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Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Teachers bring dream to life at Montessori school in Dade City

March 21, 2023 By B.C. Manion

Kameeka Shirley and LaTania Scott were chatting over lunch one day when the teachers came to a realization that changed their lives.

“We were just talking about what we wanted for our children and what we wanted for ourselves,” Scott said.

Scott told Shirley: “I want to start a school.”

Shirley responded: “Me, too.”

“That’s literally how it started,” Scott said.

Kameeka Shirley, left and LaTania Scott, are co-founders of Blazing Stars Montessori School in Dade City. Both women are entirely sold on the educational approach and wanted to bring it to Dade City. (B.C. Manion)

At the time, they were teachers at a public Montessori charter school.

Now, they are running Blazing Stars Montessori School, at 12212 Fort King Road, in Dade City.

The school, which opened on Jan. 9, operates out of a 2,400-square-foot building that was previously occupied by a daycare.

It now serves 10 children, including two in after-care. The school continues to enroll students for this year and has begun accepting applications for the coming school year.

The school is affiliated with Wildflower Schools, a network established in Massachusetts, which helps teachers found and run micro-schools.

Blazing Stars is one of two Wildflower Schools in Florida, but there are hubs in other parts of the country, as well, Shirley said.

At the moment they are part of a hub made up of schools which don’t have any other Wildflower Schools nearby. But once more spring up in the area, they’ll form their own hub.

Scott noted: “Wildflower Schools are schools started by teachers, ran by teachers. So we are the admin, sometimes the cleaning crew. We are also the teachers, and our children attend.”

Blazing Stars’ enrollment includes Shirley’s 4-year-old son Kaden, and Scott’s 6-year-old son Maxwell and 4-year-old son Clayton.

The teachers wanted to launch the school for their personal happiness and for the happiness of their children, they said.

Both teachers are totally sold on the value of the Montessori approach to learning.

“I am just a pure Montessorian. I have never taught anything but Montessori,” said Scott, who has taught using that approach for 18 years. She also trains other teachers in the Montessori method.

Blazing Stars Montessori School is a private school that has brought the Montessori method of education to Dade City.

She’s excited about teaching in a small setting.

“I’m looking forward to being able to do Montessori, without any of the red-tape,” Scott said.

Shirley noted: “We will only ever be a two-classroom school.”

The school’s capacity if 47, and if it ever adds a higher level,  it would branch off to another location.

The idea is to keep the numbers low enough to provide a highly personalized education.

Blazing Stars begins working with children at age 3, but Shirley emphasized it is a school, not a daycare.

Its primary level serves children ages 3 through 6 and its lower elementary level serves children in ages 6 through 9.

Montessori instruction is not like a traditional school.

In a traditional setting, children sit at desks. At Blazing Stars, they move around, from room to room, picking up physical objects to help them understand abstract concepts.

The same materials can be used at various stages of learning, to build on understanding and help convey different lessons.

The hands-on approach provides a sensorial-based experience.

For instance, when a child is learning the difference between short and long, he can see and touch materials of different lengths.

Strings of beads, which can be easily counted, are used to teach mathematics.

The level of sophistication changes, as children progress through the system.

Cheyenne Chandler works with her child, Elliana, during a recent visit at Blazing Stars Montessori School, in Dade City. (Courtesy of Roda Routes Photography)

It’s a system of education that allows children who learn quickly to advance, while granting more time for students who need it.

“Montessori is the place where no child is left behind because every child works at their (own) pace,” Scott said.

Besides doing work indoors, the teachers think the children benefit from being out in nature and plan to use a sensory garden to help them learn.

Shirley said the lessons go beyond mere academics.

“We want to build an intentionally diverse community. We want students to know how to interact with many different kinds of people, with different ideas. 

“How do you respectfully disagree? How do you advocate for your needs, in a way that others can understand?”

“We want children to learn how to graciously be a part of our community,” Shirley said.

Scott emphasized the importance of being connected to the community.

“We want everybody to understand that we are part of the community and we want the community to be part of what we are doing here to help grow our children,” she said.

