The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Chambers on the move

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The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce each now have new homes.

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce moved into Suite A at the Highland Oaks Medical Center, at 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd. (Kathy Steele)

The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce is settling into its new location at 1868 Highland Oaks Blvd., Suite A. The office is in the Highland Oaks Medical Center, off State Road 54, in Lutz.

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has a new address in Harbour Village, at 1930 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 16, in Lutz. Chamber officials expected that move to be accomplished over the weekend of Jan. 13.

In addition to setting up shop in a new space, the Central Pasco Chamber also has promoted Suzanne Beauchaine to become its new executive director.

Beauchaine previously served as the chamber’s marketing and membership director.

David Gainer, the chamber’s president, praised Beauchaine for adding 90 new businesses to the chamber’s roster in the past year.

Hope Allen is the president and CEO of The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. (File)

“It is a pleasure to recognize Suzanne for her diligence, commitment to excellence and her professionalism, by naming her our new executive director,” Gainer said, in a written statement.

The Wesley Chapel chamber opened its new office on Jan. 2, after vacating its former office at The Grove at Wesley Chapel.

The lease at the mall expired, and it was obvious a roomier site was needed.

“We had been looking. We had grown out of our space,” said Hope Allen, the chamber’s president and CEO. “We couldn’t even hold our board meetings at the (former) chamber.”

The Wesley Chapel chamber merged last year with The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce — creating the largest chamber in Pasco County.

In recent months, chamber officials have been working on merger details, including a new name for the chamber.

A task force is working on recommendations, but the membership will make the final decision, Allen said.

Allen said she had some trepidation about the move, and how visible the office would be.

But, the compliments rolled in, as members stopped by for visits, she said.

“Traffic grew. It tripled and quadrupled from the other location,” Allen said. “The whole place is beautiful.”

Suzanne Beauchaine is the new executive director of The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. (File)

The approximately 3,500 square foot office space is large enough that the chamber plans to sublet space to four businesses. There will be a certified public accountant, an architect, two financial planners and a Realtor, said Allen.

The names of the companies will be announced soon.

A ribbon cutting for the chamber is being planned for March.

“We’re excited to have a place where we can grow and be centrally located for our businesses,” Allen said.

As the Central Pasco Chamber’s new president, Beauchaine expressed enthusiasm for her role at the chamber.

“It’s very rewarding to help bring business owners together, and see their relationships grow and prosper,” Beauchaine said, in a written release.

Before joining The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, Beauchaine was an account manager at The Laker/Lutz News for about three years.

She also owned a business in Lutz for five years, and has worked in retail and office management.

Her husband, Gary Beauchaine, is a small business owner and a member of the Central Pasco chamber.

The couple has two adult daughters who are area residents.

For more information about The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, call the chamber at (813) 994-8534, or visit WesleyChapelChamber.com.

For more information about The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, call (813) 909-2722, or visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Revised January 17, 2018

Pasco Sheriff’s Office expands youth Explorer program

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The Pasco County Sheriff’s Explorer program, which teaches local youth different aspects of law enforcement, is expanding its reach to include middle-schoolers between the ages of 11 to 13.

The Junior Explorer Unit— referred to as Explorer Post 915—builds on the agency’s original Explorer Post 916. Chartered by the Boy Scouts of America, these original Explorers are young adults, ages 14 to 21, who are possibly interested in law enforcement careers.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco speaks about the Explorer program during a Jan. 9 interest meeting. The program teaches local youth different aspects of law enforcement. (Kevin Weiss)

The junior program, announced in September, is now accepting boys and girls who are either enrolled in a Pasco County middle school or home-schooled.

“We’re trying to expand the whole opportunities within the Sheriff’s Office, and we’re trying to build up the next generation of leaders in the county,” Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco said during an Explorer interest meeting on Jan. 9.

The Explorer program exposes youth to fundamental principles of law enforcement.

Training includes everything from classroom instruction, scenario reenactments, traffic stops, state statutes, radio procedures, report-writing techniques and more.

Explorers also are exposed to forensics and crime prevention efforts, as well as introductions to some of the agency’s specialty units such as K-9, the Special Incident Response Team and underwater recovery.

The junior unit will cover many of the same topics, but at a less intense level.

It marks the first of its kind in the Tampa Bay area and just the second statewide to accommodate middle-schoolers; the Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office has a similar program.

Besides teaching interested youth about law enforcement, the Explorer program also strives to improve relations between the community and the Sheriff’s Office.

