The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Zephyrhills begins rebranding efforts

By

The City of Zephyrhills has begun an initiative to rebrand the community —  an effort that’s expected to take months, and will involve everything from the town’s logo, slogan and perceptions about the community.

The city, which is now the largest municipality, has partnered with North Star Place Branding + Marketing to assist in the effort, according to a news release.

This is a view of downtown Zephyrhills. The city has embarked on an initiative to rebrand itself and is seeking the community’s help in those efforts. (Mike Camunas)

The Jacksonville-based consulting firm will conduct research within the community to uncover how Zephyrhills is perceived, attitudes that people have about it and will explore the city’s unique offerings.

The rebranding effort is aimed at increasing interest and investment in Zephyrhills from residents, entrepreneurs, companies and visitors, the release adds.

The city is looking to “rebrand” itself beyond being widely known as a great place for skydiving and for winter residents. The effort also includes rewriting the city’s current “The City of Pure Water” slogan.

As part of the initiative, North Star has created a community engagement/brand story site to serve as an online tool to direct traffic of residents and stakeholders who are interested in learning more about the rebranding project and getting involved, according to the release.

Those who are interested can take part in the research stage or can become a brand ambassador to help launch the city’s new brand, which is expected to happen in mid-2023.

“Now is an exciting time for the City of Zephyrhills to undergo a rebranding effort amid a period of rapid growth and development,” said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe, in the press release. “We want to ensure we’re telling the right story and have a unified message across all city departments, as well as with our dedicated community stakeholders, to foster a vibrant, distinguishable future for our wonderful town.”

North Place Branding + Marketing has worked with over 200 communities in 44 states over the last 20 years, including Marshall, Minnesota; Gallatin, Tennessee;  Johnson, Tennessee and others.

For more information or to sign up as brand ambassador, visit AuthenticZephyrhills.com.

Published September 28, 2022

Town of St. Leo approves $4.1 million budget

By

The town of St. Leo has adopted a budget of $4.1 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Founded in 1891, the Town of St. Leo is the oldest incorporated municipality in Pasco County. The town has an estimated population of 2,362 and is approximately 858 acres in size. (Mike Camunas)

This year’s budget represents slightly more than $200,000 higher than last year, which translates into an increase of about 5%.

The St. Leo Town Commission approved the budget in a commission meeting on Sept. 21.

The town is expected to generate total general funds in about $1.2 million through sales and use taxes, licenses and permits, intergovernmental and miscellaneous revenues.

St. Leo also has $2.1 million in reserves.

Expenditures are estimated at just over $2 million, stemming from general government, public safety, physical environment, human services and other non-operating uses.

General government has the highest expenditure at $318,731.

The Town plans on spending $173,500 of special revenue on transportation and special projects.

Founded in 1891, St. Leo is the oldest incorporated municipality in Pasco County. The Town is approximately 858 acres in size, much of which is Lake Jovita. The most recent population estimate is 2,362.

The five-person Town Commission consists of Donna DeWitt, Mayor Vincent D’Ambrosio, Mayor Pro Tem James Hallett, Curtis Dwyer and William Hamilton.

For more information about the town, its commission, permits, applications and other issues, visit TownOfStLeo.org.

Published September 28, 2022

Pasco seeks input on Lacoochee planning

By

For now, the plan is to create a plan.

Planners with Pasco County’s planning and development department are working on doing just that in the Greater Lacoochee area. It’s the northeastern most part of the county and includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee.

In this case, the county is looking to build upon ideas and plans set forth nearly two decades ago, but also wants to lay out a realistic plan for one of the most rural parts of the county.

Dozens of Lacoochee residents and citizens attend the first public workshop at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee on Aug. 30. (Mike Camunas)

The county’s goal is to gather, collect and analyze resident and citizen feedback, while also taking into account the area’s potential and expected growth.

