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TALLAHASSEE – State Sen. Danny Burgess (R-Zephyrhills) has filed legislation to examine the impact of phone-free school campuses on student achievement and behavior.

Senate Bill 1296 establishes a pilot program in six Florida school districts that currently have or will be implementing a policy to prohibit the use of cell phones by students during the entire school day.

“Florida became a model for the rest of the nation when we first passed legislation in 2023 to remove cell phones from classrooms,” Burgess said. “I was proud to help spearhead that policy change, which has helped to remove distractions, improve focus during class time and increase student interaction. Now, I believe there is more we can do to further promote ideal learning environments to increase student achievement. By establishing phone-free school campuses, we can encourage students to connect more personally with each other and their teachers and better support their academic efforts.”

The Foundation for Florida’s Future highlighted the importance of the legislation.

“Schools should be places where students and teachers are free to focus on learning,” said Nathan Hoffman, senior legislative director for the Foundation for Florida’s Future. “Data continue to show that eliminating the cell phone distraction, not only in the classroom as Florida has in place now, but throughout the entire school day produces better outcomes – both from a school climate perspective as well as academic. This is important legislation that will keep the Sunshine State moving forward. We thank Senator Burgess for being the champion of this issue for all students and teachers in Florida.”

Florida law currently prohibits student cell phone use during instructional time. SB 1296 would require the Florida Commissioner of Education to coordinate with six school districts selected by the Florida Department of Education which represent two small, two medium and two large counties that currently, or will in the 2025-26 school year, implement a policy that prohibits the use of cell phones by students during the entire school day, while on school grounds or engaged in school activities off school grounds during the school day. 

The department would be tasked with providing a report to the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives before Dec. 1, 2026, summarizing the effect of each district policy on student achievement and behavior. 

The report must also include a model policy that school districts and charter schools may adopt and outline exceptions for health emergencies, disasters, students with disabilities and English Language Learners, on school buses, or during activities outside of the school day. 

The report must also include student code of conduct provisions for violations of the policy which facilitate bullying or cheating, constitute illegal behavior, or capture pictures or video of another student during a medical episode.

 

Heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the U.S., with high blood pressure being one of the main factors of poor cardiovascular health.  

Two popular heart-healthy diets that you probably hear of often are the Mediterranean Diet and the DASH Diet.  

DASH, which stands for Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension, originated in the 1990s from trial studies funded by the National Institute of Health researching dietary interventions on blood pressure.  

How do these two heart-healthy diets differ, and how are they similar?  

Both are evidence-based diets and have been studied extensively for their cardiovascular benefits. While they both have “diet” in their name, they are more of an everyday eating pattern and permanent lifestyle.

They also both emphasize eating whole, minimally-processed foods.  They stress eating vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean and plant-based protein while limiting (note: not avoiding) foods and drinks that are high in sugars and saturated fat, such as soda and red meat.  They are both highly ranked by US News & World Reports for best overall diets due to their health benefits and weight loss effectiveness, and they also support cognitive health.  

They do have some differences though.  

• Fat intake: The Mediterranean Diet promotes eating healthy fats (like from olive oil and fish), while the DASH Diet focuses on reducing total fat consumption and saturated fats, highlighting low-fat dairy.
• Sodium: The DASH Diet is centered around reducing sodium intake (no more than 2,300 mg per day), while the Med Diet does not have any specific sodium limitations.  However, simply following the Med Diet by eating whole foods will typically result in reduced sodium intake.
• Alcohol: For those that currently drink, DASH recommends no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, while the Med Diet encourages moderate red wine consumption with meals.  
• Purpose: The DASH Diet is designed to reverse or prevent hypertension, while the Med Diet focuses on replicating the eating pattern of the geographic regions with low rates of heart disease.
• Flexibility: The Mediterranean Sea is bordered by over a dozen countries, providing for more variety in eating patterns due to the different cultures and agricultures.
• Other lifestyle components: The Med Diet also encourages physical activity, managing stress, and social connections. The DASH Diet only focuses on the eating pattern.

Is one better than the other?  

The best one is the one that you are more likely to stick with for the long term.  

Some people will also do a hybrid version, combining aspects of both.  

Talk with your doctor if you are trying to lose weight, reduce your blood pressure, and/or lower your risk for heart disease to see how these eating patterns can fit in with your health journey.  

And of course, when making lifestyle changes, it’s best to start small rather than drastically, as this increases the likelihood of success.  

 

Mediterranean Salad (Alabama Extension)

 

Ingredients

1 1/2 C. dry brown rice

1/4 C. olive oil

1 lemon, juiced

2 cloves garlic, minced

2 C. cherry tomatoes

1 C. olives, pitted and halved

1 C. chickpeas, drained

1/2 red onion, diced

3 tbsp. fresh parsley, chopped

Salt and pepper to taste

 

Directions

Cook rice according to package instructions and let cool.

In a bowl, mix together olive oil, lemon juice and garlic.

