The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Land O' Lakes News

Circle K buys the Land O’ Lakes Plaza

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Circle K is the new owner of the Land O’ Lakes Plaza, a nearly 50-year-old shopping center along the busy commercial corridor of U.S. 41, at Hale Road.

The plaza, built in 1966, is considered to be Land O’ Lakes’ first shopping center. Today, the approximately 2.4-acre plaza is occupied mostly by mom-and-pop enterprises including a barbershop, a liquor store, a café, a nail salon and an antique shop.

Circle K plans to tear down the Land O’ Lakes Plaza to build a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store with gas pumps and a car wash. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Circle K plans to tear down the Land O’ Lakes Plaza to build a new 5,000-square-foot convenience store with gas pumps and a car wash.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The $1.55 million sale between the plaza’s owner, A & M Somerset Inc., and Circle K closed about two weeks ago, according to Georgia Watson, a broker with Grimaldi Commercial Realty Corp. She represented A & M Somerset in the transaction.

“It was purchased as an investment,” Watson said. “It was purchased strictly to redo the property. The whole shopping center will be demolished.”

Circle K has filed a conceptual plan with Pasco County’s planning department for a 5,000-square-foot Circle K store with gasoline pumps and a car wash. Currently there is an older Circle K and Shell gas station at U.S. 41 and Hale, immediately north of the plaza.

County records show Circle K General Inc., bought that adjacent corner site in 1987. The property was sold in 2004 to RI CS2 LLC, but continued to operate as a Circle K store and gas station. Development plans filed with the county do not show what will happen to the existing Circle K.

Circle K representatives could not be reached for comment.

The trend in recent years is for brands, such as WaWa, Thorntons and Circle K, to build modern, more trendy gas and convenience stores, Watson said.

WaWa representatives had looked at the site, she said, but didn’t pursue a contract. “This (Circle K) seems to be the best fit.”

The new development is a welcome addition, Watson said.

“Land O’ Lakes has kind of been behind Wesley Chapel, Lutz and Odessa. They are growing much faster than we are,” she said. “It’s nice to see some good activity going on.”

Published May 20, 2015

 

Land O’ Lakes to get Dairy Queen, apartments

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A Dairy Queen and a long-planned apartment complex at Terra Bella are under construction on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, between Livingston Road and Via Bella Boulevard.

The fast-food restaurant is expected to open in two to three months, possibly by the Fourth of July weekend, according to Keith Bennett, owner of Retail Site Development.

Dairy Queen is expected to open by July 4 on a parcel next to the Terra Bella subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Dairy Queen is expected to open by July 4 on a parcel next to the Terra Bella subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The Dairy Queen location is one of several outparcels adjacent to Terra Bella that are available for commercial development. These smaller commercial projects are benefiting from proximity to shopping malls such as The Grove in Wesley Chapel, The Shops at Wiregrass and the soon-to-open Tampa Premium Outlets, Bennett said.

“Between those three projects…you’re getting outward growth,” he said. “It’s natural for commercial development like this, with interested companies like Dairy Queen.”

The fast-food restaurant will seat about 75 people and have a drive-through window. Bennett owns additional commercial parcels adjacent to the Dairy Queen site.

Once that project is complete, he said, “We’ll look to see what we choose to do with the balance.”

Southeast Commercial also is marketing commercial outparcels fronting State Road 54 at Terra Bella.

Behind the Dairy Queen site, along Venezia Avenue, construction also is under way on Alta Terra Bella, an apartment complex of 311 garden apartments in 14 three-story buildings.

The North Carolina-based Wood Partners is building the complex as the final residential phase of Terra Bella, a community of more than 250 single-family homes.

A groundbreaking was held late in 2014. Construction is expected to finish by May 2016, but leasing could begin as early as September of this year, according to a press release from Wood Partners.

The project is projected to generate $24.5 million in local income, $2.5 million in taxes and other revenues for local governments, and nearly 380 jobs. The data provided by Wood Partners in its press release is based on a formula used by the National Association of Home Builders.

Published May 13,2015

Library is all-in for robotics

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Edgar is a show-off.

He flips a large exercise ball into the air with a thumping, quick-action lever.

But the roving robot – a compact collection of digitized metal, plastic and wires – would be nothing without his human creators – the Edgar Allan Ohms Robotics Team.

