The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Church adds food pantry to help those in need

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When Father and Son Love Ministries launched a summertime lunch program last year, its only aim was to share food with those needing it — with no strings attached.

Now, the church — tucked away in a commercial office plaza at 24156 Foggy Ridge Parkway, in Lutz — has branched out.

In addition to serving free bag lunches, it also has a free food pantry.

Pastor C.J. Johns Sr., and Assistant Pastor Ken Waters volunteer in a ministry that aims to spread hope by sharing food with those in need. (B.C. Manion)

Again, no strings attached.

The food ministry operates on Fridays, from noon to 3 p.m. and on Sundays, after 11 a.m. (Note: It will be closed July 5, for the Fourth of July holiday).

Red and white signs — one posted at Foggy Ridge Parkway and State Road 54, and another closer to the storefront church — let passersby know about the food ministries.

The word hasn’t circulated widely yet, but there were some folks at the food pantry last week, accepting the church’s help.

Last week, an elderly woman was there, with a friend, to do a little “shopping.”

Becky Morrow, a church volunteer, led the woman around tables stocked with breads, pastries, canned goods, fresh fruits and vegetables, cereals, pastas, rice and other foods.

Those in need are welcome to come to a food pantry ministry, operated by Father and Son Love Ministries. There are fruits, vegetables and frozen meats available.

The woman, who was using a walker, let Morrow know which items she would like, and Morrow packed it up for her.

As the woman and her friend prepared to leave, another volunteer Carolyn Curtis, told the elderly woman: “Blessings, blessings, blessings to you.”

Pastor C. J. Johns Sr., who launched the lunch ministry a year ago, said the church simply wants to help people.

The pastor said the lunch program “sort of morphed” and then, “one thing led to another.”

Tampa Bay Harvest is now the food ministry’s main supplier. Publix and Publix GreenWise donate bread, pastries, fruit and other items.

Church members and other contributors provide money to help stock the pantry.

Terry Gonzalez, who also goes by the name Maria, is one of the volunteers at the food pantry ministry. Those coming for a free lunch at the church will find that it isn’t stingy with the turkey in its turkey sandwiches.

And, just like the free lunch program, there’s no paperwork to fill out. No IDs are required, either, the pastor said.

“We want to give people hope in human beings, again,” Johns said.

The only requirement is to say how many people the recipient needs to feed.

“You’ve got four people, we want to make sure you have enough for four,” Johns said. The church wants to help as many people as it can, that are in need.

It relies on the honor system, for recipients to be truthful.

A little while later, after the elderly woman left last week, a couple arrived, with their granddaughter.

They were there to pick up food for two families: A family of three and a family of four.

As they made their rounds around the tables, volunteers helped to fill their boxes.

Food pantry volunteer Carolyn Curtis said she enjoys being involved. ‘I am blessed to be part of this.’

Pastor Johns asked the woman: “Do you need some milk?”

She responded: “We could always use milk. We could take a cow home with us.”

The pastor went into the church’s kitchen, got a gallon of milk and handed it to the woman.

“It’s a wonderful thing that you’re doing,” the man remarked.

“To God be the glory,” replied Curtis, who said she enjoys helping.

“I am blessed to be part of this,” Curtis said. “With all of the challenges that people have today, they should not have to worry about feeding their family.”

Besides fruits and vegetables, and other staples, the food pantry also offers coleslaw, potato salad, eggs, egg salad and frozen meats, although the selection varies from week to week.

Assistant Pastor Ken Water said, “We give them enough food to last at least a week and a half, to help them out.

“We’re still not asking for anything. Just come in, and be in need.”

For the free lunches, church volunteers prepare bag lunches, which include a turkey sandwich or a peanut butter sandwich. They also have bottled water and a dessert.

Sean Saylor, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, is what the church calls “a delivery angel” — carting boxes of food to people who need help, but can’t get to the church.

Canned goods are among the items being offered to help feed families and individuals, at the free food pantry.

Maria Gonzalez, who also goes by the name Terry, is another volunteer. She was at the pantry recently, preparing bag lunches.

The Wesley Chapel woman pointed out that the ministry doesn’t skimp on the amount of turkey it puts in its sandwiches.

To prove her point, she went to the kitchen and pulled one of the sandwiches out of the refrigerator.

“It’s a hearty sandwich,” she declared. “ Seriously. Usually you see like two little slices (of turkey).”

Linda Wright, another volunteer, became familiar with the church a year ago, when she brought her son and daughter-in-law in to pick up some bag lunches.

The Lutz woman was so impressed by the church’s kindness and warmth, she joined the church and got involved.

“There’s no other service like this, in this area, and there’s a lot of people who need this service,” Wright said. “I believe in everything this church does for everybody. So, I’m here to help do it for them.

“The slogan of the church is ‘Changing the world, one person at a time.’ And, we’re doing it,” Wright said.

Feeding the hungry
What: Father and Son Love Ministries’ food pantry and lunch program
Where: 24156 Foggy Ridge Parkway, in Lutz (Off State Road 54, behind car dealership and car wash)
When: Fridays, noon to 3 p.m.; Sundays, 11 a.m.
Cost: Free
Details: This church ministry offers free lunches, as well as fruits, vegetables, staples and other groceries from a free food pantry, for those in need.
Info: Call (813) 383-8410.

