The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.

New Main Street projects expected

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Main Street Zephyrhills Inc. coordinator Paxton McCullough officially introduced herself, recently, to the board of the Zephyrhills Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) .

Paxton McCullough is the new Main Street Zephyrhills Inc. coordinator. She recently outlined some of the work she’s begun, since joining the organization a month ago. (Courtesy of Main Street Zephyrhills Inc.)

McCullough has held the post for about a month, and gave the CRA board members an update on what has been happening within the 501c3 nonprofit, which promotes storefronts and organizes large events in the historic district, and runs chiefly along Fifth Avenue.

Some early initiatives include:

  • Elect Main Street board members and finalize event committees
  • Look into the feasibility of hiring a brand consultant, to assist with social media and marketing efforts
  • Assess the organization’s business membership and renewal efforts
  • Continue to foster relationships with The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce

McCullough was asked to assess how downtown businesses have been coping recently through the COVID-19 pandemic.

She observed: “I mean, spirits are a little bit low, but I want to say things are loosening up a little bit. People are more open to going downtown and going out to lunch and getting out in stores more, so hopefully that’ll help, but I know they’re definitely struggling.”

Gail Hamilton, the director of the CRA, commended McCullough for her efforts thus far.

McCullough is  recent graduate from the University of Georgia.

She replaced Anna Stutzriem, who resigned in March after more than two years on the post.

“I’ll say, she’s doing a wonderful job,” Hamilton told the CRA board. “She’s been here for a month and just really dug in, and I expect wonderful things. You’ll be surprised at some of the projects we’re going to undertake once the (Main Street) board gets seated.”

The Main Street coordinator is the organization’s lone city-funded employee position.

Published September 09, 2020

Savor a slice of ‘Old Florida’ beauty

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Residents who live on the eastern side of Pasco County don’t have to travel far to get an idea of what “Old Florida” was like.

They can find evidence of that loveliness all around the locale’s corners and bends.

Perhaps that’s why those with deep ties to this part of the county fight so fiercely to protect their piece of paradise, and why the area attracts newcomers who want to put their stakes down to partake in the beauty, too.

With its lush landscapes, rolling hills, fertile farmland, historic places and outdoor spaces — the area offers much to enjoy and admire.

The incredible view of the setting sun over Lake Pasadena, as seen from the Dade City home of Derek Thomas. Thomas lives on Fort King Road, near the top of Leheup Hill, which is one of the area’s highest elevations at 240 feet above sea level. This ‘mountain’ is part of a series of rolling hills in the area. (Christine Holtzman)

 

Nature’s beauty can be found at the Withlacoochee River Park, in Dade City. The Withlacoochee River cuts through the 406 acres of forested land, brimming with an abundance of wildlife. Park amenities include fishing piers, boardwalks, canoe/kayak access, picnic and camping areas, shelters/pavilions, trails, playgrounds, and an observation tower.
Tucked away in an area across State Road 52 from Saint Leo University, (next to the golf course), there are two historic grottos.
The Gethsemane Grotto, was built by local men from San Antonio in 1933, to depict Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. The construction contains natural stones, such as Florida coral, limestone and flint.

 

 

 

The Lady of Lourdes Grotto was built in 1916, and is the final resting place of the Saint Leo Abbey’s first Abbot, Charles Mohr, OSB.
The historic Capt. H.B. Jeffries House, 38537 5th Avenue in Zephyrhills, was built in 1911, for city founder and Civil War veteran Capt. Harold B. Jeffries. Today, the building is used by the non-profit Main Street Zephyrhills, Inc., a group dedicated to the preservation, revitalization and the economic vitality of the downtown business district.
Many farms dot the East Pasco landscape, an area that is rich in agriculture. These silos on a farm at the corner of St. Joe Road and Bellamy Brothers Boulevard, peak above the lush pasture.

