The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Pasco County Schools approves $1.8 billion budget

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The Pasco County School Board has adopted a $1.8 billion budget for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning detailed some of the budget’s highlights prior to the board’s action, during its Sept. 12 meeting

Browning told the board that the general operating budget increased from $734.6 million to $850.1 million. The capital budget of $534.6 million is an increase of $195.4 million, over last year.

Browning said the district received an additional $57.2 million in state funding to accommodate its projected growth of 3,588 students and to pay for recurring expenses.

Don Peace, president of the United School Employees of Pasco, says this year’s economic package for district employees is the best it has been in several years. (Courtesy of United School Employees of Pasco)

The budget includes an increase of 115.4 school allocations, includes the cost of opening Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation and costs for the newly named Angeline Academy of Innovation, a 6 through 12 magnet school under construction in the massive new community of Angeline, which is developing in Central Pasco.

Other construction projects include continuing renovations of Hudson High School, continuing construction of the new Gulf High School, construction of the Kirkland Ranch K-8, and construction of a classroom wing at Starkey Ranch K-8.

Other projects across the district include cafeteria renovations, replacement of HVAC systems and other infrastructure upgrades at various schools

A more detailed look at the school system’s budget can be found on the district’s website, at Pasco.k12.fl.us.

In other action, the school board and United School Employees of Pasco (USEP) reported to the board that they had reached an agreement on proposed raises.

“On Aug. 31, the instructional and SRP bargaining teams of USEP and the district met and formally agreed to terms on economics,” said Don Peace, USEP president.

“This was something that we talked about at the end of last year, that we were going to prioritize and try to get money in people’s pockets early this year.

(Mike Camunas)

“Most instructional employees will receive an increase of 5.4%, the largest in quite some time.

“The union and district also agreed to an increase in the board contribution to the health insurance benefit package of $379.94, bringing the total benefits contribution to over $7,800 per employee,” he said. It also has maintained a ‘free-to-the-employee’ insurance plan.

The settlement for school-related personnel (SRPs) is a bit more complicated, Peace said.

“Each SRP who has a year of service credit will see a salary increase to $15 an hour, or 5%, whichever is greater,” he said.

They also will receive the same insurance benefits.

Once the negotiations are completed, USEP and the district will begin conversations on prioritizing the referendum funds.

Assistant superintendent Kevin Shibley told board members that “the salary increase for the district’s employees is the largest they have received since prior to the housing recession, back in 2008.

“Every employee is going to see at least a 5% base increase, if they had a year of service last year. The minimum teacher salary is increasing to $46,425.

“The minimum hourly rate for non-exempt employees is going up to $15 per hour, and in some cases more.

“We also have some targeted compression and market adjustments that were made to specific salary schedules, to try to remain competitive in those areas,” he said.

The district completely covered increases to the state’s required retirement contribution.

Shibley called the pay package an “an important first step in what we are trying to do and kind of take the lead in the (Tampa) Bay area, in terms of employee compensation.”

The district anticipates that salary increases will hit paychecks on Sept. 30. Shibley also expects the district to run a special payroll on Oct. 21, which would provide the retroactive pay to employees entitled to retroactive pay.

School board member Megan Harding also reminded board members about her request to send a letter to the Pasco County Commission, urging the county board to take swift action regarding the installation of sidewalks to give students a safe place when walking to school.

She read the proposed letter to her colleagues.

It is expected to get a few slight tweaks and then will be sent to the county board.

Board chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong also told her colleagues that she would like to see the Florida School Boards Association (FSBA) include the issue of protecting teachers from lawsuits added to that organization’s legislative agenda.

Armstrong said teachers shouldn’t have to fear being sued for something that may, or may not be substantiated.

The board chairwoman said she wants to be sure that FSBA considers that issue, when deciding its legislative priorities for the next session.

Published September 21, 2022

Lutz sports complex gets a synthetic turf field

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A longstanding sports complex in the heart of Lutz is getting an update.

