The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Judson was a trailblazer

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The Pasco-Hernando State College community is mourning the recent death of Dr. Robert Judson Jr., the college’s second president.

The educator began his career at Pasco-Hernando State College in 1972, when the college was a community college — known as the college without walls — and was in the process of opening its doors to Pasco and Hernando county communities, according to a news release from the state college.

Dr. Robert Judson Jr., was a trailblazer at the college now known as Pasco-Hernando State College. When he was there, it was Pasco-Hernando Community College, and Judson made Florida history by becoming the first black to be named president of a community college in the Florida Community College System. (Courtesy of PHSC)

Judson was hired as the college’s first instructor and counselor/recruiter, subsequently teaching the first course the college ever offered.

The following year, Judson moved into a role as the college’s first coordinator of financial aid, where he wrote grants for student aid programs and was responsible for veterans’ affairs.

He received his doctoral degree in education in 1976, and in 1977 became dean at East Campus. In 1983, he took on the role of East Campus provost, followed by college vice president and executive vice president, according to the release.

In 1994, Judson succeeded Dr. Milton O. Jones — the man who had hired him — and made Florida history by becoming the first black to be named president of a community college in the Florida Community College System.

Under Judson’s leadership, the college experienced exponential growth.

“Bob Judson was a remarkable leader,” Timothy L. Beard, Ph.D., current PHSC president, said in the release. “He worked his way up the ladder, knew every inch of the college, understood our students, and helped realize the college’s potential.  He was admired and respected for his vision and his authenticity.”

Judson opened a three-story health building, housing state-of-the-art equipment on the college’s West Campus. He also helped establish radiography, and drafting and design programs still popular today.

Judson also led the building of a child care center on West Campus.

He opened the Public Service Technology building on East Campus in Dade City, where aviation, law enforcement and corrections, and fire academy programs are currently housed.

He remodeled North Campus in Brooksville.

And, he purchased the land for a permanent Spring Hill Campus, which was erected in 2010.

Judson also facilitated a partnership with the University of South Florida to offer formal four-year degree programs on PHSC campuses.

In an interview for the College’s 30-year anniversary commemorative book, he said: “I want to be known as a president who intelligently expands the college for the good of all concerned.”

He added: “I hope I’m remembered as a president who was sensitive to the needs of our students, faculty and staff. Most of all, I hope I’ve distinguished myself as a president who helped make PHSC a great college, and a wonderful place to learn and work.”

Beard, who now holds the same role as Judson once held, put it like this: “The college community will remember his leadership. He will always have a place in college history, and in the hearts and minds of the many PHSC faculty, staff and students he influenced.”

A funeral service is planned for Judson on Sept. 29 at 12:30 p.m., at Hopewell Baptist Church, at 890 N.W. 15th St., in  Pompano Beach.

PHSC is planning a memorial service to honor Judson on Oct. 9 at 1 p.m., at the PHSC Performing Arts Center on its West Campus, at 10230 Ridge Road in New Port Richey.

Published September 26, 2018

Plan for your pet, too, during a disaster

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Taking precautions for your pets in the event of a disaster doesn’t have to be difficult.

The Pet Resource Center in Hillsborough County offers these key pointers:

  • Make sure your pet’s county registration tag is up to date, and take a trip to the vet to update all vaccinations, get a microchip and extra medications.
  • Create a disaster kit and ID packet for your pet. The kit should include a seven-day supply of food and water per pet, waste disposal items, pet medication, and comfort items like a favorite toy or blanket. The (waterproof) ID packet should contain your contact information and family veterinarian information, the microchip and county pet registration tag numbers, and information regarding medical needs.
  • Arrange for a place for your pet to stay, like a family member’s or friend’s house, or pet-friendly hotel (Visit PetFriendlyTravel.com). Be sure they are on your evacuation route and not in a flood zone.
  • Get a cage or carrier that is easy to transport, and large enough for your pet to stand up in and move around in.
  • Public pet-friendly shelters should only be used as a last resort.

If a pet-friendly shelter is necessary, take note: Only domesticated pets are allowed in pet-friendly shelters. Livestock like horses, cows, chickens and pigs are not allowed. To learn how to prepare larger animals for disaster, visit the UF/IFAS Extension website at sfyl.ifas.ufl.edu.