Published July 03, 2019

Increased Pasco property values trigger higher tax bills

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Pasco County property owners, on average, are expected to pay more in property taxes, but not because of a higher tax rate, Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director said last week.

Instead, it will be increasing property values that will create the higher tax bills, Goehig said, during a June 25 Pasco County Commission budget workshop.

Value increases for homesteaded properties will be capped at 2.7 percent because of Florida’s Save Our Homes, which limits the annual increase in value for any property owner’s principal residence to 3 percent or the consumer price index, whichever is less.

Pasco County’s taxable values are expected to increase by 9 percent based on base taxable value, new construction and reevaluations, according to Robert Goehig, the county’s budget director. (Christine Holtzman)

This year’s CPI is 2.7 percent, Goehig said.

Thus, the owner of a homesteaded $150,000 single-family home would see a $2,700 increase in value. ($150,000 minus the $50,000 standard exemption = $100,000. $100,000 x 2.7 = $2,700).

Based on that value increase, the tax bill would go up $20.54.

The taxable value of a non-homesteaded single-family home is expected to increase an average of $13,500, resulting in an additional $102.70 in property taxes — again, due to increased property values.

The proposed tax rate was just one of myriad topics that Goehig, County Administrator Dan Biles and commissioners discussed during the workshop.

Goehig told commissioners that the county is anticipating a 9 percent increase in assessed values, including the base taxable value, new construction and reevaluations.

The county is anticipating a total of  $29.43 billion in taxable values, up from $27.01 billion last year.

The expected 9 percent increase is lower than the county’s original projection of 9.5 percent. The final taxable value was not yet available when the workshop was held.

In putting together the proposed budget, County Administrator Biles has proposed increasing the county’s general fund reserves from 9.6 percent to a proposed 11.1 percent, which represents an additional $4.3 million held in reserve.

The Government Finance Officers Association recommends local governments have a minimum of two months of operating expenses (16.7 percent of budgeted expenditures) set aside in emergency reserve, according to the county’s budget presentation.

The increase in the general fund reserve is in response to direction by board members at a previous session, when commissioners told Biles they’d like to see the county to begin putting aside more money in the reserve fund, to avoid significant cuts in the future when the economy slows.

Goehig also went over the budget requests from the county’s constitutional officers:

  • Sheriff’s Office: Requested amount, $141.64 million; increase of $8.74 million, or 6.6 percent
  • Property Appraiser: Requested amount, $5.72 million; increase of $109,067, or 2 percent
  • Clerk & Comptroller: Requested amount, $4.29 million increase of $183,839, or 4 percent
  • Supervisor of Elections; $4.32 million; increase of $623,645, or 16.9 percent

The tax collector’s budget is not due until Aug. 1.

Goehig noted that the proposed increase in the Supervisor of Elections’ budget “at first blush is a shocking increase.” But, he added that elections are held on a cyclical basis, and the county’s population has increased substantially.

Pasco County’s growth has increased the county’s registered voters by more than 50,000 since the 2016 Presidential Election. The county also needs more precincts to service the additional voters.
Goehig also noted there will be more early voting sites and more early voting days for next year’s election.

Taking the changes into account, Goehig said, “we believe it’s a reasonable request.”

The budget director also noted that the county administration received 115 Business Plan Initiatives, representing a total of $14.5 million from the county’s various divisions.

At Precinct 70, a long line forms during the November 2016 Election. Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has requested a 16.9 percent budget increase to accommodate Pasco County’s increasing voting population, more precincts and more early voting days for the 2020 election. (File)

“We asked our departments to go out and tell us everything they believed that they needed. In the past, what we found is that our departments were kind of censoring themselves,” Goehig said.

“We’ve ranked about 50 of these projects that we believe are the priority proposals,” he said.

The county’s No. 1 priority is a wage increase for its employees, according to the list. The second-highest priority is the restoration of library hours that were cut after the Great Recession.

Rounding out the top five priorities are: Pasco Kids Medical Exams, Emergency Communications Supervisors and a Generator Replacement Plan.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said she thinks there’s something missing on the county’s list of priorities.

“There is something that is not in our budget that I would like to see back and that is our outside legislative person. I think we do better when we have some help. I’d like to bring that back,” Starkey said.

Commissioner Mike Moore told his colleagues that the county should say no to some of the requests from outside groups for county funding.

“It is time to start putting that money away. We do not know how long this great economy is going to last,” Moore said. “There is a point where we’re going to have to say ‘No’ to some folks. That’s just the way it is.”

The commissioner said he’s not trying to sound brash, but “when you decide to start a not-for-profit, you need to be ready to able raise the money, get the money and fund those services.”

Moore also said there is duplication of services among charitable groups.

“Some of those folks need to get together. Egos get in the way sometimes; it’s a fact,” he said.

He also thinks that the charitable groups that the county helps need to be able to say no to funding requests they receive.

“They’re asking for more money because they don’t want to say no to people,” Moore said.

Commissioners are expected to set their millage rate at their July 9 meeting.

