Rendering of the resort-style pool at the under-construction Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch apartments. (Rendering from ThirdLakeDevelopment.com)Â
It seems that thereâs never a shortage of news coming out of Wiregrass Ranch these days, so we always try to check in with developer JD Porter and his development right hand man, Scott Sheridan, the chief operating officer of Locust Branch, LLC, to get the latest news.
After all, the 5,000-acre Wiregrass Ranch already has The Shops at Wiregrass mall, AdventHealth Wesley Chapel Hospital, the Porter Campus of Pasco Hernando State College, more than 3,000 single-family homes (and townhomes) and 1,400 rental apartment units.
Wiregrass Ranch also is home to the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus, The Beach House assisted living community, Florida Cancer Specialists (FCS), Moffitt Cancer Center and North Tampa Behavioral Health, and coming soon are the Florida Medical Clinic Orlando Health Wiregrass Ranch Hospital, two Orlando Health-owned medical office buildings totalling 150,000 sq. ft., a PAM Health Rehabilitation Hospital and two additional medical office buildings that Wiregrass Ranch will develop in partnership with Flagship Healthcare Properties, and what Porter says will one day be Wesley Chapelâs true downtown â The Legacy at Wiregrass Ranch.
Publix could soon begin building its new location east of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd. earlier this year. Map locations: 1-Chiliâs, 2-Chase Bank, 3-Bank of Amer., 4-Advance Auto Parts, 5-Sweet Nail Spa, Mathnasium, Pizza Hut & Starbucks (Map from Publix plans submitted to Pasco County, modified by NN).Â
One of the big things people keep asking me (and online) is about the new Publix planned for the east side of Wiregrass Ranch Blvd., just north and east of Walmart (see map above left) on a 9.5-acre site appraised at $3.97 million.
Of that 48,848-sq.-ft. Publix (with a 2,100-sq.-ft. liquor store), which is being built in front of the newest apartment community â Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch â the main thing most people want to know is whether or not the opening of that new Publix will cause the existing store in the Hollybrook Plaza (less than a half-mile away) to close. Neither Sheridan nor Porter would address that question directly, but Sheridan says, âFinal permitting [of the new Publix] is under way now, and I expect them to break ground by early next year. We have no direct knowledge of [Publixâs] intent to close the old store when they build the new one.â The site plan for the new Publix shows its main entrance lining up directly opposite the northern entrance to Walmart.
Although most people appear to agree that it seems a little crazy to have two Publixes located so close to each other, we have heard some online chatter that says the Hollybrook Publix will definitely close, while others say that it definitely wonât close. Without confirmation either way from Publix or the Wiregrass Ranch team, it seems ludicrous to me to speculate either way.
But, speaking of Publix, Porter did mention the possibility of another link in the Lakeland-based supermarket chain coming to the area near the new FCS building on S.R. 56, but Sheridan cautioned that although he had seen a post on Facebook that a preapplication meeting had been scheduled, âthere has been nothing from us directly on this.â
Also important to note is that if another Publix is coming to S.R. 56 in Wiregrass Ranch, that possible location is not the Publix planned for the front of the Two Rivers development five miles or so further to the east on 56.
In the meantime, the Arcadia at Wiregrass Ranch apartments have not yet gone vertical, but the 15-acre parcel (valued at $7.04 million) has been cleared to build the 320-unit luxury rental community and its resort-style pool, EV charging stations and more, which will be the seventh Arcadia project (and the third in Florida) for Tampa-based Third Lake Development.
As for the planned medical offices near the Orlando Health hospital, Sheridan says that the first 46,000-sq.-ft. Wiregrass Ranch Medical Pavilion (rendering above), in partnership with Flagship Healthcare Properties, is getting ready to break ground before the end of this year.Â
âThe second phase will move forward once the initial building is completed and fully leased,â Sheridan says.
As for the two Florida Medical Clinic/ Orlando Health medical office buildings (MOBs), Sheridan says, âThe hospital is expected to open by April of 2026. We expect the MOBs would be under construction soon but canât say for sure. They are just now completing all of the site work for both of those.â
Sheridan also said that Wiregrass Ranch is, âcoordinating with Mast Capital on their requirement to build the Bypass Loop road within Wiregrass Ranch from S.R. 54 to Wiregrass Ranch Blvd.â as part of Mastâs redevelopment of Saddlebrook Resort (see pg. 44). âBut we are not engaged or aware of their developments within the resort.â
New Restaurants? Although the rumor mill has said that The Tilted Kilt, a Winghouse/ Hooters-style sports pub could be the still-unnamed restaurant planned for next to Cooperâs Hawk, Porter told me that although they have had discussions with The Tilted Kilt, it definitely will not be the restaurant built next to Cooperâs Hawk.
Meanwhile, Sheridan says, âWe are working on several upscale restaurants along the S.R. 56 corridor including next to Cooperâs Hawk, which, we are told, is consistently the #1 or #2 restaurant in that chain.â
But of course, perhaps the most anticipated development in Wiregrass Ranch is The Legacy, which Porter keeps saying will be the only âtrueâ downtown development in Wesley Chapel, and which will tie together everything already built and still planned for the Porter familyâs sprawling cattle ranch. So, is there any Legacy news?
âWe are exploring that now with potential partners but have not committed any timing yet,â Sheridan says.
