The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

Children enjoy reading to therapy dogs

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Nearly a dozen children of various ages recently gathered at the New River Branch Library to spend some time reading to therapy dogs. The event is featured once a month at the library in Wesley Chapel.

Nancy Horbert is the program manager for the Tampa-based nonprofit organization Highland Canine Connect (HCC), which brings therapy dogs to the library.

A young child pets Uggy, a therapy dog, on July 13, while Uggy’s owner Nancy Horbert sits nearby. (Joe Potter)

The two dogs at the July 13 event were Daisy, a female Labrador, and Uggy, a male standard parti poodle.

Both of the dogs have each received several months of extensive training so they respond in a very docile manner when interacting with children at Read to Therapy Dogs events, Horbert said.

Several of the children spent the first 15 or 20 minutes lovingly petting both of the dogs that were relaxed while sitting or laying on the carpeted floor of the room in which the event was held.

Books of various reading levels were available in the room and children could also bring reading materials from elsewhere in the library if they wanted to.

Shawnda Weaver assisted Horbert at the event while Weaver’s son, Jonathan, was a volunteer.

HCC opened in Harmony, North Carolina, in 2019 and the local branch of HCC opened in Tampa in May 2022.

Horbert’s daughter, Brittany Mojica, attended Highland Canine Training School for Dogs and was offered the position of their Florida dog trainer after she graduated.  

“Over the years I have gotten to know the owners Erin and Jason Purgason, so when I wanted to start a nonprofit therapy dog program here in the Tampa area, I met with them to see if I could start a branch of Highland Canine Connect,” Horbert said. “They agreed to let me start a branch here after filing all the needed paperwork to be a registered nonprofit here in Florida. My daughter donates her training services to evaluate potential team members and donates Canine Good Citizen training to approved candidates. In the future, as I raise money, my goal is to provide a fully trained therapy dog locally.”

A press release from the organization’s team in North Carolina states: “Highland Canine Connect has been proud to have a positive impact on the lives of many individuals. From our flagship service dog and police dog donation programs, protecting our planet through the training of a conservation detection dog and community outreach such as our School Reading Program, we have established a number of programs which truly make a difference.”

The creation of the Tampa branch of HCC was considered to be “an exciting development,” team members said.

Horbert’s job is to secure locations in the local area for therapy dogs to visit. “These include venues such as libraries, schools, therapist’s offices, and events which are geared toward the special needs community,” Horbert said.

Anyone interested in joining the HCC program can contact Horbert at .

Published July 24, 2024

Young local talent shines bright at 41st ‘Spotlight on Talent’

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“Spotlight on Talent” held its 41st annual talent competition on March 16 showcasing some of Central Florida’s best young performing artists.

The prestigious competition featured over 120 students aged 6 to 18 giving performances as singers, dancers and instrumentalists, and offering contestants the option to compete as solo performers, as part of a group, or both.  

Kasey Lang won the $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship with her piano performance during Category 3 of the Evening Show.

For many, it was their first time performing at a professional venue with a full audience and expert judges. The event is attended by over 600 people each year, and took place at the Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts, located on the Wesley Chapel High School campus.

Pianist Kasey Lang won the $1,000 Pasco Heritage Scholarship which is awarded to the Pasco County graduating senior who receives the highest combined score from the auditions and finals, after she placed first in Category 3 of the Evening Show.

Barbara Friedman, who served as the executive producer and publicity chair, shared with us more detail about the event.

The annual production is orchestrated by the non-profit Heritage Arts Center Association. A dedicated 15-member Board of Directors spent three months planning the event, with an additional 15 community volunteers contributing to the final production. 

Friedman was supported by Assistant Producers Lauretta Brown, Michelle Twitmyer, and Laurel Weightman. The event received support from 30 corporate and community sponsors.

The night was skillfully emceed by Ben Alexander and the performances were dedicated to the memory of Linda LaFayette and Vickie West, two members of the Heritage Arts Board of Directors who recently passed away.

