The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Breaking the cycle of domestic violence

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Melissa Dohme Hill was just 20 years old when her ex-boyfriend viciously attacked her.

He stabbed her 32 times in the neck, face, arms and hands — as he attempted to murder her.

She’d broken up with him three months earlier. The attack occurred when she went outside to fulfill his request for a final goodbye hug.

She was rushed to the hospital, where she flatlined four times and suffered a stroke in the emergency room. Her entire blood volume was replaced twice.

Melissa Dohme Hill, who lives in San Antonio, survived a vicious attack from an ex-boyfriend and now gives talks around the country about how to recognize the signs of an abusive relationship, and how to extricate yourself from the situation. (B.C. Manion)

Today, she is married to Cameron Hill, a retired Clearwater firefighter, who was one of the first responders. They live in San Antonio.

Her attacker is in prison, serving a life sentence.

During the past seven years, Hill has shared her story in national and international publications.

She has appeared on 48 Hours: Live to Tell, Inside Edition, Good Morning America, The Today Show, BBC News, Fox News, CNN, Nancy Grace on HLN, and other programs.

Recently, she spoke at a breakfast meeting of WOW TOO, which stands for Women of Trinity and Odessa (It’s a spinoff group from Women of Wesley Chapel).

“The media attention has given me this platform, but I truly feel that speaking out has been what’s healed my heart during these last seven years,” Hill told the group.

“Through Hands Across The Bay, I’m heard as an advocate. I am heard in the community, I’m heard in schools.

“The only spotlight that matters to me is the one in this room that today we’re shining on domestic violence. It’s dark and hidden, but a completely preventable issue,” Hill said.

After playing a 30-second video clip that recounted her horrific experience, Hill said: “The attack was one night of my life, so I’m not here to tell you the story of the attack. That night does not define me. It really was one night in my life.”

Instead, she seeks to raise awareness about the danger signs of abusive relationships and to offer tools to help end the cycle of violence.

Domestic violence is an epidemic, Hill said.

“One in three women and one in four men, right now, have been victims of some form of rape, physical violence or stalking; and, really frightening — one in three teenagers.

“These are startling numbers,” she said.

“People think of domestic violence as happening to poor, uneducated, minorities. That is false. It is a myth. It happens to individuals of all walks of life.

“It doesn’t matter where you come from, how much money you make, your social status, if you’re a male or female, LBGTQ relationships, all walks of life. This does not discriminate.

“This doesn’t happen on the first date. It’s over time and gradual, and happens in a cycle of abuse,” she said.

It also can happen in all kinds of relationships, including friendships, and can occur in many ways.

“People think that domestic violence has to be physical or sexual violence. Those are just two forms. There are many forms of abuse that may not cause physical harm, but they cause emotional pain, mental abuse, verbal abuse, financial and emotional abuse,” she said.

Learning about the cycle of violence is important, so people — both young and old — can recognize unhealthy relationships, Hill said.

Heed early warning signs
“It’s all about power and control. That means alcohol does not cause abuse to happen. Your negative childhood experiences does not cause abuse to happen. It’s strictly a desire to gain and maintain power and control, whatever form they can do that,” she said.

“In an abusive relationship, everything starts in the honeymoon phase, and everything is amazing, and perfect, and loving. Almost too good to be true.

“But, as time goes on, they may start nitpicking you, and criticizing you, and isolating you, withdrawing affection. They may start yelling at you.

“All of these things are building up to something physical happening. You’re hit. You’re pushed. You’re slapped. You’re imprisoned to where you can’t leave. Rape or strangulation. Something happens,” she said.

Her ex-boyfriend strangled her three times before they broke up. The murder attempt happened three months after she left.

After a breakup is a dangerous time, she said: “It’s when the majority of murders occur.”

She now believes she never would have experienced her attack, if she’d known the early warning signs.

In retrospect, she realizes that the change in their relationship happened when she was getting ready to graduate from high school.

“I planned to move on. I had scholarships. I was getting all of this attention. I was going to get into the Early Learners program. I was going to be a (neonatal) nurse. I had all of these goals.

“He hated this. He belittled me. He would put me down. He started calling me names. He was angry. He just had a temper.

“I didn’t want to be treated this way,” she said, so she tried to break it off.

He told her that as his girlfriend, she should be helping him, not abandoning him.

He threatened to kill himself if she left.

She stayed thinking she could help.

Now, she realizes: “If somebody is saying these things to you, you need to seek help; they need to seek help. You can’t hold your life, or someone else’s life, over their head to make them do what you want them to do.”

It’s important to pay attention to patterns. If your friends are voicing concerns, it’s a good idea to listen, she said.

“If you see a red flag popping up, you need to see that as a warning flag that’s saying, ‘Turn around the other direction. This is dangerous, if you continue.’

“Once you are aware of the cycle of abuse, you can break the cycle,” she said.

As Hill makes her appearances, she refers to herself as a ‘sur-thriver.’

