The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Brightwork Crossing under construction on State Road 54

By

Brightwork Crossing is a mixed-use development under construction on about 32 acres close to Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center.

Up to 350 apartments, 250,000 square feet of offices, retail and self-storage, and a 150-room hotel can be built. Site plans are on file with Pasco County for a WaWa convenience store, Firestone Complete Auto Care store and Burger King.

A sign along Old State Road 54 marks off the site where construction workers are preparing about 32 acres for residential and commercial development – Brightwork Crossing.
(Kathy Steele)

The site is on the north side of State Road 54, west of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, directly behind the Shell gas station and Walgreen’s drugstore.

A handful of cows that once grazed on grass and weeds are gone. Bulldozers and cranes are leveling the ground. A single residence on the property is being torn down.

The complex will go up in the midst of one of Pasco County’s fastest growing areas, at an intersection where State Road 54, State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard meet up. The State Road 56 interchange at Interstate 75 is immediately to the west.

Tampa Premium Outlets on the south side of State Road 56, and Cypress Creek Town Center, on the north side, are at the epicenter of new shops and restaurants. More are on the way, as are offices and hotels.

Tampa-based BW 54 56 Holdings LLC, and Alabama-based Arlington Properties Inc., are partnering on Brightwork Crossing.

Representatives for those companies weren’t available for comment.

The Pasco County Commission approved the development in 2016. The entire site is bordered by Wesley Chapel Boulevard, State Road 54, and the one-lane paved, Old Cypress Creek Road.

At hearings on the matter, traffic concerns became an issue.

The site is bisected by Old State Road 54, a popular cut-through for motorists seeking to avoid traffic jams at the intersection of Wesley Chapel Boulevard and State Road 54/56.

Old State Road 54 right of way was part of a land swap between the county, landowners and developers. It gave the county green space for its wildlife corridors network, and also room for a future park-and-ride facility for commuters.

A dead-end portion of the road to the north has been opened, and rebuilt to provide cross access, via Wesley Chapel Boulevard, into the town center. Sierra Properties, the town center’s developers, paid for the roadwork as part of its construction of a town center entrance, off Wesley Chapel.

The county plans to eventually widen Wesley Chapel to a six-lane divided road. And, a diverging diamond interchange is expected to replace the existing interchange at I-75 to ease traffic congestion. Construction is expected to begin in 2018 on the interchange.

Published August 2, 2017

A conference where bromeliads are the stars

By

There’s an extravaganza set for this coming weekend aimed at celebrating bromeliads — plants that can be grown indoors or out, and often feature long-lasting flower displays, colorful foliage, or both.

A look at a bromeliad from one of the yards that will be featured on a tour during the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies Extravaganza, Aug. 4 through Aug. 6 The bus tour has been filled, but conference registrations are still being accepted. (Courtesy of Carol Wolfe)

People who are seriously into bromeliads may want to register to attend the conference, but others may want to simply check out two bromeliad plant sales that are being held as part of the event.

The Tampa Bromeliad Extravaganza is being presented in conjunction with the 40th anniversary of the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies. The conference is at the Clarion Hotel, 2710 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa.

There are 11 bromeliad clubs around the state that make up the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies, said Tom Wolfe, of Lutz, general chairman of the Tampa Extravaganza.

The clubs take turns hosting the statewide gathering every other year, he said.

This year, as of last week, the conference had 160 registered to attend.

The event features a chance to hear from bromeliad experts and to hang out with other bromeliad enthusiasts. There’s a chance to purchase some plants for your garden, too.

The plant sales also are open to the general public, Wolfe said.

“On Saturday morning (Aug. 5), the entire ballroom will be filled with bromeliads for sale. Most of the bromeliad vendors in the state will be there,” he said. That sale will be from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

That evening, around 7:30 p.m., a rare plant auction will be held, giving collectors a chance to purchase some interesting plants. Proceeds from that sale will be used to support research to battle a weevil (Metamasius callizona) that’s been attacking 12 of Florida’s native bromeliads.

