Local News

Pasco County steps closer to creating a regional park in Two Rivers

January 3, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission has approved a contract with Coastal Design Consultants Inc., involving work associated with the co-location of a county park and Pasco County school sites, within the Two Rivers master-planned unit development (MPUD).

Two Rivers is a new community in Wesley Chapel, off State Road 56 and Morris Road. Plans for the development envision a 3,405-acre community that offers a mixture of housing types, work opportunities, shopping, recreation and schools.

Pasco County Schools was out on winter break, but in previous interviews, Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district has said the school district likely would co-locate a future school site in Two Rivers with a regional park.

During that discussion, Williams said the district had identified a potential site, but had not purchased it.

Co-locating the facilities would allow sharing of athletic fields and parking, Williams said.

The county’s contract with Coastal Design indicates the proposed site for the co-location of the school and park facilities is at the future intersection of State Road 56 and Coats Road.

The contract with Coastal, in the amount of $75,900, was approved as part of the county board’s Dec. 6 consent agenda. Items on that agenda are approved in a single motion, without discussion, unless someone pulls an item to be placed on the board’s regular agenda.

The board previously approved a professional services agreement for architectural, engineering and related services for improvements to parks and recreation facilities, with Coastal for environmental engineering and consulting services.

The recently approved task order involves grading and drainage master planning services that are needed for the co-location project. The site is approximately 180 acres, with the school site making up 73 acres and the county park making up 107 acres, according to the agenda materials.

The services being provided will aid in preparation of a mass grading plan to calculate the cut/fill quantities to determine if the site will provide excess fill, balance out or require fill.

The school board has agreed to reimburse the county for 50% of the task order amount after the work is completed, the agenda materials say.

The completion date for the project is set for 120 days from when the notice to proceed is issued.

Published January 04, 2023

Winter Storm Elliott causes disruptions here; deaths elsewhere

January 3, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Winter Storm Elliott spared Florida from its brutally frigid temperatures, whiteout conditions, massive power outages and major vehicle pileups on slippery roads — experienced in many parts of the nation.

The precise death toll resulting from the unrelenting cold, snow and dangerous conditions was uncertain, as The Laker/Lutz News went to press. But the number of dead continued to mount in the days following Christmas, based on national news reports.

Tampa escaped the harshest effects but it experienced one of its coldest Christmases in recent memory. Temperatures of 31 degrees Fahrenheit were recorded on both Christmas Eve and Christmas mornings, according to the Tampa Bay Office of the National Weather Service.

Those temperatures were much higher than the 20 degrees recorded in Tampa on Christmas Day in 1983. The weather also was chillier on Christmas Eve in 1989, when the low reached 24 degrees and there were snow flurries, according to the weather service.

Still, by Tampa standards, it was cold.

National television news reports showed images of airports across the country crowded with people waiting for their flights to be rescheduled, as well as a huge backlog of luggage at Tampa International Airport (TPA).

Initially, the harsh weather caused cancellations at major hubs, creating a domino effect at other airports around the country.

Tampa’s airport experienced a significant number of flight cancellations and delays around the holiday weekend because of deteriorated weather conditions around the country, according to Emily Nipps, director of communications at TPA.

After the weather improved, however, Southwest has continued canceling flights. Thousands have been canceled around the country, including hundreds at TPA.

For instance, of TPA’s 115 canceled flights on Dec. 28, all but eight were Southwest flights, Nipps said.

“All of the airlines are now back on track, for the most part, except for Southwest,” she said.

The massive disruptions caused by Southwest cancellations across the country enraged passengers, many expressing their anger and frustration in television interviews.

Department of Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg responded by telling NBC News that his department will be looking into Southwest’s scheduling system.

Buttigieg told NBC: “This has clearly crossed the line from what’s an uncontrollable weather situation into something that is the airline’s direct responsibility.”

In a video, Southwest Airlines CEO Bob Jordan apologized for the disruptions and said “we’re doing everything we can to return to normal operation.”