“As it’s said, ‘For every wound there’s a scar and every scar tells a story.’

“I survived.

“I don’t blame anyone, but my attacker, for what happened.

“I feel God saved my life to speak across our country to youth.

“Every single one of you in this room, and all of us on this earth, has a very special purpose.

“You can’t live out the purpose of the woman next to you,” she told the women at the breakfast meeting in Trinity.

“You were given this God-given purpose. You have a story, and your story could be the words that someone else needs to hear to unlock their prison,” Hill said.

“I’ve learned through all of this: Change your choices, change your life,” she said.

Help is available
National Domestic Violence Hotline: (800) 799-7233
National Dating Abuse Text Line: Text: “loveis” to 22522
Pasco-Sunrise: (352) 521-3120

Red flags, warning signs of an abuser:

  • Extreme jealousy
  • Possessiveness
  • Unpredictability/bad temper
  • Cruelty to animals
  • Verbal abuse
  • Extremely controlling behavior
  • Forced sex
  • Blaming the victim for everything
  • Controls all finances
  • Makes accusations of cheating/flirting
  • Controls what the victim wears and how he/she acts
  • Embarrasses or demeans the victim in front of others
  • Harasses the victim at work

Source: www.HandsAcrossTheBay.org (Information was adapted from NCADV.org)

Loves me …

  • Makes me feel safe, loved and comfortable
  • Trusts me
  • Is truthful
  • Likes that I have other friends
  • Supports what I want to do in life
  • Respects me and my family
  • Treats me as an equal
  • Understands my need to be alone, or with family and friends
  • Listens to my opinions and is understanding of my feelings
  • Admits to being wrong

Loves me not …

  • My partner is jealous and possessive
  • Tries to control me
  • Gets violent or loses temper quickly
  • Always blames me
  • Keeps me from seeing friends and family
  • Makes all of the decisions
  • Hurts me and makes me cry
  • Is always ‘checking in’ on me with excessive calls, texts and social media
  • Takes money or controls finances
  • Embarrasses, bullies or puts me down
  • Makes me feel afraid
  • Rushes into relationship
  • Threatens suicide if I don’t listen or stay quiet

Source: www.HandsAcrossTheBay.org

Safety Plan
Before leaving, consider having an “escape bag,” and keep it somewhere the abuser is unlikely to find it. It should include:

  • Birth certificates, social security cards, credit cards, cash, credit cards, checkbook
  • Medications, important records, insurance policies
  • Extra set of car keys, baby items, change of clothes. (If you think your abuser will find it, put clothes in, too, and call it a ‘hurricane bag’)

After you leave
This is most dangerous time. It is vital you have a plan. There is no reason to ever meet up or talk to your abuser alone.

  • Get to a safe place. See if you can stay with a friend or family members. If not, seek shelter at a domestic violence shelter.
  • Consider filing for a restraining order and don’t drop it for any reason.
  • Change your phone number and service provider.
  • Change the locks on your doors and locks on your windows; install a security system with alarms.
  • Inform work, school, friends, family and neighbors of the situation. Tell them to call 911 if they see the abuser, suspect suspicious activity or hear screaming.
  • If you have children: Be sure to change the pick-up authorization for your child and inform your child.
  • Take different routes while traveling.
  • Be aware of your surroundings. Carry mace, your keys between your fingers and have your phone out, ready to call 911. Check around and under your car.
  • Seek counseling.

Published March 13, 2019

Chiselers Market: Find deals, support preservation

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Elena Cifuentes sits at a table in a warehouse near downtown Tampa, painstakingly restoring a broken Hummel figurine.

Cifuentes, who teaches at the University of Tampa, leads a restoration team whose work offers a mere glimpse into the massive volunteer undertaking behind the annual Chiselers Market.

The market features thousands of items that are sold to support the restoration and preservation of Plant Hall at the University of Tampa.

These women are part of The Chiselers Inc., an organization that’s been putting on an annual market for decades, to benefit preservation of the University of Tampa’s Plant Hall. From left, front row: Cookie Ginex, Gail Dee Russ, Susanne Sanders and Beth Garcia. From left, back row: Esther Hammer, Elena Cifuentes and Teri Willis. (B.C. Manion)

This year’s market offers items ranging from the funky to the sublime.

Bargain-hunters can find linens, intricate lace, crystal chandeliers, kitchenware, collectibles and thousands of other items.

The Chiselers Inc. — celebrating its 60th anniversary — puts on the annual sale. The group is made up of women volunteers, primarily  from South Tampa, but also from Lutz, Wesley Chapel, West Chase, St. Petersburg, Sun City and other communities.

These women appear to have at least two things in common: A collective love for Plant Hall, and a true appreciation for the bond they have with each other.

The National Historic Landmark that their work benefits was completed in 1891.

In the beginning, it was an opulent hotel constructed by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant.

With European artworks and furnishings, it attracted wealthy and famous patrons to Tampa.

