The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Two Good Soles drive smashes record

By

Pasco County government and its constitutional offices collected more than 3,000 pairs of shoes for local students — smashing a previous record for the annual Two Good Soles Shoes and Socks Drive.

The drive, now in its fourth year, yielded 3,057 pairs of shoes and 13,285 pairs of socks. The items will be donated to students in Pasco County Schools.

Cathy Pearson, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public services, set a goal of 2,000 pairs of shoes for this year’s challenge. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Last year, donations totaled 2,264 pairs of shoes and 6,609 pairs of socks.

Besides vastly exceeding last year’s totals, the collection also shattered the goal of 2,000 shoes set by Cathy Pearson, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public services.

Pasco County and Constitutional Office staff gathered at Wendell Krinn Technical High School in New Port Richey on Oct. 29 to officially donate the footwear and tally the results.

Pasco County’s Internal Services Branch won the trophy for the most donations from county branches. The Pasco Property Appraiser’s Office won for most donations collected by a constitutional office, just surpassing the Tax Collector’s Office.

The Public Services Branch placed first in the decorated collection box competition with the Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources Department’s “Playground Box.”

Pearson recapped this year’s efforts for the Pasco County Commission at its Nov. 5 meeting.

She was delighted by the level of giving.

“We have just made some students very, very proud and very happy. That couldn’t have happened without the great community that we have,” Pearson said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley was impressed, too.

“If you figure $40 for a pair of shoes, there’s over $120,000 worth of shoes there — just amazing,” he said.

Pearson added: “It’s all for a great cause, it’s all for the kids. I couldn’t be more proud and humble, to be part of this community. Thank you all and we’re looking forward to the fifth annual next October.”

Published November 13, 2019

Hillsborough’s economy showing new signs of growth

By

Adam Myers, senior business development manager for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council, paid a visit to Pasco County a few weeks ago, to share what’s happening on the economic front in Hillsborough County.

Myers outlined some of the major new developments happening in Tampa and Hillsborough County during a membership luncheon meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

He assured those gathered that economic development is not something that happens in a vacuum.

Adam Myers is the senior business development manager for the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council. He gave an update on business activity in Hillsborough County, during a recent luncheon meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber. (B.C. Manion)

“While we are Hillsborough County-focused, we work with our partners in Pasco County Economic Development and Pinellas County Economic Development, Polk County, Sarasota, Manatee, all of the way up to Hernando County.

“When something great happens in Pasco County, that’s going to benefit Hillsborough County,” said Myers, senior business development manager for the Tampa/Hillsborough economic development agency.

“When something awesome is happening in Hillsborough County and Pinellas County, that’s benefiting Pasco County, as well.

“It’s important to recognize that economic development is really a team sport,” Myers said.

That being said, his talk focused primarily on some of the big things happening in Tampa and Hillsborough County.

For instance, Water Street Tampa, a $3 billion investment in downtown Tampa, is getting underway, he said.

“Now, the buildings are under construction,” Myers said. “The first building is almost done, with USF’s (University of South Florida’s) new medical school. That is bringing a lot of momentum and excitement, and activity and interest in the downtown area.

“Now, they’re seeing the cranes. Now, they’re seeing the walls going up, the buildings going up, the J.W. Marriott going up, everything that’s happening in Phase One of Water Street. OK, now I can almost touch it. It’s tangible,” he said.

Another major project, Midtown Tampa, is planned near Interstate 275 and North Dale Mabry Highway. That’s a $500 million mixed-use project of retail, residential and office, he said.

Riverwalk Place, a 50-story tower is going up in downtown Tampa. The $350 million project is the tallest building on the West Coast of Florida, Myers said.

It began as a mixed-use project, but the condo sales went so well, it was essentially converted to a residential project with retail at the bottom, he said.

Another project, called Heights Union, includes new office space being built at the southwest corner of Palm Avenue and North Tampa Street. Meanwhile, Highwoods Properties is building a new mixed-use project in Westshore.

Myers also noted that Tampa is being recognized by outside evaluators, as a good place to work and live.

