Local News

ZEPHYRHILLS – Thousands of people attended the Battle for Veterans from Nov. 8 to 11 in Zephyrhills.

The Zephyrhills Museum of Military History held the event at a 25-acre site owned by the City of Zephyrhills at 5200 Airport Road. The museum needed a space that was 12.5 times larger than its grounds. 

Hundreds of participants from throughout Florida enjoyed their roles while conducting what was billed as the state’s largest Veterans Day experience.

Several military vehicles of World War II vintage that had been used by Armed Forces of both the United States and Germany were displayed. These included Jeeps, staff cars, half-tracks, tanks and a tank destroyer.

People could also see firearms that had been used by the military during WWII. Handguns, rifles and a machine gun that had been used by members of the Russian military were on display. 

Bill Zukauskas, a member of the St. Augustine-based organization, Soviet Weapons of the Great Patriotic War, gave some interesting information about the weapons.

The one garnering the most attention from onlookers was a submachine gun that had been used by a Russian soldier on the war’s Eastern Front. A German soldier gained possession of the weapon after the Russian soldier’s capture. Eventually, an American serviceman on the war’s Western Front secured the submachine gun when the German soldier was captured. That soldier brought it back to the U.S. where it has remained since then.

Two M4AE Sherman tanks at the event were each armed with a 105-millimeter gun.  These medium-size tanks were the first the U.S. ever manufactured with this powerful gun inside a fully traversing turret. That heavily armored turret was large enough to accommodate three of the tank’s crewmembers.

Also on display was a M36 Jackson Tank, which was designed to ambush and destroy German Panther tanks from a safe distance. 

Several participants fired handguns, rifles and submachine guns loaded with blanks as the crowds looked on. The tanks fired several rounds of blanks while reenacting part of a battle. 

The noise was so great that it caused several people living nearby who weren’t aware of the event to call the Zephyrhills Police Department 

Plans are in the works, according to a museum spokesperson, for another Battle for Veterans in 2025.

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INFOBOX: Event presents awards

Two awards were granted during this year’s Battle for Veterans event.

• Grenadier-Regiment 211 – Florida Reenacted was honored for having the Best Living History Display. That group is for representation of the 71st Infantry Division, 211th Grenadier Regiment of the German Army during WWII. 
• A 1942 Humbler Light Reconnaissance Car, owned by Verne Jenkinson, was recognized as the Best Vehicle. The vehicle, also known as a Humberette or Ironside, was a British armored car produced during WWII.

DADE CITY – The Pasco County Planning Commission discussed a rezoning Nov. 7 that would allow the development of the Tall Timbers project in the Connected City.

But members weren’t ready to make a recommendation to county commissioners, opting to discuss the proposal more at their Dec. 12. meeting. 

Xtreme Team 41 LLC in Tampa wants to develop 380 multi-family dwelling units consisting of front-loaded and rear-loaded townhomes and vertically mixed-use apartments on 38 acres on the north side of Tyndall Road.

The applicant also wants to designate 180,000 square feet for non-residential uses, such as offices and associated infrastructure.

Xtreme Team 41 is seeking to rezone the property from an Agricultural District to a Connected City Master Planned Unit Development District.

The Connected City is a new community under development in a special planning area generally located between Wesley Chapel and San Antonio, bordered by State Road 52 on the north, Overpass Road on the south, Interstate 75 on the west and Curley Road on the east.

Neighbors expressed concerns about flooding in the area that Xtreme Team 41 wants to develop. 

Michael Pultorak, who lives nearby on Kenton Road, urged the planning commission to not recommend approval because he believes his home would be flooded if Tall Timbers was developed.

Nancy Hazelwood, who lives in rural Dade City, said she thought it might be “prudent at this time to put some applications on hold until we figure out where that flooding would go.” 

Rodrigo Halveston, who lives on the south side of Dade City, said it seemed to him that building is being done on top of places that are used to drain water out “and you don’t think there’s any correlation.”

