The Laker/Lutz News

Wesley Chapel

ICI Homes Introduces New Model in Lake Jovita

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ICI Homes — one of Florida’s best-known and prestigious homebuilders — has opened its newest model in Lake Jovita Golf and Country Club, a beautiful master-planned community with rolling hills and large homesites, off State Road 52 in Dade City.

The Egret Model is a one-story home that features 3,137 square feet of living area with three bedrooms, three baths and a two-car garage. As one walks into the model, they are greeted by a large dining room on one side and a flex room on the other. The giant gathering room is the heart of this home and includes a luxurious gourmet kitchen with a breakfast nook.

The master suite features plenty of privacy, as well as large walk-in closets and a spacious bath. Two guest bedrooms and bath are on the other side of the home, and provide plenty of space for children and guests. A functional utility/laundry room is located nearby the two-car garage, and for buyers with a need for additional storage space, a three-car garage is optional.

“I don’t think there’s a better homesite in the area,” says Greg Jones, Tampa division manager for ICI Homes. “I think what separates us in the market with this model is the 12-foot ceilings. They are absolutely stunning.”

ICI Homes has lots in three Lake Jovita neighborhoods: Parkside, Meadows and The Bluffs. Its semi-custom homes range from 2,000 to 4,000 square feet, with pricing starting in the high $300s. Homesites in The Bluffs, which is located at some of the highest elevation in Florida, are suitable for floor plans up to 10,000 square feet, with many buyers building their forever home.

“All of our neighborhoods in Lake Jovita have homesites that back up to the golf course, conservation area or lakes and ponds,” said Jones. “It is almost unheard of today for a master-planned community to offer homes for less than $400s on such large lots with privacy and pristine views.”

And, because Lake Jovita began building over 20 years ago, today there are no CDD fees, saving buyers thousands of dollars a year in additional taxes. The only community expense is a $900 annual fee from the Homeowners Association.

In addition to Lake Jovita’s enviable homesites, families are drawn to the community because of its easy access to I-75, and all the shopping, dining and entertainment in nearby Wesley Chapel and Dade City.

“The State Road 52 exit that leads to Lake Jovita is just 10 miles north of Wesley Chapel,” said Jones. “It’s literally just a 20-minute drive into the heart of Wesley Chapel, plus we’re just five minutes to the east of downtown Dade City and all of its old-fashioned charm.”

To schedule a VIP appointment to see the new Egret model, call 855-215-2054, or email Jones at . The Lake Jovita Sales Center is located at 12330 Lake Jovita Blvd., Dade City, FL 33526. 

Persimmon Park and Asturia
ICI Homes continues to build in Persimmon Park, located in Wesley Chapel in the Wiregrass Ranch community. All homes in this community have open floor plans with front porches, and garages and alleys at the back of the home. The community will have 150 homes, with prices beginning in the high $200s. Its amenity center includes a unique, T-shaped luxury pool with cabanas and grilling area.

Asturia is situated on 500 pristine acres in Odessa on the north side of State Road 54, just five minutes from the Suncoast Parkway. The community offers residents a kid-friendly, family oriented lifestyle surrounded by miles of multi-use trails, interspersed with dog parks and pocket parks. Its distinctive, 5,800-square-foot Amenity Center includes a fully equipped fitness center, covered outdoor living rooms, a luxurious resort-style swimming pool and expansive lawn areas for recreation.

Model homes in Asturia and Persimmon Park are open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m., on Sunday. The Persimmon Park model is at 3793 Lajuana Blvd., Wesley Chapel, and the Asturia model is at 2112 Secret Cove in Odessa.

Customization
ICI Homes excels in its customization services. Whether a buyer wants to move a wall, add a room, or choose a specific style of doors, ICI Homes can accommodate customers, so they can create their dream home. The company does this by showcasing all of its different models, which come in all shapes and sizes.

“It helps people understand, whether we are selling a home in the $300s or for $1.5 million, the customization we offer and the things we can do at every level,” says Jones. “The process, service and quality are going to be the same, regardless the cost of the home.”

Inventory
Inventory for ICI Homes goes pretty quickly, Jones says. Due to demand, Jones says they limit the amount of homesites they release each month.

“We do this so we can provide excellent customer service to our existing customers who are building homes, and to give realistic time frames to new customers,” says Jones.

For families needing a home now, ICI Homes does sell its showcase model homes.

“You won’t get to pick your options and customize it, but the home will be ready now, and it will be a beautiful home,” says Jones.

Published August 25, 2021

Author hopes Bible study guide will lead to richer relationships with God

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It’s not like Liz Lyon-Hall was just looking for something to do.

After all, she’s a professional guardian for the elderly with Alzheimer’s and dementia. Plus, she and her husband, Alan, have two daughters, 15-year-old Eliana and a 12-year-old Alyssa, and two sons, 5-year-old Daniel and 3-year-old Jaidon.

On top of all that, the Wesley Chapel family has dogs, a cat, a bunny, a mouse, a bird and two pet sharks.

Liz Lyon-Hall experienced what she characterizes as a revelation, as she was reading a particular Bible verse. The experience was so inspiring she decided to write a Bible study guide to encourage other Christians to deepen their relationship with God, by reading scripture.

Still, when Lyon-Hall was reading a particular verse of the Bible she experienced what she characterizes as a revelation — and she was inspired to share it with others.

“I realized at one point that any revelation from God, no matter how big or how small, is not necessarily just for the person receiving it, but also to be shared with other Christians,” she said.

“I really want to encourage people to be reading the Bible and studying it for themselves. That’s a big life message for me — just encouraging Christians to spend time in the Bible,” she said.

It’s important, she added, to “know your scriptures and study it as much as you can.

“One of the ways that God speaks to his people is through the scriptures and if you’re not reading them, you’re missing that opportunity.