Its distinctive minarets, its chrysanthemum windows, its spacious veranda and its gingerbread woodwork make the building a true city of Tampa treasure.

The former Tampa Bay Hotel served as a command post in the Spanish-American War, and Teddy Roosevelt, Clara Barton, Stephen Crane and Frederic Remington stayed there.

This is one of the collectibles in the room where Terri Naylor volunteers. She helps price various items before the annual Chiselers Market.

Other famous guests have included Babe Ruth and Thomas Edison. John Phillip Sousa performed there, and Booker T. Washington spoke there, too.

The structure became home of the University of Tampa in 1933.

The Chiselers have the annual market down to a science.

Preparations begin months in advance.

Donations are brought to a warehouse near downtown Tampa, where they are sorted, repaired (if needed), priced and boxed — for delivery to the University of Tampa for a preview party and market day.

When donations initially arrive at the warehouse, they are divided into different sections. Furniture goes into one area. Collectibles into another. There are areas for books, for art, for  fine linens and bargains. There’s a silent auction area, too.

Teri Willis, third vice president of the Chiselers, is this year’s market chair.

A trip around the warehouse reveals a huge assortment of items awaiting this year’s shoppers.

If you need a picture frame, you’ll be able to choose from hundreds.

There’s interesting art, too.

“Much of it is collectible art, recognized artists,” Willis said.

On the day of the sale, the art is arranged out on Plant Hall’s veranda.

This cut glass bowl is among the thousands of items being sold at Chiselers Market.

“It’s a beautiful morning thing to do — to go out and buy art,” Willis said.

If you’re shopping for office supplies, Christmas décor or a dog bed — they’ll be at this year’s sale. There are lamps, sofas, chairs, planters and all sorts of other stuff, too.

The laces and linens are exquisite, Willis said. “Some of these laces have been passed down in families for generations.”

There’s a silver service section, too.

“It’s one of our highlights. When they light it up, it just sparkles,” Willis said. The gleam comes from the volunteers’ all-day silver polishing parties.

“That’s where I learned to really polish silver,” said Esther Hammer, this year’s president of The Chiselers.

Elena Cifuentes works painstakingly to repair this Hummel figurine.

Hammer has handled various chores through the years. Being president, she said, is easy because so many members step forward to help.

“I don’t really have to do anything because these people volunteer to do it, and they do such a great job,” Hammer said.

Moira Burke, who was at the warehouse sorting books said she enjoys having a hand in the preservation of Plant Hall — a building she considers to be an architectural gem.

Terri Naylor, who helps research and price collectibles, said being involved in Chiselers is right up her alley because she’s interested in art, architecture, history and preservation.

On market day, besides the sale items, there will be food trucks, Port-o-Potties, and a ‘Will Call’ area for shoppers who have found so many good deals that they need a temporary holding place while they go and shop for more.

They’ll have plenty of choices, Willis said.

“We take over the whole bottom floor (of Plant Hall). We fill it up.

“Outside, we have books, furniture, plants and art,” she said.

The bargain area is especially popular, Hammer said.

Plant Hall, on the University of Tampa campus, was originally the Tampa Bay Hotel. Built by railroad magnate Henry B. Plant, it was an opulent hotel with European furnishings, which drew wealthy and famous guests to Tampa.

Items are priced to sell quickly and market regulars know the drill.

“This is where people stampede,” Hammer said. “When the doors open at 9, you can hear the thunder of the feet, going down to the bargain section.”

Willis noted: “They get excited, and we get excited.”

The volunteer group is grateful for the generous donations it receives.

“We couldn’t do this without the community,” Willis said.

The market’s success also relies on a good turnout for the sale, Hammer said.

“We have so much to sell, we need people (to come to the market).”

Beyond helping to preserve a Tampa icon for future generations, Hammer derives great satisfaction from being involved with the Chiselers.

“I just love this, this whole operation, this whole organization,” Hammer said.

“The mission is the first thing that got me in here, and then working with the ladies is what kept me,” she said.

56th annual Chiselers Market
Where: Plant Hall at the University of Tampa, 401 E. Kennedy Blvd., Tampa
When: March 16, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Cost: Free admission; parking nearby
Details: Bargain-hunters can finds loads of good deals at this sale, which features plants, jewelry, kitchenware, books, art, electrical items, tools, china, crystal, silver, collectibles, lamps, lace, linens, furniture and other items.
Info: TheChiselersInc.com

The Chiselers
A group of friends with a strong interest in the preservation of the former Tampa Bay Hotel (now Plant Hall at the University of Tampa) met to chisel old mortar from important tiles salvaged from the original fireplaces in the hotel.

As a result, the “Chiselers” organization was founded with a mission to preserve and restore the former hotel, now a National Historic Landmark.

The Chiselers formed in 1959, and the group is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year.

