The Laker/Lutz News

U.S. 301

Zephyrhills city manager earns solid performance marks

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The verdict is in: Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe is doing a pretty bang-up job.

That’s the general consensus of the Zephyrhills City Council in its performance review of Poe, shared during the council’s July 12 meeting.

Poe earned a combined 4.21 on a rating scale of 1 to 5, with 1 meaning needs improvement and 5 meaning exceeds expectations.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe (File)

Here’s how the scores for Poe broke down:

Council President Alan Knight: 4.84
Councilman Ken Burgess: 4.68
Councilman Charlie Proctor: 4.27
Councilman Lance Smith: 3.82
Council Vice President Jodi Wilkeson: 3.43

The 12-page evaluation covered a period from June 2020 to June 2021.

The review consisted of 10 key performance measures — personal, professional skills and status, relations with elected members, policy execution, reporting, citizen relations, staffing, supervision, community, and fiscal management.

The evaluation also gave council members an opportunity to respond to specific questions and include comments pertinent to the rating period. Those specifics could include the city manager’s strengths, performance areas needing improvement and constructive suggestions.

The results were submitted to Lori Hillman, the city clerk; Sandra Amerson, human resources director; and, Pasco County.

After the results were shared, several council members offered remarks about the city’s operations under Poe’s management.

Smith and Burgess each simply stated the city manager is “doing a good job.”

Burgess added: “I think everything is running along pretty good right now.”

Knight was more effusive in his praise. He said Poe is “doing a great job.”

Knight elaborated: “Things that are being done for this city and the growth and all, I’m just real proud of everything. Once again, Mr. Poe, we’re very proud. I know I’m very proud of the job you do.”

Poe’s evaluation period coincides with several noteworthy changes for the municipality. Those include consolidation of the city’s longstanding fire department into Pasco County; the opening of the multimillion-dollar Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center; progress on the U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road signalized intersection project; the launch of the city’s first social media accounts; and, the hiring of its first public information officer.

Poe became Zephyrhills’ city manager during a period of massive residential growth in the city — with over 2,400 homes under construction, not including the numerous developments currently in the negotiation stage. As a result of the growth, an estimated 6,000 people could move into the city within the next two years to five years.

He previously served as city manager in Dade City in 2008, a position he held for over a decade.

He left Dade City to become the assistant city manager in Zephyrhills, in November 2018, then stepped up to replace retiring city manager Steve Spina in July 2019.

Published July 28, 2021

Shop a little, give a little back

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While running routine weekly errands, area residents can help to reduce single-use plastic in the environment — while also giving back to the community — by shopping at the Dade City Winn Dixie.

Through Winn Dixie’s Reusable Bag Program, with every $2.50 reusable community bag purchase, a $1 donation is made to a nonprofit that is local to the grocery store at which it was bought.

The nonprofit Pioneer Florida Museum & Village has been selected by store leadership at Winn Dixie, 12649 U.S. 301 in Dade City, to benefit from the program during the month of July.

The museum will receive $1 for every reusable bag sold at this location.

“It’s more important than ever to help reduce single-use plastic in the environment,” Stephanie Bracknell Black, executive director of the museum, said in a news release.

“Nonprofits at the local level, like us, are in need of community support. This program offers the perfect solution to multiple issues of the world today. We hope you’ll support us in July by purchasing one – or two – community bags at our local Dade City Winn Dixie,” Black said.

For information about the reusable bag program, visit WinnDixie.com.

Published July 07, 2021

Alternative route selected for Morningside extension

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The Dade City Commission has approved an engineer’s recommendation for the Morningside Drive extension route study, but funding for the initiative remains an issue.

The extension of Morningside Drive is intended to connect U.S. 301 to Fort King Road.

Commissioners on June 8 approved an engineer’s recommendation for the Morningside Drive extension route study, pond siting analysis and report — authorizing work to proceed on subsequent phases of the project, including funding acquisition, design/permitting and right-of-way acquisition.

This 1.19-mile route with a roundabout is the preferred choice to extend Morningside Drive to connect U.S. 301/98 to Fort King Road in Dade City. The total estimated cost of the roadway project is $12,401,800. Officials have said the Morningside Drive extension project will yield numerous benefits, such as reducing traffic volume on parallel roadways and stimulating economic development. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

The route study — completed by New Port Richey-based Coastal Design Consultants Inc. — is next slated to be presented sometime in August to the Pasco County Commission.

