The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco moratorium area set to expand

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The Pasco County Commission is set to expand the area where new applications for multifamily are on hold.

The county board heard public comment on the proposal at its Jan. 25 meeting, with final action set for Feb. 8. The expanded moratorium would be retroactive to Jan. 6, the date of the Pasco County Planning Commission’s public hearing on the issue.

The larger area was proposed by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who has championed the pause on new multifamily applications — to allow completion of a study to determine whether the county has an oversaturation of entitled apartment developments.

This map depicts the original boundaries for Pasco County’s temporary pause on accepting new multifamily applications, and the approved expansion area. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Moore repeatedly has warned his colleagues about potential long-term consequences from allowing too many approvals of apartment projects.

He fears the prospect of an oversupply leading to buildings being abandoned, as renters move to newer developments. That, he has said, will set the stage for blight and increased crime.

The temporary moratorium on new multifamily applications applies only to an area within Moore’s District 2.

The temporary ban on new applications applies to an area essentially made up of Wesley Chapel and Land O’ Lakes.

The area initially was generally defined as between State Road 52, on the north; U.S. 41, on the west; State Road 54 on the south; and, Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, on the east. The boundary zigzags between Moore’s District 2 and Commissioner Ron Oakley’s District 1.

The proposed expansion includes several additional areas along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.

The expansion area can generally be defined as State Road 54 to Collier Parkway to County Line Road (south) to Mansfield Boulevard to State Road 56; and from just east of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 54 due north to Interstate 75 to Overpass Road and west to the existing moratorium boundary.

The moratorium expires on April 1.

Originally, the moratorium was set to expire on Sept. 28, 2021, but the county board extended it for 185 days, to allow more time to complete the study.

The study is examining whether there’s a potential oversaturation due to existing and possible future multifamily developments, and to determine whether additional regulations are necessary.

Revised on Feb. 10, 2022

New overpasses planned for bicyclists, pedestrians

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Pasco County and the Florida Department of Transportation are working together on projects aimed at providing bicyclists and pedestrians overpasses on State Road 54 and State Road 52, to gain access to the Suncoast Trail, on the Suncoast Parkway.

The estimated costs for the overpass at State Road 52 is slightly under $10.1 million, according to materials in the Pasco County Commission’s Jan. 25 agenda packet.

The project is funded through the Transportation Capital Improvements Program, with funding from Penny for Pasco, the documents say.

Since the overpass will span a State Road, county staff has been in discussions with FDOT staff about having FDOT manage the project for design and construction, according to the backup.

It notes that “FDOT has the expertise with bridge design projects and resources available to execute the project.”

The state transportation agency has agreed to include the overpass project as part of its work program, as long as the county provides the funding.

Under the agreement, FDOT will be responsible for the design plans, advertising, and letting the construction contract, to include utility coordination, permitting and the construction engineering inspection for the project.

The county will be responsible for all project costs, securing an agreement with the Florida Turnpike Enterprise for the use of the Turnpike property for the project, and completion of all required survey, geotechnical exploration, and subsurface utility engineering, the agenda document says.

“If there are any additional costs required for the project, provided they are necessary and compensable, the county will pay those additional costs,” the document adds.

Upon completion of the project’s construction, the county will assume the maintenance of the

bridge and its components.

Discussions also have been underway with the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department regarding the maintenance responsibility for the bridge, since it is part of the Suncoast Trail (which they currently maintain).

The total estimated project cost is $10,089,528. The county will transfer $9,779,528 to FDOT for the design and construction cost of the project.

The remaining funds ($310,000) will be retained by the county to complete the survey, geotechnical exploration, and subsurface utility engineering for the project.

The agenda background also notes: “With the completion of the design plans, the project could be positioned as a shovel-ready project and potential candidate for grant funding from the “Build Back Better Reconciliation Plan,” and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, in which new investments will be made for safety, walking and biking opportunities.”

The county board approved staff’s recommendation to amend the budget to add nearly $8.6 million to the project because less than $1.5 million had been included in the current budget for the project.

In another action, the county board also approved an agreement with FDOT relating to the design and construction of a bicycle/pedestrian overpass for the Suncoast Trail at State Road 54.

