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Prelude to a festive song

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Paul Lewis can’t play the song — but he wrote it.

Such is the life of some composers, including this one.

Lewis is a musician and the owner of Prelude Academy of the Arts, a music school in downtown Dade City.

Paul Lewis, the Dade City native, musician and owner of Prelude Academy of the Arts, had a song he composed featured in the 7th New Music on the Bayou Festival from May 31 to June 3 in Monroe and Ruston, Louisiana. (Mike Camunas)

Over the course of two years, he composed and wrote a beautiful cello/electronic music piece — titled ‘Xenon’ — which was selected to be played in the 7th New Music on the Bayou Festival from May 31 to June 3 in Monroe and Ruston, Louisiana.

Lewis, a talented musician, plays several instruments, including the double bass.

But he can’t play this song he composed.

“It’s a great honor to be chosen for the festival, but, sadly, no, I can’t play it — it’s way above my level,” said the 35-year-old Dade City native, who also plays in the Dade City Orchestra. “I wrote it for a very talented cellist, Eduard Teregulov, who will do a chamber performance in Monroe.

Sheet music composed by Paul Lewis, owner of Prelude Academy of the Arts in downtown Dade City.

“When I was writing this piece, Edward asked me to write him the piece for the cello and had no idea what it would be about. As a composer, I really feel the need to have hooks (in the piece), otherwise, I don’t see the point, and I don’t think anyone is going to remember if it doesn’t have interesting hooks,” the composer said.

He acknowledges as he sat down to write the score, he was still trying to figure out what direction he was going in, the motifs, rhythms and hooks.

But then he stumbled upon inspiration.

“I came across this wonderful Greek proverb,” Lewis said. “‘A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit.’ … That’s powerful. I wanted this piece to be about that, and it’s a little political, but I really do believe in that phrase … and the biggest issue I have is the stifling of innovation — that I don’t understand and I think this piece is about not doing that.”

The percussion studio room at Prelude Academy of the Arts in Dade City.

Xenon is a dense, colorless, odorless noble gas found in Earth’s atmosphere in trace amounts. However, xenon can be used to balance out nuclear fission, which inspired the innovation part of Lewis’ piece.

In the end, it was the Greek proverb that moved him.

“I don’t like to be practical with music — I like to hint subtly in it,” he said.

The festival received 337 submissions from 180 different applicants from 34 states and 18 countries. Lewis became one of 50 composers whose work was selected for the weeklong celebration. 

Lewis and his wife, Charlotte, who is co-owner of Prelude Academy, attended the festival so they could “get to see it played and played well by someone who is good and someone we know,” she said. 

It was a musical trip worth the wait.

Charlotte Lewis, owner of Prelude Academy of the Arts in downtown Dade City, works on some guitar lessons with a student.

“I heard it through all its stages of development — from ‘What do you think of this?’ and ‘What do you think of that?’ Every part,” Charlotte said. “I make the noise — I don’t write it, so I only know composing through Paul, but it’s nice to see his project where he has all this creativity pouring into it and I can just look at it from the outside and offer a gentle critique.

“We joke because I tell him, ‘I would tell you if I didn’t like it,’” she continued. “It’s a delicate balance being the married couple and working partners, because if something doesn’t sound good, we want to be supportive, but still give real feedback.

“So, he might pout and then rewrites.” 

The couple opened their flourishing music academy in November 2021, and have seen an influx of local musicians walk through its doors. Those learning music there are both experienced and aspiring, and they use all kinds of instruments to create classical to pop.

Students range from age 80 to 18 months.

The academy’s growth has happened faster than its owners expected — creating the need to hire three more instructors to respond to the demand. Paul teaches percussion and piano, while Charlotte gives guitar lessons. One of their instructors gives lessons on trumpets, bagpipes and other brass instruments.

And the reception from the Dade City community has been music to their ears.

“We love that Dade City is invested in us,” Charlotte said. “And the music.”