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation broke ground on Sept. 12 to add a synthetic turf field to the Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, at 766 Lutz Lake Fern Road. The synthetic soccer and multipurpose field is part of a county-wide project.

Hillsborough County Parks and Recreation broke ground on Sept. 12 to add a synthetic turf soccer field at Oscar Cooler Sports Complex, at 766 Lutz Lake Fern Road. The park originally was built in 1975 and underwent a 33-acre expansion in in 2010. (Mike Camunas)

It will take 45 days to 60 days to complete the project.

Of 23 fields to be completed across Hillsborough by 2023, two are baseball fields and 21 are multipurpose fields.

The average cost for each synthetic field is $750,000.

Hillsborough County Parks, Planning and Athletics Manager Greg Brown explained why the county is adding the synthetic fields.

 “A synthetic turf field allows for almost unlimited programming of multiple sports with minimal maintenance and the ability to play very soon after storms,” Brown said.

“Due to this high demand for youth sports and sporting in general in Hillsborough County, a typical real grass field with heavy programming will need to be shut down for several months each year and grown back to keep a safe playing surface,” Brown added.

The minimal maintenance of synthetic fields will be extremely beneficial — especially in a county where an estimated 40,000 youth participate in leagues at  sports complexes every evening, Brown said.

The new field at Oscar Cooler will be predominantly used for soccer, but will be lined to allow use for multiple sports, including lacrosse and mini soccer.

When the Oscar Cooler Sports complex was built in 1975, it was called the Lutz Park Youth Complex and had just three baseball fields.

It was built in an area that had been primarily occupied by orange groves.

It was renamed to honor Oscar Cooler, a longtime Lutz resident, Cooler, who was the primary force behind getting the original park built.

He spent about two years working to persuade the county to buy the land and build the park.

Cooler coached in the Lutz Little League for five years and umpired for about 35 years. He was the league’s president for 15 years.

In 2010, Cooler told The Laker/Lutz News, “I think kids need to have a safe place to learn about teamwork … If kids don’t have something like this, then they usually get into a lot of things they shouldn’t be doing.”

That same year, a 33-acre, $3.9-million expansion opened up the park to its current size. That expansion allowed the soccer program, FC Tampa Lutz Rangers, to join the Lutz Chiefs, the football program at the park, and, of course, Lutz Little League.

Cooler was 84 when he passed away in 2013.

Published September 21, 2022

Various local projects receive state funding

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Florida’s Legislative Budget Commission on Sept. 9 approved a number of projects in Pasco and Hillsborough counties, as part of an $175 million appropriation for Local Support Grants.

The list of projects received approval with no changes, according to Ralph Lair, intergovernmental affairs officer for Pasco County.

Lair appeared before the Pasco County Commission at its Sept. 6 meeting to inform board members about the Pasco projects that made the list.

He explained that Florida Speaker of the House Chris Sprowls allocated $175 million during the legislative session to use for local support grants. There were 971 requests for the money and 238 projects made the cut, he said.

Pasco County received partial funding of $1 million for a Strickland Park project that involves a sea wall and additional beach sand, Lair said. It asked for an added boat ramp at Anclote, but that didn’t make the cut.

Here’s a listing of projects in Pasco County and a partial listing of projects in Hillsborough County that secured funding, according to information published as part of the Legislative Budget Commission’s agenda packet:

Pasco County

  • Agricultural Learning Center at Academy at the Farm: $13.5 million
  • AmSkills pre-apprenticeship recruitment/expansion and industry micro-credentials: $350,000
  • Cyber Security and Critical Infrastructure Security Training Center: $1.5 million
  • EPIC Center at Angeline: $1 million
  • Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Firearm Range Expansion: $1.1 million
  • Sarah Vande Berg Tennis Center: $2.75 million

Hillsborough County

  • Behavioral health workforce development planning: $250,000
  • Computer-assisted rehabilitation for veterans: $700,000
  • High school workforce development: $400,000
  • Hillsborough Transit Authority: $400,000
  • Tampa Bay Water Morris Bridge Wellfield improvements: $750,000
  • Tampa Jewish Community preventative security initiative: $352,000

Published September 21, 2022

New Pasco school will be known as Angeline Academy of Innovation

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About 200 possibilities were suggested, but in the end, the Pasco County School Board chose to name a new 6-12 magnet school rising in Central Pasco after the community where it is being built.

