The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Chef Rigberg is on the kitchen’s cutting edge

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Around the Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High School, Michael Rigberg is known as Chef Rigberg.

In July, he’ll be known as an inductee into the American Academy of Chefs.

Chef Michael Rigberg, who leads the Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High School, will be inducted this summer into the American Academy of Chefs. (Courtesy of Michael Rigberg)
Chef Michael Rigberg, who leads the Academy of Culinary Arts at Land O’ Lakes High School, will be inducted this summer into the American Academy of Chefs.
(Courtesy of Michael Rigberg)

The induction will take place at the American Culinary Federation National Convention in Kansas City, Missouri, where Rigberg will be included in a group of men and women who have distinguished themselves in the culinary arts.

It’s an honor that requires recipients to meet rigorous requirements, and those attaining it are considered to represent the highest standards of professionalism in the organization, society and industry.

That honor will follow another distinction that Rigberg received in April at the American Culinary Federation’s Southeastern Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. He was among four chefs receiving Cutting Edge awards from the federation.

Those awards, bestowed by regional vice president Michael Diehl, recognize leadership and service to the culinary profession.

Rigberg, who is president of the Tampa Bay Culinary Association, said he had no idea he was being considered for that award. So, when he heard the phrase, “This chef resides in Land O’ Lakes, Florida,” his ears perked up.

“I was shocked,” Rigberg said.

Hundreds of chefs, cooks and foodservice professionals were at the conference in Charleston, and thousands will be at the national convention. Rigberg said he’s not sure what he did to merit the award, but it was nice to receive recognition.

Performing well is important to Rigberg, and he strives to pass that ethic along to his students in the culinary program at Land O’ Lakes High. His goal is to give students a solid foundation for a career in the culinary arts. He also wants them to have a good idea of what they will face in the field.

Along those lines, students have a chance to compete with students in other programs. They also have a chance to gain practical experience in the field, and they occasionally get to take part in special events.

When the Republican National Convention was in Tampa, for example, Rigberg worked out a deal to become part of the catering crew. He joined his teaching colleague, Jessica Cooper, at the Tampa Bay Times Forum while 26 students from their culinary arts program were there preparing food for the convention’s hungry masses.

“That is something they will never forget,” said Rigberg, who was influenced by his son to become an instructor.

When his son graduated from high school in Hillsborough County, he was interested in becoming an architect. So, he enrolled at Tulane University, where he quickly became discouraged, Rigberg said.

During orientation, a dean told the incoming crop of 90 freshmen that if five made it, they’d be lucky.

“After one semester, he came back home,” Rigberg said.

Instead of pursuing architecture, he went to Hillsborough Community College, then on to get a business degree at the University of South Florida. Rigberg’s son would eventually earn a master’s degree in mental health counseling.

Rigberg had already wanted to become a teacher, but after his son’s experience, he decided to teach at the high school level rather than at a college. He wanted a chance to help shape a life, and he figured high school would be a better place to do that.

Rigberg tells his students that people with culinary skills are always in demand.

“Whether you’re a mechanic, whether you’re an electrician, whether you’re a plumber, or whether you are a cook — you will always, in a trade, always have a job,” he said.

In his program, Rigberg said he tries to instill a sense of devotion, a desire to succeed and a sense of urgency. When students graduate, he wants them to understand that “what they have gained or learned here is just the beginning.”

Published June 25, 2014

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Wesley Chapel woman aims to encourage young poets

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Maya Angelou’s recent death captured headlines around the world. And that’s a fitting response, said Janet Watson, a poet who lives in Wesley Chapel.

“I’m so pleased that the world has paused for a moment to realize that poetry has value, and to mourn the passing of a great poet,” said Watson, a member of the New River Poets group, which meets in Wesley Chapel.

Wesley Chapel poet Janet Watson encourages people of all ages to write poetry, to share their observations of life, and to help to build connections. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Wesley Chapel poet Janet Watson encourages people of all ages to write poetry, to share their observations of life, and to help to build connections.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Watson believes that poetry has tremendous power, to help build understanding and connections.

