Land O' Lakes News

Library helps people who want jobs, or to volunteer

November 13, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library recently was a hub — for those seeking opportunities for paying jobs, or to volunteer.

In fact, the library has a series of events this month, which is set aside as Career Development Month, focused on helping people find work.

On Nov. 7, a CareerSource Pasco-Hernando bus was parked outside the library, located at 2818 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes. Inside the bus was an array of computers to help people find employment opportunities.

David Hamilton, an operations manager for CareerSource Pasco-Hernando, offered patrons at Land O’ Lakes Branch Library advice for using computers to search for jobs. (Brian Fernandes)

David Hamilton is the local CareerSource operations manager who was there to help those dropping by The Mobile One Stop bus.

“My thing is to make sure I can help them apply for the job they want to apply for,” Hamilton explained. “I am looking at the general employment skill and that’s everybody, from no particular education, up to [a] bachelor’s degree.”

His aim is to help applicants find work they would be passionate about, as opposed to showing them a general list of what’s available.

As a 26-year career advisor, Hamilton helps others to create or polish up their resumes and cover letters.

It’s important to use correct grammar and punctuation, he said.

Cover letters, he added, should provide fresh content and not be redundant to what’s in an applicant’s resume.

Job applicants need to research a potential employer before creating the cover letter. It should tailor what that employer is seeking.

Hamilton then noted that Pasco County’s major employment category is retail and service, followed by health care.

But, he also pointed out that there’s more demand for nurses looking for work than for retail store managers.

He said he was there to assist people who may need technical help.

Hamilton also mentioned that those seeking jobs include youth entering the workforce for the first time, those who have been laid off and those moving to a new region.

He did mention that finding a position is more challenging for middle-age job seekers because they’re competing with a younger generation.

Pasco County’s current unemployment rate is at 3.3%, a drastic decline from its 12.7% peak a decade ago, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

And, with the holiday season approaching, Hamilton expects an increase in job openings.

While Hamilton was helping others find paying jobs, another discussion was taking place inside the library.

At the Social Seniors event inside, those gathered had the chance to learn about multiple ways to become a volunteer.

Social Seniors is geared toward those 55 years old and older who want to take a more active role in their community.

“The Social Seniors is a chance for them (patrons) to come socialize, get some refreshments, maybe learn something new,” said Catherine Seavey, a library branch attendant who helps oversee the program.

Generally, the program allows people age 55 and up to play cards, watch movies, be part of a book club or take part in learning activities.

The Land O’ Lakes Branch Library also has partnered with Pasco County Senior Services and the Seniors in Service organization, to help those seasoned in age, stay productive.

Attendance at monthly meetings tends to go up when there is a guest speaker, and on this particular day, there were speakers offering advice on how to stay engaged through volunteering.

After retiring, Rick Buzzee, of Land O’ Lakes, joined the Rotary Club of Land O’ Lakes to be involved in efforts to promote education, diminish poverty and help with community efforts.

“I think you have to stay mentally alert and mentally productive,” Buzzee said, adding there’s a correlation between good health and staying active.

Career Development Month
Where: Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes

When:

Personality Development Personality Tests, Nov. 15 from 2 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Building a Professional Presence online, Nov. 16 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Dress for Success, Nov. 18 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
AmSkills Mobile Innovation Station, Nov. 19 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m.
Mock Interviews. Nov. 21 from 3 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
CareerSource Mobile One Stop bus, Nov. 21 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Resume workshop on Nov. 23 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Cost: Free

Info: Call (813) 929-1214

Published November 13, 2019

Expansion addresses need to serve critically ill patients

November 13, 2019 By B.C. Manion

AdventHealth Connerton has been addressing the needs for critically ill patients for a decade — but it also has had to turn patients away because its beds were full.

An expansion expected to open later this month, will increase the hospital’s ability to serve patients and families in need.

AdventHealth officials had a ribbon cutting ceremony last week to celebrate the completion of a new wing at the hospital, at 9441 Health Center Drive in Connerton.

