Special to The Laker/Lutz News

By Kyle LoJacono

Hillsborough County Commissioner Sandra Murman is hoping to create 200 new jobs this year with an incentive for small business owners.

Murman, who represents District 1, proposed a program that was passed by the commission that reimburses business owners for up to 50 percent of the first three months total salary of a new employee.

“Hillsborough County needs to grow our economic base and we need to improve the opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs within our region,” Murman said. “This initiative will have a real impact on the opportunities for local growth of the small business sector.”

Rani Chehal, co-owner of Felicitous Coffee House in Lutz, said she and her partner Cristie Leacock are planning to expand their hours of operation and will need new employees to do that. Chehal said a program like this one would encourage them to bring on some new workers.

“Right now it’s just the two of us doing all the shifts and we’d need to hire one or two more people to increase our hours,” Chehal said. “Right now we’re open Monday through Saturday, but we want to be open seven days a week. If things keep picking up, we’ll need help to take that next step.”

The program, which began March 21, will pay up to $3,900 per new job created. Only businesses with 10 or fewer current employees are eligible for the reimbursement, and the new workers must be residents of Hillsborough.

Additionally, only new full-time positions qualify for the program and the new jobs must exist for the duration of the three months. The small business owners must also attend a minimum of four hours of business workshops and/or counseling sessions.

“We wanted to help those out of work in Hillsborough County, which is why we limited it to Hillsborough residents,” Murman said. “We also wanted to help only the smallest businesses, so that’s why we limited it for those with 10 current employees. Hopefully this will help jump start some businesses and get more people working again.”

Murman said the county has $500,000 to give to small businesses in the county. The program will end when the money is spent.

Small business owners can download an application for the program at Hillsborough’s small business website, www.hillsboroughcounty.org/sbic/info/. They can also find information about starting a business, how to grow a business and other resources. Residents can also contact the county’s Small, Minority Business Development Section at (813) 914-4028.

Chehal and Leacock opened Felicitous Coffee House eight months ago at 19015 US 41, across the street from the Lutz Branch Library. For more information on the business, call (813) 948-6540 or visit www.felicitouscoffee.com.

By B.C. Manion

A summer program aimed at giving children of poverty the same sorts of experiences enjoyed by their wealthier peers has attracted national acclaim for Pasco County Schools.

The public school district devised two summer camp experiences for children coming from district schools with the greatest concentration of low-income families.

In one camp, the youngsters spent a week engaged in hands-on environmental lessons connected to the state’s academic standards.

The lessons were held at four different sites, with activities ranging from kayaking and seining to classroom work focused on tracking the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and its potential impact on marine and estuarine environments.

In the technology camp, children were issued a laptop and iPod Nano to take home and were taught how to plan, write and produce movies and podcasts.

The first movie they completed was a film about their own lives. The last one was a public service announcement.

The summer camps were open only to children who are entering fourth- and fifth-grades in the district’s Title I schools, which include Cox, Lacoochee, Pasco, West Zephyrhills and Chester Taylor elementary schools.

Schools are designated Title I based on the percentage of their students who meet the federal eligibility requirements for free or reduced-price lunch.

The summer camps yielded impressive academic gains.

Students taking part in the environmental camp demonstrated an average gain of 24 percent, with youngsters from the higher poverty schools performing even better, with an average gain of 41 percent.

Students in the technology camp also experienced academic success, based on the pre- and post-test results.

Before beginning the technology camp, the students, on average, were able to correctly answer 38 out of 65 questions; after the camp, the average number of correct responses improved with students getting 55 out of 65 right.

The district’s program impressed an independent panel of judges so much that it awarded Pasco County Schools one of three grand prizes in the American School Board Journal’s 17^th annual Magna Awards competition. The other school districts attaining that distinction were the Moreland School District in San Jose, Calif. and the Joplin (Mo.) Schools.

