Local News

Protection for freshwater springs makes progress

May 1, 2019 By Special to The Laker/Lutz News

Gov. Ron DeSantis proclaimed April as Springs Protection Awareness Month, recognizing springs as a natural resource unique to Florida.

The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) celebrated the month in recognition of the environmental, recreational and economic importance of Florida’s 900 iconic freshwater springs.

“Springs are vital to the environment, economy, citizens and visitors of the state,” said Brian Armstrong, executive director of the Southwest Florida Water Management District, in a release.

“The District, in partnership with DEP, the governor and the Legislature, is committed to implementing projects to conserve and restore the ecological balance of our spring systems, supporting the regional economies and quality of life,” Armstrong added.

Brett Cyphers, executive director of the Northwest Florida Water Management District, pointed out that under Gov. DeSantis and DEP Secretary Noah Valenstein, northwest Florida is making real transformative progress with springs restoration and water quality improvement.

And, Hugh Thomas, executive director of the Suwannee River Water Management District, said “Florida is entering a remarkable era for environmental protection” under the leadership of DeSantis and Valenstein.

As per the proclamation, the Bold Vision for a Brighter Future budget recommends $50 million in funding to restore the state’s world-renowned springs, and safeguard these natural resources through nationally recognized water quality assessment and restoration programs.

In celebration of Springs Protection Awareness Month, DEP partnered with Florida’s water management districts to continue the statewide public education initiative, “My Home. My Springs.”

The initiative highlights the uniqueness and importance of the state’s springs, as well as the restoration efforts and the expertise behind them.

Residents can access informative resources, such as fact sheets, videos, educator resources, a springs locator tool and more by visiting MyHomeMySprings.org.

Published May 01, 2019

Pasco administrator emphasizes teamwork, service

April 24, 2019 By B.C. Manion

As Pasco County’s rapid growth continues, County Administrator Dan Biles said his team continues to focus on the county’s mission.

Stated simply, it’s this: “Serving our community to create a better future.”

Biles loves the clarity and simplicity of the statement.

“How many governments have a mission statement that is eight words?” the administrator asked, during a recent luncheon meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

Pasco County Administrator Dan Biles said if the county was a city, it would rank between Tucson, Arizona, and Fresno, California in terms of population. It ranks 12th in population, among Florida’s 67 counties, he said. (B.C. Manion)

The mission statement lacks the bureaucratic gobbledygook often found in mission statements.

It doesn’t even mention the word government.

But, Biles said that every member of his 2,500-member team knows that they play a role in pursuing that mission, and he noted that internal studies reveal that employee engagement continues to increase.

“I tell my team, ‘You come to work every day with the ability to go home, knowing you’ve improved somebody’s life. It doesn’t matter if you work in purchasing, and you happen to be purchasing the water valves for the water department — making sure we have clean water to go to our customers; or you work in community services and you’re working with the homeless to help the people in the county who have fallen on hard times.

“Everybody in the county has the ability to do (improve lives) that,” Biles said.

The county is a big operation, with a budget of more than $1 billion and 60 departments and divisions.

And, it’s easy to see — with new development popping up along the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, that the county continues to grow, the administrator added.

Pasco issued 50,000 permits last year, according to county records. That included permits for simple things, like water heaters, he said. But, it also included 3,600 single-family home permits last year.

Biles expects the growth to continue, and he expects the county’s population to approach 560,000, when the population is counted in the U.S. Census in 2020.

“If you look at growth trends in Florida, just among the 67 counties, there’s about 18 counties driving all of the growth in Florida,” Biles said, including Pasco County.

“For comparison purposes, if we were a city, we would rank between Tucson, Arizona, and Fresno, California,” he said, adding that it’s Florida 12th most populous county.

In terms of land mass, the area west of Little Road to the coast is actually larger than the city of Seattle, Biles added.

As the population increases, county services must increase, too, Biles noted.

“We will probably, in the next couple of years, have the second-largest fire department in the region. We’re about 630 firefighters and administrative staff in 24 stations, and we’re adding five stations,” he said.

Those stations are being financed through a bond issue overwhelmingly approved by voters last November. Voters also agreed to general obligation bonds to upgrade libraries, expand the county’s jail and enhance county parks.

