The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Zephyrhills begins rebranding efforts

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The City of Zephyrhills has begun an initiative to rebrand the community —  an effort that’s expected to take months, and will involve everything from the town’s logo, slogan and perceptions about the community.

The city, which is now the largest municipality, has partnered with North Star Place Branding + Marketing to assist in the effort, according to a news release.

This is a view of downtown Zephyrhills. The city has embarked on an initiative to rebrand itself and is seeking the community’s help in those efforts. (Mike Camunas)

The Jacksonville-based consulting firm will conduct research within the community to uncover how Zephyrhills is perceived, attitudes that people have about it and will explore the city’s unique offerings.

The rebranding effort is aimed at increasing interest and investment in Zephyrhills from residents, entrepreneurs, companies and visitors, the release adds.

The city is looking to “rebrand” itself beyond being widely known as a great place for skydiving and for winter residents. The effort also includes rewriting the city’s current “The City of Pure Water” slogan.

As part of the initiative, North Star has created a community engagement/brand story site to serve as an online tool to direct traffic of residents and stakeholders who are interested in learning more about the rebranding project and getting involved, according to the release.

Those who are interested can take part in the research stage or can become a brand ambassador to help launch the city’s new brand, which is expected to happen in mid-2023.

“Now is an exciting time for the City of Zephyrhills to undergo a rebranding effort amid a period of rapid growth and development,” said Zephyrhills City Manager Billy Poe, in the press release. “We want to ensure we’re telling the right story and have a unified message across all city departments, as well as with our dedicated community stakeholders, to foster a vibrant, distinguishable future for our wonderful town.”

North Place Branding + Marketing has worked with over 200 communities in 44 states over the last 20 years, including Marshall, Minnesota; Gallatin, Tennessee;  Johnson, Tennessee and others.

For more information or to sign up as brand ambassador, visit AuthenticZephyrhills.com.

Published September 28, 2022

Town of St. Leo approves $4.1 million budget

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The town of St. Leo has adopted a budget of $4.1 million for the 2022-2023 fiscal year.

Founded in 1891, the Town of St. Leo is the oldest incorporated municipality in Pasco County. The town has an estimated population of 2,362 and is approximately 858 acres in size. (Mike Camunas)

This year’s budget represents slightly more than $200,000 higher than last year, which translates into an increase of about 5%.

The St. Leo Town Commission approved the budget in a commission meeting on Sept. 21.

The town is expected to generate total general funds in about $1.2 million through sales and use taxes, licenses and permits, intergovernmental and miscellaneous revenues.

St. Leo also has $2.1 million in reserves.

Expenditures are estimated at just over $2 million, stemming from general government, public safety, physical environment, human services and other non-operating uses.

General government has the highest expenditure at $318,731.

The Town plans on spending $173,500 of special revenue on transportation and special projects.

Founded in 1891, St. Leo is the oldest incorporated municipality in Pasco County. The Town is approximately 858 acres in size, much of which is Lake Jovita. The most recent population estimate is 2,362.

The five-person Town Commission consists of Donna DeWitt, Mayor Vincent D’Ambrosio, Mayor Pro Tem James Hallett, Curtis Dwyer and William Hamilton.

For more information about the town, its commission, permits, applications and other issues, visit TownOfStLeo.org.

Published September 28, 2022

Pasco seeks to expand cultural and arts opportunities

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The Pasco County Commission has created a new advisory council aimed at providing a greater focus on cultural arts and resources within the county.

County board members took action on Sept. 20 to appoint the inaugural members of the Cultural Advisory Council.

The Library Service Administration recommended these appointees, who were selected by the county board. The credentials of the appointees were detailed in the county board’s agenda packets.

