in one day,” she said, adding it took 201 bottles to make the tree, and she even picked up some of them in Orlando.

She also made a smaller tabletop tree that’s crafted from bottles of many colors.

In the kitchen, there’s a tree that’s dressed up with miniature gadget ornaments.

There’s also a gingerbread house on one counter, and an oversized ornament, serving as a centerpiece, on a kitchen table.

This 11-foot bottle tree is a new addition to the Tuttles’ holiday décor this year. Debbie Tuttle made the tree using 201 bottles that she bought from Dollar Tree stores. “I went to 13 stores in one day,” she said.

A 6-foot-tall nutcracker stands as a sentry, providing an imposing holiday presence.

There are plenty of snowmen and nativity scenes, Santa clauses, decorated trees and twinkling lights to see in other rooms throughout the house, and in the gathering spaces outdoors.

Holiday music also helps to boost the home’s holiday cheer quotient.

The couple has been opening their home for four years, offering some private tours and a couple of public open houses every holiday season.

More than 400 people turned out for the first open house, the couple said.

Besides giving people a feast for the eyes, they also provide cookies and cider, for those who visit their home.

There is no charge to take the tour, but donations are accepted.

The couple uses the money to provide Christmas for some families in need. This year, they think they’ve received enough donations to provide a Christmas dinner and presents for four families.

This stately Santa Claus offers a warm welcome to visitors to the Land O’ Lakes home of Bill and Debbie Tuttle, who host public open houses a couple of times during the holidays to share the spirit of the season.

Getting ready for the holidays at the Tuttles begins on Oct. 1 and takes considerable work, but the couple enjoys sharing their holiday handiwork.

They also enjoy sharing their enthusiasm with their granddaughter, 9-year-old Kalise Mabingnay, who lives with them and helps provide seasonal cheer.

Making holidays bright is what it’s all about, said Bill Tuttle, who works for Senior Helpers.

“If you can’t be in the spirit after leaving here, then you’re not ever going to be in the spirit,” Bill Tuttle said.

Christmas Open House
What: A Christmas Open House featuring a holiday display including 82 decorated trees, 70 animated characters, and thousands of lights and decoration, indoor and out.
Where: Bill and Debbie Tuttle’s house at 2308 Camp Indianhead Road, Land O’ Lakes.
When: Dec. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
How much: Admission is free. Donations are accepted to help provide a Christmas dinner and presents to families in need.

Published December 16, 2015

Land O’ Lakes library opens makerspace

December 16, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library officially opens its new “makerspace,” known as the Foundry, at a ribbon cutting on Dec. 17 at 10 a.m., at 2818 Collier Pkwy.

It will be the first dedicated makerspace for a Pasco County library, but likely not the last. The technology and equipment at the Foundry is the future for libraries that are adapting to the 21st century needs of their tech-savvy patrons.

Parents and children with the Lego robotics team talk about their upcoming projects. But yarn and thread, shown in the background, are part of the crafting supplies provided by the new makerspace at the Land O’ Lakes library. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — Parents and children with the Lego robotics team talk about their upcoming projects. But yarn and thread, shown in the background, are part of the crafting supplies provided by the new makerspace at the Land O’ Lakes library.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

The Foundry will have two 3-D printers, state-of-the-art Computer Aided Design (CAD) equipment, an Oculus Rift virtual reality system, and an audio recording studio.

However, traditional hand and power tools as well as crafting tools and supplies, including yarn and thread, also will be available.

At the ribbon cutting, there will be tours of the Foundry and demonstrations of the 3-D printer, the virtual reality system, and the recording studio.

Refreshments will be provided by the Friends of the Land O’ Lakes Library.

The Foundry will be open 15 hours a week, with a librarian available to answer questions and show how the technology works.

A survey was done to find out how people would want to use the makerspace, said Kathleen Rothstein, the library’s branch manager.

The room already is the meeting place for the Edgar Allan Ohms robotics team from Land O’ Lakes High School. The team is unique in being sponsored by the library.

However, Rothstein said the room also would host other activities.

Phoebe Mitchell, 16, shows off a washer made on the 3-D printer for use with a robot made by the Edgar Allan Ohms Robotics team from Land O’ Lakes High School.

“A lot of people want to learn textiles,” she said. “They want sewing basics classes, and to learn how to do small home repairs and woodworking.”

So far, people have used the 3-D printers to do small items, such as figurines, Rothstein said.

The printers can make items as large as 8 inches by 8 inches, she added.

The robotics team already is finding the CAD system and 3-D printers useful in building its robots. In one instance, the team produced a plastic washer.

It took about 10 minutes including prepping and cooling off times, said 16-year-old Phoebe Mitchell, the robotics team’s safety captain.

“It was a lot easier than going to a store to get it,” she said. “It’s cheaper than buying them. And, they seem to hold up really well.”

For information about makerspace, call the library at (813) 929-1214.

Published December 16, 2015

Master yoga at Land O’ Lakes High School

December 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Christie McClure paces before her students who stretch into warrior poses atop balance boards that, at times, bobble beneath unsteady legs.

The temperature in the yoga classroom is a perfectly regulated 90 degrees. Humidity is 65 percent.

Students expect to sweat and, to sweat a lot.

Master yoga instructor Christie McClure, 15, founded the Land O’ Lakes High School Yoga Club. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — Master yoga instructor Christie McClure, 15, founded the Land O’ Lakes High School Yoga Club.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

“The key to being on the board is you always want to have big breaths,” McClure tells her students, who are members of the Land O’ Lakes High School Yoga Club. “You’re going to have to have full trust in me.”

