Editorial: Shaking My Head Over Ukraine, Curtis Reeves & The Loss Of A Friend

Gary Nager Editorial

The events of the past few weeks have really left me shaking my head. While I still was able to enjoy the Winter Olympics, the political overtones and the disgrace of the Russian figure skater who was allowed to compete, despite testing positive for a banned substance a couple of months earlier, definitely put a damper on the festivities for me — even though it didn’t keep me from watching many hours of the Beijing Games.

But, speaking of Russia, the situation in the Ukraine is just horrifying and definitely has me fearful for the world my young grandchildren will inherit. As of the date of this editorial, the undeclared war in Ukraine appeared to not be going as planned for Russia and its President Vladimir Putin and, while it’s impressive how well the Ukrainians have done at defending their homeland and their young democracy, Putin’s obvious instability has made the threat of what might still be to come in eastern Europe even scarier.

I don’t know how the war for Ukraine will turn out — it might even be over, I suppose, before this issue reaches your mailbox — but seeing how the world has supported the Ukrainians willing to fight for their freedom reminded me again how lucky we are to live in what is still the greatest democracy in the world, despite our own issues here at home.

I pray for a reasonable resolution for the people of Ukraine and for all of us, but I am more fearful than I ever have been for the safety of this world.

Meanwhile, In Dade City    

Speaking of shaking my head, I honestly can’t believe that 79-year-old Curtis Reeves was acquitted of all charges after shooting and killing 43-year-old Chad Oulson eight years ago in what was then known as the Grove 16 movie theater in Wesley Chapel.

Curtis Reeves

I couldn’t understand how the trial didn’t come to pass for eight long years. I thought our criminal justice system was supposed to guarantee the “right to a speedy trial,” but Reeves’ defense team basically engineered the delays — all with their client on house arrest, instead of being held in a jail cell as he waited — apparently to great effect.

I have many problems with Reeves’ acquittal, especially through the eyes of a father. I can only imagine my son Jake texting with my grandson’s babysitter during the previews of a movie and being told to turn off his mobile phone by a gruff elderly man and, if he didn’t do so right away, having the man return from a trip to the theater manager’s office to engage my son again. I don’t think Jake would throw the man’s popcorn at him, but I could see him getting angry enough to at least get in the man’s face (he is his father’s son, after all). What I can’t imagine is him being shot and killed because some guy in a movie theater didn’t like the way he was being spoken to or treated. 

And please, don’t get me started about whether or not Oulson threw his cell phone at Reeves. Not one witness corroborated that testimony, nor was there any video evidence of it, and honestly, who throws their $1,000 phone at anyone for any reason? Reeves clearly made up an excuse to shoot Oulson, and then gave his “I’m an old man who feared for his life” excuse that somehow played on the minds and feelings of the six jurors enough for them to acquit him of all charges — but after only 3-1/2 hours of deliberations?

I don’t believe for a second that Reeves — the former Tampa Police Captain who surely faced significantly worse situations without shooting those who were mean to him — feared at all for his life. He didn’t like being told to get out of a younger man’s face and clearly shot him without due provocation.

In my opinion, Reeves should be spending the rest of his life in prison for destroying a young family, but now, my fear is that others will be emboldened enough by this sham of a jury decision to take the same action — and also get away with it. 

Score one for the bad guys.

But, Speaking Of Good Guys…  

Speaking of fathers, I was moved to tears by the news that Christoph “Chris” Trina (photo), age 58, passed away after a heart attack and multiple strokes while on vacation with his family in Wisconsin. I reconnected with Chris as I became acquainted with his daughter Danielle Henry, the owner of The Bean Bar Co. in Tampa Palms, who has since become an advertiser of ours.

What I didn’t remember, without Chris reminding me, was that he also had advertised with us about 20 years ago, when he co-owned KMD Modeling in Tampa Palms. He always said such nice things about me and the Neighborhood News and I know that Danielle and her brother Kyle and their entire family are still suffering the after-effects of this sudden — and devastating loss.

“He raised us as a single dad for 12 years and he literally didn’t put up with any nonsense,” Danielle says. “We’re successful at a young age because he knows he didn’t let us do any less than our best.”

Chris was a passionate sports coach and cheerleader for his family and was loved by many — a wonderful man taken too soon. 

R.I.P., Bubba. 

Nibbles & Bites: Chickens, Car Washes, Carrabba’s and more!

