The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

New Wesley Chapel fire station comes with more offerings

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Wesley Chapel now has Pasco County’s second largest fire station, and the opening of Station 13 was celebrated at a ribbon cutting on May 30.

The 9,400-square-foot station, off Old Pasco Road and Dayflower Boulevard, became operational several weeks before the celebration because the original station — which had been next to it — was torn down.

With scissors in hand, from left: Chief Mark Spudie, Fire Marshal Karl Thompson, Chief Scott Cassin, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, Pasco County Attorney Jeff Steinsnyder and Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Mike Cassano, get ready to officiate the opening of Station 13 with the traditional ribbon cutting. The ceremony took place on May 30 outside the new station in Wesley Chapel. (Brian Fernandes)

Despite the blistering heat, a crowd of firefighters, county officials and local residents gathered for the event.

The new station improves the county’s ability to respond to emergencies in the growing Wesley Chapel community.

“The new station is much larger [and] able to accommodate more firefighters,” explained Chief Scott Cassin, who oversees all county stations. “We were just maxed out over at the old station. It was too small for the growing community around here.”

The $3.5 million project was funded by the Penny for Pasco program.

Station 13 has three drive-thru bays, which can accommodate five vehicles, including a fire engine, an ambulance, a tanker and a brush truck.

Each rotating shift will be staffed by six firefighters, which includes one paramedic. A battalion chief also will be on duty.

The station is designed to house 10 firefighters, each with their own bunkrooms. The station also has a physical fitness area and a kitchen. There’s also a storage space for equipment.

And, there’s a sheriff’s substation.

“The station is also environmentally friendly, energy-efficient and storm-hardened, which are all critical elements in today’s infrastructure,” the chief added.

Members of the Pasco County Fire Department are all smiles as they celebrate the official opening of Fire Station 13 in Wesley Chapel. Department members, as well as county officials and residents, were present for the ribbon cutting ceremony on May 30.

In addition to safety precautions, all vehicles will be hooked up to a diesel exhaust extraction system. With this, exhaust fumes will be vented out from the trucks to the outdoors.

“That way none of that diesel exhaust is in the air that we’re breathing,” Cassin said.

Many in the community came out to celebrate the opening, including Cypress Creek Middle-High School Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles and student Sam Mazzeo.

“We have an incredible partnership with Station 13,” Hetzler-Nettles said. “They are our responding station.”

The importance of the station’s proximity to the school was evident last year when Mazzeo suffered a cardiac arrest on the school field.

An AED machine and CPR had to be used at the school to keep Mazzeo’s heart going before the firefighters arrived and rushed him to the hospital.

“I appreciate all the work you did,” the 18-year-old said, before the staff.

As a token of gratitude, the principal and senior student presented the station with a framed No. 13 Cypress Creek sports jersey.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who oversees the district where the station is located, offered a few words.

“This station means an improved level of service for both our citizens and our fire rescue team to serve one of the fastest-growing areas in the state, and actually the country,” Moore said.

He also added: “When I first came on as a county commissioner, one of the things we promised was we were going to make public safety one of our top priorities. I’m confident that we’ve done that, and we’ll continue to do that.”

The newly erected Fire Station 13 stands off Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. The facility is the second largest station in Pasco County with new amenities for a safer environment and shorter waiting times in emergencies.

Jackie Parker was one of many who endured the sweltering heat to join the occasion.

She has been living in Wesley Chapel for more than 40 years and hasn’t had concerns about safety – knowing Station 13 is not far away.

“The department here has been quick to respond to needs in the community, and they’re very efficient,” she mentioned.

In fact, Parker witnessed the building of the original station in 1979, recalling when the antique fire trucks used to be parked on residents’ yards.

More Pasco residents will be put at ease when Wesley Chapel’s Station 38 will be opened late summer this year.

The opening of the sister station will reduce Station 13’s coverage zone, enabling quicker response times, Cassin said.