At age 15, McClure is a master yoga teacher, certified nearly three years ago through Live, Love, Teach, a nationally recognized yoga alliance program. It’s an unusual accomplishment for one so young.

She also is founder of the yoga club, a feat she accomplished in her first year at Land O’ Lakes High School.

“It’s really rare for a freshman to do that,” said classmate and yoga club member, 16-year-old Vanessa Toro.

Toro is among more than 60 students in the club. There are no dues. But, once a month, on a Friday, a dozen or so students get their yoga togs on and settle onto the balance boards in the hottest room in Land O’ Lakes.

McClure teaches Baptiste-style yoga at Florida Power Yoga, at 7016 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., directly across from the high school.

McClure’s mother, Denice McClure, owns the studio, which lives up to the motto etched on the studio’s storefront window – “It’s Not Your Grandma’s Yoga.”

Baptiste is very physical, high energy and nonstop motion. Gentle yoga, it is not.

Instead of rolling out a yoga mat, Leah Burch, 15, right, and Justin Cheriyan, 15, both from Land O’ Lakes, move into the chair pose on the patent-pending The Original Power Board.

And, classes at Florida Power give yoga another twist with boards that test balance and strengthen the body’s core.

Denice McClure, also a master yoga teacher, is co-creator of The Original Power Board. A patent is pending on the sturdy board that is generally yoga mat size with a rocking motion and a paddleboard look.

The boards are used with all classes. Sometimes free weights are added.

“This actually gets you pumped and sweaty,” said 14-year-old Novatana Wheeler.

“This is a different type of yoga,” said Leslie Rabi, age 15. “You’re constantly sweating and constantly moving.”

The yoga poses are familiar – the downward dog, the chair, warrior one and two, and at the end, a few minutes of meditation, in the dead man’s pose.

“You get to stop time basically,” said Christie McClure.

Yoga is a family passion.

The young woman stretched into her first downward dog at age 5. Her mother had raved about how awesome her yoga class was.

“Well, I wanted to do that,” she told her mother.

Some students test their flexibility and strength with the wheel pose, while balancing on a board.

Denice McClure had been a stressed-out parent, living in Ohio, with not enough hours in the day. But, she took yoga at a friend’s suggestion and came away a convert.

“Every piece of my life made sense,” Denice McClure said. “I actually had more time by going there.”

Trained as a chemist, she retired at age 38 and toured the country learning from different yoga teachers and working toward master certification.

Her daughter was right there, undaunted by being a child novice among adults. She has a maturity that is earned.

“She gets acclimated to the adult world,” her mother said, “and forgets she is 15.”

Christie McClure wanted to start a yoga club at Pine View Middle School. But, she had to wait until freshman year at Land O’ Lakes High School.

“I wanted to have a club where students could find an outlet and get interested in an activity,” she said.

Florida Power Yoga puts a unique spin on power yoga as seen in the studio’s message on the front window.

The club also focuses on helping other students who need help buying books and other supplies. Special yoga events are held to raise money. The goal is to donate $2,000 to the high school by the end of the year.

One recent Friday afternoon, Justin Cheriyan, 15, took his first power yoga class. He is a yoga club member who plans to be back.

“I was looking for a more aggressive form (of yoga) to relieve stress,” he said.

The appeal of power yoga covers the gamut from weight loss, to meeting up with friends, to becoming a more conditioned athlete, Christie McClure said.

Behind her, an eye-catching mural captures the spirit of power yoga with messages encouraging participants to “challenge your limits,” “get ready to sweat,” “inhale,” and “wring it out.”

Just give it your best and the rewards come, the young yoga teacher said.

“As long as you’re getting messy and feeling great, that’s what our goal is,” she said.

Published December 9, 2015

Get your pets, and pet supplies, here

December 9, 2015 By Kathy Steele

It’s not something that you would think would happen very often, but surprisingly enough, it happens more than you would think.

People show up at Pasco County Animal Services Department ready to adopt a pet, but forget to bring a leash or carrier to take home their new dog or cat.

And, when they forget the pet supplies, it can be problematic, said Animal Services Manager Mike Shumate.

Getting a pit bull from the shelter into a parked car, for instance, can go awry, if the dog decides to bolt, he said.

“We want convenience for our customers when they walk out the door,” Shumate said.

Pasco County commissioners voted on Dec. 1 to allow the agency to sell pet adoption supplies and promotional items to support the agency’s services, and its animal shelter at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes.

Items for sale will include collars, harnesses, leashes, carriers, crates and training items. The supplies are expected to arrive at the shelter by January.

People adopted 699 cats and 1,499 dogs from the agency in fiscal year 2015.

To help encourage more adoptions, the agency is offering special deals through December. The fee for a dog older than eight months is $20; for a cat of any age, it’s $10.

All adoption fees include spay/neuter, microchip and vaccines.

In addition to adding adoption supplies, the board also gave the agency permission to sells promotional products with embossed logos including T-shirts, cups, mugs, magnets and bumper stickers.

Those products are already available, Shumate said. The T-shirt in particular is popular, he said.

“We’re not looking at making any profit,” Shumate said. “We’re not in competition with local pet stores or veterinarians.”

The sales prices will be scaled to cover purchasing and handling costs to the county.

The pet adoption supplies are focused solely on providing the transition from shelter to new home.

The promotional items will help market the agency and its logo, Shumate said.

“It’s something people are going to recognize and know more about,” he said.

To adopt from Pasco County Animal Services, visit the shelter at 19640 Dogpatch Lane in Land O’ Lakes. Or, for information, email .

Published December 9, 2015