“It’s kind of bridging the gap between people who know a lot about law enforcement — because they’ve experienced it — and people that maybe don’t,” said Cpl. Justin Smith, a senior advisor to Explorer Post 916.

“You know a lot of people say, ‘Oh, you’re just here to arrest my dad.’ We want to show these kids…that we are so much more than that,” said Chase Daniels, assistant executive director at the Sheriff’s Office.

One of the state’s best programs
The Pasco Sheriff’s Office Explorers has about 35 active members. It has been recognized by the Florida Association of Police Explorers as one of the state’s best.

It finished fourth out of 28 posts in 2017 state competition, receiving high marks for mastery of active shooter, search and arrest, and crime scene scenarios. It also finished 3rd in 2016 and 2nd in 2015 at the state competition.

Jeremy Hixson spent five years as an Explorer and now serves as a citizen advisor to the program.

Besides learning the ins and outs of law enforcement, Hixson said he improved his communication skills, and his organizational and time management skills. He also learned about the importance of teamwork, accountability and responsibility.

The 22-year-old Wesley Chapel resident plans to enter the law enforcement ranks after he graduates from the University of South Florida; he’s already applied for a police academy sponsorship through the Pasco Sheriff’s Office.

Pasco Explorers from left, Conor Ryan, Alex Acevedo, Ben Udden and John Jaufmann wear protective headgear for an exercise using simulation weapons in a mock active shooter call for service. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

“One thing that I really like about the Explorers is (the Sheriff’s Office) teaches you their guidelines — how to write a report, their general orders and everything—so that by the time you get hired you’re already well-focused on what their equipment is; it’s just great exposure to agency norms,” he said.

One of Hixson’s favorite memories as a young Explorer was participating in the ride-along program as a passenger observer. Explorers who are 15 and older can become eligible for ride-alongs.

“I’ll say it’s definitely cool going through red lights with lights and sirens,” Hixson said, with a chuckle. “It’s definitely a thrill, and I’m sure other Explorers will attest to that.”

Besides learning, Explorers volunteer in various areas of the Sheriff’s Office and help at many community and agency events.

They support parking efforts made at various races, such as the Savage Race at Little Everglades Ranch, and the Longleaf Triathlon at Starkey Park.

They also assist other festivals and special events, such as the Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, manning traps for shooters.

They’ve even been approved to help Sheriff’s Office members during natural disasters such as hurricanes — assisting deputies to work at approved hurricane shelters.

“I think it’s just a great opportunity for children that want to see what law enforcement does, and it gives them a little bit of a reality; but, it’s also about serving back in the community,” Nocco said.

Several former Explorers have developed into some of the agency’s most effective deputies, including Capt. Justin Ross, who went through the Explorer program as a teenager.

The program helped Ross land a civilian position as a forensic technician in the Sheriff’s Office after he graduated Mitchell High School in 2006.

“It definitely opened the door; it presented an opportunity for me at age 18,” Ross said.

He later made the transition to a sheriff’s deputy and earned a promotion to detective in less than two years.

Because of the Explorer program, Ross said he was a step ahead of other deputy hopefuls in the Sheriff’s Office field training program.

Ross noted he was well familiar with several aspects of the job “that a lot of people struggle with coming into law enforcement with no experience or any involvement prior.”

“You can stand out amongst all the rookies on the job, and it just really sets you up for a successful career,” Ross said of the Explorers.

Tyler Boogades hopes that’s the case for himself someday.

The 14-year-old Land O’ Lakes resident joined Explorer Post 916 about six months ago after finding out about it on Facebook

He’s interested in law enforcement, so Boogades figured “it was a good thing to try out.”

Learning about different topics — such as room-clearing tactics and state laws — has kept him intrigued at each Explorer meeting so far.

“I find the details really fascinating,” he said.

For more information about the program, visit PascoExplorers.com.

Explorer meetings will be every Thursday from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Pasco Safety Town, 15362 Alric Pottberg Road in Shady Hills.

Published January 17, 2018

Homeless Coalition CEO understands tough times

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Don Anderson, the new chief executive officer for The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County, doesn’t have to look far to understand what it’s like to experience poverty.

“I come from very humble beginnings. My dad didn’t finish eighth grade. My mom didn’t finish high school. He worked three jobs.

“We had a hard time keeping a car going, let alone pay the rent every month.

Don Anderson is the new chief executive officer for The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. Many people are just a medical issue, a car accident, a car problem or a few paychecks away from homelessness, he said. (B.C. Manion)

“I remember sitting around the table with them at the end of every month, deciding who it is that we would not pay, so we could pay the rent every month.

