The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

B.C. Manion

Porter campus a possible early voting site

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It won’t open until January, and the midterm elections are even farther off, but the Pasco County Supervisor of Elections is already eyeing Pasco-Hernando Community College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass as a possible early voting site.

Corley mentioned the idea during the monthly meeting of the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce’s monthly meeting of its economic development committee.

Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley
Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley

After the meeting, Corley said he hasn’t talked with PHCC officials about the potential early voting site, but he thinks it would be a convenient location.

The new satellite campus of PHCC is being built on Mansfield Boulevard, off SR 56, just east of The Shops at Wiregrass.

“It’s a great location, geographically,” Corley said.

New legislation passed during the last session of the Florida Legislature allows supervisors of election more flexibility than they had in the past on where to place early voting sites, Corley said. Before, those sites could only be located at election offices, city halls or libraries.

That meant that Wesley Chapel voters had to go seven miles east to New River Branch Library or almost as far in the other direction to the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library to vote, Corley said.

Corley wants to make it easier for people who live and work in Wesley Chapel to cast their early ballots.

Having an early polling site in Wesley Chapel would make it easier for people to vote before and after work, as well as during lunch, Corley said.

During his talk at the chamber, Corley also noted another change in state law that he thinks is beneficial.

In previous elections, anyone who voted by mail had to sign the outside of the envelope for the vote to be counted, Corley said. Some voters forgot to do so and the votes would not be counted. That affected 109 voters in Pasco during the last election.

Now, thanks to legislation championed by House Speaker Will Weatherford, “they can send an affidavit in affirming they only voted once,” Corley said. “Their vote will count.”

He’s glad the law changed because he thinks every vote is important.

Only 537 votes separated Al Gore and George Bush in 2000, Corley said.

He cited two much closer votes in Zephyrhills.

“We had two annexation elections in Zephyrhills. One where a one-vote difference for won and the other one, one-vote difference against won,” Corley said.

Corley said he thinks it’s interesting to compare voter turnout for presidential elections and midterms.

The midterm election has the governor on the ballot, the entire Cabinet, state representatives, state senate, two county commission seats and three school board seats.

“The county commission and the school board, to me, have more impact on our lives as citizens, than the president,” Corley said.

“Then, why is it when the president is on the ballot, it’s 75 percent and when it’s a midterm – we had 46 percent in 2010. It should almost be the opposite,” Corley said.

Local teens use robot to save the world

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Three local teens are among 10 finalists in an international robotics competition and expect to find out soon if they’ve captured the top prize.

The 14-year-olds — Sean Carr, Ross Edwards and R.J. Walters — just wrapped up the second phase of the X Prize After Earth competition.

The contest winner announcement is scheduled for around Aug. 9.

Sean Carr, R.J. Walters and Ross Edwards are finalists in an international competition that seeks to encourage competitors to think about ecology and robotic design. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
Sean Carr, R.J. Walters and Ross Edwards are finalists in an international competition that seeks to encourage competitors to think about ecology and robotic design. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The competition is based on the movie, “After Earth,” starring Will Smith and Jaden Smith. The sponsor, X Prize Foundation, uses competitions to address “the world’s grand challenges,” according to its website.

In this case, the teams explored ways to make earth more sustainable and how to use robotics to explore the potential for a new settlement for humans.

No matter the outcome, the three young men — who are members of the Trinity Dragons robotics team — said they’ve enjoyed the challenge.

They’ve designed and built a robot that can scoot across a surface, can lift small buckets and deliver them to where they need to go and then can return to its base.

While the robot seemingly acts on its own, it actually completes its work through computer programming and infrared sensors. It carries out its tasks in a fictitious place, called Nova Prime.

The robotics team spent countless hours building and programming the robot, and created Nova Prime from plywood, Spackle, sand, chili powder, paint and plants.

They also produced a video that tells the story of their imaginary world.

The video opens with images of what’s going wrong with earth — traffic jams, billowing smokestacks, parched earth, landfills and a dead bird. It then pans to a view of Carr’s backyard in Lutz, where fish thrive in water tanks, which provide water and nutrients to a flower and vegetable garden in a system, which in turn produces fish and organic vegetables, using very little water.

The video also features a lively musical soundtrack and an entertaining look at the steps the team followed to create and program the robot.

The video also pokes fun at Ray Carr, who is Sean’s dad and the team’s coach. He’s depicted as a lecturer who is boring the team to death.

