The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

Hospital CEO details expansion plans

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It’s less than three years old, but Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is already experiencing growing pains.

Denyse Bales-Chubb, president/CEO of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel shared details of the hospital’s $78 million expansion plans at the April 7 breakfast of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is expanding to meet the needs of a growing community. This rendering shows what the hospital will look like, after expansion. (Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)
Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is expanding to meet the needs of a growing community. This rendering shows what the hospital will look like, after expansion.
(Courtesy of Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel)

Wesley Chapel’s growth is fueling the need for the hospital’s expansion, Bales-Chubb told the gathering at the conference center at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. About 90 people were registered for the breakfast.

The hospital executive cited six new housing developments going in, totaling more than 5,000 houses.

“I’m hearing that Raymond James is going to be building here,” she added.

She continued ticking down the list.

“We had the Super Walmart that went in, since I’ve been here. The outlet mall is coming. The ice and sports complex — which we are a part of — the Mercedes Benz dealer, several hotels, some assisted living (facilities) that are coming in; there’s tremendous growth in the community.

“We need to make sure that we are growing and meeting the needs of this community,” Bales-Chubb added.

To prepare for increased demand, the hospital began last November to start developing plans for expansion.

The project that is set to begin construction in August will add 62 new private patient rooms, 17 emergency rooms, four surgical suites, 16 prep and observation rooms, and ancillary services to support patient care.

The hospital’s current three-story center wing will grow taller — becoming a six-floor building when the expansion work is done. A new three-story building will be constructed, to connect the hospital’s two existing wings.

When finished, the expansion will add nearly 112,000 square feet of new construction and nearly 11,000 square feet of renovated space to the hospital at 2600 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

“We expect to have actual ground crews here in August, and we will be doing a groundbreaking Aug. 5,” Bales-Chubb said. “We hope to get their certificate of occupancy in November 2016, with a grand opening of December 2016,” she said.

The hospital also plans to add 160 parking spaces for employees and staff.

The larger hospital will need more staff, too. Bales-Chubb predicts the hospital will hire the equivalent of 300 full-time employees.

The larger quarters and increased staff will enable the hospital to handle the growing demand for hospital beds and increased emergency visits.

Even with the current demand, “if you came and tried to find a bed, you’re going to have a wait before that bed is available,” Bales-Chubb said.

“We really do have patients that are literally waiting in our ED (emergency department) to get into an inpatient bed, because not everybody checks out at 11 o’clock, like you do at a hotel. It is a constant moving of patients, in and out,” she said.

The hospital’s emergency room is busy, too.

The emergency room has 18 beds, and as of December, year to date, each of those beds had 1,880 visits.

“So, that’s busy,” Bales-Chubb said. “We have a lot of patients going through our ED.”

Stan Giannet, provost at the Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, said the college already enjoys a solid relationship with the hospital, and the expansion will likely provide even more opportunities for students at his campus.

The hospital donates to the college’s scholarship fund for students in health occupations, he said. It also provides opportunities for clinical placements.

“Clinical placements are incredibly important for our students to apply the theoretical classroom knowledge to the real world,” Giannet said. “Having clinical placements already at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel has been very fruitful for students, and we’re grateful for that.”

The hospital’s expansion bodes well for graduates from Porter Campus, Giannet added, because it creates more employment opportunities for students graduating from its nursing, surgical technology and pharmacy technician programs.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel is part of the Adventist Health System, a nonprofit health network that has 23 hospitals throughout the state.

Published April 15, 2015

Wesley Chapel prepares to ‘March for Babies’

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It’s April, but the march goes on.

“March” as in March of Dimes, the nonprofit organization that provides funds for research and services to prevent premature birth, defects and infant mortality. And also March for Babies, an event on April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel. Teams and individuals will walk while raising money for research.

Jen Cofini's son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass. (Courtey of Jen Cofini)
Jen Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born after 32 weeks and weighed just 4 pounds. Now he is a happy and healthy 8-year-old. The Cofinis are the ambassador family for the March for Babies event April 25 at The Shops at Wiregrass.
(Courtey of Jen Cofini)

This is the first year the event will be at The Shops at Wiregrass after several years in West Pasco.

The shopping center is happy to be a part of it.

“It just was something that we felt passionate about,” said Debbie Detweiler, the regional shopping mall’s marketing director. “With all of the families in the Wesley Chapel area and families that shop at Wiregrass, it was something we could be a part of in creating that awareness for March of Dimes.”

The March of Dimes has set an ambitious goal of $240,000 after having to cancel last year’s event due to weather. More than 1,000 people are expected to take part.

Wesley Chapel resident Jen Cofini and her family have been selected to be the ambassador family for Pasco County March for Babies since they have firsthand experience in dealing with premature births.

