Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

Hillsborough seeks input on Cross Creek Park

August 16, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Hillsborough County is planning improvements at Cross Creek Park and is asking members of the public to share their thoughts on how to proceed.

Cross Creek Park currently has an outdoor basketball court, two kickball fields, picnic shelters, and a playground on 14 acres at 19025 Basset Creek Drive, in Tampa, according to a county news release.

Future improvements could include a recreation center with programming, splash pad, walking trails, and an updated playground, the release says.

The county is conducting a virtual engagement exercise, using the Hillsborough Engagement Hub to collect feedback from the public on plans for the park.

Comment for this project is open until Aug. 21.

To participate, visit HCFLGov.net/HCEngage.

Questions in English or Spanish about the virtual public engagement for the park plan may be directed to the Customer Service Center at 813-635-5400.

Published August 17, 2022

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel celebrates birth of new downtown

July 19, 2022 By B.C. Manion

Avalon Park Wesley Chapel marked a milestone in a project that began decades ago, on State Road 54.

The community threw a party to celebrate the groundbreaking for the first mixed-use building in what ultimately will become Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Jazz Under the Starz, the Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco Fine Arts Council provided entertainment, and refreshments were served.

Participants get ready to fling a shovel of dirt at the Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel groundbreaking ceremony on July 14. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

It was so hot outside, though, that even a tent and air conditioning could not keep it cool for the crowd that had gathered.

So, both Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore and Beat Kahli, the CEO and president of Avalon Park Group, kept their remarks brief.

Moore told Kahli: “We’re very proud of the project. Proud of what’s yet to come.”

The commissioner noted the new downtown will provide jobs, which will allow residents to work locally instead of commuting to nearby counties.

Kahli offered a brief history about the project’s beginnings and he shared his vision of what lies ahead.

Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group, offers a brief history of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, during groundbreaking festivities for Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

“You wouldn’t believe how long we’ve been involved with this project. We bought this land in 1988.

“When we bought this land, we bought it from a family, the Brown family.

“They were ranchers here. They actually didn’t want to sell their land, particularly to a developer,” Kahli said.

But he added: “We worked out a deal. We said, ‘You can farm your entire life because this will take decades.’

“Why not do a deal where we give you enough money, where you can pay for your retirement, your education of your kids, but you continue to farm.

“Unfortunately, my good friend Bill Brown died about five years ago,” but Kahli added, Brown farmed until the end.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore helps celebrate the long journey that has led to the beginnings of a new downtown, on State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel. (B.C. Manion)

Kahli then shared his vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, a community of about 1,800 acres.

“The goal that we always have, when we do an Avalon Park, is to create a sense of safety and a sense of belonging,” he said.

He pointed to Avalon Park Orlando, a community just south of the University of Central Florida.

“It’s a complete town. We have second- and third-generations,” he said.

Plans for the new mixed-use building, as outlined in a community newsletter, call for a 73,067-square-foot building, with a variety of uses.

Those uses include 40 multifamily apartments, with 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor. Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include a food hall of approximately 12,000 square feet, which will be called the Marketplace at Avalon Park.

Kahli noted the mixed-use building is just the first of many more buildings to come.

In addition to providing a glimpse of what lies ahead, Kahli introduced his two sons to the crowd and expressed gratitude to his team, noting they’ve been working for decades on the project.

He also thanked Pasco County.

“We work with many governments, around the globe actually,” he said. “Pasco County is a great county to work with.”

After Moore and Kahli concluded their remarks, they joined with others to fling a ceremonial shovel of dirt, to signify the groundbreaking of the beginning of a new downtown.

Revised July 27, 2022

Avalon Park West invites community to celebration

July 12, 2022 By B.C. Manion

A groundbreaking ceremony for the first phase of Downtown Avalon Park West is set for this week, and the community is invited to attend the festivities.

The event will be on July 14 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the construction site, 33613 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel.

The event will include refreshments and performances provided for the guests’ enjoyment, according to an Avalon Park West newsletter, which was emailed to The Laker/Lutz News.