The occasion was marked with a traditional ribbon cutting ceremony.

With scissors handy, Commissioner Moore and County Attorney Jeff N. Steinsnyder, joined Chief Cassin, as well as Chief Mark Spudie, Fire Marshal Karl Thompson and Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Mike Cassano in cutting a big red ribbon.

In a closing remark, Cassin said, “It’s time now to make new memories and turn the page to the next chapter in our history.”

After that, those attending were welcomed inside for a tour and refreshments.

Published June 05, 2019

BayCare’s plans for new Pasco hospital are uncertain

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The Florida Legislature’s decision to drop the requirement for a Certificate of Need review for new hospitals is causing BayCare Health System to reconsider its plans for a hospital in Pasco County.

The hospital chain had received a preliminary OK on its Certificate of Need request for a 60-bed hospital on a 111-acre site at the northeast quadrant of Interstate 75 and Overpass Road.

It was pushing ahead with planning for the new facility, despite a challenge filed by AdventHealth’s hospitals in Wesley Chapel, Zephyrhills and Dade City.

A hearing on the appeal had been set for August.

But, the repeal of the requirement for a Certificate of Need has created a wide open market for the establishment of hospitals.

The repeal is causing BayCare to take another look at its plans, said BayCare spokeswoman Lisa Razler.

It’s still too early to say how the change will affect the health care system’s plans, Razler said.

“We have a whole new lens to look through,” Razler said. “We’re going to have to take a step back and re-evaluate because with that new legislation, anyone can put a hospital anywhere.”

The health care system was disappointed by the Legislature’s action, Razler said.

“We believed in the planning process,” she said.

Proponents for axing the Certificate of Need requirement said the repeal would promote more competition.

Razler said the issue is more complicated.

“It’s not straight up supply and demand, when it comes to health care, because of all of nuances involved,” Razler said.

BayCare will need to review its plans “to determine what’s the best option, given the new landscape,” the hospital spokeswoman said.

BayCare had been pursuing the hospital in Pasco because of the dramatic population growth and increasing demand for health services.

The construction of the hospital was expected to create 300 jobs, and once it became fully operational, it would need about 300 team members, hospital officials told The Laker/Lutz News in previous interviews.

BayCare had planned to provide these services at the new hospital:

  • Emergency services for adults and children
  • Intensive care services
  • Obstetrical care services
  • Diagnostic lab imaging
  • Physical rehabilitation
  • Behavioral support services

Hospital officials previously said it typically takes about three years from the time a hospital is approved until the physical structure is operating.

At this point, it remains unclear, whether those plans will be pursued.

Published May 29, 2019

Moffitt Cancer to open Wesley Chapel treatment center

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Moffitt Cancer Center and AdventHealth have announced they are working together to open an outpatient cancer center on the campus of AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, located next to the hospital on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. The outpatient center is expected to open in the fall of 2020.

Rendering of Moffitt Cancer’s planned treatment facility in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of AdventHealth West Florida Division)

“We strive to provide world-class cancer care close to where people live and work,” said Alan F. List, MD, president and chief executive officer of Moffitt Cancer Center. “Expanding Moffitt’s brand of oncology care, treatment and research in Pasco County helps us accomplish this goal. Moffitt also is responding to the growing incidence of cancer in Florida, as the state’s population continues to grow and age.”

The new Moffitt outpatient center at AdventHealth Wesley Chapel will provide medical and radiation oncology service. It is being designed to accommodate 20 exam rooms, 22 infusion stations and two linear accelerators. Cancer screenings and survivorship programs geared toward patients who are post-treatment and in remission will also be available.

“This is just the beginning of our partnership with Moffitt Cancer Center and our joint commitment to finding new ways to bring innovative cancer care to the Pasco community,”  said Mike Schultz, president and chief executive officer of AdventHealth West Florida Division.

“Our partnership allows us to strengthen our network of care by expanding the type of health care services we can provide to our communities, and gives cancer patients greater access to the country’s leading-edge research, clinical trials and cancer treatments at Moffitt,” he said.