Since its founding, the organization has:

  • Raised $8.3 million for the restoration of Plant Hall
  • Supported the University of Tampa with an endowed scholarship that provides financial assistance each year to a deserving student
  • Contributes about 15,000 volunteer hours each year
  • Co-founded the Tampa Bay Hotel Advisory Council in 1996, charged with approving a master plan for restoration of the building and assuring that all work is done in accordance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation of Historic Buildings.

For more information about the Chiselers, visit TheChiselersInc.com.

The Chiselers Inc.’s officers:
Esther Hammer, president
Karen Dalton, first vice president
Barbara Pennington, second vice president
Teri Willis, third vice president
Kathy Beeson, fourth vice president
Jane Hernandez, treasurer
Debbie Giglio, assistant treasurer
Dolly Fox, recording secretary
Barbara Stubbs, corresponding secretary
Audrie Ranon, parliamentarian

Published March 13, 2019

Pasco readies for big building program

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Voter approval of four general obligation bond issues in November has set the stage for a major building program in Pasco County.

The bond revenues will go to expand the Pasco County Detention Center; to update and expand fire rescue facilities; to upgrade libraries; and, to spruce up and improve park and recreational facilities.

Pasco County staff members briefed commissioners on the timing for various projects that will be done, and commissioners offered some suggestions during the meeting.

This is Pasco Fire Rescue Station No. 23, at 21300 State Road 54 in Lutz. The county is planning to add several new fire rescue stations, using revenues from general obligation bonds approved by voters in November. (Christine Holtzman)

In a typical year, the county is involved in about $21 million in projects, according to Andrew Baxter, the county’s facilities management director. The workload over the next few years will average about $45.5 million, he said.

The biggest single project, under the approved general obligation bonds, involves the expansion of the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, at 20101 Central Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

That bond issue is for $128 million, and it will be used to pay for a 1,000-bed addition and an upgrade to all of the jail’s central services, including medical, intake, the kitchen and support services.

The design is expected to be done during fiscal years 2019 and 2020. The construction will begin in 2021, with completion in fiscal year 2023.

As the county gets ready for that project, Commissioner Jack Mariano suggested county staff visit Charlotte County to see how they’ve handled medical services at the jail.

“They may have a better way, and a better result at the end. The successes that they say they’re having is probably worthy for us taking a look at.” Mariano said.

Commissioner Mike Wells also said the services that are provided need to address mental illness and addition.

“If we can help these folks, it’s not a revolving door,” Wells said. “ The numbers should go down.”

The county also will be making significant improvements regarding its fire and rescue services.

Projects in the Central Pasco and East Pasco areas will be:

  • Adding Station 42, at Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52. The $6.1 million project involves the construction of a new one-story, four-bay station. Construction is expected to be completed in fiscal year 2021.
  • Replacing Station 22, in Land O’ Lakes. The $6.9 million project calls for replacing the existing one-story, four-bay station near the detention center in Land O’ Lakes. Construction is expected to be completed by fiscal year 2022.
  • Adding Station 44, at State Road 54 and Meadow Pointe Boulevard. The $6.5 million project calls for a new one-story, four-bay station. It is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2023.
  • Adding Station 45, in Bexley, a subdivision off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes. This $7.3 million project calls for a new one-story, four-bay station. It is expected to be completed by the end of fiscal year 2023.
  • Adding a Rescue Training Center in Land O’ Lakes. This $5.8 million project is expected to be completed in fiscal year 2023.

The county received $20.2 million in bond funding for parks and recreation projects.

Projects in The Laker/Lutz News coverage area include:

  • San Antonio Maintenance Building, $100,000, to be completed in fiscal year 2020
  • Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, pool pump room, $10,000, to be completed in fiscal year 2021
  • Wesley Chapel District Park, replace air conditioning, $53,000, to be completed in fiscal year 2020
  • Heritage Community Center, roof, $45,320, to be completed in fiscal year 2020.

Across the county, there are some fairly pricey concession stand building projects, which drew the attention of Commissioner Mike Moore.

He urged county staff to see if there are ways to trim those costs.

“Any savings allows you to do more. Maybe you need another concession at another park,” Moore said.

Wells also suggested looking at the possibility of using the same design firm for projects, to potentially lower costs.

“I’m just trying to save everybody time and money,” Wells said.

Libraries will be modernized, using revenues from general obligation bonds. Planned projects in East and Central Pasco are:

  • New River Branch Library, 34043 State Road 54, Wesley Chapel: Nearly $2 million in improvements. The project is in the design phase and is expected to be completed in 2020.
  • Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City: Nearly $1.8 million in improvements are planned. Completion is expected in 2021.
  • Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes: Approximately $1.7 million in improvements are planned. The county is working with Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley to be sure there is no conflict with election needs, said County Administrator Dan Biles. This project is expected to be completed in 2021.

Biles said the plan is to close the libraries during the renovation, with outreach efforts to serve patrons.

“If we close the libraries, we can give the contractor the entire footprint, so construction can be faster and less expensively than if we try to phase it through those facilities. It gets us in, gets the construction done and out of there.”

