Lutz News-Lutz/Odessa-February 17, 2016

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Lutz NEWS

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FEBRUARY 17, 2016

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Efforts on to settle renaming dispute By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County officials are trying to search out the historical boundaries between Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel to help determine the name of a new road near Cypress Creek Town Center. Finding out that information could help determine whether a new stretch of Wesley Chapel Boulevard should: • Be renamed Circle O Ranch Parkway • Be named something else • Keep the name it has

The roadway, south of State Road 56, is planned as a southern continuation of Wesley Chapel Boulevard that will connect with County Line Road. According to county records, a compromise decision to name the road “Town Center Parkway” was considered, but then abandoned. “I don’t think Town Center is historical, but at least it’s a new beginning,” said Sandy Graves, a long-time Land O’ Lakes’ resident and a member of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce. The chamber requested the name

change to Circle O Ranch Parkway in December.The name would recognize the King family, whose ranch now is a prime development area for Tampa Premier Outlets and the Cypress Creek Town Center. In the next weeks, meetings with groups who are at odds over the renaming will be held. Interested parties are being asked to provide evidence in the form of documents, oral histories, videos or anything that might shed light on the matter. “We’ll put this in a staff report,” said Matt See RENAMING, page 11A

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New 50-acre park seeks funding By Kevin Weiss

kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

A grassroots effort from community members in Carrollwood Village spurred the idea for a new 50-acre park that may see the light of day in the next few years. The Carrollwood Village Community Park expects to replace the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant once it goes offline, and the land is converted to a green space. While the green site should be available by the spring of 2017, there’s not a timetable yet for when the park may open, because there’s no funding available for the park’s construction. The county currently has $3.2 million for land acquisition and design of the park, according to Kyla Booher, manager of parks services with the Parks and Recreation Department. However, about $4 million more would be needed to build the park, not counting administrative equipment or contingency costs. “It’s a very rough estimate, but it could be upwards of more,” Booher said. The construction funds would go toward site improvements, park access, infrastructure, lighting, landscape and other costs, the parks services manager added. Booher said the parks department is still in the “very beginning” of the project’s development and environmental management process. “We are in the planning process. We are looking at surveys right now,” Booher said. “We’re trying to solicit a design consultant for the master planning of the park.” In September 2015, the parks department had a public meeting, seeking input from the community on the type of amenities they’d value the most at the 50-acre site. Booher and her staff ranked the citizens

PHOTOS COURTESY OF THE FRIENDS OF THE NORTHWEST REGIONAL PARK

In photo above, a new 50-acre park expects to replace the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant. Below, Hillsborough County has $3.2 million for the site’s acquisition and design. However, there is no funding for construction of the Carrollwood Village Community Park.

comments, and created a top 10 “wish list” of amenities. Walking trails, a dog park, a splash pad, a picnic area, a botanical garden and a nature center were some of the features most requested by community members. “I think those are very reasonable requests,” Booher said.“There are much more that they wanted, but it wasn’t the general consensus. “At this point, it’s going to be have a little bit more of a passive feel, so it may not have as much activity as a recreation site would with programs like dance and art classes.”

Zika virus cases keep growing By B.C. Manion

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The news on the Zika virus keeps evolving, as the number of travel-associated cases in the United State continues to grow. As of Feb. 10, there were 52 travel-associated cases of Zika virus in the United States, including 16 in Florida, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Florida Gov. Rick Scott on Feb. 3 directed state FILE PHOTO Surgeon General Dr. John The Zika virus is spread through bites of the Aedes aegypti Armstrong to declare a mosquito, which is the same mosquito that spreads the denpublic health emergency gua and chikunguna viruses. in Hillsborough, MiamiDade, Lee and Santa Rosa counties relating to travel-associated cases symptoms lasting several days to a week. of Zika virus found in those counties. Hospitalization is uncommon. At the time, those counties had reported There have been reports of a serious a total of nine travel-associated cases of the birth defect of the brain called microZika virus. cephaly in babies of mothers who had Zika The Zika virus is spread through the virus while pregnant, according to the bites of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which is CDC. Knowledge of the link between Zika the same species that spreads dengue and and birth defects is evolving, but until more chikungunya viruses, according to the is known, CDC recommends special preCDC. cautions for pregnant women. It also can be transmitted from mother Microcephaly is a birth defect where a to child during pregnancy, the CDC re- baby’s head is smaller than expected, when ports. It also notes that cases have been compared to babies of the same sex and reported of the Zika virus spreading age, the CDC says. Babies with microthrough blood transfusion or sexual con- cephaly often have smaller brains that tact. might not have developed properly, accordThere is no vaccine available for the ing to the CDC. Zika virus. The Zika virus also has been associated The most common symptoms of Zika with Guillain-Barre syndrome, a rare disorvirus disease are fever, rash, joint pain and der in which a person’s own immune red eyes. The illness is usually mild, with system damages his or her nerve cells, but

A more “passive” park is exactly what homeowners in Carrollwood Village want, according to Bill DeMare, co-chairman of Friends of Northwest Regional Park — the group responsible for spearheading the idea for a new park. “We already have regional parks like Lettuce Lake Park, and we already have recreational parks — like basketball, tennis, indoor facilities, but this is more unique, and something the community can enjoy,” he said. See PARK, page 11A

CDC Advisory The Centers for Disease Control has issued an advisory for women who are pregnant or who are trying to become pregnant. Women who are pregnant should consider postponing travel to areas where Zika virus transmission is ongoing. If they do travel to one of those areas, they should talk to their doctor or other health care provider first, and be sure to follow steps to avoid mosquito bites. Women who are trying to become pregnant or are considering becoming pregnant should consult with their health care provider before traveling and should follow steps to avoid mosquito bites. Also, the CDC notes that it is safe for pregnant women to use mosquito repellent. It is safe for women who are breastfeeding to use mosquito repellent, too. Anyone using a repellent should choose one that is registered with the Environmental Protection Agency.

Source: Centers for Disease Control

the CDC says more information is needed. The Brazil Ministry of Heath has reported an increased number of people who have been infected with the Zika virus who also have Guillain-Barre syndrome. The CDC is working with Brazil to study a possible link. The CDC recommends that people protect themselves by avoiding the Aedes aegypti mosquito, which bites primarily during the day. To help protect yourself, the CDC recommends people: • Wear long-sleeved shirts and pants • Stay in places with air conditioning or See ZIKA, page 11A


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