Local News

Porter Campus aims to become hub of academic activity

November 13, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Deja Ventura couldn’t be more excited about the January opening of Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

The new campus — PHCC’s fifth — will make life much easier for Ventura, a student at the college.

“I can’t wait,” she said.

Ventura and others attended an information session last week in a conference room at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel. There, faculty and administration for the new campus gave the crowd a virtual tour of the new facility, and shared their aspirations for the quality of education it will bring to its students.

Having a campus in Wesley Chapel will reduce Ventura’s commuting time for school by two hours, she said. It takes the 20-year-old an hour to drive each way to her classes now at PHCC’s New Port Richey campus.

Ventura’s also pleased that the new campus is near Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, where Ventura eventually wants to work.

The Wiregrass Ranch High School graduate said she was a patient at the hospital, and the positive experience she had there helped seal her decision to pursue a nursing degree.

Julio Rivera, an employee in the hospital’s cafeteria, is also looking forward to the opening of the new campus, as he pursues classes in information technology.

“I live 5 to 10 minutes from here,” he said. “I drive by here all of the time.” Rivera said.

Stan Giannet, provost of Porter Campus, was enthusiastic about what the school intends to offer its students.

“We’re very fired up,” Giannet said, noting that PHCC expects to branch into four-year degree programs next year, with bachelor’s degrees in nursing as well as supervision and management.

Stan Giannet, provost at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, looks forward to creating a sense of community on campus and connections with the community it serves. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The community college has received approvals from the state for the programs and is awaiting approval on its application for accreditation for the programs.

Once that clears, PHCC plans to change its name to Pasco-Hernando State College.

The four-year programs are slated to begin in fall of 2014.

Porter Campus also plans to be the only PHCC location to offer two new certification programs that the college will launch in 2014. Those certification programs are for surgical and pharmacy technicians, both fields where workers are in high demand.

One of the college’s missions is to help address workplace needs. “We want to be at the table to offer some solutions,” Giannet said.

The new campus is well equipped to serve student needs, Giannet said. It has a seven-story building, which includes four stories of classrooms on top of a three-story parking deck.

Beyond traditional classrooms, it also has nursing, computer and science labs as well as a two-story library. The nursing labs are so current that the mannequins used there can breathe and talk.

The campus also features two outdoor plaza areas, which Giannet believes will be popular places for people to congregate, for academic discussions and social gatherings.

He aspires to make the new campus an intellectual, cultural and community hub.

“We want to make it a vibrant campus for this community,” Giannet said.

The campus doesn’t have a cafeteria, but Giannet said students, staff and faculty members have many dining opportunities nearby.

“It’s so ideally situated in the heart of Wesley Chapel. There are restaurants that are peppering this entire area,” he said, adding that the library will have a coffee shop.

Besides offering a wide variety of programs, the college is committed to helping its students succeed, Giannet said.

“You are not a number. You are known. This is the kind of climate we are going to have at Porter Campus at Wiregrass,” Giannet said.

Courses will be offered in a variety of ways. Some will be taught in the traditional mode of a teacher delivering face-to-face instruction. Some will be offered online. Some will be a combination of both.

Pam Medley, the assistant dean of student development, said the college wants to help students get the classes they need.

Those transferring in must be sure to get their transcripts, to help them during the enrollment process, she said. Unofficial records can be used during the registration process, but official records are needed to release financial aid.

It’s also important for high school graduates to be aware that they can enroll as early as May for classes that begin in August.

The college will work closely with high schools for dual enrollment, where high school students can earn college credits, Medley said. She expects those relationships to be especially close between the college and Wiregrass Ranch High School, which is across the street from the new campus, and with Wesley Chapel High School, which is nearby.

The college also has a Teaching-Learning Center, which is committed to helping students achieve their potential. The idea is to help students engage in learning, whether they are tackling a complex research project or struggling to stay on pace, said Natalie Epo, coordinator of the Teaching-Learning Center.

Classes at Porter Campus are set to begin Jan. 13.

For more information, go to www.PHCC.edu.

They fly the friendly skies to help those in need

November 13, 2013 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Sherri Lonon

Two local residents were nominated for pilot of the year honors for their dedication to the nonprofit that flies missions of mercy throughout the Southeast.

John Hanselman and David Trilling are on a mission to give back to others in need.

