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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Institute aims to equip students for success in college and life

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The National Hispanic Institute led the International Collegiate World Series at Saint Leo University last week for the second year in a row.

The event is the capstone of a series of three programs designed by NHI to help high school students to develop the skills needed to become the next generation of community leaders, said Zachary Gonzalez, associate vice president of the institute.

The National Hispanic Institute seeks to build community leaders that aren’t reliant on external forces to guide them, according to Zachary Gonzalez, associate vice president of the organization, a graduate of NHI programs. (B.C. Manion)

The conference is held annually for high school students from across the United States and from global Latino communities, Gonzalez said. This year, it attracted more than 110 students — traveling from different countries and from across the United States.

Saint Leo University picked up the students at the airport, housed them, fed them and provided them a chance to get a taste of life on a college campus.

“We are proud to again partner with the National Hispanic Institute for the Collegiate World Series,” Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, Saint Leo University president, said in a prepared statement. “NHI holds the same values as Saint Leo University—both instill the drive for excellence and encourage respect for all. Saint Leo welcomes learners of all backgrounds. We are excited to welcome these young people to our campus, and help them learn about college life and all that it offers.”

The program uses a self-directed, student-centered learning method that encourages critical thinking.

“Every high school program that we have focuses on a different angle of leadership development,” Gonzalez said. “NHI’s mission is to build more community leaders that don’t rely on external forces to guide them. We talk a lot about thought leadership.”

Connor Caldwell came from San Antonio, Texas, last week to take part in the National Hispanic Institute’s International Collegiate World Series. The idea is to prepare college-bound students for the college application process and for independent living. (B.C. Manion)

During the week, the students work on filling out college application forms, writing essays and making other preparations for college life and beyond. They have a chance to collaborate with other students and to gain insights from mentors who have already experienced college life.

“A lot of times a college freshman comes on campus, they don’t necessarily know how to plug in. They don’t necessarily know how to lead. Sometimes they don’t have any prior experiences in working with students of different nationalities, different backgrounds, confronting different cultures, confronting different social environments,” Gonzalez said.

“We’re not here to tell them there’s a right or wrong answer. It’s about how do we get them to see that their talents can be applied to the community, and begin to build those tools,” he added.

Danielle Castro, who works in admissions at Saint Leo University, was one of the coaches during the week.

She thinks the experience is helpful, as college-bound students look ahead to apply for admission.

“They’re getting prepped and ready, so now they’re going to feel that much more confident in applying to all the schools that they really want to go to. It helps them mentally,” Castro said.

Connor Caldwell, 16, from San Antonio, Texas, knows exactly what she wants to do.

Participants in the National Hispanic Institute’s International Collegiate World Series at Saint Leo University work on their Common App college application form. (Courtesy of Benjamin Watters/Saint Leo University)

“I want to major in computer science and electrical engineering, and I want to become a computer scientist or an electrical engineer for the FBI,” she said.

“I also want to have a dance minor. I’ve been dancing since I was 2.”

Participating in the week at Saint Leo is helpful, she said.

“My school is really good about college applications and starting early, but this is an additional resource that I have that my peers don’t.”

It’s an advantage, “especially going in as a rising senior, knowing what to expect and having my essay looked at and having my application looked at,” she said.

“I’ve visited colleges before, and I’ve talked to admissions counselors before, but now that it’s actually my turn to do this — (it helps) knowing what questions to ask, and what to get from my admissions counselors, and knowing how I can implement that with my applications and essays, and such,” she said.

Gonzalez said the experience can be quite eye-opening for many of the students.

“For a lot of them, it’s the first time they’ve flown to another state or country,” he said.

For more information about NHI, its programs, and its new path for developing leaders, visit NationalHispanicInstitute.org.

Published June 20, 2018

North Tampa Aero Park airport up for sale

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North Tampa Aero Park is on the market.

The sales price for the licensed public airport is $4 million, according to brokers with CBRE.