The duo of Jane West & Viktor Nikolov will perform a âfour-hands pianoâ program at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center on Wednesday, October 29. (Photo: Nikolov West Studio Facebook page)
Wednesday, October 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. â Community Health Talk â What to Expect Before, During & After Surgery. At Blue Heron Senior Living (5085 Eagleston Blvd.). Hugar McNamee, DO, General Surgeon from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel will share helpful information about surgery. A light lunch will be provided while supplies last. Tours of Blue Heron available after the presentation. Free to attend, but you need to RSVP. For more info or to RSVP, visit AHWesleyChapel.com/Events or call (813) 929-5432.Â
Wednesday, October 29, 10 a.m.-11 a.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamber Grand Re-Opening. At Sonnyâs BBQ (5324 Bruce B Downs Blvd). New local operator, same legendary BBQ, specials all week. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Wednesday, October 29, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. â Steinway Signature Series: Nikolov-West Duo: Under Four Hands. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). This special concert by the Nikolov-West Duo (photo), featuring Viktor Nikolov and Jane West, brings a fresh perspective on the piano duo experience. This dynamic piano four-hands program will weave together beloved traditional masterpieces with bold, rarely heard gems. Whether or not youâre already a classical piano lover, this is one performance you should not miss. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending upon seat selection. For info, see the ad above, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/under-four-hands.Â
Friday, October 31, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamberâs âFinal Friday.â At the Marriott Residence Inn at Wiregrass Ranch (2867 Lajuana Blvd, at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus). Join Chamber members as they engage and network in a relaxed environment. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Friday, October 31, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. â Halloween Party on the Rooftop. At Skybox Rooftop Bar at the Marriott Residence Inn at Wiregrass Ranch (2867 Lajuana Blvd, at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus). There will be live music, games, costume contests and more. Register for the Grand Prize, a free 2-night hotel stay. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 591-2915.
Saturday, November 1, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. – 36th Annual India Festival. At Florida State Fair Grounds (4800 US 301, Tampa). Come experience dances that dazzle, food that delights and shopping that excites. For more info, visit IndiaFestivalTampaBay.com.Â
Saturday, November 1, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. â Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries Author Event: Mary Roach. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Join the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries for a very special event as they welcome New York Times best-selling author Mary Roach to discuss her latest book, Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law. The first 150 people in attendance will receive a free copy of her book. An opportunity to meet the author and have your book signed will follow the talk. Free to attend but seating is limited so please reserve your tickets in advance. For info, call (813) 829- 2760. Or, to reserve your seat, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/mary-roach.Â
Sunday November 2, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Pavlo Presents: Angelo Tsarouchas â The Funny Greek Live. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Angelo Tsarouchas is a standup comedian, podcaster and actor. Youâve seen him in cult classics like Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and Fred and Vinnie. His extremely funny and adaptive show has kept him in high demand worldwide. Tickets $50. For info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/funny-greek-live.Â
Tuesday, November 4, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamber Coffee & Conversations with AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. At Fairfield by Marriott Tampa Wesley Chapel (2650 Lajuana Blvd). Get an inside look at the exciting new addition to the hospital and what it means for our growing community. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Wednesday, November 5, 10:30 a.m.- 11:30 a.m. â Creative Arts Theatre Presents: Sylvia South & the Word Catcher (TYA). At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). There are stories that you find when you open a book, and there are others that wait to find you. Sylvia South is quietly reading a book in her local library when she looks up and sees something outrageous. Before she knows it, she is off on an adventure, navigating streets on a borrowed bicycle to catch a strange man with an armful of other peopleâs books. Free to attend,but please register for tickets in advance. For info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to register for tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/sylvai-south-tya.Â
Wednesday, November 5, 12:45 p.m.-1:45 p.m. â BayCare Doctor Talk. At New Tampa YMCA (16221 Compton Dr.). Join Dr. Carlos Matute Mandujano of BayCare Medical Group for a physician-led seminar focused on practical strategies to improve adult health. Learn how small changes in nutrition, exercise, sleep, and stress management can lead to lasting wellness. Free to attend but please register. For more info or to register, visit BayCareEvents.org.Â
Thursday, November 6, 4 p.m.-7 p.m. â Hampton Inn & Suites Tampa-Wesley Chapel, Grand Re-Opening. At Hampton Inn & Suites (2740 Cypress Ridge Blvd.). Join the fun as they unveil their exciting new look. There will be free appetizers, drink specials and giveaways. Free to attend, but please RSVP by October 27. For more info or to RSVP, email Lisa.Moore2@Hilton.com or call (813) 591-6907.Â
Thursday, November 6, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. â North Tampa Bay Ribbon Cutting for Fierce Flamingo. At North Tampa Bay Chamber Office (28329 Paseo Dr., Ste 195). Celebrate the ribbon cutting for Fierce Flamingo Boudoir Photography Studio. There will be light refreshments, product displays and a session raffle. Free to attend. For info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Friday, November 7, 8 p.m.-11 p.m. â Tampa Bay Symphony: Fife and Drum: A Veteranâs Salute. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). The Tampa Bay Symphony consists of more than 80 musicians and has been described as âone of Tampa Bayâs hidden jewels.â Come and experience the excitement of live classical music! Tickets $25. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/tbs-fife-and-drum.Â
Saturday, November 8, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. â Flu Shots and Health Screening with BayCare. At New River Library (34043 S.R. 54). Free flu shots (age 9+), health screenings (age 18+) for blood pressure, lipids, BMI and diabetes, and information and prevention education with BayCare. Free to attend. For more info, visit PascoLibraries.libnet.info/event/14214907 or call (813) 788-6375.Â
Saturday & Sunday, November 8-9, 2 p.m. â Wesley Chapel Theater Group Presents: War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast. At Starkey Ranch Theater Library Cultural Center (12118 Lake Blanche Dr. Odessa). Step back in time to 1938, when a radio drama shook the nation. âWar of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcastâ reimagines the legendary Orson Welles broadcast that famously convinced Americans that a full-scale alien invasion was underway. With live sound effects, vintage microphones and lots of drama, this production captures the excitement and the chaos of that fateful night. Tickets $22.13-$31.59. For more info or to purchase tickets or visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org.
