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New community threatens traffic chaos
By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
While a development review committee headed by Pasco County administrator Michele Baker was focused on how fast boats should travel on a private lake, Bobbi Smith had a much bigger concern about a proposed new community near Caliente Resorts in Land O’ Lakes. “The thing is truly the safety issue of getting in and getting out,” said Smith, who lives on a small rural road just off U.S. 41 in the community of Silver Lakes.That street, barely wide enough to hold a single car, could carry traffic from another 100 houses if Southern Crafted Homes is allowed to build on more than 68 acres around Curve Lake. The land is owned by John and Theresa Edwards, and is filled with old orange groves at the gravel end of Fletch Road. About 40 homes are currently located near the lake on Fletch and Barcellona roads, which all exit to a busy, four-lane Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.And even with the smaller number of homes, there’s no traffic light, so cars typically back up on Barcellona as traffic looks to get out on the busy thoroughfare. “There’s no way you can have all those homes, and have just one road to get out,” Smith said. But if Southern Crafted Homes is going
MICHAEL HINMAN/STAFF PHOTO
Fletch and Barcellona roads are the only way Silver Lakes residents can get out onto Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, a four-lane expressway without a traffic light. If another 100 homes are built, some existing residents fear the current streets won’t be able to handle the increased traffic loads.
to build homes, they’ll also have to build upgraded streets along Fletch and Barcellona that will accommodate higher traffic loads, Baker said during a recent development re-
view meeting. Upgrades would include two distinct lanes of traffic, and even curbs. See TRAFFIC, page 14
Barnes & Noble offers showcase for local authors By B.C. Manion
network with each other. The store will set the writers up in clusters at different locations in the store, with a If you’re looking for a new recipe, want sprinkling of genres at each table, Brouillard to make a quilt, are in the mood for a little said. dark humor or want to be in“I’ll have a teen book maybe spired, a selection of books by next to maybe one of the cooklocal authors may appeal to you. ing books and the quilting book, Seventeen local authors will something like that,” he said. gather at Barnes & Noble at The Some authors have been Shops at Wiregrass May 17 from 2 there before, such as Leigh p.m. to 4 p.m., to offer their Kenyon, a teenager who wrote works for sale, chat with poten“The Zebra Riders,” and Madonna tial patrons, and sign books. Jervis Wise, a retired educator “It’s Barnes & Noble’s way to Check out a selecwho has written several books, recognize the community,” said tion from Janet including “Wildcat Creek Kids,” Paul Brouillard, assistant store Watson’s, ‘The “Sam & Company,” and “Juanita in manager at the bookstore, which Artist,’ on page 14. Blue.” She’s also co-author of is located at 28152 Paseo Drive in “Kachina and the Bully.” Wesley Chapel. “Our customers Evelyn Johnson-Taylor, a are readers. A lot of them aspire to be au- women’s ministry leader, will be there with thors and have their books for sale in our her book “A Woman’s Call, Living a Life of store. So this is a great way to get the au- Purpose.” thors who are local to our store.” Those interested in learning to quilt can It’s a fun event for the authors, Brouillard pick up some pointers from Elizabeth added. Besides having a chance to sell their See AUTHORS, page 14 work, they get to talk to customers and to bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
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Seventeen local authors will gather at Barnes & Noble at The Shops at Wiregrass May 17 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., to sell their books and chat with patrons.
COURTESY OF PENNY NICHOLS
This is the image that Trevor Nichols used to model the portrait he drew of Land O’ Lakes High School coach Kris Keppel. See Trevor’s winning drawing on page 14.
Local art student wins a trip to Washington By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
There’s a lot more to the portrait of Kris Keppel than meets the eye. No doubt the pencil drawing is an excellent likeness of the Land O’ Lakes coach, who has led the high school’s track and crosscountry teams for more than two decades. The quality of the work is so good that a professional artist judging U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ Congressional Art Competition deemed it best of show. By winning the competition, Nichols will get to travel to Washington, D.C., with one of his parents.They’ll get a tour of the White House and Capitol building, and will get to have lunch in the Congressional dining room. His art will be in the Capitol building See ART, page 14