After that, Truth in Millage statements will be sent out, informing property owners of the maximum tax rate that could be adopted in September.

The final rate adopted in September can be lower or equal to the TRIM rate, but cannot be higher.

Highlights of Pasco County’s proposed budget

  • Estimated taxable value: $29.43 billion, up $2.42 billion from last year
  • No change in operating millage rate of 7.6076 mills
  • No change in fire service millage: 1.8036 mills
  • No change in stormwater assessment: $95 per equivalent residential unit (ERU = single family home)
  • $7 increase in solid waste assessment
  • Utility rate increase: 1.5 percent water; 3.5 percent wastewater

Revised July 2, 2019
Published July 03, 2019

Pine View Elementary becomes Primary Years program

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Pine View Elementary School has received its official authorization to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme.

The school, at 5333 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, has been working for three years toward attaining the authorization. It is the first public school in Pasco County to achieve the distinction.

Pine View Elementary Principal Kay Moore is delighted that her Land O’ Lakes school has achieved its official authorization to offer an International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme. Pine View Elementary is only one of 504 schools in the United States authorized to offer the IB PYP, which uses an interdisciplinary approach to teaching and learning. (B.C. Manion)

As of May 1, there were 1,716 schools offering the IB PYP, in 109 different countries worldwide, according to the IB Organization’s website. In the United States, there are 504 public schools offering the IB PYP.

Pine View Middle School already is operating as an IB Middle Years Programme, and Land O’ Lakes High School offers the IB Diploma Programme, as well as a pre-IB programme for ninth-graders.

Pine View Elementary Principal Kay Moore said being a PYP candidate school has been a journey.

“One of the requirements to be authorized is that 100 percent of your staff has to go through International Baccalaureate training. So, we spent a lot of time and resources to train teachers,” Moore said.

Initially, the elementary school was looking for a way to provide a choice option for parents.

“We had declining enrollment over the past few years,” Moore explained, noting that Pine View was losing students to Sanders Memorial Elementary, a STEAM Magnet School, and charter schools, such as Imagine School and Classical Prep.

“We wanted to offer choice, and IB seemed to be a natural fit because of the middle school and the high school,” Moore said. “It completed a feeder pattern.”

While Pine View’s motivation was to be competitive, the experience has been illuminating for everyone involved, Moore said.

“We learned that this is a teaching style that’s good for kids,” Moore said.

It also “was a great growth opportunity for our staff,” she added, noting that as teachers became more familiar with the PYP, they embraced it.

Their attitude was: “This is the kind of teaching and learning we want for children.’

These attributes, painted on wooden boards beneath a covered walkway at Pine View Elementary, are qualities that prepare IB students to make exceptional contributions on campus.

“It was, ‘Wow, this is just good teaching’,” the principal said.

“So our staff buy-in was 100 percent because of that,” the principal said.

Moore credits Erin Greco, the school’s IB coordinator, as playing a pivotal role in the school’s transition to becoming a PYP.

She described Greco as being a catalyst.

“She’s been going through extensive training and studying, and is very self-motivated,” Moore said.

Teachers are pleased to be able to offer this educational approach, she added.

“One of the teachers got up at a parent meeting and said, ‘Just think, we’re going to offer your child IB, without the expense of IB,” Moore said.

Parents are enthused by the program, too.

“The IB team came in and interviewed the parent groups. They said that is our strength. Our parent support is truly our strength.

“I think a lot of them recognize that this is something special, that their children and they get to be involved with,” Moore said.

Besides achieving the PYP designation, Pine View is also a magnet school now.

Students within the school’s normal boundaries are automatically in, but others living outside the boundaries can apply to fill vacant spots. The vacancies are filled through a lottery.

When parents inquire about the program, they often have questions about the curriculum, Moore said.

“The curriculum is not different. We still do the state standards. The difference is we teach in an interdisciplinary fashion, where we integrate reading, writing, science, social studies — with a focus on connecting kids globally,” she said.

“Delivery is different because we try to do it on an inquiry basis, so that kids have choice and voice. When they do have choice and voice, they own it. We encourage them to go beyond the lessons that teachers may give and do their own inquiry,” she said.

There’s also more hands-on learning, Moore added.

The students aren’t the only ones learning in a new way, the principal added.

The teachers also are true IB learners, Moore said. “They’re inquiring, ‘How can I make it better? What can I read, what can I study — to make this experience better for kids?’”

And, they aren’t the only ones who are welcoming opportunities for new growth.

Moore, an educator for 38 years, said she feels invigorated.

“We are definitely not at the end of this journey. Every year, we are going to refine and make things better.

“The world is a lot smaller now, because of all the connections.

“This allows us to have that global perspective and really help children see and accept differences, and tolerate — and yet be discriminators of their own learning. That’s what excites me,” Moore said.

For more information, contact Pine View Elementary at (352) 524-0600.

What is the Primary Years Programme?
The Primary Years Programme (PYP) is a curriculum framework for young learners aged 3–12 designed by the International Baccalaureate (IB).

Founded on a philosophy that recognizes a child’s natural curiosity, creativity and ability to reflect, the PYP generates a stimulating, challenging learning environment to nurture those assets and foster a lifelong love of learning in every child.