Montessori typically has been associated with high-income families, but both Shirley and Scott said Blazing Stars intends to help families who are interested in having their children enroll in the school, to explore all of their options.

They don’t want families to foreclose on the possibility of this type of education.

“Our equity principle is very important to us, that we make Montessori accessible to all families,” Shirley said.

Scott put it this way: “Montessori is not for the elite. It’s for everyone. It’s not just for those that can afford it.”

Learn more about Blazing Stars Montessori School
Open House: March 25, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Information Session: 11 a.m. to noon
Where: 12212 Fort King Road, in Dade City

Published March 22, 2023

 

City of Zephyrhills revamps website, making it more user-friendly

March 21, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

The City of Zephyrhills is continuing efforts to rebrand itself, and at the same time, it’s working to use advanced technology to streamline day-to-day operations and improve communications.

It will soon unveil a new city motto, logo, color scheme and other changes.

While that work is continuing, it also has redesigned its website.

Notable updates to the website include:

  • Specialized landing pages for the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency and its police, public works and human resources departments.
  • Updated content, throughout the redesign
  • Easier navigation
  • More appealing visuals
The City of Zephyrhills unveiled its redesigned website on March 20, making it easier to navigate for users. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

Elements of the website will change after the launch of the city’s rebrand.

The city also plans to install parks and recreation software, CivicRec, which will allow citizens to make reservations online at any time for Alice Hall Community Center, the Train Depot, cemetery plots, parks and recreational facilities, and so on.

The software is intended to ease the workload of the City Clerk, while at the same time giving citizens flexibility. In other words, reservations won’t be limited to in-person visits to City Hall, on Monday through Friday.

The web address has not changed and still be accessed at ci.zephyrhills.fl.us.

Published March 22, 2023

Local author fair helps boost literacy awareness

March 21, 2023 By Mike Camunas

It was a look at local books.

When the Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum had its inaugural Local Author Fair on March 11, it provided a place for writers to show off and sell their books, connect with readers and to promote literacy.

Steve Altier, from Valrico, smiles as he talks about some of his books, such as ‘Lizardville’ and ‘The Ghost Hunter’ series during the Local Author Fair at the Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum on March 11. (Mike Camunas)

For all the festivals and events that are held throughout town during the year, there wasn’t one focusing solely on reading.

Until now.

“We just noticed there was a need for it in this community — we noticed that this town has a lot of festivals and family friendly events, but nothing for literacy,” said Museum Volunteer Director Jayde Archbold, who organized the author fair. “But it worked out great, and I think people are having a great time, so, yeah, we’re going to want it to be a yearly thing now.”

The event was held in the old Atlantic Coastline Train Depot, which is the museum’s home.

Janet Watson, of Wesley Chapel, autographs her book for a fan and customer at the Local Author Fair at the Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum on March 11. The inaugural event hosted more than 25 local authors from Pasco County, but also as far as from Brandon to Sarasota to Hernando County. The event gave authors the opportunity to promote themselves, their books and reading.

More than 25 authors — from Pasco, Hillsborough, Pinellas and Polk counties — were there to display books they’ve written and to sell them, discuss them and even do readings from them.

“We didn’t have a specific geographic area that we targeted authors, just a general area near to Dade City,” Archbold said. “We were just happy that when we put it out there, promoting it for authors to sign up, that we had such a great response that we had to stop because of our limited space. We accepted as many (authors) as we could, but we might need a bigger space — or maybe do it outside next year.”

The event was sponsored by Dade City booksellers, Lighthouse Books and The Book Shack, as well as American Pizza Oven.

Local authors in attendance included Janet Watson and J.L. LaPointe.

Shelby Mander, a Dade City native and teacher at nearby Centennial Elementary, was there, too, promoting her children’s book, “Petunia the Piccolo Player.” It tells the story of a musical elephant, Petunia Pachyderm, and her journey to make it to a big show.

Shelby Mander, a Dade City native and elementary school teacher, wrote her children’s book, ‘Petunia The Piccolo Player’ and promoted it at the Local Author Fair at the Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum on March 11.

