Wesley Chapel Walmart Adding Gas Station; What About Sam’s Club? 

Based on the speed with which the construction is progressing, the opening of the Wesley Chapel Walmart’s gas station should only be a few months away. 
Walmart Fuel Under Construction 

The massive banner on the construction fence couldn’t be any less subtle — “COMING SOON, YOUR NEW WALMART FUEL STATION” (photo). 

The underutilized northeast portion of the Wesley Chapel Walmart’s parking lot (directly behind Chase Bank) on S.R. 54 (east of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., or BBD) is being transformed into the next useful feature of the popular store. 

Final site plan revisions for the gas station addition were submitted to the county back in January of 2024, but nothing transpired for almost a year and a half, so it was unclear when, or even if, the station would ever come to fruition. 

That question has been answered, as the construction is now happening at breakneck speed. Walmart hadn’t even fenced the area off just a few months ago, but now, the massive fuel tanks are getting ready to be buried, the station’s canopy is about half done, and the convenience store is pretty much finished. At this pace, it appears that the new gas station, with 18 fueling positions (making it the largest such station in Wesley Chapel), will be done in a few months. 

In addition to the gas pumps, the station will feature a very tiny and interesting 440-sq.-ft. convenience store. From what we can tell from the building plan and this photo, the tiny store will have two exterior restrooms to the rear of the building, with roll-up doors on the side of the building that will protect what appears to be display doors that will open outward which will likely contain drinks and snacks. It’s unclear, however, if you will even be able to go inside the store to make your purchases or if everything will be done from the outside. We’ve never seen anything quite like it before. It’s certainly nothing like the full convenience store at the New Tampa Walmart on BBD. 

In addition to these features, the plan also proposes to add a new right turn lane into the Walmart’s northern driveway on southbound Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., which should hopefully reduce conflicts for motorists who only want to access the new gas station. 

Sam’s Club Expansion Not Happening? 

Considering that the two stores are run by the same company, is the Sam’s Club on S.R. 56 getting its desperately needed fuel expansion next? Unfortunately, it seems that it’s not likely to be happening anytime soon, as the plans for that expansion were withdrawn from the county by the developer in January of this year. 

We had previously reported — back in the summer of 2023 — that Sam’s Club representatives had met with the county to expand the store’s existing gas station from 12 fueling positions to 16, which would include adding two more fueling lanes and a redesign to make things run smoother, as the existing location and design of the station causes backups on the access roadway (which sometimes extend out onto S.R. 56) in front of the main Sam’s Club parking lot. 

Engineering plans were submitted the following year, and the county gave comments, but it appears that the plan is off the table for now. 

Here’s The Latest News From Two Rivers Ranch! 

Updates On The County Park & School Sites, Private Club, Peak Surf Park, Publix & The Homes At The Massive Development 

Introduction by Gary Nager Story by Joel Provenzano 

As the publisher and editor of the New Tampa and Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News, I’m having a dilemma — What should I do about the 6,000-acre development known as Two Rivers? 

For more than three decades, I have used Morris Bridge Rd. as the eastern boundary of both Wesley Chapel and New Tampa. But, the Thomas family’s Two Rivers Ranch is just to the east of Morris Bridge, both north and south of the Pasco-Hillsborough County line, which, by my definition, is located in unincorporated Zephyrhills (not to be confused with the City of Zephyrhills, which is well north and east of Two Rivers) in Pasco and Thonotosassa in Hillsborough. 

But now, with the Pasco side of Two Rivers already home to hundreds of new homes, plus the announcement last year that the Tampa Bay area’s first-ever surf park was coming to the community, and even more recent announcements of a Publix beginning construction, plus a private club, schools and the most recent addition — a Pasco County-record $18-million purchase of 85 acres on the south side of S.R. 56 to be developed as a district park — and its location just to the east of Morris Bridge, it’s clear that Two Rivers is very much Wesley Chapel-like and we have already published multiple stories about it in these pages. 

So, my dilemma is — should I start mailing the Wesley Chapel Neighborhood News to everyone who currently lives — and those who will one day move into the thousands of additional homes, apartments and townhomes — in Two Rivers? 

The answer is most likely going to be “Yes,” even though we’re already mailing our Wesley Chapel issues to more than 40,000 residences and businesses — and more than 110,000 people (according to U.S. Post Office estimates) — in zip codes 33543, 33544 and 33545 and Two Rivers addresses (at least so far) are all in 33541. 

In other words, to misquote Bette Davis in “All About Eve”: “Fasten your seatbelts, it’s going to be a bumpy ride!” 

In the meantime, for the latest updates on everything currently happening in Two Rivers, keep reading! 

While not even a single ounce of dirt has been turned on the Hillsborough side of the Two Rivers development yet, whole communities (and most of the infrastructure— roads, utilities and drainage) — have been completed on the Pasco side, the side we’re going to be focusing our updates on, and there’s quite a bit to update for you. 

In case you’re somehow not familiar, Two Rivers is the name for the entire 6,000-acre master planned development being developed on the Thomas family’s Two Rivers Ranch property both north and south of S.R. 56 between Morris Bridge Rd. and U.S. Hwy. 301, with approximately 3,500 acres in the Pasco portion and 2,000+ acres south of the Pasco-Hillsborough county line, technically in Thonotosassa. The entire Two Rivers development is being managed by the Eisenhower Property Group, with multiple home builders building out the individual communities.. 

To put the size of Two Rivers into perspective for locals, the combined area of Meadow Pointe II and III, The Ridge, Union Park, Woodcreek and the upcoming Wyndfields development also total about 3,500 acres. 