Biles said his job is to guide the county in the direction that the Pasco County Commission wants the county to go.

The county has worked hard to improve its delivery of services, and has made progress, Biles said.

“It’s the existing team that has made it happen, not me bringing in a new team of people,” said the administrator, who was selected to fill the post when former County Administrator Michele Baker retired.

Biles said that he works to create an atmosphere where employees can feel comfortable expressing their opinions and sharing their ideas.

“We want to be a great organization. What is a great organization? It has people who show up to work, who want to be there,” Biles said.

Two of his goals are for Pasco County to be named a Best to Place to work, among large companies; and for the county to win a Sterling Award, for the entire county, not just a department.

Biles said the county has made strides in many areas to increase transparency, and improve access to services.

The MyPascoApp recently has been redesigned, which gives residents and customers quick access to many types of information, he said.

For instance, App users have a direct link to storm updates, he said.

“You can actually see what our wait times are at Central Permitting, on the App,” he added.

“You can drive down the street and see a new construction pop up, and you go, ‘What is that?’ “Well, in the app, under permitting, you go to the project pipeline, you can actually find out what that project is,” he said.

There are some limits, though. “If it was permitted over 2 years ago, it is not in the database right now,” Biles said.

The county administrator also told the luncheon crowd that his job is to lead his team, not to know every detail, of every project.

If there’s a discussion over the price for a piece of right of way, for example, that’s something that experts on the county’s staff can and should handle, he said.

His job, he said, is to serve the people, who serve the people.

Published April 24, 2019

Incentives add jobs, boost economy

April 24, 2019 By B.C. Manion

When Pasco County spends money from its Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund, it’s getting a healthy return on investment, according to David Engel, manager of the Pasco County Office of Economic Growth.

Engel recently gave the Pasco County Commission an update on the county’s primary incentive programs.

Between 2015 and 2025, the county expects to collect $60 million for its Jobs and Economic Opportunity Trust Fund, through its Penny for Pasco tax revenues. Those projections are based on a 3.5 percent annual increase, Engel said.

So far, the county has spent $22 million of those funds — on a variety of programs aimed at boosting job opportunities and increasing the county’s economy.

Programs include job skills programs and incentives for targeted industries that are investing in Pasco County and expanding the number of jobs in Pasco.

Industries that have received incentives include Touchpoint, Welbilt, Mettler Toledo and others, Engel said.

Job skills programs include AmSkills, the Pasco-Hernando Work Force Board and various programs through Pasco EDC, Engel said.

“For every (incentive) dollar that the board awards, we’ve gotten $10 back in gains to the county,” Engel said.

With the jobs creation incentive, which has been around since 2011, the Pasco County Commission, awards incentives to industries that create high-paying jobs. High-paying jobs are defined as jobs paying at least 115 percent of the median pay in Pasco County,

“This is one of our most highly successful programs. We’ve created almost 1,300 jobs since 2011. For every job we create, it costs the county around $3,800. We’ve look at other JCI programs across the state,” Engel said.

By comparison, the incentives cost $5,000 to $9,000 a job in other counties they looked at, Engel said.

Pasco’s return on investment in this program “is extremely high,” Engel said, noting for every dollar the county has spent, it has received $30 in benefit.

He also noted that the future is looking bright, too.

“Our pipeline is robust and growing,” Engel said.

The master-planned unit developments approved by the board, particularly along the State Road 54 corridor, are beginning to focus on their employment centers, the economic growth manager said.

“So, we have a number of big projects coming in, consisting of hundreds of thousands of square feet of Class A office buildings. Right now, we have three to four Class A office buildings we are processing for incentive awards now. We’ll make recommendations to the board of County Commissioners in the next several months,” he said.

Projected revenue: $59.65 million in the Jobs and Economic Opportunities Trust Fund, over the life of the Penny for Pasco (2015 to 2025), assuming a 3.5 percent annual increase.
Expenditures to date: $21.8 million, includes operating expenses
Encumbrances to date: $34.7 million: Board-approved awards, excludes operating expenses

Published April 24, 2019

MPO board meeting addresses current agendas

April 24, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

The Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization board addressed three key topics during its April 11 session.

