The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Zephyrhills meetings may go ‘live’

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Residents and others may soon be able to listen and watch the City of Zephyrhills’ public meetings online.

The idea has been floated to city leaders by video production company IntellisMedia, a division of WUSF Public Media.

Under its initial proposal, IntellisMedia would agree to live-stream and record designated city meetings (city council, planning commission, airport commission and so on) from the City Council chambers for a fee of $750 per meeting ; the city would have to agree to live-stream and record a minimum of three meetings per month, costing about $2,250. The company would provide all labor and equipment necessary to process the live-stream and recordings.

Live-streamed, and audio and video recorded meetings would be available on the city’s official website, as well as other platforms, such as Facebook and YouTube. Recorded meetings may also air on Pasco County’s government-access television channel, which IntellisMedia also manages.

Zephyrhills City Manager Steve Spina told the City Council he will consult with city staff to look into other live-streaming options and proposals before making a final decision.

“I think it’s a good idea, and I think some of our staff are pretty excited about the idea of live-streaming our meetings and kind of getting up with times,” Spina said, “but this was the first and only proposal we had, so it might be worthwhile to look at it a little more.”

Some other Pasco municipalities, including Port Richey and New Port Richey, stream and record their meetings through their official city websites and YouTube.

“I know a lot of other municipalities and counties do have those things available for people to watch and tune into,” Spina said.

“I think it’s something of interest,” Spina added.

Zephyrhills City Council president Lance Smith said, “It’s something we need to look into, for sure.”

Published December 5, 2018

Plantation Palms drainage project approved

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Plantation Palms and Pasco County have agreed to a deal that will result in a $2.99 million drainage project — which will be paid for by residents in the Central Pasco community through the creation of a Municipal Service Benefit Unit (MSBU).

As part of the deal, the county will stabilize the north ditch, with a project that’s approximately 1,700 feet long.

Plans have been prepared by the county’s consultant — Coastal Design Consultants — at the county’s expense, and the estimated cost for the project, including a 10 percent contingency, is $2,986,000.

The construction costs will be covered through annual payments on property tax bills of the residences of the 821 members of Plantation Palms Homeowners Association Inc.

The project will be paid for over a period of 30 years, with an interest rate set at 3 percent, which results in an annual payment per member of $195.32, according to county documents.

However, the document also notes that the assessments will be finalized before September 2019.

The county also notes that Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano has said his office will waive the normal 2 percent administrative cost for projects of this type.

The homeowners association owns the ditch, but needs the county’s help to fund the project.

The bids are already out, advertised and will be closed on Dec. 14.

The county attempted to obtain funding from the Southwest Florida Water Management District (SWFMD) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the project, but was unsuccessful.

Jim Hammond, president of the Plantation Palms Homeowners Association, said “The HOA board unanimously supports an MSBU being formed, as do a majority of our homeowners.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore was pleased to see the issue resolved.

He praised the county’s staff and the HOA for working out a solution.

Moore said the county should continue to seek assistance on costs form SWFMD.

Commissioner Jack Mariano agreed: “I think we should continue to go after that SWFMD funding, or FEMA funding, whatever it would be.”

The board voted 5-0 to support the project and the creation of the MSBU to pay for construction.

Published December 5, 2018

Benefit set to help Christopher Starnes

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As Christopher Starnes was leaving an establishment in Dade City on a spring afternoon, he expected nothing other than to return home to his family – instead he woke up in a hospital.

As he was leaving the business, he was brutally attacked by two men.

He sustained a head injury, spent five weeks in a coma and underwent several surgeries to stop internal bleeding.

After returning home from a long stay at the hospital, the community was astonished by how well he was progressing.

“They said they had never seen anything like him,” said John Dragneff, of the Trilby Masonic Lodge 141.

Starnes had recovered and had gone back to work, but then suffered a relapse and had to undergo another brain operation.

To help him, Trilby Masonic Lodge 141 is hosting a benefit called Trilby’s Great Steak Dinner.

The event will be on Dec. 15, at the Dan Cannon Auditorium at the Pasco County Fairgrounds, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

With a $40 admission fee, the night includes a meal, dancing and a live performance by the Johnny Shelton Band. There also will be chance drawings.

Those who are coming will need to come hungry: The meal will consist of a 1-pound steak, baked potato, green beans, salad and a dinner roll.

Dragneff organized the benefit because of his close association with Starnes.

