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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco seeks input on Lacoochee planning

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For now, the plan is to create a plan.

Planners with Pasco County’s planning and development department are working on doing just that in the Greater Lacoochee area. It’s the northeastern most part of the county and includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee.

In this case, the county is looking to build upon ideas and plans set forth nearly two decades ago, but also wants to lay out a realistic plan for one of the most rural parts of the county.

Dozens of Lacoochee residents and citizens attend the first public workshop at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee on Aug. 30. (Mike Camunas)

The county’s goal is to gather, collect and analyze resident and citizen feedback, while also taking into account the area’s potential and expected growth.

“There was a lot of work that was done about 10 to 15 years ago, so we’ve been pulling that and used that as a foundation,” said Sonide Simon, a long-range planner for the county. “We also looked at what had been done then and are also looking at what needs to be fixed up at the same time, and finally seeing if that still works today.

“We have nothing, and that’s what I want everyone to understand: we literally have no plan,” Simon added. “Someone asked what we have planned, but we have no plan.

“And even then, the area wants or needs one thing and this area wants or needs one thing, so talking about two different things isn’t helpful either.”

For the wants, and even needs, Simon and the county’s planning department are inviting citizens and residents of the Greater Lacoochee to take part in public workshops. The county also has established a site that allows people to fill out a survey, anonymously, and to leave comments.

The site also offers a wealth of information, including an interactive map that allows users to click on icons that represent certain community elements such as transportation, housing, business development, and parks and recreation.

Clicking on an icon allows users to start a discussion or leave comments on that specific location on the map.

The county’s planning division also has brought in a Tampa-based geotechnical engineering firm, S&ME, which will provide development and design services. Both entities will develop the plan that will include land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel utilities, parks and more.

Pasco County plans to schedule two more public workshops, one in the Winter and another in the Spring.

The goal is to have the plan ready to present in a March/April time frame.

The first public workshop was on Aug. 30 and attended by dozens, if not over 100 citizens. S&ME representatives laid out the schedule of collecting data, as well as information it found out in initial research.

Of the nearly 11,000 acres included in Greater Lacoochee, 35% of that land is used for agriculture, while another 32% is considered residential. With a population of just under 2,800, the area remains very rural.

Also, during this workshop, citizens were allowed one-on-one time with county and S&ME representatives that were looking for feedback. Residents were encouraged to write down on lists and white paperboards the issues and ideas they thought were relevant.

The most popular, and prevalent, comment was “keep Lacoochee rural” with “open spaces,” as well as a “small, tight-knit community.”

“We’re trying to be realistic that keeping this area rural probably doesn’t fit that idea of 100% rural,” Simon said. “But at the same time, they need more jobs, more work in this area, so how do we marry those two ideas? Rural, but with growth.

“And then this area becomes a lot like Wesley Crazy Chapel? No. We’re building just on the ideas that were done in the past and those ideas were that this is a rural area. That was then. The question now is where do we need to look? That’s where these workshops come in.”

Greater Lacoochee Community Plan
Details: Pasco County’s Planning and Development Department is working on community plans for the greater Lacoochee area, which includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee. The plan will explore topics such as land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel, utilities, parks and more. The county is seeking feedback from Lacoochee area residents and citizens by providing two more public workshops and an online survey.
Info: Access the survey and provide feedback, at smeinc.mysocialpinpoint.com/lacoochee_small_area_plan.

Published September 21, 2022\

Center adds audio description for patrons

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The Carrollwood Cultural Center will increase accessibility for blind and low-vision patrons, by offering audio description for all future center-produced theatrical performances.

The center recently purchased a new assistive listening system, using funds from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Competitive Grant. The center also received grant funding through the AARP Community Challenge, to train personnel to provide live audio description services, according to a news release.

Audio description is a live narration of the visual elements of a performance, such as lights, costumes, actions, textures and scenery.

The new system will enable patrons who are hard of hearing to tune into a high-quality audio stream through the center’s wireless network. The patron then can access the frequency through an application on their cellphone, the release said.

The new assistive listening system is part of a larger programming initiative the center has planned for Blind Awareness Month in October.

