The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Changes recommended for Connerton’s master-plan development

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of changes to the Connerton Village II Master Planned Unit Development to adjust the boundaries for the regional park and elementary/middle school, and to remove the extension of the Plains Parkway north of Connerton Boulevard.

These changes are based on a land swap between Lennar Homes LLC, the Pasco County School Board and Pasco County.

The applicant also proposes to add an additional neighborhood encompassing 268 acres, adding 225 single-family units from the remaining Phase I entitlements. The changes also call for updating the Connerton Village II internal access points to reflect the pending development.

The county’s planning staff recommended approval of the changes, which they said are consistent with the previously approved land swap.

No one from the public spoke for or against the proposed changes, during the Planning Commission’s Aug. 22 public hearing on the request.

In backup materials provided to the planning commission, the county’s planners noted that the previously proposed extension of Pleasant Plains Parkway north of Connerton Boulevard would “bifurcate the new district park site and frustrate the basic purpose.”

Planners also noted that “the additional 225 units are being drawn from the remaining Phase 1 residential entitlements approved for the Development of Regional Impact. With the additional 225 units, the total aggregate units in Village II increases from 1,704 to 1,929.

The property is on the east and west sides of Flourish Drive, and the north and south sides of Connerton Boulevard.

The request is slated for public hearing before the Pasco County Commission on Sept. 18, 2019, at 1:30 p.m., in the board’s chambers at the West Pasco Government Center, at 8731 Citizens Drive in New Port Richey.

Published August 28, 2019

Offering convenient way to combat breast cancer

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Cheryl Hinton hits the road in the quest to prevent breast cancer.

Hinton, who is the marketing and promotions specialist for Tampa Bay Mobile Mammography, was the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group’s breakfast meeting on Aug. 13 at the IHOP in Dade City.

Lt. James Law of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, left, Cheryl Hinton, Nils Lenz, Rodney Rehrig Sr., and Bob Hatfield were several attendees at the East Pasco Networking Group meeting on Aug. 13 at a Dade City IHOP. Hinton was the event’s guest speaker and received a Standing Ovation Award for her community work. (Brian Fernandes)

She talked about the company’s mission to provide convenient breast cancer screenings. The independent organization began in New Port Richey. It now provides its services not only in Pasco, but in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Polk and Sarasota counties, too.

The staff works out of three tour-size buses, which are parked at various locations. Female employees can step away from their work at those places, to undergo a breast cancer screening.

“We actually go to schools and corporations,” Hinton explained. “We bring the bus to them, so that all they have to do is go outside, get on the bus, get their mammogram done, and go right back to work.”

Inside the bus, women take several minutes to be examined, using a digital three-dimensional imaging machine.

Patients also may be referred to a physician for further analysis.

Beyond her current role, Hinton also has a history in community advocacy, having worked in conjunction with organizations like Meals on Wheels and The Samaritan Project.

After she ended her career in newspaper advertising, she found a role where she could promote health.

She recalled: “I see on Facebook that this position is opening and I thought ‘Mobile mammography, what’s that? That sounds interesting.’”

The job also had a personal significance, as her sister-in-law had succumbed to a seven-year battle with breast cancer.

The Zephyrhills resident initially began overseeing operations in Hillsborough County and eventually added Polk County.

“Part of my job is I sit [at] home on my laptop, contact the schools and let them know that we’re coming,” Hinton noted.

She also travels to the companies and schools within her districts to answer questions from employers or employees.

Mobile Mammography tries to accommodate educators by paying substitute teachers to cover their classes while they are in the bus for screening.

The organization had its first summer screening program this year, sending out flyers and visiting 27 schools where summer classes were being held.

The response was phenomenal, she said.

Although the services target women in the school system and the corporate world, women of all backgrounds are encouraged to jump aboard the bus – and for good reason.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, breast cancer is the most common type found in women, not counting skin cancers .

In 2016, there were over 245,000 new cases reported in the United States alone.

The screening may seem intimidating and does bring about slight discomfort, Hinton acknowledged. However, she added, it could help prevent or stop the progression of breast cancer.

Hinton also was quick to point out that while the disease is prevalent among women, men too, are susceptible to breast cancer.

