The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Lutz since 1964 and Pasco since 1981.
Proud to be independently owned.

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

SunWest Park

Send-off honors Pasco Commissioner Mike Wells

By

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells Jr., concluded his last meeting with the county board, on Oct. 20 with a playful gesture.

He dropped the gavel.

The action — which essentially means, ‘My work is done here’ — provided a glimpse into the commissioner’s self-deprecating humor, and it came at the conclusion of a meeting where he received a standing ovation, and was lavished with praise for his six years of service on the county board.

Pasco County commissioners honored their colleague, Mike Wells, who is leaving the board to become Pasco County Property Appraiser. Shown here, from left: Commissioner Ron Oakley, Commission Chairman Mike Moore, Commissioner Mike Wells, Commissioner Jack Mariano and Commissioner Kathryn Starkey. Wells is holding a framed copy of a resolution honoring his service on the board. (Courtesy of Andy Taylor/Pasco County)

Commissioners paused from their formal agenda to honor some of Wells’ accomplishments since he won the District 4 seat in 2014 and subsequently won re-election.

He’s leaving the board to become the Pasco County Property Appraiser.

Wells has a long association with politics and government.

After all, he followed in the footsteps of his father, Mike Wells Sr., who served on the Pasco County Commission and then was Pasco County Property Appraiser.

Besides growing up in a household where public service was valued, Wells got involved in political campaigns when he was just 12 years old.

During his tenure on the Pasco County Commission, Wells has voted on myriad issues important to Pasco County residents, businesses, organizations and communities.

He advocated for the extension of Ridge Road — a project the county had pursued for decades that finally began construction at the beginning of this year.

He and his colleagues selected County Administrator Dan Biles to lead the county’s staff.

Wells also took the leading role in reviving scalloping in Pasco County, after a hiatus that had lasted nearly 25 years.

During county meetings and through work with community organizations, he has championed efforts to help the elderly, the disabled, the homeless, the unemployed, veterans and small businesses.

Wells also has called for high expectations of the county staff, as it relates to customer service.

At the same time, he demonstrated support of county staff, too.

During this year’s budget talks, the county administrator recommended a 2% raise for county staff, in keeping with the inflation rate.

Wells balked.

He pushed for a 3% raise — to match the percentage approved for state employees and staff of the county’s constitutional officers.

Wells’ firm stand on the issue found support among his colleagues, and ultimately, it won the day.

During the commissioner’s final board meeting, board members surprised him with a resolution outlining Wells’ public service.

They also offered words of praise.

“We campaigned together for a long time,” said Commission Chairman Mike Moore. “We were sworn together Nov. 18 of 2014. The first meeting, it was  a doozy of a meeting. Remember that?”

During that session, the board turned down a concept for a sports park on the land that is now occupied by the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County.

That first “no vote” ultimately resulted in a superior outcome, Moore said.

The commission chairman also noted that through the years, Wells has taken “numerous, numerous votes that are going to change this community for the better, and this county for the better, for a long, long time.

“You will be missed,” Moore said.

Commissioner Ron Oakley weighed in, too.

“I think we were all put here at the right time to move Pasco forward. You played a big part in doing that, and doing it the right way,” Oakley said.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey added: “I appreciate your leadership here on the board. It’s been really fun working with you all of these years, and I look forward to working with you as property appraiser. I know you’re going to do a great job.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano put it this way: “Mike, I want to say, you’ve been a high-impact commissioner. I think when the two Mikes (Mike Wells and Mike Moore) came on board, they brought a great energy of getting things done.”

He said Wells has worked to help push stormwater projects forward. He also said Wells helped secure funding for Starkey Park and SunWest Park, and supported the county’s acquisition of private water systems, leading to lower rates for customers.

“It’s been a great pleasure working with you,” Mariano said. “I think people recognized that you would be a great property appraiser,” he added.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder and County Administrator Biles also expressed their appreciation for Wells’ service on the board.

Published October 28, 2020

Schools end unusual year on high note

By

Normal end-of-the-school year traditions were out this year, due to COVID-19, so schools put on their thinking caps to find new ways to honor and celebrate the students.

Sand Pine Elementary School, in Wesley Chapel, held its Fifth Grade Moving Up Ceremony, in the school’s parking lot.

Names of fifth-graders from Sand Pine Elementary were written in chalk in the school’s parking lot, to treat the children like royalty during the school’s Fifth Grade Moving Up ceremony. (Courtesy of Sand Pine Elementary)

After a parade through the school’s parking loop, each fifth-grader’s name was written in chalk on a parking spot.

Then, their belongings were loaded into the trunk of their car, along with a balloon and a middle school T-shirt, according to Sue Urban, the principal’s secretary.