Most of the proceeds from the event will be used to help cover Starnes’ medical expenses.

A small portion will go to funding Masonic Lodge 141 youth activities, including the Trilby Boy Scouts.

For more information, call John Dragneff at (352) 206-2002 or email him at .

Trilby’s Great Steak Dinner
Where: Dan Cannon Auditorium at Pasco County Fairgrounds, 36722 State Road 52 in Dade City
When: Dec. 15 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Cost: $40
Details: The fundraiser for Christopher Starnes will include live music, dancing, raffles and a steak dinner.
Info: Contact John Dragneff at (352) 206-2002 or .

Published December 5, 2018

’Tis plenty of holiday cheer to go around

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Whether you’re looking for something fun for the family to do, you want to share the magic of the holidays with someone special, or you’d like to entertain out-of-town company, there are plenty of choices across The Laker/Lutz News’ coverage area.

We’ve compiled some of your options and share them here.

Land O’ Lakes and Lutz

22nd Annual Christmas at the Old Lutz School
When: Dec. 6, Dec. 8, Dec. 11, Dec. 13, Dec. 15, Dec. 16, Dec. 18, Dec. 20, Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 26, from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
Where: Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 in Lutz
Cost: Free
Details: Guests can enjoy nightly entertainment inside the historic school, which will be dressed up for the holidays, and have trains and refreshments. Children also can enjoy breakfast with Santa on Dec. 8 from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. Tickets for that event are $4 each.
Info: Contact Stephanie Ensor at (813) 244-2256 or .

This Christmas, This Peace
When: Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.; Dec. 8 at 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.; Dec. 9 at 7 p.m.
Where: Idlewild Baptist Church, 18333 Exciting Idlewild Blvd., in Lutz
Cost: Tickets for reserved seating are $10, $15 and $20
Details: The church will offer live performances with a choir, orchestra and nativity scene.
Info: Call Idlewild Baptist Church at (813) 264- 8707, or visit Idlewild.org.

Beyond the Noise
When: Dec. 16 at 10:30 a.m.
Where: Keystone Community Church, 21010 State Road 54 in Lutz
Cost: Free
Details: The church’s choir and drama team will put on a cantata, conveying Christmas through the eyes of a young girl.
Info: Call Keystone Community Church at (813) 948-4522, or visit KeystoneCommunityChurch.org.

Traditions on the Green Holiday Concert
When: Dec. 1 from 3:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Free
Details: Live performances from local school bands and choirs, a tree lighting ceremony and refreshments served.
Info: Call Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park at (813) 929-1229.

A Journey Through Bethlehem (for kindergarten through fifth grade)
When: Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Where: Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Children asked to bring a canned good item for admission
Details: Harvester United takes kindergarten through fifth-graders on a tour that’s 2,000 years back in time, to experience the food and drinks, marketplaces, shepherds and the birth of baby Jesus.
Info: Call Harvester United at (813) 948-2311.

Pancakes, PJ’s and Putt-Putt
When: Dec. 15 from 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Where: Plantation Palms Golf Club, 23253 Plantation Palms Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Tickets are $10 for those age 13 and older; $8 for ages 4 to 12; free for ages 3 and younger.
Details: Enjoy a pancake breakfast while in your pajamas, indulge in arts and crafts as well as golf activities, and take snapshots with holiday characters.
Info: To purchase tickets, call (813) 331-5579.

The Mercy Manger
When: Dec. 16 from 10:30 a.m. to noon
Where: Myrtle Lake Baptist Church, 2017 Riegler Road in Land O’ Lakes
Cost: Free
Details: The Myrtle Lake Baptist Church invites the public to listen to their adult choir’s performance, “The Mercy Manger,” to help usher in the holiday.
Info: Call Myrtle Lake Baptist Church at (813) 949-5516.

Lutz, Odessa, San Antonio, St. Petersburg and Palm Harbor

Tampa Bay Tour De Clay
When: Dec. 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., and Dec. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Studio stops include (each studio will have a kiln opening on Dec. 8):

  • Schiemann Pottery, 4635 Eighth Ave., St. Petersburg (MatthewSchiemmanPottery.com); 9 a.m. kiln opening
  • Pottery Boys Studio, 30 Bogie Lane, Palm Harbor (PotteryBoys.com); 11:30 a.m. kiln opening
  • Hidden Lake Pottery, 16705 Hutchison Road, Odessa (HiddenLakePottery.com); 1:30 p.m. kiln opening
  • Wellman & Welsh Pottery, 17202 Whirley Road, Lutz (WellmanAndWelsch.com); 3 p.m. kiln opening.
  • San Antonio Pottery, 11903 Curley St., San Antonio (SanAntonioPottery.net); 5 p.m. kiln opening (studio will stay open until 8 p.m.)