Here is the full list of winners:

Matinee Show (younger students and groups)
Category 1
1st – Amber Luu – Piano
2nd – Rhys Ricardo – Vocal
3rd – Adelynn Erickson – Jazz Dance
4th – Addie Pereira – Piano

Category 2
1st – Savanna Nelson – Ballet Dance
2nd – Naomi Reed – Piano
3rd – Kaiya Bistany-Charles – Vocal
4th – Adina Polley – Vocal
5th – Annabelle DePolis – Vocal
6th – Chloe Adams – Lyrical/Ballet Dance

Category 3
1st – Tenley Ryman – Contemporary Dance
2nd – Fiona Lin Blackburn – Piano
3rd – Caitlyn Siers – Contemporary Ballet
4th – Nikki Lang – Piano
5th – Gabriella Reto – Vocal

Younger Groups
1st –  Libertango Trio – Violins and Piano

Evening Show (older students and groups)
Category 1
1st – Makenna Henry – Dance
2nd – Paul McGill – Piano
3rd – Maelee Scaglione – Contemporary Dance
4th – Autumn Hawkins – Dance
5th – Isabel Geskey – Ballet Dance
6th – Elyana Coriano – Vocal

Category 2
1st – Abigail Wallace – Contemporary Dance
2nd – Katie Young – Vocal
3rd – Conway Theel – Piano
4th – Anna Hutchinson – Jazz Dance
5th – Huy Duong – Piano

Category 3
1st – Kasey Lang – Piano
2nd – Ylenia Giannini – Ballet Dance
3rd – Jasmine Crew – Contemporary Dance
4th – Larkin Mainwaring – Vocal
5th – Ashlyn Masson – Vocal

Older Groups
1st – Star Company – Acrobatic Dance
2nd – AIM Stars I – Musical Theater
3rd – AIM Stars B – Acting Comedy

Pasco Heritage Scholarship Winner 
Kasey Lang

Matinee Show, Category 1 first place winner Amber Luu – Piano.
Matinee Show, Category 2 first place winner Savanna Nelson – Ballet Dance.
Matinee Show, Category 3 first place winner Tenley Ryman – Contemporary Dance.
Matinee Show, Younger Groups first place winner Libertango Trio – Violins and Piano.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Evening Show, Category 1 first place winner Makenna Henry – Dance.
Evening Show, Category 2 first place winner Abigail Wallace – Contemporary Dance.
Evening Show, Older Group first place winner Star Company – Acrobatic Dance.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mixed use development slated for Wesley Chapel

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The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved an ordinance rezoning 76.72 acres of property south of State Road 52, approximately 900 feet west of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, to a Planned Development (PD) during their March 12 meeting in Dade City.

The changes will permit a maximum of 130,000 square feet of commercial/office, 300 multifamily dwelling units and 50 townhomes to be developed on the site. 

It is anticipated that the proposed new amount of commercial/office space will prioritize employment generation along the frontage of SR 52 and will provide adequate connectivity and accessibility to adjacent communities and between the different uses within the development according to Pasco County records.

(Josh Olalde/Unsplash)

Other positive factors considered in making the zoning change were the anticipation that the increase in the square footage of commercial use in the area could bring more jobs to the county, resulting in more revenue and less consumption in services, according to county records.

It’s proposed that 5.96 acres of the property will be for commercial use, 28.63 acres for a combination of commercial and residential use and 41.36 acres for residential.

The applicant was listed as Thompson Thrift Development Inc., and attorney Barbara L. Wilhite was listed as the authorized representative for the owner(s) of the property.

The recording of a Plat with Performance Guarantees was approved for Jen Tampa 5, LLC – Mirada Parcel 15B-1. The developer proposes to have a residential subdivision comprised of 65 single-family lots on 75.3 acres between Kenton Road and Future Tyndall Road. 

The site is in the “Connected Cities” area east of Interstate 75 and south of SR 52. The developer is required to have a security bond in the amount of $3,006,250.20 to cover the estimated cost of landscape and infrastructure work that hadn’t been completed prior to the filing of the plat. 

An ordinance changing the zoning of 7.12 acres of property on the north side of State Road 54, approximately 1 mile west of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, to Commercial (COM) and Conservation (CON) also was approved. The applicant wants to develop 12,600 square feet of retail/restaurant. 

Plans call for 1.59 acres for commercial use and the remaining 5.53 acres to be used for conservation.

