The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

New East Pasco school gets a name

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A new high school that will focus on technology, STEM and business programs on the east side of Pasco County will be called the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

The Pasco County School Board approved that name unanimously during the board’s Feb. 18 meeting.

The school is located at Curley Road and Keifer Road in Wesley Chapel on the former Kirkland Ranch property.

Program plans for the school include academies for Business, Finance & Marketing; Digital Technology; Engineering Technology; Health Science & Human Services; Transportation Technology; and Building Technology, according to Pasco County Schools’ Facebook page.

The school will serve grades nine through 12 and offer industry certification in high-demand career fields with a focus on technology, STEM, and business, the Facebook page adds.

The name Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation encompasses both the area where it will operate, and in general, to the school’s mission.

Board members received about 100 suggested names for the school.

Board member Alison Crumbley said there were so many fine people on the list that she couldn’t narrow it down to just one.

Board member Cynthia Armstrong said the name — Academy of Innovation — is broad enough to cover the ever-evolving direction of career and technical education.

“As we know, CTE is changing daily,” Armstrong said.

The new school is slated to open in August 2022.

Published February 26, 2020

Denial recommended on senior care site in Wesley Chapel

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended denial of a request for a conditional use permit to allow a residential treatment facility for up to 30 residents on Pomello Trace in Wesley Chapel.

Planning commissioners voted 5-0 against the request by Jordanes Hippolite, who is seeking permission to create an elderly care center, on a site at 29436 Pomella Trace, that’s smaller than a half-acre. The property is about 200 feet east of Caroline Drive.

The applicant proposed a single-story 4,500-square-foot facility. The application said the facility is intended for elderly residents.

In the application, the applicant states in part that, “as a Registered Nurse of 20+ years of experience, I’m writing this letter to request assistance in granting permission to build a home  for elderly care in Wesley Chapel.

“As a dedicated caregiver to elderly residents of assisted living and memory care communities  since 2000, I have worked as a nurse, where I assist residents with dementia and Alzheimer’s disease with daily living needs.”

The county’s planning staff recommended approval, with a number of conditions.

But, several neighbors urged planning commissioners to reject the request.

Jeff Kirschner, of 29431 Pomello Trace, told planning commissioners that residents frequently take walks in the neighborhood with their pets, and their children ride their bicycles up and down the roads because there are no sidewalks.

He said the proposed care facility would be more appropriate on State Road 54 and is not “congruent” with the existing neighborhood.

“This was somebody’s backyard that someone purchased and wanted to make a commercial entity because of the convenience of it,” he said.

Michelle Obregon, of 29419 Pomello Trace, lives across the street from the proposed residential care center.

“I’ve been in the neighborhood for almost 15 years. The reason I chose the neighborhood was because of it being a quiet neighborhood to raise children in. I love Wesley Chapel. I love my neighbors.

“We only have one entrance in our neighborhood.

“We already have to share the road with those coming in and out. We have to share the road with our neighbors that are walking with their children. We have to share the road for the neighbors who are walking with their dogs. We have to share the road with the children who are riding bikes because we do not have sidewalks. We have to share the road with kids that are coming off the buses in the morning and afternoon.

“I know my neighbors. I do not know the people that will be living at the facility. I do not know the families of the people that would be living at the facility.

“This is a residential neighborhood. We want to keep it a residential neighborhood. We didn’t purchase for commercial to be put in there,” she said.

Other neighbors offered similar objections. They also raised concerns about ambulances coming and going to the residential care center, and about noise, drainage and property values. One neighbor submitted a petition with 112 signatures from people opposing the proposed use.

Planning commissioners Peter Hanzel and Michael Cox raised questions about trying to fit a facility of this nature on a lot of this size — while meeting necessary parking requirements.

“It’s almost like putting 10 pounds of sugar into a 5-pound sack,” Hanzel said.

“I don’t see the space there.

“To be very honest with you, I think at some point, you need to re-evaluate your business plan,” Hanzel added. “I don’t see it mathematically working out.”

Cox said: “Even at 20 (residents), how would you provide enough parking for the families that are coming out, and your staff and the support that would require.”

