Introducing Rock’s Realty – Annie and Kevin Rocks

28 Dec

Annie and Kevin Rocks are two of the most high performing real estate agents in the Trinity and Starkey Ranch Community. Recently, they formed their own real estate venture, Rocks Realty. See below for their announcement as well as some information on Rock’s Realty.

GRAND OPENING OF ROCKS REALTY

Here we go! Announcing the Grand Opening of Rocks Realty!!! It’s with great pride and bittersweet hearts that we leave our real estate home with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Properties Group and launch our own boutique brokerage. We have been blessed in our working relationships within the Berkshire community as well as with our trusted customers and team members. After achieving top 1% in the nation of realtors, we look forward to serving all of your real estate needs as we’ve partnered with the most technologically savvy team of people to help support us in providing the utmost care, marketing exposure, and services to our clients. Stay tuned in the coming days for some beautiful new listings! Starkey Ranch, waterfront canal home in Port Richey, Bradenton Beach home 200 steps from sand, Cheval, and many more coming your way!

ROCKS REALTY

Whether you’re looking to buy or sell in the Greater Tampa area, make Rocks Realty your team of choice! Located at the intersection of Pasco, Hillsborough, and Pinellas counties, we’re a team of local experts who emphasize luxury at all price points. In delivering appropriate advice and developing a plan tailored to your goals, we lead you to inevitable success. But at Rocks Realty, success isn’t just about guiding you toward a home. It’s about helping you navigate a major life transition, invest in a more enriched future, and build financial stability and strength.

We’re caring, ethical agents who partner with trusted professionals to make your experience seamless and memorable. Clients repeatedly commend us for our honesty and authenticity, and we bolster our genuine engagement with our informative nature, self-discipline, and tactful negotiation skills. With diplomacy and ingenuity, we craft irresistible offers for our buyers and create meticulous marketing strategies for our sellers.

At Rocks Realty, our A-list team members hail from different professional backgrounds. With experience in everything from interior design, commercial construction, and architecture to teaching, health care, chiropractic care, technical training, and operations, our individual perspectives and cross-industry insights bring an invaluable element to our services—and your outcomes.

ROCKS REALTY CONTACT INFORMATION

Phone: (727) 777-3264
E-mail: [email protected]
Website: https://therocksrealty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/therocksrealty

Coming Soon: Lowe’s at Starkey Ranch

10 Aug

It appears the years long rumors are true, a new Lowe’s is coming to the Starkey Ranch community. Lowe’s has filed for permits to build a new 138,339 square foot Lowe’s Home Improvement Center to be built at 2317 Gunn Highway in Odessa. 

8/18/2022 Update: Official Lowe’s Site Plan for Trinity / Starkey Ranch

Lowe’s Companies, Inc. , often shortened to Lowe’s, is an American retail company specializing in home improvement. Headquartered in Mooresville, North Carolina, the company operates a chain of retail stores in the United States and Canada. As of February 2021, Lowe’s and its related businesses operates 2,197 home improvement and hardware stores in North America.

Lowe’s is the second-largest hardware chain in the United States (previously the largest in the U.S. until surpassed by The Home Depot in 1989) behind rival The Home Depot and ahead of Menards. It is also the second-largest hardware chain in the world, also behind The Home Depot but ahead of European retailers Leroy Merlin, B&Q, and OBI.

2021 Pasco Teacher of the Year: Ryan Bintz

6 Dec

We are so excited for our community to have someone like Ryan Bintz, teacher at Longleaf Elementary School be recognized as the 2021 Pasco County Schools Teacher of the Year!

Read the article below from the Tampa Bay Times. Author Jeffrey Solochek did an amazing job documenting what an awesome teacher Mr. Bintz is! 

‘He’s fantastic’: Pasco’s top teacher builds confidence through theater.

Teacher of the year Ryan Bintz says he was born to work with kids.
 

NEW PORT RICHEY — Ryan Bintz was walking a group of fifth graders back to their Longleaf Elementary School classroom when he got word to take them back to his theater portable.

