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State loan may help widen State Road 56

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The Pasco Commission agreed that a low-interest state loan to fund the widening of additional lanes on State Road 56 is worth exploring, if developers take responsibility for paying it back.

Commissioners voted unanimously to direct county administrators and staff members to gather details about the loan and prepare a letter of interest to be sent to the State Infrastructure Bank. The letter must be submitted by May 29 for state officials to consider granting a loan in its 2016 cycle.

‘I do have some reservations. People here believe growth should pay for itself.’ – Pasco County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader
‘I do have some reservations. People here believe growth should pay for itself.’ – Pasco County Commission Chairman Ted Schrader

The infrastructure bank provides loans and other assistance to public or private entities for projects that qualify for aid under federal and state law.

Commissioners are expected to vote on the matter at their May 19 meeting.

“There’s a lot of details that need to be worked out on this,” said Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein.

Goldstein and Richard Gehring, the county’s planning and development administrator, sought permission at the commissioners’ May 5 meeting to pursue the loan option.

A lot of staff time will be needed, Goldstein told commissioners.

“I think this is a regional road, not a local road, and will be a benefit for the entire county,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “There may be options, many ways the loan can be packaged.”

But commissioners also had concerns about potential costs and who would be held accountable for repaying the loan.

“I do have some reservations,” said Chairman Ted Schrader. “People here believe growth should pay for itself.”

Gehring said the county would be the lead applicant for the loan but would collect repayment funds from developers through mobility surcharge fees and potentially special property assessments.

County officials hope the city of Zephyrhills will agree to pay 10 percent of the annual loan payments not covered by developers’ contributions.

The Zephyrhills City Council was expected to discuss the matter at its May 11 meeting.

The state loan option arose out of a February town hall meeting to discuss transportation issues. Since then county officials, State Sen. John Legg, State Rep. Danny Burgess and state highway officials have had additional meetings on the loan plan.

Current plans are to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills, as a two-lane road.

Zephyrhills’ residents and city officials have pushed for the additional lanes as a boost to the area’s economy. They also have said it would be less costly to build four lanes now rather than later.

Gehring said the agreement might be crafted along the lines of a similar one that paid for roadwork for the Villages of Pasadena Hills. In that instance, the Florida Department of Transportation and developers each paid for two of the four lanes built to accommodate increased traffic generated by the development project.

If needed, other funding sources could be tax increment financing and gasoline taxes.

However, Gehring cautioned commissioners that if these funds were used, the county might have to defer other road projects.

Commissioners said developers should bear the burden of repaying debt from the project.

“Other developers have already been paying,” said Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Published May 13, 2015

 

Business Digest 05-13-15

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Honoring small businesses
The Pasco Commission recently approved a resolution to recognize May 4 through May 8 as Small Business Week.

Commissioners also recognized the Pasco Economic Development Council, the SMARTstart Business incubators and the chambers of commerce throughout the county.

Small business makes up 99 percent of all employers in Pasco and 80 percent of the county’s private work force. More than 8,700 small businesses in the county produce more than $2.7 billion in payroll and have helped lower the county’s unemployment rate to 6.2 percent, about half the unemployment rate of five years ago, according to data provided by John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Commissioners also approved a resolution recognizing May as Pasco County World Trade Month. Pasco has about 80 companies whose exports contribute $53 million to Pasco’s economy.

Tourism grows
The “VisitPasco” Tourism Office is headed toward a record year in tourism as Pasco County and the state of Florida enjoy increased travel to the Sunshine State. Tourism provides about 12,000 full-time jobs in Pasco, according to Tourism Manager Ed Caum. About 500,000 visitors have come to Pasco with travel spending topping $465 million annually.

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is making its contribution through events such as the Kumquat Festival and other events. The annual kumquat celebration generated 400 to 500 “room nights” this year, according to John Moors, the chamber’s executive director.

“These results are indicative of the hard work and community spirit it takes to make a successful tourism destination,” Moors wrote in an email. “Congratulations to all, and a special thanks to our community.”

Dual mixer
Enjoy a dual mixer with the Pasco-Hernando Hispanic and the Central Pasco chambers of commerce on May 13 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Pilot Bank, 17635 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Tampa.

