The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

It’s a sweet season for picking

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Blueberry season in Florida has opened, giving family and friends an opportunity to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, while picking their own supply of the fruit.

Besides boasting a rich flavor, blueberries are packed with antioxidants — providing health benefits and giving people a chance to have fun while gathering the berries.

The Florida Agritourism Association offers the opportunity for added income, helping to ensure the next generation of Florida farmers, according to a news release.

Here is a sample of local farms that offer blueberry u-pick events:

For year-round information on agritourism events and a list of u-pick farms in Florida, follow the Florida Agritourism Association online at VisitFloridaFarms.com, on Facebook, or download the association’s free app in the Apple or Android app stores.

Published March 29, 2023

Safe Places for youths in crisis

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Hillsborough County teens and children in crisis can receive help by sending a single text message, according to a news release from Hillsborough County.

Hillsborough County’s Children’s Services wants to remind kids and teens that there are nearly 200 ‘Safe Place’ locations for kids in need.

Safe Place is a national initiative locally managed by Hillsborough County Children’s Services that provides access to help and supportive resources for youth in need.

So, whether they’ve had a fight with their parents or are fleeing domestic abuse in the home, youth under the age of 18 can visit any of the dozens of Safe Place locations in Hillsborough County, most of which are open 24/7, to get assistance. From fire stations to libraries, and even many McDonald’s locations, there are staff trained to help, the news release says.

Each location displays the recognizable yellow and black “Safe Place” sign to provide a visual cue for kids to know they are in a safe place. 

Kids and teens in crisis can text SAFE with their current location to 4HELP (44357) and, within seconds, receive a message with the closest Safe Place site and phone number to Children’s Services.

The employee at the Safe Place location will call Hillsborough County Children’s Services and within 30 minutes to 60 minutes, a qualified Safe Place volunteer or staff member will arrive to talk to the youth, and, if necessary, provide transportation to the Children’s Services campus in Tampa.

Once at the campus, counselors meet with the youth and their family to make sure they receive the help and professional services they need. 

For more information about Safe Place in Hillsborough County, including how your organization can become a Safe Place location, visit HCFLGov.net/Children.

Published March 29, 2023

Pasco board discusses how to regulate vacation home rentals

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The Pasco County Commission approved a request to allow short-term rentals in a waterfront home in West Pasco, but not before hearing complaints from nearby neighbors, and discussing bigger-picture issues affiliated with such rentals.

Board members approved the request for a short-term rental from Nikki and Michael Rutman to allow short-term rentals at 14429 Birch St., in Hudson.

Along with approving the request, the board attached a list of conditions that the owners must meet, or risk having their conditional use permit revoked.

Several neighbors urged the county board to reject the request, arguing that the short-term rental operation changes the character of their single-family neighborhood.

They complained about people coming and going at all hours of the day and night, slamming car doors, beeping horns, barking dogs, parties and other negative impacts.

During their deliberations, the board also discussed the need to find a way to deal with the broader issue of short-term rentals, also called vacation rentals, that are operating around Pasco County.

This particular request before the board arose because the property owner had been cited for a potential county ordinance violation, but board members agreed that this is not an isolated case.

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey noted: “These issues are going to come up because the reality is, we have thousands and thousands of these in the county. I don’t see any way that our citizens can afford to pay code enforcement to go and shut each one of them down.

“In my mind, the answer is to have regulations,” Starkey said.

She said she uses short-term rentals when she travels.

“When families come (to Pasco) for a sporting event, sometimes they’re more comfortable staying in a house than a hotel. Sometimes, it’s cheaper, you get to cook your meals,” she said.

She added that she knows of at least two, maybe three, short-term rental operations near her home.

On one hand, Starkey said, “I sure wouldn’t want a houseful of partiers coming in every week.”

But on the other: “You can’t treat one differently than the other. If they’re not allowed to have theirs, you’re going to have shut all of these down, too.

“In my mind, we need to regulate and license these,” she said.

Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder told the board that it is prohibited by state law from changing its ordinance relating to short-term rentals, but, he said, the county can impose reasonable conditions.

With that in mind, board members expanded the list of conditions required for approval in the case under review.

They decided to require: that cameras be installed to record outdoor activities; that the property be well-maintained and trash receptacles properly stored; and, that water safety information be provided for any equipment the renters are allowed to use.

The board also adopted a three-strike rule — which would revoke the permit if three warranted complaints are recorded by code enforcement or the sheriff’s office.

Any revoked permit would come back to the board for review.

Starkey spoke in favor of the expanded conditions.

“I think we just made a good blueprint (for future requests),” she said.

Published March 29, 2023

Simple steps can help prevent traffic-related deaths, official says

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The figures are shocking.

About 10 people die every week in the District Seven region of the Florida Department of Transportation from traffic-related crashes, said David Gwynn, the district secretary.

“Of course, safety is always our No. 1 priority,” Gwynn said.

“We have too many people die on our roads every year,” Gwynn said, during remarks at a luncheon meeting presented by the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

It’s common to hear reports about tragedies that occur elsewhere, Gwynn said.

But he impressed upon the crowd the importance of taking action to reduce deaths here.

“Think about it: 10 people a week,” he said.

“Last year, we had a 17% decrease in the number of fatalities in our district, which was a good thing.

“Unfortunately, during the pandemic, it (the number of fatalities) actually went up,” he said.

Even though traffic went down, speed went up, he explained.

“Speed kills. A lot of the crashes that were occurring were higher speed,” he said.

Also, there’s been an increase in motorcycle fatalities.

“Unfortunately, a motorcyclist doesn’t have a whole lot of protection, even if they are wearing a helmet. So, we ask people, ‘Keep an eye out.’ Make sure that you’re looking for motorcyclists,” he said.

He also urged the crowd to keep an eye out for pedestrians and bicyclists, too.

Distracted and impaired drivers also are a problem, Gwynn said.

Insurance company apps can encourage safer driving, and provide a premium discount, he said.

There are ways to avoid impaired driving, too, he said.

“Get an Uber if you’ve been having a few drinks and you’ve got to get home,” Gwynn suggested.

There’s also a simple and effective way to reduce traffic-related fatalities, the district secretary said.

“Wear your seatbelt.

“Over half of the people that die in a car crash — not if you get hit while you are walking or biking or riding a motorcycle — if you’re in a car and you die, there’s over 50% chance that you weren’t wearing your seatbelt,” Gwynn said.

“Younger people are the biggest offender. Remind them: ‘Wear your seatbelt.’”

Published March 22, 2023

Pasco ponders new rules on cellphone use in schools

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The Pasco County School Board is expected to decide soon on how and when cellphones can be used on school campuses.

Pasco County School Board Chairwoman Megan Harding has requested a workshop on the issue, which Superintendent Kurt Browning said will occur.

The issue came up at the school board’s March 7 meeting.

How will Pasco County Schools handle the future use of cellphones on district campuses? The school board is set to discuss the issue in April. (Mike Camunas)

In requesting the workshop, Harding noted: “I  think it’s a really important topic that revolves around students’ mental health and behaviors that are occurring within the classroom. And, I’d really like to have that discussion with my peers, if you all are willing.”

School board member Al Hernandez responded: “Absolutely.”

Browning said the district is scheduling a workshop in the second week of April.

“We’ve been working on this issue the last few weeks, in earnest. We will have the data available,” Browning said.

Any changes in the district would take effect next school year, the superintendent said.

Harding said she hopes families will weigh in on the issue.

Steve Hegarty, the district’s public information officer, said the district established a Thought Exchange on the topic, reaching out directly to parents, teachers and students seeking their engagement on the issue.

“We’ve had thousands, thousands of responses,” Hegarty said.

Browning discussed the issue in a video that accompanied the Thought Exchange.

He said cellphones are common on school campuses, and have both advantages and disadvantages.