Chicken, Chicken & More Chicken?
The Wesley Chapel area isn’t exactly lacking for chicken-oriented restaurants, considering the recent openings of Chick’n Fun, Zaxby’s and King of the Coop, as well as the now-under-construction Chicken Salad Chick. And, don’t forget chicken places that have been established in Wesley Chapel for years, such as PDQ, Popeye’s and Wing Stop.

But, it appears that we’ll still have to make room for another.

According to Pasco County permitting records, Slim Chickens met with county planners on Feb. 8 at a pre-application meeting, which generally allows prospective applicants to meet and discuss the specifics of their proposals. 

A “quick look plan” presented to the county shows the 2,400-sq.-ft. restaurant (with 42 parking spaces) would be located on the southeast corner of Old Pasco Rd. and Wesley Chapel Blvd., west of Advance Auto Parts, and less than a 1/2-mile from Chick’n Fun.

The plans also include a 1,406-sq.-ft. auto service center, which would be in between the Slim Chickens and Advance Auto Parts.

Slim Chickens is a fast-casual chain that specializes in chicken tenders, wings, sandwiches, salads, wraps and chicken & waffles, as well as other items. It is headquartered in Fayetteville, AR, and has more than 100 locations in more than 30 states. The only location near Wesley Chapel is on N. Boundary Blvd. near Macdill Air Force Base in South Tampa, and there are three other locations in the Florida panhandle. For more information, visit SlimChickens.com. — JCC

Woodie’s Wash Shack Hosts A Spectacular Grand Opening!
If you missed the Grand Opening and official Ribbon Cutting ceremony for the new Woodie’s Wash Shack-Cypress Creek (located at 24749 S.R. 54 in Lutz, about a mile west of the Tampa Premium Outlets) on Feb. 4, you missed one of the best North Tampa Bay Chamber ribbon cuttings we’ve attended in years.

First of all, there was free Tampa Bay Buccaneers gear being given away, appearances by a variety of Pasco County Sheriff’s Office (PCSO) vehicles and K-9 officers (bottom photos), delicious, free food from Bubba’s 33 and Honeybaked Ham and, perhaps best of all, free car washes for every vehicle that came to the party and unlimited top-level monthly wash memberships for just $9.99 per month for the first three months.

But, the even bigger news of the day was that Woodie’s owner Don Phillips (who says he based his growing local chain of four wash shacks on the California surf era of the late 1950s and early 1960s) and local franchisee Harry Jenkins also presented a $10,000 check to Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco for his K-9 Officer program. Phillips even mentioned that the money will go, in part, to the training of a new K-9 officer, appropriately named Woodie.

And, for those who have seen the sign at The Grove at Wesley Chapel that another Woodie’s location is coming soon, Jenkins says that location will likely open in the next 6-7 months. For more information, stop by or visit WoodiesWash.com. — GN

Carrabba’s Italian Grill Goes Vertical!

Even though we’ve previously reported (multiple times) that Carrabba’s Italian Grill would be opening between Aussie Grill and Bonefish Grill on the north side of S.R. 56, we’ve seen some recent comments on Facebook indicating that some of you still don’t know what is being built in that area.

Well, now that Carrabba’s has gone vertical and posted a sign (photo), there is no need for additional speculation. The Bloomin’ Brands-owned Italian eatery, originally founded in Texas by Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola, already has 220+ locations in 29 states, and is expected to open this 69th Florida location (and second with a Lutz zip code) within the next 3-6 months. — GN

Kumquat Pie Is Now Pasco’s ‘Official’ Pie!

Congratulations to the little known and oft-overlooked Kumquat Pie, which was recently declared the official pie of Pasco County. The Pasco Board of County Commissioners unanimously approved the resolution to honor the pie on Feb. 8, after the Tourist Development Council for Experience Florida’s Sports Coast voted the make the pie the official pie.

“Kumquat pie is an iconic dish in Pasco,” said District 2 commissioner Mike Moore, “and it’s only appropriate it’s now our official pie.” 

Key lime and apple have filed protests, but they never had a chance against the mighty kumquat. It may look like a misshaped baby orange, but the grape-sized fruit has found a place in Pasco County’s heart, dating back to the late 1800s. And of course, Pasco is well-known for its annual Dade City Kumquat Festival, which recently celebrated its 25th anniversary. — JCC

Wharton Falls Short At State

Carlos Nesbitt converts an alley-oop pass from Trent Lincoln in the second quarter of the Class 6A state semifinals in Lakeland Thursday night. Wharton fell 52-47 to Martin County. (Photos: Charmaine George)

For three quarters of Thursday’s Class 6A State semifinal clash with Martin County, Wharton High looked like the better basketball team. The Wildcats’ defense was just a little bit better, the offense was more accurate shooting the ball and Wharton always seemed on the verge of a putting the Tigers in a hole so deep they wouldn’t be able to climb out of it.