Jordan also pledged that improvements would be made to prevent this from happening again.

Aside from travel disruptions, the cold weather also prompted local governments to open shelters to help those in need to stay warm.

Both Pasco and Hillsborough counties responded to chilly conditions by opening cold weather shelters to provide a warm place for people to spend the night.

Pasco County’s shelters were open on Dec. 23, Dec. 24 and Dec. 25, and Hillsborough’s partners provided shelter on Dec. 23, Dec. 24, Dec. 25 and Dec. 26.

Published January 04, 2023

Pasco County ranks 25th on 2022 Florida Child Well-Being Index

January 3, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The results are in for the Florida Policy Institute’s 2022 Florida Child Well-Being Index, and Pasco County is ranked 25th out of the state’s 67 counties.

Hillsborough County ranked 18th.

Florida Policy Institute (FPI), which is the state’s KIDS COUNT partner, provides the index to measure performance across 16 indicators, in four major categories: economic well-being, education, health, and family and community.

Pasco ranked 23rd in economic well-being; 13th in education; 43rd in health; and 28th in family and community, according to the index.

The rankings for Hillsborough were: 12th in economic well-being; 28th in education; 13th in health; and 35th in family and community.

“These snapshots of Florida counties can help us pinpoint which areas of the state are in greatest need of resources,” Sadaf Knight, CEO of FPI, said in a release from the organization.

FPI is an independent, nonpartisan, and nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing state policies and budgets that improve the economic mobility and quality of life for all Floridians.

“Fostering strong public schools, bolstering the state’s safety net, and investing in a Working Floridians Tax Rebate to help boost income for Sunshine State families are all ways to reduce county-to-county child well-being disparities. We look forward to working with lawmakers to prioritize Florida children in the upcoming legislative session,” Knight added.

According to the index, St. Johns, Seminole and Broward were ranked highest overall for child well-being, while Hendry, DeSoto and Madison were ranked lowest.

However, Hendry, DeSoto and Madison did see improved graduation rates and fewer children living in poverty, the index shows.

“Counties with higher rankings are generally well-resourced places, where families can afford to invest in things like high-quality child care, education, and other opportunities for their children,” according to the FPI news release.

“Counties with lower rankings are regions that have borne the brunt of the state’s disinvestment in public services and where people face historic barriers to economic opportunity,” the release added.

“We want to recognize counties that are making the investment in their children and communities. The ultimate purpose of the Child Well-Being Index is to inspire all counties to ensure that children are able to grow and thrive,” Norín Dollard, PhD, senior policy analyst and KIDS COUNT director at FPI, said in the release.

The rankings were developed using KIDS COUNT data.

KIDS COUNT is a registered trademark of The Annie E. Casey Foundation in the United States and/or other countries and is used with permission of the Foundation.

Published January 04, 2023

Fishing for a better quality of life

December 27, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Out on the water, they’re just anglers.

While battling waves and some big fish, there is no talk of injuries or paralysis or other medical issues, or even the grueling but essential rehabilitative therapy.

This is their therapy.

Recipients of Tighten The Drag Foundation, a Lutz-based 501(c)3 nonprofit that helps better the quality of life for those with spinal cord injuries, get a fully-paid fishing weekend through the foundation’s annual fishing tournament in Safety Harbor.

Robert Tramontana, right, seen here out fishing with his brother, Matt, suffered a spinal cord injury in 2012 and has been wheelchair-bound since. Through Tighten The Drag Foundation, a Lutz-based nonprofit that helps improve the quality of life for those that have suffered a spinal cord injury, he and several others are afforded a yearly fishing tournament, as well as money to pay for rehabilitation therapy, which is not covered by any insurance. (Courtesy of Sheila Tramontana)

But, it’s more. The foundation helps those that have come for assistance participate in adaptive sports and enjoy recreational activities. It also raises money that will help pay for that therapy, which, shockingly, is not covered by any insurance.

