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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Central Pasco project could be like ‘a self-contained city’

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A proposal for a 24 million-square-foot corporate business park, plus residential and other components in Central Pasco is a step closer to reality.

The proposed development, dubbed Project Arthur, would be located on 6,951 acres — east of the Suncoast Parkway, west of the CSX rail line and south of State Road 52.

In addition to the massive office park, there would be 11,495 residences and other supportive uses, under the proposal.

Besides changing the county’s long-range land use plan, Project Arthur requires changes to the county’s highway vision map.

The Pasco County Commission voted 4-0 on Dec. 11, with Commissioner Kathryn Starkey absent, to transmit the proposed changes to the Department of Economic Opportunity and other agencies for review.

Commissioner Mike Wells welcomes the proposed project. “This is about jobs. It’s about time we’re a county that’s creating jobs, being competitive with the region,” Wells said.

The next step is a much more detailed process, which lays out all of the particulars for a Master Plan Unit Development that would govern the way the tract is developed, according to Clarke Hobby, the land use attorney representing the applicants.

In presenting the proposal to county commissioners, Ernest Monaco, assistant planning and development administrator, characterized it as “a great opportunity for Pasco County to address the imbalances between jobs and housing.”

The site had been previously approved on the county’s long-range plan for a variety of uses. The net increase, under the Project Arthur plan, is approximately 19 million square feet of employment-generating land use, Monaco said.

Project Arthur will create an employment center, with residential to support it, reducing the need for people to commute elsewhere for jobs, Monaco said.

In the planning department’s report on the request, planners noted: “Project Arthur is uniquely poised to create an innovative and sustainable community, which uses the site’s strategic location to realize the employment-generating vision set forth in the County’s 2008 Urban Land Institute (ULI) Report.”

Specific issues, such as the need for schools, police and fire services, would be addressed during the request for approval of zoning for the development, Hobby said.

The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval of the proposed long-term land use and highway vision map changes during its Nov. 29 meeting.

During that meeting, some planning commissioners expressed great enthusiasm for the proposal.

Planning Commissioner Peter Hanzel said, “When I was reading through this document, I became very excited about it, and I’ll tell you why. There’s city in California called Davis, California, it’s outside of Sacramento.

“When I read through this document, it almost identifies that city. It’s a self-contained city. For the most part, the people who live there, work there. They have a great hospital. They have great recreational facilities.

“It will definitely be a benefit for Pasco County. It will definitely be a benefit for employment opportunities that will be available,” he said.

Planning Commissioner Roberto Baez added: “Thank you for being in Pasco County, and for embracing Pasco County and believing in this community. That is the kind of project that is going to change the entire county.”

Hobby said he expects to be back before the Planning Commission in a matter of months to present a more specific plan.

“We’re excited. This is a big opportunity; I think everybody can see that,” Hobby said.

Published December 19, 2018

Sports museum coming to Florida Hospital Center Ice

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Digit Murphy knows a thing or two about achieving success in the sports industry, as one of the most decorated female hockey coaches of all time.

She was the featured guest speaker during the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce’s Women of Wesley Chapel event on Dec. 7 at Beach House Assisted Living & Memory Care, at Wiregrass Ranch. Her presentation centered on female empowerment and fostering gender equity in sports.

Digit Murphy, left, is shown with Florida Hospital Center Ice Managing Partner Gordie Zimmermann. Murphy’s nonprofit, Play It Forward Sport Foundation, has partnered with Florida Hospital Center Ice to bring a first-of-its kind women’s sports museum to the Wesley Chapel-based ice complex. The interactive museum is expected to open early next year. (Courtesy of North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce)

She was in town for another announcement, also.

Murphy’s Play It Forward Sport Foundation has partnered with Florida Hospital Center Ice to bring a first-of-its-kind women’s sports museum to the Wesley Chapel-based ice complex. Expected to open early next year, the interactive museum will be situated in one of the facility’s viewing rooms, where visitors will scan a QR code to view content. The room will also feature various historic memorabilia in women’s hockey.

Murphy’s personal history includes starring as a collegiate player at Cornell University and then embarking on a 22-year coaching career at Brown University, where she compiled more than 300 career wins.

At one point, she was the winningest coach in Division I women’s hockey. (She now ranks 13th all-time in career wins in college women’s ice hockey).

In the professional ranks, Murphy spent three years with the Boston Blades of the Canadian Women’s Hockey League, becoming the first American-born coach to win two Clarkson Cup titles. She was the first coach to lead a U.S.-based team to two Cup wins.

In addition to coaching, Murphy in 2016 co-founded the United Women’s Lacrosse League, the world’s first-ever pro league for women’s lacrosse.

Murphy, 57, now serves as an advocate for gender equity in sports through United Women’s Sports and nonprofit partner Play It Forward Sport Foundation.

The Laker/Lutz News caught up with Murphy for an exclusive Q-and-A, where she opined on a number of different topics related to women, sports, and of course, hockey.