The little guy- all 15 pounds or so – couldn’t even whir and zip across the floor without a human programming a computer and toggling a joystick.

Edgar the robot rests quietly after demonstrating his throwing skills to Regan Kubus, left, Lego club mother Audrey Pease, Bryce Kubus, Felix Nguyen, Maaz Khan, Danny Urbonas, Dylan Pease, Corey Drexler and library administrator Sean McGarvey. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Edgar the robot rests quietly after demonstrating his throwing skills to Regan Kubus, left, Lego club mother Audrey Pease, Bryce Kubus, Felix Nguyen, Maaz Khan, Danny Urbonas, Dylan Pease, Corey Drexler and library administrator Sean McGarvey.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The human operators are impressed at what robots can do at their commands.

“They can do whatever you want them to,” said 15-year-old Logan Boudreau. “The way each component works with other components to complete a task is fascinating.”

Boudreau is among about 25 members of Edgar Allan Ohms, a nearly two-year-old robotics team that is sponsored by the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library.

The library’s sponsorship is unique and possibly the only one of its kind in the nation, the robotics team’s website says. So far no one has found a similar team at any state or regional competitions where most teams are based at area middle and high schools.

Library officials are taking another step forward in their commitment to robotics by creating FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League teams for youngsters who could be the next generation of engineers for the robotics team.

With help from NASA grants, the goal is to have seven teams that can compete in FIRST Lego League competitions.

Grants from NASA and the county, each for $5,000, helped seed the Edgar Allan Ohms team in 2014. Business sponsorships and about $3,000 from fundraising also paid initial costs.

“The one thing you know is there are a lot of very nice people in the community,” said Joel Croteau, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and lead mentor for the robotics team.

Library officials kicked off the Lego efforts last month at area libraries.

“We’re trying to get a feel for how we can get this to work for us and for them,” said Alicia Haney, youth services librarian at the Land O’ Lakes branch. “We want kids to have an opportunity to get interested.”

The Danish-invented brand – Lego – is a titan among children’s games, almost a rite of passage for youngsters who love piecing together its interlocking building blocks.

Their creations can be as basic as a house or as complex as a movie-themed action figure.

Lego’s “Mindstorms” game takes imagination to the next level with creations that are programmable and mobile.

Haney said children learn the importance of precision, math and step-by-step logic.

“It’s the first step before you get to the robotics team,” she said. “It’s an eye-opening thing. They find out: This is how my game works. We’re also trying to keep it fun,” Haney said.

Lego fun piqued the interest of many on the robotics team. Miller Bacon, 15, and Boudreau remember Lego games from seventh grade.

“We’ve all had an interest in robots somewhat since we were little,” Bacon said.

Phoebe Mitchell, 15, didn’t have robotics on her radar when she went to a library-sponsored Rockus Maximus battle of the bands. But a robot got her attention. “I was allowed to drive it a couple of minutes,” she said. “I decided to try it. It’s fun.”

In 2014, the rookie team placed 43rd among 62 competitors at the FIRST Robotics Competition Orlando Regional. The theme was “Aerial Assist.” The Pasco County Commission honored the team with a resolution.

FIRST was founded by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway.

The Edgar Allan Ohms team built a second, larger robot, dubbed 2chainz, for the 2015 competition with the theme of “Recycle Rush.”

Team robots picked up and stacked recyclable containers and totes to earn points for accomplished tasks. The Land O’ Lakes team landed in 45th spot against 66 regional and international competitors including teams from Florida, Georgia, Germany and Turkey.

“That was a good showing for a second-year team in a very competitive event,” said Croteau.

Team members attend Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake and Wiregrass Ranch high schools. Some members are home-schooled.

In April, the Land O’ Lakes library set up the county’s first “makerspace” in a former computer lab, providing 3-D printers, an auto-CAD (computer-assisted design) computer and 3-D virtual reality gaming glasses.

The robotics team is in keeping with the goal of encouraging technology and creative arts.

With the regional FIRST challenges under its belt, the team isn’t idle. After school, they tinker with Edgar and 2chainz to make them better.

Other competitions, including clashes between “battle bots,” are on the horizon. These robots are smaller, speedier and designed to flip and disable competitors.