While they can be useful for legitimate academic purposes, when used irresponsibly, they can be a distraction, can be destructive and can be used to amplify and spread threats and rumors, Browning said in the video.

“So, how can we manage the use of cellphones in our schools?” Browning asked.

“How do we promote the appropriate uses, while reducing inappropriate uses and mitigating the harmful effects?”

Browning acknowledged: “There’s no way to put the Genie back into the bottle. Cellphones are here to stay. They’re part of our daily life.”

Plus, he added: “Florida law says students may have cellphones at school.”

At the same time, state law allows districts to adopt rules “about how and when students use wireless devices at school,” Browning said.

“So, the question is this: What kind of rules can we adopt, rules that are both effective and realistic,” Browning continued.

“In this Thought Exchange, we’re seeking your thoughts, concerns and suggestions about how your school and the district, in general, should handle the use of cellphones and other wireless devices at school,” the superintendent said.

The issue has sparked considerable interest, with 8,930 participating in the exchange.

Those commenting shared an array of suggestions and opinions.

Here’s a sampling:

  • “I don’t think students should be allowed to film others or make TikToks at school. Children are being humiliated and exploited on social media. School is already hard enough. Then when students post videos of others (fights), now they’ve opened it up to the world to bully them. It’s not right.”
  • “With the ongoing threats schools are constantly getting and controlled campuses or lockdowns that are occurring, students need access to their phones.”
  • “In the event of an emergency, I want my children to be able to reach me.”
  • “My child needs her phone because she walks to school and home from school.”
  • “Social media should be blocked during the school day. It’s a huge distraction.”
  • “No social media. Tech is valuable but needs to be focused.
  • “No interruptions from cellphones during teaching.”

Others suggested that cellphones be kept in backpacks or wall organizers during class and that cellphone use be limited to non-instructional time.

The need for cellphone access for children who have health issues was noted, too.

Overall, the tenor of the comments seemed to suggest that Thought Exchange participants want the district to strike a balance between allowing the legitimate use of cellphones, while imposing rules intended to reduce distractions caused by cellphones, as well as disruptive and harmful use of the devices.

Published March 22, 2023

Wesley Chapel Boulevard widening to start soon

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Wesley Chapel Boulevard, between State Road 54 and State Road 56, is a busy road and has needed widening for years. That work is expected to begin in nine months, according to Margaret Smith, Pasco County’s engineer. (Mike Camunas)

Right of way needed to widen Wesley Chapel Boulevard has been acquired and the work to widen the busy road is expected to begin within nine months.

Once the project is completed, the road will have three lanes in each direction between State Road 54 and State Road 56.

Some of the widening work has already occurred.

The project is of considerable interest to motorists who use it for their daily commutes, to take advantage of the area’s shopping and dining options, and to access Interstate 75, via State Road 54 or State Road 56.

Wesley Chapel Boulevard also is known as County Road 54.

It straddles the edge of Cypress Creek Town Center, where State Road 54 turns into State Road 56, and it leads to the other part of State Road 54, which heads east through Wesley Chapel toward Zephyrhills.

Published March 22, 2023

Teachers bring dream to life at Montessori school in Dade City

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Kameeka Shirley and LaTania Scott were chatting over lunch one day when the teachers came to a realization that changed their lives.

“We were just talking about what we wanted for our children and what we wanted for ourselves,” Scott said.

Scott told Shirley: “I want to start a school.”

Shirley responded: “Me, too.”

“That’s literally how it started,” Scott said.

Kameeka Shirley, left and LaTania Scott, are co-founders of Blazing Stars Montessori School in Dade City. Both women are entirely sold on the educational approach and wanted to bring it to Dade City. (B.C. Manion)

At the time, they were teachers at a public Montessori charter school.

Now, they are running Blazing Stars Montessori School, at 12212 Fort King Road, in Dade City.

The school, which opened on Jan. 9, operates out of a 2,400-square-foot building that was previously occupied by a daycare.