Cox added: “My mother was in an assisted living manor care unit for a long time. There was about 30 residents on the floor that she was on, and seeing the support staff that they had for those residents, there is no way in God’s green earth that you’re going to be able to do that on that piece of property.”

Cox called for denial of the request, which the board adopted.

The planning commission’s recommendation now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction on the request.

Published February 12, 2020

Big changes coming to The Grove

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The Grove at Wesley Chapel shopping center is in store for a major makeover — something being hyped as a future downtown entertainment district for the growing Pasco County community.

Owner and developer Mark Gold unveiled his vision for the property during a North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce luncheon last month.

He has sweeping plans for the large, but rather traditional strip mall, which is situated west of I-75 and north of State Road 54 .

New renderings for The Grove at Wesley Chapel show the addition of KRATE, a new plaza that will feature an 87-space container boutique shopping and restaurant park, plus an adjacent amphitheater and stage, trampoline park, miniature sports and more. KRATE is expected to be up and running within the next three months to six months, Gold said. (Courtesy of The Grove at Wesley Chapel)

The Grove is already  home to a 16-screen theater and more than a dozen national retail chains, including Dick’s Sporting Goods, Best Buy, Old Navy and others.

Gold purchased The Grove for $62.7 million in September, through parent company Mishorim USA Real Estate Investments.

While many of those major retail spaces will remain in place, it’s what Gold has in mind for the property’s surrounding 114 acres of vacant land that’s been generating buzz.

“I’m going to build a downtown Wesley Chapel,” he told a packed room of chamber members at New Tampa’s Pebble Creek Golf Club on Jan. 23.

To do that, the developer is bringing an 87-space container park to the plaza, predicting it could open within the next three months to six months.

Called KRATE, it will feature renovated shipping containers filled mainly by mom and pop boutique shops and unique eateries. The containers will be grouped together by walkways with options for indoor and outdoor seating. Curbside parking will be available, too.

Gold said he’s already leased 96% of the container park, which includes as many as 35 eateries, all with “different tastes, different feeling.”

That many food options in one spot alone will be a major draw, he said.

“If you put 35 restaurants in one place, it brings a lot of people, because people want the variety — the kids want to eat something, mother wants to eat something else,” Gold said.

The Grove’s KRATE area will be surrounded by an entertainment complex, with a large amphitheater and stage, and family friendly activities, such as a trampoline park and various miniature sports, Gold added.

Gold also announced that he has secured a permit from the Pasco Commission to allow alcohol to be consumed throughout KRATE — news greeted by loud cheers and applause from chamber members.

The developer’s concept is somewhat similar to Sparkman Wharf in downtown Tampa’s Channelside District, perhaps on an even grander scale.

He predicted that The Grove, over time, will become “a place to be,” as a one-of-a-kind destination attracting people from all over Tampa Bay.

He think it fills a need in Wesley Chapel, particularly for families.

He put it like this: “There’s lots of kids in this area with nothing to do. If you want to do something, you need to drive to South Tampa and suffer through the traffic. I want South Tampa to come to us.”

Weekly and monthly community and cultural events also are planned for The Grove and KRATE, Gold said.

For instance, there will be a nationwide graffiti contest for KRATE, where each container park will be able to get its own unique design. For example, the outside of a pizza eatery could be decorated up with Italian-style food images. “Graffiti alone is an event,” he said.

The developer also envisions a local-based singing competition, modeled somewhat after NBC’s TV program, “The Voice,” with winners receiving cash prizes upward of $10,000.

“Everything is on the table,” he said.

While he has loads of ideas, he’s also seeking input from business leaders and residents.

“Please be involved, it’s important,” he told chamber members. “If there’s something that’s not good, or there’s something you really like, let us know. I’m not from here, so I really don’t know, I can only guess.”

In addition to The Grove, Gold operates more than a dozen commercial properties, mainly throughout the southeastern United States, including Florida locations in Jacksonville and Orlando. Many of those properties include attractions, such as indoor roller rinks, zip lines in parking lots, haunted houses, obstacle courses, trampoline parks, climbing walls and arcades.