‘Xenon’ by Paul Lewis
Details: Paul Lewis’ piece for cello and electronics was featured in the 7th New Music on the Bayou Festival from May 31 to June 3 in Monroe and Ruston, Louisiana. The festival received 337 submissions from 180 different applicants from 34 states and 18 countries. Lewis became one of 50 composers selected for the festival.
To hear the score, visit Soundcloud.com/plewismusic/xenon.
To learn more about the festival, visit NewMusicOnTheBayou.com, and to learn more about Prelude Academy of the Arts, 14249 Seventh St. Dade City, visit PreludeAcademy.com.

Published June 14, 2023

New stamp pane features Florida panther

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America’s natural bounty includes a variety of unique and priceless wildlife. Under the Endangered Species Act (ESA), which marks its 50th anniversary in 2023, more than 1,300 imperiled plant and animal species are safeguarded to increase their chances of survival, according to a news release. The Florida panther is among the endangered species.

The endangered Florida panther will be featured on the U.S. Postal Service’s new stamp pane. (Courtesy of the United States Postal Service)

The First-Day-Of-Issue stamp dedication ceremony for the United State Postal Service’s new collector edition took place on May 19.

The pane, which may be purchased at local post offices, presents a photographic portfolio of 20 endangered animal species, which are found within the 50 states and American territories and possessions or living near U.S. borders.

The endangered species featured include: the Laysan teal, black-footed ferret, Roanoke logperch, thick-billed parrot, candy darter, Florida panther, masked bobwhite quail, Key Largo cotton mouse, Lower Keys marsh rabbit, Wyoming toad, Vancouver Island marmot, golden-cheeked warbler, Guam Micronesian kingfisher, San Francisco garter snake, Mexican gray wolf, Attwater’s prairie chicken, Nashville crayfish, piping plover, desert bighorn sheep and Mississippi sandhill crane.

The endangered creatures on the stamps are selected from among more than 13,000 species featured in Joel Sartore’s National Geographic Photo Ark project, which aims to document every species living in the world’s zoos, aquariums and wildlife sanctuaries; inspire action through education; and help protect wildlife by supporting on-the-ground conservation efforts, the release said.

In the 50 years since President Richard Nixon signed the ESA into law on Dec. 27, 1973, other nations worldwide have emulated the pioneering U.S. initiative. The ESA provides a framework to conserve and protect endangered and threatened species and their habitats both domestically and abroad.

Scientists estimate that hundreds of species have been rescued from the brink of extinction in the United States since the ESA began. A species found to need protection is listed under the ESA as either threatened or endangered, the latter defined as “in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range,” the release said.

Published June 14, 2023

Pasco Schools offers free food program

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Pasco County Schools’ Summer Food Service program will provide breakfasts and lunches, Monday through Thursday, to anyone age 18 and younger, now until July 28, according to a news release.

Students attending PLACE or Extended School year programs at the various participating schools will receive their meals on campus while attending the program.

Meals will be available at the following schools:

  • Central Pasco: Crews Lake Middle; Dr. Mary Giella Elementary; Shady Hills Elementary
  • East Pasco: Centennial Elementary; East Pasco Education Academy; New River Elementary; Pasco High; Pasco Middle; Quail Hollow Elementary; R.B. Cox Elementary; R.B. Stewart Middle; San Antonio Elementary; Woodland Elementary; and Zephyrhills High.
  • West Pasco: Anclote Elementary/High; Chasco Elementary; Cotee River Elementary; Dayspring Academy (Harmony location); West Pasco Education Academy; Fivay High; Fox Hollow Elementary; Gulf Highlands Elementary; Gulfside Elementary; Gulf Middle; Hudson Primary Academy; Mittye P. Locke Elementary; Moon Lake Elementary; Richey Elementary; Schrader Elementary; Sunray Elementary; Wendell Krinn Technical High; and West Pasco Education Academy.

Additionally, buses will stop to provide lunch, Monday through Thursday, at these locations:

  • Hilltop Landings Apartments, 37611 Colina Drive, Dade City
  • Resurrection House Park, 37124 Lock St., Dade City
  • Trilby United Methodist Church, 37504 Trilby Road, Dade City
  • Zephyrhills YMCA, 37301 Chapel Hill Loop, Zephyrhills
  • Zephyr Park, 38116 Fifth Ave., Zephyrhills

For information and questions, email .

