The LAKER
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EAST PASCO EDITION
LAKERLUTZNEWS.COM
MARCH 8, 2017
Zephyrhills chamber ‘pays it forward’ By Kevin Weiss
kweiss@lakerlutznews.com
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The seventh annual Pigz and Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest is over, but its community impact lingers on. The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce earmarked more than $19,000 in scholarships and donations during its annual “Pay it Forward” dinner on Feb. 23, at the Silverado Golf and Country Club. The post-barbecue banquet celebrates volunteers’ efforts during the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, which just wrapped its seventh year on Jan. 21. More than 100 sponsors, participants and volunteers attended the celebration. Throughout the banquet, the chamber handed out $14,500 in donations to 11 civic clubs and youth groups, from money raised through the barbecue event. Those donations ranged from $250 to $1,900. The chamber also announced $5,000 in scholarships to graduating Zephyrhills High School students in May. Among those are a
$1,000 performing arts scholarship, a $1,000 culinary arts scholarship and a $1,000 scholarship to a student “who may not have started well, but has made a turnaround in his or her scholastic life.” Organizations receiving donations were the Pasco County Sheriff’s Posse, Zephyrhills Civil Air Patrol, Zephyrhills Noon Rotary, Zephyrhills Museum of Military History, Zephyrhills/Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association, Relay 4 Life committee, and the Resurrection House Mission. Several groups from Zephyrhills High School also were rewarded, including Army JRTOC, Interact Club and Drama Club. Each organization, which contributed the bulk of the festival’s 3,000 volunteer hours, was also presented with various certificates, plaques and other prizes. The seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills festival, meanwhile, was its most successful to date, chamber officials say. Net revenue from the event totaled more than $50,000 — the highest mark yet, acSee FORWARD, page 13A
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Evan McBride, part of a grilling group called Peachy Boys, from Mount Dora, turns some meat on the grill during the seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest on Jan. 21. Revenue from the event allowed The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce to earmark more than $19,000 in donations and scholarships to civic clubs, youth groups and graduating seniors from Zephyrhills High School.
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Growth continues to transform Wiregrass Ranch By B.C. Manion
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Once known for its cattle and citrus groves, the Wiregrass Ranch area of Wesley Chapel is now being viewed as a place where people can live, work, shop, learn and receive medical care. During the past decade: • Pasco-Hernando State College opened Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, giving Wesley Chapel students their first opportunity to seek a four-year college degree in their own backyard. • Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened, and the demand was so great that the hospital expanded — well ahead of expectations. • Florida Medical Clinic opened, on land situated near the hospital. • North Tampa Behavioral Health opened, and has been so successful that it is already undergoing an expansion.
• Financial services giant Raymond James closed on the purchase of 65 acres of land and is expected to break ground later this year on a satellite campus, across from the college. And, that’s just part of the story, according to J.D. Porter, president of sales and development for Wiregrass Ranch, in Wesley Chapel. Besides the health care, education and commercial projects, residential growth is going strong, too, Porter said. Wiregrass Ranch — with 340 housing starts — was No. 1 in housing starts in the period ending Dec. 31, 2016, according to a report by MetroStudy. FishHawk Ranch, in southern Hillsborough County, was second on the list with 324 starts. Other Pasco County developments among the top five were Long Lake Ranch, at See GROWTH, page 13A
J.D. Porter, president of sales and development for Wiregrass Ranch
HelpingInjuredPeople.com
Local youth attends Trump’s first speech to Congress
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By Kevin Weiss
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B INSIDE, PAGE 1B
COURTESY OF SHARRI AND BILL CAGLE
During his visit to Washington D.C., 13-yearold Colin Cagle received tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress.
Like millions of other Americans, Colin Cagle viewed President Donald Trump’s first speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28. Unlike most, the 13-year-old Odessa resident, attended Trump’s speech in Washington D.C. He was the invited guest of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. That fact is even more impressive, considering each member of congress was allotted just one extra ticket for Trump’s address. Cagle, a seventh-grader at Martinez Middle School, was thrilled to receive the rare invitation. “I was just extremely thankful, and I was in shock. I was so surprised,” Cagle, said. Bilirakis first became aware of Cagle when his family requested tickets for President Trump’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. (Though Bilirakis’ office was out of tickets, Rep. Dennis Ross was able to pitch in.)
Cagle and Bilirakis have remained in touch, and the congressman became enthralled by the youth’s keen passion for politics. That was furthered once Bilirakis’ office came across a 6 ½-minute NBC News feature on Cagle’s political interests and ideology. Cagle, an unabashed Trump supporter, left the address content with the president’s remarks on strengthening the military and unifying the country. “He put out plans that I know that both Democrats and Republicans can all stand behind,” Cagle said. “Overall, it was very presidential, and it was an amazing experience.” The teenager’s visit to Washington D.C. also included tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress. “It was really awesome,” he said. Though Cagle always has had an interest in politics, his curiosity peaked See CONGRESS, page 13A