“A lot of people don’t know that,” the foundation’s lead volunteer, Sheila Tramontana, said. “A spinal cord injury, it’s like your thumbprint, in that every injury is specific to that person. … So, there’s not one special treatment. It’s a special treatment per patient because every injury affects everyone differently.

“So, insurance companies don’t cover therapy because, most likely, someone with a spinal cord injury won’t walk again. While this therapy is necessary and worthwhile, it’s deemed this way by insurance companies because you just don’t know what kind of recovery each person will have.

“And my family, and son, quickly realized this the hard way.”

Sheila’s son, Robert Tramontana, was paralyzed 10 years ago, suffering a spinal cord injury while out on Crystal River. Robert, now 40, was scalloping with friends and decided to dive into the water to cool off. Robert isn’t sure what he hit — possibly a manatee — but his head hit it first and he became one of the 17,500 people in this country who suffer a spinal cord injury every year.

As Robert spent 87 days in the hospital, Sheila soon found out insurance would not cover the rehab therapy. It would have to be paid out of pocket and those sessions can run up to or more than $100 an hour, and, most likely, the therapy’s location is not nearby. Meaning, transportation also factors into this uncovered cost.

“It blew my mind,” Sheila recalls. “Just how little resources there were for helping this kind of injury. There weren’t places to go, nor is there an advocate for someone in a hospital who is looking for help for paralysis.

“Every person has to deal with it themselves, but they need support, and we’ll help. If you need therapy, we’ll pay — just go. If we can help get them through the door, it’s up to them and we’ll help how we can.”

Tighten The Drag doesn’t try to solicit new recipients. Most of the time, it will be through word of mouth because now, 10 years later, Sheila and the foundation have been able to let it be known that they can help those who suffered spinal cord injuries.

There are only two requirements: the person must be a Florida resident and the paralysis was caused by an accident.

Tighten The Drag’s group of volunteers who tirelessly work events and help out behind the scenes year-round. The Lutz-based charity raises funding that helps improve the quality of life for those with spinal-cord injuries.

From there, the foundation supports its recipients, from getting them the fully paid fishing tournament excursion, to other supplies they might need, to doing something special for them on their birthday and other recreational outings.

Sheila says the foundation fronts about nearly $3,000 in the first month and that each person who participates in the fishing tournament can cost up to $2,200. This, of course, all comes from fundraising and donations, such as getting money from the Lutz Guv’na campaign, for example, or the GTE Federal Credit Union in Lutz, which is the fishing tournament’s title sponsor.

“Someone like me, my goal isn’t to walk again,” Land O’ Lakes native and foundation recipient Aaron Lopez said. “That would be nice and great, but $100 an hour is actually on the lower side and it needs to be cash money every week.”

Lopez suffered a spinal cord injury in a motorcycle accident in 2014, but after nearly 10 years of therapy, this is built into his everyday life. He moves enough that the therapy, which the foundation helped him pay for, works in a seamless, but meaningful way.

Tighten The Drag recipient Sam Scribner, left, and his professional guide, Captain Ryan Amaturo, hold up a fish hauled in during the foundation’s Fall 2022 Tournament in Safety Harbor.

“The tournament, and foundation, is fantastic,” Lopez added. “To get injured people back on the water, forget about all the wheelchair and injury stuff for a little bit, and just feel like a person again.

“Insurance … doesn’t cover rehab, and I understand because why pay for something if it doesn’t make you walk again — that’s just the black and white way to put it, but the foundation gets that.”

Even more, the foundation acts like a reunion. It gets anglers back together, as a group of not just paralyzed people, but people still trying to live their best lives.

“It’s sad to see that insurance doesn’t cover it,” said New Smyrna Beach resident and the foundation’s social media manager, Sam Scribner, who fell out of a hammock in a freak accident in 2016 and broke his C5 vertebrae. “People don’t have the money and suffer because they can’t afford it, while the therapy, obviously evidentially, does wonders.