Cost: Free
Details: Studios offer demonstrations, an opportunity to purchase pottery, chance drawings, refreshments and more.
Info: Call (813) 961-7106, or visit TampaTourDeClay.com.

Wesley Chapel

Symphony in Lights
When: Through Dec. 31, on the hour, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive in Wesley Chapel
Cost: Free
Details: The event features a giant Christmas tree with holiday lights synchronized to music, along with special guest performances.
Info: Call (813) 994-4010.

Avalon Aglow
When: Dec. 13 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Where: Avalon Park West Community Center, 5227 Autumn Ridge Drive, in Wesley Chapel
Cost: Free
Details: Take pictures with Santa under a large Christmas tree, enjoy a bounce house, and fireworks. Vendors will offer food and hot chocolate.
Info: Call Avalon Park West at (813) 783-1515.

Zephyrhills, San Antonio, Dade City

34th Annual Christmas Tree Lighting
When: Dec. 2 from noon to 7 p.m.
Where: Front lawn of Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, 7050 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills
Cost: Free
Details: The event will have the decorating and lighting of more than 50 trees, bounce houses, games, a visit from Santa, fireworks, and food trucks with refreshments.
Info: Call Florida Hospital Zephyrhills at (813) 788-0411.

Christmas in the Park
When: Dec. 2 at 7 p.m.
Where: San Antonio City Park, 32819 Pennsylvania Ave., San Antonio
Cost: Free
Details: Enlarged Christmas cards will be lit and performances will be given by the Piney Grove Baptist Church choir, and Dennis Devine and Friends. There will be a chance drawing for gift baskets, with tickets selling for $1 each.
Info: Call Donna Swart at (352) 588-3631.

Zephyrhills Festival of Lights
When: Dec. 8 from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Historic Downtown Zephyrhills, 38537 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills
Cost: Free
Details: In addition to the parade, there will be refreshments, craft vendors, snapshots with Santa and a drawing for a child to win a free bicycle.
Info: Call Main Street Zephyrhills at (813) 780-1414.

Magical Night Christmas Parade
When: Dec. 7 at 7 p.m.
Where: Historic Downtown Dade City on Seventh Street in Dade City
Cost: Free
Details: Decorated floats, dancers, marching bands and Santa Claus will make their way down the parade route.
Info: Call the Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769.

Country Christmas and Vintage Market
When: Dec. 8 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Where: Pioneer Florida Museum, 15602 Pioneer Museum Road in Dade City
Cost: $10 for adults; $5 for students or those who bring a toy donation; free for those younger than age 5
Details: There will be free photos with Santa from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.; opportunities to purchase presents from vendors; food trucks; a petting zoo; and, live entertainment.
Info: Call Brenda Minton at (352) 206-8889, or visit PioneerFloridaMuseum.org. 

33rd Annual Country Christmas Stroll
When: Dec. 8 from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Downtown Dade City, Seventh Street and Meridian Avenue in Dade City
Cost: Free
Details: Local restaurants and shops will be open, and there will be vendors selling items. There also will be musical performances, cookie samples and a visit from Santa.
Info: Call the Dade City Merchant’s Association at (352) 424-0601.

Dade City Symphony: ‘Tis the Season to be Jolly’
When: Dec. 15 at 7 p.m.
Where: Pasco Middle School Auditorium, 13925 14th St., in Dade City
Cost: Free
Details: The Dade City Symphony Orchestra and vocalist Jennifer Regal Ferguson will perform.
Info: Call the Dade City Chamber of Commerce at (352) 567-3769, or visit DadeCitySymphony.com.

Church Street Christmas
When: Dec. 21, Dec. 22 and Dec. 23, from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Church Avenue in Dade City (the avenue will be closed starting at 6 p.m.)
Cost: Free admission and free parking
Details: Stroll along Church Avenue to see decorated homes and Christmas cards, with nightly entertainment by area church groups and musicians. Guests can park at First United Methodist Church, First Baptist Church or First Presbyterian Church, all on Church Avenue.
Info: Visit ChurchStreetChristmas.org.