Published June 14, 2023

Recycling can benefit the environment

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Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.

That is the mission of the Pasco County Recycling and Education Department, as it is “committed to reducing the waste stream through recycling, encouraging environmental stewardship, and providing educational resources for residents about the benefits of recycling and waste reduction,” according to its website.

Recycling can reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills and incinerators. It can conserve natural resources such as timber, water and minerals, and can prevent pollution and reduce greenhouse gasses.

In Pasco County, these items can be recycled: aluminum cans, cardboard, metal food cans, paper, plastic bottles and containers.

Items that cannot be recycled include: glass, juice and milk cartons, plastic bags, Styrofoam, tanglers, and anything wet or dirty.

There are size restrictions as well — Pasco County does not recycle items that are larger than a cat litter container or smaller than your fist.

Pasco County Solid Waste and Recycling offers these drop-off locations:

  • East Pasco Recycling Center, 9626 Handcart Road in Dade City. Open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m. Additional materials accepted. Call 352-521-0500.
  • Holiday Area Recycling, Anclote Gulf Park, 2305 Baillies Bluff Road, Holiday. Open Wednesday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  • Land O’ Lakes Area Recycling, Senior Services Center, 6801 Wisteria Loop, Land O’ Lakes. Open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
  • West Pasco Recycling Center, 14606 Hays Road in Spring Hill. Open Monday through Saturday, 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Additional materials accepted. Call 727-857-2780.

The county’s Recycling and Education Department also provides free educational presentations for groups and communities.

For more details on acceptable items and to learn more about program presentations, visit Pascocountyfl.net/546/Recycling.

Published June 14, 2023

Local partnership yields regional award

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A collaboration between the Pasco County Cooperative Extension Service and Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart Entrepreneurship Program has received an award in the 29th annual Future of the Region Awards.

Here’s a look at some of the commercial equipment used at the incubator kitchen, which operates at the Stallings Building, also known as The One Stop Shop, in Dade City. The kitchen resulted from a partnership between The University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences-Pasco County Extension, Pasco Economic Development Council’s SMARTstart Entrepreneur Program and Pasco County. (File)

The honor recognizes the partnership for creating an incubator kitchen at the One Stop Shop in Dade City, according to a Pasco County news release.

“It’s an absolute honor to receive this award,” Dr. Whitney Elmore, director of Pasco Extension, said in the release. “Our goal for the kitchen is to help local businesses launch, grow and contribute to our economy.”

The incubator kitchen uses commercial kitchen equipment donated by Welbilt Inc.

Since the kitchen began operation in 2019, it has attracted 17 incubator members, who are now operating successful locations or catering businesses throughout the area, according to the release.

“It has been extremely fulfilling to provide guidance and support to the incubator members and watch as this partnership helped launch 45 new, food-related businesses right here in Pasco County,” Dan Mitchell, SMARTstart program director, said in the release.

To learn more about the Incubator Kitchen, visit MyPas.co/IncubatorKitchen.

The Future of the Region Awards recognize programs and projects that exemplify regionalism and also recognize outstanding achievements and contributions benefiting the Tampa Bay community.

To learn more about the regional awards, visit TBRPC.org/for/.

Published June 14, 2023

Tampa temporarily changes water disinfection process

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The Tampa Water Department is temporarily using a different water disinfection process, which will continue until July 3.

The switch began on June 12 and is part of the city’s routine maintenance to preserve drinking water quality, according to a city news release.

Customers may experience a change in their drinking water’s smell, color, and taste during this time, the release says.

The department is temporarily using chlorine instead of chloramine — which is a mix of ammonia and chlorine—  to disinfect its drinking water.

This is a routine and temporary adjustment to help prevent bacteria from developing in water mains and service lines, according to the city.

Customers who are sensitive to chlorine can take several steps to minimize the effects of the change, the release says.

Those options include:

  • Running the tap for a few minutes before using the water
  • Filling a pitcher of water and letting it sit for several hours to allow any residual chlorine to evaporate
  • Considering the installation of a carbon filter on kitchen/bathroom faucets or shower heads or replacing existing filters with new ones

This routine change was delayed due to seasonal drought conditions. The Hillsborough River Reservoir is now back to normal levels thanks to recent rains.