So far, more than $97,000 has been raised and donated, and organizers hope this rare plant auction will raise at $3,000 to put it over the $100,000 mark.

The local and state bromeliad organizations are working closely with Teresa M. Cooper, Ph.D., with the “Save Florida’s Bromeliads Conservation Project,” SaveBromeliads.com.

For more information about the conference, call (813) 391-1542, or go online to FCBS.org and click on the link to 2017 FCBS Extravaganza Information.

If you go
Bromeliad Extravaganza
Where: Clarion Hotel, 2710 E. Fowler Ave.
When: Aug. 4 through Aug. 6
Cost: Registration is $100, which includes two meals
Details: Event celebrates the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies’ 40th anniversary.
Information: Call (813) 391-1542, or go online to FCBS.org and click on the 2017 FCBS Extravaganza Information.

Bromeliad sale events
Bromeliad lovers will have plenty of plants to choose from at these two sales events.
Where: Clarion Hotel, 2710 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa
When: Aug. 5. The first sales event runs from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.; the second event is a rare plant auction, also on Aug. 5, beginning around 7:30 p.m.
Details: These bromeliad sales are in conjunction with the Florida Council of Bromeliad Societies ‘Extravaganza.’ Proceeds from the rare plant auction will be used to support research aimed at stopping a weevil that is destroying native Florida bromeliads.

Published August 2, 2017

LEGO + creativity = The Art of The Brick

By

Nathan Sawaya’s version of ‘The Scream’ was based on the original 1893 painting by artist Edvard Munch. (Mary Rathman)

While children often use LEGO bricks to build ferries, cars and people, artist Nathan Sawaya uses the tiny, colorful plastic pieces to recreate artistic masterpieces and create whimsical pieces of art.

His touring exhibit, called The Art of The Brick, is on display in downtown Tampa, Wednesdays through Sundays, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., until Sept. 4.

The exhibit, which has been billed by CNN as one of the world’s “Must See Exhibitions,” was brought to the region by Jeff and Penny Vinik, of the Vinik Family Foundation and is being presented to the public without charge.

An entire building, at 802 E. Whiting St., is devoted to the exhibit.

This life-size sculpture features a man ripping his chest open, with thousands of LEGO bricks flowing out.

During a recent visit, both children and adults were having fun, as they made their way from room to room. As visitors went along, many began guessing how many LEGO pieces Sawaya used to complete a particular work.

Sawaya shares his story on a brief video at the beginning of the exhibit.

Before he began creating art works from LEGO bricks, he was a corporate lawyer in New York City, as well as an author.

Over time, he discovered that creating art from LEGO bricks was his calling.

He believes art is essential.

This sculpture depicts Nathan Sawaya’s interpretation of Nefertiti, an Egyptian queen renowned for her beauty. She ruled alongside her husband, Pharaoh Akhenaten, during the mid-1300s B.C.

“Art makes better humans, art is necessary in understanding the world and art makes people happy. Undeniably, art is not optional,” says a quotation attributed to him on a sign in the exhibit.

He also hopes his work will inspire children to learn about art.

As he says on another sign in the gallery: “I first learned adjectives through School House Rock. I learned how to count to ten through Sesame Street. I learned about gravity through my Slinky. Imagine if a child learns about art history through LEGO!”

If you go:
The Art of the Brick
802 E. Whiting St., Tampa, 33602
Hours: Wednesday through Sunday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. (Exhibit ends on Sept. 4)
Admission is free. Metered parking and paid parking lots are available nearby.

Published August 2, 2017

Neighborhood Notebook seeks suggestions

By

Give a community a piece of chalk and chalkboard, and wait — people will write what’s on their minds.

That’s the idea behind the Neighborhood Notebook, a chalkboard that’s intended to invite those passing by to share their ideas about how they want their community to grow.

