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Wesley Chapel/New Tampa News

Pasco commissioners clash on apartment request

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A divided Pasco County Commission has continued a request for a conditional use that would allow a maximum of 248 apartments on the west side of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, south of Eagleston Boulevard.

Adventist Health Systems Sunbelt Healthcare Corporation submitted the request, but the hospital chain intends to sell the 16.24-acre site to an apartment developer.

The land currently is zoned for commercial uses.

Development of apartments is allowed in the commercial zoning district, but the applicant first must secure a conditional use permit from the county.

Debate on the request at the county board’s Jan. 12 meeting revealed that commissioners are not on the same page, when it comes to this request.

In a departure from routine, the hearing also included a fairly detailed refresher from Nectarios Pittos, the county’s director of planning and development, relating to the board’s directive on  future apartment development along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.

That directive does not apply to the property in question.

Still, Pittos went over many of the statistics relating to apartments that were included in the board’s workshop on apartments in February 2020.

The proposed apartment development would be built next the BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, which is expected to open in early 2023.

The new multifamily development features three four-story buildings, with a total of 248 units, according to Pete Pensa, a professional planner from AVID Group, representing the applicant. The site plan calls for active and passive recreation areas, the preservation of a significant amount of open space, and a connection to an existing multi-use trail on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

Pensa also noted that the current zoning would allow uses that would generate more traffic than the requested zoning would create.

Representatives from the future BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel and Blue Heron Senior Living, neighbors to the proposed apartment complex, both submitted letters of support for the project.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite, representing the apartment developer, noted that the proposed use meets the criteria in the comprehensive plan and land development code.

She also cited a recommendation of approval for the request from the Pasco County Planning Commission.

Commissioners Mike Moore and Jack Mariano, however, opposed the request.

Moore made a motion for denial, citing sections of the county’s land development code and land use plan that relate to economic development.

“The proposed conditional for multifamily will consume land and transportation capacity that the county must ensure is available for employment-generating land uses,” Moore said.

Mariano supported Moore’s motion.

The proposed development would be located directly on an arterial roadway, Mariano said, “with the connection that we have right there, it screams for something commercial — a job generator.”

Moore and Mariano weren’t the only ones opposed to the proposed apartments.

Seven emails in opposition were read into the record, and 17 other emails in opposition were received and filed.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey and Commission Chairman Ron Oakley, however, said the site seems suitable for apartments.

Starkey said the site is close to two transportation corridors and it also is within walking distance to nearby jobs.

While Moore has repeatedly complained that the area is oversaturated with apartments, Starkey disagreed with Moore’s position.

“I’m not sure this area is overbuilt for this price point. I think most of the housing around here is actually very expensive,” Starkey said.

Oakley said an apartment development on the site makes sense.

“I think the project fits,” Oakley said. “I don’t think the traffic would be a problem. I don’t think there’s going to be any issues with the schools. And, I think it fits in the neighborhood where it’s located. It’s a good project, as far as I’m concerned.”

Initially, when commissioners voted on Moore’s motion for denial, there was 2-2 split, with Commissioner Christina Fitzpatrick not voting.

She asked for greater clarification, and after receiving it, voted against Moore’s motion.

She said she agrees with the project because it will be next to the hospital, and within walking distance.

Next, Mariano moved for a 60-day continuance, which Moore seconded.

Fitzpatrick supported the continuance to give her time to thoroughly study the issue.

That motion passed on a 5-0 vote.

After the vote, Oakley said, “I feel like I’ve been in a workshop I shouldn’t have been in.”

Published January 20, 2021

Lower speed limit approved on South County Line Road

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The Pasco County Commission has approved reducing the speed limit on a stretch of South County Line Road, between Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and Mansfield Drive.

Commissioners approved spending $1,000 for new speed limit signs for the road.

Currently, the speed limit is 40 mph. The new limit will be 35 mph. The new speed limit takes effect when the new signs are installed.

The action follows a review of three years of crash data and observations of pedestrian crossings on the street.

Transportation experts believe the lower speed limit should minimize run-off-the-road crashes, and will improve pedestrian safety, according to background materials in the Jan. 12 agenda packet.