“I think (the fair) is the little push I need to start getting sales of my book,” Mander said. “This was a great way to meet other authors and see their works, see their set up and see how they do it, too.

“It’s been a great turnout from authors and from potential readers,” she added. “And I’ve really enjoyed hearing the stories, too. Not just hearing authors read excerpts from their books, but their stories about what they went through to get published, from beginning to end, to get their books made.”

Archbold is a librarian at Starkey Ranch Theatre Library Cultural Center in Odessa and has worked for Pasco County Libraries for five years. For her, the event is about bringing literacy and local author awareness to Dade City, as well as the rest of Pasco County.

“There are local authors out there, making waves with their books, so we want to promote them,” she said. I think people underestimate the value of libraries to the community, or think that libraries are just for children now. Libraries, and this (fair), bring together local authors to show people what is out there, that people in the community, maybe even their neighbors, are out here writing, reading and promoting books that are good.

“People need to know who is around them that is contributing positive things in their community, so they can support them,” she added. “It’s always, ‘Support your local business, support your local artist, support your local events in the community.’

“So why not support your local authors, too?”

Published March 22, 2023

R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates Black History and diversity

March 14, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The faculty and staff at R.B. Cox Elementary celebrates diversity throughout the school year.

“Our population of the community we serve here is very diverse,” Principal Kimberly Natal said. “Most of our students are Hispanic and African American, so it’s important to the community and it’s important to celebrate that diversity we have here at R.B. Cox and our community we serve.

“So, through committees, we plan this every year — we have a Hispanic Heritage and Black History celebration every year.”

The school held a Black Heritage Celebration on March 3, complete with educational and entertaining performances, readings and presentations.

Angela Theodore, from Hugh Embry Library in Dade City, tells the story ‘Anansi Does the Impossible!’ on March 3 during Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary in Dade City. Students, families and community members attended the event to watch presentations and performances about Black Heritage and to see part of the Rosewood Traveling Museum. (Mike Camunas)

It ended with a traditional soul food dinner. 

“We celebrate diversity a lot at this school,” said secretary Monica Russ, who heads up the Black History Month Committee at the school. “At R.B. Cox, this is one of the times we do that, where we invite everyone out to come join and celebrate and learn about Black history and diversity.

“And everyone is welcome.”

Faces in the crowd proved that people of all races came together for the celebration — a fact that pleased the R.B. Cox event organizers.

“We have Black families, Hispanic families, even some white families and part of our police department is here, too,” Russ said. “Anyone that just wants to come out and be a part of us and part of this community — and we’re very pleased with how it turned out. Whenever you can get parents in the doors with kids and they learn something, come together as a community and enjoy time together, we’ll take it.

“The free soul food was a great draw, too,” she said, with a laugh.

The Rosewood Traveling Museum was a new highlight this year.

The Black Heritage Celebration, on March 3 at R.B. Cox Elementary, attracted a diverse crowd to enjoy educational and entertaining performances, as well as a soul food dinner.

The museum, and its foundation, is dedicated to remembering the town of Rosewood, which, in January 1923, underwent a racially motivated massacre of Black people and the destruction of the Black town in Levy County, Florida.

At least six Black people were killed, but eyewitness accounts suggested a death toll of 27 to 150.

The museum had about 10% of its collection on display, but the exhibit will be available to see at Pioneer Florida Museum & Village starting on Juneteenth (June 19).

Representatives from the Rosewood Family were on hand at R.B. Cox to tell about the museum and its causes and share some history of the massacre. Its choir also performed.

Harriet Clemons dances to music performed by the Rosewood Choir on March 3, during a Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary, in Dade City.

“I’m connected to the (Rosewood) group through marriage,” Russ said. “It touched my family, so that’s what I think about when I think about Black History. … (Rosewood) is honoring 100 years, so (when) given the opportunity for them to come and share it with us, I jumped at it.

“Because I think it’s a great way to let people know who aren’t aware of that history, and we want to share our history,” she said.