“We relied on the church and food stamps, and just the generosity of others,” Anderson said.

And, he knows his experiences are far more common than people think.

For many — just a single incident such as a medical issue, a car accident, a car breaking down or the loss of a job — can push them into homelessness, he said. That’s particularly true in communities, such as Pasco County, where much of the workforce receives minimum wage earnings from service industry jobs, he added.

While Anderson’s background didn’t prevent him from landing work with technology companies, he said he experienced his share of ups and downs through the years.

At one point, at the encouragement of one of his customers, he volunteered for Metropolitan Ministries. Later, when he was in his 50s, he got a job there.

A couple of years ago, he went to work for Youth and Family Alternatives in Pasco, where he was the vice president of strategy and development.

He said he sought his current post because he wanted an opportunity to take on a greater leadership role.

Being new to that post, Anderson said he has much to learn. He plans to do a lot of listening, and a lot of reaching out.

He said he wants to make internal improvements to the organization he’s leading, but also wants to forge stronger relationships with people in the community who may have felt alienated in the past.

One of the biggest developments on the horizon is the effort to open Pasco County’s first homeless shelter as part of a comprehensive plan to help the county’s homeless population.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has estimated there are about 100 camps across Pasco County where people live.

The chosen location for what is proposed as a “one-stop navigation center” is in two county-owned buildings in west Pasco, formerly leased to the Boys & Girls Club.

A planning commission meeting is scheduled for next month, regarding the conditional use of the property, and then the issue will go to the Pasco County Commission for a vote, Anderson said.

The project has met resistance from area residents.

Anderson said he planned to attend a meeting with neighbors. He said his goal is to “understand their concerns and then address them, as best as we can.”

Many of the details for the Navigation Center have not been worked out yet — such as how many beds the center will have — so conversations will need to continue as more information becomes available, he said.

There also is a host of challenges facing the homeless in Pasco County, he said. For one thing, there needs to be designated places where the homeless can go for shelter when temperatures plummet, he said.

There is some assistance available through partner organizations, but generally that is simply helping people in need to find motel rooms, said Anderson, noting the coalition pays for those rooms.

The Homeless Coalition, established in 1988, is a network of individuals and organizations working together to promote a community-wide commitment to the goal of ending homelessness.

Published January 17, 2018

Celebrating a day to honor trees

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Arbor Day is an annual observance that celebrates the role of trees in our lives and promotes tree planting and care.

As a formal holiday, it was first observed in 1872, in Nebraska, but tree planting festivals are as old as civilization. The tree has appeared throughout history and literature as the symbol of life.

The idea for Arbor Day in the United States originated in Nebraska City, Nebraska. Among the pioneers moving into the Nebraska Territory in 1854 was Julius Sterling Morton from Detroit. He and his wife, Caroline, were lovers of nature, and the home they established in Nebraska was planted with trees, shrubs and flowers.

In 1872, the State Board of Agriculture accepted a resolution by Julius Morton “to set aside one day to plant trees, both forest and fruit.”

The trees planted on Arbor Day show a concern for future generations. The simple act of planting a tree represents a belief that the tree will grow and provide wood products, wildlife habitat, erosion control, shelter from the wind and sun, beauty and inspiration, for everyone.

By 1920, more than 45 states and territorial possessions were celebrating Arbor Day. Today, it is commemorated in all 50 states.

For many years, Arbor Day was observed on Julius Morton’s birthday, April 22, but today, National Arbor Day is usually celebrated on the last Friday in April.

Many states and municipalities have implemented state or locally recognized Arbor Days that reflect the best time for planting in their region. Florida celebrates Arbor Day the third Friday in January — a tradition that began in 1886.

Visit ArborDay.org to learn when Arbor Day is recognized in each of the states.

Pasco County celebrates Arbor Day

What: Memorial Tree Celebration
When: The Dade City Garden Club and the City of Dade City will host an Arbor Day Memorial Tree Celebration Jan. 19 at 10 a.m., at the garden club, at 13630 Fifth St.
Details: Dade City is an official “Tree City,” which means it has a tree ordinance in place, maintains core standards of sound urban tree management, contributes funding, and celebrates Arbor Day.
Memorial trees, dedicated in memory or in honor of a special person or occasion, will be recognized by Deborah Garnett Parks, president, and Gail Stout, chairperson.
Trees will be planted by city staff at the Garden Center and the Hardy Trail at Church Avenue and Ninth Street, and a small memorial plaque is placed in front of the tree.
The program also will feature a Proclamation from the City of Dade City to be read by Mayor Camille Hernandez, and speakers from the Florida Forest Service, University of Florida IFAS Extension.
The event is open to the public.
Info: Call Gail Stout at (352) 567-0607.