In a separate bowl, mix the cooled brown rice and all other ingredients.

Stir in the olive oil mixture.

Refrigerate for at least 1 hour before serving.

Tips: If you’re using bottled lemon juice, start with 2 tablespoons and add more as desired.

 

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County, An Equal Opportunity Institution.

 

NEW PORT RICHEY – The number and rate of deaths and serious injuries on Pasco County roads are trending downward despite the area’s rapid growth. 

The Pasco County Metropolitan Transportation Organization was one of just six MPOs in the state to report a reduction in the number and rate of deaths and serious injuries from 2019 to 2023, according to Andrew Larter, a senior transportation planner for Urban SDK.

Larter presented safety data to the Pasco MPO on Feb. 13 so that leaders could set their annual targets. 

Federal law requires states to annually set targets for safety performance measures. MPOs have to follow suit within 180 days. 

The Florida Department of Transportation set a target this year of zero for all performance measures. This includes fatalities and serious injuries. 

“Obviously, this is an aspirational goal,” Larter told the Pasco MPO. “It’s one that we all aspire to with the Vision Zero principle of roadway safety; however, Pasco MPO supports the statewide target and nevertheless also wishes to establish its own targets to track the safety performance of the transportation system in Pasco County in a more easily understandable way and one that establishes more meaningful and achievable targets than a blanket target of zero.”

Pasco MPO tracks five safety performance measures: the number and rate of fatalities, the number and rate of serious injuries, and non-motorized fatalities and serious injuries. 

These measures are tracked using five-year rolling averages. Despite reductions in every performance measure, the Pasco MPO did not meet targets set in 2024. 

That’s because the MPO sets a goal to reduce deaths and serious injuries by 10% of the current five-year rolling average. 

“This is a methodology that allows the MPO to adopt clear and achievable targets using available and empirical data,” Larter said. 

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano questioned if that was the best approach. He thought it would be more realistic to set goals based on year-to-year data instead of a five-year rolling average. 

“I don’t know why you would set yourself up for failure with that,” he said. 

He wanted to see how the other 26 MPOs in Florida measure their goals. 

“I also think it’s going to be very interesting to see the numbers because our county is growing at such a rapid rate compared to other parts of the state,” Pasco County Commissioner Lisa Yeager said. 

Larter shared several ways that the MPO is addressing safety, including: 

• Creating a safety action plan after receiving a $320,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Transportation in 2023. 
• Supporting the Federal Highway Administration’s Safe System approach to highway design.
• Incorporating safety into transportation planning as well as its methodology for project prioritization.

 

As with most holidays, New Year’s celebrations are centered around food.  

While ordering a pizza on New Year’s Eve or Day is a popular option (those are two of the top five days for pizza delivery), a fun way to welcome 2025 would be with food that represents good things for the new year.  

Whether you’re cooking for just your family or for a potluck gathering with dozens of people, check out these foods that are symbolic for good things ahead.

1. Black-eyed peas: There are a few theories on this, but one states that because they swell when cooked, it symbolizes growing wealth.  Cook them in Hoppin’ John, a black-eyed pea dip, or in burritos on New Year’s Day.
2. Leafy greens: Collard greens, Swiss chard, kale, spinach and so on.  These green veggies are said to represent a prosperous year ahead.
3. Onions: Traditionally seen by the Greeks to hang a bag of onion over your door to indicate growth and rebirth due to onions easily sprouting even when left alone.  Their layers also represent shedding the old to welcome the new.
4. Rice: Normally seen thrown at weddings, rice symbolizes prosperity and fertility.
5. Pork: Because pigs push forward as they eat, it’s considered good luck to eat pork so we can move forward in the new year.
6. Grapes: In Mexico and Spain, it’s good luck to eat 12 grapes for each stroke of midnight.
7. Noodles: in many countries, the longer, the better, to represent the longevity of life.  In Japan, they traditionally slurp their noodles since it’s considered bad luck to break them.
8. Lentils: Because they look like little coins, Italy and other countries eat them on New Year’s to bring luck and fortune.
9. Fish: With so many fish in the sea, they represent abundance.  
10. Cornbread: The color of gold, it’s said to represent wealth.
11. Buttered bread: This represents abundance and the absence of hunger for the year ahead.  Ireland traditionally calls New Year’s Day the Day of Buttered Bread, where they leave a slice of buttered bread outside by the front door to thwart hunger.
12. Doughnuts: These represent the year coming full circle.  In Germany, jelly-filled doughnuts are common on New Year’s Eve.

Have fun incorporating these meaningful ideas into your New Year’s traditions if you haven’t already, and I’ll see you in 2025.  