Then, in less than a minute, everything changed, and Wharton saw its hopes of advancing to the first State championship game in school history evaporate.

Led by a trio of seniors and a stifling press, Martin County (26-4) turned the game in their favor to start the fourth quarter and the Wildcats never recovered, falling 52-47 at the RP Lending Center in Lakeland.

Martin County’s Jayden Pressey, who was 0-for-6 from three-point range, buried a wide-open triple from the corner to start the fourth quarter, and the Tigers began pressing, and a slew of Wildcat turnovers and mistakes followed. The Tigers made free throws and another bucket inside, and in 57 seconds had spun off an 8-2 run to give Martin County a 39-36 advantage with 7:03 remaining in the game. 

Wharton’s Trent Lincoln drives to the hoop in the first half.

The Wildcats, who finished 28-3, never led again.

“We weren’t in our press attack alignment,” Wharton coach Tommy Tonelli said. “and we had some guys out of position in the process. That’s it. It’s that simple. We had a plan, we knew what we wanted to do, we knew what they were running, we just didn’t get guys in the right spot. It just made it that much more difficult to execute what we needed to do.”

The press overwhelmed Wharton, which already had 13 turnovers heading into the last quarter but committed seven more with the heat turned up.

“When we were able to get the ball out of (Wharton point guard Trent Lincoln’s) hands, they got a little helter-skelter,” said Martin County coach John Leon. “We had to take a chance with the press. If we hadn’t, I’d be kicking myself.”

Pressey had all nine of his points in the fourth quarter, including a bullish drive to the basket to give Martin County a 45-39 lead with four minutes left. Another Pressey basket off a turnover stretched the Tigers’ lead to 49-41.

Ryan Davis, a thorn in the Wildcats’ side all night, led Martin County with 18 points and seven assists.

After shooting just 24 percent in the first half, the Tigers shot 67 percent in the second half, and were scorching hot in the fourth quarter, making 8 of 10 shots.

Wharton guard Lucean Milligan is fouled in the second quarter, and made both his free throws to give the Wildcats a 16-13 lead.

For three quarters, however, it looked like it might be Wharton’s night. They held the Tigers to one basket in the first quarter and led 8-3, and behind strong play from seniors Trevor Dyson and Carlos Nesbitt, forged a 16-15 lead at the half.

The third quarter was back and forth, and midway through, Chandler Davis canned a three-pointer and gave Wharton its biggest lead, 29-22, of the night.

However, despite eight points in the quarter from Dyson, Martin County was able to rally and keep it close heading to the fateful fourth.

Dyson, who was 4 of 6 from three-point range, and Davis, a junior, each scored 16 points to lead Wharton. 

Dyson added 11 rebounds, while Nesbitt chipped in seven points and eight rebounds. Both seniors played all 32 minutes.

“I told the guys afterwards they exceeded my wildest expectations,” Tonelli said. “Not that I didn’t think they were capable. We were Conference champs, District champs and Region champs. The only goal we fell short of was being State champs. But there’s a lot of guys that play basketball and can’t say they are any of those things.”

Meadow Pointe Blvd. To K-Bar Ranch Connection Slated For July

After a connection at Kinnan St. and Mansfield Blvd. was blocked, a different location further east, at Meadow Pointe Blvd., will connect New Tampa’s K-Bar Ranch community to Wesley Chapel for vehicles by July of this year. (Photos: Charmaine George)

K-Bar Ranch is tucked away in the northeasternmost part of Hillsborough County, with pretty much only one way in and one way out. However, another option is finally on the way.

This July, a road connecting K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. to Wesley Chapel’s Meadow Pointe Blvd. is expected to be completed and open to vehicular traffic. K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. is an east-west road that runs just south of the Pasco-Hillsborough county line through New Tampa’s K-Bar Ranch from Kinnan St. to, eventually, Morris Bridge Rd.

City of Tampa chief traffic management engineer and head of the Smart Mobility Division Vik Bhide confirmed during a Tampa City Council workshop that construction on the final stage of the Pasco County side of the planned connector road will begin soon.

“The developer (M/I Homes) has already secured permits from Pasco County for that work and will be moving forward with it,” Bhide said. “We are coordinating with Pasco County (its planning and engineering departments).”

Mike Moore, the Pasco County Commissioner for District 2, which includes all of Meadow Pointe, said he hasn’t received a recent update and was looking into it, but he has received a few emails complaining about the connection being made.

