The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Omicron variant is spreading rapidly

By

The Omicron variant of COVID-19 has been spreading rapidly and nearly every state had been touched by it as of Dec. 20 when The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

It has not yet been determined how dangerous Omicron is, and despite its rapid spread, the Delta virus remained the main variant circulating in the United States as of early this week, according to experts from the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control.

Omicron was first detected in specimens collected on Nov. 11 in Botswana and on Nov. 14 in South Africa, according to the CDC’s website. The first confirmed Omicron case in the United States was detected on Dec. 1.

An interpretive posting on the CDC’s website said: “We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.”

Meanwhile, the rapid spread and uncertainty of Omicron’s impacts have hit at the height of the holiday travel season.

In a Dec. 14 posting, AAA predicted that more than 109 million people would travel 50 miles or more between Dec. 23 and Jan. 2 — a 34% increase from 2020.

AAA attributed the uptick in travel to the fact that so many Americans had to cancel getaways and get-togethers last year because of the pandemic and are making up for lost time this holiday season.

“That dramatic bounce-back — 27.7 million more people traveling — will bring this year’s numbers to 92% of 2019 levels. Airlines will see a 184% increase from last year,” according to AAA’s projections.

It is not yet known whether news of Omicron’s rapid spread will put a damper on holiday travel plans.

For those flying during the holidays, the Tampa International Airport reminds passengers that face masks are required in the airport.

The airport’s website also advises passengers to arrive two hours early.

Travelers should use carry-on luggage and mobile boarding passes to limit touchpoints, the TIA website advises.

While the pandemic’s impact on holiday plans has not yet played out, COVID-19 infections already have had an impact in the worlds of entertainment and professional sports.

The Radio City Rockettes canceled the remainder of its Christmas Spectacular “due to increasing challenges from the pandemic,” according to a Dec. 17 posting on its website.

There was no live audience at Saturday Night Live, and the NBA, NFL and NHL have postponed games.

Overall, the United States recently surpassed 50 million COVID-19 cases and 800,000 deaths since the start of the pandemic, according to the CDC.

Florida reported 35,720 cases in the seven-day period ending Dec. 18, according to figures reported by the CDC.

Stay safe
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention recommends these steps to reduce the chance of a COVID-19 infection:

  • Get a COVID-19 vaccine as soon as you can. If you’re eligible for a booster shot, get one now.
  • Wear a mask that covers your nose and mouth when in indoor public places.
  • Whenever possible, stay 6 feet apart from people who don’t live with you.
  • Avoid crowds and poorly ventilated indoor spaces.
  • Consider self-testing before indoor gatherings. If you are sick or have symptoms, don’t go.
  • Wash your hands often with soap and water; use hand sanitizer if soap and water aren’t available.

Published December 22, 2021

Land O’ Lakes woman helps haul in big fishing trophy

By

Tanya Michelle Arendes, who goes by Tanya Michelle, can barely remember a time when she didn’t have a fishing pole in her hand.

The Land O’ Lakes woman, who grew up on Deer Lake in Lutz, said her parents and grandparents nurtured her love for the sport.

“I started fishing when I was probably 3 or 4 years old,” said the angler, who is a third-generation Floridian. “My kids are fourth generation. We love this area.”

Tanya Michelle Arendes has a passion for fishing and she wants to encourage other women — with or without children, to give it a try. For her, the pursuit is therapeutic, and when there’s a fish on the line, it offers an adrenaline rush, too. (B.C. Manion)

During her growing-up years, she said, “we would fish all of the time. My dad was big into boating, so we always had the boat out in the lake, every weekend.

“Our house was the house — everybody came over to hang out on the lake.

“Every summer, my family would go to Ramble River Springs campground, in Dunnellon. We camped the whole trip. I didn’t leave the dock,” she said.

She is passing that love along to her children, 19-year-old Kelsey Albritton and 8-year-old Kason Meehan, who recently were out fishing with her at their neighbor Kurt Conover’s dock at Twin Lakes.

Over the years, Tanya Michelle’s fishing expertise has grown.

During this past summer, she and her teammate Terrie Huffmaster earned some impressive bragging rights by becoming the first females to win the ICAST fishing tournament.

Tanya Michelle Arendes, of Land O’ Lakes, can barely remember a time when she wasn’t holding a fishing rod. (Courtesy of Tanya Michelle Arendes)

They were joined on their team by Jackson Williams, a boat captain.