“Christianity is not just a belief system. We’re meant to have a relationship with God,” she continued. “If you’re missing out on his primary way of communicating to you, you’re really missing out.”

So, what began as a personal inspiration turned into a research and writing project.

“I typically wrote about an hour a night, pretty much from midnight to about 1 a.m.,” she said. She squeezed in some extra writing time on Fridays, which she generally takes off from her day job.

She estimates she spent about six months creating the study guide, which is called “Hezekiah, A Conversation With the Enemy.”

The guide’s release will be celebrated with a book launch on July 11 from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., at Bridgeway Church, at 30660 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

The six-week Bible study is divided into six weeks of study, five days a week.

“That’s kind of a standard format for a lot of Bible studies,” Lyon-Hall said.

While Bible studies can be done individually, that’s not the general approach.

“The main goal for most Bible studies is to be done with a group of people, so that you’re having discussion and you’re fellowshipping — getting to know each other and helping each other throughout life, praying for each other, that sort of thing,” Lyon-Hall said.

This is the cover of Liz Lyon-Hall’s Bible study guide. She lives in Wesley Chapel and attends Bridgeway Church.

“This Bible study, when I wrote it, I did it with my own personal little small group Bible study,” she said. She also ran it through a Bible study at Bridgeway Church, where she has been a member since 2015. A  second Bible study group at the church began using the guide recently.

Lyon-Hall said her guide is designed to be used by Christians of any church denomination.

She plans to get the word out about the book by attending church events, conferences, breakfasts and so on. She is scheduled to sell her book at Palm Harbor’s New Hope Church’s Women’s Dream Conference, Aug. 13 and Aug. 14; at Tampa’s St. Clement’s Episcopal Church’s Blessing of the Animals event Oct. 2; and, at Lutz’s St. Timothy Catholic Church’s Annual Women’s Club Boutique on Nov. 13.

Whether or not it’s a big seller, Lyon-Hall said she’s glad she pursued the project.

She knows that the guide was extremely helpful to one of the participants of the first Bible study group that used it.

“It was a blessing to her, specifically — helped her kind of break through some issues she was having,” the author said.

“I’m not looking to make my millions off this book. I’m just looking to share it and encourage people to be reading their Bible.

“I figure God is going to use it for whatever he’s going to use it for. He will put it in the hands of who needs to read it,” she said.

For more information, visit LizLyon-Hall.com.

Bible Study Book Launch
What: Meet local author Liz Lyon-Hall at an event celebrating the launch of her first published Bible Study: “Hezekiah, A Conversation With the Enemy.”
Where: Bridgeway Church, 30660 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel
When: July 11, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Details: Enjoy Christian fellowship across a variety of denominations. There will be light hors d’oeuvres and drinks. Bring or buy a book for author signings.
Please RSVP to , to ensure adequate provision of food and drink.

Need a guest speaker for your Christian group? Liz Lyon-Hall, author of the Bible Study, “Hezekiah, a Conversation With the Enemy,” is available to speak to your group. Email her at to make arrangements.

Published July 07, 2021

Wesley Chapel’s Union Park community celebrates Juneteenth

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The second annual Juneteenth Family Day Celebration in Wesley Chapel’s Union Park community brought on added significance.

Just days prior to the weekend event, the U.S. Senate passed legislation declaring June 19 a federal holiday, and then President Joe Biden signed it into law.

The groundbreaking development brought extra spark to all involved, event organizer Melissa Akers-Atkins acknowledged.

Tamika Diaz, of Wesley Chapel, leads children in an uplifting and inspirational dance during the Juneteenth Celebration at Union Park. (Fred Bellet)

“We were very excited,” Akers-Atkins recently told The Laker/Lutz News. “It happened Thursday, so we were excited that Saturday we were able to announce that and celebrate it again, even more. It was just a little different you know.”

The event was held to commemorate the day – June 19, 1865 – when the last enslaved Blacks, in Galveston, Texas, learned that the Emancipation Proclamation had freed them. Juneteenth is also known as Freedom Day or Emancipation Day.

The June 19 celebration at Union Park was coordinated by a handful of neighborhood residents, led by Akers-Atkins. Other members of the planning committee included Tamika Diaz, Alexandra Archibald, Mesha Pierre, Talana Brown, Antoine Williams and Michaela Steward.

Songs, dance, music, food, prayer, prizes and fellowship filled a day of activities from 1 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Union Park clubhouse on Bering Road.

Faraasha Bell Fonoti, 14, and NeVaeh Akers-Atkins, 13, both of Wesley Chapel, receive a round of applause that left them delighted after performing a step dance, which requires the shoes on the pavement to be the percussion aspects of the dance. Derived from African and slave dances, stepping or step dance is energetic and expressive.

The festival drew over 100 attendees and also had several Black-owned vendors and other organizations on hand. This included multiple young entrepreneurs like 14-year-old Jordan Parramore, the owner/operator of Jordan’s Juice Bar, selling juice pops and coco bombs.

The event began with an opening prayer from Carmel Friendship Church pastor Quincy Stratford, then a discussion on the meaning of Juneteenth led by co-organizer Tamika Diaz.

Neil Archibald, a Wesley Chapel-based attorney, delivered a reflection speech called “Affirmations to Live By,” about what it’s like to be an African American male in society today. He also encouraged young people to pursue their dreams and never give up on lifelong goals.

Multiple poems were presented throughout the event, too.

Aiyana Gabrielle Williams, 15, delivered “Never Give In” by Greg Thung. Deidre Kelsey-Holley read an original poem, titled “Chosen.”

The family friendly event also included all sorts of activities for kids, including volleyball, football, Connect 4, Jenga, corn hole, checkers, hula hoop and bounce house.