Events will include Blind Visionaries, a live concert on Oct. 8 at 8 p.m., featuring Daniel Kelly compositions inspired by light photography created by the blind and visually impaired members of The Seeing with Photography Collective. Blind Visionaries also will host a light painting workshop on the same day, at 3 p.m.

Other planned activities include a touch-sensitive gallery exhibition, “Beyond Sight,” from Sept. 28 through Oct. 29, and a free lecture called “The Art of (Braille)” on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit CarrollwoodCenter.org.

Published September 21, 2022

‘Work at home’ option is playing out in housing market

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There’s barely a news cycle that goes by without someone trying to pin down what’s happening in the housing market.

One thing’s for sure, though, the option to work remotely has had an impact on housing markets, according to Brad Phillips, a senior vice president for American Mortgage Service Co., based in Cincinnati.

Phillips recently was in the Tampa Bay region to give a talk at a breakfast meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

“Working from home caused a mass migration in a lot of cities. You didn’t have to live in California anymore, to work in California,” Phillips said.

Brad Phillips, senior vice president for American Mortgage Service Co., recently shared some of his insights about the real estate market with members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. (B.C. Manion)

Besides giving people more personal freedom, it also had an impact on housing costs, he said.

For instance, Phillips said: “Austin has the great California migration. What occurred there was so many Californians came in — they’re used to paying $1 million for a 750-square-foot apartment — so when they came in and found a house, which was overpriced, it was still a great deal.

“They started buying up everything in Austin, which was causing the Austin population to have to press out. They couldn’t afford to keep up,” he said.

With the shift to remote work, homebuyers found themselves in a new dynamic.

“You are no longer competing with local salaries,” Phillips said.

Consumers also can choose where they prefer to live, not just close to where they work, he said.

In Tampa, he said, “there was a youth boom down here. You guys were second or third, in the fastest-growing under-28 crowd.”

He thinks nostalgia played a role.

“Those kids came down, and visited grandma and grandpa. They have the memories of the excitement level of this area, and Florida, in general.

“So, what happens when they can live anywhere they want?

“They came. And, they came in droves,” he said.

Prices in different markets also have been influenced by foreign investors, who have driven up prices in places such as New York and California, which has prompted consumers from California to move to Texas or Montana, while New Yorkers move to Florida.

Phillips talked about other impacts on home prices and availability.

There was a point in recent years when the housing market faced “the perfect storm,” he said. Housing inventory was low, interest rates were low, building material costs shot up and supply chain issues slowed construction, he said.

When a house hit the market, bidding wars broke out.

“At the time, it looks great. It feels wonderful — especially, if you’re a person selling a home,” he said. Some sellers were getting 15 offers in 5 minutes, and they were all over list price.

But that situation is not a good thing for the housing market, overall, Phillips said.

He expects negative impacts from those sales to become apparent over time.

“People bought homes that they just didn’t know. There were a lot of ‘as-is’ purchases,” he explained.

“The mortgages themselves did not bend. We were too regulated after ’08 and ’10. And, I can tell you that though regulation is tough, 1000% warranted, and a great thing that it occurred.”

But Phillips added: “The appraisals started going haywire again, not needing them, getting property inspection waivers.

“There’s going to be a mass amount of people that got burned. They just don’t even know it,” he said. “They have overpaid, in most cases. They have maybe bought a property that was not up to par to what we, or someone else, would deem suitable.”

Prices dipping, houses staying on market longer
Phillips said the housing market is beginning to stabilize.

“We have three straight months that we’ve had an increase in listings. That means houses aren’t going off the market as quickly as they possibly could,” he said.

Plus, listed houses have been dropping their prices.

Sellers may view that as a negative, but overall, it’s a positive, because it indicates that the market is shifting back into alignment, Phillips said.

Looking forward, he said, “expect a period of slow.”

“Those home values can’t drop 50% overnight. They’ve got to come down 8%, 11%, the rest of this year. They’ll need to drop about 8 (%) or 10% next year. Then, (interest) rates will have stabilized. That will help,” he said.

As more houses come online and prices stabilize, buyers have better opportunities to shop for the house that they want, Phillips said.

Experts are predicting that 2025 will be a buyers’ market, he added.

“It’s going to be poised to take off again and it’s going to be exciting,” Phillips said, then, it’s likely something will happen to slow it down again.