For information, call (813) 435-1499 or (813) 909-2722.

Business seminar
The Pasco-Hernando State College will host BizGROW2.0 on May 14 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the college’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. The half-day conference is for entrepreneurs, start-up business owners and established business owners, and will include panel discussions, advice and inspiration on growing your business and lots of networking.

The cost is $35 per person. Registration is required.

For information, visit PascoEdc.com/events.

Free seminars
Pasco-Hernando SCORE (Service Corps of Retired Executives) hosts free weekly business seminars. Upcoming events include “Using the Internet in Your Business” on May 14 from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., at Regency Park Branch Library, 9701 Little Road, New Port Richey. We will demystify much of the gobbledygook and walk you through an eight-step process of key activities needed to allow you to quickly leverage this technology in almost any business.

On May 21 from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m., SCORE will host “How to Really Start Your Own Business” at New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54 in Zephyrhills. You will learn how to structure your business, develop a business plan and understand how to manage cash flow.

For information, contact SCORE at (727) 842-4638, or email .

Ribbon cutting
Wee Care Clinic will host a ribbon cutting on May 15 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., and a grand opening on May 16 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., at 38184 Medical Center Ave., in Zephyrhills. The facility is a pediatric urgent care clinic.

For information, contact .

Luncheon
The Pasco-Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce will host a luncheon on May 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m., at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 20735 Leonard Road in Lutz.

The cost is $20 for members, $25 for non-members.

For information, call the chamber at (813) 435-1499.

Treat mom, save money this weekend

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Mother’s Day is an opportunity to spend quality time with your mom, grandmother, spouse or anyone who best fits that “mother” role.

It’s a day to do something special.

But it’s not a time to be irresponsible with your finances. Sure, you could spend a bunch of money on expensive flowers and take her to a fancy lunch. But what message would you be sending? That you’re not watching your money? That you’re not the kind of person who looks for good deals?

You won't be the only mother-child pair at the zoo on Mother's Day. (Courtesy of Lowry Park Zoo)
You won’t be the only mother-child pair at the zoo on Mother’s Day.
(Courtesy of Lowry Park Zoo)

Mom taught you better than that.

No, if you want to really impress mom, show her that you’re responsible when it comes to your wallet. Show her that you can have a good time and be smart with your money, too. Let her see how much time you spent finding great values that you can both do on a budget.

Actually, you’re not really spending a lot of time looking for deals. You’re just reading this column. But she’ll be impressed either way.

The truth is that you can have a great time with your mom all weekend and save a lot of money. A few different places have Mother’s Day specials that make it easy to spend the weekend doing fun things. Here are some ways you can spend time with mom, without spending a fortune:

  • Museum of Science & Industry, 4801 E. Fowler Ave., Tampa. Mom gets in absolutely free with a paid child or adult admission. You can check out all their regular exhibits that cover areas like astronomy, robotics and other modern technologies. That includes a special exhibit on 3-D printing and a large area called “Disasterville,” which simulates the effects of natural disasters such as tsunamis, tornadoes, earthquakes and volcanoes. They also have “The Amazing You,” “Mission; Moonbase” and other interactive exhibits to keep everyone entertained. Outside they have a butterfly garden and forest preserve, too.

If mom likes science and technology, this is a great place to take her. There’s a lot to do, and it’s always changing. So if you haven’t seen and done everything, put this on your Mother’s Day agenda.

By the way, this deal also includes an IMAX movie and a Planetarium show. That’s a great deal, and saves you around $23.

  • Lowry Park Zoo, 1101 W. Sligh Ave., Tampa. If seeing live animals appeals to mom, she gets in free at the zoo with a child or adult admission. And we have a good zoo in Tampa: “Parents” magazine named Lowry Park Zoo one of the top 10 zoos in the country for kids. And whatever’s good for kids is probably good for moms, too.

The zoo is split up into different areas. Safari Africa and Ituri Forest is the place to see cheetahs, zebras, giraffes and many other animals. At the Asian Gardens and Sulawesi Aviary, there are tigers, crocodiles, komodo dragons and leopards, not to mention more than a dozen bird species at the aviary. There’s also a free-flight aviary with even more birds.

