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The LAKER WESLEY CHAPEL/NEW TAMPA EDITION
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Serving up food and kindness By Brian Fernandes bfernandes@lakerlutznews.com
It’s not uncommon for generous acts to surface during the holiday, especially charitable gestures for those who are less fortunate. But, when you have a group that guarantees a hot plate every Sunday throughout the year, that’s not such a common thing. That’s precisely what an organization
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called Love One Another has been doing for 10 years. The ministry serves meals every Sunday at the Pasco County Nutrition Center, 13853 15th St., in Dade City. It feeds whomever walks through the door. Lucy Avila helped to found Love One Another. She said it all began with a simple idea brought up during a staff meeting at the
First Baptist Church, where she attends. Initially, it was a program aimed at feeding only the homeless. Flyers were placed around the city to get the word out. In the beginning, organizers planned for 100 people, but only 10 showed up. The First Baptist Church supplied and prepared the meals for the first five months, See KINDNESS, page 19A
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Window shopping, nostalgia and Christmas parades Enjoying a hot coffee at the Magical Night Christmas Parade, Tyler Wrage of San Antonio, right, and his wife Elizabeth admire a quilt on display while window shopping at the Quilts on Plum Lane shop, on Seventh Street in Historic Dade City. Elizabeth said she has attended the parade every year since her parents began bringing her when she was 3. The event was presented by The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Florida Hospital Dade City and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills. Santa arrived in a red mustang to conclude the parade. The Santa sponsor was State Farm Insurance, ‘Baldy’ Boyd agent.
Burgess tapped to lead state’s Study continues on Wesley Chapel congestion veterans affairs By Brian Fernandes
bfernandes@lakerlutznews.com
Burgess’ departure will trigger a special election By B.C. Manion bcmanion@lakerlutznews.com
Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis has announced his recommendation of state Rep. Danny Burgess to serve as the state’s next executive director of Florida’s Department of Veterans Affairs. If his appointment is confirmed, Burgess will have to resign from his District 38 seat in the Florida House of Representatives. “It’s bittersweet,” Burgess said, noting the appointment “is completely unexpected and not something I sought out.” But he added, receiving the call from DeSantis regarding the opportunity to serve in the new capacity was humbling, See BURGESS, page 19A
There’s
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SPECIAL SECTION inside this week
The Metropolitan Planning Organization heard a report about the Wesley Chapel Roadway Connection project — along with pros and cons on various aspects of potential roadway connections during the board’s Dec. 13 meeting. The presentation was for information only, with no action taken by the board. Meghan McKinney, of the AECOM organization, has been collaborating with the MPO to conduct studies on the pros and cons of potential connections. The project is focused on three potential connections: • Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street • Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension • Wyndfields Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard Extension Public workshops have been held, as part of the study, in both April 2017 and May 2018. “The reasons we wanted to do this study is we wanted to get public input, to hear if views have changed,” McKinney said. In general, it’s a consensus in the community that the area’s roads can’t handle the current traffic demands, and there are especially concerns about safety near schools, she said. Of all three potential connections, the most controversial involves a possible link between Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street. In a 2017 survey, 36 people said they favored the connection, while 37 people were opposed. Several alternatives are being considered, McKinney said. McKinney also told board members that regardless of which alternative is selected, the area’s traffic projections for 2040 reveals significant traffic increases. “Basically you have an area where just by connecting the road, you’re not neces-
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Some residents worry about safety issues near schools because of traffic congestion on Mansfield Boulevard.
sarily adding more people to the area,” she reasoned. “You’re just shifting the routes they may use.” However, the projection also showed that the No Build Alternative would have its greatest increase near Beardsley Drive and Mansfield Boulevard. The alternative’s biggest decrease in traffic would occur on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard between County Line Road and Cross Creek Boulevard, she said. Aside from the road connection proposed, McKinney also addressed several planned improvements, including additional traffic lights and turning lanes. One plan addresses concerns about traffic near schools on Mansfield Boulevard. The bus drop-off and pick-up area near See STUDY, page 19A
ALTERNATIVES • No Build Alternative: Would have no connections for public use but only provide a gate for emergency vehicles, and would make accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians • Alternative 1: Would focus on connecting Mansfield Boulevard and Kinnan Street • Alternative 2: Would focus on the Mansfield Boulevard/Kinnan Street and Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension • Alternative 3: Meadow Pointe Boulevard Extension • Alternative 4: Mansfield Boulevard/Kinnan Street, Meadow Pointe Boulevard and Wyndfields Boulevard Extension