Hot off the Press Release! |People Place Expands Dream and Team | Fertilize properly to help save the manatee | Weigh in on Pasco's long-term plan | Sign up for 4-H Summer Camps and Roller Derby, too.

Want to keep up with what’s happening locally? Be more informed about county government programs and events? Check out these local news items/press releases that may or may not end up in your local paper. (Note: news items are listed by date of press release).

People Place Expands Dream and Team

Downtown New Port Richey Revitalization Movement Gets A Boost

Lia Gallegos, Public Relations Director, Residential Activation Coordinator
727.385.5375
Lia@people-places.com

May 20, 2022

New Port Richey New Urbanist real estate development company, People Places, LLC., has doubled its workforce and its vision by adding four female team members to the roster. Lia Gallegos, Porshia Helm, Kira Atkinson, and Kacey Atkinson have been recruited by the A-list lineup Bruzenskey Bois, Mocay Green, and Austin Hanson with Frank Starkey leading the group.

Over the past decade, Frank has been putting his architectural and design acumen to good use. New Port Richey residents have been enjoying the fruits of his labor with the completion of The Central on Orange Lake apartments and the 5800 Building on Main Street, and are anxiously awaiting the completion of the Missouri-Grand project.

The People Places team is a diverse group of forward-thinking individuals who’ve been brought on board to expedite new projects that encourage cultural diversity, inclusion, and equity with a renewed emphasis on the design and activation of the public realm.

Porshia Helm is a Florida native, who grew up in Pinellas and comes from a family with a history of real estate investment. Her introduction to People Places was a purely serendipitous encounter with Bruzenskey Bois when her car left her stranded on Main Street. During their ride to the corner gas station, they discovered their mutual interest in Real Estate. Porshia had just recently completed the Bob Hogue School of Real Estate and was searching for an opportunity to launch her new career. She is now working with Brusensky as a Leasing Agent for the Central on Orange Lake.

Kira Atkinson, Kacey Atkinson, and Lia Gallegos are no strangers to New Urbanism and local redevelopment efforts in New Port Richey. Frank contracted the trio in 2015, then operating under Rock the Boat Productions, to assist with his early projects in New Port Richey. They have been active advocates for revitalization in the historic City since the three first met when serving on the City’s Cultural Affairs Committee in 2011 and have been instrumental in helping to change the narrative of their hometown over the past 10 years. They have now joined the People Places team as Project Coordinators with a focus on Community, Commercial, and Residential activation.

One of the first orders of business was to revive the popular town-hall-style community conversation series, Talk About Town. This round of Talks focuses on educating attendees on New Urbanist principles such as walkable cities, design and place-making, and why they matter. New Port Richey visitors and residents can look forward to the launch of a new community meeting & educational facility on Main Street in the near future, and will also see major changes to the Missouri-Grand Building over the remainder of 2022.

For more information and team member bios please visit http://www.people-places.com and follow People Places LLC on Facebook and Instagram.

Fertilize Properly During ‘Fertilizer Awareness Month’

Fertilizer runoff can affect manatee food source

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654

May 20, 2022

May is ‘Fertilizer Awareness Month’ in Pasco County – a reminder that using fertilizer properly can help your lawn and the environment!

While fertilizer can promote a healthy, vibrant lawn – applying too much or applying it incorrectly can cause chemical runoff that pollutes our ground and surface water. This causes harmful algae blooms that choke out seagrass – the main food source for Florida’s beloved manatees. More than 1,100 manatees died in Florida last year, many due to starvation from lack of seagrass.

Harmful chemical runoff is most likely during our rainy season – June through September – and the resulting algae blooms can also cause flooding.

These fertilizer application tips can help protect our environment:

Follow package directions to avoid over-fertilizing
Avoid spreading fertilizer on sidewalks, streets and gutters
Don’t apply fertilizer within 10 feet of any body of water
Don’t apply fertilizer ahead of expected flooding or tropical storms

Keep Pasco Beautiful is offering a free Fertilizing Properly Workshop Thursday, May 26 at 6 p.m. You can attend in-person or virtually by registering here: bit.ly/3LirVpD.

For more information about Keep Pasco Beautiful, visit: keeppascobeautiful.org.

Little Road Repaving Work Begins May 22

Expect nighttime delays

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654

May 18, 2022

Drivers who use Little Road from Hudson Avenue to Denton Avenue in Pasco County should be prepared for overnight lane closures beginning May 22, 2022.

Crews will be on-site as part of the Little Road Pavement Rehabilitation Project, resurfacing the
existing roadway and adding new pavement markings. Drivers should expect delays in both northbound and southbound lanes. For a map of the project area, please click HERE.
Project Details:

Work hours are Sunday through Thursday, 7 p.m. to 6 a.m.
Expect single-lane closures with message boards directing traffic
The project is expected to take 90 days to complete, depending on weather conditions
Asphalt Paving Systems, Inc. is the contractor for this Pasco County Public Works project.