“Everyone had a great time, even while social distancing,” she said, via email.

At Academy at the Lakes, an independent school in Land O’ Lakes, students drove by in a parade — and picked up their yearbooks, locker stuff, art projects and science projects — all packed in an Academy tote bag with personalized notes from their teachers.

Voluntary prekindergarten graduates from Mary’s House at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church were honored, too.

To bring a special ending to the year, staff from the school did an individual “graduation” ceremony at each child’s house, according to Corrine Ertl, center director.

From left, members of the Stoppa family: Anne (mom), Jeeho (Mary’s House graduate), Jackson and Michael (dad). (Courtesy of Mary’s House at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)

“First, we gathered all their addresses, divided by subdivision, and mapped out all the addresses, Ertl said, via email.

“Well, we started on Monday and after four days and 489 miles we finished.

“Every child was full of joy. Most of the children had dressed up in their cap and gown, we placed their sign in the yard, played pomp and circumstance through our mobile Bluetooth speaker,” she wrote.

Every child and his or her siblings received cupcakes, and the graduates received their candy class ring, just like they would at graduation, Ertl wrote.

Meanwhile, Pasco and Hillsborough county high schools had to push off their traditional ceremonies because of COVID-19, so other ways were found to honor the seniors until those formal commencement exercises can be held.

In Pasco County, the school district had virtual ceremonies, complete with pomp and circumstance, performed remotely, by students from several bands from across Pasco County.

Drive-by celebrations were held for the Class of 2020 at The Grove in Wesley Chapel and at SunWest Park in Hudson. The city of Zephyrhills had a parade for seniors, too.

Published June 10, 2020

Academy at the Lakes seniors Jordan Whit, left, and Kate Erin McCormick (in car) swing by to pick up their stuff. (Courtesy of Academy at the Lakes)
From left, members of the Sievert family: Carmen, Kimberley (mom), Tony (dad), Alicia (Mary’s House graduate) and Dominic. (Courtesy of Mary’s House at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)
All four children of the Iglesias family attended Mary’s House, and Rosie, the youngest of those children, was the last one to graduate from the VPK program. From left, Isabella, Dennis (dad), Cecilia, Nicholas, Jaclyn (mom) and Rosalia. (Courtesy of Mary’s House at Our Lady of the Rosary Catholic Church)

Looking for something fun to do?

By

Pasco County has been phasing in the reopening of some of its recreational facilities.

Ballfields and playgrounds remain closed in Pasco County, but some places are open in Pasco and Hillsborough counties that give people a chance to get out for some fresh air and exercise. (B.C. Manion)

Activities such as walking, biking, hiking, fishing or running can be done in specific locations, according to a Pasco County news release.

Groups of more than 10 will not be permitted and people must maintain social distancing from others of at least 6 feet, to help prevent the spread of coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19).

There are limited access openings at Pasco County parks, listed below. Restrooms remain closed unless noted, so please plan accordingly:

  • Withlacoochee River Park, Dade City
  • Aripeka Sandhills Preserve, Hudson
  • Boy Scout Preserve, New Port Richey
  • Crews Lake Wilderness Park, Spring Hill
  • Jay B. Starkey Wilderness Park, New Port Richey
  • Key Vista Nature Park, Holiday
  • Lake Lisa Park, Port Richey
  • Pasco Palms Preserve, New Port Richey
  • Upper Pithclachascotee Preserve, Spring Hill
  • Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park, Hudson

These public boat ramps remain open:

  • Anclote River Park, Holiday (restroom access)
  • Robert J. Strickland Memorial Park, Hudson
  • Moon Lake Park, New Port Richey
  • Middle Lake, Dade City
  • Eagle Point Park, kayak and canoe, New Port Richey

These trails remain open

  • The Suncoast Trail
  • Starkey Boulevard Trail
  • Starkey Gap Trail

The county also recently reopened these additional locations, effective May 2:

  • Anclote River Park
  • Anclote Gulf Park
  • Eagle Point Park
  • Moon Lake Park
  • Robert K. Rees Memorial Park

SunWest Park will be open to 100 cars at a time, in addition to annual passholders.

All Pasco County recreation complexes, community centers and playgrounds remain closed.

All events, activities, youth and adult sports leagues, special event reservations, pavilions, camp/RV grounds, cabin rentals, field reservations and any other reservations also remain closed until further notice.

The status of summer camp programs is not yet known. The county is awaiting updates from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to determine how it can safely offer its summer camp program.

Gov. Ron DeSantis also announced that the state’s parks would reopen, effective May 4.

In Hillsborough County, officials reopened most of its nature preserves and the boat ramp at E.G. Simmons Conservation Park on May 2. It also reopened several conservation parks, along with walking trails at six neighborhood parks on May 4.