Those items were:

The Tampa Bay Resiliency Study
Future transportation funding, through a proposed transportation surtax
A requested extension on a project related to the MPO’s long-range plan

John Villeneuve, director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), briefed the board on Pasco County’s efforts to prepare for severe weather conditions.

John Villeneuve, director of the Metropolitan Planning Organization, briefed board members on a resiliency study to better protect infrastructure during natural disasters. (Brian Fernandes)

The county’s MPO has been collaborating with the MPO’s Hillsborough and Pinellas branches to comprise a variation of studies.

These studies are for the Resilient Tampa Bay: Transportation Pilot Project.

“What we’re trying to do is determine with the threat of potential sea level rises, if we have any kind of significant flooding due to rain or hurricanes,” Villeneuve said.

The study will help pinpoint locations where infrastructure could be strengthened to withstand natural disasters.

State Road 54 and U.S. 19 will be closely examined during this study.

Villeneuve’s presentation was informational in nature and no board action was required.

Under its 2045 Long Range Transportation Plan, the MPO also proposed several options in raising Pasco County’s transportation revenue.

It factors in the current Penny for Pasco initiative – a one-penny surtax from every dollar collected in sales.

The referendum initially passed in 2004 and will discontinue at the end of 2024.

Wally Blain, a senior project manager who works in conjunction with the MPO, detailed five possible scenarios:

Penny for Pasco continues through 2045, thus excluding a transportation surtax
Penny for Pasco ends in 2034, introducing a half-penny transportation surtax in 2035
Penny for Pasco ends in 2024, introducing a half-penny transportation surtax in 2025
Penny for Pasco ends in 2034, introducing a one-penny transportation surtax in 2035
Penny for Pasco ends in 2024, introducing a one-penny transportation surtax in 2025

Currently, Penny for Pasco allocates 45 percent of collected funds to the Pasco County Commission, another 45 percent to the Pasco County School System and 10 percent to municipalities within Pasco County.

Of the county’s 45 percent share, 18 percent goes toward transportation development.

The MPO is most interested in the fifth option, Blain said, because it draws in the most revenue in 20 years — topping $3.2 billion.

However, state legislatures in Tallahassee could change how taxes on the local level are implemented.

“There’s some new legislation that’s pending right now that would look at changing the requirements of passing any new local sales tax,” Blain explained.

Some board members expressed skepticism.

“Are we suggesting that the school district doesn’t need any money?” asked Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Starkey stated that modifying surtax distribution might be possible, but that devoting all surtax money to transportation does not seem feasible.

In response, Blain noted that under Option 5, a charter county surtax separate from Penny for Pasco, would be solely for transportation.

He also said that the current 18 percent put toward transportation could then, in the future, be used to fund other agendas.

Blain said he would return to the board with a more “prioritized list of needs” to get the proposal in motion.

Also on the agenda was the MPO’s request for a time extension on a New Vision model project related to its Long Range Transportation Plan.

The $25,000 project is designed to forecast Pasco County’s travel demand, address the need for right of way, and determine how many lanes may be needed for the Vision roadway network.

The MPO asked for a six-month extension leading into October 2019 and the board passed the proposal unanimously.

The board met at the Pasco County Historic Courthouse in Dade City.

Published April 24, 2019

Fun in the sun — plus exercise, too

April 24, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Some residents of Betmar Acres, in Zephyrhills, hit the pool three times a week to work out and have fun at the same time.

From left: Joan Connell, Michael Blackman, T.A. Huggins and Bill Rood laugh, while the ball is in play near the net. (Christine Holtzman)

Laughter, cheers and good-natured teasing fill the air at the heated pool, while the players hit large colorful balls around, in water volleyball games.

About two dozen players jump, dive, swing and swat — in friendly games that give participants a nice workout, too.

Ninety-five-year-old Goldie Klebowski is one of the best players in the pool.

Besides playing water volleyball, she also manages a full schedule — volunteering at the Hospice thrift store and her church.

She offers this advice for aging well: “You need exercise, the more the better. Keep doing something, and feel good by helping others.”

Residents of Betmar Acres enjoy a series of friendly water volleyball games three times a week.