While Mobile Mammography does not offer services to men, it strongly recommends that men get routine check-ups, Hinton noted.

Toward the end of the meeting, the East Pasco Networking Group presented Hinton with a Standing Ovation Award to recognize her for her community efforts.

Published August 28, 2019

Hillsborough residents can weigh in on stormwater fees

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A public hearing is set for Sept. 5 regarding a proposed stormwater fee increase in Hillsborough County.

The public hearing is set for 10 a.m., in the second floor board room at Frederick B. Karl County Center, 601 E. Kennedy Blvd., in downtown Tampa.

Any changes approved by the Hillsborough County Commission would be reflected on the 2019 property tax notices, according to a Hillsborough County news release.

The stormwater fee is paid by property owners in the unincorporated area of the county. It does not apply to residents in Tampa, Temple Terrace or Plant City.

Revenues generated by the stormwater fee is used for maintenance, rehabilitation and construction of the public stormwater pipes, pumps, storage systems, and other structures to help reduce roadway flooding and improve water quality, the news release said.

County officials say the proposed fee structure more equitably separates most residential properties into tiers based on different sizes of impervious area (roofed, paved, or similar surface).

Properties with less impervious area pay less and properties with more impervious area pay more, under the proposal.

The county’s news release explains:

  • Most single-family residential properties are placed into a tier based on their total gross area building footprint, provided by the Property Appraiser. This approach avoids having to individually calculate the impervious area for more than 220,000 residential properties, which would be impractical.
  • Properties with exceptionally small building footprint areas, such as condominium units, townhomes and mobile homes are billed flat rates.
  • Nonresidential properties and very large single-family properties are billed per square foot of impervious area.
  • A new proposed assessment structure will utilize an “Equivalent Residential Unit,” or ERU, as the basis for most assessments. The average single-family residence in the County includes 4,267 square feet of impervious surface (roofed, paved, or similar surface), which equals one ERU.
  • The 2019 proposed assessment for one ERU is $92.41.

More information about the proposed Stormwater Fee is available online or by calling (813) 635-5400.

Published August 28, 2019

Avalon Park West Brings The Arts To East Pasco

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Avalon Park West and the Pasco Fine Arts Council are bringing art and cultural events, exhibits and workshops to East Pasco County through a new public-private partnership.

Celebrating their new partnership with the Pasco Fine Arts Council are (left to right) Stephanie Lerret, marketing and community relations for Avalon Park Group; Jo Baughman, director of the Pasco Fine Arts Council; and, Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group.

This partnership kicks off in September with a series of art exhibits at the Welcome Center at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel, at 33613 State Road 54. The first event will showcase Suzanne Natzke, an accomplished watercolor artist and Pasco County resident.

An artist reception for Natzke will take place Friday, Sept. 27 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., along with live music by Jared Violin. The public is invited to meet the artist and enjoy the music at this free community affair, and enjoy complimentary wine and refreshments.

Natzke’s paintings will be displayed through the end of October in Avalon’s Welcome Center, and after her show closes, a new artist will be featured. A total of six artist exhibits are planned during the first year of the new partnership with Pasco Fine Arts Council and Avalon Park West, all hosted at the Welcome Center for East Pasco residents.

“This partnership brings great opportunities to expand the arts to not only our community, but the entire east side of the county,” says Stephanie Lerret, senior vice president of marketing and community relations for the Avalon Park Group. “It is our vision to build Downtown Avalon Park West as the cultural and event center of East Pasco County.”

Paintings by watercolor artist Suzanne Natzke will be the first of six art exhibits hosted by the Pasco Arts Council at Avalon Park West in Wesley Chapel. This one is entitled, Purple Coneflower.

The first phase of Downtown Avalon Park West is currently under construction, and is projected to open next summer. Included in the plans for Downtown is a dedicated Arts Gallery, that will be the permanent East Pasco home for the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

“We’re very excited about expanding the presence of the Fine Arts Council to East Pasco County,” says Jo Baughman, director of the Council. “It will be thrilling to feature local artists and discover new artists through these events and educational opportunities, made possible through the partnership with Avalon Park West.”

For Baughman, who has been involved in the Pasco Fine Arts Council for 22 years, and director for the past four, the invitation from Avalon Park West to work together accomplishes a long-held dream.

