The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Attend a Kentucky Derby party, and help local groups

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Celebrate the Kentucky Derby and raise money for area rotary clubs and the Pasco Education Foundation.

The event, which is open to the public, is set for May 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Guests will have a chance to roll cigars and dance to music by the Strictly Bizness band.

Those who enjoy donning fancy attire can also compete for awards for the best hat or best dressed contests.

Among many fun activities at the Kentucky Derby Party, guests can try their luck at the casino table. This year’s event will be on May 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. (Courtesy of Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel)

Winners will be able to take home bragging rights, and prizes.

“The nice thing is everybody can get dressed up in their derby finest,” said Rebecca Smith, member of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel.

There will be a southern cuisine buffet, and drinks available at the bar.

Two auctions will be offered as well. Commemorative items, such as sports memorabilia, will be sold at the live auction, while the silent auction will offer an array of items donated by the community.

And, of course, those attending can cheer on their favorite horses and jockeys, as the Kentucky Derby will be broadcast on numerous television screens.

The function is being hosted jointly by the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel and the Rotary Club of Dade City.

It will be held at the Waller Ranch, at 17307 Powerline Road in Dade City.

Proceeds will help raise money for both rotary clubs, and will benefit the Pasco Education Foundation.

Tickets can be purchased online for $75 or at the door for $100.

For additional information or tickets, visit HatsAndHorses2019.eventbrite.com.

Rebecca Smith may also be contacted at (307) 851-4312 or at .

Hats and Horses – Kentucky Derby Party
Where: Waller Ranch, 17307 Powerline Road, Dade City
When: May 4 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Cost: $75 online or $100 at the door
Details: Come celebrate the Kentucky Derby with a buffet, contests for the best dressed and best hats, and auctions.
Info: For tickets, visit HatsAndHorses2019.eventbrite.com. For further inquiries, contact Rebecca Smith at (307) 851-4312 or at .

Published May 01, 2019

Tracing ancestral photos with modern technology

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People who are interested in learning how to trace their own ancestral history have a chance to learn how to go about that, through a series of lectures being offered at the Lutz Branch Library, in Lutz.

During a recent lecture on April 8, those attending had a chance to learn about piecing together their heritage through the use of photography.

The presentation, “Genealogy: Photo Forensics,” was presented by Kelly Whitelock, a family history researcher for Tampa Bay Roots.

Whitelock is also the host of the genealogy series.

Kelly Whitelock, at the front of the room, gave a presentation on various ways to identify old family photos with Internet sources during a monthly series on tracing one’s own genealogy. The April 8 class was at the Lutz Branch Library. (Brian Fernandes)

At the photo forensic session, she explained how modern-day technology can help unlock the mysteries embedded in a photo.

“It’s amazing what you can learn from a photograph,” the researcher said. “You never know what you’re going to find and where you’re going to find it.”

She used a power point presentation to outline developments throughout the history of photo evolution — from the daguerreotype established in 1839 to today’s computer-generated imagery.

As someone who has studied genealogy for 20 years, Whitelock knows how to unlock information contained in unfamiliar photos of her own ancestors.

She explained some key indicators to look for when examining an old family photograph.

There are clues that can help narrow down when a photo was taken, for instance, and help identify the people in it.

Websites such as Olive Tree Genealogy, or the Victoria and Albert Museum, allow viewers to scroll through images of fashion trends by specific time periods, she said.

“That’s what’s really important about the details,” Whitelock said. “What the person’s wearing, their hairstyles, types of shoes, the jewelry. All these things come into play.”

The type of jewelry being worn may be useful, but it isn’t always a good clue because jewelry often is passed down from one generation to the next, she said.

Whitelock used one of her family photos as a point of reference. The photograph, taken around 1948, is an image of her father and his sister.

She noted some specifics in the photos, which help to indicate its age. Those include the furniture, dishes, books and clothes that can be seen in the image.

There was also an unfamiliar portrait in the photo’s background, which raises even more questions, she said.

In cases like this, Whitelock said one should ask: What connection does the stranger in the background portrait have to the family being researched?

Other good questions to ask include: Does the landscape look familiar? What is the weather like outdoors?