The other reason for the delay was that the applicant might not be able to accomplish objectives it had negotiated with Pasco County’s Department of Planning, Development and Economic Growth prior to the Nov. 7 hearing.

The applicant submitted a binding concept plan that indicates it wants a significant amount of the development to occur in the northwest and southwest corners of the property.

Planning commission member Jon Moody said it appeared to him that between 20% and 30% of the property are wetlands and that the majority of those wetlands are in the northwest and southwest corners of the property. It was also noted that floodplains are located in those areas.

Planning commission members also noted that the master plan the applicant had submitted with its rezoning request didn’t show what would happen to the wetlands if they were dredged or filled in so development could occur where they had once been located.

Florida’s Department of Environmental Protection requires permits to be granted by either that department or the Southwest Florida Water Management District to allow either the dredging or filling in of wetlands and other surface waters, according to its website.

“I’m not thinking someone’s going to be able to get a permit to blitz all of these wetlands,” Moody said. 

Moody added that he was hesitant to grant an entitlement for something that may not actually be achieved.

Moody then asked why the non-residential uses and the vertical mixed-use apartments couldn’t be developed instead on an uplands portion of the property.

Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein advised that moving the buildings elsewhere on the property would result in a substantive change in the binding concept plan. William Vermillion, a county planner, agreed that would be true. 

This would cause the applicant to have to come back to the planning commission with a different plan, according to Vermillion.

Jamie Girardi, vice chairman of the planning commission, said there wasn’t anything written in the plan submitted to them on Nov. 7 “to stop this from a townhome project coming in, building out the townhomes, and then trying to negotiate the build out of the more difficult property.”

Planning commission members suggested county staff and the applicant work together to see if a more practicable application could be presented at the Dec. 12 meeting.

In other business on Nov. 7, the planning commission recommended county commissioners approve a proposed development agreement for the Watergrass MPUD. Changes in the development agreement, which are being requested by CKB Development LLC, include the donation of a 2.142-acre site to Pasco County for the construction of a library and the reduction of commercial/retail entitlements from 123,511 square feet to 100,000 square feet in order to add 200 age-restricted multi-family apartment units as a permitted use. 

This item is the first amendment to a development agreement that was originally established and approved by commissioners on June 4, 2019.

Commissioners are scheduled to consider this agreement during their Dec. 10 meeting in New Port Richey.

NEW PORT RICHEY – Commercial Asset Partners Realty has appointed economic development and electric utility veteran Danielle Ruiz as vice president.

Ruiz, who most recently served as director of economic development for Duke Energy Corporation, has over 20 years of economic development experience. 

Ruiz supported the recruitment and expansion of a number of companies to the 34-county Florida service territory during her nearly 11 years at Duke Energy. 

She also has held director and manager positions at the Tampa Hillsborough Economic Development Corporation – now known as the Tampa Bay EDC – ConMed Corporation, Pinellas County Economic Development and the State of Florida Agency for Workforce Innovation, now known as CareerSource Florida.

“Part of what Danielle brings to the table for our team is her executive-level experience and leadership in various public, private companies and economic development organizations throughout the state,” said Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, broker-owner at CAP Realty. “Her priorities align with mine, in that we want to see our communities grow and redevelop, and to really make a difference that goes beyond simply closing transactions.”

Ruiz will focus on commercial real estate brokerage services in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando and Citrus counties. The company says Ruiz’s relationships in other counties may help expand its service footprint. 

While at Duke Energy Corporation, Ruiz was involved in many deals impacting the greater Tampa Bay area:  

• MiTek, an international building supply company, announcing plans in 2024 to open a new, $77.6 million, 480,000-square-foot manufacturing plant and warehouse in Zephyrhills; 
• Bauducco Foods, a Brazilian multinational company specializing in baked food products, purchasing 72 acres in Zephyrhills, in 2023 for a $200 million facility expected to create 600 new jobs; 
• Attracting Nucor, North America’s largest steelmaker, to Polk County for its Frostproof steel mill, creating 250 jobs; and 
• Relocation of San Diego-based life sciences defense contractor Amaratek to Dunedin in 2023, creating dozens of high-paying local jobs.