Cofini’s son, Dylan, was born eight years ago after a 32-week pregnancy. He weighed just 4 pounds. He spent a month in the hospital, and there were many challenging moments.

“When you have a premature baby, you don’t know what to expect,” Cofini said. “The resources that the March of Dimes provide for the parents of premature babies are incredible.”

Cofini found comfort through the organization’s website, too. It put her in touch with other mothers who were going through the same issues. Families can share stories, ask questions and connect with others going through a similar situation.

Though Cofini had Dylan in New York, premature births are common in Florida. According to the March of Dimes Premature Birth Report Card for 2014, 13.6 percent of Florida births are premature. That’s good for just a “D” grade from the organization.

And while Dylan was born premature, he’s healthy today.

Many other children aren’t as lucky, and have significant defects and disabilities to deal with for years, or even a lifetime.

Those families especially benefit from the research and support from the March of Dimes, Cofini explained.

On April 25, Cofini will be there with her husband, Jeff, Dylan and his little sister, Madison.

And, as community relations manager of Parks Ford Wesley Chapel, she’s recruited support from work as well. They’re sponsoring the event and have a team raising money to walk.

While Cofini is accustomed to supporting the community at her job, the March for Babies is special to her and her family.

“When something touches you personally, it makes you more aware, and that’s why I’m such a huge supporter of the March of Dimes, because they do such great work,” Cofini said. “They support the parents, they’re doing the research and they’re raising the money to give every baby a fighting chance at being born healthy.”

Registration begins at 7:30 a.m., with the 3-mile walk beginning at 8:30 a.m. A Kids Zone will have face painting and other activities.

For more information, visit MarchForBabies.org/event/Suncoast, or contact Bethany Carlson at (813) 898-4954 or .

Published April 8, 2015

Javic Homes showcases Southern Living

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The outside wrapping is pure traditional white.

A pair of rocking chairs sits on the front porch. The metal roofing atop a bay window brings a touch of Craftsman bungalow.

Inside, traditional gives way to modern. There’s an open floor plan, colors that pop in purple and copper next to grays and beiges on interior walls, and state-of-the art connectivity and technology.

A paved walkway leads to the front porch with a pair of rocking chairs. The scene evokes the traditions often featured in Southern Living magazine. (Provided by Javic Homes)
A paved walkway leads to the front porch with a pair of rocking chairs. The scene evokes the traditions often featured in Southern Living magazine.
(Provided by Javic Homes)

Out back, two covered patios, a fire pit, a waterfall and a flat-screen television add charm to a spacious, deep lawn.

“We call it the ‘wow’ lawn,” said Jon Solomon, president of Javic Homes. The company built this luxury 2015 Southern Living Custom Builder Showcase Home in the Brookside subdivision in Wesley Chapel.

The tree-lined streets and manicured landscape within this gated community evoke the homey feel of neighborhoods of the past.

“I always think it’s a Norman Rockwell neighborhood,” said Solomon. “You just don’t see this anymore. It’s a really nice family neighborhood.”

During March, the showcase home, at 29318 Chapel Park Drive, drew between 3,000 and 4,000 visitors. Proceeds from ticket sales benefited two local charities, Shriners Hospitals for Children and Operation Finally Home.

Visitors still have a chance to see the home during the 2015 Tampa Bay Parade of Homes, from April 11 through April 26.

Nearly 150 model homes from 35 builders in 82 communities in Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas, Hernando, Citrus and Marion counties are on this year’s tour. That makes it the largest new-home showcase in the Tampa Bay area, according to the sponsor, the Tampa Bay Builders Association.

The association is based in Tampa and has more than 750 members including local builders, developers, suppliers and architectural firms.

Homes will be open from 10 a.m. to 6 pm., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday, during the parade. A panel of industry professionals will judge the homes based on site plan, curb appeal, design, materials, outdoor living spaces, architectural details and workmanship.

The sales price for the four-bedroom, 4,100 square-foot home in Brookside is $895,000. Planning, design and construction took about a year. About a dozen open lots remain in the subdivision, which is adjacent to Saddlebrook Resort, off State Road 54.

This is the second time Javic Homes has been included in Southern Living’s Custom Builder Program for showcase homes. Last year’s home was in South Tampa.

“I think it’s a great way to highlight our work,” said Solomon. Making it a charitable event is a plus. “We like to give back to our community,” he added.

Southern Living’s custom builder program is by invitation only, and includes about 100 of the nation’s top builders. Magazine representatives review homeowner and business references, and make site visits before adding a homebuilder to the group.

Showcase homebuilders can choose from more than 1,000 design plans in Southern Living’s database, but can modify plans or do their own.