Tuesday, November 11, 5 p.m. â Wounded Warrior Project Carry Forward 5K. At Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC) Fitness Center (5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). Help raise funds to provide vital life-changing programming for Americaâs wounded warriors. The official 5K race will begin and end at the TPGCC Fitness Center. For more info or to register, email Kimberly.Howey@InvitedClubs.com.
Wednesday, November 12, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. â Grand Opening Party for Conviva Wiregrass. At Conviva Wiregrass (located inside Walmart, 28516 S.R. 54). Learn more about senior-focused care tour the new center and meet the team. There will be music, food, bingo and more. For more info, call (813) 592-4856, visit HelloConviva.com.
Thursday, November 13, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamber Ribbon Cutting. At Welter Law Office (2312 Cypress Cove, Ste. 101). Celebrate the grand opening of the attorney Denise Welterâs new office. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Friday & Saturday, November 14 & 15, 7 p.m.-8:45 p.m. & Sunday, November 16, 4 p.m.-5:45 p.m. â Tampa City Ballet Presents: âCinderella.â At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Tampa City Ballet reimagines the classic fairytale of âCinderellaâ in a dazzling spectacle that will captivate your entire family. Tickets cost $45-$90. For tickets to âCinderella,â or for more info about TCB (15367 Amberly Dr., Tampa Palms), visit TampaCityBallet.org or call (813) 558-0800.Â
Saturday, November 15, 7 p.m. & Sunday, November 16, 2 p.m. â Wesley Chapel Theater Group Presents: War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast. At Zephyrhills Lions Club (5827 Dean Dairy Rd.). Same show as Nov. 8-9, in different location. Tickets $22.13-$27.38. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org.Â
Sunday, November 16, 11 a.m.-3 p.m. â 25th Annual Mason Dixon Christmas Wish Car Show. At The Shops at Wiregrass (Paseo Dr.). Join host Mason Dixon and enjoy a day full of stunning cars, community spirit and fun. There will be a collection box for unwrapped gifts for the Mason Dixon Christmas Wish Fund charity. Free to attend. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/event/30745-25th-annual-mason-dixon-christmas-wish-car-show.Â
Sunday, November 16, 11 a.m.-7 p.m. â Gulfside Healthcare Services â Paulie Palooza. At Main Street Zephyrhills (5th Ave.) This family fun event will feature local bands throughout the day, vendors market, food trucks, and so much more! This is a charity event helping raise money for Gulfside Hospice patients and families. There will be a silent auction, live auction, and many 50/50âs throughout the day. Free to attend. For more info, visit PauliePalooza.org.Â
Wednesday, November 19, 9 a.m.-10:30 a.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamber Coffee Social. At Keystone Title (4865 Bruce B. Downs Blvd.). A relaxed morning meet-up designed for casual networking and meaningful connections. Join fellow Chamber members for coffee, light refreshments, and great conversation â no agenda, no speeches, just community. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Thursday, November 20, 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m. â Kuumba Dancers and Drummers (TYA). At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Through exotic, mesmerizing rhythms and joyous movements, the Kuumba Dancers and Drummers take kids on a journey to the beautiful continent on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. Tickets $10. For info, call (813) 829-2760 or to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/Kuumba-tya.Â
Friday, November 21, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. â Friends of New River Library Book Sale. At New River Library (34043 S.R. 54). The Big Book Sale brought to you by the Friends of New River Library. All proceeds support library programs. Free to attend. For more info, visit PascoLibraries.libnet.info/event/14796762 or call (813) 788-6375.Â
Friday, November 21, 8 p.m.-11 p.m. â Classic Rock Legacy: Abbey Road. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). The stellar musicians of Classic Rock Legacy return to the New Tampa Performing Arts Center. Experience a note-for-note recreation of the classic Beatles album, Abbey Road, along with an encore of the Beatlesâ greatest hits. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending on seat selection. For info, call (813) 829-2760 or to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/classic-rock-legacy-abbey-road.Â
Sunday, November 23, 3 p.m.-6 p.m. â New Tampa Unplugged: MJR Latin Project. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Experience the vibrant sounds of the MJR Latin Project, Tampa Bayâs premier Latin jazz ensemble led by Cuban bassist and composer Mauricio J. RodrĂguez. Featuring top regional talent, including Grammy-winning saxophonist Zach Bornheimer, pianist Pablo Arencibia, drummer Andy Fornet and Cuban percussionist Carlos Javier Navarro, the group delivers an electrifying fusion of Cuban music and Latin jazz. Tickets $17.50-$25. For info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/new-tampa-unplugged-mjr-latin-project.