The board also decided to use the phrase “academy of innovation” as part of the name because it’s in keeping with the description the board gave to the most recent school the district opened, the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation.

The new 6-12 STEM magnet school expected to open in the 2023-2024 school year has been named the Angeline Academy of Innovation. It is a four-story building under construction near the H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco Campus, in Central Pasco. (File)

Both schools, board members reasoned, prepare students for future careers — albeit the Kirkland Ranch Academy of Innovation, a magnet school in Wesley Chapel, has an emphasis on technical careers. Angeline Academy of Innovation will have a greater focus on careers aligned with science and medicine.

The Angeline Academy is under construction on an 18.8-acre site, south of State Road 52, north of the Ridge Road extension and west of Sunlake Boulevard.

The school will be situated in a community that will be home to H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center’s planned Pasco County 775-acre campus. The campus is entitled for up to 24 million square feet of planned clinical and research facilities.

Moffitt’s footprint is larger than downtown Tampa, and the multi-year, multi-phase project ultimately is expected to generate 14,500 jobs.

It also is expected to attract leading-edge cancer researchers and life science companies.

The Angeline Academy of Innovation will be in the heart of  the community, which will officially become known as Angeline Florida, Ray Gadd, the school district’s deputy superintendent, told the school board.

Gadd and other school district officials have been working closely with Moffitt on a partnership to create world-class learning opportunities for students.

Suggested names for the new school included naming it after various singers, scientists, politicians, place names, educators and local leaders.

Choices included Marie Curie, Nikola Tesla, Charlie Daniels, Johnny Cash, Donald Trump, Joe Biden, Ronald Reagan, Ron DeSantis, Central Pasco High, Serenova STEM school, Suncoast Academy, Land O’ Lakes STEAM School, Ambition Academy of Angeline, and scores of others.

In another action relating to Angeline, the board amended an agreement with Dayspring regarding a new elementary charter school for the community. It is planned for a site in an area just south of State Road 52 and west of Sunlake Boulevard.

Dayspring and the school board have agreed to fund the project through impact fees. The school will serve 600 kindergarten through fifth-grade students.

The school district and charter school are working together to blend the charter school program and curriculum to prepare students to attend the 6-12 STEM magnet.

The goal is to open the elementary charter in 2024.

At the school board’s Sept. 12 meeting, the board amended its agreement with Dayspring to include construction of athletic facilities at the site, noting that the charter school and school district will share use of the facilities.

Published September 21, 2022

Pasco seeks input on Lacoochee planning

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For now, the plan is to create a plan.

Planners with Pasco County’s planning and development department are working on doing just that in the Greater Lacoochee area. It’s the northeastern most part of the county and includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee.

In this case, the county is looking to build upon ideas and plans set forth nearly two decades ago, but also wants to lay out a realistic plan for one of the most rural parts of the county.

Dozens of Lacoochee residents and citizens attend the first public workshop at the Lewis Abraham Boys & Girls Club of Lacoochee on Aug. 30. (Mike Camunas)

The county’s goal is to gather, collect and analyze resident and citizen feedback, while also taking into account the area’s potential and expected growth.

“There was a lot of work that was done about 10 to 15 years ago, so we’ve been pulling that and used that as a foundation,” said Sonide Simon, a long-range planner for the county. “We also looked at what had been done then and are also looking at what needs to be fixed up at the same time, and finally seeing if that still works today.

“We have nothing, and that’s what I want everyone to understand: we literally have no plan,” Simon added. “Someone asked what we have planned, but we have no plan.

“And even then, the area wants or needs one thing and this area wants or needs one thing, so talking about two different things isn’t helpful either.”