Construction on the project began in late 2022, after the S.R. 56 extension to U.S. 301 was completed in 2019. Most people noticed the two communities on the north side of 56 popping up almost overnight, with entire streets of houses going vertical within a couple of months, and it’s been breakneck speed ever since, with seemingly no shortage of buyers since the beginning. 

This article will update the progress on Two Rivers, following meetings with the builders’ sales associates, driving the entire area and researching Pasco and Hillsborough records for clarity. 

Our research and discussions indicate that most of the residential development on the Pasco side of Two Rivers will likely be completed within the next 2-3 years, with the commercial properties taking a little longer. So, anyone wanting a house in Two Rivers should probably start looking soon. 

2025 Pasco Plan Amendment Updates 

The best way to know what’s coming to Two Rivers is to look at the total entitlements the county has granted to the entire development. There was an original list, but it was modified at the beginning of 2025, and included in the “Project Needs Assessment” document from January. Below is the current list of Pasco entitlements: 

• Single Family – 4,047 Dwelling Units 

• Townhomes – 514 Dwelling Units 

• Villas – 108 Dwelling Units 

• Multi-Family – 1,878 Dwelling Units 

• Assisted Living Facility – 300 Beds 

• Office/Target Industry – 1,335,000 sq. ft. 

• Retail – 1,335,000 sq. ft. 

• Industrial – 1,335,000 sq. ft. 

• Hotel – 480 Rooms 

• K-8 School – 2,000 Students 

• High School – 1,814 Students 

• County (District) Park – 85 acres 

• Surf Park – 35 acres, 700 parking spaces 

These numbers indicate the maximum uses to be granted to the development, so it could be shy of what’s listed. The interesting items are the categories that were deleted, added, or modified. 

The first such item to note is that Two Rivers has bucked the recent trend in Wesley Chapel and fully removed the original 55+ community entitlement of 1,125 homes. Added instead to the list is a 300-bed assisted living facility. 

Also added are 480 hotel rooms, 108 villas (aka fancy duplexes, especially since Homes by WestBay will be building them), 514 townhomes, and the number of apartment units was upped from the originally approved 1,400 to 1,878. 

Instead of separate 762-student elementary and 1,306-student middle schools, there is now a combined K-8 school of 2,000 students being proposed, which had been rare for Pasco, but Kirkland Ranch K-8 off Curley Rd. is one of the four currently in the county. Combining the two schools on one campus helped free up land space for the retail entitlements to be increased from the original 630,000 to 1,335,000 sq. ft. 

Apartments & Townhomes 

While the townhomes are shown on the most recent Two Rivers Map, the location of the upcoming apartments had not been. 

Six commercial outparcel lots were submitted for plat this year, with 146 townhomes behind them. The plat was finalized in June, and now the townhome parking lot is almost complete, with vertical construction of the townhomes to begin soon. 

The first apartment complex on the list is labeled ‘Parcel G Apts’ in the map above (east of Morris Bridge Rd.). There will be 324 units, with eight 3-story buildings in total. The site ground work has been started and vertical construction should begin soon, as the pool for the apartments received its final permit in April. 

The second known apartment complex will be called “Oasis at Two Rivers” on the south side of S.R. 56, directly aligned with the full median opening at the entrance to the Northwater subdivision (at Wide Water Way). Construction of this site is in full swing and Oasis will feature eight 4-story buildings with 344 units in total. 

Communities Aplenty 

If you drive into Two Rivers, there’s a cohesiveness to the entire development, from one community to the next. Everything from the playgrounds, to the beautifully designed mail stations, to the heavy emphasis on landscaping, the consistent rustic theme carries clearly throughout. It also helps that almost all of the streets were built by the developer at one time, so there’s no choppiness as you drive back. 

In addition to the aesthetics, one thing we quickly noticed was just how much has already been completed — as the Lennar sales office was being converted into the last private residence in the community of Childers, which means that by the time this issue reaches your mailbox, this community on the north side of 56 will be the first in Two Rivers to be completely sold out. 

DR Horton sales reps in the Northwater subdivision, also north of 56, believe that community is only be about eight months behind Childers, given how much inventory there is left. Homes in Northwater currently start in the low $300k range for 1,560 sq. ft., but that may not last forever, because the next DR Horton community of Archer (south of 56) — with a sales office that has only been open for a couple of weeks — has homes currently starting in the high $400k range, but this could change when the builder moves into narrower 40’ lots in a future phase. 

Lennar might only be gone for a short time, as the builder’s next venture will be the community of Creekwood on the eastside. While Lennar has started building houses in Creekwood (well south of 56, almost to the Pasco-Hillsborough line), we did not see any models completed or a sales office open yet. 

At the higher end of the current scale, builders like Homes by WestBay and M/I Homes are offering homes reaching well up into the $1-million range, with up to 70’-wide lots, 7 bedrooms, and 5,500 sq. ft. of space, some even offering to build pools before the house closes for an additional charge. Even if this is too rich, there’s a plethora of other builders (10 so far) to fit every need in-between. 

Most of the builders we talked to are offering some type of special financing, too, as low as 3.99%, with others covering up to $40k for closing costs, and/or substantial savings in the prices of homes, depending upon when customers intend to buy. These incentives make it seem like now is one of the best times to buy new construction, as the competition is hot to attract potential buyers. 

Because of the endless choices, most real estate agents in the area still recommend buyers bring an agent with them to tour new construction, as many are well versed and know the ins and outs of the new construction process very well. 