The first appointees to the Cultural Affairs Advisory Council are:

  • Lauren Murray, executive director of Pasco-Hernando State College’s Instructional Performing Arts Center, former director of the Columbus (Georgia) Symphony, former music chair at the Patel Conservatory at the Straz Center.
  • Maureen Murphy, employed by Life Enrichment Center in Tampa, as well as former chair of the North Tampa Arts League, juror for Art of the Florida State Fair, juror for Carrollwood Cultural Center
  • Izaura Spence, co-director of Reitz Union Board Entertainment Bands Committee (University of Florida) and chair of Generation M (Moffitt Cancer Center); supervisor, research financial analyst (Moffitt Cancer Center); member of Emerging Leaders of Tampa Bay.
  • Charles Zider, adjunct instructor, Pasco-Hernando State College, background in archaeology and museum studies
  • Abeer Abu Judeh, lawyer, with over 18 years of legal experience, able to support the Cultural Affairs Advisory Council in grant applications and other writing materials and presentations, involved in the Tampa Bay Wave and Women’s Association of Lawyers

Members of the advisory council “should be advocates for the arts and culture by encouraging the study and presentation of arts and cultural activities, making Pasco County a cultural destination,” according to materials in the county board’s agenda packet.

In addition to the appointed members of the council, there will be a liaison from each of these county departments: Parks, Recreation, and Natural Resources; Florida’s Sports Coast; and Library Services.

Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey raised the possibility of creating a cultural affairs advisory council during a previous board discussion.

She said it would help put a focus on opportunities in arts and culture for Pasco residents.

The initial term for the appointed council members will be staggered, so two of the members were appointed for one year and the others were appointed for two years.

Published September 28, 2022

Pasco utilities engineering director appointed

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Adolfo Gonzalez has been named utilities engineering director for Pasco County, effective Oct. 3.

The Pasco County Commission confirmed the appointment during its Sept. 20 meeting.

Gonzalez, whose annual salary will be $140,000, is replacing the previous utilities engineering director who resigned from the county in May 2022.

Gonzalez was selected from a number of applicants, as the best candidate for the position.

He has more than 30 years of engineering experience managing a variety of transportation, drainage, water and wastewater projects in both the public and private sectors, according to the board’s agenda packet.

During the course of his career, Gonzalez has led teams of professional engineers and technical staff to deliver capital projects for his employers and clients.

In addition to his professional design and project management experience, he also has served as the district engineer for the Central Broward Water Control District since 2010.

He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and is a registered professional engineer in the state of Florida.

Published September 28, 2022

Board seeks to end human trafficking

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Kathryn Starkey

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey has been selected to serve on the Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking.

She has been appointed for a three-year term.

Starkey was appointed by Florida House Speaker Chris Sprowls, according to a Pasco County news release.

In a letter to Starkey, Sprowls congratulated the chair for her involvement, the news release says.

“It is a pleasure to appoint you to serve as a member,” Sprowls said. “Thank you for your willingness to serve on behalf of the Florida House of Representatives.”

According to the release, Starkey said: “We need to end human trafficking in Florida, and I’m ready to help with this important mission. If we’re engaged and focused, we can put a stop to this horrible crime.”

The Florida Alliance to End Human Trafficking is a nonprofit organization created by the Florida Legislature to provide funding, support and assistance to the statewide efforts to end human trafficking. Human trafficking involves the use of force, fraud or coercion to obtain some type of labor of commercial act. Florida ranks third in the U.S., in human trafficking cases reported, according to the Alliance.

Published September 28, 2022

‘Safe Space’ stickers are barred from Pasco Schools

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Pasco School Superintendent Kurt Browning is standing behind his decision to order the removal of rainbow-colored “Safe Space” stickers throughout the school district.

He also has made it known that the school system does not condone the practice of its personnel engaging in private, personal conversations with students.

Browning made those positions clear — after a number of public speakers addressed the ‘Safe Space’ issue — during the Pasco County School Board’s Sept. 12 meeting.

The stickers came about because several organizations and school districts began posting stickers “to let students know they could talk to a trusted adult, if they had a sensitive topic they needed to discuss,” according to Steve Hegarty, public information officer for the school district.

Pasco County Superintendent Kurt Browning has ordered that these stickers be removed from district schools. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

“Clearly, it included LGBTQ youth, but is not limited to them,” Hegarty explained, via email. “Rather than posting stickers that promoted one organization or another, we created our own with the district logo,” Hegarty said.

Browning sent out an email to district staff on Sept. 1 alerting them the district would no longer be designating safe spaces and the stickers would be removed.

Several speakers appeared before the school board, expressing their concerns about that decision.

Heather Adams, who said she has been an educator for 13 years, told board members: “I rise today in support of the Safe Space stickers.

“I believe that our schools should foster diversity, inclusion and acceptance. Safe Space stickers are an infinitesimally small measure that let all of our children know that they are welcome in our classrooms.