“The thing about battle bots is to build the most destructive robot within the guidelines,” said Boudreau. “That’s the hope. The more destructive the better.”

On a recent afternoon the robotics team and the Land O’ Lakes Lego club shared space to work on their own projects.

Edgar got a brief work out, tossing the giant ball.

Lego club members took turns programming a “Mindstorms” Lego robot they had built from scratch.

“The program is real simple and easy,” said Sean McGarvey, library administrator. “If you have any experience on a computer, you can start right away. You can get really intricate.”

Dylan Pease, 11, sat at the computer tapping in instructions for the robot that would be “a little, little more complicated.”

His brother Matthew Pease is on the robotics team, and that is Dylan’s goal when he gets to the ninth grade.

Their mother Audrey Pease supports her sons’ passion for robotics.

“I hope they learn a bit about program management, time management, team work and gain leadership skills,” she said. “I watch and support, but I don’t mess with it.”

The focus was on getting the Lego robot to either pick up and stack an object, or roam across a game board in search of a brown dot.

“It’s kind of complicated, and I like it,” said 10-year-old Regan Kubus who is home-schooled with her 11-year-old brother Bryce Kubus. “Sometimes you get to build them, and that’s really cool.”

Bryce Kubus busied himself drawing a banner for the team and waiting a turn at driving the robot. “I like putting it together,” he said.

Team member Corey Drexler, 11, said he really liked programming the robots. “Basically it’s controlling the robot, like mind control.”

McGarvey said robotics is one more way libraries are expanding their knowledge base and keeping children interested in learning.

The library helps kids develop talents they didn’t know they had, McGarvey said.

“It’s a very good program. Kids learn a lot,” he said.

Published May 6, 2015

Bexley Ranch divided in two

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The Land O’ Lakes property will be developed as Bexley North and Bexley South

 

The Pasco Commission has made it official.

The sprawling Bexley Ranch property, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, has been split into rezoned tracts known as Bexley North and Bexley South.

Interior roads are being constructed for the development of Bexley South, a Land O’ Lakes community being developed by Newland Communities. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Interior roads are being constructed for the development of Bexley South, a Land O’ Lakes community being developed by Newland Communities.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Commissioners voted April 21 to allow the developer to do away with the original 2006 development agreement in favor of the two redrawn subdivisions.

Bexley South is under ownership and control of Newland Communities that is developing a master-planned community, similar in scale to the company’s Fishhawk Ranch and Westchase communities in Hillsborough County.

The Newland property is about 1,733 acres and includes the acquired properties of Ashley Glen and Suncoast Commercial on the north side of State Road 54, east of the Suncoast Parkway, and on north and south sides of Tower Road.

The Bexley family will retain ownership of Bexley North, which contains about 5,400 acres. The property is on the north and south of Tower Road, extending east to Suncoast and the CSX rail corridor. The planned subdivision is allowed about 11,000 single-family homes, 1,000 apartments and townhomes, about 295,000 square feet of commercial and retail, and about 537,000 square feet of offices.

Meanwhile, development preparation work continues in Bexley South.

“Newland (Communities) which has begun developing the southern portion is very excited to be in Pasco County,” said attorney Andrea Zelman, who represented both Newland and the Bexley family at the April 21 public hearing.

Site preparation and construction on the main entrance into the mixed use, residential and commercial community of Bexley South began last summer.

No buildings have yet been constructed. The community will be built in phases over 20 years.

The project includes construction of elementary, middle and high schools, an 80-acre district park and the option of an 18-hole golf course.

Bexley South’s master plan sharply reduces office space from a one-time high of about 2 million square feet to about 562,000 square feet. However, the county would allow up to 1.8 million square feet of offices, if needed.

In addition Bexley South is approved for 1,200 single-family homes, 520 apartments and townhomes, and more than 94,000 square feet of commercial and retail.

The vision also includes triggers for design and construction of roadway improvements based on housing volume and traffic analyses for both Bexley North and South. Among the developer’s obligations would be phased extensions of Tower Road and Sunlake Boulevard, linkage of Bexley Village Drive from State Road 54 to Mentmore Boulevard, a roundabout at Mentmore and Bexley Village, and construction of the intersection at Tower and Ballantrae Road.