Published January 20, 2021

A festive trail leads to surprises

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Frosty the Snowman, known as Collin Stewart, 14, of Wesley Chapel, came to life and waved at children as they stopped for stocking goodies from Budget Blinds. Colton Mays, 6, and his mom, Jenafer Mays, were among the hundreds that attended the Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru event, hosted by Wesley Chapel Rotary. (Fred Bellet)

The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel sponsored a Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru event on Dec. 20, at Wesley Chapel District Park on Boyette Road.

Families were encouraged to wear their pajamas and bring their stockings to drive through a trail of vendor tents, and a sudsy blizzard.

The dreary weather didn’t stop an estimated 400 cars (approximately 1,200 people) from cruising through the line, for kids to have their stockings filled with goodies.

Frosty the Snowman made an appearance, and drive-thru pictures with Santa were offered, too.

A portion of the donations support the Wesley Chapel Rotary Club’s sponsorship of foster children, as well as the Underdog Fund and local scholarships.

Fifteen-year-old, Elias Deoliveira, of Plant City; Daniece Croy, 13, of Zephyrhills; and Darrion Croy, 11, of Seffner, ride in the tailgate of the family car while inspecting their stocking contents.
Members of the all-female krewe, Sirens of the Golden Sabre, were on hand for the Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru. The group usually can be seen each year in the USF Homecoming Parade, the City of Tampa’s Santa Fest Parade, Children’s Gasparilla Extravaganza Parade, Gasparilla Piratefest Parade of Pirates, Sant’ Yago Knight Parade, Rough Rider’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade and the Tampa Pride Parade. They say their main goal is to assist in charitable endeavors.
From the Culver’s vendor tent, Connor Zuba, of Tampa, fills the stockings of 4-year old Jeremiah Gaghan and 10-year-old Kaleb Gaghan. The children were there with their parents, Dawn and Peter Perez, of Wesley Chapel.
Cathy Dileo, of Dileo Design and Staging in Wesley Chapel, wore a unique mask at the Stock Your Stuffing Drive Thru. Dileo said she bought the mask locally.
Four year-old, Joseph Fonseca, 4, was no different than many of the other kids who collected goodies while waiting in the car window. Joseph and his dad, Joseph Fonseca, from Wesley Chapel, were among the many that attended the Stuff Your Stocking Drive Thru event, hosted by Wesley Chapel Rotary.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

As challenges mount, an EQ coach offers advice

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If ever there was a year when suggestions from an emotional intelligence coach might come in handy, 2020 would be it.

It’s not every year, after all, that a global pandemic causes a public health crisis that triggers an economic meltdown — resulting in millions out of work and long food lines.

Marisa Massone is a life coach from Wesley Chapel who specializes in helping people build their emotional intelligence skills. (Courtesy of Marisa Massone)

Add to that the changes required for regular routines of life, such as school and church. Plus, the weddings, graduations, milestone events, funerals and even birthday parties that have been postponed, or scaled back.

On top of all that, the 2020 presidential election came at a time when the country is arguably experiencing the most bitter partisan divide in its history.

The pressures are enormous.

So, The Laker/Lutz News turned to Marisa Massone, a life coach based in Wesley Chapel, to ask for her guidance to help people navigate the holidays, to keep hope alive in a job search and look forward to new possibilities in 2021.

We asked her advice on some specific topics, and offer her responses, which have been condensed:

How can people who are socially isolating during the holidays make the best of the situation?
Write some old-fashioned letters to family and friends.

Share what  you’re going through, how you are dealing with the situation and how you feel about it.

Mail the letters out, with your holiday cards.

Expressing your feelings will help release your frustrations and anxiety, and sharing those with loved ones will help decrease the pain. And, the responses you receive will help, too.

Some people will have gatherings, can you offer some approaches to calm a conversation heading toward a shouting match?
First things first, try to make sure such conversations aren’t fueled by alcohol.

When emotions begin to heighten, try shifting the conversation to a mutually beneficial, or mutually engaging topic.

If that approach doesn’t work, suggest that you agree to disagree and move on to another topic.

What are some strategies for dealing with the stress of being out of work?
Accept the now.

Ask yourself:  What exactly can I be doing to be of purpose to other people.

Embrace the time you have: More time to be with family; more time to be more creative.

Also, as you search for jobs on the internet, don’t sit there all day. Search for a few hours a day, then get away from the computer — go for a walk or do some kind of exercise.

Take a break.

What if you’re struggling financially?
Ask for help.