Moffitt Cancer Center is a Tampa-based facility and is one of only 50 National Cancer Institute-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers, a distinction that recognizes Moffitt’s scientific excellence, multidisciplinary research, and robust training and education.

AdventHealth is a faith-based, nonprofit health care system that uses leading edge technology and innovation to deliver its brand of whole-person care. Pasco facilities include AdventHealth Connerton, AdventHealth Dade City, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel and AdventHealth Central Pasco ER.

Published  May 29, 2019

Hundreds walk for a meaningful cause

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Hundreds gathered at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel, for the March of Dimes’ biggest annual fundraiser event on May 11. The Suncoast March for Babies, a 3-mile walk through The Shops at Wiregrass, raised more than $40,000 for the March of Dimes. This year’s ambassador was Chloe Rose Gray, a 4-year-old Tampa Bay girl who was born prematurely at 28 weeks, and spent 96 days in the neonatal intensive care unit. Funds raised from the walk help the March of Dimes on their mission to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth and infant mortality.

Walkers make their way down Paseo Drive at The Shops at Wiregrass, during the March of Dimes’ biggest annual fundraiser event, the March for Babies. (Christine Holtzman)
Wearing a superhero cape, 1-year-old Isaac Coutant, of Lutz, walks with his mother Brittany Tremblay, left, and father Steven Coutant, during the March for Babies event. The walk is special to the family because when Brittany was 32-weeks pregnant, she gave birth to Isaac following a traffic accident. The youngster spent the first 35 days of his life in the neonatal intensive care unit.
A butterfly memorial garden table offered a packet of seeds to anyone who had lost a baby, to ceremoniously plant a ‘butterfly flower’ in their memory.

Wesley Chapel sewage repair still in progress

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Pasco County is repairing the sewage pipeline that runs along Northwood Palms Boulevard in Wesley Chapel.

The construction, which began in early April, came in response to a routine inspection, which determined that the pipeline was fractured.

The Pasco County Utilities Operations and Maintenance Department discovered that the corrosion allowed for road debris to build up within the sewage system.

“Through some little depressions in the road, there may have been some infiltration going into the pipes,” explained Jason Mickel, director of Pasco County’s Operations and Maintenance.

Current construction is along the stretch of Northwood Palms Boulevard that intersects with Breakers Drive.

Breakers Drive goes around in a loop, connecting with Northwood Palms Boulevard at two intersections.

This loop is the best detour to avoid the sewage repair before turning back onto Northwood Palms Boulevard, the director stated.

The construction zone is not in a residential area, so there is no interference for motorists entering or exiting homes off the road.

The work schedule is from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., with signs posted to direct motorists.

Drivers are encouraged to use Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, if possible, as opposed to Northwood Palms Boulevard, as an alternate route when traveling either from East County Line Road or State Road 56.

The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has had a presence near the construction site off Breakers Drive for the past month.

Mickel cautions motorists to abide by the speed limit on Breakers Drive, as tickets have been issued frequently since construction began.

Pipe realignment is still in the early stages. The project, estimated at $3 million, is expected to be completed in September.

Published May 29, 2019

Wesley Chapel library to be remodeled this fall

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Community locals gathered at the New River Branch Library to learn of Pasco County’s plans to renovate the building’s interior and exterior.

The April 25 meeting was also an opportunity for the public to voice any questions, concerns or ideas regarding the project.

The library is one of seven branches that will undergo makeovers with funding provided by a general obligation bond overwhelmingly supported by Pasco County voters in November 2018.

Angelo Liranzo explained to a crowd on April 25 the future plans to remodel the New River Branch Library. The library, located near the border of Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills, is one of seven branches in Pasco County that will undergo renovations. (Brian Fernandes)

The New River library is situated at 34043 State Road 54, which is near the border of Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

Much of the planning for the improvements was based on feedback received from library patrons, said Angelo Liranzo, regional branch manager for New River and the Hugh Embry Library in Dade City.