The civil engineering firm’s recommended 1.19-mile route includes a roundabout at the Morningside Drive/Fort King Road west segment, circling AdventHealth Dade City hospital and the Pasco County Schools bus garage.

The preferred route — somewhat resembling a Z-shape pattern — veers slightly northeast from Fort King Road, winding south through open water and upland areas within Dade City and unincorporated Pasco County, connecting parallel with the Hardy Trail, then cutting across eastward to the entrance of U.S. 301, passing between Walgreen’s, Buddy’s Home Furnishings, Winn-Dixie and other establishments.

The roadway calls for two, 12-foot-wide traffic lanes; 5-foot bicycle lanes; curbs and gutters; a sidewalk on the south side; and a multi-use path on the north side connecting with Hardy Trail.

The design speed for the Morningside Drive extension is 45 mph with a posted speed of 30 mph.

Stormwater management facilities improvements and a flood plain compensation area also are included in the roadway plans.

Coastal Design Consultants president/owner Paul Manuel shared a detailed PowerPoint presentation at last month’s in-person meeting at the Dade City Commission Chambers.

According to Manuel’s presentation, the winding route “was developed to optimally utilize the available upland area and parcels of property owners who have indicated that they support the proposed extension.”

The implementation of a roundabout, Manuel said, requires fewer right-of-way impacts and is more conducive to traffic calming compared to a signalized intersection. It’s also less costly to build and maintain, he said.

Other considerations taken into account during the route study were community long-range planning goals, safety, environmental impacts, property impacts and costs.

The estimated total capital project cost of the selected route is $12,401,800. Two other alternatives were considered and studied, as well as a no-build alternative.

This amount encompasses estimated construction, design, and construction engineering and inspection ($9.1 million), right-of-way acquisition ($1.7 million) and wetland mitigation ($1.6 million).

The route’s right-of-way impacts affect 18.44 acres, 17 parcels, two businesses and one residence, according to Manuel’s report.

Dade City Manager Leslie Porter (File)

As plans move forward, funding the entirety of the project remains a problem for the municipality, for the time being.

In 2019, Dade City was awarded a $5 million state appropriation for the Morningside project — less than half the project’s estimated total cost. This funding remains available for use through 2024, unless the city requests the state for an extension to complete the project.

The $5 million is roughly enough to just cover the project’s design, permitting and right-of-way access issues before the build portion.

City Manager Leslie Porter told commissioners that staff is “looking internally at how we’re going to bridge that gap” for monies to pay for the roadway.

Some transportation impact fees will be coming through to help cover costs, but Porter said she doesn’t “have a real hard number on that yet.”

She suggested the city ask state legislators for another round of funding for the project, and seek out opportunities with the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) and beneficiaries of the project, such as the hospital.

Porter pointed out she’s been in regular communication with state representatives and county partners, so decision-makers are aware of the project’s sizable price tag.

Morningside extension yields benefits, but concerns, too
Officials have said the Morningside Drive extension project will yield numerous benefits, such as reducing traffic volume on parallel roadways and stimulating economic development.

It offers direct access to the hospital, on Fort King Road, which was considered a top priority for the road’s extension, and also improves public safety access for police and fire rescue services.

“I think it’s going to benefit not only AdventHealth, but the community at large with the growth and the other things that are happening,” Mayor Camille Hernandez said.

Having the connection to Hardy Trail is an added bonus, the mayor said.

New Port Richey-based civil engineering firm Coastal Design Consultants Inc., provided the route study recommendation for the Morningside Drive extension project. In addition to the 1.19-mile Z-shaped route, two other routes and a no-build alternatives were considered. (Courtesy of Coastal Design Consultants Inc.)

Addressing the funding shortfall, Hernandez observed, “Clearly, well, ($5 million) isn’t going to work. We do know that we have some work to do.”

She said her concerns include both funding for the project and the time frame for completion.

Commissioner Knute Nathe also expressed support for the recommended route extension for its public safety and fresh development opportunities, but emphasized the importance of considering other community concerns throughout the project’s process.

He referred to some vocal citizens — situated along 10th Street, Fairfield Lane and Willingham Avenue —  who may be affected in one way or another.