Natal said she was pleased with the turnout, and the message for honoring “Bridge Builders, Obstacle Movers, World Changers” at the celebration. She also said the Black Heritage event, and the Hispanic Heritage one the school held in the fall, were the first ones held, post-COVID restrictions. 

She said it was uplifting to see the enthusiasm for the event’s return — from both staff and students.

“This year, we wanted to do it big since we hadn’t done it in a while,” Natal said. “It was a real grassroots effort from the staff to really bring in the community and celebrate the culture, and I think we’ll see even more people next time,” she said.

It’s important, the principal said, “for the kids to celebrate their heritages.”

Remember Rosewood – Centennial: 100 Years of History
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road, Dade City
When: Starting June 19
Details: The Rosewood Traveling Museum will be on display at Pioneer Village starting the week of Juneteenth (June 19), at no charge.
The Rosewood Museum is dedicated to remembering the town of Rosewood, which, in January 1923, underwent a racially motivated massacre of black people and the destruction of the black town in Levy County, Florida. At least six black people were killed, but eyewitness accounts have suggested a death toll of 27 to 150.
Info: Visit RememberingRosewood.com or PioneerFloridaMuseum.org.

Published March 15, 2023

Jada McClendon, of Dade City, performs on the drums on March 3, during a musical number at the Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary.
The Rosewood Choir performed on March 3, during the Black Heritage Celebration at R.B. Cox Elementary, in Dade City.
R.B. Cox Elementary staff members wore shirts emphasizing such ideals as empowerment, education, inspiration and celebration, during the school’s Black Heritage Celebration on March 3.

Founder’s Day not lost, returns after two-year hiatus

March 14, 2023 By Mike Camunas

It’s been more than two years, but the Annual Founder’s Day Festival, Celebration and Parade returned to historic downtown Zephyrhills on March 4, ushering in some changes, but ones that were greatly welcomed.

The 112th edition of Founder’s Day Festival kicked off on March 4, returning after a two-year hiatus due to COVID and scheduling conflicts. Dozens of vendors set up shop, up and down Main Street in historic downtown Zephyrhills, with a handful of booths dedicated to the three mayoral candidates and two more for the city council seat up for election on April 11. (Mike Camunas)

For starters, the parade and festivities, which were canceled last May due to weather and held off in 2021 due to COVID, returned, not only in a big way, but at a time change.

While there were activities all day long throughout Zephyrhills, dozens of vendors set up at 4 p.m. to welcome residents and shoppers up and down Main Street. Included in those were booths dedicated to the two running for the City Council Seat 2, up for election on April 11. Incumbent Alan Knight had a booth and was shaking hands, while his challenger, Steve Spina — a former Zephyrhills City Manager — also had a booth.

The three mayoral candidates — Nick Deford, Melanie Bahr Monson and Martin Harm — vying for the position relinquished by exiting mayor, Gene Whitfield, also had booths and greeted potential voters through the late afternoon and evening.

The parade, also returning, was pushed into the evening, a departure from years past when it was held in the early afternoon.

Main Street Zephyrhills Director Erin Beasley said moving the parade to the evening was a change welcomed by most.

Although the attendance was not as large as in previous years, the parade will remain in the evening and the festival will add more things, she said.

Those could include adding ”a 5K or getting booths and other exhibits to the other historical sites around town,” Beasley said. “It’s special, it’s a community and it’s the hometown experience. People come out and they value where they live.”

Parade judges Madonna Wise, Erica Freeman and Amanda Eskelund picked the winner of this year’s parade, with Kids Corner winning Best of Show. Rounding out the other parade awards were Zephyrhills High School Marching Band for Best Walking Unit; Zephyrhills Little League, Best Costume; Zephyrhills Sanitation and Utilities, Best Vehicles; Zephyr Airport Cadet Squadron of the Florida Wing, Civil Air Patrol, Best Club; and West Zephyrhills Elementary won Best Theme.

Candidates vying in the municipal election also took part in the parade, on car or truck floats, tossing beads and other trinkets. Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley was there, too.

AdventHealth, Shireman Pest Control, Red Feather Home Group, the City of Zephyrhills and Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency sponsored the event.