“They are not symbols designed to disenfranchise any part of a group of students who may dislike what the rainbow symbol stands for. Those stickers are a symbol that people who are different, who don’t think, dress, act or love like the majority of other students are just as welcome in our schools.

“A sticker is a small thing, but it is a symbol that we, as educators, will accept and treasure all our students, regardless of their beliefs.

“What is not a small thing is the 45% of the LGBTQ students, almost one in two, who will seriously consider suicide this year.

“This suicide prevention month, I implore you to consider what message the removal of these stickers sends to the at-risk youth, who view them as a reminder that they are valued in our community.”

Jessica Jucusko Wright, a former district educator, told the board: “We need to have systems in place that protect our kids, that they know there are adults they can go to, that they can report to, and that those reports will be heard, that they will not be mocked, that they will not be lost and that action will actually be taken.

“It does not matter how our staff may identify from a religious standpoint. We serve the public and we serve all of the public, regardless how we may feel behind closed doors. It does not matter,” the Land O’ Lakes woman said.

Beverly Ledbetter, a former district teacher, also weighed in:  “We like to think of our schools as a safe place for students to find structure and protection, but there are multiple reasons why a student might not feel accepted or understood at school.

“Safe Spaces helped the students who felt unaccepted for whatever reason regain their sense of belonging, where they can talk to other students who feel the same emotions. Safe Spaces can help those students feel empowered to speak up and receive the support they need to believe and to achieve. It gives them a sense of belonging and support, and not just support from the teacher, but from fellow students who come together as a kind of community.”

Ledbetter added: “A Safe Space sticker on a teacher’s door is a signal that bullying and harassment will not be tolerated.”

Others said the sticker conveyed a tone of acceptance and helped instill confidence in students, who sometimes are unable to be authentically who they are at home.

But Rebecca Yuengling, a frequent critic of the school district had a different point of view.

She spoke against the Safe Space stickers.

“No teacher has the right to tell my child to keep secrets. My child will decide. I will decide. Not the teacher, with my child, in private. They’re my children. I decide what they’ll be. No teacher is going to do that. Nobody in this district is going to do that. You don’t have that right, it’s out of your bounds, and thank God for the laws,” Yuengling said.

Superintendent Browning told those listening: “There’s decisions made by the state and then there’s decisions made locally. This decision, in large part, was made in Tallahassee.

He added: “I guess I wasn’t clear enough when I sent my email to district staff. So, let me see if I can clarify my email to district staff.

“This district has no choice, has no choice, because the law says, under the Parent’s Bill of Rights, that there are no such things as ‘safe spaces,’ as we’re defining safe spaces.

“Teachers are not permitted to have private, personal conversations with students any longer.

“Now, I know that runs counter to a lot of us. It runs counter to a lot of us,” he said.

But the superintendent said those who object to the law need to take their opposition to another venue.

“Who you ought to be talking to, about this law, are members of the Florida Legislature. You need to be talking to the governor of the state,” Browning said.

“Because for anyone to think that this district can pick and choose what laws we’re going to enforce and which laws we’re not going to enforce — that isn’t the way it works.

“Whether you agree or whether you disagree with the law, the law is the law, until it’s overturned by the Legislature or by a court of competent jurisdiction,” Browning said.

“Does this mean that we don’t care, because we’ve taken a sticker off a door? That we do not care about kids that identify as gay, or transgender, or lesbian?

“No, that is not what that means.

“All we want is for teachers to understand is they are prohibited by state law of having those private, personal conversations, with students,” the superintendent said.

School districts, and individual teachers, are subject to potential litigation — and the legal fees that arise — if they violate the law, Browning said.

School board member Alison Crumbley said “I understand the passion here and I understand how people feel, on all sides … But this district went through this for two years.

“Every school board meeting, we were bombarded and harangued and we stood for all of our students,” she said.

Parents and guardians are looking to the board “every single day to protect their students, every single day, regardless of their sexuality, anything.”

She then cited a paragraph in the district’s bullying policy that she believes shows the board’s commitment to providing safe, supportive schools for every student.

“The five of us and the superintendent … we really mean this, for every kid. And I know sometimes it doesn’t feel that way, but we really do.”

Published September 21, 2022

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