The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Florida nation’s most veteran-friendly state?

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What does it take to become the most veteran-friendly state in the nation? Just follow Florida’s example.

At least that’s what Florida TaxWatch, a nonpartisan advocacy group on how taxpayer money is spent, is sharing as the state honors its veterans.

“Florida is proud of the brave servicemen and women who have chosen to build their lives and raise their families in the Sunshine State,” Dominic Calabro, president and chief executive of Florida TaxWatch, said in a release. “Our Legislature and Florida’s governor have recognized the importance of giving back to those who have sacrificed for us, and their commitment has resulted in Florida becoming the most veteran-friendly state in America.”

Florida does have 1.6 million vets living here, accounting for one in every 12 adult veterans. That includes 250,000 disabled veterans, both the third-largest nationally. Florida also has more World War II vets than any other state, and almost half of its veterans are older than 65.

So what makes Florida so special when it comes to veterans?

It all starts with the Florida “G.I. Bill,” Calabro said. That includes a number of veteran-friendly services like property tax exemptions, reductions in professional license fees, education benefits, obtaining driver’s licenses, and employment.

Property Tax Exemptions
A veteran with at least a 10 percent service-connected disability may be entitled to a $5,000 exemption on any property he or she owns. Those with service-connected total and permanent disability, or are confined to a wheelchair, could qualify for total homestead exemption — a benefit that also can carry over to the surviving spouse.

Veterans who are disabled, older than 64, and owns homestead property may qualify for a property tax discount based on their percentage of disability.

Current or former members of the military, reserves, U.S. Coast Guard or Florida National Guard, may receive an exemption for his or her homestead if deployed during the last calendar year outside of the United States. The exemption is equal to the percentage of the year the person was deployed.

The Fallen Heroes Family Tax Relief Act allows a surviving spouse of a veteran — as well as first responders — who died from service-connected causes to be granted a total exemption on their home. Also, any person serving in the U.S. Armed Forces may rent the homestead without abandoning the claim to the homestead exemption.

Professional License Fees
Fees related to professional licensing may be waived for veterans who have been honorably discharged within 60 months prior to applying for the license. Spouses also qualify for the waiver.

Also, members of the military, spouses and veterans who have retired within 24 months who apply for a professional license in the insurance industry are exempt from the application filing fee.

Education
Out-0f-state fees are waived for honorably discharged veterans who attend a state college, state university, career center, or charter technical career center. Also, $1.5 million is provided annually to fund tuition scholarships and book stipends for Florida National Guard members that participate in the Educational Dollars for Duty program.

Florida also waives undergraduate-level tuition at state universities and community colleges for Florida recipients of the Purple Heart and other combat-related decorations. Tuition benefits also are provided for dependent children and spouses of deceased or totally disabled veterans and children of service members who are missing in action or prisoners of war.

Driver’s licenses
Military members who are on active duty outside Florida — and their dependents — receive an automatic extension of their driver’s license without re-examination.

Non-resident active duty military service members stationed in Florida are exempt from the requirements to obtain a Florida driver’s license when his or her children enter a Florida public school. The service member’s spouse also is exempt if the spouse begins employment, or enrolls in a school in the state.

Employment
All government employers in Florida are required to grant employment preference in hiring and retention to veterans, spouses, parents and legal guardians, as well as National Guard members and the U.S. Reserve Forces. Private sector employers are authorized, but not required, to establish a veterans preference process for honorably discharged veterans and certain spouses.

The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity offers a range of services to veterans including recruitment, training grants, and links to federal programs offering certain employer incentives for hiring veterans. The Hiring Florida’s Heroes initiative works with employers to connect them with veterans possessing needed skills.

The newly created Veterans Employment and Training Services, or VETS, program will help connect veterans and employers, and will contract with at least one university to administer entrepreneurship initiative programs for veterans. It also creates a grant program for businesses to provide funding for training veterans to meet a business’s work force-skill needs.

For more on Florida TaxWatch, visit FloridaTaxWatch.org.

 

Governor asks businesses to hire a veteran

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The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity and CareerSource Florida is encouraging businesses to hire a veteran throughout November, following a proclamation by Gov. Rick Scott.