Housh Ghovaee was listed as the authorized representative for the owner(s) of the property.

The property was previously zoned RES-6 (Residential 6 Du/Ga).

Also approved, a zoning amendment for approximately 28.10 acres in south central Pasco. The change, requested by New River LTD Pasco, Houck Corporation/New River Houck, was from a C-2 General Commercial District to an MF-1 Multiple-Family Medium Density District Pasco. It had originally been listed as a consent item on the meeting’s agenda but District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano requested it be removed for discussion.

The applicant plans to develop a maximum of 140 townhomes on the property located at the intersection of SR 54 and Ashton Oaks Boulevard. Mariano expressed concerns about there possibly not being adequate space for vehicles to park since plans call for each of the townhomes to have a one-car garage. There also will be space on the driveway of each townhome for one additional vehicle to be parked.

Attorney Wilhite, who was speaking on behalf of the applicant, emphasized there had been extended discussions over several months regarding the plans for the development.

It was approved by a vote of 4-1 with Commissioner Jack Mariano casting the dissenting vote. 

NaphCare Inc. was awarded a bid not to exceed $81,524,720.98 to provide comprehensive inmate medical, mental health and pharmaceutical services for up to 2,040 inmates during fiscal years 2024-2029. The amount that will be paid annually will vary over the five-year length of NaphCare’s contract. There also will be an option to renew the contract for an additional five years after the current contract expires. 

Two agreements to purchase vehicles during fiscal year (FY) 2024 that began Oct. 1, 2023 were approved. The agreement with Bartow Ford Co.  is not to exceed $7,000,000 and the agreement with Beck Auto Sales of Palatka is not to exceed $1,500,000.

The agreement states that Ford Motor Co. vehicles may be purchased from Bartow Ford as needed, while various vehicles, including SUVs and light trucks, may be purchased from Beck Auto Sales as needed.

An ongoing cooperative purchase agreement to spend up to $1.779M as needed for maintenance also was approved.

Contract Management Services FL, LLC (CMSF) was awarded a bid not to exceed $1,020,000 as needed for general maintenance services for FY 2024-2026. CMSF will be paid in equal annual installments not to exceed $340,000. The company will assist in the operation and maintenance of the county’s water utility infrastructure on an as-needed basis and also will help support the operations and improve quality and reliability of the utility system.

Two task orders with Carollo Engineers Inc. (CEI), for a total not to exceed $856,926 for FY 2024 was approved. CEI is to prepare updates for the county’s Wastewater Master Plan Project and also for its Reclaimed Water Master Plan Update Project. The purpose for the update to the Wastewater Master Plan is to provide a strategy to accommodate anticipated demand and capacity needs for existing and future customers through 2045. The purpose of the updated Reclaimed Water Master Plan is to ensure that adequate supplies and pressures are available for existing and future customers through 2045. Both of the updated plans will include projections with planning horizons of five years, 10 years and 20 years.

Published March 20, 2024 

Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo coming April 4

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Area seniors who attended last year’s Thrive Over 55 Expo were able to enjoy a free breakfast and lunch, as well as gather a variety of information geared toward their age group. (Courtesy of Adrian Garson)

Local residents over the age of 55 are invited to the third Thrive Over 55 Senior Expo on April 4 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at B&B Theatres Wesley Chapel – The Grove 16, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

The Laker/Lutz News will host the free event with more than 40 vendors and hundreds of seniors throughout the morning. Guests will be provided with a free breakfast and lunch, along with an informative morning filled with games and raffles.

Vendors range from medicare providers, home improvement specialists, retirement communities and travel agencies.

The title sponsors are Gulfside Healthcare Services and Vertos Medical, both of which will present a 30-minute breakout session during the expo.

Tickets are free, but are required. To register, visit http://tinyurl.com/thrive55expo.

There also are a few vendor opportunities left. Please email for more information.

Published March 06, 2024

New projects proposed for Land O’ Lakes, Wesley Chapel

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of rezoning and land use changes proposed for potential projects in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel.

The planning board’s action was part of its consent agenda, meaning there was no board discussion and no public comment. Items on this agenda are approved in a single motion, unless someone on the board or at the meeting asked for an item to have a presentation.