Published November 28, 2018

International business increasing in Pasco

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Pasco County has been making strides in the arena of international trade, and Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey provided a briefing on the topic at a recent North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

In introducing Starkey, Hope Allen, president/CEO of the North Tampa Chamber said: “Kathryn Starkey is a huge advocate of Pasco County.

This rendering shows the future campus for TouchPoint Medical Inc. (File)

“It’s wonderful that Pasco now has a seat at the table, now on the global level, and it’s because of her work and the work of Pasco Economic Development Council, making Pasco part of the conversation.

“She is involved in developing international trade, with a focus on Europe and South America,” Allen said.

Starkey has a pulse on what’s happening locally, and also nationally, on the international trade scene.

She is chair of the International Economic Development Task Force at the National Association of Counties (NACCO). She also was nominated by the White House and NACCO to serve on a committee that looks over trade agreements and makes recommendations. She is among four commissioners who represent the voice of local government, she said.

She’s still undergoing her FBI background check, so at this point, she can participate in calls, but can’t read the information.

Starkey said her introduction to manufacturing came in 2004, when she was on the Pasco County School Board and she made a visit to a training program offered in Okaloosa public schools.

“What they had done was they interviewed their business community, and then they figured out how to start programs in their school system that taught the high school kids how to enter into that workforce when they graduated,” she said.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey

Because of her interest, Starkey traveled to Germany five times — to see for herself and to show others how the Germans do their system of apprenticeship training.

“It was really important to go and see how the world’s premiere training program works.

“If you don’t see it, you can’t understand it. They have the gold standard in manufacturing,” she said.

“What we have done here in Pasco County, Hernando and Pinellas County, is that we’ve set up a training and manufacturing program based on the European model of apprenticeship training,” Starkey added, referring to a program called AmSkills.

“We take high school students and we take students who have graduated, and we take adults who need retraining, and we take them through the process here and we get them very knowledgeable about manufacturing, training and jobs, and then we help them get meaningful jobs here in the community,” she said.

Over time, Pasco County Schools also has established several career academies. It also opened Wendell Krinn Technical High School this year, on the former Ridgewood High campus.

Mettler Toledo opened its 270,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Northpointe Village, off State Road 54.

In partnership with Marchman Technical College, Wendell Krinn provides students access to 14 different technical education programs, including auto collision/repair, biomedical sciences, commercial art, computer systems, cosmetology, culinary arts, cybersecurity, digital cinema, electricity, HVAC, marine service, robotics, and welding.

Pasco’s workforce development is helping to attract international companies, Starkey said.

She also has been involved with Pasco EDC in trade missions to help local companies find foreign markets, and has helped host events to teach local companies how to grow their business in other parts of the world.

Pasco’s outreach efforts, its workforce development and its willingness to offer incentives to attract companies offering high-wage jobs has resulted in international companies setting up shop in the county.

Some of those companies include:

  • TouchPoint Medical Inc., a global supplier of technology-based health care delivery systems, will bring 116 new high-paying jobs to Pasco County. Company officials plan to relocate their headquarters to prime vacant land in Land O’ Lakes. They will build an approximately 125,000-square-foot facility, including a parking lot, on the northwest corner of Suncoast Parkway and State Road 54. The site is part of the South Branch Ranch property. The facility is expected to open in late 2019.
  • Mettler Toledo: Mettler Toledo opened its 270,000-square-foot manufacturing plant in Northpointe Village in April. The Swiss-based company is a global supplier of precision scales and services used in research, and the packaging and production of food and pharmaceuticals.
  • TRU Simulation: TRU Simulation + Training celebrated the opening of a $30 million expansion of its Pilot Training Center in Lutz in February 2017. The facility opened in a 15,000-square-foot facility at 1827 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54 at Suncoast Parkway. TRU Simulation has contracts with companies such as King Air, Boeing and Cessna.

Starkey noted that it’s not enough to get international companies interested in Pasco, it’s also important to treat them well after they arrive, and to continue to form relationships.

Taking a page out of book she read about how the international community developed in North Carolina, Starkey makes it a point to take CEOs of international companies to visit assets around Tampa Bay.

It’s a great way for the CEOs to get to know each other and also for them to develop a deeper understanding of Tampa Bay’s strengths, Starkey said.

“I am trying to take really good care of your CEOs here, and they are spreading the word to their friends back overseas, or to their business friends, that Pasco County is a great place to do business,” Starkey said. “We want them to feel very welcome.”