For more information, contact the City of Tampa Utilities Department at 813-274-8811, or visit Tampa.gov/ChlorineDisinfection.

Published June 14, 2023

Hugh Embry finishes $2-million renovation, reopens to public

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Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, reopened to the public on May 30, after a two-year hiatus, for renovations.

Patrons were eager to begin using the updated library, which encountered some delays during its upgrade due to COVID and supply issues.

Hugh Embry Library in Dade City reopened its doors on May 30, following a $2-million renovation that included a complete overhaul and remodel of the branch. (Courtesy of Pasco County Libraries)

The library now features new furnishings, lighting, computer, printers and even faster broadband.

It was cleared of its contents in early to mid-2021, to set the stage for the $2 million renovation.

It was the first time the branch had been renovated since 1991, when it was expanded under a $10 million bond referendum that Pasco County voters passed in 1986 to improve public library services and build new parks countywide.

Founded in 1904, the Hugh Embry Library is the oldest in Pasco County. Its namesake, the then 25-year-old Embry, had exhausted books he could borrow from friends. He raised $50 to start a library and called it the Shakespeare Club. He chose books and ran the library out of his family home until his death from tuberculosis in 1907.

The Pasco Library Association was established to manage the library, and aided by The Dade City Woman’s Club. In 1927, the woman’s club began loaning books to the general population for free, out of a room in the Herbert Massey Building. Within a month of its opening, the library had attracted 440 registered borrowers.

For years, the library was unincorporated, though it continued to grow. It wasn’t until 1952 that Dade City gave property across the street from City Hall for a library building, and in 1953, the City took over responsibility for the library.

It would take another 10 years before the library finally moved to its current location.

After the Pasco County Library Cooperative was founded in 1980, it began operating and maintaining the Hugh Embry Branch under a no-cost lease. In 1988, the Dade City Commission sold the library to Pasco County for $150,000.

Additionally, Pasco County Libraries is reaching out to the public to complete its 2023 Customer Satisfaction Survey. The survey can be taken at any Pasco County branch or online at bit.ly/423cTMH until July 22.

Published June 07, 2022

Construction to reroute U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes

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(Mike Camunas)

The northbound U.S. 41 left turn lane to Sunterra Drive, in Land O’ Lakes, will close for reconstruction work beginning around 7 a.m. on June 5. Northbound U.S. 41 access to Sunterra Drive is expected to be closed approximately into the last week of June.

Access to Sunterra Drive will continue to be available from southbound U.S. 41, while northbound drivers can access Sunterra Drive by taking a U-turn onto southbound U.S. 41 at the Ensemble Boulevard intersection or by continuing north and turning left onto Asbel Drive to access the Tierra Del Sol and Asbel communities.

For information on this construction, visit https://www.fdottampabay.com/project/257/256324-2-52-01.

Published June 07, 2023

Cyber breach of Hillsborough Elections Office affects 58,000

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The Hillsborough County Supervisor of Elections Office has sent out notices to 58,000 people whose personal data appears to have been breached through criminal cyber activity.

The elections office initially reported on May 3 that it was working with federal, state and local law enforcement officials to investigate an illegal data breach.

The office released an update on that investigation last week.

“The investigation has determined that an unauthorized user appears to have illegally accessed and copied files containing personal identification information, such as social security or driver license numbers, primarily from files used to conduct voter registration list maintenance,” according to a news release from Supervisor of Elections Craig Latimer’s office.

“Voter registration list maintenance is the state-mandated process by which the office continually reviews its voter roll to identify necessary updates,” the release adds.

“It’s important to note that the voter registration system and the ballot tabulation system, which have additional layers of security, were not accessed,” the release continues.

Notification letters went out last week to alert those affected.

Since this is an ongoing criminal investigation, no additional information can be shared at this time, the release added.