The children cheered at the opportunity to return to the deskless classroom, where their teacher gets just as involved in their lessons as they do.

“He tries to make everything fun,” fifth grader Evan Lambert said of Bintz. “He’s very nice to everybody.”

And most definitely worthy of being named Pasco County’s 2022 teacher of the year, according to Evan, his classmates and just about everybody else you can ask on the campus tucked into the Longleaf subdivision of south-central Pasco.

Superintendent Kurt Browning led a group of dignitaries to the school just before Thanksgiving break to make the surprise announcement, which Bintz said brought him to tears.

“He’s fantastic,” said fifth grade teacher Mary Wainwright, who helps Bintz stage multiple live performances each year. “He brought theater to every grade level. That’s what we were missing.”

Principal Jennifer McCormack said Bintz, in his fourth year at the Florida Arts Model Achieve School, has been a “perfect fit” since his arrival. He has a strong rapport with the children, she said, blending arts, creativity, academics and more into a dynamic, welcoming atmosphere.

“You can tell,” McCormack said. “He builds confidence in kids like no other.”

It’s the kind of attention that Bintz, 47, said he needed as a youngster. He recalled being made fun of because of his interest in music and theater — something he loved because of the opportunities to “get out of yourself” and try new things.

He stuck with performing over the years, working on cruise ships and at theme parks and taking parts in shows, until he found it wouldn’t pay the bills. After returning from a cruise ship job, he took a substitute teaching position in Tampa to tide him over and discovered his true profession.

“It was my first time. I was very scared,” he shared. “A kindergartner looked at me and said, ‘I love you.’ It gave me a little fire, that this is what I was going to do.”

Students can sense his passion, whether playing acting games or writing short plays or covering dramatic concepts. Everyone participated in “Spaghetti,” a game that has students act out emotions while entering and exiting the stage, without declaring themselves too cool or shy or indifferent to take a turn.

“It’s always fun,” said fifth grader Brody Gibbs. “You have to step out of your fears.”

Fifth grader Bella LiVecchi said Bintz helped her shed her shyness since she first began taking his classes.

“I was so afraid, super afraid, to act out in front of people,” Bella recalled. “He taught me how to be myself.”

Now she’s claiming lead roles in school performances, as well as parts in plays that Bintz directs in the community.

Longleaf parent Elizabeth Pesce, who also works at the school, said Bintz did the same for her son Jacob.

“He had never performed before,” Pesce said of her son, who has a mild speech impediment. Bintz “brought out something in him that we had never seen before.”

Bintz, a single father of two, said he loves that he can have such a positive effect on children. He dedicates much of his planning and free time to helping the students rehearse for the many shows he organizes. Each grade level gets at least one, as evidenced by the many photos and programs that line his walls.

“It’s what I was born to do,” he said.

Bintz next competes for Florida teacher of the year. His students are convinced he can win it all.

“He teaches us really well,” fifth grader Lianna Phillips said. “I believe in him.”

Trinity Baseball – Spring Season

11 Nov

Program Information

2022 Spring Recreational Baseball & Softball Registration

Dates / Times
We are located at Starkey Ranch District Park in Odessa, FL. 

Registration closes on 02/28/2022 at 12:00 AM
Season Dates: 02/18/2022 to 05/20/2022

Program
Youth Sports Florida’s recreational baseball program consists of four age-based levels depending on the player’s age as of August 31st, 2022. Program emphasis is on fundamentals of the game as players are shown the basics of hitting, throwing, catching and base running within a framework of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Teams
All coaches are volunteers and coaches set up the practice location, day and time.  Rosters, schedules, uniforms and equipment are distributed to coaches before your first game. Players will be contacted by the coach of their team. Practices will begin in February. Please note coaches will be required to complete a background check.

Special Request Policy
Coach and teammate requests will be considered carefully, but there is no guarantee they will be honored. For requests to be considered, the registration must be turned in by the registration deadline.