The Florida Manatee and Aquatic Center is not only a place to see underwater animals, but the world’s only nonprofit manatee hospital. Primate World has primates (naturally) and Wallaroo Station has a goat petting station, water play area and koalas.

(The koalas don’t play in the water area, but it would be awfully cute if they did).

The zoo also has regular feedings the public can attend, a special “Spirits of the Sky” show featuring birds of prey, and animal keeper talks throughout the day. It’s a full day of diverse animal exhibits and attractions. And most of it is outside, so if the weather is nice, it’s a great place to walk around. Finally, if you or mom like photography, it’s hard to find a better place to bring the equipment and add to your collection. Plus you save about $28.

  • Florida Aquarium, 701 Channelside Drive in Tampa. “Parents” magazine also likes our aquarium, naming it a top-five kid-friendly aquarium. And they have a lot of things to see, and moms are free with a paid admission.

The aquarium is a lot more than giant tanks with fish swimming around. Outside, they have a 2-acre water play area for kids. The Wetlands Trail explores Florida’s ecosystem, while the Journey To Madagascar focuses on the wildlife from that island. They have a giant coral reef exhibit, a special penguin area and a number of shows throughout the day.

Just creating a habitat for all the different types of sea life is impressive.

The aquarium, which has been a part of the area for 20 years, features both educational and interactive exhibits, offering lots of ways to appreciate the thousands of animals and plants that live there.

If you or mom has a special affinity toward the water, this is a great place to take her for Mother’s Day. This special saves you between $22 and $24, depending on where you buy the ticket.

Now, you might think that three fun places is simply too much for just one day. And you’re probably right.

But the great thing about these promotions — aside from saving a lot of money, of course — is that they’re good both Saturday and Sunday. So you can take mom to one of them the first day, and visit the others the next day. Or whatever your schedule will allow.

Besides, why should celebrating mom be limited to just one day? Go ahead and make a weekend of it.

On a budget, of course.

So while other people are emptying their wallets on flowers that will be thrown out in about a week or an expensive lunch that will be forgotten by dinner, you’ll creating a weekend of memories with mom.

Which plan is she more likely to remember?

Besides, if you’re worried about food, McDonald’s usually has a free breakfast for mom on Mother’s Day. It’s not fancy, but it’s just the place to plan out your fun day together, and talk about how much money you’re saving.

Happy Mother’s Day.

Published May 6, 2015

Library is all-in for robotics

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Edgar is a show-off.

He flips a large exercise ball into the air with a thumping, quick-action lever.

But the roving robot – a compact collection of digitized metal, plastic and wires – would be nothing without his human creators – the Edgar Allan Ohms Robotics Team.

The little guy- all 15 pounds or so – couldn’t even whir and zip across the floor without a human programming a computer and toggling a joystick.

Edgar the robot rests quietly after demonstrating his throwing skills to Regan Kubus, left, Lego club mother Audrey Pease, Bryce Kubus, Felix Nguyen, Maaz Khan, Danny Urbonas, Dylan Pease, Corey Drexler and library administrator Sean McGarvey. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Edgar the robot rests quietly after demonstrating his throwing skills to Regan Kubus, left, Lego club mother Audrey Pease, Bryce Kubus, Felix Nguyen, Maaz Khan, Danny Urbonas, Dylan Pease, Corey Drexler and library administrator Sean McGarvey.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

The human operators are impressed at what robots can do at their commands.

“They can do whatever you want them to,” said 15-year-old Logan Boudreau. “The way each component works with other components to complete a task is fascinating.”

Boudreau is among about 25 members of Edgar Allan Ohms, a nearly two-year-old robotics team that is sponsored by the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library.

The library’s sponsorship is unique and possibly the only one of its kind in the nation, the robotics team’s website says. So far no one has found a similar team at any state or regional competitions where most teams are based at area middle and high schools.

Library officials are taking another step forward in their commitment to robotics by creating FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Lego League teams for youngsters who could be the next generation of engineers for the robotics team.

With help from NASA grants, the goal is to have seven teams that can compete in FIRST Lego League competitions.

Grants from NASA and the county, each for $5,000, helped seed the Edgar Allan Ohms team in 2014. Business sponsorships and about $3,000 from fundraising also paid initial costs.