“You never stay on top, you never stay on bottom,” Phillips said.

While people may have overpaid for their homes recently, he still thinks a home purchase is a good investment — if the buyer can hold onto it long enough to ride out any economic storms.

“If you look at it as a long-term play, mortgage is still the financial right decision in the grand scheme of things,” Phillips said.

Published September 21, 2022

Citizens urged to practice safety, in flooded areas

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During National Preparedness Month, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) wants to remind citizens to be cautious when driving or cleaning up after a storm, according to a news release.

Storms can easily cause flooding and major damage, including toppled and downed trees. (File)

Flooded areas can have hidden dangers, such as downed power lines, debris and wildlife lurking inside.

The PSO recommends these steps, to stay safe:

  • Never drive through flooded areas. The flooding may be deeper than you think and a small amount of water can float a car, or cause issues such as stalling or loss of control. (Just a foot of water will float most cars; 6 inches of water can cause stalling and loss of control, the release said.)
  • If you must drive during a storm, slow down, allow extra travel time, and plan your route to avoid flooded roadways.
  • Give emergency personnel ample time to clear roadways of debris before driving, unless absolutely necessary.
  • Obey any road closures, emergency personnel or barriers in place. Do not drive around these.
  • Keep landscaping well-maintained before a storm to prevent damage such as tree limbs across power lines.
  • Avoid swimming, walking or other activities in floodwaters or flooded roads.
  • When clearing personal property, be mindful of debris and power lines, and remember to give yourself ample time for breaks while working.
  • Be sure to evaluate your damage carefully and know when to contact authorities for assistance.

Published September 21, 2022

PHSC: 50 years of building brighter futures

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Pasco-Hernando State College grew out of humble origins.

“We were known as ‘College without Walls,’” said Dr. Timothy Beard, the college’s current president. “We didn’t have a building. All we had, for the most part, was a dream and an idea.

The Pasco-Hernando State College’s Instructional Performing Arts Center, also known as IPAC, has a unique design. The center, at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, is a teaching facility but also a venue for community events and performances. (FILE)

“They would have classes with whoever would have us, whether it was a storefront. We would recruit in the back alleys,” he said.

“We were the last of the Great 28,” Beard added, referring to Florida’s system of 28 community colleges.

Dr. Robert Judson — the man who would become the college’s second president and the first black college president in Florida College System— was involved in those early days, as a teacher and as a recruiter.

Over the years, Pasco-Hernando Community College transitioned to Pasco-Hernando State College. It has added campuses, increased staff, expanded programs, and continues to grow and evolve.

The college now has about 100 career program options and offers two bachelor’s programs, associate’s diplomas and various certifications.

In the early days, the college had strong ties with the faith communities in Pasco and Hernando counties, helping it to attract students, Beard said.

In recent years, it has revived relationships with faith-based institutions.

“About five years ago, maybe six, we started a program called LIFE, that’s an acronym for Linking in Faith and Education. That program really took off overnight.

“The idea was to allow the faith-based institutions to assist us in educating our community.

“Because word got out about our success, we also started to include partners in the healthcare area. A number of healthcare agencies got involved,” the college president said.

Jamal Roberts became the first student to gradu- ate from Pasco-Hernando State College with a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management. He took advantage of one of PHSC’s two four-year programs. Roberts received his diploma from Dr. Timothy Beard, the college’s president, in December 2015. (FILE)

For instance, BayCare and AdventHealth both provide scholarships to nursing students who are willing to work in the community after they graduate, he said.

The college also collaborates with the Pasco and Hernando public school districts.

In addition to dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to earn college credits, PHSC also has been involved in partnerships on construction projects.

In Pasco County, for instance, the school district donated the site where the Instructional Performing Arts Center was built, at 8657 Old Pasco Road. It shares a campus with Cypress Creek High and Cypress Creek Middle in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco students also can take advantage of IPAC programs and facilities.

In Hernando County, PHSC has been involved in a partnership for a project known as the Corporate College.

“We’re in the process of building a Corporate College, out of a partnership with Hernando County Schools, as well as the county administration there,” Beard said.

Meanwhile the college continues to add facilities to its existing campuses.