The recent deaths of Black individuals by police officers, including George Floyd, the Black Lives Matter movement and street protests brought greater attention to Juneteenth celebrations over the past couple years.

Neil Archibald and his sons Nicholas, 6, left, and Noah, 7, watch a step dance performance on the Union Park sidewalk. It was all part of the entertainment at the Juneteenth Celebration.

The background and history of Juneteenth is enlightening.

President Abraham Lincoln signed the Emancipation Proclamation on Jan. 1, 1863, freeing slaves living in the Confederate states.

But, the news in those days traveled slowly, or in some instances, wasn’t acknowledged by slave owners.

On June 19, 1865, Union soldiers came ashore at Galveston, Texas, and announced the end of the Civil War and the end of slavery. The date was 2 ½ years after Lincoln’s proclamation.

A few months later, on Dec. 6, 1865, the 13th amendment to the U.S. Constitution abolished slavery everywhere. The following year, Juneteenth celebrations, often hosted by African American churches, took root.

Raising awareness of the importance of Juneteenth was among Union Park event organizers goals.

But, they also want to foster unity, a sense of safety, and civic participation through voting.

Uplifting and providing outreach to area youth likewise was imperative during the Juneteenth celebration, Akers-Atkins said.

Several kids were incorporated into the celebration, including a step dance performance from Wesley Chapel teenagers Faraasha Bell Fonoto and NaVeah Akers-Atkins.

Trevor Roberts, 40, of Wesley Chapel, said he really only learned about Juneteenth eight years ago, while living in Oakland, California. He is happy the day is now well-known and the history behind the day will now be widely taught to children in school.

Derived from African and slave dances, stepping is energetic and expressive, and requires the shoes on the pavement to be the percussion aspects of the dance.

Meanwhile, the celebration’s youngest performer was five-year-old Joilene Jones, who delivered a gymnastics routine for all to see.

“I think as the youth see the community within which they live care about their education, whether they’re in school or out of school, we care enough about them, and we’d like to still encourage them in that and let them see that you don’t just have to learn what they teach you in school,” Akers-Atkins explained.

“Your neighbors, your community, the people around you, we’re all here to help build you up and mold you into this well-rounded individual, seeing and doing and modeling for them, and also including them in these activities and including them in the planning, so I think it’s very important that we do that, and that we continue to push them.

“We hope there’s more kids next year that aren’t afraid to step out of their comfort zone and they’re able to share their artistic talents with their community,” Akers-Atkins said.

Melissa and fellow organizers plan to host a Juneteenth celebration each year at Union Park, with grander visions to someday collaborate on a countywide event incorporating several other neighboring communities — a get-together that could be held at Wesley Chapel District Park.

Meanwhile, they also plan to host other cultural events through the year at Union Park, including celebrations for Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from Sept. 15 through Oct. 15.

Published June 30, 2021

All-Star showcase offers lasting memory for Pasco seniors

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For some, it might represent the final time they compete in an organized baseball or softball game.

For others, it’s a confidence-building stepping stone for the launch of their respective collegiate athletics careers.

Academy at the Lakes All-Star East catcher Josiah Bayona dives for a foul tip during game action against the West All-Stars played at Bishop McLaughlin High School. The West beat the East in extra innings. (Fred Bellet)

For all, it was a special event to cherish and remember.

The fourth annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) Pasco County All-Star Baseball and Softball Game brings together the best senior players, from every school, to compete in one last game for bragging rights between the county’s east and west sides.

About 45 baseball players and 26 softball players were selected for the event, representing the following schools: Academy at the Lakes, Anclote, Bishop McLaughlin, Cypress Creek, Gulf, Fivay, Hudson, Mitchell, Land O’ Lakes, Pasco, River Ridge, Sunlake, Wesley Chapel, Wiregrass Ranch and Zephyrhills.

Besides four designated all-star head coaches, coaches from just about every program pitch in to assist in some form or another.

The May 22 games were played simultaneously on adjacent baseball and softball fields at Bishop McLaughlin Catholic High School, in Spring Hill.

Mitchell High School’s No. 12 Keaton Howard heads back to the dugout after slamming his second home run, ending the extra-inning game against the East.

The West All-Stars reigned supreme over the East All-Stars in both contests.

The West claimed victory in the softball game on a 10-0 mercy rule.

Baseball offered more hijinks, as the West won 11-8 on a three-run, walk-off blast from Mitchell’s Keaton Howard in the bottom of the ninth inning to break an 8-8 tie.

While winning was important, to players and coaches alike, the showcase was more about capping four years of high school and relishing the prep ballfields one final time with families, friends and teammates, in a relaxed setting.

Consider it a swan song, of sorts.

“Think about it — this’ll be the last game that these seniors play, not only for the school year, but for their whole high school career, so we’re sending them out with a big bang,” said FCA Pasco area director Bob Durham, who coordinates the all-star showcase.

Fivay High School All-Star West’s Samantha Proctor gets a hit against the All-Star East team during game action at Bishop McLaughlin High School. The West beat the East, 10-0.

“It’s the best players from every school, getting to play with each other, but against the other side of the county, so they’re pretty excited about it, and they’re ready for their summer, but they’re ready for one more game.

“We just try to make it a special experience for these kids and the parents, and the fans and the community. Every school in the county’s involved, so they try to promote it for a week or two before the game to get some attendance out here.”

Rosters were finalized midway through the regular prep season, where all-star baseball and softball coaches deliberated the best collection of players through a draft format, taking into account offense, defense, and pitching metrics, among other factors.

These coaches “sell their players” to one another, Durham said, until they can all agree upon a final roster. Usually, this exercise takes place in a physical meeting room, but this year the selections were made in a virtual setting on Zoom.

The all-star event also included an awards dinner banquet the night before, as well as a couple tranquil meetings and practices in the week leading up.