Southern Living representatives have to approve the plan and the interior finishes, Solomon said.

“So we can coordinate everything with Southern Living designers,” he added.

Javic Homes was founded in 2001 and has built about 300 homes in the Tampa Bay area.

For its 2015 showcase home, Solomon said, “We had inspiration from one of (Southern Living’s) plans. It’s a little more open. It’s what people want these days.”

The two-story home opens to a grand foyer, flanked by a den and formal dining room. The master suite is off the great room, which flows into the kitchen and a breakfast nook. There also is a powder room, mudroom, laundry and a two-and-a-half car garage. On the second floor, there are three bedrooms, a bonus room and a balcony.

Local artists such as Sarah Hull, Francine Bauer, Lori Starkey, Debra Radke and Sharon Britton display their artwork throughout the house.

Personal tastes in homes vary, but Solomon said trends generally are for clean lines and interiors that are not ornate, but have simple styles.

Homebuyers also want durability and energy efficiency. Technology is an integral part of new homes with devices that operate televisions, garages, sprinkler systems, alarm systems, lights and sound.

Lifestyles, budgets and personal tastes are part of the decision making when building a custom home. “You always try to balance lifestyle needs with decorating and design details,” Solomon said.

Published April 8, 2015

 

Children’s Home benefits from their ‘Champion of Service’

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When Rachelle Duroseau received the Champion of Service award from Gov. Rick Scott, she didn’t have much advance warning that she was up for the distinction.

“I did not know I was nominated. It was a surprise to me,” said Duroseau, who volunteers for the Children’s Home Society of Florida and lives in Wesley Chapel.

Rachelle Duroseau holds up the Champion of Service award she received on Feb. 5 at Governor Rick Scott’s cabinet meeting. In addition to Gov. Rick Scott, other government officials, her parents and Children's Home representatives were in attendance. (Courtesy of Children's Home Society of Florida)
Rachelle Duroseau holds up the Champion of Service award she received on Feb. 5 at Governor Rick Scott’s cabinet meeting. In addition to Gov. Rick Scott, other government officials, her parents and Children’s Home representatives were in attendance.
(Courtesy of Children’s Home Society of Florida)

She had just a few days to prepare for the presentation at the governor’s cabinet meeting Feb. 5 in Tampa.

Those few days gave her enough time to have her mother and father, Javeline and Serge, present, along with the supervisors who had nominated her.

Duroseau is a volunteer coordinator at the Children’s Home Society, which provides care and resources for abused, neglected and abandoned children.

As part of the Gulf Coast division, she works at the Joshua House in Lutz. Her main duties include managing volunteers and working on larger campaigns, which include an annual back-to-school drive and a toy drive during the holiday season.

If that sounds like a full-time job, it is.

Duroseau works a 40-hour-a-week schedule. She’s in the Americorps VISTA program, a national service program designed to help fight poverty. She receives a living allowance through an Americorps grant.

Since the money she receives is set at the poverty line and works out to around $1,000 a month, the Nazareth College graduate isn’t doing it for the money. She simply sees people suffering and can’t let it continue without doing something about it.

“It honestly doesn’t even feel like service to me. It just feels like a natural thing that needs to be done,” Duroseau said. “I don’t even feel like I’m doing anything special or out of the ordinary.”

But the 26-year-old’s volunteer resume is anything but ordinary.

She said her parents taught her the importance of helping others when she was young, and she’s been following that path.

Duroseau has a long history of service to others.

Before coming to Children’s Home, she took care of hospice patients, traveled to India to help women and orphans, and worked with homeless shelters and foot clinics to provide foot hygiene to the homeless, including efforts with at-risk youth, Habitat For Humanity and emergency shelters.

The volunteer’s experiences appealed to volunteer program manager Meghan Pfleiderer when she interviewed Duroseau for the position at Children’s Home.

Duroseau’s college studies in sociology and community-based youth development were a plus, as well.

The volunteer’s demeanor is another big asset, Pfleiderer said, especially when dealing with volunteers. It’s important to make them feel rewarded and appreciated, since they’re such a big part of the organization. They might have five to seven volunteers for their regular day-to-day operations, but utilize 125 or more for large projects. And Duroseau is able to handle them and their efforts effectively.

“The personality that Rachelle brings to the table is perfect for that sort of relationship, and engaging somebody in service that is truly just 100 percent from the good of their heart,” Pfleiderer said.

Those healthy relationships have translated into tangible results for Children’s Home. They had a successful back-to-school drive just a couple of months after Duroseau began working there last May. And their holiday toy drive, with an ambitious objective of helping between 400 children and 500 children enjoy presents at that time of year, met its goal.