Parents Frustrated With Delays While The District Is âDesperate For Warm Bodiesâ To Fill Bus Driver Vacancies
This school bus arrived late to Wiregrass Ranch High on Oct. 16, which is part of a Pasco School District-wide problem with late buses. (Photo by Joel Provenzano)
If your child rides a school bus to and from school, they may be arriving to school well after the late bell, and you may not even know. Or, you may be like many other parents who are aware of the issues with late buses â picking up late in the morning, dropping off late at school, or being dropped off late in the afternoon when coming home â and feel like there isnât much that can be done about it.
We have spoken with Pasco County School District officials, concerned parents and current and former students, and reviewed online community posts â including some posts directly from the bus drivers themselves â and even observed the buses ourselves. All of this has opened our eyes to some significant issues with Pasco County Schoolsâ Transportation Services for the schools located in Wesley Chapel.
But, we also have found that all of this is a symptom of a much bigger problem â one the District is aware of and actually acknowledges.
Pasco Schools public information officer Jessica Meek says, âOur district continues to feel the impact of the ongoing bus driver shortage, and we are constantly taking steps to address this nationwide challenge….we have a strong and ongoing focus on reducing transportation delays and ensuring our routes run as efficiently as possible.â
So, just how short of drivers is the District? How many additional drivers are needed District-wide? School District officials say that shortfall number is 59. Thatâs a pretty significant shortage â almost exactly 20% â considering the total number of operational (running) buses in the fleet is 297, with the District stating that, â[Thereâs] no shortage of vehicles, just drivers.â
But, just how bad is it exactly? One local driver of nearly 25 years (whose employment we verified but decided not to name them for this article) put a comment out on social media last month stating that there was, â..desperation for warm bodies…â regarding the Districtâs ongoing efforts to recruit and retain drivers. The driver also implied that not all drivers they currently have may be best suited for the job, or compatible with the kids theyâre driving around.Â
One local Wesley Chapel parent, Dr. Lorraine Tracey, says she has been feeling the effects of driver shortages on a nearly daily basis. In regards to the late buses, she believes, âIt really is a problem, with no solutions in the works, except trying the same thing over and over, and making no progress.â
Lorraine works a full-time career in clinical development, for the treatment of life-threatening diseases, and has a son and a daughter who attend two different local schools â one who is at John Long Middle School and the other who attends Wiregrass Ranch High. Both ride the bus.
She forwarded to us all of the emails between her and the School District. Like many local parents, Lorraine is frustrated with the situation. âIt feels like no matter what I do, or what I say, Iâm just banging my head against a wall.â
How The 2025-26 School Year Started
Transportation problems are typically worse at the beginning of the school year for everyone, and thatâs because the Districtâs Transportation Services Department faces the Herculean task of coordinating the logistics to get 33,000 students (the latest total number of student bus riders, according to the School District) across Pascoâs 868 square miles, with buses originating from six different bus compounds.
And, just like the rest of us, buses have to deal with traffic, especially the traffic getting into and out of the schools themselves.
Lorraine believes that many of the school bus drivers were being set up to fail early on by being given impossible routes. She looked at the number of stops, how far apart they were, and where they had to come from, in order to be on time to her sonâs stop â and told us that, âunless the bus driver figured out how to fly the bus, they were never going to be on time.â
She said that itâs ironic, because at the beginning of the school year, a message was sent out to all parents from Pascoâs Superintendent of Schools Dr. John Legg that stated, in part, âEvery minute of instructional time matters.â Lorraine feels that due to the busing issues, the School District and School Board members are not living up to their promises to the students, and she sent detailed emails to all of them explaining that.
Those emails from the beginning of this school year stated that her sonâs bus (Route Z520A) was consistently late showing up to his stop, often running as much as an hour (or possibly more) behind. She even compiled a chart (right) to document the delays.
And, Lorraine wasnât alone either. Numerous local community Facebook groups were ripe with posts about parents having to take their kids to school because buses were getting to stops extremely late â 30 minutes, 40 minutes, an hour even…which has been going on for many years, from what we could find.
Michael Santus, the manager of Transportation Services for Pasco Schools, replied to Lorraineâs email with this boilerplate response:
âAs ridership patterns stabilize, route timing naturally adjusts. For example, during the first two weeks of school, buses stop at every designated location. After this initial period, stops without riders are removed to streamline the route. This is one of the many ways our routing team works to enhance overall efficiency.â
A later email he sent specifically about Lorraineâs sonâs bus stated, âIt appears that ridership is beginning to stabilize. The bus arrived at the stop at 8:09 am this morning and arrived at school at 8:17 a.m. While it was still late, it is 7 minutes late vs. 25 minutes yesterday and 39 minutes the day prior. I will continue to monitor its progress for you.â
Lorraine told us, âWhat made it worse was that I had to frequently call the school and fill out an âabsentâ form each day for two weeks, until the school figured out some solution, because his tardiness was causing him to not show up at attendance.â
While she acknowledges that there has been some improvement since the beginning of the year, in regards to the recurring late pick-ups (she says her sonâs bus does show up to the morning stop on time now), but that there are still issues with the frequent late drop-offs at Wiregrass Ranch High, and that those havenât improved, even at this point, two full months into the 2025- 26 school year.
She worries that this is having a negative impact on education. âHis first period is Spanish 3 Honors,â she says. âItâs an important class, and he canât really make up that time.â
Dealing with all of the issues with her sonâs bus, Lorraine was surprised, on the morning of Sept. 19, when she got a text from her daughter stating that her bus for John Long hadnât shown up, and she didnât know what to do. Lorraine wasnât available, and neither was a close family friend who lived nearby. An older sibling of a fellow John Long student that Lorraine didnât know offered to drive the students to the school, and she accepted, since there wasnât much other choice.