Overall, Nathe said, the project will be “very important for our residents,” particularly from the perspective of patients and doctors more easily traveling to and from the hospital, between Dade City and Zephyrhills. “There’s been a lot of public support for extending Morningside,” Nathe said.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Shive thanked Coastal Engineering for “a phenomenal job with the assessment and the route study.”

Shive continued: “I agree with what’s being recommended. I think it’s going to be a plus for the city.”

In early May, Pasco County Engineering Services hosted an open house for the Morningside Drive extension, which drew about 40 participants at the Dade City Commission chambers.

Public input was received during and after the meeting.

Comments included general support of the chosen route, but concerns were raised about existing flooding conditions within the study area, right-of-way acquisition required for build alternatives, traffic volumes and noise, and wetland and wildlife impacts.

Manuel addressed those concerns head-on.

“There were a lot of concerns about flooding, which we will make an emphasis during the design process, but that is a process that you’re going to get into a lot more deeply when you get into understanding the design of the project,” he explained.

“There were also concerns to right-of-way acquisitions and how close it is to people’s residences and homes,” he added, noting he read through all of the comments and has a good understanding of the concerns.

As for next steps, the project’s design/permitting period will take about a year, Manuel noted.

Back-and-forth negotiations and regulatory processes on wetland and environmental impacts with state agencies takes up the bulk of that time frame, he said.

Published July 07, 2021

Improvement aimed to move freight, boost safety

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The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) is planning an improvement in the U.S. 301/U.S. 98 corridor that’s intended to accommodate increased truck traffic and to improve the road’s safety.

Details of the plan were discussed during the Pasco Metropolitan Planning Organization on June 10, and a public hearing is set for June 24 to give interested stakeholders a chance to learn more and comment on the plans.

“This project is along U.S. 301, from south of U.S. 98 to State Road 50, in both Pasco and Hernando counties,” Ashley Henzel, the FDOT project manager, told Pasco MPO board members.

“It’s a distance of approximately 4 miles.

“The existing right of way varies throughout the corridor, with a minimum width of 100 feet. We will need additional right of way to accommodate roadway improvements, as well as flood plain compensation sites and stormwater management facilities,” Henzel said.

“U.S. 301 is a main north-south arterial highway in Pasco and Hernando counties. It connects to a number of regionally significant corridors, including State Road 50 and U.S. 98.

“The purpose of this project is to widen U.S. 301 from a two-lane undivided facility to a multilane divided facility to address existing safety issues and to accommodate future traffic growth.

“This particular segment has a high crash rate, that ranges from two to five times the statewide average for a similar facility,” Henzel added.

She also noted: “U.S. 301 is an important freight route that spans all of the way from Sarasota to Delaware.

“This particular route serves as an alternative route to I-75 (Interstate 75), and has a potential to safely accommodate higher truck volumes.”

The planned improvements include roadway widenings, stormwater management facilities, flood plain compensation sites, as well as various intersection improvements, median modifications and multimodal facilities, she said.

The current existing roadway section is a two-lane road with 4-foot paved shoulders in Pasco County and a two-lane paved road with 6-foot paved shoulders in Hernando County.

For more details, check the project’s website page, attend the June 24 public meeting, or reach out to Henzel.

Public hearing on improvements to U.S. 98/301 corridor
What: Hybrid virtual and in-person public meeting for U.S. 98/U.S. 301 project
When: June 24, 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., with formal portion of the meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m.
Where: Ridge Manor Community Center, 34240 Cortez Blvd., Ridge Manor
Attend Virtually: Via GoTo Meeting. Preregistration is required, on the project website, https://www.fdotd7studies.com/projects/us301-us98-to-sr50/.
Details: The public can view and comment on proposed plans for improvements to a 4-mile stretch of the U.S. 98/U.S. 301 corridor, through portions of Pasco and Hernando counties.
Info: Contact Ashley Henzel, project manager, at or 813-975-6433.

Published June 23, 2021

Zephyrhills council to weigh in on city manager

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Zephyrhills City Council soon will be sharing their evaluation of how well City Manager Billy Poe has been performing his job during the past year.

Council members will be completing an annual performance evaluation of Poe, with the aim to “provide important feedback to the city manager identifying areas of strengths and accomplishments, as well as areas in which improvement may be needed,” according to a city memo dated June 14.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe

The evaluation covers a period from June 2020 to June 2021.