Debi Martoccio, chief operating officer of AdventHealth Connerton, addresses a crowd during the ribbon cutting ceremony to mark the completion of a 30-bed expansion at the specialty hospital. (B.C.Manion)

The $20.6 million expansion adds 30 beds, bringing the hospital’s total to 77.

It also increases the hospital’s ability to provide care for patients needing care for multisystem organ failure, complex wounds, sepsis, head trauma and other conditions.

“We cater to medically complex, critically ill patients, who need an extended hospital stay,” said Debi Martoccio, chief operating officer of AdventHealth Connerton.

“This is a very exciting chapter in our history,” she said.

“What this expansion will allow us to do is to care for more of these medically complex patients.

The new wing at AdventHealth Connerton has large patient rooms, with modern technology and a sofa that slides open to give visitors a place to rest.

“At this time, with our limited beds, we’ve been at capacity since about 2012. We were having to turn medically complex patients away. There was a moratorium on the expansion of this kind of hospital,” Martoccio said.

But, the moratorium was lifted and the hospital was able to get a license to expand its number of beds, she said.

“Right now, we’re admitting about 650 patients a year. So we’re hoping to take that into the 700s,” Martoccio said.

Denyse Bales-Chubb, CEO of AdventHealth Tampa, told the crowd, “Today represents an important piece of the AdventHealth growth strategy over the next several years. Increasing access points and creating more capacity in our existing facilities is a realization of our promise to the community.

“This positions us well to take care of even more patients and families when they need us the most,” Bales-Chubb said.

“Patients who come to a long-term care facility have very serious medical needs. The team of caretakers here are family.

“It is a special brand of care that delivers our mission of extending the healing ministry of Christ. That’s the kind of care that I want for my family, and for yours,” Bales-Chubb said.

The specialty hospital is one of only a few long-term acute care facilities in Florida with an operating room and intensive care unit, according to hospital officials.

The ribbon cutting at AdventHealth Connerton last week marked the completion of a $20 million expansion.

After the ribbon cutting, tours were offered so visitors could see the new wing before it begins offering care.

Patient rooms are equipped with modern technology and designed with patient comfort in mind. For instance, there are large windows, and a sofa in each private room easily converts to a bed, so visitors can rest there.

The 22,000-square-foot addition includes 20 progressive care unit beds and 10 critical care unit beds. It also includes a large board room, three nursing stations, a revamped chapel, a multipurpose room for staff education, a family consultation room, nurses’ stations and an employee breakroom.

The lobby even has a coffee bar for visitors, said Martoccio, adding she thinks that will be well received.

The decorating theme throughout the wing highlights trees, and that plays homage to the prominent role that timber and sawmills played in Pasco County’s history, Martoccio said.

Published November 13, 2019

Swamp Fest enjoys nice weather, good crowds

November 13, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

It wasn’t just fun and games at the 11th annual Swamp Fest in Land O’ Lakes.

There was music, food, rides and entertainment, too.

Jamie Farrell, of Port Richey, drove over to Land O’ Lakes to attend Swamp Fest and enjoy the festivities. Here, Jamie’s 2-year-old son, Mason, surfs down the slide atop of his dad, as his sister, Sarah Shipman, 12, follows close behind on the burlap mat. Mom, Christina Shipman, waited at the finish line. (Fred Bellet)

“It was incredible weather. We had good crowds,” said Doug Hutchinson, festival coordinator.

“Friday night and Saturday night were incredibly busy, and Sunday was very busy,” he said.

The crowds were so large, the main parking area was filled at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, and overflow used the parking at Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School.

At times, people who wanted to park had to wait for others to leave the festival, Hutchinson said.

“That’s a great problem to have,” he added.

The event raises money for area schools, nonprofits and community organizations, and is hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Booster Club.

On the morning of Nov. 2, before Swamp Fest festivities began, there was a special event to honor Vietnam Veterans.

Sandy Graves organized the event, which Hutchinson said, was “incredibly well-attended.”

Land O’ Lakes High School senior and Art Club member, Heather Li, 17, painted her own face before painting the faces of children at the Swamp Fest.

