The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Capturing community life, through authentic moments

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Dozens of children race to collect colorful eggs at the start of one of the egg hunts during the Out & About Summer Expo. There were egg hunts for both children and adults, and those finding eggs redeemed them for prizes. The Expo took place on April 20, at the Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. (Christine Holtzman)

Whether it’s a community festival, a track meet, the first day of school or an Easter Egg hunt — The Laker/Lutz News presents our readers with a slice of life every week in a coverage area that includes Lutz, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Dade City and San Antonio.

Our award-winning photographer Christine Holtzman has excellent instincts, top-notch photography skills and a knack for capturing authentic moments.

Here are some of our favorite images from her portfolio in 2019.

We enjoy sharing your stories through our photos and stories, so if you have ideas you’d like to share, or are planning upcoming events, please let us know so we can consider coverage. Our email is .

Fifteen-year-old Gabriel Bishop, left, and 17-year-old Cassie Farrar, both of Dade City, attempt to fly their drones through an obstacle course hoop. Bishop’s drone is shown. This event was part of the Teen STEAM program at the Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City.
Holding several American flags, 3-year-old James McLeod, of Lutz, smiles at his mother, Jeanine, before the start of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel’s inaugural 9/11 Memorial Mile at the Tampa Premium Outlets. The McLeods were walking in the event to honor some of their first responder family members that survived the terror attacks.
Felecia Harvey, of Dade City, reacts, after a water balloon exploded above her head. Her 6-year-old daughter, Serenity, threw a ball that hit the target, which triggered the device to pop the balloon. This photo was taken during the Family Field Day on June 22, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.
Show horse trainer Anne Judd is seen leading Kongo, an 11-year-old Morgan horse, through the center hall of the horse barn, on his way to be fitted with a jog cart before a morning training practice. The horse barn is located at West Coast Morgans in Odessa.
While his sisters participate in the yoga program, William Thompson, of Wesley Chapel, does a headstand against a shelf. The 3-year-old learned how to do headstands from his older sister, Aurora, who used to be in gymnastics. Thompson attended a child yoga event at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway.
Anthony Sievert, of Land O’ Lakes, shares a strawberry Italian ice with his 4-year-old daughter, Alicia, on an afternoon in Land O’ Lakes. When asked what makes her dad special, Alicia said: ‘My dad tells me silly jokes, and he reads to me. I like when we play hide-and-seek. It’s my favorite game.’ This photo was part of the Father’s Day feature and was taken outside of the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway.
Thirteen-year-old Kate Frederick, of Wesley Chapel, left, and her 11-year-old sister, Ava, sit on the back of a golf cart decked out with streamers and a message of Lutz pride. The girls are members of the GFWC Little Women of Lutz. This photo was taken during the Lutz Fourth of July parade.
Eleven-year-old Jonah Uilk, of Minnesota, enjoys a cotton candy treat. He was vacationing in Bushnell with his family. He and his mother, Heidi, and grandmother, Diana, were browsing the vendor booths. Ulik, who said he loves cotton candy, thought it was funny that the treat turned his mouth blue. This photo opportunity took place at Raising Cane, a Sweet and Spicy Event, on Jan. 12, at the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City.
As the bell rings, signaling the start of first period, students rush to their destinations, as school counselor, Kristine Fewox, center, helps two students find their class schedule. This photo opportunity took place on the first day of the 2019-2020 school year at Cypress Creek Middle High School in Wesley Chapel.
Twelve-year-old Brandon Hwang, of Land O’ Lakes, gets some serious air off of the ramp during an evening of skating and hanging out with friends at the Land O’ Lakes Skate Park.

 

 

Pasco surpasses one million visitors in 2019

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Pasco County has hit the million-visitor mark, establishing a new record for tourism in a single fiscal year.

The county’s tourism department, which brands the county as Florida’s Sports Coast, reported that 1,038,700 million visitors generated 1,217,021 room nights in paid accommodations between October 2018 and September 2019.

Pasco County tourism director Adam Thomas, at Florida’s Sports Coast brand launch earlier this year, at Tampa International Airport. (Courtesy of Pasco County Office of Tourism)

By comparison, the number of visitors in fiscal year 2018 was roughly 965,000 visitors, generating about 1,132,000 room nights in paid accommodations.