Earlier this year, for instance, Zillow ranked Tampa as the No. 1 market for first-time homebuyers.

It’s also a great place to start a business, Myers said.

“Entrepreneurism in Tampa is at an all-time high, and there are more and more resources that are out there that are starting up to help our entrepreneurism ecosystem grow,” he said.

He also shared some of the economic development agency’s statistics.

“Between Oct. 1, 2016 and July 31, 2018: We worked with over 48 companies to make the decision to choose Hillsborough (County),” Myers said. That created nearly 6,200 jobs.

Those jobs, in turn, created nearly 2,300 indirect jobs and 4,060 induced jobs.

Published November 06, 2019

New Aldi stores springing up in Pasco

By

The Aldi retail chain is opening three stores to meet new demands of Pasco County’s burgeoning growth.

Construction is underway simultaneously on new Aldi stores in Odessa, Lutz-Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

The grocery chain already has stores in Holiday and Port Richey.

Three new Aldi stores will be opening in Pasco County to keep up with the area’s growing demands. (Courtesy of Aldi)

Matt Thon, vice president for the Aldi’s Haines City division, said the grocery chain looks at many factors, when choosing store locations.

“We want the best sites that are closest to our shoppers and can support a high daily traffic volume,” Thon said.

There’s no doubt about high traffic volume near the Odessa and Lutz-Wesley Chapel locations.

The Odessa store is at the intersection of State Road 54 and Trinity Boulevard, west of the Suncoast Parkway. The Lutz-Wesley Chapel store is near where State Road 54 transitions into State Road 56, near Interstate 75.

The State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor has been bursting with growth in recent years, with new residential and commercial developments.

Aldi’s history dates back to its first store opening in 1961. Since then, it has branched out to have a total of 1,900 locations in 36 states across the country, the retail grocer’s website says.

The grocer also expects to open nearly 2,500 new stores nationwide by 2022, according to the website.

Aldi operates as a grocery store with a variety of foods, including meats and fresh produce. The majority of products are exclusive brands, only found in Aldi stores.

Like other Aldi locations, the Pasco stores will be roughly 12,000 square feet. They also will have an interior layout that’s similar to other stores in the chain.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said he’s happy to see the new Aldi coming to his district, which will be built almost directly in front of a Costco store.

Moore said he’s been hearing a desire by his constituents for an Aldi store for quite some time.

“It’s great to have options for people. The more options the better. They’re in a good location. That’s for sure,” Moore said.

Having more locations is good for both the company and consumers, Thon said.

He said the bottom line is this: “We want to be conveniently located for our shoppers in Pasco County.”

Published November 06, 2019

Under Construction 11/06/2019

By

(Brian Fernandes)

New banking option in Trinity
A new Republic Bank branch is emerging in Trinity. The 3,042-square-foot building is located at 10601 State Road 54 and will have two drive-through lanes. Details on the completion date and opening have not be released.

 

 

 

A restaurant and more retail for Cypress Creek
The Cypress Creek Town Center will have a new building at 25988 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz. The 15,287-square-foot structure will be designed for retail and restaurant space. An opening date has not been released.

 

 

 

Urgent care center coming to Lutz
A new medical facility is being added to the Lutz area. Doctors Urgent Care is located at 18981 N. Dale Mabry Highway and will stand at 3,250 square feet. The building’s interior will have a  lab, six patient rooms, a surgery room, an X-ray room and a wellness center. Construction is set to end in December, with a possible January opening.

 

 

Coffee shop, nail salon coming soon
A retail plaza will open at 25595 Sierra Town Centre Blvd, in Lutz. The approximately 4,000-square-foot building is already set to hold a nail salon and a Raining Berries coffee shop, with additional space. Construction could  be wrapped up by early 2020.

 

 

 

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 news@lakerlutznews.com.

Saint Leo conference focuses on WWI and its impacts

By

Maybe you’re a history teacher, with a penchant for the World War I era.