After it was over, he said Graves told him: “You know what, we’ve got to do this again next year.”

“I said, ‘I’m all for it. It went great.’”

The booster club’s proceeds go for such things as new weights in the weight room, a new sign for the high school off U.S. 41 and other items that are not part of the regular school budget, Hutchinson said.

“The coaches always fill our ears with what we could spend it on, as you can imagine.”

Hutchinson was thrilled with the outcome for this year’s event.

“It wound up being one of the best Swamp Fests that we’ve had, so we’re pretty excited about it,” he said.

Published November 13, 2019

Three-year-old Willow Roundtree giggles as Land O’ Lakes High School Art Club member Cade DeMoree’s brush causes a tickle when she began painting the little girl’s face. Willow’s mom, Julianna Roundtree, steadies Willow’s head. Mom and daughter are visiting grandma, Natalie Gomillion, of Land O’ Lakes.

Seven-year-old Midori Galven, of Land O’ Lakes, tries hooking a fish as a blue water fountain stirs up the water. Midori hooked a shark and won a prize, as her grandfather, Jerry Gordie of Land O’ Lakes, looked on.

There were plenty of choices for food at this year’s Swamp Fest.

New apartment project approved on State Road 54

October 30, 2019 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County Commission has approved a project with 280 apartments and 49,500 square feet of commercial, on the north side of State Road 54, between Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Collier Parkway.

Commissioners voted 4-1 to approve the rezoning request, with Commissioner Mike Moore objecting vociferously.

Attorney Clarke Hobby said a market study shows that Pasco County is not overbuilt with apartments. (File)

Attorney Clarke Hobby represented the A.G. Spanos Companies and the Aiken Trust on the request, which involves a 25.4-acre site, about 2 miles west of the interchange of State Road 56 and Interstate 75.

Both county planners and the Pasco County Planning Commission had recommended approval of the request.

During the Planning Commission public hearing, Hobby told that board that A.G. Spanos Companies has built more than 100,000 multifamily Class A apartments across the United States during the past 50 years.

The main access to the site will be from the intersection of State Road 54 and Oak Grove Boulevard, an existing signalized intersection.

The commercial portion is planned near the front of the property, to take advantage of the traffic light.

Objections were raised to the proposed rezoning during the Planning Commission meeting by some neighbors in the Twin Lakes community, but no one objected during the County Commission’s hearing.

“We got the consent of the adjacent homeowners and we did that by working hard,” Hobby said.

The attorney said his client has been working with the neighborhood and with county staff to improve the project.

The applicants agreed to provide a long access road to improve interconnectivity in the project, they reduced the height of the apartments and they created a large setback, Hobby said.

The attorney also noted that the project fits in with the county’s vision for the South Market Area, which calls for higher density, mixed-use development clustered around existing arterial roadways.

The idea is to avoid spreading out density like peanut butter, and instead create a true urbanized area, Hobby said.

Planning expert Kelly Love, director of entitlement planning at Clearview Land Design in Tampa, also spoke on behalf of Hobby’s clients.

“The plan is for the South Market Area to evolve from a suburban bedroom community development pattern, with inefficient utilization of land, to one which incorporates verticality, density and urban form,” she said.

“The Aiken mixed-use amendment before you today, contributes to this land use evolution.

“We’re trying to put the density, the mixed-use and the connectivity in an infill development, which has transit right at its front door,” she said.

And, while Moore has consistently voiced opposition to the proliferation of apartments being developed in the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, Hobby said that a market study was done and it shows that Pasco County’s multifamily is not overbuilt.

“Our overall renter percentage ownership compared to other suburban or urbanized areas is very low. We’re at roughly 22.5 percent; Manatee is at 27.8; Hillsborough is at 40.

“So, we are way below everyone else. We are in a healthy market. There’s a demand there. We’ve got a great project. We’ve got a great builder,” Hobby said.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore wants to stop continued approvals of new apartments in the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor.

But, Moore reiterated his objections.

