The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Rays manager recalls north Tampa roots

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Kevin Cash tries not to dwell on the fact that he’s in the second year of managing his hometown Major League Baseball team.

Instead, he separates his duties of being the skipper of the Tampa Bay Rays with the nostalgia of growing up in Lutz, playing in Northside Little League, attending Gaither High School and being a one-time catcher for the Rays in 2005.

Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash embarks on his second season leading the ball club. The North Tampa native played in Northside Little League and graduated from Gaither High School, before attending Florida State University and playing eight years in Major League Baseball. (Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays)
Tampa Bay Rays manager Kevin Cash embarks on his second season leading the ball club. The North Tampa native played in Northside Little League and graduated from Gaither High School, before attending Florida State University and playing eight years in Major League Baseball.
(Courtesy of Tampa Bay Rays)

While he admitted “there’s a lot of excitement” in having the opportunity to return home a year ago, he noted that it’s more important to have an MLB managerial job, regardless of where it’s located.

“Whether you’re in the town or not, there’s 30 of those jobs that are pretty prestigious positions, and it’s an honor to be there,” said Cash, 38. “But, it does make it a little bit sweeter, and you can’t deny the fact it gets you back home.

“You factor in that it brought my family back to my hometown, and back to a bunch of family and friends. That just adds to everything,” he said.

Over the years, Cash, the youngest manager in the MLB, has proven he’s willing to move anywhere to work in professional baseball.

After an eight-year MLB career as a journeyman catcher that sent him to Toronto, Boston, New York and Houston, Cash became a bullpen coach for the Cleveland Indians, working under manager Terry Francona in 2013 and 2014.

With his playing days finished and his coaching career in full swing, Cash wasn’t sure how long it would take before he’d be able to permanently return to Florida— where the bulk of his family and his wife’s family live.

Cash still recalls his younger days growing up in the Valley Ranch Drive neighborhood, situated across from Lake Park.

“I remember when my parents moved to the neighborhood in Lutz, it was like a one street cul-de-sac, and there were boys everywhere,” Cash said. “We had pickup football games, pickup basketball, baseball games every day. It was just a pretty cool neighborhood to grow up in, because there were so many kids our age that we could go out there, and have a complete game with.”

Even back in the late ’80s and early ’90s, the Tampa youth baseball scene was rife with talent.

As a 12-year-old, Kevin Cash played on the 1989 Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series. His team fell in the quarterfinals to Eastview (California) Little League 12-5. (Courtesy of Little League Baseball)
As a 12-year-old, Kevin Cash played on the 1989 Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series. His team fell in the quarterfinals to Eastview (California) Little League 12-5.
(Courtesy of Little League Baseball)

In 1989, 12-year-old Cash played second base for the Northside Little League team that reached the 43rd Little League World Series, which then consisted of the top four little league teams from both the United States and the rest of the world.

From the time Cash attended (and graduated) Gaither High from 1993 to 1997, 31 players from Tampa were drafted to pro ball clubs directly from the high school ranks.

“It was a youth hotbed,” said Cash, who played college baseball at Florida State. “There were just a lot of good players coming out of that area…and the competition was always very healthy. When you look at when that age group got to high school baseball, you started to see that there were really good high school players that were either getting pro contracts or opportunities to go play college baseball.

“We’re biased, because we think Florida baseball is great, but we get to play year-round where some other states obviously don’t,” Cash said.

Despite having a father, Mike, who played minor league baseball, Cash never felt pressure to participate in the sport growing up, often playing with his brother, Justin, as much as possible.

“Playing as a little leaguer was the highlight of (our) day—going to practice, playing those weekend or weekday night games. We just really enjoyed it,” Cash said.

“We just always wanted to play. We lived at the Northside Little League Park.”

Published March 9, 2016

Zephyrhills projects on the way

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The Zephyrhills CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) has several projects on tap for its 30-year master plan.