Betmar Acres, in Zephyrhills, is a manufactured-home community for residents age 55 and older. In the 1960s, there were just four mobile home parks in Florida, and Betmar founder M.H. Meengs saw the need for one in Zephyrhills.

Meengs turned his vision into an opportunity for development, when he bought 200 acres of former farm land along State Road 54.

He and his partner honored their wives by combining their first names — Betty and Mary — to christen the community, Betmar.

Today, Betmar Acres consists of nearly 440 acres, 1,700 homes, three clubhouses, 27 holes of golf, tennis and pickleball courts, two swimming pools, and a world-class shuffleboard facility. Residents at Betmar always have lots of recreational opportunities, including Bingo, ballroom and line dancing, live music shows, bocce ball, water aerobics, card games, computer and creative writing classes, block parties and garden clubs.

Published April 24, 2019

Tim Fisher, a snowbird from Michigan, pauses for a moment to consider his game strategy, during a water volleyball game at Betmar Acres.

Teammates Nancy Sisunik, a snowbird from Michigan, left, and Georgia Fulton, a snowbird from Ohio, both jump for the ball during an afternoon game.

Expo encourages better money management

April 24, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Offering ways to better manage money was the central theme of Pasco County Schools’ Financial Literacy Expo, held at Wesley Chapel High School.

Representatives from various organizations and companies came together to inform students and adults, alike, on how to prioritize their expenses.

The Wesley Chapel High session was on April 4. A previous session had been held on April 1 at Marchman Technical College in New Port Richey.

The Financial Literacy Expo gave high school students and adults the opportunity to gather information to increase their knowledge about financial issues. The April 4 event was held in the Wesley Chapel High School cafeteria with a host of booths representing various institutions. (Brian Fernandes)

The informative sessions were timed to coincide with Financial Literacy Month, which is celebrated nationwide in April.

“This was in response to our parent and community feedback to our survey last year,” explained Tina Stavrou, a senior instructional specialist for Pasco County Schools. “They felt that our students walk out of the (school) system being financially illiterate.”

The University of South Florida – specifically its Muma College of Business, was one of the organizations present at the event.

Amanda Houston, admissions recruiter/advisor, was at the institution’s booth — fielding questions.

She said funding for college tends to be the most common question among parents and students.

In addition to the information she could share at the financial literacy event, she also recommends seeking additional information at the university.

“We have a wonderful financial aid office available every day,” Houston said.

The office informs students of the various scholarships USF offers and is open to outside financial aid as well.

Although the school has a work study program to help offset expenses, students are encouraged to seek out assistance from different programs.

“Florida Prepaid is a huge help with a lot of students,” Houston said.

The statewide program invests funds toward future tuition by installment plans.

While it takes money to enter college, once there, business students at USF are taught how to build their wealth and maintain it.

Depending on their major, students may learn about estate and retirement planning, or from a corporate stance – assets and equity.

For students who are not business majors getting in-class guidance, there is the Bull2Bull program.

This program recruits those like Linda Higgs to help fellow students to become aware of financial opportunities and to come up with ideas to manage their money.

“They (students) really want to learn how to manage their money, it’s just hard in college,” Higgs said.

Michael Zmistowski, of the Financial Planning Association of Tampa Bay, educates the public on preparing for retirement. He was among numerous guest speakers at Wesley Chapel High School’s Financial Literacy Expo, April 4.

In her experience helping peers, she found that students are open to the idea of investing to build a better future.

Coaching sessions are also offered to educate students on business jargon and direct them to the best sources for investing their money.

Across the cafeteria, Shirin Khorsandian stood behind the State Farm Insurance booth.

She noted that the company not only covers vehicles and homes, but health, banking and credit cards.

“We also have investment planning services we help small business owners with, and individuals,” the representative explained.

State Farm also addresses the risks associated with owning property – including a home.

For instance, homeowners are advised on what steps to take in order to hold onto their home in the case they lose their job.

Khorsandian also noted there’s a trend among younger generations to be less inclined to get a driver’s license, because of the growing popularity of Lyft and Uber.

Even with this in mind, State Farm emphasizes the importance of safe driving for teens.

