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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pine View achieves IB designation

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Pine View Middle School has become the first public school in Pasco County to be authorized as an IB Middle Years Programme World School.

Principal Jennifer Warren and members of the school’s staff recently attended the Pasco County School Board’s meeting, where they were congratulated for their accomplishment.

The school received a letter dated May 30 from Siva Kumari, director general of International Baccalaureate, informing them that the school had met the requirements to receive the authorization.

“As an IB World School offering the Middle Years Programme, you are part of a global community of schools committed to developing knowledgeable, caring, young people who will be ready to negotiate their futures successfully, and make contributions resulting in a more harmonious and peaceful world,” Kumari wrote.

“We commend your school’s educators, administrators, students and families for their active roles in choosing to offer the Middle Years Programme,” he added.

An International Baccalaureate team visited Pine View Middle in the spring to determine whether the school should receive the distinction.

The team spent two days at the school, interviewing staff, students and parents, and observing classrooms to ensure that the IB framework has been embedded in Pine View’s learning environment, Warren said, in an interview following the visit.

Becoming an IB Middle Years Programme World School is a lengthy process.

Pine View, at 5334 Parkway Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes, became a candidate school in May of 2015, and began implementing the program at the start of the 2015-2016 school year.

Pine View Middle also has been designated as a magnet school, which means that students who live outside of the school’s attendance zone can apply to attend the school.

Those living within its boundaries have first choice, and then remaining slots are opened up to those living outside the boundaries.

Pine View’s mission is “to provide a rigorous, world-class education, which inspires students to become active, compassionate and collaborative lifelong learners who understand and respect other people and their differences,” according to the school’s website.

The International Baccalaureate “aims to develop inquiring, knowledgeable and caring young people who help to create a better and more peaceful world through intercultural understanding and respect.

“To this end, the organization works with schools, governments and international organizations to develop challenging programmes of international education and rigorous assessment.

“These programmes encourage students across the world to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners who understand that other people, with their differences, can also be right,” according to IB’s mission statement, which is posted on Pine View’s website.

Published July 18, 2018

Nursing homes and hospitals face new fees

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Hurricane Irma largely spared Tampa Bay, and Pasco County, from its destructive path in 2017.

But, Irma also cast light on a weakness in hurricane preparedness for one of the most vulnerable populations – people living in licensed health care facilities.

Kevin Guthrie, assistant county administrator for public safety

The Pasco County Commission on July 10 approved an ordinance that makes provisions for coordinating evacuation plans between licensed health care facilities and the county’s emergency operations.

The ordinance also provides a fee schedule for licensed facilities, such as nursing homes and hospitals, to pay for county-led training and exercises in emergency management. And, it allows Pasco to hire an emergency management coordinator at an annual salary of about $61,000.

The coordinator will oversee the county’s health care operations program, including annual reviews of emergency plans prepared by licensed health care facilities. There also will be at least six annual training courses, and at least eight staged exercises to prepare for emergencies.

“The health care industry contacted us about this,” said Kevin Guthrie, Pasco’s assistant county administrator for public safety.

During Irma, some nursing homes evacuated patients to the county’s shelters. But, issues arose on the patient’s care and how they would be transported back to the nursing homes after Irma passed, county officials said.

Pasco County deputies, in some instances, had to step in and provide transportation.

Commissioners discussed the matter in a January workshop with local health care officials.

Funding for the program will come from annual fees of $250 collected from licensed facilities with 16 or fewer beds; and, $500 from facilities with more than 16 beds.

Also, a fee of just under $12 per bed will be collected.

At the January workshop, county officials reported estimates of more than 6,200 beds within the county. Most of the beds were at assisted living facilities, nursing homes and hospitals.

Published July 18, 2018

A trip to Ireland helps to inspire a 17-year-old in Land O’ Lakes

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Amanda Finn would be the first to admit she’s more than a wee bit shy.

But, the young woman from Land O’ Lakes said that a trip to Ireland last summer has helped to build her confidence, and now, the teenager is off on her second trip to the Emerald Isle.