Some other key tourism findings:

  • Visitor spending in fiscal year 2019 translated to more than $652 million in economic impact to the area, a 6% increase from 2018.
  • County bed tax collections surpassed $3 million — another first, and also a 15% increase from the previous year.
  • Tourism supported 7,870 jobs, a 5% percent increase from 2018, and equaled $168,157,000 in wages and salaries (up 7% from the previous year).

For every dollar spent in marketing, the return is $447 in visitor spending, according to Adam Thomas, the county’s tourism director.

The growth in tourism follows a shift in the county’s branding to emphasize sports and recreation.

Its current tourism pitches are based on the brand, “Florida’s Sports Coast,” with the tagline “Let’s Play.”

The shift to the new brand was made in March, replacing the previous slogan “Visit Pasco. Open Spaces. Vibrant Places.”

The new brand highlights the county’s growing list of recreational sports venues and outdoor activities.

In a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News, Thomas said the new brand identity, along with enhanced strategized marketing efforts, has yielded a greater impression in tourism circles both statewide and nationally.

Increased participation in national-based tourism and consumer shows, as well as media missions, have helped spread awareness about Pasco County as a popular vacation spot, said Thomas, who took over the tourism department in fall 2017.

“We now are seeing our destination image change overnight,” he said, “and it’s really going to make an impact for further visitation because we’re only going to further tell our story.”

Crossing the 1 million visitor mark, he said, “is a milestone” for the county.

“We’re only going to see our visitation numbers increase,” Thomas added.

A larger staff is working to ensure all that.

When Thomas took over the office, he had one other staffer. Now, he has a team of seven, including the recent addition of a digital content producer and corporate tourism sales manager.

With a slew of new sports and recreation facilities coming online within the next year or so,

the county is poised for even more tourism growth.

New facilities coming online include the Wiregrass Sports Complex of Pasco County in Wesley Chapel, the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center in Zephyrhills, and the state’s first and only alpine snow park being built Dade City.

Those facilities will add to Wesley Chapel’s AdventHealth Center Ice, Saddlebrook Golf & Tennis Resort, and outdoor adventure activities, including skydiving, saltwater fishing, parks and nature trails.

Several hotels also are coming to the county in 2020. Those include the renovation of New Port Richey’s historic Hacienda Hotel into a 40-room boutique hotel; a 124-room Residence Inn by Marriott next to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex; and, two Woodspring Suites extended Suites extended stay-style hotels, in close proximity to AdventHealth Center Ice.

The county is banking on those sports and hospitality venues to thrive in any economic climate, Thomas said.

The tourism leader pointed out youth and amateur sports tourism is “a sustainable entity” even in economic downturns because parents are still apt to invest in their children’s athletic endeavors no matter what.

“You’re still going to get Johnny to his baseball game, you’re going to get Cindy to her cheerleading competition,” Thomas observed.

However, Pasco wants to be more than just a youth sports and recreation hotbed, Thomas said.

The tourism director said his staff is also putting greater focus on luring group business travelers (social, military, education, religious, fraternal groups) for conventions, retreats and so on.

The addition of more hotels and sports venues helps to “diversify not only our destination, but our portfolio as a sports, leisure and business destination,” Thomas said.

Tourism statistics reveal that Pasco’s visitors come from six states: Florida, New York, Georgia, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee, Thomas said during a Pasco County Commission meeting last week.

Of those visiting the county, 42 percent are from Florida, he added.

Published December 18, 2019

Under Construction 12/18/2019

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(Brian Fernandes)

New performing arts center
Pasco-Hernando State College is constructing an Instructional Performing Arts Center at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. The 37,000-square-foot structure will include a theater, dressing rooms, a storage area, a catering kitchen, a lobby, classrooms and office space. It is on the same campus as Cypress Creek High School, and Cypress Creek Middle School, which also is under construction. The new performing arts facility will be used by both students from the state college and Pasco County school district students. The performing arts center is expected to open in Fall 2020.

Banking customers to get new option
The Florida Central Credit Union bank will open a new branch in Trinity. The 4,350-square-foot building, going up at 10175 State Road 54, will include main offices, bank teller stands, three drive-thru lanes and an ATM lane. Construction is expected to be completed in March 2020.