Other portions of the video show the rover coming together and the construction of Nova Prime.

The team submitted that video recently meeting the contest’s phase two deadline. The video they submitted in June won them the right to compete in the finals.

The contest provides an excellent challenge for the kids, Ray Carr said.

“It’s not just a computer science thing; it’s not just mechanical engineering,” he said. “It’s electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, computer engineering and a lot of geometry, all at once. They’re not focused on the learning. They’re focused on the goal. They learn along the way. I think that kind of opens up their minds a bit.

“Seeing things run around like that (robot), after you wrote the software, it’s fun,” he added.

Sean Carr said it’s been fun for him, too.

“We work together really well. We have the same common interest in mechanical and software,” Sean Carr said. “We bonded a lot.”

“It makes it even more fun when you’re competing against other people,” said Walters, who was at Ray Carr’s office five hours a day for at least five days a week.

“The robot, I believe, took about 42 hours of work,” Sean Carr said.

Ross took the lead role in designing the robot.

“He’s a Lego genius,” Sean Carr said. “That robot would be nowhere near what it is now without him.”

Walters did the lion’s share of painting and spackling to create Nova Prime and worked on developing the software to make the rover robot work.

“They struggled through a lot of issues,” Ray Carr said. “They struggled through a lot of things to come to the end solution. It didn’t just show up by any means.”

“The compass sensor kept messing up,” Walters said. “The tires were too big and wobbly.”

But they worked through those problems and produced a robot that would follow computer commands.

They also used music to help move their video along, after discovering that none of them particularly excelled at talking directly into the camera.

For making it to the final round, the team received a Lego Mindstorms robotic kit and a Sony Handycam video camera.

If they win the competition, they’ll be highlighted in a special feature about the X Prize After Earth Challenge on the U.S. Blu-ray disc of “After Earth.” They’ll also receive a signed Blu-ray, an “After Earth” poster and other prizes.

Business Digest

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Krista Covey to lead business incubator
Krista Covey is the new economic development manager of SMARTstart, Pasco County’s first business incubator.

The incubator, at the Dade City Business Center and Dade City Office Plaza, will help small companies and startup businesses.

The Dade City location was selected because it is at an industrial park and has office space onsite. It is also near expert help from Saint Leo University, the Small Business Development Center and business leaders who are active with the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Covey said she will divide her time between the Dade City location and her office at the Pasco Economic Development Council in Lutz.

The business incubator has begun accepting applications. Anyone interested in knowing more should contact Covey at (813) 926-0827, ext. 227.

 

Grow Financial set to open Wesley Chapel branch
Grow Financial is opening its 21st branch at 2579 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. in Wesley Chapel. The 3,805-square-foot branch has a modern retail design and a contemporary color scheme. It is expected to debut an interactive teller machine in October at a community grand opening event.

The Wesley Chapel branch will also have an art room, which will display art by local artists and by students from area schools on a rotating basis throughout the year.

The opening exhibit is titled Within the Artists’ Eye featuring art by some of the faculty of the Pasco Arts Council, Inc.

 

WestBay opens Key Largo II model in Connerton
Homes by WestBay has opened the Key Largo II in Connerton, a 4,800-acre planned community in Land O’ Lakes.

The Key Largo II model has 3,900 square feet of space, five bedrooms, four bathrooms and a three-car garage.

It’s located in the Jasmine Abbey neighborhood of Connerton, which boasts parks, restaurants, shopping, schools and an award-winning amenity complex. Homes in Jasmine Abbey are priced from the upper $200,000 range.

Model home hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and noon to 6 p.m. on Sunday.

For more information on Homes by WestBay, call (813) 285-1444, or visit HomesbyWestBay.com.

 

Jeff Huebner new VP of construction for Avex Homes
Jeff Huebner is the new vice president of construction for Avex Homes, an Orlando-based builder that is constructing homes at Cypress Village at Avalon Park West on SR 54 in Wesley Chapel.

Huebner has more than 25 years of experience in the homebuilding industry and significant vendor relationships. He was most recently Orlando division vice president of construction for Maronda Homes.

The Avalon Park Group development will eventually accommodate as many as 4,400 homes and more than 700,000 square feet of commercial space in its Town Center.

 

PEDC board gets new member
All Children’s Hospital/Johns Hopkins Medicine has joined the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc.’s board of directors.