For the wants, and even needs, Simon and the county’s planning department are inviting citizens and residents of the Greater Lacoochee to take part in public workshops. The county also has established a site that allows people to fill out a survey, anonymously, and to leave comments.

The site also offers a wealth of information, including an interactive map that allows users to click on icons that represent certain community elements such as transportation, housing, business development, and parks and recreation.

Clicking on an icon allows users to start a discussion or leave comments on that specific location on the map.

The county’s planning division also has brought in a Tampa-based geotechnical engineering firm, S&ME, which will provide development and design services. Both entities will develop the plan that will include land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel utilities, parks and more.

Pasco County plans to schedule two more public workshops, one in the Winter and another in the Spring.

The goal is to have the plan ready to present in a March/April time frame.

The first public workshop was on Aug. 30 and attended by dozens, if not over 100 citizens. S&ME representatives laid out the schedule of collecting data, as well as information it found out in initial research.

Of the nearly 11,000 acres included in Greater Lacoochee, 35% of that land is used for agriculture, while another 32% is considered residential. With a population of just under 2,800, the area remains very rural.

Also, during this workshop, citizens were allowed one-on-one time with county and S&ME representatives that were looking for feedback. Residents were encouraged to write down on lists and white paperboards the issues and ideas they thought were relevant.

The most popular, and prevalent, comment was “keep Lacoochee rural” with “open spaces,” as well as a “small, tight-knit community.”

“We’re trying to be realistic that keeping this area rural probably doesn’t fit that idea of 100% rural,” Simon said. “But at the same time, they need more jobs, more work in this area, so how do we marry those two ideas? Rural, but with growth.

“And then this area becomes a lot like Wesley Crazy Chapel? No. We’re building just on the ideas that were done in the past and those ideas were that this is a rural area. That was then. The question now is where do we need to look? That’s where these workshops come in.”

Greater Lacoochee Community Plan
Details: Pasco County’s Planning and Development Department is working on community plans for the greater Lacoochee area, which includes Lacoochee, Trilby and Trilacoochee. The plan will explore topics such as land use, housing, commercial and industrial development, roadway design and maintenance, alternative modes of travel, utilities, parks and more. The county is seeking feedback from Lacoochee area residents and citizens by providing two more public workshops and an online survey.
Info: Access the survey and provide feedback, at smeinc.mysocialpinpoint.com/lacoochee_small_area_plan.

Published September 21, 2022\

Center adds audio description for patrons

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The Carrollwood Cultural Center will increase accessibility for blind and low-vision patrons, by offering audio description for all future center-produced theatrical performances.

The center recently purchased a new assistive listening system, using funds from the Community Foundation of Tampa Bay Competitive Grant. The center also received grant funding through the AARP Community Challenge, to train personnel to provide live audio description services, according to a news release.

Audio description is a live narration of the visual elements of a performance, such as lights, costumes, actions, textures and scenery.

The new system will enable patrons who are hard of hearing to tune into a high-quality audio stream through the center’s wireless network. The patron then can access the frequency through an application on their cellphone, the release said.

The new assistive listening system is part of a larger programming initiative the center has planned for Blind Awareness Month in October.

Events will include Blind Visionaries, a live concert on Oct. 8 at 8 p.m., featuring Daniel Kelly compositions inspired by light photography created by the blind and visually impaired members of The Seeing with Photography Collective. Blind Visionaries also will host a light painting workshop on the same day, at 3 p.m.

Other planned activities include a touch-sensitive gallery exhibition, “Beyond Sight,” from Sept. 28 through Oct. 29, and a free lecture called “The Art of (Braille)” on Oct. 6 at 7 p.m.

For more information, visit CarrollwoodCenter.org.

Published September 21, 2022

‘Work at home’ option is playing out in housing market

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There’s barely a news cycle that goes by without someone trying to pin down what’s happening in the housing market.

One thing’s for sure, though, the option to work remotely has had an impact on housing markets, according to Brad Phillips, a senior vice president for American Mortgage Service Co., based in Cincinnati.

