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LAND O’ LAKES/LUTZ EDITION
MAY 6, 2015
Library is all-in for robotics By Kathy Steele
ksteele@lakerlutznews.com
Edgar is a show-off. He flips a large exercise ball into the air with a thumping, quick-action lever. But the roving robot – a compact collection of digitized metal, plastic and wires – would be nothing without his human creators – the Edgar Allan Ohms Robotics Team. The little guy- all 15 pounds or so - couldn’t even whir and zip across the floor without a human programming a computer and toggling a joystick. The human operators are impressed at what robots can do at their commands. “They can do whatever you want them to,” said 15-year-old Logan Boudreau. “The way each component works with other components to complete a task is fascinating.” Boudreau is among about 25 members of Edgar Allan Ohms, a nearly two-year-old robotics team that is sponsored by the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library. The library’s sponsorship is unique and possibly the only one of its kind in the nation, the robotics team’s website says. So far no one has found a similar team at any state or regional competitions where most teams are based at area middle and high schools. Library officials are taking another step forward in their commitment to robotics by
KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS
Eleven-year-old Danny Urbonas, left, works with 10-year-old Regan Kubus and 11-year-old Dylan Pease, to reprogram a Lego robot at Land O’ Lakes Branch Library.
creating FIRST (For Inspiration and to have seven teams that can compete in Recognition of Science and Technology) FIRST Lego League competitions. Lego League teams for youngsters who Grants from NASA and the county, each could be the next generation of engineers for $5,000, helped seed the Edgar Allan for the robotics team. See ROBOTICS, page 9A With help from NASA grants, the goal is
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Florida Medical Clinic’s expansion story continues By B.C. Manion
bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Florida Medical Clinic is continuing to expand at a brisk pace, with an 85,000square-foot facility expected to open near Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel in March 2016, and a 15,000-square-foot expansion at its facility on State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes now under way. The new projects are part of a story that dates back to 1993, when four practices in Zephyrhills decided to merge to gain advantages they could not secure independently, said Chris Alvarez, the health care provider’s chief financial officer. Since then, Florida Medical Clinic has grown to have 43 locations totaling 550,000 square feet, with 750 patient encounters each year. It has 235 providers, representing 33 medical specialties,Alvarez said. It also has ambitious plans. The five-year vision is to have 70 locations, with 1.3 million patient visits a year, Alvarez told those gathered at an economic
Construction work is under way on a 15,000-square-feet expansion project at Florida Medical Clinic’s Land O’ Lakes location.
development briefing organized by the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. Alvarez spoke at a luncheon meeting at Hoosiers Grille at the Heritage Isles Golf and Country Club on April 23. Florida Medical Clinic will be building the new 85,000-square-foot structure in Wesley Chapel at 2352 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., north of State Road 56. “Obviously, the location is perfect for us. It’s very close to the hospital,” Alvarez said.
“It’s a great location from a visibility standpoint.” There will be 60 physicians and 200 employees in that building,Alvarez said. “Everything we’re going to do at Wiregrass is going to be practices that already exist in the Wiregrass area or new providers that we’re going to bring in, or have already brought in, in anticipation of See EXPANSION, page 9A
Efforts are on again for Ridge Road extension By Kathy Steele
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Pasco County is trying again to obtain a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build an 8-mile extension of Ridge Road. The project is a high priority for the county to provide an additional evacuation route during hurricanes or other emergencies. Consultants with Washington D.C.-based Dawson & Associates briefed the Pasco Commission on April 14 on its analysis of road designs requested by the Corps of Engineers, including the county’s initial proposal and 17 alternatives. The federal agency rejected a prior application based on insufficient data. County officials expressed frustration over the agency’s lack of information regarding its requirements prior to sending in its application. “We would do what you want, if you’d just tell us what you want,” said Georgianne Ratliff, an urban planning consultant serving as project manager on the Ridge Road extension.
The rejected application eliminated without analysis 10 alternatives that the county considered not practical to build largely due to cost. Corps officials said detailed analysis of all options had to be provided. “They wanted a full analysis, and we have done that,” said David Barrows, senior counselor with Dawson & Associates. At issue are about 58 acres of the 6,000acre Serenova Preserve, set aside years ago to mitigate the loss of wetlands during construction of the parkway. County officials must come up with an option that will do the least damage to the environment. Efforts to secure the permit have been ongoing for nearly 15 years. Critics of the extension have said the project will open up the area to more development. The county has determined that four of the 17 alternatives are practical options. Costs range from about $77 million to nearly $102 million. The most expensive road project would be four lanes and would be partially elevated. Barrows said that alternative would be the least damaging to the environment. It would impact about 23 acres of wet-
lands and 86 acres of upland habitat. For several years the county’s budget has included about $42 million for the first phase of the project. Currently the road dead-ends at Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey. The extension would link to U.S. 41 with a connection to the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. The Corps of Engineers must issue a permit based on regulations within the Clean Water Act. Before the matter is all settled, other agencies also will weigh in. Among them are Southwest Florida Water Management District and the Environmental Protection Agency The next step in the process is awaiting a response from the Corps of Engineers to know if additional information will be required, Barrows said. He hopes a meeting will be scheduled within two months. While a final decision is still months away, Barrows said there is a better understanding of what has to be done. “I congratulate you on securing the goal posts,” said Commissioner Jack Mariano. “I’m very impressed.”