In that agreement, the board approved a budget amendment of more than $9.6 million, since the current budget includes only slightly more than $1 million.

Just like the overpass project at State Road 52, the agenda packet for this item notes that“with the completion of the design plans, the project could be positioned as a shovel-ready project and potential candidate for grant funding from the “Build Back Better Reconciliation Plan,” and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act of 2021, in which new investments will be made for safety, walking and biking opportunities.

In addressing her colleagues during the Jan. 25 board meeting, Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey talked about recent discussions she had with state lawmakers, to discuss Pasco’s funding requests.

“I feel confident that we’re going to be successful this year,” Starkey said.

She specifically mentioned a conversation she had with Florida Senate President Wilton Simpson, who is a Republican from Trilby.

She said she talked to him about finding a funding source to help with the costs of the planned overpasses at the Suncoast Parkway.

Starkey said she has been told that when the Suncoast Parkway was designed, “they didn’t have the trail in mind.

“And so, they didn’t anticipate that, so it wasn’t built in and planned in our area.”

As a result, Starkey said, “the citizens of Pasco County are ending up right now funding our pedestrian overpasses on (State Road) 54 and (State Road) 52.”

But Hernando County has an overpass funded by the Turnpike Authority, and so does Citrus County, she said.

Starkey said Simpson said he will help with the issue.

“We have a plan that we’re going to push forward this year, to hopefully alleviate that cost to our citizens and be able to move that money to other projects, so I’m real excited about that,” Starkey said.

Published February 02, 2022

Festival-goers determined to have fun, despite frigid weather

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Seventeen-year-old Chase Jordan was among several Pasco High students who volunteered behind the plastic safety shield, while serving customers who were buying fruit at the Kumquat Growers patio. Kumquat Growers also displayed and sold various kumquat products. (Fred Bellet)

Folks attending the Kumquat Festival in Dade City last weekend had at least two things in common: They bundled up to brave the brisk weather, and they helped to mark the festival’s quarter-century anniversary.

Normally, the late January festival benefits from weather that typically is not too hot, or not too cold — but just right for strolling along downtown streets, with their quaint storefronts and hundreds of vendors on hand to offer all sorts of specialty items.

This year, though, an arctic blast reached into the nation’s southeast region causing much colder-than-usual weather for the festival.

Still, people turned out from all over — from places such as Dade City, Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Trinity, Lakeland, The Villages, Spring Hill and other locales.

They were there, enjoying the blue sky and sunshine — and tasting the kumquat pie, purchasing kumquats, grabbing a bite to eat and doing a bit of shopping.

Published February 02, 2022

After buying a slice of kumquat refrigerator pie, Bill Coleman, of Zephyrhills, takes a taste before his wife, Connie, gets to have her taste.
Who would expect Lady Denny, a.k.a. April Collins, of Spring Hill, to be at the Kumquat Festival? Collins, portraying a ‘Lady in Waiting,’ was there to let people attending the Kumquat Festival know about the upcoming Renaissance Festival, that will be at the Withlacoochee River Park, in Dade City.
An albino skunk isn’t fazed a bit by the Winnie-the-Pooh Eeyore hat that Susan Samson, of Trinity, is wearing. Samson was finishing a beverage at the Hug-A-Skunk booth hosted by Florida Skunk Rescue. Della Etters of the group, who is from the city of Hernando in Citrus County, holds a two-year old skunk named ‘Minerva.’
With the Kumquat Growers booth divided by a plastic safety shield, Dade City resident Diane Knight, right, makes her selection from the bags of Meiwa and Nagami-type kumquats for sale. Meiwa kumquats are sweet when eaten whole, skin and all. The Nagami is somewhat sweet, but when eaten whole, the skin adds to the tartness to the tiny citrus fruit.
Zephyrhills resident Jason Aiken hawks bottles of his kumquat-infused honey, at the Kumquat Festival in Dade City. Aiken offered several varieties of pure and local raw honey for sale at his vendor’s tent. Melissa Stebbins, of Dade City, was there to help with sales.
It was a day of firsts for Ayden Pressley, of Dade City. Not only did his grandfather James Pressley, of Dade City, bring him to is first Kumquat Festival, but the three-year-old experienced the Hug-A-Skunk feature sponsored by Florida Skunk Rescue. He is holding a skunk named Oreo, but the creature closely resembled the cartoon character named Pepe le Pew. Ayden’s 8-year-old brother, E.J. Amour, also got a chance to hug Oreo.
Bridget White, of Wesley Chapel, may have been colder than the slices of kumquat refrigerator pie she and other volunteers from the Sacred Heart Early Childhood Center were selling from their tent at the Kumquat Festival. The group was ready for lots of sales: They had 750 pies, each cut into eight slices.
Wilfred Viens, of Zephyrhills, finds the kumquat refrigerator pie to be quite tart, at first taste. But that didn’t stop him from finishing the entire slice that he purchased from the Catholic Women’s Club of St. Anthony’s Church.