Published March 15, 2023

A Zephyrhills couple dances at the Clock Plaza in historic downtown on Fifth Avenue, to the sounds of the Time Travelers during the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration on March 4. Festivities ran all day, with vendors up and down Main Street and a parade later in the evening.
The color guard team of the Zephyrhills High Marching Band leads the way down Main Street during the Founder’s Day Celebration Parade on the evening of March 4.
Sandra Vogelpohl, a member of the Daughters of Union Veterans of the Civil War, has a good laugh while in full costume prior to the Founder’s Day Festival Parade.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Steve Spina rides in a car float to promote his bid for the Zephyrhills City Council Seat 2, which he is challenging Alan Knight for in the municipal elections being held April 11.
The Zephyrhills High Marching Band made its way down Fifth Avenue, playing music and performing with its color guard unit during the 112th Founder’s Day Festival Parade on March 4.
Andres Mujica, of Tampa, sends a big shot during a life-sized game of beer pong outside of A.O.K. arcade on Fifth Street in historic downtown Zephyrhills during the Founder’s Day Festival on March 4.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zephyrhills resident Josh Larramore dances with his daughter, Bellamie, while listening to the Time Travelers during the 112th Founder’s Day Festival on March 4.
A Zephyrhills couple dances at the Clock Plaza in historic downtown on Fifth Avenue, to the sounds of the Time Travelers during the Annual Founder’s Day Celebration on March 4. Festivities ran all day, with vendors up and down Main Street and a parade later in the evening.
Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer tosses beads to spectators while walking in the Founder’s Day Festival Parade on March 4.

All’s fair — with animals, rides and food

February 28, 2023 By Mike Camunas

The 76th annual Pasco County Fair lived up to its theme this year.

It gave everyone who attended “Something to Crow About.”

The event, which ran from Feb. 20 through Feb. 26, also gave fair-goers of all ages plenty to talk about, too.

The 76th Annual Pasco County Fair, which ran from Feb. 20 to Feb. 26, boasted this year’s theme as ‘Something to Crow About,’ and featured a food vendor area, talent shows, vendor exhibitions, hypnotism shows, pig races, livestock competitions, and a midway that included several rides like a large Ferris wheel. (Mike Camunas)

At the annual Dade City fair, Big Rock Amusements brought its rides to the Midway.

They included Cobra Coaster, Flying Elephants, a Beach Buggy, the Giant Wheel, the Grand Carousel, Rip Tide, Air Flyer and Zero Gravity.

Monster truck rides on the Dade City Motocross were available, too.

Entertainment included Robinson’s Racing Pigs, Lew-E’s Comedy Circus, hypnotism acts and even a few trick dog shows. There was a short lawn mower race on Feb. 20, too.

There were plenty of exhibits, from art, photography and plants, plus competitions from talent shows, karaoke singing and even one for spaghetti eating.

Of course, as is the county fair’s tradition, there were dozens of livestock competitions, from cows, to hogs and chickens and more.

Food sales were brisk, too, with the eating area packed with fair-goers enjoying meat on a stick, pizza, gyros, doughnut burgers, funnel cakes, elephant ears and, of course, oversized corndogs.

Hosting fairs in Dade City dates back to 1915, but it wasn’t until 1947 that a group of local businessmen began to showcase the county’s resources.

On April 7, 1947, the Pasco County Fair Association Inc., was chartered with the purpose of hosting an annual fair to promote youth and other county resources, according to the association’s website.

The Fair Association has remained an independent, nonprofit organization since its founding. The association relies mostly on local community sponsorships, along with fair memberships, revenue from our guests, and rental income from the buildings housed on the fairgrounds. 

The Pasco County Fair Association Inc., currently has 1,538 members and continues going strong.