The chalkboard is being placed at various locations in central Pasco County to seek community input.

Land O’ Lakes resident Sean Serrano reads the Neighborhood Notebook at The Shops at Wiregrass, before adding his own ideas to the chalkboard. (Kathy Steele)

At the moment, the focus area is the Gateway Crossing Market Area bordered by State Road 56 and State Road 54, Suncoast Parkway, U.S. 41 and Interstate 75. That includes the communities of Trinity, Odessa, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Wesley Chapel.

County officials are hoping to spark a dialogue about the area’s future growth.

What do residents want? Do they want more trails? Safer streets? Better bus service? More restaurants?

Residents were introduced to the Neighborhood Notebook at The Shops at Wiregrass, from July 11 to July 17.

On opposite panels of a hinged chalkboard, two unfinished sentences invite “fill-in-the-blank” moments.

Pasco County employees built the notebook and set it up outside the customer service station at Wiregrass.

The unfinished sentences are: ‘I would like to see’ and ‘I can make it happen.’

“It’s a new, different kind of thing designed to get attention,” said Kris Hughes, the county’s planning and development administrator.

County officials are giving residents opportunities to express ideas about future planning issues in central Pasco County, including land use, design and transit.

Officials got some of those ideas, and, on occasion, naughty graffiti.

That wasn’t unexpected with a display open to the public, said Hughes.

“We all have to deal with what would be juvenile behavior as it arises. We don’t let it stay up there,” Hughes said.

At future notebook exhibits, Hughes said the county might provide maps so that residents can better understand the area being studied.

As of July 17, residents had left ideas that covered a range of topics.

One person wanted to see people “not being idiots.” Another wanted to see someone’s Mom smile. Others advocated for legalizing marijuana, veganism or wanted “no capitalism.”

Expressions of love, punctuated with heart symbols, were plentiful.

One person offered this sweet thought – “Just reminber (reminber scratched out) you’re beautiful.”

The message was accompanied by this admission: “I can’t spell.”

Land O’ Lakes resident Sean Serrano paused to read messages on the notebook.

“It’s like a little glimpse into the community around here,” he said.

One goal with the outdoor notebook is to encourage residents to visit the county’s website to learn more about the “Walk Bike Work Play” initiative.

There’s a virtual notebook, too, so residents can expand on and continue sharing their ideas.

In collaboration with the planning department, the county’s Metropolitan Planning Organization’s Vision 54/56 Project also is supporting the initiative.

The MPO is working with a volunteer task force to recommend improvements to transportation and safety along State Road 54 and State Road 56.

No date has been set yet for the Neighborhood Notebook’s next appearance.

But, Hughes said two possible locations are Tampa Premium Outlets, at I-75 and State Road 56, or the Northpointe Village Shopping Center, at State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway.

For information on the initiative and calendar events, visit WalkBikeWorkPlay.com.

Published July 26, 2017

Japanese investment focus of roundtable

By

On a map of Florida, more than 18 Japanese-owned companies are pinpointed across the state.

South Florida has the most, with only a handful scattered in central and northeastern cities, including the port city of Jacksonville.

Noticeably blank is Florida’s central west coast, including Pasco County.

“I think there has not been much of a connection,” said Japan’s Consul General Ken Okaniwa. “Maybe there is a need to promote yourselves more.”

Japan’s Consul General Ken Okaniwa, left, spoke at a business roundtable at Saddlebrook Golf Resort & Spa. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce hosted the event. (Courtesy of Stephen John Photography)

Pasco business leaders and county officials will get that chance at the 40th annual Southeast U.S./Japan Joint Meeting from Oct. 22 to Oct. 24, in Greenville, South Carolina.

Representatives from Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Mississippi and Tennessee will participate.

“We want to bring it (trade meeting) to Pasco County in a couple of years,” said Okaniwa. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to create more jobs.”

