The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Zephyrhills offers new online utility service

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Zephyrhills utility customers have transitioned to a new online software in order to view their water consumption and make payments.

“We are going to go from a firm – Fathom – that has provided our services for utility billing, going to MuniBilling, out of North Carolina,” said Ted Beason, of the Zephyrhills Utilities Department.

Zephyrhills has a new MuniBilling portal for its utility customers. It will allow customers to view their water consumption level and make online payments. (File)

The Zephyrhills City Council approved the switch to MuniBilling, which offers the same online portal, just through a different platform.

The change comes after Fathom gave a Nov. 9 notice that it would be going out of business, thus discontinuing services.

The software program became obsolete on Dec. 13.

“When we got that notice, we started to look at other alternatives,” Beason said. “We’ll have a very smooth transition of service with the option that’s been selected.”

The Zephyrhills Utility Department had a public meeting at Zephyrhills’ City Hall Council Chambers on Dec. 11. Those attending were informed about the change and had an opportunity to ask questions.

The utility department was able to turn on or turn off the service, at the customer’s request, on Dec. 13. It was the last day for new customers to activate their utility accounts before the transition.

Dec. 13 also was the final day for customers to make payments before the switch to MuniBilling.

Check payments were only accepted and paid at Zephyrhills City Hall.

MuniBilling became officially operational the week of Dec. 15.

Customers can provide their same username and account number on MuniBilling as they did on Fathom.

There will be no fees to customers in order to make the switch.

For additional information, call (813) 780-0015, or visit ci.zephyrhills/fl.us/161/utility-billing.

For making payments through the new portal, visit MuniBilling.com/solutions/.

Published December 18, 2019

Delving into the world of pottery

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Glenn Woods knows a thing or two about pottery.

The Indiana native has been a potter since 1974.

Inside the kiln room, Pottery Boys Studio owner Glenn Woods, center, shows off a piece belonging to Martha Grover, of Wellman & Welsch Pottery in Lutz. The piece is ready to be fired in a bisque kiln. Also seen: Diana Reichert, left, and Carol Schubert, both of Largo. (Christine Holtzman)

Now, he and Keith Herbrand are co-owners of Pottery Boys, a studio on Bogie Lane in Palm Harbor.

The studio is in a converted garage — filled with pottery wheels, pounds of clay and batches of handmade glazes.

And, on Dec. 7 and Dec. 8, it was one of five studio stops on the 12th annual Tampa Bay Tour De Clay.

The event featured studio presentations, which included demos, kiln openings and discussions.

Besides Pottery Boys, other stops on the tour were Hidden Lake Pottery, Odessa; Schiemann Pottery, St. Petersburg; Wellman & Welsch Pottery, Lutz; and, San Antonio Pottery, San Antonio.

This year’s Tour De Clay  featured 33 guest artists, each offering an array of unique pieces.

One of the highlights at Pottery Boys was a crystalline kiln opening.

A wall of pottery, belonging to the Pottery Boys Studio owner Glenn Woods, is displayed during the 12th annual Tampa Bay Tour De Clay. Woods and the guest artists had pieces available for sale during the tour.

During the kiln opening, Woods pulled fired pieces out of both a glossy and a matte glaze kiln. He brought a few of the pieces out to discuss his glazes and technique, how clay variations can effect the glaze’s behavior, and the trial-and-error process he experiences while perfecting his recipe.

One of the special guests during the event was Judy Wenig-Horswell from Indiana, who was  Woods’ art teacher at Northridge High School in Middlebury, Indiana.

Guest artists at Pottery Boys Studio, included Larry Allen, from Birmingham, Alabama, who said the events of Sept. 11 inspired him to incorporate a unity design in all his pieces.

Jennifer McCurdy from Martha’s Vineyard was another featured artist.