According to the Districtâs response, when we independently confirmed the record of this incident, they explained that the bus did get there that morning, but it was well over an hour after it was supposed to arrive. Officials further explained that, âThere should be no circumstances where a bus does not show up, just delayed.â No explanation was offered as to why the bus was that late.
When hearing of the Districtâs official response, Lorraine responded to us, âYep, letâs leave middle schoolers on the side of the road for [more than] an hour.â
The Studentsâ Perspective
Our initial research quickly uncovered that this was likely a much bigger, District-wide, systemic problem, where if it affected one family this much, there were likely many more families affected in exactly the same way.
We wanted to understand what this looked like inside the school â get an idea of how many buses and kids were coming in late â so we separately interviewed a current and a former student of Wiregrass Ranch High, both of whom asked not to be named.
The current student (a freshman) said that in their first period class, â4 to 5 students per day are late, getting to class at least 5 minutes, and up to 15 minutes [after the bell].â They explained that the majority are âtardiesâ caused by the buses.
Meanwhile, the former student said that last year, during their first period class (when they were a freshman), there were â8 to 9 per day, mostly due to the bus, who came in 10 to 20 minutes [after the bell].â
They further explained that, âThey would hand you [the late students] a tardy slip as you got off the bus to give to the teacher. This had become a normal thing, so much so that the school needed to start doing them in different colors each day, …green, pink, orange, purple, so as not to be reused by the students.â
Our response to all of this info? âWow.â
Even though neither of these students is riding the bus this year â which would have given them an even more accurate idea of the tardies â because these two students were always in class before the late bell rang, they said it was such a common problem, almost every student knows how bad it is, whether they are bus riders or not.
We followed up and asked the Transportation Services officials specifically: âHow many tardies (roughly) of your students are a direct result of busing issues? This could be a number, a general range or even an estimated percentage.â
They apologized and stated that it would take too long to pull and compile that data before our story deadline, but that it is publicly available data for anyone who wants it by filling out a âPublic Records Request Formâ on the School Districtâs website.
However, the officials did also verify the need to have staff manage bulk late student arrivals, responding: âThere have been some small revisions to accommodate for student supervision (in other words, modifying duty schedules)â when we asked if the individual schools had to make direct adjustments to their operations to compensate for busing issues.
What We Discovered First-Hand
With the students explaining to us how many of their peers were late daily to first period, we decided that we had to see first-hand for ourselves what that translated to, in terms of the buses.
We found that most buses do get to the schools with plenty of time to spare, arriving anywhere between 10 to 20 minutes before the late bell. But, the number of late buses was surprising, at least at the two schools we chose to look into â John Long Middle and Wiregrass Ranch High.
We picked a random Thursday this month â Oct. 16 â to go out and directly observe the buses entering the school properties (from the adjacent public right-of-way). We saw multiple buses arriving to the school properties after the late bell had already rang.
For each one we observed, we wrote down the bus number and the time they crossed onto the property. We then sent those bus numbers to the District, to ask them what time their records showed that those buses arrived. They confirmed down to within 1 minute of accuracy that our observations were consistent with their records.
We found that two buses arrived late to John Long and at least three buses full of students (there was one discrepancy with a fourth) arrived late to Wiregrass Ranch.
When we asked if there are any proactive steps the schools are taking to make the bus drop-off and pick-ups smoother or less time-consuming, the District officials told us that, âAll administrators look at the systems they have in place each year to ensure it is the most efficient procedure for their campuses.â
Knowing the Wiregrass Ranch campus is especially overcapacity (with 2,183 students enrolled this year, it is at 140% of its capacity), we asked if this would cause any efficiency issues with busing.
The District replied that, âThe routes get reevaluated each year, to accommodate for student growth. The issues with busing are a direct result of bus driver shortages, not capacity issues.â
We did observe one clever trick that the buses going to the middle school were doing to avoid traffic and save time â one that was perfectly safe and legal (for the buses), but that we arenât going to explain, so other drivers donât try to replicate it â but it was a very unique ârouteâ that shows they are trying to be ingenious in at least one way to save time.
There have been some other improvements, too. At least one Pasco parent that we reached out to, who also had significant complaints about busing last year, stating that her son was often arriving back home more than two hours after school ended. That parent told us that, âItâs a lot better this year,â when asked for a comment.
The âWheres The Bus?â App
A relatively new GPS-enabled bus tracking system, a phone app fittingly called (and misspelled) âWheres the Bus?â (left) at least allows parents to see exactly where the school bus is on a map, and actively track it. This app was launched in 2023 for Pasco and is available for parents to download from Google Play or the Apple App Store â but there may be an issue with it.
We asked the District, when a bus is arriving late to a school, and drops off students past the late bell time, does the âWheres the Bus?â app notify parents of the late drop off, or are parents notified any other way of the late drop off?
They responded, âIf a parent is using the parent app, and their child signs in and out [when getting on and off the bus] they can track this specific information, but there is not a separate notification. However, parents should be getting notifications through MyStudent if a bus is going to be late picking up or dropping off their child.â
Lorraine stated that while she does get notifications on her phone about late morning pickups, itâs not always that accurate, saying that the times shown might be a little off, but she explained that as far as tracking the times when her son gets on and off the bus (to verify his late arrival to the school), when she goes into the app, it only shows the times for that day, which resets the following day, and she hasnât been able to find the historic data anywhere in the app.