Performances will be provided by community partners Jazz Under the Starz, The Wesley Chapel Theater Group and the Pasco County Fine Arts Council, the newsletter says.

Avalon Park Group/sitEX has announced that it has entered into an agreement with Lema Construction to begin building the first phase of the downtown area of Avalon Park Wesley Chapel.

Terms of the agreement, described in the newsletter, call for a 73,067-square-foot building, which will have a mixture of uses. Plans call for 40 multifamily apartments, with 23,720 square feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor.

Initial plans for the commercial/retail space include a food hall of approximately 12,000 square feet, which will be called the Marketplace at Avalon Park.

Plans also include the fourth location of the globally connected coworking space, The 5th Floor. The newsletter also notes that both concepts have been successful since opening in 2021 at the flagship Avalon Park Orlando.

“This phase of construction really helps us move even closer to that vision of building a place where families can build memories and traditions together in a town they can call their own,” Beat Kahli, CEO, Avalon Park Group/sitEX, said in the article.

“And, while this may not be the most cost-effective time to begin construction, we feel like it is important to continue on to the next step in developing our vision for Avalon Park Wesley Chapel,” he added.

A 2-acre community park with an amphitheater is in permitting and will begin construction later this summer. The park will host community events such as Avalon Aglow and Fourth of July celebrations, as well as community partners including Jazz Under the Starz and The Wesley Chapel Theater Group, who already host events and activities in the community, the posting notes.

Both the park and mixed-used building are scheduled for completion in late 2023.

Upon completion, Avalon Park Wesley Chapel will encompass more than 1,800 acres and will host approximately 400,000 square feet of retail and 100,000 square feet of office space in its downtown.

Initial construction in Downtown Avalon Park Wesley Chapel began in 2018 with the addition of the Pinecrest Academy K-7 Charter School.

Pinecrest also is now under the construction of its second phase, which includes the addition of approximately 600 student stations for sixth-graders through eighth-graders, according to the newsletter.

For more information on Avalon Park Wesley Chapel, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com, or email .

Published July 13, 2022

Lightning fans taste the joy of victory, agony of defeat

June 28, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The Colorado Avalanche ended the Tampa Bay Lightning’s bid to take home the Stanley Cup for the third consecutive time.

Instead, the Avalanche clinched the best of seven games finals in Game 6, at Amalie Arena in downtown Tampa.

The Avalanche won 2-1, in a series that had a bit of everything. Each team had a blow-out win, two games were decided in overtime and two games were settled by one-point margins.

Players battled through injuries, and ultimately, the fans were the winners — watching two teams that gave it their all.

Arenas in each town were filled with cheering crowds and there were outdoor watch parties, too, including gatherings at the KRATE, at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

A live shot of crowds arriving at Ball Arena in Denver prior to the start of the first game in the Stanley Cup Finals, shown on the big screen TV at a free watch party held at the KRATE, at the Grove at Wesley Chapel. (Fred Bellet)

Andrew Olson, of Brooksville, wears his 2021 Stanley Cup Champions cap, as he and his wife, Melissa, watch the Tampa Bay Lightning struggle against the Colorado Avalanche in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals. Olson, a former Blackhawks fan, switched his allegiance to the Lightning when he moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2005.

It may have been raining, but die-hard Tampa Bay Lightning fans attended a watch party at the KRATE, in the Grove at Wesley Chapel. Dennise Colon, of Wesley Chapel, right, under her umbrella did not let rain stop her from watching Game 1 of the Stanley Cup Finals. She was at the free, outdoor event hosted by KRATE, with her husband, Ramon, and daughters, Selyse, 11, and Sariya,12.
Here, the goal cam in Denver’s Ball Arena captures Bolt’s goaltender No. 88 Andrei Vasilevskiy, as he blocks a shot.