The county is anticipating the bonds to be issued in April.

“In order to accomplish these projects, we’re probably going to need some surge staffing, just to manage these projects, and ensure the quality we expect is achieved,” Baxter said. “We’re basically doubling our workload for the next few years.”

Additional discussion is expected at a later board meeting over those staffing needs and how to pay for them.

Published March 13, 2019

School board eyes 104-acre site near Connected City

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The Pasco County School Board has approved the acquisition of a 104-acre site near the Connected City area of Wesley Chapel.

The school district anticipates there will a need for future schools as more residents move into Connected City, which includes Epperson Ranch and other future developments.

Pasco County Schools is proceeding with steps to purchase a 104-acre site at the southeast corner of Curley and Kiefer roads. The school district said that more schools will be needed in the area, as more residents move into the Connected City, which is just across the street. (Christine Holtzman)

The site is at the southeast corner of Curley and Kiefer roads, directly across the street from future phases of Epperson Ranch and just south of the future Mirada development.

The board’s unanimous vote allows district staff to proceed with the necessary steps to acquire the property from the owners of Kirkland Ranch.

This acreage would potentially house a future high school and/or future kindergarten through eighth grade school, according to a school board document prepared by Chris Williams, director of planning services for the school district.

The owners have agreed to sell the property to the school district for $20,000 per acre, with the full sales price expected to be slightly more than $2 million.

The purchase is contingent on the completion of two independent appraisals, due diligence and some additional conditions.

Part of the agreement includes that the entire campus to be constructed at the site shall be named the Kirkland Ranch Campus, subject to applicable school board policy.

The campus may include one or more of the following types of schools: elementary, middle, high, vocational training or magnet.

The agreement also stipulates that once the campus is named, the name cannot be changed for a minimum of 50 years subsequent to the issuance of a certificate of occupancy, or completion.

The proposed sale is also subject to other requirements, which include allowing the seller to use the land for livestock grazing purposes at no rental until such time the school district commences construction of the campus.

The school district also agrees to build a barbed wire fence to separate the property from the seller’s remaining land to the south.

Published March 13, 2019

Pasco property tax rate expected to stay the same in 2020

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Pasco County’s tax rate is expected to stay the same in 2020, as new development continues to expand the county’s tax base.

That assessment came during a Pasco County Commission workshop to discuss the preliminary estimates for the 2020 budget.

The county is projecting a 9.5 percent increase in assessed values, said Robert Goehig, budget director in the county’s Office of Management and Budget.

Based on the county’s preliminary information, county administration has asked department heads to base their budgets on the premise that there will be no millage rate increase, he said.

“As we go through the year and get more information, of course, we will update these revenues as we go along,” Goehig said.

While the county expects overall property values to increase by 9.5 percent, the state’s Save Our Home protection for homesteaded properties limits the increase in the assessed value to 3 percent, or the rate of inflation, whichever is less, Goehig said. There’s also a 10 percent cap on the increase in assessed values for non-homesteaded properties.

Based on current information, County Administrator Dan Biles told commissioners: “I think we’ll be in good shape this year.”

However, Goehig noted, that while the county is anticipating increased revenues because of the increase values, it also is experiencing population growth and that means an increased demand for services.

And, while the values are increasing, Goehig also observed: “It has taken the county 11 years to get back to the assessed values it achieved in 2008.”

With the current outlook, Commissioner Mike Moore said it might be time to put aside more funds in reserves.

“Do we think that we’re at a point now, that we don’t need to use it all, and we sock a little bit away?” Moore said, adding at some point the current growth cycle will end.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “I think getting the reserves up is a good idea. Just because it’s there, we don’t need to spend it.”

As the county prepares its budget for next year, department heads have been asked to justify any new dollars they request, Goehig said.

Commissioner Mike Wells applauds that approach. “You run it just like a business. Show me what you need and why. I think it’s great.”

The county also is looking at budget impacts for more than one year at a time, Biles said.

The county administrator also noted that the economic outlook nationally is “a pretty mixed bag right now.”

By June 2019, the country will be in the longest economic expansion (121 months) since the recording of economic data began in 1854, according to information presented at the workshop.

“The fundamentals are exceedingly strong in the economy,” Biles said. However, he noted, “there is some discussion in the market about a potential slowdown. There’s a lot of  noise out there in the environment.”

Mariano said he thinks the prospects are bright in Pasco County.

“As long as California and New York are doing what they’re doing — they’re driving people away from those states and they’re coming here. Across the nation, a lot of states are losing population.

“I think we’re in great shape for several years to come,” Mariano said.

Pasco is one of the fastest-growing counties in the state, Biles noted.

Estimates predict that Pasco’s population will grow by 8.2 percent between 2018 and 2025, compared to the state’s expected growth of 7.1 percent population growth during that period.

Published March 13, 2019

Central and West Pasco chambers plan to join forces

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The boards for the Central Pasco and West Pasco chambers of commerce have voted to become a single chamber, effective July 1, pending due diligence by both chambers’ boards.