“It couldn’t have been done without Rachelle,” said Michelle Smith, administrative supervisor. She’s not sure how everything got done before Duroseau came on board, but now that she’s here, Smith wanted to make sure she was staying.

Americorps volunteers are only in their positions for one year, though they can extend it another year if both parties agree.

Smith didn’t want to wait until the end of her term to find out if they would get to keep Duroseau.

“I have been asking for the past six months if she was going to renew,” she admitted.

Much to the relief of her supervisors, Duroseau did want to stay.

“The fact that she wanted to do a second year just made us all so happy,” Pfleiderer said.

Duroseau is happy as well, and eager to continue working on projects and advancing the Children’s Home’s many goals throughout the year.

With so many who need assistance, Duroseau believes she’s in the right position to do her part to help.

“I do want to play as active a role as I can to alleviate suffering,” she said. “Even if it’s a small contribution I can make, it makes me feel good to be able to do that.”

Published April 1, 2015

See an animated movie for free!

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An outside movie event can be a great idea, but it depends on when you do it. If it’s too early in the year, you might catch one of our really cold weekends. If it’s closer to summer, you risk rain, sweltering heat and more rain.

Did I mention the rain? You have to time things just right.

The poolside area at Avalon Park West becomes an outdoor movie theater once a month. (Courtesy of Avalon Park West)
The poolside area at Avalon Park West becomes an outdoor movie theater once a month.
(Courtesy of Avalon Park West)

Fortunately, this happens to be the right time. The weather is nice, but it’s not too humid yet. And because it’s the right time, Avalon Park West, a community in Wesley Chapel, has a monthly “Movie Under the Stars” series that’s worth checking out.

On the fourth Friday of each month they show a family friendly movie. Last month, it was “Planes,” and on March 27, it will be “The Boxtrolls,” an animated film that was recently nominated for an Academy Award for Best Animated Feature.

So you show up and watch a movie. Is that it? Well, not quite. Not only is the movie free (this is “On the Cheap,” so you might have guessed that part) but they serve free popcorn as well. They also have free lemonade and hot cocoa, too. And since it’s out by their pool, you can grab one of the pool chairs, or bring your own chairs or blanket. You can even bring your own cooler, and enjoy snacks and drinks from home.

In other words, no $5 drinks and $6 popcorn like you’ll find at the regular movie theater. You can enjoy some nice weather with family or friends and not spend a lot of money to do it. Technically, you don’t have to spend any money at all. How often can you take the whole family out to an event and not lose a penny? As most of you know, that’s rare. So we need to take advantage of those evenings when we find them.

In case you were wondering, you don’t have to live in Avalon Park West to go. It’s open to everyone. All you have to do is like movies and free things to do. And that covers a lot of us.

Before the movie starts on the blow-up screen, a disc jockey gets the kids ready for the show with some music and dancing. So you might want to show up a little early to get a good spot and enjoy the entertainment before the movie begins. And it doesn’t end too late, so everyone can make their bedtimes, too.

Finding cheap things to do isn’t easy, but it’s worth it. And it’s nice to come across something local that’s completely free all the way around. For children and adults who like animated films, this is a great way to spend a Friday night.

By the way, there are only a couple of dates left before the event takes a break until later in the year. If you can’t make it on March 27, you can try again on April 24 when they show “Big Hero 6.” That movie beat “The Boxtrolls” for Best Animated Feature. Since the next two films were both nominated for Academy Awards, you might want to attend both. It’s the same price, after all: Nothing.

Avalon Park West is located at 5216 Autumn Ridge Drive in Wesley Chapel. For more information, call (813) 783-1515 or visit AvalonParkWest.com.

Published March 25, 2015

This Girl Scout project could save lives

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When most people think of Girl Scouts, they tend to picture little girls selling cookies in front of the local store or singing in a camp sing-along.

It’s unlikely they envision a young woman working on a project to improve traffic safety.

But that’s exactly what Wesley Chapel High School student Samantha Politano is doing.

Wesley Chapel High student Samantha Politano is striving to attain a Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor awarded to a Girl Scout. Her project is to improve safety traffic conditions on Wells Road. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Wesley Chapel High student Samantha Politano is striving to attain a Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor awarded to a Girl Scout. Her project is to improve safety traffic conditions on Wells Road.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She’s launched a three-year project aimed at making life safer for the students who attend Wesley Chapel High School, Thomas Weightman Middle School and Wesley Chapel Elementary School.

She’s not only interested in making life safer for students. She wants to improve the conditions for all drivers — parents dropping off and picking up their kids, bus drivers making their rounds, and faculty members and students who drive to school.

In addition to making Wells Road safer, she’s also aiming to spread the message of safe driving habits.