“It’s no secret about my disdain for the amount of apartment complexes that are going up along the 54/56 corridor, especially east of Collier Parkway up to Bruce B. Downs,” Moore said.

“My concern is that what this board is doing and continuing to do, along with what previous staff members have done with the South Market Area, is you’re going to be very disappointed, 10, 15, 20 years down the road,” he said.

He then rattled off a list of 13 apartment developments within a 5-mile radius.

Moore also said the residents and business owners who live within the area “are sick and tired of apartments on (State Road) 54 and (State Road) 56. It’s a fact. I hear it all of the time.”

When people come to Pasco County and head on State Road 56, they see apartments, Moore said.

“The market might be good right now, but you’re saturating the market in that one small section. This county is big. It’s a very large county. If we keep putting them up in this area, we’re going to pay for it,” the commissioner predicted.

He asked his colleagues to take another look at the county’s comprehensive plan and policies in its South Market Area to address the issue.

“We’re rezoning and rezoning and rezoning, to allow MF (multifamily),” Moore said. “When is enough, enough?”

Other commissioners appeared open to having a workshop session to take a closer look at the issue, but when Moore mentioned the possibility of a temporary moratorium until that can be worked through, he found no support.

A temporary moratorium, Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said, would be “pretty drastic.”

“You’re seeing all of this density here because the market needs it. We have 100 people moving to Pasco a day. Where are they supposed to live?” Starkey said.

There are also people who are downsizing and people who can’t afford to buy a house, she said.

Still, she added, “I don’t mind taking a look at it to see, ‘What is that right number?’

“And, we purposely put density on the (State Road) 54 corridor to save us from sprawl, right, and to allow one day to support transit,” Starkey said..

Commissioner Mike Wells said he agrees that the board needs to take a look at the issue.

At the same time, however, Wells noted: “I think the market decides, not us.”

Commissioner Jack Mariano said, “We were trying to avoid sprawl. Do I think that we’re getting what we thought we’d get? I will say, no.“

He thinks there are “way too many apartments.

“I would much rather see us take another look at this. Condos would be a lot better. Fee-simple townhomes would be a lot better. I want people invested in their community,” Mariano said.

Commission Chairman Ron Oakley agreed that the board should hold a workshop to take a closer look.

At the same time, commissioners said they want to take a look at the county’s mobility fee incentives and discuss which categories should receive them.

No date has been set for that workshop yet.

Published October 30, 2019

Swamp Fest returns with new rides, family fun

October 30, 2019 By B.C. Manion

The idea of bringing a community together to have fun, while raising money, is nothing new.

Swamp Fest, an annual event, has been doing that for 11 years, in Land O’ Lakes.

Eight-year-old Dalilah Pyles, of South Tampa, tests her skills at climbing the rope ladder during last year’s Swamp Fest at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park. (File)

Festivities begin with a preview evening on Oct. 31. The festival runs through Nov. 3.

The event raises money for area schools, nonprofits and community, as well as benefiting businesses. It is hosted by the Land O’ Lakes High School Booster Club, and it is held at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The booster club’s proceeds go for such things as new weights in weight room, a new sign for the high school off U.S. 41 and other items that are not part of the regular school budget, but benefit all of the school’s athletes, said Doug Hutchinson, Swamp Fest coordinator and former booster club president.

Highlights of the event include 24 rides, food, games and entertainment. There also will be a salute to veterans on Nov. 2 at 10 a.m.

This year, Hutchison said, the carnival operator will be bringing a few new rides.

It’s all smiles aboard the Magic Dragon at last year’s Swamp Fest. The Land O’ Lakes High School Athletic Booster Club hosts the event, which benefits area schools, nonprofit groups and area businesses.

“We’re going to get a bigger Ferris wheel. We’re going to get what’s called a Mega Drop; it’s a ride you go up in and they drop you rapidly,” Hutchinson said.

Festival-goers also are in for a treat when it comes to the entertainment, Hutchinson added.

“On Friday night, we’ve got a group called The Big Bong Theory,” he said. The band played last year and were well-received.