The proclamation encourages businesses and community leaders to recognize the value of hiring veterans in November for their competent skills, education, leadership, maturity and dedication learned during military service.

“As we continue to work to make Florida the most military-friendly state in the nation, we must take this time to recognize November as Hire a Veteran Month,” Scott said, in a release. “We know that veterans bring many benefits to employers because of their experiences and hard-working attitude.”

Florida is home to nearly 1.5 million veterans, the third largest population of veterans in the nation. The two state departments, along with the state’s 24 regional work force boards, work throughout the year to assist veterans, spouses of active-duty military members, and their families in finding meaningful employment in Florida.

So far this year, 21,000 veterans have been assisted by work force boards to find work.

CareerSource Florida’s regional partners provide local veterans employment representatives and disabled veterans outreach specialists year-round to connect veterans with employment and training opportunities. The Military Family Employment Advocacy Program delivers priority work force services for active-duty military spouses and family members near Florida’s major military installations.

For more information, visit FloridaJobs.org, or CareerSourceFlorida.com.

Area events honor veterans on special day

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Veterans Day is Nov. 11, and those who have put on the uniform to serve this country have a full day ahead of them.

Saint Leo University and Two Men and a Truck will deliver items to veterans in local shelters throughout the day Tuesday. The donations will be from a collection drive the school hosted last month including items such as soap, shampoo, shaving cream, razors, toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, towels, sheets, backpacks, blankets and more.

Saint Leo also will have a ceremony honoring veterans at 11 a.m., at the Greenfelder-Denlinger Boardrooms in the school’s student community center, 33701 State Road 52, in St. Leo.

The keynote speaker at that even is U.S. Army retired Col. K. Steven Collier, who founded a technology company in Dade City.

Bayfront Health Dade City and Gulfside Hospice will host a Senior Circle for Veterans Day at 10 a.m., at the hospital, 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City. It will include a pinning ceremony for all veterans in attendance. There also will be a moment of silence, followed by a complimentary lunch. To RSVP, call (877) 362-5321.

The Museum of Science & Industry at 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa, is offering $5 admission for all active and retired military personnel, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, first responders and police officers. For information, visit MOSI.org.

Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club will host an Armistice Day fundraiser to support troops and the community’s resident veterans. It will have a special recognition for World War II veterans, and include a dinner. For information, call John Benvengo at (917) 754-1726, or email .

Pasco-Hernando State College will host Honor Our Patriots Events on the Spring Hill campus, 450 Beverly Court, Nov. 12 and Nov. 13 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Military representatives will be on hand to talk about military life and resource groups, with a student veteran panel set for Nov. 12 at noon. All events are free, and information can be found at PHSC.edu/calendar.

Finally, Fifth Third Bank has partnered with the Folds of Honor Foundation to collect and match donations at all 48 of its Tampa Bay-area centers through Nov. 15. The foundation provides scholarships and other assistance to the spouses and children of soldiers killed or wounded in action. The bank will match up to $5,000 locally.

Local Fifth Third Banks are at 1122 Dale Mabry Highway in Lutz, and at 2022 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco Schools to honor veterans Tuesday

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Pasco County Schools are hosting a variety of events on Veterans Day Tuesday to honor those who risked or gave their lives for America’s freedoms.

The day starts off at Wesley Chapel Center for the Arts with a Veterans Day presentation beginning at 8:30 a.m. It will include Superintendent Kurt Browning as well as Pasco County elections supervisor Brian Corley, and will honor and celebrate veterans, as well as encourage students to participate in the Vote in Honor of a Veteran program.

“This is the greatest country in the world, and we owe that to generations of men and women who have gone to war to protect our values and beliefs,” Browning said, in a release. “There is no better place for students to learn about the sacrifices and contributions of this nation’s veterans than in our schools.”

The arts center is located at 30651 Wells Road in Wesley Chapel.

Corley will join outreach ambassadors from his government office to conduct voter registration at all high schools in the county from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. On top of that, several schools will host Veterans Day programs. They include:

• Salute a Veteran at Fox Hollow Elementary School, 10 a.m. — The entire student body will have a part in honoring local veterans. Each grade level at the school, 8309 Fox Hollow Drive in Port Richey, has taken time to learn the chorus of a branch of service, and to study their assigned branch.