“The one thing you know is there are a lot of very nice people in the community,” said Joel Croteau, an AmeriCorps VISTA volunteer and lead mentor for the robotics team.

Library officials kicked off the Lego efforts last month at area libraries.

“We’re trying to get a feel for how we can get this to work for us and for them,” said Alicia Haney, youth services librarian at the Land O’ Lakes branch. “We want kids to have an opportunity to get interested.”

The Danish-invented brand – Lego – is a titan among children’s games, almost a rite of passage for youngsters who love piecing together its interlocking building blocks.

Their creations can be as basic as a house or as complex as a movie-themed action figure.

Lego’s “Mindstorms” game takes imagination to the next level with creations that are programmable and mobile.

Haney said children learn the importance of precision, math and step-by-step logic.

“It’s the first step before you get to the robotics team,” she said. “It’s an eye-opening thing. They find out: This is how my game works. We’re also trying to keep it fun,” Haney said.

Lego fun piqued the interest of many on the robotics team. Miller Bacon, 15, and Boudreau remember Lego games from seventh grade.

“We’ve all had an interest in robots somewhat since we were little,” Bacon said.

Phoebe Mitchell, 15, didn’t have robotics on her radar when she went to a library-sponsored Rockus Maximus battle of the bands. But a robot got her attention. “I was allowed to drive it a couple of minutes,” she said. “I decided to try it. It’s fun.”

In 2014, the rookie team placed 43rd among 62 competitors at the FIRST Robotics Competition Orlando Regional. The theme was “Aerial Assist.” The Pasco County Commission honored the team with a resolution.

FIRST was founded by Dean Kamen, the inventor of the Segway.

The Edgar Allan Ohms team built a second, larger robot, dubbed 2chainz, for the 2015 competition with the theme of “Recycle Rush.”

Team robots picked up and stacked recyclable containers and totes to earn points for accomplished tasks. The Land O’ Lakes team landed in 45th spot against 66 regional and international competitors including teams from Florida, Georgia, Germany and Turkey.

“That was a good showing for a second-year team in a very competitive event,” said Croteau.

Team members attend Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake and Wiregrass Ranch high schools. Some members are home-schooled.

In April, the Land O’ Lakes library set up the county’s first “makerspace” in a former computer lab, providing 3-D printers, an auto-CAD (computer-assisted design) computer and 3-D virtual reality gaming glasses.

The robotics team is in keeping with the goal of encouraging technology and creative arts.

With the regional FIRST challenges under its belt, the team isn’t idle. After school, they tinker with Edgar and 2chainz to make them better.

Other competitions, including clashes between “battle bots,” are on the horizon. These robots are smaller, speedier and designed to flip and disable competitors.

“The thing about battle bots is to build the most destructive robot within the guidelines,” said Boudreau. “That’s the hope. The more destructive the better.”

On a recent afternoon the robotics team and the Land O’ Lakes Lego club shared space to work on their own projects.

Edgar got a brief work out, tossing the giant ball.

Lego club members took turns programming a “Mindstorms” Lego robot they had built from scratch.

“The program is real simple and easy,” said Sean McGarvey, library administrator. “If you have any experience on a computer, you can start right away. You can get really intricate.”

Dylan Pease, 11, sat at the computer tapping in instructions for the robot that would be “a little, little more complicated.”

His brother Matthew Pease is on the robotics team, and that is Dylan’s goal when he gets to the ninth grade.

Their mother Audrey Pease supports her sons’ passion for robotics.

“I hope they learn a bit about program management, time management, team work and gain leadership skills,” she said. “I watch and support, but I don’t mess with it.”

The focus was on getting the Lego robot to either pick up and stack an object, or roam across a game board in search of a brown dot.

“It’s kind of complicated, and I like it,” said 10-year-old Regan Kubus who is home-schooled with her 11-year-old brother Bryce Kubus. “Sometimes you get to build them, and that’s really cool.”

Bryce Kubus busied himself drawing a banner for the team and waiting a turn at driving the robot. “I like putting it together,” he said.

Team member Corey Drexler, 11, said he really liked programming the robots. “Basically it’s controlling the robot, like mind control.”