“They play a nice mix of music,” Hutchinson said.

“On Saturday, we’ve got Stonegrey. Everybody loves Stonegrey. We weren’t able to get them last year because they had booked up before. This year, I called early, early, early,” Hutchinson said.

Other acts scheduled during the festival include performances by Show on the Road, Nicole’s Dance Academy, Suncoast Dance Academy, Karl and Dimarco Dance, Beyond Chaotic, and Pine View Dance & Cheer.

Pre-sale tickets for Swamp Fest, at a discounted price, are available now.

For details on the entertainment schedule and other information about the festival, visit LOLswampfest.com.

Rick Bartz, left, of Land O’ Lakes, and Mary Law, took advantage of food available for purchase at last year’s event.

11th annual Swamp Fest
When: Oct. 31, 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.; Nov. 1, 5 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Nov. 2, noon to 11 p.m., and Nov. 3, noon to 6 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.
Cost: Pre-sale tickets are on sale now at these locations in Land O’ Lakes: Land O’ Lakes High School, 20325 Gator Lane (in the commons area during lunch); Sanders Elementary School, 5126 School Road; Pine View Middle School, 5334 Parkway Blvd.; and Sugar & Spice Daycare, 3508 Land O’ Lakes Blvd. Tickets also can be purchased online, or on site. Tickets purchased online will be available at a will call booth.
Details: Swamp Fest features rides, games, food and live entertainment.
Info: Visit LOLswampfest.com to get entertainment lineup and other details.

Published October 30, 2019

A community steps up to lend its support

October 23, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Pasco County firefighter Hunter Garcia, his wife, Kayla, and their 5-month-old daughter, Clara, were traveling down Van Dyke Road on Sept. 13, when they were involved in a multi-car accident.

A total of four cars were affected, with five people transported to the hospital, according to a Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office news release.

All three Garcias were taken to the hospital. Hunter and Kayla sustained severe injuries. Clara did not survive.

Now, a community event is planned to benefit the Pasco County firefighter’s family.

The event is set for Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Patrons can purchase a $10 plate, with their choice of barbeque pork, chicken, a hamburger or a hot dog, accompanied with two sides.

There also will be a raffle, T-shirt sale, bake sale and an auction.

Volunteers for the benefit will have a planning meeting on Oct. 20 at 1 p.m., at Heritage Park.

Admission to the event is free, with proceeds raised from the food sales, raffles, bake sale and auction benefiting the Garcia family.

Anyone who would like to donate food or drinks, take part in the auction, or volunteer their time, please contact Kristal Morrow at (813) 860-7991.

Garcia family fundraiser
When: Oct. 26 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Free
Details: A fundraiser to benefit a Pasco County firefighter’s family, after a car accident claimed the life of his infant daughter.
Info: Call Kristal Morrow at (813) 860-7991.

Published October 23, 2019

Land O’ Lakes route to lose bus stop, weekend service

October 2, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Bus Route 41, in Land O’ Lakes, no longer will be making a stop on Collier Parkway — and also will discontinue operating on Saturdays.

Those changes were approved by the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) board on Sept. 12.

Pasco County Public Transportation will remove the bus stop on Collier Parkway from Route 41, which runs in Land O’ Lakes. The entire route, which mainly runs along U.S. 41, also will exclude Saturdays from its service.(Courtesy of Pasco County Public Transportation)

The changes were prompted by a recommendation from Pasco County Public Transportation based on its research and public feedback.

“We received some concerns from some of our riders on Route 41,” Kurt Scheible director of public transportation for the county told the MPO board.

“Unfortunately, it’s not one of our better routes.”

The route begins at the U.S. 41 intersection with Central Boulevard. It continues south to multiple stops, including where U.S. 41 meets Gator Lane, State Road 54 and the apex where U.S. 41 and North Dale Mabry Highway branch off.

Although other stops are along U.S. 41, the route also included a jog onto State Road 54, over to Collier Parkway, where riders could pick up the bus near the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex.