In the awards ceremony, Durham explained athletes were recognized not only for on-the-field accolades and statistics — like countywide leaders in strikeouts and RBIs — but also in exhibiting FCA’s core values of service, integrity, teamwork and overall excellence; athletes gunning for these awards submitted personal stories of how they exemplified these qualities in their day-to-day life.

Recognition was bestowed for highest GPA and character, as examples.

“We want to honor those values in kids,” said Durham, “so we make it special, not only in just a game with skill, but in virtues and character.”

Putting rivalries aside to have fun
Wiregrass Ranch varsity softball coach Yamani Vazquez said the all-star shindig is an opportunity to put school rivalries aside and celebrate together in pre-game festivities and practices.

Fivay High School’s All-Star West player Erik Scott leads off second base, in the extra-inning game.

Ironically, Vazquez’s daughter, Hailey was a standout pitcher at Cypress Creek High School — a rival of the program he coaches.

“This is the moment that everyone comes together,” said Vazquez, who’s involved in the event each year. “They were really in high spirits. It was like they knew each other and were really talking to each other. It’s good, because it brings all teams together, and that’s what it should be, you bring the best players from all the teams, to play together.”

Wesley Chapel varsity softball coach Lauren Pasquale — serving as East All-Star head softball coach — likened the event as “a fun last hurrah” and “the prom of the softball season.”

Pasquale graduated from Zephyrhills in 2011 and went on to play Division I softball at College of Charleston in South Carolina.

A decade ago, she competed in the prestigious statewide Florida Athletic Coaches Association (FACA) All-Star Classic.

Pasquale didn’t know many of her fellow peers in that event, so there’s something extra special about having a county-specific sendoff for high school seniors, she said.

“Looking back, it would’ve been cool to do this,” Pasquale said, “because it was more kids that you grew up with and played with, so it would’ve been more like a community feel versus a one-in-the-number kind of feel.”

Mitchell High School’s Keaton Howard’s second home run ended the extra-inning game at the fourth annual Fellowship of Christian Athletes Pasco County All-Star baseball game. Girls played in the All-Star softball game on an adjacent field.

Wiregrass Ranch varsity baseball coach Marshall McDougall, serving as East All-Star head coach, also characterized the event in a good light: “I think it’s one last time for the kids to go out and have fun, with kids they’ve grown up with, so they’re all the same age, they all play in this area.

“A lot of kids have played together at younger ages and then with different schools, so I think it’s a really good experience they get to play together again, and their parents get to see them play one last time, in a relaxed setting, there’s no stress, and just have some fun.”

A pair of mid-week practices that coaches organized wasn’t about structured drills or high-intensity workouts, but more so about positive messaging as players head off to new endeavors.

McDougal put it like this: “As coaches, you just like to think you can leave an impression on all the kids, about, ‘Hey, baseball’s supposed to be played for the love of the game, have fun with it, you learn a lot of life lessons from it, so just play baseball.'”

That was the general mindset for Cypress Creek pitcher/shortstop Zachary Buelk leading into the contest.

The 6-foot-4 Buelk — primed for college ball at Georgia’s Thomas University — steered Cypress Creek to a 20-6 mark and the 4A regional quarterfinal in early May, posting a 0.51 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 27.1 innings pitched.

“We didn’t get as far as we wanted to (with Cypress Creek),” he said, “so it’s fun to come out here and have one last game, and not really have stress on it; just come out and just play baseball.”

East All-Star teammate Josiah Bayona was a super utility standout at Academy at the Lakes, leading the team in batting average (.361) and stolen bases (33) this season, among other categories.

The county all-star happening has “just been a great experience” for him.

“It’s sort of like one last high school game — a great end to how it should be, compared to the teams here who ended their seasons early, due to just the postseason (losses),” said Bayona, who’s signed with NAIA Webber International University in Babson Park.

He added: “Some of these guys I played with when I was in Little League when we were 7. You know, it’s fun seeing these guys as we’re growing up and now that we’re seniors.”

Academy at the Lakes right-handed utility Vanessa Alexander will continue her softball career at Brown University, a Division I Ivy League school in Providence, Rhode Island.

Getting picked for the all-star showcase is “really special,” Alexander said, though she acknowledged mixed emotions gearing up for a move some 1,300 miles north of Land O’ Lakes.

“It’s really exciting, but also kind of sad,” Alexander said, before the game. “It’s bittersweet, since this is my last high school game ever, but I’m really excited…to get together and play one last time.”

With the COVID-19 pandemic still on many minds, Alexander said, “I’m really fortunate and glad we were able to play a full season and play this all-star game, which I think is really awesome that they put on every year.”

Sunlake star outfielder Kendra Falby likewise expressed appreciation to organizers for rebooting the all-star event after it was wiped out last year amid the peak of the coronavirus outbreak.

“Because of COVID, we haven’t really gotten to do much, so it’s been nice to come together and put something on for us, so it’s been like super special,” Falby said.

Falby has already made quite a name for herself in the sport on a widespread scale — a Division I University of Florida signee and member of the 2019 Canadian U-19 women’s national team. The 5-foot-7 lefty hitter also boasted the state’s seventh-highest batting average (.678) along with eight doubles, six triples and 29 steals, across 18 contests this past year.

Despite garnering more notable accolades elsewhere, being involved with the local showcase still holds meaning for Falby.

“It’s cool,” she said, “because working hard all season and then it paying off and being a part of a very select few, it’s an honor.”