Residents will be required to follow social distancing guidelines, and portions of the parks will remain closed, including playgrounds, picnic areas, and kayak/canoe facilities.

The following conservation parks reopened at 8 a.m., on May 4:

  • Flatwoods Conservation Park, 14302 Morris Bridge Road, Thonotosassa, and 18205 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Tampa
  • Morris Bridge Off-Road Biking Area, 12651 Morris Bridge Road in Thonotosassa
  • Alderman’s Ford Conservation Park, 100 Alderman’s Ford Park Drive, Plant City, for hiking and biking only
  • Upper Tampa Bay Trail and all parking areas

Walking trails are open at these neighborhood parks:

  • Jackson Springs Community Center, 8620 Jackson Springs Road in Tampa
  • Northdale Community Center, 15550 Spring Pine Drive, Tampa
  • Carrollwood Village Community Park, 4680 W. Village Drive, Tampa
  • Ruskin Community Center, 901 6th St. S.E., Ruskin
  • Apollo Beach Community Center, 664 Golf and See Blvd., Apollo Beach
  • All People’s Life Center, 6105 E. Sligh Ave., Tampa

All other parks remain closed.

Published May 06, 2020

They hit the water to solve crimes, make rescues

By

A Pasco Sheriff’s Office team has been trained to respond to emergency calls involving water rescues, and to search for evidence in lakes, rivers and other water bodies.

The tactical units, called the Underwater Recovery/Swift Water Response Team, includes divers, rescue swimmers and deputies who pilot boats.

“We really can do anything that needs to be done on the water,” said Lt. Jay Galassi, who oversees the Marine Unit.

The Underwater Recovery/Swift Water Response Team held a training exercise on Dec. 4 at SunWest Park on Old Dixie Highway in Hudson, to practice its new waterborne skills. The unit was deployed over the summer during Hurricane Irma to assist residents living in flood-prone areas, such as the Elfers community in Pasco County. They also recovered items and debris in the November plane crash of former Major League Baseball pitcher Roy Halladay. (Kevin Weiss)

The 18-member team became nationally certified in November, after completing advanced swift water training through Dive Rescue International.

The certification means the team is ready to serve a wide range of scenarios, from safety and security, to special waterborne operations — even in strong water currents.

Officials say no mission is too large, whether its retrieving cars crashed in bodies of water, rescuing drowning victims, or looking for evidence or weapons underwater.

The certification also allows it to assist in Federal Emergency Management Agency-related response efforts, on a local, regional and national level.

“We could deploy to Texas, we could deploy to South Florida, North Florida, wherever…and then still have a team here that could effectively deal with issues in Pasco County,” Galassi said.

The Pasco Sheriff’s Office began the task of creating and implementing a Swift Water Recovery Team in late 2016 for rescue and recovery operations in areas that frequently flood in the county.

The team initially planned to include just four members who would respond to any swift water event in Pasco County. But, as the process of creating the team evolved, the Sheriff’s Office obtained funding from private citizens allowing the agency to dedicate more than a dozen fully trained and equipped personnel to the team.

The unit has been deployed for several high-profile occasions this year.

For instance, they assisted during Hurricane Irma to provide aid to residents living in flood-prone areas, such as the Elfers community.

They also recovered items and debris from the November plane crash of former Major League Baseball pitcher Roy Halladay.

They also conducted underwater searches in Wesley Chapel in a recent missing persons case.

The team held a training exercise on Dec. 4 at SunWest Park on Old Dixie Highway in Hudson, to practice and maintain its new waterborne skills.

Mitch Bollenbacher is a member of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office’s Swift Water Response Team. The team’s 18 members retrieve cars crashed in water, rescue drowning victims, conducting evidence and weapons searches underwater and handle other water-related duties.

Team members tested three new 12-foot long INMAR inflatable/recovery boats purchased from private community donations.

As part of the drill, they assembled the boats — which involved inflating them and connecting motors — and then they operated them on the water.

They also practiced setting up what’s called a highline, a rope that connects to the boat and is controlled by someone on land. The rope line helps stabilize the boat for rescue and recovery operations in high waters or strong currents.

“We just kind of keep current on getting the speed down of getting the boats out and getting them in the water. The water here is nice and clean, so we just run the boats out here and get the motors all cleaned up,” Galassi said of training at SunWest Park.

The boats, equipped with 25-horsepower Suzuki motors, are designed to hold steady control in all bodies of water, fighting against heavy winds and currents.

They are being used instead of the larger, bulkier boats the team previously used, said Mitch Bollenbacher, a member of the team.

“These are easier to maneuver. They sit very still,” Bollenbacher said. “You can anchor the boat, and then a diver can dive off the back of it. The boats aren’t really affected by the wind or the current. They kind of maintain control in the water.”