Published March 01, 2023

The Zero Gravity ride spins Pasco County Fair attendees around and around, in the hopes of throwing them off their equilibrium.
Dade City resident McClaine Hancock hungrily, and happily, enjoys an oversized corn dog in the food vendor area during the 76th Annual Pasco County Fair on Feb. 20.
Dade City mom Kristen Maggard is all smiles riding a carnival ride at the 76th Annual Pasco County Fair in Dade City, as her kids, from left, Easton, Grace and Cameron, also enjoy the whirlwind movements on the brisk evening in February.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A prize-winning rooster at the Pasco County Fair struts his stuff on Feb. 20.
A cow and her handler during the Pasco County Fair.
Hungry fair-goers filled the seating area to enjoy a variety of foods during the fair on Feb. 20.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Zephyrhills residents T.J. Smith, left, and Zayden Best share a laugh when going neck and neck during the lawn mowers races at the 76th Annual Pasco County Fair in Dade City.
Dade City residents Anna McIssac, left, and Jeylin Perez enjoy the rise into the sky as they prepare to be spun around by the Air Flyer ride at the 76th Annual Pasco County Fair on Feb. 20.
In Rip Tide, riders spin around, in a vertical and fun fashion.

Candidates vie in Zephyrhills’ elections

February 21, 2023 By Mike Camunas

Voters in Zephyrhills will choose a new mayor and will decide who should fill City Council Seat 2 in an April 11 election.

Three candidates are vying to be the city’s next mayor and incumbent W. Alan Knight is facing a challenge from Steve Spina, for Seat 2 council seat.

Zephyrhills residents will decide whether to retain incumbent City Council Seat 2 member Alan Knight or replace him with Steve Spina in the April 11 municipal election. Residents also will choose the 21st mayor in city history. (Mike Camunas)

Spina is the former city manager for the City of Zephyrhills. He retired from that role in 2019.

Knight is a longtime Zephyrhills resident and educator working mainly in Pasco county schools as a teacher, coach and administrator for 35 years. He is seeking re-election to city council following his first term on the board.

Residents also will decide who will replace Mayor Gene Whitfield, who announced in December that he would not seek a fourth term.

Candidates to become mayor are Nick Deford, Melonie Bahr Monson and Martin Harm.

Deford is the lead pastor at Zephyrhills First Church of the Nazarene and has been a resident of Zephyrhills for eight years. His ministry has worked with nonprofit organizations such as the Zephyrhills/Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association and the Samaritan Project, and is active with Meals on Wheels of Pasco.

Monson is a Zephyrhills native who stepped away from her role as the CEO of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce after eight years in September. She now works for her family business, Bahr’s Propane Gas and AC.

Harm is the treasurer for Main Street Zephyrhills and a national account manager for Sonitrol, an electronic commercial security system company.

The mayor position is largely ceremonial, with no voting power. The city council chooses a board president — in this case, Jodi Wilkeson — to run meetings. Lance Smith is the council’s vice president, while members Ken Burgess, Charles Proctor and Knight round out the council.

There also are eight proposed amendments to the city charter on the ballot. Most are minor changes to election procedures and financial reporting requirements, with the main one changing the term length of mayor and council members from three years to four years.

Published February 22, 2023

W. Alan Knight
Dr. Steve Spina
Melonie Monson
Martin Harm
Nick Deford

St. Leo approves town center to announce its identity

February 21, 2023 By Mike Camunas

It’s possible, in a blink of an eye, to drive through the town of St. Leo without even knowing it.

Town leaders are looking to change that.

They are planning to create a town center that will provide a shopping, entertainment, event and community district, on a site at the corner of State Road 52 and Lemon Street.

St. Leo’s Town Commission, led by Mayor Vincent D’Ambrosio, voted 5-0 on Feb. 14 to approve the building of a town center at the corner of State Road 52 and Lemon Road. (Mike Camunas)

Town leaders hope the new town center will help make St. Leo more of a destination rather than just a drive-thru town.

“This is about having a space that will give an identity to this town,” said St. Leo Mayor Vincent D’Ambrosio, who assumed that role in May 2022. “We just don’t have that now. This will change that and still honor everything this town is about.”

The St. Leo Town Commission voted 5-0 on Feb. 14 to move forward with building the town center in Pasco County’s oldest incorporated municipality.