McGarvey said robotics is one more way libraries are expanding their knowledge base and keeping children interested in learning.

The library helps kids develop talents they didn’t know they had, McGarvey said.

“It’s a very good program. Kids learn a lot,” he said.

Published May 6, 2015

Aldi grocery store set to open on U.S. 301

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A busy section of U.S. 301 will get even busier as developers move forward with plans to build a small shopping plaza with an Aldi grocery store at the intersection of Pretty Pond Road.

Demolition crews began razing Rainbow Court and Brightside Manor mobile home parks in March. MQ Pretty Ponds LLC, a subsidiary of MQ Partners of Dallas, bought the two parcels in 2014, and gave notice to residents they would need to relocate to make way for the plaza.

No construction date has been announced.

This Aldi store is in a shopping plaza off of U.S. 41 and Bearss Avenue. A new store is planned for Zephyrhills. Company officials have said they want to open 650 new stores in America by the end of 2018. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
This Aldi store is in a shopping plaza off of U.S. 41 and Bearss Avenue. A new store is planned for Zephyrhills. Company officials have said they want to open 650 new stores in America by the end of 2018.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

For the moment, city officials and developers are grappling with how to get approval for a new traffic signal at Pretty Pond.

A traffic signal currently operates at the Townview and Merchant’s Square Shopping centers, directing traffic flow into and out of their parking lots on opposite sides of U.S. 301. But Florida Department of Transportation officials say a light at Pretty Pond can only be considered if the existing signal comes down. Two traffic signals so close together don’t meet national highway standards for safe road design, state road officials say.

Commercial and residential growth justifies installing a traffic signal at Pretty Pond to accommodate the anticipated increase in traffic volume, said Zephyrhills City Manager Steve Spina.

Zephyr Commons, a shopping center anchored by a Publix grocery store, is in the same area as the proposed Aldi. And, about 230 new apartments are due for construction, Spina said.

“Its (traffic) all got to come out somehow,” Spina said. “We have to come up with something,”

Spina said he intends to meet with owners of the shopping center to discuss options.

Aldi is a leading international retailer in the discount grocery market. Shoppers bag their own groceries and are encouraged to bring their own reusable bags. Stores are stocked with about 1,400 quick-selling food items including fresh produce, meat, dairy, wine and beer. In contrast, a typical grocer might stock as many as 30,000 items. The goal is low overhead expenses, which Aldi representatives say translates into major savings for its shoppers.

The company was founded in the mid-1940s in Germany and today operates more than 9,000 stores in 18 countries. The United States division is headquartered in Illinois.

In a news release issued this year, Aldi announced the goal of opening 650 new stores in America by the end of 2018. That represents more than a $3 billion investment in land, facilities and equipment.

Aldi was named the nation’s top discount grocery store for four consecutive years, and also one of the top three favorite grocery store chains in America, based on consumer surveys by Market Force Information Inc.

Published May 6, 2015

Bexley Ranch divided in two

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The Land O’ Lakes property will be developed as Bexley North and Bexley South

 

The Pasco Commission has made it official.

The sprawling Bexley Ranch property, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes, has been split into rezoned tracts known as Bexley North and Bexley South.

Interior roads are being constructed for the development of Bexley South, a Land O’ Lakes community being developed by Newland Communities. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Interior roads are being constructed for the development of Bexley South, a Land O’ Lakes community being developed by Newland Communities.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Commissioners voted April 21 to allow the developer to do away with the original 2006 development agreement in favor of the two redrawn subdivisions.

Bexley South is under ownership and control of Newland Communities that is developing a master-planned community, similar in scale to the company’s Fishhawk Ranch and Westchase communities in Hillsborough County.

The Newland property is about 1,733 acres and includes the acquired properties of Ashley Glen and Suncoast Commercial on the north side of State Road 54, east of the Suncoast Parkway, and on north and south sides of Tower Road.

The Bexley family will retain ownership of Bexley North, which contains about 5,400 acres. The property is on the north and south of Tower Road, extending east to Suncoast and the CSX rail corridor. The planned subdivision is allowed about 11,000 single-family homes, 1,000 apartments and townhomes, about 295,000 square feet of commercial and retail, and about 537,000 square feet of offices.

