Local News

Dade City Commission solidifies legislative priorities

August 24, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

The City of Dade City has identified four legislative priorities to present to the Pasco County legislative delegation at its upcoming annual meeting.

The session is for Sept. 1 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.

The public and representatives of various interest groups are invited to present their requests to the delegation before the 2022 Legislative Session begins.

Pasco’s delegation includes State Reps. Amber Mariano, Ardian Zika and Randy Maggard; and State Sens. Wilton Simpson, Ed Hooper and Danny Burgess, respectively.

The Dade City Commission is seeking state funding for these key priorities:

Morningside Drive Extension: $8 million
Meridian Avenue/21st Street/St. Joe Road-Suwanee Way Intersection: $4.2 million
Wastewater Transmission Forcemain: $4.7 million
Wastewater Treatment Plant Relocation — design and permitting: $1.75 million

The four projects are described, in a staff memo, as elements that would foster “an overall favorable effect on our local and regional economic development efforts.”

The extension of Morningside Drive to connect U.S. 301 to Fort King Road is undergoing a route study, design and engineering of the project, following a $5 million state appropriation in 2019. Another $8 million is needed to complete the project, with rising construction and right of way acquisition costs. The preferred 1.19-mile route is shown in the rendering. (File)

The city document explains how the municipality’s economy has been “greatly enhanced” through redevelopment efforts during the past several years.

But it also underscores the town’s “many challenges” that are related to its aging infrastructure systems and its large percentage of nontaxable properties.

The memo also mentions “the need to attract more business, industry and residential rooftops to help improve its local economic situation.”

Dade City, incorporated in 1889, has a population of about 7,400. It is the county seat of Pasco County.

Here’s a more detailed look at the priority projects:

Morningside Drive Extension
The primary aim of extending Morningside Drive is to relieve Clinton and Meridian avenues by providing additional eastbound and westbound travel options for residents and visitors. But the extension also would provide direct east-west access for AdventHealth Dade City.

The proposed roadway also would accommodate new development, improve emergency response times and serve as a corridor for the extension of utility services.

City leaders, however, were surprised when they learned the project’s expected cost.

The city received $5 million in state appropriations in 2019 and is now asking for an additional $8 million. That money, if awarded, would go toward securing necessary right of way and constructing the road.

The initial $5 million is paying for a route study, design and engineering of the project.

Meridian Avenue/21st Street/St. Joe Road-Suwanee Way Intersection
Officials say a roundabout would greatly improve efficiency and safety at this five-point intersection on State Road 52.

The project is promoted as a gateway to assist the town’s central business district and surrounding neighborhoods. It also is expected to provide a better traffic pattern for city and county residential subdivisions that are approved to be built west of the intersection.

City Manager Leslie Porter told commissioners that state legislators in the district have encouraged the city to submit the project for funding.

This comes after the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) narrowed the original project’s scope and pushed it back on their priorities list, she said.

The intersection request will call for a full roundabout to best leverage safety factors, Porter said, and therefore would most likely require the acquisition of right of way, hence the $4.2 million price tag.

Mayor Camille Hernandez labeled this asking price as “much more realistic” compared to some lower estimated costs thrown around in prior meetings and discussions surrounding the project.

Wastewater Transmission Forcemain
In simple terms, construction of a new wastewater transmission forcemain will direct wastewater to the city’s wastewater treatment plant.

The $4.7 million project is designed to foster growth in a financially disadvantaged community, too, officials say, with a secondary benefit being the reduced need for septic systems to serve commercial and residential growth.

The city manager told commissioners that staff also is pursuing a separate grant opportunity for the force main initiative.

Wastewater Treatment Plant Relocation — design and permitting
Dade City currently owns and operates a 1.5 million-gallons per day (MGD) wastewater treatment facility situated in the heart of the environmental justice Mickens-Harper neighborhood.

But this current facility site is built out with no room for expansion or upgrades to accommodate a higher level of treatment, officials say.

Meanwhile, the city is experiencing an increase in development that will impact future capacity.

The project also is slated to benefit the environment and impaired water bodies — Withlacoochee River Basin, Big Gant Canal — into the Hillsborough River Basin through implementation of a three-stage biological nutrient removal process.

Aside from seeking $1.75 million in state appropriations for design and permitting, Porter told commissioners the city is pursuing alternative means to see the entire project through.

“This is, you all know, a large project, so we’re looking at every possible funding source we can,” Porter said.