“There was a lot of work that was done about 10 to 15 years ago, so we’ve been pulling that and used that as a foundation,” said Sonide Simon, a long-range planner for the county. “We also looked at what had been done then and are also looking at what needs to be fixed up at the same time, and finally seeing if that still works today.

“We have nothing, and that’s what I want everyone to understand: we literally have no plan,” Simon added. “Someone asked what we have planned, but we have no plan.

“And even then, the area wants or needs one thing and this area wants or needs one thing, so talking about two different things isn’t helpful either.”

For the wants, and even needs, Simon and the county’s planning department are inviting citizens and residents of the Greater Lacoochee to take part in public workshops. The county also has established a site that allows people to fill out a survey, anonymously, and to leave comments.

The site also offers a wealth of information, including an interactive map that allows users to click on icons that represent certain community elements such as transportation, housing, business development, and parks and recreation.

Clicking on an icon allows users to start a discussion or leave comments on that specific location on the map.

The county’s planning division also has brought in a Tampa-based geotechnical engineering firm, S&ME, which will provide development and design services. Both entities will develop the plan that will include land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel utilities, parks and more.

Pasco County plans to schedule two more public workshops, one in the Winter and another in the Spring.

The goal is to have the plan ready to present in a March/April time frame.

The first public workshop was on Aug. 30 and attended by dozens, if not over 100 citizens. S&ME representatives laid out the schedule of collecting data, as well as information it found out in initial research.

Of the nearly 11,000 acres included in Greater Lacoochee, 35% of that land is used for agriculture, while another 32% is considered residential. With a population of just under 2,800, the area remains very rural.

Also, during this workshop, citizens were allowed one-on-one time with county and S&ME representatives that were looking for feedback. Residents were encouraged to write down on lists and white paperboards the issues and ideas they thought were relevant.

The most popular, and prevalent, comment was “keep Lacoochee rural” with “open spaces,” as well as a “small, tight-knit community.”

“We’re trying to be realistic that keeping this area rural probably doesn’t fit that idea of 100% rural,” Simon said. “But at the same time, they need more jobs, more work in this area, so how do we marry those two ideas? Rural, but with growth.

“And then this area becomes a lot like Wesley Crazy Chapel? No. We’re building just on the ideas that were done in the past and those ideas were that this is a rural area. That was then. The question now is where do we need to look? That’s where these workshops come in.”

Greater Lacoochee Community Plan
Details: Pasco County’s Planning and Development Department is working on community plans for the greater Lacoochee area, which includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee. The plan will explore topics such as land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel, utilities, parks and more. The county is seeking feedback from Lacoochee area residents and citizens by providing two more public workshops and an online survey.
Info: Access the survey and provide feedback, at smeinc.mysocialpinpoint.com/lacoochee_small_area_plan.

Published September 21, 2022\

Dade City’s inaugural art walk will celebrate local artists

By

Get ready to walk into a new kind of arts scene — within the shops and businesses in the heart of Dade City’s historic downtown.

From Sept. 17 through Sept. 24, downtown Dade City businesses will feature local artists and their works in their storefronts on the town’s historic streets. (MIKE CAMUNAS)

The Dade City Center for the Arts and the Dade City Merchants Association are hosting the inaugural Dade City Art Walk from Sept. 17 through Sept. 24.

The week-long event is a celebration of local artists and their work, as well as a chance to mesh business and the arts, in a creative new collaboration.

“As someone who grew up here (in Dade City), I can say that sometimes you don’t always go to the downtown of your hometown,” said Jasmine Wright, a board member at the arts center. “So this all started as, ‘How do we get people to come see what our downtown has?’ and ‘How could we do something with the small businesses in town?’

“We thought it was just the perfect way to get people out and walking around our historic, beautiful downtown, which is very walkable,” Wright said. “And, it turns out everyone was very excited and willing to be a part of it.”

The Art Walk will feature 22 artists, each one in a different one of 22 select businesses that line the streets of downtown Dade City, such as Meridian Avenue and Seventh Street.