“The reality is that it’s a huge financial risk that their parents are giving them, when handing over the keys,” she said.

The insurance company will sit down one-on-one with young drivers to educate them on what to do in certain scenarios.

Luigi Danielu, a senior from Wiregrass Ranch High School, was at the forum to soak whatever knowledge he could. He said that he often thinks about properly managing money.

“I’ve researched about how to build good credit, and I think that’s important for a lot of young people,” Danielu stated.

The expo came at a great time for the 18-year-old, as he just started his own business earlier this year – Partum Digital.

This online marketing company assists clients with the use of Facebook, Instagram and Google.

Danielu stated that social media has been a huge advancement for his company.

“We’re in the information age now,” he said. “You can almost create anything you want online.”

While he said that the expo was a learning experience for him, he would like other youth to take advantage of these events, becoming more educated than previous generations.

This sentiment was echoed by Michael Zmistowski who said he sees the importance of having high school courses geared toward managing finances.

Zmistowski is an advisor at the Financial Planning Association of Tampa Bay.

In the building adjacent to the cafeteria, he was one of multiple speakers holding seminars in classrooms.

In his class, the advisor spoke on what he said are the top three worries surrounding retirement: outliving your assets, making a reliable income and a potential stock market crash.

His solution to these concerns was summed up with one response.

“The answer that I give to all of them is to create a purposeful spending plan,” Zmistowski explained.

He advised that in order to save, people must look at their reasons for saving, whether it’s for their kids’ education or their own retirement.

Also, unforeseen events, such as the loss of a spouse, need to be factored in, and most importantly, it should all be written down.

He addressed those who live paycheck to paycheck, finding it hard to save any money at all.

“Make a list of those things that you spend money on that are essential and those things that are discretionary,” the advisor encouraged.

Using food as an example, he stated that while this is an essential need, people can be conscious about how much they spend and how often they go out to eat.

Finding ways to cut back, even on the necessities, can result in small savings, he said.

With advice and support from institutions like this, Stavrou hopes that this will become an annual event for Pasco County schools.

Published April 24, 2019

USF dean shares tips for successful negotiations

April 24, 2019 By B.C. Manion

When it comes to negotiations, there are two basic truths.

One, everyone negotiates.

And, two, everything is negotiable.

At least that’s how Moez Limayem, dean of the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business, sees it.

Moez Limayem, dean of the University of South Florida’s Muma College of Business, gave a talk about negotiations at the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s recent breakfast meeting. (B.C. Manion)

He shared his expertise on the art of negotiations at a recent North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce breakfast meeting, at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

“We all negotiate every single day, from the time we wake up, until we sleep. We negotiate with our kids, spouses, friends, business partners, employees, bosses, that’s what we do,” Limayem said.

Over the course of his life — in which he has lived, worked and studied on four continents — he has had the opportunity to observe “how ill-prepared most people are, for negotiation,” he said.

So, he offered the breakfast crowd a short course in effective negotiations.

He outlined 10 rules that apply in all types of negotiations — whether you’re buying a house or a car, or working out a business deal.

It’s important to remember that “negotiation is a discussion between two parties, two equals.

“Neither party has the power to get his or her way. If I can impose my way, that’s no longer a negotiation,” he said.

That being said, here are Limayem’s 10 rules for successful negotiations.

Rule No. 1: “Never start negotiating until you are ready.

“It’s amazing how many times a good negotiator will push you to start very, very quickly. Why? Because they want to catch you ill-prepared.”

“How do you get ready?

“There are three things to properly prepare.

“First one, do your research.

“For example, you want to negotiate a job, salary. What type of research do you do? What are other people making? Adjust for cost of living. Go to the website; it’s amazing how much information you can find there.

“No. 2: Research. More research.

“No. 3: Research.

Rule No. 2: “Always be faithful to your BATNA (Best Alternative to a Negotiated Agreement).

“Based on your research, you need to know that level at which it (the deal) is not worth it anymore. What do you need to do? Walk away.

“If you are buying a car, what would be your BATNA. The maximum price you are willing to pay.

“How do you decide on your BATNA?

“Research.

In “2008, 2009, people did not stick to their BATNA. They were buying houses, more than they could afford and that led to a disaster.