She won scholarships both last year and this year for the summer leadership camp in Galway through her participation in the Florida Junior Rose of Tralee program.

Seventeen-year-old Amanda Finn has won two trips to Ireland, and hopes to make another trip to the Emerald Isle and then onto India in the spring. She said she also wants to raise money for a scholarship so another young woman can travel to Ireland next year. (B.C. Manion)

The program promotes Irish culture and involves an annual international competition in Ireland, where the Rose of Tralee is selected at a festival held at the town of Tralee in County Kerry.

This year, the Land O’ Lakes teenager was the first recipient of the Cara Loughran Memorial Scholarship, created in honor of the young woman who lost her life during the Valentine’s Day shooting spree at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland.

The 17-year-old Finn said one of her goals during the coming year is to raise money to support a second scholarship, to provide the opportunity for another young woman to take part in the leadership camp in Ireland.

Finn, who is a member of the Irish Young American Leaders, said her trip to Ireland last year gave her a chance to explore the way of life in another country, and also helped her to become more outgoing.

The leadership camp offered the chance to learn about Irish history, sample Irish foods and dip into the country’s culture, she said.

During last year’s travels, she learned about international trade issues involving Ireland and America; she visited EA Games, a company where computer games are produced; and she spent some time doing volunteer work at a mental health home for adults.

The group also met the Mayor of Galway and spent time with some high school students who were preparing to compete at the International Science Fair in America.

They also visited a farm where they observed how a typical Irish family spends a Sunday afternoon. And, they listened to live music and tasted traditional Irish stew.

Other parts of the trip included hiking Croagh Patrick and riding bikes around the Aran Islands.

Not only was last year’s trip the young woman’s first international foray, it was the first time she boarded an airplane.

The airplane trip was just her first encounter with many unfamiliar experiences, but Finn said she wanted the chance to learn new things, and the trip fulfilled that desire.

She also had a chance to see some Irish countryside, while traveling down narrow roads.

“We went up some mountains. They were very narrow. We were in a gigantic bus. It was so scary,” she said. “We (passengers) were holding onto each other.”

Her host family provided many American foods, but they also made brown bread and scones every day, Finn said. She also noted that she drank lots of tea, but no coffee.

“So, she did get a little spoiled because for the first two weeks after she came back, she asked for scones every morning,” said Tina Finn, her mom.

She said the trip to Ireland was a wonderful experience for her daughter, in many ways.

“She learned to be on her own and to be assertive in asking for things.

“Since we’ve been doing college visits, we’ve been flying around. I don’t have to tell her what to do. She knows what to do,” Tina Finn said.

After returning from this trip, the teenager, who will be a senior in Pasco eSchool this fall, plans to be busy working on two fundraisers. One would support the trip to Ireland for another young woman.

The second is raise $3,000 to support a trip she wants to take back to Ireland, then to India, in the spring.

Initially, she would be part of a group learning first-aid skills in Ireland, then they would travel to India where they would work to help children living on the streets and in slums in India, and poor families, too.

“It’s to promote immediate and lasting change in their lives,” the young woman said, noting a portion of the time would be spent in a hospital, which would be excellent experience for her because she aspires to become a midwife.

To find out more about the Florida Rose of Tralee, visit the group’s website at FloridaRoseofTralee.com.

Want to help?
If you would like to help Amanda Finn raise money so she can take a trip to Ireland and India in the spring to help the underprivileged in India, or if you would like to help support a scholarship so another young woman can travel to Ireland next summer, please email Amanda Finn at

Published July 18, 2018

Appeal scheduled for solar farm project

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A decision on a controversial solar farm in northeast Pasco County is headed to an appeal at a public hearing on Aug. 7 in Dade City before the Pasco County Commission.

Two appeals were filed in May on the decision by the Pasco County Planning Commission to approve an exceptional use permit for the project.