Ellen Cole, of Tarpon Springs, right, smiles with her husband of 57 years, Sonny, as she greets visitors of the Tour De Clay at Pottery Boys Studio in Palm Harbor. The Tarpon Springs resident works exclusively with the medium silver metal clay to create one-of-a-kind jewelry. A former potter, she now works in small batches of this medium because of the effects that Lyme Disease has had on her body.

Her porcelain pieces are wheel thrown, then altered, carved and sanded by hand before being fired bare (without a glaze) to cone 10. Cone 10 temperature allows the porcelain to become nonporous and translucent.

There was also another guest artist, Ellen Cole, of Tarpon Springs.

Cole was a potter until she contracted Lyme Disease about 20 years ago, while hiking. Because of her weakened condition, she no longer had the strength in her wrists or legs to work with traditional clay.

About 15 years ago, she attended a class at the Dunedin Fine Art Center, where she learned about a medium called fine silver clay. This medium involves using small batches of the material, not much larger than a postage stamp. Because of its small size, Cole found she could tolerate working with her hands again.

She now creates very intricate jewelry — sometimes taking months to complete a single piece.

She often incorporates complicated layers over layers of fine silver clay, and uses items such as empty ball point pens and an antique broach to produce various textures in her designs.

Published December 18, 2019

Event honors 78th anniversary of Pearl Harbor

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It was 78 years ago — Dec. 7, 1941 — when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, killing nearly 2,500 Americans and wounding 1,000 others.

The attack precipitated the entry of the United States into World War II and, as years pass, those associated with the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History believe it’s even more critical to share and preserve the stories of the fateful day.

Pearl Harbor veteran survivors Ed Socha, 98, left, and Charles McClelland, 96, made an appearance at the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History’s annual Pearl Harbor Commemoration Day. (Kevin Weiss)

“We can’t let people forget about it,” longtime museum volunteer Dan Evans said. “It’s just too important what happened in our own history, what happened in the world’s history.

“War is a horrible thing — a lot of people die. But, you want people to remember it because you don’t want that to happen anymore.”

To help keep the memory alive, every year since 2012, the museum has organized a Pearl Harbor Commemoration Day, at 39444 South Ave.

The Dec. 7 daylong event featured World War II men and women reenactors, as well as more than a dozen displays of World War II military vehicles and aircraft, including half-tracks and C-47B aircraft, all brought in by dedicated military collectors.

The biggest attraction, however, was the appearance of two Pearl Harbor veteran survivors — 98-year-old Ed Socha and 96-year-old Charles McClelland.

The Dec. 7 event featured World War II men and women reenactors, as well as more than a dozen displays of World War II military vehicles and aircraft, including half-tracks and C-47B aircraft, all brought in by a dedicated group of military collectors.

Socha was on the USS Maryland that was struck by two armor-piercing bombs, and McClelland on the USS Helena when it was hit by torpedo and bomb fragments.

Socha, who lives in Sun City, went on to serve in the military for 30 years, working his way up to Navy commander. McClelland, who lives in Zephyrhills, went on to serve on the USS Houston and the USS Missouri battleship. After the war, he worked 30 years as a draftsman for Michigan Consolidated gas utilities.

The two men, who now live life from a wheelchair, spent hours meeting with and taking pictures with attendees and guests.

Museum president Cliff Moffett said there were as many as 10 Pearl Harbor survivors in the event’s early years, but most of them passed on over the years. In addition to Socha and McClelland, the event drew a few other World War II veterans, and several Korean War and Vietnam War veterans.

Moffett underscored the significance of the commemoration: “These guy’s stories have to be told and have to be remembered. Everybody talks about what these guys did for the United States, but what would this world have been without these guys from World War II? We have no idea what this world would’ve been like.”

It was Zephyrhills resident Cathy Deaton’s first time attending the museum’s Pearl Harbor ceremony.

All kinds of wartime memorabilia and artifacts sit inside the Zephyrhills Museum of Military History, 39444 South Ave.. During the 1940s, the site where the museum sits was an Army barracks.