However, Scheible said, very few patrons took advantage of the stop and those riding the bus considered the stop to be an inconvenience because it delayed them in getting to their destinations.

A study done by the transportation department in June revealed a low volume of riders on Route 41, Scheible said.

There were only 250 trips made on weekdays and 20 on Saturdays during the month, he noted.

During 2018, of all of the county’s 825,767 bus trips, Route 41 only had slightly over 1,900 – making it the lowest performing route in the county’s transportation system, he said.

The study also showed that barely any riders used the service on Saturdays, he added.

The director also noted that those using the Collier Parkway stop were primarily using it to get to shops along State Road 54.

Because of the findings, the bus service decided to drop the Collier Parkway stop and to end Saturday services on the route.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who sits on the MPO board expressed agreement.

“Obviously we wanted to make sure that everybody had access to our public facilities, including the library and the rec center,” he said. “But if nobody’s taking part in it, [it is] obviously understandable that we need to reevaluate that.”

The MPO board’s approval was the final action needed to push the initiative forward.

Scheible also mentioned future plans to extend Route 41 further north up to State Road 52, once that corridor has widened.

While services are being reduced in one part of the county, the MPO board took another action that may have the effect of boosting ridership countywide.

The board approved free bus transportation for veterans, active military and county employees who present proper identification.

The Pasco County Commission made the change official during its Sept. 18 meeting.

“The whole idea is: walk on [with a] picture ID, they hit the button and they’re riding for free wherever they need to go to,” Scheible said during the MPO meeting.

The changes to Route 41 and the free bus rides will take effect in October, the transportation director said.

Published October 2, 2019

Sunlake High teacher lands geography fellowship

October 2, 2019 By Kevin Weiss

In her AP Human Geography classes, Sunlake High School teacher Anne Cullison strives to “lift the veil” on what the world is really like.

She often tells her students: “Everything is geography, and geography is everything.”

The local educator soon will get a chance to broaden her knowledge and add to her kit of tools for teaching.

She is one of just 50 teachers nationwide selected as a 2019 American Geographical Society (AGS) Teacher Fellow. This is the second time she has been selected for the honor. The first time was in 2016.

Sunlake High School social studies teacher Anne Cullison was recently named a 2019 American Geographical Society (AGS) Teacher Fellow. She is one of just 50 teachers nationwide selected to the year-long fellowship program. (File)

The AGS fellowship is a year-long professional development opportunity that enables geography teachers to incorporate open source mapping into their classrooms. It also provides supplementary resources and materials.

As part of this year’s fellowship, Cullison will attend the AGS Fall Symposium in Nov. 21 and Nov. 22, at Columbia University in New York City.

The symposium, titled “Geography 2050: Borders and a Borderless World,” gives the fellows an opportunity to interact with geography and geospatial leaders from across the country. They also receive professional training in open source mapping.

Samantha Power, U.S Ambassador to the United Nations under President Barack Obama (2013-17), will be the keynote speaker.

Other scheduled speakers include National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency director Robert Sharp and Nada Bakos, a former CIA analyst and targeting officer who was instrumental in tracking down Osama bin Laden and other terrorist figures.

Cullison, in her seventh year at Sunlake, is eager to learn and network with fellow educators and professionals “who actually work in the field that I’m teaching about.

“I really enjoy getting to listen to people who are so incredibly knowledgeable of that real-world application side of what we actually do — what I spend my days talking about,” Cullison said.

She also appreciates being selected for the honor.

“It feels great. It’s a great way to feel recognized for working hard with kids to get them to see the world in a different way,” Cullison said.

She now teaches about 170 students across five AP Human Geography classes.

Coursework in her class goes far beyond simply labeling areas on a map and learning the basics of other cultures, she explained. It attempts to answer the what, where and why of human patterns, and the social and environmental consequences of that.

She put it like this: “It’s more about, ‘Why are some countries successful and others aren’t? Why are there people starving in some places and some places aren’t? Why do some people practice one religion and then others something else, and how does that affect the politics, the culture and languages they speak and everything?’”

