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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Library system honored for taking on a NASA Challenge

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Science ‘sprouted’ earlier this year at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City, as Pasco County Libraries took part in a NASA challenge. (File)

Pasco County Libraries is ‘over the moon’ with a win in the Best in Show for Evaluation of Results category, in NASA’s Plant the Moon Challenge.

The Institute of Competition Scientists issued the challenge — in collaboration with the University of Central Florida’s Center for Lunar and Asteroid Surface Science (CLASS) Exolith Lab, which, in turn, provided the lunar soil simulant to conduct the experiment.

Earlier this year, the library’s team of ‘scientists,’ the MoonRakers, embarked on the 10-week task to examine how vegetation grows in lunar soil. The team collected data to help determine ways to use lunar soil to grow crops for future space missions.

After the growing period, which took place at the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City, the MoonRakers submitted its findings and showcased them at a virtual symposium in April, with NASA scientists and other researchers.

As a result of the team’s efforts, its data will be used in NASA’s Artemis Program, the new initiative to return to the moon.

You can learn more about the challenge on Hugh Embry Library’s Facebook page.

Published August 25, 2021

Protecting fire rescue personnel from active shooters

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Five fire rescue departments across Tampa Bay have acquired ballistic vests and helmets to protect personnel during an active shooter rescue, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

Rescue departments in Hillsborough, Pasco and Hernando counties, and with the City of Tampa and Plant City have acquired nearly 700 ballistic vest and helmet kits for protection, the release says. They’re to be used during active shooter/hostile event response (ASHER) threats, as prescribed by National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) 3000.

The equipment was provided through a federal Urban Area Security Initiative (USAI) grant, the release adds.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue took the lead in writing the grant application and drafting training and protocol measures for use of the kits. Tampa Fire Rescue, Pasco County Fire Rescue, Hernando County Fire Rescue, and Plant City Fire Rescue all participated in the grant process, the release says.

Each department now has ballistic vests and helmet kits for each apparatus that would respond in an active shooter scenario. The kits will protect more than 2,500 fire rescue personnel in the Tampa Bay region.

Each ballistic vest kit includes an adjustable vest, two armored steel plates that fit into the vest, and a protective Kevlar helmet. Hillsborough County Fire Rescue is providing training for each department on the proper use of the kits.

The ballistic vest kit protocol calls for them to be used only in an ASHER threat. Rescue personnel would only enter an ASHER site to care for the wounded after law enforcement has secured the scene. The kits would provide an additional level of protection in a life-threatening situation.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue applied for the grant to procure the vests and helmets, to ensure that all agencies in the region potentially responding to an ASHER threat would have access to the same protection, according to the release.

Published August 25, 2021

State roads department offers update on halted Pasco projects

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Florida Department of Transportation District Seven Secretary David Gwynn recently gave an update on the status of state road projects that recently halted operations.

Gwynn gave the update during the Aug. 12 board meeting of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

The Pasco MPO — made up of representatives of Pasco County, Dade City, Zephyrhills, Port Richey and New Port Richey — is the lead transportation planning agency in Pasco County.

Work has stopped on a diverging diamond project that is being done in Wesley Chapel, which is expected to ease traffic at State Road 56 and Interstate 75, once the work is finished. An estimated completion date on the project has not been determined. (File)

Gwynn told the MPO board members: “We had seven projects in our district, three of them in Pasco County, that DAB Contractors either were defaulted on — which was the DDI (Diverging Diamond Interchange) — or self-defaulted, which included State Road 52 and State Road 54.

“After that occurred, we met with our surety company — more or less the bondholder.

“I can tell you the surety has been very responsive so far,” he said.

He expressed confidence that once the surety company awards a bid on the contract, the contractor will “try to get this project not only going, but accelerating as quickly as possible.”

Gwynn also noted: “We’re also working with our maintenance contractor to ensure that the project sites are secured. I’ve noticed recently that some of the vegetation in some of the areas is starting to grow pretty high, so we’re out there with our forces, mowing them. In fact, we’re doing (State Road) 54, I think, today.