• Veterans Day parade at Odessa Elementary School, 10:15 a.m. — Students at the Odessa school, 12810 Interlaken Road in Port Richey, will gather to honor veterans by witnessing a patriotic musical performance by their chorus, brass quintet, sax quartet, and Mitchell High School’s color guard. Retired Lt. Col. Alan Klyap will serve as guest speaker with a parade following.

• Veterans Day program at Taylor Elementary School, 10:30 a.m. — Taylor, 3638 Morris Bridge Road in Zephyrhills, will present a program that will include the Junior ROTC from Zephyrhills High School, as well as the high school’s jazz band. Guest speaker will be Browning.

• Second Annual Salute to our Veterans at Cotee River Elementary School, 10:30 a.m. — Cotee River studeents will hear from retired U.S. Navy Cmdr. Michale Cheetam, commander of the Ridgewood High School Naval Junior ROTC, as well as Daniel Gosonda from the U.S. Coast Guard, at the school, 7515 Plathe Road in Port Richey. Cheetam’s cadets will perform, and the Cotee River chorus will give a patriotic performance.

• Schrader’s Tribute to Our Veterans at Schrader Elementary School, 2 p.m. — The fifth grade students have invited parents as well as veterans to hear patriotic songs and speaking parts that honor the men and women who work every day to protect freedom. It will take place at the school, 11041 Little Road in New Port Richey.

Toys for Tots collection begins

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Christmas time is just around the corner, and the campaign by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve has started to collect toys for children.

The first Toys for Tots collection drive will take place at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s offices in Land O’ Lakes, Dade City and Lutz. The west side offices will begin their drives in December.

Toys for Tots was created to help less fortunate children in communities enjoy a better holiday season. The program seeks new, unwrapped gifts for children and teenagers. Toys donated by members of any given community will be given to children in that community.

“I applaud the veterans and volunteers from Toys for Tots who give so much time to help the less fortunate children in Pasco County,” Tax Collector Mike Fasano said, in a release. “I encourage everyone who has a heart for children to consider dropping off a gift at one of our offices. The generosity of our friends and neighbors will go a long way towards making this a special holiday season for countless kids who may not otherwise receive a nice gift this year.”

Throughout November, toys can be donated to the Land O’ Lakes office at the Central Pasco Government Center, 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes; 4610 Pet Lane, C101, in Lutz; and at the East Pasco Government Center, 14236 Sixth St., Room 100, in Dade City.

Low gas prices might push Thanksgiving travel

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Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and dropping gas prices at the pump could convince many families to take to the road.

Gas in Florida dropped another nickel over the past week, bringing the average cost for a gallon of regular unleaded to $2.91, while the national average falls to $2.93. It’s the 42nd consecutive day gas prices have dropped nationally, and the 37th in Florida.

“Cheap gas prices couldn’t come at a better time as millions of Americans make travel plans for the holiday season,” AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins said, in a release. “Prices are the lowest in four years, which should influence more people to take a trip, drive farther, or drive instead of fly.”

The average gas price is now below $3 a gallon in 26 states, including Florida, Georgia and Tennessee. South Carolina has the cheapest gas in the country at $2.68, with Tennessee not far behind at $2.70. Florida has the 20th cheapest.

The U.S. shale boom continues to have a major impact on the market, with domestic oil production the highest on record, dating back to 1983. The price for a barrel of oil fell below $79 for the first time since June 2012, settling at $78.65 on Friday, a drop of $1.89 from the previous week.

Land O’ Lakes has the cheapest gas in the area, with $2.75 reported at both the Citgo and RaceTrac stations in the State Road 52 area, according to GasBuddy. Zephyrhills was not far behind with $2.77 at a Shell station on Paul S. Buchman Highway and Central Avenue.

The Circle K on Van Dyke and Old Tobacco roads checked in at $2.78 in Lutz, while the cheapest gas in both Wesley Chapel and Dade City was coming in at $2.79.

Two shell stations on Van Dyke Road in the Lutz area had the area’s most expensive gas at $2.99, while the Sunoco at Land O’ Lakes and Causeway boulevards reported $2.93, in the Land O’ Lakes area. Wesley Chapel’s most expensive was $2.89 at a Shell station on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard and State Road 56, not far from its cheapest gas at Sam’s Club, which was a dime lower.