Check Florida’s unemployment site and you’ll find links to a variety of sources for all sorts of help.

Check with local charitable organizations to find out about food pantries, clothes closets and other resources. (Local governments also are providing assistance, so it’s worth checking that out, too).

Any strategies for making New Year resolutions?
If you plan to make them, be realistic. Make the resolutions achievable.

If you would like to know more about Massone’s services, email her at , call 813-690-1759, or visit her website at MarisaMassone.com.

Tips for building emotional intelligence skills

  • Accept your emotions, embrace your emotions. Don’t try to squash them. Acknowledge the way you feel.
  • Once you assess how you are feeling, you can move forward with solutions — if something is bothering you.
  • Do some reality testing. Ask yourself: What is true? Write it down. It’s easy to start imagining things that could go wrong in a situation that hasn’t started yet. Avoid making yourself crazy, emotionally. Don’t project into the future. When you do that, you’re asking for fear and anxiety.
  • Emotional intelligence means being able to find solutions to problems, when emotions are involved. One example, for instance, is moving. It’s a transitional time that’s often stressful and emotional. To help reduce the stress, do some research to take care of the logistics, such as researching costs for new housing, lining up a truck and taking care of other details.
  • Curb impulsive behavior. Pause. Resist or delay acting on impulses.

Excerpts from a talk by Marisa Massone during a Women of Wesley Chapel Trinity and Odessa (WOW-TOO) ZOOM meeting in October. WOW-TOO is affiliated with the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Design funding granted for Seven Oaks library

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Pasco County has allocated $1 million for design work for a new public library near Seven Oaks Elementary School.

Commissioners approved the allocation as part of the board’s consent agenda — meaning it was approved along with a number of other items without discussion.

Libraries play an important role in community life, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore says. Pasco County last week allocated $1 million for design work on a new public library next to Seven Oaks Elementary School, in Wesley Chapel. (File)

During a later part of the meeting, Commissioner Mike Moore who advocated for building a public library near Seven Oaks Elementary School, thanked his colleagues for approving the funding.

“We were able to use some of those excess funds that were returned by the tax collector’s office to provide this first round of funding,” Moore said.

The county has owned the library site, next to Seven Oaks Elementary at 27633 Mystic Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, since 2004.

The area is the highest growth area in Pasco County, he said. “The citizens will be very, very happy with that addition.”

Moore recounted how important libraries were to him, during his growing up years, and the important role they play in community life.

People can come in to read, to access the internet, use Makerspaces and take advantage of various programs that libraries offer, Moore said, during a previous interview with The Laker/Lutz News.

Moore initially raised the possibility of finding funding for the library during board discussions of the budget for fiscal year 2021.

At that time, he acknowledged the county didn’t have available funding, but he wanted to get the ball rolling.

The $1 million allocation is a step in that direction.

Published December 16, 2020

BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel is taking shape

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A ceremonial groundbreaking was held last week for the new BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel, under construction at 4501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

The Dec. 2 event was dubbed “ceremonial” —  because crews already are working hard to build the 318,000-square-foot facility that is scheduled to open in early 2023.

While the sounds of construction work served as a backdrop, officials offered remarks about the project. It is being built on land the hospital chain acquired in 2008.

This rendering shows what BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel will look like when it opens in 2023. (Courtesy of BayCare)

Mindful that the “groundbreaking” milestone was being celebrated during the midst of the COVID-19 global pandemic, the gathering was kept small. Guests, were bundled up because of brisk weather. They wore masks, and the seating was spaced out to encourage social distancing.

BayCare Chairman of the Board Eric Obeck, reflected on some of the challenges posed by COVID-19, while addressing the audience.

“While 2020 has been an unprecedented year for health care that has called for tough decisions and creative solutions, we are grateful to celebrate the long-term goals that brought us to this moment,” Obeck said.

“I’m proud to be part of an organization that keeps setting the pace, even as we react to the coronavirus impact on our daily business,” the health care official continued.

From left: Glenn Waters, BayCare executive vice president and chief operating officer; Eric Obeck, BayCare chairman of the board; Mike Moore, Pasco County Commission chair; Hope Kennedy, North Tampa Bay Chamber president and CEO; and, Becky Schulkowski, BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel operations director, fling a shovel of dirt.

“Over the past few months, we have canceled and restarted elective procedures and visiting hours. We have offered our team members early retirement and managed to retain our workforce of nearly 30,000 team members without furloughs or layoffs,” he said.