The event kicks off with a Sept. 17 opening ceremony at 5 p.m., at the Florida National Guard Armory, 38017 Live Oak Ave., in Dade City.

The artists will be on hand for a meet-and-greet, plus to sell some of their work. There also will be the “PreCasso” Kids Art Zone, where children can make their own art, and foster children from Caterpillars to Butterflies Charitable Foundation will display art they created.

Wright, who is owner and operator of Treehouse Mercantile on Meridian Avenue, said she and other arts center members were genuinely surprised at the enthusiastic response from artists and businesses that wanted to participate.

“From the start, we said and thought, if we got 10 people to do this, then we could make it work,” Wright said. “Then, we had so many that we had to stop, but people were already asking us about doing it next year!”

Once all the artists and businesses were slated to participate, Wright set about pairing the artists with businesses. She took into account the type of art each artist would feature, as well as the style, vibe and type of business that would be the perfect match.

“It came down to what the store offers and who was going to be in that store, customer-wise,” said Wright, who also will feature an artist in her store.

“There are going to be all kinds of arts and, I think, we did a pretty good job of which artist is going to fit in perfectly with a certain store,” she said.

“And we’re all really excited to see everyone walking around to see some art and shop.”

Dade City Art Walk
When: Sept. 17 to Sept. 24; hours vary
Where: Downtown Dade City
Details: Works from 22 local artists will be on display at downtown Dade City businesses for a week. An opening ceremony is planned on Sept. 17 at 5 p.m., at the Florida National Guard Armory, 38017 Live Oak Ave. Artists will meet-and-greet those attending and will have works available for purchase. A “PreCasso” Kids Art Zone will give children a chance to make their own art.
Info: Contact the Dade City Center for the Arts at 813-363-4385 or .

Published September 14, 2022

A cause that is good for the ‘sole’

By

Scores of shoes were collected during the 2021 Two Good Soles campaign, a collaborative effort between Pasco County government and the school district, now in its seventh year. (FILE)

The Pasco County Tax Collector’s Office once again is participating in the new shoes and socks collection drive, Two Good Soles, to assist local students and families in need.

The campaign, now in its seventh year, is a collaborative effort between the Pasco County government and the school district.

The goal of the drive is to collect as many new pairs of shoes and socks as possible.

“It is heartbreaking to know that children come to school without socks or shoes in good repair,” said Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano in a news release.

“I am pleased that our office is once again part of this county-wide effort to collect as many pairs of footwear as possible. …Every item will go to a Pasco student in need,” said Fasano.

The need for shoes is primarily at the middle school and high school level, although shoes for elementary students also will be accepted.

The sizes most in need are children’s shoes size 9 and bigger, adult shoes of all sizes, and socks of any size. It is recommended that sneakers, shoes and socks be of a neutral color. However, no flip-flops or open-toed shoes, please.

Donations will be accepted through Oct. 21, the final day of the drive, at the labeled collection box near the door, at these sites:

  • New Port Richey, 8731 Citizens Drive, Room 120
  • Gulf Harbors, 4720 U.S. 19, New Port Richey
  • Land O’ Lakes, 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. (U.S. 41)
  • Wesley Chapel, 4614 Pet Lane, Suite 109 (Lutz)
  • Dade City, 14236 Sixth St., Room 100

For information about the Two Good Soles drive, call Greg Giordano, assistant tax collector for communications and special projects, at 727-847-8179.

Published September 14, 2022

Taskforce focused on homelessness in Zephyrhills

By

They are taking care of their own.

Over the past year, local organizations, churches, charities and citizens, have formed The Hub Taskforce. It’s a coalition of like-minded individuals, either representing a place in Zephyrhills or Dade City or just themselves, that comes together monthly to discuss initiatives and how to get more resources to the homeless community.

“This is a group effort — a community effort,” Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer said. “When we started over a year ago, we just started meeting to talk about resources and where we wanted to go as a group. It has snowballed into something much more.”