 

 

Plaza to emerge in Odessa region
A retail plaza is being built at 15985 Preserve Market Place Blvd., in Odessa. The building is adjacent to a Publix, which is also under construction. The new retail plaza is the latest commercial development to be erected at the front entrance of The Preserve residential community. The plaza is expected to open in May 2020.

 

Bay Area singer shows opera in a different light

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As a singer, Tatiana Kallmann embraces a not-so-mainstream music genre – pop- opera.

Known also as crossover music, this style fuses modern-day pop songs with classical opera pieces dating back hundreds of years.

The soprano will share this type of music at the Unity North Tampa, on Dec. 23, a church which she has attended, and where she has performed previously.

Tatiana Kallmann enjoys fusing pop music with opera. The soprano singer has graced many stages with her unique sound. (Courtesy of Tatiana Kallmann)

Kallmann, a Colombia native, grew up in a musical household in Tampa.

“My parents do listen to a lot of music. My father is definitely a huge lover of music – different genres, so I listened from classical to rock. Different genres that exposed me to a wider range of musical styles, which maybe other children may not have been exposed to,” she said.

The environment helped her love of music to flourish.

At an early age, Kallmann became intrigued with opera after hearing her best friend sing “Ave Maria,” by the composer Schubert.

“It was very pristine,” she recalled. “I was like, ‘Wow, what is that?’

“I had never heard operatic singing or classical singing before.”

Along the way, the singer said she’s been influenced by Whitney Houston, Lady Gaga, Andrea Bocelli and Adele.

However, hearing pop-opera songs by Sarah Brightman made her want to perform them.

Her voice instructor encouraged her to pursue singing at Blake High School, a magnet school for the performing arts in Tampa.

Next, she received her bachelor’s degree at Florida State University, majoring in music.

She briefly returned to Colombia to record her crossover songs, but it was a decade-long stay in Europe that helped her develop her vocal style.

While there, she received training in Italy, Austria and Switzerland, but the bulk of her additional studies was in Germany.

She was selected in the fall of 2010, from among hundreds of applicants, to become part of the “Opernschule,” in Mannheim University of the Performing Arts in Mannheim, Germany. There, she completed her graduate studies and received a master’s degree in vocal performance.

In Europe, she invoked an emotional response from audiences, whether in a theater or a restaurant, she said.

“I love to feel that I’m having a positive impact on people’s lives,” Kallmann   added. “I really believe that singing is for our well-being – very therapeutic.”

She also became an instructor there and led her own vocal studio.

She worked with inexperienced singers, teaching them not only to sing, but to have confidence while they performed.

Kallmann describes herself as an avant-garde and entrepreneurial opera singer, who has developed an interactive pop-opera performance act.

She typically relies solely on the power of her voice during performances, without the aid of microphones, instruments or sound boards.

That contrasts, she said, to the typical approach.

“Nowadays most productions that are done, they’re done with a lot of tuning. Any piece you hear on the radio is full of auto-tune,” she said.

She’s not opposed to using technology, but she believes it is important for performances to feature the live, natural voice of the singer.

In addition to performing, Kallmann handles her own promotions.

She uses platforms such as Spotify, YouTube, iTunes, Instagram and her website to expose others to her work.

Going forward into 2020, she plans on performing at large venues and also to seek notoriety by performing on television shows.

She also wants to release records that crossover electronic dance music with opera.

As this year winds to a close, she will be performing a pop-opera Christmas concert at Unity North Tampa Church, 19520 Holly Lane in Lutz.

The concert, scheduled for Dec. 23 at 7 p.m., will feature notable Christmas carols. Admission is $25 at the door.

For more information, call (813) 948-4884. To purchase tickets, visit TatianaKallmann.com.

Pop-opera Christmas concert
When: Dec. 23 at 7 p.m.
Where: Unity North Tampa church, 19520 Holly Lane, Lutz
Cost: $25 per ticket at door; Online tickets: $20 a ticket in advance; a $40-VIP ticket for preferred seating and to receive two signed CDs. Free admission for those under age 18.
Details: Pop-opera singer, Tatiana Kallmann, a soprano, will perform numerous Christmas carols.
Info: Call (813) 948-4884. To purchase tickets, visit TatianaKallmann.com.