For her, it was a unique opportunity to show her appreciation and gratitude to those who served — especially back in World War II.

“It’s near and dear to my heart because everybody in my family has served, in some form or fashion,” said Deaton, also a volunteer for East Pasco Military Order of the Purple Heart Chapter 705.

“Every chance I get, I try to talk to them and personally tell them, ‘Thank you,’” she said.

The commemoration likewise had special meaning to Zephyrhills resident Rod Rehrig, of Marine Corps League Sgt. Maj Michael S. Curtin Detachment #1124.

Rehrig said he met and chatted with fellow marines from Lakeland, Hudson and Mulberry at the event. He also was in awe of the hundreds of people and families who showed up throughout the day. “It’s heartwarming seeing all these people. I think it’s just great, they came from all over for this thing,” he said.

The building that now houses the Zephyrhills military museum originally was an Army barracks in the 1940s. It’s the site of where hundreds of Army fighter pilots came to Zephyrhills to hone their skills at the Zephyrhills Army Airfield before going to war. The now city-owned museum holds artifacts that convey treasured memories of World War II veterans who lived and trained in Zephyrhills, and others who served in other wars.

Published December 11, 2019

Sunlake student wins ‘Outstanding Senior’ honor

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Whether its focusing on rigorous academics or taking part in extracurriculars and church activities, Sunlake High’s Alexis Paredes enjoys being busy.

Actually, “having so much to do” is how the 17-year-old senior thrives best.

“I like to keep moving. I know if I don’t, I’ll get bored,” she said.

Sunlake High School senior Alexis Paredes has been awarded Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior Award. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

It’s that self-starter mindset that earned Paredes the Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior Award.

The annual honor is bestowed based on academic record, service, leadership, citizenship, and  commitment to school and community.

Students considered for the award are nominated by the student body, principals, faculty and staff. Nominees from each of the 16 Pasco County high schools then are interviewed by a panel of Pasco County Schools district employees and community members who ultimately narrow the selection to one student to represent the school system.

Paredes marks the second Sunlake student to win the honor in as many years, joining Jillian Gordy who won the district’s 2018-2019 Outstanding Senior Award.

Paredes was humbled to win the prestigious countywide honor.

“I wasn’t expecting it. I wasn’t even expected to get outstanding senior for my school, much less district,” she said. “I still can’t believe that I beat the ‘best of the best.’”

Her resume, though, indicates she’s deserving.

She maintains a 4.4 weighted grade point average while taking multiple Advanced Placement classes.

She is a representative in the school’s student council, secretary of the school’s National Honor Society Chapter, and a member of a youth leadership at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church, in Land O’ Lakes.

Yet, her involvement in the school’s Junior State of America (JSA) chapter is what she considers her “biggest accomplishment” and the one that makes her most proud.

The nationwide organization labels itself as a nonpartisan debate and activism club.

Paredes serves as the school’s JSA club president and also holds the title of the organization’s chapter internal affairs agent for the Southeast region, where she keeps tabs on other JSA chapter presidents throughout Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Georgia. She summed up the role like this: “Basically, I get to contact different chapter presidents and make sure their chapters are running efficiently and giving them advice on how to run their chapter, how to structure a meeting, how to build fundraisers.”

Alexis Paredes, Pasco County School District’s 2019-2020 Outstanding Senior, stands alongside Sunlake High principal Michael Cloyd. (Courtesy of Sunlake High School)

Paredes, a JSA member since her freshman year, said the club is “something I’m really passionate about, because I’m very much for activism and fighting political apathy.”

She also noted that JSA is “a great avenue to talk about politics, to talk to kids my age that may not agree with me, but may agree with me as well, and try to see a compromise or unity.”

Along with that, Paredes is spearheading a daylong convention in January that will bring together up to 300 students from other JSA clubs throughout the Tampa Bay area, to debate such issues like gun control, capital punishment, reparations for slavery, mandatory vaccinations in public schools, merits of the Electoral College, and more.