On why women need to place value on sports for their children:
“We don’t prioritize what sports can do for our kids. We should even see sports as more important than school at some level, because it develops their whole body, and, in a really great way, their mind. It’s about discipline. It’s about being on time. It’s about respect. And, I’m not saying that you don’t learn that in school, but you certainly learn that with the right coach on the field, and that’s where I really believe when (women) can make a difference, if they make sports a part of their life. It teaches you how to deal with adverse situations, and we don’t look at it (sports) like something that’s necessary, we look at it like an activity, and I really, truly believe that it can change people’s lives; sport is a great way to help empower people.”

On the need for more female coaches, especially at the youth levels:
“I think that a voice of having a woman coach, coaching boys is very important, as well as coaching girls. I believe that women can coach differently. They can become comfortable with coaching, with the right mentoring. Unfortunately, coaching is looked at as a nontraditional female (occupation). You can learn the Xs and Os, but you can’t learn the management of kids, and moms do it best. Moms have eyes in the back of their head. We see a lot, so I think we are actually perfect coaches, especially at the young ages. And, keeping it fun. Again, men make it about the Xs and Os. Women have the potential to be better at the younger ages, because they make it fun.”

On building a successful model for women’s professional sports leagues:
“Women (athletes) right now, in my opinion, can’t get off the dime professionally because they operate in silos and there’s not enough critical mass around the model to have sponsors. Like, I see women’s sports as a huge opportunity in the world, because we’re not where men’s sports is, so any visionary and business is going to see it as an option, especially if we do the model differently. Let’s make it sustainable. It doesn’t have to be as big. Make it smaller. Make it community-based. Make it regional. Take the all-stars from that and make it into a pro league. Change the rules. It’s that simple. There’s just so many different models that people aren’t thinking about, because they’re just not thinking about them, because they just accept the status quo. Why do we have to play in these huge stadiums? Maybe we can play in smaller stadiums. Maybe it can be a mother-daughter event as opposed to a daughter-father event like it always turns into.”

On why women’s professional sports leagues have struggled to become viable in the United States:
“I’ve said for years: The reason women’s professional sports doesn’t succeed is because they’re in the wrong cities. I think you need to be in cities that want you. Not just because it’s Boston, New York, Detroit — that’s where all the men (pro sports organizations) are. Go to outliers; they’ve got nothing to do. I remember when I was at Brown, one of our biggest, biggest, biggest venues to go to was Hanover, New Hampshire (to face Ivy League rival Dartmouth University), because there’s nothing else to do in New Hampshire. Same thing with Ithaca, New York (Cornell University). I think sometimes, because we’re so entrenched in the tradition, we can’t think outside the box. You’ve got to find an environment that will embrace it, that has a progressive mindset, that has a community that’s ready to pop. You need energy, you need passion, and you need that positive growth mindset. If you have that, you really can do anything.”

On the advancement of gender equity in college sports in the Title IX era:
“It’s kind of sad that there’s a long way to go. Unfortunately, Title IX’s an entitlement program because you have to have it, and whenever you have to have something, you’re not motivated to do better. And, sometimes, women’s sports are perceived as a suck on the (college) athletic department, because they have to have it, so they just throw it over there and they just do it because they have to have it. But, if women took control of it and gave back to it and nurtured it like they do other things, I think you would see a major shift in athletics. So, I think the people in charge need to change their mindset. They need to change the people that are implementing the practices, and when you start to see that, that’s when you’re going to see Title IX really take control — when you see people embrace it, instead of seeing it as a detriment. And so, I think Title IX has come a long way, but you still see it go on. The problem is we don’t have enough women in the industry. Because, the second you introduce wealth into it, you don’t see a lot of women coaches. You need to have more women leaders, role models and examples. This is what I always say: Title IX works when you see women coaches crossing over to men’s sports.”

On what she’s most proud of from her hockey playing and coaching career:
“I think the moment that I was most proud of probably was in 2015, winning the Clarkson Cup (with the Boston Blades). The way we won it was very important to me. It was a third-line player that scored the goal to win it, and it was in overtime. You know, it was empowering for me to be able to manage a bench that had a whole team playing and contributing; I think that was important. But, I also think that there’s just so many things for me, because I really was a woman that had done a lot of firsts, because there was no one else. Whatever it was, like those firsts really culminated in my life to give me what I can do, which is to give more opportunities.”

On touring the Florida Hospital Center Ice in Wesley Chapel, the largest ice complex in the Southeast United States:
“Unbelievable. I thought I was actually walking into a Canadian rink. It’s very impressive. They thought of all the details. The whole energy that’s around sports in Tampa and Pasco County is very exciting.”

Published December 19, 2018

BayCare wants to build new hospital in Pasco

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BayCare has received preliminary approval of an application to build a new 60-bed hospital on a 111-acre site, at the northeast quadrant of Interstate 75 and Overpass Road.

The Agency for Health Care Administration on Dec. 10 announced preliminary approval of the hospital’s application for a Certificate of Need.