Published December 18, 2019

Hanukkah begins Dec. 22

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The eight-day Jewish festival known as Hanukkah or Chanukah, this year runs from the evening of Dec. 22 to the evening of Dec. 30.

The celebration, also known as the “festival of lights,” commemorates the rededication of the Second Temple of Jerusalem in second century B.C., where according to legend, Jews had risen up against their Syrian Greek oppressors in the Maccabean Revolt.

Each year, Chabad at Wiregrass holds a Hanukkah celebration and menorah lighting at The Shops at Wiregrass. The synagogue will host the event on Dec. 29. (File)

As the story goes, once the Greeks were run out of the city, Maccabees took possession of the temple, and worked to purify it from the invasion. A menorah was required to burn throughout the night every night, but there was only a day’s supply of olive oil available — and it would take a week to produce more. Yet, the oil somehow lasted eight days, creating a “miracle” that has been celebrated ever since.

Hanukkah is celebrated toward the end of the Jewish month Kislev, which usually falls in November or December of the common calendar.

Jews today acknowledge the holiday by lighting a menorah (a candelabrum, also called a Hanukkiah) for eight nights, adding a candle each day until all eight, plus a head candle, are lit together.

The holiday is celebrated with traditional foods, such as pontshkes and latkes (jam-filled doughnuts and potato pancakes), along with gift exchanges, songs and melodies, prayers, and a recounting of the miracle. The holiday is also a time for kids to play games with a dreidel, a four-sided spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side.

Hanukkah events

Where: Congregation Kol Ami, 3919 Moran Road, Tampa
What: Annual Congregational Hanukkah Party, including food, games, music and dancing, and outdoor lighting of the Hanukkiah.
When: Dec. 22 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Cost: Event is free and all are welcome
Info: Call (813) 962-6338, or email .

Where: Congregation Mekor Shalom, 14005A N. Dale Mabry Highway
What: Seventh annual Light Up the 1st Night Hanukkah Party. The celebration will include a communal lighting (bring your own Hanukkiah), latke bar, sweets, dreidel spin-off and sing-a-long, and storytime and crafts (for children under 8 years old). Event also will include a white elephant gift exchange for Mekor Shalom youth in grades seven through 10.
When: Dec. 22 from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Info: Call (813) 963-1818, or visit MekorShalom.org.

Where: Trinity Community Park, 11530 Trinity Blvd., adjacent to the Pasco Sheriff’s District Office/Pasco Fire Rescue Station
What: Chabad of West Pasco presents its Grand Chanukah Celebration. The event will feature Blaise Ryndes’ Bubble Show, seen on America’s Got Talent; also, Chanukah crafts for kids, latkes and doughnuts, face painting, music, balloon sculpting and appearances from local dignitaries.
When: Dec. 23 from 5:30 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: Event is free and open to the community.
Info: Call (727) 376-3366, or email .

Where: Congregation Beth Am, 2030 W. Fletcher Ave., Tampa
What: Chanukah Potluck Supper and Menorah Building Contest. Attendees are encouraged to bring a Chanukiah and a dairy or vegetarian dish, as Men’s Club potato latkes will be provided. Attendees also are encouraged to participate in Beth Am’s annual menorah-building contest. The candles should all be at the same level to be considered kosher. The contest is limited to one entry per family or person, and there will be prizes. Event also will feature singing with the Cantor and an opportunity to participate in Shabbat.
When: Dec. 27 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Info: Call (813) 968-8511, or email .

Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, in front of Dillard’s
What: Chabad at Wiregrass will host its annual Chanukah Street Fair, a family friendly event that will feature an obstacle course, live DJ rock climbing, 3D Chanukah video game, criss-cross race, face painting, balloon twisting, latkes and doughnuts, a stilt walker, Chanukah crafts, raffle and more. Reko, from the American Ninja Warrior television series, also will make an appearance and provide live entertainment.
When: Dec. 29 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Cost: Event is free and open to the public.
Info: Call (813) 642-3244, email , or visit ChabadatWiregrass.com.

Where: AdventHealth Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel
What: Young Israel of Tampa’s 15th annual Hanukkah on Ice. The event will feature the lighting of a large ice sculpted menorah, ice skating, Jewish music, kosher food stand, arts and crafts, latkes and a raffle.
When: Dec. 29 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: Admission is $5 and includes ice skate rental.
Info and RSVP: Call (813) 832-3018.