The event’s keynote speaker is former Florida Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Bell.

Paredes has dreamed of organizing such a convention “since probably my sophomore year. “We’re going to have a bunch of kids come and debate…and just share in the spirit of democracy,” she said.

The Sunlake senior has other big plans ahead, too.

In the fall, she will be attending the University of Chicago on a full-ride academic scholarship. She plans to major in political science, then attend law school with hopes of someday going into politics and becoming a policymaker.

Paredes chose the out-of-state university “because it’s obviously a prestigious school, but at the same time, it’s a little more modern than Ivy League schools like Harvard and Yale.”

The school’s bevy of music concerts and location in the heart of the Windy City were some other major selling points, she said.

Besides her own drive and motivation to be successful, Paredes credited her mother and grandmother as being big influences, as well as some “amazing” teachers at Sunlake.

She said the classes she’s gotten the most out of are social studies classes at Sunlake, such as AP Human Geography and U.S. History. Those types of subjects, she said, taught her “a lot of life lessons.”

She quipped: “You wouldn’t think the Compromise of 1850 would be relevant to a 17-year-old in 2019, but I found learning about history teaches me about the present as well…”

As the senior gears up for her final semester at Sunlake, she’s already looking back fondly on her many memories on campus.

The amount of school spirit that radiates among the student body and faculty stands out, in particular, she said.

“Something I’ll definitely miss is the community, like the sense of unity our school has,” Paredes said. “If you go to our football games, we’re always riled up. We’re screaming cheers. We have a great sense of community spirit.”

She added: “I feel like our clubs are pretty solid, too, so if you’re joining a club, you don’t feel like it’s useless. You feel like the kids want to be there, the sponsors want to be there.”

Published December 11, 2019

New donation drive set to help foster families

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George Agovino and Josh Gaulden have launched a new initiative aimed at helping foster children.

The pair has established the Fostering Change Foster Closet, in what was formerly a vacant house, at 10207 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

George Agovino, left, and Josh Gaulden stand on either side of the Fostering Change Foster Closet logo. The two established the donation drive for foster families in need of basic supplies. (Brian Fernandes)

The 501 (c)(3) nonprofit is a hub for foster families to pick out free necessities that they otherwise could not afford.

It also will serve foster kids who have not been placed in a permanent home yet.

The new organization will officially open its doors, with an event called “Reconstructing Hope,” on Dec. 14.

Agovino said the point of the organization is to convey a sense of caring for children in foster care.

“Our goal is: We’re going to make them feel that they can come in, they can go shopping,” Agovino said. “Just by having this, you realize how many people care.”

The house, which had not been maintained recently, has undergone renovations in preparation for becoming the Fostering Change Foster Closet.

Multiple rooms have been turned into a free store, which are stocked with baby supplies, clothing, shoes, hygiene products, books and toys.

There’s also a new shed and several trailers, too, where supplies will be stored, as needed. A washer and dryer also will be installed.

Local companies have provided free help to reconstruct the building’s interior and exterior.

Those services included a new roof from 1st Choice Roofing.

Kenneth Phillips, the company’s team member, said that it donates its time and service for worthy projects.

“We instantaneously made them the recipient of our donation for the year and saw that there was a lot more need, and what a good cause it was,” he said.

The house also has new floor tiles, sheetrock and plumbing.

Students from Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes high schools donated their time to organize clothes and put up shelves.

The outdoor walls have been painted blue – the signature color for foster care awareness.

Agovino’s wife, Jennifer, and daughter Catherine-Christina, also helped to paint the organization’s logo on the front exterior wall.

Plans also call for transforming the front yard into a playground for kids to enjoy,  Agovino said.

This service will not be exclusive to foster families in Pasco County, but will be open to other counties, as well.

As a retired law enforcement officer and a foster parent himself, Agovino understands the process that foster children face within the court system.