The college received a state allocation of around $25 million to construct the STEM Student Success and Community Engagement Center on its East Campus, in Dade City.

The design work is happening now, with actual construction expected to begin in January and the project’s completion slated for early 2024, Beard said.

The 51,000-square-foot building will have an auditorium, house various student services and academic support programs and have a STEM center, he said.

The college also is adding a new Fire Academy Center to train firefighters, also at the East Campus, Beard said.

A spacious music studio gives music director, Justin Baggett plenty of room for students. Here, he leads a student quintet practicing a piece by Mozart.

Over the years, the college has hosted public speakers, local events, summits and other activities to share its facilities with the broader community.

And now, as it commemorates its golden anniversary this academic year, it is inviting the public to join in the celebration.

Festivities kick off on Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, in Dade City. It’s fitting to begin there because the college has its roots in East Pasco, Beard said.

The college president also said there’s good cause for celebration.

“I am so proud of this institution and its history, and those in the community that have supported us, as a college,” Beard said. “It has been a gem in our community that has made the difference and transformed the lives of so many students.”

50th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) has scheduled several celebration to mark the college’s golden anniversary year. (Note: Any prospective student filling out an application on a campus during the anniversary festivities will have the application fee waived.)

Here are the scheduled events:

  • Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, in Dade City. This event, during Hispanic Heritage Month, will feature the flavors and sounds of Latin culture. Guest speakers will explore local history and Hispanic culture, and there will be entertainment, family activities and food.
  • Nov. 5, 10 .m. to 2 p.m., in the Quad at PHSC West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, in New Port Richey: This event will have a fall festival vibe with music from DJ Jose Nix, a photobooth, activities, food, treats, goodie bags for children, and a casual mile-long walk on the tree-lined trail circling the campus.
  • Feb. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. View an exhibit of Florida Highwaymen Painters’ collection and learn about the Florida Community Colleges. There will be food, children’s activities and more. This event coincides with Black History Month and will highlight African-American medical innovations.
  • Feb. 25, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. Take tours of the theater, dance, music and digital design programs and enjoy an evening of music and entertainment. The University of South Florida Jazz Under The Starz will pay tribute to Florida’s African-American entertainers and Tampa’s famous Jackson House entertainers. Light refreshments will be served.
  • March 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., PHSC North Campus, 11415 Ponce De Leon Blvd, in Brooksville. A carnival setting featuring “fair food,” a bounce house, games, prizes and music make this event family-friendly. This event coincides with Women’s History Month and will feature a panel discussion on the countless contributions made by courageous women throughout the ages.
  • April 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., PHSC Spring Hill campus, at 450 Beverly Court. There will be entertainment by local theater and dance groups, campus tours, tours of student art exhibit and the butterfly garden and presentations about Florida sustainability and gardening. Free native Florida plant seeds will be distributed.

A few key milestones
1972: Pasco-Hernando Community Colleges opents. It becomes the last of Florida’s system of 28 community colleges
1972: Milton Jones is named the college’s first president
2014: College opens Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, on land donated by the Porter family
2014: Pasco-Hernando Community College transitions to Pasco-Hernando State College. It also adds two four-year bachelor’s degree programs
2021: The Instructional Performing Arts Center, at 8657 Old Pasco Road, begins operation on the campus of Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle, in Wesley Chapel.
2022: College breaks ground for its new STEM Center for Student Success and Community on its East Campus, in Dade City

BY THE NUMBERS
4: Presidents during the college’s history (Milton Jones, 1972 to 1994; Robert Judson Jr., 1994 to 2005; Katherine Johnson, 2005 to 2015; and, Timothy Beard, 2015 to present)
6: Campus locations: New Port Richey, Dade City, Spring Hill, Brooksville and two in Wesley Chapel (Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch and Instructional Performing Arts Center)
$450 million: Contributed to the regional economy annually
100-plus: Degrees and certifications offered
1.000: Approximate number of full-time, part-time and adjuncts
14,000-plus: Students served annually
60,000: Number of diplomas and certifications awarded since the college’s inception

Source: Pasco-Hernando State College

Published September 14, 2022

This 100-year-old veteran wanted a party, and he got one

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Frank Charles hit the big 1-0-0 on Sept. 6, and he celebrated hitting the century-mark in grand fashion.