Here’s a complete list of the single- family communities on the Pasco side of Two Rivers. The villas are included, given their prominence: 

Two Rivers North: 

• Childers (Lennar) 

• Northwater (DR Horton) 

Two Rivers West: 

• Tamarack (Park Square Homes & William Ryan Homes) 

• Ryals Field (Homes by WestBay) 

• Fairwood ‘villas’ (Homes by WestBay) 

• Delyle (Pulte Homes) 

• Shortgrass (M/I Homes) 

• Hammock (DR Horton, Pulte Homes, Taylor Morrison Homes) 

• Holter (unknown at this time) 

Two Rivers East: 

• Archer (DR Horton) 

• Fieldcrest (Casa Fresca Homes) 

• Ackley (Meritage Homes) 

• Creekside (Lennar) 

Clubhouses & Amenities 

The only two single-family communities in Two Rivers to have their own amenities inside the subdivisions themselves are those located north of 56 — Childers and Northwater, each of which has its own pool, clubhouse and playgrounds. 

All of the other single-family communities in Two Rivers listed above will have one central amenity center, depending upon which side of Two Rivers a resident lives. 

The Two Rivers East communities will have access to The Nest at Two Rivers, which will have everything one might expect for a normal-size community amenity center, like a pool, pickleball courts, dog park, playground and a clubhouse (but no gym). The Nest currently is under construction and should be completed sometime in early 2026. 

The Two Rivers West communities will have a larger The Landing at Two Rivers, a private social club whose size reminds us of the exceptionally large amenity center in Connerton up in northern Land O’Lakes. This will be an independent private club, not associated with an HOA or CDD, to keep the consistency and quality high. As stated in The Landing’s club brochure, “Our lifestyle director and team will be on-site managing club operations and member experience.” 

The Landing (rendering above) has just begun construction and is anticipated to open by late 2026, with a hefty price tag of $27 million. It will offer a lot for residents, including tennis and pickleball courts, playgrounds, event pavilions, massive resort-style swimming pool with slide, along with a junior Olympic-sized lap pool, poolside food and drink service, bars, onsite casual and fine dining, and a dedicated fitness building complete with separate cycling and aerobics/yoga studios, where classes will be offered. 

In the future, Two Rivers will be adding one more club feature on the Hillsborough side that many newer communities have stopped providing — a golf course. Speaking of the future Hillsborough side, the developer writes, “The centerpiece of this community is a private, members-only 18-hole golf course designed by renowned Scottish architect David McLay-Kidd. Expect a golfing experience that breaks free from the typical Tampa landscape, with subtle nuances that transport players to a world afar.” 

It’s Important To Know Your Fees! 

Every potential Two Rivers resident needs to understand their Homeowners Association (HOA) fee sand what they include, the Community Development District (CDD) fees, and whether or not there is a separate mandatory club fee, for each community. Here’s what we found; 

It appears that all Two Rivers communities will have an annual CDD (whether for Two Rivers East, West, or North) fee. The CDD fees range from around $1,700 in the villas, up to $3,500 for other communities, depending upon lot width, builder and which side of Two Rivers the community is on. The manager for all of the CDDs is listed as Jayna Cooper with Inframark. 

Two Rivers North appears to have higher (on average) CDD fees, because both Childers and Northwater have their own amenities, but their HOA fee is lower — less than $15 a month — because utilities have to be paid separately. 

However, in Two Rivers East and West, the HOA fees are higher, from around $70-$140 a month ($385 for the villas because that includes exterior maintenance), due to the HOA fees in these sections also including Spectrum UltraFI Internet with speeds advertised up to 2 gigabits/sec (Gbps). 

That seems like a good deal, considering many Spectrum customers (not new customers on a promotion) could be paying around $95 a month for regular high-speed internet (400 Mbps) with wifi, due to Spectrum’s advertised price hikes. 

It appears that annual CDD fees for Two Rivers West are about $1,000 lower on average than East, but that is due to the fact that there will be a separate mandatory $285 monthly fee per household ($3,420 annually) for all West residents to have The Landing Private Club membership. 

This mandatory fee is expected to begin in mid-2026, as the club gets closer to opening. This means that some West communities could have well over $600 per month total in community fees. For the villas, it would be just over $800/month. 

For East residents, the CDD fee also includes access to The Nest amenity center. Holter, in Two Rivers West, is the only community that isn’t currently listed for any amenities, nor does it have any itself, and we’re not sure if additional info about Holter will be made available in the future. 

Walmart & Publix 

For a while now, residents have been looking forward to a proposed Lowe’s Home Improvement store, which was expected to be built at the southwest corner of S.R. 56 at Morris Bridge Rd. Unfortunately, that preliminary plan is gone and has been replaced with a full set of final engineering plans for a new Walmart, which were submitted to Pasco on June 11. 

While not technically located inside of Two Rivers (see map at the top of the page), Walmart is being proposed just outside of the development, and will serve the residents at a very convenient location, considering the closest Walmart is eight miles away, on S.R. 54. The plan also shows something very interesting — a proposed roundabout on Morris Bridge Rd. as a way to handle traffic entering and exiting the southern driveway, located halfway between S.R. 56 and Colston Ave. 

While nothing in the permit explicitly states that this is a new Walmart, the size is correct, and it has a proposed liquor store, a drive-through pharmacy and the curbside pick-up area design is uniquely Walmart’s new model. It’s what the New Tampa Walmart was changed to look like. 