 

 

 

 

Interns gain knowledge about local law enforcement

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These new interns will learn more about law enforcement during the 2022 spring semester at the Pasco Sheriff’s Office. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) has welcomed 20 new interns for its 2022 spring semester.

These students will work alongside various PSO units, including the Behavioral Health Intervention Team, Forensics, Victim Advocates, Economic Crimes, Major Crimes, and others.

The internship program offers diverse opportunities, presenting career paths available with the sheriff’s office.

Internships also give students an opportunity to gain experience and learn about law enforcement.

Applications currently are being accepted for the 2022 summer semester.

To apply, visit JoinPSO.com, and complete a volunteer application by Feb. 18.

Published February 02, 2022

Celebration honors Diane Kortus’ lasting contributions

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Diane Kortus, recently retired publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, greeted new arrivals in a ballroom at The Plantation Palms Golf Club, in Land O’ Lakes.

Longtime advertisers, elected leaders, community volunteers, members of The Laker/Lutz News team, readers, family and friends gathered on Jan. 27, to wish her well in her retirement, and to honor her contributions to community life.

As Diane Kortus, publisher of The Laker/Lutz News for 21 years, departs to begin her retirement, she said she’s confident that Brian Calle, the new publisher, will build on the newspaper’s success. (Nicole Sanchez)

Kortus’ biggest reaction came when she saw her grandsons, Connor and Zachary, racing toward her — as her son Andy Mathes, entered the room. The trio surprised her by making a trip from Appleton, Wisconsin, to share in her special night.

Her daughter, Rachel Mathes, had traveled from Tallahassee and Diane’s longtime partner, Vic Anthony, of Land O’ Lakes, was there, too.

Terri Williamson, the newspaper’s senior account manager, emceed the event, which included heavy hors d’oeuvres, drinks, a cake and door prizes.

Williamson, Kelli Carmack, Trevor Lloyd and Nicole Sanchez handled the logistics of the event — which featured a slideshow of sweet  and funny moments through the years, and a series of video clips highlighting Kortus’ impact on local organizations, small businesses and the community, as a whole.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore — whose district includes Land O’ Lakes, where the newspaper is based — offered some remarks.

Diane Kortus holds the trophy that bears her name. She was the first recipient of The Diane Kortus Leadership Award, which will be bestowed annually by The Laker/Lutz News to a leader making a significant impact in the community.

He commented on the importance of having a quality source of local news and talked about the good that Kortus has accomplished through her leadership.

He concluded by telling her: “Congratulations to you, because you’ve made Pasco County a better place, you really have.”

Williamson recapped some of those accomplishments.

Under Kortus’ direction, the newspaper converted from a tabloid to a broadsheet, increasing the physical size of the paper by 25% and adding a B-section for expanded photo coverage, news and feature stories.

Kortus also expanded The Laker/Lutz News’ print circulation to include more communities. The current print circulation is 47,395; the newspaper also has a website, Facebook page and other social media channels, bringing its total weekly reach to 150,000 readers or viewers.

With Kortus at the helm, the newspaper also garnered recognition from community organizations and industry groups.

