The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Local man is named minority business person of the year

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Brian Butler was the only employee of his company — Vistra Communications — when he launched the business out of his home in Lutz in 2007.

It wasn’t exactly the best time to launch an ambitious plan.

The real estate market crashed and the nation’s economy cratered.

Brian Butler, president and CEO of Vistra Communications, pitches in during laundry day. Vistra provides ongoing support to the Laundry Project, which helps families in need through providing laundry services, converting coin laundries into community centers of hope. (Courtesy of Vistra Communications)

“I started my business in the toughest economy we’d seen in 30 years,” he recalled.

There were days when he considered giving up.

But then, as now, the business leader said anyone starting a new venture needs to stick with it.

“You can’t afford to give up,” said Butler, who is president and chief executive officer of his company. “There are opportunities out there. You’ve just got to have a plan.”

Vistra Communications now has about 70 employees with offices in Lutz, Tampa, Miami and Washington D.C.

And, on May 4, Butler will receive the 2018 U.S. Small Business Administration’s Minority Business Person of the Year — for the state of Florida and the South Florida District.

He is one of nine recipients who will be honored at a luncheon during the 31st annual Government Small Business Conference at the Holiday Inn Tampa Westshore.

Butler began thinking like a business owner early on.

During his formative years, while growing up in Palm Beach County, he had newspaper routes — flinging newspapers onto lawns.

Even then, he flexed his organizational skills.

“I was business-oriented as an elementary school kid,” Butler said. “I hired two friends to fold, so I could deliver more newspapers.”

Brian Butler reads to children at Mort Elementary School. Butler serves as CEO Mentor for the Mort Elementary School principal through The Council for Educational Change.

He followed a straight path into a business career in marketing and communications.

After he graduated from high school, he attended Hampton University, a historically black college in Virginia that was founded in 1868 to give education to freed men.

He decided to attend the college after visiting a friend who was going to school there.

He knew immediately it was the place for him.

“The campus is just beautiful,” Butler said.

The opportunity to earn a college degree there “just resonated with me,” said Butler, who received a Bachelor of Science in marketing.

Butler received a three-year scholarship from the university’s R.O.T.C. program, and upon graduation was a commissioned officer in the U.S. Army. He commanded combat troops in Kuwait during Desert Storm in 1990.

There were lessons learned from the military that translated to his values in running a company later.

“I’m focused on treating people right. And, I operate (my business) with values found in the community,” he said.

He earned a master’s degree in business administration from Central Michigan University and a master’s in national security strategy from the National War College.

He stepped back into civilian life in 1988 and spent a year at the Washington D.C., powerhouse public relations and communications firm Fleishman & Hillard International Communications.

He put his uniform back on after that, and served as spokesman and chief of communications for the U.S. Army secretary. He was on the staff and communications team for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

After 22 years of military service, he retired as a colonel in 2006.

However, retirement was more like a transition to a new beginning.

The next year, he founded Vistra Communications.

In the early days, Butler frequently worked with nonprofits.

Brian Butler spends some time with students at Mort Elementary School.

One of his first accounts was the private charter school, Brooks-DeBartolo Collegiate High School. The school was founded by former Tampa Bay Buccaneer Derrick Brooks and former San Francisco 49ers owner Eddie DeBartolo, Jr.

Butler also won a contract with Central Command at MacDill Air Force Base, in Tampa, providing communications and consulting services.

Vistra’s clients today include businesses in health care, information technology, transportation, airports, entertainment, sports, and local and federal government.

Over the years, Butler and Vistra have received many honors and awards.

Tampa Bay Business Journal ranked Vistra as the No. 1 public relations firm in 2016 and 2017. It was the Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce’s Small Business of the Year in 2016, for 21-50 employees. Vistra also was singled out in 2016 as the SBA South Florida District Veteran-Owned Small Business of the Year.

Last year, Vistra acquired Tampa-based Marketing Associates USA. The Tampa company is now a division of Vistra.

A shared interest in Trinity Café brought Butler together with Jeff Darrey, president of Marketing Associates.

Darrey founded Trinity Café, a nonprofit restaurant that feeds the homeless.