“All Children’s Hospital has been looking forward to an active role on Pasco EDC’s board of directors,” said Kuhns, vice president of human resources, in a news release.  “Pasco County continues to grow at a rapid pace, and we are excited to work with other business and community leaders to make Pasco a better place for both families and employers.”

All Children’s Hospital operates a 20,000-square-foot outpatient care facility on Rowan Road in New Port Richey.

Kuhns has served in his current role since 2008. Before that, he spent seven years with HCA in the Tampa Bay area. He lives in New Port Richey with his wife and family.

 

East Pasco Networking Group meetings
The East Pasco Networking Group has scheduled several future speakers. The group meets at the Village Inn, 5214 Gall Blvd. in Zephyrhills. Networking starts at 8 a.m. and the meeting begins at 8:30 a.m.

Here’s a schedule of upcoming speakers:

–Aug. 13: Jennifer Samuel-Choice, speaker coach and professional storyteller

–Aug. 27: Brian Corley, Pasco County Supervisor of Elections and Randy Stovall, PHCC, Provost Dean, East Campus

–Sept. 10: Faith Knight, chief operations officer of Apollo Group

–Sept. 24: Maureen Moore, director of communications at Saint Leo University

–Oct. 8: Danny Burgess, mayor of Zephyrhills

–Oct. 22: Paul Stonebridge, Pasco County Library System

–Nov. 12: Gary Loman, professional education manager, Rasmussen College

–Nov. 26: Tom Jackson, columnist for The Tampa Tribune

 

Christian Business Connection makes donations
Christian Business Connections donated $250 to Impact, a group of high school teens committed to saying yes to healthy relationships and saying no to premarital sex, drugs, tobacco and alcohol.

The business connections group also donated $250 to Overflow Magazine, a nonprofit Christian magazine distributed at churches, Salvation Army stores, supermarkets and other locations in Tampa Bay.

Christian Business Connections focuses on helping businesses prosper by networking and sharing ideas and business practices. The group meets at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays at Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Reigler Road in Land O’ Lakes.

For more info, visit www.cbccentralpasco.com.

 

North Tampa Chamber meetings
Here’s the slate of upcoming meetings of the North Tampa Chamber of Commerce

–Aug. 8: General meeting at the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center, 2701 E. Fowler Ave. in Tampa. For more information, email the chamber office at , or call (813) 961-2420. Doors open at 11 a.m., with networking until a buffet lunch begins at 11:30 a.m.

–Aug. 15: Chamber networking luncheon, at Beef O’ Brady’s, 8810 N. Himes Ave., Tampa. RSVP by Aug 13 to Kelly Winterling at , or call Horizon Bay at Lutz (Brookdale Senior Living) at (813) 909-9679. Need directions? Call (813) 936-2058.

–Aug. 22: Chamber networking luncheon, 11:30 a.m., at Embassy Suites USF/near Busch Gardens, 3705 Spectrum Blvd. in Tampa. RSVP by Aug. 20 to Jenn Beaumont at , or call her at AGLA-American General Life at (813) 334-8998. Directions? Call (813) 977-7066.

–Aug. 27: Chamber “Coffee Connection,” 7:30 a.m., hosted by Horizon Bay at Lutz, 414 Chapman Road E. in Lutz. RSVP no later than Aug. 26 to Kelly at (813) 909-9679 or . Refreshments will be provided.

–Sept. 3: Grand opening and ribbon cutting from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hair Cuttery, North Point Plaza, 15207 N. Dale Mabry Highway in Tampa. RSVP to Shelia Jarrett at (813) 960-3871 . Light refreshments will be served.

Please RSVP if you plan to attend these chamber events. For more information about the North Tampa Chamber, call (813) 961-2420, or send an email to: or visit northtampachamber.com.

 

Collecting memories to preserve history

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The interviewing techniques used by National Public Radio’s StoryCorps project will be used locally to create a special collection tracing the history of African-American life in Hillsborough County.

Millions of NPR listeners are familiar with stories collected through StoryCorps.org and broadcast on NPR’s “Morning Edition” program.

StoryCorps’ mission “is to provide people of all backgrounds and beliefs with the opportunity to record, share and preserve the stories of our lives,” according to the organization’s website.

Some of the recorded stories are played on the radio. The taped interviews are also archived in the Library of Congress.

Since 2003, StoryCorps has collected and archived more than 45,000 interviews, involving approximately 90,000 participants.