In essence, she said, it enables her students “to see the world in a different way.”

Before arriving at Sunlake, Cullison taught social studies at Rushe and Pine View middle schools, in Land O’ Lakes.

Cullison studied political science at the University of Central Florida and University of South Florida.

Her first teaching experience came during an internship with the U.S. Department of Defense’s Near East South Asia Center for Strategic Studies in Washington D.C.

There, she was tasked with educating Middle Eastern government and military officials on American foreign policy in that region.

The experience, she said, “gave me the first touch of, ‘I really like teaching. I want to be able to help people understand where (other) people are coming from.’”

She said it also helped her to gain insight on why other peoples’ perspectives are sometimes different.

Cullison is eager to use the fellowship to introduce more open source mapping tools in her classroom.

Open source mapping is a collaborative volunteer project to create better, digital maps available of an area, specifically in less developed nations.

Cullison said the program is particularly useful for search and recovery efforts after natural disasters.

It allows first responders “to see what something is or was” in destroyed areas — whether it be schools, homes, buildings, roads and so on, she said.

“It’s really all about being able to identify and locate, and mark what computers can’t do,” the educator said.

Two years ago, her classes utilized the mapping program to aid humanitarians and first responders in Puerto Rico, in the wake of Hurricane Maria.

It helped in the search and recovery efforts to find people who had been injured by the natural disaster, or those who had not survived, she said.

Published Oct. 2, 2019

Ridge Road permit coming soon, administrator says

September 25, 2019 By B.C. Manion

A permit to clear the way for the construction of the Ridge Road Extension is expected to be granted by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers within the next four weeks to six weeks, Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said.

That would signal the end of a two-decade effort to secure the federal permit needed to create a new 7.6-mile east-west connection from Moon Lake Road in New Port Richey to U.S. 41, in Land O’ Lakes.

The only way for the county to be absolutely sure it will receive the permit is for the Corps of Engineers to issue it, Biles said.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles
(File)

“They won’t ever tell you that you’re going to get the permit until they sign the letter on the permit, giving you the permit. They’ll never tell you, ‘Yea, you’re going to get approval on the permit’ until then. That isn’t the way the Corps works,” the administrator said.

That being said, it appears that everything is lining up toward the county obtaining the permit, Biles told those gathered at Sept. 17 breakfast meeting of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce at Scotland Yards Golf Club, on U.S. 301 in Dade City.

While the county awaits the permit, it is preparing to move ahead with the project.

The first phase of the project, which is funded, is from Ridge Road in New Port Richey to the Suncoast Parkway. The second phase of the extension, not yet funded, will provide a link between the Suncoast Parkway and U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

Biles told the breakfast crowd: “The construction project is actually on the street today, so we can bid that and start work the day I get the call from the Corps.

“We’ve got it set so that, I get the call from the Corps, I call public works, I call the project manager. They get our consultant out there and start removing the gopher tortoises off the right of way.

“Our surveying crew is already working on surveying the right of way,” Biles added.

The contract includes three milestones, with bonuses available to the contractor if the work is completed within certain timelines.

The Pasco County Commission approved the approach.

“It’s pretty unique. It took a lot of work in the county attorney’s office to set it up,” Biles said.

The first milestone involves providing a secondary access to River Ridge High and River Ridge Middle, before the school year begins in August 2020.

To achieve that, Biles said he would need the permit in hand, and a contractor notice to proceed, by Dec. 1.

“That’s a goal to hit that, and we can do it,” Biles said.

The second milestone is to have two lanes of Ridge Road open to the Suncoast Parkway, and to have the interchange operational before Hurricane Season 2021, Biles said.

“So, we’re going to get there, open up two lanes, we’re going to breathe and relax for about 30 seconds, then they’re going to finish the other two lanes, finish the project by the next hurricane season,” the administrator added.

Biles said he wants to get the first two lanes open as quickly as possible, to get traffic onto it to the Suncoast Parkway.

That will provide another hurricane evacuation route, and will open up the west-central area of the county to within a “commutable distance” of downtown Tampa, Biles said.