“This has been a long time coming, and will be a tremendous help to the artist community and our patrons,” said Baughman. “It’s been really hard to service the entire county without a location in East Pasco, and when Avalon Park contacted us last February and asked if they could partner with us, it was completely unexpected, and we were completely overjoyed!”

Watchful, by Suzanne Natzke

The vision the leaders at Avalon Park West have for the arts in their master-planned community meshes perfectly with that of the Pasco Fine Arts Council.

“We want to have art classes and workshops for our community, and a place to share artwork created by students and adults,” said Lerret. “As it turns out, the Fine Arts Council has been providing these types of programs for years, and all they needed was a place in East Pasco to bring their programs and exhibits to our residents in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, San Antonio and Dade City.”

One of the first youth programs the Fine Arts Council will be moving to its Avalon Park West location is the Middle School Photography competition it hosts annually in conjunction with Pasco County Schools.

“This is part of our Kids In Arts program, and is a photography competition where students earn first, second and third place recognition in each grade level,” said Baughman. “We are so excited to now have exhibit space to share these photos with the public.”

For more information on the artist schedule and upcoming events, please visit AvalonParkWest.com or PascoArts.org.

About Avalon Park West
Nestled in serene natural surroundings, Avalon Park West is a master-planned community planned for 4,800 residential homes and over a half million square feet of commercial and civic uses where residents will be in walking and bike riding distance to schools, shops, restaurants, workplaces and recreational amenities. Avalon Park West is a traditional community of small-town life where you can Live, Learn, Work and Play. For more on Avalon Park West, visit AvalonParkWest.com, or call Stephanie Lerret at (407) 427-6073.

About Pasco Fine Arts Council
The Pasco Fine Arts Council Inc., is a public entity created by the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners on Sept. 1, 1978 as a nonprofit organization with the County to encourage community involvement in the arts, provide art education to the community, and to be a leader in stimulating art and cultural entities throughout Pasco County. For more on the Pasco Fine Arts Council, visit PascoArts.org, or contact Jo Baughman at (727) 845-7322 or .

Published August 28, 2019 in Homes

 

Pasco school year gets off to a smooth start

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Five-year-old Joshua Cortes was eager to begin his first day of kindergarten at Pine View Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes.

Five-year-old Joshua Cortes is excited to begin his first day of kindergarten at Pine View Elementary School. (B.C. Manion)

The youngster was beaming as his parents took his picture near a welcome sign at the school — the perfect prop for a photo op.

A little while later, as buses rolled into the bus loop, Pine View staff greeted students as they exited the bus.

They saw many familiar faces, and  they offered kind remarks, welcoming students and commenting on such things as a new haircut or new pair of shoes.

Meanwhile, across campus, teachers were ready for another year.

Art teacher Kimber White is enthusiastic about teaching at Pine View Elementary, which has been officially authorized as Pasco County’s first International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. (B.C. Manion)

Art teacher Kimber White expressed enthusiasm about teaching at Pasco County’s first officially authorized International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

The IB PYP highly regards the arts, encouraging creativity and innovation, across the disciplines.

Third-grade teacher Monica Woods aimed to set a positive tone for the children entering in her class. The room was cheerful, with warm touches, including this greeting: “Welcome to third grade, you’re going to love it here.”

Assistant Principal Mary Reynolds, an educator for 30 years, said she never gets over the potential the beginning of a new school year represents. She gets so excited that she can never sleep the night before a first school day.

Principal Kay Moore has a tradition. She holds an assembly and rings in the new year with an old-fashioned bell. It’s a time-honored ritual, signifying the start of something important, she said.

Mary Reynolds, assistant principal at Pine View Elementary, said she can never sleep the night before the first day of school because she’s so eager to begin a new year. (B.C. Manion)

As Pine View settled in for the day, first day scenes were taking place across the district. Parents were busy dropping their kids off, big yellow buses were picking up kids in subdivisions and school staffs were busy getting the 2019-2020 school year started.

At Cypress Creek Middle High in Wesley Chapel, students streamed on to campus, where they were greeted by staff members, who directed traffic and answered questions.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning said he’d heard good reports across the district.

“It has been a good week. It has been an exceptionally good week,” he told members of The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, during a breakfast meeting.