She compares poetry to photography — both are capturing a moment in time.

“Everybody has a voice, has a poetic voice,” Watson said, but some people simply have never put their individual take on the world into words.

When she’s writing a poem, she uses all of her senses.

“Not just to see, but to look; not to just hear, but to listen. That’s what my poetry is about, and that’s what I admire in other poets,” said Watson, author of “Eyes Open, Listening.”

Poetry offers everyone a chance for self-expression.

“It’s all about sharing what we think and how we’re reacting in life,” Watson said.

That’s one of the reasons Watson is involved in an effort to encourage young poets. She coordinates the young poet’s contest, which is affiliated with the Florida State Poets Association.

The contest is open for middle and high school students throughout Florida. They can be home-schooled or can attend private or public schools. The aim is to encourage the reading and writing of poetry.

“It’s amazing how many young people are interested in it. Unfortunately, a lot of teachers really don’t have time to even give out the rules,” said Watson, adding she understands how busy teachers are because she worked in schools for several years.

But there are teachers who work with their students on poetry and submit their students’ work for the contest.

“A lot of teachers tell me that it’s very therapeutic (for students). Many of the teachers who are sending me work are sending me work from kids who are troubled,” Watson said. “They’re writing about death. They’re writing about divorce. They’re writing about relationships that break up. These are very young kids.”

Watson thinks that many young people are interested in poetry, but may be unaware of the state contest, which offers cash prizes and the chance to be published in an anthology.

“Young people are very much into performance poetry now. Rap is poetry,” she said.

Last year, the contest drew about 760 entries. Not a single one of those entries came from Pasco County, however, Watson said, noting she hopes that will change this year.

Watson will circulate the information about this year’s youth poetry contest in late August or early September. Contest rules also will be posted online at FloridaStatePoetsAssociation.org.

For additional information about the poetry contest or New River Poets, contact Watson at .

Published June 18, 2014

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Grove 16 Back to School Bash needs more local partners

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If Cobb Theatre Grove 16 & CineBistro’s 2014 Back-to-School bash were a movie, it would be in need of a few more heroes.

Eager parents and students lined up at this back-to-school bash before classes began a couple of years ago. Cobb Theatres Grove 16 & CineBistro plans to have its sixth annual bash on Aug. 9, beginning at 10 a.m. (File Photo)
Eager parents and students lined up at this back-to-school bash before classes began a couple of years ago. Cobb Theatres Grove 16 & CineBistro plans to have its sixth annual bash on Aug. 9, beginning at 10 a.m.
(File Photo)

This will be the sixth year the Wesley Chapel movie complex has staged the annual event to help ensure children heading back to school have the supplies they need for academic success.

As always, the theater needs local businesses and organizations to help make that happen. The success of the program hinges on it, said Demene Benjamin, Grove 16’s theater manager.

Since the beginning, some local businesses and organizations have stepped forward to make the event a success, Benjamin said. But new organizations and businesses are encouraged to become part of the annual tradition as well.

Those helping out are asked to provide at least enough supplies for 500 students. They also are asked to bring tables and volunteers to dole out their goodies.

Items that are needed include backpacks, paper, pencils, tissue, crayons, markers, hand sanitizer and other school supplies.

Besides helping kids stock up for school, the event features activities including face painting and games, and it offers some health screenings, haircuts and refreshments.

The theme of the 2014 Back to School Bash is the “Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles,” which will be the movie theater’s summer release.

Benjamin expects more than 1,000 to attend this year’s event, which is set for Aug. 9, from 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at the theater, 6333 Wesley Grove Blvd. The theater is at The Grove, a shopping venue in Wesley Chapel.

Those wanting more information should contact Benjamin at (813) 334-6006.

Published June 18, 2014

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Massive project in Lutz gains county’s approval

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The Hillsborough County Commission has cleared the way for a massive project at the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway.

The land, characterized by its towering stands of pines and open fields, has been rezoned to allow a mixed-use development including upscale houses, multifamily dwellings, offices, retail uses and a congregate care facility.