“The surety has let me know the direction they’ve given their people is that they need to get these contracts going as soon as possible because they’re also held to the same penalties as DAB would have been held to for being late. In other words, the end date of the contract doesn’t change. They’ll get penalized for every day they don’t meet, based on that original contract.

“I’m very optimistic that very soon we’ll have contractors on board working on those projects.

“When you look at some of the other construction projects we have around in Pasco County and around the district, a lot of the contractors are ahead of schedule. The State Road 52 realignment project is almost a year ahead of schedule, with Superior Construction.

“The Overpass Road Interchange is ahead of construction, so I think there’s capacity out there to get other good contractors and get these jobs moving forward.”

Kris Carson, spokeswoman for the FDOT District Seven Office, provided an Aug. 13 update regarding the status of the projects.

The surety company and the FDOT have executed a takeover agreement regarding the diverging diamond project, as of Aug. 12, according to Carson’s update.

The receipt of bids for the project had been scheduled for Aug. 12, but was moved back to Aug. 18, to provide more information and give more contractors an opportunity to compete for the work.

Mowing and general maintenance has been completed throughout the project limits.

Also, the number of temporary traffic control devices have been reduced to the minimum required to maintain a safe work zone, the update adds.

Regarding the State Road 52 project, from Suncoast Parkway to U.S. 41: A representative with the surety met with an FDOT representative onside to assess the status of the project, on Aug. 11. The FDOT has completed uploading all of the documentation requested by the surety and the takeover documents are with the surety, for its execution.

Regarding the widening of State Road 54, from Curley Road to Morris Bridge Road: A representative with the surety met with a FDOT representative onsite to assess the status of the project, on Aug. 11. The FDOT has completed uploading all of the project documentation requested by the surety. The takeover documents are currently with the surety for its execution.

The FDOT has completed mowing throughout the project area. Additional maintenance of driveway access to business on the west side of Eiland/State Road 54 is planned to be completed within the next two weeks, according to the Aug. 13 update.

The surety will be responsible for meeting the original contract requirements, and the FDOT retains the responsibility to ensure the surety meets its obligations, the FDOT document adds.

Published August 18, 2021

Reviving opportunities, respecting a community’s rural character

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Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley is pushing for special planning efforts to “bring more interest, energy and investment” to the Lacoochee area, “while respecting the rural character of the community.”

He asked his colleague on the county board to join with him in directing the county’s staff to create a scope of work for a consultant to develop a concept plan for the area.

Pasco County Commission Ron Oakley has called for a special planning effort to encourage opportunities in Lacoochee, while also respecting the rural character of the community.

Once the scope is approved and a consultant is selected, a “non-binding concept plan” for the geographic area will be developed.

The boundaries for the study area will be recommended by the county’s planners and approved by the county board.

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein described the initiative like this: “Before we created the Villages of Pasadena Hills Plan, there was a consultant hired to create a concept plan for that area. It went to the board, the board looked at that concept plan and said, ‘Yes, this looks good. Go farther with it.’”

The Villages of Pasadena Hills is a special district, created through a special planning effort. It is next to the cities of San Antonio, St. Leo, Dade City and Zephyrhills.

Goldstein said his understanding of the board’s directive is for staff to bring back a scope of work for a consultant to create an initial concept plan.

Nectarios Pittos, director of the planning and development department, said he had the same understanding.

Oakley said the county has been talking for years about the need to create new opportunities in Lacoochee and it has helped to lay the groundwork with additional infrastructure.

Now, finally, there’s one manufacturing company in the area, and another one is coming, Oakley said. (At the Metropolitan Planning Organization Board meeting later in the week, Oakley also mentioned there are some additional companies looking into the area, too.)

As manufacturers move in, workforce housing will be needed, Oakley said. Area residents also will need services, such as doctors and a grocery store, he said.

The county wants to address those needs, Oakley said.

“There’s nothing wrong with good planning out ahead,” Oakley said. “We want to take care of them (new workers), ourselves,” he said.

Without it, workers will spend the day at their jobs in Lacoochee, then drive to Hernando or another county to live, the board chairman said.