The PYP, like all IB programmes, is transdisciplinary, meaning students learn across subject areas, while investigating big ideas.

Does the PYP have a specific set of standards?
In the PYP, students learn about significant concepts through units of inquiry.

The six transdisciplinary themes that guide units of inquiry and compose a year of study are:

  • Who we are
  • Where we are in place and time
  • How we express ourselves
  • How the world works
  • How we organize ourselves
  • Sharing the planet

Units of inquiry interweave subject areas, such as mathematics, language arts, science and social studies.

This approach encourages students to make their own connections between what they learn in core subject areas and how it relates to the world around them.

Source: International Baccalaureate website

Published July 03, 2019

Paula S. O’ Neil retires after decades of public service

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The Pasco County Commission recently honored Paula S. O’ Neil, who retired after three decades of public service.

O’ Neil’s final day as Pasco Circuit Court Clerk & Comptroller was June 30.

She had recommended that Nikki Alvarez-Sowles, her chief operations officer, be appointed by Gov. Ron DeSantis to complete the remainder of her term, which ends in 2020.

The Pasco County Commission paused recently to honor Pasco Circuit Court Clerk & Comptroller Paula S. O’ Neil, who retired on June 30, after more than three decades of public service. (Courtesy of Tom Jackson/Pasco Circuit Court Clerk & Comptroller’s office)

DeSantis had not made his decision as of last week, so Sixth Judicial Circuit Chief Judge Anthony Rondolino appointed Alvarez-Sowles to fill the post on an interim basis, pending the governor’s final decision.

O’ Neil was honored during the County Commission’s June 19 meeting, where Alvarez-Sowles read the resolution, lauding the clerk’s many contributions through the years.

The resolution provided background on O’ Neil’s life, as well as citing professional achievements and civic contributions, through the decades.

O’ Neil grew up in St. Louis, Missouri, and played collegiate softball and graduated from Missouri State University, with a Bachelor of Science degree.

She began her professional life working for Charleston Air Force Base, and also began teaching, which she still does today. She also worked for Charleston County Parks and Recreation Department, before her family moved to Pasco County in 1987, where she joined the staff of the county’s parks and recreation department.

Her duties there included implementing a voter-approved bond referendum for parks and recreation — expanding the county’s parks system from 22 parks to 36 parks.

She later worked in the county’s community services department, as administrative services manager, where she oversaw numerous grants and special funding resources that provided services to citizens, through social services, veterans services, animal control and sexual abuse victims services. She also played a critical role in the automation of the Pasco County public transportation system, improving dispatch, scheduling and office administration, according to the resolution.

At the same time, she was continuing her education to earn a Master of Science degree and then joined Pasco-Hernando Community College as an adjunct professor.

In the fall of 2002, O’ Neil joined the Circuit Court Clerk’s office, where she swiftly rose to chief deputy clerk.

Meanwhile, she continued to add to her educational credentials, obtaining a doctorate degree.

She was elected to her first term as Clerk of the Circuit Court & County Comptroller in 2008, and re-elected to subsequent terms in 2012 and 2016.

She led the office in the implementation of numerous technological advancements, modernizing the office to improve efficiency and customer service.

She has served on numerous boards and worked with various committees, agencies and organizations. She continues to teach, is an author and a cancer survivor.

“Paula has been a tireless leader in community, civic and not-for-profit organizations, serving to make Pasco County a better place to live and raise families,” the resolution adds.

A large contingent of O’ Neil’s staff was at the meeting, demonstrating their support.

The clerk thanked the board and her staff for their help through the years.

“I have an amazing team. The executive team is amazing. They’re a dream team,” O’ Neil said.

She offered a glimpse of what Pasco County was like when her family arrived.

“We lived in Wesley Chapel. I had to drive to Land O’ Lakes or Zephyrhills to get groceries.

“What a change it is today,” she said.

She also recounted attending Florida Retirement Seminars and thinking to herself: “I’m not going to be here that long.”

It turned out, though, “there was never anything better than Pasco,” O’ Neil said. “I appreciate all of the opportunities that I’ve been given here. It’s just been an honor to serve.”

Pasco commissioners lavished praise on O’ Neil.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey told O’ Neil that the myriad accomplishments cited in the resolution “doesn’t begin to describe the value you have to this community, to this citizenry and this county.

“You know you will be missed, and you will always be a legend, here in this county,” Starkey said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley added: “We’re all proud of you.”

Commissioner Mike Wells said he was honored to be able to share the moment with O’ Neil.

“Well, I’ve known you since literally, I was a kid. I really wish my father (Mike Wells Sr., former property appraiser and former commissioner) would be here, too.

“Who would have thought that I’d be sitting up here, with you? I don’t want to get choked up.

“You truly are a great leader,” Wells said.

Commissioner Jack Mariano recalled being on the campaign trail with O’ Neil, in 2008.

He told O’ Neil: “The presentation you put on, made you a completely impressive candidate.”

And then, O’ Neil went on to implement her vision, Mariano added, “Thank you so much. You’ve been a great asset.”

Commissioner Mike Moore also applauded O’ Neil’s accomplishments.

“You do so much good. You’re an inspiration for so many people,” he said.