“But the biggest thing people get out of the foundation is getting people with spinal cord injuries together and talking. They exchange the how to’s of figuring out how to live this life that no amount of Googling will get you. We share experiences. … And we get back out on the boat, with the wind on our faces, just forgetting about the everyday life of spinal cord injuries and wheelchairs. It’s feeling like a person again, and I hope others feel the same.”

Tighten The Drag Foundation
Details: A Lutz-based nonprofit foundation helping improve the quality of life for those that have suffered a spinal cord injury. The name comes from competitive tournament anglers using the term “tighten the drag” as a reference to bearing down on a fish to overpower, take control and be successful at achieving the goal of landing the fish. Each year, the foundation hosts a fishing tournament that fully pays for its 25 recipients that have come to the organization to get out on the water and fish. Funds raised through events provide scholarships for Florida residents with spinal cord injuries to attend activity-based exercise therapy rehabilitative and recovery programs either in home with a personal trainer or in licensed facilities, participate in adaptive sports and enjoy recreational activities.
For more information or to donate to the foundation, visit TightenTheDragFoundation.org.

Published December 28, 2022

Pasco school construction adds options, addresses growth

December 27, 2022 By B.C. Manion

As 2023 approaches, Pasco County Schools is working on projects to add two new schools and to expand an existing one.

The new construction projects involve Kirkland Ranch K-8, at 33137 Innovation Drive, in Wesley Chapel, and Angeline Academy of Innovation, at 8916 Angeline School Way, in Land O’ Lakes.

The expansion project involves Starkey Ranch K-8, at 12200 Lake Blanche Drive, in Odessa, where a classroom wing is being added.

The Pasco County School Board heard an update on the Kirkland Ranch K-8 project during its Dec. 13 meeting.

This rendering shows what the new Kirkland Ranch K-8 is expected to look like, when construction is completed on the new school in Wesley Chapel. The scheduled completion date is in June 2024. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools/Hepner Architects)

Peter Hepner, of Hepner Architects, gave the board an overview of the design.

The new K-8 school will be built on the east side of the Kirkland Academy campus.

Details, according to Hepner’s presentation, include play courts and a covered play area outdoors, as well as parking lots for staff and visitors and a drop-off area for students.

The first floor will have spaces for administration, prekindergarten, primary classrooms, and elementary art, music and skills labs.

The student dining area includes a stage and there will be outdoor dining, too.

The second floor includes primary and intermediate classrooms, a media center and a teacher planning area.

On the third floor, there will be middle school classrooms, art and music areas, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Center and science labs.

Creative Contractors is the construction manager for the Kirkland Ranch K-8 project.

During the Dec. 13 meeting, the school board approved a guaranteed maximum price for the Kirkland K-8 project at $38,388,098. That price includes the construction manager’s fee, plus the cost of the work.

The project’s notice to proceed was issued on Dec. 13, and the date for completion is set for June 7, 2024.

In addition to building a new K-8 school on the campus, which is off Curley Road in Wesley Chapel, the school board has entered into a partnership with Pepin Academies, which is planning to operate a charter school on the same campus.

The partnership is unique in the state, according to Pasco school officials.

When the arrangement was announced on Nov. 8, Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent, told the board: “This is an exciting partnership — a lot of learning ahead of us to figure out how to navigate some of the rules and regulations that the state puts on us, relative to our relationship, but really looking forward to it.”

While those projects are on the horizon in Wesley Chapel, there are other projects that are coming in Central Pasco.

Work continues on the Angeline Academy of Innovation in emerging community of Angeline, in Land O’ Lakes. The school is about 1 mile east of the Suncoast Parkway at exit 25 off Ridge Road.

The STEM magnet school is expected to open with grades six through 10, with plans to become a 6-12 school.

The four-story building — the tallest school in the Pasco district — is under construction near Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned campus.

Moffitt’s planned development is the centerpiece of Angeline, a massive development, which is expected to attract cancer researchers and life science companies from around the globe.

Angeline’s plans also call for an extensive trail network to promote wellness, the latest in internet connectivity and diverse housing products — from apartments to luxury homes — to provide something for everyone.