People Places Talk About Town

“Hip Hop & New Urbanism–Same Fight, Different Language”

Media Release
People Places LLC
5742 Main St., New Port Richey, Florida

May 17, 2022

Bruzenskey Bois from People Places, LLC presents the next Talk About Town: Hip Hop and New Urbanism–Same Fight, Different Language Tuesday, May 24, at Ordinance One (5738 Main Street, New Port Richey) from 6 to 7 p.m. with an opening Mingle at 5:30 pm. This event is open to the public and free to attend, it will also be available to view on Facebook Live Stream.

What if I told you that Nipsey Hussle understood neighborhoods better than you? Well, first you would have to ask yourself, “who is Nipsey Hussle and what does he have to do with New Urbanism?” In this session, we will dissect the article written by Sahra Sulaiman, Nipsey Hussle Understood Cities Better than You. Why Didn’t You Know Who He Was?

We will focus on The Marathon clothing store which is in a commercial property that Nipsey Hussle was transforming from a traditional commercial strip that you would see in many disinvested neighborhoods across America, into the Nipsey Hustle Tower. The new project was envisioned to include affordable housing and more retail which would have the potential to become a strong economic staple in the neighborhood in which he grew up.

Attendees can expect to learn more about their community through this series from expert speakers and the exchange of ideas with the group during the discussion and Q&A session at the end of each gathering. For more information please visit https://fb.me/e/2hmHoC81y , visit People-Places.com, and follow People Places LLC on Facebook or Instagram.

ABOUT BRUZENSKEY BOIS

Bruzenskey Bois is the Property Manager of The Central on Orange Lake and an important member of the People Places, LLC team. He is a first-generation Haitian-American who was born and raised in Miami and graduated from the University of South Florida where he earned his Bachelor of Arts in Communication after spending much of his undergraduate studies in Architecture. He joined the People Places team in 2019 after relocating to the Tampa Bay area and is responsible for managing commercial & multifamily real estate assets on behalf of People Places. Bruzenskey is a Certified Apartment Manager recognized by the National Apartment Association and has been in the property management industry since 2011.

Bruzenskey is a member of the Government Affairs Committee for the Bay Area Apartment Association, a member of the NextGen Committee for the National Town Builders Association, and a member of Congress for New Urbanism (CNU), PLACE Initiative, and Congress Committee. Most recently, Bruzenskey formed the first Congressional Black Caucus for New Urbanism, an emerging new urbanist committee under CNU.

He is also an investor, activist, Marthe’s son., Benouchka’s brother, father, and uncle.

Revolution Roller Derby, a Mixed Gender Flat-Track Roller Derby League is now hosting an Open Recruitment Practice

Revolution Roller Derby
Contact Name: Rose Frizzle
Title: Founder
Phone: 727-280-7981
Email: RevolutionRDPress@gmail.com

Revolution Roller Derby a Mixed Gender Flat-Track Roller Derby League is now hosting an Open Recruitment Practice every Tuesday at Spinnations 8345 Congress St, Port Richey.

Open Recruitment times are from 7:30-9:30 pm.

We want everyone to come and skate with us. Soak up a lot of Roller Derby knowledge and sharpen your skating skills. No experience is necessary. We have some loaner gear. We do encourage everyone to buy their own gear.

Skaters will need the following: Helmet, mouth guard, elbow, knee pads, and wrist guards, and water. Signed waiver required. All-inclusive and 18+! This is a family-friendly environment.

For more information on how to join, ref or volunteer, please visit:.RevolutionRollerDerby.com, Facebook.com/RevolutionRollerDerby , or email info@revolutionrollerderby.com

Weigh In: Share your Thoughts on Pasco’s Long-Term Plan

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654

May 9, 2022

~~Get involved with Pasco 2050, and help define the community’s vision for the future~~

This is your chance to share your thoughts about where you live – and help guide future growth in Pasco County! Pasco 2050 is a multi-year initiative to update the County’s comprehensive plan that defines our vision for the next 25 years and outlines the steps we need to take to get there.

The most important part of this process is YOU! We encourage you to visit the Pasco2050 website where you can:

Take part in surveys, polls & contests
Register to receive updates on the process
Stay informed about upcoming public meetings
Provide input & feedback throughout the process

Pasco is one of the fastest-growing counties in the state of Florida, and we’re focusing on smart growth to balance our open spaces with commercial and residential land use.

Our Comprehensive Plan sets goals, objectives and policies that influence future planning decisions. With your input, Pasco 2050 will guide the way forward for economic development, transportation, parks, natural resources, and how land is used – to name a few!

Visit Pasco2050.com today to start weighing in on your vision for your community.

To learn more about Pasco County Planning and Development, click HERE.

UPDATE: New Application Date
Pasco Offers Rental Assistance Through H.E.A.R.T. 2.0

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654

~~Partnership with local non-profit agencies to help pay bills for renters~~

The Pasco Board of County Commissioners is pleased to announce additional opportunities to apply for financial assistance through the Pasco Helping with Emergency Assistance Relief for Tenants (H.E.A.R.T.) 2.0 program. Pasco Community Development is partnering with local non-profits to help pay your bills if you rent in Pasco County and meet the program guidelines.