Gail Hamilton, in her first year as CRA director for the city of Zephyrhills, gave an overview of what’s expected during the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting on March 3.

The CRA oversees a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.

Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton spoke to the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on March 3. She outlined several projects for the CRA’s 30-year master plan. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)
Zephyrhills CRA director Gail Hamilton spoke to the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce on March 3. She outlined several projects for the CRA’s 30-year master plan.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

Hamilton talked about the agency’s impending priorities—neighborhood cleanup, restoration of dilapidated homes and the development of Zephyr Park.

“The idea behind the CRA is that the city looks at the city limits and they look at…slum and blight conditions. …You look at different aspects of the community and you decide that the private sector, the market, is not going to bring up the conditions within that defined district,” Hamilton explained.

“One of the things the CRA does is look at the conditions, and try to come up with incentives…for people to invest and make the conditions better within the district, and therefore, increase the property values.”

Hamilton cited the Silver Oaks community as an example for the type of area the CRA is working to clean up.

“There’s no sidewalks, there’s no streetlights, there’s no driveways,” she said.

“People are parking on the grass, and the grass has died, and it’s just sand…blowing into the street. They haven’t painted the houses. The roofs are bad. There are appliances in the yards. Trash is blowing.

“Would you invest there? Would you buy a home? The answer is no,” she said.

The first step in improving the appearance of residential areas within the district was taken at the CRA’s last board meeting on Feb. 22, with the passage of a $10,000 Residential Paint Grant Program.

The program is open to residents of owner-occupied homes on a first-come, first-served basis. The grant provides up to $500 in matching funds. For example, if an owner spends $1,000 on paint, the CRA will provide $500. If an owner spends $400 on paint, the CRA will reimburse $200.

The Zephyrhills CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) oversees a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.
The Zephyrhills CRA (Community Redevelopment Agency) oversees a 520-acre defined district that essentially encompasses the center spine of the city, generally between Hercules Park to C Avenue, and from Zephyr Park to 17th Street.

“We want to encourage people to paint their homes,” Hamilton said. “Nothing makes a house look better than a good coat of paint.”

In addition to residential properties, the CRA is looking to spruce up commercial property, and make the city more attractive for future business.

At the CRA’s next board meeting on March 28, the CRA is expected to pass a Commercial Sign Grant Program.

“Looking at the businesses around town, the signs really do need help,” the CRA director said. “The CRA is working to come up with designs for the different commercial districts, because if you’re on Fifth Avenue, the sign you put up is a whole lot different than the sign you would put up if you were on Gall Boulevard.

“We want to make sure you have an opportunity to put a sign up that is interesting, reflects your business, and really matches the district and the area that your business is in,” she said.

The CRA is making it a priority to incorporate better branding for “The City of Pure Water.”

“You go anywhere in the world and you say, ‘Zephyrhills,’ the first thing people say is, ‘water.’ Why is it that we have no water anywhere in downtown? There’s not a water fountain or even a picture of water,” Hamilton explained.

“When we finish this (30-year master) plan, at no time will you be in Zephyrhills that you don’t see, touch or hear water.”

Additionally, the CRA is embarking on a yearlong design plan for upgrading Zephyr Park.

Hamilton pointed out that a “great park” should make the city more attractive for visitors.

“It’s a great asset. It’s going to be a great investment for the city of Zephyrhills,” she said. “We will increase the redevelopment value of all the surrounding properties in that area.”

The agency is also in the midst of restoring the historic Jeffries House — leveling, replacing window frames and rehabbing the entire building.

“When you look at Zephyrhills, there’s not a tremendous amount of economic resources, so the historic resources we have, we want to honor them,” Hamilton said.

Published March 9, 2016

 

Pasco is real estate ready

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The real estate market in Pasco County is thriving.

And, evidence of that was on display at “Meet the Developers: The Future of Real Estate.”