Angeline Academy of Innovation is scheduled to open in the fall of 2023. Representatives of the school district and Moffitt have long been engaged in discussions over potential partnerships.

In another action on Dec. 13, the school board approved a contract with the Williams Company Tampa for a guaranteed maximum price of $9,587,997, to cover the construction cost and construction manager fees for the addition of a classroom wing at Starkey Ranch K-8, in Odessa.

The work is expected to be substantially completed by Dec. 11, 2023.

When the school district opened Starkey Ranch K-8 in the fall of 2021, it knew that the development would continue to grow, Chris Williams, director of planning for the school district told The Laker/Lutz News in a previous interview.

But it turned out that in addition to the growth within Starkey Ranch, the magnet school also attracted students who had been attending private schools and charter schools — speeding up the need for expansion, Williams said.

Published December 28, 2022

County wants zoning applicant to make self-imposed limits

December 27, 2022 By B.C. Manion

The applicant for a general commercial zoning says the intention is to develop a day care and a restaurant on an 8.39-acre site on Catfish Lake Road, north of off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

But the commercial zoning being sought would allow a broader range of uses, which prompted questions by members of the Pasco County Commission.

Area residents also brought forward their own concerns, based on a site plan submitted by EG3 Development.

Jason Glaser, representing the applicant, told the county board the intention is to develop a 12,000-square-foot day care, that would be a franchise, operated by a local Pasco resident.

A restaurant also is proposed at the front of the site, Glaser added.

The applicant submitted a site plan to show its intention, and revised it based on neighborhood feedback, Glaser said.

The original site plan had three buildings and two exits on Catfish Lake Road. The revised plan shows two buildings and one exit onto Catfish Lake Road.

The drop-off times at the proposed business are spaced out, based on the age of the children — so traffic backups wouldn’t occur, Glaser said.

Plus, he added that parents won’t be lined up in their cars.

“You have to physically park and walk your child into the property,” he explained.

Glaser said the project will be connected to a sewer system and stormwater retention will be provided.

“We do believe it is a use that will provide a benefit to the whole community,” Glaser said.

Some speakers who addressed the county board during the Dec. 6 public hearing said they don’t object to a day care because it would serve the community.

But they raised concerns about potential impacts.

Veronica Sanchez, of 2316 Reserve Court, Land O’ Lakes, put it this way: “Our community is not against rezoning. We’re very open to having a place for children.”

Their big concern is safety, she said.

“The first conceptual (site plan) was very concerning for us, because it was showing two entrances on the back side. We are much more comfortable with the new conceptual.

“We would like to request that that back entrance remain approximately 350 feet away from Camp Indianhead,” she added.

She also requested buffering between the new development and the existing neighborhood, to provide separation.

Plus, she asked that directional lighting be required to prevent “a big spotlight” going into people’s homes.

Other residents raised concerns about a lack of sidewalks and the difficulty of turning into the neighborhood from State Road 54, and getting out onto State Road 54, as well.

County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the site plan the applicant submitted is not binding.

The application is for a straight commercial Euclidean zoning, Steinsnyder said. That means, unlike master-plan unit developments or development agreements, the zoning doesn’t come with any additional restrictions.

So, anything allowed in the type of zoning being sought would be allowed on the parcel, provided it complies with provisions within the county’s land development code, Steinsnyder said.

Brad Tippin, the county’s development manager, reiterated that point. He told area residents that there’s no requirement that the applicant follow the site plan the neighborhood saw.

If the board wants to put limits on the types of uses, it can request the applicant to voluntarily comply to that through deed restrictions or a development agreement, Steinsnyder said.

Deed restrictions are used more commonly because the process is quicker and less expensive, said David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney.

Commission Chairman Jack Mariano told the applicant: “The people are bringing up a lot of good points.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told area residents: “Anytime you have commercial up against residential we have a buffer requirement, so those would kick in.