She hopes her efforts will encourage drivers to buckle up and put away their cellphones, which will reduce their chance or being injured or having an accident.

She also thinks it would be neat to give Wells Road a second, honorary name — Wildcat Way — to pay tribute to the mascot for the elementary, middle and high schools.

Politano is tackling the traffic safety issue on a number of fronts and has enlisted the aid of Jeff Novotny, former president of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce.

Novotny is widely known in business circles around Wesley Chapel, but that’s not why Politano asked him. She wanted his help because he’s married to her third-grade teacher, Amanda, who teaches at Wesley Chapel Elementary.

“Mrs. Novotny was one of the most influential teachers, ever,” Politano said.

So, why would a teenager take on an issue like traffic safety?

In Politano’s case, it’s because she’s striving to attain a Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.

The distinction is based on the completion of a project that focuses on making a difference.

Politano said her decision to work on traffic issues was partly inspired by a friend of hers who was injured when a car backed into her in the parking lot.

She said she also heard about a freshman who was struck by a vehicle on Wells Road.

It’s not hard to see that Wells Road has traffic issues during student arrival and departure times.

On one recent afternoon, parents arrived at least 20 minutes before school got out, parking their cars on the edges on both sides of Wells Road.

With cars flanking both sides of the road, passing traffic — including school buses — had to drive close to the middle of the road, and in some cases over the centerline.

Parents also pulled into a parking lot at Wesley Chapel High to wait for their children, reminiscent of the staging area of the cellphone parking lot at Tampa International Airport.

Politano plans to continue her efforts by talking to various advisory groups and elected officials, to draw attention to the problem. She also has been circulating a petition that people can sign on paper or electronically.

One possible solution, Novotny said, would be to have a continuous turn lane down Wells Road, which would give vehicles a place to wait, so other cars could get by.

“That (continuous turn lane) creates enough separation between the west and eastbound vehicles so that they’re not right on top of each other. It gives a little space for people to see what’s happening,” Novotny said.

Besides working on that issue, Politano has already addressed a site-distance problem at the intersection of Wells and Boyette roads.

There was overgrown vegetation near the intersection, making it difficult for drivers to see, she explained. She notified the county, and they responded swiftly to address the problem, she said.

“It was very quick. I was very surprised, pleasantly surprised,” Politano said.

The county already is planning another safety improvement, Novotny said. It is scheduled to install a traffic light at Boyette and Wells roads in 2016.

Besides making conditions safer on the road, Politano has encouraged safer driver behavior.

She used Wesley Chapel High School’s public address system to remind students of the importance of buckling up and not texting while driving.

She used a message that got the students’ attention. She told them it would cost $140 for a ticket, if they weren’t wearing a seat belt or were caught texting while driving.

Politano also did a study to see if her message had any effect.

Before she made the announcement, she counted the cars in the parking lot and observed how many drivers were wearing their seat belts. By her count, it was around 15 percent.

She did the same count after her announcement, and this time about 50 percent were buckled up.

She said she plans to do another observation, to see if her message stuck.

In another effort to raise awareness, she created a sign on a fence between the high school and elementary school.

“Buckle Up!” it exclaims.

Politano realizes she has ambitious goals, but noted she doesn’t have to achieve a three-lane road or modify other drivers’ behavior to qualify for the Girl Scout Gold Award. She merely has to make her best efforts and document them.

She said she’s grateful for Novotny’s help on the project.

“Mr. Novotny has helped immensely, immensely, immensely with this.”

Politano’s mom, Felicia, recalled when her daughter told her what she planned to do for her Gold Award project.

The teenager said: “I’m going to widen Wells Road.”

Her mom responded: “Why don’t you find something easier than that to do.”

While she doesn’t have to get the road widened, Politano does hope for that result.

“The community needs it,” Politano said.

Published March 18, 2015

Pasco commissioners approve a study for Wiregrass Sports Park

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Pasco County commissioners are in a quandary about the fate of the proposed Wiregrass Sports Park. Should they try again to work a deal for a world-class sports complex or build a district park for local sports teams?

Commissioners voted 4-1 on March 10 to take a wait-and-see approach with a feasibility study that will gauge the market for a sports complex with the potential to draw national tournaments, and yield millions in tourism tax dollars.

Jack Mariano (File Photo)
Jack Mariano
(File Photo)

The results also could show that the county’s money is better spent on a park that caters to local sports teams.

The study is intended to give county officials, residents and potential park operators an idea of what will work at the park site, located near Bruce B. Downs Boulevard off State Road 56.

“We think we’ll get the ability to expedite (the process) because people will understand it better, and we think the quality of applications will improve,” said Richard Gehring, the county’s planning and development administrator.