Pasco County All-Star rosters

Baseball-East team
Head coach: Marshall McDougall, Wiregrass Ranch

Academy at the Lakes
Josiah Bayona
Palmer Bringgold
Alex Carmichael
Jacob Syversen

Bishop McLaughlin
Austin Affrunti
Tanner Boccabello
Jacob Duncan

Cypress Creek
Zach Browne
Zach Buelk
Christian Mendez-Rosado
Anthony Menendez
Peyton Petry

Pasco
Bryce Braxton
Robert Hoffman
Lane Mercer
Brian Schildt

Wesley Chapel
Austin Coultas
Tyler Sullivan
Josh Wollerman

Wiregrass Ranch
Jackson Stebleton

West team
Head coach: Howard Chittum, Mitchell

Anclote
Lucas Galati

Gulf
Ian Burchfield

Hudson
Peter Larkey
Tanner Wohlfiel

Fivay
Will Morrison
Erik Scott
Billy Young

Land O’ Lakes
Brian Holliday
Justin Pimentel
Jacob Ward
Hayden Woods

Mitchell
Anderson Adler
Ezra Brennan
James Hill
Keaton Howard

River Ridge
Nick Cotugno
Austin Erickson
Dillon Linares
Tony Luciano

Sunlake
Dylan Broderick
Kory Doerr
Kyle Doran
Giovanni Felix
Collin Robinson
Myles Vacharasin

Softball-East team
Head coach: Lauren Pasquale, Wesley Chapel

Academy at the Lakes
Vanessa Alexander

Bishop McLaughlin
Samantha Bremer

Cypress Creek
Emma Coon
Hailey Vazquez

Land O’ Lakes
Gracie Stanley

Pasco
Hailee Lethco
Ally Jender
Mackenzie Petty

Wesley Chapel
Jillian Torres

Zephyrhills
Laila Huffman
Aleah Killebrew
Gisele Navarra

West team
Head coach: Mark Williams, Gulf

Anclote
Ashley Morrell

Fivay
Samantha Proctor

Gulf
Reanna Wilson

Mitchell
Alandre Coure

River Ridge
Liberty Argudin
Brooke Blankenship
Giulia Desiderio
Katey Hauschen
Laila Mannion
Keira Wierzbowski

Sunlake
Michelle Busot
Kendra Falby
Mikayla Hoschak
Peyton Welch

Published June 23, 2021

New River Library offers patrons a fresh look

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It’s not a brand new library — but it sure looks and feels like one.

The New River Library, at 34043 State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel, has reopened its doors after a massive overhaul that took longer than expected because of COVID-19 and material delays.

The red brick building, constructed in 1991, looks much the same. The inside, however, looks entirely new. (B.C. Manion)

The library officially reopened on April 30, but work is not completely finished yet on the outdoor garden spaces, and library staff is still awaiting the arrival of some furniture and materials.

Still, there’s an air of excitement as staff prepares to offer library patrons a more comfortable place to read, meet and take advantage of programming.

Most of the activities won’t kick into high gear until later this year, as the library continues to offer the vast majority of programming remotely.

Still, staff is eager for patrons to come in and take a look around.

“People are welcome to come in and they’re welcome to take our nickel tour, what we call a Sneak Preview,” said Angelo Liranzo, a regional manager for Pasco County Libraries.

The tour gives patrons a chance to see what’s there now and to hear about what’s coming.

Danielle Lee, branch manager at New River, is excited about the possibilities.

Those entering the library site now have two options. A driveway has been added on the east side of the library campus.

New landscaping has been added, too, with palm trees lining the sidewalk and flowering plants greeting visitors as they make their way to the front entryway.

Angelo Liranzo is a regional manager for Pasco County Libraries and Danielle Lee is the branch manager for the New River Branch Library, which was recently renovated.

“The outside is a lot more harmonious with Wesley Chapel, which has a lot new communities with beautiful entries into their subdivisions, and the library looks like it belongs in that area,” Liranzo said.

A giant mat at the front door gives patrons a chance to wipe off their feet before stepping onto the newly installed flooring in the library’s new lobby.

The space is much more open and brighter than the one it replaced, and there is seating available there. There are new restrooms, too, designed for individual or family use. Each restroom is ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act)-compliant.

Inside the library, patron will find staffers at the service desk, ready to help people find what they need.

There’s a new children’s room, where children can play with toys. Future plans call for having story time there. Older kids can use the room’s computers.

The space has large windows looking out onto the library’s front yard, which is landscaped with trees and flowering plants. There’s also a view of busy State Road 54.

This is the library’s new children’s room. It offers comfortable seating, room to play, computers and a view, too.

“This is my favorite room,” said Danielle Lee, the branch manager. “It’s relaxing.”

There’s also an enclosed space for teens, which also has large windows.

“They’re going to have gaming computers in there, so if they’re playing on the computers they can have a good time and not disturb anyone else,” Liranzo said.

“We have study rooms that we never had before. Those are very nice,” Liranzo added.

Lee noted: “Study Room C is large enough — where a group can study.”

It can accommodate up to eight people, she added.

Liranzo also noted: “We still have our big open space that we can do programs in. We have enclosed spaces, where people don’t feel they’re being disturbed by noise. That’s something we never had before.”

The large space, which can be used for events, can become even larger because the furniture and bookshelves, are movable, Lee said.

There’s a community meeting room, too, which is equipped to facilitate Zoom sessions and big screen presentations.

The room can be reserved, but a priority system is used, with library programs getting first dibs, followed by government programs, and then, local organizations, Liranzo said.

The meeting room also is the space used by the Supervisor of Elections for a voting precinct.

There’s a new drive-thru book drop behind the New River Branch Library, giving patrons a chance to drop off books from the convenience of their car.

Outside, on the east side of the library, crews are hard at work installing garden spaces.

When finished, there will be community garden plots. There also will be a butterfly garden, a native plants garden, a seasonal plants garden and a sensory garden.

The library expects to partner with the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences and Pasco County Extension to offer demonstrations and learning opportunities, Liranzo said.

Nearly everything at the library has been redone or replaced.