Lacoochee once was a thriving community, home to one of the nation’s largest sawmill operations, Cummer Sons Cypress Company.

At one time, the company was the foundation of a community that functioned like a town, within a town.

“It has been over 60 years since that plant shut down,” Oakley said, and once the jobs were gone, the community fell on hard times.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said the effort will focus on: “How do we want that area planned, going forward, based on the work we see that’s happening in that area?”

Oakley added: “We need to develop that the right way, and keep the rural nature of Lacoochee.”

Note: For a look at the history of the Cummer Sons Cypress Company, see this week’s feature story.

Published August 18, 2021

Zephyrhills keeps busy — with lots of irons in the fire

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The City of Zephyrhills is involved in numerous initiatives, and City Manager Billy Poe recently updated the city’s elected leaders on what’s happening on numerous fronts.

For one thing, a staff-level meeting has been scheduled with state Sen. Danny Burgess, state Rep. Randy Maggard and the Pasco Economic Development Council regarding “future opportunities” at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Poe told members of the Zephyrhills City Council, at its Aug. 9 meeting.

He also informed them that the Florida Army National Guard is still evaluating parcels in the area of the municipal airport to build an armory — a project that’s received $25 million in state funding.

Poe told council members that the National Guard plans to purchase a property, instead of lease property from the city, as originally anticipated.

Funding for the armory project must be encumbered by 2024 and completely spent by 2026, Poe said.

The city manager also said that staff is hammering out a new lease agreement for the Zephyrhills Municipal Golf Course, an 18-hole, par 68 course, at 39248 B Ave., in Zephyrhills. It’s expected to be presented during an Aug. 23 council meeting.

At one point the golf course was being considered as a possible location for the armory building.

Poe also told council members that appropriation funding requests to present to the 2022 state legislative session will be evaluated and finalized during the council’s Aug. 23 meeting.

Staff and council members have been tasked to prepare ideas and input on necessary projects within the city limits, to present to state legislators.

Poe noted: “You know, the things that they (legislators) look at the most are projects that are economic drivers, so that’s what we need to be thinking about.”

The annual Pasco County Legislative Delegation public meeting is scheduled for Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, on 5335 Eighth St. Legislators to be present include Senators Wilton Simpson, Ed Hooper and Danny Burgess, and Representatives Amber Mariano, Ardian Zika and Randy Maggard.

Poe also told council members that progress is being made on the 2021-2022 fiscal year budget, which is undergoing “a few changes or some additions.”

In another update, Poe noted the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center is set to host the SVB Padel Open, from Aug. 27 through Aug. 29.

The tournament initially was promoted as an international padel tournament — featuring a team from Spain — but has been scaled back to feature just local competition, amid coronavirus-related travel restrictions, Poe said.

Another padel tournament incorporating international competition is expected to be scheduled at a later date, he said.

Finally, the city manager said that city staff is working on making applications for Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds for these projects:

  • Transforming Seventh Street into a complete street
  • Purchasing and installing generators for the city’s utilities department
  • Construction of a city maintenance yard.

Published August 18, 2021

A unique kind of Happy Hour

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Residents of Rosecastle of Zephyrhills, a retirement and assisted living facility, recently got tattooed.

Temporarily tattooed, that is.

Take Solace Studios, a tattoo and piercing company in Zephyrhills, brought beer, wine and hard ciders, along with a bunch of temporary tattoos, fake glitter stickers and brow henna, to surprise the Rosecastle residents.

From left: Shaun Sikat, Riley Courtwright, Isabella Brunk and Matthew Chivers volunteer their time to bring smiles to the residents of Rosecastle of Zephyhills by giving them temporary tattoos. (Courtesy of Riley Courtwright)

Riley Courtwright, owner of Take Solace Studios, and Michelle Hurst, executive director of Rosecastle of Zephyrhills, organized the July 30 festivities.

Courtwright was inspired to create the event after she saw a social media posting of something similar in a retirement community in Texas.

“When I saw the photos, I knew I wanted to do the same thing,” Courtwright said.