If the photography studio’s name or logo is imprinted on the photo, sometimes the studio can provide useful information, the researcher said.

During the lecture, Whitelock played several instructional YouTube videos.

One video explained how to use Google Images to unveil identities. By uploading personal pictures to Google Images, it can run a search and potentially find the same photo with useful information.

She also dispelled the notion that older people resist the use of new technology. They tend to be very receptive to using the tools in their quest to conduct historical research, she said.

In fact, she said, “genealogy (research) has really encouraged a lot of them to learn more than they may have otherwise learned.”

Paul Ergler, who was at the lecture, said he could attest to that.

He’s been using technology to help him discover his family roots.

Ergler said his mother got him interested in his lineage decades ago and he’s been curious about old photographs that came from his grandmother.

The genealogy class has demonstrated what a huge benefit Internet sources can be in his search, the Lutz resident added.

“Most of it I really wasn’t aware of,” he admitted. “This is kind of the beginning of my search to decipher what I’ve got.”

Ergler, among others, also learned the importance of preserving photographs for the long-term.

Another YouTube tutorial that Whitelock showed recommends keeping photos in albums with polyester sleeves to protect from stains and fingerprints.

It also advises storing photographs in windowless closets, to reduce potential damage from exposure to the sun. Storing photos in attics, basements or garages is not recommended.

It’s also a good idea to avoid protectors made of chemical acids or polyvinyl chloride, as they could ultimately ruin the photos, Whitelock said.

Anyone who wants to learn more about their family roots is invited to attend the monthly genealogy session at the Lutz Branch Library every second Monday at 12:15 p.m. To find out more, call the library at (813) 273-3652.

Genealogy courses
Where: Lutz Branch Library, 101 Lutz Lake Fern Road, Lutz
When: Every second Monday of the month, at 12:15 p.m., through December
Cost: Free
Details: Each lecture focuses on different aspects of ancestry and how to research one’s personal family lineage.
Info: Call the Lutz Branch Library at (813) 273- 3652.

Published May 01, 2019

Bicycle association honors Kathryn Starkey’s tenacity, service

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Becky Afonso, executive director of the Florida Bicycle Association, recently honored Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey as its 2018 Elected Official Champion of the Year.

Afonso highlighted Starkey’s tenacity and public service during the Pasco County Commission’s April 23 meeting.

These cyclists attended an event on Oct. 30 to celebrate the construction of the new Starkey Gap Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail that will link the Starkey and Suncoast Trails in Pasco County to the Pinellas Trail. (File)

The association executive reminded commissioners that the Tri-County Trail connection won the 2014 Future of the Region development infrastructure award from the Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council.

“Today, the future of the region is here and the Tri-County connection on the cusp of completion,” Afonso said.

“Commissioner Kathryn Starkey has been and continues to be, the champion of this connection and for Pasco County,” said Afonso, whose association uses advocacy and education to encourage more people to bicycle in Florida.

“I personally want to thank the commissioner for her persistence to make this vision a reality.

“Her experience, tenacity and public service record are admirable and inspirational.

“I remember a few years back, when the Florida Department of Transportation held a Coast-to-Coast Connector Trail public meeting in Webster,” Afonso said.

Starkey fought for Pasco County to host a meeting, she said.

“I also recall her determination to fill the trail gaps in Pasco County, ASAP, to ensure those using the trail will boost the local economies where shops and restaurants are accessible, and ultimately to have residents and visitors on the trail embrace Pasco as a friendly destination and a community to enjoy.

“I look forward to the ribbon cutting for the Tri-County connection. I also look forward to riding from my city of Oldsmar, come into Pasco County, have a lunch and then going back,” the association executive said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey recently was named the Florida Bicycle Association’s 2018 Elected Official Champion of the Year.

Starkey was pleased by the recognition.

“I am honored that you guys thought of me. My path to my trail work started when I was on the Pinellas Anclote River Basin Board and then I was also doing some work within the county as a civic activist.

“When they were building the Suncoast, they built a trail along the side.

“My husband said, ‘You know, the trail and the park really should connect to that trail.”

