The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Bexley borrow pit gains approval

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The Pasco County Commission has approved a request for a borrow pit to provide fill dirt for use at Bexley by Newland Communities, a master-planned community, off State Road 54 in Land O’ Lakes.

The development sought approval to operate the borrow to provide up to 1 million cubic yards of sand and dirt to be excavated and hauled over a period of four years.

The borrow pit will be reclaimed after the dirt hauling is completed.

The infill dirt will be used for internal uses at Bexley, but some of will need to be trucked across Tower Road, which is used by the public.

The borrow pit site is south of Tower Road, west of Sunlake Boulevard, and about half-mile east of Ballantrae Boulevard.

The borrow pit’s operating hours will be from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. It will not operate on Sundays or holidays.

The Pasco County Planning Commission recommended approval of the request, and the County Commission approved it on its consent agenda, meaning there was no discussion of the item, at its Aug. 21 meeting.

Approval also is required from the Southwest Florida Water Management District, also known as Swiftmud.

Published September 5, 2018

Sign up for lifelong learning

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September is Library Card Signup Month, a time when the American Library Association and libraries nationwide remind parents, caregivers and students that signing up for a library card can be the first step toward academic achievement and lifelong learning.

And, now is an especially good time to get a Pasco County library card as the library launches new services for residents.

The Pasco County Library System now has four new offerings, including two streaming media services, as well as wireless printing and Wi-Fi hotspots.

“We’re excited to continue to offer our patrons these premier streaming media services,” Bob Harrison, public communications specialist for the libraries, said in a news release.

New services include:

  • Freegal: free music service offering access to more than 15 million songs. Users can download up to three songs per week, free of charge, and stream up to three hours of music per day.
  • Kanopy: streaming movie service offering more than 30,000 feature films, independent films, foreign cinema, documentaries and kids’ movies. Movies also can be streamed at no cost.
  • Wireless printing and print-from-anywhere: Print from smartphones and tablets, or from a home computer or laptop. The cost is 10 cents per page for black-and-white, or 25 cents per page for color.
  • Internet-on-the-Go: Borrow a Wi-Fi hotspot for up to three weeks. The 4G LTE device is easy to set up, and can connect multiple devices, including laptops, gaming consoles and more.

All library services are available at no cost with a Pasco County library card, free at any branch.

Published September 5, 2018

A vision with a purpose

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Keep Pasco Beautiful has been named the West Pasco Chamber of Commerce Outstanding Non-Profit for 2018.

The award honors Keep Pasco Beautiful’s continuous efforts to engage the community in litter and waste reduction, while encouraging beautification.

(Courtesy of Pasco County)

“Our organization does amazing things in the community thanks to the dedication of our volunteers and partners who share our vision and passion,” Kristen King, coordinator of Keep Pasco Beautiful,, said in a news release.

“We appreciate the Chamber’s recognition and support,” King added.

Keep Pasco Beautiful coordinates and develops a variety of annual local-level beautification and cleanup events, often with ties to national efforts, including: Coastal Cleanup (led by The Ocean Conservancy), Great American Cleanup, Earth Day, and the Pasco Upcycle and Art Festival.

This year, Keep Pasco Beautiful is promoting the importance of trees while hosting a sapling giveaway in partnership with the Rotary Club of New Port Richey and the City of New Port Richey.

The organization also brightened the landscape at Baldomero Lopez State Veterans Nursing Home in Land O’ Lakes, planting nine trees with the help of Sunlake Key Club volunteers and Covanta Pasco’s sponsorship.

Keep Pasco Beautiful was founded in 1992 and continues its mission with a small, but dedicated, team.

For information, visit KeepPascoBeautiful.org.

Published September 5, 2018

‘My job is to care for everybody,’ local pastor says

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Sometimes Jordan Kassabaum does a double-take when someone calls him “pastor.”

“I’m just not used to it,” said the 27-year-old pastor of the First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes. “It seems surreal when I’m standing in front of a congregation.”

Kassabaum, a native of Dade City, was named pastor of the Land O’ Lakes church on July 1.