Those attending the community meeting saw aerial-view drawings of the library — which will be reconfigured but not expanded.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is working along with the county to fulfill the project.

A second entry will be added with a right-turn lane for motorists who are heading west on Old State Road 54.

The entrance will lead to the existing parking lot and will have signage to direct drivers.

Guests inquired about a possible way to turn left onto Old State Road 54 when exiting the library. At present, only right turns can be made when leaving the premises.

“We were hoping for a left-hand turn median, [but] we don’t see that in FDOT’s plans right now,” the branch manager responded.

However, he encouraged the group to take the issue up with county officials.

Linda Harris was relieved when plans were mentioned to incorporate more seating between the parking lot and the entrance.

“My friend is physically challenged and she has a hard time getting from her car all the way into the building,” the Zephyrhills resident said.

She explained that with additional seating, her friend can stop to rest, if needed.

There also are plans to add a book drop-off site in the parking lot, making it more convenient to return books.

A sidewalk also will be added, leading from the parking lot to the library’s community garden on the building’s east side.

This will provide easy access to the garden for those with limited mobility, Liranzo said.

Within the garden, an outdoor classroom will be built and shaded by an aluminum roof.

Alexandra Kotzeva is receptive to the plan. The Wesley Chapel resident volunteers at the library after school hours.

“I’m really glad to hear that the outdoor class(room) is going to be a thing now,” the 17-year-old said.

Attendees also expressed interest when they learned that the outdoor classroom would also serve as a stage for live performances and seminars, and also be equipped with proper lighting.

When a question was raised about security, Liranzo noted that lighting and surveillance cameras around the library’s outer perimeter is a possibility.

Cameras may be placed inside as well, especially at the entrance, he added.

Plans also call for seating in the front lobby, to encourage a social atmosphere, and there will be an art gallery.

The existing meeting room, to the immediate left, also will be enlarged by moving the rear wall back several feet. That room will also have new lighting, that can be dimmed or brightened, depending on the nature of the activity.

In response to a question about the children’s room, Liranzo said that the area will be larger and will be designed as an activities area.

It will feature a variety of amenities for the children, and will be walled off by a glass window so kids can still be supervised from the adult room.

As the largest area in the library, the adult room will be open to all, with computer stations, as well as a reading and seating area.

There will be three new study rooms by patron request and a room for young adults.

Also, there will be new restrooms.

“There will be self-checkout,” Liranzo added. “We’re trying to create more self-service opportunities for people who just want to do something quick, and go.”

These book stations will be located at the front desk and in various areas of the library.

However, he noted, library staff will still be available to help patrons requiring assistance.

New River will be closed during construction, which is set to begin in October, and is expected to take six months to complete.

Staff will be working with community partners to provide library services at other locations.

Published May 08, 2019

Attend a Kentucky Derby party, and help local groups

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Celebrate the Kentucky Derby and raise money for area rotary clubs and the Pasco Education Foundation.

The event, which is open to the public, is set for May 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Guests will have a chance to roll cigars and dance to music by the Strictly Bizness band.

Those who enjoy donning fancy attire can also compete for awards for the best hat or best dressed contests.

Among many fun activities at the Kentucky Derby Party, guests can try their luck at the casino table. This year’s event will be on May 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

Winners will be able to take home bragging rights, and prizes.

“The nice thing is everybody can get dressed up in their derby finest,” said Rebecca Smith, member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel.

There will be a southern cuisine buffet, and drinks available at the bar.

Two auctions will be offered as well. Commemorative items, such as sports memorabilia, will be sold at the live auction, while the silent auction will offer an array of items donated by the community.

And, of course, those attending can cheer on their favorite horses and jockeys, as the Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on numerous television screens.

The function is being hosted jointly by the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Rotary Club of Dade City.

It will be held at the Waller Ranch, at 17307 Powerline Road in Dade City.