Hurst, a piercing client of Courtwright’s for years, was enthused when Courtwright pitched the idea.

“We started to plan it out, and then COVID hit. When things finally calmed down a bit with COVID this year, we got in there as soon as possible,” Courtwright said.

Courtwright and Take Solace Studios staffers Matthew Chivers, Isabella Brunk and Shaun Sikat took part. Chivers is a tattoo artist; Brunk, a cosmetic tattoo artist; and Sikat, Courtwright’s business partner.

It’s all about the placement! Take Solace Studios tattoo artist Matthew Chivers gets ready to apply a temporary tattoo on James Bain, a resident of Rosecastle of Zephyrhills.

Courtwright worked with the fake piercings. Chivers applied the temporary tattoos. Brunk took care of the brow hennas. Sikat served drinks.

Courtwright said her entire staff wanted to be there, but because of COVID and social distancing, the retirement and assisted living facility asked her to limit the numbers.

“I’m so truly blessed to have a staff that was really willing to do this. They asked on their own to give up working a very busy day of making money to go spend time with the residents at the retirement facility for free,” Courtwright said. “I’m very aware as an employer how rare it is to have an entire staff share that same genuine generosity.”

The event was particularly meaningful to Courtwright, whose mother battles with dementia.

“My heart’s a little partial to the senior community,” Courtwright said.

Take Solace Studios cosmetic tattoo artist Isabella Brunk applies brow henna to Barbara Holmes, a resident at Rosecastle of Zephyrhills. Brow henna is a form of eyebrow tinting. It usually lasts for about three weeks.

She said she wasn’t sure what to expect going into the event, and was pleasantly surprised by the receptive response by the residents.

“When you think about the older generations, there’s definitely that gap of acceptance on body modifications and tattoos,” Courtwright said.

“I didn’t really know how they were going to take it, but it was all smiles…the residents just had the most amazing time,” she said.

Creating and showing others the “softer side” of the tattoo industry is Courtwright’s main mission with Take Solace Studios.

“The industry overall kind of has a reputation and I think it’s because no one’s really ever gone out of their way to mend that,” Courtwright said. But, she added: “The tattoo industry really can offer a lot of good.”

For instance, Take Solace Studios does free tattoo coverups of anything racial, gang-affiliated, hatred and so on. It also does free cosmetic tattooing for cancer survivors and free microblading for lupus patients.

“We’ve spent the last two years doing as much good as we could,” Courtwright said.

Courtwright wants to continue doing good for the community, and is already planning on coming back to Rosecastle of Zephyrhills.

And, Rosecastle isn’t the only place they plan to go.

“As soon as we posted the photos from the event, another facility in Dade City asked us to do an event like that for them, as well,” Courtwright said.

She can’t wait.

“I just want to go to all the retirement homes now,” Courtwright said.

For more information on Take Solace Studios, visit Facebook.com/TakeSolaceStudios.

Published August 18, 2021

Take Solace Studios provided Rosecastle of Zephyrhills residents with many temporary tattoo options. Two residents, here, make their choice.
An up-close shot of just one of the many temporary tattoos given to the residents at Rosecastle of Zephyrhills.

Dade City proposes big hike in public safety impact fees

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The Dade City Commission has unanimously given first-round approval to an ordinance that includes sizable increases of the city’s public safety impact fees.

The Dade City Commission gave first-round approval to an ordinance that will increase the public safety impact fees on new residential, commercial and industrial construction projects construction valued at $5,000 or more within the city limits. The fees will help pay for equipment and training for the Dade City Police Department. (Courtesy of Dade City Police Department)

The higher impact fees would apply to new residential, commercial and industrial construction valued at $5,000 or more.

The proposed public safety impact fee on new single-family homes would be $449.30 — a whopping increase over the current fee of $94.49.

That’s an increase of 376%, according to the summary of a report from Stantec Consulting Services Inc., the consulting firm that prepared the fee study.

The proposed rate for retail units would be $462.78 per EDU, a 52% increase from the current rate of $304.

An EDU is a unit based on the impact of a typical single-family detached dwelling.