Published July 03, 2019

Business Digest 07/03/2019

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Big Storm opens new kitchen
Big Storm Brewing Co. is opening a kitchen at its founding taproom, at 2330 Success Drive in Odessa, offering specialty, causal meals. Big Storm has already had success with its menu at its Clearwater taproom, according to a news release from the company. “Pasco County is where it all began for us, so it feels great to invest even more in the county we love. It’s our spot for testing and developing new concepts, and we’re just getting started,” Mike Bishop, Big Storm founder, said in the release. The Pasco taproom is open from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily. Kitchen service is expected to begin by mid-July.

 Central Pasco Chamber awards
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce recently bestowed its final set of awards, before the chamber merges with the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce to become the Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, effective July 1.

The slate of the Central Pasco Chamber’s honorees:

Large Business of the Year: Pizza Villa

Small Business of the Year: Nautilus Soap Company

Nonprofit of the Year: Land O’ Lakes Rotary

Chamber Member of the Year: Diane Kortus (publisher and owner of The Laker/Lutz News)

Community Service Award: Melissa Brown

Ambassador of the Year: Melissa Brown

Honorary Mayor of Land O’ Lakes: Kathy Balthazard (area sales manager, of First National Bank of Pasco in Lutz)

AJ’s Power Source to receive incentives
AJ’s Power Source, at 6931 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., is seeking $40,000 in economic incentives from Pasco County for creating 20 new full-time jobs that will pay in excess of 125 percent of the county’s average annual wage. The county has reached an agreement with the company stipulating that 25 percent of the incentive will be awarded during the first year of the contract, with a subsequent distribution of 25 percent each year after, until the maximum amount has been reached.

Greater Pasco Chamber names officers
The Greater Pasco Chamber of Commerce, a newly formed chamber resulting from the merger of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce and the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce, has announced its board of directors for 2019-2020.

The board members are: Greg Armstrong, Kathleen Balthazard, Elayne Bassinger, John Butler, Angel Cook, Terri Dusek, Jim Engelmann, Judi Fisher, Juan Fontanez, Paul Friedlander, Jeremy George, Sandy Graves, Les Saland, Tim Sherrrell and Adam Shoemaker.

SWFMD board elects new officers
The Southwest Florida Water Management District Governing Board has elected a new slate of officers for the 2019-2020 term. They are:

  • Mark Taylor, chair, represents Hernando and Marion counties; president of TTG Properties Inc.
  • Michelle Williamson, vice chair, represents Hillsborough County; manager of G & F Farms
  • Joel Schleicher, secretary, represents Charlotte and Sarasota counties; an entrepreneur known for his involvement in various organizations
  • Kelly S. Rice, treasurer, represents Citrus, Lake, Levy and Sumter counties; small business owner

The new officers will serve a one-year term.

East Pasco Networking Group
Leja Apple, a professional actress and model, and former Miss Pasco, will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on July 9. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301 in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Changes coming to Pasco tourist tax collections

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The Pasco County Tax Collector will begin collecting Pasco County’s tourist development taxes, under a change approved by the Pasco County Commission.

Pasco County hotels, motels and other short-term rental accommodations have been remitting Tourist Development Tax collections to the Florida Department of Revenue (DOR).

The Department of Revenue received the collections, then returned them each month to Pasco County.

Under the change approved on June 19, Pasco Tax Collector Mike Fasano’s office will be taking on those duties. The change will be effective once it is transmitted to the state, expected to occur within 10 days of the board’s meeting.

Fasano’s office also will be responsible for enforcement and audits.

The DOR could have charged administrative costs, but did not do so — meaning that the county received 100 percent of the proceeds, according to Pasco County officials.

Shifting the duty to Fasano’s office will result in some costs, as public education efforts get underway, and enforcement actions begin.

Under the previous system, the DOR collected the tax revenues and the county was entirely dependent on the state’s registration database and reporting methodology, according to background information in the board’s agenda packet.

Florida law has confidentiality requirements that prohibited the release of registrants’ information. Because of that, the county had no way to accurately confirm that all vacation rentals within Pasco were collecting and submitting the tax to state revenue officials.

Fasano has assured the Destination Management Organization, which oversees Pasco’s tourism activities, that his office — being privy to the Department of Revenue’s registrant database — will be able to ascertain if there is non-compliance and will be able to compel compliance.

Under state law, up to 3 percent of the tax collected may be retained by the collecting entity, which would be a new expenditure for the tourism office.

But the tax collector and county officials believe that 3 percent will be off-set, as Fasano’s office identifies non-compliant properties.

Adam Thomas, Pasco’s tourism director, said the switch will improve regulation and enforcement, and will result in a quicker remittance of the funds back to the county.

Pasco Commissioner Mike Moore, chairman of the Pasco County Tourism Development Council, advocated for the shift.

“Keeping this local, in my opinion, is what we want to do,” Moore said. “We’ll be able to manage this program better.”

Fasano pointed to a mix-up that became apparent in January when Hillsborough County increased its sales tax. Some Pasco businesses inadvertently paid the Hillsborough tax “because the businesses and the Department of Revenue thought those businesses were in Hillsborough County,” Fasano said.