The company’s airport specialist group is in charge of marketing and selling the airport, located at 4241 Birdsong Blvd.

“We’ve had quite a bit of interest,” said Gary Bauler, broker and first vice president for industrial properties at CBRE in Tampa.

The North Tampa Aero Park airport is up for sale. The asking price is $4 million. (B.C. Manion)

The airport, which dates to the mid-1970s, covers 21 acres sandwiched between Wesley Chapel Boulevard and Interstate 75.

Compark 75, a business park with premier office, warehouse and manufacturing tenants, is adjacent to the airport.

The airport offers about 10,000 square feet of maintenance hangar space; 3,500 square feet of offices; three platted residential lots; office and hangar buildings; a fuel farm, 16 T-hangars; annual runway easement income fees; a licensed Lasergrade and PSI testing facility; and a licensed Federal Aviation Administration repair station.

While most local airports are regulated by municipalities or aviation authorities, Bauler said North Tampa Aero Park is unique in being privately owned.

The Brammer family has owned and operated North Tampa Aero Park for years. But, Bauler said, “They think it’s time to get out of the business, and do something else.”

The area has seen a lot of changes since the airport opened in 1975, Bauler said.

“When it was originally built, Pasco was a lot more undeveloped,” he said. “Now, you’ve got a lot of residential and more businesses, like Compark 75. We’re encouraged that this is the right time to sell. There are a lot more affluent owners in the area now.”

Tenants at the airport include Happy Hangar Café, American Balloons, and Tampa North Flight Center, which is the airport’s fixed-base operator (FBO).

The flight center offers a range of services, including flight instruction, aircraft sales, instrument proficiency checks, parts sales and biennial flight reviews.

It has been a training and teaching resource for the Wesley Chapel Civil Air Patrol.

Some hangars are leased, but others are condominium hangars, whose owners are represented by a condominium association.

For information, visit CBRE.com.

Published June 20, 2018

Disaster expo offers valuable info — and swag, too

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Visitors to the Pasco County Disaster Expo could find answers to nearly any question they had about preparing for a disaster, and responding in the aftermath.

And, they could also load up on all sorts of freebies.

Ralph McCullough, president of the Gulf Coast ARC, says that amateur radio operators can provide a vital source of communication to help keep information flowing during and after disasters. (B.C. Manion)

They could pick up a can of Chef Boyardee Beef Ravioli and a gallon of water, courtesy of Pasco County Walmart stores.

At other expo tables, they could pick up a rain poncho, a waterproof cellphone protector, hand sanitizer, a keychain, a notebook, pens, reusable tote bags, insect repellent and bookmarks, among other things.

Throughout the expo, there were people waiting to provide information aimed at helping to prepare for a possible disaster, what to do when a disaster threatens and where to turn for help in the aftermath.

There were booklets, fact sheets and plastic cards chock-full of information aimed at helping, and there were plenty of people on-hand to field questions and provide answers.

Melinda Velez, manager of community impact initiatives for United Way of Pasco County, was on-hand at the expo to remind residents that calling 2-1-1 is a good option when people need information about resources that can help during the aftermath of a flood, high winds or other disasters.

Ralph McCullough, president of the Gulf Coast ARC, was one of the people working a booth. He was there to share how his organization of amateur ham radio operators can help when a disaster strikes.

“We can provide emergency communications back and forth to the shelters, get messages through for medical reasons, general welfare reasons. If the whole infrastructure is down, we can put our personnel into fire trucks, ambulances, what have you,” McCullough said.

That kind of help was provided during Hurricane Katrina and when the Twin Towers went down on Sept. 11, he said.

Pasco County has 37 registered members who were prepared to help during Hurricane Irma last year.

If there had been a direct hit, there were 70 radio operators on standby to help in case the whole infrastructure went down, he said.

Melinda Velez, manager of community impact initiatives for the United Way of Pasco, was at the expo, too, handing out 2-1-1 cards to remind residents that the number can help people find resources quickly to respond to their needs when a disaster strikes.

