The Laker-Wesley Chapel/New Tampa-April 27, 2016

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The LAKER

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APRIL 27, 2016

Timing on traffic signals tweaked By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Motorists cruising through the intersection of State Road 54 and U.S. 41 might have noticed some differences in the timing of the traffic signals. The intervals between green lights and red lights have changed there and also in front of Lowe’s home improvement store off State Road 54. Not everyone is happy with the change, especially motorists who say they sit through more than one light interval to make a left turn heading south on U.S. 41 to See SIGNALS, page 11A

KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS

Motorists turn left from southbound U.S. 41 onto eastbound State Road 54. State highway officials tweaked the timing of traffic signals to improve traffic flow, but some motorists say they don’t like the longer waits to turn left.

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INSIDE, PAGE 1B JOSEPH SPENA/PHOTO

Three-year-old Ethan Sanborn, of Wesley Chapel, receives some instruction from Cpl. Clark Reese, on the police ATV. Guests had a chance to an up-close look at the vehicles, and in some cases, could sit in them at the third annual Law Enforcement Officer Family Fun Day on April 16.

Commuters could get a faster ride By Kathy Steele ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

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FEBRUARY 3, 2016

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The site is located at the corner of of heading toward a construction start Magnolia Boulevard and Wesley Chapel Amici Plaza in spring with an opening likely Boulevard, which is also known as County ksteele@lakerlutznews.com by the end of 2016. Road 54. Pasco County records show a conceptual Pasco County is moving forward with acOwners of Amici Pizza & Deli are planthe plan with about 3,000 square feet for Road ning to build a new stand-alone restaurant, for quisition of right-of-way along County restaurant, and about 1,800 square feet 54 to prepare for the expansion of the twowith additional retail space, on Wesley retail. the lane road into a four-lane road at Chapel Boulevard. “We’d like to have our own building and 54 junction of State Road 56 and State Road The new restaurant is a short distance a bigger kitchen,” said Andrea Mannino. from the existing Amici restaurant in Grand No decisions have been made on the adSee PIZZA, page 13A Oaks Square, at Wesley Chapel and Pet Lane. ditional retail space, he said. Andrea and Josephine Mannino, are

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JIM HOLLIDAY

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JIM HOLLIDAY

813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights”

813-868-1887 “I Will Aggressively Fight To Protect Your Legal Rights”

18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste 101 Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)

101 18920 N. Dale Mabry Hwy Ste Lutz, FL (Corner of Sunlake & Dale Mabry)

Walk-Ins Welcome

Walk-Ins Welcome

FLORIDA STRAWBERRY FESTIVAL

EDITION

JANUARY 27, 2016

Pasco administrator to retire in

By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker expects to be very busy over the next year and a half. She’ll be crossing off a to-do list, one by one, before leaving in 2017 to go on a lengthy road trip with her husband. The couple will hit the road with their recreational vehicle and their motorcycles, on a tour of as many baseball parks and national parks as they can squeeze into a year. “That’s been our dream,” Baker said, so letting her contract lapse in July 2017 makes sense. But, don’t expect a lame duck administrator. “There’s no kicking back here,” Baker said.“This isn’t me slowing down. ” Baker has told Pasco County commissioners she won’t seek renewal of her current two-year contract, which makes her

2017

last day July 9, 2017. the jail and construction of new fire stations By then, Baker will • Relocating have worked 35 years central Pasco more government offices to in public service, 24 Baker also plans to fill vacancies for a of those years with few key leadership positions that remain, Pasco County. cluding an assistant county administrator infor Her to-do list, in public safety and administration. short form, includes: Progress has been made, Baker said, but • Completing mas- government services still could be more ter plans and updates customer-friendly. for storm water, solid A culture that was decades in the waste and tourism making is being changed, she said.“You don’t • Funding and building a diverging get to dia- turn a canoe.You’re turning mond road design to ease traffic congestion a ship.” Public service wasn’t Baker’s first at State Road 56 and Interstate 75 career choice. • Completing the State Road 56 extenOver the years she worked sion as a waitress, • Nurturing SunWest Park, the county’s flight attendant and a theater manager. She also served in the U.S.Air Force Reserve. fledgling aqua park Her undergraduate degree was in • Replacing and repairing aging busiinfra- ness administration. structure and roads damaged by the It wasn’t until she accepted a secretarial summer flooding • Making progress on the expansion of See RETIRE, page 11A Michele Baker