Tina Burkardt, of Wesley Chapel, brought a portable fan to keep her cool, while watching the Tampa Bay Lightning take on the Colorado Avalanche in the Stanley Cup Finals. She didn’t bring an umbrella, which would have been helpful, too.

Ten-year-old Jaxson Twisdale bites nervously on the tip of his foam rubber Bolts finger. He was at the KRATE with his parents, Jim and Theresa Twisdale, of Land O’ Lakes, for a free watch party. The Avalanche dominated in a 7-0 win over the Bolts in Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Finals.

Watching the big screen TV, fans cheer as the Tampa Bay Lightning tie up the game 3-3 against the Colorado Avalanche. The first Stanley Cup Finals game went into overtime, with the Avalanche defeating Tampa Bay, 4 to 3.

Having a grand time, at the ‘prom’

June 21, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The dancers came in all ages, sporting various styles.

Some did solo numbers, while others danced in pairs. Some formed a conga line and danced around the floor at the recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park.

Participants at the Dance your Dream party seemed to be having a great time, as they snaked around the Wesley Chapel District Park gymnasium. (Fred Bellet)

All in all, about 100 people were there to move to the music, have some refreshments and simply enjoy themselves at “Dance your Dream,” a free event on June 11. The gathering was sponsored by HOPE Services, a vocational service organization.

The two-hour event brought people living with disabilities together for a chance to look great and groove to the music. They came from as close as Wesley Chapel, Land O’ Lakes, Lutz and Tampa to as far away as Seffner and Brandon.

Those attending were encouraged to wear their “prom attire” and to get on the dance floor to show off their moves.

Besides dancing, there were refreshments provided by Chick-fil-A and a chance to meet the Chick-fil-A mascot.

In addition to providing the opportunity for a good time, the event doubled as a fundraiser for HOPE Services’ new Life Skills Center, which is expected to open this year.

Event-goers could bid on silent auction items and try their luck in some raffles.

The new Life Skills Center will assist people living with disabilities with everyday life skills and employable skills in food services, construction, hospitality, retail, and computer skills.

Published June 22, 2022

Cerebral palsy did not stop 36-year-old Jason Wenner, of Wesley Chapel, from rocking out in his wheelchair, as he delights to the music at the Dance your Dream party. Jason’s mother, Linda Wenner, left, said Jason was born premature and weighed just 12 ounces at birth. She described him as the family’s ‘miracle baby.’

If anyone was having a great time at the Dance your Dream party, it was clearly 39-year-old Josh Goldsmith, as he gets in on a group photo with 32-year-old Kim Gordon and 44-year-old Steven Moran, all of Tampa. About 100 people who live with disabilities attended a free prom attire dance party at the Wesley Chapel District Park gymnasium and activity rooms.

Early-arriver Brandon Wheeler, a 21-year-old from Seffner, got everything started at the party — showing off his dance moves on the floor, and concluding with a spectacular finish.

Thirty-six-year-old Keishawn Tolberg, left, is led on to the dance floor by her mother, Felicia McCardy, right, of Seffner. Keishawn’s smile lit up the dance floor at the Dance your Dream prom attire dance party.

Thirty-two-year-old Kim Gordon and 44-year-old Steven Moran dance the night away.

Twenty-two-year-old Joshua Tapia, of Wesley Chapel, shows off some fancy footwork, as he dances with his friend, Race Herron, of Lutz.

Dancing solo, Kimberly Watkins, 45, of Brandon, shows her dance technique, as she and others dance to the sounds of music from the DJs of Sandwich F.M.

Letting the party out, at the KRATE

May 31, 2022 By Mike Camunas

Get ready to do some shopping, eating and drinking — at a unique collection of shops and restaurants at the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

As part of a rejuvenation, under the direction of owner Mark Gold, the KRATE at the Grove is throwing a grand opening party.

The open-air entertainment, shopping and restaurant complex has scheduled the daylong festivities for June 4 starting at 10 a.m., and will include live music, family-fun, food, beverages and entertainment, all within the area where mini-shops and restaurants operate out of converted shipping containers.