Butler believes that community service is a basic foundation of a successful business. To that end, he serves on several boards and committees, including Florida Hospital Tampa Foundation, Minority Enterprise Development Corporation, Mort Elementary School Cabinet and Conference of Minority Transportation Officials. He also is a founding member of USO (United Services Organization) Tampa Bay.

Butler is especially proud of the Laundry Project, an effort of the Florida nonprofit Current Initiatives.

Volunteers come to area coin laundries in Tampa Bay and pay for laundry fees, help with laundry services and create a community day.

“It’s part of my foundation and part of our company,” Butler said. “It’s exciting to make a difference right at home.”

Published May 2, 2018

Take a walk on the wild side during American Wetlands month

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Nature-lovers can explore four of Hillsborough County’s most scenic wetlands areas during free tours being offered as part of American Wetlands Month.

Myriad bird species make their home in Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park, such as red-shouldered hawks. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

The guided tours are being offered by the wetlands division of the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County, and the Conservation and Environmental Lands Management Department of Hillsborough County.

Guides will give tour-takers a chance to learn about different kinds of plants and find out why wetlands are important, said Jackie Jordan, wetlands division project manager for the Environmental Protection Commission of Hillsborough County.

Some of those benefits include serving as a habitat for many wildlife species, providing recreational opportunities, filtering drinking water and reducing flooding hazards, Jordan said.

This is the schedule of the upcoming tours:

  • May 5 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Lettuce Lake Conservation Park, 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., in Tampa.
  • May 11 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Lutz Lake Fern Trailhead, 7020 Lutz Lake Fern Road in Odessa.
  • May 19 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park, 100 Alderman’s Ford Park Drive in Plant City (There is more than one entrance, this one is the best one to use).
  • May 25 from 9 a.m. to 10 a.m.: Upper Tampa Bay Conservation Park, 8001 Double Branch Road in Tampa.

Although the tours are free, there is a $2 park entry fee per vehicle, for up to eight people.

Other things to know about these tours:

  • Anyone under 18 must be accompanied by adult
  • Hikers will walk a distance of 1 mile to 2 miles

Those planning to go on the tour are advised to bring water in a refillable container, a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen and bug spray.

Bringing a camera is a good idea, too, Jordan said, noting there will likely be some photo opportunities.

Published May 2, 2018

Green Dot program teaches violence prevention

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Central Pasco Huddle hosted a community discussion and learning session at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on violence prevention.

The huddle is a locally organized group of the Central Gulf Coast chapter of the Women’s March Florida.

Its members, who come from Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, and Lutz, meet monthly in Land O’ Lakes, said huddle member Charity Henesy-Brooks.

The goal is to find activities “to make Pasco better for people,” she said. “We’re going to do more events like this for Pasco’s women and children.”

Green Dot coordinator for Sunrise of Pasco County, Aubrey Hall, led discussion on violence prevention at Land O’ Lakes Branch Library. The workshop was sponsored by the Central Pasco Huddle of the Women’s March Florida. (Kathy Steele)

Aubrey Hall, Green Dot coordinator with Sunrise of Pasco County Inc., led the recent workshop – “Embrace Your Voice.”

Combatting violence in all its forms “is daunting,” she said. “How do we change something that is so ingrained?”

Cultural change isn’t something that happens quickly, she added.

She said, though, that she’s encouraged by the #metoo movement, which is prompting people – mostly women – to come forward to tell their stories.

Green Dot is a violence prevention program that seeks to enlist the help of bystanders — who witness violence in everyday situations.

Green Dot provides educational awareness, training and actions that can reduce sexual assault, dating/domestic violence and stalking.

Green Dot serves more than 300 colleges and universities across the country.

Sunrise at Pasco works with students at Saint Leo University.

“To stop violence, we first have to recognize what it is,” Hall said.

Examples of violence include physical, sexual, verbal, economic and psychological assaults where one person has real or perceived power over another person.

People often overlook economic issues, Hall said. But, she noted: “Economic abuse is present in 98 percent of domestic violence abuses.”

She also explained that stalking can go beyond physically shadowing another person.