What: Arbor Day Celebration
When: Jan. 19 starting at 11 a.m. at Frances Avenue Park, 5580 Frances Ave., New Port Richey
Details: Trees, free seedling will be available, while supplies last. Seedling species will include Pawpaw, redbud maple, sycamore, wild black cherry, hoptree and sassafras.
There will be a children’s program about trees, the city’s Public Works department and the children will plant trees as part of the celebration and the city’s designation as a National Tree City USA.
Free seedlings also will be available at Tasty Tuesdays on Jan. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon, at the New Port Richey City Library on Main Street.
Approximately 600 seedlings will be handed out to the community during the week of Arbor Day.
Info: KeepPascoBeautiful.org

Published January 17, 2018

Honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

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Dade City held festivities over the weekend to commemorate the birthday and honor the legacy of slain civil rights leader Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

More than 200 participants and spectators gathered at the steps of the Pasco County Historic Courthouse, following the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Parade in Dade City, to sing, pray and listen to the reading. (Richard K. Riley)

The city had a parade, followed by a unity prayer on the steps of Historic Pasco County Courthouse. That evening there was a banquet, with proceeds benefiting a scholarship fund.

Other festivities planned included an MLK Commemorative Program on Jan. 15, with keynote speaker is the Rev. Donald R. Smith, senior pastor of Greater Mount Moriah Missionary Baptist Church in Lacoochee, followed by a picnic in the park at 38724 Mudcat Grant Blvd., in Dade City.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez reads a proclamation at the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. festivities, as Boys & Girls Club Manager Rev. Cassie Coleman stands nearby.

It’s a tradition that’s been going on for about 20 years, said

Cassie Coleman, president of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. Committee of Pasco County.

“It brings unity in the community. We all know that what Martin did, he didn’t just do for one group of people,” Coleman said.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez, the City of Dade City, the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and the Dade City Police Department all played instrumental roles, Coleman said.

Published January 17, 2018

The Lacoochee Boys & Girls Club, along with their Prodigy arts component, created a Statue of Liberty theme for their float that participated in the Dade City Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. parade on Jan. 13.

Cedar Key offers healing balm, restful calm

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Some say the watery views make Cedar Key a comforting place to visit. Others credit the shorebirds – great blue herons, snowy egrets, white pelicans and roseate spoonbills – for creating a calm now rare in so much of Florida.

Some claim the trees – giant, moss-draped live oaks, gnarly cedars, cabbage palms and junipers – promote peacefulness.

Many of Cedar Key’s most popular restaurants line the town’s waterfront, providing wonderful views of water, boats and sometimes dolphins. (Karen Haymon Long)

Others attribute the serenity to the fact that the town has just 709 residents, no traffic jams, no traffic lights, no chain stores, no chain restaurants, no dress codes.

It may be all these things and more.

“We love it here because it’s ‘Old Florida,’” a visitor told us after we met her at the historical museum, then again across the street at Bonish Studio, which bills itself as a gallery of “photography, oddities and libations.” She grew up in DeLand, but now lives in Birmingham, Alabama, and was visiting Cedar Key with her husband for the second time.

They came back because they love the feel – the slower pace, the open waters, she said, while lamenting the fact that so much of Florida is paved over by runaway development and has too many people.

Another visitor came even farther to soak up the calm. As we ate lunch on my friend’s front porch, a man on a motorcycle asked if we would take his picture so he could prove to his wife he was in Cedar Key. He had flown to Orlando from his home in Ottawa, Canada, and rented the motorcycle with plans to head to Key West.

Many fishermen in Cedar Key now use airboats, so they can get into the shallow fishing spots around the town to catch redfish, trout and even snook.

That changed when a man he met told him, “You don’t want to go to Key West. You want to go to Cedar Key. It’s so much nicer.”

So, he rode the 140 miles across the state to Cedar Key and had a wide grin when we snapped his photo with his motorcycle parked amid palmettos.

“You must really like it here,” he said climbing back on his bike, “since it’s so hard to get here.”

We assured him we did.

Everywhere you look, you see people fishing, or heading toward the water to fish for reds, trout, flounder and even sharks. You see walkers and bikers, and whole families tooling around in golf carts, which are rented out on the island. Locals and visitors alike are friendly. They greet you when they pass on the sidewalk.

They ask: Where are you from?

Then, they say: Enjoy your stay.