BayCare also has continued its plans to expand its hospitals in St. Petersburg, Safety Harbor and Clearwater, even while building the first hospital to bear the BayCare name, Obeck said.

Glenn Waters, executive vice president and chief operating officer of BayCare, offered some project details.

“Our 86-bed general community hospital will provide medical/surgical care, emergency care, cardiac care, surgical care – including general surgery, orthopedics, urology and gastroenterology – imaging, and outreach lab services.

“Beyond the ‘beds’ and the ‘services’ we provide, we will hire about 220 team members to be the heart and soul of BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel,” he added.

Waters noted that the nearly 30,000 people who work across the BayCare system, make it a great place to work.

The year 2020 was the third consecutive year that BayCare was named one of Fortune’s 100 best companies to work for anywhere in the country, Waters added.

BayCare Chairman of the Board Eric Obeck offers remarks during a Dec. 2 ceremonial groundbreaking for BayCare Hospital Wesley Chapel.

He also cited recognition for the hospital’s quality of care.

“According to IBM Watson, we are in the top 20% of high-performing health systems across the country,” Waters said.

The event also included a reflection from Father Aloysius Ezenwata, a director of mission with BayCare. He read a selection from scripture, offered some commentary and shared a prayer.

In part, Ezenwata said, “In building this BayCare Hospital in Wesley Chapel, we are continuing to live out our mission, which is to ‘Improve the health of all we serve through community-owned services that set the standard for high-quality, compassionate care.’”

He added: “Today we continue to build on the legacy of the founders of BayCare Health System, to care for our community, to be our sisters’ and our brothers’ keeper.”

At the conclusion of the official remarks, Waters and Obeck joined Becky Schulkowski, BayCare’s operations director, Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore and North Tampa Bay Chamber President and CEO Hope Kennedy, to fling a ceremonial shovel of dirt.

BayCare is building its new hospital just down the road from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel, a hospital that opened in 2012. It already has undergone an expansion and added new services to meet the high-growth area’s burgeoning health care demands.

Published December 09, 2020

KRATE begins taking shape at the Grove

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An attraction that will offer a new and unique retail and restaurant experience is beginning to take shape — as crews set down shipping containers that will house the businesses at KRATE, in the Grove at Wesley Chapel.

This shipping container is being maneuvered into place at the Grove at Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of the Grove at Wesley Chapel)

While crews work at the site, the developers also are proceeding with a unified sign plan for the district, with the Pasco County Planning Commission reviewing those plans at its Nov. 19 meeting.

The county’s planning staff found that the signs detailed in the plan “are consistent with the urban industrial theme’s uniform and cohesive design based upon color, texture, materials, and architectural features.”

The first 17 containers at KRATE will be home to nine businesses, according to a news release from the Grove at Wesley Chapel. They will be occupied by tenants offering diverse dishes and items like Asian noodles, Puerto Rican fare, desserts, and charcuterie boards, according to the news release.

When completed, which is expected around the end of the year, KRATE will feature 94 containers and 55 units, comprised of 70% restaurants and 30% retail.

This is what KRATE, a container park planned in the Grove at Wesley Chapel, is expected to look like when it’s finished.

Other restaurants at KRATE will feature international foods, including cuisine from Colombia, Peru and Germany.

The retail shops will include a music store and a Lego product superstore.

The overall design includes plenty of outdoor seating, string lights, and speakers throughout the property – touches that contribute to a sense of community.

Many tenants moving into KRATE are entrepreneurs coming from cities such as Tampa, Miami and Chicago — looking to start businesses in an unique concept, the release says.

KRATE also will feature a stage with daily live entertainment, a dog park and a playground.

Local muralists have been commissioned to create Instagrammable wall art, the news release adds.

“There is nothing like this in the world,” Mark Gold, partner in Mishorim Gold Properties, said in the release.

Mishorim Gold Properties purchased the Grove for around $64 million in September 2019. Gold invested more than $110 million into the renovation of the property, which includes a movie theater of the future, a miniature golf course and a water park.

Published December 02, 2020

New River Library upgrades to be expanded

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a change order for the county’s New River Branch Library renovation project that will enhance the project.

The library will be reopened, as planned, in January, but additional improvements are being made through the change order, according to County Commissioner Mike Moore.