“I was seeking an opportunity to work with a company that shares my commitment of making an impact on the local economy while also understanding the community’s broader vision and collectively matching this with my clients’ needs,” Ruiz said. 

Ruiz belongs to several organizations and has served in many leadership roles during her career. She has served on the boards of the Pasco Economic Development Council, the St. Petersburg Area Economic Development Corporation and Hernando Progress. She is also a founding advisory board member of IDEA Schools Tampa Bay.

“Danielle has been involved in real estate transactions in the greater Tampa Bay area and other parts of Florida for many years,” said Tuttle-Beisner. “In her new role with our firm, she’ll simply be looking at deals from a different angle and using her skills and knowledge to make deals happen from the brokerage standpoint.”

ST. LEO – The Military Times has included Saint Leo University in its list of top colleges and universities for military service members and veterans. 

Saint Leo earned rankings of No. 120 among all schools in the United States; No. 34 among schools offering both in-person and online degrees; No. 27 among all private, nonprofit schools in the United States; No. 32 among schools in the Southeast; and No. 9 in Florida.

More than 900 students at Saint Leo are affiliated with the military. This includes members of the U.S. Air Force, Army, Navy, Marines and Coast Guard; National Guard members; retired military officers and enlisted veterans; and military spouses and dependents.

Each year, Military Times surveys colleges and universities nationwide to evaluate their veteran-focused programs. 

Its team analyzes these survey responses along with public data from the Department of Education and Department of Veterans Affairs to produce the rankings. 

“Saint Leo University recognizes the special needs of our veterans, those serving in the military, and their families, and strives to provide the best educational opportunities for them,” said Ed Dadez, university president. “It is an honor to be recognized by Military Times for the work we are doing to support the success of our student-veterans, helping them transition into civilian life and continue their education. Saint Leo advocates for its military-affiliated students and student-veterans whether they study at University Campus, online, or at one of our education centers.”

In addition to its residential campus in St. Leo, students are educated at teaching locations in Florida and Georgia, including at Naval Air Station Key West and MacDill Air Force Base, as well as through an online program.

“As a son of a deceased U.S. Navy Vietnam veteran, I am grateful to be part of a university that provides a welcoming and supportive environment that values our military-affiliated students’ service and fosters their success,” said Anthony DeSantis, associate vice president of student affairs and director of the Office of Military Affairs & Services. 

Part of that support includes special programming for student-veterans and military-affiliated students. 

Saint Leo University hosts several signature events for these students and the community, including Conversations About Success Beyond Service. The monthly webinar features speakers who share their personal journeys or discuss opportunities to find resources.

Other programming includes the 22 Push-Up Challenge for Veteran Suicide Prevention; Welcome Back “We’ve Got Your Six” events; and Veterans Appreciation Month events.

Student-veterans also are supported through a Military Resource Center, a Veterans Affairs work-study program, a Student Veterans of America chapter, a Military Excellence Fund, and several endowed scholarships.

In 2021, Saint Leo created an undergraduate degree devoted to veteran studies, and in 2024, Devon Wilson of Riverview, FL, became the first Bachelor of Arts in Veteran Studies Degree graduate. In the fall, the university expanded the program, and the degree now is offered online, in addition to being taught on campus. A veteran studies minor also is available in this emerging field.  

Students in the program study the distinctive lives and cultures formed by military service and by retirement from service. The degree program is open to all students, not only those who have a military background.