As the sun rises on the first day of school, Cypress Creek Middle High School Assistant Principal Donna Gricoski, right, greets students exiting the buses. (Christine Holtzman)

“As I’ve traveled to schools, I’ve talked to teachers, I’ve talked to parents, I’ve talked to principals, I’ve talked to kids — and almost without exception they’ve said, ‘You know, it seems like one of the smoothest school starts we’ve had.

“There hasn’t been all of the hateful, mean Twitter, Facebook chatter out there — which people are so quick to get out on social media, and start trashing people without the facts,” Browning added.

He also noted that the school district continues to grow at a rapid pace.

The school year began with about 1,300 more students than on the same day last year, he said, noting that’s the equivalent of a large district middle school.

Published August 21, 2019

Note: First day of school student photos can be found in our e-edition!

Under Construction 08/21/2019

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A new recreational space is on its way within the Chapel Creek residential community. The Zephyrhills amenity center will include a playground and pool cabana. (Brian Fernandes)

Chapel Creek Amenity Center
The Chapel Creek residential community soon will have some new recreational options. The Chapel Creek Amenity Center is being built at 6405 Clifton Down Drive in Zephyrhills. The 1,258-square-foot facility will have a playground, a mail kiosk, a pool cabana, restrooms, utility rooms and a storage room. There is no official completion or open date yet.

 

 

 

 

Bubba’s 33
Bubba’s 33 soon will open its first restaurant in Florida. The family style restaurant is part of the Texas Roadhouse corporation. It will be located at 26340 Silver Maple Parkway, off State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel. The 7,000-plus-square-foot development will include a sports bar and will have a seating capacity of 256. Construction, which began in August, is expected to be completed in November.  The restaurant is set to open by mid-December.

Luckey Eye Care
Luckey Eye Care will be opening another branch in Wesley Chapel. The optometry clinic will be housed in the Cypress Ridge Professional Center at 2306 Greenbranch Drive and will consist of 14 rooms. Construction began early this year, and is set to finish and open by mid-September.

TouchPoint Medical has chosen Pasco County for its world headquarters. The Odessa facility will be responsible for manufacturing medical equipment.

TouchPoint Medical Headquarters
TouchPoint Medical is expected to open its world headquarters in early 2020, in Odessa. The facility is being built off of State Road 54, in The Preserve residential community. The facility will be used to develop medical equipment and is expected to create an estimated 250 jobs. The 147,000-square-foot building will be two stories, and will be made up of a warehouse and office space. Construction began in March and is expected to be completed in January 2020. A grand opening date has not yet been determined.

Curious about something new that’s popping up in your community? Please send us the location — along with the address, if possible — and we’ll see what we can find out. Send your email to .

Zephyrhills presents draft budget, appropriations requests

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The City of Zephyrhills has unveiled its proposed budget for fiscal year 2019-20 — totaling more than $67 million.

The $67,043,615 draft budget is based on a tentative tax rate of 6.35 mills previously approved by the Zephyrhills City Council. The draft budget was shared during an Aug. 12 council meeting.

The City of Zephyrhills’ $67 million draft budget is based on a tentative tax rate of 6.35 mills. A budget workshop is scheduled for Aug. 26. Public hearings on the proposed budget are scheduled for Sept. 9 and Sept. 23. (File)

Based on the 6.35 millage rate, the total budget for the new fiscal year will be roughly $16.4 million for the city’s 16 departments (city council, administration, economic development, finance, human resources, planning, information technology, police, dispatch, fire, building & code enforcement, library, equipment maintenance, storm water, streets, parks & facilities).

Remaining money necessary for the 2019-20 budget will come from other funding sources, including state revenues, county shared funds franchise fees, utility fees and grants.

The draft shows the city’s police department has the largest departmental budget at over $3.9 million, followed by the fire department at roughly $2.8 million.