This World War I-era poster was created by James Montgomery Flagg in 1918 and printed by the American Lithographic Company of New York. It shows Uncle Sam arm-in-arm with Britannia, accompanied by a lion (U.K.) and an eagle (U.S.A.). It will be included in Marco Rimanelli’s presentation at an upcoming conference at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Perhaps you have a fascination for the impacts that World War I had on politics, medicine, diplomacy or, even closer to home — your family’s personal history.

Maybe you’re just curious about what life was like in the wider world, during the time of Downton Abbey.

If any of this resonates with you, an upcoming conference at Saint Leo University could be right up your alley.

The university is inviting teachers, history and political buffs, veterans and the general public to a conference that centers on the history of World War I, and subsequent peace-building efforts.

The Nov. 16 event, called the Centennial of World War I & Peace 1914 to 1919 Interdisciplinary Conference, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the university’s campus in St. Leo.

The event comes slightly more than a century after the original Armistice Day — Nov. 11, 1918 —which marked the official end of World War I.

The conference is structured around three panels, with presentations by speakers and time allotted for questions and answers, said Marco Rimanelli, full professor of political sciences and international studies at the university.

The presentations will cover:

  • Military and diplomacy
  • Medical and health care issues in the Great War
  • The impact of the League of Nations

Rimanelli’s presentation is entitled “Alliances & U.S. Military in World War I: ‘Doughboys & Trenches, ‘Over There’”

Members of American Company A, Ninth Machine Gun Battalion set up in a French railroad shop on June 7, 1918. (U.S. National Archives and Record Administration)

“We want to try to give an overview,” said Rimanelli, a driving force behind the conference.

“World War I is essential in the emergence of America as a global super power, as well as the beginning of the demise of the European order,” Rimanelli said.

Panelist Dan DuBois, an assistant professor of history, will focus on how World War I played out in East Asia, in his talk entitled “Aye, What has Become of Civilization?: East Asia & The Great War.”

“To understand the current degree of distrust between the United States and China, that really begins in 1919,” DuBois said.

Interspersed between the panels, Saint Leo faculty members will help take conference-goers back to World War I through poetry readings and musical performances from the era.

Chantelle MacPhee, the university’s chair of language studies and the arts, will read “In Flanders Fields,” a World War I poem by John McCrae, a medic from Canada.

“He wrote it in the memory of those he saw perish with him,” said MacPhee , who herself lost great-uncles in World War I.

American troops going forward to the battle line in the Forest of Argonne. France, September 26, 1918.
(U.S. National Archives and Record Administration)

“In Flanders Fields,” she said, “is the most famous in Canada and is recited every Nov. 11, which is called Remembrance Day.”

Conference attendees also will be able to glean an additional sense of what life was like during World War I through an array of posters featuring combat scenes, war memorabilia, and a glimpse of African-American life at that time.

The $12 admission to the conference deliberately was kept affordable to encourage attendance. Admission includes lunch, snacks and beverages and there is no charge for parking.

Also, Saint Leo University alumni, students, faculty and staff will be admitted free, with proper ID.

Teachers attending the conference may also be eligible to apply for continuing education credit, which Saint Leo University will help to document.

Published November 06, 2019

Tourism to keep booming in Pasco County, officials say

By

Tourism is booming in Pasco County — which reported nearly a million visitors last year.

And, the best may be yet to come, according to a presentation by county tourism officials Adam Thomas and Kolby Kucyk Gayson, during a recent Dade City Commission meeting.

The county now brands itself as “Florida’s Sports Coast,” with the tagline, “Let’s Play,” in its tourism pitches. Previously, it used the slogan “Visit Pasco. Open Spaces. Vibrant Places.”

Tree Hoppers Aerial Adventure Park, in Dade City, gives people of all ability levels the chance to experience a ropes course and ziplining. Tree Hoppers is one of Pasco County’s top tourist draws. (File)

It changed its brand in March to highlight the county’s growing list of recreational sports venues and outdoor activities.

“We were in dire need of a rebrand as a destination,” said Gayson, communications manager for Florida’s Sports Coast. “We needed our own identity within the Florida tourism market.”