Council members are expected to complete the evaluation form and submit to Mayor Gene Whitfield by June 25.

Whitfield will summarize a report during the next regular council meeting scheduled for July 12 at 6 p.m., at Zephyrhills City Hall Council Chambers, 5335 Eighth St., in Zephyrhills.

The 12-page evaluation form consists of 10 key performance measures — personal, professional skills and status, relations with elected members, policy execution, reporting, citizen relations, staffing, supervision, community, and fiscal management.

Performance levels are factored based on a rating scale numbered from 1 (needs improvement) to 5 (exceeds above expectations).

The evaluation also contains a section with an opportunity for council members to enter responses to specific questions and list any comments pertinent to the rating period, such as the city manager’s strengths and performance areas that need improvement, with additional room for constructive suggestions.

The evaluation period coincides with several noteworthy changes for the municipality, including consolidation of the city’s longstanding fire department into Pasco County; opening of the multi-million dollar Sarah Vande Berg Tennis & Wellness Center; progress on the U.S. 301/Pretty Pond Road signalized intersection project to pave way for commercial development such as a soon-to-be Chick-fil-A and Chipotle franchises along Gall Boulevard; the launch of the city’s first social media accounts and the hiring of its first public information officer, among other happenings.

Poe has deep ties to the East Pasco community.

Born and raised in Zephyrhills, he began his career as an intern with Zephyrhills city administration, then spent several years working as an assistant city planner.

Poe landed the role of city manager role in Dade City in 2008, a position he held for over a decade.

He left Dade City to become the assistant city manager in Zephyrhills, in November 2018, then stepped up to replace retiring city manager Steve Spina in July 2019.

Poe became Zephyrhills’ city manager during a period of massive residential growth in the city — with over 2,400 homes under construction, not including the numerous developments currently in the negotiation stage. As a result of the growth, an estimated 6,000 people could move into the city within the next two to five years.

Published June 23, 2021

Pasco County commissioner addresses measured growth, development

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Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore is well aware of the influx of countless new residents to the area he oversees.

After all, Moore was quick to acknowledge the county he oversees is one of the fastest-growing in the state, if not the entire nation, during a speaking engagement last month for the East Pasco Networking Group.

“If you drive down any road, you can probably tell that we are (rapidly growing) now,” Moore said, during the April 27 meeting at IHOP in Dade City.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore was a featured guest speaker at last month’s East Pasco Networking Group meeting at IHOP in Dade City. He addressed a number of countywide issues during his visit. (Kevin Weiss)

“People want to come to Pasco County.”

Besides what Moore considers to be “a happening place,” the elected official posited the following for why the county is experiencing such rapid growth: “I think we do a good job of keeping our taxes low and offering the same amount of services of the surrounding counties, if not more services that the surrounding counties offer, and I think we’ll continue to be able to do that.”

Moore — a small businesses owner who moved to Pasco in 2007 — further added that the county has emphasized public safety over the years, with support and resources for the county’s fire rescue and sheriff’s office, “and making sure those people were staying here, and not leaving.”

Moore, who represents District 2, explained, “When I first came here, people were leaving Pasco County to go work other places. Now, people from Hillsborough, Pinellas and those areas want to come to Pasco County. It’s just a fact. It’s awesome to see all these people that at one time left are saying, ‘Wow, we need to come back,’ or are telling their friends, ‘You need to go work in Pasco County,’ and that’s what we’re seeing on that side.”

Moore noted the county’s fiscal year 2020 permit numbers “skyrocketed,” despite the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Residential permits were up 32% from fiscal year 2019, while commercial permits increased 16.7% compared to 2019, he said during the meeting.

Moreover, the commissioner noted Pasco processed more single-family home permits than Hillsborough during the final quarter of 2020.

“It goes to show you, people like what’s happening in Pasco County and want to come to Pasco County. And not only do they want to move here, but they want to move their businesses here,” he said.

Continuing on the topic of growth, at least one area of concern is the number of apartment complexes popping up throughout the county, particularly in Moore’s district spanning much of central Pasco and Wesley Chapel, and generally bordering the Hillsborough County line south, U.S. 41 westbound, State Road 52 northbound and all the way east to U.S. 301.