The master plan anticipates neighborhood centers and pedestrian-friendly amenities including common areas, green spaces and trails.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey made a plea that developers design trails that “meander” and don’t merely follow a roadway, such as Tower Road, in a straight line.

Put it far enough from the curb that it is safe for families, she said.

“When a trail meanders,” Starkey said, “it’s a much better experience.”

Published May 6, 2015

Geocaching is elaborate game of hide and seek

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If you want to visit the Tampa Bay Geocaching Store in Land O’ Lakes, it’s easy to find. Just go to

N 028 13.552

W 082 27.421

And, you’re there.

If using a geographic coordinate system to find a local business seems unusual, it is.

But if you’re geocaching, it’s actually the best way to find where you’re going.

Caches usually have a logbook documenting who found it and when. Elaine Erickson can look through one of her own caches and see a record of how many people have been there. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Caches usually have a logbook documenting who found it and when. Elaine Erickson can look through one of her own caches and see a record of how many people have been there.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

So, as a tribute to the hobby they serve, the store lists its coordinates on its website, along with its traditional address, 4710 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Geocaching isn’t easy to describe by comparing it to other outdoor activities.

Part treasure hunt, part sightseeing trek and part community bonding experience, it’s a game you can play close to home or just about anywhere in the world.

“It’s fun to do and gives you a chance to get out of the house, get into nature and see different things,” said Elaine Erickson, owner of the Tampa Bay Geocaching Store.

Erickson has found around 1,200 caches from more than a dozen states during the last seven years, and she never tires of the thrill of finding a new one.

Participants leave small geocaches (waterproof containers) at random locations across the planet. They’re hidden, but only to people who aren’t geocaching. The goal is to make them available to other players, so they post the coordinates on list sites and mobile phone apps used by those who want to find them. Players then input those coordinates, and after a little snooping, usually find the geocache and the logbook that’s placed inside. The logbook reveals how often the site has been visited and how far people have traveled to find it. And, once you find the geocache, you can record your name in the logbook.

There’s also usually a small prize associated with finding a geocache.

It’s customary to take an inexpensive trinket from the site when you find it, and leave a small trinket for the next person who finds it. The items can be as creative as the locations in which they’re found.

There are a few rules, though.

For instance, you can’t plant them on private property and you can’t place them near a school or anywhere else where activity near the cache may prompt concerns about suspicious behavior.

You can’t litter, either. In fact, many geocachers take the time to clean up litter in the cache area when they see it. It’s part of the community philosophy, Erickson explained.

Not surprisingly, geocaching took hold only when technology allowed everyday people to find specific locations across the globe with relative ease.

In the past 15 years, it’s grown to include millions of people around the world, with several websites and clubs devoted to playing.

There are more guidelines and details, and it’s not surprising that it’s unfamiliar territory for many people.

“I get people all the time coming in here going, what’s geocasing?” Erickson said, noting their inability to pronounce the hobby’s name. People also think it has something to do with rocks, she said.

To help explain things better, Erickson is hosting a free geocaching class on May 9 at her location from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. She’ll go over the basics, answer questions and even take the group to their first cache.

She’s hopeful that new geocachers come out of the group and participate in the activity. Erickson goes geocaching with friends and on her own, sometimes finding just one in a day and other times dozens — her record is more than 50.

It’s a pursuit that appeals to people of all age groups, abilities and schedules, and is only limited by a person’s free time and interest in looking.

“It’s a family friendly activity,” she said. “Anybody can do it.”

For more information about geocaching or the free class, call (813) 335-6787 or visit TampaBayGeocaching.biz.

Published May 6, 2015

 

Kohl’s and Culver’s submit site plans for Cypress Creek Town Center

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Kohl’s is the latest retailer to schedule a sit-down with Pasco planners as a future tenant at the Cypress Creek Town Center at State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The store’s conceptual plan on file with the county shows a 55,000- square-foot building at the same intersection where construction crews are hard at work on the 1.1 million square-foot Tampa Premium Outlets.

Cypress Creek Town Center at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is getting tenant interest from Kohl’s department store, Chick-fil-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Cypress Creek Town Center at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is getting tenant interest from Kohl’s department store, Chick-fil-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

According to county records, representatives of the national department store chain were expected to attend a pre-application meeting scheduled for April 28.

No official announcement on Kohl’s presence at the proposed outdoor mall has been made. Kohl’s has stores in Brandon, Lutz and New Port Richey.

