The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

Hotel, retail, restaurants — arriving soon

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More retail, and a Hyatt hotel, are coming to Cypress Creek Town Center, even as other new shops and restaurants are opening for business.

Along Sierra Center Boulevard, Mellow Mushroom, Great Clips, Mattress One, Men’s Wearhouse and Aspen Dental are open for business. Noire Nail Bar will soon open its doors, too.

Great Clips, Men’s Wearhouse, Noire Nail Bar, T-Mobile and Mellow Mushroom are storefronts in a small retail center at Cypress Creek Town Center. (Kathy Steele)

To the east, Chuy’s Tex Mex is headed to a spring opening, according to a news release from the national chain.

Next door, Bahama Breeze Island Grille is under construction.

A 132-room Hyatt Place hotel and convention center will open in July at the Cypress Creek Town Center, said Dilip Kanji, president and chief executive officer of Impact Properties Inc.

There is a lot of demand for hotels in the Wesley Chapel area, but Kanji said, “There’s not a lot of choices.”

The growth in the area is what attracted Impact Properties to build there.

“Pasco County is the fastest-growing county in the southeastern United States,” he said. “We typically prefer to get in when there are (more) spaces for growth.”

Kanji said the selection for prime locations narrows as more development happens.

At Cypress Creek Town Center, the hotel is situated at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 interchange with immediate access also to Florida Hospital Center Ice and Tampa Premium Outlets.

Hyatt Place Hotel will open in July at the Cypress Creek Town Center.

Sierra Properties’ plans to build a 330,000-square-foot shopping center within the town center also was a draw, Kanji added.

Cypress Creek Town Center is approved for up to 2 million square feet of retail, hotel, apartments and offices, according to county records.

In the past year, new restaurants have opened at the town center along Sierra Center Boulevard, which leads to the Hyatt property. There is Ford’s Garage, Wendy’s, Taco Bell, and Pollo Tropical.

Other shops anticipated including Pet Smart and Burlington Coat Factory.

Kanji provided a list of other anticipated retail in the 330,000-square-foot project when he spoke at a luncheon, sponsored by The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce (renamed the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce).

Kanji said he had permission to release the store’s names, which include Chipotle Mexican Grill, HomeGoods, Earth Fare, Hobby Lobby, Walk-on Bistreaux & Bar, and Blaze Pizza.

Kanji said he expected permitting as soon as April.

Spokespersons for the stores either didn’t respond to emails from The Laker/Lutz News, or wouldn’t confirm their plans.

  • Chipotle Mexican Grill is a Denver-based fast-casual restaurant founded in 1993. Menu items include burritos, bowls, tacos and salads, made to order. There are more than 2,200 Chipotle’s nationwide.
  • Earth Fare is a North Carolina-based specialty grocery store offering organic and natural foods. It has about 45 locations. Most are in the southeast and Midwest.
  • HomeGoods is a discount home furnishing store, based in Massachusetts. It is part of the family of TJX Companies Inc., which includes TJ Maxx.
  • Hobby Lobby is a family owned arts and crafts store that also sells picture frames, jewelry-making items, fabrics, and floral and wedding supplies. Founded in 1972 in Oklahoma City, there now are more than 800 stores in 47 states.
  • Walk-on Bistreaux & Bar is a New Orleans-based sports bar founded by Brandon Landry and Jack Warner. The business partners met in 1997 when they were walk-ons to the Louisiana State University’s basketball team. They opened their first location near LSU’s Tiger Stadium. Today, the company is co-owned by New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees.
  • Blaze Pizza is a California-based fast-casual restaurant founded by Elise and Rick Wetzel of Wetzels Pretzels. Similar to Chipotle, customers select the ingredients for their made-to-order, fresh-from-scratch pizzas.

Published March 14, 2018

Price nearly doubles for ‘diverging diamond ‘

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Construction of the diverging diamond interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56 now has an estimated cost of $40 million.

That’s $16 million more than the original estimated cost of $24 million.

Despite the higher cost, construction is still expected to begin this summer.

The diverging diamond interchange relies on multiple lanes with a crisscross pattern, and fewer traffic signals. (File)

The retrofitted interchange is expected to take two years to three years to complete, said Bill Jones, who is the director of transportation development for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation.

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization approved the increased cost at its Feb. 22 meeting in New Port Richey.

The good news for Pasco County is the additional $16 million is not expected to affect any other road projects within the county.