Jennene Colky, Frank Charles and Debbie Charles take a break from their masks to pose for a photo in the courtyard at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes. The photo was taken on Sept. 6, the day that Frank celebrated hitting the century-mark. (Courtesy of Frank Charles’ family)

There was live music, visits from family members, appearances from dignitaries and a gathering — along with a cake and balloons — at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home, 6919 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Frank — a veteran of the U.S. Air Force — talked about his upcoming party.

He was looking forward to the cake, the gathering and seeing his daughters, Debbie Charles, who lives in Gainesville, and Jennnene Colky, who lives in Denver.

Debbie’s in-laws — Madison Welch, Bob Welch and Colleen Welch, of Tampa, and June Russell, of Lutz — were also at the birthday bash.

“The nursing home and the FDVA (Florida Department of Veterans Affairs) did an outstanding job of making my father feel special on his 100th birthday,” his daughter, Debbie, said in a telephone interview, following the event.

“They did a marvelous job of decorating with balloons,” she added, and those attending were able to enjoy their choice of a piece of chocolate or white cake from a sheet cake she brought to the party.

“They played Elvis, and they sang Happy Birthday and God Bless America. It was wonderful,” Debbie added.

Rebecca Pinson, social services program manager at Baldomero Lopez, recounted some of the party highlights.

Frank Charles trained to be a pilot and then a navigator, but didn’t do either of those jobs. Instead, he served as a gunner in a ball turret on a B54 and lost consciousness when his oxygen was cut off, according to his daughter, Jannene Colky. He was just 22 when someone rescued him. (Courtesy of Frank Charles’ Family)

She said Frank received a service medal from Bob Asztalos, deputy executive director of FDVA, and an award from Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Marlies Sarrett, the nursing home administrator, congratulated Frank, too.

Frank’s daughter, Jennene, provided some background about her dad, during a telephone interview.

She said he grew up in Philadelphia, where he lived before enlisting in U.S. Air Force.

“He was initially trained as a pilot, in Texas. They decided they didn’t need any more pilots, so they trained him as a navigator. They decided they didn’t need any more navigators. By time he got into the war, it was September 1944, and the poor guy was a ball turret gunner.”

Somehow, while he was in the ball turret, his oxygen lines were cut and he passed out, she said. Fortunately, someone saw what happened and he was rescued.

Frank was just 22 at the time.

Frank Charles received an award from Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, who thanked Frank for his service. (Courtesy of Rebecca Pinson)

After the war, he returned to Philadelphia where he went to work for the Philadelphia Electric Company, as a machinist.

He later made a trip to Florida, where he fell in love with the weather. He decided to move his family to Ft. Lauderdale, where he went to work as a machinist for Florida Power & Light.

Later, the family moved to Vero Beach, and then, Frank and his second wife moved to Gainesville, to live closer to Debbie.

After his second wife died, Frank remained in the Gainesville area until he moved to Baldomero Lopez about 14 months ago Debbie said.

Besides his two daughters, Frank has three grandchildren who live in Colorado and one who lives in Pennsylvania.

During a recent interview, Frank said his usual routine at the nursing home typically includes a breakfast of scrambled eggs and orange juice, followed by exercise and then cruising around the nursing home in his wheelchair.

He said he enjoys watching television, especially old westerns and episodes of M.A.S.H.

His daughter, Debbie, said her dad seems to be in his element.

“He’s totally happy there. He’s been there for more than a year. It’s his home,” she said.

Published September 14, 2022

Dade City’s inaugural art walk will celebrate local artists

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Get ready to walk into a new kind of arts scene — within the shops and businesses in the heart of Dade City’s historic downtown.

From Sept. 17 through Sept. 24, downtown Dade City businesses will feature local artists and their works in their storefronts on the town’s historic streets. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

The Dade City Center for the Arts and the Dade City Merchants Association are hosting the inaugural Dade City Art Walk from Sept. 17 through Sept. 24.

The week-long event is a celebration of local artists and their work, as well as a chance to mesh business and the arts, in a creative new collaboration.