Kumquats reign supreme at area festival By Kathy Steele

ksteele@lakerlutznews.com

®

Saturday, January 30, 2016 9 AM - 5 PM Historic Downtown Dade City

FREE ADMISSION KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTOS

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WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA

Amici Pizza plans stand-alone location

Mark Pizzurro, Joe Traina and Peter Abreut

anticipate opening their craft brewery

in Land O’ Lakes in spring.

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The first kumquat tree in St. Joseph took root more than 100 years ago, when C.J. Nathe planted it in his backyard. He added a few more, and soon he had small grove on an acre of fertile ground. a The kumquat king, as Nathe was later dubbed, transformed a quiet back road community into the Kumquat Capital of the World. An open house will take place on Jan. and Jan. 29 at the Kumquat Growers 28 packi h d

Margie Neuhofer and her h

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KATHY STEELE/STAFF PHOTO

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Pasco County commuters understand the frustration of gridlock, as they head to and from work every day. Florida Department of Transportation officials believe the proposed construction of a project known as the Tampa Bay Express could make life easier for motorists traveling from St. Petersburg in Pinellas County to Wesley Chapel in Pasco County. Nearly 50 miles of new toll lanes would be built adjacent to existing non-toll lanes along Interstate 275 and Interstate 4, in a project that state highway officials have pegged at initial costs of $3 billion, but said it could go as high as $6 billion. If the project is approved, construction would be five or more years away. The toll fees would vary depending on traffic volume — with more expensive tolls applying at rush hour. SunPass would be the only accepted method of payment.The system will not allow billing by license plate. The potential is there, too, for a rapid bus transit service that would operate within the toll lane system, but not pay tolls. A 44foot “multimodal envelope” is included in the design. Park and ride stations would be built. including one in Wesley Chapel. The project is stirring an intense struggle between those who support the TBX as a regional approach to easing traffic congestion and those who characterize the TBX as a boondoggle that will destroy historic Tampa neighborhoods, and do little for mass transit. A coalition, including the Tampa Bay Partnership, now has The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce as a partner. The chamber’s board of directors approved a resolution on April 21 in support of TBX “as an essential foundation to pursue a variety of forward-thinking transit options” in the Tampa Bay area. The day before the chamber’s vote, state transportation officials made a presentation to about 20 people who attended a public meeting on the TBX, sponsored by the chamber. Kirk Bogen, the transportation department’s environmental manager engineer, said the Wesley Chapel presentation was the first one in the “outskirts” of the TBX

COURTESY OF FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

The proposed Tampa Bay Express would add toll lanes to existing non-toll lanes along Interstate 275 and Interstate 4, creating a managed toll system linking Wesley Chapel in Pasco County to St. Petersburg in Pinellas County.

project area. “We’re putting out feelers, accepting invitations,” he said. Hope Allen, president of the Wesley Chapel chamber, said the coalition’s goal is to inform people of what’s going on and “to make sure it’s the right fit for our commuters.” The TBX and gridlock relief are key to the area’s future development, she said. Without the project, she added, “Wesley Chapel doesn’t look quite as appealing. We’re here to help you get this moving along.” The toll express lanes also have strong support from Mayor Bob Buckhorn. But, the project faces resistance within Tampa’s historic neighborhoods, including Tampa Heights, Ybor City and Seminole Heights. Community activists and a newly

formed Sunshine Citizens coalition are working hard to block the TBX. They have held a series of protest marches through neighborhoods that could lose about 100 businesses and homes to the road project. Among area businesses that could be torn down are Café Hey, the Oceanic Market and La Segunda Central Bakery, which has operated in Ybor City for more than 100 years.A public housing complex, Mobley Park apartments, also could be torn down. Many in the neighborhoods remember past urban renewal projects that divided and devastated communities. A crucial vote on the matter will take place on June 22 at 6 p.m., at the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning See COMMUTERS, page 11A


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