Phillips recently was in the Tampa Bay region to give a talk at a breakfast meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

“Working from home caused a mass migration in a lot of cities. You didn’t have to live in California anymore, to work in California,” Phillips said.

Brad Phillips, senior vice president for American Mortgage Service Co., recently shared some of his insights about the real estate market with members of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce. (B.C. Manion)

Besides giving people more personal freedom, it also had an impact on housing costs, he said.

For instance, Phillips said: “Austin has the great California migration. What occurred there was so many Californians came in — they’re used to paying $1 million for a 750-square-foot apartment — so when they came in and found a house, which was overpriced, it was still a great deal.

“They started buying up everything in Austin, which was causing the Austin population to have to press out. They couldn’t afford to keep up,” he said.

With the shift to remote work, homebuyers found themselves in a new dynamic.

“You are no longer competing with local salaries,” Phillips said.

Consumers also can choose where they prefer to live, not just close to where they work, he said.

In Tampa, he said, “there was a youth boom down here. You guys were second or third, in the fastest-growing under-28 crowd.”

He thinks nostalgia played a role.

“Those kids came down, and visited grandma and grandpa. They have the memories of the excitement level of this area, and Florida, in general.

“So, what happens when they can live anywhere they want?

“They came. And, they came in droves,” he said.

Prices in different markets also have been influenced by foreign investors, who have driven up prices in places such as New York and California, which has prompted consumers from California to move to Texas or Montana, while New Yorkers move to Florida.

Phillips talked about other impacts on home prices and availability.

There was a point in recent years when the housing market faced “the perfect storm,” he said. Housing inventory was low, interest rates were low, building material costs shot up and supply chain issues slowed construction, he said.

When a house hit the market, bidding wars broke out.

“At the time, it looks great. It feels wonderful — especially, if you’re a person selling a home,” he said. Some sellers were getting 15 offers in 5 minutes, and they were all over list price.

But that situation is not a good thing for the housing market, overall, Phillips said.

He expects negative impacts from those sales to become apparent over time.

“People bought homes that they just didn’t know. There were a lot of ‘as-is’ purchases,” he explained.

“The mortgages themselves did not bend. We were too regulated after ’08 and ’10. And, I can tell you that though regulation is tough, 1000% warranted, and a great thing that it occurred.”

But Phillips added: “The appraisals started going haywire again, not needing them, getting property inspection waivers.

“There’s going to be a mass amount of people that got burned. They just don’t even know it,” he said. “They have overpaid, in most cases. They have maybe bought a property that was not up to par to what we, or someone else, would deem suitable.”

Prices dipping, houses staying on market longer
Phillips said the housing market is beginning to stabilize.

“We have three straight months that we’ve had an increase in listings. That means houses aren’t going off the market as quickly as they possibly could,” he said.

Plus, listed houses have been dropping their prices.

Sellers may view that as a negative, but overall, it’s a positive, because it indicates that the market is shifting back into alignment, Phillips said.

Looking forward, he said, “expect a period of slow.”

“Those home values can’t drop 50% overnight. They’ve got to come down 8%, 11%, the rest of this year. They’ll need to drop about 8 (%) or 10% next year. Then, (interest) rates will have stabilized. That will help,” he said.

As more houses come online and prices stabilize, buyers have better opportunities to shop for the house that they want, Phillips said.

Experts are predicting that 2025 will be a buyers’ market, he added.

“It’s going to be poised to take off again and it’s going to be exciting,” Phillips said, then, it’s likely something will happen to slow it down again.

“You never stay on top, you never stay on bottom,” Phillips said.

While people may have overpaid for their homes recently, he still thinks a home purchase is a good investment — if the buyer can hold onto it long enough to ride out any economic storms.

“If you look at it as a long-term play, mortgage is still the financial right decision in the grand scheme of things,” Phillips said.