One thing we are certain of is that Publix has a plan to be in Two Rivers, and had even started construction, but things abruptly stopped. The Publix location is right at the main entrance to Two Rivers in a spot that actually didn’t seem obvious for a grocery store, as we drove right by it without realizing that was the spot, which is on the southwest corner of S.R. 56 at Two Rivers Blvd. 

It almost doesn’t seem big enough for a Publix, but that could be because, unlike many other Publix stores that are part of plazas, this will be a fully standalone Publix,, with no other stores (except Publix Liquors) or outparcels on the site. 

The permit reads, “This project entails the construction of a 58,834 SF Publix and a 2,100 SF Liquor store with associated vehicular use areas, parking, landscaping, utility connections, and storm water conveyance into the existing storm ponds.” A review of the plans shows it also has a drive-up pharmacy. 

Some earthwork grading on the site is already completed, and the outline of the building and parking lot can be seen, but otherwise it appears construction is on hold for the parcel. We investigated a rumor that it was on hold because there was a question as to who would be installing the signal on S.R. 56, and when it might be installed, but had no confirmation from Pasco County staff about that rumor. 

The permit shows that Traffic, Planning, and a few other county departments issued comments to request additional revisions to the updated plans that were submitted in April of this year but the exact comments were not visible, and revised plans have not yet been produced, which is likely what is causing the hold-up. 

Schools & Parks 

Two Rivers is a huge development that currently doesn’t yet have any schools built, but given the overall size of the community this will be a necessity moving forward. Currently, Two Rivers residents are zoned for Chester Taylor Elementary, R.B. Stewart Middle School and Zephyrhills High, with an option for students to apply to go to either one of the nearby charter schools — Union Park Academy K-8 or Pinecrest Academy K-9. 

The Pasco County School District recently solidified a clearer plan for the Two Rivers school locations than it had at the beginning of the development, but there’s still a question as to when it will proceed forward, as we are not aware of any formal site plans that have been submitted yet. 

What is known is that the School Board has purchased the two parcels needed for the proposed 2,000 student K-8 school — one of 23.43 acres and the other of 12.4 acres — for a total of 35.83 acres at the northern limit of the development, just east of Northwater, for $8.15 million total in Oct. of 2024. 

For perspective, John Long Middle School’s site in Wiregrass Ranch is 29.2 acres, which means this Two Rivers K-8 school might have to be multistory to fit on the site. The proposed 40- acre (50 acres gross), 1,914-student high school site immediately to the south, has been identified (see map), but has not been purchased yet. This site also is a little on the small side, compared with, say, Wiregrass Ranch High, which is 60 acres, meaning it’s likely the future high school might also have to be multistory to fit. 

Immediately east of the school sites is planned to be an 80-acre (85 acres gross) Pasco County Park, similar in size and function to the Wesley Chapel District Park on Vandine Rd. (see story below). 

And, although Two Rivers in not getting a massive Crystal Lagoon, as we reported last year, it is expected to have Peak Surf Park, the first of its kind in this part of Florida, although no plans have yet been filed. It was announced that Peak owner Tony Miller was planning to acquire 35 acres immediately east of the county park location to build the surf park. The most recent park rendering indicates that the 700 or so parking spaces (according to the plan amendment discussed on pg. 4) were covered with solar panels, so it will be interesting to see if Miller plans to generate all the electricity the surf park will need, or if that’s just for show. 


Pasco To Buy Two Rivers Park Site For Record $18M+ 

At the June 17 Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) meeting, the commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the purchase from EPG Two Rivers QOZP LLC of an 85-acre (roughly 80 acres net) site at the eastern end of the Two Rivers development (see map above). The park site is located to the east of a 35.83-acre site purchased by the Pasco School District in Oct. 2024 for what is now being planned as a combined campus for grades K-8. To the south of the K-8 school site is a 50+-acre site (about 40 acres net) dedicated for a high school, although the School District has not yet purchased that site. 

“This is the most money we’ve ever spent on a park site,” said District 5 Commissioner Jack Mariano during the June 17 meeting. “In the future, when we’re negotiating, I think we have to start working these developers at the start, saying that we want to put a park there and we want a good price. I think we should say we’re going to build it quicker to help sell more homes, instead of coming in at the end. Then, we’d have a lot more leverage to get it done.” 

District 2 Comm. Seth Weightman, who took the vote to purchase the park off the BCC’s consent agenda in order to discuss it, noted, however, that, “The park site is the most prime piece of real estate in the [Two Rivers] project for commercial development. Historically, the county gets less-than-desirable properties for park sites.” 

Among those less-desirable park sites, apparently, is the planned 240-acre “Superpark” located in the Villages of Pasadena Hills, adjacent to the Connected City, both of which are located in Comm. Ron Oakley’s District 1. The BCC and parks director Keith Wiley have been looking into procuring additional park land in the Connected City itself since the Apr. 9 BCC meeting, but there was no discussion of those efforts when the Two Rivers park purchase was discussed on June 17. 

Commissioner Oakley — Two Rivers also is in his district — said, “I’m very grateful this is coming forward. It’s another large park in District 1 and we need as many parks as we can get. It takes a lot of funds to have more and better parks. This park is going to be great and I’ve been working with Robert Thomas (whose family owns the Two Rivers Ranch, where the Two Rivers community is being developed) to name it the ‘Bob Thomas Memorial Park at Two Rivers.’” 