Starkey agreed and began talking with various departments about connecting that trail.

She said when she talked to each group individually, they said they wanted it. But, they also claimed that another group did not.

So, all of the parties came together for a meeting.

“In the first 15 minutes, we had that trail connected, and then in the next 45 minutes, we figured out the funding. We split that, one third, one third, one third. So we connected the Starkey Trail to the Suncoast Trail and, because of that, then I got notice from state officials and that’s how I got put on the state’s Greenways and Trails Council. From there, that’s when I learned of the state’s plan to make a connected system in Florida, and from there, I started working on the Starkey Gap, and that was when Gov. (Jeb) Bush was in office.

“Sometimes, government goes way too slow.

“We’re really glad that gap is under construction. We’ve also worked on off-road trails in the county.

“I think trails add so much value to the quality of life to communities. I recall being at a meeting in Tallahassee when Visit Florida gave us a presentation. They said there were more people asking for trails maps than golf courses. Trails have really overtaken the recreational desires of people coming to Florida,” Starkey said.

Starkey has served for years on the State Greenways and Trails Council through appointments from Gov. Jeb Bush, Gov. Charlie Crist and Gov. Rick Scott.

She frequently points out the need to connect segments of trail, and to ensure that those connections are considered during discussions of potential changes to zoning.

The new 2.4 mile Starkey Gap Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail that will link the Starkey and Suncoast Trails in Pasco County to the Pinellas Trail is expected to be completed this summer.

Once the segment is finished, it will provide connectivity to a trail that’s more than 100 miles and continues to grow.

Published May 01, 2019

Wesley Chapel plays host to disabled hockey festival

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More than 1,000 athletes representing more than 100 teams from dozens of states recently converged on Wesley Chapel, testing their mettle in the world’s largest indoor disabled ice sporting event.

Two-time Paralympic gold medalist and world champion Brody Roybal, No. 8 on the USA Hockey team, the Chicago Blackhawks, is seen during a game with New Hampshire’s NE Passage Wildcats. Roybal, a congenital bilateral amputee, was born without legs. (Christine Holtzman)

AdventHealth Center Ice played host to the 15th annual USA Hockey Disabled Hockey Festival, marking the second straight year the event has called home the multi-rink Wesley Chapel hockey complex.

The festival took place the last weekend in March and first weekend in April.

It featured divisions for players who are wounded military veterans, blind or visually impaired, deaf or hard of hearing, and for special needs such as Down syndrome and autism. The festival concluded with the adult sled hockey national championship.

In total, 14 programs were crowned champions within the sled and warrior hockey disciplines, including the Chicago Blackhawks Warriors capturing the sled championship title.

Wendy Major, a team leader on the Tampa Bay Lightning USA Hockey sled hockey team, center, gives pointers to 11-year-old Tyler Smith, of Riverview, left, and 12-year-old Christopher Avis, of Wisconsin, during a sled hockey demo on April 6. Major is a disabled U.S. Army veteran facing leg amputation later this year. She was wounded during a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

The mission of the festival is to provide fun and exciting games, and promote and expand disabled hockey throughout the country.

Meanwhile, the event kicked off with a Friday night welcome social for participants, and a friendly game between the Tampa Bay Lightning Alumni team and the National Standing/Amputee team.

The Lightning Alumni team featured hockey Hall of Famer and 2004 Stanley Cup team captain Dave Andreychuk, alongside other well-known former Bolts players, including Brian Bradley, Jassen Cullimore and Stan Neckar.

Attendees were welcomed to the event by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, along with Andreychuk, USA Hockey President Jim Smith and USA Hockey Disabled Section Chair J.J. O’ Connor.

Moore later dropped the festival’s ceremonial puck in front of Andreychuk and David Levesque, captain of the National Standing/Amputee team.

“Pasco County is Florida’s Sports Coast, and we are thrilled to be the first in the state to host the Disabled Hockey Festival,” Moore said at the event. “I am honored to participate in an event that shows anybody can participate and be included. I thank USA Hockey for their commitment to the disabled community and coming to Wesley Chapel.”