The annual breakfast meeting, hosted by the Pasco Economic Development Council, brought together developers, real estate brokers, investors and community leaders at the Residence Inn on March 2.

Four examples of Pasco’s current and future development initiatives were highlighted: Compark 75, Starkey Ranch, Connected City and the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program.

Compark 75 defied conventional wisdom that building on speculation in the midst of an economic meltdown would be a bad idea. The initial developer in 2008 abandoned the project.

Tom Ryan, economic development manager for Pasco Economic Development Council, standing by the podium, moderated a panel on the future of real estate in Pasco County. On the panel, from left, were: Danielle Ruiz, economic development manager for Duke Energy; Kartik Goyani, vice president of operations for Metro Development; Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, broker with Commercial Asset Partners Realty; and Matt Call, project director for Starkey Ranch/Wheelock Communities. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Tom Ryan, economic development manager for Pasco Economic Development Council, standing by the podium, moderated a panel on the future of real estate in Pasco County.
On the panel, from left, were: Danielle Ruiz, economic development manager for Duke Energy; Kartik Goyani, vice president of operations for Metro Development; Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, broker with Commercial Asset Partners Realty; and Matt Call, project director for Starkey Ranch/Wheelock Communities.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

But, Larry Morgan of HR Pasco LLC, and Ross Kirk, of KVR Development LLC, joined forces as owner and developer, respectively, to take on the challenge.

The industrial park is next to Interstate 75, about halfway between State Road 54 and State Road 56 interchanges. Suncoast Parkway is 12 miles to the west. The Tampa North Aero Park is along Compark 75’s northern boundary.

In 2014, a $15 million expansion of the industrial park broke ground. It was the first major investment in commercial office construction in Florida since the 2008 recession.

More expansion is under way, with the ongoing construction of a new 65,000-square-foot building. It will be the fifth building at the 165-acre site.

Every building has gone vertical without signed tenants. But, the park is nearly filled to 100 percent capacity. Plans also are  are under way for a new building that can be designed as a multistory office, or built-out for light industrial or manufacturing.

“As fast as we can build them, we are finding quality companies to go in them,” said Heidi Tuttle-Beisner, a broker with Commercial Asset Partners Realty who handles leasing for the park.

Starkey Ranch is a master-planned community of more than 5,500 homes under development by Wheelock Communities in Odessa, off State Road 54.

Groundbreaking on the first model homes took place in 2014. Homes are now selling in Whitfield Park. The welcome center opened in spring. And, Taylor Morrison anticipates a grand opening in April for its model home center for the Esplanade subdivision at Starkey Ranch.

The interest in the ranch is evident in the 2,400 visitors on average who click onto the community’s website each week, said Matt Call, project director for Starkey Ranch/Wheelock Communities.

Interest also is high on the proposed business park and retail sites planned at State Road 54 and Gunn Highway.

Call said announcements would be made on an anchor grocery store, likely in June. And, an apartment complex also is coming at that location, with an announcement expected soon.

“We’ve had a lot of interest in this opportunity,” Call said.

A one-of-a-kind gigabit community and a crystal lagoon are the centerpiece attractions for Metro Development’s “connected city” corridor.

State lawmakers created a special development district for about 7,800 acres in central and eastern Pasco County as a 10-year pilot program. Interstate 75, State Road 52, Curley Road and Overpass Road border the district. Development in the district will be able to bypass the typical state reviews in favor of local control in the hands of Pasco County commissioners.

Metro Development is developing master-planned communities on the former Epperson Ranch within the special district. One town center feature will be a 7-acre man-made swimming pool, known as a crystal lagoon.

“We want that to be integrated into the community,” said Kartik Goyani, vice president of operations for Metro Development.

But, Metro Development also will create the first planned gigabit community, or Connected City, in the nation. Residents and business owners will live, work and play in an environment linked by Ultra Fi, a broadband system with speeds so fast that photos can be downloaded in seconds, not minutes.