Published September 26, 2018

Honoring the anniversary of September 11

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Flag-wavers held their flags high, as drivers passing by on U.S. 41 honked their horns in support.

The red, white and blue draped with stars has always symbolized America, but on this particular Tuesday, it held a much more significant meaning. It was 17 years to the day of the 9/11 attacks.

Local members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, and other members of the community, stood outside the Old Lutz School, flags in hand, to commemorate the lives lost that horrific day.

Members of the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, among others, came out front of the Old Lutz School to hold American flags high in remembrance of 9/11. (Courtesy of Patricia Serio)

They, like others in the country, paused to reflect and show gratitude to heroes past, and those still present.

The events of Sept. 11, 2001 changed the way of life in America.

On that morning, 19 men hijacked four U.S. commercial airplanes, crashing them into the Twin Towers in New York City, the Pentagon and a field in Shanksville, Pennsylvania.  A total of 2,977 people were killed in the attacks orchestrated by al Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden, according to national reports.

The aftermath left many with long-term effects, both physical and emotional.

“In 2002, we started this because we wanted to remember,” said Pat Serio, coordinator of the event. “We wanted to share our patriotism and support.”

Serio, like others, knows exactly where she was when she first heard of the attacks.

She was at home watching the news when regular broadcasting was interrupted by the flowing smoke from the World Trade Center.

Her initial reaction was: ““It has to be an aviation problem,” she recalled.

Not long after, Serio came to find out that the country was under attack.

“As a (native) New Yorker, I felt the impact,” Serio added.

Dee Knerr, who also took part in the flag-waving tribute, said she was scheduled to fly back to Florida on Sept.11, after visiting family in Ohio.

“I was scheduled to fly home that afternoon, getting ready to go to the airport,” said Knerr. “Of course, all the flights were cancelled.”

After working 40 years at the Lutz Post Office, Knerr is now retired and dedicates her time to the woman’s club.

Besides remembering the lives that were lost on Sept. 11, the tribute was also intended to honor American troops, law enforcement and firefighters.

“They put their lives out there every day for us,” said Knerr. “I want to thank them all from the bottom of my heart.”

Ben Nevel, a member of the Citizens for the Old Lutz School Building, also took part in the tribute.

“We all need to stand together,” said Nevel, a veteran of the Vietnam War.

Another member of the crowd was Linda Mitchell, a Lutz native and retired teacher.

She recalled being conflicted, as the news broke about the terrorist attacks.

She decided not to show the news coverage in her class.

“It was hard being a teacher during that day,” she said. “We wanted to know as citizens what was going on, but we were protecting our students.”

Before retirement, she had the opportunity to teach children who were born after 9/11.

She said there was a stark contrast between how students who lived during the incident perceived it, and those who came after.

The memorial also came as something personal for Mitchell, as both her husband and son serve as Hillsborough County firefighters.

In waving their flags, the men and women gathered in front of the Old Lutz School were reminding those passing by about the need to remember the fallen, and to express gratitude for the men and women who continue to put themselves in harm’s way, whether they are wearing military uniforms, or serving as first responders.

Published September 19, 2018

Lutz musician keeps busy with multiple instruments, bands

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Fred Chandler relishes a good musical challenge.

It is why he’s seemingly always working on the craft — whether it be playing in solo and band shows, tinkering with a new instrument, or laying down new tracks in a recording studio.

Sometimes, when he wakes up, he has locked, bloody fingers and a hoarse voice — following a busy week of performances.

Chandler regularly performs at venues all throughout Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, including Ukulele Brand’s, Craft Life Brewing, Whiskey Willy’s and In the Loop Brewing. One of his bands, The Band 4X, will compete in the Battle of the Bands at Harley Davidson New Port Richey on Sept. 29. (Courtesy of Randy Underhill)

His creativity, however, is never the worse for wear.

“If my imagination gets burnt out, then you may as well just throw me to the coroner, because, that’s the most enduring part,” Chandler said.

Music means just about everything to the 58-year-old Lutz resident.

He’s been playing guitar and writing songs for more than 40 years, dating back to when he was living in Bennington, Vermont and Saratoga Springs, New York.

