Issue #450: Pasco Land Deal Secured • Courtney Campbell Updates • Mocktails on the Rise • Strawberry Crest Star Competes

9/5/2025

Author

Ted Grellner
05 Sep

Keep your finger on the Pulse!

GOOD MORNING

Dr Ted
USAF Retired


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In this issue of NewTampa | WesleyChapel
Local Pulse

Our Event Calendar —> Feel free to post events of interest to our community; its quite easy to do.

Local News

— Kirkland Ranch Saved: 974 Acres Preserved in Rapidly Growing Pasco

— FDOT Unveils Vision for Revamp of Courtney Campbell Causeway

Of Interest

— Mocktails Surge as More Americans Say “No” to Alcohol

Sports

— Strawberry Crest’s Luke McIntosh Races Toward Gold

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Kirkland Ranch Saved: 974 Acres Preserved in Rapidly Growing Pasco

A major win for conservation in Pasco County: nearly 1,000 acres of family-owned farmland in Wesley Chapel is on track to remain undeveloped. The Southwest Florida Water Management District has approved the $30.8 million purchase of Kirkland Ranch, preserving its natural landscape amid rapid growth in the area.

The property, owned by the same family since 1956, includes wetlands that make up 41% of the land. “This is one of the last large green spaces in eastern Pasco,” said Ellen Morrison of the District. The land sits near the Epperson community and is surrounded by recent residential development.

Future use could include agriculture and recreation, but development is off the table.

Residents like Carl Phillips welcome the move. “You’ve got to have some sort of nature,” he said, reflecting on his own experience preserving farmland in Washington state.

The sale is expected to close by the end of the year, using state funding.

FDOT Unveils Vision for Revamp of Courtney Campbell Causeway

A major overhaul is on the horizon for the Courtney Campbell Causeway, as the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) kicks off a Project Development and Environmental Study to explore improvements from Tampa to Clearwater.

The project is in its early stages, but FDOT officials say upgrades may include widening the roadway and adding environmental buffers between the highway and the bay. Key priorities include addressing the main span bridges, easing traffic congestion, and reinforcing infrastructure against future storms.

Thursday’s community meeting at 5:30 p.m. at the DoubleTree Hilton on Rocky Point will introduce the initiative and invite public input.

Environmental advocates are urging FDOT to prioritize water quality and estuary health. “This is a great opportunity to help Tampa Bay,” said Justin Trimble of Tampa Bay Waterkeeper.

FDOT says any project will aim to balance transportation needs with environmental preservation.

Mocktails Surge as More Americans Say “No”
to Alcohol

A new Gallup poll reveals only 54% of U.S. adults now drink alcohol, marking the lowest rate since 1939. Health concerns and shifting cultural values are fueling the trend—and non-alcoholic drinks are booming in response.

Mocktails, once an afterthought, are now a centerpiece of bar menus. Tampa hotspot Willa’s is riding the wave with a creative zero-proof drink program, delighting customers like Abby Conrad, a sober advocate who has seen the scene change dramatically over five years.

“Five years ago, it was O'Doul’s or tonic,” she said. “Now? Real menus, real flavor.”

Event coordinator Angelique Emmerson says the trend grew during the pandemic, linking it to mental and physical health awareness.

Non-alcoholic beer is now the second most popular category, and global sales of non-alcoholic wine are expected to double in the next decade.

Tampa’s mocktail movement is proving this is more than a trend—it’s a lifestyle shift.

Strawberry Crest’s Luke McIntosh Races Toward Gold

Strawberry Crest junior Luke McIntosh is making waves—literally and competitively. A standout swimmer since age nine, McIntosh has found both passion and purpose in the pool.

“I like the independent aspect... how it was on me,” he said of the sport’s self-driven nature. His dedication has led him to medal at last year’s state championships, and this season, he’s aiming even higher: the top of the podium.

McIntosh doesn’t just swim for his high school team. He also competes with TBAY (Tampa Bay Aquatics), where his hard work has earned him a national top-10 ranking in backstroke—a milestone he’s proud of but not content with.

“The job isn’t done,” he says, already focused on pushing harder. After a summer of intense competition, Luke enters the 2025 season as one of Florida’s swimmers to watch.

With quiet confidence and relentless discipline, McIntosh is poised to make a serious splash this year.

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Top Things to do in Tampa Bay
9/2 - 9/9
Source:


Things to do Around Tampa & WC
/ - 9/
Source: tampabeacon.com

This Weekend in Tampa:
9/5 - 9/7
Source: wild941.com

🎭 Tonight in Wesley Chapel & New Tampa: Film & Arts Spotlight — Fri, Sept 5, 2025:

  • Side Splitters @ The Grove (Wesley Chapel)
    Joey Vega (headliner weekend run) — evening sets Fri–Sat; plus Comic’s Night Out (Open Mic) on the calendar. Sidesplitters

  • KRATE at the Grove
    1st Fridays – Market Elaine (5–9 pm) + Live Music starting 5 pm — open-air vibes, food stalls, murals. Krate the Grove+1
    *New Tampa Performing Arts Center: Annual Arts Festival is next weekend (Sept 12–14) New Tampa Performing Arts CenterHillsborough County

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