Different types of uses are assigned EDU multipliers.

For instance a single-family dwelling equals 1.0 EDU, while a mobile home is assigned 0.75 EDU and a retail use is assigned 1,030 EDUs.

Commissioners gave the proposed fee schedule preliminary approval during their Aug. 10 meeting. No one offered public comment during the introduction and first reading of the proposed ordinance.

The second reading and adoption of the proposed ordinance are scheduled during the 5:30 p.m., meeting on Aug. 24, at City Hall, 38020 Meridian Ave.

Proceeds of the fees are intended to provide additional funding for the Dade City Police Department, at a time of surging growth and development in the East Pasco municipality.

The proposed impact fees are based on a recent study completed by Stantec Consulting Services Inc.

A city agenda memo explains that Stantec “determined that capital costs for the expansion of the police department caused by new growth should be borne by the developers of the new projects and the residents and businesses that will occupy the new structures.”

Stantec “has recommended the municipality’s public safety impact fee schedule be increased from a flat fee schedule to a fee schedule based on $449.30 per EDU in accordance with the schedule set forth in the study,” the memo continues.

The city’s public safety impact fees haven’t increased since 2004.

Officials say the proposed increases come at a critical time in the city’s history.

This graphic, from Stantec Consulting Services Inc., compares the City of Dade City’s proposed public safety impact fee rate of $449 on new single-family homes, a whopping increase over the current rate of $94. The current rate hasn’t changed since 2004. The chart also shows comparisons of Dade City’s rate to other Florida cities and counties. (Courtesy of Stantec Consulting Service, Inc.)

About 6,500 new rooftops and several commercial properties are approved to be built over the next 10 to 20 years, Melanie Romagnoli, the city’s community and economic development director, told commissioners.

Dade City Police Chief James Walters said the department will need to hire 46 additional sworn officers, in response to the city’s growth.

Additional revenues from the public safety fees would be used to address the police department’s increased costs of service delivery, operations, capital outlay, training and new equipment, officials say.

‘Antiquated’ impact fees
In addressing the proposed fee schedule, Peter Napoli, a senior financial consultant for Stantec, characterized the city’s existing impact fee model as “antiquated.”

He told commissioners that its impact fee schedule needs to be more in line with 2021 values through the Engineering News Record Construction Cost Index (ENR-CCI).

The proposed schedule “represents an updated proportional allocation between the property classes that you charge those impact fees to,” Napoli said.

He also explained the consequences of not increasing the fees.

By keeping the same fees, the consultants believe the city would be insufficiently covering the incremental cost of growth, according to Napoli.

When that happens, he said, “the difference between the costs and what you recover is shouldered by the existing taxpayers in the city.”

Napoli acknowledged there is at least one wrinkle in the city’s efforts to impose higher public safety impact fees.

This graphic from Stantec Consulting Services Inc., compares the City of Dade City’s proposed public safety impact fee rate on new retail properties is about $463 per 1,000 square feet, compared to its current rate of $304. The current rate hasn’t been updated since 2004. The graphic also provides a comparison with other Florida cities and counties. (Courtesy of Stantec Consulting Services Inc.)

A new Florida law, which took effect July 1, requires that new impact fees be phased in over years, rather than imposed within 90 days.

However, the consultant noted, Dade City may be exempt from the new law, if it exhibits a “demonstrated need” to accelerate the impact fee schedule.

City Attorney Thomas Thanas concurred with Napoli’s assessment, as the town will need to expand its police department, which, in turn, necessitates equipping and training new officers.

Thanas pointed out the Florida statute allows such impact fees to be applied to capital costs such as squad cars and other long-term investments. It can’t be used for salaries, however, he said.

Put another way, hiking impact fees “will help defer the cost of adding new officers to address the growth issues that we’ll be encountering over the next few years,” the city attorney said.

Additionally, Thanas outlined another finding that may work in the city’s favor to claim  extraordinary circumstances to rapidly impose public safety impact fee increases.

It comes in the form of another new Florida law (House Bill 7051) that calls for new technology and training requirements for all police departments statewide.