Bollenbacher also said the boats can traverse tight-access areas, including lakes, canals and retention ponds — where someone might discard a body, weapons or another type of criminal evidence.

“It’s definitely something that we needed at the Sheriff’s Office,” said Bollenbacher, who’s been with the agency more than four years.

“We can now definitely search an area and say, ‘No, it’s not here.’ You can 100 percent say, ‘There’s no one here, there’s no object here, and we searched it,’”

said Bollenbacher, who is a swimmer and a diver, and has been around the water since he was a teenager.

To be considered for the special unit, deputies must pass a standard test for their water skills.

Even with his skills, Bollenbacher said there’s still trepidation in and around water, with the presence of alligators and other unknowns.

“It’s Florida. There’s always a fear,” he said.

The team takes precautions to stay safe.

“The biggest thing is safety, double-check and use the right equipment for the right job,” Bollenbacher said.

By year’s end, the agency looks to also have its Underwater Recovery Team, or tactical dive team, certified as a specialized unit of the Division of Homeland Security. It would allow the Sheriff’s Office to assist federal task forces in waterborne operations, including: antiterrorism and maritime dignitary protection, drug interdiction, underwater crime scene, special response team support, and maritime surveillance.

Published December 13, 2017

Nudist tourism needs more exposure

By

Pasco County is the nudist capital of Florida.

The state of Florida is the nudist capital of North America.

But, the clothing-optional lifestyle is an often overlooked tourism market that contributes $7.4 billion to the state’s economy annually, according to a report from the American Association of Nudist Recreation.

Monique Liliensiek, center, filmed a German documentary, ‘World of Nudism,’ at Lake Como Resort in 2014.
(File)

The association wants to put the spotlight on missed economic opportunities across the state, and in Pasco.

How about nudist days at Pasco’s beach parks? Should there be nudist beaches at Sand Island and Anclote Island, or at an undeveloped lake at SunWest Park?

Starkey Wilderness might yield opportunities for nude recreation activities, too.

Those were some of the ideas included in the AANR report, which was compiled by John Heather, a consultant for the organization and an instructor of international tourism & hospitality management at Saint Leo University.

Heather was guest speaker at the Feb. 14 general meeting of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

Pasco could be a role model on how to build on the existing economic base of nudist recreation, Heather said.

“We don’t have the beaches of Clearwater or the vibrant culture of downtown St. Petersburg,” Heather said. “But, we are so fortunate to be on major (highway) arteries. A lot of these resorts are in rural areas. They are something to make your place unique.”

Pasco’s history with the nudist lifestyle began decades ago, with resorts, social clubs and residential communities. Lake Como Resort, for instance, celebrated its 75th anniversary in 2016.

Other locations for vacations and permanent residency are Caliente Resort & Spa and Lake Paradise Resort. The Oasis is a gated, upscale subdivision described as a hybrid nudist community.

Nudist communities and resorts are spread across the state.

According to the AANR report there are:

  • 34 nudist resorts, including eight in Pasco County
  • 30 naturist social clubs
  • 5,100 nudist resort rooms available
  • 2 million nudist room nights sold in 2016
  • 22 million visitor nights
  • Visitors on average stay 10 nights, with a high percentage staying a month or more
  • $4.3 billion a year in direct spending by nudist visitors.

While the nudist population in Pasco is sometimes pegged at about 10,000, Heather said it’s difficult to pin down exact numbers.

Some visitors are “snowbirds” who stay during the winter; others are international visitors who might stay 10 days; some are day-trippers from nearby counties; and others are permanent residents, he said.

Pasco clearly is a star in the nudist firmament.

In 2014, a German documentary, “World of Nudism,” was filmed at Lake Como. A TLC reality television show, “Buy Naked,” features local real estate agent, Jackie Youngblood, as she finds and sells homes in Pasco for her nudist clients.

A Bare Dare 5K is an annual event at Caliente and is probably the largest naked runners’ race in North America.

Pasco County’s website has an online link, “Naked People Vacation Here,” at VisitPasco.net.

“They recognize that it is very important to our tourism tax here,” said Heather.

But, much more could be done to promote nudist tourism, he added.

Six new hotels are under construction or newly opened in Pasco, but Heather said they often focus on the business traveler. More resorts and tourist hotels are needed, he said.

Statewide, cruise lines are adding more clothing-optional vacations.

Currently, the only officially sanctioned nudist beach is in Miami, on the northern end of Haulover Beach.

But, nudists are quietly accepted at a few other locations including Playlinda, at the federally owned Cape Canaveral National Seashore.

The AANR report highlighted Haulover’s economic benefits to Miami.

About $988,000 in parking fees from nude beach visitors were collected at the north parking lot in 2015-2016.