The state transportation department plans to take the money from a reserve fund, said Craig Casper, the county’s MPO director.

At one time, the project had a 2024 start date, but the state transportation department moved it ahead nearly six years.

“We’re excited about the project getting started,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

The interchange is expected to ease the rush-hour gridlock as vehicles maneuver on and off I-75, at one of the busiest junctures along State Road 56.

Tampa Premium Outlets, the Cypress Creek Town Center, Florida Hospital Center Ice, and the future residential community of Brightwork Crossings are boosting retail and residential development in the area.

The diverging diamond interchange provides multiple lanes of traffic operating in a crisscross pattern, with limited traffic signals.

Casper said the projected construction costs increased when it was discovered that additional ground stabilization would be required.

The design will include retaining walls, traffic railings, a shoulder barrier wall, and a permanent sheet-pile wall, according to the state transportation department’s request for the cost upgrade.

The bridge that crosses I-75 will be redesigned with additional lanes on the ramps. Road signs and lane markers will help guide motorists through the diverging diamond interchange, with speed limits dropping to 35 mph on the approach to the interchange.

Published March 14, 2018

Expo offers families summer options for kids

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It’s a perennial challenge for families: Finding the best way to keep their child, or children, occupied during the summer months.

This is a look at some of the fun activities offered at last year’s Family Friendly Summer Camp Expo. Plans call for lots of fun stuff for kids to do this year, too, said Miriam Cook, organizer of the expo. (Courtesy of Miriam Cook)

That’s why Miriam Cook, founder of Family Friendly Tampa Bay, organized an expo that aims to bring parents and providers of summer camps, and other activities, together.

“My whole goal is to arm people with information, with resources, so that they can make the best decisions for themselves,” Cook said.

“With this summer camp expo, we’re giving parents that opportunity to go and kind of make those choices — to have all of those options, so they can make the best choices for themselves.”

It’s a great way for exhibitors to tell parents about their summer camps, and a great way for parents to get their questions answered, Cook said.

This is the second time that Cook has organized the expo, which will be held in two locations this year. It will be held March 24 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at Florida Hospital Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The other will be on April 7 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at George M. Steinbrenner Field, 1 Steinbrenner Drive in Tampa, in connection with the Tampa Tarpons home opener.

Parents can find out about all sorts of summer options for their children at the second annual Family Friendly Summer Camp Expo. The idea is to arm families with the information they need to make the best decisions for themselves, according to Miriam Cook, the expo organizer.

Both summer camp expos offer a one-stop shop to local summer camps, summer activities, special needs camps, programs and services.

“There’s pretty much something for everyone,” Cook said.

There also will be free weeks of camp, attraction tickets, and products up for grabs for those families who register onsite for their child’s Summer Camp at one of the expos, Cook said.

The events aim to provide information and options for new families moving into the area, and for families who now have school-age children and need to find summer activities for them, Cook said.

“Especially in the Wesley Chapel area, there are so many new families moving in,” she said. “They’re asking: ‘What do I do with my kids in the summer?’

“Having this summer camp expo really does help them out,” Cook said.

Besides gathering useful information, families can take advantage of free activities for their kids at the expo, Cook said.

“We’re going to have laser tag. We’re having a mobile game truck onsite. We have a toddler section. There’s face painting. There’s live entertainment,” she added.

Admission, parking and the activities are free, she said.

“The only thing they have to pay for is food,” Cook said.

Attendees also can pick up a printed list of various summer options.

For more information about either expo, visit FamilyFriendlyTampaBay.com, or call (813) 331-5579.

Second annual Family Friendly Summer Camp Expo New Tampa/Pasco Edition
Where: Florida Hospital Center Ice, 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., Wesley Chapel, 33544
When: March 24, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Parents that are seeking out summer activities for their children will have a chance to see what 75 exhibitors have to offer. Those attending can purchase a Buy One, Get One skating pass that can be used for a two-hour skating session during the event.
Note: A second expo is planned at Steinbrenner Field in Tampa on April 7.
Info: Visit FamilyFriendlyTampaBay.com, or call (813) 331-5579.

Published March 14, 2018

Pulte to build 350 homes in Wesley Chapel

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Pulte Group’s West Florida Division plans to build 350 single-family residences on the south side of Wells Road, east of Boyette Road, according to a news release from BoardroomPR.

The development will be a Centex-brand community, known as Wesbridge.