A pair of rezonings would transform land near the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway into planned developments that call for upscale homes, retail, office, multifamily and possibly congregate care uses. (File Photo)
A pair of rezonings would transform land near the northeast corner of Van Dyke Road and North Dale Mabry Highway into planned developments that call for upscale homes, retail, office, multifamily and possibly congregate care uses.
(File Photo)

Commissioners approved the rezoning request, without debate.

While Lutz residents have a reputation for battling proposals they believe will disrupt their way of life, in this case they worked with the applicants to devise a plan that the Lutz Citizens Coalition and nearby communities supported. It even had coalition president Mike White saying that at the time that “thus far, the system has worked exactly as it was intended to.”

The development must undergo a site plan review by the county before any construction can begin, White said. But he expects the county will ensure the plan follows the conditions approved by commissioners.

Attorney Joel Tew represented Geraci Land Acquisition LLC, and attorney Richard Davis represented Standard Pacific Homes of Florida on the side-by-side rezonings, covering approximately 251 acres. The rezoning applications were presented as companion requests at an April 21 public hearing before a land-use hearing officer.

Plans call for substantially less development than would have been allowed otherwise under the county’s long-range plan. One rezoning incorporates the Landings at Lake Pearl, a previously approved rezoning that includes 650 multifamily units and 70,000 square feet of office.

Besides those existing entitlements, the rezoning allows 240 single-family houses and 177 multifamily dwellings.

Standard Pacific Homes plans to build a gated, high-end residential community on the property.

The approved zoning allows about 25 percent of the residential development than would have been possible under the county’s long-range land-use plan. The retail uses, under the rezoning, represent about one-third of the potential allowed under the long-range plan designation.

Representatives from all sides testified at the public hearing that considerable effort was made to work out conditions that addressed concerns expressed by the community, while delivering a quality project.

“We have had a total of eight meetings with the major community associations that are directly affected by this project,” Tew said. “We’ve had very valuable, constructive input from them. We’ve listened to their concerns and we’ve made significant changes to the plan.”

The proposed developments include conditions that exceed the county’s land development code, including requirements such as increased setbacks from surrounding properties, enhanced landscaping, more stringent sign requirements, and even conditions dealing with building orientation.

Both zoning requests received favorable recommendations from the county’s planning commission and land development staff.

Conditions of the Luce’s recommended approval includes a number of transportation improvements. One calls for a signalized intersection at Exciting Idlewild Boulevard and North Dale Mabry Highway, and another calls for a new alignment leading into the Veterans Expressway that essentially will square up that intersection.

The plans also show a single access point off of Van Dyke Road, instead of the three access points that were initially requested. The limited access on Van Dyke was essential to gain the support of area residents and the Lutz Citizens Coalition, who were concerned about traffic impacts both on Van Dyke and nearby neighborhoods.

Published June 18, 2014

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Land O’ Lakes teen is an artful entrepreneur

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Izzie Brown’s foray into the business world began with an assignment from her eighth-grade art teacher at Rushe Middle School.

The teacher asked her to create a portrait of the Jamaican singer Bob Marley, which Brown did — using the titles of Marley’s songs to form his image.

Izzie Brown, 14, creates portraits of famous personalities using words or, in the case of Albert Einstein, numbers. She also creates commissioned works, including this surrealistic piece called ‘Consummation.’ (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Izzie Brown, 14, creates portraits of famous personalities using words or, in the case of Albert Einstein, numbers. She also creates commissioned works, including this surrealistic piece called ‘Consummation.’
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The teacher liked the work so much she asked if she could keep it.

Brown posted an image of the work on Facebook and people told her that’s something they would buy. And her uncle was so impressed, he encouraged her to launch her own business.

So, she did.

She calls it Word Tangles. She sells portraits and T-shirts on Etsy — an online retail outlet for artists —  as well as on a Facebook page and at local markets.

Besides her Marley portrait, she’s created likenesses of Michael Jackson, Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe and Albert Einstein.