Team Lucky Go Fishing/Fish Bites broke the tournament’s record with a bag that weighed 25 pounds, 10 ounces, according to the tournament’s web page.

The acronym ICAST stands for International Convention of Allied Sportsfishing Trades. It was the first time in the tournament’s history that women were on the winning team.

Tanya Michelle explained how the international fishing tournament works.

“You have a five-fish limit. You can only keep five fish to weigh. In four hours, we caught about 40 fish,” she said.

The team knew it was in good shape before the weigh-in.

“We did our research. We knew that morning going into it that the biggest bag ever weighed for ICAST was only like 22 pounds.

Tanya Michelle credits the boat captain for taking them to a great fishing spot.

While winning the tournament was a thrill, the female angler said that for her, the joy of fishing lies in the pursuit.

“I don’t care if I come in last, I just love being out there and being involved in the sport, the camaraderie. I just love it. I love talking to people about all of their fish stories.

Terrie Huffmaster, left, and Tanya Michelle Arendes hoist the 2021 ICAST Cup trophy. The tournament took place at Big Toho Marina Kissimmee, on July 20. (Courtesy of Tanya Michelle Arendes)

“Of course, some of them aren’t true. But that’s part of it,” Tanya Michelle said.

While fishing can be a soothing pastime, that’s not the case in competitive fishing.

“Tournament fishing is pretty intense. A lot of people will have 10 or 15 rods already rigged,”  she said.

Whether competing for a trophy or out fishing on her own, Tanya Michelle simply adores being on or near water.

She has her own business that has flexible hours, so she can go fishing three or four times a week.

“If it’s not bass fishing, then I’m in the salt and I’m catching snook, redfish, trout. I actually have a hashtag online. My hashtag is TheCrazySnookLady. You click on that, you see nothing but me and fish.

“For salt (saltwater fishing), we go to St. Pete, Clearwater, (and the) Tierra Verde area. I hit all of the bridges,” she said.

Her biggest freshwater catch came in 2009, when she landed a 10-pound, 1-ounce freshwater bass, in Odessa.

“That’s still my biggest fish.

“My biggest saltwater catch —  that’s a different story. It was an 8-foot nurse shark. It was like a 2 ½-hour fight,” she said.

Over the years, she’s become knowledgeable about rods, reels, bait and tackle, and how to maintain her gear. She’s also picked up the ins and outs of when and where to fish.

“Dawn or dusk are usually the best, first light or last light, because that’s when they’re hungry,” she said. The weather, the sun, the moon and tides all are important, she added.

“If I’m saltwater fishing, if it’s high tide, there will be more fish up in there,” she explained.

Besides being a great sport for women, fishing also is a great activity for families, she said.

“We’ll do dinner and go fishing.

“After work, I’ll come over to Kurt’s dock to fish. Or, I’ll run over to Bexley. Or, even up to Ballantrae. I have friends over there. They’ll come meet me at the lake with their golf cart and their kids,” she said.

Mostly, she fishes for sport.

“I’m strictly catch and release, when it comes to freshwater. I don’t eat freshwater fish. I throw them all back. And, most saltwater (fish), I throw back,” she said.

As a single mom, she said she finds fishing to be therapeutic.

“While I’m fishing, I don’t think about what bills are due, what problems are going on. I’m thinking about my line and what fish is going to hit it.

“It’s just freeing for me,” she said.

While relaxing on one hand, it also produces an adrenaline rush — when there’s a fish on the line.

“It’s like a drug-free drug. It can be addicting. People get addicted to it. All they want to do is fish,” she said. “I love it. I really do.”

When it comes to fishing, Tanya Michelle acknowledged, she’s hooked.

Published December 22, 2021

Pasco takes step toward banning retail sale of rabbits

By

The Pasco County Commission has directed county staff to come back to the board with a recommendation regarding banning the retail sale of rabbits.

Pasco County outlawed the sale of kittens, puppies, cats and dogs from pet stores last year, and now animal advocates want a similar ban on the sale of pet rabbits.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the board should consider a ban, and he and his colleagues voted to have county staff bring something back to the board on the issue.

The action followed emails received by commissioners and requests during the public comment portion of a meeting in September and also in December.