Pulte recently purchased about 104 acres for the project.

Sean Strickler, Pulte’s division president in west Florida
(Courtesy of Boardroom PR)

Wesbridge will be targeted to first-time homebuyers, with sales prices starting in the low $200,000s. There will be three different home designs on 40-foot, 50-foot and 60-foot wide lots. Several homes will back up to open space, preserved land and water, according to the release.

Floor plans will range from 1,500 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet. Homebuyers can choose designs with three to five bedrooms, two to four bathrooms and two to three car garages.

Wesbridge also will feature a resort-style swimming pool, splash playground, tot lot and dog park.

“This is an assemblage of four different pieces of property in a prime location,” Sean Strickler said, in a written statement. Strickler is Pulte’s division president in west Florida.

The location has easy access to Interstate 75, Interstate 275 and State Road 54, The Shops at Wiregrass, Tampa Premium Outlets, and the newly opened Wesley Chapel District Park.

It will be located across from Wesley Chapel Elementary School, Weightman Middle School and Wesley Chapel High School.

Wesbridge is Pulte’s third community in Wesley Chapel.

The first, Country Walk, sold out in February 2017, according to the press release. The second is in Epperson, the community that features the Crystal Lagoon.

Pulte is in its second phase of home sales for Epperson.

Wesbridge sales are expected to begin in early 2019, with homes move-in ready by summer 2019.

For information, visit Pulte.com.

Published March 14, 2018

State Road 56 extension moving forward

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Construction on the State Road 56 extension is on track for its scheduled completion in late 2019, according to Florida Department of Transportation officials.

The approximately 6-mile extension will give motorists a new four-lane route between Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills.

Work began in February 2017.

City planners in Zephyrhills are looking ahead to the project’s completion, and its impact on development.

Construction crews work on medians for the State Road 56 extension from Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills. (File)

“We have a lot going on over here already,” said Todd Vande berg, Zephyrhills planning director. “It’s going to be a game- changer with State Road 56 coming here as a four-lane road.”

But, Zephyrhills officials also are pursuing an additional extension to State Road 56 that would link to State Road 39.

They requested $1 million in the Florida 2019 budget to fund a planning study for the project. Legislators are expected to approve a budget by March 9.

The budget then would go to Gov. Rick Scott, who has line-item veto authority.

Added connectivity helps the entire area, Vande berg said.

“We could have a true, multicounty arterial road,” he said.

Current roadwork will extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills. A 10-foot wide multi-use trail will run along the south side of State Road 56. A 5-foot sidewalk will be installed on the north side.

Seven-foot bicycle lanes will be striped off in each direction.

Traffic signals are planned at Morris Bridge Road, at its new intersection with State Road 56, and also at U.S. 301 where it will connect with the new extension.

New residential and commercial projects are anticipated.

Four developers are planning master-planned communities along State Road 56.

The Zephyrhills Municipal Airport also will benefit from the project. The airport is undergoing upgrades.

About 440 acres adjacent to the site also are being prepared for future development, and will be marketed as site-ready.

As of Feb. 20, a checklist of milestones from state highway officials on the State Road 56 extension included:

  • 15 retention ponds, of 17 total, are nearly complete
  • About 75 percent of the stormwater drainage system is installed
  • The first three layers of asphalt has been laid on nearly 2 miles of the 6-mile road
  • About 3 miles of concrete sidewalk is complete
  • About 1 mile of the multi-use path is complete

The westbound segment of the bridge work over New River also is finished and work is underway on the eastbound segment.

For information, visit tinyurl.com/ycx2x3y5.

Published March 7, 2018

New school emphasizes ‘student-centered’ learning

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When the North Tampa Christian Academy opens this fall in Wesley Chapel, it will be offering an approach to education that sets it apart from others, said Sandra Doran, Head of School.

“When you look at a traditional classroom, time is the constant and mastery of content is the variable,” Doran said. “In our school, we want to make mastery of content the constant and time more of the variable.

Sandra Doran, head of school at North Tampa Christian Academy, wears a hard hat at the 43-acre construction site in Wesley Chapel. The new school is slated to open on Aug. 20.

“Why am I going to punish a student who says, ‘I need more time.’ Because what they are saying is, ‘I want to do this work.’

“What is your ultimate goal? Your ultimate goal is for the child to learn this material,” she said.

That means taking accountability, the head of school said.

“We shouldn’t be asking the question: ‘Am I mean, if I don’t accept late work?’