Now, word is spreading about Pasco County in tourism circles regionally, nationally and even internationally, said Thomas, the county’s tourism director.

“In the past six, seven months, we’ve created some strong destination awareness, so the buzz is starting to get out there about the Sports Coast,” he said.

Thomas expects a noticeable uptick in activity once the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex of Pasco County comes online in July 2020 and begins booking events for 2021. The $44 million, 98,000-square-foot indoor space in Wesley Chapel will primarily accommodate basketball, volleyball, cheerleading, dance and gymnastics events.

“We’re thinking on a global scale for that facility,” Thomas said.

“It’s a one-of-a-kind facility,” he said, noting no other facility in the Southeast compares to it.

“We’re offering something that’s unique that people are going to travel around the state to come experience,” Thomas said.

The $44 million Wiregrass Ranch Sports Complex is expect to draw tourists from across the country, and even internationally, after it opens next year. (Courtesy of RADD Sports)

The sports complex will ultimately benefit each surrounding community in Pasco, the tourism director explained.

That’s because, he said, there’ll be opportunities for marketing partnerships with local chambers and merchant’s associations, encouraging visitors to make trips to Dade City, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and so on.

He put it like this: “The longer (tourists) stay here, the more money they spend. The more money they spend, the greater the economy gets.”

During the presentation, Thomas shared various tourism facts and figures from the past year.

There were 965,000 visitors to Pasco, booking 1.23 million hotel room nights in 2018, he said.

That generated roughly $57.5 million in sales tax for the county.

A group of skydivers enter a plane which they will jump from at Skydive City in Zephyrhills. Skydive City is one of Pasco County’s top tourist attractions. (File)

The economic impact generated an estimated $194 in tax savings for each Pasco household, Thomas added.

Additionally, tourism supports about 7,500 jobs each year, at hotels, restaurants, attractions and other businesses, he said.

That represents 13 percent of all jobs in the county, he said.

The tourism agency’s “bread and butter” is youth and amateur sports tourism. The next most popular categories are leisure and adventure travelers for activities including biking, fishing, boating, ziplining and so on.

He pointed out the county’s top tourist attractions annually, in order, are:

  • Skydive City in Zephyrhills
  • Giraffe Ranch in Dade City
  • Lift Adventure Park in Hudson
  • TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park in Dade City
  • Anclote Key Preserve State Park in West Pasco
  • Werner-Boyce Salt Springs State Park in West Pasco

He described adventure attractions as “where the rubber meets the road in pulling the entire 742 square miles of a destination together under one umbrella to call ourselves Florida’s Sports Coast.”

In addition to sports and outdoor recreation, Thomas said a greater focus is being placed on soliciting social, military, education, religious, fraternal groups, as well as business travelers, conventions and corporate retreats.

They’re doing that by leveraging meeting space that’s available at various hotels, golf clubs and local colleges.

“Those are the niche marketing segments or niche influencers that we’re trying to partner with and cater to,” Thomas said.

The bulk of the county’s visitors come from other areas of Florida and the Southeast region, followed by the Northeast and Midwest, he said.

But, he noted, there’s a growing number of international tourists. They made up 9% of all travelers to the area in 2018.

Pasco’s top international market is Canada, Thomas said. They mainly visit between January and April and their primary interests lie in outdoor activities, particularly cycling.

Meanwhile, as tourism grows, Thomas’ department is growing, too.

The agency has six staff members, including Thomas, but also is hiring a corporate tourism sales manager and a digital media producer, he said.

Published November 06, 2019

Political season is beginning to heat up

By

It’s not 2020 yet, but the political season is underway, and candidates are beginning to make their intentions known.

This Political Agenda column is The Laker/Lutz News’ way to keep our readers informed of candidates who have filed, political party meetings, political forums and endorsements.

This column also includes information that’s pertinent for upcoming elections, such as deadlines for registering, new polling places, meet the candidate nights, political town halls and other relevant news.

It does not promote political fundraisers.

The column runs periodically, based on the volume of submissions, but it generally runs about twice a month.