This bunny lived in a loving home and was well taken care of from the age of 6 months; unfortunately, rabbits often are ‘impulse buys’ and are abandoned on the streets shortly after their purchase, say some animal advocates who want to ban the retail sale of rabbits at pet shops. (Courtesy of Meagan Rathman-Urena)

During the Dec. 7 meeting, Dr. Betsy Coville, a veterinarian from Lutz, told commissioners that rabbits are the third most-surrendered pet.

“They require higher maintenance than dogs or cats and can live 10 to 12 years.

“Frequently dumped outside, when the rescues are full, they starve, become prey for coyotes, or are hit by a car.

Bunny mills are consistently the source for these bunnies that become unwanted.

They’re “no different from the puppy mills that we recognize as inhumane,” she said.

“There are currently three locations in Florida that have placed bans on retail sales of rabbits: Orange County, Desoto County and Key West.

“They have all placed rabbits, along with dogs and cats, in their retail sale ban.

“Petco and PetSmart stopped selling rabbits in 2007, and only work with rescues. They are the No. 1 and (No.) 2 retail pet supplies in the U.S., so obviously, a ban will not hurt these businesses financially. This ban will take the pressure off rescues and humane societies — removing the guilt of turning them away and negating the need for owners to dump them.

“Pasco County has been a leader in the state in protecting animals, with anti-tethering laws and pet sales bans.

“Now, as we are working to educate and change laws in neighboring counties, we hope you will be the trailblazer for the Tampa Bay region,” the veterinarian said.

Animal advocate Renee Rivard, who had appeared at both the Sept. 28 and Dec. 7 meeting, reiterated her concerns.

At the Dec. 7 meeting, she told commissioners: “The Tampa Humane Society has taken in 246 unwanted pet rabbits so far this year. That’s 100 more than last year.

“Hillsborough County commissioners are taking action, because the Tampa Humane Society is their partner in helping the county with unwanted pets,” she said.

She asked the Pasco board to do the same: “There is no facility in Pasco County that takes in unwanted rabbits. Suncoast House Rabbit Rescue is your partner with unwanted pet rabbits here in Pasco County. Suncoast House Rabbit Rescue has told you that they are overwhelmed. In September alone, they had to turn away 66 unwanted pet rabbits.

“It is extremely difficult to find fosters and homes for rabbits. Rabbits are a high-maintenance pet,” Rivard said. “They need specialized veterinarian care, which is expensive,” she added.

She also explained that the majority of rabbit sales are impulse buys at retail stores. That especially occurs around Easter, when children tell their parents they want a bunny rabbit.

Rivard told commissioners: “You have roughly 45 pet stores in Pasco County; 36 of them survive, without selling rabbits.”

The argument that Petco and PetSmart haven’t sold rabbits in years seemed to resonate with Mariano.

He mentioned that and noted that in addition to hearing from speakers, he’s received emails on the issue.

He made a motion to have county staff look into the issue and to report back to the board, which received unanimous support from his colleagues.

Published December 22, 2021

Bicyclists have a new spot to relax, in Dade City

By

A Dec. 15 ribbon-cutting ceremony officially christened the new bike hub/visitor’s information center in downtown Dade City. From left: Dade City Commissioners Normita Woodard, Knute Nathe and Scott Black; Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore; Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez; Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley; and, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast president/tourism director Adam Thomas. )Courtesy of Experience Florida’s Sports Coast)

East Pasco’s rolling hills and curving countryside attract avid bicyclists from far and wide.

And now, these cyclists will have a spot where they can rest, relax and refuel.

The Spoke —  designed to offer respite for cyclists and other exercise enthusiasts — also features a visitor’s center.

A ribbon-cutting ceremony on Dec. 15 celebrated the new amenity, at 37800 Church Ave., across from the Roy T. Hardy trailhead.

The Spoke features covered porches, restrooms, and places to refill water bottles and tune up bicycles.

Inside the 1,100-square-foot welcome center, guests can check out information about the county’s other tourism amenities through mobile exhibit space, which includes printed information and videos.

The space also is eventually expected to host a local retail shop and satellite food vendor on weekends and during the evening.

“We have some very special things that we’re working on,” Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said, during the ribbon-cutting.

From the initial idea to its final build out, the project has been some six years in the making.