Meanwhile, development preparation work continues in Bexley South.

“Newland (Communities) which has begun developing the southern portion is very excited to be in Pasco County,” said attorney Andrea Zelman, who represented both Newland and the Bexley family at the April 21 public hearing.

Site preparation and construction on the main entrance into the mixed use, residential and commercial community of Bexley South began last summer.

No buildings have yet been constructed. The community will be built in phases over 20 years.

The project includes construction of elementary, middle and high schools, an 80-acre district park and the option of an 18-hole golf course.

Bexley South’s master plan sharply reduces office space from a one-time high of about 2 million square feet to about 562,000 square feet. However, the county would allow up to 1.8 million square feet of offices, if needed.

In addition Bexley South is approved for 1,200 single-family homes, 520 apartments and townhomes, and more than 94,000 square feet of commercial and retail.

The vision also includes triggers for design and construction of roadway improvements based on housing volume and traffic analyses for both Bexley North and South. Among the developer’s obligations would be phased extensions of Tower Road and Sunlake Boulevard, linkage of Bexley Village Drive from State Road 54 to Mentmore Boulevard, a roundabout at Mentmore and Bexley Village, and construction of the intersection at Tower and Ballantrae Road.

The master plan anticipates neighborhood centers and pedestrian-friendly amenities including common areas, green spaces and trails.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey made a plea that developers design trails that “meander” and don’t merely follow a roadway, such as Tower Road, in a straight line.

Put it far enough from the curb that it is safe for families, she said.

“When a trail meanders,” Starkey said, “it’s a much better experience.”

Published May 6, 2015

Geocaching is elaborate game of hide and seek

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If you want to visit the Tampa Bay Geocaching Store in Land O’ Lakes, it’s easy to find. Just go to

N 028 13.552

W 082 27.421

And, you’re there.

If using a geographic coordinate system to find a local business seems unusual, it is.

But if you’re geocaching, it’s actually the best way to find where you’re going.

Caches usually have a logbook documenting who found it and when. Elaine Erickson can look through one of her own caches and see a record of how many people have been there. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Caches usually have a logbook documenting who found it and when. Elaine Erickson can look through one of her own caches and see a record of how many people have been there.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

So, as a tribute to the hobby they serve, the store lists its coordinates on its website, along with its traditional address, 4710 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Geocaching isn’t easy to describe by comparing it to other outdoor activities.

Part treasure hunt, part sightseeing trek and part community bonding experience, it’s a game you can play close to home or just about anywhere in the world.

“It’s fun to do and gives you a chance to get out of the house, get into nature and see different things,” said Elaine Erickson, owner of the Tampa Bay Geocaching Store.

Erickson has found around 1,200 caches from more than a dozen states during the last seven years, and she never tires of the thrill of finding a new one.

Participants leave small geocaches (waterproof containers) at random locations across the planet. They’re hidden, but only to people who aren’t geocaching. The goal is to make them available to other players, so they post the coordinates on list sites and mobile phone apps used by those who want to find them. Players then input those coordinates, and after a little snooping, usually find the geocache and the logbook that’s placed inside. The logbook reveals how often the site has been visited and how far people have traveled to find it. And, once you find the geocache, you can record your name in the logbook.

There’s also usually a small prize associated with finding a geocache.

It’s customary to take an inexpensive trinket from the site when you find it, and leave a small trinket for the next person who finds it. The items can be as creative as the locations in which they’re found.

There are a few rules, though.

For instance, you can’t plant them on private property and you can’t place them near a school or anywhere else where activity near the cache may prompt concerns about suspicious behavior.

You can’t litter, either. In fact, many geocachers take the time to clean up litter in the cache area when they see it. It’s part of the community philosophy, Erickson explained.

Not surprisingly, geocaching took hold only when technology allowed everyday people to find specific locations across the globe with relative ease.

In the past 15 years, it’s grown to include millions of people around the world, with several websites and clubs devoted to playing.

There are more guidelines and details, and it’s not surprising that it’s unfamiliar territory for many people.

“I get people all the time coming in here going, what’s geocasing?” Erickson said, noting their inability to pronounce the hobby’s name. People also think it has something to do with rocks, she said.