Revised December 5, 2018

Using facial recognition tool to help reunite lost pets

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For many pet owners, their pets aren’t just furry companions — they’re full-fledged members of the family.

So, when a dog or cat goes astray, the experience can be overwhelming.

Now, however, a new tool may improve the odds of reuniting owners with their lost pets.

Rachel Stever, of Pasco County Animal Services, holds a furry new friend. With a program like Finding Rover, Stever hopes this kitty, along with other strays, will be reunited with their owners. (Brian Fernandes)

John Polimeno launched the app, Finding Rover, in 2013, to help locate lost dogs and cats through facial recognition.

And, Pasco County Animal Services (PCAS), just like Citrus and Manatee County, has begun using the program.

“It’s a wonderful partnership we have with them,” said Rachel Stever, education and outreach coordinator at Animal Services. “It’s absolutely revolutionary.”

Animal Services, which serves all of Pasco County, operates out of an office located in Land O’ Lakes.

Animal Services coordinates with independent animal shelters in the county, and these organizations can now be more beneficial to one another with Finding Rover.

Pet owners can register their dog or cat on Finding Rover online, via Facebook or directly from the app.

To register, owners upload a mugshot of their pet onto the program, where the picture is carefully scanned. The scan picks up on certain facial features unique to the animal, such as a birth mark, scars or eye color.

Additional information can then be added to the app’s profile detailing the specifics, especially if the animal has a microchip implant number, which Stever said is most helpful.

Every stray that is brought into Animal Services is scanned for a microchip. A microchip can pull up a profile on the pet’s name, address and veterinarian, which can help to track the owner.

Unfortunately, not all dogs and cats brought into shelters have a microchip, so this is where Finding Rover can step in.

Once Animal Services takes in a stray, they post their own profile of the animal, including a picture.

When an owner alerts the app that their pet is missing, the mugshot on profile begins to do a search with profiles at Animal Services and any other shelters who partner with Finding Rover.

If an exact match is found, the app will give the location of the shelter.

If the app is not certain, a GPS will show the shelters within proximity that have potential look-alikes.

“The great thing with Finding Rover is it automatically updates their side of the system,” Stever explained. “They’re getting the same pictures, the same updates that we do all day.”

What’s more, those who find a lost pet can quickly download the app, take a snapshot of the animal and potentially trace the owner as well.

This is reassuring for Stever and her colleagues as they’ve seen an increase in strays in 2018.

Stever stated that an estimated 6,400 animals have come to the shelter this past year, an uptick by almost 1,100 from last year.

Under Animal Services’ policy, animals with a microchip can be put up for adoption if not claimed within 72 hours of admittance, while those without a microchip are put up after 48 hours.

Finding Rover also assists in an adoption process, as potential owners can scroll through pictures of dogs and cats at nearby shelters.

Although Stever said the goal is to find a good home for these animals, nothing beats reconnecting pets with their true owners.

“I’ve seen people that are reunited after a couple of days, and it’s just as emotional as when they’ve been separated for months,” Stever said.

The app also is a testament that no matter how similar two animals may look, they each have qualities which make them unique and special.

Published November 28, 2018

Pasco sets its legislative priorities

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The Pasco County Commission has identified a list of priorities it would like the Pasco County legislative delegation to support.

The delegation is scheduled to have its annual public meeting on Dec. 17 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., at the Pasco County School Board’s campus, 7227 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes. The session allows members of the public and various interest groups to address the delegation before the beginning of the 2019 Legislative Session.

Among the priority items on the Pasco County Commission’s list are a redevelopment plan for Land O’ Lakes, a pedestrian/bicycle overpass at the Starkey Gap Trail, widening a segment of State Road 52 to four lanes; and improvements to the Zephyr Creek watershed.

Commissioners are seeking $1.5 million in state money to support a Land O’ Lakes redevelopment plan.

Calling U.S. 41, also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard, “the primary spine in the Land O’ Lakes community,” the county is seeking the state’s help in coming up with a plan to spur new uses along the road, according to a pamphlet outlining commissioners’ priorities.

The federal highway is a major north-south connector within the region, linking Brooksville in Hernando County to employment centers in Hillsborough County, the county says, in a document outlining its priorities for consideration by the Pasco County legislative delegation, which will be meeting in December.

“This highly travelled route is marked by a suburban development pattern, which has immense untapped potential for creating new jobs and transit-supportive communities,” the document adds.