When the office initially reported the criminal cyber activity, Latimer informed the public, by saying: “We learned that an unauthorized user illegally accessed files on a shared drive on our network and we immediately notified federal, state and local law enforcement partners, including the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, the FBI, MS-ISAC, the Florida Department of State, and the cybersecurity division of Hillsborough County’s Information and Innovation Office.”

At that time, Latimer also said: “It’s very important to note that the unauthorized user did not have access to our voter registration system or our ballot tabulation system. Our voter registration system has multiple layers of protection, monitoring and redundancy. Our tabulation system does too, and uses a stand-alone, air-gapped server that is not connected to anything else. That server has not been compromised in any way.”

Published June 07, 2023

Rejuvenation planned for Polly Touchton Park

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Polly Touchton would be proud.

Ruth Embry “Miss Polly” Touchton is the namesake of the small, but beloved park in Dade City. She’s also the grandmother of Tom Touchton, a native of Dade City and the person spearheading a much-anticipated initiative for the park situated between Fifth and Seventh streets, and Bougainvillea and Southview avenues.

Polly Touchton Park, located between Fifth and Seventh streets, and Bougainvillea and Southview avenues, in Dade City, is set to have a full renovation and redesign. Besides sprucing up the park, the improvements include adding sidewalks, a small separation wall, swing benches, new benches and tables for picnics, and parking. (Courtesy of City of Dade City)

Touchton unveiled impressive renovation plans for the park during the May 23 Dade City Commission meeting. The project will completely redesign the park that hugs the Dade City Garden Club and greets drivers at the apex of U.S. 98 and Seventh Street.

“This could really become the jewel of the city,” Touchton said to the commissioners and a packed room of supporters, including many garden club members. “This park already welcomes you into the city and honors my family, which came to Dade City 125 years ago.”

The all-encompassing design for the improvements include rebuilding the iconic sign seen on Seventh Street. The biggest change, however, involves the installation of a small separation wall that essentially will split the park in half. 

The wall is climbable for children and includes two sets of stairs that lead down to serpentine sidewalks. The park also will have swing benches and new picnic areas.

Tom Touchton, who is Polly’s grandson, spearheaded the effort for the renovation of the small park in Dade City. (Mike Camunas)

City commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the renovation plan.

It joins eight other projects, totaling about $30 million in city funds, that are currently in the works in Dade City.

The Touchton Renovation Project has a “budget (that) is an ongoing moving target with the addition of stormwater improvements,” according to Jason Warrenfeltz, the city’s public works director.

“We really wanted to keep the beauty and the trees of the park, which provide a nice canopy, and also some memorial trees and some of the oldest in the city,” Tom Touchton said. “For four generations now, my family has been involved in parks and projects in Dade City. It was important to me, with the park’s renovation, to recognize the positive influences and values of my family throughout my life here, as well as the examples they set through their civic and business contributions to Dade City over many decades.”

Ruth Embry ‘Miss Polly’ Touchton is the namesake of the small, but beloved park in Dade City. (Courtesy of Tom Touchton)

The park is named after “Miss Polly” Touchton, when the city named it in 1986. With the renovation, plaques will be installed giving the history of the Touchtons in Dade City, as well as honoring Tom’s grandparents — Polly and Charles Floyd Touchton Sr. — and his parents — Charles Jr. and Thelma Touchton.

More than 125 years ago, Tom Touchton’s great-grandparents arrived by train in Dade City, with eight kids in tow — seven boys and one girl, Polly.

Polly was a charter member of the Dade City’s Woman’s Club in 1909, a Red Cross volunteer in World War I, the longest surviving member (77 years) of the First Presbyterian Church of Dade City where she was a Sunday School teacher and, of course, also a charter member of the Dade City Garden Club.

The city commissioners were blown away by the redesign plans.

“I think this will beautify the gateway to the city,” Mayor Jim Shive said. “It’s already seen when you enter the city from U.S. 301 and now it will be an incredibly beautiful park to welcome people to Dade City.”

Fellow commissioner Ann Cosentino agreed.

“Seeing these plans and this presentation, it’s like Christmas morning all over again,” she said. “It’s just beautiful to see (the plans) laid out for us, and I think every Dade City resident is going to love it.”

Published June 07, 2023