Tommy Inzina, president/CEO of BayCare (Courtesy of BayCare)

As part of its application, BayCare outlined plans that include:
• Construction of the hospital
• Recruitment of primary care practitioners
• Implementation of additional behavioral health services
• A commitment to community outreach, wellness and education activities
• An investment in training and education for Pasco County school students interested in health care careers.

Tommy Inzina, president/CEO of BayCare, said the new hospital would provide medical services in a growing area of Pasco County.

The proposed site meshes well with the hospital’s need to take the long view, Inzina said, noting, “hospitals have to have a plan for 50 or 100 years.”

When BayCare was considering locating a hospital in Pasco, it began looking north of Wesley Chapel, to meet the growing need moving north along the Interstate 75 corridor, the hospital executive said.

BayCare wanted a site near Interstate 75, to make the site easily accessible, and it wanted 50 acres or more of land, Inzina said.

“There’s just not an infinite number of sites that would meet that definition,” Inzina said.

The property at I-75 and Overpass Road fit the bill.

Inzina noted the property is “a large enough piece of property to not only accommodate the hospital needs today, but what the needs might look like 30, 40, 50 years into the future.”

There are plans to create an interchange at I-75 and Overpass Road, and the area is poised for considerable growth, as new developments occur in the state-approved Connected City corridor, which covers about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County, bordered by I-75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

The timing for construction of the new hospital is unclear at this point, Inzina said.

Adventist Health, which operates Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and Florida Hospital Dade City in Pasco County, has raised objections to BayCare’s application.

Inzina said BayCare expects to know by early January whether Adventist Health will appeal.

Inzina said the state was aware of the objections that were raised and BayCare’s responses, when it issued its preliminary approval for the Certificate of Need.

“If they (Adventist Health) appeal this, it could take perhaps up to a year to work through the appeals process,” Inzina said.

Meanwhile, BayCare will continue preparing for the new hospital, Inzina said.

“You can’t begin construction without a Certificate of Need, but we can do all of the planning we want to,” he said. For example, the hospital can work to secure the proper zoning for the land.

Typically, it takes 3 ½ to 4 years for a hospital project to be completed, including design, permitting and construction, Inzina said.

No specific figures are available for the project’s cost, but Inzina offered a rough estimate ranging from $250 million to $300 million.

BayCare expects hospital construction to bring hundreds of jobs to the area. It also expects about 300 permanent positions at the hospital by the second year of hospital operations.

Additionally, BayCare expects the hospital’s economic impact to include surrounding growth, including medical offices and other businesses.

BayCare Health System operates 15 hospitals in the Tampa Bay and Central Florida regions.

Published December 19, 2018

Volunteer, and get a taste of the ‘little gold gem’

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The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is looking for community volunteers for the 22nd annual Kumquat Festival scheduled for Jan. 26 in downtown Dade City.

More than 30,000 guests are anticipated, including residents from Tampa Bay and surrounding counties, winter residents, tourists and “day trippers.”

Cheryl Howard, of Spring Hill, and Marilyn Prill, of Brooksville, visited the festival for the first time last year, and shared their first slice of kumquat pie. (File)

For the event, downtown Dade City is transformed into a giant marketplace with local businesses, specialty vendors and partner sponsors. There also will be live entertainment at the historic courthouse square, according to a news release.

The festival celebrates the “little gold gem of the citrus industry,” and in partnership with Kumquat Growers Inc., showcases all the advantages of the versatile, tasty and healthy fruit.

Volunteers are needed to welcome the vendors to the event on Jan. 26 from 4:30 a.m. to 9 a.m. Volunteers will be paired off and together will use a color-coding system to direct vendors to their appointed places. A master site map and two-way radio link to the Dade City Police Department and organizers will be provided.

There will be a team breakfast at 4:30 a.m., and directing the vendors will take place between 5:30 a.m. and 6 a.m.

When all is said and done, volunteers will be able to enjoy the festival, if they so choose.

For information on how to help, call (352) 567-3769.

Published December 19, 2018

Automotive section launches today

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This week The Laker/Lutz News is expanding our business coverage with a new automotive section that we’re calling “autoMOTIVES.”

We emphasize the word “MOTIVES” because we believe this section’s outstanding content will educate and motivate you to keep up with the latest automotive trends, and help you decide what is the best vehicle for you and your loved ones.

Our editor is Nitish Rele, an accomplished automotive writer who lives in New Tampa and is under contract with several automobile manufacturers to test drive and write stories for industry publications and blogs.

Rele has been writing product reviews, test drives and reporting automotive news for more than 20 years. He will be doing the same for The Laker/Lutz News, but with a heavy emphasis on local automotive and dealer news for our readers in Pasco and north Hillsborough counties.

Rele is also the founder and publisher of Motoring Tampa Bay, a comprehensive auto enthusiast guide in print and online since 2009.  Also notable, Rele was at The Tampa Tribune from 1989 to 2009 and was the weekly automotive columnist for his last 11 years there.

Rele received his master’s degree in journalism from the University of Missouri in Columbia, Missouri, and has been a Tampa Bay resident for nearly 30 years. I’m proud to add that he is a longtime, regular reader of our newspaper.