Published September 21, 2022

Citizens urged to practice safety, in flooded areas

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During National Preparedness Month, the Pasco Sheriff’s Office (PSO) wants to remind citizens to be cautious when driving or cleaning up after a storm, according to a news release.

Storms can easily cause flooding and major damage, including toppled and downed trees. (File)

Flooded areas can have hidden dangers, such as downed power lines, debris and wildlife lurking inside.

The PSO recommends these steps, to stay safe:

  • Never drive through flooded areas. The flooding may be deeper than you think and a small amount of water can float a car, or cause issues such as stalling or loss of control. (Just a foot of water will float most cars; 6 inches of water can cause stalling and loss of control, the release said.)
  • If you must drive during a storm, slow down, allow extra travel time, and plan your route to avoid flooded roadways.
  • Give emergency personnel ample time to clear roadways of debris before driving, unless absolutely necessary.
  • Obey any road closures, emergency personnel or barriers in place. Do not drive around these.
  • Keep landscaping well-maintained before a storm to prevent damage such as tree limbs across power lines.
  • Avoid swimming, walking or other activities in floodwaters or flooded roads.
  • When clearing personal property, be mindful of debris and power lines, and remember to give yourself ample time for breaks while working.
  • Be sure to evaluate your damage carefully and know when to contact authorities for assistance.

Published September 21, 2022

PHSC: 50 years of building brighter futures

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Pasco-Hernando State College grew out of humble origins.

“We were known as ‘College without Walls,’” said Dr. Timothy Beard, the college’s current president. “We didn’t have a building. All we had, for the most part, was a dream and an idea.

The Pasco-Hernando State College’s Instructional Performing Arts Center, also known as IPAC, has a unique design. The center, at 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, is a teaching facility but also a venue for community events and performances. (FILE)

“They would have classes with whoever would have us, whether it was a storefront. We would recruit in the back alleys,” he said.

“We were the last of the Great 28,” Beard added, referring to Florida’s system of 28 community colleges.

Dr. Robert Judson — the man who would become the college’s second president and the first black college president in Florida College System— was involved in those early days, as a teacher and as a recruiter.

Over the years, Pasco-Hernando Community College transitioned to Pasco-Hernando State College. It has added campuses, increased staff, expanded programs, and continues to grow and evolve.

The college now has about 100 career program options and offers two bachelor’s programs, associate’s diplomas and various certifications.

In the early days, the college had strong ties with the faith communities in Pasco and Hernando counties, helping it to attract students, Beard said.

In recent years, it has revived relationships with faith-based institutions.

“About five years ago, maybe six, we started a program called LIFE, that’s an acronym for Linking in Faith and Education. That program really took off overnight.

“The idea was to allow the faith-based institutions to assist us in educating our community.

“Because word got out about our success, we also started to include partners in the healthcare area. A number of healthcare agencies got involved,” the college president said.

Jamal Roberts became the first student to gradu- ate from Pasco-Hernando State College with a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management. He took advantage of one of PHSC’s two four-year programs. Roberts received his diploma from Dr. Timothy Beard, the college’s president, in December 2015. (FILE)

For instance, BayCare and AdventHealth both provide scholarships to nursing students who are willing to work in the community after they graduate, he said.

The college also collaborates with the Pasco and Hernando public school districts.

In addition to dual enrollment programs, which allow high school students to earn college credits, PHSC also has been involved in partnerships on construction projects.

In Pasco County, for instance, the school district donated the site where the Instructional Performing Arts Center was built, at 8657 Old Pasco Road. It shares a campus with Cypress Creek High and Cypress Creek Middle in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco students also can take advantage of IPAC programs and facilities.

In Hernando County, PHSC has been involved in a partnership for a project known as the Corporate College.

“We’re in the process of building a Corporate College, out of a partnership with Hernando County Schools, as well as the county administration there,” Beard said.

Meanwhile the college continues to add facilities to its existing campuses.

The college received a state allocation of around $25 million to construct the STEM Student Success and Community Engagement Center on its East Campus, in Dade City.