Johnson Consulting Inc., a sports consulting firm with national and international clients, will be paid $35,000 for the study, expected to take less than 12 weeks.

The study will include marketing and needs assessments as well as recommendations on development costs, operating and financial responsibilities, and funding options.

“I think it’s time to move forward,” said Commissioner Mike Moore. “It’s a positive. People in my district want to see it sooner rather than later.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano voted against the study. Instead of spending money on a study, he said county officials should explore why the deal with Pasco Sports LLC to build a multimillion-dollar sports complex fell apart.

“I’d like to find out why he (Gary Sheffield) didn’t like the contract,” Mariano said. “We could look at that first.”

In December, commissioners dropped plans to partner with Pasco Sports to build a sports complex on 100 acres near The Shops at Wiregrass regional shopping mall. The land is part of more than 200 acres donated to the county by the Porter family.

Partners James Talton and former major league baseball player Gary Sheffield had proposed to build 20 ball fields and dormitories on the site. They had envisioned a youth baseball camp that would attract national tournaments and deliver more than $300 million annually in economic impact to the county.

According to the agreement, the county would commit between $11 million and $14 million in tourism dollars to the project. But Talton and Sheffield let a deadline pass without delivering on a pledge to provide $3 million for the complex’s design.

Other projects, both rumored and real, are competing with the proposed sports complex.

Z Mitch LLC had a groundbreaking in February for a major ice hockey and sports complex off Interstate 75 at the State Road interchange in Wesley Chapel. The facility is expected to open in fall 2015 with four full-size rinks. But the 150,000-square-foot facility will accommodate a wide range of sports including soccer, lacrosse and basketball.

Rumors also persist that Hillsborough County may be in line for a new sports facility.

Most Pasco commissioners agreed the feasibility study would be a valuable tool in sorting out the county’s options.

“It will either validate or invalidate the marketing of the complex and what’s needed in this area,” said Chairman Ted Schrader. “It will give us the confidence to go forward with some sort of park project.”

Published March 18, 2015

 

Putting his best foot forward

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Stephen Levin is state podiatry president

When Stephen Levin was younger, he wanted to be an architect. He even studied it in college.

But then, his career path changed.

Dr. Stephen Levin has plenty of models, but the podiatrist enjoys treating his real-life patients at New Tampa Foot & Ankle on Foggy Creek Road in Wesley Chapel. He recently was selected to be president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Dr. Stephen Levin has plenty of models, but the podiatrist enjoys treating his real-life patients at New Tampa Foot & Ankle on Foggy Creek Road in Wesley Chapel. He recently was selected to be president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

“I didn’t get into the architecture program,” Levin said. “I was studying architecture as an undergraduate, and it didn’t work out.”

Eventually, he found a way to study a different kind of arch. He went into medicine, and became a podiatrist.

The 44-year-old has been a podiatrist for 16 years.

In addition to having a successful practice, New Tampa Foot & Ankle, the Wesley Chapel resident has been elected the 2015 president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association.

“It feels good,” Levin said of being named as the organization’s leader.

“It’s definitely something I never thought I’d do, but its definitely nice to be here and to be involved in that part,” Levin said.

As president, Levin said he’d like to focus on increasing membership and adding younger members to the roster.

The FPMA has around 1,000 active podiatrists in its membership, as well as past members and others who have reasons to join.

But to those outside the organization, Levin would like to spread the word that a podiatrist can do more than the general public probably realizes.

“Some people don’t know the full scope of what we do. That’s probably the biggest thing we have to overcome.

“What does a podiatrist do?” he continued. “It’s not just going to get your corns taken care of,” he said.

Podiatrists handle problems and care issues related to the foot, ankle and other areas just below the knee.

They can help treat sports injuries, provide diabetic care, and address other forms of trauma, as well as routine foot care.

Different communities have different medical needs, Levin said.

A community that is overwhelmingly populated by seniors means a podiatrist serving that area will see the same types of patients and problems every day. That might get a bit boring day-in and day-out, but he doesn’t have that problem in Wesley Chapel. His patients run the spectrum from toddlers to seniors, and that means he sees a variety of podiatric problems.

“Wesley Chapel’s a great community because it’s more diverse. It’s not just the elderly. It’s families, it’s everybody, and this practice that I have is great because I see the whole realm of everything,” Levin said. “That’s why I love it. It really makes it very interesting.” Levin has a second office in south Tampa, but he works at his Wesley Chapel location.

While he’s reached a high point in the Florida FPMA, there are other opportunities at the national level. The next step would be to serve on the delegation that represents Florida at the national meeting. From there it’s a matter of following the path at that level. It’s something he would consider in the future, he said.