Proceeds will help raise money for both rotary clubs, and will benefit the Pasco Education Foundation.

Tickets can be purchased online for $75 or at the door for $100.

For additional information or tickets, visit HatsAndHorses2019.eventbrite.com.

Rebecca Smith may also be contacted at (307) 851-4312 or at .

Hats and Horses – Kentucky Derby Party
Where: Waller Ranch, 17307 Powerline Road, Dade City
When: May 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: $75 online or $100 at the door
Details: Come celebrate the Kentucky Derby with a buffet, contests for the best dressed and best hats, and auctions.
Info: For tickets, visit HatsAndHorses2019.eventbrite.com. For further inquiries, contact Rebecca Smith at (307) 851-4312 or at .

Published May 01, 2019

Wesley Chapel plays host to disabled hockey festival

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More than 1,000 athletes representing more than 100 teams from dozens of states recently converged on Wesley Chapel, testing their mettle in the world’s largest indoor disabled ice sporting event.

Two-time Paralympic gold medalist and world champion Brody Roybal, No. 8 on the USA Hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks, is seen during a game with New Hampshire’s NE Passage Wildcats. Roybal, a congenital bilateral amputee, was born without legs. (Christine Holtzman)

AdventHealth Center Ice played host to the 15th annual USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Festival, marking the second straight year the event has called home the multi-rink Wesley Chapel hockey complex.

The festival took place the last weekend in March and first weekend in April.

It featured divisions for players who are wounded military veterans, blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and for special needs such as Down syndrome and autism. The festival concluded with the adult sled hockey national championship.

In total, 14 programs were crowned champions within the sled and warrior hockey disciplines, including the Chicago Blackhawks Warriors capturing the sled championship title.

Wendy Major, a team leader on the Tampa Bay Lightning USA Hockey sled hockey team, center, gives pointers to 11-year-old Tyler Smith, of Riverview, left, and 12-year-old Christopher Avis, of Wisconsin, during a sled hockey demo on April 6. Major is a disabled U.S. Army veteran facing leg amputation later this year. She was wounded during a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The mission of the festival is to provide fun and exciting games, and promote and expand disabled hockey throughout the country.

Meanwhile, the event kicked off with a Friday night welcome social for participants, and a friendly game between the Tampa Bay Lightning Alumni team and the National Standing/Amputee team.

The Lightning Alumni team featured hockey Hall of Famer and 2004 Stanley Cup team captain Dave Andreychuk, alongside other well-known former Bolts players, including Brian Bradley, Jassen Cullimore and Stan Neckar.

Attendees were welcomed to the event by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, along with Andreychuk, USA Hockey President Jim Smith and USA Hockey Disabled Section Chair J.J. O’ Connor.

Moore later dropped the festival’s ceremonial puck in front of Andreychuk and David Levesque, captain of the National Standing/Amputee team.

“Pasco County is Florida’s Sports Coast, and we are thrilled to be the first in the state to host the Disabled Hockey Festival,” Moore said at the event. “I am honored to participate in an event that shows anybody can participate and be included. I thank USA Hockey for their commitment to the disabled community and coming to Wesley Chapel.”

Published May 01, 2019

Two-time Paralympic gold medalist Declan Farmer, a sled hockey player for Connecticut’s Gaylord Wolfpack, closes in on the puck during a game with the St. Louis Blues. Farmer, a Tampa native, was born with bilateral congenital limb deficiencies, which resulted in amputation.

Survey asks for input on Wesley Chapel road connections

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The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization is asking for the public’s input as it evaluates three potential roadway connections between Wesley Chapel and Hillsborough County.

Residents are encouraged to review the proposed options, and to provide feedback through an online survey, according to a news release from Pasco County.

The three potential connections are:

  • Between Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street
  • Between Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension
  • Between Wyndfields Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard Extension

Pasco County has not made any decisions regarding these connections, the release said.

The survey is being conducted through the end of April.