He decided to purchase The Grove after hearing about the massive growth happening in Wesley Chapel and surrounding communities, he said.

With reports of another 50,000 homes coming online in the next 24 months, Wesley Chapel has been labeled the fastest-growing community in the Tampa Bay area, and one of the fastest in all of the southeastern U.S.

Gold sees the potential.

Published February 05, 2020

Navigating the choppy waters of divorce

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It’s that time of year, when bakeries, florists and jewelers are busy — in the approach to Valentine’s Day.

It can be a time of love, affection and euphoria — but also can be a painful trigger for those struggling through the turmoil of divorce.

For one Wesley Chapel woman, it’s a time when existing or new clients may feel a particular need to turn to her for support.

Going through a divorce takes an emotional toll and has impacts within the family, on finances and living arrangements, said Hayley Lisa Botha, a divorce coach. (B.C. Manion)

Hayley Lisa Botha, of Emerge Strong Divorce Coaching, helps people take control of their divorce process.

Divorce is more than a legal process, said Botha, who goes by Hayley Lisa to her clients and friends. It’s a transition — affecting relationships within a family, finances and living arrangements — while taking a toll on emotions.

And, that emotional toll can compromise decision-making, Hayley Lisa said.

That’s why she thinks it’s important to enlist the aid of someone who has been trained to help people going through a divorce, to get from where they are to where they want to be.

“A divorce coach can give you unbiased advice,” said Hayley Lisa, who knows the challenges firsthand.

She’s been divorced twice.

She’s familiar with the turmoil it can cause, and the swirl of emotions that can take over.

“You’re going to be a train-wreck,” she said.

When confronted by divorce, many have no idea what to do, or where to turn for help, she said.

“That’s why I love to help people sort through all of the emotions they are feeling, and just gain some clarity, so they can be in a better position,” she said. “I truly believe it (divorce) can be done with integrity and with maturity.”

She sees her role as being a sounding board, and serving as a guide to help clients build a network of professionals to assist them.

When someone approaches her for help, the first thing Hayley Lisa wants to know is where they are in the process: Are they thinking about divorce, or is the marriage really over?

“Make sure the marriage is really over before taking steps to get divorced because once you do that — everything seems to change and sometimes you can’t go back,” she said.

She doesn’t advise people on whether to pursue a divorce, but once that decision has been made, she works with clients to tackle the practical and emotional challenges.

Knowing your financial status is essential, she said.

“Some people think that they’re OK, until they run a credit score and they realize ‘Oh boy, I’m  not even going to be able to get a credit card in my own name,’” she said.

It’s important to choose an attorney, too. She recommends consulting with at least two before selecting one.

“You have to know that attorney is with you and that your values will align. Maybe you want to go through the mediation process. Maybe you want to go collaborative law,” she said. Or, in some cases, litigation is needed.

“If you start this process with an attorney who’s not going to have your best interests at heart, then you’re going to be in a world of trouble,” she said.

Hayley Lisa said she listens to her clients without passing judgment.

“I become their thinking partner in the divorce process. I help them build what’s now going to be their new normal,” she said.

That new normal often involves co-parenting, which can be particularly challenging, she said.

This can be an area where ex-spouses push each other’s buttons, she said. Resist the temptation and take the high road, she advised.

“You’re going to have to sometimes swallow your pride and your ego, and do what’s best for your children,” she said.

She offers clients help with co-parenting issues. “That is such a whole new arena for most people,” she said.

It’s also important to be careful who you listen to, Hayley Lisa said.

While family and friends care about you, they aren’t unbiased, and typically aren’t qualified to give expert advice, she said.

She offers a free consultation to potential clients, and in addition to offering her services on a sliding scale, she also runs a free divorce support group. There are three upcoming support group sessions planned at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library on Collier Parkway.

“It’s just a safe environment where people can share with others, who might be further along in the process, or just beginning,” she said, describing the support group.

“When you are going through a divorce, there’s so much shame that people feel. They feel stigmatized. In the support group, there’s no judgment. We’ve all been there.”

Want to know more?

Call Hayley Lisa Botha at (561) 339-3711; check the website at EmergeStrongDivorceCoaching.com; or, email her at .