The technology requirements include body-worn cameras, while training requirements span use of force, de-escalation techniques, and interactions with persons suffering from substance abuse disorder or mental illness.

Because of this law, Thanas observed the city’s police department “will be incurring additional expenses, even if we don’t have growth, we still have these costs to deal with, and some of the costs are eligible for being covered by a public safety impact fee.”

The city’s proposed ordinance calls for making the new impact fees effective within 90 days of adoption.

Proposed public safety impact fee schedule for the City of Dade City:

  • Retail — $462.78 per 1,000 square-feet
  • Single-family — $449.30 per dwelling unit
  • Mobile home — $336.98 per dwelling unit
  • Multi-family — $323.50 per dwelling unit
  • Office — $220.16 per 1,000 square-feet
  • Institutional — $134.79 per 1,000 square-feet
  • Industrial — $76.38 per 1,000 square-feet
  • Warehouse — $44.93 per 1,000 square-feet

Published August 18, 2021

Wire Road pavement work is underway in Zephyrhills

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The Wire Road pavement rehabilitation program began this week in Zephyrhills, and is expected to be completed around Sept. 17, according to a Pasco County news release.

During the project, crews will focus on road base rehabilitation, milling, resurfacing and new pavement markings, the release says.

The project includes work along the entire three-mile stretch of Wire Road, from County Road 54 to U.S. 301, which also is known as Gall Boulevard.

Northbound and southbound lanes will be under construction with single lane closures, the news release says.

The project work hours will be Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Message boards will be used to direct traffic.

The project is expected to take 32 days to complete, depending on the weather.

Asphalt Paving Systems is the contractor for this project, being done for the county’s public works department.

Published August 18, 2021

Ice center names academy director

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Hockey in Florida is hotter than hot following back-to-back championships by the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Glen Metropolit, former Tampa Bay Lightning player, is the new director of AdventHealth Center Ice’s Global Prospect Academy. (Fred Bellet)

Now, AdventHealth Center Ice has strengthened its connection to the Bolts, through a new hire.

Glen Metropolit, a former Tampa Bay Lightning forward, has been selected as the new director of AdventHealth Center Ice’s Global Prospects Academy.

The academy provides a tailor-made educational approach — giving students a chance to combine intensive hockey training, along with scholastic pursuits.

Gordie Zimmermann, chief executive officer for AdventHealth Center Ice, announced Metropolit’s selection during a news conference last week at the five-rink facility, off Cypress Ridge Drive at the Interstate 75 interchange, in Pasco County.

The academy is part of ice center’s mission to build a “developmental pipeline” for future hockey players – both boys and girls – who want to play on college, professional or Olympic hockey teams.

About 30 students are expected to enroll in the program, which will more than double the previous year’s enrollment of 14,  Zimmermann said.

North Tampa Christian Academy will provide the academic curriculum, with Global Prospect Academy students attending classes at North Tampa Christian, which is about three miles from the ice rink.

Gordie Zimmermann is the owner and chief executive officer of AdventHealth Center Ice, the largest ice sports training facility in the Southeast. (Fred Bellet)

A classroom dedicated to academics also is located at the ice rink.

North Tampa Christian will provide transportation between the two sites.

The program will be crafted to meet both academic requirements and hockey training schedules. Pasco-Hernando State College also will provide college course opportunities.

“It’s a highly competitive academic program,” said Stephen Herr, North Tampa Christian’s headmaster. “They are going to get a top-notch education. They are going to get academic scholarships they hope for, in addition to athletic scholarships they and their parents have dreamed of for so long.”

The program provides an opportunity previously not available to area student-athletes, Zimmermann said.

Academy hockey players run drills on the ice as AdventHealth Center Ice officials announce Glen Metropolit as the new director of the Global Prospect Academy.

“Kids were going to Michigan or Boston to play hockey. There were no programs in Florida. In the future, we’ll grow and include other sports we have here,” he said.

Figure skating could become the second ice sport for a program like the one the academy provides for youth hockey players, Zimmermann said. It also will recruit students nationally and internationally, he added.