The town’s charm offers healing if you need it, or a feeling of peace if you don’t.

This loggerhead turtle skull is just one of the many things on display at the Cedar Key Historical Museum. The museum also sells a good selection of books about Florida.

Naturalist and conservationist John Muir was healed here. Just after arriving in Cedar Key in 1867 after his 1,000-mile walk from Louisville, Kentucky, he developed malaria and typhoid, probably from mosquito bites. Sarah Hodgston, the wife of a man who co-owned a sawmill where Muir found work when he arrived, nursed him back to health.

During those fateful three months he recuperated in Cedar Key, he liked to lie under an oak on Hodgston Hill and look out over the water toward Lime Key, which he sketched in his journal. He spent hours watching birds feeding along the shores and soaring overhead, and wrote of that, too.

Cedar Key, he explained, “is surrounded by scores of other keys, many of them looking like a clump of palms, arranged like a tasteful bouquet, and placed in the sea to be kept fresh.”

He grew stronger by the healing powers of nature.

Today, a display about Muir is in the Cedar Key Historical Museum downtown and a plaque stands in the courtyard of the Cedar Key Museum State Park, at 12231 S.W. 166th Court.

If not for Cedar Key’s healing powers, we would have no Sierra Club, which he founded. We would have no Yosemite National Park, whose land he championed to save.

Today, Cedar Key, on the Gulf Coast in Levy County, about two hours from Pasco County and 60 miles southwest of Gainesville, still draws nature lovers, many who come to fish or kayak, birdwatch or stroll the tree-lined streets.

Cedar Key’s main street – Second Street –  downtown is small, but offers a historical museum, good restaurants, galleries, gift shops, and a shop selling antiques, photos, gifts and libations. The welcome center and a public library are also on that street.

It has become a huge clamming center, so some come to eat fresh clams, and the clam chowder at Tony’s Seafood Restaurant downtown, a three-time winner of the world clam chowder championship.

“Have you tried Tony’s clam chowder?” a woman asked me in front of the history museum, just across from Tony’s. “It’s the best I ever had – so creamy. So many clams.”
I told her yes, and that it was so popular they now sell it at Publix in black and red cans.

“They do?” she asked, all excited. “I’m going to look for it at my Publix when I get home.”

Cedar Key has long been known for its seafood restaurants, many that line the waterfront in sea shanty buildings all in a row.

The restaurants have come and gone through the years. Today, locals highly recommend 83 West, for its fresh seafood. They also say to go to Steamers Clam Bar & Grill, and to Carlin’s Steak House and Paddock Pub, famous for key lime cake.

The clam chowder at Tony’s Seafood Restaurant in downtown Cedar Key has won the world clam chowder championship three times. It’s so popular that Publix now sells it.

We also like Tony’s, of course, and Annie’s Cafe, a family owned indoor-outdoor spot at Sixth Street and State Road 24 that serves up good breakfasts and lunches.

One of the best places to start a visit is at the Cedar Key Historical Museum, at the corner of Second Street and State Road 24 downtown. There, you can see all sorts of artifacts on the history of the area – from native American pottery and arrowheads, to displays on the fishing industry in Cedar Key and the lives of its citizens through the years.

The museum also sells an array of Florida history books, including those focusing on Cedar Key and on Muir.

Nearby are art galleries, gift shops, places to eat and drink, and spend the night. The Island Hotel offers all three, with rooms, a cozy bar and a highly regarded restaurant. Be sure to try the island’s signature salad there, made with heart of palm, sugared dates, seasonal fruit and peanut butter ice cream dressing.

Just before sunset, follow locals and visitors west to watch the sun slip into the water. Breathe the briny air, and you’ll wish you, too, could be a local.

Tips for the trip
How to get there: We find the easiest way is to take the Suncoast Parkway north to U.S. 98. Turn left there, then go right on U.S. 19 until you get to State Road 24 in Levy County. Take a left there, and it’s 24 miles straight into Cedar Key.

Where to stay: Cedar Key offers everything from home and condo rentals to stays in motels, inns and campgrounds. For a list, see the Chamber of Commerce’s CedarKey.org.

Festivals: Cedar Key has long been known for its annual Old Florida Festival of the Arts. The 54th annual festival is scheduled for March 24 and March 25. Visit CedarKeyArtFestival.com for more details.

The town also has an annual seafood festival in October, a Christmas boat parade and food tasting, and other festivals. For details, also see CedarKey.org.