Hayley’s 10 commandments
No. 1: Make sure the marriage is really over.
No. 2: Get a divorce coach or therapist.
No. 3: Become informed and take control of your divorce process. If you aren’t already aware of your financial state, find out. Gather financial statements, run a credit check.
No. 4: Put your kids first. Do what’s best for the kids, even if it hurts you.
No. 5: Get good legal advice and build a team of professionals.
No. 6: Do not speak negatively about your soon-to-be ex-spouse.
No. 7: Be careful who you listen to. Your family and your friends love you, but they’re not unbiased and they’re not divorce experts, either.
No. 8: Don’t use your lawyer as your divorce coach or therapist. Lawyers are trained in law, not emotions.
No. 9: Be kind to yourself. Divorce is tough enough, don’t make it worse by letting go of your health.
No. 10: Don’t fight it out at all costs. Don’t insist on getting every last penny you feel you are due, do what you can to settle your case amicably. Your children will thank you.

Source: Hayley Lisa Botha, Emerge Strong Divorce Coaching Services

Free divorce support groups
Emerge Strong Divorce Coaching offers free divorce support groups for men and women who would like some support and guidance, while going through this difficult and often overwhelming time. Sessions will be at the Land O’Lakes Branch Library meeting room, 2818 Collier Parkway.

The February schedule is as follows:

  • Feb. 15: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 18: 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
  • Feb. 29: 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

For more information on the support groups, call (561) 339-3711, or visit Facebook.com/EmergeStrongDivorceCoaching.

Published February 05, 2020

Seven Oaks PTA supports student achievement

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Seven Oaks Elementary School, in Wesley Chapel, has been named one of the 2019-2021 National PTA Schools of Excellence.

The accolade recognizes schools across the country which have strived to make advancements for student education in their schools.

Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning, left, stands alongside Principal Shauntte Butcher, of Seven Oaks Elementary; Denise Nicholas, Heather Buboltz and School Board member Alison Crumbley. Butcher displays the certificate her school received after being named one of the 2019-2021 National PTA Schools of Excellence. (Courtesy of Seven Oaks Elementary School)

Three Pasco County schools achieved the honor, announced over the summer. Besides Seven Oaks, the others who received recognition are Wiregrass Ranch High School and River Ridge Middle School.

Heather Buboltz, former president of Seven Oaks PTA board, was instrumental in garnering the recognition.

“Everything is focused on the kids, and how we can improve things for them and their schooling,” Buboltz said.

The PTA board, which consists of parents and school staff, routinely holds meetings.

Denise Nicholas, who is first vice president of Seven Oaks PTA and president of the Pasco County Council PTA, said principals also sit on the board and have a voice in board decisions.

Parents also get to offer input during general assembly meetings held throughout the school year. And, online polling gives parents another opportunity to offer their thoughts, too.

For instance, based on feedback calling for an increased focus on technology and communication, Seven Oaks concentrated its efforts on the STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Art, Math) program.

The school previously welcomed representatives from Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI), which helped bring science to life through the use of telescopes and activities.

Seven Oaks also had an Omegaman presentation, as part of its effort to combat bullying.

At the assembly, a live superhero offered lessons on the importance of kindness.

“It’s a really great program,” said Maria Balestriere, current president of Seven Oaks PTA. “The kids really related and had a great time with him.”

The PTA also has implemented All Pro Dads, a program in which dads accompany their kids on campus, engaging in activities and breakfast, too.

And, students stay fit while being chaperoned outdoors for Walk and Bike to School days.

Children also get a chance to learn to be more independent through the PTA’s holiday shopping on campus, which gives kids a chance to select gifts for family members.

That program, Balestriere said, gives children a chance to learn about budgeting. And, on top of that, it teaches them how to be thoughtful about other people.

“Reading Under the Stars” gives kids the chance to appreciate literature in a fun way.

During the last evening event, both the principal and vice principal of Seven Oaks read to students who were dressed in pajamas and eating s’mores.

“Programs that we find that are successful, we try and continue,” Buboltz said.

However, new ones have received positive reception as well.

The most recent Ketchup Club gets adult volunteers to sit with kindergarteners and first-graders, and help them prepare for lunch.