He mentioned one family from the Czech Republic that is considering a move to Pasco so a son can enroll in the academy to play hockey. They also have a daughter who figure skates, Zimmermann said.

They are just one example of the broad-based interest in the new academy, Zimmermann said.

Brian Bradley represented the Tampa Bay Lightning organization at the news conference. The former Tampa Bay Lightning player is an inductee into the Sports Club of Tampa Bay Hall of Fame.

Before accepting his new role, Metropolit served as assistant director and head coach for the Lightning’s U18 Elite Training Program for high school students from grades nine through 12.

The former hockey player had stints in several national and international hockey leagues, and is an inductee into the ECHL (formerly East Coast Hockey League) Hall of Fame.

He also is a recipient of the Bill Masterson Memorial Trophy, an annual award bestowed to a hockey player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.

Gordie Zimmermann, left, chief executive officer of AdventHealth Center Ice; Glen Metropolit, new director of Global Prospects Academy; and Stephen Herr, headmaster of North Tampa Christian Academy, chat prior to a press conference.

Metropolit describes hockey as “the ultimate sport.”

Of his new appointment, he said: “This is just another way I can give back and help hockey players reach their goals.”

Metropolit’s staff includes Stan Neckar, former National Hockey League and Tampa Bay Lightning player; Nick Lindberg, former professional hockey player; and John Drysdale, a USA level 4 certified coach, a bronze certified goalie coach, and a former youth development director.

Zimmermann noted that the interest in hockey, in general, has grown steadily over the past five years.

“We’ve probably doubled the size of youth hockey in Florida,” he said.

AdventHealth Center Ice provides considerable opportunities for those interested in developing their talents, and for spectators who enjoy watching sports.

The facility is the largest ice sports training in the Southeast, with one Olympic-sized rink, three National Hockey League style rinks, and one mini-rink.

It also boasts locker rooms, a fitness and sports recovery center, off-ice training area, full-size restaurant and bar, concession stand and pro shop.

It hosted the 2018 U.S. Women’s Ice Hockey Team training program, and the team went on to win Olympic gold.

Adult and youth leagues play there, and it attracts special events — which, in turn, has a positive impact on Pasco County’s economy.

Visitors to the area to attend events at the ice center often stay in area hotels and spend money at gas stations, at restaurants and at area attractions.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 18, 2021

Pasco moves toward sharing in proceeds of opioid litigation

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The Pasco County Commission has moved a step closer to joining with the state of Florida and other local jurisdictions in a plan to distribute settlement proceeds from litigation against manufacturers, distributors and retailers of opiates.

The board reached that decision on Aug. 10, after a closed-door attorney-client session with County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder and special counsel hired to assist the county.

The approved resolution allows the county to participate in the Memorandum of Understanding proposed by the Florida Attorney General, for a unified plan to distribute settlement proceeds.

The county board also authorized County Administrator Dan Biles to negotiate any necessary interlocal agreements with municipalities within the county.

In a separate action, the board will establish the Pasco County Opioid Task Force to develop an abatement plan and advise the board annually on the use and allocation of the regional funds.

The makeup of the advisory task force will be taken up separately because the board could not reach consensus on its makeup during the closed-door session, Steinsnyder said.

Plus, Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, who was absent, would like to weigh on the selections for that task force, he said.

In the resolution, “the county expresses its support of a unified plan for the allocation and use of opioid settlement proceeds as generally described in the Florida Plan.”

Although the makeup of the advisory board has not yet been approved, the resolution describes what it will do.

The advisory board will develop an abatement plan “that identifies strategies currently being utilized to respond to the opioid epidemic” and will present that to the county board before Dec. 1, according to the resolution.

“The abatement plan should also identify all programs in which the county is currently providing or is contracting with others to provide substance abuse prevention, recovery, and treatment services to its citizens,” the resolution adds.

The resolution also stipulates that “Pasco County has until Jan. 1, 2022, to establish the programs and abatement strategies required to meet the definition of ‘qualified county.’”

The board approved the resolution after Steinsnyder announced that both he and the board’s special counsel had advised them to take that action.

Published August 18, 2021