“You can be stalked by someone you never see now because of social media,” Hall said. “It’s so normal to like and follow.”

Hall led the workshop participants through a series of activities to identify early, immediate and after signs of sexual assault, stalking and dating/domestic violence.

She also addressed bullying.

Participants watched videos that had no sound to help them learn how to recognize body language cues, in different scenarios, of stalking and domestic violence. The videos show bystanders reacting to each situation.

“Being able to identify behavior, that’s going to be key,” Hall said.

Working in two teams, the workshop participants came up with ways that bystanders could choose to intervene, either directly or indirectly, to stop or calm down volatile situations.

They also discussed the barriers that often prevent bystanders from becoming involved.

Sometimes those barriers are the fear of becoming a target, or of being retaliated against, or of being uncomfortable, or not knowing where to seek help.

The Green Dot program offers the “three Ds” as guidelines to follow.

Those are:

  • Direct action: Asking someone to stop his or her behavior.
  • Delegating action: Calling 911, human resources or the school’s campus police. (The key is “making sure it’s someone who can do something,” Hall said.)
  • Distraction or delay: This can be done by possibly asking a question. “Do anything that allows the tension to break,” Hall said.

The Green Dot program launched at the University of Kentucky in 2006, as a sexual assault, domestic violence and stalking prevention program. It was funded with a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The program was adapted for high schools, and expanded to other colleges. A nonprofit, known as Green Dot, etc Inc., was established, and its headquarters moved from Kentucky to Washington D.C.

In 2017, it also got a new name – Alteristic.

For information, visit SunrisePasco.org/green-dot-rev.

For information on Central Pasco Huddle, email .

Published May 2, 2018

Homeless shelter to help families find housing

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A “one-stop navigation center” for the homeless population in Pasco County will provide temporary shelter for families, instead of the initial plan to help single adult men and women.

If opened, the center would be Pasco’s first homeless shelter.

An estimated $100,000 annual cost for around-the-clock security at the facility and neighborhood opposition to the original plan prompted the shift in the shelter’s purpose.

A public meeting in 2017 to discuss a proposed homeless shelter drew a large, impassioned crowd. (File)

“We realized the need was great for families, and we will have more funding (opportunities) for families,” said Don Anderson, chief executive officer for the Homeless Coalition of Pasco County.

A public meeting to discuss the new concept will be held May 16 at 6 p.m., at the Pasco County Commission board room in New Port Richey. Additional outreach to residents in nearby neighborhoods also is planned.

Commissioners voted on April 24 to continue the public hearing for a conditional use permit for the facility until June 19.

That will allow time to amend the coalition’s application, and to hear from area residents.

Commissioners have been supportive of the project, and previously approved funding to remodel the center.

Commissioner Jack Mariano, however, has been critical of the county’s choice of location.

Residents from Crane’s Roost, a neighborhood of about 90 homes, off Little Road, said the homeless population needs help, but they think the proposed location is wrong.

They worry about increased solicitations, crime and lowered property values.

Business owners at Ridge Plaza, adjacent to the Youth Lane site, have objected, too.

The commission’s boardroom was packed during the public hearing in 2017, with people equally passionate on both sides of the issue.

A former Boys & Girls Club in New Port Richey is being proposed as a temporary shelter for homeless families.

Advocates for the center point to its location near bus stops, government offices and service agencies as a good fit to help people in need. They also say Pasco County has been unresponsive in the past in meeting the needs of its homeless population, which at times has been counted as high as 3,000 people.

The center would operate at the two-building campus formerly leased by the county to the Boys & Girls Club, at the end of Youth Lane, off Little Road.

Under the initial concept, the goal was to house 50 to 75 homeless adult men and women for an average of 90 days at the navigation center. They would receive help in locating housing, jobs, job training and health care.

A survey by the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office found about 100 homeless camps throughout the county. The initiative would focus on one camp at a time.

Under the new plan, the coalition’s “housing first” program would provide temporary shelter to families for 30 days to 60 days.

Anderson said an average stay could be 45 days or less. He anticipates housing about four families to six families at a time.

The coalition’s administrative offices would operate from Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. People would receive help with job training, showers, health care, behavioral health care, case management, resume building and financial literacy.