As pilots for Angel Flight Southeast, Trilling of Lutz and Hanselman of Odessa, give their time and donate their personal aircraft and fuel to take patients in need of medical care to appointments. Whether it’s transporting a child to another state for cancer treatments or flying a transplant organ from a donor hospital to a patient in need, Hanselman and Trilling stand ready to answer calls for help when they arise.

For their efforts, Angel Flight Southeast has nominated both Hanselman and Trilling for its pilot of the year award. The award is the highest honor Angel Flight bestows on its volunteer pilots.

Angel Flight Southeast is a nonprofit humanitarian organization that serves Florida. Through a network of about 650 volunteer pilots, the agency helps those who are unable to take commercial flights — whether for financial or medical reasons — get to their appointments within the state, or in other states. It’s part of the Air Charity Network, which logs more than 22,000 missions annually, according to Angel Flight’s website.

Trilling won pilot of the year during a ceremony Sunday night, while Hanselman received the “Above & Beyond” award, given to pilots who not only volunteer their time, planes and fuel for Angel Flight missions, but also work to raise awareness for the charity, and will often help with fundraising.

Hanselman and Trilling both say they are honored by the nominations and wins, but admit they don’t take to the skies in hopes of earning awards.

“Most pilots just absolutely love to fly, and they love to fly with purpose,” said Hanselman, who has been flying for Angel Flight for about a year.

Hanselman first learned about the organization in the 1980s while he was working on his pilot’s license. He promised himself if he was ever in a position to take part, he would.

When Hanselman retired and sold his stake in a business, he bought a Cessna 206h and kept that promise to himself. His first flight for the nonprofit was a year ago.

For Hanselman, being a part of such a “noble enterprise” is reward enough.

“I enjoy flying, and at the same time, it’s giving back,” he said.

Trilling’s motivations are similar.

“After five years of flying, earning ratings and certificates, I wanted to use the acquired flying skills to do interesting flying as well as give back to the community,” he said.

Trilling learned how to fly after working 35 years in the food research and development arena.

“After retiring, I consulted and learned how to fly, always having been interested in planes and the magic of flight,” he said.

Now a flight instructor and volunteer with Angel Flight, Trilling uses his personal plane, a Mooney, to conduct missions of mercy.

As for the nomination, Trilling is honored, but says that “all of the pilots who contribute their time and planes for this purpose are pilots of the year.”

For more information about Angel Flight, visit the nonprofit online at www.AngelFlightSE.org.

Business Digest 11-13-13

November 13, 2013 By Michael Hinman

Rockwell receives Women’s Choice Award
Brian Rockwell of the Rockwell Financial Group of Raymond James, has received the Women’s Choice Award for Financial Advisors from WomenCertified Inc.
Rockwell, of the Trinity-based firm, was chosen based on rigorous research, 17 objective criteria including a client survey to obtain feedback regarding service and practices.
The Women’s Choice Award is the only recognition program for well-qualified advisors who are committed to the women’s market and serving their female clients. Achieving the award reaffirms the commitment Rockwell has to extraordinary service in addressing the financial needs of women and their families, according to a release.
The award allows Rockwell to now showcase his commitment to the women’s market, giving potential clients a starting point for entrusting their finances to an advisor.
For more information on Rockwell’s firm, call him at (727) 372-2530.

It’s a new car!
Tina Pyles Johnson was the winner of a 2013 Fiat 500L from Parks Fiat of Wesley Chapel, part of the Win My Ride contest from the dealership group and WFLA-Channel 8. Johnson was able to choose from six participating dealerships in the contest, and chose the four-door Fiat.

Florida Design Consultants expands into downtown Tampa
Florida Design Consultants Inc., a full-service engineering firm in Trinity, has expanded with new offices in downtown Tampa.
Located on the sixth floor of 707 N. Franklin St., Florida Design will now be centrally located for clients in Hillsborough, Manatee and Polk counties.
“At this point, expanding our physical presence in the center of our market area was essential to meet the increased demand for our services, as well as convenience for our clients,” said Stuart Rogers, president of Florida Design Consultants, in a release. “We also think it is a great opportunity to be located in the iconic Tampa Theatre building.”
The company will continue to service clients from Pasco, Pinellas and Hernando counties from its Trinity office.