“Because of the tax collector’s office stepping up, working diligently with the Department of Revenue, they found $624,000 that was collected and given to Hillsborough County,” Fasano said, noting it was discovered that the problem had been happening for years.

Fasano also noted that a hotel in Wesley Chapel had paid its tourist development tax to Hillsborough. In that case, Pasco County received a check from the Department of Revenue for $58,000, the tax collector said.

Fasano said he believes there are short-term rentals — that should be collecting tourist development taxes, but are not doing so.

Fasano said he wanted to be sure that places which offer short-term rentals, such as RV parks, are collecting the tourist development tax.

“If there’s a short-term rental, that’s a business. That means they should have a business tax receipt,” Fasano said. “We want to be sure that people that are renting short-term, or renting a hotel — overnighters — that the tourist development tax of Pasco County is collected and paid, and I believe we can do that. We would be able to enforce, to put liens, garnish.”

To help track records, Fasano said, “we’re going to work with the Property Tax Assessor’s Office.  “We’re going to be able to find out these things,” he said.

The tax collector predicted it will take about three years for his office to break even, because of the costs incurred to perform additional duties the added responsibilities will require.

Published June 26, 2019

Randy Maggard wins District 38 seat

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Voters have selected Randy Maggard to become their next representative in District 38 of the Florida House of Representatives.

Maggard, a Republican, received 9,615 votes, or 55.58 percent of the total in the Special Election held on June 18. His opponent Kelly Smith, a Democrat, received 7,684, or 44.42 percent of the vote.

The voter turnout in the contest was 15.24.

The district’s boundaries stretch roughly from East Pasco over to U.S. 41 in Central Pasco.

Maggard fills a vacancy that was created by former Rep. Danny Burgess, who accepted an offer from Gov. Ron DeSantis to become the executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs.

Maggard is a businessman and community leader. He’s served as vice president of Sonny’s Discount Appliances for 30 years, according to campaign materials.

He is a Pasco County native, attended Zephyrhills High School and holds an Associate of Arts degree from Pasco-Hernando Community College (now known as Pasco-Hernando State College).

He has served on the Southwest Water Management Governing Board since 2011, including a stint as  chairman, from 2016 to 2018.

He was chairman of the Republican Party of Pasco from 2006 to 2012.

He was a member of the Coastal River Basin Board, from 2004 to 2008, and was vice chairman on that board from 2008 to 2010.

Maggard lives in Dade City. He’s been married to his wife, Colleen, for 34 years, and they have three children.

In his free time, Maggard enjoys hunting, fishing, ranching and spending time with his family.

Maggard was endorsed by Burgess, whom he is replacing.

He also received endorsements from other widely known Pasco County public office holders, including Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco; Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano; Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley; Pasco County Commission Vice Chairman Mike Moore; Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning; and former Speaker of the House Richard Corcoran.

Published June 26, 2019

Business Digest 06/26/2019

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Rhonda Matthews

Gulfside vice president named
Gulfside Healthcare Services has promoted Rhonda Matthews to the post of vice president of business development, according to a Gulfside news release. Matthews joined Gulfside in 2018 as its director of business development.

“Rhonda has done an exceptional job in developing and leading our marketing team, and expanding our patient access sector,” Kathy Postiglione, chief operations officer and senior vice president of business development, said in the release. “She has developed a strategic marketing strategy that includes an integrated approach to identifying where a patient is best served in our continuum of care.”

 

Dollar Tree now open
A Dollar Tree store has joined other retail ventures at Cypress Creek Town Center, which is off State Road 56, just east of Wesley Chapel Boulevard. The discount store traces its roots back more than 60 years to the Ben Franklin Variety store, and a concept of selling products for $1. It offers a wide array of products, including drinks, toys, candy, school supplies, home décor, gifts and cards.

Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar is hiring
Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar, a new restaurant under construction at Cypress Creek Town Center, just off State Road 56, between Interstate 75 and Wesley Chapel Boulevard, is hiring, according to a banner on a temporary building at the site. The New Orleans-based sports bar was founded by Brandon Landry and Jack Warner. The restaurant’s business partners met in 1997 when they were walk-ons to the Louisiana State University’s basketball team. They opened their first location near LSU’s Tiger Stadium. Today, the company is co-owned by New Orleans Saints’ quarterback Drew Brees.

Free business mentoring
If you need free, individual, confidential small business mentoring, chances are that Pasco Hernando SCORE can help. Visit PascoHernando.org to request a mentor.

Pasco EDC seeks sponsors
The Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., has been highlighting Pasco County’s Best in Business for 32 year at its Annual Awards and Trade Show, and is planning this year’s event on Sept. 5 at Saddlebrook Resort. The event generally draws about 600 Tampa Bay area business and community leaders. To find out more about sponsorships for the event, call (813) 926-0827.

POSTPONED: Apartment celebrates anniversary
Altis Wiregrass Ranch, an apartment complex at 28878 Golden Vista Blvd., in Wesley Chapel, is celebrating its one-year anniversary with a ribbon cutting and a free carnival. Festivities will include games, prizes, face painting, balloons, fair food and more. The event is set for June 29 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. To find out more, visit AltisWiregrassRanch.com.