An online portal is now open 24/7:

WHAT:          Pasco H.E.A.R.T. 2.0 Assistance
WHEN:          Now through May 31, 2022
HOW:             Apply online at bit.ly/PascoHEART

The Pasco H.E.A.R.T. 2.0 program can pay up to 18 months of bills for qualifying renters. Bills eligible for payment include:

Rent
Utilities (water & electric)

To qualify, your household must be at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income and you must have a past due rent/utility bill. You must also prove Pasco residency and have experienced a COVID-19 economic impact.

Pasco County received funding for this program through the U.S. Department of Treasury’s Emergency Rental Assistance Program. For more information or questions about this program or the application process, please call Pasco County Customer Service at 727.847.2411.

A New Fee for Pasco County Utilities Assessment Searches

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654

May 2, 2022

Starting in July 2022 a flat fee of $9 per assessment search submitted will cover assessment search services for water, sewer, reclaimed water and commercial solid waste services at a specific property.
Assessments are designed to protect property owners who are taking on new loans or refinancing.
The $9 fee for each Utilities Assessment Search was established through the Utility Rate Study and
helps to offset associated costs, including staff and equipment.

“A title search should include checking for unpaid assessments,” said Utilities Customer
Information & Services Director Sandra Anderson. “Overlooking an assessment could be
detrimental, as any unpaid assessments will be levied against a parcel and are subject to penalties
and lien activity. A thorough search, before closing, reduces additional costs after the closing.”

Please allow up to five business days for each assessment search. Billing statements sent the first
week of each month will show requests that were received the month prior.
Payments may be made online or over the phone by calling (855) 786-5344, which is available 24/7.
For more information on the assessment process or the tools developed by Pasco County Utilities,
please visit bit.ly/PCUAssessmentSearch.

Pasco County 4-H Program Hosts Summer Day Camps

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654

April 19, 2022

Summer is right around the corner, so now is a great time to enroll your child in a variety of fun activities to keep them active! Join Pasco County Cooperative Extension for our Summer Day Camps June 15 to July 20, 2022, hosted by Pasco 4-H! The program is designed to explore science, art, cooking, sewing, animals and a whole lot more!

WHAT:          4-H Summer Day Camps
WHO:            Kids 5 to 18
WHEN:          June 15 to July 20, 2022 from 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
WHERE:       Various Locations in Pasco County
HOW:             Register: bit.ly/4HSummerCamp2022

Summer Day Camp activities include: Horse Back Riding, Science Experiments, Arts & Crafts,Cooking

The cost for each camp ranges from $20 to $30 per child. Spots are limited, so register today: bit.ly/4HSummerCamp2022

Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service assists people in Pasco County by developing and delivering practical, educational programs in environmental horticulture; sustainable agriculture; 4‑H and youth development; and family and consumer sciences. For more information, including volunteer opportunities, visit our website: bit.ly/PascoExtension or call us at 352.518.0156.

Land Your Next Job with Help from Pasco County

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654
April 4, 2022

~~Pasco County and CareerSource to provide help with job search, prep process ~~

Looking for and finding the right job can be a daunting task. Preparing for a job interview can be even more difficult and overwhelming. That’s why Pasco County and CareerSource Pasco Hernando are teaming up to help people in our community with the job search and preparation process!

Pasco County Libraries and the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth, in coordination with CareerSource Pasco Hernando, are offering free services to help you reenter the workforce.

WHAT:          Re-Employment Assistance
WHEN:         10 a.m. to 12 noon Tuesdays & Thursdays through May 31, 2022
WHERE:       Centennial Park Library, 5740 Moog Road, Holiday

Our team of employment experts will focus on the following: Employment Searches, Resume Writing, Applications, Interview Preparation

This program is another example of your Penny for Pasco working for you! To learn more about the Penny for Pasco, please visit: bit.ly/Penny4Pasco

To learn more about Pasco County Libraries, including the library catalog, e-content, programs, events and links to all Pasco County Library branches, visit: PascoLibraries.org.

New Community Fair Highlights Helpful Resources

PRESS RELEASE | Pasco County Media Relations & Communications
727.815.7177
8744 Government Drive, Bldg. A
New Port Richey, FL 34654

If you want to learn more about all the great resources available to you in Pasco County, join us at one of our new Community Resource Fairs! Pasco’s South Holiday Library is bringing together representatives from several Pasco County Government departments and community partners to showcase essential resources and services that can help you and your family.

“We’re excited to provide this much-needed fair to our community,” said South Holiday Library Branch Manager Kimberly Nordon-Parks. “It’s a place to learn more about the helpful services available in Pasco – all in one place.”

WHAT:          South Holiday Community Resource Fair
WHEN:          Fourth Saturday of Each Month, through September from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
WHERE:       St. Vincent De Paul Church Parking Lot, 4843 Mile Stretch Drive, Holiday, FL

To see the Pasco County departments and community partners scheduled to attend, click here: bit.ly/SouthHolidayCRF.

This project is funded through the American Rescue Plan Act from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

For more information about Pasco County Libraries, including the library catalog, e-content, programs, events and links to all Pasco County Library branches, visit: pascolibraries.org.