County officials have plenty of vehicles to use when the area is hit by high winds, flooding or both.

The booth was also giving out a freebie: A small kit containing first-aid bandages and disposable towelettes.

Being prepared is important, Velez said. “Last year was one for the record. Most of New Port Richey was on evacuation.”

Frankie Gulledge, an underground crew chief for the Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Inc., was there, too.

He demonstrated the dangers involved in having contact with overhead electrical lines and downed power lines.

His message? Keep your distance from overhead electrical lines and downed power lines.

Outside of the expo hall, there was an assortment of emergency vehicles, which can clear out debris, drive through high waters and be used in water rescues, among other things.

Useful numbers
These Pasco County numbers could prove useful in the aftermath of a disaster:

Customer service: (727) 847-2411

Emergency Management: (727) 847-8137

Human Services: (727) 834-3297

Pasco County Sheriff’s Non-Emergency Number: (727) 847-8102

United Way: 2-1-1

Website: PascoCountyFl.net

Emergency supply list

  • One gallon of water per day per person for at least three days
  • A three-day supply of nonperishable food and a can opener to open canned foods
  • Battery-powered or hand crank radio, and a N.O.A.A. Weather Radio with tone alert and extra batteries
  • First-aid kit
  • Whistle to signal for help
  • Dust mask to help filter contaminated air and plastic
  • Moist towelettes, garbage bags and plastic ties for personal sanitation
  • Wrench or pliers to turn off utilities
  • Local maps

Other items to consider for emergency supply kit

  • Prescription medications and eyeglasses
  • Infant formula and diapers
  • Important family documents stored in a waterproof plastic container, including insurance policies, identification and bank account information
  • Cash
  • Sleeping bag or blanket for each person
  • Change of clothing
  • Games for kids

Source: FEMA, Ready.gov

Published June 13, 2018

Deadline approaching for county budget

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Crunch time is approaching for Pasco County’s 2019 budget.

On June 5, Pasco County commissioners got a look at a draft budget as part of their review process.

Crucial dates are coming up, including a July 10 deadline to set the millage rate, which determines how much homeowners will pay in taxes.

No increase in millage is expected. However, some will pay higher tax bills because of general increases in property values.

County officials anticipate that the average, single-family homeowner will pay almost $16 more into the general fund on a homesteaded property valued at $100,000. The cost will increase about $3.80 for the fire fund.

Owners of non-homesteaded property will pay almost $65 more to the general fund, and about $15.35 to the fire fund.

New revenues from property taxes are expected to increase by about 8.5 percent for the general fund, adding about $10.5 million to county coffers.

Those funds are evenly divided between the county and its constitutional offices, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

New construction is fueling a large share of the increased tax revenue.

However, a Nov. 8 referendum to add another $25,000 exemption to homesteaded property is expected to adversely affect the county’s 2020 budget — if the measure passes, and county officials are expecting it to pass.

The loss to the county’s general fund in 2020 would be about $12 million, and about $2.4 million for the fire fund.

Funding temporary housing for inmates at the Land O’ Lakes Detention Center is one of the immediate challenges facing the Pasco County Commission.

By 2020, projections put inmate population at nearly 2,400 a day. The facility was built to house about 1,400 inmates, and already exceeds that number.

The draft budget includes about $2.4 million for the cost of temporary onsite housing; and another $2.5 million to pay other counties to house Pasco inmates in their jails.

Currently, there remains about $3.3 million in unfunded budget needs at the sheriff’s office.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco struck a positive note on the matter.

“It’s very tricky, but we’re getting there,” Nocco told county commissioners. “I know we’re going to get there in the end.”

Other big ticket items include about $2.8 million for repairs and capital improvements for public buildings; $1.4 million for Medicaid, retirement and health insurance; and $1 million for deferred maintenance of parks that are in danger of closing.

County officials peg deferred maintenance costs at parks at about $24 million.