The Spoke is Dade City’s new bike hub/visitor’s information center in downtown Dade City, at 37800 Church Ave., across from the Roy T. Hardy trailhead. The Spoke is an 1,100-square-foot public space for cyclists, families and outdoor enthusiasts to stop, refill water bottles, grab a snack, tune up their bicycles, and learn more about what the city and county have to offer in terms of events, activities and entertainment.

Hernandez quipped: “I didn’t think that it was going to take that long to birth a baby, because I feel that this is like a baby to me.”

She went on: “This has been a project that I have cradled and that I have hugged, and that I have worked so closely with the TDC (Pasco County Tourist Development Council) and the BOCC (Pasco County Board of County Commissioners).”

The facility’s moniker represents a combination of the city’s rich railway history and its modern trail movement.

Melanie Romagnoli, Dade City’s community and economic development director, is credited with dreaming up the facility’s name.

The Spoke was funded with a $250,000 grant from the Pasco TDC and its official destination marketing organization, Experience Florida’s Sports Coast, which promotes the county’s varied outdoor and recreational offerings.

The amber-colored visitor center reflects the architectural style of the surrounding Church Avenue neighborhood, which commonly features homes with wood siding, columns and brick embellishments.

“The Spoke is going to be something that brings tourism to Pasco County,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who also chairs the county’s TDC. “You know, (Dade City) is a bike hub, it really is. There’s people from all over the world that come to Dade City to ride here, and we want to continue to do what we can do to promote it. …We look forward to more great things to come from this beautiful city.”

Commissioner Ron Oakley, whose district represents East Pasco, underscored the importance of having designated outdoor exercise-friendly recreational features — amid the booming population growth, and increasing traffic.

“More people will need this kind of (amenity) where they can walk and ride their bikes, and make it safe,” Oakley said.

The Spoke represents the first phase of a larger 2.23-acre city park site that’s anticipated to include a splash pad, all-inclusive playground, nature trail, and possibly an amphitheater.

Its completion will otherwise complement the city’s nearby downtown restaurants and shops, while offering another recreational outlet for youth, residents and visitors alike.

“This whole vision, this beautiful piece of land, it’s just a huge asset to Dade City,” Hernandez said.

The city originally purchased the property for the park site in December 2019 from the family of local businessman Otto Weitzenkorn.

Officials have said the park fits with the city’s vision of fostering a healthy and age-friendly community.

The Spoke also represents Pasco County’s first official tourism welcome center.

Published December 22, 2021

Road dispute stalls zoning request until January

By

The Pasco County Commission has delayed until Jan. 25 a request for a 108 single-family subdivision in Land O’ Lakes — to give the developer a chance to work out a solution for addressing area traffic concerns.

The rezoning is being requested by Darrell A. and Karen J. Renner.

It calls for changing the zoning on 50.5 acres of agricultural land to allow a master-planned unit development (MPUD), on the south side of Bexley Road, about a mile west of the intersection of U.S. 41 and Wisteria Loop.

Both the Pasco County Planning Commission and county planners recommended approval of the rezoning, providing a number of conditions are met — including the construction of a new road.

But the applicant has balked at constructing a new road, because of the cost.

Attorney Shelley Johnson, whose clients are seeking the rezoning, said they are willing to improve Wisteria Loop, to bring it up to county standards  — a condition that county planners required in their original recommendation for approval.

The applicant also has offered to improve a nearby intersection into a safer configuration, Johnson said.

Area residents, however, continue to push for the new road to be built.

Speakers including Ray Gadd, Chris Nocco and Jeremy Couch urged the county board to take action to prevent existing neighborhoods from being flooded by traffic, not only from the future 108-home development, but others that are being, or will be built in the area.

Gadd, who is deputy superintendent of Pasco County Schools, and Nocco, who is the county’s sheriff, both made it clear that they were speaking as private residents, not in their official capacity.

At the initial planning board meeting, Johnson said her client would be willing to build the new road or improve the existing one and county planners subsequently changed the conditions to require the new road.

But when the issue came back to the planning board for further discussion, Johnson said constructing the road would be too costly. Instead, she said, her client was willing to bring the existing road up to standard.

Published December 22, 2021

Dade City awards general engineering services

By

The City of Dade City has chosen a host of firms to serve as general planning and engineering consultants, for the next five years.