“Buying a vehicle is one of the biggest expenses a family incurs,” said Rele. “Our goal is to give readers timely and informative automotive news and professionally sanctioned test drives to help local people make informative decisions about their next vehicle.”

It is interesting to note that according to our 2017 readership buyer’s survey, 38 percent of our readers plan to purchase a new or used vehicle in the next 12 months —or 13,557 vehicles.

“We want to educate readers early in the buying process — when you are still considering your top vehicle choices and deciding how much you want to spend,” said Rele.

“Our goal is to give you information to make intelligent automotive decisions, and to help you find your next vehicle close to home at a dealership that is convenient and which provides service, body and warranty work.”

The Laker/Lutz News is able to add automotive news to its coverage because of the support of our inaugural advertisers — Christian Brothers Automotive, Maus Family Chevrolet, Parks Ford of Wesley Chapel and Wesley Chapel Toyota/Lexus/Honda.

All are locally owned, family businesses, just like we are at The Laker/Lutz News.

My staff and I sincerely thank these advertisers for their support, and if you have an opportunity to visit these neighborhood businesses, please be sure to thank them for bringing automotive news to your community newspaper.

Published December 12, 2018

This club aims to help improve community life

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The prospect of teenagers showing up at the door Halloween night asking for canned foods as opposed to sweet treats may seem unusual.

However, that is what the Wesley Chapel LEO club has set to do – stand out in the community in a positive way.

As part of the Wesley Chapel Lions Club youth division, the LEOs – which stands for leadership, experience and opportunity – is a group of teenagers ranging from age 12 to 18.

Members of the Wesley Chapel Lions Club and its youth division, the LEOs, help to pick up an area along a 2-mile stretch of Bruce B. Downs Blvd., on Nov. 11. Shown here, from left, are: Maeher Sukhija, Tricia Gregoire, Zoe Gregoire, Seth Gregoire, Tom Tokish and Tom Mavor. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel Lions Club)

This fall, the LEOs placed flyers door to door in their Wesley Chapel communities informing residents they would be back, hoping for a liberal donation of canned goods.

Sure enough, on Oct. 31, they kept their promise — putting an entirely new spin on ‘trick-or-treating.’

They collected more than 190 pounds of food, which was donated to the Helping Hands Food Pantry at Atonement Church in Wesley Chapel.

The youth division of the Lions Club is nothing new. The first one began in 1957, with the help of the Glenside Lions Club in Pennsylvania.

It since has grown to have an international presence — with more than 6,500 clubs in more than 140 countries. In addition to encouraging good deeds, the organization has a scholarship program for its members.

Tom Mavor, president of the Wesley Chapel Lions Club, has witnessed the great work the youths have done. He hopes their parents will see them as contributing and competent young adults.

“Their kids are engaged, they’re fun, they’ve got great ideas and they want to do great things,” he said.

LEOs can either be organized through a school or a local Lions chapter – the Wesley Chapel club chose the latter.

“We wanted something that would bring kids from different schools and different cultures together in a place where they can work collaboratively,” reasoned Mavor.

The Lions Club encourages the LEOs to brainstorm ways to help their community, and then take the initiative to put the plans in motion.

Fourteen-year-old Jillian Tokish is president of the Wesley Chapel LEOs, and her grandparents have been Lions Club members for as long as she can remember.

Her grandfather initially approached her with the idea of starting the youth division. She liked the idea and over the summer the club began.

“It’s a really cool experience,” she said.

It gives youths a chance to put aside their phones and gain a greater appreciation of nature, and people, in general, she said.

One Sunday morning in early November, the youth club, along with the assistance of the Lions Club, cleared trash and debris along a 2-mile stretch of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The experience gave the youths a chance to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of maintaining a safe and clean environment, Mavor said.

After Hurricane Michael devastated the Florida Panhandle, the group joined with other LEO clubs to assemble personal hygienic kits for those needing help.

“What really drives them is seeing success,” said Mavor. “We’re helping children to learn that giving back is important.”

They also have started visiting local nursing homes to spend quality time with the elderly.

“You see the smile on people’s faces – that just brings so much joy,” Tokish said, describing the responses that club members receive.

The group now has 15 members, and they wear their club T-shirts to club gatherings, as well as to school, to advertise their cause.

In the future, they plan to deliver baked cookies to the Wesley Chapel firefighters to thank them for their service.

The Wesley Chapel club also wants to partner with local schools, to implement programs aimed at anti-bullying and also helping youths to interact socially.

They expect to send a representative of their club next year to a U.S.-Canada Leadership Forum, which will be held in Arizona. The forum will give club members from both countries a chance to learn in various workshops.

Mavor sees a difference between how his generation grew up and current millennials, but he said they have something in common: A willingness to help mankind.

Published December 12, 2018

Sunlake senior wins countywide honor

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Since she stepped foot upon Sunlake High School’s campus four years ago, Jillian Gordy has strived to make a difference within her school and community.