He was motivated to provide a donation drive to help those kids still in the system or those placed in a home, but still lacking basic needs.

Although the idea was set, there wasn’t a place to provide the service.

Initially, Gaulden helped Agovino get permission to place his trailer on the property where the organization is now located.

Initially, however, the men did not realize there was a vacant house on the land. It  had been hidden by thick brush.

Frank and Joann Hedogous, the property owners, decided to donate the house and property for the organization’s cause.

It has taken several months to clear out the bushes, grass and tree branches overhanging the house and to complete renovations.

Gaulden and Agovino now are working to create an official website for Fostering Change Foster Closet.

The organization also is raising its profile through Facebook and by word-of- mouth.

It wants foster families to be aware of the service, and it wants to encourage the general public to get involved through donations.

The grand opening celebration is set for Dec. 14, at the house, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The public is welcome and there is no admission charge.

There will be vendors, food trucks, live music, raffles and a silent auction.

Kids can enjoy a petting zoo and various games. And foster kids, specifically, will be given toys as early Christmas gifts.

For more information, call (813) 421-1958, or email .

Reconstructing Hope
When: Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Where: 10207 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Free
Details: Fostering Change Foster Closet welcomes the public to celebrate the donation drive’s grand opening.
Info: Call (813) 421-1958, or email  .

Published December 11, 2019

Plantation Palms celebrates North Canal project completion

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Plantation Palms had a ribbon cutting last week to celebrate the completion of a project to address an erosion problem in the community.

The $2.99 million project — approximately 1,700 feet long — involved stabilizing the community’s North Canal. The work included installing Gabion baskets along the ditch sides, and a rip-rap lining the bottom, according to a Pasco County document.

A project to address erosion concerns has been completed in the Plantation Palms community in Land O’ Lakes. (B.C. Manion)

The community worked with the county to establish the Municipal Service Benefits Unit to pay for the project. The construction costs will be covered through annual payments on property tax bills of the residences of the 821 members of Plantation Palms Homeowners Association Inc.

The homeowners association owns the ditch, but needed the county’s help to fund the project.

At the ribbon cutting, Jim Hammond, president of the Plantation Palms Homeowners Association, said “I’m proud of the fact that in the last three years, the golf course is open, we’ve solved an enormous problem in the North Canal — and both of these were huge projects, that had a major impact on our community.”

“Both these success stories improved our safety, financial well-being and property values.

The project “saved our community substantial future costs and liability,” Hammond said.

“Both of these were collaborative efforts,” Hammond said. “We accomplished what’s best for 821 homeowners.

“We’ll forever be grateful to Pasco County, who partnered with us to make all of this happen,” Hammond added.

A celebration was held in Plantation Palms to mark the completion of a $2.99 million project aimed at improving safety and reducing potential liability. The project was done through a partnership between the community and Pasco County.

He also expressed gratitude to Bio-Mass Tech, the construction company; Coastal Design Engineering; the Southwest Florida Water Management District; the Plantation Palms Homeowner Association’s board; the association’s attorney; and county staff for their efforts in bringing the North Canal project to fruition.

Hammond handed out a number of awards, too.

In one case, he declared Amanda Haulk, the Plantation Palms Homeowner of the Year. She lives adjacent to the improvement project.

“She had a ringside seat for all of the construction,” Hammond said.

“Right now, it looks all cleaned up. For those that were here during the construction, this whole area was mounded with dirt and stone, and trucks all over the place.

“She had some challenges. They cut off the water multiple times. They cut off the electricity multiple times. They cut off the cable box a couple of times. And, you can’t see it now, but most of her pool pump and gear alongside the garage were hanging over the side of the construction site.

“And yet, she stuck it out. She was a real champ,” Hammond said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore also was among the award recipients.

Hammond said: “Commissioner Moore was instrumental in getting our golf club open. We went to him when we needed Collier Parkway resurfaced. He was there when we needed the MSBU approved. He was there again when we needed construction contracts awarded. He’s been there for us.”