The Seven Oaks PTA also has partnered with other PTAs to see how each school can assist one another.

“Seven Oaks has done a phenomenal job bringing their programs, and bringing the help and support to other elementary schools here in the area,” Nicholas said.

Buboltz said that the progress Seven Oaks has made is due to everyone working cohesively and sharing ideas.

Last year, the school’s PTA board attended the Florida PTA Legislative Conference in Tallahassee.

There, they met with Pasco County officials to once again advocate for students’ best interests.

“We’re dedicated to making a difference for all these kids,” Nicholas said.

Published January 29, 2020

Charter school coming to Connected City’s Epperson

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A K-8 charter school could open as early as this fall in Epperson, if all goes according to plan.

The Pasco County School Board has approved an agreement with Metro Apple LLC and Red Apple Development LLC — known collectively as the developer — for a charter school that is planned on the east side of Curley Road.

Details regarding the school are spelled out in the agreement.

Plans call for a two-story school of approximately 55,000 square feet, that will be built on a site of about 8 acres to 10 acres.

The charter school will have a capacity of 765 students.

The proposed concept for the school is based on the acronym of W.I.S.H., which stands for Wellness, Innovation, Science and Health.

The aim is to open the school for the 2020 school year.

The charter school will be built to the state standards, certified by a third-party architect. It will not include any hurricane shelter requirements.

Once construction is completed and students are enrolled, the entity that paid for the design, permitting and construction of the school shall be entitled to school impact fee credits, for the land and facility portion of the impact fee only.

The maximum amount of any fee credits and the cash reimbursement for all design, construction and land costs shall be $18.2 million. Land value for fee credits or cash reimbursements shall be based on a fair market value appraisal obtained by the developer.

Published January 22, 2020

Old Pasco Road restructure to enhance safety

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Construction is underway to reconstruct Old Pasco Road’s intersections with Quail Hollow Boulevard, Oakley Boulevard and Boom Boom Drive, in Wesley Chapel.

The improvements are in response to a route study that concluded upgrades are needed to improve safety and increase traffic capacity.

Old Pasco Road is undergoing reconfigurations at its intersections with Quail Hollow Boulevard, Oakley Boulevard and Boom Boom Drive. The construction aims to improve safety and reduce traffic congestion. (Brian Fernandes)

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore said he has heard concerns from motorists who travel on Old Pasco Road.

And Moore, whose District 2 includes the intersections in question, said he, too, has witnessed a need for improvements.

“Just driving that intersection myself, throughout the years, you could tell there was obviously a need,” he said. “There was safety issues – how it was configured.”

Moore also noted that this project will alleviate school traffic for buses heading to and from Cypress Creek Middle-High School.

The campus will have even more students in the fall, when the new middle school opens — creating additional capacity for both middle and high school students at the Old Pasco Road complex.

As part of the $3 million road construction project:

  • Two northbound left-turn lanes will be added on Old Pasco Road, leading onto Quail Hollow Boulevard
  • A northbound right-turn lane will be added on Old Pasco Road, leading onto Oakley Boulevard
  • Going south on Old Pasco Road, there will be a right-turn lane added, leading onto Quail Hollow Boulevard
  • The existing left-turn lane on southbound Old Pasco Road will be extended, leading onto Oakley Boulevard
  • Heading west on Oakley Boulevard, a right-turn lane will be added, leading onto Old Pasco Road
  • Heading west on Oakley Boulevard, its existing left-turn lane will be extended, leading onto Old Pasco Road
  • Old Pasco Road, heading north, will have an added left-turn lane, leading onto Boom Boom Drive
  • Old Pasco Road, heading south, will have an added right-turn lane, leading onto Boom Boom Drive
  • The traffic light at Old Pasco Road and Quail Hollow Boulevard will be reconstructed
  • The traffic light at Old Pasco Road and Oakley Boulevard will be reconstructed

“I know the citizens will be very happy,” Moore said. “The ones I’ve talked to are ecstatic that this is moving forward and coming to fruition.”

There are no expected lane closures or detours during construction.

The project is scheduled to be completed in Winter 2020.