Sunlake High School student Jillian Gordy has been named Pasco County Schools’ 2018-2019 Outstanding Senior. The award is given on the basis of academic record, service, leadership, citizenship, and evidence of commitment to school and community. (Courtesy of Pasco County Schools)

She’s spearheaded new school traditions.

She’s been involved in numerous clubs and service organizations.

And, she’s managed to maintain a 4.0-plus grade point average.

The 18-year-old’s efforts have not gone unnoticed.

Last month, the young woman from Lutz was named Pasco County Schools’ 2018-2019 Outstanding Senior Award.

The award is given on the basis of academic record, service, leadership, citizenship, and evidence of commitment to school and community. Students considered for the award are nominated by the student body, principals, faculty and staff. Nominees from each high school in Pasco are then interviewed by a panel of administrators who ultimately narrow the selection to one student to represent the school district.

Gordy said she was surprised to even be nominated for the senior award because she only takes one class on Sunlake’s campus.

She takes the rest of her senior classes off-campus at Pasco-Hernando State College.

“I’m just really honored to be able to represent Sunlake, and honored to be named for this award,” the 18-year-old said in a recent interview with The Laker/Lutz News. “I wasn’t really expecting it.”

What she lacks in classroom time at Sunlake, Gordy makes up for in student involvement.

She serves as executive student body president and has been an officer in student government for four years.

In the senior leadership role, she’s already helped enact two new traditions at Sunlake.

Within the first few months of her term, Gordy persuaded school administration to enable seniors and school staff to paint their parking spots as a way to encourage school spirit.

While a relatively common practice for many other high schools, it marked a first for Sunlake.

“I was really proud of seeing that come to fruition,” Gordy said. “People don’t like their spots being taken in the morning, so this was something that the kids really looked forward to and the staff really loved, and it was really a morale boost.”

Her other tradition? Making goodie bags for incoming freshman during orientation.

Gordy refers to the goodie bags as “survival kits.” They contain applications for clubs, athletic information and homecoming information. The idea is to encourage new students to get involved.

“I wish that all schools could do that because it gives everyone a chance to get involved and no one can say, ‘Oh, I didn’t know about that club in freshman year,’” Gordy said.

Besides being involved in student government, Gordy also is president of the French Honor Society and French Club.

Her mother’s family is French-Canadian, she said, noting, “I was kind of connecting with my roots through French Honor Society and learning about French culture.”

Gordy also is a member of the National Honor Society and class director of Sunlake’s Key Club, a volunteer and service organization.

She’s racked up more than 450 volunteer hours through Key Club.

During her sophomore year, she led the club’s first Toys for Tots gift drive. (Toys for Tots is a program run by the United States Marine Corps Reserve, which distributes toys to children whose parents cannot afford to buy them gifts for Christmas.)

During that effort, she asked her peers to bring in more gifts for teenagers, after noticing that youths ages 13 to 17 are often overlooked by donors.

Gordy became a volunteer with Toys for Tots when she was just 5. She credits her mom, Carol, for getting her involved.

“My mom has really influenced me to be a volunteer for life and really dedicate my life to service,” Gordy said.

Over the years, Gordy said she noticed that most of the gifts provided for teenagers involve sporting equipment, such as basketballs and footballs.

To help improve the situation, she made a donation list for fellow Key Club members, asking for gifts such as books, science kits, art supplies and beauty products.

She’s continued the initiative ever since, and is now working with Kiwanis of Greater West Pasco to expand awareness and increase donations for teens.

Gordy underscored the importance of addressing that issue: “Those are the children that are usually taking care of their younger siblings, and they’re more of like a parental figure, and so we really need to take care of them during the holiday season.”

Because of her work with Toys for Tots, Gordy received the Anne Frank Humanitarian Award last year. The award is presented by the Florida Holocaust Museum to one junior in each of the public and private high schools in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Sarasota and Manatee counties.

Besides her service and leadership qualities, Gordy’s academic achievements are admirable, too.

She’s been named to the All-As Academic Honor Roll every year of high school.

She won the AP Scholar Award for getting 5s — the highest score possible—on every AP exam she took.

She also earned the Science Achievement Award in AP Environmental Science as a sophomore.

In addition to her AP course load, Gordy has been taking dual enrollment courses since her sophomore year — earning 35 college credits to date. She was also awarded the English Achievement Award for dual enrollment as a sophomore and junior, and made the PHSC Honor Roll both semesters of the 2017-2018 school years.

Gordy credits much of her success to her teachers at Sunlake and PHSC.

“My teachers have been amazing,” Gordy said. “I’ve learned so much from my classes and they’ve really shaped me as a person, and they shaped what I want to go into.”

That also includes her mother  — who is a marine science teacher at Sunlake.

Gordy noted education was “very, very emphasized” in the family’s household.

“She definitely taught me the meaning of education and how important it is,” Gordy said, “and how much that education can influence others, as well as yourself, and how everything can be achieved through education. I definitely learned to love school and to love learning through her.”