Fun Fact:
Cedar Key used to have a fiber and brush factory that used fiber from cabbage palms to make whisk brooms, hat brushes and other items. Today, you can see examples in the Cedar Key Historical Museum and can even buy replicas made by Dr. John Andrews, the son of the man who founded and owned the factory. Andrews’ home, with the brush factory’s office downstairs, is part of the museum and is open for tours.

By Karen Haymon Long

Published January 17, 2018

Local man reaches ‘Hall of Fame’ status with relief charity

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When Mike Mira headed to the Noon Rotary Club Zephyrhills meeting nearly six years ago, he didn’t know it was going to change his life.

Mike Mira sits in his Zephyrhills restaurant, with a plaque and numerous $100,000 candy bars. The candy bars signify the amount of money that Mira has raised for ShelterBoxUSA, an organization that provides help internationally to victims of disaster. (B.C. Manion)

But, when the Zephyrhills man heard the presentation from ShelterBoxUSA representatives, he knew he wanted to get involved.

The presentation came about 18 months after the earthquake in Haiti, Mira said.

ShelterBox, which is an international organization, responds to disasters around the world. Trained responders will do an assessment to see what the need is, Mira said.

“If there’s a need, they’ll call for shelter boxes to come in,” he said.

The aid the organization sends is adaptable, based on what’s needed.

Sometimes it sends sturdy green shelter boxes, which hold practical tools and utensils, to support everyday life.

Contents of the box can vary, based on the disaster that occurred and the climate where it happened.

In general, though, each box contains a family-sized tent, solar lights, water storage and purification equipment, thermal blankets and cooking utensils.

In other cases, it sends shelter kits. These include toolkits, ropes, fasteners and heavy-duty tarps that can be used to build a shelter, repair damaged buildings and begin to rebuild a home.

These flooding victims in Malawi are carrying shelter boxes. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

Again, the kits are customized to suit the needs of the community. Sometimes they include corrugated iron to help make resilient roofing, or even room dividers and mattresses to make warehouses habitable.

In some situations, the kits might also include solar lights, mattresses and water containers.

Sometimes, when families can’t start rebuilding their homes immediately, the organization supplies large, sturdy tents that can withstand extreme weather conditions and temperatures.

When a disaster strikes, ShelterBox Response Teams travel to the area to determine what, if any kind of response is needed, Mira said.

They go by foot, boat, helicopter or even tuk-tuk to get there, according to the organization’s website.

ShelterBox also makes sure the items end up in the right hands, Mira said.

These victims of an earthquake in Nepal are carrying supplies provided by ShelterBox. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

“If they don’t come in through customs into our hands, we don’t bring them in. We want to make sure they actually go to the people who actually need them.

“That was the biggest selling point for me to get involved in the organization,” said Mira, who recently was inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

ShelterBox’s history dates back to 2000, Mira said, noting it was started by a Rotary Club.

“They wanted to help people who had lost everything,” he said.

“They came up with a kit. It had a tent. Basically, a glorified camping kit,” Mira said.

Over time, the organization grew into its own separate international entity, which is based in the United Kingdom.

A donkey hauls a cart holding a shelter box, in Ethiopia. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

There are 14 affiliates around the world, Mira said.

“ShelterBoxUSA is right here in Lakewood Ranch, near Sarasota,” said Mira, who is a lead ambassador for the organization, and oversees the ambassadors in Florida and Georgia. He personally covers Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties.

Mira has done his part to spread the word, giving more than 100 presentations and raising more than $100,000. For his efforts, he recently became the 23rd person inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame.

The organization also has a location in Santa Barbara, California.

While it responds to disasters in far-off parts of the world, it also responds in the United States, he said.

“After Hurricane Katrina, when federal, state and local government were all pointing the finger at each other, and ‘Who’s problem is this?’ ShelterBox was on the ground,” he said, helping families.

“Superstorm Sandy, we responded. There wasn’t a need for the shelter. But, we left tons of mittens and scarves and hats.

These children and a woman sit in a tent provided by ShelterBox. (Courtesy of ShelterBox)

“We tailor the kits to where they are going,” Mira said.

“After the Japanese tsunami, we put a bunch of winter gloves and hats, and things like that, scarves. If it is going somewhere in Africa, we’ll put extra mosquito netting.”

It costs $1,000 for each shelter box, he said. In 2017, the organization helped 160,000 people, he added.

The organization focuses solely on helping families who have lost their shelter to operate from day to day.

“When the Haiti earthquake hit, the responder from ShelterBox called headquarters and said ‘Send everything we have.’

‘Everything in Cornwall?

‘No, everything we have around the world. We need it all.’