A Kohl’s representative wasn’t available for comment.

Other tenants who have indicated intentions to open at the mall are Costco, Chick-fi-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.

Chick-fil-A plans a 4,791-square-foot fast-food restaurant at Cypress Creek with 132 seats. And Cheddar’s Casual Café is proposing an 8,066-square-foot restaurant with its signature fresh, made-from-scratch menu items including croissants, salmon filets and hamburgers.

Costco Wholesale Inc., filed its plans in December for a 153,000-square-foot discount membership warehouse club. The retail giant was second behind Walmart in 2013 among the top 10 of 250 global retailers.

Culver’s likely will have a mid-June groundbreaking and a fall opening timed with the opening of the outlet mall.

This will be a second location for franchise owner Marty Roeske, who opened his first restaurant in Wisconsin nearly 15 years ago. He and his wife are moving to Wesley Chapel, while their son operates the Wisconsin restaurant.

“When I dream of a location, I’m thinking about access, population and incomes,” Roeske said. “I can’t think of any characteristic that isn’t there.”

The employment base, with area high schools nearby, also is strong, said Roeske, who has searched for more than two years for a Florida location.

Tampa was on the radar, but Wesley Chapel won out.

“We warmed up to Wesley Chapel quickly,” he said. “It’s so new and has so much energy. It’s only going to go up.”

He is proposing a 4,235-square-foot restaurant at Cypress Creek with 110 seats. A bicycle rack and a covered patio also are part of the plans.

The fast-food chain offers its signatures “Butterburgers,” fried chicken, sandwiches and salads.

In addition to this location, a different Culver’s franchise owner also has submitted plans for a 4,242-square-foot restaurant at The Shoppes at Trinity Lakes. A pre-application meeting took place on April 6, according to county records.

Currently Culver’s has 541 restaurants in 22 states. The Wisconsin-based chain is expanding its operations in Florida. In the past two years, 11 franchised locations have opened in the state. The first was in Naples; two are in Tampa.

“It’s a hot bed,” said Paul Pitas, Culver’s spokesman. “We have a lot of folks who are transplants from the Midwest. They’ve moved there, or they are snowbirds, but they definitely know the brand.”

Published May 6, 2015

Florida Medical Clinic’s expansion story continues

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Florida Medical Clinic is continuing to expand at a brisk pace, with an 85,000-square-foot facility expected to open near Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel in March 2016, and a 15,000-square-foot expansion at its facility on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes now under way.

The new projects are part of a story that dates back to 1993, when four practices in Zephyrhills decided to merge to gain advantages they could not secure independently, said Chris Alvarez, the health care provider’s chief financial officer.

Florida Medical Clinic’s new 85,000-square-foot location in Wesley Chapel will be a three-story building. It is expected to open in March 2016. (Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)
Florida Medical Clinic’s new 85,000-square-foot location in Wesley Chapel will be a three-story building. It is expected to open in March 2016.
(Courtesy of Florida Medical Clinic)

Since then, Florida Medical Clinic has grown to have 43 locations totaling 550,000 square feet, with 750,000 patient encounters each year. It has 235 providers, representing 33 medical specialties, Alvarez said.

It also has ambitious plans.,

The five-year vision is to have 70 locations, with 1.3 million patient visits a year, Alvarez told those gathered at an economic development briefing organized by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. Alvarez spoke at a luncheon meeting at Hoosiers Grille at the Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club on April 23.

Florida Medical Clinic will be building the new 85,000-square-foot structure in Wesley Chapel at 2352 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., north of State Road 56.

“Obviously, the location is perfect for us. It’s very close to the hospital,” Alvarez said. “It’s a great location from a visibility standpoint.”

There will be 60 physicians and 200 employees in that building, Alvarez said.

“Everything we’re going to do at Wiregrass is going to be practices that already exist in the Wiregrass area or new providers that we’re going to bring in, or have already brought in, in anticipation of that opening,” Alvarez said.

The new facility will provide a convenient one-stop shop for patients, as patients will be able to see their doctor and pick up prescriptions at the same location, he added.

In Land O’ Lakes, Florida Medical Clinic is building a 15,000-square-foot addition, at a location it opened in 2009.