Assistance in its development will come from US Ignite, a nonprofit group founded by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy and the National Science Foundation.

Future development on property adjacent to Zephyrhills Municipal Airport is getting a boost from Duke Energy through the Duke Energy Site Readiness Program.

In 2015, Duke Energy representatives worked with the city of Zephyrhills on a study of about 440 undeveloped acres around the airport.

The site is centrally located in Florida, and is in proximity to such highways as State Road 54, I-75 and Interstate 4. In addition, there is the bonus of a CSX rail line in the area.

Duke Energy has reviewed nearly 190 sites in six states in the southeast during the past 10 years.

Information from these reviews serves as a guide for local communities that want to create pad-ready sites for development.

One obstacle is expansion of the site’s wastewater capacity at an estimated cost of $1.7 million, said Danielle Ruiz, economic development manager for Duke Energy.

However, she said tax revenues from the Penny for Pasco program could provide funds for this project.

Pasco County recently launched a revolving loan program, with up to $15 million available to make sites pad-ready or to build shell buildings for potential industrial, manufacturing or flex-space. The deadline to submit proposals to the county is April 11.

Published March 9, 2016

Connerton Corner to get McDonald’s

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McDonald’s restaurant is set to open at Connerton Corner in late summer.

It is yet another sign that developers are looking north along U.S. 41 to bring retail to Land O’ Lakes, an area where more rooftops are popping up.

A groundbreaking for McDonald’s is expected by mid-April, with an opening date slated for late July or early August.

A dump truck tips a load of dirt onto a vacant lot that in April will be the site for a groundbreaking of a new McDonald’s restaurant, at U.S. 41 and Pleasant Plains Parkway. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
A dump truck tips a load of dirt onto a vacant lot that in April will be the site for a groundbreaking of a new McDonald’s restaurant, at U.S. 41 and Pleasant Plains Parkway.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Construction crews currently are preparing the site at the entrance into the master-planned community of Connerton, at U.S. 41 and Pleasant Plains Parkway.

The site is owned by Orlando-based Connerton Corners LLC, according to Pasco County records.

For McDonald’s franchise owner, Jose Hernandez, the restaurant will be his 11th restaurant in the Tampa Bay area. His 10th restaurant recently opened at 11367 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

Hernandez also owns franchises in Trinity, New Port Richey and Land O’ Lakes. He bought most of his locations in 2014 from Bob Brickman, a long-time franchise owner in the Tampa Bay area.

“(Pasco) is destined for very progressive growth,” said Hernandez, who began his career with McDonald’s more than 25 years ago. He has been an operator/owner since 2008 but also has served in corporate positions including more than four years as president of McDonald’s Caribbean division.

McDonald’s has restaurants in about 120 countries. Hernandez has visited more than 80 of those countries and helped open restaurants in Central and South America and the Philippines.

Hernandez now calls Pasco County home.

“It’s amazing after a world tour to come home,” Hernandez said. “We are very fortunate to be in our location in Pasco County, (an area) that is still under discovery.”

He was 9 years old when his family immigrated from Cuba to south Florida. In 1989 Hernandez relocated to Tampa where he began his career with McDonald’s.

The fast-food chain currently is sprucing up the design of its restaurants including Hernandez’ location at Land O’ Lakes Boulevard and State Road 54.

The company also recently introduced the all-day breakfast to its menu. That is going over well, Hernandez said.

The Connerton Corner restaurant will be testing another new concept – self-ordering by kiosk. The Ridge Road location also has kiosks.

Hernandez said customers can walk in, place an order at a kiosk, then sit down and wait for an employee to deliver the meal tableside.

“I believe it’s a whole different experience,” he said.

It’s a sign of how much social media and new technology is influencing customer service, he added.

Initial testing has been positive but the system will be tweaked to work through any kinks in its operation. Employees will help guide customers through the process. “We’ve done a lot of prep work to bring it forward,” Hernandez said.