The only food services provided would be to families staying at the center.

The people who are served at the coalition’s location on Pine Street are polite and respectful, Anderson said.

“They are really looking for services that can help them get out of their situation,” he said.

Anderson said he was hopeful that the new direction for the navigation center will be well-received.

“We really want to take advantage of their (the county’s) willingness to do something in the community for the homeless,” Anderson said.

Published May 2, 2018

Explore underwater delights at Mote Marine

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Of all the wonders at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium, kids seem to love watching sharks the most.

River otters, baby gators, tubby manatees, sea turtles and scary stingrays draw crowds, too.

But, the sharks – bonnetheads, hammerheads, nurse, blacknose and more, in the Shark Zone – are the superstars here.

A little girl snaps a picture of a curious manatee at Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium just before feeding time.
(Karen Haymon Long)

No wonder the aquarium features a pretty vicious-looking shark on the cover of its brochures and on its logo.

That explains the 135,000-gallon shark habitat in the main aquarium, too.

At 11 a.m., every Monday, Wednesday and Friday, follow the crowds to the Shark Zone in the main aquarium to see the shark-training sessions and watch the creatures swim to specific places for food.

Who knew sharks could be trained?

Friendly, knowledgeable trainers answer questions and tell a bit about sharks in the wild. Hammerheads, they say, can live 25 to 35 years and pick up electrical pulses from all living things through electro receptors.

“Hammerheads’ heads are like metal detectors,” one trainer explains to a group of shark gawkers.

Behind the scenes, Mote scientists are researching why sharks and their cousins, stingrays, rarely get cancer. They’re hoping what they discover may lead them to human cancer treatments.

That’s one of the beauties of Mote – it’s both a marine laboratory and an aquarium, open daily to the public.

A shark swims in Mote Aquarium’s Shark Zone, the most popular place in Mote’s complex in Sarasota.

It’s a big place, divided into two areas across the street from each other, so plan plenty of time, and go on a weekday if you can. It can get very busy on weekends.

Depending on what you like to see, ask when feedings are scheduled, so you can see more action.

We started at the Marine Mammal Center across the street from the main aquarium because we wanted to see the manatee feedings at 1 p.m.

We often see manatees in the wild off the city pier in Safety Harbor. But, here you can see them so much better through the glass tanks, floating along and even swimming up to the glass, to stare at us staring at them.

Who wouldn’t be excited to see how adorable they are, with their huge eyes and round bodies that earned them the nickname sea cows?

When trainers throw them big heads of iceberg lettuce the giant creatures float around munching it while we humans take photos of them.

A few steps away, three sea turtles paddle around inside stone habitats. They were all injured in the wild and brought to Mote for rehabilitation.

Volunteers answer questions about them, and tell you their names and how they were injured. A young volunteer, wearing a blue Mote T-shirt, introduced us to Squirt 2, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle who was hit by a boat propeller in the Peace River.

An Australian Spotted Jelly glows cobalt blue and looks almost like something from outer space.

He said Squirt 2 has a broken jaw, so he can’t eat shellfish, his natural diet. The sea turtle will stay in the marine center where he’s fed and cared for by Mote workers.

The volunteer talked softly to Squirt 2, who looked up at him from his stone tank as if he was listening.

“You’re so lucky to work here,” I told him.

He smiled and admitted, “It’s a nice way to spend the day.”

Around the corner, three river otters – Huck, Jane and Pippi – frolic around a glass-enclosed habitat, swimming underwater for a while, then slithering out of the water onto rocks. At 1:30 p.m., trainers come out to feed the three, that, like the sharks, go to specific places to get food on command.

Like the manatees, they’re adorable and many kids were taking pictures of them with cellphones, as were the adults.

In other glass-enclosed habitats sat caimans, which are kin to alligators, and turtles.  Sometimes, they’re replaced by gators or crocodiles.

We see gators all the time, too – they actually sit on our lawn by the pond behind our house. But, it’s still interesting to see caimans, which have stubbier snouts than gators and narrower bodies than crocs.