There’s room for another building there, which the clinic may construct sometime relatively soon, Alvarez said. When that occurs, Florida Medical Clinic’s total presence at that site will be 75,000 square feet.

Just two years ago, Florida Medical Clinic expanded its main campus in Zephyrhills at Market Square to open a new urgent care facility. It also built a 12,000-square-foot office on Eiland Boulevard that it shares with DaVita Healthcare Partners Inc.

Deciding when and where to build and consolidate is an organic process for Florida Medical Clinic, usually based on the number of doctors and specialists the company has partnered with, and where they are located, according to Alvarez.

“We’re always looking for opportunities to grow,” Alvarez added.

“We don’t really grow through acquisition,” Alvarez said. Instead, it grows as medical practices approach them with an interest to join.

“We just kind of merge their practice in. If you bring a practice, you become a shareholder.

“In a perfect world, we build one large building, based on primary care. We have some some specialists that are based and fixed at that building, others that rotate through a couple of days, as necessary, to provide support. And then we have the ancillary services, diagnostic imaging, potentially pharmacy, things of that nature.”

Florida Medical Clinic’s model for growth seems to be effective, Alvarez said.

“It’s been, obviously, quite successful,” he said.

Published April 29, 2015

Thai fighting traditions in Land O’ Lakes

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Muay Thai is a combat sport, and elements of it can be seen in popular mixed martial arts competitions on television. But at KOH Muay Thai, 6450 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., students get an appreciation for the sport that’s very different from televised battles.

“You don’t see people disrespect their opponents,” said head trainer Ben Marrs, who is also co-owner of KOH Muay Thai. “There’s no trash-talking. If you knock your opponent out, you go see if he’s OK. You bow to him. If you have a good fight with someone, win or lose, you always show respect.”

Head trainer Ben Marrs adjusts the equipment of Raef Toler during a Muay Thai workout session. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Head trainer Ben Marrs adjusts the equipment of Raef Toler during a Muay Thai workout session.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Marrs teaches Muay Thai the way he learned it: With the principles and customs that come straight from Thailand. His first trainer was from Thailand, and Marrs himself spent a great deal of time there, competing and learning the discipline from the place where it originated.

While KOH Muay Thai has a ring where competitions can take place, most of their students don’t actually fight there. They have to earn the ability to spar, and most of them are there for fitness and the self-defense benefits. And those benefits can be pretty significant according to Marrs.

“You can leave here in one class and take something away from it that will help you for the rest of your life. One class,” he said.

Most students, of course, take more than one class. They become regulars.

That includes his business partner’s son. Co-owner Melisa Philange put her son, Owen Male, into a Muay Thai program after she felt he wasn’t progressing in a different martial art.

Even though her son is just 6 years old, Philange is happy with what he’s gained from it.

“It’s fantastic. I love it. He does so well. He has a nice sense of respect for himself.”

Learning Muay Thai, and the traditions that go with it, is good for young people, and can also help with problems associated with bullying, Philange said.

KOH Muay Thai is something people of all ages can learn and practice.

One of the teens involved is Raef Toler. He didn’t originally see himself as someone who would become heavily involved in martial arts. But now that he’s found Muay Thai, he’s hooked.

“I was anxious at first, but when I got in here I was like, you know what? This is something I really love to do,” Toler said.

The Land O’ Lakes High School junior now comes by at least twice a week after school, both for self-defense purposes and for an intense workout. After just a few weeks, he’s excited about his progress and is interested in fighting on an amateur basis.

Whether someone wants to start competing or simply wants to get in better shape, another philosophy they honor is the concept of togetherness.

“It becomes like a family,” Marrs said. For him, that often includes cooking for a class that meets on Saturdays, preparing authentic Thai cuisine that he studied while overseas.

But Marrs’ main passion is teaching, and after achieving the lofty rank of Kru Yai (assistant master) earlier this month, he’s in even better position to see his students transition into healthier, happier people.

“That’s the best part. I watch people who join, they come in, and I watch their body change in four weeks, six weeks, eight weeks. And they feel so good about themselves,” he said.

And for Philange, she’s happy to bring authentic Muay Thai to an area that has martial arts academies, but nothing as dedicated to the philosophy and spirituality of this particular discipline.

“There’s nothing like it,” said Philange, who also lives in Land O’ Lakes. “It brings culture to our community.”