After the commissioners reached consensus on their priority projects, at the commission’s July 27 meeting, the mayor encouraged city stakeholders to attend and take part in the upcoming delegation meeting.

Hernandez — who plans to attend — urged that whoever speaks on behalf of the city keep talking points on the projects “very brief and to the point,” as more in-depth presentation materials can be sent to legislators’ aides ahead of time.

“We learned that brevity is a good thing, especially at those events,” said Hernandez. “There’s lots going on. It’s one after another for (the legislators), so it’s a pretty busy day.”

Porter concurred “a very brief script” is the way to go when addressing the delegation.

Hernandez went on to point out there’s no indication any or all of the projects — some carryovers from prior years — will get sponsored for state funding. “They may all go by the wayside, (or) something may get picked up,” she stated.

Commissioner Scott Black offered optimism regarding the possibility of securing state funding for the designated projects.

Published August 25, 2021

From a fortune teller to a fire station roof, this agenda has it all

August 24, 2021 By B.C. Manion

Often, it’s the items that aren’t discussed at all that can yield some of the most interesting details, at Pasco County Commission meetings.

On the Aug. 10 agenda, for instance, the county board voted on issues ranging from approval of a fortune teller’s application to do that type of business in the county, to awarding a contract to replace a flat roof at a fire station in Dade City.

They didn’t utter a word about those issues because the items were on the board’s “consent agenda.”

The way it works is this: During each board meeting, the board chairman reads out a “pull list” from the consent portion of the agenda. If anyone wants an item to be pulled for discussion, that item is moved to the regular portion of the agenda.

Items remaining on consent are approved in a single action.

Here’s a look of some items approved on the Aug. 10 consent agenda:

An application by Suanne Lynn Gould to engage in the occupation of a fortune teller, and similar occupations. To qualify, an applicant must gain approval from the board,

which requires the applicant to live in Florida and to be of good moral character. If the applicant wishes to conduct fortunetelling at home, she must acquire a Home Occupation special exception from the county.

A contract for $96,950 to JD Contractors LLC, to install a flat roof at Fire Station No. 24, in Dade City. Information contained in the agenda packet says the flat roof section at the fire station is more than 20 years old and has reached the end of its life span. There have been several leaks in that section of the roof during the past several years.
Additional purchasing authority for technology upgrades, in a not-to-exceed (NTE) total amount of $195,343.68, over a three-year period. The new cumulative total NTE will be $468,534.97 for the five-year contract term.
Nearly $1.2 million for future purchase of marketing, advertising and funding programs to support the county’s tourism efforts.
Spending $70,125 for the purchase of four-channel multimode phase selector traffic signal preemption devices for emergency vehicles, through a Florida Department of Transportation bid. Emergency vehicles that are equipped with the phase selectors can change traffic signals to a green phase, as they approach the signal. That makes it possible for them to reach their destination more quickly. Like any electrical device, the phase selectors will go bad and need periodic replacement.

In addition to the consent agenda, another part of the meeting that can be illuminating involves the reports made by individual commissioners.

During that portion of the meeting, commissioners essentially bring up whatever they want to talk about with their colleagues.

Sometimes, it involves commissioners wanting the county to deal with problems with illegal dumping, or the lack of landscaping in new developments, or the possibility of a new approach for vacation rental homes in the county.

At the Aug. 10 meeting, Commissioner Mike Moore used the platform to give his colleagues an update on how the county is faring this year on the tourism front.

Moore, who is chairman of the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, reported that the figures for May 2021 were actually up 96% from May 2020.

While indicating that’s not terribly surprising, given the impact from COVID-19 in 2020, Moore noted: “If you look at May (2021) TDT (Tourist Development Tax) collections they’re actually up from May 2019, so we’re on track to have our best year ever.”

Moore also applauded the Pasco County Public Transit department for securing three paratransit vehicles for free from the Florida Department of Transportation.

“Now, we have more paratransit vehicles out in the community for our residents and it didn’t cost our local taxpayers any additional dollars,” Moore said.

During his report, Commission Chairman Ron Oakley asked his colleagues to support the initiation of a special planning effort focusing on Lacoochee.

Decades ago, the community thrived when it was home to Cummer Sons Cypress Company, a company that employed hundreds and created a “town within a town,” according to historical accounts.

After the plant closed, about 60 years ago, the jobs disappeared and the area languished.

But efforts have been made to attract manufacturing to the area, and the interest is growing.