The annual expenditures from nudist tourism is pegged at about $1 billion.

“The nude beach is packed with people,” Heather said.

Still, there is acknowledgement that nude beaches would be a challenge. “It could be a political back and forth,” Heather said.

But, the payoff could be significant, he said.

Pasco County set a record last year by earning nearly $1 million from tourist tax revenues.

Overall, tourism has grown in Florida from about $87 billion in 2011 to about $109 billion in 2016.

“Your return on investment is just too great,” he said.

Published February 22, 2017

 

Hotels go up as tourism grows in Pasco

By

Pasco County’s hotel market is thriving.

Five hotels are either under construction, closing in on a groundbreaking or will open within months.

A new Hilton Garden Inn is the most recent to complete permitting, with a construction start now in the offing.

The 125-room, six-story hotel is rising off of State Road 56, at Maple Silver Parkway.

Hilton Garden Inn is under construction at Northpointe Village, off State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
Hilton Garden Inn is under construction at Northpointe Village, off State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

Another 110-room Hilton Garden Inn at Northpointe Village, on State Road 54 at the Suncoast Parkway, is expected to open in three to four months.

Off State Road 56, an 80-room Holiday Inn Express is well under way, next to the construction site for the Florida Hospital Center Ice sports complex.

The ice complex is expected to open by Labor Day, and play a significant role in boosting Pasco’s sports tourism industry.

Developers of Cypress Creek Town Center, on the north side of State Road 56, are planning a 130-room Hyatt Place Wesley Chapel hotel.

And, Wiregrass Ranch is set to build a 92-room Fairfield Inn & Suites, also off State Road 56.

The hotel expansion comes as Pasco County is looking at another record-breaking year for tourism, with the county’s cash register jingling with bed tax dollars from hotel stays.

Pasco County’s Tourism Manager Ed Caum anticipates hitting $1 million in revenues from the bed tax, exclusively paid by hotel guests who live outside of Pasco.

To date, he said revenues are about $856,000, a 4.6 percent increase over projections.

Holiday Inn Express will open next to Florida Hospital Center Ice sports complex, off State Road 56 near Interstate 75.
Holiday Inn Express will open next to Florida Hospital Center Ice sports complex, off State Road 56 near Interstate 75.

In the last 18 months, hotel occupancy has been about 72 percent to 75 percent. And, the average daily hotel rate is $8 higher than last year.

“Now there is more demand, so there’ll be more supply,” Caum said.

Pasco currently has about 3,600 hotel rooms. More than 600 rooms will be added from the new hotels.

In 2013, an Urban Land Institute study predicted that Pasco would add about 75 rooms a year through 2020.

By that yard stick, Caum said, “We’re actually ahead of projections.”

While business travelers still fill up most of Pasco’s hotel rooms, Caum said more leisure travelers are coming into the mix.

That market is expected to grow as the county reaps benefits from tourist destinations such as Tampa Premium Outlets, more retail and restaurants at Cypress Creek Town Center, Florida Hospital Center Ice, SunWest Park and TreeHoppers Aerial Adventure Park.

About 6,000 people are employed by the hospitality industry in Pasco, including at hotels and restaurants. Supportive businesses indirectly account for more than 12,000 additional people being employed.

“That’s huge,” said Caum.

Published August 10, 2016

Tourism continues to rise in Pasco

By

Pasco County’s tourism figures continue to rise, and the prospects are bright for even more growth, according to Ed Caum, the county’s tourism manager.

Ed Caum, tourism manager for Pasco County, likes to remind people that tourists provide an important source of tax revenues in Pasco County and across Florida. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Ed Caum, tourism manager for Pasco County, likes to remind people that tourists provide an important source of tax revenues in Pasco County and across Florida.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Caum has been making the rounds to share the county’s news about another year of positive growth — following record numbers posted last year. He recently shared the county’s tourism story with members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce during their luncheon meeting at the Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club.

The county is on track to break its record in tourist tax collections.

It has collected $593,712 in tourist tax collections since October 2015, a 13.5 percent increase over last year, when it set its all-time record.

Caum said the county expects to exceed last year’s total, which exceeded $968,000.

Pasco isn’t known for gigantic theme parks and miles of pristine coastline, but it offers plenty of wide open spaces and lots of “quirky and eclectic attractions,” Caum said.

Just last year, Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 54 and Interstate 75, opened a 441,000-square-foot mall, featuring 110 retailers.