It now serves 10 children, including two in after-care. The school continues to enroll students for this year and has begun accepting applications for the coming school year.

The school is affiliated with Wildflower Schools, a network established in Massachusetts, which helps teachers found and run micro-schools.

Blazing Stars is one of two Wildflower Schools in Florida, but there are hubs in other parts of the country, as well, Shirley said.

At the moment they are part of a hub made up of schools which don’t have any other Wildflower Schools nearby. But once more spring up in the area, they’ll form their own hub.

Scott noted: “Wildflower Schools are schools started by teachers, ran by teachers. So we are the admin, sometimes the cleaning crew. We are also the teachers, and our children attend.”

Blazing Stars’ enrollment includes Shirley’s 4-year-old son Kaden, and Scott’s 6-year-old son Maxwell and 4-year-old son Clayton.

The teachers wanted to launch the school for their personal happiness and for the happiness of their children, they said.

Both teachers are totally sold on the value of the Montessori approach to learning.

“I am just a pure Montessorian. I have never taught anything but Montessori,” said Scott, who has taught using that approach for 18 years. She also trains other teachers in the Montessori method.

Blazing Stars Montessori School is a private school that has brought the Montessori method of education to Dade City.

She’s excited about teaching in a small setting.

“I’m looking forward to being able to do Montessori, without any of the red-tape,” Scott said.

Shirley noted: “We will only ever be a two-classroom school.”

The school’s capacity if 47, and if it ever adds a higher level,  it would branch off to another location.

The idea is to keep the numbers low enough to provide a highly personalized education.

Blazing Stars begins working with children at age 3, but Shirley emphasized it is a school, not a daycare.

Its primary level serves children ages 3 through 6 and its lower elementary level serves children in ages 6 through 9.

Montessori instruction is not like a traditional school.

In a traditional setting, children sit at desks. At Blazing Stars, they move around, from room to room, picking up physical objects to help them understand abstract concepts.

The same materials can be used at various stages of learning, to build on understanding and help convey different lessons.

The hands-on approach provides a sensorial-based experience.

For instance, when a child is learning the difference between short and long, he can see and touch materials of different lengths.

Strings of beads, which can be easily counted, are used to teach mathematics.

The level of sophistication changes, as children progress through the system.

Cheyenne Chandler works with her child, Elliana, during a recent visit at Blazing Stars Montessori School, in Dade City. (Courtesy of Roda Routes Photography)

It’s a system of education that allows children who learn quickly to advance, while granting more time for students who need it.

“Montessori is the place where no child is left behind because every child works at their (own) pace,” Scott said.

Besides doing work indoors, the teachers think the children benefit from being out in nature and plan to use a sensory garden to help them learn.

Shirley said the lessons go beyond mere academics.

“We want to build an intentionally diverse community. We want students to know how to interact with many different kinds of people, with different ideas. 

“How do you respectfully disagree? How do you advocate for your needs, in a way that others can understand?”

“We want children to learn how to graciously be a part of our community,” Shirley said.

Scott emphasized the importance of being connected to the community.

“We want everybody to understand that we are part of the community and we want the community to be part of what we are doing here to help grow our children,” she said.

Montessori typically has been associated with high-income families, but both Shirley and Scott said Blazing Stars intends to help families who are interested in having their children enroll in the school, to explore all of their options.

They don’t want families to foreclose on the possibility of this type of education.

“Our equity principle is very important to us, that we make Montessori accessible to all families,” Shirley said.

Scott put it this way: “Montessori is not for the elite. It’s for everyone. It’s not just for those that can afford it.”

Learn more about Blazing Stars Montessori School
Open House: March 25, 10:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.
Information Session: 11 a.m. to noon
Where: 12212 Fort King Road, in Dade City

Published March 22, 2023

 

City of Zephyrhills revamps website, making it more user-friendly

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The City of Zephyrhills is continuing efforts to rebrand itself, and at the same time, it’s working to use advanced technology to streamline day-to-day operations and improve communications.