Encouraging dialogue about more Japanese trade, investment and tourism in Florida is one of the functions of the Japanese consulate, located in Miami.

On July 17, Okaniwa met with more than 20 Pasco County business and community leaders for a business roundtable at Saddlebrook Golf Resort & Spa. U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis and The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce sponsored the event.

Okaniwa outlined Japan’s economic ties with Florida in a PowerPoint presentation.

  • Japan is the state’s largest investor, with more than $4 billion invested in plants and equipment
  • Japan is Florida’s fourth largest trade partner (combined export and imports)
  • Japan is the largest importer of Florida grapefruit in the world
  • About 278,000 Japanese tourists visit Florida annually, with Disney World the top destination

And, Okaniwa said more than 190 Japanese-owned companies provided about 24,000 jobs in the state, as of 2014.

“The number has been growing,” he added.

Japanese economic and business focus is on six areas, including driverless vehicles, renewable energy, robotics and medical services, especially regenerative medicine.

Okaniwa said Japan investors were involved in “smart city” projects in Orlando and Miami.

Bill Cronin, president of the Pasco Economic Development Council, suggested that Okaniwa reach out to Metro Development Group, which is developing in the Connected City corridor in northeastern Pasco. Cronin plans to attend the trade meeting in South Carolina along with others representing Pasco.

Developers with Metro are building a master-planned community with state-of-the-art technology, including fast Internet connections, driverless vehicles, and tele-medicine.

“It’s truly a live, work, play environment,” Cronin said.

Le Meridian-Autonomous is negotiating with Metro to provide driverless buses for the community, said Ed Franco, the company’s chief innovation lead.

The company has sold buses to Disney, the Tennessee Department of Transportation, and recently a 300-bus order to Taiwan.

Franco also is chief executive officer of Turin Aviation Group, located at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport. The company provides aircraft maintenance services and unmanned aerial system drones.

“Pasco County is very innovative,” Bilirakis told Okaniwa, who took notes of questions and ideas raised at the roundtable discussion.

John Yo is interested in developing senior living communities. He is managing director for Good Life EB5 Advisors Inc. His company recently opened two facilities in Georgia.

His wife, Julie Yo, is a ReMax Realtor in Lutz. The couple, who live in New Tampa, would like to find locations in Pasco for future senior-living projects. There is a need here, said John Yo.

“It’s a growing (industry),” he added.

The couple, both South Korean natives, said they would like to see direct flights from Japan to Tampa.

Tampa International Airport doesn’t yet have such flights, but there is a Japanese connection.

On the same day as the roundtable, Gov. Rick Scott and representatives of Mitsubishi attended the delivery of train cars for the airport’s innovative people-mover shuttle.

Bilirakis had one last idea to toss out at the conclusion of the roundtable.

Japan and Pasco should work together to bring Japanese baseball teams to the county for spring training, he said.

Okaniwa quickly jotted that on his pad.

“I’ll look into that,” he said.

For information on Japan and trade, visit Jetro.go.jp/en/invest/.

Published July 26, 2017

Cleanup set to begin on massive sinkhole

By

Barring unforeseen developments, cleanup is expected to begin this week on the massive sinkhole that recently swallowed two homes in the Lake Padgett community of Land O’ Lakes.

As of July 20, Pasco County was entering the final stages of securing bids from contractors for debris removal at the sinkhole site, which now measures 235 feet wide and approximately 50 feet deep — believed to be the largest in the county’s history.

While the sinkhole is labeled ‘dormant,’ recent activity has been documented. On July 19, the sinkhole’s perimeter widened by approximately 10 feet, after sand erosion just below the ground surface dried out and collapsed into the hole.
The movement along the bank resulted in a hot tub and slab of concrete falling into the hole, along with about 10 feet of dirt and grass. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Before cleanup and repair work can begin, however, engineers must perform additional testing to ensure the ground around the sinkhole is stable enough for heavy equipment. One of the county’s contracted engineers, Intertek-PSI, is currently using ground penetrating radar and core sampling to measure the structural integrity of Ocean Pines Drive and county easements leading up to the sinkhole.