This is the updated entrance to the New River Branch Library, at 34043 State Road 54, at the edge of Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills. (File)

Moore’s comments came during the board’s Nov. 17 meeting, when it approved a change order in the amount of $381,067.49.

The agreement includes the construction of a new Community Garden and expanding the audio-visual equipment monitoring distribution system at the library.

Renovations to the New River Library include construction of an outdoor covered area and storage space on the east side of the building. These improvements necessitate relocating and reestablishing the garden area to continue providing the associated makerspace experience at this location, according to the backup materials in the board’s agenda.

Makerspaces are do-it-yourself centers that foster hands-on discovery and stimulate imagination. They are places where visitors can create, learn, design, experiment and build. The reestablished garden makerspace will include enhancements intended to maximize the visitor experience, according to the agenda materials.

Native and seasonal plantings will complement community garden beds, allowing for a multi-sensory experience, to be enjoyed as part of hosted and self-directed programs and workshops. The garden learning center will be defined by accessible pathways and offer multi-height activity zones to encourage the love of gardening among community members of all ages.

Renovations include a monitoring distribution system to integrate its audio-visual equipment. The plan called for the Meeting Room, Children’s Room, and Teens Room to be integrated. Upon consideration, the team would like to expand the scope to include those rooms, and also add the service desk area, community room and adult reading room.

Even though the change order cites a completion date of Feb. 17, 2021, Moore said the library will be open to patrons sometime in January.

The total contract cost, including the change order, is $2,128,945.52.

The total project cost is $2,642,541.40, including the design, construction and furnishings.

The library project is being funded through a general obligation bond approved by voters.

Published December 02, 2020

Diverging Diamond is behind schedule

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A road project that’s expected to reduce congestion at the Interstate 75 and State Road 56 is running behind schedule, and Pasco County commissioners aren’t happy.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore raised the issue during the board’s Oct. 20 meeting — citing the apparent lack of workers on the project.

“I drive it daily. My wife drives it daily. My oldest daughter probably drives it three to four times a week,” he said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore is calling on state road officials to apply greater pressure to get the Diverging Diamond project back on track. (File)

“Yesterday, when I drove through there, I took a few photos. I saw one truck. I don’t know what he was doing, I’m not a contractor. And, I saw two guys standing on the side, down below.

“On a project of that magnitude, those are the only people I saw working on it Monday — a sunny Monday.

“That was about 1:15, 1:30 (in the afternoon), when I drove through there. Those were the only people working on that project when I drove by there.

“That’s insane.

“That’s ridiculous.

“That’s embarrassing,” Moore said.

“I know Commissioner (Kathryn) Starkey and I received a letter from a group of businesses over on the west side of the interchange, everywhere from the outlet mall to across the street to Sierra’s properties (Cypress Creek Town Center), too,” Moore said.

“It’s frustrating to all of our constituents here. It’s frustrating to the business owners,” he said.

It’s particularly irritating given the fact that the county worked with local state legislators to get the project moved, and now it’s behind schedule, Moore said.

“Now, we’re going into 2021. This was supposed to be done in the summer of ‘21, and be finished and completed. Unfortunately, they’re delayed.

“We have absolutely zero control, and when I say zero, we have zero control over these contractors for that project because that is a DOT project,” the commission chairman added.

Moore said he expressed the county’s displeasure to David Gwynn, secretary for District 7 of the Florida Department of Transportation.

Gwynn responded with an email outlining what’s happened so far in the project, and the DOT’s actions.

The project was started in early 2019 with an original schedule of 800 days, which would result in a finish date of April 2021, Gwynne’s email notes.

Commissioner Jack Mariano said the county needs to keep the pressure on, to get the state road project finished closer to its original completion date.

That schedule did not account for rain and holiday allowances or other factors outside the contractors control, the email adds.

To date, the contractor has been granted:

  • 99 days for weather
  • 34 days of holiday time
  • 30 days for unforeseen conditions

As a result, 163 days will be added to the contract, bringing the new end date to Aug. 26, 2021, the email notes.

“The department has discussed its concern with the contractor, DAB Constructors, as a result the contractor has gone to a 6-day work week to mitigate the schedule, and has agreed to focus their resources on completing existing work,” the email says.