During the past two years, alone, The Laker/Lutz News received:

  • The Excellence in Integrity Award from the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce
  • Area Business of the Year from the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce
  • Twenty-seven awards in the 2021 Florida Press Association’s Weekly Newspaper Contest, capturing first place, overall, in the largest circulation division
  • Seven awards in the Florida Press Club’s 2021 Excellence in Journalism Competition

Kortus told those gathered that before arriving at the party, she was under the impression that the focus would be on Brian Calle, the newspaper’s new publisher and owner.

She talked about the difficulty in deciding to sell the newspaper and said she knew Calle was the right buyer because of his professional accomplishments, their shared passion for print journalism and his knowledge of new technologies, which will help The Laker to build on its success.

Calle told the crowd: “I am so excited about being in this community. I am so excited about the work and the legacy that Diane has left. I can assure you, we will build on the legacy of journalism that Diane has created.”

Then, he said, addressing Kortus: “This was never to be a party for me — you thought it was to be a party for me. But, it’s actually a celebration of you.”

In addition to the evening festivities, the newspaper also wanted to do something more permanent to honor Kortus’ contributions.

“We’re starting a new Laker tradition, a new annual award that is named after you:  The Diane Kortus Leadership Award,” Calle told her.

The annual award will go to a leader, who like Kortus, has made a significant impact in the community.

Published February 02, 2022

The Laker/Lutz News wins seven Florida Press Club awards

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The Laker/Lutz News received seven honors during a virtual awards event held by the Florida Press Club to announce winners in its annual Excellence in Journalism Competition.

The Florida Press Club has been honoring the best in Florida journalism for nearly 70 years. Competition categories range from layout to photography to writing.

This year’s honors — for work published between June 1, 2020 and May 31, 2021, were announced on Jan. 22.

Here are The Laker/Lutz News’ results in the contest:

Writing, Education News, Class C
B.C. Manion, first place
B.C. Manion, second place
B.C. Manion, third place

Writing, Government News, Class C
B.C. Manion, first place

Writing, Light Features, Class C
B.C. Manion, first place

Writing, Sports Features, Class C
Kevin Weiss,  second place

Writing, Travel and Tourism, Class C
Kevin Weiss, second place

Weiss recently left the newspaper to accept a role as public information officer for the City of Zephyrhills.

Published February 02, 2022

Bus driver shortages continue

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Pasco County Schools changed its school starting and ending times at the beginning of the second semester because a bus driver shortage was causing many students to arrive to school late.

Now, despite those shifts, the district is facing the same problem for a different reason — now the bus driver shortage is largely due to drivers calling out — because they are ill, or can’t work because of some other reason.

Betsy Kuhn, the district’s assistant superintendent for support services, explained the situation during the Pasco County School Board’s Jan. 18 meeting.

Buses continue to arrive late to Pasco County schools, despite a major shift that changed started and ending times across the school districts. Officials cite a high number of bus drivers calling out from work for the current issue and noted the problem would be worse, if the district had not made the scheduling shift. (File)

“Under last semester’s three-tier system, we had 424 routes and we were 59 regular drivers short. We had 40 relief drivers,” Kuhn said.

By changing its system, the district cut the number of routes it needed to cover by 57.

“We’re now short 39 drivers and were able to add four relief drivers, bringing our total up to 44 relief drivers,” Kuhn said.

“We have six new drivers coming out of class this Friday and we have another class starting on Jan. 31,” Kuhn said.

The district continues to seek additional drivers.

“I actually spoke with a parent today about a late bus situation and she ended up becoming a recruit for us, for a part-time driver position,” Kuhn said. “So, we’re continuing to work with HR, to get the word out about opportunities in transportation.”

The district also is focusing on retention, Kuhn said.

“If you look at the numbers on paper, we are in a good position,” she said.

The problem is the high number of call-outs.

“We should be able to cover the open positions with relief drivers and office staff; unfortunately, our call-outs started at 23 on Jan. 4, the first day back.”

She noted the number has steadily climbed, from 23 to 33 to 41 to 45, during the first week of school in the second semester. The second week it was 43, 41, 49, 40 and 47.

On Jan. 18, the district had 48 driver call-outs and 23 assistant driver call-outs, Kuhn said.