We were told by the county staff that the size of the Two Rivers development triggered the County’s parks concurrency requirement — one community park (20-80 upland acres) is needed per 20,000 residents, a district park (80+ acres) per 55,000, and a natural resources park per 85,000 residents. As part of the zoning process, the developer was required to dedicate park land. By law, the County has to purchase that park land at fair market value. In this case, the appraised value was $18 million. The purchase wasn’t entirely cash, however. The agreement included $13.5 million in cash, $3 million in park impact land credits, and about $1.6 million in facility credits. — GN 

WC Resident Portrays ‘Diddy’ In ‘Diddy On Trial’ Docuseries On Hulu 

In a surprising twist, long-time Wesley Chapel resident, family man and entertainer Layne Harper has stepped into the spotlight by portraying Sean “Diddy” Combs on Hulu’s gripping hit new docuseries, “Diddy on Trial: As It Happened.” 

Layne’s involvement in the show has garnered national attention, especially considering the sensitive and sensational nature of the content. As the trial of music mogul Sean “Diddy” Combs continues to unfold in real life, with testimony from various witnesses, including rapper Kid Cudi, Diddy’s former longtime girlfriend Cassandra Ventura and “Jane,” an alleged sex trafficking victim, the series provides an alternative medium for audiences to engage with the case through reenactments and on-screen analysis. 

Produced by ABC News Studios, “Diddy on Trial” debuted on May 25 as the third most-watched show on Hulu (as of May 28), behind “A Handmaid’s Tale” and “The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives,” according to FlixPatrol, a site that provides Video on Demand (VOD) charts and streaming statistics worldwide, and has continued to garner high ratings through its first four episodes as we went to press with this issue. 

Hulu’s website states that the docuseries, “takes you inside the criminal trial of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs, one of the most salacious and hotly anticipated courtroom showdowns in decades. Watch bombshell moments and heart-wrenching testimony unfold in real time through meticulous actor reenactments sourced each week from courtroom transcripts. 

“Prosecutors allege the music icon and business mogul engaged in a dark underworld of sex trafficking and prostitution. Combs denies all accusations, maintaining his innocence. Join host Sunny Hostin [Senior Legal Correspondent for ABC News] as she breaks it all down with a rotating roster of legal and pop culture experts, giving you a front-row seat to this high-stakes legal battle.” 

Since cameras are not allowed in the federal courtroom, the actor reenactments allow viewers to more accurately, and emotionally, connect with what’s actually happening in a more natural way than just reading about it in news articles. The series is a “must watch” for those who like courtroom dramas, as well as, of course, pop culture fans. 

As of this writing, here are the four episodes of “Diddy on Trial” have been released: 

#1: “The Freak-Off” 

#2: “The Assault.” 

#3 “Secret Life of Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs” 

#4: The Bribe & The Balcony” 

New episodes are being released every Sunday as the trial continues. 

The Man Playing The Monster 

Testimony in the trial so far has painted Diddy as a violent and controlling man that people feared. So, how does someone like Layne Harper — who’s known locally to be a genuinely nice guy — get to portray one of the most mocked and allegedly vile men in America? 

Layne says he is actually “really excited” about this opportunity and that one of his agents in New York City helped him land the lead role. “I’ve never been told that I resemble Diddy,” Layne says. “My agent in New York submitted me for the role because he had a strong feeling I could execute on the role as Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs.” 

He adds, “I’m not concerned at all because I’m playing the role of ‘Diddy.’ I’m my own person. I’m a husband and father of three and I choose to protect my peace and strongly believe in not entertaining negativity. One thing that cannot be erased from the entertainment industry is that Sean Combs will always be a music mogul.” 

He admits, however, that stepping into this unique role has been a wild ride for him. 

“Everything is happening so fast,” Layne says. “I’m flying back to New York again tomorrow night, and will be back and forth in Tampa for the next 4-6 weeks — maybe longer, depending on the trial, [since] I’m doing the entire season.” 

Assuming that Diddy is going to take the witness stand at some point, Layne says of that possibility, “I just pray. I don’t overthink it. That’s how I booked the role. I’m on the edge of my seat because no one knows if he will take the stand.” 

Layne Harper, Jr., 43, was born in Memphis, TN. Raised in a military family, he spent seven years in Darmstadt and Mannheim, Germany. After graduating from Millington (TN) Central High School in 2000, Layne moved to Brooklyn, NY, to pursue a music career. 

He later relocated to Nashville, TN, where Layne met his wife Jennifer. The couple moved to the Tampa Bay area in 2009, and has been living in Wesley Chapel since 2010 with their three children (l.-r. in top left photo on the next page) — Jaydon, Enyal and Xavier, the latter of whom is currently serving in the U.S. Navy. 

Playing Diddy is actually somewhat ironic for Layne, as he is also an experienced and talented rapper/musician with an amazing voice. His songs “A Thing Called Love,” “Hell Ride to Heaven” and “Medicine Cabinet” are his most popular originals with his message landing somewhere between faith and hope. “Hell Ride to Heaven” definitely has that New York sound. The music videos for Layne’s music can be streamed on Youtube under “Layne Harper” and his album “House of Blues” also can be streamed on Spotify. 

Layne also has ventured into fashion — he has launched his inspirational and faith-based urban clothing brand called Vctry (which Layne is wearing in the photo below right). The designs seem to resonate with customers who appreciate Vctry’s blend of style and functionality, offering pieces that are both fashion-forward and comfortable. 