It also would be good timing, in conjunction with a new $191 million expansion campus that Moffitt Cancer Center wants to create in Pasco County.

Moffitt recently announced it would be asking the state Legislature to increase Moffitt’s share of the state’s cigarette revenue from 4% to 10% to support an expansion of its facilities in Hillsborough County, and to provide for a new campus in Pasco County.

The project would allow Moffitt to meet future demand for cancer therapies, create a research park that would be a magnet for biotech partners, and expand its services in the Tampa Bay region, according to information provided by Moffitt.

Published September 25, 2019

Collecting litter to help keep Pasco clean

September 25, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

About 340 volunteers fanned out across Land O’ Lakes to pick up litter and trash along the area’s roads, public lands and waterways.

In their first year volunteering for the Coastal Cleanup event, the Dana family, from Wesley Chapel, work together to pick up trash that was discarded along Collier Parkway, north of Hale Road. From left: 7-year-old Peyton, Cliff, 10-year-old Ethan, and Lydia. (Christine Holtzman)

They were among the thousands who took part in Pasco County, as part of the annual International Coastal Cleanup event on Sept. 21.

Volunteers in Dade City, Lacoochee, New Port Richey, Port Richey, Hudson and Holiday also joined in the efforts that were organized by Pasco County and the not-for-profit environmental organization, Keep Pasco Beautiful.

Those pitching in on the Land O’ Lakes effort met around 8 a.m., at the community center at Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., to pick up gloves, trash bags, safety vests and bottles of water.

Event sponsors paid for the supplies, and volunteers who had registered received a keepsake bag and an event T-shirt.

Some of the volunteers have been helping out for decades, including 84-year-old Gloria Dale, of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, who worked at the registration table. She’s been pitching in for 26 years.

Eleven-year old Olivia O’Malley, of Land O’ Lakes, holds a trash bag open, as her father, Michael, throws away a decaying trash bag that was found on the side of Parkway Boulevard. O’Malley, a member of Boy Scouts Troop 34, and her dad also found a piece of a car bumper earlier in the morning.

Lottie Kelley, another longtime volunteer, has helped for 24 years.

She works for Covanta, one of the event sponsors, and was the Land O’ Lakes site captain.

Helping to keep Pasco clean and green is what makes the event important, Kelley said.

“Litter is very unsightly, and it’s not good for the county,” Kelley said.

Besides being unattractive, roadway trash can be dangerous for wildlife, she said.

“We need to keep the litter off the roadways, so the animals don’t eat it. They can end up being in a terrible situation,” Kelley said.

She said this year’s effort focused on roadways in Land O’ Lakes, including Ehren Cutoff, Collier Parkway, Parkway Boulevard, Hale Road, Bell Lake Road and Carson Drive.

Boy Scout troops 33 and 34, and Cub Scout Pack 33 from Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes, collected trash along large stretches of Collier Parkway and Parkway Boulevard.

Twelve-year-old Wesley Swank, of Land O’ Lakes, emerges from the bushes with a large Styrofoam cup, that was discarded along Parkway Blvd, near Paw Place. Swank is a member of Boy Scout Troop 33, which is based out of Our Lady of the Rosary Church in Land O’ Lakes.

The troops have been participating in this event for approximately 15 years and, over the years, have picked up all sorts of items, including a glass table, a microwave, beer bottles and even a device that looked like a pipe bomb.

The idea is to remove every piece of trash discarded on the roadways to prevent it from ending up in waterways, and eventually into oceans.

As each piece trash is picked up, it is recorded on sheets, or on a downloadable app provided by the nonprofit organization Ocean Conservancy.

The ocean-advocacy group is on a mission to tackle the greatest global challenges facing the ocean.

By recording the types of trash and the amounts, the group can establish a snapshot and a state-by-state index of the problem of marine debris.

Last year, 1,823 volunteers picked up 11.94 tons of trash throughout Pasco County, according to the Keep Pasco Beautiful website.

Published September 25, 2019