The Jackson and Presley images are crafted from song titles. The Monroe portrait is made up of song and movie titles, and her Einstein uses the first 222 digits of pi.

She created Einstein’s image to celebrate Pi Day, which was March 14.

“My Algebra II teacher wanted us all to do a little project for Pi Day. The first thing that came to my mind was to do Albert Einstein,” she said.

The 14-year-old also does custom work. She did a commissioned portrait of the musical artist Sting, and is working on a large-scale surrealistic work called “Consummation” that her uncle hired her to do.

She also used her artistic skills to “zentangle” an entire wall in the upstairs bathroom in her Land O’ Lakes home. Zentangle is an art form that involves drawing structured patterns.

She’s young, but she has savvy business instincts.

“I really have to play to my audience,” Brown said. “At first, it was just doing what I wanted to do. But now, it’s kind of like I have to listen to what people want me to do. On my Facebook page, I’ll ask my viewers, ‘Hey, what color should I do for the background for this one?’”

She sells merchandise at kids’ markets affiliated with Tampa Fresh Markets.

“They go around to Carrollwood, Wiregrass, Hyde Park, Seminole Heights,” she said. “It’s free if you’re under 17.”

Brown also uses the events to get a pulse on what people would like her to produce.

“People will go by and they’ll say, ‘Oh, my gosh, do you have Jim Morrison?’”

She doesn’t. But she plans to do his portrait in coming months. Brown also expects to create images of Jimi Hendrix, and possibly Audrey Hepburn.

There are limits on what she will produce, however. She needs to feel a degree of respect for the subject of her portraits, she said, to get into the right creative mindset.

“Over the summer, I’m going to do the Beatles, all four of them,” Brown said. “I am going to have them on square canvases. I’m going to do all of their faces out of Beatles songs. I’m going to put all four of the Beatles together, and I’ll have them on a shirt.”

When she’s ordering T-shirts that display her portraits, she considers marketing issues.

“When I did Marilyn, I thought I should get some feminine-fit shirts because all I had done was unisex,” Brown said. “I was just thinking about my audience.”

When her Michael Jackson T-shirts weren’t selling that well, she decided to get some smaller, feminine-fit T-shirts, and after that, her sales picked up.

She sells her canvas works for $125 each, and her T-shirts for $12 for solid colors and $15 for the Bob Marley, featuring the Rastafarian colors of green, yellow and red.

Brown also is selling a T-shirt she designed to benefit autism research. She plans to donate 20 percent of the profits from those sales to the Center for Autism and Related Disorders at the University of South Florida.

She’s also planning to do a T-shirt with a breast cancer ribbon in October, sharing a portion of those proceeds as well.

Brown, who attends the International Baccalaureate program at Land O’ Lakes High School, has ambitions to attend business school at Harvard University.

She’s not entirely sure where her career path will lead, but she enjoys being in a leadership role. Ultimately, her primary goal is to accomplish something of significance, she said.

“I just want to be remembered for doing something great,” Brown said. “I want to have that kind of credential.”

To find out more about Brown’s work, check out her Etsy shop listing at Etsy.com/shop/wordtangles. Or her Facebook business page at Facebook.com/ wordtangles.

Published June 11, 2014

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New farmer’s market opens on U.S. 41 in Lutz

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For months, it was hard to figure out what was going on at the lot the east side of U.S. 41 just north of Newberger Road.

First, the field was empty. Then, the land was cleared.

Then a building that looked like a barn was built. Then, the earth was plowed.

Angela Madonia and her mother, Josephine Argento, own The Family Farm on 41, a business that wants to provide fresh vegetables and fruits to encourage healthy eating. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Angela Madonia and her mother, Josephine Argento, own The Family Farm on 41, a business that wants to provide fresh vegetables and fruits to encourage healthy eating.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

In mid-May, it became abundantly clear what was up — a new farmer’s market was opening on the Lutz site, not far from Land O’ Lakes.

The business, called The Family Farm on 41, opened May 23. It is co-owned by Angela Madonia and her mother, Josephine Argento.