During a community workshop, residents who attended, as well as the town commission — D’Ambrosio; Donna DeWitt, O.S.B.; James Hallett, O.S.B; Curtis Dwyer; and William Hamilton — were presented a Planned Unit Development from Twelfth Street Studio and Aurora Civil Engineering.

The architecture and design firm and engineering firm, respectively, laid out a very comprehensive concept plan that would feature shops and vendors, an entertainment area, an event area, recreational space and more.

The Town of St. Leo approved a plan to build a multi-faceted town center at the corner of State Road 52 and Lemon Road, less than a mile from the university that also bears its name. The town center, shown in this rendering, will feature restaurants and vendors, event and entertainment space, gardens and more, as a destination for not only residents, but tourists as well. (Courtesy of Town of St. Leo)

The town center would go on some unused land, but also take over property used by On Q Smokehouse Grill and A Cup of Organic, two businesses not only in support of the town center, but the first two confirmed tenants as vendors.

The next step is rezoning the town center property to be a Planned Unit Development.

Town Administrator and Clerk Andrea Calvert told the crowd of more than 120, including Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley, that the town center will be “a very big revenue generator.”

She also noted it is being funded by the recently extended Penny For Pasco tax, which passed in the local elections.

Calvert told The Laker/Lutz News there isn’t a town center project cost yet, but the town’s officials “can work on what needs to be included in the initial phase and what that cost will be, as well as pursuing grants and other funding opportunities.”

St. Leo Town Planner Tom Asburn agreed, saying the town center will give “St. Leo a new identity, while enhancing development, but also keeping the rural character we all love very much.”

The St. Leo Town Center will have a sloped sitting area facing a stage for entertainment. (Courtesy of Town of St. Leo)

The town center will include a history center and several gardens, each dedicated to a different part of St. Leo, such as the Abbey and the town’s founders.

Several details are still being worked out, such as an underground stormwater system for food and beverage vendors, overflow parking and enough sidewalks so Saint Leo University students can walk the less than a mile to the town center location.

The consulting two firms and St. Leo also are working with the Florida Department of Transportation to refigure the intersection of State Road 52, College Avenue and Pompanic Street. The plan is to reconstruct a now-complicated intersection into a more traffic-friendly roundabout.

The meeting was held in a boardroom at Saint Leo University’s Student Community Center to accommodate the crowd.

Despite the large attendance, there was very little, if any, opposition to the project.

In addition to town residents, several students were at the meeting, including some  representing Saint Leo University student government.

They spoke of “nothing being here (in St. Leo) but the university” and wanting the town to “be a town” and “be more than just a university and something to go visit and enjoy.”

Longtime area resident Betty Burke noted: “There is no meeting place for the community. As long as we can consider making it eco-friendly, like solar-powered, then it would be a great place where the people of St. Leo can meet.”

Others agreed, while saying it would give the town an identity, just like the commission wants.

“This is exciting,” resident Greg Smith said. “This will be the image of the town because a lot of people don’t know we even exist. This should be supported fully for the future of the town.”

Commissioners threw their support behind the plan to make St. Leo a place to stop and visit.

“We really did our homework here,” D’Ambrosio told the crowd. “We know that we can maintain the history and feel of St. Leo while still showing the greatness that we know we’re capable of. With a town center, we won’t be a drive-thru town anymore, but a destination that people will want to stop at. 

“And now, with this step, the journey to that begins.”

Published February 22, 2023

Valentine’s Day tradition continues

February 21, 2023 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Couples gathered on Valentine’s Day for a group wedding ceremony in the courtyard of the Historic Pasco County Courthouse. The event has become an annual tradition and has been going on for 15 years. (Courtesy of the Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller’s Office)

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles presided over a group wedding ceremony in a Valentine’s Day ceremony that has become an annual tradition.

This year, 18 couples exchanged their “I Do’s” — including 16 who were tying the knot for the first time and two who were renewing their vows, according to information from the clerk’s office.

The brief ceremony took place in the courtyard at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse, at 37918 Meridian Ave., in Dade City.

The tradition began in 2009, with a total of 261 couples, so far, taking advantage of the romantic day to profess their love and dedicate their lives to each other.

