The Laker-Wesley Chapel/New Tampa-November 20, 2019

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The LAKER

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WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION

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Advocating to reduce homelessness

By Kevin Weiss kweiss@lakerlutznews.com

When it comes to community service and advocacy, more can always be done in Pasco County. That was the general message put forth by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells, at a Nov. 12 East Pasco Networking Group breakfast meeting at IHOP in Dade City.

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There’s all sorts of resources for seniors, veterans and children and families, Wells said. But, he is advocating greater collaboration between the county, nonprofits and outreach groups — such as Meals on Wheels East Pasco, United Way of Pasco County and The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County. “We’re doing so many great things in the county, but everybody’s got their own dang

silos and it’s almost like,‘This is mine, I don’t want you to know what I’m doing,’” said Wells, a Republican who represents District 4. His district stretches from West Pasco to State Road 52 and State Road 54 toward U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. He added that deep-rooted community divide remains between the county’s east See HOMELESSNESS, page 15A

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INSIDE, PAGE 1B

FRED BELLET

Hanging out with alpacas

Visitors at Sweet Blossom Alpaca’s fifth annual Alpaca Open House had a chance to get up close and personal with alpacas. The event, at 37543 Pappy Road, in Dade City, drew a big crowd. Above, an Huacaya alpaca looks curiously at a photographer — checking out the clicking sound of the camera. More photos on page 1B.

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A hungry llama has its choice of handouts, as visitors line up along the fence at Sweet Blossom Alpacas’ open house.

As adults check their phones, curious children saw eye-toeye with the curious alpacas.

Expansion addresses Irish tenor to perform at St. Timothy Catholic Church need to serve critically ill patients By B.C. Manion

bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

AdventHealth Connerton has been addressing the needs for critically ill patients for a decade — but it also has had to turn patients away because its beds were full. An expansion expected to open later this month, will increase the hospital’s ability to serve patients and families in need. AdventHealth officials had a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the completion of a new wing at the hospital, at 9441 Health Center Drive in Connerton. The $20.6 million expansion adds 30 beds, bringing the hospital’s total to 77. It also increases the hospital’s ability to provide care for patients needing care for multisystem organ failure, complex wounds, sepsis, head trauma and other conditions. “We cater to medically complex, critically ill patients, who need an extended hospital stay,” said Debi Martoccio, chief op-

Emmet Cahill, an internationally known singer, will be performing a holiday concert at St.Timothy Catholic Church on Dec. 10. It will be the second time in two years that Cahill, a principal performer with the Irish music show Celtic Thunder, will be making a solo appearance at the Lutz church. As a principal vocalist with Celtic Thunder since 2011, Cahill has performed in more than 350 shows across North America and Australia, including numerous appearances on PBS,The Today Show, Fox and Friends, Home & Family, and QVC, according to Cahill’s website. Some of the famous venues where he has sung include St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City and Carnegie Hall. He also opened the beginning of the St. Patrick’s Day Parade in New York, with a performance of “Danny Boy.” Celtic Thunder is on a break this year, he said. “Last year we did our 10th anniversary

See EXPANSION, page 15A

See TENOR, page 15A

By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com

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The LAKER WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION

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FEBRUARY 3, 2016

The LAKER

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Auto Accident? Slip and Fall?

By Kathy Steele

FREE CONSULTATION

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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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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COURTESY OF EMMET CAHILL

Emmet Cahill, principal singer of Celtic Thunder, will perform in a solo concert at St. Timothy Catholic Church on Dec. 10.


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