She added: “So, that is very, very high and has resulted in buses that are later than we would like.”

The current situation has meant that while we have seen some positive results in some parts of the county that were previously hit hard, we are now seeing issues in other parts of the county.

“For example, buses served by Southeast Garage over in the Zephyrhills area have had a very difficult last few weeks due to those illnesses and call-outs.

“And so, we’ve had coverage that has been very difficult to cobble together and maintain,” Kuhn said.

“Many of our issues with late buses will not resolve, if we continue to have this high number of call-outs.

“I’ve spoken to my counterparts in other districts and they, too, are facing similar issues.

“One of them, in particular, said to me, it’s like September all over again. It does feel like that,” Kuhn said, but she added, the shift in start and end times did provide some relief.

“I want to thank our drivers, assistants, garage staff, schools and, of course, students and families for their patience,” Kuhn said.

“We have garage staff who are working to improve and work through any routing issues, but we do have a very high number of call-outs right now and we’re hopeful that that number will decline quickly, so that we can make this system work.”

School board member Alison Crumbley expressed her appreciation for teachers and other district staff, “and, in particular, right now, our bus drivers.

“It’s a tough time for them. I just want everybody to just hang in there a little bit longer.

“I wish I was at liberty to say things we are working on, but I’m not at this time,” Crumbley said, making an indirect reference to items that must be negotiated between the school board and the United School Employees of Pasco, the union representing district employees.

Crumbley added: “They (bus drivers) are so vital and so important to us right now. If we can’t get them (students) to school, there is no school.”

Published January 26, 2022

Economy expected to grow, about twice as fast as normal, expert says

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What’s the economy likely to do this year?

It’s likely to grow about 4% — about twice as fast as normal, according to Nicholas Lacy, the chief portfolio strategist for Raymond James Financial.

On average, the economy has grown about 3% for the past 50 years, Lacy, the featured speaker, told the crowd during the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s Economic Forecast Luncheon on Jan. 20, at Hyatt Place Tampa Wesley Chapel.

Nicholas Lacy, chief portfolio strategist for asset management services at Raymond James Financial, shared his expertise, while mixing in some history lessons and humor at the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s Economic Forecast Luncheon. (B.C. Manion)

“What’s it going to do going forward? Depends on who you ask.

“Don’t ask a politician.

“If you ask an economist, they’re going to give you stuff all over the place. So, you ask the Fed.

“Why the Fed? Because they kind of control interest rates — so, good people to ask.

“They say long-term, the U.S. should be able to grow its economy by 1.8% to 2% a year.

“Historically, that’s lower. And why is that? It’s labor force. We have a labor force that’s not growing as fast as the prior 50 years,” Lacy said.

Lacy is bullish on Florida’s prospects.

“There are so many good things happening in Florida,” he said. “If you look at our level of unemployment, it’s fantastic.

“Florida has benefited because what do we have that most other states don’t, other than sunshine? More people.

“What’s important when it comes to the economy?” he asked. “It’s jobs. That’s where I think the economic growth is going to come from. It’s the creation of jobs and getting people back into the job market.”

Pasco and Hillsborough counties are in a good position because they are getting such an influx of people, their growth has outpaced Florida’s growth rate, he said.

He touched on a number of economic issues, including inflation, interest rates and the impacts of COVID-19.

“What is everybody talking about today? Inflation.

“Is inflation important? Absolutely. Is inflation going to be with us for a while? Absolutely. We just have to change the definition of transitory.

“It’s no longer a quarter. It might be a year. It might be a couple of years.

“If you take a look back through history at all of the inflationary periods — you look at the bottom to the top of inflation cycles and you annualize what various parts of the market did, what ended up working?

“Over time, the things that tend to work during inflationary times are stocks because companies have the ability to adjust, gross earnings, gross sales, raise prices, all of these things.

“Big question: What will the Fed do?

“They’re going to raise interest rates. There is a zero percent probability that the Fed will not raise interest rates.

“That’s what the data tells us today: Zero percent probability.

The questions are: When and by how much, he added.

“The Fed has been very clear that it is going to be very slow, methodical, and they’re going to watch the data.