LifeChoices hires Connelly
Susan Connelly is the new director of advancement for LifeChoices Women’s care in Lutz.
Connelly brings with her more than 12 years of marketing and public relations experience. She will be responsible for furthering the center’s mission, which offers free pregnancy testing, counseling, and educational services to women of all ages.
LifeChoices is funded entirely by private donations, and is not affiliated with any particular church.
For more information, call (813) 948-7734.

Computers Etc., Computer Basic Training, merge
Computers Etc., of Dade City, has merged with Computer Basic Training of Wesley Chapel, pointed to provide its customer base a range of services surrounding the computer.
The new company will be known as Computers Etc., and will include Computer Basic Training owner Kristin Pelletier, leading the company’s training division, that will provide individual tutoring in a customer’s home, office or remotely.
“We are thrilled to have Kristin join our team,” said Ken Buzzie, chief executive of Computers Etc., in a release. “She has built a great reputation for her training skills both in the classroom and in-home. Adding computer training to our list of services (complements) our business.”
For more than six years, Computers Etc. has offered in-home or in-office computer repair, laptop repair, data recovery, managed services and full-service technology hardware and software replacement and upgrade. It also offers cloud services, voice-over Internet protocol, points of service and remote support.
For more information, visit www.Computer-Etc.com, or call (352) 424-1079.

FACE has ribbon-cutting
The Florida Autism Center of Excellence had a ribbon cutting Nov. 5 at its location at 39735 Chancey Road in Zephyrhills.
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce conducted the event.
For more information on FACE, visit FACEProgram.org.

Taylor Morrison opens Arbor Woods with barbecue
Homebuilder Taylor Morrison recently celebrated the opening of its latest neighborhood, Arbor Woods, with an old-fashioned backyard barbecue.
The community turned out for food, refreshments and music, as well as to tour model homes Taylor Morrison set up for the Wesley Chapel community.
Arbor Woods has 423 wooded acres with preserve areas, mature trees, ponds and natural wetlands. When complete, it is expected to have more than 220 single-family residences, with prices beginning above $200,000.

For more information, visit www.TaylorMorrison.com.

Young Virginia cancer patient inspired Plantation Palms fundraiser

November 6, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Christina Jenks recently had her head shaved for a cause. She’s trying to help put an end to pediatric cancer.

Jenks and her husband Eric are behind a fundraiser planned for Nov. 9 at Plantation Palms Golf Club in Land O’ Lakes. The event combines a golf tournament, head shavings and fun activities for kids and adults, aimed at raising money for St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation to support pediatric cancer research.

Christina Jenks shaved her head to battle pediatric cancer. Will you? There are other ways to help, as well, of course. A fundraiser is set for Saturday at Plantation Palms to help fight pediatric cancer. (Photo courtesy of Christina Jenks)

The Jenks, who are the founders of Big Heroes 4 Little Warriors, began their crusade against childhood cancer a couple of years ago. It began when Christina Jenks read about a 6-year-old boy in Virginia who was fighting for his life.

One of the things that the little boy, Nathan Norman, said he most wanted for Christmas was cards from his heroes — police officers, firefighters and rescue personnel.

The young boy’s plea touched Jenks’ heart.

She approached her husband, a firefighter with Pasco Fire Rescue, and suggested they get the boy a card and ask firefighters at various stations to sign it.

The simple gesture snowballed into an avalanche of love as word spread. Fire and rescue folks from Orlando to Pinellas County began calling, expressing their desire to get involved.

“The response ended up being overwhelming,” Jenks said. “They wanted to donate helmets, they wanted to donate uniforms. They were making gifts for him. We had stuff coming from everywhere.”

They got so much, in fact, they wound up loading up their Chevy pickup and driving 700 miles to the Normans’ home in Lynchburg, Va., to deliver the loot to the young boy.

That was in December 2012.

When they arrived, the boy’s parents talked to them about the need to help children who have cancer. The Normans had launched their own fundraising organization and wound up giving the Jenks 110 gift bags to bring back to children at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Tampa and All Children’s Hospital.

The Jenks later decided to create Big Heroes 4 Little Warriors to help children in the Tampa Bay area who, like Nathan, are fighting for their lives.

The couple said they felt called to get involved.

“For me, I’ve been in fire rescue for more than 20 years, and helping people is something I love to do,” Eric Jenks said.