What about the girls!?!
A softball program is for girls only. Our baseball program is co-ed at all age groups and girls are also welcome!

More information is available on the Trinity Little League website – https://www.youthsportsfl.com/Default.aspx?tabid=2739790

Divisions

T-Ball for ages 4-6

Ballplayers ages 4-6 learn hitting and fielding fundamentals in a supportive team environment. Young athletes hit the ball from a batting tee which is height-adjusted for a level swing, batting in order through the line-up for the entire game. The primary goal is to begin to instruct young players in the fundamentals of baseball in a supportive team environment.

Rookie (machine/coach-pitch) for ages 7-8

Designed primarily for ballplayers ages 7-8, this division makes use of a pitching machine and/or coach-pitch to allow for more hittable balls at the plate and more action in the field. Fear of actually being hit by a pitched ball is diminished. It makes the game safer and improves the playing confidence and ability of all participants.

Minor for ages 9-10

Recommended for ballplayers ages 9-10. Players build and refine their fundamental skills while beginning to understand game strategy and teamwork.

Major for ages 11-12

Features a 46′ pitching distance and 60′ base paths. Special base running rules are also in effect.

News: 2022-2025 Pasco County Strategic Plan

20 Oct

The Government of Pasco County, Florida has released their 2022-2025 Strategic Plan. Below is the information they provided as part of the release of the strategic plan.

The Pasco Board of County Commissioners is pleased to share our 2022-2025 Strategic Plan! The plan, developed over the past 18 months with input from team members and external customers, will guide #PascoCounty
 
Government’s actions and activities over the next four years as we work toward becoming Florida’s Premier County.
 
Four focus areas frame the work we do. Each is supported by Strategic Goals, accomplished through comprehensive strategies, detailed action plans and targeted initiatives:
 
– CREATE a Thriving Community
– ENHANCE Quality of Life
– STIMULATE Economic Growth
– IMPROVE Organization Performance
 
You can read the full 2022-2025 Pasco County Strategic Plan below or feel free to click here to download.

News: Pasco County Schools Bell Time Changes

18 Oct

The following information was sent out to parents of students attending as Pasco County School.

“Due to the chronic bus driver shortage, many students are arriving late to school every day, which results in a loss of instructional time. To address the problem, the school district is proposing a mid-year change to school bell times. Under the proposed plan, school starting and ending times would be adjusted starting January 4, when students return from Winter Break.”

Download the draft Pasco County Schools Bell Schedule for 2021-2022 using the link below.

Pasco County Schools Draft Bell Times 2021-2022 School Year

Events: Starkey Ranch Fall Fair

12 Oct

Event: Starkey Ranch Fall Fair
Date: November 13, 2021
Time: 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Location: 11880 Lake Blanche Drive, Odessa, Florida 33556

Come out to the Starkey Ranch District Park on Saturday, November 13 for some fall fun! There will be shopping, local vendors, food trucks, inflatables, and Touch-a-Truck. Open to the public, this is a great way to celebrate fall and support local businesses! The Fair will held at the Starkey Ranch District Park, 10am-2pm, and is hosted by Starkey CARES.

Facebook Event Page (Click Here!)

Coming Soon: Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop in Starkey Ranch

23 Jul

According to a news article posted here, Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop will soon be opening a location in Starkey Ranch.

A taste of Philadelphia’s legendary Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop is closer than you think to opening up here in the Tampa Bay area!

They’re quite popular in Pennsylvania, Delaware, New York and Washington. And now they’re coming to Florida. The closest one to us at the moment is in Atlanta, but they have big plans to enter the Tampa area with over a dozen locations in the works. Capriotti’s Sandwich Shop was founded in 1976. They now have over 100 locations around the United States. The first two Tampa area locations will open this summer. One will be in Odessa in Starkey Ranch. The other will be in Lutz at the Willow Bend Towne Center. Others will later open in Hillsborough, Pasco, Polk and Pinellas counties.