Moore said Hammond should be receiving an award.

“Jim, you’ve just been instrumental in everything that happens here at Plantation Palms,” Moore said.

The commission chairman also complimented Bill Place, for the progress that’s been made at Plantation Palms Golf Course.

“I know the golf course (reopening) was obviously a big part in helping the property values out,” Moore said.

Plantation Palms closed in 2014 as MJS Golf Group – the previous owner – struggled to survive recurring financial losses and debts.

A “Bring Back Our Course” campaign, led by Hammond, sought to save the course, but struggled to find a potential buyer with a viable financial plan.

Place, and his wife Su Lee, bought the course in May 2016 in a short sale approved by the federal government.

Describing Plantation Palms as an “amazing community,” Moore said he’s pleased to see it continue to progress.

Pasco Commissioner Jack Mariano also was there to celebrate the completion of the canal project. He, too, offered complimentary remarks about the golf course.

Published December 11, 2019

Wiregrass band marches into Pasco history

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The Wiregrass Ranch High School made Pasco County history by bringing home the first place prize in Class 4A in the Florida Marching Band Championships, on Nov. 23.

The Marching Bulls became 4A Grand Champions at the competition, at Daytona Beach. The school also won best color guard in its class, as well.

Josh Hobbs is the school’s band director and Alexander Kopp is the band’s drum major.

Precision and coordination were key elements that helped the Wiregrass Ranch High School marching band win first place in Class 4A of the Florida Marching Band Championships. In winning the Nov. 23 competition, the band became the first of any Pasco school to bring home the award. (Courtesy of Josh Hobbs)

Both were instrumental in the marching band’s success.

“It’s all about focus,” said Kopp, a junior at Wiregrass Ranch. “That’s what we always preach to everyone.”

Being a part of the 135-member band, which includes the color guard team and musicians, requires practicing three days to four days a week.

Beyond competing at band competitions across the country, the marching band also supports the high school’s football team at games.

Competing at various events requires fundraising, which the band does through the sale of items on its website, carwashes and partnering with local restaurants.

During the holidays, band members collect donations in exchange for wrapping gifts at the Barnes & Noble bookstore.

To get to state finals, marching bands must compete at the regional level first.

If they make it to state, they compete in the semifinal round before moving to the finals.

The Marching Bulls were among the top five semifinalists, propelling them closer to a victory.

Senior Kurt Smith, the Bulls’ band captain, said the judges are meticulous. They focus on precision, quality of music and visual performances.

It was that analysis that led to the Bulls earning a banner, trophy and gold medallions.

Kopp and Smith both began their band experience during middle school.

“In middle school, I picked up guitar,” Kopp said. “I saw in eighth grade that there’s a band program at our middle school, so I jumped in there.”

Smith on the other hand started off playing the trumpet and later began practicing the French horn.

However, it was his transition into the Wiregrass Ranch High marching band that made a big impact on him, the 18-year-old recalled.

“I met so many great people in my freshman year, when I first did it,” Smith said. “I really wanted to be like them. They were great leaders.”

Now, he has had the opportunity to continue that kind of leadership.

When the team reaches the competition venue, they may have several additional hours on their hands, Smith said, and they put it to good use.

“It’s just that important to get ready for all three hours that you’re there,” he added, “so that every moment you have, you’re maximizing your potential to set yourself up for success.”

The camaraderie among band members has been the recipe for success, Hobbs said.

He added: “They’re never above helping out somebody that’s struggling. Those things have very little to do with their actual performance. Their willingness to help the program itself, by dedication, is really special.”

The marching band uses social media, posters and informational meetings to get the word out to those interested in joining.

They want to attract new members to not only perform with the band, but also join what they call “a family.”

Published December 11, 2019

Political Agenda 12/11/2019

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Candidates are making plans known
A number of local candidates have filed paperwork to make it known they plan to seek office.