“We should be asking the question: ‘Why am I not creating a context that’s motivating students … who care about producing quality work in a timely manner?’ — and take some of that ownership upon ourselves.

“We’re creating a context. All behavior occurs in a context.

“If students are not engaged, that’s on us,” Doran said.

North Tampa Christian Academy will put the student at the center, she said.

“We will work to individualize programs for each individual student,” Doran said.

So, if a student needs more time to master rigorous reading skills, the student will receive it.

“On the flip side, if your child is advanced in reading or math, we will not be holding them back,” she said.

“Is this someone who is sitting around bored because they’re being put in a box, and they’re not able to reach their full potential?” she asked.

“Our entire goal is to say: ‘How can we best tailor a program for your child?’

“That’s really all parents want to know,” Doran said.

The school’s mission is to create an environment where students “think, choose, create and solve for God’s glory,” Doran said.

“The question is: ‘Are you creating beauty in the world or are you solving a problem?’” she said.

The school will have online curriculum, hands-on learning, peer tutoring, books, technology, small group instruction, large-group instruction and team teaching.

The school’s design also sets it apart from others.

Now rising at 5619 E. County Line Road, North Tampa Christian Academy was designed by Fielding Nair International, a globally acclaimed architectural firm, with the specific intention to support research-based teaching practices, Doran said.

Buildings have flexible spaces, which can be easily be reconfigured to meet instructional needs.

The school day also has been designed to provide an hour each day for common planning time for teachers, she added.

“That’s huge in the research. If teachers work together and bounce ideas off each other, research shows that they are far more effective,” she said.

The school’s planned opening date is Aug. 20. It will serve children as young as age 2, all the way through senior year of high school.

Tuition is $11,900 for kindergarten through grade four; $13,900 for grades five through eight; and $15,900 for grades nine through 12.

The school will have a music program, as well as afterschool athletics, which will likely include volleyball, basketball and soccer.

“We have 43 acres here, and we left woods on both sides of the campus. There will be trails in those woods. There will be science explorations going on in those woods,” she said.

The school’s educational philosophy emphasizes the importance of taking actions in a purposeful way.

The school will use project-based learning, she said.

“Every project has to have a real-world result. You either have to be adding beauty to the planet or solving a problem,” Doran said.

A project, for instance, could focus on chronicling the story of a group of marginalized people and the completed work could “help increase community and global awareness of community needs,” she added.

Along those lines, the school doesn’t expect to operate in isolation.

“In terms of the community, we want to give and take with the community,” Doran said. “We feel like we have something to offer the community, but the community has something to offer to us.

“We want to help, and be a resource and a source of light and joy for the community, whether their children come to our school or not. We want to avail ourselves of the rich resources that we’re finding in the community,” she said.

For more information about the school, call (813) 591-0309. To read answers to frequently asked questions or to take a virtual tour, visit NorthTampaChristian.org.

Published February 28, 2018

Episcopal Church has first Wesley Chapel home

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While it’s a long way from having the permanent worship space and congregation it intends to have, the Episcopal Church has found an initial home at a business park in Wesley Chapel.

The church, at 3758 Maryweather Lane in Wesley Chapel, is now having monthly meetings on the second Wednesday of the month, which begins with evening prayer at 6:30 p.m., and then is followed by a core group meeting.

The Rev. Adrienne Hymes is busy in the process of planting an Episcopal Church in Wesley Chapel. Core team members are working to prepare the way. A soft launch is expected in June, with the aim for an official launch in November. (B.C. Manion)

It currently has four core group members, but needs a dozen to create the various teams needed to launch the church, said the Rev. Adrienne Hymes, whose official title is Diocesan Missioner for Church Extension.

The core group is focusing on the areas of theological and spiritual formation; discipleship, evangelism and mission. Efforts continue to recruit additional core group members.

Members of that group need to be people with vision — who can see things that are not yet there, Hymes said.

While much work remains to be done, Hymes is encouraged by the progress so far.

“The Holy Spirt has really been active in this ministry,” she said. “It (the church planting) is moving faster than the plan on paper.”

The church is planning a soft launch in June, when it will transition to weekly Wednesday evening prayer meetings and core group meetings. It also will begin Sunday 9 a.m. services.

The hope is for an official launch of the church in November, Hymes said.

The church opened at its current location during the week of Ash Wednesday, allowing it to have its first Ash Wednesday service there. Fourteen people attended.