However, there haven’t been nearly as many complaints as those who flooded Moore’s inbox and helped prevent a connection being approved further west at Kinnan St. in New Tampa to Mansfield Blvd. in Meadow Pointe. That debate, which raged for a decade, was settled following a roadways study that ended with the two roads being connected with a first responders-only safety arm, monitored by Pasco County.

The study preferred a New Tampa-Wesley Chapel connection to Meadow Pointe Blvd., claiming it would be the better choice.

K-Bar residents have been clamoring for the connection to Pasco County, which would allow easier travel north to the S.R. 56 corridor, which includes shopping, restaurants and the Shops at Wiregrass. It also will offer another way out of their community.

Currently, residents of the western portion of K-Bar Ranch would have to take Kinnan St. south to Cross Creek Blvd., then west to Bruce B. Downs Blvd., then north towards Wesley Chapel. 

When K-Bar Ranch was planned, Bhide says, four northbound access points to Pasco County were envisioned. The connection to Meadow Pointe Blvd. will be only be the second one to actually be completed, along with the first responder connection at Kinnan St. and Mansfield Blvd. 

However, that Kinnan connection to Mansfield Blvd. is only available to the public via walking or biking.

A third connection, further east at Wyndfields Blvd. in Pasco, and a fourth connection when K-Bar Ranch Pkwy. is completed all the way to Morris Bridge Rd., won’t be ready for at least two more years, according to Bhide.

“Our recommendation, in light of the access needs in this area, is to open that up for traffic,” Bhide said. “The reason is….we feel the more access, the better. After hearing neighborhood concerns about public access and mobility, this would be the right thing to do.”

There is no question it will mean more vehicles on Meadow Pointe Blvd., which is a concern to some.

“It will increase traffic,” Bhide admitted. “However, we think it will be a two-way benefit.” 

Commissioners Expand Apartment Moratorium Area

With its one-year moratorium on applications to build new multifamily/apartment complexes in parts of the Wesley Chapel and Land O’Lakes areas set to expire in April, the Pasco County Board of County Commissioners (BCC) voted unanimously to expand the area covered by the moratorium at their meeting on Feb. 7 in Dade City.

The expansion includes a strip that encompasses the area around The Grove at Wesley Chapel area, as well as a wide swath south of the S.R. 56/54 corridor (see map).

The Wiregrass Ranch Development of Regional Impact (DRI) is excluded from the moratorium, because multifamily developments within Wiregrass Ranch are better integrated into the overall development.

District 2 County Commissioner Mike Moore has spearheaded the need for a moratorium for the past few years, arguing that developers are attempting to rezone property to build more apartments and townhomes, as opposed to using the property for its original commercial purposes.

Moore has stated that there are dozens of parcels in the moratorium area that already have the entitlements to build apartments, which he does not oppose. But, what he is against are applications to rezone property that he believes would be better used for job-creating commercial spaces.

The county has hired a housing market research firm to present a report to the commissioners on whether the area is indeed saturated, and whether entitlements already granted will suffice to meet future demand. That report is expected to be presented to the commission in April.

Only three people who attended the Feb. 7 meeting spoke in opposition to the moratorium area being expanded: Hope Kennedy, the president and CEO of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, and two planners who thanked the commission for excluding Wiregrass Ranch, but expressed concerns about the county’s attractive south market and the 54-56 corridor being included in the expansion. 

Kennedy was blunt, telling commissioners that the moratorium, and the expansion of the boundaries, “is absolutely terrible for business.”

Kennedy said the area has a workforce problem and the current housing crisis is directly related to potential residents being able to find affordable housing. Workforce housing is generally defined as being affordable housing for middle-income workers.

District 3 Comm. Kathryn Starkey agreed with Kennedy that the county needs more workforce and affordable housing.

“I get calls all the time, (that) people can’t find a place to live,” Starkey said. “We’re trying to attract companies here, and…where are they going to live? Because there is no inventory out there for someone to be purchasing a house or renting an apartment.”

Starkey, however, voted in favor of the expansion because the moratorium will only be in effect for two more months.

Commissioner Moore, however, explained that the S.R. 54-S.R. 56 corridor is attractive to businesses and companies that may want to relocate to the county, and the land available to them would disappear if it was allowed to be rezoned for apartments. 

“We can’t lose our job-creating sites,” Moore said, “and they want to be along major corridors.”

Moore pointed out that the three speakers in opposition don’t live in Pasco County, and claims that he has not spoken to a single local resident who is against the moratorium. 

“The people in Pasco County are for this,” Moore said, “and I represent the citizens of Pasco County.”