“We already have a dark sky lighting ordinance. Any lighting has to go down and can’t spill onto your property.

“I think a day care is a great use here,” she added.

But Starkey said: “I worry about fast-food. That’s the only thing I worry about coming in there because it just generates so much traffic.”

Mariano asked Glaser if he would agree to delaying the request to allow him to add deed restrictions.

Glaser asked if the delay was for the zoning, or for the deed restrictions.

Steinsnyder said the delay was to enable Glaser to pursue deed restrictions, which the board indicated would be needed to gain its approval.

Goldstein noted that the board had made it clear it doesn’t want to see a fast-food restaurant on the site.

“Unless there’s a deed restriction, you can put a Chick-fil-A there,” Goldstein said.

Glaser agreed to a delay.

The board delayed the request until its Jan. 24 meeting.

Published December 28, 2022

No expense spared at this dino park

December 27, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Life, uh, found a way — to New Port Richey.

The Museum of Archaeology, Paleontology and Science (MAPS) has brought an interactive, educational — not to mention — fun attraction from the past, right into Pasco County.

A velociraptor greets guests at Dino & Dragons, an interactive and educational attraction at Schwettman Education Center, 5520 Grand Blvd., in New Port Richey. The attraction, which runs through Feb. 26, allows visitors to get an up-close experience with nearly 100 life-size thunder lizards. The traveling exhibit was brought to Pasco County by the Museum of Archeology, Paleontology and Science (MAPS), as a fundraising effort. (Mike Camunas)

Dino & Dragons will be on display at the Schwettman Education Center, until Feb. 26. It features nearly 100 life-size dinosaurs and a few dragons.

The creatures move. They roar. They amaze. And, they educate.

This all happens along a trail designed to entertain the entire family.

So, grab your courage, and your Dr. Alan Grant hat, and get ready to go back in time to the Jurassic period that’s absolutely worth the trip.

They’ll show you
“Dinosaurs are synonymous with ‘Jurassic Park.’”

Those are the words of Director of MAPS Charles Zidar, who organized having the trail through Dinosaur Land and Mystical World on the old athletic fields at Schwettman.

Although they can’t exactly play up the 1993 blockbuster that spawned five sequels — and a massive amount of merchandise that keeps dinosaurs in pop culture even to this day — Zidar admits it’s hard not to think about walking through that park while exploring the attractions at Dino & Dragons.

Director of MAPS (Museum of Archeology, Paleontology and Science) Charles Zidar, left, helps Carlie Jarosz hold a baby dino in preparation for the opening of the Dino & Dragons exhibit in New Port Richey.

“Dinosaurs are nothing without ‘Jurassic Park,’” Zidar added. “But we played out the reality for educational purposes and we also played out the fantasy aspect of it, with dragons and a fairy and unicorn garden — and we’ll still make that as educational as possible, talking about the stories behind those mythical creatures and more.

“We’re educating people while having fun.”

Zidar expects visitors can spend up to two hours at the exhibit, especially if they spare no expense and grab some of the additional add-ons to the original ticket price.

The “extras” include taking the tour in a replica of the Ford Explorers from ‘Jurassic Park,’ which comes with an embryo to keep. There’s also a Triceratops laying an egg (and keeping the egg), a dinosaur-infested maze where visitors need to find a key card necessary for escape, and exploring the dinosaur nursery with giant eggs.

Don’t sleep on this captured T-Rex at Dino & Dragons, an interactive experience in New Port Richey until Feb. 26. Visitors to the ‘dinosaur park’ will get to see nearly 100 life-size dinosaurs, and a few dragons, and learn what life was like on this planet 65 million years ago, when dinosaurs ruled the earth.

Hold onto your butts
While it may not be the jungles of Costa Rica, Dinosaur Land and Mystical World won’t fail to impress.

The trail is well done, lengthy without spoiling the next station, and interactive, as each dinosaur will move, thanks to sensors. Visitors will gawk at the towering Brontosaurus that stands three stories high or jump when a Velociraptor appears out of nowhere.