Upstairs, tanks hold other marvels, such as cobalt-blue Australian spotted jellyfish, snook, and displays on what Mote is doing to restore and conserve coral reefs.

On the way out, a sea turtle skeleton keeps guard from a circular display, looking like a giant, prehistoric alien.

A display at Mote’s aquarium gives an underwater view of what coral reefs look like in the wild. An orange and white clownfish swims amidst the colorful coral.

Behind the scenes, and not accessible to the public, are sea turtle, dolphin and whale hospitals.

Back at the main aquarium, visitors learn about Florida’s coastal and freshwater habitats by looking at all sorts of displays of everything from living coral to a diamondback terrapin, clownfish, lobsters, a yellow moray eel, red grouper and blue moon jellyfish.

We especially liked the seahorse display, where we saw babies that were born on Jan. 30, then slightly larger babies born last November. A volunteer told us Mote sells seahorses to other labs to help reduce the wild seahorse market.

A temporary exhibit through June 15 features marine-inspired sculptures made from debris found along Oregon’s coast. Called “Washed Ashore,” it is an awareness-through-art initiative.

Mote has big plans for a new $130 million aquarium to be built starting next year on 5 acres, south of University Parkway off Interstate 75 in Sarasota. A fundraising effort is going on now for the 110,000-square-foot Mote Science Education Aquarium, which Mote officials say could be the “Silicon Valley of marine science and technology in Southwest Florida.”

They say the new aquarium, within sight of the interstate, will attract more Floridians and visitors to learn about marine life, while current facilities will give Mote more space for research labs.

Until then, visitors can enjoy the otters, manatees, turtles, and the ever-prowling, popular sharks at Mote’s longtime aquarium.

Mote Marine Laboratories & Aquarium
Where: 1600 Ken Thompson Parkway, Sarasota, just north of St. Armands Circle
When: Open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., daily
Cost: Adults, $22; ages 3-12, $16; under age 3, free. Parking free
Details: Check out the Shark Zone, watch Manatees being fed, get a look at all kinds of sea creatures and find out about current research involving marine life.
Info: Call (941) 388-4441, ext. 416, or visit Mote.org.

Additional Mote Adventures:

  • Sea Life Encounter Cruises, an hour-and-45-minute cruise in Sarasota and Roberts bays on pontoon boats; combo cost for the cruise and admission to aquarium: adults, $44; ages 3-12, $37. Cruise price alone: adults, $29; ages 3-16, $25. For details, call (904) 388-4200; visit SarasotaBayExplorers.com.
  • Full Moon Paddles, the next one on May 29, are led by Mote educators. For reservations, call (941) 388-4441, ext. 348, or email .
  • Other guided kayak trips, nature safari eco-tours, private charters are more options. See SarasotaBayExplorers.com.

 

Where to eat

  • The aquarium’s 1950s-style Deep Sea Diner offers everything from burgers and hotdogs, to salads, wraps and fruit smoothies.
  • Columbia Restaurant, 411 St. Armands Circle
  • The Old Salty Dog, 1601 B Ken Thompson Parkway
  • New Pass Grill & Bait Shop, 1505 Ken Thompson Parkway

 

Nearby Attraction
Just off St. Armands Circle, at 55 S. Boulevard of the Presidents, visit the newest Clyde Butcher Gallery, where you’ll find limited edition, and signed black and white photographs of mostly Florida scenes by the widely known photographer.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published May 2, 2018

Upcoming events on the political scene

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Club meetings

  • The Land O Lakes Democratic Club will meet May 2 at 6:30 p.m., at the Brick City Eatery, 16540 Pointe Village Drive, Suite 198, in Lutz. Noemi McGregor, president of the Democratic Hispanic Caucus of Florida, is the guest speaker.
  • The Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida — Pasco Chapter will meet May 9 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the community center at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, Room No. 1, 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Summer kickoff picnic
Kelly Smith, a candidate for the District 2 seat on the Pasco County Commission, is hosting a Volunteer Thank You/ Summer Kick Off Picnic May 6 from noon to 2 p.m., at Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park. For more information, email .

Endorsement
Former Pasco County Commission Pat Mulieri has endorsed Mike Moore in his re-election bid for the District 2 seat on the board, according to Moore’s campaign.