Gordy said she’s still undecided on which college she plans to attend. But, her sights are on becoming a civil engineer and working for Engineers Without Borders, a nonprofit humanitarian organization that assists developing communities worldwide with engineering projects.

Reflecting on her high school career, Gordy is appreciative of the level of support she’s received from the Sunlake teachers and administration.

She’s also grateful for the numerous opportunities afforded to her through school clubs and other organizations.

“The amount of school spirit at Sunlake when I was a freshman was so amazing that I wanted to be more involved,” Gordy said. “I just wanted to be part of like the change at our school.”

Published December 12, 2018

Guardian ad litem volunteers advocate for children

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One of the greatest opportunities a child can have is to be raised in a safe, caring foundation, surrounded by those they know they can trust.

According to the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), there are more than  400,000 children in the United States living in foster care — many without any understanding of what it is to have a permanent home.

Abuse and neglect are the primary reasons why youths are removed from their homes, and CASA is a nationwide organization which assists children through the court system to be placed in homes.

Guardian ad Litem is a child advocacy group, operating under the auspices of CASA, which offers services across the 20 judicial circuits of Florida.

Larnelle Scott, left, and Mariela Ollsen, of the Guardian ad Litem Sixth Judicial Circuit, work on behalf of children in Pasco and Pinellas counties placed in foster care. (Brian Fernandes)

Guardian ad Litem is made up of a team of volunteers, attorneys and child advocate managers whose sole purpose is tending to the needs of foster children.

Guardian ad Litem, of the Sixth Judicial Circuit, which covers both Pasco and Pinellas counties, was established in the early 1980s.

This year the circuit has the second highest rate of abused and neglected youth in and out of home care – with more than 2,000 reported cases.

Larnelle Scott and Mariela Ollsen both work for Guardian ad Litem in the Sixth Circuit.

While there are different factors for why the rate in this circuit is so high, both women attribute much of it to the rise in the opioid epidemic, which has also plagued the country at large.

With adult supervision hindered by drug use, it can lead to child neglect in a big way said Ollsen, circuit director for Guardian ad Litem.

That void can be filled by volunteers of the organization, who come from all walks of life. The volunteers check in on foster kids and establish a good rapport with them.

However, they first must go through a thorough training and vetting process to ensure they are suitable for the task.

A report of abuse, whether by a family member, teacher or the police, is relayed to an abuse hotline, which in turn gets the court system involved – then Guardian ad Litem is appointed.

The Sixth Circuit in Pasco County holds hearings at two courthouses, the one in Dade City and in New Port Richey.

Guardian ad Litem doesn’t have any say in whether a child is removed from the home or where they are placed, but they can make recommendations based on their case studies and interactions with the children.

While they are ultimately trying to provide security for those in foster care, sometimes the kids don’t see it from that perspective.

“Court can be a scary thing for kids,” explained Ollsen. “There’s a lot of trauma involved with the kid when you remove them. Even in a dysfunctional environment, for most of our kids, that dysfunction is their norm.”

This makes it all the more important for Guardian ad Litem volunteers to form trusting relationships with these children, offering counseling, as well as considering their academic and medical needs.

Once removed from home, children are placed in either a licensed foster home or group home, if there is no extended family with whom they can stay.

Scott and Ollsen said they would prefer that foster care be a last resort if a child can stay with someone who is not only trustworthy but a familiar face.

Ollsen acknowledged that the biggest reward for a Guardian ad Litem volunteer is when a child has found a sense of “permanency” – an environment that is stable and not constantly changing around them.

Educating the public on foster care is also something that Guardian ad Litem is committed to whether it be at Rotary Clubs, churches or schools.

“I do community information sessions a couple times a month in the libraries,” said Scott, who is a regular at both the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library and the Hugh Embry Branch Library.

Parents concerned about their child’s well-being sometimes reach out to her, as they know she will advocate for what is in their child’s best interest.

As the community outreach coordinator, Scott has become a familiar confidant in the children’s lives as they sometimes divulge their deepest feelings.

She affirmed that: “The foster home placement might change, the case manager may change, the schools might change, but the Guardian ad Litem is usually that one anchor that they know is going to be in their corner.”

If interested in becoming a volunteer, visit GuardianAdLitem.org.

Weekly information sessions are every Tuesday at the New Port Richey office at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.

Dates for the monthly sessions at Land O’ Lakes Library and Hugh Embry Library can be found at HeroToAChild.org.

Want to help?
If interested in becoming a Guardian ad Litem volunteer, visit GuardianAdLitem.org.
Weekly information sessions are each Tuesday at the New Port Richey office at 10:30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
Dates for the monthly sessions at Land O’ Lakes Library and Hugh Embry Library can be found at HeroToAChild.org.

Published December 12, 2018

This crowd was bullish on East Pasco’s prospects

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Speakers at the recent “Discover Dade City” symposium cast a spotlight on East Pasco’s development opportunities.

The event, held in the conference center at the East Pasco campus of Pasco-Hernando State College, focused on ongoing projects, as well as those on the drawing board and future prospects.