To that end, the county is seeking state assistance to study the area’s redevelopment potential, identify opportunities for land assembly and encourage catalysts that could result in local employment centers that are served by multiple transportation options.

If completed, the redevelopment plan would:

  • Identify large-scale redevelopment implementation strategies
  • Include an area-level evaluation of land assembly
  • Include conceptual design layouts for identified prime catalyst site, such as Transit Centers or Transit-Oriented Developments and their associate development programs
  • Provide evaluations of needed regulatory changes, incentives and other needed mechanisms to facilitate implementation.

The priority list also identifies the need for a bicycle/pedestrian overpass at the Starkey Trail (Starkey Gap) trail at State Road 54. That project, estimated at $4 million, would provide a safe, grade-separated crossing, across the six-lane highway.

The last unfinished segment of the trail, south of State Road 54, is expected to be completed in the summer of 2019. It is part of the statewide Coast to Coast Trail network.

Another priority — which carries a price tag of $73.9 million — requests to widen State Road 52, from U.S. 41 to Bellamy Brothers Boulevard. The design is completed and the right of way for the project is partially funded. The project needs an additional $9.7 million to acquire the additional right of way needed for the project. The estimated construction cost is $64.2 million, which is not funded.

The Zephyr Creek watershed project, estimated at a cost of $5.1 million, seeks to alleviate flooding. The improvements would reduce expected flood levels, which would result in reclassifying 59 structures as lying above the FEMA floodplain.

Published November 28, 2018

Making a case for higher learning

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Dr. Jeffrey Senese, the president of Saint Leo University, talked about the role and importance of higher education in today’s society during a breakfast meeting of the North Tampa Bay Chamber of Commerce.

The leader of one of the nation’s largest Catholic universities tackled what he called public misperceptions regarding the words “liberal arts.”

Saint Leo University President Dr. Jeffrey Senese speaks about the importance of a college education during a Nov. 6 breakfast meeting at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus. (Brian Fernandes)

“They’re ‘bad’ words today,” Senese said, noting that the word “liberal” has a political connotation and the word “arts” has the stigma of unemployment attached to it.

Senese contends that those notions aren’t true.

“Math and sciences are liberal arts,” Senese said, and so is the study of “universal principles.”

Indeed, the state requires that a large portion of an academic degree be focused on the liberal arts, “so when people leave the university, they have this broad skillset in addition to their major,” Senese said.

The image of higher education also has declined, the Saint Leo president acknowledged, noting that 61 percent of the population doesn’t like the direction in which it is heading.

Reasons contributing to that include the media’s portrayal of institutions and the  hyperpolitical partisan environment in which we live, he said.

The private college president also addressed the concern about rising tuition.

Some costs result from meeting campus regulations, and also from the expense of hiring personnel who can meet students’ expectations and needs, he said.

Academia itself is also at fault for its image because learning institutions do a poor job of communicating and justifying the benefits of a higher education, Senese said.

Professors allowing their political views to influence their teaching and employers’ dissatisfaction by the inability of recent graduates to perform well in the workplace also contribute to negative views, he said.

To help change that, Senese implored business owners and employers in the audience to play an active role on advisory boards to ensure that students graduate with the necessary skills.

“If you’re not getting what you need, speak up and help us,” Senese said.

He also addressed the perception that online courses are not up-to-par with the traditional classroom setting.

Online courses, he explained are provided as a matter of convenience for students, especially older ones, who are bound by their job and family life.

“A lot of online students would love to take in-class [courses] if they could,” the college president said.

Despite criticisms of higher education, Senese noted that an academic degree has definite benefits.

The unemployment rate is much lower for those with a bachelor’s degree, he said.

Liberal arts graduates also tend to have a 30 percent to 100 percent chance of being in a leadership role, and they are  22 percent to 66 percent more likely to contribute back to their society in a charitable way, he said.

And, on a personal level, those with degrees tend to have longer marriages and better family lives, he added.

Senese was named the university’s 10th president in July. He had been serving as acting president since April, after William J. Lennox Jr., stepped down from the role.

Senese’s remarks came during the chamber’s monthly business breakfast meeting on Nov. 6, at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch in Wesley Chapel.

Senese is a Pennsylvania State University graduate with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice. He also has a master’s degree in criminology at Indiana State University and has a Ph.D. in criminal justice/research methods/statistics from Michigan State University.

Published November 28, 2018

Spend a little time ‘off the grid’ — and have some fun

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Going off the grid can be therapeutic.