Can your taste buds handle what Capriotti’s is cooking?

News: Trinity and Starkey Ranch Baseball League Coming!

15 Jul

We are excited to hear that Trinity and Starkey Ranch will be getting their own baseball league! This is a long time coming and the season starts this coming Fall. Check out all of the great information below and if you want to sign up, please click the link at the bottom of the article!

2021 Trinity and Starkey Ranch Fall Recreational Baseball Registration

Dates / Times
We will be located at Starkey Ranch District Park in Odessa, FL from Sept 11, 2021 – Oct 30, 2021. Because we only have 1 field for fall season (more fields are being built ahead of Spring), our Fall season will be focused on skill-building and offer scrimmages in the latter half of the season.

Practice & Scrimmages – Saturdays

  • T-Ball + Rookie:  9am – 1pm
  • Minor + Major:  1pm – 5pm

Additional optional practice – Sundays

  • All levels:  9am – 1pm

Program
Youth Sports Florida’s recreational baseball program consists of four age-based levels depending on the player’s age as of May 1 of the current year. Program emphasis is on fundamentals of the game as players are shown the basics of hitting, throwing, catching and base running within a framework of teamwork and sportsmanship.

Teams
All coaches are volunteers and coaches set up the practice location, day and time.  Rosters, schedules, uniforms and equipment are distributed to coaches before your first game. Players will be contacted by the coach of their team. Practices will begin in September. Please note coaches will be required to complete a background check.

Special Request Policy
Coach and teammate requests will be considered carefully, but there is no guarantee they will be honored. For requests to be considered, the registration must be turned in by the registration deadline.

What about the girls!?!
A softball program will be coming soon. In the meantime, our baseball program is co-ed at all age groups and girls are welcome!

Divisions

T-Ball for ages 4-6

Ballplayers ages 4-6 learn hitting and fielding fundamentals in a supportive team environment. Young athletes hit the ball from a batting tee which is height-adjusted for a level swing, batting in order through the line-up for the entire game. The primary goal is to begin to instruct young players in the fundamentals of baseball in a supportive team environment.

Rookie (machine/coach-pitch) for ages 7-8

Designed primarily for ballplayers ages 7-8, this division makes use of a pitching machine and/or coach-pitch to allow for more hittable balls at the plate and more action in the field. Fear of actually being hit by a pitched ball is diminished. It makes the game safer and improves the playing confidence and ability of all participants.

Minor for ages 9-10

Recommended for ballplayers ages 9-10. Players build and refine their fundamental skills while beginning to understand game strategy and teamwork.

Major for ages 11-12

Features a 46′ pitching distance and 60′ base paths. Special base running rules are also in effect.

News: Starkey K8 School Names Admin Staff

19 Jan

Pasco County Schools has announced the appointment of Cortney Gantt as the new Principal of the Starkey Ranch K-8 school opening in August 2021. Mrs. Gantt is a long time resident and administration team member in the Trinity area and has an awesome reputation as one of the best principals around.

Joining Mrs. Gantt will be Jennifer Frantz, who has been appointed as the Starkey K-8 school’s Assistant Principal. 

We’ve provided a list below showing the other staff members that will be part of the Starkey K-8 team.

Principal

NameEmailJob Description
Gantt, Cortney[email protected]Principal K8

Assistant Principals

NameEmailJob Description
Frantz, Jennifer[email protected]Asst Principal K8 245

Teachers

NameEmailJob Description

Support Staff

NameEmailJob Description
Grosseibl, Amy[email protected]Admin Asst Secondary NNB 245 
Level Flood, Brittany[email protected]Magnet Coordinator 
Moles, Toni[email protected]Stu Sys Data Entry Operator 
Pimental, Kim[email protected]Registrar 
Sajecki, Annette[email protected]Secretary III 216 
Wolfe, Joyce[email protected]Learn Design Coach 
Yothers, Cathy[email protected]Bookkeeper Sec 7.5h