Jordan Kassabaum, pastor at the First United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes, wants his church to be an inviting place that cares for everyone. (Brian Fernandes)

He is gradually getting to know his new congregation.

“I’m astounded at just how many gifted people are here,” said Kassabaum, who leads a church established in 1959. “My staff are amazing.”

Currently, membership stands at around 200. Kassabaum would like to see that number grow.

The church leader said his title isn’t the important thing — and he doesn’t mind when members of his congregation call him by his first name.

It’s that casual approach he’d like to share with people outside of the church, as well, he said.

For instance, in the past, he has participated in such events as ‘Beer and Hymns,’ where folks gather in a brewery or bar to sing classic church songs. He’s also taken part in ‘Pints and Parables’ which entails sharing drinks while taking part in bible study.

Those are some ways that Kassabaum has tried to break down stereotypes about church, and show it in a new and refreshing light.

“My job is to care for everybody,” he said. “Most of my friends are actually not deeply religious people.”

Early beginnings
Kassabaum was born in Dade City, and grew up there, graduating from Pasco High School.

“I loved it,” Kassabaum said. “When you’re growing up in a place like that, it can seem very restricting. You can’t wait to get out, and you really don’t appreciate that quiet kind of life until you go off and see the rest of the world. Now there’s a certain kind of attraction to it.”

He came from a musical household. His father played the saxophone and his mother played the flute. That influenced him to join the high school band and to play the saxophone.

He enjoyed performing so much that he contemplated it as a career, but he decided not to pursue that because he didn’t want to turn something he loved into a chore.

Kassabaum said he didn’t grow up in a religious home.

On several occasions, he attended a Baptist church that his grandfather had helped to build, but he was not immersed in church life, nor obligated to hold any religious beliefs.

“My parents wanted me to make decisions for myself,” he said. “They didn’t want to impose anything on me.”

In school, he excelled in science and biology, and had a desire to help people in need. That motivated him to look toward a medical career.

Finding meaning in tragedy
Although his desire to help others sparked an interest in medicine, it was his father’s illness that compelled him in that direction. He was just 15 when his father died from brain cancer.

“That really set me on a path towards being just a doctor,” he recounted.

As he was coping with the loss of his father, he began questioning life in general.

It was then that a friend invited him to the First United Methodist Church of Dade City.

“I asked a lot of these tough questions,” Kassabaum recalled. “Is God real? Does God love me? Why do we suffer?”

The church and its congregation provided a place of refuge and solace.

When the pastor describes his spiritual journey to others, he said, he often describes it as both a moment of epiphany, as well as a gradual process.

The transitions he went through, he said, were “fundamental experiences.”

“I was lucky enough to be in a space where there were people who loved and cared about me. Who didn’t seek to fix me,” he said.

As he acquainted himself with the congregation — through bible studies and discussions —  he realized that he wanted to remain within the Methodist denomination.

Leadership skills through academics
Kassabaum’s desire to become a doctor took a turn as he began to feel that evangelism was his true calling.

“I don’t think anybody goes into ministry without having a sense of call,” said the pastor. “A sense that God has placed a task for you to complete.”

With that in mind, he enrolled at the University of Florida in 2009. He graduated four years later with a double major in religion and classical civilization.

In 2013, Kassabaum moved to Connecticut to continue studies at Yale Divinity School.

“It was interesting to be exposed to all sorts of different people and different ways of thinking,” said the pastor about Yale’s diversity.

He graduated in 2016 with a Master of Divinity, a standard degree which qualifies a minister to go through an ordination process.

He then returned to Florida, where he worked for two years as a missions intern and adult ministry coordinator.

New and present chapter
Now, he envisions his Land O’ Lakes church becoming a place which is filled with individuals ministering to others with their own unique set of gifts — gifts that not only contribute to the church, but to the community at large.

He already has seen their talents through Sunday school teaching, as well as mission and relief work.

Working with those within the church and inviting others to join, the pastor hopes that one day his congregation will mirror its community — diverse in age groups and ethnicities.