The design work is happening now, with actual construction expected to begin in January and the project’s completion slated for early 2024, Beard said.

The 51,000-square-foot building will have an auditorium, house various student services and academic support programs and have a STEM center, he said.

The college also is adding a new Fire Academy Center to train firefighters, also at the East Campus, Beard said.

A spacious music studio gives music director, Justin Baggett plenty of room for students. Here, he leads a student quintet practicing a piece by Mozart.

Over the years, the college has hosted public speakers, local events, summits and other activities to share its facilities with the broader community.

And now, as it commemorates its golden anniversary this academic year, it is inviting the public to join in the celebration.

Festivities kick off on Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, in Dade City. It’s fitting to begin there because the college has its roots in East Pasco, Beard said.

The college president also said there’s good cause for celebration.

“I am so proud of this institution and its history, and those in the community that have supported us, as a college,” Beard said. “It has been a gem in our community that has made the difference and transformed the lives of so many students.”

50th ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES
Pasco-Hernando State College (PHSC) has scheduled several celebration to mark the college’s golden anniversary year. (Note: Any prospective student filling out an application on a campus during the anniversary festivities will have the application fee waived.)

Here are the scheduled events:

  • Sept. 17, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the East Campus, 36727 Blanton Road, in Dade City. This event, during Hispanic Heritage Month, will feature the flavors and sounds of Latin culture. Guest speakers will explore local history and Hispanic culture, and there will be entertainment, family activities and food.
  • Nov. 5, 10 .m. to 2 p.m., in the Quad at PHSC West Campus, 10230 Ridge Road, in New Port Richey: This event will have a fall festival vibe with music from DJ Jose Nix, a photobooth, activities, food, treats, goodie bags for children, and a casual mile-long walk on the tree-lined trail circling the campus.
  • Feb. 25, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel. View an exhibit of Florida Highwaymen Painters’ collection and learn about the Florida Community Colleges. There will be food, children’s activities and more. This event coincides with Black History Month and will highlight African-American medical innovations.
  • Feb. 25, 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., Instructional Performing Arts Center, 8657 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel. Take tours of the theater, dance, music and digital design programs and enjoy an evening of music and entertainment. The University of South Florida Jazz Under The Starz will pay tribute to Florida’s African-American entertainers and Tampa’s famous Jackson House entertainers. Light refreshments will be served.
  • March 18, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., PHSC North Campus, 11415 Ponce De Leon Blvd, in Brooksville. A carnival setting featuring “fair food,” a bounce house, games, prizes and music make this event family-friendly. This event coincides with Women’s History Month and will feature a panel discussion on the countless contributions made by courageous women throughout the ages.
  • April 1, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., PHSC Spring Hill campus, at 450 Beverly Court. There will be entertainment by local theater and dance groups, campus tours, tours of student art exhibit and the butterfly garden and presentations about Florida sustainability and gardening. Free native Florida plant seeds will be distributed.

A few key milestones
1972: Pasco-Hernando Community Colleges opents. It becomes the last of Florida’s system of 28 community colleges
1972: Milton Jones is named the college’s first president
2014: College opens Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, on land donated by the Porter family
2014: Pasco-Hernando Community College transitions to Pasco-Hernando State College. It also adds two four-year bachelor’s degree programs
2021: The Instructional Performing Arts Center, at 8657 Old Pasco Road, begins operation on the campus of Cypress Creek High School and Cypress Creek Middle, in Wesley Chapel.
2022: College breaks ground for its new STEM Center for Student Success and Community on its East Campus, in Dade City

BY THE NUMBERS
4: Presidents during the college’s history (Milton Jones, 1972 to 1994; Robert Judson Jr., 1994 to 2005; Katherine Johnson, 2005 to 2015; and, Timothy Beard, 2015 to present)
6: Campus locations: New Port Richey, Dade City, Spring Hill, Brooksville and two in Wesley Chapel (Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch and Instructional Performing Arts Center)
$450 million: Contributed to the regional economy annually
100-plus: Degrees and certifications offered
1.000: Approximate number of full-time, part-time and adjuncts
14,000-plus: Students served annually
60,000: Number of diplomas and certifications awarded since the college’s inception

Source: Pasco-Hernando State College

Published September 14, 2022

This 100-year-old veteran wanted a party, and he got one

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Frank Charles hit the big 1-0-0 on Sept. 6, and he celebrated hitting the century-mark in grand fashion.