Published May 01, 2019

Two-time Paralympic gold medalist Declan Farmer, a sled hockey player for Connecticut’s Gaylord Wolfpack, closes in on the puck during a game with the St. Louis Blues. Farmer, a Tampa native, was born with bilateral congenital limb deficiencies, which resulted in amputation.

Upgrades on tap for AdventHealth Dade City hospital

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With construction ramping up at AdventHealth Dade City, patients and staffers will soon have access to some of the new amenities and upgrades as part of $22 million in capital improvements headed to the health care facility.

An update on the various upgrades was shared in a presentation by Dr. Rodrigo Torres, chief medical officer for AdventHealth Dade City, at The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce April breakfast meeting.

AdventHealth Dade City is getting a $22 million makeover in the way of new care units, technology and services. (Courtesy of AdventHealth Dade City)

The latest addition to the health care facility is a 45-bed transitional care unit, which launches on May 1.

It’s one of the many enhanced facilities the hospital will see throughout 2019.

Torres described the unit as “a rehab center, but with higher capability.”

Patients discharged from in-patient stay will be able to be at the rehab center, but still have access to hospital services, surgeons, orthopedics and other medical staff. They’ll go to the rehab center because of medical necessity, to finish medications, to work on strength and balancing, and so on.

The unit projects to have a patient volume of 300 this year, and a patient volume of 1,000 in subsequent years.

“This is going to be something great that we look forward to,” Torres said.

Across from the transitional care unit is another wing that will house post-operative patients along with patients requiring a higher level of care, Torres said.

The interior of the wing is currently being retrofitted with a fresh paint job, new flooring, new bathrooms and more.

“Everything is brand new, literally from the floor all the way up,” Torres said. “The bathrooms look better than the ones at my house.”

Other aesthetic upgrades throughout the 100,000-square-foot facility include a new lobby and overhauled cafeteria, and even a chapel.

It’s all about providing patients at the 120-bed facility the best care possible, Torres said.

“We are tearing down the walls,” Torres said, “to make sure this facility can be the best that it can be.”

Several medical equipment upgrades also are on tap at the hospital, at 13100 Fort King Road in Dade City.

That includes an outpatient X-ray machine and an on-site MRI machine that Torres called “the latest and the greatest.”

AdventHealth Dade City’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Rodrigo Torres was the featured speaker The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce April breakfast meeting. Torres discussed many of the new upgrades coming to the 120-bed, 100,000-square-foot health care facility. (Kevin Weiss)

Additionally, the hospital has since implemented a robotic surgery program with the da Vinci Si Surgical System.

Torres explained the robotic system — controlled by a surgeon from a console — is used by general surgeons, urologists and gynecologists for complex minimally invasive procedures, including hernia repairs and gall bladder removals.

He noted the da Vinci machine becomes useful for surgeries that may take several hours, where physician fatigue can sometimes come into play.

Other new features have come to the health care facility of late, too.

That includes an electronic medical records system, Cerner, which has eliminated the need for paper charts.

Torres noted the paperless technology offers “clarity and transparency when providing medical care.”

“It’s a better way of keeping medical records, especially in the age of identity theft,” he said.

The hospital also has installed an around-the-clock, telemonitoring system to its intensive care unit.

The system, Advanced ICU Care, allows patients and nurses to communicate virtually with on-call physicians in cases where an intensivist is not immediately available in person at the hospital.

Torres said the technology was originally brought to AdventHealth Zephyrhills about a year ago “with great results.”

Another new service to the hospital is online scheduling capabilities for emergency room visits — allowing patients to reserve a treatment time and avoid long waits in the waiting room.

The service, accessed through GetInQuicker.com, is recommended for patients with non-life or limb-threatening emergencies.

Since its launch in February, Torres said the check-in program “is one of the best things that has happened” to the health care facility.

“We have 100 percent recommendation rate for all the patients that have used this service,” he said.

Aside from facility and technological upgrades, the hospital has added five new physicians to its staff: Dr. Olga Villa (obstetrician-gynecologist), Dr. Jennifer Roller (gynecologist), Dr. Forrest Rubenstein (thoracic vascular surgeon), Dr. Armen Duekmedjian (neurosurgeon) and Dr. Amir Ahmadian (neurosurgeon).