Dewey Mitchell, the keynote speaker at ‘Discover Dade City’ said that as Dade City grows, its biggest challenge will be to preserve its authentic charm. (B.C. Manion)

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, in conjunction with the Greater Tampa Realtors and Central Pasco Association of Realtors (which merged with the Pinellas Realtor organization), hosted the inaugural event on Nov. 29.

Larry Guilford, who moderated the two panels of speakers, said “so many things are already happening in Dade City, and so much more is going to happen.”

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez said since becoming mayor in 2012, she has tried “to make sure that Dade City has a seat at the table.”

The city continues to look at ways to enhance its quality of life, through such amenities as recreational trails, a bike hub and a splash park, Hernandez said.

It also wants to find ways to repurpose its old buildings, and to explore a Farm-to-Table initiative, she said.

As the city grows, it wants to be sure it plans appropriately, Hernandez added, so it can preserve the “quaint authentic nature of Dade City that you won’t find anywhere else.”

New roads to progress
State Rep. Danny Burgess talked about the extension of State Road 56, which now ends at Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wesley Chapel, but is being extended to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

The road will create a new east-west artery that will help ease congestion and promote economic growth. Burgess said, “That will open up so many opportunities.”

David Gwynn, secretary of the Florida Department of Transportation District 7, said it looks like the State Road 56 extension could be completed as early as next spring, or at least by summer.

The transportation leader talked about a number of other projects that will have a significant impact in East Pasco.

The biggest investment involves projects on State Road 52, starting at the Suncoast Parkway, with stretches being widened all of the way over to U.S. 301, he said.

“This summer, in June, we’re going to let over $150 million in state projects just on State Road 52,” he said. “Widening to six lanes the portion between the Suncoast (Parkway) and (U.S.) 41; some other projects between (U.S.) 41 and the interstate (I-75); and, the realignment (of State Road) 52 all of the way out.”

The state also is studying whether State Road 56 could be further extended from U.S. 301 over to State Road 39 to create another corridor leading to Interstate 4.

Another big project, referred to as the Diverging Diamond, is expected to begin construction in early 2019.

Aimed at reducing congestion at State Road 56 and I-75, the project is expected to make traffic in that area more challenging during construction.

The planned construction of an I-75 interchange at Overpass Road also is expected to provide a significant improvement to transportation in East Pasco.

Preparing future workforce
On the education front, Kurt Browning, superintendent of Pasco County Schools, said a new technical high school expected to open in 2022 on Old Handcart Road will expand opportunities for students, while helping to boost Pasco’s economy.

The school will serve students from the Dade City, Zephyrhills and greater Wesley Chapel areas.

The goal is to build a school that helps students to develop skills that are needed by employers, which will benefit the school’s graduates and companies seeking to fulfill workforce needs.

The district is doing its homework now, to ensure that the school is equipped to offer relevant programs, Browning said.

“We don’t want to build a building and then figure out what programs we’re going to teach,” the superintendent said.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Ron Oakley addressed the need for local government to pick up the pace with regards to permit approvals.

“That’s the worst part of government —  how slow it moves,” Oakley said.

He pledged: “Pasco County is not going to hold up the builders and others who want to do things the right way. We’re going to make it so it’s more streamlined for them to get those permits.

“There’s nothing wrong with controlled growth,” Oakley said.

Opportunities for all
Another panel talked about investments being made in East Pasco.

Jason Newmyer, administrator for Florida Hospital Dade City, said next year will be a transformative year at the hospital, as a $22 million makeover begins.

Michael Lawson, director of operations for Metro Development Group, talked about Connected City, which is intended to be a place where there will be opportunities for everyone, ranging from large companies to small entrepreneurs.

“We’re going to create this environment that will promote this growth,” Lawson said, noting the 50-year plan for Connected City calls for the development of 10 million square feet of nonresidential and 40,000 residential units.

Connected City is in a corridor covering about 7,800 acres in northeast Pasco County. It borders Interstate 75, State Road 52, and Curley and Overpass roads.

Some things are already happening.

Epperson, a community in Connected City, became the first community in North America to open a manmade turquoise lagoon, known under the trademarked name, Crystal Lagoon.

“Crystal Lagoon has been a game-changer for the industry. We were proud to be the first in the U.S. We’ll see these deployed all over the country, but that’s just one element (of Connected City). There are going to be so many more.

“I look at Connected City as basically being an iPhone with unlimited ability to put Apps on it,” Lawson said.

Dewey Mitchell, co-owner of Capstone Tropical Holdings Inc., was the symposium’s keynote speaker.

Agreeing with other speakers on the agenda, Mitchell said there’s no doubt East Pasco is poised for growth. He also touched on an issue raised by Dade City Mayor Hernandez.

“I think the biggest issue for Dade City going forward — as all things happen, and they are going to happen — is keeping the charm the city has currently. I think that’s going to be the biggest issue.

“I kind of like to look at the city of Dunedin. They’ve done a really good job of merging the old city with newer development.