With the special grant it received, the Tampa-Hillsborough library system plans to invite people to share their recollections about the history of the African-American community in Hillsborough County, said Renelda Sellf, chief librarian for the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library Cooperative.

Specifically, the library system wants to hear from people who can share their insights, memories and knowledge about Central Avenue, the former center of commerce for the African-American community; Robert W. Saunders Sr., a civil rights activist; the history of local black nurses; the Jackson House, a boarding house where many high-profile African-Americans stayed in the days before blacks could stay in hotels; and, Negro League baseball players.

“There is a lot of rich history that we want to collect,” Sellf said.

Saunders played a key role in the civil rights movement in Florida and served as the Florida NAACP field secretary. He endured death threats from the Ku Klux Klan; worked statewide to desegregate public schools, beaches and housing; won raises for black teachers; brought affirmative action to government contracting and college admissions; stopped police brutality; and registered voters, according to a report published in The Tampa Bay Times after Saunders’ death.

The taped interviews will be kept in a special collection at the Robert W. Saunders Sr. Branch Library, 1505 N. Nebraska Ave. The existing library is slated for demolition and a new one will be built on the same site.

Most of the interviews will be conducted at the Saunders branch, but the project will also travel to other locations to collect stories, Sellf said. Those details are not yet final, but will be posted on the library system’s website when the information is available.

Staff members and volunteers for the Tampa-Hillsborough County Public Library System will receive training to lay the groundwork for collecting the personal stories, Sellf said.

After this local effort to create a special collection of recordings involving African-American history wraps up, the library system will be allowed to keep the equipment, and its staff will continue to benefit from the training provided through the project, Sellf said.

The library system was one of the 10 systems selected nationwide to participate in the StoryCorps “@ your library” pilot program.

The American Library Association Public Programs Office, in partnership with StoryCorps, selected the grant winners.

“There were more than 200 applications,” Sellf said.

For additional information about the project, call (813) 273-3652, or visit hcplc.org.

Shoppers can benefit during state’s sales tax holiday

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Officials at The Shops at Wiregrass expect the mall to attract more traffic as shoppers take advantage of the state’s sales tax holiday, Aug. 2-4. (Photo courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass.
Officials at The Shops at Wiregrass expect the mall to attract more traffic as shoppers take advantage of the state’s sales tax holiday, Aug. 2-4. (Photo courtesy of The Shops at Wiregrass.

It’s that time of year again, when families start gearing up for a new academic year by shopping for new school clothes, shoes, supplies and backpacks.

Just in time for those back-to-school purchases, Florida is having its sales tax holiday.

This time – for the first time – personal computers and accessories, valued up to $750, are also exempt from sales taxes during the sales tax holiday, which begins at 12:01 a.m. on Aug. 2 and goes through 11:59 p.m. on Aug. 4.

Retailers are staffing up as families take advantage of tax savings and markdowns, Rick McAllister, president and CEO of the Florida Retail Federation, said in a news release.

Retailers expect the introduction of the computer sales exemption to give the popular tax holiday a significant boost, McAllister said.

Clothing items and shoes priced at up to $75 are exempt, and so are school supply items, sold at no more than $15.

McAllister thinks the new computer exemption will drive purchases.

“Most families in Florida own a computer of one type or another, and we expect that many will take advantage of the tax savings to purchase computers for their kids or upgrade their own,” McAllister said. “And you’ll see great deals on clothes, shoes and school supplies. It’s a winning proposition for Florida’s families and for our retailers, because we’ll see a good boost in commerce over the weekend.

“Stores are actively competing with each other for customers, and that usually means plenty of markdowns to attract shoppers,” he added.

Retailers in Florida are expected to boost staffing by about 20 percent during the tax holiday weekend to accommodate shoppers. In general, retailers expect an average increase of between 30 and 40 percent in store traffic over the weekend because of the sales tax holiday, McAllister said.

A National Retail Federation survey predicts that families with school-aged children will spend an average of $634.78 on apparel, shoes, supplies and electronics in 2013, down from $688.62 last year.

McAllister noted, however, that “because of the tax holiday, retail stores generally perform a little better in Florida than in states without a sales tax holiday.”

The Shops at Wiregrass in Wesley Chapel historically sees more shoppers at its stores during August because of back-to-school sales and an uptick in activity during the sales tax holiday, said Debbie Detweiler, director of marketing.