Political Agenda is a column that runs only during election years.

It gives candidates a place to announce they are seeking political office. It lets voters know of upcoming Meet the Candidate nights or political forums.

It is a place where political clubs can announce upcoming meetings, and it will include news that is pertinent to voters for upcoming elections. It will not include political fundraising events.

There is never a guarantee of publication, but we do consider each item we receive. Please submit items for consideration at least two weeks prior to the desired publication date. Send submissions to .

Crystal Lagoon debuts with a splash — from Michael Phelps

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The weather was warm, the sun shining, and the crowd deep for the grand debut of the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson.

The April 28 kickoff for the nation’s first lagoon was further buoyed with a special appearance from retired Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Michael Phelps.

Phelps, the most decorated athlete in Olympics history with 28 medals — 23 gold, three silver, two bronze — serves as global ambassador for Crystal Lagoons Inc.

Michael Phelps, a retired Olympic swimmer, spent part of the time during his visit talking about the importance of water safety. (Randy Underhill)

Following a short promotional video and introductions, Phelps’ entrance at the Wesley Chapel-based lagoon drew bursts of cheers and applause from the crowd, who nestled near a main stage to get an up-close look at the legendary swimmer.

Phelps engaged the crowd by highlighting the enjoyment his own family had at a similar lagoon in Cabo San Lucas, Mexico.

“You guys are going to enjoy it. It’s so much fun,” Phelps said in his opening remarks. “The water’s crystal clear, and there’s so many activities — and that’s something that’s so much fun for me now being a dad with two kids, so I’m excited you guys get to experience this.”

Phelps noted it was his first visit to Wesley Chapel and the Tampa Bay area, arriving on a flight from New York City.

“I wish I lived down here, so I could experience this with my family more often,” he said. “Maybe we’ll have to bring the family down sometime soon.”

Following brief remarks, Phelps met with scores of fans and spent the afternoon signing autographs.

He later held a formal question-and-answer session with media.

Phelps’ first impression of the 7.5-acre lagoon? Gorgeous.

Said Phelps, “This is such a great place to be, and the atmosphere is incredible, so it’s going to be cool to watch this place grow, and watch families come and enjoy this.”

Phelps also said he “would love one in Arizona,” half-jokingly egging lagoon developers within earshot to plan a similar lagoon near his Phoenix-area residence.

Besides the Epperson lagoon itself, Phelps said he’s impressed by the modern technology which maintains the waters’ vibrant blue hue — the brainchild of biochemist and real estate developer Fernando Fischmann.

Phelps said, “To be able to turn brackish water into the prettiest, crystal blue water you can possibly find — it’s pretty mind-blowing. It’s incredible to be able to see the technology that we’ve been able to use…and it’s so cool how you can literally clean 1 percent (of the water) if 1 percent needs cleaned.”

Meanwhile, Phelps used his platform to discuss the importance of water safety, particularly regarding young children.

He stressed the importance of lifeguard and parent supervision, as well as teaching children to swim properly and to avoid drains.

Drowning is the second-highest cause of death for children under the age of 14, Phelps said, noting that teaching children about water safety is one of his passions.

Other dignitaries at the event included Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Wells Jr.; Pasco County commissioners Mike Moore and Kathryn Starkey; state Reps. Danny Burgess and Amber Mariano; Kevin Morgan, executive vice president of Crystal Lagoons US Corp; Greg Singleton, president of Metro Development Group; and Christopher Souza, regional manager for Crystal Lagoon.

Hundreds of people turned out to see Michael Phelps at the grand debut of the Crystal Lagoon at Epperson.

In addition to Phelps’ appearance, the daylong tropical-themed celebration included water ski shows, flyboarding performances, and live music and dancing.

The perimeter of the lagoon was lined with food trucks, bounce houses and several other family-friendly activities.

Various real estate agents and homebuilder companies also had booths there.

While attendees weren’t allowed to swim in the lagoon, many walked along the perimeter, with some dipping their toes in the sand and shallow water.

The lagoon won’t be open for swimming until sometime this summer.