On Jan. 18, the planning board recommended approval of:

  • A request by Tibbetts Land at Gowers Corner to change a currently zoned master-planned unit development (MPUD) to an MPUD to allow for 300,000 square feet of retail and office, and up to 400 multifamily apartments on approximately 49 acres at the southwest corner of the intersection of State Road 52 and U.S. 41. The applicant has agreed to dedicate 10 units for affordable housing.
  • A request by EFH Holdings LLC/Elite Pavers to change zoning from agricultural and general commercial to general commercial, on the west side of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, approximately 1,500 feet north of Gator Lane on approximately 3.8 acres. The site consists of Elite Pavers of Tampa Bay. The applicant proposes to develop the property in conformance with general commercial uses, and the applicant has agreed to a deed restriction to limit the uses to commercial uses.
  • A request by The Corwyn at Wesley Hills MPUD to rezone agricultural land to an MPUD zoning district to allow a maximum of 350 multifamily units, 7,500 square feet of office and 7,500 square feet of commercial on approximately 24.4 acres. The project is located north of State Road 54 and west of Eiland Boulevard, in Wesley Chapel. The rezoning is a companion of a comprehensive plan amendment request to change the future land use designation on the property from six residential units per acre to MPUD.

Published February 14, 2024

Coffee with a Cop offers forum for residents to discuss concerns

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Cindy McCary, a resident of Wesley Chapel, recently organized a “Coffee with a Cop” session to discuss community public safety concerns.

The primary motivation was to seek answers about issues involving traffic enforcement in Wesley Chapel, according to an email McCary sent to The Laker/Lutz News.

Residents share concerns with local law enforcement officers during a recent ‘Coffee with a Cop’ in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Cindy McCary)

Her email includes a synopsis of what happened at the meeting.

Three representatives from the Pasco Sheriff Office’s community engagement department attended the meeting.

They shared information about what their department does and said they would be glad to attend informal meetings on a recurring basis.

They also talked about the Pasco Sheriff’s Office resources relating to Wesley Chapel, which is located in District 2. There are substations at The Grove and at Tampa Premium Outlets.

Those attending the meeting learned that the best place to take their questions depends on the issue. For instance, there are various county departments that deal with specific issues, while elected county board members address a broad range of issues.

The best number to call for an emergency is 911.

The speakers also told the audience that they should make their reports directly to the Sheriff’s Office, rather than on social media posts. The office needs the direct reports in order to include it in their data, which provides a better idea of the community’s need for services.

Those not wanting to make a direct report can use the tip option on the Sheriff’s website, at PascoSheriff.com.

Residents at the meeting expressed a number of concerns in their community, which include speeding, parking, safety, signage and needs for more patrols.

Published February 14, 2024

Paving project on Bruce B. Downs expected to cause minor delays

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Work began last week on a pavement rehabilitation project on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, from State Road 56 to County Line Road, in Wesley Chapel.

The work is being done in both directions and is expected to be finished within 30 days of the project’s state date, which was Jan. 21, depending on weather conditions. 

The project entails resurfacing the entire roadway and adding new pavement markings, according to a Pasco County news release.

Drivers should be prepared for minor delays, according to the county.

The work hours are from 7 p.m. to 6 a.m., Sunday through Thursday.

Drivers should expect single-lane closures, with message boards directing traffic.

Asphalt Paving Systems is the contractor for this Pasco County Public Works project.

Published January 31, 2024

Samaritan Corporation seeks to enrich youths’ lives

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Samaritan Corporation of Pasco County Inc., (501c3), seeks “to foster social service initiatives that connect with the community, celebrate its cultural diversity, promote education, uphold spiritual values, and cultivate an authentic and enriching quality of life for all residents,” according to the Rev. Clyde E. Carter, who is the CEO of the program.

Carter recently reached out via email to The Laker/Lutz News to share information about opportunities offered through the organization’s three programs.

It has a “Blue Diamond Drumline,” which focuses on percussion, the rhythmic pulse of any band. It provides comprehensive training in the 26 rudiments of percussion and the art of reading music. The Drumline has begun instructional classes at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, Wesley Chapel, with musicians ages 7 to 12.

The corporation also operates the Samaritan Corporation Learning Center, which offers after-school tutoring for elementary, middle and high school students. 