Leadership from both groups said they’re excited by the prospects.

The new chamber — which has yet to be named — will have more than 1,000 members. Its membership will reach from around Interstate 75, to the western edge of Pasco County.

“There are advantages for both the chambers and for the chamber members,” said Greg Armstrong, chairman of the board for the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

“For the chambers, it means more services for less money. In today’s competitive environment that’s what you have to do.

“As for the members, the advantages are measured a little bit differently.

“They’ll have more marketing opportunities — to reach a larger market, which is the trend today.

“They’ll have more networking opportunities, in a larger area.

“And, quite frankly, they’ll get more bang for their buck.

“In the growth area of (State Road) 54, they won’t have to wonder: ‘Should I join this one? Or, should I join that one?’ As a result, a lot of people didn’t join either.

“Now, they just join THE chamber. We take that problem out of it,” Armstrong said.

“That is one of the two best growth areas in the United States right now, for business, and there was no reason to spend our time fighting over the members. We want to spend our time working for the members,” Armstrong added.

Les Saland, president of the board for the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, said, “we want this to happen because it really is a good deal for the members.

“We’re going to be splitting the board, initially, for the first two years. It’s going to be seven members of the West Pasco board and seven members of the Central Pasco board to comprise the board of directors.

“The chairman of the board for the first year will be the incoming chairman of the board from West Pasco Chamber, and then the second year, the chairman of the board will be our current incoming president.

“Then, after that, it will be by nomination of the board.

“We wanted to make sure that our members have equal representation. This is not a takeover or anything like that. It had to work for everybody,” Saland said.

Both offices will remain open, and staff members will be retained, Saland said.

“If we move the office into their (West Pasco Chamber) current office, which is on Main Street in New Port Richey, that doesn’t work well for the current members who are in Central Pasco, or in Land O’ Lakes, or even possibly on the eastern side of Trinity/Odessa. That’s a long drive,” Saland said.

The combined chamber will have more political clout, both leaders said.

“Let’s face it, government has to do what it does and sometimes it’s not in the best interest of business,” Armstrong said. “If we’re speaking for more than a 1,000 members, they (political leaders) sit on the edge of the chair. If you’re a smaller chamber, they might sit back in their chair.

Having such representation is especially important for chamber members, Armstrong added.

“Eighty-five percent of our members, in both chambers, are very small businesses. Having been that most of my life, I can tell you, there’s a lot of times, you have to snorkel to get air — because you’re working that many hours.

“They don’t have time to even know that a problem is coming, much less figure out a way to deal with it, or make it not happen.

“As a chamber, we can impact those things,” he said.

Organizing a unified chamber will take a concerted effort and involves working out myriad details, both leaders said.

“I think we have a lot of work ahead of us, but I’m excited,” Armstrong said. “We have a chance to clean the chalkboard and set us up for the next decade. I really think we’re going to benefit all of the communities. You’ve got Land O’ Lakes, Lutz (the Pasco part of Lutz). You’ve got Odessa, Trinity, Holiday, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson. Now we’re talking about almost 250,000 people that we represent.”

Published March 13, 2019

Business Digest 03/13/2019

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Grand re-opening at Copperstone
Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, will host a grand re-opening March 19 from 3:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

The building is under new ownership and management.

There will be food, drinks and giveaways. Guests can enter to win four free hours of meeting room space.

For information, call (813) 298-7363.

Carrollwood Bar Association changes name
The Carrollwood Bar Association has changed its name to the North Tampa Bar Association to better reflect the area in which its members live and work, according to a news release from the organization.

The North Tampa Bar Association’s mission is to serve its members and the residents of the North Tampa area by fostering respect for the law, by advancing the competent and ethical practice of the legal profession, and by providing programs to its members that will enhance their practice and enrich their experience in the legal profession.

The organization has contributed to area charities since its inception. Last year, it assisted Elves for Elders and Community Food Pantry.

For more information, visit NorthTampaBarAssociation.com.

Brightway Insurance now in Lutz
Brightway Insurance Agency, Westchase, has moved from Tampa to 1577 Dale Mabry Highway, Suite 100, in Lutz, according to a news release from the company. The insurance provider has also rebranded as Brightway, The Lutz Agency.

The company provides a broad array of insurance choices.

Dade City Chamber breakfast
Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley will be the featured speaker at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting March 19, at 37411 Eiland Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Networking starts at 7 a.m., and breakfast is served at 7:30 a.m.

RSVP and prepayment are required no later than March 14 at noon. Go to DadeCityChamber.org/chamber-breakfast, to reserve your spot.

Hobby Lobby grand opening
Hobby Lobby is scheduled to have its grand opening festivities March 18, between 8:45 a.m. and 10 a.m., with a ribbon cutting ceremony planned for before 9 a.m., when the store will open for its first day. The store is at 25675 Sierra Center Blvd., in the Cypress Creek Town Center in Lutz.