The market has a diverse selection of fruits and vegetables, as well as a few flowering plants. Besides the old standbys of corn, potatoes, apples, melons, onions, zucchinis and tomatoes, there also are more interesting choices such as Italian squash, tomatillos, Hungarian wax peppers, specialty squash and jicama.

Beyond produce, the market stocks milk without hormones, farm fresh eggs, honey, cakes, jam, cheeses, ice cream and juices.

“The concept is providing the freshest and healthiest fruits and veggies to our customers,” Madonia said. “We will be growing strawberries, tomatoes, cucumbers, squash, peppers, carrots, corn, radishes, pumpkins and okra. We will start harvesting in late August or early September.”

The market and the field where the fruits and vegetables will be grown are on an 8-acre plot on the north side of Newberger Road. Just across the street, on the east side of Newberger Road, the family is planning a pumpkin patch and hayrides on another 8-acre tract.

The family chose the location because it is ideally situated between Tampa and Land O’ Lakes, on a road traveled by thousands of people.

They chose to get into the fresh food business because they understand that people are becoming more interested in leading a healthy lifestyle, Madonia said. The business also fits her family’s personal goals. Madonia and her husband have two small children, and they want to teach them how to eat properly to maintain good health.

Eventually, the business will offer a “U-pick” option for customers.

The market’s hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., every day. At some point they plan to close one day a week, but they haven’t determined which day yet. That will depend on customer demand, Madonia said.

Published  June 11, 2014

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New Rotary Club forming in Lutz

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Business, professional and community leaders are forming a new chapter of Rotary Club International in Lutz, and the club is welcoming new members.

Doug Andrews, who is organizing the new Lutz Rotary Club, said the organization offers excellent opportunities to build business connections, meet new friends, get involved in service projects and take part in cultural exchanges.

Rotary Club of New Tampa is sponsoring the club until it forms its own chapter, which can happen as soon as it has 20 members, Andrews said.

The club meets on Tuesdays at 7 a.m., at Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway.

The club meets in the morning because Andrews said he thought it would be easier for people to make a morning meeting, especially commuters, than it would be to get to a meeting at noon.

Andrews is the foundation chair for the Rotary district including Hillsborough, Polk, Highlands and Hardee counties. That district has more than 45 clubs, with more than 2,000 members, Andrews said.

Those clubs are engaged in wide-ranging projects, he said. The Brandon club, for instance, is involved in a beekeeping project in Tanzania, while the Ybor City club is involved in a pediatric cardiac care project in Kingston, Jamaica.

Rotary Club of Tampa is providing 100 portable heart defibrillators to be carried in Tampa Police Department cruisers to provide life-saving help.

Other clubs are packing food to help feed the hungry, providing dictionaries for elementary school students, or helping out in other humanitarian ways.

Besides service projects, there also are opportunities for cultural exchanges. It includes a foreign exchange program for high school students and travel opportunities to other countries for adults, Andrews said.

Rotary also has a variety of programs aimed at helping to develop leadership among youths and young adults.

Anyone who is interested in learning about the Lutz Rotary Club can attend a meeting to see if they’d like to join, Andrews said. There is a $10 charge for a continental breakfast.

Published June 11, 2014

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Legislature votes to grant in-state tuition for undocumented students

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Legislation adopted by the Florida Legislature — and signed into law by Gov. Rick Scott on June 9  — will make college more affordable for undocumented workers.

The governor’s signature signals the end of an 11-year effort to allow undocumented workers who have completed at least three years in a Florida high school the opportunity to attend Florida state colleges at the in-state tuition rate.

The students, however, must enroll in the postsecondary school within 24 months of graduation.

Margarita Romo, executive director of Farmworkers Self-Help Inc., is pleased that the state legislature has passed a bill that will allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition at Florida colleges. (File Photo)
Margarita Romo, executive director of Farmworkers Self-Help Inc., is pleased that the state legislature has passed a bill that will allow undocumented students to qualify for in-state tuition at Florida colleges.
(File Photo)

Margarita Romo, executive director of Farmworkers Self-Help Inc., in Dade City, played a major role in advocating for the change, and is pleased by the Legislature’s action.