And, he has no plans of stopping anytime soon.

“I’ll probably be like Tiny Tim — die twice doing your show,” Chandler jokingly says, referencing the multiple heart attacks the well-known ukulele player suffered during live performances that led to his passing in 1996.

Since moving to Florida 17 years ago, Chandler has become a familiar name in the local music scene— primarily as a rock-and-roll guitar player who’s also gained popularity as a violinist.

He regularly performs at venues all throughout Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, such as Ukulele Brand’s, Craft Life Brewing, Whiskey Willy’s and In the Loop Brewing.

He also hosts a weekly open mic night each Wednesday at Uncle Fats 2, in Tampa.

Over the years, he has opened for such acts as Foreigner, Blake Shelton, Willie Nelson, Blue Oyster Cult, Phish, and many others.

Career highlights include working on stage with Buddy Cage, the pedal-steel player for the country rock band New Riders of the Purple Sage; playing violin for the Woodstock 25th Reunion in New York’s Catskill Mountains; and, performing on stage at Nashville’s famous 3rd & Lindsley venue.

Now  a member of two bands — Magnum Opus and The Band 4X — Chandler can be seen at venues throughout the greater Tampa Bay area, including Jannus Live and Skipper’s Smokehouse. And, they play everywhere in between Englewood and Crystal River.

Chandler, pictured far left, is the bandleader of The Band 4X, one of six Florida-based bands invited to compete in the Battle of the Bands at Harley Davidson New Port Richey on Sept. 29. Other 4X band members pictured are Kevin McNary, Leah Ordetx and Doug Cecil.

Chandler’s groups perform a wide range of original tunes, as well as covers of hit classic and alternative rock songs, plus some modern pop.

Basically, their repertoire includes everything from Kansas to Queen to 21 Pilots.

Often, he performs five or six gigs a week, and no two shows are alike, Chandler said.

He said he tries to put a twist on each performance, with his improvisational skills and deep catalog of songs.

“I like to keep it fresh. That’s why I constantly learn new material,” the musician explained. “I’m not one to just learn a solo from a record and play it at you. I want to play to you. I want you to go, ‘Wow, he was totally on that night. He had something going on.’ The people that come to see our shows get that because they know we’re all just going to kind of play from the hip, from the heart a bit and change it up,” he said.

Chandler’s knack for learning a wide array of instruments has also made him a local fixture.

In fact, it takes two hands to list them all —viola, cello, mandolin, dobro, lap steel, banjo, bass, ukulele and most recently, the saxophone.

“If I own it, I can play it, at least to some degree,” Chandler said.

“String instruments are fast for me because I understand the mechanism. I understand the geometry that goes along with them,” he explained. “Every stringed instrument is a hall of mirrors because of the way they’re tuned.”

A rock-and-roll guitarist by trade, Lutz’s Fred Chandler has also gained local popularity as a violinist. In total, he plays about a dozen other instruments.

Chandler also takes pride in his lyrics and songwriting. His subject matter spans everything from love to nature.

“I really want them to say something,” Chandler said of the songs he composes. “I don’t just want to jot down something, just because the music’s good. If I’m going to put lyrics, then it’s got to be dead on.”

Chandler, curiously, draws much of his musical inspiration from his Maltese dog, Olivia Marie, whom he describes as “the best listener in the world.”

He put it this way: “She doesn’t care if it’s disco or it’s a pop tune or if it’s country, she just likes whatever I’m doing. I love that.”

Meanwhile, Chandler’s next big performance is happening later this month.

On Sept. 29, The Band 4X will compete in the Battle of the Bands at Harley Davidson New Port Richey.

It was one of just six bands to earn an invitation. The winner goes on to perform at the Cotee River Bike Fest in October.

For information on Chandler’s music and future shows, visit FredChandlerMusic.com.

Published September 19, 2018

New forensics research center expected to boost local economy

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Officials are expected to gather together this week to hold a groundbreaking ceremony for the K9 Tactical Center/Forensic Institute for Research, Security and Tactics in Land O’ Lakes.

Pasco Sheriff Chris Nocco is predicting that beyond its other benefits, the new forensics center also will be an economic driver — having wide-ranging impacts on the county as whole, and Land O’ Lakes, in particular.