Guests were welcome and refreshments were provided.

The couples received a gift bag, a marriage packet, and a complimentary consultation and preparation of simple wills from McClain & Alfonso P.A.

 

Elected leaders say park needs are being felt across Pasco

February 14, 2023 By B.C. Manion

The need for additional recreational opportunities rang out loud and clear during a joint session of elected Pasco County leaders and those from municipalities on the east side of the county.

Zephyrhills Mayor Billy Poe noted: “We’ve seen such large growth on the east side of Pasco and the development of Pasadena Hills. The question has come up several times about the possibility of a regional park on the east side of Pasco, possibly along (U.S.) 301, so both Dade City and Zephyrhills benefit from it, (as well as) San Antonio and St. Leo.”

Pasco County Commissioner Seth Weightman said he’s interested in increasing aquatic opportunities — for competitive swimmers and for other swimmers, too.

Weightman said he’s talked to county staff about the issue, noting there’s no community pool east of U.S. 41, aside from the YMCA and St. Leo.

He said an aquatics center, which could accommodate competitive swimming, could benefit the county’s tourism efforts. But he also noted that it is important to provide an opportunity for people to learn how to swim.

One of the two swimming pools that Pasco County operates is at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, off Collier Parkway, in Land O’ Lakes. (File)

“Folks moving into our county — they need to know how to swim. It’s a quality of life and safety factor,” Weightman said.

The county board member said he fully supports “some kind of a recreational center with an aquatics component — a significant aquatics component.”

He also noted it might behoove the county and its cities to work together on creating an aquatics center, instead of developing competing facilities.

Keith Wiley, who oversees the Pasco County Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources department, said his team greatly desires addressing the aquatic needs on the east side of the county.

He noted there are plans to move forward with a super park in the Village of Pasadena Hills, which is in the Wesley Chapel area. 

Wiley said he plans to recommend that the super park become home to a community pool.

“I think it’s an outstanding opportunity to talk to the school board for the possibility of a partnership because (at) the two pools the county does operate, we see a lot of activity from the high school swim teams. And, I think, quite honestly, they have some skin in the game,” Wiley said.

He also told the elected leaders that Pasco’s parks department is working on a master plan to define a recreational trail system. 

“The idea is to really be high-level, to ultimately figure out what our trail system looks like,” he said. The planning will cover such things as prioritizing connections through greenways, near existing state and county-owned properties, and recognizing hubs of concern, he said.

This planning is separate from work being done to establish an alignment for the Orange Belt Trail.

On another note, the county parks department is teaming up with the City of Dade City on a feasibility study related to park facilities located in the areas of Lacoochee, Trilby, Villages of Pasadena, Naomi S. Jones Park, Burks Park, and the James Irvin Civic Center.

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter told the elected leaders: “The James Irvin Civic Center is located in Naomi Jones Park. It was built in the 1960s and has served its useful life. The city is currently partnering with the county. We’re conducting a feasibility study for park facilities in East Pasco County.

“One of the deliverables from the study will be a schematic design, with preliminary engineering and landscape planning for a new community center,” she said.

Porter also noted: “We would hope to continue our partnership with the county, providing the recreational services. Currently, the county offers the programming there, as well as with the Armory. We don’t have the staffing at the city level to do that.”

Dade City Commissioner Angel Woodard told those gathered: “I would just like to stress the importance of why we are trying to construct a new facility.

“When you have a building that’s been built in 1960 and one addition to that building took place in 1992 — and, it is not sufficient for the community.

“We don’t have anywhere on the east side of the county, on a cold night, to even up to bring our homeless in.

“We don’t have anywhere, on this side of the county, during the COVID crisis, to hold funerals.

“This is vitally important that we stand together to move forward to create a community center.

“One of the biggest things that I hear, over and over again, is ‘We have nowhere for our children to go.’

“And, that needs to change,” Woodard said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey mentioned that the community center project might be a good candidate for federal funding. She recommended that city officials look into that.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mariano suggested this could be something that the county and city worked on together.

Published February 15, 2023

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