“We’re very happy that we got what we got. It’s been a long time coming,” Romo said.

For years, she’s been taking undocumented students to Tallahassee to meet with lawmakers to explain why it is so important to allow them to attend Florida colleges without paying out-of-state tuition. Throughout that effort, Romo has repeated this refrain: “You can pick enough oranges to pay in-state tuition, but you cannot pick enough oranges to pay out-of-state tuition.”

With the adoption of this legislation, Florida will become the 20th state to offer some sort of in-state tuition to students brought to the United States illegally, according to The New York Times. Romo credited state House Speaker Will Weatherford’s support for playing a key role in gaining the legislation’s passage.

“The speaker of the house really knocked himself out,” said Romo, who was inducted last year into the Florida Civil Rights Hall of Fame for her work in advocating for the needs of migrant farmworkers and immigrants.

Romo took three young men in to meet the Wesley Chapel Republican to discuss the issue, and Weatherford told her that made an impression.

“I was actually in the hospital when the speaker of the house called me,” she said. “Of course, I didn’t answer the phone because I was in the hospital. I just had my fourth heart attack. He called and left a message saying he had a surprise.

“He said, ‘I just want you to know that I am really going to support in-state tuition.’ That certainly gave my heart a lift. And, he kept his word.”

When the legislation passed, Weatherford issued a statement that said lawmakers were making history.

“For many years, children who are here through no fault of their own have waited for the opportunity to fully realizing their dreams,” Weatherford said in the statement. “Today, the Florida Legislature put those dreams into reach.”

While pleased with the legislation, Romo would like to see an amendment in the future that would remove the provision that limits the in-state tuition to those who have graduated from a Florida high school within the past two years. The battle to make this change began more than a decade ago and the two-year limit leaves out too many people who simply will never be able to attend college, without the lower rate, Romo said.

Published June 11, 2014

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Morningstar Fishermen seed library promotes good health

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It’s a wooden cabinet with several drawers, the index cards inside reminiscent of the kind used when libraries still had card catalogs.

Ara McLeod oversees the new seed library at Morningstar Fishermen in Dade City. The library allows people to check out heirloom seeds to grow in their gardens, with the hope that they’ll bring back more seeds to share. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Ara McLeod oversees the new seed library at Morningstar Fishermen in Dade City. The library allows people to check out heirloom seeds to grow in their gardens, with the hope that they’ll bring back more seeds to share.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

But this cabinet doesn’t hold cards telling visitors where to find books. Instead, it holds cards separating packages of seeds.

These aren’t just any seeds, however. They’re called heirloom seeds, and some of them had their start back in the 1800s, said Ara McLeod, who works at Morningstar Fishermen, a business in Dade City that promotes sustainable living.

Unlike most seeds that are planted in today’s fields and gardens, these heirloom seeds have not been genetically altered. Instead, they have been saved and passed along for generations.

And now, through Morningstar Fishermen’s new seed library, they are available to seed library members for free.

There is a catch. Those joining the seed library must agree to use only organic fertilizer on the vegetables and flowers they grow with these seeds. And they are asked to let some of their plants go to seed, so they can help to restock the seed library.

McLeod, who oversees the seed library, is thrilled that she’s leading this new venture, which aims to help people produce their own food.

“Here at Morningstar, we are about teaching people about sustainability,” McLeod said.

The company, located at 3336 Old St. Joe Road, has been teaching people about aquaponics for years. Aquaponics is essentially the marriage between hydroponics and aquaculture, allowing people to raise fish, veggies and plants at the same time.

It decided to branch out to help people become sustainable in other ways, too.

“We wanted to start a seed library here to help our community to have access to good, quality food,” McLeod said. “It’s really, really important for communities to have access to good seeds. With it being free, it really doesn’t matter what your economic status is.”