KRATE at the Grove, at 5817 Wesley Grove Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will feature up to 54 mini-shops made up of restaurants and retail store fronts, all operating out of converted shipping containers. (Mike Camunas)

When KRATE is complete, 94 shipping containers will be turned into 54 individual business units, with a mix of about 70% restaurants and 30% retail.

KRATE at the Grove features a large open area stage, and seating and dining area for shoppers and patrons to enjoy live entertainment, including concerts, shows and other attractions.

Situated at the “top” of the KRATE area is a large entertainment venue featuring a stage, and plenty of Adirondack chairs and picnic tables set up for entertainment, and live concerts and music.

Dozens of the shops and restaurants already are open and have been progressively rolling out, since March.

Mishorim Gold Properties purchased the Grove for around $64 million in September 2019 and then invested more than $110 million into the renovation of the property, including setting aside nearly $20 million for KRATE.

Leases start at $1,500 per month, aimed at luring in new entrepreneurs or local businesses to add a storefront. Mishorim Gold Properties likens the KRATE to Sparkman Wharf, located in downtown Tampa, but bigger, and quite possibly the largest container park in the world.

Shops and restaurants already open at KRATE are The Fryroom, Budget Blinds, Brew Bar, Tasty Ramen, MaeBerry Co., Mojo Grill Latin Fusion, The Bacon Boss, TJ’s Hot Dogs, Katie Beth’s Boutique, Shake-A-Salad, Provisions Coffee and Kitchen, The Rebellious Hippie and more.

To find out the latest, check Facebook.com/GroveAtWesleyChapel and Instagram: @groveatwesleychapel.

KRATE at the Grove Grand Opening
Where: 5817 Wesley Grove Blvd., Wesley Chapel
When: June 4, starting at 10 a.m.
Details: An all-day grand opening event for the container shopping area at the Grove at Wesley Chapel, featuring live music, family friendly fun, food, beverages, art walls, unique programming and entertainment.
Info: To RSVP (not required), visit KrateAtGrove.com/grand-opening-rsvp. For more information, visit KrateAtGrove.com.

Published June 01, 2022

Updated June 03, 2022.

Wesley Chapel Boulevard widening projects are a step closer

May 24, 2022 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission has approved a state-funded incentive grant agreement with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) relating to the construction of a portion of Wesley Chapel Boulevard.

The board took the action at its May 17 meeting, with no discussion, as part of its consent agenda. The consent agenda includes several items that are approved in a single action.

The agreement with FDOT covers a stretch of the road, from north of State Road 54/State Road 56 to north of Magnolia Boulevard.

By way of background, the county board approved an incentive program agreement with FDOT on May 23, 2017, relating to acquiring right of way for the project. The estimated right of way cost for the project is $11.7 million, with FDOT contributing about $5.9 million.

The construction cost for the project is estimated at about $36.4 million, with FDOT agreeing to fund slightly more than $5.7 million, according to information in the board’s agenda packet.

The overall project includes a six-lane urban typical section roadway, with a sidewalk, bicycle lanes, a multi-use path, lighting, and new signals at the intersections of Wesley Chapel Boulevard (also known as County Road 54) and Stagecoach Village Boulevard; and, Grand Oaks Boulevard and Compark Drive. (The signals at Grand Oaks already have been installed.)

Right of way acquisition is expected to be completed in the winter of 2022/2023. Construction is scheduled to begin in the Fall of 2023 and to be completed by Summer of 2025.

In another action at the May 17 meeting, the county board approved the state-funded grant agreement with FDOT for the construction of Wesley Chapel Boulevard, from north of Magnolia Boulevard to north of Old Pasco Road.

The project includes two new lanes in a 48-foot median to tie into the existing six lanes to the east and proposed six lanes to the south. Most of the lanes will be 12-feet wide, with some sections having 11-foot lanes. Traffic signal adjustments will be made to accommodate the new

six lanes, with new striping and pavement markings.