Cyclists from across the country made the trek to Pasco County in March to ride in the Gran Fondo Florida racing event. It is one of eight events across the country that are held as part of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series. (FIle Photos)
Cyclists from across the country made the trek to Pasco County in March to ride in the Gran Fondo Florida racing event. It is one of eight events across the country that are held as part of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series.
(File Photo)

Later this year, Florida Hospital Center Ice is set to open off State Road 56, parallel to Interstate 75, and that’s expected to draw scores of regional tournaments, and vie for national tournaments, too.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions presented by Pasco County draws competitors from the U.S. and Canada to Wesley Chapel every year. And, Gran Fondo Florida draws cyclists from all over the country to East Pasco’s rolling hills.

There’s an assortment of other events and attractions for people who enjoy a bit of adventure. There’s Tree Hoppers, in Dade City, a zip line course designed for aerial adventurers of all ability levels, and there’s SunWest Park, which is expected to attract worldwide attention for its beach volleyball courts and its wakeboard course.

And, there are fun events, such as the annual Kumquat Festival and the Florida Bug Jam in Dade City.

Besides all that, Pasco County has an international reputation for its nudist resorts, which account for about 20 percent of the county’s tourist tax revenues, Caum said.

Giraffe Ranch, in Dade City, gives visitors a chance to witness the lives of giraffes, living under huge live oaks and in open grasslands. (Courtesy of Pasco County)
Giraffe Ranch, in Dade City, gives visitors a chance to witness the lives of giraffes, living under huge live oaks and in open grasslands.
(Courtesy of Pasco County)

Plus, the county likes to promote its microbreweries and its Farm to Table restaurants, Caum said.

Tourist attractions do more than just offer people a chance to have fun, Caum said.

“Tourism is economic development,” he said.

Attracting people to the area gives them a chance to see what it has to offer.

Many visitors decide to become permanent residents, and some of their companies come with them, Caum said.

That leads to job growth, which helps propel the economy, he said.

Plus, taxes paid by tourists reduce the tax burden for Florida residents, which benefits everyone who lives here, Caum said.

So, when it comes to promoting the county, that’s everybody’s job, the tourism manager said.

He likes to tell a story about overhearing a young waiter being asked by a visitor what there was to do around Pasco County.

The waiter replied: “I’ve lived here forever. There’s nothing to do in Pasco County.”

That, the tourism manager said, is a missed opportunity.

Published May 18, 2016

Pasco looks to TIA for tourism boost

By

Traffic is increasing at Tampa International Airport, and that has piqued the interest of Pasco County officials.

More than 18 million passengers passed through Tampa International Airport in 2015, nearly 7 percent more than the year before.

Tampa International Airport is in the midst of a three-phase $2.5 billion project to make the airport a ‘people mover’ for the 21st century. In the first phase, the airport will expand the main terminal by 55,000 square feet, build a new rental car center, and add 65 shops and restaurants including Hard Rock Café and P.F. Chang’s. (Images courtesy of Tampa International Airport)
Tampa International Airport is in the midst of a three-phase $2.5 billion project to make the airport a ‘people mover’ for the 21st century. In the first phase, the airport will expand the main terminal by 55,000 square feet, build a new rental car center, and add 65 shops and restaurants including Hard Rock Café and P.F. Chang’s.
(Images courtesy of Tampa International Airport)

Of those travelers, about 8 percent, or 1.6 million, were from Pasco County.

Pasco County commissioners are interested in finding out how to tap into the stream of visitors who arrive in Tampa Bay every year.

On March 8, commissioners heard an update from Joe Lopano, TIA’s chief executive officer, on the master plan to upgrade and expand TIA.

The first phase of a three-phase plan is slated for completion in fall of 2017.

That phase, estimated at $980 million, includes a new rental car center, a new 1.4-mile automated people mover that will connect the rental car facility to the main terminal, and construction of a runway bridge over the George J. Bean Parkway. In addition, the main terminal is being expanded by 55,000 square feet, and 65 shops and restaurants, including Hard Rock Café and P.F. Chang’s, will be upgraded or added to the airport’s amenities.

The total cost of TIA’s upgrades are estimated at about $2.5 billion, with a completion date of 2028.

Ducky’s is among the newest restaurants to be added to Tampa International Airport’s lineup of eating establishments.
Ducky’s is among the newest restaurants to be added to Tampa International Airport’s lineup of eating establishments.

Phase one is on budget and on schedule, Lopano said.

Construction isn’t all that is driving TIA’s makeover.

A more personal touch also is highlighting the airport’s progress, and its amenities.

About 160 volunteers – some retired airline employees – serve as airport ambassadors who greet and assist passengers.

Pasco officials want to educate those volunteers on what the county can offer tourists. Lopano and Pasco County Tourist Manager Ed Caum briefly discussed a bus tour of Pasco to give the airport ambassadors a first-hand view of Pasco’s current and future destinations.

Tampa International Airport is the first airport in the country that will have a Hard Rock Café on-site.
Tampa International Airport is the first airport in the country that will have a Hard Rock Café on-site.