Moore has been vociferous during commission meetings about enacting a temporary moratorium on apartments in a portion of his district until county officials can tally the number of entitlements currently on the books.

“There’s nothing wrong with apartments,” Moore said, “but when you have an over-saturation of one product, it can lead to bad things down the road.

“We saw it happen not only with Hillsborough County, but we did a lot of research on areas across the nation, and it really comes to spot zoning these apartments on every corner, and what we’re doing is actually taking away valuable land that could be office/commercial and job creating sites, especially in a hot market like this. If you don’t have the land available that’s conducive to having those products there, they’re not going to come.”

Moore added he disagrees with those in the apartment development industry who claim the county continually needs more complexes to satisfy the area’s growth, because “the land’s already entitled to allow it to happen,” he said.

Of further concern is the possible blight of such complexes decades into the future, which could bring down surrounding property values and increase crime rates, Moore said.

Moore put it like this: “We have to be very conscious and careful going forward, of, ‘How much of that one product do we actually have?’ because 10 years down the road, now it’s all bright, shiny and new, but what about the ones that have been here 20 years? Who’s going to take care of those? Who’s going to live in those? Are they going to become dilapidated?”

Though all sorts of residential and commercial development is in the pipeline, the local decisionmaker pointed out roughly 22% of county land is protected through the Environmental Lands Acquisition and Management Program (ELAMP).

ELAMP — created in July 2004 by county referendum — is responsible for purchasing environmentally sensitive lands throughout the county by either fee title or less-than-fee methods; funding is provided through a portion of the Penny For Pasco surtax.

“A lot of people don’t realize that, and that’s a big portion of the county, and it’s actually growing because there are still more funds available to do that,” Moore said.

“There’s land protected in Pasco, from east to west, north to south, that will never be built on, and will be there 100 years down the road for our great grandkids and great, great grandkids to enjoy.

“Some are passive park areas, obviously, and the public gets to typically have use of them, but it’s just land that’ll always be there and always be protected.”

ELAMP objectives, according to the county’s website, include the following:

  • Protect natural communities, including uplands and wetlands
  • Connect natural linkages
  • Conserve viable populations of native plants and animals
  • Protect habitat for listed species
  • Protect water resources and wetland systems
  • Protect unique natural resources
  • Enhance resource-based recreational opportunities
  • Expand environmental education opportunities

Published May 12, 2021

Federal help sought for sewer project

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The City of Zephyrhills is pursuing federal dollars to help pay for a new master lift station located in the vicinity of Otis Allen Road and 23rd Street.

The project — yet to be designed — calls for a new duplex master lift station with provisions to be upgraded to a triplex station when needed; an emergency generator; and, 17,000 linear feet of 8-inch and 10-inch HPDE (High Density Polyethylene) force main piping.

Zephyrhills is requesting $1.5 million in federal funding, which equates to 37.5% of the overall cost of the estimated $4 million project.

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe (File)

Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe said the opportunity to secure federal dollars comes about as federal lawmakers recently reinstated the process of earmarking for local governments and nonprofits, otherwise referred to as community project funding.

With that, an approved congressional request package has been sent to the office of U.S. Rep Gus Bilirakis, R-Palm Harbor, who’s told city leaders he will offer his support for the project through the legislative budgeting process.

The action approving the latest drafted package for the congressman’s office came during an April 26 regular meeting of the Zephyrhills City Council.

Zephyrhills has not been given a time frame regarding when they will know whether their grant request has been approved.

However, the plans to move ahead on the project are not contingent on receiving the federal money, Poe said. It will need to evaluate other funding options, if the federal request is denied, he said.

Based on prepared documents, the municipality looks to have the project’s design and bidding process complete by January, which includes determining the location of the station and the best route for the piping.

If on track from there, construction is expected to begin sometime in February and run through December, with the project being fully online and operational by January 2023.

Poe explained the need for the project, in a memo to council members.

The city’s existing wastewater infrastructure is at capacity and cannot accommodate additional flow from the north side of the city to the advanced wastewater treatment facility on the south side of the city, Poe explained in the memo.

The initiative is intended to assist with wastewater systems improvements to allow the city to balance wastewater flow, to provide water quality protection, and to support water supply needs in the Hillsborough River Basin.