“The exterior brick is the same. The roof is the same. But everything else was gutted out,” Liranzo said.

“We’re very fortunate that the Go Bonds were approved by the public,” Liranzo said, noting the bond proceeds paid for the cost of renovations, furniture and materials.

The library is far more than a place to simply read and check out books, Lee and Liranzo said.

It’s also a place where people gather for story time, book clubs, knitting, card games and an assortment of other activities.

That all came to a halt because of the pandemic, but library staff can’t wait for the day when the library can come back to full life — as a place where people can gather, to learn and to socialize.

New River Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel
Hours
Monday and Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Friday and Saturday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Published June 02, 2021

Gas station proposed at Overpass and Boyette

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A rezoning is being sought to allow a gas station at the southeast corner of the intersection at Overpass and Boyette roads, in Wesley Chapel.

Creighton Companies LLC is the applicant for the request.

The 4.9-acre site currently consists of 1.84 acres zoned as part of a master-planned development and 3.06 acres zoned for agricultural uses.

The rezoning request calls for a new master-planned zoning that would accommodate development of a 4,650-square-foot convenience store with 16 vehicle fueling positions and ancillary car wash, and 10,000 square feet of general commercial/retail.

The project site would have a right-in only connect to Boyette Road, a full access connection to Boyette Road, and an existing right-in, right-out connection to Overpass Road, shared with the adjacent Kids R Kids day care facility.

The buildout of the convenience store and fueling station is anticipated within approximately one year, according to the agenda packet.

The requested change was prompted by recent development approvals, including Overpass Business Park and the planned interchange at Overpass Road and I-75, which is scheduled to be completed by the summer of 2023, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

A companion request also has been filed to change the land use map from a designation allowing residential to one that permits commercial uses. The planning board and county planners also have recommended approval of that request.

These requests now will go to the  Pasco County Commission, which has final jurisdiction over land use and zoning issues.

Published May 26, 2021

Pasco seeing tourism gains, road improvements

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Tourism is ramping up in Pasco County and considerable roadwork is underway, too, to make it easier for motorists to get around.

Those were the main messages delivered by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore at a meeting of the East Pasco Networking Group.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore was a featured guest speaker during an April 27 East Pasco Networking Group meeting at IHOP in Dade City. (Kevin Weiss)

Moore, chairman of the Pasco County Tourist Development Council, described how well the 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County has been performing, even amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.

The sports complex, at 3211 Lajuana Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, has been attracting youth and amateur sporting events year-round since its August 2020 opening.

The indoor space can accommodate up to 17 different sports — including basketball, volleyball and cheerleading, or pickleball, futsal, wrestling, mixed martial arts, karate and others.

This widespread flexibility has seemingly been put to good use, with weekdays set aside for residents and weekends generally reserved for large-scale tournaments that can become family affairs, as parents and siblings road trip together.

Moore observed the complex is “constantly full.”

“Every single weekend there is a tournament there where people are coming from somewhere else,” he said. “There’s weekends where we get over 2,000 room nights for those tournaments. So, what happens? Hoteliers are obviously happy, supplying those jobs for our hotels. Those small businesses, restaurants, retail, gas pumps – everybody’s benefiting when you bring those people here.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore expressed optimism about the county’s tourism future, given amenities such as the 98,000-square-foot Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus of Pasco County, in Wesley Chapel. (File)

Moore also pointed to AdventHealth Center Ice, which has continued to be a major draw since opening in January 2017, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

At 150,000 square feet, it’s the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States, with four full-size rinks and one kid-size rink.

It’s regarded for being the training grounds of the 2018 U.S. women’s national hockey team that went on to win an Olympic gold medal in PyeongChang, South Korea.

“The ice rink is incredible,” Moore said. “They have tournaments on the weekends, international tournaments, and people coming from Canada, South America, people coming from over in Europe to literally play hockey right here at Center Ice.”

Moore posited that such youth, amateur and community-focused facilities can yield very similar — if not greater — economic impact as a major professional sports franchise, such as the NFL’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers, which plays eight regular season home games, plus a few preseason and postseason contests.

“Those (facilities) have just as large of an impact as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers playing on Sunday, when you think about how many people are (cumulatively) traveling for those events, and especially when they’re every single weekend.

“Personally I think it’s so much better to have these types of facilities than a pro sports team, because it’s a year-round benefit for the businesses in Pasco County, not just eight times a year or 10 times a year.

“These people, they’re traveling with their families, too. These kids aren’t typically driving on their own, their whole family’s coming (to Pasco).”

Moore addressed a number of roadway infrastructure projects, like the State Road 54 widening from east of Curley Road to east of Morris Bridge Road in the Wesley Chapel and Zephyrhills areas. (File)

Moore addressed other recreational and tourism developments, as well, such as the ongoing construction of a visitor’s center/bike hub in the heart of downtown Dade City, across from the Roy T. Hardy trailhead, at the corner of Church Avenue and Eighth Street.

The $250,000 project — expected to be complete in June — was funded by the county’s tourist development tax dollars.

The amenity is set to further motivate beginner and avid cyclists alike to stop in Dade City.

It also may serve as a driver for more organized road cycling races to the surrounding East Pasco area, too.

“We know how big biking is in this area,” Moore said. “You’ve got people coming from all over the country to Dade City, to ride those hills.”

Further on the tourism and recreation front, Moore mentioned an 18,000-square-foot indoor recreation center at Wesley Chapel District Park will be complete in July. The public-use facility will offer programming for basketball, volleyball and other activities for all ages. There’s meeting room space for clubs and other organizations, also. “That’s going to be beautiful,” Moore said of the forthcoming center.

Regarding road construction, Moore pointed out that many of the roads that traverse the county are state roads — and a considerable amount of work is being done to improve those roads.