A budget workshop is scheduled for Aug. 26. Public hearings on the proposed budget are scheduled for Sept. 9 and Sept. 23.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe shared budget highlights during the meeting, including these items relating to employee benefits and compensation:

  • Total employee health care costs increased 9.7%
  • A proposed pay increase of 3.5% for all employees
  • An increase in cost of 15% for worker’s compensation costs
  • An increase in cost of 11% for property casualty expenses
  • Tuition reimbursement up to $2,500 annually, up to a maximum of $15,000 in total, for city employees

Big ticket items in the budget include:

  • Six fully equipped police vehicles totaling $310,000 funded through Penny for Pasco
  • A $300,000 side-loader truck for sanitation
  • A $267,000 final installment for a new fully outfitted fire truck, which has a total cost of $457,000

With talks ongoing with Pasco County regarding the possible consolidation of the Zephyrhills Fire Department into Pasco County Fire Rescue, the city manager told council members the new fire truck will be part of those broader negotiations, possibly to help offset MSTUs (Municipal Service Taxing Unit) levied through any merger.

“The budgets were prepared as if the (fire) department is staying,” Poe said. “We don’t know which direction we’re going this moment, so it was budgeted to purchase that truck and that will be part of the conversation with the county. They’re aware of it, so we’ll continue that conversation.”

Councilman Alan Knight told Poe the fire truck “ought to be a real strong thing in our negotiation” with the county.

“We contracted it. We put our name on it. We’ve got it. We’re going to have to eat that, so we’ve just got to understand that that’s going to be part of our negotiations,” Knight said.

Councilman Lance Smith said he’s pleased that the budget has more funds allocated toward employee education.

“I am glad to see more money put into training employees,” Smith said. “I mean, I think that’s something really important. I think that’s something we haven’t been doing, and I think the more educated an employee is, I think the more productive they’ll be.”

A push for more police training
Along those lines, Council president Ken Burgess questioned whether the Zephyrhills Police Department allocated enough funding for more advanced, hands-on training.

Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer said his department has invested in instructor training within his department and is able to offer more in-house training.

The draft budget shows $22,000 for police training programs.

“I bring it up every year about the police training. Especially in light of recent events, I want to make sure that in our training, we do more than just get on the computer and click a few buttons,” Burgess said.

“There’s a lot of things that can happen that we don’t want our officers to experience that for the first time in real life,” he said.

Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer pointed out training opportunities are often trust funded or free, but said the issue is more about being able to manage overtime associated with training.

The department has sent a handful of sworn officers to receive instructor training, so it is able to offer more in-house training programs, the chief said.

“Whether it’s advanced, in service or online or whatever it is, I can tell you we’ve been actively trying to send people to as much as we can,” he said.

Brewer also told the council the police department is considering participation at an active shooter response training center in Arizona.

“We were looking for something a little closer, but, of course, if that’s what we’ve got to do then that’s what we’ll use,” Brewer said.

In other action, the council approved the submission of three appropriations requests for projects to be sponsored by State Rep. Randy Maggard and State Sen. Wilton Simpson in the Florida Legislature:

  • $2 million septic to sewer project to a residential subdivision and homes along Sixth Avenue and Armstrong Street, and decommissioning existing septic tanks. The project will affect 67 existing properties with potential for expansion to additional properties in the future.
  • $1.2 million for an indoor/covered tennis facility at the Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center site. The indoor facility would also be used for other sports, such as soccer, and banquets and ceremonies.
  • $2 million for the purchase of roughly 1.3 acres of land at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport for the extension of runway 01-19. The cost also includes relocating Skydive City’s existing RV parking east of Skydive Lane.

The city also is considering a fourth appropriations request for $2.5 million, to be used for U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road intersection improvements. Those improvements would involve the relocation of a traffic signal that is currently located at Merchants Square and Townview shopping centers to a new location, at the intersection at Pretty Pond Road.

Council members discussed that topic at length. The aim of the improvements would be to speed up potential commercial development in the area.

Published August 21, 2019

Local teen’s rare disease sparks legislation

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After more than three years of fighting for their medical coverage for their son’s rare disease, a Land O’ Lakes family has seen some progress in their quest.

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Patient Saving Act on June 12, which includes language requiring the state insurance plan to provide enteral formula coverage, regardless of age, condition or intake method.

Stephanie Walls, whose son Remington suffers from Eosinophilic Esophagitis (EoE), called the legislative victory “absolutely amazing.”

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signed the Patient Saving Act in June. Included is language requiring the state insurance plan to provide enteral formula coverage, regardless of age, condition or intake method. Stephanie and Remington Walls stand on the far right. (Courtesy of Stephanie Walls)

The rare EoE disease, which is incurable, causes food to deteriorate in his esophagus.