Torres said doctors Ahmadian and Duekmedjian will be operating out of AdventHealth Zephyrhills, but will provide consultations and services to patients at AdventHealth Dade City, as well.

With the addition of gynecological physicians and services, Torres noted the hospital may consider adding labor and birth delivery services at some point: “In the near future, that’s one of the avenues that we’re looking at.”

Torres also mentioned that AdventHealth Dade City recently received its accredited recertification from the American Society for Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, designating the hospital “a center of excellence for bariatric surgery.”

Published May 01, 2019

Sea turtle nesting season is here

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The month of May marks the beginning of sea turtle nesting season on many of Florida’s beaches.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) is asking property owners and beach visitors to help nesting turtles and hatchlings by turning off or shielding lights that are visible from the beach at night.

Helping to keep the beaches dark at night is one of the most important things that can be done to help sea turtles.

Even small artificial house lights, a flashlight or cellphone camera can confuse female sea turtles and their hatchlings, causing them to wander off course.

According to the FWC, more loggerhead turtles nest in Florida than anywhere else in the continental United States, with 91,451 loggerhead nests counted statewide during the 2018 nesting season.

Leatherback and green sea turtles also nest in significant numbers in our state.

Follow these FWC basics to be sea turtle friendly:

• Turn off the light. After sundown, turn off any lights not necessary for human safety. Close shades or curtains, too.

  • Don’t take flash photos or use bright cellphones or flashlights on the beach at night.
  • Stay back and give sea turtles space if you see one on the beach at night. Do not touch a nesting turtle. It is illegal to harm or disturb nesting sea turtles, their nests, eggs or hatchlings.
  • Clear the way by removing beach furniture, canopies, boats and toys left behind on the sand. These items can become obstacles that block nesting and hatchling turtles. Fill in any holes dug in the sand.
  • Keep your distance from nests and hatchlings. Do not handle hatchlings crawling toward the water. Any interference or disturbance by people increases the chances the hatchlings will get confused, go in the wrong direction and not reach the ocean quickly, which makes them vulnerable to dehydration, exhaustion and predators.

The FWC maintains a list of certified wildlife-friendly fixtures for property owners. The list can be found online at MyFWC.com/Conservation by clicking on the “How You Can Conserve,” “Wildlife Lighting,” and then “Certified.”

To report sick, injured, entangled or dead sea turtles, call the FWC Wildlife Alert Hotline at (888) 404-3922, #FWC, *FWC on a cellphone.

Learn more about Florida’s sea turtles at MyFWC.com/SeaTurtle.

Published May 01, 2019

Students learn the value of thankfulness

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Students of the Academy at the Lakes spent part of their school day on April 15 reflecting and sharing their thoughts on the value of gratitude.

The session was part of a daylong presentation known as “Day of Manners,” presented by Tia Young, president and CEO of her company, Tia Young Image and Etiquette LLC.

Young has been the presenter for the etiquette series hosted at the academy.

Tia Young, an etiquette instructor, explained the importance of gratitude to a room of students on April 15. It was part of a series entitled ‘Day of Manners,’ at Academy at the Lakes. (Brian Fernandes)

She asked a classroom of seventh-graders:  “What are we really grateful for?

“Just learning and understanding the thing that you’re grateful for helps you to thank those people that have helped you be successful,” Young said.

She used the analogy of a bucket to represent the emotional heart.

Compliments and positive comments add not only to the receiver’s bucket, but the giver’s bucket as well, she said.

On the other hand, negative words take away from both buckets — because no one benefits from this, she added.

As a former flight attendant, Young is well-versed in the do’s and don’ts of decorum.

Traveling to various countries and meeting people from different walks of life, she said that not everyone holds themselves to the same standards of mannerisms.

As the mother of a newborn, and having witnessed the events of September 11, Young was prompted to take a new career path.

She wanted to educate people on standards that everyone could live by, regardless of class or culture.

After receiving an etiquette certification, she began teaching her own courses on proper manners in 2002.