Among the tour stops could be SunWest Park, the Florida Hospital Center Ice complex under construction at Interstate 75 and State Road 56, Tampa Premium Outlets and The Shops at Wiregrass.

The county’s tourism website also touts restaurants and historical sites throughout the county, as well as the 10 birding stops on the Great Florida Birding Trail, Treehoppers Aerial Adventure Park and the Anclote Key State Park.

Advertising at the airport tends to be expensive and out of the county’s reach, Caum said. But, he plans to explore potential for sharing costs with other partners.

Pasco is coming off a record year for tourism, posting $968,263 in Tourist Tax collections between October 2014 and the end of September 2015. That was a 17 percent increase over the previous year.

According to the U.S. Travel Association, more than 500,000 visitors to Pasco spent about $466 million. Local sales taxes from those visitors totaled more than $14.9 million. And, tourism created nearly 6,000 full-time employees, with an annual payroll in Pasco of $106.2 million.

The increase in passengers at TIA is in part due to more international flights.

The master plan for Tampa International Airport includes construction of a 1.4-mile automated people mover to transport passengers between the main terminal and a new rental car center.
The master plan for Tampa International Airport includes construction of a 1.4-mile automated people mover to transport passengers between the main terminal and a new rental car center.

In 2015, Lufthansa German Airlines began flights from Frankfurt to Tampa. Other international destinations are London, Zurich, and Panama City, Panama. Airport officials also are hoping to add commercial flights to Cuba.

“We are an international region,” said Lopano.

And, an economic engine for the region.

The airport employees about 7,500 people, supports another 81,000 jobs indirectly and generates about $7.8 billion in annual economic activity.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells said he appreciated the collaborative way in which TIA officials and the region’s counties are working together on growth and economic issues.

That hasn’t always been the case, he said.

“We’ve never really been together as a region,” Wells said, but he added, “I can see it now.”

Published March 16, 2016

Sunny times at SunWest Park

By

Sandy white beaches and crystal clear water may not be what comes to mind when thinking of Pasco County.

But, SunWest Park is all about changing minds with a little fun in the sun.

Viktoria Guzak, 18, left, of Binghamton, New York, and her mom, Sofia Vallette, of New Port Richey, take advantage of the recent warmer weather while they tan in a remote spot away from the splashing of the main swim area at the SunWest Park. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
Viktoria Guzak, 18, left, of Binghamton, New York, and her mom, Sofia Vallette, of New Port Richey, take advantage of the recent warmer weather while they tan in a remote spot away from the splashing of the main swim area at the SunWest Park.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

“I think it’s a phenomenal addition to the county’s tourism,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano. “I think it could be considered the focal point. I see a lot of people come here, because everyone loves the white sand we have here.”

They might also love beach volleyball, wakeboarding, paddleboarding, sand soccer, kayaking or tumbling through floating inflatables in the aqua park.

SunWest opened on the Fourth of July weekend off U.S. 19, at 17362 Old Dixie Highway in Hudson.

Portions of the park remain under construction, and an official grand opening is anticipated in spring.

The county acquired the property in the mid-1980s when it was the site of a former limestone mine with a spring-fed lake. More than a decade of discussions and planning preceded the construction of SunWest.

A lifeguard sits atop the floating gym featured at the SunWest Park.
A lifeguard sits atop the floating gym featured at the SunWest Park.

The park provides a beach experience without traveling a great distance, said Mariano, adding that it can be a “staycation” for local residents and a tourist destination for others.

“It’s a lot easier to get here from anywhere in the county, than going to Clearwater,” he said.

On a recent weekend the Ballard family, from Reston, Virginia, took a detour from Weeki Wachee to check out SunWest. Trent Ballard, 16, adapted his snowboarding skills for acrobatics on SunWest’s wakeboarding course.

Closer to home, the Bartosch clan, from Port Richey, took turns snapping family photos in a gigantic rainbow-colored beach chair.

Gianni Finley, 5, gets help from wakeboard instructor and general manager, Dusty Stone of New Port Richey. Finley, with her parents Jake and Jacki Finley, and brother Nathan Myers, 14, were visiting from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
Gianni Finley, 5, gets help from wakeboard instructor and general manager, Dusty Stone of New Port Richey. Finley, with her parents Jake and Jacki Finley, and brother Nathan Myers, 14, were visiting from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

In November, the park hosted the NCAA Women’s Volleyball Tournament with teams from the Florida State University, Florida International University and Florida Atlantic University.

More tournaments are in the works.

About 20 volleyball courts are open, but Mariano said park operator Patrick Pakanos is adding more courts, as well as upgrading an aerial cable system for wakeboarding enthusiasts.