The proposed improvements include a force main and associated lift stations that will allow the city to take approximately 200 residents off either septic systems or aging package plant facilities and instead send this wastewater flow to the city’s AWT (Advanced Wastewater Treatment) plant.

Poe and other city officials also said the project will ensure that future development will connect to centralized wastewater disposal facilities, therefore preventing installation of future septic systems and package plants near sensitive ecosystems.

In simpler terms, Poe said, “This will help to accommodate growth and take some pressure off the existing system.”

The City of Zephyrhills is seeking a $1.5 million federal grant for a new master lift station in the vicinity of Otis Allen Road and 23rd Street.

Councilman Ken Burgess supports the improvement, saying, “I think this is a much-needed project.”

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce and the Zephyrhills Economic Development Coalition also sent letters to Bilirakis, supporting the project.

In part, Melonie Monson, chamber director, wrote: “East Pasco County, including the Zephyrhills community, is experiencing accelerated growth in recent years, and is poised to become the number one place to live. The addition of this new lift station would grant future development the ability to connect to the city wastewater with confidence and ease.

“We know you recognize the need to move away from old septic systems, which could hold potential risk, and into a streamlined and safe wastewater disposal system. It is important for our city to offer adequate infrastructure to its residents and this wastewater system improvement and would be a step in that direction. We applaud our state and city leaders who are working to better our community.

“We ask for your support in this effort to improve the amazing community in which we live, work and play,” Monson concluded.

Other updates shared during the council meeting, included:

  • Work on the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport runway extension 1-19 project officially began in mid-April, with completion expected sometime around November or December.
  • New mast arm traffic signals are now set to be erected as part of the U.S. 301, Pretty Pond and Townview shopping center intersection project.
  • Walls are up on a standalone Chick-fil-A franchise, with an anticipated opening in late July or early August, at 7490 Gall Blvd.
  • Construction is moving forward on a standalone Chipotle franchise, though there is not a known time frame for opening, at 7642 Gall Blvd.

Published May 05, 2021

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo at Plaza Mexico

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Unbelievable Margarita Specials!

There’s no better place to celebrate Cinco de Mayo than Plaza Mexico Restaurant Bar & Grill in Zephyrhills. Patrons enjoy this spacious family restaurant with authentic Mexican food, and on May 5, are looking forward to Mexican music, dancing and drink specials under a large tent set up in its parking lot.

“Last year we were closed on Cinco de Mayo because of COVID, so this year we’re especially excited to be bringing our Mexican traditions to our friends and neighbors,” said Hector Gallardo, one of the restaurant’s owners.

Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of Mexican heritage, commemorating the May 5,1862 date of the Mexican army’s victory over France at the Battle of Puebla. In the U.S., it is the biggest celebration honoring Mexico and its people.

You can’t have a Cinco de Mayo party without guacamole, and Plaza Mexico is known for its freshly made guacamole made tableside.

“Our cart goes around to every table to offer fresh guacamole,” Gallardo said. “It’s a really popular appetizer because it’s made fresh right in front of you.”

And when it comes to drinks, Plaza Mexico has a large selection of margaritas, including a monster margarita that is called the fishbowl. On Cinco de Mayo, margaritas specials will be available inside and under the big tent.

Families visit Plaza Mexico all year long for its great food and festive ambience.  Its unique décor has a “Day of the Dead” theme.

“We have a lot of regulars who keep coming back because our food is very good, our portions generous and prices very affordable,” said Gallardo. “We love seeing so many familiar faces as new customers come back again and again.”

Located on County Road 54, just east of U.S. 301, Plaza Mexico is in a beautifully renovated free-standing building in the heart of town, just blocks from AdventHealth Zephyrhills. The restaurant follows COVID safety guidelines.

Gallardo and his uncle, Hector Alvarez, believe in leading from the front, and work alongside their employees to ensure professionalism and quality control.

“At most places, the owner just opens the restaurant. They let the people work for them, but here the owners work in the restaurant. We have two or three owners working at a time, to make sure that everything is done very professionally,” said Alvarez.

The menu at Plaza Mexico is extensive with many different choices, including lots of vegetarian dishes. The menu has authentic versions of the usual Mexican favorites: tacos, fajitas, burritos, quesadillas and enchiladas. And, for seafood lovers, there are crab quesadillas, white shrimp enchiladas and ceviche.