Or they’ll marvel at a mama T-Rex, with its babies, as it moves and roars and delights, behind an “electrified fence” that looks remarkably like a baseball field backstop.

And all the money is going to the MAPS, a nonprofit museum at Wendell Krinn Technical School in New Port Richey.

“We’re trying to show we’re doing big things,” Zidar said. “Hopefully this will become our event site and maybe move into the building here, with our very extensive collections.”

Additionally, MAPS took over the basketball courts at Schwettman, and their visitors, for a little extra, can ride dinosaurs and even explore a “dig site” for bones and fossils.

“I rode the dinosaurs and had a great time, and I’m an adult,” Zidar said. “Kids, they’re going to love it.”

Before extinction
Indeed, this international traveling exhibit that has never been east of the Mississippi River, and required 12 semi-trucks to bring in, won’t be around forever.

Just like the dinosaurs, its time is limited, and Zidar expects plenty of visitors to come see a one-of-a-kind attraction, especially with its first appearance in the area.

It’s not just the Jurassic era visitors will see, but also creatures better associated with Westeros and King’s Landing, as there are several dragon exhibits to see, as well.

“Daily capacity is limited, but we hope as many visitors we can entertain come out to experience education and have some fun,” he said.

Come to enjoy some prehistoric fun — more than 65 million years in the making.

Dino & Dragons
Where: Schwettman Education Center, 5520 Grand Blvd., in New Port Richey
When: Exhibit runs through Feb. 26. Open Tuesdays through Sundays, 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Tickets start at $20 each
Details: Get up close and personal with nearly 100 life-size dinosaurs, and a few dragons. This interactive and educational experience gives visitors a chance to walk through a creature-infested maze. Additional experiences can include a dig pit, baby dino nursery experience, even a ride in a Ford Explorer, just like a certain dinosaur movie. The attraction is a fundraising effort by the Museum of Archeology, Paleontology and Science (MAPs), located on the campus of Wendell Krinn Technical School in New Port Richey.
Info: Visit DinoAndDragonsNPR.com. To learn more about MAPs, visit MapsMuseum.org.

Published December 28, 2022

Standing nearly three stories tall, this Brontosaurus towers over the Dino & Dragons exhibit, in New Port Richey. The attraction will be there until Feb. 26.

Expect these creatures and more when exploring the Dino & Dragons exhibit in New Port Richey.

Watch your step: Dinosaur Crossing at Schwettman Education Center in New Port Richey.

A mama T-Rex protects her young as an ‘electrified cage’ protects visitors to Dino & Dragons. The interactive and educational exhibit will be in New Port Richey until Feb. 26.

He was behind the scenes, seemingly everywhere, in Pasco County

December 27, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Rudy Jones was the man who kept the county’s generators, alarm systems and elevators running.

He would come to work early and stay late, as needed — to make sure that the daily business of government was not disrupted.

He often worked behind the scenes, but his work was not unnoticed.

And, when Jones recently wrapped up his 32-year career with Pasco County, he was lavished with praise from the Pasco County Commission and from Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles.

Rudy Jones is surrounded by supporters after he receives recognition from the Pasco County Commission for his 32-year career with the county. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Jones joined the county on May 21, 1990 working for the parks and recreation department. He concluded his career on Oct. 7, 2022, with his final role being a maintenance technician four in the facilities management department.

“During his career with Pasco County, Rudy has earned respect from all county departments, including Fire/Rescue, Court Administration, the Property Appraiser and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office,” Alvarez-Sowles said, reading from a resolution of appreciation adopted by the county board on Dec. 6.

The resolution lauded Jones’ proficiency in different trades and his diligence to ensure that Pasco County team members worked in a safe and healthy environment.

He dedicated himself to making “sure that any issues within the county facility were resolved safely and efficiently,” the resolution adds.

Jones was hailed for his professionalism and friendly nature.

If there was a maintenance issue in the clerk’s office, Jones was there — ready to tackle it, Alvarez-Sowles said.