Oakley said the county needs to look ahead, so it can prepare to have workforce housing the area will need, as well as planning for the services, such as doctors and a grocery store, the residents will need.

His colleagues agreed to give direction to the county’s planning department to prepare a scope of services for a consultant to develop a “non-binding” concept plan for the area.

During that portion of the meeting, County Administrator Dan Biles typically announces achievements of county staff and updates the board on various issues.

Published August 25, 2021

County honors Saddblebrook Eagle Scout

August 24, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

From left: Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore stands near Eagle Scout Martin Levins II, the scout’s father, Martin J. Levins and the scout’s mother, Janet C. Levins. The Eagle Scout earned his rank some time ago, but the family wanted to come to the board room to receive the resolution and they were delayed in doing so because of COVID-19 restrictions. Moore submitted the resolution on the scout’s behalf. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor, Pasco County)

Martin Levins II was honored by the Pasco County Commission on Aug. 10, for attaining the rank of Eagle Scout.

For his Eagle Scout Service Project, Levins recycled used tennis balls to provide material for low-impact tennis courts for people with disabilities, according to a resolution approved by the county board.

Through his project, more than 40,000 tennis balls were collected and sent to the recycling company called RecycleBalls.

That was enough tennis balls to provide the surface for four low-impact tennis courts, the resolution says.

The project began in July 2019, and with the help of fellow Troop members, school members, friends and family, the 169-hour project was completed in September 2019, the county document adds.

Levins began his scouting days in Natick, Massachusetts. He launched Troop 200 at Saddlebrook Preparatory School, in Wesley Chapel, when he moved there in 2017.

Over the years, he earned 39 merit badges, 13 scouting awards, and the Bronze, Gold and Silver Eagle Palms, after achieving his Eagle.

He also has camped 66 nights, logged 95 miles of hiking and provided 151 hours of service, as well as assisting with his fellow Scouts’ Eagle projects.

Levins is the son of Martin J. Levins and Janet C. Levins, and attends Saddlebrook Preparatory School.

He completed his Eagle Scout requirements in 2019, but didn’t appear before the county board until recently, because of COVID-19 restrictions.

Published August 25, 2021

A day to remember, a story to tell

August 24, 2021 By Mary Rathman

Weddings are usually joyful celebrations.

The wedding day of Dianna and Les Vickers, however, was one of sadness, joy, concern, elation, fear and relief.

Before the ceremony was set to begin, the couple was posing for photographs on their wedding day on July 16, 2011, at Idlewild Baptist Church in Lutz.

Les and Dianne Vickers at St. Joseph’s Hospital-North, 2021. (Courtesy of St. Joseph’s Hospital-North)

Les mentioned he was feeling lightheaded due to his diabetes.

But before the wedding party could retrieve a chair for Les to sit on, he fell backward and hit his head on the floor.

EMS was called and Les was transported to the hospital, where the couple hoped for a quick treatment — to enable Les to head back to church for the wedding.

Unfortunately, Les had suffered a brain bleed and could not be released.

Because they were planning a traditional wedding, Les initially had not seen Dianna in her gown.

“The story I like to tell is that when I saw her for the first time in her wedding dress for the pictures, I was so swept off my feet that I fell straight down and banged my head,” Les said.

When asked what he wanted to do about the ceremony, Les said: “Today is supposed to be my wedding day and that’s what I want to do. We’re going to get married right here in the hospital.”

Dianna returned to the church, where she walked down the aisle and the pastor performed the preliminary parts of the wedding service.

Then, Dianna and her bridesmaids, along with 40 guests, motorcaded to the hospital where she and Les were married while he laid in his emergency room bed.

The guests waited in the emergency room area to congratulate the couple.

Les eventually spent five days in the ICU before being discharged.

Les and Dianna have celebrated their anniversary day for the past nine years by having lunch in St. Joseph’s Hospital-North’s Twigs Café.

Dianna has been at the hospital much more frequently during the past three years, helping out as a volunteer.

Occasionally, she said, she runs into team members that remember or have heard about her wedding day back in 2011.

It was not what one would call a traditional wedding day, but a decade later, Dianna and Les are still going strong.

Published August 25, 2021

Library system honored for taking on a NASA Challenge

August 24, 2021 By Mary Rathman

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

August 24, 2021 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

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

August 18, 2021 By B.C. Manion

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

August 18, 2021 By B.C. Manion

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

August 18, 2021 By Kevin Weiss

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

August 18, 2021 By Kelli Carmack

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