The new restaurant initially will fill about 60 to 65 positions. Current employees from other locations will help get the restaurant started but local residents also will have opportunities to apply for jobs, Hernandez said.

“I think it grows from there,” he said.

Published March 9, 2016

Seeking Pasco industry nominees

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Nominations are being accepted for the 2016 Pasco Economic Development Council Industry of the Year Awards.

Winners will be announced at the 30th annual Appreciation Banquet in September.

The awards recognize top companies in Pasco County that excel in technology, innovation, job creation, growth, capital investment and community involvement.

Nominees should be service, manufacturing or technology companies operating in Pasco County. Award categories are manufacturing, service/distribution, technology and nonprofits/others.

The awards will be separated into divisions based on number of employees. Evaluations are based on job creation, increased capital investment, and contributions to the community through civic involvement between January 2015 and June 2016.

Each year, more than 600 business and community leaders in Tampa Bay and Pasco County attend the awards banquet, including state legislators, county commissioners and city officials.

Awards were presented to eight companies in 2015, and the winners were The Laker/Lutz News; Applicant Insight; SAHM Co.; Big Storm Brewing Co.; Preferred Materials; Easy Business Software; Veterans Alternative Therapy; and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.

All nominations for 2016 must be received by the Pasco EDC, via email at or fax (813) 926-0829, prior to the close of business April 29. All submissions will be reviewed by the Nomination Review Subcommittee and/or Pasco EDC staff to determine eligibility. For more information, visit PascoEDC.com.

Published March 9, 2016

‘Trial by Fire’ seeks to spark social movement

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Documentary filmmaker Charles Mattocks hopes to inspire a social movement to help people suffering from Complex Regional Pain Syndrome and other rare diseases.

Mattocks — who is the nephew of famed reggae artist Bob Marley — has produced “Trial by Fire,” a documentary that tells the story of his mother’s eight-year struggle with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome, called CRPS for short.

It’s a rare condition that is not widely understood, Mattocks said.

“I was totally confused, really, on what this thing was,” Mattocks said. “I used to tell my mother, ‘Mom, you’ve got to walk it off. You’ve got to go to the gym.’”

Fifteen-year-old Natalia Rijos has been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It’s a condition that is characterized by prolonged pain that may be constant and, in some people, extremely uncomfortable or severe. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Fifteen-year-old Natalia Rijos has been diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome. It’s a condition that is characterized by prolonged pain that may be constant and, in some people, extremely uncomfortable or severe.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Mattocks said while he didn’t initially know what CRPS was, as he delved into the topic and observed his mom, he knew something must be done to give people suffering from the condition a voice.

“It’s agony,” Mattocks said.

The key symptom is prolonged pain that may be constant and, in some people, extremely uncomfortable or severe, according to information published on the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke’s website.

The pain can spread through the body, the pain can travel from limb to limb and there often is increased sensitivity in the affected area, such that even light touch or contact is painful, the website says.

People with CRPS also experience constant or intermittent changes in temperature, skin color, and swelling of the affected limb, the website says.

Other common features of CRPS include:

  • Changes in skin texture
  • Abnormal sweating
  • Changes in nail and hair growth patterns
  • Stiffness in affected joints
  • Problems coordinating muscle movement
  • Abnormal movement in the affected limb

Fifteen-year-old Natalia Rijos, who is also featured in the film, is quite familiar with CRPS.

There’s a clear line of demarcation in her life.

One day, she was a typical 12-year-old, enjoying the normal activities of girls her age.

But, that changed on Dec. 15, 2012.

That was the day she was horsing around with her dad, showing off some karate moves.

Her dad grabbed her leg, she began to fall, and as she went to brace herself from the fall, she injured her left hand.

Initially, her mom, Myrna Concepcion, thought it was just a sprain.

But, the girl’s hand became swollen and discolored, and didn’t heal properly.