To help explain things better, Erickson is hosting a free geocaching class on May 9 at her location from 6 p.m. until 7 p.m. She’ll go over the basics, answer questions and even take the group to their first cache.

She’s hopeful that new geocachers come out of the group and participate in the activity. Erickson goes geocaching with friends and on her own, sometimes finding just one in a day and other times dozens — her record is more than 50.

It’s a pursuit that appeals to people of all age groups, abilities and schedules, and is only limited by a person’s free time and interest in looking.

“It’s a family friendly activity,” she said. “Anybody can do it.”

For more information about geocaching or the free class, call (813) 335-6787 or visit TampaBayGeocaching.biz.

Published May 6, 2015

 

Kohl’s and Culver’s submit site plans for Cypress Creek Town Center

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Kohl’s is the latest retailer to schedule a sit-down with Pasco planners as a future tenant at the Cypress Creek Town Center at State Road 56 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The store’s conceptual plan on file with the county shows a 55,000- square-foot building at the same intersection where construction crews are hard at work on the 1.1 million square-foot Tampa Premium Outlets.

Cypress Creek Town Center at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is getting tenant interest from Kohl’s department store, Chick-fil-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Cypress Creek Town Center at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is getting tenant interest from Kohl’s department store, Chick-fil-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

According to county records, representatives of the national department store chain were expected to attend a pre-application meeting scheduled for April 28.

No official announcement on Kohl’s presence at the proposed outdoor mall has been made. Kohl’s has stores in Brandon, Lutz and New Port Richey.

A Kohl’s representative wasn’t available for comment.

Other tenants who have indicated intentions to open at the mall are Costco, Chick-fi-A, Cheddar’s Casual Café and Culver’s.

Chick-fil-A plans a 4,791-square-foot fast-food restaurant at Cypress Creek with 132 seats. And Cheddar’s Casual Café is proposing an 8,066-square-foot restaurant with its signature fresh, made-from-scratch menu items including croissants, salmon filets and hamburgers.

Costco Wholesale Inc., filed its plans in December for a 153,000-square-foot discount membership warehouse club. The retail giant was second behind Walmart in 2013 among the top 10 of 250 global retailers.

Culver’s likely will have a mid-June groundbreaking and a fall opening timed with the opening of the outlet mall.

This will be a second location for franchise owner Marty Roeske, who opened his first restaurant in Wisconsin nearly 15 years ago. He and his wife are moving to Wesley Chapel, while their son operates the Wisconsin restaurant.

“When I dream of a location, I’m thinking about access, population and incomes,” Roeske said. “I can’t think of any characteristic that isn’t there.”

The employment base, with area high schools nearby, also is strong, said Roeske, who has searched for more than two years for a Florida location.

Tampa was on the radar, but Wesley Chapel won out.

“We warmed up to Wesley Chapel quickly,” he said. “It’s so new and has so much energy. It’s only going to go up.”

He is proposing a 4,235-square-foot restaurant at Cypress Creek with 110 seats. A bicycle rack and a covered patio also are part of the plans.

The fast-food chain offers its signatures “Butterburgers,” fried chicken, sandwiches and salads.

In addition to this location, a different Culver’s franchise owner also has submitted plans for a 4,242-square-foot restaurant at The Shoppes at Trinity Lakes. A pre-application meeting took place on April 6, according to county records.

Currently Culver’s has 541 restaurants in 22 states. The Wisconsin-based chain is expanding its operations in Florida. In the past two years, 11 franchised locations have opened in the state. The first was in Naples; two are in Tampa.

“It’s a hot bed,” said Paul Pitas, Culver’s spokesman. “We have a lot of folks who are transplants from the Midwest. They’ve moved there, or they are snowbirds, but they definitely know the brand.”

Published May 6, 2015

Hillsborough faces huge traffic challenges

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Go Hillsborough is an initiative aimed at engaging the public to find solutions for deteriorating infrastructure and traffic-clogged roads.

The effort is a collaboration involving the Hillsborough County Commission, the mayors of Tampa, Temple Terrace and Plant City, and the chairman of the board for the Hillsborough Area Regional Transit system.