Bob Swan, the church’s facilities manager and a member for 25 years, said “Pastor Kassabaum has brought a wealth of new ideas, and it’s just been great.”

Kassabaum knows that leading a church is not a one-man job, and he’s grateful for his staff and congregation, who have rallied around to help.

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed my experience here,” the pastor said of his new home church. “I knew this was where God wanted me to be.”

Published August 29, 2018

Traffic signals on tap in Zephyrhills

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Pasco County officials are lauding a new traffic signal in Zephyrhills — for making a busy intersection a little less dangerous.

The fully operable traffic light at Eiland Boulevard and Handcart Road was installed in time for the 7 a.m., start of the school year on Aug. 13.

At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said the project has been “a main priority” for Zephyrhills and the county since he stepped into office in 2014.

Pasco County officials recently held an informal ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new traffic signal at Eiland Boulevard and Handcart Road in Zephyrhills. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

“It was much-needed,” Moore said. “It’s a life-safety issue, so that’s what’s most important. We have to think about our citizens’ lives and their safety, and this is obviously done to stop potential accidents.”

It, too, has been on fellow County Commissioner Ron Oakley’s radar for some time.

He explained: “I’ve been here my entire life, so I know so many different people that this light affects. Before this light was installed, many accidents were happening.

“I can’t tell you how many people I’ve run across and said, ‘Thank you for getting that light.’”

Pasco County engineering services director Margaret Smith called the traffic signal “a definite, definite need” for Zephyrhills — labeling it “a good intersection control project.”

“Just watch (traffic) coming through compared to the craziness it was before — it totally controls the intersection,” she said.

Smith pointed out previous struggles for motorists to make left-hand turns east from Handcart onto two-lane Eiland Boulevard.

“I’ve been there all kinds of times of day, and it was very difficult. I think they needed to slow it down a little bit,” Smith said.

Such turns were also something Oakley experienced, as a nearby resident: “You can take a right turn here fairly easily, but you take a left turn and you’re taking a chance,” he said.

Along with the traffic signal, Eiland and Handcart had other improvements, including guardrails and road resurfacing.

Reflective pavement markings also will be installed at the intersection in about a month, officials say.

The Pasco County Commission approved the design plans for the project in 2016. Construction began in March 2018.

Before construction, the county completed a 30-day traffic operations study at the intersection to collect traffic data.

The analysis showed the traffic signal was warranted “based on Handcart (Road) southbound approach volumes and the amount of left turn vehicles turning east onto Eiland Boulevard.”

The study also found that two crashes occurred from Jan. 1, 2013 to Dec. 31, 2013. The crashes “may have been prevented with the installation of a traffic signal,” the study found.

From Jan. 1, 2012 to Dec. 31, 2014, the study also documented two angle crashes that occurred at the intersection.

Meanwhile, other traffic signals are coming to Zephyrhills.

A new signal is expected to be operating at Eiland and Geiger Road by late November.

A third is planned at Chancey and Coats roads. That signal will be operating in late October.

Oakley noted each of those signals are necessities to keep up with increasing traffic patterns: “The reason for these (roads) being so busy is our growth in our county. I mean, that’s great growth we’re having, and it’s a managed growth, so this is part of that management — managing traffic because it’s gotten bigger and bigger with the schools and the communities here.”

Published August 29, 2018

First female pilot earns private license in PHSC program

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The first time she steered a plane, Vanessa Baker was hooked.

It was that moment, on an introductory discovery flight, that she knew piloting was the career for her.

“The second you do it, you fall in love,” Baker said. “It was kind of like an addiction after, like you do it and once you’re like, ‘This is awesome! I want to do this again!’”

Baker, 24, is the first — and currently the only— female pilot student at Pasco-Hernando State College to have earned a private pilot’s license, through the school’s professional pilot technology program.

Vanessa Baker is the first, and currently the only, female piloting student from Pasco-Hernando State College to have earned a private pilot’s license through the school’s professional pilot technology program. She began taking classes in January and earned her first wings in July. She has about another year-and-a-half in the associates of science aviation degree program. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

Baker’s interest in flying piqued after her father showed her a magazine about the PHSC’s new aviation department at the East Campus in Dade City.