“He has just been so amazing to work with, in my office,” she said.

She characterized him as being calm and steady, and able to come up with creative solutions.

Commissioner Ron Oakley said he noticed how Jones took care of problems when they arose in the county board’s chambers.

“They call you the king of the boardroom,” Oakley told Jones.

When the board members concluded their remarks, Jones got a standing ovation from the crowd.

And, when it was his turn to talk, Jones turned the attention to others.

He singled out Erik Breitenbach, assistant county administrator for internal services.

Jones told the crowd that Breitenbach had once shared a conversation with him, regarding some words a wise man had told Breitenbach. That man said there are essentially two types of people in authority; one, you have to salute; the other, you want to salute.

“On behalf of facilities and Pasco County, we all want to salute you and say ‘Thank you for your hard work,’” Jones told Breitenbach. “Mr. Erik has been a blessing to Pasco County, especially facilities.”

Jones also asked for Vito Tambasco, facilities maintenance supervisor, to step forward.

“Vito, I just want to say that I think, over the period of years we’ve worked together, we had, what, 36 people in your position?”

Tambasco responded: “Thirty-four, 35.”

Jones continued: “Of all that, you’ve been the awesome and the best supervisor that a person could ever have, on my behalf and facilities, I think. I just want to say, ‘Thank you and I love you like a brother.’”

In response, Tambasco opened his wallet and pretended to pay Jones for the compliment, eliciting laughter from the room.

When Jones went to pose for a photo with the commissioners, the facilities team stepped forward, in a sign of support.

It was quite a crowd.

Jones was obviously touched.

He thanked his colleagues.

“That means a lot,” Jones said.

Published December 28, 2022

Pasco needs more ways to get places, officials say

December 27, 2022 By B.C. Manion

A request for a rezoning in East Pasco sparked concerns about a lack of road connections between it and an adjoining neighborhood.

The issue came up during consideration of a request to rezone 38.29 acres zoned for agricultural uses to the Deer Springs master-planned unit development (MPUD) allowing up to 115 detached dwellings or 100 detached dwellings and 5 acres of office uses.

The new development is planned next to the Cobblestone MPUD, but there are no planned road connections between the two neighborhoods — because the county approved a waiver for the requirement.

Attorney Shelly Johnson, representing Deer Springs, told the county board: “There’s no place to connect to the north.”

County planner Tammy Snyder said it’s not possible to make road connections between the two developments because of Cobblestone’s development plan.

“It (Cobblestone) has platted residential lots and a great big stormwater pond abutting their southern boundary. So, there’s nowhere for this project (Deer Springs) to connect directly north to Cobblestone,” Snyder said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey questioned the planning that would allow that to happen.

“Why is there not connectivity to the neighborhoods around it?” Starkey said.

“I think there should be multiple ways to go north and south,” Starkey said. “There should be stub out connections,” she said.

“I just think we should be connecting,” she said. “If we don’t have a grid, you’re going to be bottlenecking.”

She added: “I just don’t like all of these neighborhoods that we’re building that don’t connect to anything, and I think we’re going to get ourselves in trouble.

“I just want to make sure we’re not making mistakes that we’ve made in the last 10, 15 years,” Starkey said.

She told county staff: “We need to be sure that going forward, that everybody is connecting.”

Despite those concerns, the request received recommendations for approval from both the Pasco County Planning Commission and from county planners, and it ultimately passed on a 5-0 county board vote.

Starkey’s not the only one who has raised concerns about the lack of connectivity.

Back in June, Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein raised the same issue during a discussion of the update of the county’s long-range plan.

Goldstein said the county has a tool, in its land development code, requiring connections between neighborhoods but said that it allows the requirement to be waived too frequently.

The interconnections are intended to give motorists additional ways to get around, without routinely being forced onto main roads to reach their destination.

The county has made progress in creating walkable communities, Goldstein said, but it needs to be more consistent in requiring interconnectivity between neighborhoods.

Published December 28, 2022