Where: Raymond James Stadium, 4201 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Veranda C tailgate
What: Celebrate Chanukah with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, featuring a pre-game concert from the Big Picture Band and a menorah lighting with team owner Bryan Glazer. Kosher lunch, latkes, doughnuts and dessert also will be served.
When: Dec. 29 at 11 a.m.
Cost: Game ticket and pre-game tailgate packages start at $60. Pre-game tailgate for season pass members is $10.
Info: Visit Buccaneers/com/JHD.

Published December 18, 2019

Pasco commission combats human trafficking

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The Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking — which has been operating for five years — has been working to combat human trafficking.

The Pasco County Commission passed a resolution in 2014 to form the commission on human trafficking.

That action followed a growing awareness of human trafficking that was taking place in Pasco County, said Liana Dean, chairperson of the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking. “Law enforcement and child welfare were beginning to – within their respective sectors – recognize and see that human trafficking was an issue,” Dean said.

The Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking was established in 2014 to address human trafficking within the county. Stephanie Costolo, left, is the commission’s vice chair and Liana Dean is the chairperson. Both are among its 11 members. (Courtesy of Liana Dean)

It’s a problem that spans across the globe, and also hits home here.

The human trafficking commission is made up of 11 members who represent different aspects of the community, including the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, BayCare Behavioral Health, the Pasco County Commission, Pasco County Schools, nongovernmental organizations, businesses, child welfare and the faith-based community.

The commission does not directly interact with victims or their traffickers, but makes referrals when there are reports.

It directs attention toward law enforcement, shelters and the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

“Everything the commission is doing is geared toward awareness, education and advocacy,” Dean said.

That work includes holding public forums.

The community also is invited to ask questions or weigh in with their thoughts or concerns.

Stephanie Costolo, the commission’s vice chair, is a representative of the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking.

“Survivors have very different needs,” Costolo said. “They may need to go to drug detox, or they might need a domestic violence shelter environment. They might need a safe home, they might be underage, or male or female.”

In 2016, there were reportedly 40.3 million human trafficking victims worldwide, according to the International Labor Organization.

This figure may be skewed because there are victims who do not report their abuse.

According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, in 2017, Florida had the third-highest number of cases reported among states. That figure stood at 604.

The commission urges community members to be vigilant in keeping an eye out for human trafficking victims.

Signs include:

  • Few to no personal possessions
  • Their identification, travel documents or money is controlled by someone else
  • There are signs of malnourishment, dehydration or exhaustion
  • They have bruises, scars or untreated injuries
  • They have been isolated from community, family or friends
  • They are being denied access to medical care and other services

Also, look for this type of behavior:

  • They appear fearful, anxious or submissive
  • They avoid eye contact
  • They are not allowed to speak for themselves
  • They either don’t have an address, or don’t know what it is
  • They appear confused about where they are
  • They lack a sense of time
  • They appear fearful at the mention of law enforcement or immigration officials

Some environments can be red flags, too, Costolo said.

“Strip clubs are hot beds for sex trafficking to be happening in their VIP areas and their lounges, where people can ask for additional services,” she said.

Massage parlors also can be indicators, especially if they’re open 24 hours a day, have bars on the windows or have private parking.

“The International Labor Organization identifies 20 different forms of human trafficking globally. The forms we see most often, in the U.S., are labor trafficking, sex trafficking and domestic servitude – with the labor and sex really being the most predominant forms. Globally, we’re looking at forced marriages [and] child soldiers,” Costolo said.

Traffickers can take advantage of those who already come from a traumatic background or put fear in those who are undocumented immigrants, she said.

The commission has worked to raise awareness about the problem through social media, public service announcements on T.V., and billboard messages.

The commission also was instrumental in helping to pass a state mandate, implementing a human trafficking curriculum for those in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Individuals who want to help with the cause are encouraged to give donations to the commission or the organizations they collaborate with.

Another opportunity, to learn about the problem, is being presented on  Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., at Pasco-Hernando State College – Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in  Wesley Chapel. Register at PHSC.edu/about/events.

While it’s important for community members to be on the lookout for clues regarding human trafficking, they should not directly engage in the situation, Dean said.