A self-proclaimed “wild child,” Baker figured she’d give it a shot. She’s had fun ever since.

“Literally, every day I’m there, I have the best time,” she said of learning to fly.

Baker began taking classes in January and earned her first wings in July.

“I do feel a sense of accomplishment, like, ‘Hey, I was the first female to do this. If I can do it, you can definitely do it,’” she said.

Along with the designation at PHSC, Baker joins rare company nationwide.

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reports about 7 percent of all pilots are females, equating to about 42,000 total.

Even fewer are commercial pilots, which Baker wants to become someday.

Said Baker: “I definitely do think it’s interesting that it’s mostly a male-dominated field. I think that’s very weird. It doesn’t make any sense to me at all, and I think it would be really cool if that changed.”

Mark Aragon, PHSC professional pilot director, said other female students are enrolled in the PHSC aviation program, but have yet to get their private pilot’s license.

He also noted just 10 percent of all pilot students across each state college end up earning their wings, making Baker part of an “elite group.”

Aragon taught Baker her aviation ground school classes.

The instructor admits Baker struggled early on, but her effort and dedication has won out in a pilot technology program, which he said “is like drinking from a fire hose.”

“She’s going to be very successful,” Aragon said. “She has that stick-to-itiveness, that drive and desire that like, ‘This is what I want to do. This is what I want to be. I’m not going to let anything slow me down.’”

Private pilot license in hand, Baker is still seeking her instrument pilot rating, multi-engine pilot rating and commercial pilot license — all through the two-year professional pilot technology associates of science degree program.

She’s racked up more than 100 flying hours at the American Aviation Flight Academy at the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. She needed about 40 hours to earn her private license.

At the academy, Baker trains in a Cessna 172, a four-seat, single-engine, high wing, fixed-wing aircraft that cruises at 140 mph and reaches more than 180 mph.

She’s flown throughout Florida, passing over Naples, St. Augustine, Crystal River, Gainesville, Ocala and Crystal River, and even going as far north as Valdosta, Georgia.

The thrill of flying still hasn’t worn off, Baker said.

“You definitely feel alive,” she said. “I still look out the window when I’m flying, and I’m just like, ‘Wow, I can’t believe I get to do this!’”

In between her busy class and flight schedule, Baker works as a phlebotomist at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, not leaving much room for free time.

“It’s a lot of work, but totally worth it,” Baker said. “I think this is probably the best decision I’ve ever made — definitely the hardest decision I’ve ever made.”

The state college launched its aviation department last August.

It began offering two Associate of Science degrees in professional pilot technology and aviation administration. This fall, it began offering A.S. degrees in aviation maintenance administration and unmanned vehicles systems operations.

The two–year programs are designed for students interested in becoming private and commercial pilots or airport managers.

Other possible career opportunities include flight dispatchers, transportation security officers, various Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) occupations, aviation safety and aircraft manufacturing.

Pilot students, who receive more than 200 flying hours during the entire degree program, also train on the FAA-approved Advanced Flight Simulator Laboratory, located at PHSC’s East Campus. The simulators can be reconfigured to emulate all types of aircraft in any environment or weather condition, providing a realistic experience.

Besides flight training, other classroom topics cover meteorology, flight safety and security, flight theory, and aviation regulations, among others.

Baker and other PHSC aviation students seem to be entering the aviation industry at an ideal time.

A 2017 report by Boeing estimates airlines in North America are going to need 117,000 new pilots and more than 200,000 aviation mechanics in the next 20 years, as passenger and cargo airlines worldwide are expected to buy 41,000 new airliners through 2036.

And, retirements at U.S. airlines will start to rise precipitously starting in 2021 as the current crop of pilots turn 65, the mandated age of retirement. More than 42 percent of active U.S. airline pilots at the biggest carriers will retire over the next 20 years, according to a 2017 report by Cowen & Company.