So can browsing through antique and home decor stores, boutiques, and wine and cheese shops.

Petal & Vine in Antique Alley, in Belleair Bluffs, is a combination florist and gift shop, with an array of home decor, baby items and more. (Karen Haymon Long)

Or so I tell myself when I decide to head to stretches of two roads with shops I like that are close to each other in Largo, Clearwater and Belleair Bluffs, in an area north of West Bay Drive in Pinellas County.

I turn off my cellphone, so I can shop totally uninterrupted, something I rarely do on an ordinary day.

Sometimes, I take along my lunch and eat in the car between stops.

Other times, I treat myself at Wildflower Cafe, a pretty “ladies who lunch” spot, or a diner called Greek Islands, both close to the Largo shops.

My favorite shop along Clearwater-Largo Road is The French Nest Marketplace. It’s owned by Julianne Marie Bourdreaux, a friendly woman who offers classes on milk paint furniture painting. She greets customers with a lilting “bonne journee” and an offer of hot tea in a flowered china cup.

Coastal Living, a shop in Largo, specializes in coastal repurposed furniture, seashells, lamps and more.

She sells antiques and new home decor, holiday gifts, charming greeting cards, lamps and an array of French linens, tableware, soaps and signs. Outside, in what she calls her rustic garden, you can find a revolving selection of recycled garden statuary and planters.

I can’t go there without buying something: an antique whiskey decanter or a first-edition “Treasure Island,” with illustrations by N.C. Wyeth. And, always, I pick up some greeting cards by artist Vicki Sawyer, whose whimsical birds, sheep and rabbits never fail to make me smile.

On the same street, but with very different inventory, Oddities and Antiques sells everything from concrete moon faces to an assortment of old dolls hanging from the ceiling – some with fish hooks dangling from their foreheads and stomachs. It has crucifixes, old dental equipment, vintage postcards, driftwood, a boy mannequin, bones, books and old bottles.

Outside, hanging from a chain, a human skeleton, adorned with metal butterfly wings, twirls in the wind.

It’s like an old museum of grab bag items thrown together. It’s fascinating and a little creepy. A sign over one door even says 666 – the devil’s sign –  and its motto, “a unique blend of unusuals.” A stuffed wolf – or is it a dog? – wears a stethoscope and sits on a table behind pink and blue eyeballs and a ceramic hand. Beware: It’s only open Thursday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.

I also like Marcotte’s Design Salvage, where I recently bought a linen tea towel with a map of Florida on it. It’s too pretty to use as a towel, so I will use it as a tablecloth instead. This shop sells furniture, chalk paint, vintage lighting, architectural salvage, pillows, cabinet knobs, green glassware, barn doors, baskets, napkins, lamps, signs – many with coastal colors and themes.

The French Nest Marketplace feels like an inviting shop in France, where the owner offers cups of hot tea while you shop and greets you with a friendly ‘bonne journee’ when you arrive.

Next door, Marcotte’s Coastal Market is also worth a spin around. There just aren’t many stores like these in our area, so it’s a treat to see what they have.

Coastal Living, on the other side of Clearwater-Largo Road, sells seashells, nautical lamps and tableware, clothes, repurposed furniture and an assortment of antiques, and new gift and decor items. A few years ago, I bought a beautiful antique lamp there that has palm trees on a reverse painted shade.

Recently, I saw a lamp made from a ship’s porthole there, another lamp with a crab base and a wreath of oyster shells.

For a more whimsical, eclectic experience, make your way to Pirates of Largo, which is jam- packed — inside and out — with yard art, signs, glassware, framed posters, knickknacks, jewelry and a wild array of other things. A framed photo of Marilyn Monroe gazes out at an Elvis head. Across the room, sits a blue dog and, on one wall, there’s a vintage Miami poster.

You never know what you will find, which is part of the fun.

Other treasures await over in Belleair Bluffs, along Indian Rocks Road, where I like to check out Antique Alley, with its cluster of shops. Down the road there are a few nice women’s clothing boutiques, and a wine and cheese market called Bella Vino.

My favorite spot in Antique Alley is a combination florist and gift shop called Petal & Vine. It sells holiday and garden items, sail bags, baby gifts, jewelry, clothes, greeting cards, some food items and unusual cut flowers.

I saw some tempting Halloween decorations – a concrete pumpkin with a gold stem, a lime green pumpkin, a black cat ornament, a skeleton tea towel – on my last visit.