“This is one of those things that is going to put us on the map. This is one of those things that will define us,” Nocco said, during a recent Pasco County Commission meeting.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco

“That cadaver field is actually the thing that’s drawing everybody in,” Nocco said, but as it attracts widespread interest — it also is creating many new opportunities for public safety, economic development and academics.

The project has been a true collaboration between the county, the Sheriff’s Office, the Pasco Economic Development Council, academic groups, local chambers of commerce and others, Nocco said.

The sheriff said Bill Cronin, president/CEO of the Pasco Economic Development Corporation, has played an instrumental role.

“He has been unbelievable, getting us connected with businesses and people who are interested in coming to Pasco,” Nocco said.

Businesses with an interest in the cadaver field, include medical, companies, data companies, forensics companies, private military companies and others, he said.

“People are recognizing that they want to be a part of this,” he said.

Connerton’s proximity to the project is a plus because it has both housing and commercial components, Nocco noted.

“Everything right there is going to get bigger,” he said.

“There are students coming from other universities, graduates and post-grad students that are coming and want to live here as they do their work,” Nocco said.

The forensics research center is expected to offer a wide range of training sessions for local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

“The FBI evidence response team is already talking about coming down to train with us. The border patrol, the coast guard, NCIS,” Nocco said. “They recognize that this is something unique.”

The training opportunities will boost Pasco’s economy, with travelers staying at local hotels, the sheriff said.

His department has been reaching out to partners in academia, to explore possibilities.

“The unique part about this is that we’re the only subtropical environment and tropical environment that this training goes on in,” he said. He believes that people from Central America, South America and the Caribbean would be among those interested in training at this facility.

There’s also potential for training in the use of robotics, drones and data processing in the arena of public safety and workforce training.

“Information is the gold of the future. These are the things we want to train our students for now, so in the future they’ll be trained for better jobs and bringing in jobs to our community,” Nocco said.

Pasco Sheriff’s Capt. Justin Ross said the center’s training will be taking a forward-focused view.

Its mission statement is “Creating safer communities by transforming public safety through research, education and innovation.”

“It’s one thing to come up with a nice, new, nifty shiny idea,” Ross said.

“Everybody understands that in public safety, we’re dealing with matters of life and death. If we’re going to come up and innovate and lead the way, we need to make sure that those things are going to be effective, that they will work,” he added.

The center will be a collaboration between academia and practitioners, he said.

County Commissioners expressed enthusiasm for the venture.

Commissioners Mike Moore, Ron Oakley and Jack Mariano said they believe the project will create new economic opportunities in Pasco.

Commission Chairman Mike Wells put it like this: “This is a perfect example of everybody coming together for the betterment of our region and the county.

“It’s going to save lives. It’s going to create jobs,” Wells said.

The economic development council’s Cronin put it this way: “It (the research center) further activates that corridor on 41, where we’ve got shallow lots and a road that continues to widen. “These businesses just need to be next to them.

“It helps us in that area where traditionally it was difficult for us to get businesses up in that area.”

Commissioner Kathryn Starkey expects this project to be a catalyst for change in Land O’ Lakes.

“I think (U.S.) 41, in 10 years, is going to look so different,” Starkey said.

Published September 19, 2018

Wesley Chapel schools earn national PTA distinction

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Wesley Chapel’s Double Branch Elementary School and Dr. John Long Middle School each have been named a 2018-2020 National PTA School of Excellence.

The National PTA organization has a program with specific criteria, allowing schools around the country to be acknowledged for their service to students.

The year-long process includes choosing one of three areas of focus: education, health and safety, or arts. Once that is selected, a PTA can choose a more specific topic to work on.

Dr. John Long Middle School is one of two Wesley Chapel schools to be recognized with the 2018-2020 National PTA School of Excellence award. (Brian Fernandes)

Local officials were gratified by the recognition for programs and actions taken on their campuses last school year.

“We have a great school,” said Jennifer Kanyok, PTSA member at John Long Middle School. “It’s wonderful to be recognized for what our PTA does. It’s a great honor.”

“It really is about the community coming together to support the needs of the students,” said Vaughnette Chandler, principal of Double Branch Elementary School.