For now he’s happy keeping busy at his office. The office sees between 35 patients to 40 patients per day and schedules elective surgeries on a few days each month.

His wife, Diane, is a nurse and serves as practice administrator when she’s not teaching. And when Levin’s not on the job, he might be coaching his son, Sam, in soccer, or watching his daughter, Sarah, perform gymnastics. His stepson, David, also plays saxophone for Wharton High School.

While his original career plans shifted, Levin’s certainly not lamenting the switch that has brought him so much success over the years.

“I don’t know what I would do other than this, to be honest,” he said. “I wouldn’t do anything else.”

Good Foot Health
Dr. Stephen Levin, recently named president of the Florida Podiatric Medical Association, has a few suggestions for keeping your feet in tip-top shape

  1. Always wear shoes. It might be tempting to go barefoot in Florida, but there are fire ants and snakes outside, and tile or concrete inside. That provides little support and can cause problems.

Also, choose better protection than regular flip flops. They simply don’t provide the kind of support that other types of shoes can. Running shoes and work shoes with thicker, rubber soles are better for your feet.

Be sure to use “more cushion, more shock absorption, more overall support for your foot,” Levin advises.

  1. Be careful with treadmills. They make you run at something other than your normal pace. Instead, consider other ways to walk or run.

“Asphalt’s probably the most forgiving of what we have,” Levin said. “Or a padded track inside, like at a gym.” Elliptical and rowing machines are also good exercise options.

  1. Don’t wait when you have a problem. Waiting to see if it goes away on its own can make healing and recovery a longer process. Deal with foot pain and other issues before they become harder to manage.

“The sooner you can catch it, chances are you can get rid of it faster,” Levin said.

Published march 4, 2015

 

From cow pasture to four-lane road?

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When motorists get to the end of State Road 56 at Meadow Pointe Boulevard, they’ll see cows grazing in an open pasture.

But Zephyrhills leaders are pushing for an entirely new view for that plot of land.

They envision it as the start of the first four-lane road to lead into their community.

A cow pasture sits at the end of State Road 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, but advocates of economic growth in Zephyrhills want to transform that pasture into the beginning of a four-lane road to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
A cow pasture sits at the end of State Road 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, but advocates of economic growth in Zephyrhills want to transform that pasture into the beginning of a four-lane road to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

And, they’re turning up the heat on state lawmakers and county officials to try to make that happen.

They presented their case at a town hall meeting on Feb. 23 with State Rep. Danny Burgess and State Sen. John Legg.

The four-lane extension of State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills could serve as a catalyst for new business, and would make it easier for people to come and go from Zephyrhills. It also could serve as another hurricane evacuation route, according to city and business leaders.

The question is how to pay for it.

There are plans to extend State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301, but those plans call only for a two-lane road, and even that road is contingent upon securing land from adjacent landowners to make it happen.

Zephyrhills leaders made it clear that a two-lane road falls short of their expectations.

“This city deserves a four-lane highway coming into our city,” said Charles Proctor, who serves on the Zephyrhills City Council and has had a business in the city for more than two decades.

He said the community has been promised a four-lane road for years, and that residents have been under the impression that they were finally going to get one, in State Road 56.

It’s time for action, city leaders said.

“We need to get serious. We need to find a way. We can find it. It’s time,” said Vonnie Mikkelsen, executive director of the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

“These folks deserve a little bit of attention,” added Mikkelsen, who also is involved in the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition, made up by Pasco Economic Development Council, the Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce, the City of Zephyrhills, the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Main Street and businesses of Zephyrhills.

A four-lane road into the city, providing a connection with Interstate 75, is vital, leaders said.

It’s a wise investment for the region, Mikkelsen said.

It will help Zephyrhills make the most of its target market opportunities in the aviation industry, distribution, manufacturing and small business, she said.

Paying for the project is a major stumbling block.

Debbie Hunt, transportation development director for the Florida Department of Transportation, said there’s no money in the state’s budget to build a four-lane extension of State Road 56.

“DOT never intended or expected to build at any time in the near future. So, the fact that it was able to be advanced and we are doing the two lanes is exceptional. It allows traffic from Zephyrhills to be able to get over to the interstate, when it is completed.

“The additional lanes will be based on development, as it occurs. There is not an intention from the DOT to fund (lanes) three and four,” Hunt said.

If four-laning State Road 56 is funded, the money would need to come from not doing some other project that’s on Pasco County’s list, she said.

“There’s only so much money to go around,” Hunt said.

One option that’s been proposed calls for building all four lanes, with the state paying for all four lanes initially and developers repaying the state for lanes three and four.