Here is an early look at candidates and the offices they’re seeking listed on the Pasco County Supervision of Elections website.

• Property appraiser
Gary Joiner, Republican (Active Pre-filed)
Mike Wells, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Superintendent of Schools
Kurt S. Browning, Republican (Active Pre-filed)
David P. Laroche, Republican (Active Pre-filed)
Cynthia Thompson, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Supervisor of Elections
Brian E. Corley (Active Pre-filed)

• Pasco County Commission, District 1
Ronald E. Oakley, Republican (Active, Pre-filed)

• Pasco County Commission, District 3
Samantha A. Lindsey, No Party Affiliation (Active Pre-filed)
Kathryn Starkey, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Pasco County Commission, District 5
Brandi Geoit, Democrat (Active Pre-filed)
Jack Mariano, Republican (Active Pre-filed)

• Pasco County School Board
Colleen Beaudoin, No Party Affiliation (Active Pre-filed)

Wesley Chapel Republican Club
The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet on Dec. 12 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Wesley Chapel Toyota, 5300 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The guest speaker for this meeting will be Dr. William Urban, author of “Trojan Horses of Islamic Supremacy.”

The meeting includes networking, coffee and dessert. New members and guests are welcome.

For more information, contact Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813.

Published December 11, 2019

Measure intended to improve flow on Bruce B. Downs

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Pasco County is making improvements on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, at the intersection of State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel, to enhance traffic flow and safety.

The county is extending the length of the farthest left-hand turning lane, to accommodate more cars waiting to turn west onto State Road 54.

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard’s farthest left-turn lane turning west onto State Road 54, will be extended to accommodate more vehicles. Two other median modifications also are being made nearby. (Brian Fernandes)

The county also will be adding a traffic signal at Eagleston and Bruce B. Downs boulevards. Currently, there is just a median there. There will be a left-turn lane at the intersection to enable cars heading south on Bruce B. Downs to make a U-turn to head north.

The $500,000 project is a means of preventing motorists from crossing six lanes of traffic to get from one commercial plaza on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to another commercial plaza on the east side of the road.

“The project was initiated after a safety study was performed recommending the closure of the first median opening south of SR 54/CR 54,” said David Botello, of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Motorists leaving the plaza at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard’s west side, now must cross six lanes in order to get into the Publix plaza, on the east side. By closing the median, this traffic would be redirected to the new signal at Eagleston, or onto State Road 54, in order to get to the Publix center.

The Florida Department of Transportation is taking on the project and would close off this median.

Push-button pedestrian signal detectors, countdown pedestrian signal heads, curb ramps and marked crosswalks would be installed at the intersection.

The project is currently in the design phase and construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2021.

Published December 11, 2019

Partying in pjs at the rec center

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The Polar Express Pajama Party aims to make the season merrier for children — through a free daytime event that includes games, crafts and refreshments.

Children, ages 10 and younger, are encouraged to wear their pjs to the Dec. 14 party, set for 10 a.m. to noon, at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

And, despite its reference to the Polar Express, those attending this party won’t be taking a magical adventure trip to visit Santa at the North Pole. Still, they are expected to have plenty of opportunities for fun — with arts, crafts, music, a bounce house and obstacle courses.

There will be light refreshments, too, including custom-made hot chocolate, where kids can put additional sweet treats inside.

Kids are asked to bring a new, unwrapped toy to donate to the Toys For Tots organization.

While the event is free, registration is encouraged, as space may be limited.

To register, call (813) 929-1220, or stop by the recreation complex.

Polar Express Pajama Party
When: Dec. 14 from 10 a.m. to noon
Where: Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Free, but registration is encouraged
Details: Kids age 10 and younger are encouraged to wear their pajamas to this event, which features games, crafts and refreshments.
Info: Call (813) 929-1220 to register, or drop by the recreation complex.

Published December 11, 2019