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County’s assistant county administrator for public safety, said recovery work could take months, with costs ranging from $750,000 to more than $2 million.

“It’s going to be a very slow and methodical process,” Guthrie said.

The county already has spent about $100,000 responding to the sinkhole, through contractual and departmental costs.

The county’s goal is to have a debris removal company in place in case homeowner’s insurance companies don’t accept responsibility to clean up the sinkhole.

The fastest, most economical cleanup tactic being considered is what’s called a dragline — a cable-operated system that would extend out and collect debris from the surface of the sinkhole.

Other possible options include using a float barge or large crane, with an excavator, to remove debris and decontaminate the sinkhole site.

“We’re trying to look for the most cost-effective, but safe option, so that we don’t put other homes in danger,” Guthrie said. “If we can employ a tactic that does not cause harm to the (sinkhole) banks, that’s the big deal right now.

“There’s a possibility using that dragline may actually destabilize those banks and cause further damage,” he said.

The assistant county administrator estimates filling the entire sinkhole would require approximately 135,000 cubic yards of dirt, though plans that far ahead are not yet in place.

The sinkhole originally opened on July 14 at 21825 Ocean Pines Drive, where it engulfed two homes and a boat.

Despite extensive property damage, no injuries have been reported.

The sinkhole is currently labeled “dormant,” but activity has been documented.

On July 19, the sinkhole’s perimeter widened by approximately 10 feet, after sand erosion just below the ground surface dried and collapsed into the hole.

The movement along the bank resulted in a hot tub and slab of concrete falling into the hole, along with about 10 feet of dirt and grass.

As a precaution, two homeowners along Canal Street were advised to gather their belongings for possible evacuation in the future.

Guthrie has reassured the activity is not an indication of the sinkhole becoming deeper.

“The sinkhole is not growing,” he said, assuredly.

In resolving the erosion issue, Guthrie said the edges of the sinkhole must be reshaped with dirt, from a 90-degree angle to a 45-degree slope.

“There is no support for that sand. As the water table goes down, that sand has nothing to hold it in place. So, that sand is falling out which then causes the grass and top soil to collapse,” Guthrie explained.

Once engineers deem the area safe, the county will bring in dump truck loads of dirt to shore up the banks of the sinkhole, before the large-scale cleanup process begins.

“We’re trying to determine if there are any sinkholes or any other activity under the ground before we bring the dump trucks in. Once we have figured that out, then we will start bringing that dirt in,” Guthrie said.

Elsewhere, water tests of the sinkhole turned up negative for E. Coli, officials said last week.

Further testing did come up positive for total coliform bacteria, in some of the water surrounding the sinkhole, officials said.

Greg Crumpton, a county health official, said it’s likely the result of older, dirty wells, some of which are upwards of 10 years to 20 years old in the Lake Padgett and Lake Saxon communities.

He said a confirmatory test and resample is underway.

If those tests come back positive, nearby homeowners are advised to use bottled or boiled water until the wells are disinfected.

Water tests
Due to the positive bacterial results, Pasco County announced it is waiving the fees for well water for testing more than 400 homes along Lake Padgett and Lake Saxon through July 28.

All residents living on the following streets qualify for free well water testing: Bronze Leaf Place, Canal Place, Clover Leaf Lane, Flat Rock Place, Grove Place, Heatherwood Lane, Lake Padgett Drive, Lake Saxon Drive, Ocean Pines Drive, Panther Way, Peninsular Drive, Pine Shadow Drive, Rain Forest Place, Snook Circle, Swans Landing Drive and Wilsky Road.