It’s also a fun time, Detweiler said. “We enjoy seeing parents shopping with their kids for back-to-school.”

For more details on items that are exempt under the tax-free holiday, go to the Florida Department of Revenue’s website at http://dor.myflorida.com/dor/ and click on “Sales Tax Holiday, Aug. 2-4, 2013.”

Inspired to help others

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Nine-year-old Jack Buttafuoco and his mom, Melissa, recently were at a Dunkin’ Donuts when they saw an advertisement in The Laker/Lutz News for a summer food drive to help fight hunger locally. The Seven Oaks youngster was inspired to get involved to help stock the pantry at Feeding America Tampa Bay-Suncoast Branch.

Jack Buttafuoco sits behind just some of the groceries he collected in a personal food drive to feed the hungry. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
Jack Buttafuoco sits behind just some of the groceries he collected in a personal food drive to feed the hungry. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The elementary school student collected canned foods, pasta, peanut butter and other items from friends, neighbors and family members.

He even pitched in $26 of his allowance to buy soup and other items to help stock the food bank, which provides items for various food pantries.

He said he feels sad when he thinks about the hungry people who need the food, but is glad that he can help. He encourages others to do the same.

Anyone else who would like to help can bring their contributions to The Laker/Lutz News, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Suite 102, in Land O’ Lakes. The items that are needed most are canned meats, canned fruits and vegetables, peanut butter, pasta and rice.

Startups will have a place to call home

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The Dade City Business Center and Dade City Office Plaza was once the site of one of the largest juice processing plants in the world, teeming with more than 2,000 employees.

It fell into disrepair through the decades, but, in recent years, it has been roaring back to life with myriad companies setting up shop.

Now, plans call for launching Pasco County’s first business incubator at the site.

Businesses taking part in a new business incubator at the Dade City Business Center and Dade City Office Plaza will be able to use this conference room, said Bobby Van Allen, the site’s general manager. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The incubator will help small companies and startup businesses by providing expert assistance in tackling the various challenges that entrepreneurs face, said John Walsh, vice president of the Pasco Economic Development Council, a key player in the initiative.

Locating the incubator at the Dade City industrial park and office plaza is ideal because of its proximity to expert help from Saint Leo University, the Small Business Development Center and to veteran business people who belong to the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, Walsh said.

When companies are getting off the ground, they often need help on issues ranging from tax law to exports to personnel matters, Walsh said. A business incubator provides technical assistance and a way to connect businesses with people who can offer the kind of expertise they need.

In the long-run, the aim of a business incubator is to create jobs, encourage growth of innovative companies and help Pasco County and Dade City enhance their reputation as a place that can make these kinds of things happen, said John Moors, executive director of the chamber.

The owners of the business center and office plaza — JDR Properties of Pasco — offered attractive rates to help make the incubator affordable to small businesses, Walsh said.

The initiative fits in with the office and industrial park owners’ visionary thinking, said Bobby Van Allen, general manager of the 355-acre site.

The incubator is a combined effort of the PEDC, Saint Leo University, the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, the Small Business Development Center, Pasco County and the Dade City Business Center. It is funded with $50,000 from the PEDC, $50,000 from the city of Dade City and $100,000 from the county.

“This is a great collaboration,” Moors said. Everyone involved in the effort wants the incubator to be successful, he said.

Walsh said the hope is the incubator becomes a model for a couple others in Pasco.

Moors said the industrial park and office plaza was selected to house the business incubator because it has available office space, a common lobby, a common boardroom and ample parking.

Having office and industrial space available is a plus because it allows the incubator to serve a mixture of companies, Walsh said.

It also offers an opportunity for synergy as new companies can benefit from the experience of other tenants at the office and industrial park, Moors added.

“It’s already a major employment center for the county,” Moors said.

The site has a diverse list of tenants, including specialty recyclers, fuel production, decorative and specialty concrete business, furniture refinishing, beverage production and distribution, heavy equipment repair, accounting professionals, financial consultants, freight brokerage, logistical companies, a screen printer and embroiderer, marketing firms and a wheel manufacturer among others.

The park has heavy industrial zoning, a CSX main rail line flowing through it and daily water rights of 3.5 million gallons, Van Allen said. It also has its own wastewater treatment plant and access to six-lane US 301, as well as a central location in relation to Tampa, Orlando and Lakeland, Van Allen said.