Her students’ age range varies from kids to those more seasoned in life, but said that even adults in her courses see the need for character growth.

“They know the importance of it, but they just want to get better,” Young explained.

This day’s class helped the middle-schoolers think about what they really appreciate in their lives.

Young handed out papers and asked the students to write down a list of words beginning with each letter of the alphabet on what they’re grateful for.

From A to Z, students revealed in a single word what was of importance to them.

Olivia Wells mentioned her appreciation for her entire family.

“They do so much for us and they sacrifice so much,” the 13-year-old said.

Friends were said to be admired as entertainment, while pets were seen as a source of comfort when sad.

“I’m thankful for my neighbors,” chimed in Kevin Crowley, varsity golf coach at the academy. “We’re all great friends and we help each other out.”

One student expressed gratitude for a good quality of life, and another voiced appreciation for having rights as a citizen.

In another exercise, Young used a stack of counterfeit money.

Students began naming various needs they may take for granted that their parents have to pay for.

For each need called out, whether pet food, a home or clothing, the instructor placed the bills inside a container – with her stack of bills slowly dwindling in size.

Young explained that this lesson aims to help students understand what parents must contribute to provide a comfortable life for them.

While the kids contemplated their privileges, Young encouraged them to write ‘thank you’ letters to their parents.

“Don’t take them for granted,” she said, handing out cards and envelopes. “Every day is not promised, so make sure you thank them for every opportunity you get.”

Before the students began writing, Young shared something quite sentimental to her. She held up a card with a drawing of herself that her daughter had made as a special commemorative.

As part of the lesson, Young instructed the students where to place their greeting and signature. She also offered ideas as to what to write, and how to properly address the envelope.

Ian Curry, 13, said that he left the presentation feeling well-informed on what it means to show gratitude.

“It’s a great review on being a good person, overall,” the seventh-grader added .

That’s the kind of response Young hopes students will take away from the session.

She noted how well-behaved the students were, and added that the training begins at home with the parents.

“Most times people think I’m helping bad kids, but it’s quite the opposite,” Young said.

“There are people who already have it (good etiquette). They just want to brush up on it.”

She hopes that the lessons on respect and compassion that she teaches will spread from one person to another, well beyond the classroom’s walls.

For upcoming courses or additional information, contact Tia Young at (813) 629-2785, visit www.TampaEtiquette.com, on Facebook at Tia Young Image and Etiquette or email .

Published May 01, 2019

Dade City to finalize city manager contract

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The City of Dade City is nearing a contract agreement with its newly named city manager and current finance director Leslie Porter.

Details of the latest drafted employment contract were shared and amended during an April 23 regular city commission meeting.

Leslie Porter (File)

The latest draft calls for a base salary of $98,906.00 payable in monthly installments in the same manner as other city employees are paid.

The base salary would be automatically amended to include any salary adjustments that are provided or required by the city’s compensation policies to other city employees, such as cost of living adjustments.

Additionally, the agreement calls for the city manager to receive standard benefits provided to other city employees, including holiday leave, health insurance, dental insurance, vision insurance, term life insurance, FMLA (Family and Medical Leave Act) leave, short- and long-term disability, and transfer of earned benefits to named beneficiaries in the event of death.

The contract also includes provisions for sick leave, retirement contributions and expenses provided for a cellphone and professional development services.

A final version of the employment agreement is expected to be approved at the next commission meeting on May 14.

Porter would be on a probationary period during her first 90 days of employment as city manager, per the contract.

Porter, who lives in Tampa, will not be required to maintain a residence in Dade City while serving as city manager. She also will be permitted to continue operating her tax service and real estate businesses.

In the event Porter is terminated without cause within the first 180 days of employment as city manager, the city would pay eight weeks’ salary and any accrued benefits. Severance pay maximizes out at 20 weeks’ salary and any accrued benefits if Porter is terminated after two years of employment, according to the draft contract.

In the event of voluntary resignation, Porter would be entitled to accrued vacation leave and sick leave (capped at 480 hours) if employed for longer than 10 years. She would also be paid through the last workday and is required to give at least 60 days’ notice prior to resignation.

Elsewhere, regular performance reviews and evaluations have been worked into the contract agreement.