 

Petry named principal of Sanders Memorial Elementary

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Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning will ask the school board to approve Jason Petry as the new principal of Sanders Memorial Elementary School, when it opens next year.

Petry
Jason Petry

Petry, who is currently the principal of Lake Myrtle Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes, has been with the school district since 2002, according to a release. He started as an intermediate grade teacher at Deer Park Elementary School, and spent time at Quail Hollow Elementary School before becoming the third-grade teacher at Double Branch Elementary School.

Petry was named the assistant principal at Veterans Elementary School in Wesley Chapel in 2008, and continued there until getting promoted to his current job at Lake Myrtle in August 2011.

He earned his bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of South Florida in 2002, and his master’s at Saint Leo University in 2005.

Petry will take over the school Jan. 6, in preparation for Sanders’ opening in the fall.

Sanders will emphasize science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics — known as STEAM. It will draw largely from the Land O’ Lakes area, relieving overcrowding at Connerton Elementary School, officials said. Remaining seats would be open for students living outside the school’s normal boundaries.

Sanders will be located at 5126 School Road, and be almost entirely new. Just three of the former school’s buildings remain — the rest were demolished.

The school board will make a final decision on Petry’s appointment at its Nov. 18 meeting.

Pasco government offices closed Nov. 11

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Many Pasco County government offices will be closed Nov. 11 in observance of Veterans Day.

All government offices will reopen Nov. 12.

The Pasco County Parks and Recreation Centers will be closed that day, but parks and beaches will remain open to the public from dawn until dusk.

Pasco County Animal Services’ administrative office, adoption center, shelter and field services will be closed that Tuesday,  but an animal control officer will be available for emergencies only.

All offices resume regular business hours Nov. 12, with the adoption center open from noon to 6:30 p.m., and everything else from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Buses will not run through Pasco County Public Transportation on Nov. 11, however, normal routes will resume Nov. 12.

The Pasco County Resource Recovery Facility and the East Pasco Transfer Station will close Nov. 11 to the public. However, they will remain open to licensed commercial haulers. Both will reopen to the public on Nov. 12.

For details on closings, visit PascoCountyFl.net.

MOSI to host digital classroom symposium

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The Museum of Science & Industry in Tampa will host a digital classroom initiative symposium Nov. 13 beginning at 8 a.m. It will bring together education professional and high-technology specialists who will discuss adapting technology for enhanced learning and student achievement advancements.

The symposium is being put together by state Sen. John Legg, and will cover an array of topics addressing the goals, challenges and needs of educators, students and employers.

Among those participating are technology administrators from area school districts, Pasco County Schools superintendent Kurt Browning, Bright House Networks’ Craig Cowden, Florida Senate president Andy Gardiner and Tampa Bay Technology Forum chairman Chase Stockon.

The Legislature has directed Florida’s Department of Education earlier this year to develop and implement a five-year strategic plan for establishing digital classrooms. The $40 million initial plan is to support individual school districts with their respective efforts of integrating technology in classrooms. The program seeks to merge educational practices with digital innovation.

Those who wish to register can do so at tinyurl.com/EdTechFl.

MOSI is located at 4801 E. Fowler Ave., in Tampa.

CareerSource job fair attracts 315 people

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More than 300 people decided to “race to work,” taking part in a job fair through CareerSource Pasco Hernando.

RACE to Work — the Reemployment Assistance Community Event — attracted 315 job-seekers and 50 employers, according to a release. It took place at three sites in Dade City, New Port Richey and Spring Hill, and was designed to help pair people who have received or exhausted unemployment benefits, with employers with job openings.

“These events are the first step to developing relationships within the community,” said Rick Casey, the director of career and testing services at Pasco-Hernando State College, in a release.

Employers taking part included Target, Alumni Guard, Toys R Us, Communication Concepts and Sparton Electronics, as well as the county’s largest employer, Pasco County Schools.

Each industry was looking to hire between three and 70 new employees for both seasonal and permanent positions.

For more information on services provided to job-seekers and employers, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com, or call Sunnye Fredia at (352) 247-0761.