“We sent 28,417 shelter boxes, and an additional 7,000 just tents,” he said.

ShelterBox does not provide food.

“We work with other aid agencies. We provide the shelter. There are other agencies that provide the food, the medicine and stuff like that,” Mira said.

ShelterBox is currently responding in the Caribbean following Hurricanes Irma and Maria, Bangladesh following flooding in the north and the Rohingya refugee crisis in the south, and Somaliland where people are displaced by drought. The organization is also providing aid to people displaced by conflict situations in Syria, Iraq, Cameroon, Chad and Niger.

Mira is proud of the organization’s record.

“We’re Charity Navigator 4-star rated, the highest rating you can get from Charity Navigator.

Anyone who would like to help can go to ShelterBoxUSA.com to donate.

“If there are any organizations who want a presentation, they can contact me,” Mira said. He can be reached at (813) 469-0243.

Published January 10, 2018

Keystone Park slated for upgrades

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Major upgrades are on tap for the Keystone Park & Recreation Center in Odessa.

A renovated community center, expanded playground, resurfaced tennis courts and the creation of a walking trail with exercise stations are some of the higher priorities for a $2.5 million improvement project.

Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation has outlined several enhancements to the Keystone Park & Recreation Center in Odessa. The park is budgeted for $2.5 million in improvements this year. (Courtesy of Hillsborough County)

Additional parking, along with drainage and lighting improvements, are also expected from the project, which is funded through Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation’s Capital Improvement Program.

The entire scope of the project will be finalized after public input is received and analyzed by Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation.

An open house is set for Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m., at the Keystone Recreation Center, 17928 Gunn Highway in Odessa.

At the meeting, a short presentation will be given on the project, and parks and recreation officials will be available to answer questions.

Attendees can also fill out comment cards on park upgrades and desired requests.

From there, work will be prioritized based on the highest demand of requested changes, and maintenance and operational feasibility.

The design and permitting process is expected to begin sometime this year.

The entire project could be complete as soon as spring 2019, according to Kyla Booher, planning and development manager for the county’s parks and recreation department.

Keystone Park averages about 4,500 monthly visitors.

Keystone Park averages about 4,500 monthly visitors. Possible improvements for the complex include a renovated community center, expanded playground, resurfaced tennis courts, and the creation of a walking trail with exercise stations. Additional parking and drainage and lighting improvements also are expected.

Besides a community center, the 26-acre park features a playground, baseball field, multipurpose field, four tennis courts, two basketball courts, two picnic shelters and a park restroom building.

As part of planned upgrades, the county may look to reconfigure some of those amenities, Booher said, “so that it lends more towards a friendly site that is accessible.”

That could include the transformation of its lone baseball field to an open field space for special events and more informal sports activities. An AAU baseball team, the Tampa Thunder, is no longer a tenant of the park.

Accommodating more after-school youth is another general objective.

Proposals call for a new or expanded playground and a multipurpose court.

Other feasible upgrades range from new signage and security cameras, to additional water fountains, benches, picnic tables and other miscellaneous amenities.

Public meeting on Keystone Park improvements
Where: Keystone Park Community Center, 19729 Gunn Highway, Odessa
When: Jan. 11 at 6:30 p.m.
Details: The park and community center are slated for upgrades beginning in late 2018. The scope and specific type of the improvements won’t be decided until after residents have had an opportunity to give their opinions.
Information: Hillsborough County Citizen Engagement at (813) 272-5272.

Here’s a look at some possible renovations and improvements to the Keystone Park & Recreation Center, based on the Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation’s master plan.

  • Renovate/expand community center
  • Restroom renovations
  • Replace and/or resurface tennis courts
  • Install basketball court cover
  • Construct more paved parking lots
  • Re-sod multipurpose playing field
  • Remove & relocate basketball court
  • Install band shell with concession
  • Expand playground area and install sun shades
  • Explore alternatives to the baseball field location
  • Remove miscellaneous surplus buildings
  • Consolidate drain fields
  • Add miscellaneous amenities: new signage, water fountain, benches, picnic tables, security cameras, landscaping

Published January 10, 2018

Ballantrae Village is adding more shops

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Taco Bell is the newest tenant at the Shoppes of Ballantrae Village.

The Mexican fast-food restaurant joins DQ Grill & Chill and Circle K in a retail shopping plaza that is almost fully constructed, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

Within 30 days, Dunkin’ Donuts is expected to open in a spot between Taco Bell and DQ Grill & Chill.