“It’s a pleasant place to be. There’s restaurants and shops. It’s lively. They have a bike path through.

“It sounds easy, but it’s not,” he said.

“At the risk of being offensive to someone, take St. Pete Beach. They messed it up,” he said, and now, “they’re struggling to get back what they once had.

“They just didn’t do it right. Dunedin did,” Mitchell said.

The symposium’s aim was to raise awareness of development opportunities in the East Pasco area, and provide networking opportunities for developers, brokers and property owners, according to John Moors, executive director of The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

Saint Leo University was the presenting sponsor, assisted by Pasco-Hernando State College, First National Bank of Pasco, Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Properties Group, Florida Hospital Dade City/Zephyrhills, San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, the City of Dade City and The Laker/Lutz News.

Published December 12, 2018

Local agency helps people to stop smoking

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While some people wait until New Year’s Eve to make a resolution to quit smoking, experts say there’s no time like the present to get started on the effort.

Those who have tried to quit smoking understand the uphill battle in attempting to kick the habit to the curb.

But, help is available.

Through its tobacco cessation program, the National Area Health Education Center has been training health care professionals nationwide to help smokers overcome their addiction.

As part of the National Area Health Education Center, Nicole Kelly works as a specialist in helping smokers quit throughout Pasco County. (Courtesy of the Gulf Coast North Area Health Education Center)

In Florida alone, the organization has 10 centers covering all 67 counties.

The Gulf Coast North Area Health Education Center (GNAHEC) covers five counties, including Pasco.

Established in 1993, this center has long been affiliated with the University of South Florida’s College of Medicine. It provides resources to help end tobacco use.

The Gulf Coast center offers courses through funding provided by the Florida Department of Health.

“They contract with us to do the in-person group classes,” said Nicole Kelly, tobacco program manager for the center.

Kelly’s background in public health serving Pinellas County was put to good use when she joined the center’s staff in 2013.

After undergoing additional training for her position, she became certified in holding tobacco cessation programs – which aims to help smokers to kick the habit.

The Gulf Coast center offers two free tobacco cessation programs – ‘Tools to Quit’ and ‘Quit Smoking Now.’

‘Tools to Quit’ is a one-time, two-hour session that helps attendees to make plans and prepare to quit smoking.

Specialists, like Kelly, identify the withdrawal symptoms that are expected, how to deal with them as they arise and offer nicotine replacement therapy, if needed.

“We encourage them to set a quit date a week or two after class, so they don’t feel like they have to quit that day,” she explained.

One-time sessions are usually followed up with an evaluation to check on the person’s status seven months after the class.

While walk-ins are welcomed, those who plan to attend are asked to register in advance.

This helps to get an idea beforehand of how long they have been smoking, how often and if they have taken any medications.

‘Quit Smoking Now’ is a six-week program. Class members meet one hour each week.

It’s the same methodology as ‘Tools to Quit,’ but at a more gradual process.

Between classes, members are supposed to put into action the techniques and advice given.

At each session, they report their progress and, by the third week, are asked to quit cold turkey.

The Gulf Coast center is planning to implement a third program in January 2019, which would accommodate large classes at behavioral health sites.

Programs can be held at various locations from medical establishments to libraries.

“Most hospitals and health care systems don’t have tobacco cessation programs that they provide, so we fill that gap perfectly,” said Kelly.

The program also partners with establishments at on-the-job sessions for employees battling with addiction.

This was the case on Nov. 15 for the Great American Smokeout when Gulf Coast center specialists helped encourage workers at their job site to quit smoking.

During the annual event, put on by the American Cancer Society, thousands of smokers across the country make a pledge to quit.

In 2006, Florida voters accepted an amendment that would allocate funds into tobacco cessation programs, thus supporting the Gulf Coast center and creating the Tobacco Free Florida Bureau in 2007.

Tobacco Free Florida opened up courses not only for cessation to end chain-smoking, but also courses for prevention as well.

These organizations also aim to prevent smoking, especially among youths.

According to the Florida Department of Health, the state has made improvements among high school students.

In 2018, 3.6 percent of students were reported as cigarette smokers, a decline from 8.5 percent just five years before.

However, electronic cigarettes, or e-cigs, have become a popular alternative to traditional ones among Florida teens.

In 2013, 5.3 percent of high school students were consuming the product where now, in 2018, it has nearly quadrupled, to 24.8 percent.

The Gulf Coast center does not advocate the use of e-cigarettes or vaping as a method within its program.

As part of the reasoning, Kelly stated: “Our program is evidence-based. We follow the clinic practice guidelines for tobacco dependence.”

She added that there are seven medications known to help and “we only promote the ones that we know there is strong research to show that they can help someone quit.”

While Kelly works mostly with adults, she said she gets excited when younger smokers come to the sessions because she can help stop smoking earlier in life.

Many older adults experience a health scare, which triggers their decision to quit smoking, she said.

To find an upcoming tobacco cessation class in your area with contact information, visit GNAhec.org/tobacco-cessation.

Published December 12, 2018