• 001: Saint Leo University’s For Those Who Serve sculpture was unveiled at the university’s residential campus on Veterans Day in 2010 and honors the branches of the military as well as students and staff. Photo courtesy of Saint Leo University
• 002: Student-veteran Josh Thornsberry receives a Quilt of Valor in 2022. Thornsberry earned a bachelor’s in psychology in 2023 and is in Saint Leo’s psychology graduate degree program. Photo courtesy of Saint Leo University

PASCO COUNTY – The Soule Co. is pursuing its second major expansion in less than four years. 

The woman-owned manufacturing company will occupy 127,820 square feet at North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center, where the firm will hire 10 new employees and invest $400,000 in new racking systems and facility buildout. 

The company now has three locations and employs 100 people throughout Pasco County, where it manufactures and packages medical supplies. This building will allow the company to expand its existing medical device manufacturing operations.

“Soule has continued to grow and thrive in Pasco County. They are a prime example of why Pasco EDC focuses on providing resources and opportunities to our existing industry,” said Bill Cronin, president and CEO of Pasco EDC. “They are creating new jobs for our residents. I am happy they continue to see all that our county has to offer them and there is no need to look anywhere else.”

Soule manufactures and distributes patient positioning products. Its positioners are designed to reduce pressure management injuries, such as pressure sores, ulcers, tissue ischemia and necrosis. 

This expansion will help increase production and productivity to support the needs that are being driven by new and extended contracts with medical group purchasing organizations throughout North America. 

“Our outstanding reputation for manufacturing these quality products within the medical industry has propelled this growth and continues to open new doors of opportunity,” said Lindsey Osborne, president of Soule. “We have greatly appreciated the continued support that Pasco EDC has provided to our company and employees through hiring opportunities and training. Our goal is to continue to grow in Pasco County and provide a great place for people to work within our community.”

In 2019, the Pasco Board of County Commissioners approved a $3.7 million Penny for Pasco forgivable loan to ROOKER to build North Tampa Bay 75, an industrial park, to meet the demands of Pasco’s rapidly growing industrial sectors. 

ROOKER closed on the purchase of the 85-acre property in December 2021, with the intention of redeveloping a surplus county-owned property. 

“The Pasco County/ROOKER partnership took a surplus county property, paying no ad valorem taxes, and created a major employment and tax-generating business park,” said Ron Oakley, chairman of the Pasco Board of County Commissioners.  “ROOKER has been a reliable partner delivering on its obligations to Pasco County.”

Building one is a 187,000-square-foot facility designed to accommodate multiple tenants. It was completed in 2023 and is located within half a mile of the I-75 interchange at Overpass Road in Wesley Chapel. 

ROOKER will invest an additional $2 million in tenant improvements to modify the facility for the two tenants.

“The Soule Co. expanding into this new speculative space is a great example of why we support preserving certain areas for industrial growth,” said Seth Weightman, District 2 representative on the Pasco Board of County Commissioners. “By having inventory available at this size, a local company was able to expand operations for the second time in four years and remain in Pasco County.”

The remaining 59,180 square feet of building one has been leased to a Fortune 1,000 company in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning industry.

“The leasing success we have achieved at North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center is a testament to the vision and commitment of Pasco County’s leadership,” said John Rooker, CEO of ROOKER. “The county has made substantial investments in recent years in infrastructure, road improvements and even a new I-75 interchange in this area. Those investments are now attracting high quality employers to locate and grow in the area.”

North Tampa Bay 75 can accommodate up to 850,000 square feet of Class-A industrial space in four buildings. Future buildings within the park can accommodate tenants ranging in size from 40,000 square feet up to 300,000 square feet. ROOKER expects to construct the next building in the park in 2025.

• Expansion 001: The Soule Co. has three locations in Pasco County, where it manufactures and distributes medical devices. Photo courtesy of Pasco EDC 
• Expansion 002:  The Soule Co. serves clients throughout North America. Photo courtesy of Pasco EDC 
• Expansion 003: North Tampa Bay 75 Business Center was an industrial park supported through the Penny for Pasco program. Photo courtesy of Pasco EDC