The Pasco district received its award in the category of school districts exceeding 20,000 students

“We are terribly thrilled,” said Elena Garcia, supervisor of Pasco County Schools’ Title 1 program.

Research shows that family income can play a more significant role in student achievement than traditional factors, such as race and ethnicity, the school district noted in its application for the award.

“One root cause is limited exposure to experiences that promote intellectual development,” the application notes. “The District School Board of Pasco County believes in and supports the notion that increasing a student’s exposure to quality experiences can greatly influence a child’s potential to succeed,” the application adds.

Garcia was quick to credit Laura Hill, the supervisor of kindergarten through 12^th-grade science and the environmental summer camp’s lead teachers Jeanne Knight, Mark Butler and Donna Koljeski for developing the curriculum and preparing teachers to present it.

Garcia also lauded the efforts of Brian Schulz, the Title I program specialist, Jay Feliciani, supervisor of instructional media and technology, and lead teacher Michelle Lattke, for their leadership in making the technology camp a success.

The American School Board Journal initiated the Magna Awards in 1995 to recognize school boards for taking bold and innovative steps to improve their educational program, according to a news release issued by the NSBA.

More than 350 entries were submitted in this year’s competition, representing more than 40 states, the news release states.

Besides bringing honor to the school district, the award — which is supported by Sodexo School Services — includes $4,000 in scholarship money.

The award will be presented at the 71^st NSBA Annual Conference, scheduled for April 8-11 in San Francisco.

By B.C. Manion

When it comes to antique radios, Johnny Vick is a little different from most folks.

He prefers the radios he buys to be broken.

The 62-year-old enjoys the challenge of figuring out what’s wrong with them and bringing them back to life.

“I like to resurrect them,” the Lutz man said, smiling.

He credits his father for leading him into the world of electronics.

“When I was a kid, when my dad would buy me something for Christmas — he’d buy me an electronic kit. He’d make me sit down at the table with that kit and make it work before I went out to play.

“My dad didn’t want me playing around too much. He used to build games (for the carnival industry). He’d have me there with him. I’d holding a solder. I’d put the solder where he wanted it, or I’d wrap the wires together. He had me working. I was learning at the same time.”

Vick followed his father’s footsteps into the carnival world, working first as a motorcycle daredevil and later as a carnival electrician.

He learned his way around electronics by watching others make repairs, through trial and error and by voraciously reading books on the topic.

“When I was at the carnival and something would go wrong with the generator, they’d call a man in. I was right there. I’d ask him if he wanted coffee or anything. I was there to learn what he was doing. I even had some of them draw me schematics.”

He’s also learned about electronics the hard way: “I’ve been zapped quite a few times.”

Over time, though, he became adept at reading schematics and figuring out how things work.

He spent 35 years making electrical repairs at carnivals and developing a reputation for his versatility.

“I’m pretty well-known in the carnival business for electricity because I knew so many things,” he said. “I wasn’t confined to one area.”

While working the carnival circuit, in New York, New England, Virginia and North Carolina, he picked up radios for his collection.

“They have little flea markets at the carnivals and I’d always go check them out. They’d have lots of radios. I’d buy them.”

He preferred buying broken radios. They cost less and he enjoyed fixing them.

Sometimes, it’s hard to pinpoint (the problem). You have to dig at it and dig at it until you find it, find that culprit,” Vick said.

But getting the radio to work again brings a sense of satisfaction, said Vick, who has accumulated about 500 radios in his collection.

He’s got models from all sorts of makers, including Philco, Zenith, G.E., Admiral and Bulova. Some are console radios, others are portable. Most of his radios are the kind that sit on a counter.

Most of them are the old tube-type radios, made between the 1920s and 1960s.

Vick has repaired most of the radios in his collection, but has deliberately left some out of order.

Some radio enthusiasts in the market for antique radios prefer to buy radios that are broken, he said.

He also has some broken radios that he uses for spare parts.

Vick said he welcomes others who love radios to drop by his place to chat.