That approach might work, Legg said, but he added he’s not aware of a current way, under the state’s statutes, that could be achieved.

“If we could find a statutory way to loan them the money that they would pay back, that may be an opportunity,” Legg said.

Legg agreed with Hunt that even the two-lane road from Meadow Pointe Boulevard to U.S. 301 had not been envisioned before former Speaker of the House Will Weatherford became involved in advocating for East Pasco’s transportation needs.

“Some of these things were not even on the map, but we had a Speaker of the House that kind of helped this area, helped carve an opportunity to get two lanes,” Legg said.

Legg and Burgess both pledged to keep pushing for a way to get the four-lane project done.

“We’re trying to use whatever kind of leverage we can to push those projects faster, to accelerate them,” Legg said. “The political process is trying to force opportunities.”

Former Mayor Cliff McDuffie said the most effective way to get action is to speak up.

“We need to be more politically involved to make sure your voice is heard. Don’t sit here in Zephyrhills and cry. Go to (Pasco) County Commission and cry,” McDuffie said.

“You have to show up. If you don’t show up, shut up,” McDuffie said.

Both Legg and Burgess said they understand the important role that transportation plays in economic growth.

“Pasco County is booming and (State Road) 56 is obviously just imperative,” Burgess said. “It’s a big piece of that puzzle in attracting future business owners, corporate opportunities and connecting them to our infrastructure and our resources in Zephyrhills, such as our airport, what an asset.”

Legg agreed: “The transportation, in my mind, is really going to shape the growth, or the lack of growth, or the type of growth that this community would like to have in the next 10 to 20 years.

“If this is the avenue that you want to go down, we will put our backs to the plow and try to make that happen,” Legg said.

Published March 4, 2015

Yes, that really is Hambone Way

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Motorists driving past Hambone Way in Wesley Chapel may do a double take.

Is that road really named Hambone Way?

Indeed, it is.

William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The road was christened during a ceremony on Feb. 20 with a moniker that pays tribute to William “Hambone” Hammond, a firefighter who has worked for 15 years at Station 13, in the heart of an area known as Angus Valley.

The road bears Hammond’s nickname — the only name that many firefighters and paramedics know him by.

During the formal naming ceremony, Hammond was clearly touched by the gesture.

As he looked out into the crowd, he saw his mother, Betty Hammond, his brother, Mark, and other friends and relatives.

Members of the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce were there, too, to do a ribbon cutting.

And, Hammond saw scores of his other ‘family,’ too, the men and women who work for Pasco County Fire Rescue.

As he accepted the honor, he kept calling out names of people in the crowd — and even some that weren’t there — to thank them for the lessons they’ve taught him and the loyalty they’ve shown.

“I don’t feel worthy. You all are more worthy than me,” said Hammond, who is still an active firefighter.

“I do love that my name is up there — my nickname — and it does belong here in the valley,” he said. “I had plenty of opportunities to go to other stations. I’m part of Wesley Chapel, part of Angus Valley. It’s where my heart is.”

Firefighter/paramedic J.J. Martinez, who helped organize the event, said Hammond deserves recognition for his dedicated service.

“When one hears this nickname, you would think of a guy on Harley, riding down the road with a long beard,” Martinez said, during the naming ceremony.

But when employees at Station 13 hear Hambone’s name, “we see a dedicated, hardworking firefighter that will do anything for his fellow firefighters,” Martinez added.

For some people, “Hambone was a firefighter who was there, in their time of need,” Martinez said.

“I came to serve this area six years ago, at Station 13, and I’m reminded every day what being a true firefighter is all about, because of my partner, Hambone,” Martinez added.

“Many times in this job, we lose sight of what is most important and that is the people we help every day,” he said.

Another speaker, Captain David Garofalo, said “when I think of Hambone, one word immediately comes to mind, and that is ‘genuine.’ That man never ceases to amaze me. He takes friendships to a whole new level.”

“This street has been the no-name street for many years, and Hambone has been a part of this community for almost 15 years,” Garofalo said, so it seems fitting to name the street in Hambone’s honor.

“So many times, buildings, statues and streets are named posthumously after someone in their memory. I am glad, that as we name this today, that Hambone will be able to know how much he is appreciated and be a part of this community for many more years to come,” Garofalo said.

Pasco Rescue Fire Chief Scott Cassin congratulated Hammond.

“There couldn’t be a better person to have their name on that sign,” Cassin said.

On the drive over to the ceremony, Cassin said he talking about how streets get their names.

“It’s usually the developer that will put names up, and they name them after their kids. They’ll name them after presidents, or they’ll have some sort of naming convention.

“This is one sign that I know every time we drive by it, we’ll know how that street was named.”

Published February 25, 2015