In Florida, meanwhile, employment as a professional pilot is expected to grow by about 13.5 percent between 2016 and 2024, according to the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (FDEO).

Pilots in Pasco and Hernando counties typically earn entry level salaries of about $30,000 for a private pilot, and up to $104,000 for a commercial pilot, the FDEO says.

“The risk is worth the reward,” Baker said. “I think it’s a great thing to get into, and I don’t know why more people don’t do it.”

Published August 29, 2018

Zephyrhills chamber presents awards, installs board

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The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce presented its 2018 Business and Community Awards last week at the annual Member Appreciation and Awards Banquet held at St. Joseph’s Parish Center, in Zephyrhills.

The event, dubbed “ZEPHYROPOLY,” attracted more than 200 business and community leaders, according to a chamber news release.

Community award winners display their trophies and certificates after the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce Annual Community Awards and Membership Banquet on Thursday. From left; Beth Aker, East Pasco Meal on Wheels, Community Service Award; Anna Bailey, Creative Soul’s Café, Small Business of the Year; Robert and Terry Hilferding, Innovative Business of the Year; Cliff Martin, Jarrett Ford Dade City, Chamber Member of the Year; Vicky Wiggens and Kelly Sinn, Sunrise of Pasco County, Diamond Award; Todd Vande Berg, city planning director, Zephyrhills, Economic Development Champion; Lee Heffelfinger, ABC Pizza, Ambassador of the Year; Rod Rehrig, Marine Corp League, Citizen of the Year; Jonathan Till, Rep. Danny Burgess, Leadership in Government; Russ Heffelfinger, ABC Pizza, Ambassador of the Year; Cliff McDuffie, Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 BPOE, Leadership in Youth Involvement; Kevin and Sandy Bahr, Cindy and Lenny Bahr, Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C, Large Business of the Year. (Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

This year’s theme focused on what makes Zephyrhills great, and the event featured state Rep. Danny Burgess, as its master of ceremonies. It’s the third time in a row that Burgess filled that role, and he donned a top hat and bow tie for the occasion.

Audience members played a game of “chance,” which involved visiting “properties,” such as Bulldog Way, Zephyrhills Municipal Airport, Main Street Zephyrhills and so on, where they took selfies.

Other highlights included having a chance to shake hands with a veteran, or thank Police Chief Derek Brewer or Fire Chief Brian Swartout for their services to the community, the release said.

Laughter could be heard throughout the hall as Kevin Bahr of Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C, Bob Hatfield, aide to Congressmen Bilirakis, and Representative Danny Burgess were sent to jail and had to be “bailed out.” Our very own auctioneer, Steve Linder, got the crowd excited as he solicited bids, the release continued.

Awards were presented, too.

Here’s the list of winners:

  • Innovative Business of the Year: Zephyrhills Brewing Company, for innovative product or service, entrepreneurial spirit and corporate citizenship
  • Small Business of the Year: Creative Soul’s Café, for exemplary reputation, product or service, growth, leadership and corporate citizenship of a business with less than 25 employees
  • Large Business of the Year: Bahr’s Propane Gas & A/C, for exemplary reputation, product or service, growth, leadership and corporate citizenship of a business with 25 or more employees
  • Zephyrhills Economic Development Champion: Todd Vande Berg, city planning director, for exemplary contribution furthering economic development of the community
  • Leadership in Youth Involvement: Zephyrhills Elks Lodge #2731 BPOE, for exemplary contribution to youth in the community
  • The Diamond Award: Sunrise of Pasco County, for exemplary contribution by a nonprofit organization to the betterment of the community
  • Community Service Award: Beth Aker, for exemplary volunteer service to the community
  • Citizen of the Year: Rod Rehrig, for exemplary contribution to the betterment of the community over the past year
  • Leadership in Government Affairs: Jonathan Till, for exemplary contribution and public service at the city, county, state or federal government level
  • Chamber Member of the Year: Jarrett Ford of Dade City, for exemplary contribution and service to the chamber over the past year
  • Chamber Ambassador of the Year: Russ and Lee Heffelfinger, for exemplary service, leadership and representation by a chamber ambassador in the community

The chamber’s new board also was installed. They are: Dr. Randy Stovall (PHSC, Provost Emeritus), president; David West (Make a Difference), vice president; Vicky Jones (Palm Tree Acres MHC), president-elect; John Scott (Gulf Coast Financial Strategies), treasurer; and Jasmine Wilkins (San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union), secretary.