“So, that’s not even treading water there,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey.

Published June 13, 2018

Volunteers spruce up Moore-Mickens campus

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Volunteers put a little shine to the campus of Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center in Dade City.

They swept the parking lot, raked and bagged leaves, pruned the greenery and cut the lawn.

Inside, they cleaned up the kitchen and refrigerators, and wiped down walls.

Dade City resident Quantabia Maner serves on the Community Enrichment Committee for the Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center. She helped organize a Saturday cleanup at the school.
(Fred Bellet)

Future projects include interior painting and a pressure washing for the exterior of the school’s buildings.

For now, the cleanup efforts were done just in time for summer activities.

“It looks so much better,” said Marilyn Hunter, president of the Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center, at 38301 Martin Luther King Blvd., in Dade City.

Many of the volunteers who showed up for work duty on May 26 are former students who wanted to give back.

Some of those who turned out also serve on the school’s advisory board or its junior board.

“This is a legacy,” said Warren “Snapper” Godbolt, a director on the advisory board and a 1968 graduate of the school. “It’s been a life saver in a lot of ways to a lot of people. The teachers here made a lot of difference in our lives. They were like second parents for us.”

Dade City resident Guy Wright brought his ride-on mower to Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center to help spruce up the campus.

Moore-Mickens is a historical landmark in Dade City as the first public school for blacks in Pasco County. It began as Moore Academy, but later operated under the Moore and Mickens’ names as elementary, middle and high schools, and lastly as the education center.

The school’s name honors its founding educators, Rev. Junias D. Moore and Odell Kingston Mickens.

Pasco County Schools closed Moore-Mickens in 2016, citing the expenses of repairs and upkeep.

Nearly a year ago, a coalition of community activists accepted the keys to Moore-Mickens from the Pasco County school board. There is a 30-year lease, at a cost of $10 a year.

School administrators and its board of directors are revitalizing Moore-Mickens as a learning center and social hub for the community.

Dade City resident Ed Reed clipped overgrown palms to help beautify the landscape at Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center.

“We want this to be a new beginning,” said Godbolt. “The first priority is education. If you can save anyone’s child, you’ve done something.”

In recent months, the school has begun afterschool tutoring and General Equivalency Diploma classes. This summer, the school is partnering with a Gainesville-based nonprofit, Mega Social Enterprise Inc., to offer job training skills to youth, ages 14 to 21.

Although some students have signed up, additional applications are being accepted, Hunter said. The program will provide stipends during training, and will seek to find hands-on work opportunities in the community.

Sprucing up the campus was a kickoff to a busy summer.

Quantabia Maner is in charge of the Community Enrichment Committee for the school and helped organize the cleanup day.

Pam Roberts, a junior board member, attended sixth grade at the school. She was in charge of lunch for the volunteers – hot dogs, chips and drinks.

“It was a great experience for me,” she said of her brief time at Moore-Mickens. “I have great memories.”

Dade City resident Arthur Whitehead, 80, was among the first volunteers to show up on a recent Saturday morning to clear leaves and sweep the parking lot at Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center.

Arthur Whitehead, 80, was an eager volunteer. He was born in Tampa but lived most of his life in Dade City. He pushed a broom to sweep up leaves and dirt from the parking lot.

“I’ve lived here longer than Tampa, and I wanted to help out,” he said.

Mack Brockington operates Soul Refreshing Outreach in Zephyrhills. He wants to expand services and open a food pantry at Moore-Mickens. “We’re trying to move in this direction (to Dade City),” he said.

A friend and fellow church member, Guy Wright, brought a ride-on mower to clip the lawn, especially the tall grass between classroom buildings.

Ed Reed is a custodian for Pasco County Schools. He went to elementary school at Moore-Mickens. His father, Freddie Reed, worked on the construction of Moore-Mickens’ buildings.

Baron Bloodsworth, of Dade City, signed as a volunteer, ready for cleanup duty at Moore-Mickens Education & Vocational Center. Bloodsworth attended the school in the late 1990s.