He also is willing to make repairs, but is not especially looking for that type of business.

He’s confident that he can fix most radios, but sometimes the wires are so old, or previous repairs were done so poorly, it’s not worth the effort to take the job.

“I can fix it,” he said. “I just don’t want to go through the aggravation of doing it.”

If you would like to know more about Johnny Vick’s radio collection, or would like to chat with him about radios, give him a call at (813) 404-0660.

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County received $4.2 million in federal stimulus money to make energy and water-efficient improvements to several government buildings.

The upgrades will not only help the environment, they will cut utility costs and create about 45 temporary jobs to install the new equipment.

“This is going to save us a lot of money not just the first year, but every year after that,” said Dan Johnson, one of Pasco’s assistant county administrators. “It is also good for the environment, and that’s good for everyone.”

Most of the changes are standard when trying to cut utility costs, such as replacing lighting with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs, putting in low-flow water fixtures and installing new heating and air conditioning units.

However, a few are less conventional, such as adding two revolving doors at the West Pasco Courthouse and installing solar water heaters at 10 of the county’s fire stations.

The new doors will start being installed in three months and will allow less cool air to escape during the hot summer months, reducing the time air conditioners need to run. Instead of air flowing out every time someone enters, the revolving doors create an almost constant seal, which would also reduce heating costs in the winter.

Low-flow water fixtures will be installed at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center, which are expected to cut usage from 31 million to 16 million gallons each year. The changes include upgrades to the showers and toilets.

The cost of the new fixtures and water system at the jail will cost $270,000. The estimated savings the first year is $150,000.

Additionally, government buildings throughout the county will replace older incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescents, which should pay for themselves in two years.

“It’s one of the easiest things for them to do here to save money,” said Terry Falke, who will administrate the federal money for the county. “It’s so obvious to make these upgrades. There are basically only benefits from saving money, energy and creating jobs.”

Falke said conservative estimates would put the annual savings for the county at $440,000. All the projects need to be installed by November 2012, according to the grant agreement.

Falke said the plan is to use $3.7 million of the $4.2 million on the projects themselves. The rest is planned to pay for the temporary workers and to hire an outside company to audit the energy use in the buildings receiving the upgrades.

Pasco has yet to find the company to install the upgrades. Schneider Electric, a Tampa-based firm, was originally contacted to handle the job, but its estimations showed it could spend only about $2.3 million for the project. The rest would go to cover its cost and profits.

Johnson said he and those in the county believe they can find cheaper options to make the upgrades.

“We need to use as much as possible for the upgrades themselves,” Johnson said. “That’s part of the terms of the grant, and it’s also the right thing to do with the money. We need to make sure we’re doing everything we can to make the money stretch.”

Plans for the money

–$2.4 million to upgrade the heating and air conditioning in 17 buildings

–$550k to replace six building roofs

–$270k to upgrade water fixtures in the Pasco jail

–$179k for two revolving doors at the West Pasco Courthouse

–$144k to upgrade lighting in 10 buildings

–$62k for solar water heaters at 10 county fire stations

By Kyle LoJacono

Pasco County’s vision for the future won it the first ever One Bay Award on March 18 from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

“One of the biggest awards, in fact the biggest award, is One Bay,” said Pasco Tourism Manager Eric Keaton. “This is the first time that the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council has given out this award and Pasco County is bringing it home. We’re very thrilled to bring it home, just like we’re bringing opportunities home.”

The honor was presented to members of the county commission, its administration and its Growth Management Department at the 19th annual Future Regions Award Ceremony.

“This is a first time award that the region has put together with a number of partners like (Southwest Florida Water Management District) to guide how to control future growth by focusing on concentrated growth areas,” said Richard Gehring, Pasco’s growth management administrator.

The council sought out the views of thousands of Tampa Bay area citizens for what a shared region should be, based on responsible land use, mobility and transportation, economic development and environmental sustainability.