Among them are construction projects on State Road 52, State Road 54, and an interchange improvement at State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

There’s also a new diamond interchange that will include a flyover ramp for westbound Overpass Road access onto southbound I-75.

To accommodate the new interchange, Overpass Road will be widened from two lanes to four lanes between the interstate and Old Pasco Road, and six lanes between the interstate and Boyette Road. Blair Drive will be realigned to connect with Old Pasco Road. McKendree Road will be realigned to connect with Boyette Road.

The $64 million design-built project aims to provide more relief to other exits off I-75, Moore said.

“When you think about people living in Dade City and San Antonio, and coming and living in that area, they’ll be able to get off that new overpass interchange and go right through Epperson Ranch and Connected City, and get right into Dade City, if they don’t want to take the next Dade City exit.”

Moore added the project’s contractor, The Middlesex Corporation, “is moving really fast,” with an estimated completion of summer 2023.

Meanwhile, the commissioner mentioned the county has another $6 million in state funds to support connection and widening projects along the U.S. 98/U.S. 301 corridor.

These “important” roadway upgrades should help alleviate freight truck traffic and allow for the movement of goods without jumping major highways, he explained.

Combined with the proximity to the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, CSX Transportation Railroad, and an emerging light industrial manufacturing hub, the roadway plan “really helps when you think about the economy in this area,” he said.

Published May 19, 2021

New 122-unit subdivision proposed off Old Pasco Road

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Victorious Life Assembly of God Inc., is seeking a rezoning that would allow 122 single-family homes on 41.80 acres on the east side of Old Pasco Road, about 250 feet south of Overpass Road, in Wesley Chapel.

The request seeks to change the zoning from agricultural to a master-planned unit development.

Both the Pasco County Planning Commission and county planners have recommended approval of the request during the planning board’s April 22 meeting.

As part of the rezoning request, the applicant asked for variations from the county’s land development code.

The applicant is seeking a variation of a requirement to landscape the neighborhood park according to the county’s landscaping and screening requirements. Instead of placing a buffer around the perimeter of the park, as required, the applicant has suggested planting landscaping with the park.

The park, according to information in the planning board’s agenda packet, “will be designed to have an open feel and be visible from the residential development across the streets for safety purposes and aesthetics. The design will create an open feel so that it brings the community together and provides greater safety for the residents.”

The applicant also asked to decrease the required size of the park from 1.20 acres to 0.70 acres. That request is tied to a negotiation with the county for a smaller park, in exchange for dedicating an additional 1.23 acres of right of way needed for the future widening of Old Pasco Road, noted Tammy Snyder, a county planner.

She also noted that Wesley Chapel District Park is a large park, within walking distance from the proposed subdivision.

However, Planning Commissioner Peter Hanzel took issue with the request for a smaller park — noting that would shortchange residents within the subdivision. He also disputed the rationale citing the location of Wesley Chapel District Park as a justification for creating a smaller park within the neighborhood.

“How does that benefit the residents that are going to live there? It doesn’t,” Hanzel said.

He also questioned the notion of people from the neighborhood walking to Wesley Chapel District Park. He cited distance and safety concerns.

“I find it difficult to have adults or children walking Old Pasco Road, especially in the future, because it’s going to become a four-lane road eventually,” Hanzel said.

Hanzel also said fencing is needed to separate the neighborhood park and the pond on the site.

“This size park, which I would refer to as a kiddie park, you would assume there would be some type of barrier between the park and the pond,” he said.

It’s needed to keep young children, who are often attracted to water, from getting into the pond, he said.

Representatives for the applicant agreed to add fencing, to increase the park size from 0.70 acres to 0.90 acres and to add an amenity package at the park.

With those added conditions, Hanzel made a motion for approval, which was seconded, and the board voted unanimously to recommend approval of the rezoning and conditions.

The request was next scheduled to be heard at the Pasco County Commission’s meeting on May 18, which was after The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

Published May 19, 2021

Blue Heron Senior Living is hosting a public open house

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Blue Heron Senior Living, located at 5085 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, will have a grand opening celebration and ribbon-cutting on the afternoon of April 28.

This is an exterior view of Blue Heron Senior Living, 5085 Eagleston Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. The facility offers assisted living, memory care and rehabilitation services. (Courtesy of Sarah Dymond/Blue Heron Senior Living)

The senior living community, recently completed by TLC Management of Marion, Indiana, features assisted living, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, according to a news release.

Blue Heron focuses on the entire spectrum of each resident’s well-being; from their physical and emotional health to their needs for friendship and intellectual stimulation, the release says.

There will be 106 private suites for residents requiring 24-hour skilled nursing and rehabilitation services.

Those interested in taking a look at the new Blue Heron Senior Living facility are invited to an open house celebration on the afternoon of April 28. Besides providing an array of services for its residents, the facility will have more than 225 employees.

Those seeking short-term rehabilitation will be able to take advantage of a state-of-the-art therapy center, which includes a gym that’s equipped with the latest technology and equipment designed for physical, speech and occupational therapy. It also features virtual reality workout programs, the release says.

The facility also has 95 resort-style private suites for individuals needing assisted living services. Those services include assistance as needed with daily activities, along with access to a health spa, a theater, wellness gym, activity center, resident art gallery, library, bistro shop and town square.

There also is a separate wing of 22 apartments that are specifically dedicated to residents with Alzheimer’s or other forms of age-associated memory impairment.

Services there include everything from engaging activities, bathing, dressing and grooming assistance, to medication reminders and management, according to the news release.

Additionally, Blue Heron is creating more than 225 new jobs in Pasco County.

To find out more, visit SeniorLivingAtBlueHeron.com.

Blue Heron Senior Living open house
When: April 28, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. (Ribbon-cutting ceremony at 1:15 p.m.)
Where: 5085 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel
Details: The public is welcome to visit this new senior living facility and learn about its features and service. Visitors also are invited to enjoy complimentary drinks, hors d’oeuvres and live music.