To take the survey, go to PascoResidentSurvey.com.

The survey results will be presented to the MPO at its meeting on June 13, which begins at 10 a.m. The meeting will be held at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

The MPO board is expected to make a recommendation to the Board of County Commissioners regarding these connections.

Published April 10, 2019

Grieving parents want to offer comfort to others

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Months after losing their infant son, Alissa Rodriguez and Ryan Mellor have donated to AdventHealth Zephyrhills the same kind of device that helped provide them comfort in the hours immediately following Collin’s death.

During a March 26 ceremony at the hospital, the Wesley Chapel couple provided a CuddleCot to be used by other families that are going through the same tragic circumstances that they experienced.

Amanda Maggard, president and CEO of AdventHealth Zephyrhills, left, accompanied family members of Collin Sebastian Mellor as the hospital received a CuddleCot donation on March 26. Next to the hospital executive is Alessandra Mellor, her parents Ryan and Alissa, sister Carolina, as well as grandparents Migdoel Rodriguez and Sonia Garcia. (Courtesy of Ashley Jeffery/AdventHealth West Florida Division)

Chaplains, medical staff and family gathered in a hospital room at AdventHealth Zephyrhills, as the couple presented their gift.

The CuddleCot is a device which uses flowing water to cool a pad, which can be placed in a basket, or in the arms of a parent, to provide extra time with the baby.

“We’re so grateful to be able to have this donation of the CuddleCot, because it gives those moms (and dads) the opportunity (to hold the baby) before they say goodbye,” said Sonia Yaksich, nurse manager of the Women’s Health Center at AdventHealth Zephyrhills. “This is a beautiful and perfect way for families to provide a memory for their child.”

As the couple made their donation, they were bestowed with a plaque honoring the memory of Collin Sebastian Mellor.

Although little Collin was delivered stillborn, he was safely cushioned by the pad as family members said their farewell in September of last year.

Sharing the story of their loss was difficult, as Alissa and Ryan read a letter they had prepared for the gathering.

For support, Christina Stamper was at the couple’s side, and when they were overcome by emotion, she finished reading the letter on their behalf.

“Due to the CuddleCot, we were able to stay with our son in our room,” Stamper read. “During the first few hours of absolute shock, there was no time, clarity to say, do, or express all that you would like to.”

Stamper could resonate with the parents’ struggle as she, too, lost her daughter, who was delivered stillborn.

Through the pain, she and her husband founded Madison’s Miracles – an organization named after their late daughter.

This CuddleCot device was donated to AdventHealth Zephyrhills in memory of Collin Sebastian Mellor on March 26.

Its purpose is to offer support groups to parents who have lost an infant, as well as raise funds to help pay for funerals and private counseling.

After discovering the CuddleCots – based in the United Kingdom – Stamper decided to have one brought to Florida.

“I needed to bring it here because nobody in the state had them,” she recalled.

In October 2016, she donated the first one to the Martin Health System, the hospital in Stuart, Florida, where Madison was delivered.

She has since teamed up with Ryan and Alissa with the goal of donating six CuddleCots to various hospitals in the U.S., and Puerto Rico.

AdventHealth Zephyrhills was their first stop, with Stanford University and Tampa General Hospital as next destinations.

Ryan is a cardiac surgeon at AdventHealth Tampa where he is acutely aware of the concept of mortality.

However, after he and his wife experienced the loss personally, they felt compelled to help others in need.

“We want to raise awareness that they’re (CuddleCots) there,” the doctor explained. “They should be available to people who are going through this.”

Even with his busy schedule, he said he wants to be present when each hospital receives their gift.

As for the staff at AdventHealth Zephyrhills, they will be reminded of the priceless value of their gift, as it has been imprinted with Collin’s full name.

Stamper stated that, “every family that walks through this door and has a loss, whether stillbirth or shortly after infant loss, will be guided by the arms open wide of Collin Sebastian.”

Published April 03, 2019