City commissioners would conduct structured quarterly reviews with Porter during her first year as city manager, then proceed to annual evaluations every year after that; pay raises or salary increases may be tied to the results of those reviews and evaluations.

In early April, the commission voted to extend an offer and enter contract negotiations with Porter to become its next city manager.

Porter has been acting as the interim city manager since February, while also maintaining duties as the city’s finance director, a position she’s held since 2014.

Porter assumed the city manager vacancy created by Billy Poe, who left the post after nearly 12 years. Poe is now the deputy city manager in the City of Zephyrhills and is expected to move up to city manager once longtime city manager Steve Spina retires later on this year.

Before coming to Dade City, Porter spent nearly a decade working as town treasurer for the Town of Chesapeake Beach in Maryland. She holds a bachelor’s degree from George Mason University and a master’s degree from George Washington University.

The decision to offer Porter the city manager job came during a special meeting on April 3, when commissioners reviewed and ranked top candidates for the city manager position; Porter was one of the nine applicants who applied by the March 15 deadline.

It marked the second call for applications after the city was unable to come to a contract agreement with Tallahassee-based real estate associate Christopher Edwards, its top candidate for the city manager position back in February.

Published May 01, 2019

Know your flood risk

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Pasco County is offering an interactive, online tool for property owners to see how the proposed flood hazard data contained in the new Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) preliminary Flood Insurance Rate Maps (FIRMs) could impact their property.

The digital FIRMs identify flood hazards throughout the county and help determine flood insurance rates.

In 2017, Hurricane Irma dumped quite a bit a rain, leaving behind flooded roads in Dade City. (File)

Residents and businesses can view the maps to better understand their potential flood risks to help identify steps that may be needed to protect against property damage and loss.

A FEMA appeal process is now open for anyone in Pasco County who is affected by the preliminary FIRMs.

Official appeals and/or comments must be submitted directly to FEMA by mail to Rick Sacbibit, Engineering Services Branch, Federal Insurance and Mitigation Administration, FEMA, 400 C Street, Washington D.C. 20472; or by email to . The deadline to submit an appeal or comment is May 28.

After the appeals process closes, FEMA will review all public input and make any necessary revisions to the preliminary FIRMs.

The final maps will then be presented to the Pasco County Commission.

To learn more about FEMA’s flood hazard data, visit bit.ly/FloodHazardData.

For more about the Pasco County Flood Plain Management, visit bit.ly/PascoFloodInfo.

Published May 01, 2019

Grant encourages careers in advanced manufacturing

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CareerSource Pasco Hernando and AmSkills Manufacturing Training & Apprenticeships have been awarded a $100,000 grant to encourage students to explored a career in advanced manufacturing.

The grant will benefit 16 local students, according to a news release.

It will provide hands-on skills training, exploration of multiple career tracks, tours to local manufacturers, and the opportunity for job placement or paid apprenticeship with a local manufacturing company.

The AmSkills Pre-Apprenticeship Program is designed to replicate a real working environment, to prepare students for real-world careers.

Students clock-in and out, meet attendance goals, participate in team-building exercises and complete hands-on projects in various career tracks. They also have the opportunity to tour local manufacturing companies and experience manufacturing firsthand.

The program also includes soft skills training — including communication, presentations, setting goals and others, the release says.

AmSkills has a “dual-coaching” system, which identifies mentors within participating manufacturing companies and provides a program coach.

The program coach and company mentor work together to help students develop skills needed to launch their career. Students are matched with a manufacturer whose culture and environment is complementary for both participants.

Assessing technical and soft skills prior to placement allows for greater success between the manufacturer and pre-apprentice.

At the end of the 90-day program, the manufacturer, pre-apprentice and program coach map out each students training plan, and the student may officially become an apprentice working for the manufacturer.

The Apprenticeship Program provides students with paid hands-on experiences through on-the-job training with top local manufacturers and trade businesses, which helps students gain greater insight to determine their career goals.

For more information about the program or to register, contact AmSkills at (727) 301-1282, ext. 126, or visit their website at AmSkills.org.

Published May 01, 2019