In ensuing months, the pain became unbearable and doctors couldn’t figure out what was wrong.

It took three months to get a diagnosis.

According to Concepcion, in one sense, the family was lucky. In can sometimes take years to get a proper diagnosis.

In Rijos’ case, the situation was complicated by an accident. She suffered additional injuries when she was riding in a school bus and a car plowed into it.

The teenager, who lives with her family in Lutz, has been living out of wheelchair for two years. She is fed through a feeding tube.

Rijos attends Steinbrenner High for some classes, but is educated by telephone at home for other classes.

People with CRPS not only suffer with the pain, but they also struggle with the failure of others to understand their condition, Concepcion said.

People tend to discount the pain, Concepcion said. They think they are exaggerating, or that the problem is just psychological, she said.

That’s why the disease is sometimes called the “suicide disease,” Rijos said. Some with CRPS can no longer bear the pain, lose hope that their condition will ever improve, and they choose to end their lives, she said.

Rijos compared the pain she experiences to someone placing their hand on a hot burner and leaving it there.

It’s like having a pain switch that never goes off, her mother said.

The documentary has been accepted by six film festivals, and recently won ‘best director’ and ‘most impactful topic’ in a documentary at the Hollywood Florida Film Festival.

The Tampa Bay area is fortunate, because there are two doctors who treat patients with CRPS, Mattocks said, noting his documentary also includes a Land O’ Lakes woman in her 40s who is suffering from the disease.

Increased awareness of CRPS is needed, not only by the general public, but also by the medical community, Mattock said.

“I know people who live in Long Island, who have to go to Philly for treatment,” he said.

Mattocks said that CRPS is just one of the rare conditions that people face, without anyone giving voice to their struggles.

“There are over 350 million worldwide who suffer from rare disease. If you think about it, if there is no Ice Bucket Challenge, how can these people have a voice? It’s not just about CRPS. “It’s about rare disease in general,” Mattocks said.

To that end, he plans to be an advocate and hopes to inspire others.

“I believe that this is, in a sense, divine,” he said, noting additional screenings of “Trial by Fire” are expected.

“We have several distribution offers on the table,” Mattocks said.

Published March 2, 2016

Woman’s club gears up for annual flea market

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Donations have been flowing into the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club.

The organization has received thousands of items, as its gears up for the annual Woman’s Club Flea Market scheduled for March 4 and March 5 at the Historic Old Lutz School, 18819 N. U.S. 41 in Lutz.

Lois Cohen, left, and Ruby Helphrey, sort through donation items at the Historic Old Lutz School. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)
Lois Cohen, left, and Ruby Helphrey, sort through donation items at the Historic Old Lutz School.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

The flea market is set to be the club’s largest fundraiser this year, because its annual arts and crafts festival, typically held in December had to be cancelled due the development of a sinkhole at Lake Park.

“The community has really been rallying around. I think we have more donations this year,” said Cathy Mathes, president of the woman’s club.

“This year, we’re in particular need,” she said. “We just want to exceed last year’s (flea market) number.”

People have donated a wide range of goods from household and children’s items to antiques and collectibles, to sports equipment and gardening tools.

“If you walk around, you’ll see we have one of everything,” Mathes said.

Higher-end items such as silver and crystal can be found at “huge bargains,” Mathes noted.

The flea market, which has been around for more than 35 years, typically attracts thousands of shoppers during its two-day run.

When patrons want to take a little break from shopping, they can grab a bite to eat at the food booth — which will be offering breakfast items, baked goods, hot dogs, coffee and other beverages.

To help keep the event running smoothly, the club enlists the help of over 80 volunteers — including the member’s husbands and children.

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club organize donations as they prepare for the annual Woman’s Club Flea Market on March 4 and March 5.
Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club organize donations as they prepare for the annual Woman’s Club Flea Market on March 4 and March 5.

Besides raising money, the event provides a chance for club members to spend time with each other and with people from the community, the club president said.