Remington, who was diagnosed at age 4, has lived a life without regular food or drink.

His only source of nutrition since then has come via a hypoallergenic amino acid-based liquid formula, called Neocate EO28 Splash. He consumes roughly 18 to 22 of the eight-ounce juice boxes per day.

Through it all, 19-year-old Remington has never let his life-threatening food allergy disease block him from pursuing his goals.

He is a former varsity baseball standout at Land O’ Lakes High School.

He’s a published author, and he has earned a volunteer assistant/team manager position at Valdosta State University’s Division I baseball program.

In 2016, his family learned that its insurance no longer covered the liquid formula required for sustenance. Without the insurance, the formula costs about $26,000 per year, Stephanie said.

The alternative was a feeding tube. But, with Remington’s active lifestyle, that was never an option, the family says.

So, Remington and his mom have been pushing for state and federal legislation for enteral formula coverage for medical nutrition — sharing their story with lawmakers and anyone who would listen.

The new law only impacts state employees, but still it is a move in the right direction and will help families like theirs who are struggling, Stephanie says.

“This is just a baby step, to the bigger steps that are going to be taken,” added Stephanie, an eighth grade language arts teacher at Cypress Creek Middle High School in Wesley Chapel.

“We’re still trying to get federal legislation,” she said. “It has to be broader. It has to have a wider span.”

Remington agrees with his mom: “Our goal is to get federal legislation passed, but it’s just a work in progress. We just take it one day, one step at a time.”

He added, “Honestly, our whole goal going into this was, whether it benefits us or not, we want to make a difference. We just knew that if this is happening to us, then it’s happening to other families.”

Getting help and helping others
At the state level, the Walls’ cause was picked during the legislative process by Sen. Kelli Stargel, a Republican from Lakeland, and Rep. Ardian Zika, a Republican from Land O’ Lakes. They sponsored enteral formula legislation, which ultimately led to an amendment to the state health bill.

As it stands now, “it only covers state employees,” Zika said. “My goal is I hope to see federal legislation addressing this issue .. .so we have comprehensive coverage for such a condition.”

He went on, “For me, this was an opportunity to be a voice for the voiceless. When I reflect back on my public service, this is going to be one of the highlights for me.”

Zika learned of Walls’ story before his election in 2018 to represent District 37 in the Florida House of Representatives.

“It was really heartbreaking,” Zika said. “I said, ‘Wow, this is something that I would be very passionate about because it’s life-changing for individuals.’”

The freshman lawmaker added, “Remington has overcome so much adversity. No one should go through what they’ve (the Walls) gone through. I’m just happy to be at the intersection in their life and do my part, but there’s much more work to be done.”

Remington and Stephanie addressed several committees in Tallahassee along the way, including the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, House Market Reform Subcommittee and Government Oversight Committee.

Stephanie acknowledged the work was tiresome, but she said it also was empowering to be a voice for other families who are in the same boat.

“Our belief and our philosophy has always been that we need to help the people that come behind us,” she said. “Regular, everyday people can make a difference, but people have to understand that. It’s just about everybody making that difference.”

Seeing her son pick up the cause made the efforts all the more worthwhile, too.

Stephanie put it like this: “It is so rare to find an 18-year-old, at the time, meeting with legislators. He knew in his heart that this was the right thing that he needed to be doing. A lot of it he was kind of thrust into it, but he chose to continue.”

In November, Remington and Stephanie co-wrote “Homeplate: A True Story of Resilience,” a 118-page book that delves into a foodless life and insights on coping with a rare esophageal disease.

The project gained momentum to the point where Remington and Stephanie were called to speak at multiple events, including the American Partnership for Eosinophilic Disorders (APFED) Conference in Washington D.C. The Walls also presented to over 200 athletes at an Atlanta-based event organized by ACES Nation and All-In FC (Futbol Club) at Sugar Hill.

Meanwhile, Remington has big plans ahead. The college sophomore plans to try out for the Valdosta State baseball team this fall. He’s also studying communications as he considers a career in public speaking.

He hopes his story can inspire others facing similar challenges.

Determination is important, according to Remington.