The Hub Taskforce, made up of community representatives from the city, churches, businesses, charities and citizens, meets at Genesis Community Center in Zephyrhills, and discusses initiatives and resources to help the town’s homeless people. (Mike Camunas)

At first, the taskforce was small and it reached out to the Pasco County Coalition for the Homeless. However, Brewer says it was evident that that group was “stretched pretty thin” and the community, at large, was looking for ways to make an immediate impact on their streets.

“We’ve learned over the years that you can’t rush away homelessness,” Brewer said, “and we wanted a humanitarian approach to it.”

Brewer admits, especially in the meetings, that his officers will be the first line in meeting with homeless people. Which is why he wanted to address the issue in a way that doesn’t involve escalation or even incarnation.

So, the taskforce sets about finding ways to help the homeless, by either getting them the resources they need at the moment, such as a food bank or a shelter.

Backpacks, full of useful supplies for the homeless, were packed and donated by Mechell Alline, a local entrepreneur and life coach.

“We want to get them out of the situation, that way they’re not just sitting in jail,” Brewer added.

Over time, more and more organizations, charities and businesses have joined or attended the meetings. The August meeting was well-attended, and joining the Zephyrhills Police Department (ZPD) was the Zephyrhills Women’s Club, Meals on Wheels Zephyrhills, Pasadena Food Pantry in Dade City, United Methodist Women of Zephyrhills, Saint Joseph’s Catholic Church Food and Baby Pantries, Premier Community HealthCare, First Presbyterian Church of Zephyrhills, Pasco County Schools Students In Transition (SIT) Program, Healing Hearts Cafe, Palm Medical Center for Seniors, and Samaritan Project in Zephyrhills.

The roundtable discussions will present new or recurring issues and those attending will offer solutions. The goal is to find resources and ways to help the homeless, with potential options to improve their lives.

“There are new people every single month, and it’s about what they can offer us, what we can offer them,” Brewer said. “Someone has an issue, everyone jumps on top of it to help. That’s the goal.”

Zephyrhills Police Chief Derek Brewer addresses attendees of The Hub Taskforce during its monthly meeting at the Genesis Community Center.

Others are going a step further. Mechell Alline, a local entrepreneur, life coach and aneurysm survivor, has been putting together helpful backpacks that include supplies like snacks and water, but also resource materials that could lead the homeless person to charities and organizations that might help their specific need.

Members of the taskforce will take a backpack and hand it out to a homeless person. Alline made 12 backpacks at the most recent meeting, paying for them out of her own pocket.

“My intention (with the backpacks) was to make people feel like they are human beings by providing some comfort — it was something I really wanted to do,” she said. “It feels good to be a part of something that’s working toward helping the people in the community who really need it.”

Other members of the taskforce are looking for ways to involve the city more. For the police department, “it’s typical for law enforcement to be thrust into this because we’re the ones making contact with them,” Brewer says, adding “unfortunately we don’t have all the resources available to us.”

“As the officers are coming in contact with them, we want to be able to say, ‘I know who you can call’ and it doesn’t matter if they need clothing or food or shelter or even a backpack.”

However, the taskforce is hoping to get more city representatives to the meetings, as a way to get their feedback and suggestions on solutions.

“I would like to see a little more involvement from the city, especially if we’re addressing this as a city issue and not just a police one,” said Becky Finley, who represents St. Joseph’s Catholic Church Food and Baby Pantries.

In the end, the taskforce sees homelessness as a community, a city and a citizen issue. One that should be solved by their own in the community.

“This is a great group of individuals with the same goal in mind and that’s to help people,” Brewer said. “I didn’t realize the impact these individuals can and will make, until I started meeting with them. They are entrenched in the community, and really care about what happens here.

“They are Zephyrhills people trying to take care of Zephyrhills people.”