“All you have to do is meet one of these children and that’s all it takes – to see the battle they’re fighting, you just want to fight it for them,” his wife added. “That’s what we’re doing, we’re fighting for a need that needs to be filled. These kids need someone to fight for them. That’s what we’re doing.”

If you go
When: Saturday, Nov. 9; Opening ceremony 11:30 a.m., shot gun start for the golf tournament as well as head shaving and family event at noon.
Where; Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
What: Golf tournament, chance drawings, face painting, bounce houses, head shaving, games, arts and crafts, DJs and other activities.
Plantation Palms will donate 10 percent of all restaurant proceeds.
For more information, call Eric or Christina Jenks at (727) 641-6075.

Businesses can make it or break it at BizGrow 2.0

November 6, 2013 By Michael Hinman

Last year, Kellye Dash sat in the audience of BizGrow and soaked in all the advice from small business owners like herself making their way in this technology-based economy. Now, the president and chief executive of The Busy Buddy is ready to share some of her own experiences as the Pasco Economic Development Council’s annual conference gets under way.

“I started my business in 2009 while working for an IT company,” Dash said. “I wasn’t sure when I was going to pull the trigger and head out on my own, but I knew I would have to do it at some point.”

The one-day BizGrow 2.0 conference at Pasco-Hernando Community College is designed to show business owners they are not alone in the trials and tribulations of running their own business. (Photo courtesy of Summer Martin)

Dash designed her Wesley Chapel-based Busy Buddy to add an extra hand or two to businesses when they needed it most, providing everything from administrative work to data research and beyond.

She comes to BizGrow 2.0 at Pasco-Hernando Community College on Friday no longer attached to her old job, and now Dash hopes to share that confidence with others.

“I was working full-time, and I didn’t want to let that paycheck go,” she said. “But if you step out on your own, you really can do it, as long as you put people around you who are supportive. You may just surprise yourself.”

These are the kinds of stories BizGrow is expected to inspire once again, said organizer John Walsh, vice president of the Pasco EDC.

“The idea is to bring inspirational stories to the group so that people who are going through challenges right now of starting their own business and growing it know that other people are out there that went through it as well,” Walsh said. “But we also want to get people to network. This is a chance for like-minded people to get together, to create some strong relationships in the county, and make that happen.”

Networking can be just as important as anything else, especially when it comes to drumming up business, or even collaboration, said Amy Gleason.

As the chief operating officer of CareSync, Gleason is working to get the word out about her company’s new online application that brings a patient’s medical records together into one spot.

“It was inspired in part by my daughter who was diagnosed with a rare disease,” Gleason said. “We had a hard time managing all her health information, because it wasn’t all in one spot. There’s just no one that teaches you to be a patient, and no guidebook on how to navigate the health care system — and that’s something we really need out there.”

Many of the best product ideas come from a personal need to have them, Gleason said. But what a large number of would-be entrepreneurs suffer from are missteps in execution.

And that means paying attention to the ever-changing business world that’s out there.

“I hear a lot of people who are afraid of Twitter and don’t really understand it,” Gleason said, citing an example of tools not being properly used. “But it can be one of the most amazing sources of information. You can put one thing out there, and someone from a completely different walk of life can respond and offer you something to think about.”

It’s the ups and downs, and finding the right tools for the right job that makes BizGrow a popular destination for budding entrepreneurs, Walsh said. Especially the trials and tribulations involved in owning a business, because it’s not always easy.

“It’s not easy,” Walsh said. “It’s a commitment that will cost you 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and it might not be for everybody. If it’s not, this is the time to figure it out, before you spend a lot of time and money on the effort. Otherwise, there are opportunities here for those who are ready to embark on this path.”

If you go
BizGrow 2.0 is a conference designed to help businesses navigate in the new economy.
It takes place Nov. 8, beginning at 8:30 a.m., at the New Port Richey campus of Pasco-Hernando Community College, Building R.
Admission is $30 in advance, or $35 the day of the event.
Information: PascoEDC.com/events

Workin’ at the carwash: Local business chips in with prime location

November 6, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Samantha Barone, Lexi Romeril, Kendall Perkins, Katie Hale and Amanda Lasky all stood on the sidewalk at the edge of U.S. 41 and Ehren Cutoff, waving signs and urging drivers to pull into the parking lot across the street to get their cars washed.