 

 

 

 

 

Zephyrhills poised to name Spillman permanent fire chief

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Four months after being named the interim fire chief, the Zephyrhills City Council is set on Monday to make Daniel Spillman’s job at the head of the city’s fire rescue department permanent.

Spillman took over the department in June when Verne Riggall — under fire for how he had run the agency over a two-year period — resigned before city council members could vote on whether to terminate him.

Spillman interviewed for the permanent position Sept. 22, and competed against Capt. Ralph Velez and former Pasco County fire service officer Stephen Smith for the job, according to city documents. The three made their bids for the job in front of a selection committee that included Zephyrhills city manager Steve Spina, city human resources director Sandra Amerson, former fire captain Scott Winters, and Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce executive director Vonnie Mikkelsen.

Velez has been a captain with the fire department for more than seven years, according to an online social media profile, and also has served on the board of Main Street Zephyrhills Inc. between 2005 and 2011. Velez has spent 24 years total with the Zephyrhills fire department, according to published reports, and graduated from Zephyrhills High School in the early 1980s.

Smith spent six years as a training chief for Pasco County Fire Rescue, according to an online business profile, and retired from that job in 2010. He’s currently a charge paramedic and trainer in Manatee County, and has consulted with and worked as an expert legal witness for EDT Corp., for nearly 25 years.

Spillman joined the Zephyrhills fire department in September 2013 after spending more than a year as a fire chief in Escambia County. He received his bachelor’s degree from Florida International University, and a master’s degree from City University in Bellevue, Washington, according to his resume.

As city manager, Spina has the power to appoint and even remove the chiefs of both the fire and police department, as long as he has a simple majority approval from the city council.

Riggall worked in High Springs as the fire chief the same time now former Zephyrhills city manager Jim Drumm led that city’s administration. Drumm resigned his job in Zephyrhills less than two months before Riggall after realizing he didn’t have the council’s support to continue as city manager.

Before he left, however, Drumm already had considered investigating issues in the fire department under Riggall. Spina continued the investigation after he took over as interim city manager, and said there were problems in how Riggall staffed fire engines and emergency response vehicles. Some of the staffing records also showed there were not enough workers on hand to safely respond to necessary calls, Spina said, and even they didn’t have all the appropriate equipment they would need.

The fire department was suffering from low morale, as well, and Riggall reportedly did not keep regular office hours, Spina’s report at the time said. Instead showing up at non-traditional times so that he could work around his wife’s schedule.

The city council will make the final decision during its regular meeting Oct. 13 at 6 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall, 5335 Eighth St.

Main Street Zephyrhills earns national accreditation

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Main Street Zephyrhills Inc. has received accreditation from the National Main Street program after meeting commercial district revitalization performance standards set by the National Main Street Center.

To become accredited, Main Street Zephyrhills had to meet 10 standards of performance. They include:

• Have broad-based community support for the commercial district revitalization process, with strong support from both the public and private sectors.
• Has a comprehensive Main Street work plan.
• Possesses an historic preservation ethic.
• Has a paid, professional executive director.
• Reports key statistics.
• Be a current member of the National Trust Main Street Network.

The National Main Street Center is a subsidiary of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The National Main Street Center launched last year, using principles they say have been used in 2,000 communities, producing $59.6 billion in investment, creating nearly 503,000 jobs, according to the organization’s website.

Main Street Zephyrhills’ performance will be evaluated each year by Florida Main Street. In the past seven years alone, there have been 444 public and private, new or rehabilitation projects completed within the Main Street Zephyrhills district, totaling more than $2.6 million, officials said. The district also has seen a net gain of 308 jobs as well as more than 15,000 hours of volunteer service.

Main Street Zephyrhills also has worked with city officials on its Facade Beautification Grant Program.

“Downtown Zephyrhills is the focal point and heart of the community and its economic health, whether perceived or actual, plays a large part in the impression people have the area,” said Gina Granger, executive director of Main Street Zephyrhills, in a release.