Food is made fresh daily, and some of the recipes have existed for generations within the family. One dish — a popular house special that can be ordered for one or two persons — that Gallardo is particularly proud of is served in a molcajete.

“Let me extend a personal invitation to readers of The Laker to visit our Cinco de Mayo celebration. We would love to introduce you and your family to the best Mexican food in the area, in an environment that is safe and fun,” said Gallardo.

Margarita Specials
(Old family recipe from Jalisco, Mexico)
16 oz small – $7.75
27 oz jumbo – $9.95
40 oz monster – $14.95

Rising from the ashes — an iconic bar begins a new era in Zephyrhills

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Two days after a devastating fire tore through Jerry’s Crystal Bar, Bob Geddes could be seen walking around the burnt-out shell of the building.

Geddes, one of the building’s owners, appeared to be in a bit of a daze — as he maneuvered through the aftermath, clutching a battery-powered drill in his hand.

The Crystal Bar’s old metal sign hangs over the stage area in the newly rebuilt watering hole. The sign was salvaged from the 2019 fire that destroyed the original bar. The bar’s founder, Bob Geddes, repainted an old Western Auto sign, decades ago, to create the sign for his establishment. (Christine Holtzman)

The fire was on May 2, 2019 — and it wasn’t certain what the future would hold.

After all, the beloved Gall Boulevard watering hole had been the longest-operating bar in Zephyrhills.

Founded in 1954 by his parents, Bob and Geraldine, the bar had become a community fixture.

It wasn’t just the loss of a building.

The yellow caution tape around the parking lot’s perimeter signaled the end of an era.

After the fire, Crystal’s Facebook page was flooded with stories about people finding love there, having fun there and feeling ‘at home’ within the bar’s walls.

Jimmie Rex Harper, better known as the famous ‘Zephyrhills Shirtless Cowboy,’ enjoys his favorite brew straight from the pitcher during the Crystal Bar’s soft opening on March 26.

People wondered: Will the bar be rebuilt?

Shortly after the fire — while the pungent smell of burnt wood still lingered in the air — Bob Geddes wasn’t certain.

But, last month that question was answered, as the iconic business held a soft opening of a new building that looks different from the previous bar, but seems to have preserved the loyalty of its patrons.

The new bar appears to be two stories tall.

The structure also is closer to Gall Boulevard, with a wide sidewalk out front and parking in the rear — changes required to the city’s form-based code, for a reimagined U.S. 301/Gall Boulevard corridor area, according to Kurt Geddes, another one of the owners.

Rebuilding the bar was a unanimous decision for him and his five siblings who share ownership, he said.

They wanted to rebuild because it is their legacy, he explained.

Tom Jones, of Zephyrhills, left, enjoys a cocktail at Crystal Bar, with his brother-in-law David Lutat. They’ve been coming to the bar since 1990, and their favorite drink is a Crown and Soda.

“We’re all townies. We all went to school here and graduated here. We got married here. The bar is an icon, an institution. It’s a rite of passage to go to the Crystal to have a drink.”

He is quite the popular figure, as he sits at the bar.

A sea of familiar faces gathers — vying for his attention.

Next to him is Maria Laudenbach, of Zephyrhills, a patron at Crystal for 15 years.

She points at Kurt Geddes and says, “They’re not just family (meaning all the Geddes siblings) — they’re everybody’s family.”

Rene Hill, another sibling and owner, expressed how she couldn’t contain her happiness in the days leading up to the soft opening – which happened to fall on her late mother Geraldine’s birthday.

Norman ‘Stormin Norman’ Bureau, right, studies his next move while playing a billiards game at the bar’s soft opening last month. Bill Therrien, center, and bar owner Kurt Geddes, left, both play in the same billiards league.

“Every time I’ve come into work, I’ve had a smile on my face. I haven’t smiled in two years,” Hill said.

Others enjoying the evening also had their stories about what the reopening meant to them.

Rob Hubbard, of Zephyrhills, said he first came to the bar as a young boy in the 1980s – when his mother was a bartender there.

Sipping his beer, he summed up his feelings this way: “This bar means a lot. I’ve known the (Geddes) family a long time and they’ve always been good to me. It’s just a great place to come.”

He admitted: “It’s a little odd now, because this place is completely different. It’s a lot bigger place, it’s a whole different look.”