They were asking for a $5 donation per car wash, and judging from the energy the volunteers were exerting, motorists got their money’s worth.

Dean Hale sprays off a car during a car wash to raise funds for the Mini Bulls, a fast-pitch softball team he coaches. The team donated a portion of proceeds to Susan B. Komen’s ‘For the Cure.’ (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The car wash crew was busy on the afternoon of Oct. 27 as drivers streaming by the busy intersection decided to pull in to have their cars soaped and sprayed.

The car wash was done to raise money for Mini Bulls, a traveling fast-pitch softball team, as well as to support the Susan B. Komen “For the Cure” breast cancer foundation.

Players weren’t the only ones getting wet and sudsy. Parents pitched in, too, along with some siblings.

The event was just one of many that Rene Van Hout and her husband, Wes, expect to occur at the corner lot as groups seeks to raise money for various causes. The couple owns LOL Transport & Moving, and they recently announced they would make the lot available to community groups to have car washes. They would also supply water, hoses and nozzles to help make each one a success.

The Mini Bulls seized the opportunity.

Rene Van Hout said the idea is to give back to the community. It’s one way the couple can express its gratitude for being able to secure the site for their business.

“I wanted to share the blessing of this prime location,” she said.

The lot is available to any group that’s raising money for a nonprofit group, such as a church, a band, an athletic organization, or a charitable cause, Van Hout said. They do not have to be designated by the government as a nonprofit group, but cannot personally profit from the venture.

Rebecca Lasky, who was on hand to support her daughter’s softball team, praised the moving company for its generosity.

“I think it’s an amazing donation to the community,” said Lasky, who lives in FishHawk Ranch near Brandon.

Lasky was holding a sign at one spot at the edge of U.S. 41, while her daughter was among the group of kids holding signs near the intersection of Ehren Cutoff and U.S. 41.

Lasky said the team is a great thing for the kids.

“They’re like sisters,” she said, adding her 14-year-old daughter is devoted to the game. “My daughter eats, breathes and sleeps softball.”

Lesley Harris, whose daughter Keeana also plays, applauded the moving company for helping organizations that need to raise money.

“I think that it is phenomenal,” the Wesley Chapel woman said. “It’s a prime spot.”

McKenzie Nix, a 12-year-old player from Lakeland, was busy at the fundraiser. At one point, she climbed into the bed of a pickup truck to clean off the back window of the passenger cab. At others, she was washing or drying off cars.

Dean Hale, who coaches the team, was busy, too, hosing off soapy vehicles. His wife, Mercedes, was busy scrubbing them.

Besides raising money for the softball team, the fundraiser had another benefit, Coach Hale said. Raising money to battle cancer helps make the girls more aware of the world outside of softball.

The team, which practices at Krusen Field in Zephyrhills, draws its players from Land O’ Lakes, Lutz, New Tampa, Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills, Valrico, Brandon, FishHawk Ranch and Lakeland.

Any group interested in requesting the use of the parking lot for a fundraiser should call (813) 996-3775 and book the date. The lot is available on Saturdays and Sundays.

“As long as they’re raising money for a nonprofit group,” Van Hout said.

Sparkman Chevy sold, moved to Wesley Chapel

November 6, 2013 By Michael Hinman

It’s just a trailer, some tall grass and dirt roads. But it’s just enough to introduce Wesley Chapel Boulevard to yet another car dealership as Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel moves in.

The dealership is located next to Hyundai of Wesley Chapel just northeast of Progress Parkway, and is part of the same ownership group as the Hyundai dealership and nearby Mazda of Wesley Chapel.

After spending more than three decades several miles east down the road in Zephyrhills, the new Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel has set up a temporary location next to Hyundai of Wesley Chapel near Progress Parkway and Wesley Chapel Boulevard. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

“We really think that Chevy has done a great job, and they have a great product now,” said John Gauvey, general manager of the dealership. “We felt it was a great complement to our Hyundai and Mazda stores, and we knew there were a lot of Chevy owners who wanted someplace close-by to get their cars serviced.”

While the name and location might be new, the business itself is nearly 40 years old. The dealership was most recently known as Sparkman Chevrolet, but for more than three decades was known as Buddy Foster Chevrolet, located east on State Road 54, just outside of Zephyrhills.