KOH Muay Thai has a current promotion where students can take their first class for free. For more information, call (941) 713-1257.

Published April 29, 2015

Construction crews give shape to Pasco’s first magnet

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Construction crews are fully engaged in the project to give Pasco County its first magnet school, which is set to open this fall in Land O’ Lakes.

Jason Petry, principal of Sanders Memorial Elementary School, has been immersed, too, in the task of hiring teachers for the school, which will focus on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Interest in the district’s first magnet is evident.

Principal Jason Petry, left, has been working to get staffing lined up for the inaugural year of Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school, which will be housed at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. Jeff Wright, of Ajax Building Corp., is the project manager who is overseeing construction work on the project. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Principal Jason Petry, left, has been working to get staffing lined up for the inaugural year of Pasco County Schools’ first magnet school, which will be housed at Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes. Jeff Wright, of Ajax Building Corp., is the project manager who is overseeing construction work on the project.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

There were more than 1,689 applicants for its 762 student seats.

Most of those seats have been filled, but some of those initially chosen have opted out, leaving some available for students lower on the list, Petry said.

Students aren’t the only ones expressing a desire to be at Sanders.

The school drew 180 to 200 applicants for its teaching staff.

The vast majority came from Pasco County Schools, but there were also applicants from Pennsylvania, New York, Illinois and Arizona, Petry said. He was surprised by the out-of-state applications, since the openings were only posted on the district’s website.

Hiring was nearly completed, as of last week.

“We’ve hired our 40 teachers. We’re working on P.E. (physical education), music and art this week,” Petry said on April 24.

While work is wrapping up on selecting the school’s staff, construction crews are still hard at work to complete the building.

Sanders’ roots in Land O’ Lakes date back to 1948.

The school district funded the redesign of Sanders in 2008, but the project was put on hold because the housing market crashed. The initial plans had to be updated because of changes in codes and to address the school’s curriculum needs.

When completed, Sanders — located at 5126 School Road — will be almost entirely new. Just three of the former school’s buildings remain on site. The rest were demolished.

Besides being the district’s first magnet, Sanders also will benefit from an agreement between the school board and Pasco County. The arrangement aims at providing more recreational opportunities for school children and the community at large, while also broadening learning opportunities and providing a venue to accommodate community gatherings.

In keeping with the school’s educational mission, classrooms will have wireless technology and large-screen televisions. There’s also a space designed to foster collaboration between students and between classrooms. And, there is storage space for student projects and sinks in classrooms, to accommodate experiments.

The school also will equip each student with technology. Kindergarteners and first-graders will have iPads, and second-graders through fifth-graders will have laptops.

While the district moves forward with its academic preparations for the school, considerable construction progress has been made.

Still, much work remains.

Jeff Wright, project manager for Ajax Building Corp., is confident the project will be finished on time.

“The stuff that makes it look done — that’s the easiest part,” Wright said. “There’s a lot that happens very quickly in the finishing steps.”

Initially, Sanders’ lottery system gave preference to students living in the Connerton and Oakstead elementary schools to help relieve overcrowding at those schools.

In the coming year, the school will be serving primarily Central Pasco, but there will be students coming from as far away as Zephyrhills and New Port Richey, Petry said.

“I’m real excited about this school,” Petry said.

“This school is like a pillar in the community. Everybody that I come across is like, ‘I used to go to Sanders’ or ‘My grandmother used to go to Sanders’ or ‘My dad went to Sanders.’ ”

Petry said he’s looking forward to leading a school that will emphasize the four Cs: collaboration, communication, creativity and critical thinking.

Students need to learn how to work in teams, share ideas, take chances, and when they fail at something, to persevere, Petry said.

Being willing to take chances and to fail is part of how the world works, he said. The important thing is to learn from failure and be persistent.

“People who create ideas at Google and Apple, they get shot down a lot. They just keep on having to move forward. Even though their ideas aren’t making it, they’re still persevering,” Petry said.

Seeking expert help

Sanders Memorial Elementary School is gearing up to become Pasco County’s first magnet school. The school, which will open this fall in Land O’ Lakes, will have a curriculum focusing on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

It is seeking experts in those subject areas to help enrich the learning experience for its students.