Residents who would like their well water tested should do the following:

  • Go to the Pasco County Environmental Laboratory located at 8864 Government Drive in New Port Richey and request a test kit for Total Coliform.
  • Present proof of address and receive lab instructions to collect water.
  • Take a sample of their tap water according to lab protocols, and bring the sample and associated paperwork back to the laboratory.
  • Results will be available in two days.

 

Help still available
Help remains available for sinkhole victims. Those needing help should reach out to the American Red Cross, The Salvation Army of Pasco County, Pasco County Human Services or United Way of Pasco County.

Published July 26, 2017

The Lutz Depot, by design

By

Those wishing to escape the oppressive heat during the Fourth of July festivities in Lutz may have decided to check out a train show inside the Lutz Branch Library.

If I they did, they could have seen an exhibit presented by the Suncoast American Flyer Enthusiasts.

Eugene Vrooman, left, explains differences in the type of gauge size trains running on the tracks at the Lutz Public Library. (Fred Bellet)

And, perhaps they would have had a chance to chat with Eugene Vrooman, one of the club’s members.

If they did, Vrooman may have pointed out a wall display, showing the plans that were used to build the Lutz Depot building, across the street from the library.

Vrooman is quite familiar with the plans. He’s the one who drew them.

“We’ve done this (train) show for 17 years in a row,” Vrooman said, noting the Lutz Depot building was dedicated to the community’s residents in 2000.

He recounted how he got involved with the depot project.

“My brother-in-law came down from Lake Park, at Dale Mabry and Van Dyke, and he said that he went to that craft show, and there were some people who were planning to reestablish a train building,” Vrooman said.

So, the Lutz man, who is a draftsman, volunteered to draw up the plans.

He used a photo from “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers,” by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus, to provide the building’s dimensions.

“I got the book and Xeroxed the pictures,” Vrooman said.

“I worked on it for about three months,” he added. It was a fun, but time-consuming project.

He isn’t an architect, so he needed one to review and sign off on the plans. That’s where Randy Stribling came in.

“He had to be happy with how the building was, appearance and structural,” Vrooman said.

The draftsman said he knew that the building had to be built to withstand hurricane winds, but he didn’t want it to be ugly.

Eugene Vrooman, a draftsman by trade, drew the drawings for this building, which was erected in 2000. He based the dimensions on a photo that was published in ‘Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers,’ by Elizabeth Riegler MacManus and Susan A. MacManus. (B.C. Manion)

“The intent was to make it look like the original building,” he said.

He found a creative way to fortify the structure.

“I came up with this idea of taking steel plates and putting them in the wood columns and beams, hiding them and putting the bolts through that would hold them all together,” he said.

He is completely confident it will withstand high winds.

“It’s going to be there. It has the strength of eternity,” Vrooman said.

And, despite nearly two decades since the project’s completion, Vrooman still feels a surge of satisfaction when he passes by the Lutz Depot.

The project is a testimony to community involvement, he noted.

“All of this material was paid for by donations, or donated by material suppliers,” he said, and volunteers completed the actual construction.

“The intention was to dedicate the building to the citizens of Lutz on July 4, 2000.

“So, July 3, 2000, it hadn’t received its certificate of occupancy.

“The reason it hadn’t received its certificate of occupancy was because the building inspector rejected the certificate, based on this little handrail.

“The inspector said the handrail wasn’t the right height,” he said.

That correction was made and the certificate of occupancy was issued on the afternoon of July 3, he said.

That allowed the dignitaries to come to the building and stand on the deck during the Fourth of July, and to dedicate the depot to the citizens of Lutz.

“It was nip and tuck,” Vrooman recalled.

For Vrooman, the depot building is not only a community fixture, but a reminder of the role he played in helping it to become a reality.

“It’s part of who I am,” the draftsman said. “I have a plaque on the side of the building with my name on it.”

Published July 26, 2017

Old Pasco Road extension under review

By

A study is underway to investigate extending Old Pasco Road/Ossie Murphy Road, by adding two new roadways north of State Road 52 to east of the Interstate 75 bridge underpass.