The Sparkman family, which twice owned a small chain of convenience stores called Sparky’s Food Stores based out of Plant City, purchased Buddy Foster in 2011, but decided not to stay in the car sales business for long.

Last year, the Sparkman family sold its Bartow Chevrolet dealership, and made it clear they were entertaining offers for its Zephyrhills location.

Gauvey wouldn’t say how much his group paid for the dealership, but they have big plans on its future in Wesley Chapel. What is now a side lot next to the Hyundai center is expected to become a state-of-the-art dealership facility by mid-2015.

For now, the dealership is servicing Chevrolet and other General Motors cars through its Mazda service center, located just on the other side of the Hyundai dealership.

The three brands most certainly complement each other, Gauvey said, and there are a lot of benefits of selling all three cars under the same ownership umbrella.

“Cars are cars, but who you buy it from is really important,” he said. “We’ve had tremendous success by building relationships, and people drive from all over to get that experience.”

The same ownership team also owns Hyundai of New Port Richey on U.S. 19, which they say is the No. 1 Hyundai dealer in the country in terms of volume.

The new Chevrolet of Wesley Chapel is located at 26931 Progress Parkway in Wesley Chapel.

Morning rain not enough to hamper successful chili, cars event

November 6, 2013 By B.C. Manion

A morning downpour likely discouraged some from turning out for the Lutz Centennial Cars & Chili event on Saturday. But those who did come seemed to enjoy themselves.

The gathering — which was one of several special events this year to celebrate the community’s 100th birthday — featured classic cars, a chili cook-off, live entertainment, and free servings of cake and ice cream.

Those wishing to sample the chili paid $5 for a commemorative red plastic mug that they could carry from station to station.

Rose Fowler, left, helps Cheryl Ayres prepare chili for a cook-off in Lutz, a celebration to honor the community’s 100th birthday. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

Eleven teams entered the competition, and their concoctions ran from sweet and mildly spicy, to chili with a kick.

Scouts sold soft drinks and water for $1 each, and entertainers sang and danced for the crowd. People milled about, sampling chili, shooting the breeze and checking out the assortment of cars, which included a 1933 Buick, a 1931 Ford Model A, Lotuses, a Carrera and GTOs.

Cheryl Ayres and her friend Rose Fowler, were among the cook-off competitors. Ayres, who lives in the community, said she’s been cooking chili since she could see over the top of the stove. She used to make it for her eight brothers and sisters because she could stretch out her ground beef, and the chili would fill them up.

Ayres said the celebration was fun, and in keeping with Lutz’s traditions of bringing the community together.

Those gatherings go back to the Lutz’s earliest days, according to books about the community’s history.

It’s fun to get together to mingle, Ayres said. “I’ve been looking forward to this.”

She enjoys feeling part of the community’s fabric.

“We’re here every Fourth of July,” Ayres said.

Here it comes: Outlet mall now on track to open next year

November 6, 2013 By Michael Hinman

With the last environmental hurdle removed, it’s full-speed ahead for a proposed outlet mall on State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Simon Property Group and landowner Richard E. Jacobs Group have finalized a permit with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers that had left in limbo their plans to build Tampa Premium Outlets on the Cypress Creek Town Center site for nearly two years, said Carol Clarke, the assistant planning and development administrator for Pasco County.

In less than two years, this long vacant land on State Road 56 near Interstate 75 could be bustling with activity from the new outlet mall that is now expected to finally get off the ground. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

That means an outlet mall could be up and running on what is now acres of vacant land in the heart of commercial growth in Wesley Chapel by the end of 2014.

“We are very excited to be moving forward on this project, and are commencing meetings with the county to determine approvals and a schedule,” said Danielle DeVita, senior vice president for development and acquisitions at Simon, in a statement.

The opening, if it stays on schedule, would come seven years after the Jacobs Group received county approval for the Cypress Creek Town Center, located just north of the Hillsborough County line.

Coleen Conklin, senior vice president of marketing for Premium Outlets and Simon, was not able to comment on the report ahead of publication.

If plans hold up, this would put the outlet mall portion of the site well ahead of its extended construction deadline of 2021 on the 510-acre site. The original plans were to build a 1.2 million-square-foot mall along with 600,000 square feet of retail space and 120,000 square feet for offices by 2011. Expanded plans included 350 hotel rooms, 230 apartments, and a 2,582-seat movie theater.