“The Fed believes they can raise rates to 2%. That’s their target. How long it’s going to get there? I don’t know. If it takes them two years to get there, I think that’s problematic because I think the market will probably not like that. It’s too fast,” Lacy said.

He also explained the impacts that higher mortgage rates have on the growth in housing value.

“If you think about the real estate market, the real estate market is very, very, strong. (In) Florida, especially, but it’s all those Sunshine States in the United States, where people are leaving cold areas and coming here.

“Great taxes here. Great people. Great environment. All of these things. But it has pushed property prices up,” Lacy said.

However, he added, if mortgage rates go up, “we should see housing price growth slow, because higher (interest) rates means you can no longer afford that house.”

Lacy also touched on the pandemic’s impacts.

“COVID is still an issue,” Lacy said, but based on the level of traffic he encountered on the way to the luncheon, things apparently are improving.

He also noted that a much smaller percentage of people who are infected by the virus are getting seriously ill and becoming hospitalized, or dying.

But beyond illnesses, the pandemic also has had impacts on business operations and employment trends, Lacy said.

“You probably took a decade of change and pushed it into a two-year period. And, you’ve seen businesses fail, very quickly.

“Don’t wait for things to go back to normal.

“We’re not going back to normal. We’re going to go to new normal. You have to be able to identify, how do you fit in that new normal and what does that mean to your business?

“And not all businesses are going to succeed,” Lacy said.

The pandemic also has affected how people work.

“What the pandemic has taught us is, unless you have to be there in person, unless you absolutely have to be there in person, you can probably do your job from anywhere,” Lacy said.

Published January 26, 2022

Work is moving ahead on area road projects

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Construction has restarted on a widening project on State Road 54, from east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road.

Cone & Graham has been awarded the contract to complete the project.

It began work on Jan. 10. Activities in the first few weeks will involve cleanup, surveying, and other tasks needed to safely resume construction, according to the Florida Department of Transportation’s District 7 website.

The $42.5 million project involves widening the existing two-lane road to a four-lane road with medians, the website says. A sidewalk will be built on the north side of the road and a 10-foot wide multi-use trail will be built on the south side.

The work stopped after the original project contractor notified FDOT on July 28, 2021, that it was stopping work on the project. The FDOT declared that contractor in default on Aug. 3.

FDOT projects have contract bonds issued by a surety company, which is a contract requirement. The surety company was required to obtain a completion contractor, which is Cone & Graham.

In other transportation-related news, a 4.2-mile section of the Ridge Road extension is now open, from Moon Lake Road to the Suncoast Parkway.

The other two lanes of the initial segment are expected to be finished later this year, and the second leg of the extension will extend the road to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

That is expected to be completed in 2025, but could be done sooner if efforts by Pasco County leaders to seek $14 million in state funding during this legislative session are successful.

During the county board’s Jan. 11 meeting, Commissioner Mike Moore told his colleagues that he’d been up to Tallahassee to advocate for support for the funding and said he would be making another trip there to continue the push.

At the same meeting, County Administrator Dan Biles told the board that the northbound ramps onto Ridge Road should be open in February.

“We’re working on getting some equipment in place. As soon as the southbound ramps were open, we wanted traffic on it. So, that’s why there’s a different timeline for both of those,” he said.

He expects that segment of the road project to be completed in either late summer or the fall.

Biles said he hopes the county will be able to go out to bid for the extension over to U.S. 41 later this year.

However, Biles noted: “That will depend on whether or not we get part of the legislative ask, to help accelerate that piece.”

Published January 26, 2022

Arts center deemed ‘jewel’ in community

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It’s grand-opening celebration may have been delayed, but enthusiasm for Pasco-Hernando State College’s (PHSC) Instructional Performing Arts Center was riding high during a recent ribbon-cutting ceremony at the facility.

Pasco-Hernando State College Dr. Timothy L. Beard, along with Celyse Dahdal, president of the PHSC Student Government Association, share the over-sized scissors during the Instructional Performing Arts Center (IPAC) ribbon-cutting. Marilyn Pearson-Adams, center, chair of the PHSC District Board of Trustees, Dr. Kevin O’Farrell, provost Porter of Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, and Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore were among other dignitaries and special guests. (Fred Bellet)

The performing arts facility, at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, opened quietly in the summer of 2021.