The center uses a combination of traditional teaching methods and computer-based learning labs to pursue effective learning for all. It offers one-on-one tutoring tailored to address specific needs.

It measures success by the students’ ability to complete classroom assignments and homework with 80% scoring accuracy. Our goal is to help each student achieve academic proficiency and build confidence in their abilities.

The Samaritan Golf Academy was designed to give young golfers a different outlook on sports. The program will open in March. Its mission is to “foster hidden talents, embrace social and cultural diversity, and instill spiritual values in every aspiring golfer.”

Samaritan will be hosting a registration for drumline, for kids ages 6 to 17, on Jan. 16, Jan. 17, Jan. 18, Jan. 23, Jan. 24 and Jan. 25 at Wesley Chapel District Park, 7727 Boyette Road, in Wesley Chapel. The program is year-round.

For more information about the Dade City-based organization, visit SamaritanCorp.org.

Published January 17, 2024

Old Pasco Road widening expected to cause delays

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Construction work that has begun on Old Pasco Road is expected to cause delays for those who travel on the road in Wesley Chapel. The project calls for widening Old Pasco Road, from just south of Sonny Drive to north of Overpass Road.

The work involves adding two travel lanes, a median, a sidewalk, a multi-use path and lighting. The project also includes adding two new traffic signals — one at Lindenhurst Drive and another at the Tampa Bay North Business Park driveway.

Work hours on the project are Monday through Friday, 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. Motorists should expect single-lane closures between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., with message boards directing traffic.

The project is expected to take 20 months, with an expected completion date of August 2025.

B.R.W. Contracting Inc., is the contractor for this county project.

Published January 10, 2024

Kirkland Ranch K-8 is ‘beehive’ of activity

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Crews are working hard, as Kirkland Ranch K-8 continues to make progress toward its August 2024 opening date.

Marcy Hetzler-Nettles, assistant superintendent of middle schools, told the Pasco School Board that she recently had a chance to tour the construction area, along with Betsy Kuhn, assistant superintendent for support services, and Julie Marks, the school’s first principal.

This rendering depicts what the new Kirkland Ranch K-8 is expected to look like, when construction is completed on the new school in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools/Hepner Architects)

Hetzler-Nettles told the school board that watching Principal Marks take in the sight was delightful.

“It was like Christmas morning, for a child unwrapping a gift, to see her eyes light up,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

Hetzler-Nettles also said crews at the work site are clearly focused on the tasks at hand.

“It is a serious beehive out there right now. It’s amazing the amount of crews that are all in – welding, electrical, they’re pulling cables. They’re putting up drywall, all over the place,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

“It looks fantastic and it’s coming together quite nicely. It’s going to be very exciting to see it, once it is done.”

The school, at 33137 Innovation Drive, in Wesley Chapel, will be on the east side of the campus of Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

During a previous presentation to the board, Peter Hepner, of Hepner Architects, offered details about the project. He said there will be play courts and a covered play area outdoors, as well as parking lots for staff and visitors, and a drop-off area for students.

The first floor will have spaces for administration, prekindergarten, primary classrooms, and elementary art, music and skills labs.

The student dining area includes a stage and there will be outdoor dining, too.

The second floor includes primary and intermediate classrooms, a media center and a teacher planning area.

On the third floor, there will be middle school classrooms, art and music areas, a STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) Center and science labs.

Creative Contractors is the construction manager for the Kirkland Ranch K-8 project.

The school has been described on the school district’s website as a “state-of-the-art dedicated magnet school experience for young creators, innovators and entrepreneurs located near the Epperson community.”

The website notes that the school will have the magnet themes of World Languages and Entrepreneurship woven throughout the student experience. 

Students will begin with their language acquisition in kindergarten and will have the opportunity to earn high school World Language credits in their middle school years, the website says.  

The website also notes that Kirkland Ranch K-8 is the only school in Pasco County that offers a magnet entrepreneurship program, from kindergarten through eighth grade. The course progression allows students to cultivate entrepreneurial mindsets and capabilities beginning in elementary school.

Those wishing to attend the school can apply during the Pasco Pathways Application Window, between Jan. 8 to Jan. 19.

Published December 13, 2023