Women-n-Charge changes July meeting date
This group typically meets on the first Friday of each month, at Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. This month, however, the meeting will be on July 12, because of the Fourth of July holiday. Doors open at 11:15 a.m., for check-in and networking; lunch begins at 11:45 a.m., and the meeting begins at noon. The cost is $15 for members and $18 for guests who RSVP by the Monday before the meeting; or, $20 for members and $23 for guests after that. To RSVP, visit Women-n-charge.com. For information, call (813) 600-9848.

Women of Wesley Chapel
Women of Wesley Chapel (WOW) meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., on the first Friday of each month, at Beach House Assisted Living and Memory Care at Wiregrass Ranch, 30070 State Road 56, Wesley Chapel. The group is the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s women only networking group. The cost is $5, includes breakfast and networking. To RSVP, call (813) 994-8534, or email . Prepayment and registration is strongly encouraged.

East Pasco Networking Group
Leja Apple, a professional actress and model, and former Miss Pasco, will be the featured speaker at the East Pasco Networking Group breakfast on July 9. The group meets from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at IHOP, 13100 U.S. 301, in Dade City. For more information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491 or Vicky Jones at (813) 431-1149.

Chamber breakfast meeting
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce will have its business breakfast on July 11 from 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., at Golden Corral, 6855 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills.

Coffee First
Network before work at Coffee First, on the fourth Tuesday of each month, from 8 a.m. to 9 a.m., at the First National Bank of Pasco, 23613 State Road 54 in Lutz.

Power Gals with a Latin Twist
This no-obligation networking group for women meets the first Friday of each month from noon to 2 p.m., at Bahama Breeze, 25830 Sierra Center Blvd., in Lutz.

Power Gals
The next meeting of this no-obligation networking group for women is July 18 at Pizza Villa,  21501 Village Lakes Shopping Center Drive in Land O’ Lakes. The meeting begins at 11 a.m. For more information, call Karla Arita at (813) 408-2038.

Will election be ‘one for the ages?’

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When he looks ahead to the 2020 Presidential Election, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley predicts, “that’s going to be one for the ages.”

For one thing, there are already attorneys being lined up in Florida, on both sides of the aisle, for next year, Corley said, during a luncheon meeting last week of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce, at  St. Joseph’s Hospital-North in Lutz.

But, the elections supervisor added: “We’re used to the scrutiny.

“Florida is always going to be in the perennial spotlight. It’s the largest battleground state in the country, and it’s always close.

Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley expects the 2020 Presidential Election ‘to be one for the ages.’ (B.C. Manion)

“Why is that? There’s a good sampling of Democrats, Republicans and Independents. Voters tend to choose their own way,” Corley said.

On top of that, “Florida is now the nation’s third largest state,” he said.

The elections official also touched on the Mueller Report, officially known as the Report on the Investigation into Russian Interference in the 2016 Presidential Election.

Corley said he has read the entire report.

He also noted that depending on which news channel people watch, they tend to call the report “fake news,” or tend to say “It definitely happened. The president needs to be impeached.” Corley did not offer his personal opinion.

But, he did say, “When you read the report, it lays out, in explicit detail, what happened. “

He also cited these words, from Mueller: “There were multiple systematic attempts to interfere in our election. That allegation deserves the attention of every American.”

Corley said citizens do need to be concerned about any attempts by foreign governments to meddle in our elections.

He also raised concerns about the misuse of social media.

“We are unknowingly aiding those who want to destroy us from within,” Corley said.

“In 2016, over 72,000 Americans RSVP’d to a political event on Facebook, that truly was fake news. It was created by some knucklehead in another country.

“That’s troubling, when you think about it,” he added.

There were fake Twitter accounts set up, such as @TenneseeGOP, Corley said.

“Using social media, they did millions of dollars of ads to pit us against each other. In the morning, it would be a Pro Black Lives Matter. In the afternoon, it would be pictures of Rebel flags, saying anti-Black Lives Matter messages. Pro Hillary, anti-Hillary. Pro Trump.

“It was trying to polarize us against each other,” Corley said.

“What was their goal in 2016? Their goal was to erode voter confidence, delegitimize the winner, and polarize America. Hmm. Sound like they were pretty successful?”

He also talked about the damage that polarization is causing in personal relationships.

“I actually know somebody — a father and a son — who were bickering about who to vote for on Facebook,” he said.

One unfriended the other, he noted.

“These are blood. (They) Stopped talking. To this day, they don’t talk,” he said.

The forum doesn’t lend itself to thoughtful discussions, Corley added.

“Have you ever seen something on Facebook, and  you’ve written to somebody about a political issue? And the person has written back, ‘Wow, that’s an excellent point. I have never thought of that point of view, thank you.’

“No, they write back, ‘You’re an idiot,’ or some clever little meme describing you,” Corley said.

He has even noticed a change in the atmosphere at local polling places during the past three general elections.

“I look back, during early voting, the presidential general in 2012, Land O’ Lakes Library, (on the) last day. There was a line.

“But, it was like a block party atmosphere. People of different races, ethnicities, genders, political backgrounds. They were talking to their neighbors. They don’t know each other. Just chatting. No one cared who was going to vote for whom. You were either going to vote for Mitt Romney or President Obama,” he said.