Elected officials selected firms that include Lakeland-based Wood Environment & Infrastructure Solutions Inc.; Lutz-based Johnson Engineering Inc.; Tampa-based Halff Associates Inc.; and Tampa-based CPH Inc.

(File)

Tampa-based Tierra Inc., also was selected to provide geotechnical services to the city.

The Dade City Commission made the selections on a 5-0 vote on Dec. 14, giving city staff the authorization to prepare a general consulting agreement for each firm to be considered at the next available city commission meeting.

Dade City Public Works Director Bryan Holmes detailed the city’s selection process.

A request for qualifications (RFQ) was solicited in September, for interested firms to submit their qualifications for providing planning and engineering services and geotechnical services to the city on a continuing consulting agreement.

Fourteen firms responded to the city’s solicitation.

The submitted RFQs included:

  • Firm qualifications: That includes the number of years the firm has been in business; references and past performances; willingness to meet time and budget requirements; recent, current and projected workloads; volume of work previously awarded to each firm by agency
  • Experience and qualification of assigned staff: That includes the staff’s experiences, qualifications and technical abilities
  • Approach and delivery of services: That includes an understanding of the scope of work, ability to comply with the full scope of work, technical soundness of the proposal

A panel of city staffers reviewed the RFQs. The panel was made up staff that is knowledgeable about the planning and engineering projects the city will be doing in the next few years.

To further narrow down the list of would-be consultants, staff focused on evaluating the specialty services and focus areas offered by the firms that submitted.

Some of these specialties and focus areas tracked upcoming planning and engineering projects anticipated and programmed in the city’s five-year capital improvement plan. These specialties include the development and implementation of traffic calming programs, neighborhood planning, round-about design and engineering, stormwater management engineering and design, local government planning services, and GIS and mapping training services.

Wood generated the best score in the engineering evaluation criteria matrix with a 93 average, followed by Johnson Engineering (92.3), Halff Associates (91), and CPH (87.3). Tierra generated a score of 98 in the geotech evaluation.

Published December 22, 2021

Save water, while prepping for the holidays

By

Holiday food prep and cleanup can waste water and run up your water bill. (Courtesy of swfwmd.state.fl.us)

Water plays a role in everything from food preparation to cleaning up after cooking and meals.

The Southwest Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) offers six easy ways to prepare for upcoming holiday meals and parties without running up your water bill.

Here are the SFWMD’s suggestions on how to incorporate water conservation into holiday preparations:

  • Defrost frozen foods in the refrigerator or the microwave, instead of running hot water over them.
  • Rinse vegetables and fruits in a sink or pan filled with water, instead of under running water. This water can then be reused to water houseplants. Up to 4 gallons per minute can be used while running a faucet.
  • When washing dishes by hand, fill the rinsing sink or basin with soapy water and fill the rinsing sink one-third to one-half full. Avoid letting the water continuously run.
  • Select the proper size pans for cooking. Large pans require more water than may be necessary.
  • Put food scraps into a garbage can or a composting bin rather than rinsing them into the sink’s garbage disposal. Garbage disposals use up to 4.5 gallons of water per minute.
  • Run the dishwasher only when it has a full load. Dishwashers use between 7 gallons and 23 gallons of water per load.

For more water conservation tips, visit WaterMatters.org/Conservation.

Published December 22, 2021

Little Free Libraries coming to Lacoochee, Tommytown

By

Hugh Embry Library has been awarded two Little Free Libraries (LFLs) through the Little Free Library’s Impact Program for November 2021, according to a Pasco County news release.

The program provides free Little Free Library book exchange stands to communities with members who face economic and social barriers, and find it difficult to reach the library.

Hugh Embry Library is closed for renovations, so the stands will provide books for people who are not able to travel to other libraries.

The stands will be set up in Lacoochee and Tommytown.

“The Little Free Libraries have been a special project of the Friends of Hugh Embry Library for years, already funding five LFLs,” Librarian Angelo Liranzo, said in the release. “Library team members are working with the Friends to reach our community partners in both winning communities as we await the soon-to-arrive LFLs.”

Friends of the Hugh Embry Library and library staff dedicated themselves to researching and applying for the grant opportunity to obtain the LFLs.

For more information about Pasco County Libraries, including the library catalog, E-content, programs, events and links to all Pasco County Library branches, visit PascoLibraries.org.