That extension, granted in 2009, was the result of legal issues, problems with environmental permitting, and the economic recession.

Yet, neither Simon nor Jacobs Group gave up, continuing work on the center they hoped would complement nearby projects like The Grove and The Shops at Wiregrass.

In May 2012, Simon said it had signed an agreement with Saks Fifth Avenue to open an Off Fifth-style store in its outlet mall. It’s a retailer that is common in many of Simon’s projects worldwide.

At the time, Simon expected the Saks Fifth Avenue store to open by 2014, but its permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers as well as a court battle with an environmental group had yet to be resolved.

A court rejected the Sierra Club’s claims in 2011 that the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers improperly examined the project’s impacts to wetlands and waterways. However, it did move forward with concerns on how the project would impact the eastern indigo snake, a threatened species that moved across the land.

Kenneth Dodd, a herpetologist for the Office of Endangered Species, called the site an important “wildlife corridor,” and that having its habitat “fragmented” could cause more of the snakes to die on area roads.

Now it’s just up to Pasco County officials to approve final site plans, and sign the permits necessary to get construction going.

Pasco County’s Clarke said her staff met with Simon Oct. 29, and “will be working with them to develop a coordinated schedule and get this project going.”

Simon, headquartered in Indianapolis, owns or has an ownership interest stake in more than 325 retail properties in North America and Asia, comprising of 242 million square feet. In the past quarter alone, Simon has opened three new outlet malls in Toronto, St. Louis and Korea. It also began construction on four more in Charlotte, N.C.; Eagen, Minn.; Mirabel, Quebec; and Vancouver, B.C., according to the company’s corporate filings.

EcoFest offers chance to learn, shop, eat, play

November 6, 2013 By B.C. Manion

Learn about making herbal salves, cleaning without chemicals or creating a butterfly garden.

Take part in a “Swamp Tromp,” or do a Wetland Wonder Walk.

Check out some live music, take a ride in a kayak, or grab a bite to eat.

Kayak rides are just some of the many offerings this weekend at Pasco EcoFest 2013. (Photo courtesy of Pasco EcoFest 2013)

Those are just a few of the myriad festivities that will be offered at Pasco EcoFest 2013. Thousands of people are expected to turn out for the three-day festival that begins Friday evening and runs through Sunday (Nov. 8-10).

This year’s festival is at two locations: Sims Park in downtown New Port Richey, and J. B. Starkey Park off State Road 54.

EcoFest, now in its third year, focuses on helping people learn how to live sustainable lives, said Kacey Atkinson, of the event organizers. To that end, it offers a wide array of free workshops.

There’s also plenty of fun for kids, including arts and crafts, recycling games, stargazing and geocaching.

Geocaching, which is a modern twist on an old-fashioned scavenger hunt, is a big draw. “It’s a huge deal,” Atkinson said, noting organizers expect 300 to 400 people to take part in that activity.

New this year is the Trash-n-Fashion Photo Shoot and the VW Show and Swap Meet. The Florida Modeling Network will host the Trash-n-Fashion photo shoot on Saturday from noon to 6 p.m. Models and photographers will work out of Peace Hall, along with costumers, body painters, make-up and hair artists.

Costumes for the photo shoots will be fashioned out of recycled materials.

The LocalVolks on the Lake vintage Volkswagen show and swap meet, on Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., will feature funky, vintage VWs. On Saturday night, Volkswagen enthusiasts are invited to cruise over to Dade City for a pre-jam party, in anticipation of Sunday’s Bug Jam.

Other highlights of Pasco EcoFest include an Eco Market, food trucks and locally brewed beer. Eco Market offers shoppers a chance to purchase locally made, grown and handcrafted items. A variety of food trucks will be on hand, and the Big Storm Brewing Co. will be serving its locally brewed microbrew.

EcoFest also is having a food drive in partnership with the Rec Center’s Youth Advisory Board and the Wellness Worship Center. The food drive will be in conjunction with the VW show.

Canned goods may be dropped off between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. at the VW show registration tent located on Grand Boulevard near Bank Street.

Find the full schedule of events at www.PascoEcoFest.com.