Published January 15, 2020

Former county spray field to become industrial park

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A 99-acre spray field on Old Pasco Road is poised to become an industrial park, which is expected to employ hundreds — under actions approved last week by the Pasco County Commission.

First, commissioners approved a staff recommendation to declare the property as surplus — making it available for sale.

Then, commissioners approved a proposed incentive package to encourage the Rooker Company, based in Atlanta, to create an industrial park on the land.

Commissioners also approved a purchase and sale agreement, providing a variety of conditions are met.

The property is about one-third mile south of the intersection with Overpass Road, which is where an interchange is planned with Interstate 75.

David Engel, Pasco County’s economic growth manager, briefed commissioners on the background of the deal at their Dec. 10 meeting.

Engel said the county received an unsolicited bid in the spring from the Rooker Company, to purchase the property for $2,850,000.

The company had calculated there would be 57 acres of developable land associated with this property, Engel said. Some of the remainder is needed for right of way for the I-75 interchange project and the widening of Old Pasco Road, while there’s also land needed for stormwater retention, there are hydrologic areas and there are designated wetlands.

“After an extensive amount of negotiation, the purchase price proposal has been increased to $3,596,500,” Engel said.

The purchase agreement is contingent upon compliance with the Master Planned Unit Development approved for the site in the spring of 2018, Engel added.

There are three conditions of sale:

  • The developer and the county must enter into a cooperative funding agreement for the first phase of development, which is 400,000 square feet. The total concept master plan is approximately 900,000 square feet of industrial construction.
  • Pasco County must remove the existing decommissioned wastewater infrastructure from the site. It also must regrade the property and install the basins.
  • The company must obtain all necessary land approvals for phase one.

Engel pointed out to commissioners: “The developer will be paying us for land that will be committed to road widening and also for the I-75 interchange.”

In a separate action, commissioners also approved an economic incentive to encourage the company to create new jobs.

County staff recommended $3.7 million in incentives.

“That amounts to $9.25 a square foot, which is the most economical incentive brought to the board so far, since the Penny (for Pasco, which supports economic incentives) was enacted in 2015,” Engel said.

The proposed first phase of the project calls for a 400,000-square-foot industrial park, which represents a $26.5 million investment, Engel said.

The first phase will create 427 direct and indirect jobs, and is expected to contribute to the gross county project, Engel added. “That’s a 13 to 1 ROI (Return on Investment),” he said.

Commissioners also agreed to an amendment to the agreement for sale and purchase that requires the county add to its five-year capital improvement plan — the widening of a section of Old Pasco Road to four lanes, from the south entrance of the property to Overpass Road, to four lanes.

Also, the financing — by a party other than the buyer —for the design, permitting and construction of the Old Pasco segment must be in place, such that the section of the Old Pasco be in place prior to the first certificate of occupancy for individual tenant premises for buildings within the project.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said “We want to make sure that’s widened.”

Engel also noted that the design for the industrial park is “attractive, tilt-up industrial-style buildings. It’s a scale and prominence that has yet to be constructed here in Pasco.”
Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said  “I’m especially excited about the prospect for manufacturing at this site.”

Cason Bufe, vice president of real estate for Rooker, said the company is a family owned real estate business that began when Jack Rooker developed the company’s first industrial building in Atlanta.

Since then, it has developed and constructed more than 50 million square feet of industrial facilities across the Southeast United States, he said.

Rooker’s son, John, now manages the business and “has set a strategy that has led us to invest in pro-growth municipalities in Florida, South Carolina, Tennessee and Georgia,” Bufe said.

“We have a proven track record in developing business parks of this kind, and public-private partnerships with government entities, and I applaud Pasco County for having the vision to create the Penny for Pasco program, rezone this property and invest in the new interchange at Overpass Road and I-75. Each of those factors was critical to us. We look forward to working side-by-side with the county to attract quality jobs and grow the tax base for Pasco County and its citizens.”

Published December 18, 2019

Wiregrass band marches into Pasco history

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The Wiregrass Ranch High School made Pasco County history by bringing home the first place prize in Class 4A in the Florida Marching Band Championships, on Nov. 23.

