The Laker-Land O' Lakes-September 21, 2016

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Raymond James closes land deal By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Raymond James Financial has purchased land from the Porter family, moving a step closer to building an office complex in Wesley Chapel. The satellite campus could yield hundreds of new jobs for Pasco County. The Fortune 500 financial company, with headquarters in St. Petersburg, could build as much as 1 million square feet of offices on about 65 acres near State Road 56 at

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Mansfield Boulevard, east of The Shops at Wiregrass. The land purchase had been anticipated since July, when the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers approved a permit for the project. Over the years, there have been naysayers who never thought the project would get off the ground after the recession scuttled the project in 2011. But, J.D. Porter, an owner of Wiregrass Ranch, never doubted that Raymond James believed in the project, and in Pasco.

In fact, Porter said, “Pasco County is in the best situation. It is a place that is built and made to grow in a big way. This really sets it up for leadership to take the bull by the horns. I feel a lot of people will follow suit.” Nearly six years ago, the Pasco County Commission offered up about $10 million in roadwork and tax break incentives to lure Raymond James to the county. Raymond James had a target goal of bringSee LAND, page 11A

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Local civil air patrol soars to success By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

Motorists zip down Interstate 75, at the edge of Tampa North Aero Park — oblivious to what goes on at the airport on a typical Wednesday evening. That’s when members of the Wesley Chapel Civil Air Patrol Squadron gather to expand their aerospace knowledge; receive search and rescue training; and take part in cadet programs that emphasize drills, discipline and character building. The Wesley Chapel Civil Air Patrol Squadron, known as Wesley Chapel CAP for short, includes 43 cadets ranging from ages 12 to 21, and the 15 senior members who are 18 and older. Most squadron members live in Wesley Chapel, but some live in other communities, including Land O’ Lakes, Spring Hill and Brooksville. The squadron has earned some bragging rights. Squadron Commander Daia Jung received the Squadron Commander of the Year Award for 2015. And, the squadron itself was named Squadron of the Year for the Florida Wing for 2015, and went on to be named Squadron of the Year for the Southeast Region.Those awards are in addition to scores of others the chapter has earned over the past several years. Jung is the squadron’s third commander. She follows Steve Lampasona, who established the squadron, and his wife, Joyce, who became the chapter’s second commander.

FILE PHOTO

The Florida State flag catches a breeze and waves over the Wesley Chapel Cadet Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol’s color guard.

“We’re a cadet program. Pretty much everything here is run and taught by cadets, with senior members being their guides,” Daia said. Cadet Capt. Austen King is the squadron’s cadet commander. There are essentially three components in the CAP, said Daia, who was introduced to the program by her husband, who oversees the emergency services program. He is a veteran of the first Gulf War and is 21-year veteran of the Tampa Fire Department. The CAP’s focus is on leadership devel-

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opment, aerospace education and emergency services, including search and rescue missions, she said. Many squadron members have an interest in aviation and aerospace, and some get their first taste of flying, too. “We have two types of orientation flights. One is in powered aircraft and one is in glider,” Daia said. Some members want to do more than ride in a plane.They want to take the conSee PATROL, page 11A

Local students in running for national scholarships By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

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Pasco County commissioners agreed to establish a Commission on the Status of Women. Following the vote, several women who worked to have the commission approved marked the occasion with a photo. From left, in front row, Stefanie Pontlitz, Minnie Diaz, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, Rosie Paulsen, Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker, Shawn Roetschke, and Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, of the Pasco County Circuit Court. Back row, Assistant County Administrator Heather Grimes, Assistant County Administrator Cathy Pearson and Assistant County Attorney Elizabeth Blair.

Normally, a summons by the principal doesn’t involve cake and flowers — but that’s exactly what Lauren Payne and her parents encountered at Wiregrass Ranch High School on Sept. 14. Principal Robyn White and Assistant Principal Cindy M. Jack wanted to share good news with the student and her parents because the high school senior is on the list of semifinalists in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program. She’s one of 16,000 scholars across the See SCHOLARSHIPS, page 11A

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Commission on Status of Women approved By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

The Pasco County Commissioners has approved an ordinance to establish a Commission on the Status of Women. It also has approved a resolution naming 10 organizations that will participate in the 15-member commission. Rosie Paulsen, president-elect of the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association, described the commission’s creation as “a historic moment” during the public comment portion of the county commission’s Sept. 13 meeting. Paulsen hopes the women’s commission will create a Pasco County Women’s Hall of Fame.“We need one here,” she said. Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted a recent study showing that women still receive unequal pay for the See WOMEN, page 11A

Rosie Paulsen, president-elect of the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association, spoke to Pasco County commissioners about the need for a Commission on the Status of Women and a local Women’s Hall of Fame.

B.C. MANION/STAFF PHOTO

From left, Janet Payne, Lauren Payne and Greg Payne, stand in a conference room at Wiregrass Ranch High School, after Lauren found out she had been named a semifinalist in the 2017 National Merit Scholarship Program.


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