Those wishing to submit items for possible publication should send the information at least two weeks prior to the desired publication date. The Laker/Lutz News publishes on Wednesdays.

Send your items to .

Here is your first helping of Political Agenda

Club meetings

  • The Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida-Pasco Chapter will meet Nov. 13, at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Doors open at 6 p.m., for networking. The guest speaker is Brandi Geoit, candidate for Pasco County Commission, District 5. She will talk about her environmental issues vision relating to Pasco County. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call Lee Ogden at (813) 778-3097.
  • The Wesley Chapel Republican Club will meet Nov. 14 at 6:30 p.m., at Toyota of Wesley Chapel, 5300 Eagleston Blvd. The guest speaker will be Pasco Commissioner Mike Moore. Admission free; all are welcome. Coffee and homemade desserts will be served. For information, call Peter Cracchiolo at (813) 360-9813.
  • The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet Nov. 18, at The Tavern at the Southport Springs Country Club, 3509 Southport Springs Parkway in Zephyrhills. The guest speaker will be Christine Bright on the topic of the National Popular Vote. Dining service begins at 5 p.m. The meeting starts at 6:30 p.m. For more information, call (813) 383-8315.
  • The Central Pasco Democratic Club will meet on Nov. 20, at Meadow Pointe 1 CDD, Building A, at 28245 County Line Road in Wesley Chapel. The doors open at 6:15 p.m. The presentation will be given by Marilyn Holleran, who will discuss what the climate crisis means and how it can be solved. For more information, email .
  • Libertad-Club Republicano de Pasco County meets on the third Monday of the month, beginning with a 6:30 p.m. social hour, with complimentary coffee and pastries. The meeting starts at 7 p.m. All are welcome. The group meets at Havana Dreamers Café, 3104 Town Ave., Suite 107, in Trinity. For more information, call (727) 807-7990.

Published November 06, 2019

Own a piece of Florida history

By

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office, at 4720 U.S. 19 in New Port Richey, will be offering historic photos, framed and under glass, for reasonable prices.

Each photo represents some aspect of early Florida life.

The tax collector’s office in New Port Richey is selling some historic photos of Pasco County, such as the sample shown here. (Courtesy of Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office)

The photos were on display in the Gulf Harbors office for many years prior to its recent renovation.

Framed photos 4 feet by 6 feet are $25, and framed photos 4 feet by 8 feet are $50.

The purchases are tax deductible because all proceeds will be considered donations to Pasco TC Gives, the nonprofit arm of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office.

Pasco TC Gives supports charitable organizations that provide various services to residents in Pasco County.

The sale will run from Nov. 4 through Nov. 8, or until all the photos are sold.

The office is open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Tuesday and Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Published November 06, 2019

Principal raises the roof to promote literacy

By

Students at Wiregrass Elementary School have a summer tradition.

They take part, every year, in the Scholastic Book reading challenge.

Several students passing by the courtyard area wave excitedly at Steve Williams, the school principal, as he broadcasts on Facebook Live from on top of the school’s roof to fulfill a promise he made to his students, who logged more than 160,000 minutes in the nationwide Scholastic Book summer reading challenge. (Christine Holtzman)

Two years ago, the students logged in over 43,000 minutes, and came in eighth in the state.

But, Steve Williams, principal of the school at 29732 Wiregrass School Road in Wesley Chapel, knew they could do better.

So, he challenged them to log in more than 50,000 minutes.

If they could, he promised he would spend time reading to them from the school’s roof.

The students slayed the challenge — logging more than 160,000 minutes of reading.

And, the principal responded by spending a full day on the school’s roof — about 32 feet above ground — reading through a megaphone to the students below.

Steve Williams, principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, reads a book into a megaphone, so the students seated in the courtyard below could hear. The top student readers from each group and their classmates earned the right to enjoy a story from the courtyard.

About every half-hour or so, the principal went on Facebook Live to connect with the community and with his students.

Teachers could log in and let their students watch.

The principal read a series of fiction and nonfiction books. He read newspapers and textbooks. He regaled the audience with his thoughts about the characters, plots and illustrators.