This is an aerial view of the route study and pond siting analysis area, for the future extension of Old Pasco Road/Ossie Murphy Road. The future four-lane roadway, with bicycle and pedestrian amenities, will also include an alignment for a 12-foot bicycle/pedestrian trail that will become part of the future Orange Belt
Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Officials from Pasco County Engineering Services ultimately foresee an approximate 1.25 mile, four-lane divided urban (curb and gutter) section, whereby Old Pasco Road would stretch approximately 4,000 feet northward from the State Road 52/Old Pasco Road intersection, and Ossie Murphy Road would extend approximately 2,600 feet eastward under the recently built I-75 bridge overpass.

Ossie Murphy Road then would eventually continue eastward from the I-75 eastern right-of-way to Pasco Road, as part of the Pasco Commerce Center development.

The roadways are based on a 45-mph design speed, initially built with two travel lanes and then expanded when traffic volumes warrant in the future.

The planned infrastructure are the initial segments of a more extensive transportation network that is envisioned to run parallel to I-75 and State Road 52.

Two build alternatives have been developed for the Old Pasco Road/Ossie Murphy Road extension project, estimated to cost between $12.8 million and $13.8 million, respectively.

A no-build alternative also is an option.

The future four-lane roadway alignment will also include bicycle and pedestrian amenities.

A 12-foot bicycle/pedestrian trail would adjoin the future Orange Belt Bicycle/Pedestrian Trail, a 37-mile path stretching along an abandoned railroad line from Trinity to Trilby.

No funding has been allocated for the extension project, and a specific timeline has not been determined for construction.

The proposed plan was outlined at a public hearing on July 11 at the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Parish Center in San Antonio. At the hearing, residents could view maps and ask questions, and submit written comments for review up until July 21.

The final route study and pond siting analysis, however, is targeted for September, to be presented to the Pasco County Commission. It will incorporate right-of-way costs, public comments and various environmental impacts, including wetland and floodplain impacts.

The study is driven by expected future development, mainly east of I-75.

“We know there’s a potential for growth here, and we want to make sure we’ve at least approved an alignment, rather than wait until somebody wants to come in and needs to do something, and we don’t have that set,” said Margaret Smith, Pasco County’s engineering services director.

The proposed plan was outlined at a public hearing on July 11 at the St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church Parish Center in San Antonio.

At the hearing, residents could view maps and ask questions, and submit written comments.

“Right now very few people live up in that area, but you’ve got Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club right here, so they, of course, are concerned with what we’re doing north of (State Road) 52,” Smith explained. “It’s like you’re shaking the tree of the people that live out here, and you want to get their input, because no matter what these (estimates) look like, they may have something that throws you in a different direction.”

Published July 26, 2017

Park upgrades planned for 2018

By

A proposed 2018 budget, if approved, includes initial funding for a community center at Wesley Chapel District Park. The park also would get upgrades at its basketball courts and baseball fields.

In addition, the budget would provide money for a future district park at the master-planned community of Connerton in Land O’ Lakes.

Young girls learn how to dribble a soccer ball during a 2015 practice at Wesley Chapel District Park. Pasco County’s proposed 2018 budget includes funds to upgrade the park. (File)

A first public hearing on the budget is scheduled for Sept. 13 in Dade City. The second hearing and vote are planned on Sept. 26. The approved budget would take effect on Oct. 1.

At the Wesley Chapel park, about $2 million would pay for the design and cover for four outdoor basketball courts, and the installation of 12 bleacher canopies for baseball fields. Also, the design for an approximately 4,000-square-foot community center would be completed in 2018.

Construction is scheduled in fiscal year 2019, at a cost of about $1 million.

The Connerton District Park would receive about $2.5 million, as part of a park donation agreement between Pasco and Connerton’s developer. Construction would include athletic fields and other amenities. The park would be donated to the county, but the developer would operate and maintain it, according to county records.

No construction date is available.