Published April 21, 2021

PHSC launches new women’s soccer program

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In a time where countless other colleges and universities nationwide have dropped athletics programs amid COVID-19-associated budget cuts and other reasons, Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) is making plays to boost its sports offerings.

The institution added women’s soccer to its athletics roster beginning with the 2021 fall season in August. Home games will be played on the outdoor fields of the Wiregrass Sports Campus of Pasco County, 3021 Sports Coast Way, in Wesley Chapel.

The school’s athletics department made the announcement official in a March 19 press release.

Former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell will coach the Pasco-Hernando State College women’s soccer program. Campbell, a Wesley Chapel resident, also played professional soccer for 16 years, mostly in England. (Courtesy for Pasco-Hernando State College)

The PHSC women’s soccer program will be a member of the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) and Florida College System Activities Association (FCSAA). It joins PHSC’s other intercollegiate athletics programs, known as the Bobcats, that include women’s volleyball, cross- country and softball, and men’s basketball and baseball.

Women’s soccer marks the local college’s first new sport since 2005 — when it brought on women’s cross-country, under head coach Jackie Wachtel.

Leading the upstart team is former Tampa Bay Rowdies head coach Stuart Campbell, a familiar face and widely known figure in the soccer ranks. He’s also a longtime Wesley Chapel resident.

The English-born Campbell played professional soccer from 1996 to 2013, before serving as the assistant coach for the Rowdies from 2014 to 2015 and head coach from 2015 to 2018.

As a midfielder, Campbell played for several teams in England, including Leicester City of the Premier League, the top division of England’s football league system. He finished his playing career with the Rowdies in 2012-2013. He also was a member of the Scotland U21 national team in 1998-1999.

The decision to launch women’s soccer made sense for myriad reasons, including boosting enrollment, PHSC athletics director Steve Winterling explained to The Laker/Lutz News, in a recent interview.

The undertaking, which was three-plus years in the making, came with the blessing of PHSC senior vice president Dr. Bob Bade, who Winterling noted has a “very athletic-inclined” outlook.

Aside from being another avenue “to promote our college even more,” Winterling said, women’s soccer also provides more athletic participation opportunities for PHSC’s overwhelming female population, which represents about 61% of the student body.

Moreover, Winterling highlighted the popularity and surplus of high-level girls youth and high school soccer throughout Pasco County and the Tampa Bay region, plus the opportunity to house the program on the county’s east side in Wesley Chapel. (All of PHSC’s other sports programs are based on the West Campus in New Port Richey.)

“We’re hoping to keep young women in our area that want to continue playing soccer because there’s not a whole lot of opportunities for them,” the athletics director said.  “There’s a lot of talent out there and I think this is going to be exciting to keep some people close to home, where they can play a couple more years and maybe go on and play at a four-year (school), and that’s always the plan of our program here.”

Having a recognizable name in Campbell to lead the way seems to be another bonus to generate buzz for the program and school from the onset.

“Everybody knows the Rowdies,” Winterling said, “so if that doesn’t get you excited about soccer and somebody wanting to come and play at our college, I don’t know what would.”

Remaining logistical tasks for the program, the athletics director said, include finalizing a first-year budget, schedule, and equipment and uniform needs, as well as familiarizing Campbell with NJCAA rules, regulations and compliance protocols.

The team will offer 11 tuition-and-books scholarships to start, with another dozen or so walk-on players. Campbell will host a tryout for interested athletes on April 11 at 5 p.m., at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus.

As for style of play, players and fans can expect lots of action and high-scoring affairs, under Campbell’s tutelage.

The coach quipped, “I’d rather win a game 4-3 than 1-0, because, at the end of the day, the product you put out on the soccer field, you’re there to entertain, and if you give the players that freedom, that license to go express themselves, I think they’ll be really, really productive.”

He added: “I want to excite the players and excite the fans to come to watch. We like to play a possession-based game that makes it exciting for the fans. In my previous role as a head coach (with the Rowdies), we always scored lots of goals.”

A place to play, develop
PHSC’s women’s soccer program — like the school’s other sports — creates another pathway for athletes who want to play college ball, but might need more seasoning and maturity before advancing to the NCAA Division I or Division II ranks, such as the University of South Florida, University of Tampa or Saint Leo University, to name a few.

Campbell cited “alarming” dropout and transfer rates among college soccer players in their freshman and sophomore years at larger four-year schools for various reasons, such as unhappiness with lack of playing time and homesickness.

Campbell explained, “They leave home at a relatively young age. They leave for college at 18 (years old), they’re in a different environment for the first time, they’re not playing and it’s a relatively short (soccer) season…so if we can give them that platform for them to grow and develop, and then if they can go onto another school, we’ve done our job, not just sending them off as soccer players, but more rounded young women.”

Winterling himself started the PHSC baseball program back in 1991 and also coached at Florida College and Florida State University.

He likewise emphasized the impact of junior college athletics serving as a launch pad for underclassmen athletes to seamlessly advance to more prominent four-year programs.

The junior college level, he said, helps younger student-athletes who may otherwise “get lost” by larger classroom sizes and increased demands of a Division I or Division II program.

“I have not heard or talked to a student-athlete that has ever regretted going two years at the state college here and moving on,” he said.

“We want our student-athletes to get their AA (Associate of Arts) degree, enjoy two years of sports, if that’s what they so choose, and then if they want to continue and go on, we work hard to find them another place to play to finish out their bachelor’s degree.”

Women’s soccer might not be the only new sport coming to PHSC, meanwhile.

Part of the athletic department’s future plans include adding men’s cross-country and men’s soccer in coming years, Winterling said. “We want to add more sports down the road.”

Published March 31, 2021