NetFest 2019
NetFest, a networking festival presented by the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., is set for April 4 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at The Epperson Lagoon by Metro Places. The event gives business and community leaders a chance to network and have fun. The cost is $40 for Pasco EDC investors and guests, and $50 for others. For more information, call (813) 926-0827, or email .

WOW-Too
WOW-Too started as Women of Wesley Chapel and was so popular that it expanded into Trinity and Odessa. The group meets on the third Wednesday of each month from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., at the Holiday Inn Express Trinity, 2125 Corporate Center Drive in Trinity.

North Tampa Bay Chamber briefing
The North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce has an economic development briefing on the fourth Thursday of each month, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. The group meets at Hunter’s Green, 18108 Longwater Run Drive in Tampa. For more information and to register, visit NorthTampaBayChamber.com.

Political Agenda 03/06/2019

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Sample ballots and early voting
Pasco County Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley has announced that Sample Ballots for the April 9 Municipal and Special Primary elections are available online at PascoVotes.com.

The supervisor’s office also intended to send the vote-by-mail ballots for the more than 12,000 requested on March 5, after The Laker/Lutz News print deadline.

Voter turnout will be posted daily on PascoVotes.com, as vote-by-mail ballots are returned.
The Municipal Elections are for voters who reside within the city limits of New Port Richey, Port Richey and Zephyrhills. The Special Primary is for voters who reside within House District 38, and per Florida Statutes 101.021, is a closed primary for registered Republican voters.
To be counted, vote-by-mail ballots must be returned to the elections’ office by mail or hand delivery by 7 p.m., on Election Day. Mail ballots may also be returned to city halls but may not be turned in at the polls. Voters can check the status of their vote-by-mail ballot at PascoVotes.com/Vote-by-Mail/Check-Request-Status.aspx.

Vote-by-mail ballot can be requested by calling (800) 851-8754 or request one online at PascoVotes.com.

Voters who wish to vote in person before Election Day may vote at City Halls beginning March 8.

Early Voting begins March 30 at East Pasco Government Center and Central Pasco Professional Center. See PascoVotes.com for addresses and times.

Election results will be posted on-line at PascoVotes.com beginning at 7 p.m., on Election Day.

East Pasco Democrats
The East Pasco Democratic Club will meet March 18 at 6:30 p.m., at Omari’s Grill at Scotland Yard Golf Club, 9424 U.S. 301 in Dade City. The speaker will be Kelly Smith. Dining a la carte is available from 5 p.m. For more information, visit EastPascoDems.com, or call (813) 383-8315.

Democratic Environmental Caucus of Pasco
The Democratic Environmental Caucus of Florida, Pasco County Chapter will meet on March 13, at the Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park Community Center, 5401 Land O Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m., but networking begins at 6 p.m. For more information, .

Baseball school strikes out on permit

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has denied a special exception request by Ryan A. and Elizabeth J. Prior for a private baseball and softball school in Wesley Chapel.

The request was to allow the private school on a 5-acre property, 320 feet south of the intersection of Hadlock Drive and Elkmont Lane.

It is surrounded by several agricultural uses, which include boarding stables, several equine veterinarians, some other horse stables, and agricultural uses, including single-family dwellings.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite represented the Priors during a planning commission public hearing and Cynthia Spidell, a planner for King Engineering, outlined the proposed use.

The applicants had agreed to a number of conditions.

They agreed to limit the hours of operation; limit to 20 the number of students who could be there on a daily basis, and no more than four at a time; required road maintenance; prohibited glare from lights; and, a number of other conditions.

The county’s planning staff recommended approval of the request.

But, neighbors objected.

Allison Doucette, an attorney representing opponents to the request, said the 15-foot-wide gravel road leading to the site “is really not intended to service any kind of commercial business.”

She said her clients own the horse farm that surrounds the proposed site of the baseball school, and they regularly cross over the easement with their horses.

Neighbor Fred Byrd, of 29439 Hadlock Drive, also objected.

“I don’t want Mr. Prior fixing that road.

“If that road is smooth, we’re going to have people doing 30, 40 miles an hour down that little easement. It’s not safe,” he said.

Besides the neighbors’ horses, Byrd said, “We’ve got a granddaughter. There’s animals out there. There’s dogs and cats.”

Besides the safety issue, dust kicked up by motorists is a problem, too, he said.

“When it’s dry, and the amount of traffic that goes by, if we leave our bedroom window open, our bedroom is covered with dust,” he said.

If the baseball school is approved and there are violations, he doesn’t believe that Code Enforcement would be able to put an end to the problem.

“Code Enforcement basically lived out in this area with all of the problems we had with the prior baseball ranch. They were operating illegally. They were asked to stop. They continued. They were asked to stop. They continued. There were numerous violations.

“Code Enforcement was out there and it didn’t stop them before,” Byrd said.

He also noted that not all of the proposed site is usable. “Half of it is back in a cypress head and part of it is a pond,” he said.