As an actor, Layne has had a few roles in small, independent films, and he’s also done a few commercials, but most recently he scored a role as a reporter/member of the press in a major film — the upcoming and hotly anticipated Apple Original racing film called “F1,” starring Brad Pitt, Damson Idris and Javier Bardem. The movie is about Formula 1 racing and is scheduled to be released in theaters on Friday, June 27. 

As for portraying the most ridiculed man in the world (at least currently), Layne says, “I actually turned the role down twice and prayed that someone else would be blessed with the opportunity rather than me. However, God had other plans for me. Yes, I feel I’m out of character, but there’s a difference between natural actors and method actors and for this role, I bounce between the two.” 

More Than Just A Role 

As Layne takes on the role of Diddy in “Diddy on Trial,” he isn’t just stepping into a role — he’s stepping into a cultural moment, one with lots and lots of baby oil. 

The show doesn’t shy away from controversy and neither does he. His performance captures the complexity of a man under intense public scrutiny, while also reflecting the broader questions regarding celebrity culture, justice and the role of the media. 

As the world watches the trial, Layne’s performance reminds us that storytelling — no matter the medium — has the power to challenge, provoke and, ultimately, inform. Whether or not this role also will make this Wesley Chapel family man a star in his own right remains to be seen. 

From Wesley Chapel to the world stage, Layne Harper is hoping to prove he’s more than ready for the spotlight. As his diverse background and creative endeavors continue to shape his multifaceted career, faith. hope and family continue to shape the man himself. 

New episodes of “Diddy on Trial: As It Happened” will be available for streaming on Hulu every Sunday through the conclusion of the trial. 

BayCare Medical Group Opens Office Inside BayCare Hospital WC 

By Joel Provenzano & Gary Nager 

Dr. Ronika N. Newbold (left) and BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital president Nanette Wilcox shared the scissors while cutting the ribbon at the new BayCare Medical Group offices inside the hospital. (All photos on this page by Joel Provenzano) 

Congratulations to the new BayCare Medical Group (BMG), which celebrated its Grand Opening on the second floor of BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital (4501 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., Suite 205) with a North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon-cutting event on May 8. 

(l.-r.) Dr. Newbold, BayCare Medical Group director of operations for specialty care Jennifer Jusino, Dr. Vaswani and North Tampa Bay Chamber president & CEO Hope Kennedy. 

The new BMG office currently features three medical specialties — General Surgery, Orthopedic Surgery and Family Medicine. According to site manager Rjaye Lowe, who led us on a tour of the 8,600 sq. ft. of new offices, the BayCare Medical Group may expand to an additional floor and specialties in the future. Considering that the entire BayCare system has more than 1,100 providers in 54 specialties, that seems like a pretty safe bet. 

“We have the space to continue to grow and expand beyond the current specialties and we are anticipating adding cardiology in the near future,” Lowe said. 

The X-ray room at BayCare Medical Group’s offices located inside the hospital.

He added, “Over 30 rooms are dedicated to the BayCare Medical Group General & Orthopedic Surgery and Primary Care,” Lowe said. “The benefit to it being in the hospital is that everything is in one location, in just one building. Having the physicians in-house means that patients can get their lab work and imaging services done all in one location.” 

Three physicians were introduced during the ribbon-cutting event, with each of them heading up one of the three BMG specialties now available inside the hospital. 

(l.-r.) General surgeon Dr. Sahand Bamarni, BayCare Medical Group primary care site manager Alexa Jordan, Dr. Newbold, orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ravi Vaswani and BayCare Medical Group site manager Rjaye Lowe at the Grand Opening of the BayCare Medical Group office. 

Orthopedic surgeon Dr. Ravi Vaswani can treat patients as young as 12 years old, while general surgeon Dr. Sahand Bamarni and Family Medicine Dr. Ronika N. Newbold see patients ages 18 and older. All three physicians expressed their excitement about being part of the opening of the new BMG offices inside the 86-bed hospital (which also has room to grow). 

The new medical offices are designed to provide integrated, patient-centered care, offering residents greater access to primary and specialty services within the BayCare network. 

BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital president Nanette Wilcox said, “We’re very excited to officially open our new BMG offices. As we continue to grow our footprint here in Wesley Chapel, we’re committed to providing seamless access to high-quality care for the community, and this is a big step in that direction.” 

Of course, there already is a BMG office on S.R. 54, in the same plaza as Glory Days Grill, but according to BayCare spokesperson Cherie Miller, “The doctors at the S.R. 54 office will be unaffected. The only change is that their patients will now have the added benefit of being able to utilize the new outpatient imaging and lab services at the hospital.” 

For more info about BayCare Wesley Chapel Hospital and BMG, visit BayCare.org. 

Stephanie Vazquez To Challenge Seth Weightman For Dist. 2 Commission Seat 

District 2 Pasco County Commission candidate Stephanie Vazquez and her family. (All photos for this story were provided by Stephanie Vazquez) 

The next election for the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) isn’t until November of 2026, so why is Wesley Chapel resident Stephanie Vazquez already declaring that she is going to run as a Democrat to oppose current Republican District 2 Pasco Commissioner Seth Weightman? Stephanie is the first candidate to throw a hat into the race to unseat Weightman for the Dist. 2 seat. Here’s why: 

If you’re unfamiliar with Pasco County government or new to the area, Pasco is divided up into five districts, with District 2 including a large portion (but not all) of Wesley Chapel, as well as about half of Land O’ Lakes, and small (but important) portions of unincorporated Zephyrhills and Lutz. 

Vazquez, who has been a resident of District 2 since 2013 (there will be more on this later in this story), moved to our area from Pittsburgh, PA. Like many northerners, she primarily wanted to escape the snow. 