And, Ed Reed’s wife, Ella, was a majorette and student there.

“I’m glad I’m part of it,” said Reed, who pruned palms from planters, and in the landscaping outside the buildings.

Baron Bloodsworth attended middle school in the late 1990s. He grabbed a rake and went to work. “It made an impact on the community,” he said. “Anything I can do to help.”

Edele Graham had appointments that day but made time to give an hour or so to the cleanup. She attended middle school. “I just want to see it stay and thrive,” she said.

For information on Moore-Mickens or the Mega Social Enterprise summer youth program, call Marilyn Hunter at (352) 807-5691 or Saundra Coward at (352) 467-0313.

Published June 13, 2018

All aboard for a bus tour of Pasco development

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A bus tour through Pasco County connected the dots, and highlighted both new development, and notable educational institutions, such as Saint Leo University.

The Central Pasco Association of REALTORS sponsored the tour to offer professionals in real estate and area residents an up-close look at what’s happening in Pasco. The bus tour on June 7 was the first, but CPAR officers say they plan for more in future.

Dr. Jeffrey D. Senese, center, president of Saint Leo University, welcomed bus tour visitors to the university’s campus.
(Kathy Steele)

“We’re looking to introduce people, to say, the (Florida Hospital Center Ice) rink,” said Jack Buckley, who is chairman of the CPAR committee that organized the tour. “Not everyone knows it’s here. We want to make them aware of activities in the area.”

About 60 people boarded the bus at the Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway. The all-day tour visited nine locations, including stops at Florida Hospital Center Ice, Saint Leo, and the historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

Other locations were the master-planned communities of Bexley by Newland Communities, Epperson and Mirada; the Dade City Business Center; the business park, Compark 75; and Tampa Premium Outlets.

A lunch break at Florida Hospital Center Ice included a tour of the ice rink facility, off State Road 54.

The CPAR bus tour also was about forging closer ties between Central Pasco and Dade City business and chamber of commerce communities.

Dade City Mayor Camille Hernandez arranged a police-escorted drive through downtown Dade City, and touted its historic, small town charm.

“This is my little piece of heaven that I call home,” the mayor said.

The real estate organization will be supporting Dade City officials for “Discover Dade City,” an economic summit on Sept. 27 at the Pasco-Hernando State College.

“We’re feeding off one another, so residents and businesses get the benefits from our associations,” said Buckley.

The tour offered opportunities for networking, and getting to know new people, said Hernandez. “I’m excited about that.”

Jo Easton, a certified residential specialist, said the tour provided new experiences in getting to know not only about new development but well-established places such as Saint Leo.

She had driven by the university many times, but the tour was her first visit to the campus.

Florida Hospital Center Ice was new to her, too.

“This is really helpful to us,” Easton said.

John McCabe, a vice president and Small Business Administration lender with CBC National Bank, was also glad to get to know the area better.

“You see these places driving by, but to do a deep dive, it’s terrific,” he said. “I think the tour is a great thing.”

McCabe works out of Tampa but services the Tampa Bay area including Pasco.

For more information, visit CPARFl.com.

Published June 13, 2018

School construction activity heating up

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Cypress Creek Middle High will be adding a senior class this year, but that isn’t the only change that will be happening at the campus off Old Pasco Road.

Cypress Creek Middle School is under design right now, with construction expected to begin in October or November, said Mike Gude, director of construction services and code compliance for Pasco County Schools.

The construction budget for the school is $43.5 million, and the planned opening date for the new middle school is in August of 2020, he said. When completed, it will have a robust performing arts wing, including a black box theater.

Mike Gude, director of construction services and code compliance for Pasco County Schools, provided an overview of construction work underway in an area stretching from Starkey Ranch to Zephyrhills. (B.C. Manion)

Also, on the same campus, Pasco-Hernando State College is planning a $15.5 million performing arts center, that will serve as both an educational facility and cultural arts facility.