At the moment, the school is specifically looking for experts in computer coding, robotics, drones, and the arts, said Principal Jason Petry. But he expects to continue adding to that list.

Anyone who wishes to share their expertise would need to register with Pasco County Schools, Petry added. If you’d like to help out, contact Petry at .

Published April 29, 2015

It’s playtime: Brothers enjoy making music

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Things can get a little loud at the Dorsey house in Land O’ Lakes.

With four brothers ages 6 through 11, they can fill the house up with sound.

But you won’t hear a loud television blaring or children screaming over toys. Instead, you’ll hear violins being tuned. Piano keys being played. Music stands being moved into place.

The Dorsey brothers spend many days practicing their instruments as part of their home schooling. From left, Nathaniel and Anthony are on their violins, and Daniel is on the piano. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
The Dorsey brothers spend many days practicing their instruments as part of their home schooling. From left, Nathaniel and Anthony are on their violins, and Daniel is on the piano.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

And then you’ll hear elegant pieces of classical music, performed by artists who spend a lot of time honing their craft.

When these boys play together, it doesn’t sound like anything you’d hear on the playground.

The three oldest brothers, Daniel (piano), Nathaniel (violin) and Anthony (violin), participated in this year’s Justine Le Baron Young Artists Competition, an annual event sponsored by the Florida Orchestra Musicians Association.

Daniel took third place in the Junior Piano category, while youngest brother Aaron, at age 6, gave the piano a rest and sat this one out.

Their mother, Rowena Dorsey, doesn’t mind the symphonic sounds in her house the least little bit.

“It’s like a regular music school if you ask me,” she said with a laugh. “We are kind of an unusual family.”

Rowena home-schools the boys, so their music practice is a scheduled part of their day. Rather than just going through the motions, the boys enjoy working on pieces of music and performing them well, after plenty of practice.

After dinner with their mother and their father, Martin, they frequently repeat their latest efforts with both parents listening to their improvement.

If it sounds like music is a time-consuming pursuit for the boys, it is.

But that’s what they like to do.

Their parents encouraged them to pick up instruments at a young age — they all started around age 5 or age 6.

But the enthusiasm is all their own.

Their parents don’t force them into competitions.

They choose when they want to compete, and they practice because they want to play better.

“Ultimately, I really want them to enjoy it,” Rowena said.

They do enjoy playing, she said, but they’re also very competitive.

That’s why a seemingly impressive performance at the Young Artists competition might be something of a disappointment.

“It felt weird,” Daniel said about his third-place finish. “I was going against the same people in another competition and I won first (place). And I was against them again, and they beat me this time.”

David likes to challenge himself, repeatedly practicing a difficult piece until he has it mastered.

He’s been involved with music for about half his life, and he’s always displayed a natural ability toward playing.

He has fun with both piano and cello, and can’t imagine going very long without having a chance to practice and play.

Daniel prefers the challenge of performing alone, but he appreciates the chance to play with his brothers and to enjoy the dynamics of a group setting.

“When I get to play with my brothers, I get to experience how to play as a group,” he said. He also has the chance to discover when to come together as a group and when to back out and let another person play solo, he said.

Younger brother Anthony also likes playing with his brothers, but he prefers a different instrument.

“I like the sound of the violin,” he said. “I like getting the notes in tune.”

He started playing violin after seeing his brother, Nathaniel, play the instrument.

And Nathaniel doesn’t mind that his little brother is following in his footsteps. While it’s a fun instrument to play, he said, it’s not easy.

“Sometimes it’s hard, but I just have to learn it,” he said.

While they love practicing a challenging piece of music and performing in front of people — there’s a recital for home-schooled students at the end of the month — the brothers do have other interests. They watch a little television and enjoy playing board games (“Clue” is a big hit in their house). But the soccer field is a main attraction, and the boys are eager to kick the ball when an instrument isn’t handy.

No matter what they do, Rowena said the lessons learned from playing music stay with them and help them succeed in various activities. From math to soccer, improvement via consistent practice is a discipline that serves them well outside of music.

And inside the house, the Dorseys find classical music to be a pleasant-sounding alternative to noisier activities for young boys.

“It is very nice,” Rowena said. “I don’t have to worry that they’re glued to the TV. That doesn’t really grow their brain. I just know that this music is really helping them develop.”

Published April 1, 2015