Bartender Teresa O’Malley, of Dade City, who has worked at Crystal Bar since 1998, puts the finishing touches on a couple of cocktails. This is her take on the bar: ‘It’s community, a camaraderie, the local hometown feel, good people, good times, you know, it’s just wonderful.’

But that didn’t stop him from dropping by.

Norman ‘Stormin Norman’ Bureau, of Zephyrhills, was at the soft opening playing billiards with his friend, Bill Therrien.

Bureau, a patron at the bar for 30 years, compared its vibe to the “Cheers” bar featured in a popular 1980s-sitcom.

“Everyone knows your name. It makes you feel good inside,” Bureau said, adding that the regulars at the bar “are tighter than Grandma’s knitting.”

Therrien, also of Zephyrhills, has a shorter history with the bar — roughly six years — but feels equally at home.

He’s also enthusiastic about the bar’s new digs.

“I love it. I love what they’ve built here, I love what they’ve done. It’s awesome,” Therrien said.

Arguably one of the bar’s most colorful characters is Jimmie Rex Harper, also known as the famous ‘Zephyrhills Shirtless Cowboy.’

At the soft opening, the 46-year-old is seated at the bar – wearing his cowboy hat, and drinking beer from a pitcher.

He’s been a customer at the bar since he turned 21.

The sun sets behind the new Jerry’s Crystal Bar, 5707 Gall Blvd., Zephyrhills, on March 26, the day of its soft opening. A new building has replaced the previous one that was destroyed by fire on May 2, 2019.

When he began frequenting it, founders Bob and Geraldine were still alive and running the bar.

Over the years, Harper said, every single Geddes family member has thrown him out of the place for being rowdy — with the exception of the elder Bob, who had a soft spot for him.

Harper had just been allowed back into the bar — following his most recent ban — just two weeks before the fire destroyed the building.

The new building might inspire him, he said, to try to not get banned again.

The bar held its grand opening celebration on April 23, with prizes, giveaways and live music.

Bob Geddes said the family had a simple motivation for wanting to reopen.

“We were thinking that we had been here for 65+ years, and we decided we didn’t want it to end,” he said.

By Christine Holtzman

Published April 28, 2021

New community of Two Rivers edges closer to reality

By

Two Rivers — a community proposed to rise along State Road 56, between Morris Bridge Road and U.S. 301 — will offer people places to live, work and play — under plans submitted to Pasco County.

The community has taken a step closer to development — through the Pasco County Commission’s April 20 approval of a text change in the county’s comprehensive plan, and a change to the county’s highway vision map.

This land, along State Road 56, east of Morris Bridge Road, is now occupied by trees, ponds and open fields. But it is proposed to become the future community of Two Rivers — a place that will feature homes, businesses, recreational options and schools, under proposals going through Pasco County’s regulatory process. (File)

Commissioners approved the changes unanimously. No one spoke in favor or opposition to the proposed changes.

Next, the developer must secure a rezoning to create the proposed community. That request is in process and is expected to come to the county board in coming months.

Once the regulatory hurdles are cleared, efforts can begin to bring the proposed 3,405-acre community to life.

Two Rivers is envisioned as a place that features a mixture of housing types, work opportunities, shopping, recreation and schools, according to previous public hearings involving the development.

The project has been in planning stages — off and on — for more than 10 years, and there have been a number of ownership changes.

The current proposal calls for creating Two Rivers as a master-planned development, on the southern edge of Pasco County. The project would tie into a community that’s under the same ownership, which is just south of the Pasco-Hillsborough line.

County documents detail the proposed plan, which includes:

  • 246 acres of conservation area
  • 3,875 single-family homes
  • 1,400 multifamily homes
  • 1,125 age-restricted homes
  • 1.3 million square feet for a targeted industry
  • 630,000 square feet retail

Other elements include schools for elementary, middle and high students, on property that would be next to an 80-acre county park.

Two Rivers is expected to be a community that emphasizes walkability and includes an extensive trail system that provides connectivity within the community. Alternate modes of transportation, such as golf carts, also will be encouraged, to help residents get from place to place.

The proposed community also calls for numerous recreational amenities, including recreational complexes, multipurpose fields, ball diamonds, an aquatics center, playgrounds, a dog park, tennis and basketball courts, and open spaces.

Published April 28, 2021