So far, fewer than a dozen people have signed up for the seed library. But McLeod’s enthusiasm for the program has not dimmed.

“We have to start somewhere,” she said, clearly passionate about the project. “Seeds are life. The soil is life. Without good quality seeds, our food is not of good quality, so, when we eat it, it doesn’t sustain our bodies.”

She estimates about 200 varieties of seeds in the library, mostly donated by Seed Savers Exchange, Baker Creek Seeds and some local families.

When people come to Morningstar Fishermen’s shop, they can look through the cabinet drawers to choose seeds.

“All of the drawers are divided out into families. In gardening, there’s nine different families,” McLeod explained. “In each family, you have the different types of vegetables or flowers.

“You just see what type of plant you want to grow. You open the drawer and you thumb through it. You can see the bean that you want to grow. There’s a little packet behind it. There’s the growing information on the back of it.”

Once they find their packet, they bring it up to a desk, fill out a form, and head home to start planting.

“You grow it. Save some of the seeds for yourself and some for the library and bring them back,” McLeod said.

Some people may have no earthly idea how to begin, but there are books, online information and low-cost classes that can help, she said.

Nobody should feel intimidated.

“It doesn’t matter if you don’t know anything,” McLeod said. “The only thing that you need to start is a desire.”

To find out more about the seed library, email , visit MorningstarFishermen.org, or call McLeod at (352) 523-2722.

Published June 4, 2014

Pasco County Schools expands summer programs

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Pasco County Schools’ $1.3 million summer school program this year will serve 6,580 students. That’s an increase of 1,820 over last summer’s rolls, according to district officials.

This year’s programs also will reach younger children, and will give older students more time to work on recovering course credits.

School board member Steve Luikart applauded the expanded program.

“The need is there,” Luikart said. “We’re doing everything we can to help more kids.”

The district is piloting new programs for kindergarteners and first graders focusing on literacy, and for second graders emphasizing mathematics.

The literacy pilot will serve about 390 students, and the mathematics pilot will serve about 400 children. The students will come from Title 1 schools, which are schools that qualify for federal funding because they have a large percentage of children from poor families.

Another pilot will focus on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, otherwise known as STEM. It will serve approximately 45 third- and fourth-grade students from Fox Hollow, Schrader, and Gulf Highlands elementary schools, and will be held at Gulf Highlands.

The district’s summer reading camp will continue to target third graders. About 700 children are expected to receive the additional help. The media centers at each of the summer camp locations will be open to all students on those days.

The district also will be using migrant camps for kindergarten through 12th-graders at eight east Pasco schools, to help close the achievement gap.

The program will serve about 45 students, an increase of 15 from last year.

A program aimed at giving children a chance to learn through a variety of environmental experiences also is being offered to students from Title 1 schools. About 600 students from Title 1 schools will visit Safety Town, Energy Marine Center, Starkey Ranch, caves, and The Florida Aquarium through the Pasco Environmental Adventure Camp Experience.

The district also is providing additional help to middle school students who have not met the requirements to be promoted to the next grade. The district’s course recovery programs have been extended from half-days to full-days to give students more time to master essential content.

The district is providing this opportunity for students to get back on track to up to 100 students per Title 1 school, and up to 50 students at other schools.

Courses also will be available for high school students needing to recover credits, with seniors being given the highest priority for those opportunities.

The district also will offer summer school for exceptional student education programs for students who have individual education plans that call for summer instruction.

The district will serve summer meals at locations where more than 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year. District staff members will serve breakfast, lunch and a snack to children through age 18.

Transportation also will be provided to summer programs for students who meet the district’s requirements.

Teachers can upgrade their skills in the district’s Secondary Literacy Symposium for sixth- through 12th-grade teachers. Teachers will work in collaborative groups to deepen their learning related to the English Language Arts instructional shifts of the newly adopted Florida Standards.

Other teachers also will have a chance to strengthen their content knowledge of the standards at the 2014 K-8 Mathematics Institute and at the High School Mathematics Institute.

Published June 4, 2014