Pasco submitted its New Smart Pasco Area Plan and Transit Oriented Development Amendments for consideration. The council gave the award to the county because it best followed that vision for the bay area.

Florida’s population has grown by more than 17 percent in the last 10 years and U.S. Census estimations project that trend to continue in the coming years.

Pasco County’s population increased by 119,932 people from 2000 to 2010, topping out at 464,697 residents. Gehring said the county is booming and all levels of its government have been working hard to develop the best plans to accommodate that growth.

“We are one of the largest future growth counties in the Tampa Bay area,” Gehring said.

Pasco formed its growth concept in 2008 from recommendations by its Urban Land Institute. For additional information on the county’s area and transit plans, visit portal.pascocountyfl.net.

By Tammy Sue Struble

Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools are having a friendly rivalry competition with each other in cooperation with Jarrett Ford Lincoln of Dade City.

The Nine Mile War between the Bulldogs and Pirates this time is a contest to see just who can get the most test drives from their school.

The Drive One 4 UR School program is a test drive fundraising event that could feasibly net $6,000 from Ford. For each test drive at the event in Dade City on April 1-2, Ford Motor Co. will donate $20 to the participant’s school of choice (up to $6,000 max per dealer location).

Currently, the Jarrett Ford Lincoln of Dade City location is No. 2 in the nation with fundraising through the Drive One 4 UR School program.

Langdale Ford in Valdosta, Ga., holds the top position per Cliff Martin, vice president and general manager at Jarrett Ford Lincoln.

“We’ve had six drives in two years — since the fall of ’08,” described Martin, “with donations from Ford totaling $37,060” for the schools from the dealership. Martin explained that Ford was previously allowing two of these test drive events per year and just came out recently, adding Lincoln to the mix.

Since Jarrett sells both Ford and Lincoln, that means his dealership can have four test drive fundraising events a year.

“I jumped on it,” Martin said of the announcement. “We’re excited we are able to help out the schools. It’s perfect timing with budget situations the schools are facing.”

“It’s a good program,” explained Zephyrhills High Athletic Director Bruce Cimorelli. “Our goal is to try to become No. 1 in the nation with the program. It’s an easy way to make money for the school. There will be two events this spring and two in the fall. Cliff Martin does an outstanding job for us.”

The Drive One 4 UR School test driving event will be at Jarrett Ford Lincoln at 38300 Dick Jarrett Way in Dade City on Saturday and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The business will also be offering free hot dogs, hamburgers and drinks for customers. One test drive per household is allowed.

Pasco High Principal Patrick Reedy said, “The sales people don’t put any pressure on you. They just want to help out the school and community. Bring a neighbor when you come!” Reedy also said they were “very appreciative of Ford and Mr. Martin for getting us this opportunity.”

And, for parents and the community, “It’s the easiest fundraiser; you don’t have to put anything out of your pocket.”

Cimorelli said that there are so many participants, Jarrett uses volunteers to help out.

“It’s real simple,” Cimorelli said. “Go for a test drive. No hassle. Good promotion!”

For more information, call (352) 567-6711.

By Tammy Sue Struble

Monday evening’s regular city council meeting was a full house with standing room only. The majority were not there for the utility department magnesium hydroxide update, the spec building recommendation, the sale of surplus property discussion or the airport authority vacancy update. The group represented Stewart Middle football.

With Stewart Middle’s football team in their jerseys and coaches present, Mayor Cliff McDuffie presented the Zephyrhills middle school students with a proclamation commending the team for its undefeated season, a first for Stewart Middle football.

It is also the first time in 30 years Stewart Middle has had back-to-back conference championships. The young Bulldogs went on to win the district football championship in Pasco County.

After the presentation, team members were excused with their coaches and their gallery, leaving a fairly vacant room.

In other city business, a motion did pass suspending the spec building project at the airport location for 18 months. The city had planned to construct a building there in hopes of luring tenants to the airport, but council members decided the city budget was too tight to proceed during this difficult economic time.