Pasco County broke records for tourism in 2015, and, as SunWest grows, the hope is that the park will be a major attraction.

“His (Pakanos) goal is to turn it into a destination with tournaments for wakeboarding, volleyball and soccer,” said Ed Caum, Pasco County’s tourism director. “The county supports that all the way.”

Published January 27, 2016

Pasco administrator set to retire in 2017

By

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker expects to be very busy over the next year and a half.

She’ll be crossing off a to-do list, one by one, before leaving in 2017 to go on a lengthy road trip with her husband.

The couple will hit the road with their recreational vehicle and their motorcycles, on a tour of as many baseball parks and national parks as they can squeeze into a year.

“That’s been our dream,” Baker said, so letting her contract lapse in July 2017 makes sense.

But, don’t expect a lame duck administrator.

“There’s no kicking back here,” Baker said. “This isn’t me slowing down.”

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker has much work to do before her planned retirement in 2017. (File Photo)
Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker has much work to do before her planned retirement in 2017.
(File Photo)

Baker has told Pasco County commissioners she won’t seek renewal of her current two-year contract, which makes her last day July 9, 2017.

By then, Baker will have worked 35 years in public service, 24 of those years with Pasco County.

Her to-do list, in short form, includes:

  • Completing master plans and updates for storm water, solid waste and tourism
  • Funding and building a diverging diamond road design to ease traffic congestion at State Road 56 and Interstate 75
  • Completing the State Road 56 extension
  • Nurturing SunWest Park, the county’s fledgling aqua park
  • Replacing and repairing aging infrastructure and roads damaged by the summer flooding
  • Making progress on the expansion of the jail and construction of new fire stations
  • Relocating more government offices to central Pasco

Baker also plans to fill vacancies for a few key leadership positions that remain, including an assistant county administrator for public safety and administration.

Progress has been made, Baker said, but government services still could be more customer-friendly.

A culture that was decades in the making is being changed, she said. “You don’t get to turn a canoe. You’re turning a ship.”

Public service wasn’t Baker’s first career choice.

Over the years she worked as a waitress, flight attendant and a theater manager. She also served in the U.S. Air Force Reserve.

Her undergraduate degree was in business administration.

It wasn’t until she accepted a secretarial position with Miami-Dade County’s emergency management office that she discovered her passion for public service.

“I see that it was the hand of God, a bit of destiny with doors I went through and doors I didn’t go through,” Baker said. “But, I fell in love. I am not a competitive, money-directed person by nature. Public service allowed me an opportunity to make a difference.”

She was an emergency operations officer in Miami when Hurricane Andrew devastated that city in 1992.

Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher hired her away the following year as Pasco’s emergency management director. She interviewed for the job the day before the “No-Name” storm (also known as the “Storm of the Century”) slammed Florida’s coast and flooded west Pasco.

Baker cut a vacation short to take on the new job.

Over the years, Gallagher showed his confidence in her, tapping Baker as program administrator for engineering, and for nearly six years as his chief assistant county administrator.

As head of engineering, she oversaw the launching of the county’s Environmental Land Acquisition and Management Program, which buys and manages environmentally sensitive land throughout the county.

She also got the Penny for Pasco program off the ground. Funds from a penny sales tax are shared with the county, cities and the school districts for building projects.

“We had a new program to seek stewardship of at its birth,” Baker said.

She took the helm as interim county administrator in 2013 when Gallagher retired after more than 30 years in the job. County commissioners initially offered the administrator’s job to a candidate from Texas who unexpectedly walked away during contract negotiations.

When Baker was appointed, she was the first woman to hold the county’s top administrative job.

She took over as the county struggled with deep budget cuts and staff layoffs, following the nation’s deepest recession in history.

Baker credits Gallagher for initially steering the county safely through a new era of leaner budgets and fewer staff members. Even as Gallagher prepared to retire, about half of the county’s departmental managers indicated they also planned to retire.

“He empowered me to begin the transition,” she said. “We saw the handwriting on the wall. There was going to be a substantial correction. We didn’t know how bad it was going to be. But, we knew our revenues would be tightening.”

Baker also shared with Gallagher a vision of reorganizing county government and putting an emphasis on customer service.

“You have to operate more efficiently and keep level of service residents want because government has less money,” Baker said.

Baker routinely provides county commissioners with a quarterly report updating them on her progress for the projects on that to-do list.

Discussions are expected to begin soon on how the board will search for a replacement. That typically takes about seven to nine months, Baker said.

She would like to have that person on board before she leaves to help with the transition.

“I am, by nature, an organized planner,” Baker said. “I want to hire and mentor that person. I will have been successful if my successor is successful.”

Once the ignition key is turned on the RV though, it’s a new adventure ahead.

Published January 27, 2016