“It’s so much fun with the camaraderie,” Mathes said. “I really enjoy working with the people. …You get to know people better than just seeing them at a (woman’s club) meeting.”

At the end of the event, leftover items will be donated to local organizations, including Goodwill and Salvation Army, local nursing homes, veterans’ charities and local libraries.

Figuring out how much the club can give in scholarships and to the various organizations it helps will be tougher this year.

The cancellation of the arts and crafts festival has forced the club to scramble to secure funds for local organizations and college scholarships.

“We plan to sit down and look at how much we make, and decide what we’re going to do with it, because it’s still not what we had last year,” Mathes explained. “We had (raised) $30,000, plus we had the flea market (donations) last year. …We have to be very careful about budgeting it out.”

Anyone who wishes to donate items for the flea market still has time. Donations will be accepted until March 3. All donations should be in clean and in working order. Large appliances and sleeper sofas cannot be accepted.

What: Woman’s Club Flea Market
Where: Old Lutz School, 18819 N. U.S. 41 in Lutz
When: March 4 from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., and March 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information, call (813) 949-1937 or (813) 948-4752.

Published March 2, 2016

Pasco encourages commercial growth

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A revolving loan program, with an initial outlay of up to $15 million, could soon prime the pump for new commercial development, and bring more jobs to Pasco County.

The funds can be used by private investors to make land site-ready for development or to construct shell buildings for potential office, industrial and flex-space uses.

The goal is to entice greater investment in the one area of growth lacking in the county – offices and industrial space.

“We don’t have the product,” said Melanie Kendrick, the county’s acting program director for the Office of Economic Growth.

There is land available, Kendrick said, but investors want to move quickly and want site-ready properties.

On the other side, land owners may be reluctant to invest in utility infrastructure or speculative construction.

“We’re trying to lower the carrying costs to fill that gap,” Kendrick said.

The county initially launched the loan program in late 2015. But, the request for proposals was tweaked for a relaunching in February.

Funding is from the Penny for Pasco program, which was approved through voter referendum in 2012, and began collecting revenues in 2015. The money goes into the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund. To date, more than $4.3 million has been collected. Over 10 years the program is expected to collect nearly $54 million that will be parceled out over 25 years for economic development.

The county’s goal is to create more than 100,000 jobs in 10 years.

The loan program has two parts.

Pasco Accelerate Development Sites (PADS) gets sites shovel-ready with funds that help install water, sewer and other utility improvements.

Pasco Occupant Ready Shells (PORS) helps with construction costs on shell buildings, without a tenant or buyer. But, having a building ready can attract an employer who wants to begin operations quickly. The “shell” can be completed to the specifications needed.

Application deadline for the program is April 11 at 2 p.m. Pasco County commissioners will be asked to rank applicants’ proposals, based on staff recommendations. The item likely will be reviewed at their May 24 meeting.

Commissioners can decide which projects will receive funding, and how much each will receive.

Pasco County officially distributes solicitation documents through the Florida Online Bid System. Solicitation documents may be downloaded at no cost.

Documents also may be obtained from the county’s purchasing department in accordance with Florida Statutes that pertain to public records.

Published March 2, 2016

Arts and crafts festival finds new home

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The GFWC Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival has a new home.

After months of searching, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club found an ideal fit for the festival at Keystone Prep High School, 18105 Gunn Highway in Odessa.

The festival is slated for the first weekend in December.

The GFWC Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival will take place at Keystone Prep High School on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 this year. Last year’s festival was cancelled at Lake Park after a sinkhole developed in a road. (File Photo)
The GFWC Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival will take place at Keystone Prep High School on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4 this year. Last year’s festival was cancelled at Lake Park after a sinkhole developed in a road.
(File Photo)

According to woman’s club president Cathy Mathes, the two-day festival will be at Keystone Prep for “the next few years.”

Mathes was particularly impressed by the school’s large property, and the school’s enthusiasm in hosting the event.