Jennene Colky, Frank Charles and Debbie Charles take a break from their masks to pose for a photo in the courtyard at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes. The photo was taken on Sept. 6, the day that Frank celebrated hitting the century-mark. (Courtesy of Frank Charles’ family)

There was live music, visits from family members, appearances from dignitaries and a gathering — along with a cake and balloons — at the Baldomero Lopez State Veterans’ Nursing Home, 6919 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

In the weeks leading up to the event, Frank — a veteran of the U.S. Air Force — talked about his upcoming party.

He was looking forward to the cake, the gathering and seeing his daughters, Debbie Charles, who lives in Gainesville, and Jennnene Colky, who lives in Denver.

Debbie’s in-laws — Madison Welch, Bob Welch and Colleen Welch, of Tampa, and June Russell, of Lutz — were also at the birthday bash.

“The nursing home and the FDVA (Florida Department of Veterans Affairs) did an outstanding job of making my father feel special on his 100th birthday,” his daughter, Debbie, said in a telephone interview, following the event.

“They did a marvelous job of decorating with balloons,” she added, and those attending were able to enjoy their choice of a piece of chocolate or white cake from a sheet cake she brought to the party.

“They played Elvis, and they sang Happy Birthday and God Bless America. It was wonderful,” Debbie added.

Rebecca Pinson, social services program manager at Baldomero Lopez, recounted some of the party highlights.

Frank Charles trained to be a pilot and then a navigator, but didn’t do either of those jobs. Instead, he served as a gunner in a ball turret on a B54 and lost consciousness when his oxygen was cut off, according to his daughter, Jannene Colky. He was just 22 when someone rescued him. (Courtesy of Frank Charles’ Family)

She said Frank received a service medal from Bob Asztalos, deputy executive director of FDVA, and an award from Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley. Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Marlies Sarrett, the nursing home administrator, congratulated Frank, too.

Frank’s daughter, Jennene, provided some background about her dad, during a telephone interview.

She said he grew up in Philadelphia, where he lived before enlisting in U.S. Air Force.

“He was initially trained as a pilot, in Texas. They decided they didn’t need any more pilots, so they trained him as a navigator. They decided they didn’t need any more navigators. By time he got into the war, it was September 1944, and the poor guy was a ball turret gunner.”

Somehow, while he was in the ball turret, his oxygen lines were cut and he passed out, she said. Fortunately, someone saw what happened and he was rescued.

Frank was just 22 at the time.

Frank Charles received an award from Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley, who thanked Frank for his service. (Courtesy of Rebecca Pinson)

After the war, he returned to Philadelphia where he went to work for the Philadelphia Electric Company, as a machinist.

He later made a trip to Florida, where he fell in love with the weather. He decided to move his family to Ft. Lauderdale, where he went to work as a machinist for Florida Power & Light.

Later, the family moved to Vero Beach, and then, Frank and his second wife moved to Gainesville, to live closer to Debbie.

After his second wife died, Frank remained in the Gainesville area until he moved to Baldomero Lopez about 14 months ago Debbie said.

Besides his two daughters, Frank has three grandchildren who live in Colorado and one who lives in Pennsylvania.

During a recent interview, Frank said his usual routine at the nursing home typically includes a breakfast of scrambled eggs and orange juice, followed by exercise and then cruising around the nursing home in his wheelchair.

He said he enjoys watching television, especially old westerns and episodes of M.A.S.H.

His daughter, Debbie, said her dad seems to be in his element.

“He’s totally happy there. He’s been there for more than a year. It’s his home,” she said.

Published September 14, 2022