 

Black-Eyed Pea and Collard Greens Soup, from MyPlate.gov

Ingredients

• 3 cups collard greens, stems removed and chopped (about 1/2 pound)
• 2 cans (15 ounce each) black-eyed peas, low-sodium (or 4 cups)
• 1 tablespoon vegetable oil (or cooking oil of choice)
• 1 medium onion, chopped
• 1/8 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1/4 pound deli ham, sliced
• 1 can (14.5 ounce) low-sodium broth (chicken or vegetable)
• Salt and pepper to taste (optional)
• 2 teaspoons apple cider vinegar

 

Directions

1. Wash hands with soap and water.
2. Wash the collard greens.
3. Drain and rinse the black-eyed peas.
4. Collect, chop, dice and measure all ingredients before starting to prepare the recipe.
5. Place oil, onion, garlic and ham in a large pot with a lid over medium heat. Stir occasionally until the onion is clear, about 3 to 5 minutes.
6. Add collard greens and broth to the pot.
7. Cover and simmer for about 20 minutes until the collard greens are tender.
8. Place half of the black-eyed peas in a small bowl, and mash with a fork. Stir the mashed and whole peas into the soup. Simmer for another 5 minutes.
9. Taste and add a small amount of salt and black pepper if desired.

10 Stir in vinegar just before serving.

11. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours. Eat within 3 to 5 days.

 

Shari Bresin is the Family & Consumer Science Agent for the University of Florida/Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences Cooperative Extension Pasco County, An Equal Opportunity Institution.

 

DADE CITY – The Pasco County Planning Commission recently delayed a decision until March 6 on a rezoning request made by Evans Properties Inc., on 80 acres within the Northeast Pasco Rural Protection Area.

The planning commission held a lengthy public hearing Feb. 6 prior to voting in favor of the continuance.

The Pasco County Board of County Commissioners, which has the final authority on rezoning requests, has scheduled a public hearing regarding Evans’ rezoning request on March 11 in Dade City.

The Evans family’s property, located south of County Line Road North and east of Lake Iola Road,  is currently zoned as an agricultural district. 

They want to change the zoning to a master planned unit development to build 300 multi-family units (platted townhomes and condominiums), 100,000 square feet of commercial space and 1.5 million square feet of light industrial uses on the site.

Future land-use plans have designated the Evans’ property as employment center for the past 20 years. 

The Pasco County Department of Planning, Development and Economic Growth had recommended the planning commission to do one of three things regarding the Evans property.

Planning staff’s initial recommendation was to continue the request to the planning commission’s March 6 meeting in Dade City. This was because they had received a lot of new information from the applicant a short time before the Feb. 6 meeting.

Staff’s alternative motion 1 was that the planning commission recommend county commissioners deny the rezoning request. Alternative 2 was to have the applicant’s conditions of approval, which were included in its application, to be attached if the planning commission recommended approval of the rezoning request.

Staff’s desire to have the planning commission recommend denial was based on its opinion that Evans’ request was inconsistent with several parts of Pasco County’s Comprehensive Plan Objectives and Policies regarding the existence of an employment center within the Northeast Pasco Rural Protection Area, which is designed to preserve its agricultural and rural characteristics. 

They included but weren’t limited to provision of potable water services for industrial and employment center land uses; central water in employment center areas; provision of potable water and sanitary sewer; provision of potable water – rural area; and rural residential roads.

It was also staff’s opinion that Evans’ request was inconsistent with four parts of the Land Development Code:

• LDC Section 402.2.F- Master Planned United Development Standards of Review; 
• LDC Section 402.2.G.2- Master Planned Unit Development Staff Review; 
• LDC Section 604-Northeast Pasco Rural Protection Overlay District; and 
• LDC Section 901.6.D.11- Street Design and Dedication Requirements.

Six planning commission members expressed concerns about Evans’ request.

Jon Moody told staff that he thought some of their reasons cited for denial were “an absolute grasping at straws that you’re not going to get anywhere with.” He recommended staff “do its homework” and come up with some conditions for approval for the rezoning request.

Moody added there appeared to be unanswered questions regarding Evans’ rezoning requests on the sides of both staff and the applicant and some resolutions need to be made.

Derek Pontiltz said he had some concerns whether the level of zoning Evans is requesting, “is premature for the area.”

Chris Poole said he thought this was the most difficult case that’s come before the planning commission in the time that he’s been a member. 

Chris Williams, who is the representative for Pasco County Schools, said the planning staff couldn’t tell him what needed to be done to the developer’s plan to make it compatible with the comprehensive plan.

“Since we just got it last night, I don’t think anybody’s had a chance to come up with a solution,” Chairman Charles Grey said. 

Vice Chairman Jamie Girardi said this was “probably one of the most contentious things we’ve had here in probably eight or 10 years.” 

Joel Tew, who is a land-use consultant for the applicant, said his client would be willing to make whatever changes were necessary to its conditions.

David Engle, director of the planning department, said he was willing “to do my best to work with the Evans folks … to see if we can find a collaborative consensus but I can’t guarantee it but we will give it an effort.” 

Engle added he didn’t have any axe to grind with Mr. Tew or the Evans family and that he would treat them with respect like he does with other property owners.