These milestones are important, Hymes said, noting they provide encouragement to the people who are working to help establish the Episcopal Church in Wesley Chapel.

Hymes said she knows there is a need for the church in the community.

“There are Episcopalians here. They don’t want to drive. They want to go to church where they live,” she said.

She also knows that having a church in Wesley Chapel makes it possible for people to be more involved in their community.

“Discipleship is determined by distance,” she said. She said she’s heard from Episcopalians, “‘Yeah, we’d love Sunday service, but I’d also like to be able to do Bible Study during the week. I also want to be able to learn more about the Book of Common Prayer during the week,’” she said.

But, that’s difficult to do, if your church is 20 miles away, she said.

When people reach out to her to let her know that they’re interested in attending an Episcopal Church in Wesley Chapel, she makes it clear that this church is still in its formative stages.

She tells people when they come: “Don’t have any expectations other than: ‘We’re here to be present for God’s people.’”

Some things that need to be done before the church can have a formal launch include coming up with a name for the church, establishing child care provisions and setting up its music program, Hymes said.

While the church continues to plan and work toward its future, it continues moving forward.

For instance, it is hosting a six-week Lenten Series, which began on Feb. 21 and concludes on March 28.

The Episcopal Diocese of Southwest Florida, which has 77 churches, has been wanting to establish a presence in Wesley Chapel for many years.

If you’d like to get involved or would like to know more, contact Hymes at (813) 418-1281 or .

Lenten series
Here is the schedule for the rest of the Lenten Series being hosted by the Episcopal Church in Wesley Chapel.

The sessions begin with a simple supper at 6:30 p.m., followed by the program, from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.

The next two sessions will be led by Brother Eric Mukasa, a former Benedictine Monk:

Feb. 28: Christian Charity
March 7: Ministering with Meaning

The last three sessions will be led by The Rev. Adrienne Hymes
March 14: Developing Your Spiritual Toolbox
March 21: Practicing Theological Reflection
March 28: Pastoral Care for the Faith Community

Published February 28, 2018

‘Mr. Don’ provides safety and encouragement

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On weekday mornings and afternoons, Don Niles ushers students to safety at Double Branch Elementary School in Wesley Chapel.

Officially, Niles is the school’s crossing guard.

But, the 76-year-old is much, much more to students and faculty.

Known as ‘Mr. Don’ to the Double Branch community, Niles is known for going the extra mile to forge relationships and lend an ear to students.

Don Niles works his post intersection of Chancey Road and Meadow Point Boulevard in Wesley Chapel. Besides ushering students to safety each day, Niles also tries to serve as a mentor and encourager to the Double Branch community. (Courtesy of Pasco Sheriff’s Office)

He’s been known to tell others that he has upwards of “900 grandkids” — a reference to the enrollment at Double Branch Elementary.

“I’m a BFF (Best Friend Forever). I’m a person that these kids can come and talk to about anything that’s bothering them,” Niles said.

“If there’s a bullying situation taking place, these kids can come talk to me,” he added.

Niles recently was named 2017 Florida School Crossing Guard of the Year by the Florida Department of Transportation.

He was chosen from 4,100 school crossing guards in Florida’s 67 counties.

Niles is humbled by the honor, especially for doing something he loves.

“I don’t do this for money or anything else,” Niles said. “I do it because I want to make a difference in these kids’ lives. I want to have an impact on them. I want to help build their self-esteem, their character. It’s all about the kids.”

Double Branch principal Vaughnette Chandler isn’t surprised that Niles was singled out.

She describes him as an “encourager,” who offers daily pep talks to students.

He views his role as going far beyond telling students to look both ways and helping them to negotiate a crossing, she explained.

“Don is a one-of-a kind,” Chandler said.

“He’s that guy that’s talking to the kids every day. He knows them by name, he knows what they like, what they’re doing — in a lot of cases what classroom they’re in — and he’s encouraging them to have a really great day and really just like reach for the stars,” she said.

Niles also makes it a point to reach out to students who may be experiencing personal troubles, the principal added.

“If a child looks like they need somebody to talk to, he’s going to take minute to check with them and see what’s going on,” Chandler said. “If it’s something we need to know about, he’s going to be right here in the school after the kids are on campus to let us know, ‘Hey, we need to check in with this student to see how things are going, or they might need an extra word of encouragement for the day.’”