“The public’s role is to observe and report,” Dean said. “It is never to get involved. That is potentially dangerous for, not only the individual, but also the potential victim.”

Report your suspicions to local law enforcement or the National Human Trafficking Hotline.

The hotline can be reached at (888) 373-7888 or by texting, 233733 (BeFree).

Learn about human trafficking
What: Salon Talk
When: Jan. 27 from 10 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Where: Pasco-Hernando State College – Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Cost: Free, but registration is required online
Details: Human Trafficking experts and a survivor will inform the public about the global issue
Info: To register, visit PHSC.edu/about/events.

Published December 18, 2019

Former county spray field to become industrial park

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A 99-acre spray field on Old Pasco Road is poised to become an industrial park, which is expected to employ hundreds — under actions approved last week by the Pasco County Commission.

First, commissioners approved a staff recommendation to declare the property as surplus — making it available for sale.

Then, commissioners approved a proposed incentive package to encourage the Rooker Company, based in Atlanta, to create an industrial park on the land.

Commissioners also approved a purchase and sale agreement, providing a variety of conditions are met.

The property is about one-third mile south of the intersection with Overpass Road, which is where an interchange is planned with Interstate 75.

David Engel, Pasco County’s economic growth manager, briefed commissioners on the background of the deal at their Dec. 10 meeting.

Engel said the county received an unsolicited bid in the spring from the Rooker Company, to purchase the property for $2,850,000.

The company had calculated there would be 57 acres of developable land associated with this property, Engel said. Some of the remainder is needed for right of way for the I-75 interchange project and the widening of Old Pasco Road, while there’s also land needed for stormwater retention, there are hydrologic areas and there are designated wetlands.

“After an extensive amount of negotiation, the purchase price proposal has been increased to $3,596,500,” Engel said.

The purchase agreement is contingent upon compliance with the Master Planned Unit Development approved for the site in the spring of 2018, Engel added.

There are three conditions of sale:

  • The developer and the county must enter into a cooperative funding agreement for the first phase of development, which is 400,000 square feet. The total concept master plan is approximately 900,000 square feet of industrial construction.
  • Pasco County must remove the existing decommissioned wastewater infrastructure from the site. It also must regrade the property and install the basins.
  • The company must obtain all necessary land approvals for phase one.

Engel pointed out to commissioners: “The developer will be paying us for land that will be committed to road widening and also for the I-75 interchange.”

In a separate action, commissioners also approved an economic incentive to encourage the company to create new jobs.

County staff recommended $3.7 million in incentives.

“That amounts to $9.25 a square foot, which is the most economical incentive brought to the board so far, since the Penny (for Pasco, which supports economic incentives) was enacted in 2015,” Engel said.

The proposed first phase of the project calls for a 400,000-square-foot industrial park, which represents a $26.5 million investment, Engel said.

The first phase will create 427 direct and indirect jobs, and is expected to contribute to the gross county project, Engel added. “That’s a 13 to 1 ROI (Return on Investment),” he said.

Commissioners also agreed to an amendment to the agreement for sale and purchase that requires the county add to its five-year capital improvement plan — the widening of a section of Old Pasco Road to four lanes, from the south entrance of the property to Overpass Road, to four lanes.

Also, the financing — by a party other than the buyer —for the design, permitting and construction of the Old Pasco segment must be in place, such that the section of the Old Pasco be in place prior to the first certificate of occupancy for individual tenant premises for buildings within the project.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said “We want to make sure that’s widened.”

Engel also noted that the design for the industrial park is “attractive, tilt-up industrial-style buildings. It’s a scale and prominence that has yet to be constructed here in Pasco.”
Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said  “I’m especially excited about the prospect for manufacturing at this site.”

Cason Bufe, vice president of real estate for Rooker, said the company is a family owned real estate business that began when Jack Rooker developed the company’s first industrial building in Atlanta.

Since then, it has developed and constructed more than 50 million square feet of industrial facilities across the Southeast United States, he said.

Rooker’s son, John, now manages the business and “has set a strategy that has led us to invest in pro-growth municipalities in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia,” Bufe said.