The project’s estimated cost is slightly more than $1.1 million, of which FDOT has agreed to fund about $569,400.

Construction is scheduled to begin in February 2023 and be completed by July 2025, according to agenda backup materials.

Published May 25, 2022

There’s more than books to check out at New River Branch Library

May 24, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Patrons at the New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54, can enjoy a free visual arts display — courtesy of the Zephyrhills Art Club.

The library has partnered with the art club, and the club’s president Joann Weatherbee curates the display, according to Danielle Lee, branch manager of the New River Branch Library.

Alla Prima Donna, by artist Sally Yoder, is an 8-inch by 10-inch oil painting. (Courtesy of New River Branch Library)

This month’s exhibit features artist Sally Yoder.

That exhibition is slated to come down on May 25, but a new one, featuring the works of Joyce Owens, also of the Zephyrhills Art Club, will open on June 1.

A new artist or group of artists will be featured each month.

Even though the Yoder exhibit is expected to come down this week, Lee shared information from Facebook, regarding the artist.

“Sally Yoder is an oil, acrylic and watercolor painter whose portraits, plein air works and boldly colored, large studio pieces offer surprising interpretations of the everyday ordinary.

“Having studied mostly oil painting classical realism, Sally ‘began to wonder why I’m copying great photos. So tight, and no creativity! Through happenstance, I realized old, black and white photos lend themselves to creative interpretation. So, I asked friends to send me fun, old pics I could try to paint. The watercolor of my friend Deb is a happy result of this practice.’”

Lee also shared information about accolades Yoder has received.

Those honors include: second place for a Myakka River watercolor at Zephyrhills Art Club’s 2017 annual show; wins in several categories at the monthly Venice Art Experience; first place in oil and acrylic at the North Tampa Arts League’s 2018 annual show with a Hillsborough River scene, and honorable mention for a Rembrandt inspired self-portrait at North Tampa Arts League’s 2019 show.

Yoder co-owns the Million Souls Mine and recently added lapidary arts to her creative repertoire. For more information, visit MillionSoulsMine.com.

Published May 25, 2022

This painting, called Preening, is a 12-inch by 16-inch oil, by artist Sally Yoder.

This oil painting, called Morris Bridge Plein Air, is an 11-inch by 14-inch oil, by artist Sally Yoder.

This painting, called Elephant’s Bath Time, is a 30-inch by 30-inch oil, by Sally Yoder.

Ms. Staney retires for a second time, this time at 75

May 17, 2022 By Mike Camunas

As staff members arrive at Sand Pine Elementary each day, they know one thing for certain: Corey Staney already will be there.

The 75-year-old second-grade teacher is first to arrive in the morning and the last to leave at the end of the day.

“Her work ethic — it’s legendary,” said Shay Peck, a fellow second-grade teacher.

Ms. Staney is also known for her warmth.

Sand Pine Elementary second-grade teacher Corey Staney, 75, speaks to her classroom about proper grammar and elements of an article during a lesson. Stanley has been an educator for 53 years, has been at Sand Pine since 2007, and plans to retire at the end of the 2021-2022 school year. (Mike Camunas)

“When I first started here (at Sand Pine), I was 25 and she was so welcoming,” Peck said. “She taught me to be kind, always.”

Staney’s presence is comforting, too.

“Every school needs a grandma,” Peck said, jokingly, but also lovingly.

Ms. Staney has been a teacher for 53 years, spending the last 15 at the elementary school tucked inside the Meadow Pointe Community.

Her career as an educator may be coming to an end, but she expects to return again.

Well, in a way.

“Oh, she’s already figured out when she can come back — about a year after retiring — to volunteer,” Sand Pine Principal Christina Twardosz said.

Ms. Staney is invested.

The principal said Ms. Staney is the first to say: “‘They (the kids) need us. I need to be here.

“And she is always here. She’s never sick — basically perfect attendance, but she’s also always there for the kids, academically and emotionally,” Twardosz said.