This means that some parents may not even know that their children are arriving late to school, unless their child tells them, or they actively go into the app to view the live map showing the location of the bus, or review the pick-up and drop-off times for that day themselves, on that specific day.
The Desperate Need For Drivers
Lorraine told us that she felt slightly insulted when she was emailing the District about her serious concerns, because in a response she received from Nichole Schreiber, a field service specialist with the Districtâs Transportation Services Dept., Schreiber said, âIf you know anyone who would like to join the transportation staff, we would greatly appreciate it!â
In other words, Lorraine says, instead of the District coming up with solutions, âIt shifts the burden to parents by suggesting that we need to help recruit staff, which is neither our responsibility nor a practical solution to ensuring timely and reliable transportation in the immediate term.â
She also joked with us that they must be really desperate if they want her to drive a bus.
But, District officials admit that the ARE desperately trying to recruit help, almost any way they can, and theyâre definitely not shy about it. But, are these efforts to the potential detriment OR enhancement of public safety and service?
Back in 2021, Pascoâs former Superintendent of Schools Kurt Browningâs staff suggested using the National Guard to help with the bus driver shortage. It was ultimately turned down because there was no formally declared state of emergency.
The District has organized multiple hiring events, some upcoming, to try to recruit drivers. The next one will be on Thursday, November 6, 4 p.m.-6 p.m., at the District Office (7227 Land OâLakes Blvd., Land Oâ Lakes, FL 34638).
Pasco Schools Transportation Services advertises the benefits they offer to drivers as:
âą Free health insurance
âą Paid time off
âą Paid holidays
âą Retirement plans
âą Paid CDL (commercial drivers license)
prep course
âą $18.15/hour starting pay
The website says that the District guarantees at least 6 hours of work per day in a split shift, but that most routes are longer than 6 hours.
The Pasco Schools Transportation Services Dept. can be reached during business hours Monday-Friday at (813) 320-2562 to take your questions, comments and/or complaints.
Saturday, October 25, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. â Community Shred Fest & Secure Electronics Disposal. At Downtown Avalon Park (33613 SR 54). This event is open to the public and provides a safe way to dispose of sensitive documents and approved electronics. A suggested donation is $5 per box, with proceeds supporting local non-profit organizations. For more info and a list of approved electronics, visit AvalonParkWesleyChapel.com/news-events/calendar/#Â
Saturday, October 25, 11 a.m.-5 p.m. â â2025 Oktoberfest!â At Christ our Redeemer Lutheran Church (304 Druid Hills Rd., Temple Terrace). Celebrate the 26th annual Oktoberfest â a beloved tradition filled with fun, food, live music and festivities for the entire family. Free to attend, there will be food for purchase. For more info, call (813) 988-4025 or email church@CORLutheran.org.Â
Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. â 2nd Annual Wesley Chapel Craft Festival. At The Shops at Wiregrass (along Paseo Dr.). Discover unique handmade treasures as you stroll through the Shops at Wiregrass and explore a wide variety of jewelry, pottery, art, photography, plants, specialty foods, and more â all crafted by talented artisans. Free to attend. For more info, visit TheShopsAtWiregrass.com/event/30968-2nd-annual-wesley-chapel-craft-festival.Â
Saturday & Sunday, October 25 & 26, 11 a.m.-6 p.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamberâs Wesley Chapel Fall Festival & Carnival. At The Grove (5854 Wesley Grove Blvd.). The 21st annual Fall Festival returns to The Grove. There will be a full carnival, food trucks, kids play zone & activities, pumpkin photo stops, âTrunk or Treatâ on Sunday, costume contests (photo), local bands, community performances and more. For more info, call (727) 674-1464, email Drew@FloridaPenguinProductions.com or visit northtampabaychamber.com/2025-fall-festival.Â
Monday, October 27, 7 p.m. â New Tampa Democratic Club Monthly Meeting. At New Tampa Regional Library (10001 Cross Creek Blvd.). Guest speaker Jack Forsth with Equality Florida. Free to attend. For info, visit NewTampaDemocrats.com or Facebook.com/NewTampaDemocrats.Â
Wednesday, October 29, 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. â Community Health Talk â What to Expect Before, During & After Surgery. At Blue Heron Senior Living (5085 Eagleston Blvd.). Hugar McNamee, DO, General Surgeon from AdventHealth Wesley Chapel will share helpful information about surgery. A light lunch will be provided while supplies last. Tours of Blue Heron available after the presentation. Free to attend, but you need to RSVP. For more info or to RSVP, visit AHWesleyChapel.com/Events or call (813) 929-5432.Â
Wednesday, October 29, 8 p.m.-10 p.m. â Steinway Signature Series: Nikolov-West Duo: Under Four Hands. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). This special concert by the Nikolov-West Duo, featuring Viktor Nikolov and Jane West, brings a fresh perspective on the piano duo experience. This dynamic piano four-hands program will weave together beloved traditional masterpieces with bold, rarely heard gems. Whether or not youâre already a classical piano lover, this is one performance you should not miss. Tickets $17.50-$25 depending upon seat selection. For info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/under-four-hands.Â
Friday, October 31, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamberâs âFinal Friday.â At the Marriott Residence Inn at Wiregrass Ranch (2867 Lajuana Blvd, at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus). Join Chamber members as they engage and network in a relaxed environment. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Friday, October 31, 5 p.m.-11 p.m. â Halloween Party on the Rooftop. At Skybox Rooftop Bar at the Marriott Residence Inn at Wiregrass Ranch (2867 Lajuana Blvd, at the Wiregrass Ranch Sports Campus). There will be live music, games, costume contests and more. Register for the Grand Prize, a free 2-night hotel stay. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 591-2915.