“They’re getting the students involved. They have a really involved parent club that’s going to be doing a lot of work, too,” the club president said, noting the festival will be mutually beneficial for fundraising purposes.

Last December, the 36th annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Festival was cancelled at Lake Park due to a sinkhole that was estimated as being around 6 feet wide and 100 feet deep. The club had also encountered some problems with flooding on park roads during previous arts and crafts festivals.

After the cancellation, the woman’s club opted to find a new location to house the popular event, which typically attracts up to 30,000 people.

The festival is the largest yearly fundraiser for the club, which gives back to the community in the form of college scholarships and donations to local charities.

The process of finding a new location was “quite a search,” according to Pat Serio, head of public relations for the woman’s club.

“Finding a new venue is not as easy as it appears,” Serio said. “We can’t just relocate to a (land) parcel. We have to have infrastructure and electricity.”

Serio added it was important to keep the arts and crafts festival near Lutz.

“A lot of people pitched location ideas, but some weren’t practical or weren’t going to work,” Serio said.

“Someone, for instance, suggested the (Florida State) Fairgrounds. We can’t do that; we have to keep it in our area.”

To make up for the dearth of funds caused by cancellation of the festival nearly three months ago, the woman’s club plans to host several smaller events and fundraisers throughout the year.

“We’re trying to take the burden off our club members’ shoulders, because it’s a heavy financial demand on us,” Serio said. “We’re trying to reach our (donation) numbers.”

One new event, titled ‘White Nights,’ is slated for October near the Lutz Branch Library. It will feature music, food and original artwork for sale at reasonable prices.

Published March 2, 2016

 

Radio system improvements planned

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Pasco County is replacing dinosaur analog with new age digital.

The county is replacing a 26-year-old, outmoded radio communications system.

New radios, antennas and cell towers will enhance Pasco County’s public safety coverage.

In recent years, the existing system has been plagued with complaints by residents about dropped 911 calls.

Todd Bayley, Pasco County’s chief information officer, stated the obvious to Pasco commissioners in February. “The system is at maximum capacity,” he said. “We have coverage issues currently.”

Commissioners approved a $14.5 million contract with Williams Communications Inc., to add seven new cell tower sites for a total of 10 sites countywide. Existing sites are in New Port Richey, Darby and Dade City. The new sites will enhance public safety coverage particularly in new growth areas of Zephyrhills, Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

In addition, the new system will replace old hand-held and portable radios, add antennas to existing sites, and enhance capabilities at the county’s 911 emergency center. The project will roll out over three years, with completion expected in July 2018.

“It’s giving us total 100 percent coverage everywhere in the county,” Bayley said.

The current system relies on three cell tower sites, 2,500 hand-held and portable radios, and 11 dispatch consoles for 911 calls.

The manufacturer’s expiration date for that system is in 2017.

The upgraded system will support public safety agencies including the Pasco Sheriff’s Office, Office of Emergency Management, and Pasco Fire Rescue as well as law enforcement agencies that have merged emergency operations with Pasco. Those include Port Richey, Dade City and New Port Richey.

In addition, the county supports communications on board more than 30 percent of Pasco County School District’s buses. Communications among all county agencies also will be enhanced and expanded.

Funding is from the Penny for Pasco tax money collected annually by the county, with 20 percent set aside for public safety projects.

The new system will be compatible with radio systems used by law enforcement and public safety agencies in surrounding counties.

As an added feature, Bayley said certain public safety and fire rescue officers will be able to download an application to a Smartphone, and with the punch of a button, start talking over the radio system.

“So, they don’t always have to have a radio on their hip,” Bayley said.

As the systems are traded out, the transition should be seamless as the new system is compatible with the existing system, Bayley said.

The county plans to fund the project initially by borrowing from the general reserve funds and then securing a loan to reimburse those funds. The loan closing is expected on March 9.

Published March 2, 2016