The principal added: “I mean, she’s been teaching longer than I have been here — not (just) at the school — (but) alive in this world!”

The teacher’s colleague, Nathan Moore, said: “People her age, they’d be out on an island or living it up, but she loves what she does.

“You don’t replace Ms. Staney.

“What’s awesome about her is that she cares about her students like no one I’ve ever seen,” Moore said. “She always has her kids on her mind. That’s her passion to not only help them academically, but as a person — to see them grow to their fullest potential.

“To have her as a mentor, it’s been amazing,” he added.

Ms. Staney began teaching, alongside her husband, Joe — a former teacher and assistant principal — in Worcester, Massachusetts.

They met at Worcester State University, formerly Worcester State College, at a time when Ms. Staney was certain she’d be a teacher for life.

But then she had some second thoughts.

“When I was a sophomore, I said to my dad that I didn’t know if I wanted to be a teacher.

“I even left school.

Longtime elementary school educator Corey Staney, left, speaks with Sand Pine Elementary Principal Christina Twardosz. Staney is 75 years old and has been an educator for 53 years. She plans to retire at the end of this school year.

“I went to work for an insurance company and knew right away that wasn’t for me.

“I knew I wanted to be a teacher for sure, so I went back to school, right away, and have been at school ever since.”

After spending 36 years as a teacher in Massachusetts, Ms. Staney and her husband decided in 2005 that they wanted to retire early and move to Florida. The couple had two children and three grandchildren.

The retirement, however, was short-lived.

After being in Florida for just two weeks down here, her husband required quadruple bypass surgery and then an angioplasty soon after.

Ms. Staney had help from her daughter, Lisa, to care for her husband, but she needed to find work and needed medical coverage for her husband.

She tutored in the neighborhood and did the same thing at the nearby Kids ‘R’ Kids Learning Academy of Meadow Pointe.

That turned into a preschool teaching position and then she joined Sand Pine as a second-grade teacher.

Over the years, she’s touched thousands of lives, and has even kept in touch with some of them.

Students in her class speak highly of Ms. Staney.

“She’s a perfect teacher,” 8-year-old Kaylanis Rodriguez said. “She’s nice and she always makes us learn new things that we always love to learn about.”

“She has a lot of stories,” added 8-year-old Evan Kalojiannis. “I didn’t know she had been a teacher for so long, but she has a lot of funny stories that help us learn.”

Saying goodbye is never easy, Ms. Staney said, adding it will be especially difficult this year.

Teaching children has been such a source of joy for her.

“They’ll just make your whole day,” said Ms. Staney, flashing a broad smile.

“It’s worth it to get up and see the kids first thing in the morning. I loved every minute of it.”

Published May 18, 2022

New River Branch Library celebrates its revival

May 3, 2022 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Artwork adorned the walls of the main lobby.

A butterfly release was held outdoors.

This sign helps guide visitors to New River Branch Library and its Discovery Gardens, at 34043 State Road 54, in Wesley Chapel, near Zephyrhills. The library has been updated through an extensive renovation. (Fred Bellet)

Speakers addressed the crowd, and people toured the building and grounds, as the New River Branch Library, at 34043 State Road 54, celebrated its rededication.

The $2.8 million project — including design, construction, furnishings, technology and associated expenses — is one of seven library renovation projects being completed through General Obligation bonds approved by voters in 2018.

From the outside, New River’s red brick building, constructed in 1991, looks much the same.

But now, the Discovery Gardens is on the east side of the building, and additional trees and flowering plants on the library’s campus give the property a fresh, new look.

Indoors, the library space is brighter and more open. The update includes new flooring, restrooms, seating and technology.

The space has been reconfigured to provide more opportunities for public use.

There’s a children’s room, a teen room, study rooms, a community room and other spaces designed to meet various needs.

This library is far more than just a place to read and check out books.

It’s a place where adults gather to do chair yoga, crochet or knit; children gather for story time; and, people of all ages garden and take advantage of the library’s many other offerings.

Published May 04, 2022