The DOT also is looking for opportunities to move the job forward, the email notes, including:

  • Approving the use of alternate fill materials less sensitive to water, to accelerate work in low lying areas
  • Examining ways to combine traffic phases to shorten the overall duration of the project
  • Utilizing alternate road base options to accelerate new roadway construction
  • Examining ways to reconfigure walls on the project to shorten construction duration

Gwynn’s email says that “should the contractor not meet the contract end date, liquidated damages, of $9,837 a day, will be assessed for every day that the contractor is late in completing the project.”

The email goes on to say that the department sent a letter of concern to the contractor on March 23, and continues to review the contractor’s progress.

Finally, Gwynn said, “Please be assured that we are doing everything we can to hold the contractor accountable and accelerate the schedule where possible.”

Starkey said “I think DOT is doing as much as it can, to push it along,” but, she would like to see changes in the way contracts are awarded, to put a higher value on a company’s performance.

Moore said he’s happy to see what the DOT is doing, but isn’t satisfied with the results.

“The pressure needs to stay on,” Moore said.

“Basically, what needs to happen, is they need to hold their feet to the fire,” Moore said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “Keep the pressure on.”

Published October 28, 2020

Wesley Chapel woman pens children’s book

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A conversation Jessica Valentin had with her daughter, Isabella, inspired the Wesley Chapel woman to write her first children’s book.

Jessica said they were in the car on the way to an appointment, when she was encouraging her daughter to use her writing and drawing skills.

To make the conversation more concrete, she asked her daughter what kind of story she would like.

Jessica Valentin teamed up with illustrator Stephanie Richoll for the book, ‘Tony and His Mythical Friends.’ Valentin is already working on a second book, in what she hopes will become a series of books. (B.C. Manion)

Isabella responded: “Mom, I love unicorns.”

So, they began brainstorming about a story that would involve the mythical creature, and from that kernel of an idea, Jessica fleshed out the outline of a story.

They decided that Jessica would write the story, and Isabella would draw the characters.

“It became a family affair,” Jessica said.

Kayla, Isabella’s twin sister and the twins’ younger sister, Iliana, suggested names for the other characters in the story, and shared their perspectives.

They decided to try to publish the story, and Jessica decided to hire a professional artist to illustrate the book. She selected professional artist Stephanie Richoll to illustrate the book, and the two plan to continue the collaboration on future projects.

Jessica’s husband, Anthony “Tony,” a retired New York City police officer, has been a huge supporter, the author said. He’s the one who is covering the costs for the venture.

Initially, Jessica had hoped to find a literary agent and a publisher for the project.

But, when she wasn’t making any progress, she didn’t want that to be the end of the story.

So, she decided to self-publish the book, “Tony and His Mythical Friends,” and is selling the book on Amazon.

At one point, the book reached No. 59 on Amazon, in the Children’s Folklore and Myths category, she said.

The book tells the tale of a camping trip, where a boy notices a flickering light at a nearby campsite and decides to check it out.

He discovers a group of unusual-looking campers.

It’s a story that touches on the themes of kindness, inclusion, empathy and friendship.

Of course, publishing a book in the time of COVID-19 has its complications.

On the one hand, the pandemic gave Jessica time to work on her first book, and another one that’s in progress.

On the other hand, book readings she’d hope to give to help promote the book have been put on hold.

Meanwhile, she’s using social media tools — such Facebook, Twitter and Instagram — to help get the word out about her book.

She realizes that she is an unknown author, with much to learn.

She’s undaunted.

She wants to help children to develop a love for reading, and she hopes this book — and others she has planned, will help make that happen.

“They can escape their world or their stress,” Jessica said.

Surprisingly, the author did not enjoy reading or writing when she was young.

“I wanted something different for my girls,” she said, adding that she frequently read to them when they were small, hoping to help them appreciate the power of stories.

She has big ideas for where she wants to take her writing.

“I want to reach more kids. I’m just at the beginning,” the author said.

She acknowledges achieving her goals will take time and won’t be easy.

“You always start at the bottom. No one really starts at the top,” she said.

Even if her books never become No. 1 bestsellers, she thinks her efforts are worthwhile.

“It’s a love letter to my kids,” the author said.

To find out more about the book, go to Facebook: Tony and His Mythical Friends by Jessica Valentin; Instagram: @tonyandhismythicalfriends; or, Twitter: @TMythicalFriends

The author also can be reached at .

Published October 21, 2020