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Pasco schools seek new ‘near-normal’
By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
As the Pasco County public school district wraps up an academic year that was anything but normal, Superintendent Kurt Browning hopes things will be different in the 2021-2022 term. Browning discussed his hopes for the district, along with a full range of other top-
ics, during a webinar hosted last week by the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, as part of its Business Development Year series. “This year has been incredibly challenging,” Browning told those listening. “Whoever knew … when everything got shut down (in March 2020) that we would literally be shut down for the fourth quarter and that we’d still be dealing with COVID
… more than a year later,” the superintendent said. Browning praised district teachers, administrators and staff for making rapid adaptations to conduct the rest of last school year virtually. Then, he said, the district made more adjustments before the 2020-2021 year began to See SCHOOLS, page 9A
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Event offers a chance to see action, learn history Hundreds of people headed to the Pioneer Florida Museum & Village, in Dade City, to watch the reenactment of a World War II battle, to listen to living history lessons and to check out World War II artifacts. Above, U.S. Army Infantry make an advance on the ground as they prepare to battle German forces during the Raid on Renault II. For more coverage of this event, see page 1B.
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One-of-a-kind subdivision in Pasco? By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
The Pasco County Planning Commission this week is expected to continue its consideration of a proposal to create a subdivision for catastrophically injured veterans, and surviving families of fallen first responders and to Gold Star families. The Stephen Siller Tunnel to Towers Foundation is seeking permission to build 115 homes on 74 acres, on the south side of Parkway Boulevard, about one-half mile east of Ehren Cutoff. The site is between the Panther Run and Dupree Lakes subdivisions. Matt Mahoney, executive vice president of the foundation, explained the concept of the project — via a remote feed — during the planning board’s April 22 meeting. “Our recipients are all gifted these homes. These are mortgage-free homes,” Mahoney said. The homes will go to catastrophically injured veterans — who are missing multiple appendages or have been severely burned, he said. Homes also will be provided for surviving spouses and families of Fallen First Responders and Gold Star families. “We have the financial wherewithal to do this. The land was donated to us,” Mahoney said.“We’re in a strong financial situation to move forward with this project.” The foundation was established 20 years ago by Frank Siller, to honor the sacrifice of his brother, Stephen Siller, a firefighter who laid down his life to save others on Sept. 11, 2001. “While the foundation’s previous efforts were focused on individual homes and paying off existing mortgages in various places, See SUBDIVISION, page 9A
Two-year-old Lilliana Joiner has a remedy for all of the loud gunfire during the World War II re-enactment. The little girl was visiting Dade City with her parents, Daniel and Danielle Joiner. Her 8-year-old sister, Sophia, and 6year-old sister, Michelle, were there, as was her grandmother, Bonnie Lyke.
French Resistance reenactor Richard Reaume, of Brooksville, reports to the American encampment prior to the start of the Raid on Renault II.
Leaders tour new research center site By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Leaders from Moffitt Cancer Center, Lennar, and Metro Development Group recently toured the Central Pasco site that is planned to become home to a massive research and innovation district — as well as to one of the West Central Florida region’s newest live-work-play communities. As plans for the new Angeline mixed-use community continue to take shape — H. Lee Moffitt, founder of Moffitt Cancer Center; Dr. Patrick Hwu, CEO of Moffitt Cancer Center; John Ryan, CEO of Metro Development Group; and Mark Metheny, division president of Lennar Central Florida toured the property on April 22 — riding in off-road vehicles along trails and dirt roads, according to a news release. Angeline — which is being billed as a wellness-themed community — will be developed on thousands of acres of land, east of the Suncoast Parkway and south of State Road 52. Moffitt plans to create a massive research and corporate innovation district that is expected to become a life sciences destination for the world. Moffitt is working closely with the project developer, Metro Development Group, and the lead homebuilder, Lennar. In the first phase, Moffitt will construct 128,000 square feet for a corporate busi-
ness park, generating approximately 430 full-time jobs, the release says. Once the Suncoast Parkway-Ridge Road Extension intersection is built, the first phase is expected to be complete in five years. Plans for the Angeline community, which spans 6,200 acres, include a variety of homes from leading homebuilders for 30,000 new residents, a 150-acre regional park, Crystal Lagoon and beach, village center featuring restaurants and retail, and 3,600-plus acres of natural, undeveloped green space with an extensive trail network that could span up to 100 miles, the release says. “Touring the Pasco campus for the first time only solidified how incredible this endeavor will be,” Moffitt’s CEO Hwu said, in the release. He is meeting with biotech companies and other potential partners to be involved in the Moffitt facility. “We foresee a first-of-its-kind campus with patient care, research, biotech, wellness, digital innovation and ultimately cures,” Hwu adds, in the release. He also talked with the Metro Development Group and Lennar leaders about how the growth opportunity created by Moffitt’s new Pasco County location was one of the major reasons he decided to join Moffitt as CEO last year. Site entitlements for Moffitt’s project,
which encompass 24 million square feet, include plans for a hospital, research and development space, office, manufacturing, laboratories, pharmacies, educational facility/university, hotel, and commercial space. The multiyear, multiphase project is expected to create 14,500 jobs. At the site visit, Metro Development Group shared initial ideas for the surrounding mixed-use master-planned community and amenities to complement Moffitt’s expansion campus, according to the release. Leaders discussed potential synergies, such as researchers working with students at a STEM magnet school. Angeline will have a focus on being a wellness community, with fitness trails and recreation areas that would benefit those who live and work on campus, as well as cancer patients and survivors.The community will be built with a digital infrastructure to provide high-speed connectivity indoors and outdoors, the release says. “We are proud to partner with Moffitt and Lennar on this forward-thinking project,” John Ryan of Metro Development Group, added in the release.“At Metro, we are known for creating healthy places for residents to live and work, and being aligned with Moffitt is a great fit in this regard.” See TOUR, page 9A