The college is in charge of construction, but the school district is providing about 5.5 acres for the site.

The state college will build the performing arts center on land that was donated by the school district, and both the college and school district plan to use the performing arts center for educational programming.

The school district plans to use access off Old Pasco Road when construction begins, to avoid interacting with current access to the Cypress Creek Middle High campus.

Meanwhile, work is expected to wrap up at Woodland Elementary School in Zephyrhills by the time school begins.

“The new building is mostly finished,” Gude said, and the renovation of the existing building is for a new administration area underway.

The project includes a new cafeteria, a new classroom building, renovated classrooms and restrooms, and a new administration area.

A major overhaul also is planned at Zephyrhills High School, which is in the middle of design right now.

The district plans to begin some preliminary construction activities at the school during the summer, with the expectation of beginning heavier work later this year.

“It will be a phased project,” Gude said, with the first phase being a new classroom building.

“Everybody will stay on the campus, but by building the new classroom building, that will enable us to move a section of the students out there,” he added.

A final determination hasn’t been made yet, but the project will likely be done in four or five phases, he said.

When the renovation is completed, the district expects to be able to accommodate about 500 more students at the campus. The estimated construction cost is $28 million.

“That will be an exciting project,” Gude said.

Land O’ Lakes High School is on schedule to be completed by August 2019.

“Everything has been going smooth. The principal has been great to work with, in terms of moving his folks around,” he said. When completed, Land O’ Lakes High will be able to accommodate around 450 more students, he said.

New construction also is planned for a kindergarten through eighth-grade school at Starkey Ranch.

“That is in the very early stages of design right now,” Gude said. The school is scheduled to open in August 2021.

As part of that project, the school district will have a partnership with Pasco County involving a public library/community theater, next to the school.

“It’s a good partnership,” Gude said. “It makes perfect sense. We’re all public entities, so why not share in some of these facilities.”

Published June 13, 2018

Review board recommends family homeless shelter

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The Pasco County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a program to temporarily house homeless families in a former Boys & Girls Club building.

Planning commissioners reached that recommendation during a public hearing on June 6.

The Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County wants to operate the temporary shelter on Youth Lane in Port Richey. The coalition also wants to open administrative offices in a second building, designated as the Housing Services Center. Individuals and families would be able to receive a range of social services at the center, with a primary focus on housing for the homeless population.

About 50 people attended a public hearing to oppose a program from the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County to operate a temporary shelter for families, and provide additional services at a Housing Services Center. (Kathy Steele)

The county owns the land, and has partnered with the coalition to get the program up and running.

About $700,000 in grants, and other funding sources, has been allocated for building renovations.

The Pasco County Commission is expected to make the final decision at a June 19 meeting in New Port Richey. Commissioners also will vote on an amendment to the county’s comprehensive land use plan to change the land use from open space/recreational to a public/semi-public use.

About 50 people attended the planning commission’s public hearing to show their opposition to the project. Most of the concerns, however, focused on the services available at the services center, not the temporary family shelter.

Area residents worried about increasing crime, a loss in property values, and overall public safety.

“The only good thing about this program is the good intentions,” said Suzanne Greene Taldone, who lives in the Crane’s Roost subdivision, off Little Road.

She thinks the coalition’s site will become a magnet for transients and will create “a cesspool of crime.”

Greene added: “Encampments flourish near these centers because they want to be first in line for services.”

The program was initially proposed in 2017 as a temporary shelter for adult men and women, with a focus on providing a one-stop center for social services and with a goal of placing people in permanent housing.

Amid strong opposition from residents, the coalition changed its purpose to instead help families only at the shelter. Coalition representatives also voluntarily limited the services that would be available at the Housing Services Center.

Under the proposal, the center would not have an emergency food pantry, clothes closet, showers, or scheduled visits for a mobile medical unit.

The coalition also agreed to other conditions.