The lagoon spans over three-quarters of a mile, with its deepest point around 10 feet. It’s filled with approximately 16 million gallons of water.

It is the featured centerpiece of the Epperson community, which is eventually expected to have 2,000 homes.

Epperson residents will be able to enjoy aquatic activities, including swimming, kayaking, paddleboarding and sailing small boats, as well as Caribbean-style beaches and cabanas, a waterslide, an entertainment plaza, a yoga lawn and an area for special events.

The lagoon will have some limited guest opportunities, but will more or less function as a private club.

Though Epperson is the first, it’s one of 22 Crystal Lagoons planned throughout the U.S., by Metro Development Group. A majority of those are in Florida, with a handful in Texas, along with another on the Las Vegas Strip.

That includes a Crystal Lagoon planned for Mirada, a master-planned community next to Epperson. Another is planned in south Hillsborough County for the Southshore Bay community.

Both Epperson and Mirada are part of the Connected City corridor, which encompasses about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County.

At build-out, the entire Connected City will have about 37,000 homes and more than 12 million square feet of commercial space.

Published May 2, 2018

Updated website revealed for Pasco County

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The Pasco County Government has announced the launch of its new, updated website, which offers more accessibility for its partners, customers and visitors.

A few of the website’s new features include: expanded search capabilities, streamlined menu options, mobile device compatibility, simpler navigation, and direct access to various materials.

There also is a bigger, more prominent search bar with improved functionality.

The main menu now provides access to department information and tools. Social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter and Pasco TV also are available on the home page.

Customers can easily click on icons located in the center of the page to connect to Online Bill Pay, Transparency, Customer Service, Job and Volunteer Opportunities, and Parks and Recreation.

A ‘Tools’ icon allows users to email or print pages, translate a page into another language, view documents, and more.

Also on the updated site is a spotlight section about Pasco County departments, and a general calendar for public meetings and events.

Other helpful links include Adopt a Pet, Agendas, the Purchasing Department, Disaster Planning.

Pasco County is committed to show an ongoing effort to keep the website content compliant.

To see, and use, the new and improved website, visit PascoCountyFL.net.

Published May 2, 2018

Wiregrass Ranch still practices patient approach to growth

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Since the outset of the development of Wiregrass Ranch, the Porter family has used a patient approach to assembling the building blocks of a community.

Over time, land once occupied by cattle and orange groves has been transformed.

Developments including The Shops at Wiregrass, Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, North Tampa Bay Behavioral Health Hospital, Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care at Wiregrass, and public schools, subdivisions and apartments are just some of the projects that have popped out of the landscape.

The Porter family is choosy about the types of projects it brings into Wiregrass Ranch, to protect the quality of the development. (B.C. Manion)

And, there’s more to come, J.D. Porter told a crowd at the North Tampa Bay Chamber’s April economic briefing at Hunter’s Green Golf & Country Club.

“The demographic that is moving into the area right now is younger, dual income, dual college education,” Porter said.

That lends itself to high-quality housing, upscale restaurants, specialty grocers and other sought-after development, he said.

The Porter family is choosy about the types of new projects it brings into Wiregrass, to protect the quality of the development, he said.

“There are users out there that aren’t a good fit for Wiregrass,” Porter explained.

And, even when a project is a good match for Wiregrass, the family paces the development to make sure that ongoing projects can be successful before introducing new ones.

Porter takes particular pride in the area’s job creation.

“Right now there are 2,500 jobs that have been created,” Porter said. “We’ve created more jobs than we have homes.”

That’s a statistic that would be hard to match in other Pasco or Hillsborough developments, Porter said.

He also noted that it’s important to have a mix of large and small users, so there’s not too much reliance on large users — in case they go away.

Having the proper mix of development is important, too, he said.

“It’s nice to have boutique restaurants, shops, locally owned businesses and stuff like that. To make that work, you have to have people around it, and you have to have people around that during the day,” he said.

The family envisions a town center, with increased residential density, as it gets closer to the town center, Porter said.