Other benefits of the site include easy access to Florida’s major highways, regional and international airports and deepwater ports.

A selection committee will choose the companies that will be allowed to participate in the incubator, Van Allen said. It will be looking at a number of factors, including the company’s business plan and its exit strategy, he said.

Van Allen, who grew up in Dade City, said the site he manages has undergone a systematic rehabilitation with its current ownership.

“This property was very blighted. To be nice, it needed a lot of renovation,” Van Allen said.

Details for the business incubator are still being worked out, but Walsh expects it to begin operating in April or May.

For more information call Walsh or Krista Hakes at the PEDC, (813) 926-0827.

The kindness of strangers and friends

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Cameron Perez had planned to spend part of his winter break from Gaither High riding along with a friend who was moving to Indianapolis.

They wanted to share the ride, have some fun and then fly back home before school resumed.

Instead, Cameron’s friend lost control of the car, slammed into a wall, went down an embankment and crashed into a tree.

The accident occurred around 3 a.m. on Dec. 26 on a stretch of Interstate 65 near Bowling Green, Ky.

The police report attributed the crash to a combination of the driver’s speed, the condition of the car’s tires and the weather, said Robert Perez, Cameron’s dad.

Sherie Perez visits her son, Cameron, who is recovering from injuries from a car crash. (Photo courtesy of the Perez family)

Cameron sustained 60 percent damage to his brain, cracked ribs, a punctured lung, a fractured clavicle and three fractured vertebrates, his dad said.

The young man was transported to Kosair Children’s Hospital in Louisville, Ky., before being transferred to Tampa General Hospital.

He was later taken to Sabal Palms of Largo, an assisted care facility, where he is staying now, but will return to Tampa General for intensive rehabilitation.

Despite the long road to recovery that faces Cameron, the family has been comforted by the kindness of both strangers and friends, Robert said.

“When that accident happened, there was a cop literally one mile behind the accident. He got there, and when he assessed it he could see that Cameron was having trouble breathing,” Robert said. The officer, Jeremy Smith, moved Cameron’s head and put a towel under it so the teenager could breathe.

The ambulance was two miles away and the fire department responded within minutes, Robert said.

Hospital staff had given his son a 15 percent chance of survival, his dad said.

But Robert knew that they didn’t know Cameron.

“I never once thought he was not going to make it,” Robert said. “I can’t explain how I knew. I just knew.”

When Cameron’s friend, Dean “London” Bousaid, heard about the accident, he began rallying the Gaither community to get involved.

The school turned its Multicultural Extravaganza on Jan. 23 into a fundraiser for Cameron. The event featured ethnic foods and performances by students wearing costumes representing the cultures of Africa, Asia, South America, the Caribbean and Europe.

Various school clubs also have had fundraisers, and Tanya & Matt’s Ice Creamiest Colonial Promenade, a school partner, stepped in to help out, said Marie Whelan, Gaither’s principal.

Gaither students also had a massive car wash and sold T-shirts and wristbands, Robert said.

The outpouring of kindness was unexpected.

“It was amazing — the love and support that that school gave a student who hadn’t even been there for a year,” Robert said. “It was very touching. Words don’t describe it.”

When he arrived at the car wash, he saw that about 50 kids had turned out to help. He said he couldn’t believe it.

“I sat in my car and cried,” he said.

Whelan has been impressed, too: “It has been totally student-driven. They continue to just amaze me every single day.”

It will be a long road back for Cameron, Robert said.

Before the accident, his son was strong, quick and flexible.

“He was a natural athlete,” Robert said. “He could walk on his hands. He could do back-flips. He could run up walls and back-flip off of them. He could do pushups. He could do splits.”

He was a free spirit, too. He enjoyed having fun and wasn’t necessarily known for having a strong work ethic, his dad said. One reason Cameron was living with him was to stay focused and finish high school.

Cameron’s parents are separated. His mom, Sherie Perez, lives in Plant City.

Robert said he and his wife have differences, but they are united in their commitment to help their son recover.

Before attending Gaither, Cameron was on the wrestling teams at Plant City and Durant high schools. He also played football for the Turkey Creek Trojans, his dad said.

The young man liked to skateboard, listen to rap music, hang out with his friends and go to the beach.

Now, he is slowly making progress.

During the first month after the car crash, it was mostly a matter of survival. During the second month, Cameron’s brain and other injuries were healing. Now, the young man is saying words and indicating he remembers people and how to do things, his dad said.