Oddities and Antiques sells everything from this wolf wearing a stethoscope to crosses and old dental equipment and spooky dolls.

Down the alley, a shop called Nostalgia sells framed black-and-white old photos of Havana and the Florida Keys for $40 each, dishes and other home goods with Cuban themes, as well as coastal items.

Mango Etc. art gallery sells artist Frida Kahlo-inspired pillow cases, artwork and dolls that are sure to please her fans, me included.

Next door, at Chloe’s Home Decor, I bought a glass jar with a bird on its lid that I filled with limes. For Thanksgiving, I subbed them out for baby pumpkins.

Collum Antiques, next door to Antique Alley’s much-heralded Astoria Pastry Shop, specializes in Civil War guns, swords, bowie knives, decoys and American Indian turquoise jewelry. Its owner Charles Edward Collum says he’s been there 30 years and knows where everything is in his chock-a-block shop.

South from Antique Alley, on Indian Rocks Road, I enjoyed browsing through For the Love of Boutique and two other shops called Suzette’s On the Rocks Boutique and Suzette’s Too, owned by sisters. All three sell clothing, shoes and jewelry in tranquil settings.

Tranquility, I found, is possible if you click off your phone, take your time, and explore a part of Florida you’ve never been to before. For good measure, take home a Florida tea towel souvenir to remind you of your travels.

Tips for the Trip: Where to Shop

In Largo and Clearwater:
The French Nest Marketplace, 556 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open daily

Marcotte’s Coastal Market, 607 Clearwater-Largo Road N., Largo; open daily

Marcotte’s Design Salvage, 617 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open daily

Coastal Living, 904 Clearwater-Largo Road, Largo; open Wednesday-Sunday

Oddities and Antiques, 1764 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Clearwater; open Thursday-Saturday

Pirates of Largo, 1780 Clearwater-Largo Road, Clearwater; open Wednesday-Sunday

In Belleair Bluffs:
Antique Alley, 596 Indian Rocks Road, N.; some shops closed Sunday and Monday

For the Love of Boutique, 428 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday and Monday

Suzette’s on the Rocks Boutique and Suzette’s Too, 400 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday

Bella Vino Wine & Cheese Market/Espresso & Wine Bar, 100 Indian Rocks Road, N.; closed Sunday

Where to eat:
Wildflower Cafe, 1465 S. Fort Harrison Ave., Clearwater; open for breakfast and lunch daily

Greek Islands, 1501 Clearwater-Largo Road, N., Largo; open for lunch and dinner daily

By Karen Haymon Long

Published November 28, 2018

Students should learn about credit scores

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Your credit score is a three-digit number that has a long-lasting effect on your buying power.

When you apply for credit, your score will be checked. Employers and landlords also can do a credit check. The higher your credit score, the better the chances are that you will be approved.

It’s important to know your three-digit credit score when applying for credit and loans. (Courtesy of CardGuru)

Students should become familiar with their credit scores, which can determine whether you get a loan and what your interest rates will be.

There are several scoring methods, but the most widely accepted one comes from FICO. Scores can range from 300 to 850.

These calculations make up a FICO score:

Thirty-five percent is based on your payment history. Pay your loans and credit card bills on time. Early payments will result in a higher number than on-time payments, which, in turn, will have a higher score than late payments.

Thirty percent is based on outstanding debt. Outstanding debt is how much you owe on car loans, mortgages, credit cards, etc. The number of credit cards you have and if those cards are near the maximum borrowing limit will hurt your score.

Fifteen percent is based on the length of time you have had credit. The longer you have been borrowing money (using credit) and paying it back in a timely manner, the better your score will be.

Ten percent is based on new credit. If you have opened several new accounts, that will have a negative on your score. Also, the more inquiries on your credit report in a year, the lower your score will tend to be.

Ten percent is based on the types of credit you currently have. Refrain from going overboard on a bunch of new loan and credit cards in a short period of time, which makes it look like you are desperate for credit. But, it is a good idea to have a credit mix, such as revolving debt and installment loans.

A credit score is derived from a credit report, which is made up of your identification information, such as current and previous addresses; and your history of dealing with credit, such as payments on student loans and credit cards.

It’s important to make sure the information on your credit report is accurate, and it is up to the individual to have any errors fixed.

Get free access to a credit score/report from Experian, Equifax, TransUnion or CreditKarma, once every 12 months, from AnnualCreditReport.com.

Published November 28, 2018