With Wesley Chapel being the fastest-growing area of not just Pasco, but also one of the most quickly expanding areas of Florida and the entire nation, Vazquez believes that the time is now for a change in county leadership. 

“I’ve thought about running for several years,” she says, adding that even though she’s new to politics, her background has prepared her for leadership and, “The time is now.” 

The Right Background, The Right Person 

Vazquez currently works as a remote marketing manager for Northeastern University in Boston, MA, but she also is enrolled as an online student at the school, as she is working towards her second Master’s degree, this one in Public Administration, and expects to graduate in 2026. She believes that degree is helping to prepare her for the job she’s now seeking. 

She earned her first Master’s degree, for Entrepreneurship in Applied Technologies, in 2016 from the University of South Florida and she previously earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Behavioral Sciences from Bellevue University in Bellevue, NE, in 2010. 

But, Vazquez says, her decision to run is about a lot more than just her educational background. Most of her recent work experience, beginning with her service in the U.S. Air Force as a Senior Airman, working in airfield management, both in the states and overseas in Germany, is about public service. When she left the military, she says she wanted to continue fighting, but on two different kinds of battlefields most people never see. 

Vazquez (second from left) appearing on “10 News” WTSP-TV as a panelist on a discussion about human trafficking. 

The first was her seven-year service as an Advisory Board member for the Post 9/11 Veterans Corp., a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that focuses on, “providing a platform, a starting point, and a place of belonging, where veterans are encouraged to integrate into their local communities and inspire through actions.” 

The more recent battle was against Human Trafficking. As a vice president of the U.S. Institute Against Human Trafficking and a Board member of both the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking and the NISSI Project (which provides housing for verified adult female victims of human trafficking) for six years, Vazquez says she helped build these national and local programs to tackle exploitation at its roots: opening a safe house, building recovery programs and training thousands to recognize and stop injustice. 

She later honed her public speaking and writing skills while holding a public servant government position as a public information officer for the City of Zephyrhills. 

A Campaign Forged By Hard Times 

Vazquez says she hasn’t had it easy, explaining that growing up poor helped build her character, not just once, but twice in her life. Born in Flint, MI, her dad was a young Marine veteran who worked part-time at a local drug store while also going to college part-time to try to earn a basic degree. Meanwhile, her mother was a stay-at-home mom, but both of her parents’ families came from generational poverty, so between her dad’s paycheck and essential government services like food stamps, she said it was barely enough to keep them from going hungry. 

She remembers growing up having to “do without” most of the time, as her family stretched everything they had, often having to eat the same one meal multiple times in row. 

“The most disgusting thing was the powdered milk, mixed with water,” she says, “because real milk was too expensive for us. I can still taste it.” 

Years later, Vazquez found herself in a similar situation, just out of a relationship that wasn’t working. As a single mom of three, she moved to Florida, with kids who were 4, 3, and 3 months old. She was unable to afford child care or find a job that paid enough to put them in daycare, so she found herself below the poverty line, receiving government assistance. 

“I used to take my kids to Walmart so they could play with toys,” she says, “because we couldn’t afford to buy any.” But, these struggles forced her to develop the ability to get by, and evolve, leaning on her experience from the military. She says that when you’re poor and struggling, “you don’t think about politics, you think about how to survive.” That experience makes her want to stand up for working class families. 

“Pasco deserves better than business as usual,” she says. “Our families are paying the price while a handful of insiders cash out. I’m not a politician. I’m a veteran, a mom and a community advocate who believes Pasco should work for the people who live here, not for the powerful few calling all the shots.” 

But, why should people vote for her? 

“The incumbent was hand-picked by insiders, and swept-in through a closed primary,” Vazquez says, adding that the current commissioners, including her opponent, continue to vote to allow more and more growth, “before the county is ready for it. But, I’m not part of the county political machine, I’m part of this community.” 

She says that Weightman was, “a strategically chosen candidate” by the local powers that be. “But, I want clean government, not back-rooms deals, with decisions made in the open, with transparency and accountability.” 

Here are the issues Vazquez says her campaign her campaign will be about: 

• Fixing broken roads, drainage and outdated storm systems. 

• Preparing for future challenges like flooding and climate change. 

• Establishing term limits to break the cycle of insider control. 

• Curbing reckless growth that strains neighborhoods and schools. 

Speaking Of Schools… 

She and her husband Yamani Vazquez Martinez have built their life in Pasco, raising a blended family of six children. All of their kids have either graduated from, or currently attend, Pasco’s public schools and Yamani currently is serving as an assistant principal at Cypress Creek Middle School. 

Vazquez believes strongly in the power of education, and personally feels that new large-scale developments should be required to include school sites, so that the children living in those communities can go to schools in or near their own neighborhoods, as well as to keep class sizes appropriate and have fewer portable classrooms throughout the district. Vazquez says that overcrowding of classrooms can be avoided through, “proper, thoughtful planning. If the population is increasing, we need to prioritize schools, and developers need to pay their fair share.” 

But, speaking of paying their fair share, Vazquez says, “In August 2024, Commissioner Weightman was the only Pasco commissioner to vote against raising school impact fees, which are one of the few ways to hold developers accountable and fund schools as costs rise. He chose developers over Pasco‘s kids.“ 

Vazquez also has posted a video to her social media opposing House Bill 5101 — legislation that would reduce public school funding statewide. The video, which breaks down the bill’s potential impact on local classrooms, has garnered more than 40,000 views and hundreds of comments from educators, parents and concerned voters. 