It will soon unveil a new city motto, logo, color scheme and other changes.

While that work is continuing, it also has redesigned its website.

Notable updates to the website include:

  • Specialized landing pages for the city’s Community Redevelopment Agency and its police, public works and human resources departments.
  • Updated content, throughout the redesign
  • Easier navigation
  • More appealing visuals
The City of Zephyrhills unveiled its redesigned website on March 20, making it easier to navigate for users. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

Elements of the website will change after the launch of the city’s rebrand.

The city also plans to install parks and recreation software, CivicRec, which will allow citizens to make reservations online at any time for Alice Hall Community Center, the Train Depot, cemetery plots, parks and recreational facilities, and so on.

The software is intended to ease the workload of the City Clerk, while at the same time giving citizens flexibility. In other words, reservations won’t be limited to in-person visits to City Hall, on Monday through Friday.

The web address has not changed and still be accessed at ci.zephyrhills.fl.us.

Published March 22, 2023

Planning is ‘a balancing act,’ planning board chairman says

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When the Pasco County Planning Commission considers a request, it needs to look at the issue from every side, board chairman Charles Grey said during a recent meeting.

“It’s a balancing act. You’ve got to balance the rights of a property owner with the rights and the expectations of the current citizens in the area. So, what we try to do is push and pull until we feel we have a reasonable balance in that area. It’s never going to be perfect,” Grey said, during a March 2 public hearing.

His remarks came during consideration of a request to allow a maximum of 162 townhomes, on a 40-acre site off Caroline Drive, in Wesley Chapel.

Attorney Barbara Wilhite, representing the applicant, said the request calls for 162 on land is designated on the long-range plan for up to 194 units.

The previous zoning allowed single-family detached residences; this one calls for townhomes, which essentially are attached residences, Wilhite said.

The site is within the county’s urban service area and the county has identified future “vision” roads in the area.

Vision roads are roads that are not yet part of any capital improvement plan, but are envisioned as being necessary to serve future growth.

Wilhite said there are two significant vision roads in the area, including a vision road that would extend Bruce B. Downs Boulevard through Wiregrass, Saddlebrook and north to Overpass Road.

The other vision road is an extension of Wells Road, Wilhite said.

“Because of these major roads, there will be higher density and intensity, as you approach these intersections,” Wilhite said.

She also noted there are some advantages of townhome development over detached single-family development.

“One of the benefits of the townhomes is that you have a central amenity,” she said. “By contrast, at individual residences, pools can be within 5 feet of the property line.”

Wilhite also noted: “Townhomes are commonly maintained. If you live in a townhome, you pay your HOA to maintain your roof, your paint, your shrubs, your grass and the landscaping in the common areas. In a single-family subdivision, you pay your HOA to chase your neighbor to try to get them to comply.”

She showed the planning board a visual of the proposed site plan.

“You see a lot of ponds on here because of the density. We have property. We’re able to cluster those townhomes and create a very nice living environment,” Wilhite said.

The attorney acknowledged that neighbors are concerned about additional traffic that will traveling down Caroline Drive, en route to State Road 54.

Several of those neighbors spoke during the public comment portion of the hearing, expressing concerns about traffic.

Others spoke about the incompatibility of a townhome community next to single-family homes, and others mentioned the potential loss of area wildlife and a concern about a potential increase in crime resulting from more people moving into the area.

The developer has agreed to pave Caroline Drive to Pasco County standards.

He also has agreed to install a sidewalk on one side of Caroline Drive.

That concession came after board chairman Grey asked if a sidewalk would be added on Caroline Drive, to address safety concerns.

“In order for me to feel comfortable about approving a new development, it needs to bring something to the existing area they don’t have. It can’t just take,” Grey said.

“If it doesn’t enhance the adjoining areas in some significant way, then why put it there? It’s not ready for it,” Grey said. “We’ve got to look out for our citizens.”