The town center — which would be a walkable Wesley Chapel downtown — will include retail, office space, residential, a school, light rail or bus rapid transit stops, a park and ride, a hotel, a fire station, a sheriff’s office, an indoor sports facility, playgrounds, a walking trail, a hotel, a county office building and other amenities, according to the Wiregrass Ranch website.

Porter also addressed the big user side of development, during the economic briefing.

Wiregrass Ranch is “currently shortlisted for two Fortune 200 companies. One for 600,000; one for 1.2 million square feet,” Porter said. “It’d be nice to have another big one. Both of them are ranked higher than what Raymond James is, on the Fortune 500 list.”

Raymond James, which has long been expected to have an office park in the Wiregrass Ranch development “will be turning dirt before the end of the year,” Porter said, in response to a question from the audience. “They’re going to be taking steps towards getting site-ready for construction.”
He also offered his thoughts on some transportation issues.

The diverging diamond, a project to retrofit the Interstate 75-State Road 56 interchange, should help, Porter said.

“The upside is, it really will help that traffic problem quite a bit,” he said. But, he predicts there will be accidents, and even deaths, as people learn to negotiate it.

The $40 million diverging diamond project is expected to begin this summer and could take two years to three years to complete, according to officials with the Florida Department of Transportation.

Porter also predicted that rapid bus transit is more likely to happen than light rail, and noted that Wiregrass Ranch already has 3 ½ miles to 4 miles dedicated for either option.

In general, Porter said, “you have got to have good connectivity on roadways, regardless where they’re at.”

Published May 2, 2018

Pasco school district considers hiring security officers

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Budget restrictions could prompt Pasco County Schools to hire armed school security officers to work in the district’s 47 elementary schools.

The district is considering using that approach — instead of using certified law enforcement officers — because of finances, said Kurt Browning, superintendent of schools.

“The money that they’ve (the Florida Legislature) given us is not enough to go the full-blown SRO (School Resource Officer) program,” he said.

The district has School Resource Officers at its middle schools and high schools, but needs to add armed security at its elementary schools to comply with a new state law, which was passed in response to the slayings at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

The estimated cost for a single SRO during the first year would be $145,000, which includes a car and necessary equipment, Browning said.

“You’re talking a lot of money that we do not have,” the superintendent said.

A school security officer would be less expensive because the district would not provide a car, and he or she would be a district employee working the 180-day school calendar year.

Using school security officers also would require 132 hours of training and a psychological evaluation before the employee could be hired.

New Port Richey Police Chief Kim Bogart urged Pasco County School Board members to be very careful in making their security plans.

“This is a tough situation. I get it. I’ve been a cop a lot of years, and I’ve never seen anything quite like this, this mandate that we have,” Bogart said. “It is so important that we get it right.

“I lean toward the SRO system, because I want the best that we can possibly do, but I don’t know if we can afford it,” Bogart said.

He also told board members that the district must be sure its plan includes officers who can fill in when others are out.

“if you go with the security officer concept, if you have turnover, when is the next academy for that? Do you have people lined up, if there’s an absence at a school, that somebody else can fill in? The next academy could be three months away,” Bogart said.

He also noted that SROs working in New Port Richey cannot leave school campuses, unless they have someone there to relieve them.

Once the law was signed, Bogart said he made it a mandate: “The officers can’t leave to go for lunch. They have to bring their lunch. If they have to leave because of court, or they’re ill, or anything, there will be another officer that relieves that person.

“These are things I think you really need to be thinking about now because the clock is ticking,” Bogart said.

School board member Alison Crumbley told Bogart she appreciated his comments. “We are now in the security business,” she said.

Regardless of the option that the district pursues, it will be difficult to find enough qualified people to fill the slots, Browning said.

“To be frank, it’s going to be a concern for us to find 50 people to fill 50 slots between now and Aug. 1 that will meet the criteria,” the superintendent said.

Community meetings on school safety
Representatives from Pasco County Schools will give a presentation on school safety and will field questions from the public.

First meeting:

  • May 2 at 6 p.m., at River Ridge High School cafeteria, 11646 Town Center Road in New Port Richey.

Second meeting:

  • May 7 at 6 p.m., at Wiregrass Ranch High School cafeteria, 2909 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Published April 25, 2018