Saturday, November 1, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. – 36th Annual India Festival. At Florida State Fair Grounds (4800 US 301, Tampa). Come experience dances that dazzle, food that delights and shopping that excites. For more info, visit IndiaFestivalTampaBay.com.Â
Saturday, November 1, 1:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m. â Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries Author Event: Mary Roach. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Join the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Libraries for a very special event as they welcome New York Times best-selling author Mary Roach to discuss her latest book, Fuzz: When Nature Breaks the Law. The first 150 people in attendance will receive a free copy of her book. An opportunity to meet the author and have your book signed will follow the talk. Free to attend but seating is limited so please reserve your tickets in advance. For info, call (813) 829- 2760. Or, to reserve your seat, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/mary-roach.Â
Sunday November 2, 7 p.m.-9 p.m. Pavlo Presents: Angelo Tsarouchas â The Funny Greek Live. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Angelo Tsarouchas is a standup comedian, podcaster and actor. Youâve seen him in cult classics like Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle and Fred and Vinnie. His extremely funny and adaptive show has kept him in high demand worldwide. Tickets $50. For info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/funny-greek-live.Â
Tuesday, November 4, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. â North Tampa Bay Chamber Coffee & Conversations with AdventHealth Wesley Chapel. At Fairfield by Marriott Tampa Wesley Chapel (2650 Lajuana Blvd). Get an inside look at the exciting new addition to the hospital and what it means for our growing community. Free to attend. For more info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Thursday, November 6, 4 p.m.-6 p.m. â North Tampa Bay Ribbon Cutting for Fierce Flamingo. At North Tampa Bay Chamber Office (28329 Paseo Dr., Ste 195). Celebrate the ribbon cutting for Fierce Flamingo Boudoir Photography Studio. There will be light refreshments, product displays and a session raffle. Free to attend. For info, call (813) 994-8534 or visit Business.NorthTampaBayChamber.com.events.Â
Friday, November 7, 8 p.m.-11 p.m. â Tampa Bay Symphony: Fife and Drum: A Veteranâs Salute. At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). The Tampa Bay Symphony consists of more than 80 musicians and has been described as âone of Tampa Bayâs hidden jewels.â Come and experience the excitement of live classical music! Tickets $25. For more info, call (813) 829-2760. Or, to purchase tickets, visit NewTampaArtsCenter.org/events/tbs-fife-and-drum.Â
Saturday & Sunday, November 8-9, 2 p.m. â Wesley Chapel Theater Group Presents: War of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcast. At Starkey Ranch Theater Library Cultural Center (12118 Lake Blanche Dr. Odessa). Step back in time to 1938, when a radio drama shook the nation. âWar of the Worlds: The Panic Broadcastâ reimagines the legendary Orson Welles broadcast that famously convinced Americans that a full-scale alien invasion was underway. With live sound effects, vintage microphones and lots of drama, this production captures the excitement and the chaos of that fateful night. Tickets $22.13-$31.59. For more info or to purchase tickets, visit WesleyChapelTheaterGroup.org.Â
Tuesday, November 11, 5 p.m. â Wounded Warrior Project Carry Forward 5K. At Tampa Palms Golf & Country Club (TPGCC) Fitness Center (5811 Tampa Palms Blvd.). Help raise funds to provide vital life-changing programming for Americaâs wounded warriors. The official 5K race will begin and end at the TPGCC Fitness Center. For more info or to register, email Kimberly.Howey@InvitedClubs.com.
Friday & Saturday, November 14 & 15, 7 p.m.-8:45 p.m. & Sunday, November 16, 4 p.m.-5:45 p.m. â Tampa City Ballet Presents: âCinderella.â At New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Rd.). Tampa City Ballet reimagines the classic fairytale of âCinderellaâ in a dazzling spectacle that will captivate your entire family. This isnât just a ballet; itâs a magical blend of theatrical wonder and contemporary dance, bringing Cinderellaâs timeless story to life with breathtaking artistry and innovative choreography. Tickets cost $45-$90. For tickets to âCinderella,â or for more info about TCB (15367 Amberly Dr., Tampa Palms), visit TampaCityBallet.org or call (813) 558-0800.
Donna Ray of The Middle Place (photo provided by Donna Ray)Â
The Middle Place AccountingÂ
Donna Ray, the owner of The Middle Place Accounting & Consulting Services, and I have a friend in common â Paula Nuñez, the owner of the Tampa City Dance Center and the founder of the Tampa City Ballet.Â
âI used to be the executive director of Tampa City Ballet,â Donna says, âand they are currently still one of my clients. I still handle their bookkeeping and accounting.â
Donna says she first launched The Middle Place during the pandemic, âwhile I was still the executive director of the ballet, because I have two children and their school was closed, so I needed to home school them and work from home. I also was taking care of my father, who has since passed away, so it just made sense to be as independent as I could be based on the needs of my family.â
She adds, âI sent out a big email blast at that time to people Iâve known around the Tampa Bay area for a very long time that my services were available and that seemed to be all that it took.â
The idea for her company didnât just come out of nowhere, however. Donna has a total of 30 years of experience working in accounting.
After a decade of working in the Cayman Islands as an IT director with Cox Lumber Co. and Senior Accounting and later as project manager with Fidelity Group of Companies, she returned to the U.S., which was still recovering from the financial crash of 2008. She enrolled at the University of South Florida and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) degree in Womenâs and Gender Studies.
