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The LAKER LAND O’ LAKES/LUTZ EDITION
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SEPTEMBER 24, 2014
Bexley Ranch is now under way By Michael Hinman mhinman@lakerlutznews.com
People have driven by construction work on State Road 54 east of the Suncoast Parkway and wondered what might be happening there. A lot of those details were unveiled last week when Newland Communities vice president Tom Panaseny presented some of the first details of the recently resurrected Bexley Ranch project that will include about 1,700 homes over the next five years. The massive development, which will stretch north past Tower Road, was put on hold several years ago after the housing market crashed and new home construction came to a halt. But with the market on the rebound, and people still looking to move to Pasco County, Panaseny said this was as good a time as any to get started. “We’ve got our plans in review at Pasco County right now, and we think we’ll break ground in March or April next year,” he told a small crowd that gathered at the Residence Inn at NorthPoint across the street from the project.“We haven’t even announced any of the builders yet. But the
MICHAEL HINMAN/STAFF PHOTO
builders really almost come in last, once we develop the community and figure out what type of homes that we want to build.Then we’ll match up the builders to the type of home.” Homes will start close to $200,000, and run as high as $400,000, Panaseny said. While most of the development will be single-family houses, the front part of the development close to State Road 54 will include townhouses, attached villas, commercial and retail, and even a new hotel. The retail portion is where most of the land is being cleared right now, Panaseny said.That will likely be up and running by
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Construction already has begun on the retail portion of Bexley Ranch, part of a massive new community moving forward on State Road 54 just off the Suncoast Parkway.
the time that work crews start prepping the land behind it for residential development. “We are talking to several retailers right now to come in there, one of which has never been in Pasco before,” Panaseny said. Past that on Bexley Boulevard will be about 5 acres devoted to office, as well as a business class hotel. “The hotel here does very well,” Panaseny said, about the Residence Inn. “Hopefully, there is room for another one.” This will be Newland’s first project in Pasco County. It has had a lot of success with other high-profile projects in See BEXLEY, page 7A
Cancer journey chronicled through ceramic busts
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Jan Tucker holds two binders filled with explanations of benefits regarding her arduous battle with a highly aggressive form of breast cancer.
People facing a life-threatening disease have different ways of coping. Some join prayer groups. Others keep journals. Some write blogs. Land O’ Lakes resident Jan Tucker decided she wanted to keep a physical record of what her breasts looked like before she began cancer treatment. She knew that her brother, Paul Phillips — who does ceramics and other kinds of art — could make the ceramic bust because he’d done body castings for women who were pregnant. She also knew that her brother might feel strange about applying the material to make the mold to her body, so she asked him to teach her husband Ben how to do the first layer, to avoid potential embarrassment. Tucker initially just wanted a physical reminder of what she looked like before she was diagnosed with invasive ductile carcinoma — an aggressive, fast-growing cancer. Being a private person, she didn’t expect others to see it. But those plans changed, and now three ceramic busts — chronicling her journey through cancer — will be on display at an art exhibit and sale to help raise money for the American Cancer See JOURNEY, page 7A
No challenge too tough for this swimmer By Michael Murillo mmurillo@lakerlutznews.com
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INSIDE
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When Taylor Sanders was born, she had a stroke. Diagnosed with monoplegic infantile cerebral palsy, doctors told Taylor’s parents that she couldn’t walk, she couldn’t do things her peers could do and she couldn’t live a normal life. So her parents gave up. Specifically, they gave up on words like “couldn’t.” “We had a No. 1 rule. The ‘C’ word was not allowed in our house, and that’s ‘can’t’ or ‘cannot,’” said Taylor’s mother, Vanessa Sanders. Now, 15 years later, the focus is on all the things Taylor can do. She can walk. She can make friends and fit right in at Zephyrhills High School. And, like many students, she can be an athlete, too. Taylor is in her second season on the school’s swim team. And before anyone even thought about giving her special treatment when she joined, her mother eliminated that possibility on the first day. “I went to coach (Karen Cooley) the very first day of practice, and I told her what she has,” Sanders said.“I said that there isn’t anything that she cannot do. Anything that you request the team do, I ask you to request that Taylor do the same.” Cooley accepted those terms happily, and ended up with a productive, contributing team member. “She’s an awesome member of the team,” Cooley said.“She’s a leader. She likes to be involved and she’s very creative.” Taylor is supportive of her teammates, and is good at taking direction and working hard to get better, Cooley said. As a result,
MICHAEL MURILLO/STAFF PHOTO
Sanders usually chooses the 50-meter freestyle when she competes for the Zephyrhills High School swim team.
her technique, form and times have improved since she joined the team. Being on the team allows Taylor to challenge herself and others while doing something she enjoys in a supportive group setting. “I’ve always loved swimming since I was little,”Taylor said.“And I have a very competitive attitude, so competing while I’m doing something I love is just amazing.” The team, she said, is her family. “Ever since I started, they’ve accepted me like
nothing was ever wrong.” Being an athlete might be a challenge for Taylor physically, but it’s also in her genes. Vanessa Sanders was a softball player in high school and college, and still competes to this day. Her father, Scott Sanders, was a golfer in college. Disability or not, they wanted Taylor to experience the camaraderie of team competition, and the benefits and challenges that come with competing in sports. See SWIMMER, page 7A