“I’ve spent years fighting for people who have been overlooked or outright ignored — including our teachers,” Vazquez says. “I didn’t expect the video to take off, but I think it hit a nerve. People are tired of watching public education be gutted while our kids and teachers are left behind.” 

She acknowledges that if she was to be elected, there may not be much she can do to directly help increase teacher salaries, which are controlled by the Pasco School Board, but says that helping to fund schools with BCC-controlled development impact fees would be her top priority, with #2 being funding for new and improved roads, and #3 being flood mitigation and drainage projects. 

These school issues hit close to home for Vazquez, because Yamani has been an educator for 15 years. Education, administration and school athletics are important to him, as he previously was the head coach of Wiregrass Ranch High’s softball team for eight years. 

To Develop Or Not To Develop? 
Stephanie Vazquez says it’s time for a change in Pasco County leadership.

Vazquez wants voters to know that she is NOT anti-development. She just wants the BCC to consider three important questions: 

“Do we need it? Does it put the people of Pasco first? Are we ready for it?” 

She feels that these questions would help the county avoid the “Gold Rush Mentality,” where developers just want to make money and then leave, sticking taxpayers with gridlocked roads, overcrowded schools and neighborhoods that flood with every storm. She says that this type of reckless development, which seems to be running rampant in Pasco, “favors insiders over families. But, enough is enough.” 

As for what she envisions District 2 to look like 10 years from now, Vazquez she says that our area already is becoming the hub for health care in Pasco County and should continue to do so, with more new hospitals and medical offices continuing to be added to the local landscape. She sees this medical hub being surrounded by thriving communities, with schools, walkable green spaces and family-centered resources. She also believes that Pasco, and by proxy District 2, as “Florida’s Sports Coast” is a good idea and that she, “would love to see that continue to grow.” 

“That would include more year-round sports people can play, facilities that offer good-paying jobs and more options for youth sports programs,” as some in our area (like the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association’s youth baseball and softball programs) can’t handle all of the kids who want to play. She believes that the Wesley Chapel District Park is at maximum capacity, saying that although it’s a great facility, parking and traffic “can be challenging.” 

“We need more [sports] options in the District. The Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus has been fantastic,” but its primary function is to provide a location for sports tourism. “What we need are more green spaces and fields throughout the area.” 

She says that if proposed large-scale developments are unwilling to include parks and school sites in their communities, she would, “Vote No!” She believes that the BCC is responsible for the over-development of Pasco County and Wesley Chapel in particular. “Yes, a lot of people have been moving here, and leadership has been swept up in that,” she says, but the commissioners should have tried harder to control Pasco’s growth. 

The Bottom Line? Forget Politics 

For Vazquez, this race isn’t really about politics. “It’s personal,” she says. “I’m not backed by big money. I’m not here to make deals behind closed doors. I’m here to fight for every family who feels like their voices have been drowned out. Pasco belongs to all of us, it’s time to take it back.” 

She adds, however, that she knows it won’t be an easy fight to win. 

“Since there is currently a Republican majority, not only in Pasco County, but in Florida and the Federal Government,” she says, “I know it can feel like we’re just little blue dots in a sea of red, but the truth is, there are more of us than we realize. And I’m not just talking about Democrats. Voters with no party affiliation, independents and even longtime Republicans are starting to move away from the noise and division and toward something better: people over party, progress over politics and community over chaos. We all want the same basics — strong schools, safe neighborhoods and honest leadership. And those aren’t red or blue issues. They’re people issues. Win or lose, I’m proud to be fighting for that.” 

When asked about working across the aisle, with an otherwise red majority, Vazquez says that her background proves she’s capable of doing just that. “I worked with (District 1 Commissioner) Ron Oakley successfully for many years when I was with the Pasco County Commission on Human Trafficking. It’s about the work we’re doing and who we’re doing it for.” 

She adds, “I listen to everyone, regardless of who they voted for, and what political leanings they have.” In other words, she says, “Many issues are by-and-large nonpartisan,” she says. “So, if you want different, vote for me!” 

But, considering that the seat Vazquez is eyeing has not seen Democratic representation yet in this millennium, the stage is set for what could be one of Pasco County’s most closely watched commission races — especially in light of the fact, Vazquez says, that Weightman won his first election, even though he may have been living outside the district in which he was elected, which would be a violation of a Florida Constitution mandate. 

“Commissioner Weightman bought a property with a mobile home in District 2 during his campaign, but a lot of people in Pasco say he doesn’t actually live there, and that he still lives at his longtime home in Dade City, which is outside the district. It’s raised real concerns about whether he’s truly representing the community he was elected to serve and that he may be violating residency requirements for holding the seat.” 

Meet the Candidate 

If you’d like to meet Vazquez, she will officially launch her campaign at a public kickoff event on Tuesday, May 20, 6 p.m., at Meals on Wheels, 38112 15th Ave., Zephyrhills. The program will begin at 6:30 p.m. and attendees are encouraged (but not required) to bring nonperishable food donations to support Meals on Wheels. 

At the event, Vazquez said she will have what she describes as a “Vision Board” — not something with her vision, but a blank board where attendees can write how they envision a better Pasco County. “I like public feedback,” she says. 

If you’re not able to attend that event but would like to hear Vazquez’s viewpoints and opinions on certain topics, search “Stephanie Vazquez Pasco” on Instagram, where she posts often. Or, scan the QR code (left) to access her campaign kickoff event page.Â