“As someone who grew up here (in Dade City), I can say that sometimes you don’t always go to the downtown of your hometown,” said Jasmine Wright, a board member at the arts center. “So this all started as, ‘How do we get people to come see what our downtown has?’ and ‘How could we do something with the small businesses in town?’

“We thought it was just the perfect way to get people out and walking around our historic, beautiful downtown, which is very walkable,” Wright said. “And, it turns out everyone was very excited and willing to be a part of it.”

The Art Walk will feature 22 artists, each one in a different one of 22 select businesses that line the streets of downtown Dade City, such as Meridian Avenue and Seventh Street.

The event kicks off with a Sept. 17 opening ceremony at 5 p.m., at the Florida National Guard Armory, 38017 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City.

The artists will be on hand for a meet-and-greet, plus to sell some of their work. There also will be the “PreCasso” Kids Art Zone, where children can make their own art, and foster children from Caterpillars to Butterflies Charitable Foundation will display art they created.

Wright, who is owner and operator of Treehouse Mercantile on Meridian Avenue, said she and other arts center members were genuinely surprised at the enthusiastic response from artists and businesses that wanted to participate.

“From the start, we said and thought, if we got 10 people to do this, then we could make it work,” Wright said. “Then, we had so many that we had to stop, but people were already asking us about doing it next year!”

Once all the artists and businesses were slated to participate, Wright set about pairing the artists with businesses. She took into account the type of art each artist would feature, as well as the style, vibe and type of business that would be the perfect match.

“It came down to what the store offers and who was going to be in that store, customer-wise,” said Wright, who also will feature an artist in her store.

“There are going to be all kinds of arts and, I think, we did a pretty good job of which artist is going to fit in perfectly with a certain store,” she said.

“And we’re all really excited to see everyone walking around to see some art and shop.”

Dade City Art Walk
When: Sept. 17 to Sept. 24; hours vary
Where: Downtown Dade City
Details: Works from 22 local artists will be on display at downtown Dade City businesses for a week. An opening ceremony is planned on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m., at the Florida National Guard Armory, 38017 Live Oak Ave. Artists will meet-and-greet those attending and will have works available for purchase. A “PreCasso” Kids Art Zone will give children a chance to make their own art.
Info: Contact the Dade City Center for the Arts at 813-363-4385 or .

Published September 14, 2022

Senior athletes are focused on competing, and then on having fun

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When the Florida Senior Games come to Pasco County in December, spectators at the games will be able to watch athletes age 50 and older competing intensely to demonstrate their skills.

Senior athletes will be competing in such sports as basketball, volleyball, table tennis, bowling, powerlifting, racquetball, tennis and shuffleboard.

But after the athletes are done competing, chances are people who live and work in the county will notice a stream of visitors who are out and about enjoying what Pasco has to offer, said Nick Gandy, a media consultant for the Florida Sports Foundation.

The Florida Sports Foundation has selected Florida Sports Coast — the county’s tourism arm — to host the games at venues throughout Pasco County during the first two weeks of December in 2022, 2023 and 2024.

Gandy briefed the Pasco County Commission about the upcoming games during the board’s Sept. 6 meeting.

Adam Thomas, director of tourism for Florida Sports Coast, told board members: “We are excited to have not just one, not just two, but three annual Florida Senior Games here in Pasco County.”

Thomas also credited Consuelo Sanchez, the sports development and tourism manager on his team, for helping to make it happen.

This year’s games are scheduled for Dec. 3 through Dec. 11, with a roster of 22 sports.

Athletes will be competing in such sports as basketball, volleyball, table tennis, bowling, powerlifting, racquetball, track and field, tennis, archery, cycling, padel and Footgolf.

Pasco is the ninth community in Florida to host the games for more than one year, since the games began in 1991.

Since the games’ inception, more than 50,000 athletes have competed, including three who were 100 years old, Gandy said.

The competitions will be held at area venues across Pasco County, including the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus and Saddlebrook Resort, in Wesley Chapel, the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center, in Zephyrhills, and Fox Hollow Golf Club, in Trinity.

Gandy said the timing of the Florida Senior Games likely will prompt a greater number of competitors because the games are the final qualifier for athletes hoping to compete in the 2023 National Senior Games, to be held in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

But even without that consideration, the competition enjoys widespread appeal, Gandy said.

The Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills is one of the venues for the upcoming Florida Senior Games, which will be held in Pasco County in 2022, 2023 and 2024. (FILE)

“We’ve had athletes from over 40 states come to compete in the Florida Senior Games.

“Cities from Alachua to Zephyrhills are represented in the Florida Senior Games. I’ve counted over 200 cities, where athletes have come, for the Florida Senior Games. We’ve even had athletes come from the Caribbean Islands; there’s track teams from Barbados and Jamaica that come,” he said.

Plus, the games are more than just a place to compete, Gandy said.

“The Florida Senior Games is also about fellowship among the athletes.

“Once these athletes are done competing … they come to spend time together. They’ll be hanging out together in the hotel, catching up with one another, going out for dinner, taking in a lot of the amenities that the county has to offer. So, the fellowship part and the camaraderie of the Florida Senior Games is going to spread, over the next three years,” Gandy said.

He also noted many of the 65-and-up athletes have worked their careers and raised their families.

“And, this is now what they do. They compete in athletic competitions in the Florida Senior Games,” Gandy said.

In fact, during the 30th anniversary games, nine athletes received lifetime achievement awards.

They received that distinction because each had competed in at least one senior games in the 1990s, 2000s, 2010s and 2020s.

“Now, that’s a commitment,” Gandy said.

Registration for the Florida Senior Games is now open until Nov. 15. For more information, visit FloridaSeniorGames.com, or check out the Florida Senior Games Facebook page.

Published September 14, 2022

Proposed towing operation meets resistance

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Neighbors to a proposed towing operation in Land O’ Lakes made it clear at a recent Pasco County Planning Commission meeting that they think the business should set up shop elsewhere.

A proposed towing operation in Land O’ Lakes is meeting resistance from neighboring locals. The 0.62-acre site would be on the east side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, about a mile north of State Road 54.

Christopher Brown, who is seeking permission for the proposed towing service, wants the county to allow him to operate on a 0.62-acre site on the east side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, about 1 mile north of State Road 54.

Ray Gustafson, of Gustafson Engineering, appeared at the planning board’s Sept. 1 meeting to provide details on the request.

The site would include a small modular office, and parking would be provided on the front and a secured impound yard would be in the back, according to a narrative included in the planning board’s agenda packet.

Gustafson said the towing company tows cars that are parked at locations without proper permits, and also removes cars illegally parked on roadsides.

He estimated about 30 vehicles to 40 vehicles would be towed each week.

Brown told the planning board that the office hours would be between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m., but the cars typically are towed onto the lot after midnight.

They also can be picked up after-hours, but there is an extra charge for doing that, he said.

Gustafson said the cars will be stored on the back of the property and there will be a heavy buffer wall.

County planners recommended approval of the request, along with a set of conditions.

But neighbors are vehemently opposed.

John Miller, who lives nearby, said a proposed towing operation and impound yard is not a good fit.

“I beg of you to please take into consideration compatibility,” Miller said.

“This is a very intense use, which is not compatible with the Swan Lake subdivision,” he said, noting there are 54 families and also small children who play outdoors.

“It’s an increase of noise and commotion,” he said, noting it’s a 24-hour operation.

“It’s a very lucrative business. They tow cars all of the time,” Miller said.

“The other issue is appearance. This is a junkyard. It’s basically what it is.”

He also noted that U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, is in transition.

Another neighbor, Mike Ford, said the county should be encouraging a better form of development along U.S. 41.

“Anybody can agree going on U.S. 41, from (State Road) 54 to (State Road) 52, it needs to be cleaned up.

“We need to do something about (U.S.) 41. Let’s improve (U.S.) 41. The middle of the county has been left behind,” he said.

Neighbors also raised concerns about noise from tow trucks dropping off cars, at all hours of the night and about a potential glare from outdoor lighting.

Brown told the planning board his business is under contract with apartment complexes and homeowner associations to remove cars that are double-parked, parked in fire lanes, or parked on properties without permits.

The company also will tow from Pasco roads, in areas where parking on the road is not allowed, he said. Cars typically will be brought to the impound lot between 10 p.m. and 5 a.m., he said.