“We have a proven track record in developing business parks of this kind, and public-private partnerships with government entities, and I applaud Pasco County for having the vision to create the Penny for Pasco program, rezone this property and invest in the new interchange at Overpass Road and I-75. Each of those factors was critical to us. We look forward to working side-by-side with the county to attract quality jobs and grow the tax base for Pasco County and its citizens.”

Published December 18, 2019

Encompass Health plans move to Land O’ Lakes

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Encompass Health Corporation has announced plans to bring 179 jobs to Central Pasco.

The company, based in Birmingham, plans to build a 37,000-square-foot facility on about 6 acres in the Bexley Community, off State Road 54, in Land O’ Lakes.

It plans to locate its Central Business Office there, to provide medical billing and collection services to the company’s hospitals in 25 states and Puerto Rico, according to a company statement.

This rendering depicts the planned office for Encompass Health Corporation, which plans to bring 179 jobs to Pasco County. (Courtesy of Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.)

News of the company’s plans was announced at the Pasco County Commission’s Dec. 10 meeting, where the board voted on an incentive package aimed at attracting the company, a publicly traded company, whose shares are sold on the New York Stock Exchange.

David Engel, Pasco County’s economic growth manager, told commissioners that the building will be single-story, with an architectural façade that’s consistent with the design standards for the Bexley master-planned community, Engel said.

“It’s a one-story administrative office building. It’s quite a substantial project. There’s over $15 million in capital investment; 220 direct and indirect jobs; 179 will be working at this facility, at a minimum,” Engel said.

The capital investment includes acquisition of the land, according to county documents.

Engel said the project “contributes more than $10 million a year to the gross county product,” which amounts to a return on investment of more than 10 to 1.

Commissioners approved a $983,000 incentive package to attract the company.

Various features of that package are:

  • A job creation incentive for 117 of the administrative jobs (amounting to $234,000)
  • The mobility fee waiver for Class A office construction (estimated at $329,000)
  • A 10-year ad valorem reimbursement (estimated at $290,000); the first five years will be 50% of their ad valorem payment; and 25% for the back end
  • An employee training grant ($50,000)
  • A waiver of building county permit fees (maximum of $80,000)

Also, because the company falls within the definition of a qualified targeted industry, the county is offering “rapid response team and expedited permitting,” Engel said.

Besides saving time, the expedited process is “a large financial incentive to the applicant,” Engel said.

Bill Cronin, CEO and president of the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., said ”We’re really excited about this company coming in, right into Central Pasco, creating some wonderful jobs.”

The Pasco EDC executive also noted that this project indicates that master-planned communities, such as Bexley, are started to develop their employment entitlements, thus rounding out the developments.

“Now, this development has true live, work, play at their development. You’ve got residential. You’ve got jobs. You’ve got retail. That means less people, potentially, on the road,” Cronin said.

Diane Daerr, director of Encompass Heath’s Central Business Office, said “we’re really excited about our new operation. The new building will allow us to have a lot of amenities for our workforce. Fitness center. Walking trails.

“We really like the setting of Bexley, and the walking trails and bike trails in that general area.

“You can literally live across the street from where our building is going to be, so we’re very excited about that,”” Daerr said.

Pasco officials have been working to shed the county’s image as a bedroom community, where thousands commute daily to jobs in other places.

“I think there’s something to be said about having a publicly traded company choosing Pasco for location for this regional operation. They will be serving 25 states here, and Puerto Rico. So, this is a real regional footprint for them. And, these jobs are good jobs,” Cronin said.

“As you all know, we’ve been focusing on our life sciences cluster,” he said.

In fact, Moffitt Cancer Center is seeking to boost its share of the state’s annual cigarette tax money to support expanded cancer care and research, both in Hillsborough and Pasco counties.

If the proposal moves forward, the new location in Pasco County would be near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52. It is being viewed by local leaders as having the potential to be a catalyst that would transform the Central Pasco landscape.

Cronin said that attracting new companies to Pasco, such as Encompass Health, talent being developed in the life sciences industry will have a place to call home, Cronin added.

Cronin also emphasized the project’s strategic location, near State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway, with easy access to Tampa International Airport.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore applauded the company’s decision to locate in Pasco, which he describe as “the fastest growing county in the region, if not the fastest growing in the state and one of the fastest growing in the nation.”

Published December 18, 2019

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