As a middle school, John Long offers a Parent-Teacher-Student Association(PTSA) program.

The association gives students the opportunity to act as liaisons on behalf of the school, by attending PTSA meetings and offering their input. Each grade level has four to five student representatives.

“That’s really the purpose behind PTSA, to bring students’ voice[s] to the forefront,” said John Long’s principal Christine Wolff.

Various speakers have been brought to John Long Middle, as well, to address issues such as bullying, and cyber safety when using the internet and cellphones.

Double Branch Elementary chose to focus on health and safety — zeroing in on the issue of bullying.

The school would set out for the next year identifying what bullying is, addressing it and helping to eliminate it.

As part of its program, Double Branch implemented a “kindness initiative,” which involved different departments, including the student council, said Double Branch’s PTA president Courtney Wine.

The school selected a ‘Rancher of the Quarter’ to acknowledge students who exemplified kindness.

The title was bestowed for exceptional acts in class, in the cafeteria and on the bus.

Over the summer, Double Branch also hosted the Fifth-Grade Leadership Academy, designed to help the older students develop into responsible leaders for the younger ones.

“The message there is, kind acts lead to kinder acts,” Chandler said.

The school used its television show, called The News Show, to recognize student acts of generosity.

Double Branch’s agenda for kindness is not exclusive to just parents, students and administration.

“We welcome community partners to come in,” said Wine, who has witnessed an outpouring of support from outside the school. “The more people we have together, the stronger our voice is for what our kids need.”

Kid-friendly businesses have partnered with the PTA in its efforts. Local dentists and tutoring services, including Mathnasium and Life Skills in Action, have taken part.

The John Long PTSA has also partnered with the community, offering a number of fundraisers throughout the academic year.

In addition to working with Toys for Tots, it had a jeans drive, as well as collecting personal hygiene items to contribute to another community school.

“Those are all positive messages that kids learn,” Wolff said. “If you have the opportunity to give to somebody else, you should do that as well.”

Working with the school’s English department has also been important for the PTSA.

Together, they have hosted a summer reading program to better engage children in literature. Upon completion, students are rewarded with an ice cream party.

Both schools also engage their students in the National PTA Reflections Art Program, which offers singing, dance choreography and literature to name a few options.

Kanyok, a six-year PTSA member, has a daughter with a love for drawing. She motivates her to use Reflections as a way of presenting her art to the public.

Leaders at both schools agree that parents do not need to join the PTA to be effective advocates for their children — they just need to lend their voices to issues that matter to them.

The school encourages not only parents, but other family members and members of the community to volunteer.

“We encourage grandparents, aunts and uncles,” said Kanyok. “The more parent involvement we have, the better we run, the better our school runs.”

While being grateful for the recognition, leaders at both schools said the focus remains on serving students.

“The purpose wasn’t to get the award,” said Wolff. “The purpose was to do what was behind the purpose of the award, which was to make sure there were good processes in place for kids.”

Published September 19, 2018

See our state parks, up close, naturally

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The Florida Department of Environmental Protection has announced the redesign of the Florida State Parks website.

Bahio Honda State Park in Big Pine Key. (Stefanie Burlingame)

In partnership with Visit Florida, the new parks website features tools and information that will be helpful to the state’s visitors.

It also promotes the Florida Park Service, providing visitors with detailed information about all 175 state parks, trails and historic sites.

User experience is improved because of the site’s mobile responsiveness and robust site search tool. It also features more photos and a trip tuner, making it easier for visitors to plan their trips to state parks.

The trip tuner helps to plan a park experience online. It will do the searching for you when you enter your preferences. To try it, visit VisitFlorida.triptuner.com/stateparks/en.

At Fort Zachary Taylor Historic State Park, in Key West, you can visit the fort, which was completed in 1866, and visit the beach with plenty of shaded picnic areas.

Visitors also can find ways to get involved in state parks through volunteering, and find stories from park rangers, staff and volunteers.

Tourism is the No. 1 industry in the state of Florida, and these new resources showcasing visitor opportunities will help support the industry.

The website also has a new marketing logo for Florida State Parks, which features the Florida panther. The panther symbolizes the Florida Park Service’s role in protection and conservation, while representing the wild, Real Florida found within Florida State Parks.