The board’s 2018-2019 directors are: Carolyn Hodges (Faithful Friends Pet Creation); Sam Abrahani (Zephyrhills Moose Lodge 2276); Alex Hulbert (Dewberry); Randy Light (Light Insurance); Kathy Britton (Berkshire Hathaway Home Services); Amanda Maggard (Florida Hospital Zephyrhills); Sam Turgeon (Sunlight Realty); Amy Chappell (CenterState Bank); Kevin Sullivan (Nicoletti Law Firm); and Dean Smith (Health Markets).

Published August 29, 2018

Pasco creates Ridge Road Extension website

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Pasco County’s engineering service department has created a website that tracks progress of the proposed Ridge Road Extension project.

The website (bit.ly/RidgeRoadProject) provides information about the history of the project, a project overview, current activities, a project fact sheet and the latest information.

The road is intended to improve east-west roadway capacity and enhance overall mobility within the area bounded by State Road 52 to the north and State Road 54 to the south, U.S. 41 to the east and Moon Lake Road, Decubellis Road and Starkey Boulevard to the west, according to the website.

The project will also provide additional roadway capacity and improved routing away from coastal hazard areas, and improve hurricane evacuation clearance times in the event of a hurricane or other major weather-related occurrence, the website adds.

The county has sought approval for the road project for about two decades. The proposed 8-mile extension would link Moon Lake Road in West Pasco to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes.

The county has identified the road extension as a priority, but it continues to face opposition because a part of the project would cut through a portion of the Serenova Preserve.

Detailed construction plans are being prepared and are anticipated to be completed prior to the permit decision.

The county expects a permit decision by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in late Summer 2019, according to the website.

Published August 29, 2018

Educator’s vision helps expand children’s horizons

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Regla Sanchez has always been a fan of the performing arts.

And, on one occasion, while attending a show with her daughters, she thought to herself: Wouldn’t it be wonderful if everyone in the theater could bring a less advantaged child to a future show?

The typical audience at a performing arts center is made up of people who have grown up going to the theater, Sanchez explained.

“Spending hundreds of dollars for one performance is nothing for some of these families,” the educator said.

Regla Sanchez is one of four educators across the nation to receive the 2018 League Educator Apple Award from the Broadway League. (B.C. Manion)

By contrast, many of the families she works with are struggling to get by.

So, Sanchez decided to try to expand the opportunities for the families she serves.

The result is a partnership she inspired between Pasco County Schools and the David A. Straz Jr. Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Tampa.

Since the partnership began two years ago, it has made it possible for 500 people — children and chaperones — to attend performances at the Straz. Shows they’ve seen include “Wicked,” “Cinderella” and “The Phantom of the Opera.”

The educator’s initiative also has yielded a national award for Sanchez, presented by the Broadway League, the national trade association for the Broadway industry. Only four educators nationwide received the distinction.

The partnership between the Straz and Pasco County Schools began shortly after Sanchez became the school district’s Parent Engagement Coach for Parents of English Language Learners.

Sanchez wanted the families she works with to have exposure to the theater because she believes the experience can help broaden one’s view of the world and expand one’s aspirations.

Many children her department serves come from families with parents who work as migrant laborers, so they don’t know any different kind of career, Sanchez said.

And, some of them have never left their community or had a chance to see downtown Tampa, she said.

Sanchez came up with a bold approach: She’d make a cold call at the Straz to pitch her idea.

“The security guard literally said, ‘Do you have an appointment?’

“I said, ‘I do not. I just need to speak to someone about my vision to see if they would partner with me and support my idea.’

“That’s how it all started,” she said.

Sanchez wound up talking to Alice Santana, community programs manager for Patel Conservatory at the Straz.