It provides opportunities for students to prepare for careers in the performing and technical arts. It also offers a venue for performances and creates a new place for the community to enjoy the arts.

The center’s grand-opening celebration was held on Jan. 7 — belatedly because of COVID-19 concerns.

The event included a ribbon-cutting, a reception and tours of the facility.

It also featured remarks from numerous speakers, including Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College; Mike Moore, the District 2 representative on the Pasco County Commission; Cynthia Armstrong, chairwoman of the Pasco County School Board; Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools; Dr. Kevin O’Farrell, provost at PHSC’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch; Celyse Dahdal, president of PHSC’s student government; and, Lauren Murray, executive director for the Instructional Performing Arts Center.

Bringing the project to fruition involved the efforts of many people.

Armstrong, however, singled out college leadership and the school district’s deputy superintendent Gadd for “thinking out of the box.”

An obviously happy Lauren Murray, executive director for the Instructional Performing Arts Center, makes her way to the microphone to talk about the important role that IPAC will play in students’ lives.

Gadd was persistent in the pursuit of the project, she said, noting he wanted to know: “How can we make this a reality? How can we find a place to build it? How can we incorporate it into our school system?”

For his part, Gadd recalled the supersized role played by former Florida Speaker of the House Will Weatherford.

Gadd recalled: “Speaker Weatherford called me on the phone one day and he said, ‘Ray, we need some kind of performing art theater or arena in Pasco County. Can you help me out?’”

The Instructional Performing Arts Center is an eye-catching sight.

Gadd said he went about collecting floor plans from various performing arts venues and estimating costs.

He gave Weatherford a breakdown: “This is what we can get for $20 million. This is what we can get for $30 million, this is what we can get for $60 million…”

In the end, Pasco County Schools donated a 6-acre parcel to PHSC, on the campus shared by Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle School.

And, the state college covered the cost of the $20 million project, and PHSC also is responsible for the facility’s operations.

Gadd praised Harvard Jolly and Creative Contractors for using their combined talents and expertise to create a facility that he calls “a beauty.”

“This is a jewel in this community,” Gadd said.

Wiregrass Ranch High School students Marissa Adams, 16, and Alieah Diaz, 15, both members of the Principal’s Quartet, listen to Dr. Timothy Beard, president of Pasco-Hernando State College, as he addresses the crowd.

The deputy superintendent added: “This is an example of what happens when government works together.”

Armstrong told the crowd she toured the building last year and left feeling impressed.

Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, played a key role in bringing the vision of the performing arts center to fruition. He described the facility as a ‘jewel’ in the community.

The design is both creative and cost-efficient, she said.

“You walk into the classrooms, and you see how they convert into dance studios and music studios and bigger practice areas. It is just truly amazing that the students that go here can get all of their education, including their specialties, right in one building.

“And then, the theater itself is just amazing,” she said, referring to the 444-seat Weatherford Theater.

The facility not only enhances the school district’s performing arts programs, Armstrong said, but also gives students who are interested in those pursuits an opportunity to remain local, if they wish to continue their education in the arts.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore took a little trip down memory lane, as he addressed the crowd.

“This hits home with me because I was a communications major at Polk Community College, which is now Polk State College.

“I actually interned at a facility very similar to this. I spent my time learning how to work lighting, do the soundboard, being a stagehand and helping those performers behind the scenes.”

Saying there is no other facility like IPAC in the immediate area, Moore thanked area lawmakers for helping to secure the funding for the project.

Speakers from PHSC also shared their enthusiasm about the opportunities that IPAC presents.

The facility offers three Associate in Arts (AA) performing arts curriculum pathways for students who plan to transfer to a Florida public university to complete a bachelor’s degree in dance, theater or music.

It also offers an Associate in Science (AS) degree in digital media and multimedia technology with six college credit certificates.

The 36,000-square-foot facility includes a fully digital system, with the latest in lighting and sound support.

Freelance photographer Fred Bellet contributed to this report.

Published January 26, 2022