To learn more about our state’s special places and prized properties, as well as natural resources, visit www.FloridaStateParks.org.

Published September 19, 2018

Tomoka State Park, along the Tomoka River, is 3 miles north of Ormond Beach and has many areas for nature lovers to explore.
A roseate spoonbill shows off its balancing skills at Ellie Schiller Homosassa Springs Widllife State Park.

 

Tampa Bay author pens book to inspire teenage girls

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After years of struggling to find her own self-worth, Ashley Wichlenski made it her mission to help teenage girls fighting similar battles.

So, she decided to write a book to do just that.

‘The Keeper of My Heart” is Wichlenski’s Christian-based, interactive self-help book that strives to build confidence in girls and help them become comfortable in their own skin.

Passages focus on forgiveness, strength and self-love, among other positive reinforcing messages.

Ashley Wichlenski is the author of ‘The Keeper of My Heart.’ (Courtesy of Ashley Wichlenski)

They’re written as letters to girls “from the heart of Jesus and he how sees you,” Wichlenski said.

She explained it like this: “The main goal of this book was to show (girls) that their identity is in Christ. It’s not based off how the world sees you or how you even see yourself, it’s based off how your creator made you.”

Geared toward females, ages 12 to 20, the 60-page book also features coloring pages and space for writing journal entries. In essence, it’s an adult coloring book, she said.

Balancing a full-time job and her responsibilities as a mother and wife, it took Wichlenski about a year to complete.

Wichlenski, 34, works throughout Lutz and Pasco County as a sales account manager for United Materials Inc., a Tampa-based wholesaler of countertop products. She lives in Apollo Beach.

The author, who grew up in Tampa, acknowledged experiencing “a dark time” in her own life during her 20s.

During that period, she believed her worth needed to be based off looks, income and other superficial factors.

“I was homecoming queen in high school, so a girl can kind of grow up thinking, ‘My worth is based off of all these things that the world points to,’” Wichlenski said.

Her outlook changed in recent years, however.

The guidance of her faith, she said, helped her realize “your worth is based on your soul.”

Since publishing the book, Wichlenski has regularly begun speaking at various churches throughout the Tampa Bay area.

She often tells teenage girls to be authentic and not force themselves to conform to societal norms and influences from pop culture and social media.

The author explained: “It’s OK to be totally different and it’s OK to love the way that you were created to look. Sometimes it’s a purposeful thing: You have to look yourself in the mirror and say, ‘I am beautiful and I am loved and I am strong,’ and you have to say those things to yourself to kind of build that confidence.’”

It’s important for young women to know that they “are worthy of the best, and they don’t have to compare and look to the world’s approval of them,” she added

In the advent of social media and cyber bullying, Wichlenski believes teenage girls have a rougher go nowadays, compared to when she was growing up.

“There’s so much pressure for a girl to be perfect,” she said, noting teenagers today are so frequently judged on their attractiveness, popularity and so on.

“Social media has taken a toll on a lot of girls these days,” she said. “It can be very difficult to know exactly who you are and how amazing you are.”

Wichlenski encourages parents of teenage girls to make themselves “very available” to listen to their problems and to offer positive guidance.

“Parents need to talk with them about issues that may even make them feel uncomfortable. You have to bring it up. You have to talk to them,” Wichlenski said.

Wichlenski plans to pen other editions of ‘The Keeper of My Heart’ that would be geared to younger girls and working women. She is also planning a book for boys, and she plans to have the current edition translated into Spanish.

For more information, visit TheKeeperOfMyHeart.com.

Published September 19, 2018

Class provides advice on healthy cooking

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Shari Bresin understands the challenge of finding the time to prepare healthy foods, while having a busy schedule.

Bresin, the Family and Consumer Science agent for the Pasco County Extension Office, said she can relate to that challenge.

“I know what it’s like to be on the go,” Bresin said.

A class she’s now teaching at the Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City, aims to help people to gain a better understanding of healthy eating and offers cooking demonstrations, too.

Cooking instructor Shari Bresin prepares a cabbage stir-fry demonstration, and then provides samples to guests. (Brian Fernandes)

The Extension Office, which is part of  the University of Florida’s Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (IFAS), is providing the four-part class, called “Cooking Matters.”