“If you set your mind to it, you can do it. The only person that can stop you is you,” he said.

Published August 21, 2019

Improvements expected at U.S. 41-Sunset Lane intersection

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Traffic heading west on Sunset Lane in Lutz often stacks up, as motorists who want to turn left onto U.S. 41 wait for their chance to do so.

Sometimes they’ll be stuck there for several light cycles, and the traffic behind them backs up on Sunset Lane.

Hillsborough County is addressing a need to improve traffic flow at the intersection of U.S. 41 and Sunset Lane in Lutz. (Brian Fernandes)

Hillsborough County and the Florida Department of Transportation have come up with some proposed improvements, and the county held an open house on July 31. There, the public could ask questions, as well as share concerns and ideas.

Plans call for rebuilding the traffic signals.

A second left-turn signal from Sunset Lane onto U.S. 41 also is being considered.

Currently, Sunset Lane has a left-turn lane, a through lane and a right-turn lane.

Sidewalk improvements also are being considered, including pavement markings and ramps that comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act guidelines.

On the opposite side of U.S. 41, Sunset Lane turns into Crystal Grove Boulevard, which is also expected to have some upgrades.

Design and construction costs for the improvements are estimated at more than $1 million.

Construction is set to begin in early 2021 and wrap up by early 2022.

Published August 21, 2019

Boy Scouts build a new pathway at Lutz Nature Park

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It was the break of dawn, and while many were spending their Saturday sleeping in — members from Boy Scout Troop 12 were hard at work at Lutz Nature Park.

Equipped with rakes and shovels, the youths were building a new sidewalk, under the direction of Luke Romesburg, a 15-year-old leading the effort in his pursuit for the rank of Eagle Scout.

Luke Romesburg, of Lutz Boy Scout Troop 12, decided to give back to the community in an effort to obtain his Eagle Scout medallion. Romesburg and fellow scouts, on Aug. 3, helped construct a new sidewalk at the Lutz Nature Park. (Brian Fernandes)

The Lutz Nature Park recently had constructed a sidewalk connecting its pavilions, but there was no pathway leading to the parking lot. So, the teenager decided to address the need.

He reasoned: “Originally, they (patrons) could not get the wheelchairs out here to the existing sidewalk. If someone that was handicap came out here and wanted to go through the park, they would have to go through the grass – and that’s just not safe.”

Before the project began, the Boy Scout received the go-ahead from Terry Donovan of the Lutz Nature Park, as well as Travis Hancock of the Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation Department.

After learning about the scout’s community efforts, Jeff Potvin of Coastal an Oldcastle Company, donated stacks of the concrete blocks for the project.

The county dug out the existing grass, going 4 inches deep, where the concrete blocks would be placed.

While this was Romesburg’s project, fellow troop members rallied around him to help out, donning their signature red shirts.

The boys came early on Aug. 3, unloading the blocks, one by one, and strategizing how to make them fit, stay level and have an aesthetically pleasing appearance.

Troop members were sure to fill in the open crevices of the blocks with dirt and to pack down sod in the shoulders where the blocks meet the grass. They did that to  help ensure the new sidewalk will remain sturdy.

Lutz Boy Scout Troop 12 rallied around fellow member Luke Romesburg in developing a new sidewalk to help disabled people at Lutz Nature Park. The new pathway connects the pavilions to the parking lot.

Nicholas Evans, senior patrol leader for Troop 12, was one of the many, hard at work .

Romesburg and his dad recently helped him to complete his Eagle Scout project, and the patrol leader was eager to return the favor.

Evans noted: “I think that it’s good that it’s helping everybody. It’s just a really positive impact. Troop 12 has been here for over 85 years, and we’ve always given back to the community.”

The scouts have been a fixture in Lutz, contributing to its Fourth of July Parade festivities, assisting other organizations and helping at various community events.

They also pick up trash along U.S. 41 every month.

Paul Evans, Troop 12 scoutmaster, said in addition to benefiting the community, these projects also benefit the boys.

“There’s a lot of personal growth that the boys develop as they do outdoor activities,” he said.

“The boys are actually doing the work. It’s a legacy that we’re giving, and that will continue on for years and years,” the scoutmaster said.

Published August 21, 2019