Four to eight families would be housed temporarily, but no more than 36 people would stay at the shelter at any one time. The coalition estimates helping a minimum of 50 families annually.

Background checks would be done. There would be security cameras, and a curfew from 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Also, coalition staff members would be on-site 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Families could stay no longer than 180 days.

The goal, coalition officials said, would be for families to stay 30 days to 60 days, with most being placed in housing within 45 days.

“This is something that is very realistic,” said Don Anderson, chief executive officer of the homeless coalition.

Area residents remain skeptical.

Judith Bowes lives in the nearby subdivision of The Orchards of Radcliffe. She said more than 70 widows live there.

“They were scared. They had a lot of sleepless nights,” Bowes said. “The shelter that will house six to eight families is not the problem. The problem is (the Housing Services Center) will bring a lot of transients into the neighborhood. My neighbors are still having sleepless nights.”

But, Amina Ahmed said it made her sad to hear people making assumptions about people who are homeless.

“Not all of them are criminals,” Ahmed said. “People think if you’re homeless, you have to have a problem, which is not true. Let’s help people become valuable members of society.”

Attorney Robert Lincoln, who represents the owners of an adjacent shopping plaza, also spoke in favor of the coalition’s efforts.

The owners had found fault with the original plan but support the new direction, Lincoln said.

He said that eliminating such services as showers, medical care and clothes makes a difference.

“You take away those kinds of things, you take away the kinds of services that get people wandering in off the street,” Lincoln said.

Plus, he noted: “It’s much better to be working with (the coalition) and becoming engaged.”

Published June 13, 2018

Land O’ Lakes has its own Rotary Club, again

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After being a satellite of the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon club, the Rotary Club of Land O’ Lakes has regained its independent status.

The Land O’ Lakes organization had existed for years, then merged with the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon, and then became a satellite club.

It took some time to reach the required membership level, but the Land O’ Lakes Club is a standalone club again, said Sandy Graves, president of the revived Land O’ Lakes Rotary Club.

These are the original members that started the club, from left, Larry Giannone, Elayne Bassinger, Sandy Graves, Terri Dusek, along with Perry Bean, who is district governor of Rotary.
(Courtesy of Dave Wright)

“You have to have 20 to officially charter,” Graves said. “We’d get real close and then a couple would quit, or move or whatever.”

The group wanted to be on its own so it could focus on needs in Land O’ Lakes, as well as helping in broader efforts, Graves said.

“We need the Rotary in Land O’ Lakes again. Land O’ Lakes needs a strong civic organization,” Graves said.

Rotary provides the opportunity to do a lot of good, not only locally, but in the nation and the world, as well, Graves said.

Now that the club is official again, it is on the Rotary Club locator, which makes it more visible, she said. “People who are coming in that were Rotarians somewhere else, or want to join Rotary, they’ll be able to find us easier,” she explained.

The club meets on Fridays at 8 a.m., at Copperstone Executive Suites, 3632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Meetings include breakfast and generally last for an hour.

Anyone who is interested in joining the club can come visit a few times for free to find out more about it before deciding if they want to join, Graves said.

“We want people who are committed,” Graves said.

Besides Graves, other officers of the club are Jim Englemann, president-elect; Barb Goiran, secretary; and, Elayne Bassinger, treasurer.

The group also has a membership committee, a foundation committee and a public relations committee, Graves said.

One of the club’s projects involves purchasing weather-resistant outdoor instruments, which will be placed at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, Graves said.

They’re oversized instruments, which can be played by children and have even been known to be played by adults, she said.

“These instruments are very good for kids with autism or Tourette’s Syndrome,” she said, because they can be soothing and can help them with their concentration.

Graves estimated it would cost about $10,000 to purchase the instruments, but added that could be more or less, depending on how many and what type of instruments are purchased.

The group recently raised $1,200 through a fundraiser.

The money came from a chance drawing for a five-hour scalloping trip for four, sponsored by Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells Jr.