The company doesn’t have any current contract with law enforcement, he said.

Planning board member Chris Poole asked about potential problems of stacking on U.S. 41, as people come to retrieve their cars, or tow trucks to bring in vehicles.

Conditions intended to provide protections
Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said the county planners’ proposed conditions prohibit parking, stacking, loading or unloading on the public right of way.

Other conditions address neighbors’ concerns, he added.

For instance, there’s a condition that requires an 8-foot tall buffer to protect the neighbors from visual blight. Plus, the applicant must shield the view from the street, the attorney said. “I’m sensitive that this area’s in transition,” Poole said. However, he added: “You’re not going to see cars from the road, it’s all going to be shielded.”

Planning board member Jaime Girardi added: “If they don’t, code enforcement will shut them down.”

Poole interjected, “or the conditional use will be revoked.”

To make sure the applicant understood the conditions, Goldstein asked Brown: “You understand you cannot have any vehicle that’s more than 8 feet in height.

Brown responded: “Yes, I understand.”

To address the neighbors’ concerns about noise, the planning board added a condition referring to the county’s noise ordinance. It also noted that violating that ordinance could trigger a revocation of the conditional use.

Poole said he frequently drives by the site and will be quick to make a report to code enforcement.

Girardi said he was struggling with how to vote on the request.

“This one is difficult,” Girardi said.

U.S. 41 is transitioning, he said, adding that he’s not sure this type of operation represents a transition in the right direction.

Planning board chairman Charles Grey agreed: “If we’re trying to improve our major corridors, I’m not sure it improves it.

“If I lived there, would I want it there, on the other side of the wall? I’d have to say, ‘No, I wouldn’t.’

“When you drive by and you see a towing operation next to a nice development, it tends to bring down the value of that development,” Grey added.

On a roll call vote, the motion to recommend approval passed on a 4-2 vote, with Girardi and Grey voting no.

Planning board member Chris Williams did not vote on the request because he sits on the planning board as a representative of the school board and this application has no impact on school enrollment.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on land use and zoning matters.

Published September 14, 2022

Political Agenda 09/14/2022

By

Pasco Republican Executive Committee
The Pasco Republic Executive Committee meeting is set for Sept. 15, at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road, in Land O’ Lakes. The doors open at 6 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m.

East Pasco Democratic Club
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet Sept. 19, remotely on ZOOM. Socializing begins at 6 p.m., with the meeting starting at 6:30 p.m. All friends of the Democratic Party are invited to attend. The presentation is on getting out the vote. Email , or call 813-383-8315 for details.

Virtual candidate forum
A virtual candidate forum for State Attorney for the 6th Judicial Circuit is scheduled for Sept. 20 at 7 p.m. The sixth circuit includes Pasco and Pinellas counties.

Participating candidates are incumbent Republican Bruce Bartlett and challenger Democrat Allison Miller. The forum will be moderated by Rob Lorei. The candidates will take turns addressing identical questions posed by the moderator, and then each will conclude with a personal statement.

This virtual forum will be a Zoom event, and also will be streamed on the ACLU of Florida Facebook page. This online forum is free to the public and no registration is necessary. For those who can’t view the forum live, a recording will be posted at the League of Women Voters St. Petersburg Facebook page and YouTube channel.

Central Pasco Democratic Club
The Central Pasco Democratic Club has scheduled a hybrid meeting on Sept. 21 at Meadow Pointe 1, 28245 County Line Road, in Wesley Chapel. The featured guest will be Kimberly Walker, a candidate for Florida’s 12th congressional district in U.S. House of Representatives. Socializing begins at 5:45 p.m., followed by a meeting at 6:15 p.m.  The guest speaker’s talk will begin at 6:30 p.m. Snacks will be served. For reservations, email .

Republican Club of Central Pasco
Wilton Simpson, the most recent president of the Florida Senate, will be the featured guest of the Republican Club of Central Pasco on Sept. 26. Simpson is the Republican candidate for Florida’s Commissioner of Agriculture. He will be informing the club on his vision for Florida.

The meeting is open to the public and the club encourages anyone that seeks to be involved in the political process to attend. The club meets at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The social begins at 6 p.m., and the business meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call 813-996-3011.

Published September 14, 2022