The Hub Taskforce
When: Every third Wednesday of the month, 4 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Genesis Community Center, 38112 15th Ave., Zephyrhills
Details: A monthly roundtable of Zephyrhills community, local organizations and citizen representatives that meet to discuss initiatives to help the homeless and poor, and to share other resources to contribute to the city-wide effort. Anyone from the community is welcome to attend.
Info: Call Beth Aker at 813-782-7859.

Published September 07, 2022

Explorer Hernando de Soto traveled through Dade City

By

Explorer Hernando de Soto, commissioned by King Charles V, of Spain, took formal possession of La Florida, on June 3, 1539 — two days after landing near a native village at the head of Charlotte Harbor.

Those were among the facts offered during a talk at the Florida Pioneer Museum & Village, presented by author Charles Enloe Moore.

Moore details de Soto’s expedition, including travels through specific areas in Pasco County, in his 2020 book, “The Long Road to Mabila.”

This map shows 34 locations of the De Soto Trail in Florida, including Zephyrhills, Dade City and Brooksville. (Courtesy of National Park Service)

De Soto and his men became famous as the first European expedition to explore the interior of the North American continent.

Spain’s quest for gold was a prime motivator for de Soto’s expedition, which traversed what would become 14 future states in the United States, according to the author.

Diaries kept along the 4,000-mile trek provide historians a glimpse of what life was like during the days of de Soto’s travels, Moore said.

As de Soto headed north in Florida, Moore explains, the ambitious explorers wanted to find gold as quickly as possible.

The explorer’s party included 620 men and 223 horses, as well as “knights, artisans, wives, war dogs, priests, boat builders, servants and cattle,” Moore wrote.

At the time of his death, at age 42, Hernando de Soto had completed expeditions in Peru, Nicaragua, the Yucatan Peninsula and territory in the modern-day United States. (Courtesy of Charles Enloe Moore)

It is considered likely that wild pigs still found in Florida today are descendants of the large herd of pigs that were part of de Soto’s expedition, the author said.

Shortly after leaving their fleet of ships in Charlotte Harbor, the expedition encountered Juan Ortiz, a Christian native and guide, who helped them follow trails that later became major highways.

They visited places that would become future Florida cities.

For instance, the de Soto expedition passed through what is present-day Mulberry and crossed over a “Great Swamp,” now known as the Green Swamp.

In the Green Swamp, the Spaniards witnessed a vast wilderness of giant cypress trees draped with bromeliads and orchards that would remain undisturbed until the logging boom that occurred 300 years later.

Charles Enloe Moore spent 11 years researching and five years writing his manuscript — by hand — in his quest to publish ‘The Long Road to Mabila,’ a book that details the Hernando de Soto expedition. (Courtesy of Brian Swann)

The huge contingent crossed the Hillsborough River, heading in the general direction of what would become U.S. 98 and entered into an area now known as Dade City.

Averaging at least 11 miles a day — and traveling for five days at a time — the de Soto expedition took the time to rest in Dade City.

One account, chronicled in Moore’s book, recounted that the expedition was “encamped in some very beautiful valleys having large maize (corn) fields, so productive that each stalk had three or four ears…”

In another report, the book notes: “The governor (de Soto) ordered all the maize which was ripe in the fields to be taken, which was enough for three months.”

Rumors persist, among residents of River Road, that Spanish explorers from Hernando de Soto’s expedition hid gold on land, north of Dade City, now owned by Linda Groover. (Courtesy of Doug Sanders)

As a conquistador and nobleman, it was de Soto’s duty to lead his men from the restful Dade City retreat to continue their quest.

They headed north and crossed the Withlacoochee River where they spotted “red deer like large bulls, very large bears and panthers,” Moore wrote.

As the namesake for Hernando and DeSoto counties in Florida, de Soto and his expedition, known as the entrada, entered Georgia where they fought the Indian warriors of Chief Tuscaloosa at a small fortress settlement called Mabila.

Continuing their long journey from 1539 to 1543, the de Soto expedition made its way through the Carolinas, Virginia, Kentucky, Indiana, and sent scouts as far north as present-day Chicago.