Taco Bell is open for business at the Shoppes of Ballantrae Village. The fast-food restaurant joins Circle K and DQ Grill & Chill. (Kathy Steele)

In March, more shops, a spa, a dental office and a Japanese restaurant will open, said David McComas, chief executive officer of European Equities Corporation. His firm is handling tenant negotiations for the plaza.

The list of tenants includes Domino’s Pizza, T-Mobile and Hungry Greek.

Dentist Lisa Brooks also will occupy one suite, and Casablanca Spa will be in another.

“It will be nice. It will create some balance,” McComas said. “I think it will have a lot of curb appeal. Everything is coming out tastefully.”

The current list of shops and restaurants aren’t all that will open.

Three additional parcels are currently under negotiations, McComas said. And, another outparcel on the opposite side of Aprile Drive, across from Taco Bell, likely will have a day care center, he said.

One access point into the plaza is at Aprile Drive, a new road that intersects with State Road 54, by the Taco Bell on the eastern boundary. Entry also onto Aprile Drive and the plaza can be made at the entrance into Ballantrae subdivision, farther west at Ballantrae Boulevard, by Circle K.

The area is bustling with new development, spurred in part by about 50,000 vehicles that drive along the state road daily. And, new residential is bringing more customers to the area.

The Ballantrae community is built on about 436 acres, has six villages and about 970 homes.

To the south of Ballantrae, Long Lake Ranch homes are under construction. Northward, Bexley Ranch and Asturia are adding new subdivisions, with single family homes and apartments.

And, Mystic Pointe is a new apartment complex under construction at Meadowbrook Drive.

Published January 10, 2018

Compark 75 sold to Atlanta investors

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Compark 75, a Class A industrial park off Wesley Chapel Boulevard, is under new ownership, according to a news release from Cushman & Wakefield.

Rick Brugge, executive director of Cushman & Wakefield

The real estate services company negotiated the sale of five buildings at the park to MDH Atlantic Acquisitions LLC. The Atlanta-based real estate investment company has more than 11 million square feet of properties in the southeastern United States.

Rick Brugge, executive director of Cushman & Wakefield; Mike Davis, vice chairman; and Michael Lerner, executive director, negotiated the sale as part of Cushman & Wakefield’s Capital Markets team. They represented HR Pasco LLP, and closed the deal in November.

The sales price was not made available.

According to the news release, Compark 75 is the only Class A facility currently serving the northeast Tampa Bay area, including north Hillsborough and south Pasco counties.

“It tends to attract very good leases and a high quality of tenants,” said Brugge, president of Cushman & Wakefield.

Compark 75 has about 286,000 square feet in five small-bay, light industrial buildings.  The buildings are about 91 percent occupied, with about 26,000 square feet available for lease.

The space could be suitable for two to three new tenants, said Brugge.

Current tenants include the Pasco County Tax Collector, U.S. General Services Administration, Ortho Technology, Morgan Auto Group and Streetside Classics.

The 165-acre site is zoned industrial, and is suitable for warehouse, manufacturing and office uses. About 105 acres is a wetlands and conservation area.

The five buildings were built between 2007 and 2016, using “tilt-wall” construction, where concrete panels are poured on site and later tilted into place. Suites range from 3,300 square feet to more than 41,000 square feet. Features include rear-loading docks, 18-foot to 24-foot clear heights, early suppression fire sprinkler systems and 118-foot truck courts.

Compark 75 recently sold to an Atlanta-based investment company, MDH Atlantic Acquisitions LLC. The park has five industrial buildings that are close to fully occupied. (Courtesy of Cushman & Wakefield)

While the park is largely leased to tenants, two industrial condominiums under private business ownership are located at Compark 75. They weren’t included in the sale.

The Pet Lane mailing address for Compark 75 puts it in Lutz, but the 165-acre site is located off County Road 54 (Wesley Chapel Boulevard), about halfway between the interchanges of State Road 54 and State Road 56, with Interstate 75.

Suncoast Parkway is about 12 miles to the west. And, the Tampa Aero Park is on the park’s northern boundary.

The park provides diversity to the central Pasco area, which is booming with residential and retail development, such as The Shops at Wiregrass, Estancia, Bexley, and Tampa Premium Outlets.

In 2014 owner Larry Morgan launched a $15 million expansion of the privately-developed park. Morgan is the founder of Tires Plus, and his family-owned business has several automobile dealerships. Gov. Rick Scott attended the groundbreaking ceremony for the expansion.

The construction marked the first major investment in commercial office construction in Pasco County since the real estate crash in 2008.

Published January 10, 2018