The first class was on Sept. 6. The others are scheduled on Sept. 27 and Oct. 4. Each session is from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

The classes aim to help people who are interested in living healthier lifestyles.

“I, myself, am very passionate about health and cooking,” said Bresin. “There’s a big need, for sure, in combating chronic diseases and getting people healthier.”

During her lectures, she encourages group participation, asking the audience about their food preferences.

At one point during the first class, she asked participants to name foods they eat by color.

The instructor then explained the health benefits of eating organic foods that may be green, blue or red, among other colors.

She concluded her class with a cooking segment, preparing stir-fry cabbage in a grill, and then offering samples to class members.

Each of the four classes includes a cooking demo, gives participants a chance to indulge, and provides a take-home recipe.

The classes will cover the topics of budgeting and meal planning, and will provide information to dispel the notion that eating healthy is too expensive.

At the first class, Bresin provided a PowerPoint presentation to explain a modern version of the food pyramid called My Plate. My Plate displays a circular dish divided into five food groups that are recommended for any given meal.

It is portioned into grains, dairy, protein, fruits and vegetables.

It recommends that half of grain intake be made of whole grains, while fruits and vegetables make up half the plate.

Those taking part in the class also have the chance to win a gift card.

To find out more, contact Bresin at (352) 518-0156.

‘Cooking Matters’ Classes
Where: Hugh Embry Library, 14215 Fourth St., in Dade City
When: Upcoming classes are set for Sept. 27 and Oct. 4 from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Cost: Free
Details: Classes include cooking demonstrations and offer advice for healthy cooking.
Info: Call Shari Bresin at (352) 518-0156.

Published September 19, 2018

Planning Commission recommends approval of controversial tower

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a 110-foot observation tower on the south side of St. Joe Road in Dade City.

The approval came despite objections from two planning commissioners, as well as county planners, and an area resident and the owner of some adjacent property.

The request now goes to the Pasco County Commission, which has the final authority.

Terry and Mary M. McKnight, 36210 St. Joe Road, of Dade City, want to install the observation tower on a 9.84-acre site on St. Joe Road, about 4,965 feet east of Happy Hill Road.

Planning commissioners Michael J. Cox and Roberto Saez both strenuously opposed the request.

“I think this is just a real gross abuse of the land development code,” said Planning Commissioner Cox. “The land development code was written to not allow this kind of thing in an agricultural area.”

He also noted: “That’s pretty intrusive to other people. This thing is going to stick up five floors above the tree line.”

Plus, Cox said, “It’s not consistent with the rural character of that area.”

Planning Commissioner Saez put it bluntly: “I’m totally against this.

“I don’t like to create this precedent in the county,” Saez said, adding, “It’s more about privacy than anything else, in my opinion.”

The county’s planning staff recommends denial of the request.

During an Aug. 9 Planning Commission hearing on the request, however, the issue was continued and planners were asked to bring back conditions that could be attached to an approval.

The planners provided a list of 17 conditions, including that the tower cannot be used for commercial purposes. Among the other conditions: The tower must be painted green, loud music cannot be played in the tower and no electronic or recording devices are allowed on the tower, except for cellphones.

Terry McKnight said the applicant is agreeable to the conditions.

But, Steve Futch, of 2975 Plantation Road in Winter Haven, spoke against the request. He said the McKnights’ property is adjacent to property that was his mother’s land.

That property will be transferred to heirs of the family, and they oppose the request for the 110-foot tower.

The observation tower “will not promote rural or estate-type living,” Futch said.

The height of the structure would be the equivalent of an 11-story building, he added, “that would tower over the adjacent properties and be seen from a significant distance in all directions.”

He asked commissioners to consider the impacts the tower would have on its neighbors.

“Imagine having your private property being observed from such a high ‘observation tower’ which could easily be an invasion of  your privacy, your personal use of the property,” Futch said.

Another area resident, who lives across the lake from the proposed tower, said many of the people who would see the tower do not live close enough to receive notification of the McKnights’ request.

Despite the Planning Commission’s recommendation for approval, the county’s planning staff continues to recommend denial of the request, said Denise Hernandez, the county’s zoning administrator/special projects manager.

Published September 19, 2018