“It’s one miracle after another,” Robert said.

Beyond the kindness shown by hospital workers, emergency personnel and the Gaither community, Cameron’s dad is also touched by the way his son’s friends have rallied around him.

On his 18th birthday, which was Feb. 28, about 60 kids came to Largo to see him.

Cameron’s grandparents, Carlos and Shirley Perez, have been visiting him daily, a fact his dad appreciates because he can’t get there every day.

While Robert is confident his son will recover physically, he’s not sure how Cameron will be affected mentally or if the injuries will affect the young man’s personality.

He’s also concerned about how he will provide the things Cameron needs. He was already struggling financially before the accident. Expenses he had not expected have compounded those challenges.

“I’m on a long journey,” Robert said.

But he’s determined to do what he can for his son.

“The only thing you have is faith and time,” Robert said. He added, “This is the hand that was dealt to me, and I have to play it. I will not stop until I get him back 100 percent. A happy life for him — that’s all I want.”

Dade City Main Street: a quarter-century of change

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With its quaint shops, historic courthouse and collection of restaurants, it’s hard to picture the slice of Americana that is downtown Dade City as a place once characterized by vacant storefronts and buildings falling into disrepair.

But that’s precisely what the place was like in the mid-1980s before Dade City Main Street began the battle to revive the downtown.

The renovation of the Dade City Courthouse was a huge step in the right direction in the effort to revitalize the city’s downtown district. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

“It was right on the verge of dying,” said Pat Weaver, who led the effort to establish Dade City Main Street. “I just couldn’t bear to see it be boarded up. … Dade City was referred to as ‘dead city.’ We decided to do something about it.”

Harsh freezes and the allure of shopping malls had a crippling effect on the district’s vitality, recalled Pete Brock, a member of Dade City Main Street’s founding board.

“Our downtown was in a state of decline,” Brock said.

That organization, which was part of the Florida Main Street Program, ceased operations on March 28. Before then, it served as a catalyst for revitalization and sponsored community events for a quarter-century.

From the very beginning, Weaver was confident the Main Street program could play a pivotal role in saving her hometown community’s downtown.

It took two years to line everything up to apply to join the state’s Main Street program, Brock said.

Gaining approval for the program required local commitment, including financial and community support. It also involved establishing a board of directors, drafting articles of incorporation and having the willingness to hire a full-time manager, Brock said.

The group also had to demonstrate community backing.

“We raised about $30,000 in six weeks,” Weaver said.

Most cities applying to the state’s Main Street program had to try more than once, Brock said. The Dade City group, however, had done its homework.

“We were accepted on the first go-round,” Brock said.

Brock thinks Dade City’s downtown was a good fit for the program.

“We were fortunate that we had a lot of historic buildings. The town has a natural beauty to it,” Brock said.

Dade City Main Street defined its mission as “a commitment to revitalize and preserve the flavor of small town life and the unique heritage of Dade City, Florida.”

The state’s Main Street program was set up as a three-year program, Brock said. It provided a $10,000 grant and technical assistance.

“They came into the community in those first three years, and they kind of evaluated where we were,” Brock said. “They trained the board. They trained the executive director. We had meetings where we did visioning. We did a lot of work to look at where we were and where we thought we needed to go.”

The board was made up of a cross-section of people to ensure it represented different points of view, Weaver said. She added that it also consisted of those who agreed to play an active role, noting there were no “in-name only” board members.

Brock characterized board members as the community’s “opinion leaders” who had the ability to make things happen.

It didn’t take long to begin having a positive impact, Brock said.

“All of a sudden, some of the merchants wanted to do something about their buildings,” Brock said.

The Gandy building was the first to complete a renovation, Weaver said.

Then Tom Smith and Kevin Roberts completed a $600,000 makeover of the Centennial Building, Brock said.

That stimulated others to get involved, and, within the first 18 months, more than $3 million had been invested in downtown construction and renovation, Brock said.

Dade City’s group worked with civic and service organizations and city and county government leaders, as well as the state’s Main Street program and experts from the University of Florida, to bring about positive change, Brock said.

The restoration of the stately courthouse, which graces the center of downtown, was a huge step in the right direction, Brock said.

“The courthouse was ugly, ugly, ugly,” Weaver said. It had additions that went all of the way out of the sidewalk, she added. “That hodgepodge of additions is gone now, and the historic structure exudes its early 1900s charm.”