Ken Mizerek, who is the crossing guard supervisor in District 2, has witnessed Niles’ caring and observant nature, when he has visited Niles’ post at the intersection of Chancey Road and Meadow Pointe Boulevard.

“All our crossing guards do a great job, but Don is the kind of person that goes beyond his schedule of hours,” Mizerek said.

“He shows a lot of interest in the children so they think, ‘Wow, somebody’s listening to me,’ and I think when somebody listens to them then they can them tell their problems; they open up to him,” Mizerek said.

The supervisor also noted Niles frequently introduces students to him, heaping praise on their respective accomplishments.

“He’ll go on and on about the child to me, and that child has got a gleam in his eye because now they feel important also. It’s really exciting to come out to this post and see what goes on here,” Mizerek said.

Niles has been a crossing guard for about eight years. Initially, he worked at Sand Pine Elementary and then moved to Double Branch Elementary seven years ago.

Before becoming a crossing guard, Niles was a probation officer with the Florida Department of Corrections. He handled pre-sentencing investigations for adult felony defenders throughout East Pasco and Central Pasco.

Niles grew up in a poor, single-parent home after his father abandoned him and his mother. He said his upbringing helps him understand the plight of some youths coming from challenging family situations.

He grew up in dangerous neighborhoods and often struggled to find a hearty meal.

“I know what it’s like to come from a defective home and life was not good. The circumstances were really trying at times,” Niles said.

But, despite those hardships, he understood the value of getting an education.

He graduated from Plant High School and went on to earn an honors diploma from the University of South Florida, in criminal justice.

He tries to mentor children in the same way that pastors, teachers and law enforcement officers did for him when he was young.

“These guys made a difference in my life,” Niles said of adult role models. “They were my surrogate parents in a sense. It really gave you a sense of security and safety, and I got a lot of attention from them.”

Besides his crossing guard duties, Niles sponsors four kindergarten classes each year, providing Double Branch teachers with an account to help them buy school supplies. He also donates gifts for Christmas, Easter, Halloween and Valentine’s Day.

“When I go through these classes,” Niles said, “it gives me a chance to talk to these kids: ‘Hey, how are you doing?’ Listen guys, I want you to work with your teachers. ‘The teachers are building a foundation for your life, and they need your cooperation,’” Niles said.

Published February 21, 2018

‘Get Loud!’ takes aim at sexual assault, domestic violence

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Cheers normally reverberate through Wiregrass Ranch High School’s gymnasium when a boys basketball player on the home team scores.

That didn’t happen though during the initial minutes of the varsity team’s Jan. 30 game against Sunlake High School.

Instead, spectators remained silent, in response to signs being shown to them that said “Shhh” and “Be Quiet.”

Lots of people wore purple to a special event staged during the Jan. 30 basketball game between Wiregrass Ranch and Sunlake high schools. The goal was to raise awareness about the problems of power-based violence, including domestic violence and sexual assault. (B.C. Manion)

The crowd kept quiet until the ninth point was scored and then —responding to signs that said “Break the Silence” — spectators roared.

Obviously, there was a lot more going on than just a routine basketball game.

In fact, a full-fledged public awareness campaign was being staged, too.

Wiregrass Ranch High School’s basketball game was the venue for “Get Loud!”

The event was presented by the high school, in Wesley Chapel, in conjunction with the Crisis Center of Tampa Bay and Sunrise of Pasco County Inc. Domestic and Sexual Violence Center. It also was supported through a Tampa Bay Lightning Foundation Community Heroes grant.

Staying silent for nine points was intended to call attention to the fact that every 9 seconds in the United States a woman is assaulted or beaten.

Besides making people more aware of the problem, the event aims to spread the message that it’s time to break the silence about these forms of violence, which are sometimes deadly.

Wiregrass Ranch senior Gabby Azzolina led the efforts to bring the event to her school. She said people don’t realize the extent of the problem, and survivors don’t know where to turn for help.

“So many people don’t know there are facilities to help and numbers to call,” Azzolina said. “I want them to know that it’s OK to get loud about it, and break the silence. The Crisis Center’s number is 2-1-1.”

Mathematics teacher Amy Munroe helped Azzolina to organize the event at Wiregrass Ranch.

Munroe said she was happy to help when she was asked. She hopes that more people will begin talking about the problem, as a result of the event.

“Just to be able to talk about it, is a big deal,” Munroe said.

Buttons at the ‘Get Loud!’ event helped spread the message of the problems of sexual assault and domestic violence.