“Do your research. Decide on your BATNA and be faithful to your BATNA.

“A good negotiator will always want to know your BATNA. Resist that. Don’t disclose your BATNA. That’s your secret. And, be willing to walk away.”

Rule No 3: “Never make the first offer.

“A good negotiator will push you to make your offer.”

But, don’t do it, he said, because “you might be losing out.”

Rule No. 4: “Listen more than you speak. We’re born with two receivers and on transmitter, so we should at least listen twice as much as we talk, especially in negotiations.”
Rule No. 5: “Never accept the first offer. Everything is negotiable.”

When someone is selling a house and they ask for $200,000, your first step, Limayem said, should be to: “Look the person in the eyes. Pause. Repeat the offer.”

Typically, just that alone will cause the seller to lower the asking price.

“Most of the time, that’s how it works. Try it.”

Rule No. 6: “Never make a quick deal.

“You need some time. Go back. Think about it. Analyze it. Talk to people you trust, then go back.”

Rule No. 7: “Do not negotiate with yourself.

“What happens when you negotiate with yourself? Bad things happen. You start negotiating with your BATNA and then you go to your emotion, and you leave a lot on the table.”

Rule No. 8: “Watch for the Salami effect.

“You give me a quote for renovating my house. One lump sum.

“A good negotiator (wants to know) how much for labor, how much for material, how much for this and for that,” he said.

A good negotiator would push for that because “he or she can select the things that make sense and forget about the things that don’t make sense.

“If you, as a negotiator, can do the Salami effect, that’s great. But, if you’re the other side, watch for it. Resist it.”

Rule No. 9: “We live in a world that is truly global.”

So, it’s important to be aware of cultural differences and norms, when doing business with international partners.

Rule No. 10: “Avoid the rookie’s regret. You did your research. You decided on your BATNA, you followed your rule. Move on. This will only hurt you.

“Always avoid regrets,” he said.

Published April 24, 2019

Out & About Expo offered fun for all ages

April 24, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Children had plenty of options to have a good time at the Out & About Summer Expo, presented by The Laker/Lutz News, and sponsored by Kids R Kids Learning Academy in Land O’ Lakes.

Angelina Williamson, dressed as Queen Elsa of Arendelle from Disney’s ‘Frozen,’ posed with countless little princesses at Out & About Summer Expo presented by The Laker/Lutz News, and sponsored by Kids R Kids Learning Academy. Here, she shares a moment with 5-year-old Daphne Coffee, of Lutz. The little girl’s grandmother said Elsa is one of Daphne’s favorite Disney characters. (Christine Holtzman)

Kids posed for photos with the Easter Bunny and Queen Elsa, petted a horse and baby goats, searched for eggs and took home beach balls, balloons and other giveaways from exhibitors.

But, the fun wasn’t limited to the younger crowd — adults also had a chance to search for eggs and won 60 prizes, including gift certificates from all sorts of businesses, and even a $100 bill that was won by Glenn Roberts, of Land O’ Lakes.

Besides having a good time, there were ample opportunities to pick up information from vendors representing attractions, summer camps, museums, shops and local businesses.

And, in addition to discovering new things to do close to home, expo visitors also sampled goodies from local restaurants and took home some swag.

The event was held on April 20 at the Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

“The Out & About Expo was a wonderful extension of The Laker/Lutz News, because the No. 1 reason why people read us every week is to find things to do close to home,” said Diane Kortus, publisher and owner. “It was a joy to host an event that so many families enjoyed, and to offer a venue for businesses to connect with these families face-to-face.”

Two-year-old Mason Pollock, of Land O’ Lakes, gets a kick out of feeding Della the Goat. Della and her goat friends were a big hit with the kids.

Dozens of children race to collect colorful eggs at the start of one of the egg hunts during the event. There were egg hunts for both children and adults, and those finding eggs redeemed them for prizes.

Land O’ Lakes resident Glenn Roberts won a $100 bill at the adult Easter Egg Hunt. His daughter, 7-year-old Chloe, was almost excited as her dad. (Terri Williamson)

Dade City is established as butterfly sanctuary

April 24, 2019 By Brian Fernandes

Dade City has been inducted as a Monarch City USA – pledging to help preserve the monarch butterfly population.