Byrd said he has nothing against baseball.

“I love baseball. I played baseball. I coached baseball.

“There’s a proper place for it. This is an equine community,” Byrd said.

Planning commissioners denied the request, but the applicants have the right to appeal that decision to the Pasco County Commission, if they should choose to do so.

Published March 06, 2019

Lutz Elementary prepares to add seventh grade

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Lutz Elementary launched a middle school program at the beginning of the school year and, now, it is gearing up to add seventh grade in the fall.

Lori Branham, principal at Lutz Elementary, is trying to get the word out about the school’s middle school program, which began with sixth grade this year and will add seventh next year. (B.C. Manion)

The school, at 202 Fifth Ave., S.E., in Lutz, began by adding sixth grade in the fall of 2018, and will add seventh grade in the fall of 2019. It will add eighth grade in 2020.

Each class has space for 110 students.

Its inaugural sixth-grade class had 67 students, meaning there are slots available in the seventh-grade class and will likely have some spots available in the incoming sixth-grade class, as well.

Parents who are interested in learning more about the program are invited to a parent information night on March 12, from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., said Principal Lori Branham. The session will be in the school’s multipurpose room.

Branham said she believes that many people were not aware of the middle school program when it was time to decide where their children would attend middle school.

Noah Song, Georgia Crim and Gage Holeman participate in Ancient Olympic games.

“It was very quick. We started this process in February of last year. A lot of people had already made their choice as to where they were going to go,” she said.

She expects to have more students in the coming year’s sixth-grade class.

“I have 104 fifth-graders. Not all of them will come. Some of them are in Pasco County and they’ll go to middle school in their neighborhood.

“For the most part, most of our kids are coming back. So, we’ll have a much larger population next year, for our sixth grade,” she said.

Parker Jones said he enjoys being a sixth-grader at Lutz Elementary. Besides liking his classes, he also has enjoyed the school’s intramural program and not having to start over making friends at a new school.

Teacher Jennifer Shaffer, who has taught at the school for 17 years, is glad Lutz Elementary has added a middle school.

“I was all for it,” she said.  “My three children went here. They would have continued through eighth, if we had it.

“The community has always wanted a middle school. They’re a close-knit community. They wanted to have their children stay in the community,” she said.

Shaffer said the school’s middle school program features small classes.

“We know them (students) really well. We can help them meet their goals,” she said.

Students also have opportunities to do hands-on learning, she said. They switch classes and they have the chance to operate more independently than elementary students.

Plus, the middle-schoolers can serve as mentors to younger students, she added.

Jennifer Shaffer enjoys teaching middle school students at Lutz Elementary. She says the teachers and students know each other well, and they are able to do many hands-on activities.

“We’ve done things with other classes throughout the school,” she said.

For example, “I just sent a student — she did an oral interpretation of a story — so, I just sent her down to a first-grade class to do it,” she said.

“For the students, it was an easy transition, moving up to sixth grade,” Shaffer said. “One of our biggest challenges was having them feel like sixth-graders.”

The students switch classes and are allowed more freedom on campus, such as not having to walk in line to lunch, she said.

They also are involved in community service projects.

The day before Christmas break, we split our sixth grade, and half went to the senior center and half went to Feeding America, Shaffer said.

Eleven-year-old Parker Jones is glad that Lutz Elementary added a middle school program.

For one thing, he didn’t have to get to know a new group of friends, and he already knows teachers, there, too.

He enjoys school.

“I feel like the teachers really make what you do in class fun,” he said.

Katie Holeman, the president of the Lutz Elementary School PTA, is thrilled that the school added a middle school program that began this year. She thinks it’s great for family life, for families with multiple children. Plus, she said, the classes are small, and the teachers and students know each other well.

That’s even true in Spanish, which he didn’t think would be fun, he said.

He also enjoys the school’s intramural program, noting that he played flag football and volleyball, and plans to play basketball.

The sixth-grader also is president of the school’s Junior Civitan club.

Katie Holeman, president of Lutz PTA, has three children at the school — one in sixth grade, one in fourth grade and one in first grade.

“We’ve been here for seven years,” she said. “We were so excited when we found out last year that we were transitioning to K-8 (kindergarten through eighth grade).

“It’s great for family life, for people with multiple children,” she said.

Lutz Elementary offers a sense of community and a neighborhood feel, she said.

“All of the teachers know the kids. The kids know the teachers,” she said.

Branham observed: “The Lutz community, to me, is different from any other community in this county.”

It’s a tightknit place, with a strong sense of tradition, she said.

When the school did a fundraiser with engraved bricks, there was one brick representing the sixth generation of a family with Lutz roots, she said.

Parent Information Night
What: Parents can learn about the middle school program at Lutz Elementary School
Where: In the multipurpose room at Lutz Elementary School, 202 Fifth Ave., S.E.
When: March 12 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Info: (813) 949-1452

Published March 06, 2019