Dottie Urbanek Nash, director of education and prevention for Sunrise, said these kinds of events are important.

“Awareness campaigns like this are wonderful. They do a lot to get the word out about what’s happening, locally. Unfortunately, we tend to think that domestic violence doesn’t happen here,” she said.

It’s also important for people to know there are ways to help prevent these types of violence, she said.

The Wiregrass Ranch event evolved out of a conversation between Gabby’s mom, Madeline Azzolina, and Denise Cassedy, whose daughter, Katie, initiated the first “Get Loud!” event at Robinson High School two years ago.

After Katie graduated, her sister, Carolina, got involved, and now — Robinson, Plant and Hillsborough high schools in Tampa have “Get Loud!” events.

Wiregrass Ranch intends to make this an annual event, Munroe said.

Some sobering statistics

  • One of every three women have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within her lifetime. The same is true for one in every four men.
  • One in five women has been sexually assaulted.
  • One in seven women has been stalked. The same is true for one in 18 men.
  • Nearly two-thirds of all sexual assaults are not reported to the police.

Source: The National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

Do you need help? Call 2-1-1

Published February 7, 2018

County seeks business park for future development

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Pasco County wants to encourage more business parks and diversify the county’s job base.

The county’s Office of Economic Growth is spearheading that effort by scouting for vacant land that can be made site-ready to attract developers on speculation.

In keeping with that goal, county staff members introduced a proposal for the Vibrant Sun Business Park at a Jan. 11 meeting of the Development Review Committee.

The park, on a large triangular swath of county land, would be bordered on the east by Old Pasco Road and on the west by Interstate 75. It also is near State Road 54 and Overpass Road.

If approved, the site would be available for 2.2 million square feet of corporate offices, manufacturing and distribution, industrial, and mixed office uses.

The county especially wants to encourage corporate business parks with campuses of multiple buildings.

A site-ready property could clear the way for quicker development, county officials said.

Committee members voted to recommend approval of a comprehensive land use change, as well as a rezoning of the site.

The Pasco County Commission will make the final decision.

“We have enough residential approved in the county,” said Chris Williams, a committee member and director of planning for Pasco County Schools. “We need some business and light industrial that can attract companies and bring some jobs.”

It’s unknown what development offers might be made to the county, however.

“We’re looking to prepare the site as a ready site. We don’t have a plan in place for disposition of the parcel,” said Peter Lent, program administrator for the county’s Office of Economic Growth. “We don’t have a use in mind right now.”

That bothered some area residents, who live off Old Pasco Road. They said they worried about the lack of information on what businesses might operate on the site. They also had questions about traffic impacts, loss of property values and whether a business park fit well next to residential.

Dennis and Ethel Seaton live on Bay Pines Drive, across from the proposed park. They have a 14-year-old son who has cerebral palsy and is sensitive to “bright lights and sudden noises,” his father said.

“There would be big lights up there,” he said. “This would cause major concern for us. It’s going to cause overwhelming congestion and my son to go into seizures.”

Residents also asked if the county had a plan to deal with the increasing traffic congestion in the area.

The speed limit on Old Pasco Road is 35 mph, but resident Jean Jakes said, “No one, including school buses, obeys it. You’re going to have to put a (traffic) light every three steps.”

Jakes didn’t see how industrial next to residential could be a good fit.

“There is no compatibility,” she said. “It doesn’t match the neighborhood. It doesn’t match the area. It doesn’t match the use of the land.”

County officials said differently zoned areas often sit next to each other, but that buffering requirements would provide separation between the business park and nearby homes.

The 91-acre site is close by an area in northeastern Pasco already targeted for new residential and commercial development.

The Connected City corridor encompasses about 7,800 acres of property designated as a state-approved development district. It is bordered by Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

The initiative is focused on creating communities that are the wave of the future, with new jobs based on cutting edge technology. The first master-planned community under construction is Epperson, at Overpass and Curley.

Major road projects are underway to widen State Road 52 and build a new interchange at Overpass and I-75.

Old Pasco Road intersects State Road 52, which is being widened from two lanes to six lanes, from west of Old Pasco to east of Corporate Boulevard.

But, in response to residents’ queries, county officials said there are no plans or funds for widening Old Pasco. Any project likely would be in the long-range plan stretching to 2040.

Right of way is being obtained for the Overpass interchange, but construction isn’t scheduled until 2022.

Published January 24, 2018