Santana described what happened, via email.

She said Sanchez explained the need, and the Straz decided to respond.

“Regla was so passionate about exposing her students to more that we quickly jumped at the opportunity to bring her vision to life,” Santana said.

Next, Sanchez reached out to her supervisor, Katty Chois, to see if funding could be obtained to pay for buses.

That happened, too.

Under the partnership, the Straz provides tickets, which are distributed to different schools serving students learning English, Sanchez said. Typically, a group of students will go, accompanied by chaperones. Sometimes the performances are on the weekend, so parents take their children.

Sanchez is thrilled that the partnership came together and is continuing.

“I’ve loved this from (the) get-go. I love to see the children engage. Their faces glow in the theater when they look around,” she said.

The Straz has the opportunity to nominate an educator each year for a Broadway League’s Educator Apple Award.

“This year, across the department, it was a unanimous decision to submit Regla for this honor,” Santana said.

“Regla is a true advocate for her students and their families, and a champion for theater,” Santana explained. The educator was determined to find out-of-the box opportunities.

The structure of the partnership between Pasco schools and the Straz will serve as a template for replicating the program with other counties, Santana added.

For Sanchez, the national recognition is icing on the cake.

“I was already rewarded. This is like a dream come true. God had blessed me with this opportunity. I’ve had doors open,” Sanchez said.

Published August 29, 2018

Substation expansion plan sparks controversy

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Some area residents are protesting a proposal by Duke Energy Florida to expand an electrical substation at Smith Road and Satin Leaf Lane in Wesley Chapel.

Opponents claim the project will devalue their properties and create unsightly views.

The request for a special exception permit for the New River Substation expansion has been put on hold.

The Pasco County Planning Commission granted a continuance at Duke Energy’s request during an Aug. 9 public hearing in Dade City. The rescheduled hearing will be Sept. 6 at 1 p.m., in the Pasco County Commission’s chambers in Dade City.

The delay will give Duke Energy and area residents time to discuss conditions of the expansion.

While opposing the substation expansion, area residents said at the very least the power company should consider moving the substation from the southeast corner to the north side of the site. They say that would minimize impacts to property values, and lessen potential noise and visual pollution.

Resident Lee Schmidt spoke against the proposed expansion. “It will most definitely affect my property values,” Schmidt said.

Residents also said Duke Energy didn’t do enough to fully explain their plans, either in the letters that were mailed to residents or a July meeting with eight residents.

The energy company sent letters to 19 residents living closest to the project site to invite them to a meeting, according to a Duke Energy memorandum.

Resident Joshua Kling said Duke’s outreach “was really more reminiscent of a marketing campaign.”

Most of the proposed expansion would happen on the existing site, according to Duke Energy. But, additional acreage would be added to expand the parcel to about 10 acres.

The expansion is part of upgrades to the grid system necessitated by the merger several years ago between Duke Energy and Progress Energy. Duke Energy representatives said the company has a deadline of December 2021.

The nearest residences to the New River substation are within the Meadow Pointe and Ashley Homes communities. Residents receive their power from Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative, not Duke Energy.

Access to the substation is off Satin Leaf, which is a private road. Additional access will be off Smith Road, a county-maintained roadway.

The expansion wouldn’t provide additional power, but would increase the capacity and reliability of Duke’s electrical grid, said attorney Manuel Vilaret, who represented Duke Energy.

Buffering of the site would include a fence, a berm and trees.

Sara Guntrum, Duke’s lead substation permitting specialist, said additional landscaping would provide “less (negative) visual impact than there is today.”

But, David Goldstein, Pasco’s chief assistant county attorney, said there were too few details on the buffering.

“It’s not clear to me,” he said. “You need to fix this condition.”

Goldstein said more details are needed on the heights of the berm and the trees, and the spacing distance between trees.

Planning Commissioner Michael Cox wondered if Duke had scouted other sites for a substation.

Guntrum said the nearly 30-day delay would give the company time to address concerns, and provide additional details on the project.

By Kathy Steele

Published August 29, 2018