Those visiting a community open house could learn about the transportation challenges facing Hillsborough County and jot down potential solutions. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Those visiting a community open house could learn about the transportation challenges facing Hillsborough County and jot down potential solutions.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Organizers have been making the rounds to places across Hillsborough County for months, inviting the public to help pinpoint the problems and weigh in on potential solutions.

On April 30, they made a stop at St. Timothy Catholic Church in Lutz.

At this session, they invited members of the public to look at informational placards throughout the room, to watch a video on a continuous loop, to ask questions of people stationed throughout the room and to offer their input in writing.

At this session, the focus was on making choices.

The next series of workshops will focus on finding consensus.

The idea is to invite public participation in both identifying problems and suggesting solutions.

Both the slideshow and placards set up around the room made it clear that the county has no shortage of problems, when it comes to its transportation network.

For one thing, it’s a big job.

In Hillsborough County alone, for instance, there are more than 7,000 lane miles of road, as well as 254 bridges and 315 signalized intersections.

And, of that, “more than 30 percent of county roads are at or approaching poor condition,” according to information on display.

Lack of transit is another issue.

“As of today, 58 percent of county residents and 38 percent of our jobs are not served by transit,” a display says.

Paying for improvements won’t be cheap, either.

The county is facing $750 million in transportation backlogs.

So far, feedback has shown that different parts of the county have different priorities.

For instance, transit ranks as a top priority in West Tampa, while new roads ranks as a top priority in South County. In Northwest Hillsborough, new roads and wider roads are the top priority, while resurfacing ranks second.

There’s no easy solution for funding improvements, either.

Choices include user fees, such as gas taxes or tolls; charging developers a fair share; and a sales tax.

The next set of meetings will focus on attempting to build a community consensus on which problems to attack and how to pay for them.

In addition to four meetings that are scheduled around the county, there will be a telephone town hall on May 21 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m. Call (877) 229-8493. The Pin number is 11031.

For more information, visit GoHillsborough.org.

Published May 6, 2015

This coffee shop serves more than coffee

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The coffee shop at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch calls itself a Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, but its customers say the foods this shop offers go far beyond those basic spices.

Tawnika Green, a 20-year-old full-time student at the Porter Campus, set to graduate May 6, said she has enjoyed the convenience of being able to grab a meal on campus.

Kelly Ramos, playing the role of Pepper, and Ghada Jadallah, chef for Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, celebrate at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch last month. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Kelly Ramos, playing the role of Pepper, and Ghada Jadallah, chef for Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, celebrate at a ribbon-cutting ceremony at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch last month.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She had two classes on campus, so she didn’t want to leave to go get something to eat, because she would miss her other class.

The young woman, who plans to pursue a career in nursing, gave high marks to the coffee shop’s mac ‘n cheese.

Desiree Harding, who works at the campus, said she routinely gets breakfast at the coffee shop.

“Oh, my gosh, the food is delicious,” Harding said.

Biko Claxton, who works as a trainer, said the menu has plenty of healthy options.

“How many trainers do you know that send people to a restaurant?” Claxon asked.

Stan Giannet, provost of the Porter Campus, said the coffee shop opened earlier this year and has been a welcome addition.

“We’ve received very positive feedback from students, staff and faculty,” Giannet said. “It’s going very well. They have a good variety of healthy, fresh meals for students.

“We’re happy to have them on our campus,” Giannet said.

Chef Ghada Jadallah is delighted to offer her company’s foods at the Porter Campus.

“It’s an amazing experience,” she said. “It seems like this is the nicest thing that’s ever happened to us.”

She and her husband, Lutfi, own Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, which has its main location at 10353 Cross Creek Blvd., in New Tampa.

Their son, Sami, manages the coffee shop at the college, and their daughter, Elyanna, is the head baker at the company’s main location. Kelly Ramos also works for the company, creating customized cookies.

Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper does catering for occasions up to 800 people. It has a private party room, which can accommodate 50 people.

The company also offers a service that allows customers to choose meals from a menu, which the company prepares and customers pick up. Some entrees are heat and serve. Others may require a short cooking time.

To find out more about Dash of Salt ‘n Pepper, visit DashOfSaltnPepper.com, or call (813) 376-6689.

Published May 6, 2015