Published July 26, 2017

Computer club navigates programming basics

By

Roshan Kumaraswamy started programming computers in middle school — now he’s teaching the craft to others.

Last month, the 16-year-old Land O’ Lakes High School senior created Coding Club, for tweens and teens aspiring to learn more about computer sciences.

Roshan Kumaraswamy, a 16-year-old senior at Land O’ Lakes High School, first learned computer programming in middle school. He recently created a computer programming club at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, called Coding Club. It’s designed for teens and tweens who are interested in learning more about computer sciences. (Kevin Weiss)

The club began meeting on Fridays in July, at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library.

It accommodates up to 10 people, who program on library-issued Dell laptops.

The club, which now has a wait list, doesn’t require any prior programming experience.

“It’s pretty much adapted to anybody,” Kumaraswamy said. “I have a couple students that are pretty advanced, and then some that don’t even know how to make a file.”

During weekly, two-hour sessions, Kumaraswamy teaches the basics of website programming, from HTML (HyperText Markup Language) and CSS (Cascading Style Sheets), to Swift — each of which serves various functions.

For instance, HTML is the very core structure of a website, while CSS is used to stylistically improve websites. Swift is a general-purpose programming language often used for Apple products.

Club members already have learned to build simple websites and develop two-dimensional arcade video games, like Pong — a popular table tennis sports game.

In subsequent classes, Kumaraswamy plans to introduce the Java programming language, and teach corresponding application concepts. Java serves multiple purposes, from programming Android apps and games, to performing complex mathematical operations.

“There’s not really any limitation as to what you can do with coding,” he said. “I think it’s really cool that you can just take a lot of text words and create something with it, and sort of just experiment around.”

Kumaraswamy began coding in the seventh grade.

Self-taught, he learned through trial-and-error, watching YouTube videos and other online tutorials.

He acknowledged it was a challenge initially, and “took a while” to become comfortable with his coding skills.

His best piece of advice is “learning through practice.”

As a sophomore, Roshan Kumaraswamy developed a mobile learning application, called ‘AP World History Prep Me!’ The learning tool, available on the App Store, helps students study for final exams by visually pairing pictures with practice questions. It was selected as the winner of the 2015 Congressional App Challenge for Florida’s 12th Congressional District.

As he became more experienced, Kumaraswamy built apps for Apple’s App Store, which provides millions of downloadable games and accessories for iPhones, iPads and Macs.

His sophomore year he developed a mobile learning application, called “AP World History Prep Me!”

The learning tool, available in the App Store, helps students study for final exams by visually pairing up pictures with practice questions.

It was selected as the winner of the 2015 Congressional App Challenge for Florida’s 12th Congressional District. That year, the Congressional App Challenge drew more than 1,700 student competitors across the nation; winners were selected from 116 congressional districts.

Though a hobby for now, coding may one day become a profession for Kumaraswamy, who’s in the Land O’ Lakes High School IB (International Baccalaureate) program.

“It’s definitely a possibility of what I want to be doing in the future,” he said. “It’s a big part of technology nowadays, and it’s like a for-sure career path that you can be (successful) in.”

Among his peers, Kumaraswamy said he’s noticed more interest in computer sciences, perhaps due to the proliferation of smart phones and tablets.

“You see a lot of these programs coming up, like Girls in STEM or Girls Who Code, and so there’s obviously a big source of wanting to learn how to code. People value it, I think,” he said.

Besides coding, Kumaraswamy stays busy as a member of his school’s Mu Alpha Theta chapter, National Honor Society and Science Olympiad Club.

His next technological endeavor: tackling the basics of machine learning — the study and construction of algorithms.

“I hope to come up with some sort of project that can take a large amount of data, and use it to help kids with education online,” he said.

The Coding Club will meet again Aug. 4 and Aug. 11, beginning at 2 p.m.

For information on joining the club, call the library at (813) 929-1214.

Published July 26, 2017