As a special treat, the top reader in every grade level was invited to come to the courtyard to listen to the principal read a book to them, from his high perch, through a megaphone.

Williams said that the kids love the fact that their principal is willing to do fun and extreme things.

He summed up the rooftop challenge like this: “Today is really all about supporting literacy.”

Published November 06, 2019

From approximately 32 feet above the ground, Steve Williams, the principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, waves to passing students and staff members from the school’s roof. Williams spent the whole school day on the roof, reading books through a megaphone, as well as broadcasting on Facebook Live, to promote literacy and to fulfill a promise he made to his students during the summer reading challenge.
Steve Williams, principal of the Wiregrass Elementary School, holds up a book that he will read during one of his broadcasts via Facebook Live. Every half-hour or so, Williams went on Facebook Live to connect with the community and with the students. Throughout the campus, teachers were able to log in and let their students watch.

 

Rattlesnake Festival makes gains despite ‘Nestor’

By

The Rattlesnake Festival had its biggest year since The Thomas Promise Foundation took over, despite the appearance of Tropical Storm Nestor, event organizers say.

“We’ll be able to provide 100,000 lunches as a result of this years’ Rattlesnake Festival,” Joe Simmons, executive director for The Thomas Promise Foundation, said in a news release.

“That’s more than the last two years. Imagine what we could do if the storm hadn’t come through,” Simmons added.

David and Howard Bellamy performed for a sold-out crowd on Oct. 18 at the Rattlesnake Festival. It was their first performance at the event since 1968. (Courtesy of The Thomas Promise Foundation)

According to long-held tradition, The Rattlesnake Festival was held on the third weekend of October, which this year fell on Oct. 19 and Oct. 20.

Having the festival that weekend was decided in 1967, based on research by a weatherman that historically that weekend had the best weather.

Indeed, over the years the festival has enjoyed dry weather most of the time, according to the release.

But, not this year.

Tropical Storm Nestor crossed the Florida Panhandle and sent waves of heavy rain and tornado warnings on down the West Coast, the release reports.

Still, the weekend got off to a great start, with a successful Bellamy Brothers concert on Oct. 18, despite threatening weather. The band played to a sold-out crowd in the Dan Cannon Auditorium at the Pasco County Fairgrounds.

It was the internationally known musicians’ first time back to the festival since 1968 when they performed their first musical gig with their father at the festival in San Antonio City Park, which hosted the event for a half-century before moving to the fairgrounds.

“We so appreciate the Bellamy Brothers coming to the Rattlesnake Festival this year,” Simmons said, in the release. “It was the success of their concert that offset the bad day we had on Saturday and enabled us to have our best year so far.”

Rattlesnake Run organizers had to cancel the 5-mile and 1-mile runs because of a tornado watch that was in effect at the time the race was set to begin.

The rain-or-shine festival opened on time Oct. 19 but, because of heavy rains, some vendors and entertainment groups did not set up that day.

Weather began to clear at about noon and some festival-goers turned out, but organizers realized that Nestor had put a damper on their event.

“We were hoping to exceed the 10,000 mark on visitors,” Simmons said. “I believe that if the weather had been as nice on Saturday as it was on Sunday, we may have done so.”

By the evening of Oct. 19, the rain had stopped and “Rattlesnake Festival After Dark,” an event planned with adults in mind featuring local bands, was well-attended for a first-time event.

The following day, the even opened with sunshine, and the event went well.

“The weather is the weather, that’s true everywhere, but sometimes it seems especially true in Florida,” Simmons said.

“This is our third year running the festival and our second year at the Pasco County Fairgrounds. We’re already on the schedule for next year, which is Oct. 17 and 18, by the way. We planned a great festival and we’re glad that we were still able to have a better year than last year because it’s all about raising money to buy food to feed hungry kids.”

The Thomas Promise Foundation is a 501(C)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to providing weekend meals to food-insecure students in Pasco County Schools when breakfast and lunch programs are not operating. For more information visit TheThomasPromise.org.

Published November 06, 2019