The Marching Bulls became 4A Grand Champions at the competition, at Daytona Beach. The school also won best color guard in its class, as well.

Josh Hobbs is the school’s band director and Alexander Kopp is the band’s drum major.

Precision and coordination were key elements that helped the Wiregrass Ranch High School marching band win first place in Class 4A of the Florida Marching Band Championships. In winning the Nov. 23 competition, the band became the first of any Pasco school to bring home the award. (Courtesy of Josh Hobbs)

Both were instrumental in the marching band’s success.

“It’s all about focus,” said Kopp, a junior at Wiregrass Ranch. “That’s what we always preach to everyone.”

Being a part of the 135-member band, which includes the color guard team and musicians, requires practicing three days to four days a week.

Beyond competing at band competitions across the country, the marching band also supports the high school’s football team at games.

Competing at various events requires fundraising, which the band does through the sale of items on its website, carwashes and partnering with local restaurants.

During the holidays, band members collect donations in exchange for wrapping gifts at the Barnes & Noble bookstore.

To get to state finals, marching bands must compete at the regional level first.

If they make it to state, they compete in the semifinal round before moving to the finals.

The Marching Bulls were among the top five semifinalists, propelling them closer to a victory.

Senior Kurt Smith, the Bulls’ band captain, said the judges are meticulous. They focus on precision, quality of music and visual performances.

It was that analysis that led to the Bulls earning a banner, trophy and gold medallions.

Kopp and Smith both began their band experience during middle school.

“In middle school, I picked up guitar,” Kopp said. “I saw in eighth grade that there’s a band program at our middle school, so I jumped in there.”

Smith on the other hand started off playing the trumpet and later began practicing the French horn.

However, it was his transition into the Wiregrass Ranch High marching band that made a big impact on him, the 18-year-old recalled.

“I met so many great people in my freshman year, when I first did it,” Smith said. “I really wanted to be like them. They were great leaders.”

Now, he has had the opportunity to continue that kind of leadership.

When the team reaches the competition venue, they may have several additional hours on their hands, Smith said, and they put it to good use.

“It’s just that important to get ready for all three hours that you’re there,” he added, “so that every moment you have, you’re maximizing your potential to set yourself up for success.”

The camaraderie among band members has been the recipe for success, Hobbs said.

He added: “They’re never above helping out somebody that’s struggling. Those things have very little to do with their actual performance. Their willingness to help the program itself, by dedication, is really special.”

The marching band uses social media, posters and informational meetings to get the word out to those interested in joining.

They want to attract new members to not only perform with the band, but also join what they call “a family.”

Published December 11, 2019

Measure intended to improve flow on Bruce B. Downs

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Pasco County is making improvements on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, at the intersection of State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel, to enhance traffic flow and safety.

The county is extending the length of the farthest left-hand turning lane, to accommodate more cars waiting to turn west onto State Road 54.

Bruce B. Downs Boulevard’s farthest left-turn lane turning west onto State Road 54, will be extended to accommodate more vehicles. Two other median modifications also are being made nearby. (Brian Fernandes)

The county also will be adding a traffic signal at Eagleston and Bruce B. Downs boulevards. Currently, there is just a median there. There will be a left-turn lane at the intersection to enable cars heading south on Bruce B. Downs to make a U-turn to head north.

The $500,000 project is a means of preventing motorists from crossing six lanes of traffic to get from one commercial plaza on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard to another commercial plaza on the east side of the road.

“The project was initiated after a safety study was performed recommending the closure of the first median opening south of SR 54/CR 54,” said David Botello, of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Motorists leaving the plaza at Bruce B. Downs Boulevard’s west side, now must cross six lanes in order to get into the Publix plaza, on the east side. By closing the median, this traffic would be redirected to the new signal at Eagleston, or onto State Road 54, in order to get to the Publix center.

The Florida Department of Transportation is taking on the project and would close off this median.

Push-button pedestrian signal detectors, countdown pedestrian signal heads, curb ramps and marked crosswalks would be installed at the intersection.

The project is currently in the design phase and construction is scheduled to begin in Fall 2021.

Published December 11, 2019