The developer also will do any necessary access management improvements that are required at State Road 54 and Caroline Drive.

Plus, there will be an emergency-access only gate at Tucker Road, but that designation could change in the future if Tucker Road is paved and the county’s future road network is established.

The developer also has agreed to construct a six-foot fence around the project, which will be gated.

The county’s planning staff recommended approval of the request and the planning board concurred, with the exception of Planning Commissioner Peter Hanzel, who voted no.

Hanzel said he would prefer the site be developed with larger, single-family homes.

Published March 22, 2023

Bridging the gap — using Popsicle sticks

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William Bryan searched the internet.

That was a no-brainer for the senior at Saint Leo University, who is majoring in cybersecurity.

William Bryan, a Saint Leo University senior majoring in cybersecurity, won the Ninth Annual Bridge-Building Competition on March 9. The contest involved students building bridges using nothing more than 200 Popsicle sticks and Elmer’s glue. Bridges were judged on their strength, aesthetics of design and other factors. Bryan’s bridge, Bridge-It, supported a record-breaking 93.8 pounds. (Mike Camunas)

But his search didn’t yield the answers he was seeking.

“I did look online, but it’s not as easy as going online and finding something because there is no right way to build a Popsicle stick bridge,” Bryan said. “Each competition has different parameters, from the amount of sticks you can use to specific dimensions.

“I really don’t know that much about engineering, but I knew that I needed triangles — and to get as much glue on the surface area as possible. The rest surprised me”

His biggest surprise, however, came in the way that he won Saint Leo University’s Ninth Annual Bridge-Building Competition on March 9.

In a record-breaking rout, his bridge — Bridge-It — held 98.3 pounds. He had expected his bridge would support about 40 pounds. When he shattered the record, spectators in Shelby Auditorium erupted with applause.

His bridge was among 10 in the contest, in which teams ranging from one to three members, sought to build the strongest possible bridge using only Elmer’s glue and no more than 200 standard Popsicle sticks.

The entries had to bridge a 1.2-meter span. 

Ebony Rolle, left, and Asha Burns watch as their bridge, Doja, collapses before they added barely any weight to it.

To test the strength, a bucket was hooked to the bottom of the bridge and contestants added bags of rocks until the span broke.

Bryan eventually ran out of rocks, so he placed a large heavy bucket on top of the bridge, which broke under the weight.

“When I was in middle school, there was a Popsicle (stick) bridge competition, but I wasn’t able to do it because I wasn’t invited,” said Bryan, who was accompanied by his wife, Jacquelyn.

“So this was a bit of redemption (laughs).”

Saint Leo has been hosting this competition for nearly a decade and it has always been open to all students, not just the ones who know more about physics, which is a requirement of biology majors. Many of those competing are biology majors.

Popsicle stick bridges were built, and then broken, during Saint Leo University’s Ninth Annual Bridge-Building Competition March 9.

Dr. Harsha Perera, assistant professor of physics and physical sciences in the College of Arts and Science, said that is part of the appeal of watching the competition.

“We even had someone from psychology sign up, so it’s for everyone. I believe this event sparked the enthusiasm for all the students regardless of their age or their major to learn engineering techniques on designing and building a bridge with the given material.”

For biology major Alex Keeler, she was just looking for a little fun during midterms.

She and her teammates, Juan Jimenez and Hannah Evers, dubbed their bridge,  “Jahkeg” — their initials. It was named Most Aesthetically Pleasing.

“I’m not going to lie,” Keeler said. “The extra-credit component definitely played into (entering the competition). … But we know just the bare minimum of physics, so we also went with what we found on Google.”

Perera added the competition will remain open to the public, not just Saint Leo students.

“We would love for high school students or middle schoolers to come and try the competition, especially if they’re interested in physics,” she said. “We welcome the public, and hopefully one day they’ll take us up on it.

“We’re pretty sure they’ll enjoy it as much as our college students did.”

Published March 22, 2023