In March, the city joined the ranks of four other Florida municipalities in addressing the plight facing these endangered insects.

The idea of seeking the designation was initiated by the Dade City Garden Club.

Nanette O’ Hara, a master gardener who lives in Hillsborough County, captured this photograph of a Monarch butterfly. (Courtesy of Nanette O’Hara)

After the scarcity of the butterfly species became a topic of discussion at a board meeting last year, club members felt compelled to take action.

“When we did our research and saw the numbers drastically declining, that was alarming,” said Joan Hepscher, a club member.

They studied the guidelines of the Monarch City USA organization during meetings in 2018, and earlier this year the club approached a longtime supporter of theirs for help – Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez.

She was instantly on board in helping to move the project forward.

“I have come to know and respect the garden club,” Hernandez said. “My line is: ‘How can I help you?’”

The mayor then brought up the issue as an agenda item before the Dade City Commission, which ultimately approved the project.

The mayor signed a proclamation in March to establish Dade City as a Monarch City USA.

This national organization was formed in 2015 to help prevent the extinction of monarch butterflies.

It gets to the heart of the matter, addressing the lack of milkweed and nectar plants – the butterflies’ food source.

Limited nutrition is due, in part, to harsh weather conditions during winter seasons.

Dade City has become a Monarch City USA. Here, Joan Hepscher, of the Dade City Garden Club, is being assisted by Jim West, of DeLand, which also is a Monarch City USA. (Courtesy of Sally Redden)

A 2016 study revealed that during the past two decades, the monarch population dropped by 68 percent, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.

Through Monarch City USA, municipalities across the United States are encouraged to join the effort in populating their land with milkweed and nectar plants.

Hepscher noted that when monarchs migrate from Canada to the U.S., and then to Mexico, they need to have “way stations.”

“As they fly, they need to have places to stop, eat, refresh and lay their eggs for the next generation,” she explained.

While this is beneficial to the monarchs, it also contributes to the circle of life for other insects.

Butterflies are just one of many pollinators who work as a team to provide nourishment for each other.

Thus, the Garden Club sees their efforts as being two-fold, not only preserving the monarchs, but wildlife on a whole.

On March 16, they had a monarch butterfly seminar to educate the public on how they can contribute in their own backyards.

The club will grant certificates to residents who follow simple guidelines, such as planting milkweed and nectar in their gardens.

The club will hold itself to those same standards, planting on its premises outside the clubhouse, as well.

In the pre-butterfly stage, caterpillars also benefit by eating the plant leaves down to uneven shapes.

Hepscher said that although they may not look aesthetically pleasing, the unshapely leaves serve their purpose.

“This plant is doing its job because it was here to feed the caterpillars, and it’s done that,” she stated.

Adults aren’t the only ones who are encouraged to join in the effort.

Hernandez has enlisted the city’s youth council to help on the project.

The Garden Club also has twice-a-year programs at the Hugh Embry Library for kids called ‘Nature Detectives.’

In these classes, the youth watch videos, do crafts and are involved in other activities to help them learn about the animal kingdom.

“We do believe educating children is the way to change the future and getting them to respect nature,” Hepscher said.

In some ways, the kids may be ahead of the game as they’ve already studied the monarch butterflies in depth.

The Monarch City USA designation includes the opportunity to display a Monarch City USA sign, which has not yet arrived.

The city is planning a fall festival to celebrate its induction as a Monarch City USA. It also plans additional educational seminars.

The Garden Club hopes that such events are held annually to encourage the preservation of wildlife.

“We feel we can take control of the future and we can make it better here in Dade City,” Hepscher stated.

Published April 24, 2019

Playing a little B-I-N-G-O to benefit a school

April 24, 2019 By Christine Holtzman

Maniscalco Elementary School, 939 Debuel Road in Lutz, had its first Family Bingo Night to benefit the school. Dozens of students, their families and supporters joined together in the cafeteria for a fun-filled evening playing bingo for prizes. Besides winning bingo games, there were also chance drawings for gift baskets, games, gift cards and prizes. All proceeds earned from the event will benefit the Maniscalco PTSA.