But, he noted, in 2016, “It wasn’t that way.

“It was palpable. You could see people in the polling places and in early voting, they were there on a mission. They were either there to vote for (Donald) Trump, or vote for Hillary (Clinton) — and don’t talk to me.

“It was just like robotic. It was troubling, to be honest with you,” Corley said.

And, in 2018, he added, “I’m comfortable saying, I saw a little more return to civility.

“We need civility. Civility is not a dirty word.

“Have your discussions, your debates, your disagreements. But, at the end of the day, we’re all Americans. We’re united as Americans,” Corley said.

Corley also addressed the importance to protecting election results against cyber threats.

Security will be enhanced, but those steps must remain confidential, Corley said.

He also pointed out that the system recently was tested because of the need for three recounts in the 2018 election.

“We had lawyers from Washington, Tallahassee, representatives locally of the different campaigns, the different local parties. Different sides of the aisle, clearly. But, they were there for the whole thing, several days. They got to witness the transparency.

“It instilled confidence in the system. That’s what we need, in this day and age,” Corley said.

Published June 19, 2019

New charter school under construction in Wesley Chapel

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Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel is under construction in the Avalon Park West community, off State Road 54.

Officials for Pinecrest and Avalon Park West invited the community to a groundbreaking ceremony, held mostly indoors at Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, which is next door.

The new charter school, expected to open in the fall of 2020, will eventually serve kindergarten through eighth grade, and possibly older students.

Fernando Barroso, of Academica, offered some remarks during a groundbreaking ceremony for Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel. Academica is the education services provider for Pinecrest Academy. (B.C. Manion)

The opening will coincide with the completion of the widening of State Road 54, which runs in front of the school.

Pinecrest Academy Wesley Chapel will provide all students with a core curriculum of English/language arts, mathematics, social science, science, and electives, such as performing and fine arts, world languages, Project Lead the Way and other offerings, according to the school’s website. Parents who are interested in the school can go to the website (PinecrestWesleyChapel.com) to fill out an interest form.

Melissa Farmer, who attended the groundbreaking with her 5-year-old son, Mason, is one of those people who is interested in learning more about the school.

Even though the charter school won’t open for a year, she’s attracted to the possibility because she believes that charter schools tend to have smaller class sizes and usually offer a higher general quality of education.

So, when the Lake Bernadette resident learned that the new school was coming, she was eager to find out more.

The Pasco County School Board approved Pinecrest’s charter application in 2017. Academica is the education service provider for all of the Pinecrest schools.

Fernando Barroso,  a representative of Academica, expressed gratitude for the support that Pinecrest has received from the Pasco County school district’s staff, and from the school board.

“I’d like to thank our partners in Avalon Park,” Barroso added. “Avalon Park group is a great entity. This isn’t our first school that we’ve built with them and it’s not going to be our last.”

Barroso added: “It’s been a tremendous amount of work, just to get here today. Yet, it’s just the beginning. The tough, heavy lifting, is in front of us.”

Judith Marty, founding board chair for Pinecrest charter schools, said ‘once we commit to a community, we’re not going to let you down.’

Pastor Dave Huff, of Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel, said he’s pleased that a new school is being built in the community.

“For the longest time, there was nothing but trees. The school coming in, is awesome,” Huff said.

Judith Marty, founding board chair of Pinecrest, is enthusiastic about bringing Pinecrest’s brand of education to a new locale.

“Thank you for being here and thank you for believing in us,” Marty told those gathered. Then, she offered a brief recap of Pinecrest’s history.

When Pinecrest began its first school, the construction was delayed, she said.

“So, we opened in a banquet hall with a hundred students.”

As the school’s operations went on, parents of fourth- and fifth-graders asked for a middle school, and then they wanted a high school, Marty said.

Now, Pinecrest has 16 schools and is opening more. Most of its schools operate in South Florida, but it also has four charter schools in Nevada and will be opening another one in August.

All of the schools are high performing, Marty said.

For instance, “Pinecrest Prep High School is graduating 99 percent, with a population that is predominantly Hispanic. We also are placing 97 percent of those students in college,” she said.

“Once we commit to a community, we’re not going to let you down,” Marty promised.

Beat Kahli, president and CEO of Avalon Park Group, told the gathering that in the mid-1980s he invited two dozen real estate agents in Orlando to ask them for recommendations of what would be good to offer the people of east Orlando, at what would become Avalon Park East.

Kahli suspected they would tell him to build golf courses, or a waterpark.

Instead, they told him: “We want good schools.”

From that, he learned, “If you have a good school, everything else follows.”

Now, Kahli is involved in creating Avalon Park West, which, when completed, is expected to have 4,400 residential units, 560,000 square feet of commercial space and 120,000 square feet of office space.

Avalon Park West kicked off the development of its downtown with a ribbon cutting last fall.

When the project is completed, Kahli said, it “will be a town, where you never have to leave if you don’t want because you will be able to satisfy all of your needs.”

“It’s great to be here in Wesley Chapel,” he said. “Let’s build this downtown. Let’s start with the most important — the school.”

Published June 19, 2019