Published December 22, 2021

Colorful lights and traditions help to celebrate the season

By

Crowds gathered to watch the Symphony in Lights at The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel, and motorists spied outdoor decorations at the Old Lutz School on U.S. 41, in Lutz.

Folks also headed to celebrations such as Christmas parades, visits with Santa, or to Dade City’s annual Christmas Stroll and its traditional “Church Street Christmas.”

Still others have simply loaded up the kids — and kids of all ages — to drive around neighborhoods to check out homes dressed up in holiday style.

Whatever way you are observing your holidays, The Laker/Lutz News extends warm wishes to you for an enjoyable season, and the best of life throughout the New Year.

Four-year-old R.J. Hans, of Winter Haven, has an up-close and personal chat with Santa Claus, also known as Ross Wilder, of Tampa. R.J., along with his dad, Robert, and his grandfather, Bob, spent the day at the Florida Pioneer Museum and Village. On the way back to Winter Haven they spotted Santa and had to stop for a visit. Mrs. Claus, also known as Janet Wilder, had her and Santa’s chair on the front lawn of the Lowman Law Firm during the Dade City Christmas Stroll. (Fred Bellet)
The face of 4-year old Anya Pierce becomes a work of art as artist Gigi Allison, left, puts a holiday face on the Zephyrhills girl in front of Lanky Lassie’s Shortbread Shop during the Dade City Christmas Stroll.
A Friesian horse pulls a wagon of folks on Meridian Avenue, from Seventh Avenue, for a 15-minute ride around the downtown area, during the Dade City Christmas Stroll. Other events included a Christmas tree lighting, a community choir and a larger wagon ride pulled by Belgian Draft Horses.
Ivy Lakes Estates neighbors banded together and built illuminating arches over the sidewalks. Reindeer await Santa, in this gated community in Odessa.
A Sago palm becomes a Florida Christmas tree in a dazzling display within the gated community of Ivy Lakes Estates in Odessa.
At a lone Land O’ Lakes Christmas tree stand, Michael Monette, of Lutz, sets up Frazier Fir trees ready for sale in front of the Harvester Community Church. A portion of the proceeds help support the church’s youth group, he said.
The parking lot fence at the Old Lutz Schoolhouse has a message for all. The fence is visible from U.S. 41, if there are no vehicles parked on the lot.
The Shops at Wiregrass’ nightly Symphony in Lights offers both young and old a chance to enjoy the seasonal lights and music show.

 

After decades of waiting, Ridge Road extension to open this month

By

It has been more than two decades in the making — but the first segment of the Ridge Road extension is expected to open this month.

Don’t expect great fanfare to accompany that opening, though.

“The plan is, the second it can open to traffic, it will open to traffic, and we will have a big event at some point, after that day,” Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles told the Pasco County Commission on Dec. 7.

“Now, we may do some kind of small parade that day, but nothing big,” Biles added.

Biles explained that he’s not going to delay opening the road simply to schedule a celebration. It takes time for those things because it involves coordinating “a ton of different calendars,” he added.

The first leg of the extension will carry traffic from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

The second leg, which is slated for completion in 2025, will extend Ridge Road to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

The completion date for the second leg might be accelerated, if the Florida Legislature provides additional funding for the project.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore recently announced that he had asked State Rep. Ardian Zika and State Sen. Ed Hooper to sponsor legislation seeking $14 million for the project, adding they both have agreed to do so.

County officials have pushed for the extension for decades, justifying the need for it to provide an additional east-west hurricane evacuation route.

The new 9-mile extension, once completed to U.S. 41, also will relieve traffic on State Road 52 and State Road 54, the only two through east-west roads that carry traffic across the county.

The extension also will support the area’s burgeoning growth.

A huge development known as the Angeline community will be rising on thousands of acres, south of State Road 52 and west of U.S. 41.

The future growth includes a 775-acre Pasco campus planned by Moffitt Cancer Center, near the Ridge Road and Suncoast Parkway interchange.

Moffitt’s campus is expected to become a magnet for life sciences research.

The county’s elected leaders and economic development experts also expect Moffitt’s development to have a transformative effect on the area’s future development and to generate thousands of jobs.

Leadership from Pasco County Schools and Moffitt already foresee great possibilities of working together when the district builds its planned 6-12 STEAM school on land near Moffitt’s planned campus. The acronym STEAM stands for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Published December 15, 2021