The district built on its strengths, Brock said.

“We have this restaurant called Lunch on Limoges. That was really the magnet,” Brock said.

Downtown also became a draw for antiques dealers and boutiques.

The creation of the Community Redevelopment Agency has also made a sizable impact, Brock said. The CRA established a mechanism for using tax proceeds to help pay for various improvements and beautification projects.

During its quarter-century tenure, Dade City Main Street initiated, played a role or was a catalyst in numerous improvements and activities, such as:

—Renovating the 1912 train depot

—Constructing downtown restrooms

—Sponsoring downtown events like the Fall Scarecrow Festival and the Country Christmas Stroll

—Promoting downtown through billboards, shopping guides, streetlight banners, commemorative postcards and bottles of private label water

—Providing grants to beautify building facades, repaint buildings and purchase decorative streetlights, benches, trash receptacles, bicycle racks and newspaper dispensers

—Improving the district’s ambiance with trees and flowering plants in planters.

Brock said the group wanted to go out on a high note when it ceased operations.

“We really do feel that most of the things that we wanted to do have been accomplished in terms of the appearance and vitality,” Brock said. “The one area that we’re a little concerned is the advocacy area. We hope somebody will pick that up.”

John Moors, executive director of the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, said the group’s decision to disband came after a lengthy run.

“Everything has a life,” Moors said. “My history has been in various hotel companies and municipal governments. So, things change. The one thing that isn’t going to change is that things change. It’s not the change that happens, it’s how you adapt.”

He’s confident the downtown district will continue to thrive.

“We have a great group of merchants in Dade City,” Moors said. “They’re engaged. They’re active. They’re really committed to the betterment of our downtown, and I think it shows when you look at our downtown.”

Plan to cut media specialists on hold

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The Pasco County School Board wants more information before they decide on superintendent Kurt Browning’s proposal to eliminate school media specialists and literacy coaches.

Browning’s package of proposed budget cuts calls for eliminating 56.5 media specialist positions and 33 literacy coaches in district elementary, middle and high schools to save more than $4.8 million.

But at an April 16 budget workshop, school board members made it clear that they want to discuss the issue in greater detail.

During its board meeting that night, members voted to discuss the issue on May 7 when Browning is expected to provide more detailed information about positions that would be assigned to serve more than one school.

The media specialists and literacy coaches are included in the 260.5 positions Browning has proposed to eliminate to help plug a $19 million budget hole.

School board member Joanne Hurley told Browning she’s not comfortable with his proposal regarding the media specialists and literacy coaches.

As the district faces tougher academic standards, it’s important to provide school-based support, Hurley said, in an interview after the workshop.

“They’re taking away two very valuable resources,” Hurley said. “Those people do have direct contact with students.”

Board member Alison Crumbley wants to hear more details of Browning’s planned approach.

“I want to know what the specific plan is and how it relates to the students and student success,” she said, after the workshop. She wants to know “what the exact impact will be on our students.”

Board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong also wants more details.

“I’m looking forward to hearing the proposal that the superintendent’s office is going to bring to us,” she said in an interview after the workshop.

Board member Steve Luikart has a plan of his own. In an interview after the workshop, he said he’d like to see a slower transition than the one Browning has proposed.

At the workshop, Browning reminded board members that any reduction in his proposed cuts would require finding equivalent cuts elsewhere.

Browning also asked for direction in the approach he should use in balancing the district’s budget.

“Does the board want me to use nonrecurring revenue to balance the budget, or do you want me to find an additional $5 million in cuts?” Browning said.

Browning said he’d like to get away from using nonrecurring funds, which was a common practice in years past.

Board members concurred.

“I think the time has come where we really can’t do that again,” Hurley said.

Armstrong added, “At some point it’s just irresponsible to keep raiding the funds.”

Browning also informed the board that his proposed budget does not meet the state’s class size requirements. His proposal would save $4.033 million, but it would cost the district $213,000 in penalties for failing to meet the mandate.

Browning also said his team is “going to go back in and assess the number of APs (assistant principals) at our schools.”

Acknowledging that reducing the number of APs may not be popular, Browning said, “This is going to be shared pain-making.”

Luikart, a former AP, said he doesn’t see how the district can afford to make cuts in that area.

Browning said he hopes people whose positions are cut will be able to find new roles within the district as vacancies arise because of retirements or resignations.