Searching for an elusive passage to the Pacific Ocean, de Soto sent scouts as far west as San Antonio, Texas.

Finding no gold or food, de Soto perished on the banks of the Mississippi River, in 1542.

His contingent, which had dwindled in 1543 to less than 300, fled south toward Mexico City where Spain’s major outpost was located on the continent.

At least 30 lancers of de Soto’s men headed back and stopped to rest in Dade City, before returning to Spain.

Published August 24, 2022

East Pasco cleanup yields nearly 12 tons of trash

By

Pasco County’s code enforcement and solid waste teams conducted a cleanup in the Lock Street area of East Pasco and collected nearly 12 tons of trash.

Those county teams joined forces with the community to complete the gargantuan cleanup, according to a news release.

The cleanup included 561 pounds of hazardous materials and 11.74 tons of solid waste debris, the release says.

Commissioner Ron Oakley, whose district includes the area where the cleanup occurred, expressed his appreciation of the effort.

“The Lock Street Community Cleanup got rid of nearly 12 tons of trash and other debris, keeping our community clean for everyone to enjoy,” Oakley said, in the release. “This event, like others we’ve hosted, ensures Pasco County is an exceptional place to live, work and play.  I extend my gratitude to the many volunteers who work so hard to ensure a clean and healthy county.”

Pasco County hosts community cleanup events to give customers a convenient opportunity to get rid of trash, debris and hazardous materials that might otherwise lead to code violations or illegal dumping.

To report illegal dumping in Pasco County, call 727-847-2411.

Published August 24, 2022

Dade City Museum unveils new website, logo

By

The Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum has unveiled its redesigned website and logo.

Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum, at 14206 U.S. 98 Bypass in Dade City, is housed in the old Atlantic Coastline Train Depot, which was preserved and reopened as a tourist destination in 2008. (Mike Camunas)

The museum is dedicated to preserving history, offering education, and promoting public interest and awareness regarding Dade City.

Located at 14206 U.S. 98 Bypass, the museum is housed in a former Atlantic Coastline Train Depot. The depot has been preserved and was reopened as a tourist destination in 2008.

In July 1994, it became the first site in Pasco County to be placed on the National Register of Historic Places, as the tracks that run closest to the depot were the first to reach Dade City in 1887.

Through efforts from the city and local residents, the depot was transformed into the Dade City Heritage and Cultural Museum in 2018, where it now houses artifacts, photographs, documents and records of historic places and longtime residents of Dade City.

The museum consists of a main exhibition space, a model train room and a Community Archive and Reading Room. It is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit.

The museum is open Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and offers tours and periodical events, such as Monuments by Moonlight: a 90-minute walking tour through nearby Dade City Cemetery. The museum also is available for event rental.

Local screen printing and embroidery business, FloriCoastal Print in Dade City, designed the museum’s new logo.

For more information or to support the museum through donations, visit DadeCityHeritageMuseum.org.

Published August 17, 2022

Pasco High honors Gerald Newton

By

Gerald Newton (File)

The Pasco County School Board has named the press box at W.F. Edwards Stadium after Gerald Newton, who was known as the “Voice of the Pirates.”

Pasco High School Principal Kari Kadlub and Athletic Director Dawn Wetherby submitted the request, which was approved during a July school board meeting.

In part, the letter of request notes that for 40 years, Newton “volunteered at Pasco High School—providing play-by-play coverage for the fans in the stands at football games and the voice of WDCF (local radio station).

“He loved coming to the games and helping create the electric atmosphere,” the letter adds.

“Additionally, he announced countless homecoming and senior nights.

“He wrote a local sports column in the Dade City Banner, Pasco News, and Dade City News from 1965 to 2012. He truly was the “VOICE” of the Pirates,” the letter says.

Newton worked for 40-plus years as a teacher, coach and athletic director.

Published August 17, 2022