After that, Donna says, âI found myself working for nonprofits for the first time. I accepted a job at the Helen Gordon Davis Center for Women as director of the Womenâs Business Center in Hyde Park, where I worked with hundreds of entrepreneurs at all levels of experience and with a variety of needs â from writing business plans and building financial projections to accessing capital. Thatâs where the Tampa City Ballet found me.â Both nonprofits also extended Donnaâs skills with grant writing, reporting and building relationships with community stakeholders and corporate partners, as well as with city, county, state and federal funding authorities.
She adds that since then, she has served, âa lot of female entrepreneurs, helping them either launch or with their business. But, my focus was on finance and accounting, and that was sort of my specialty, helping people build business plans, financial statements and projections.â
A Diverse Range Of Experience
She brings all of that experience with her to The Middle Place, âand Iâve been really lucky because I have a wide variety of clients. Some are in for-profit industries, some are nonprofit. I also work with a law firm and some retail companies.â
Donna says she provides a professional level of service that goes beyond just bookkeeping.
âI focus a lot on software implementation,â she says. âOne nonprofit contract [I have] right now was implementing seven different unique technology stacks for them, and implementing Quickbooks Online and payroll and basically automating their entire organization.â
Originally from Chicago, Donna moved to the Tampa Bay area in the 1980s. She grew up as an aspiring young dancer, âbut I had a very practical father who said, âIf you break your leg, you need to have a backup.â So as a teenager, she started out in business administration and, at age 19, as a legal secretary at a law firm in Clearwater.
While her extensive professional career was focused on accounting, IT, project and nonprofit management, Donna continued to study and dance with a local Tampa dance company and also performed with the Cayman Islands National Dance Company, where she also taught ballet and Gyrokinesis, a movement therapy specifically designed for dancers. After returning to Florida, she taught at the Patel Conservatory for Next Generation Ballet summer program.
Donna was thrilled when Paula Nuñez approached her needing help for the Tampa City Ballet. âI thought, âThis is a perfect opportunity to work in an industry I love and provide my business expertise to help TCB grow and to help professional dancers in Tampa,ââ she says.
She also works with Diaz Shafer, P.A. an immigration law firm in Tampa that was on Quickbooks Desktop but wanted to switch to Quickbooks Online, âso I did that for them.â
Donna also has done contract work for Davis College in Rwanda, Africa, as well as for Drong Ngur Jangchubling, a Tibetan Buddhist Center in Wesley Chapel, and Skate Park of Tampa: Sheâs also the Board treasurer of Dance Tampa Bay, led by Shana Corrada, E.D.
Donna provides full-service monthly accounting services for businesses of all sizes and industries, including payroll, sales tax filing and software integrations. âA lot of clients first come to me to handle their bookkeeping,â Donna says, âBut I also do software implementation, financial projections and can help you grow your business by offering financial advice from a unique perspective. For more info, call (813) 391-6890 or visit TheMiddlePlace.com.âGNÂ
Celly De Freitas Of Clean-It!Â
Photos by Charmaine George
Clean-it owner Celly de Freitas has been cleaning homes and businesses in the New Tampa, Wesley Chapel and surrounding areas for the last 26 years.
In order to help pay for that schooling, she started cleaning houses and, even though she did end up opening a skincare spa, âI was making a lot more money cleaning houses, so I let the spa go after about two years,â Celly (above left) says.Â
Today, not only does this Wesley Chapel resident speak and understand English (as well as Spanish, Italian and her native Portuguese) fluently â despite still having a fairly thick accent â she has a team of twelve Brazilian women working with her, all of whom also speak and understand English, Spanish and Portuguese.
âI tell everyone who works for me that they have to be able to communicate with clients in English,â Celly says. âYou have to be able to understand what the clients want and do whatever they ask when it comes to cleaning their homes.â
She says she usually uses a âteamâ approach, sending at least two and sometimes three members of her team to each job. âItâs much more efficient this way,â she says. âWe can clean a lot more places when we work together.â
Celly, who has been an American citizen for about 20 years, isnât usually actually working with the teams â sheâs the one coordinating the schedules and checking up on all of her employees to make sure they are getting to each location on time (and calling or texting the clients when one of âmy girlsâ is running late). âBut, when I have someone out sick or theyâre stuck someplace, I will still go and help out,â she says. âAnd, I try to be as flexible as possible when a client needs to change their schedule, too.â
The Covid-19 pandemic definitely took a toll on Cellyâs business, but says she was able to survive because she received a PPP (Paycheck Protection Program) loan from the government, âand continued to pay all of my employees who didnât go back to Brazil, even though they werenât able to work for several months. Without that money, I might have lost all of my clients.â
Clean-it offers (and is licensed to provide) residential and commercial (âWe are licensed to do medical and dental clinics, but not hospitals,â Celly says) cleaning services, including monthly, bi-weekly and weekly services, one-time cleans and move-in and move-out cleans. âWe have amazing references, too.,â she says.
Most of Clean-itâs clients are in Wesley Chapel, New Tampa, Lutz and Land OâLakes, she says, âbut we do travel a little further for some clients, especially those one-time cleaning clients.â
She adds, âWe really specialize in those move-in cleans. We usually end up getting the [new homeowners] as clients because we do such a great job.â
For more information about Clean-it and/or a free job quote, call (813) 505-0431. â GNÂ