Graves hopes the club will be able to secure a matching grant for the funds it raises to help purchase the outdoor musical instruments.

The club also is planning to do a Land O’ Liberty Salute, which involves decking out trees in the median of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard with red, white and blue ribbons — as a gesture of patriotism, in time for the Fourth of July.

The club also will be involved with Traditions on the Green, at Land O’ Lakes Heritage Park, an annual tradition which features holiday music by local schools.

Graves encourages anyone who is interested in learning more about the Land O’ Lakes Rotary Club to come to a meeting.

Being part of the organization can be a rewarding experience, Graves said.

“It’s like anything in life. You know, the more you put into it, the more you get out of it,” she said.

Published June 13, 2018

Controversy continues over solar in Pasco

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The Pasco County Commission has adopted an ordinance that will guide future decisions on where and how solar farms are permitted.

But, the controversy over a proposed solar farm in northeast Pasco County continues.

Commissioners approved the ordinance relating to placement of solar farms at their June 5 meeting in Dade City.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, who supported the ordinance, said, “I feel not just as a county, but as a nation, we need to be less dependent on fossil fuel.”

The ordinance doesn’t settle what has been a controversial issue, however.

The county’s Planning Commission in April gave its stamp of approval to a special exception permit for Mountain View Solar Project. But, that decision is on hold until the county commissioners hear two appeals filed against the planning commission’s decision.

Tampa Electric Company, known as TECO, wants to install about 464,000 photovoltaic solar panels on about 350 acres, on both sides of Blanton Road. The solar farm would produce about 53 megawatts of power for TECO’s power grid.

The amended land use ordinance, adopted by the County Commission, codifies the county’s approach to regulating solar farms. Previously, the code did not deal directly with solar farms.

For the Mountain View project, county officials had to rely on a section designated for uncertain classification rules.

The newly amended ordinance permits solar farms as special exceptions in agricultural zones, and as permitted uses in some commercial and industrial zones. Future decisions on permitting would be left to county staff and the planning commission.

Many residents who live on and near Blanton Road, outside Dade City, are opposed to the solar farm.  They also spoke against the ordinance on June 5.

They told county commissioners they worried about impacts of photovoltaic solar panels on water and soil, about damage from panels swept up during hurricanes, and how fires would be handled on site.

“I think we’re just moving too fast with this,” said Margaret Woods. “I don’t think they’ve been around long enough to know what the long-term effect will be.”

TECO representatives in contrast cited research that has shown photovoltaic panels are safe, and typically are located on agricultural land.

“It’s a very compatible use with agriculture,” said Rich Kirkland, a certified appraiser from North Carolina. He said he had reviewed about 400 solar projects, including about 10 in Florida.

Pasco County Commissioner Ron Oakley said solar farms wouldn’t work for all agricultural lands. But, the Blanton Road site, with nearby transmission infrastructure, seems suitable, he said.

However, Commissioner Jack Mariano found some of the residents’ comments persuasive regarding safety issues, especially the disposal of old solar panels as waste.

“This is probably the most complex, difficult decision I’ve had as a commissioner,” he said. “I’m not sure we have done everything we should to make the best ordinance for the county.”

However, he voted in favor of the ordinance after receiving assurance that the county’s ordinance, as written, could be defended against legal challenges.

In future votes, residents raised concerns about the ordinance’s provision to place authority for solar permits with county staff and the planning commission. County commissioners would only be involved in the event of appeals.

Resident Judy Geiger noted that an appeal cost $2,500 to file. Additional fees for transcripts and attorneys would easily push the cost to $5,000 or more, she said.

“That’s huge to many Pasco county residents,” Geiger said.

Residents also said the county wasn’t paying attention to overlay district protections for rural areas that are part of the county’s land use plan.

“All of us bought homes in this area because of the beauty,” said Laura Myers, who lives on Blanton. “You’re going to take that away. I don’t understand who benefits. It’s going to be an eyesore we all have to live through.”

Published June 13, 2018