Tampa Electric Company, TECO, wants to install a solar farm on land off Blanton Road, outside Dade City. Shown is a solar farm in Big Bend in Hillsborough County. (File)

One appeal is from Sandra Noble and the other from Tampa attorney Gordon Schiff on behalf of his clients, Gordon and Kathleen Comer. Noble and the Comers live near the proposed project site.

First Solar Electric, which has a contract with Tampa Electric Company (TECO), wants to install about 460,000 photovoltaic solar panels on about 350 acres, on both sides of Blanton Road. The solar farm, known as the Mountain View Solar Project, would produce on average about 53 megawatts of power, which would be fed to TECO’s power grid.

The project has produced spirited debate at previous hearings.

Area neighbors say the project will destroy one of the county’s best assets – its scenic views. They also differ with how county officials have interpreted Pasco’s development regulations, and say that the solar farm is a power plant that should be placed in an industrial district.

County officials say the solar farm doesn’t fit the legal definition of a power plant, but it is suitable in some agriculturally zoned areas, with a special exemption permit. They also say Pasco’s regulations are in line with how other counties approve solar farms.

Commissioners approved the Aug. 7 appeal hearing date during their July 10 meeting in Dade City.

They discussed other dates in September and October, after Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said the people who filed the appeals had objected to the August date.

However, commissioners cited scheduling conflicts and stuck with the hearing in August.

Published July 18, 2018

School district acquires new school site in Northwood

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Taylor Morrison of Florida Inc., has conveyed a site for a future elementary school in the Northwood residential development.

Northwood is a master-planned community in southern Pasco County, on the north side of County Line Road, east of Interstate 75 and west of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The community is nearing build-out.

Taylor Morrison agreed to provide approximately 15 acres, more or less, of usable uplands for the school site, in exchange for impact fee credits estimated at a value of $450,000.

In addition, Taylor Morrison dedicated easements for an already-constructed stormwater pond and access from road from County Line Road.

The school site has already been filled and graded.

For the access road to be built in the proper alignment with the road to the south of County Line Road, a small triangle of property must be acquired from a third party, according to a school district document. District staff has negotiated that purchase and a future board item will be brought to the school board for its approval.

The Pasco County School Board approved the transaction, without discussion, as part of its consent agenda at its July 3 meeting.

Published July 18, 2018

No increase planned for Pasco’s property tax rate

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The millage rate charged to property owners won’t increase for fiscal year 2019.

The Pasco County Commission voted on July 10 to tentatively set the rate for the 2019 draft budget.

Commissioners agreed to maintain current rates, which are at 7.6076 for the county’s operations, and 1.8036 for fire services.

Commissioners cannot increase the rates prior to adopting a final budget, but are free to decrease them.

Still, county officials said some residents can expect an increase in their personal property tax bill if the value of property went up.

The proposed budget will have its first public hearing on Sept. 4 at 6:30 p.m., in Dade City.

Overall, the county’s 2019 revenues saw a healthier increase than expected, based on final data on property valuations provided by the Pasco County Property Appraiser’s office.

Property values rose from about $24.6 billion in 2018 to about $27 billion for 2019, an increase of about $2.3 billion.

That translated to about $11.3 million in additional property tax revenues. That is about $787,000 more than county officials had anticipated based on initial estimates.

With the extra revenues, the county’s budget will fully fund the sheriff’s budget requests and pay for county employee salary increases. The budget also includes expanded library hours and completing some deferred park maintenance.

In addition, the budget provides funding for special requests from county commissioners made at a June workshop, which include:

  • A contribution of $50,000 to United Way, up from $15,000
  • A contribution of $30,000 to historical museums, up from $20,000
  • An allocation of $250,000 for Safety Town improvements

Published July 18, 2018

Pasco County streamlines development review process

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The Pasco County Planning Commission got a makeover but several of its newly appointed members will have familiar faces.

The Pasco County Commission on July 10 approved an ordinance that revamps an existing two-step process for previewing land use and zoning applications.

Commissioners disbanded a long-standing advisory board, known as the Development Review Committee, or DRC. That committee generally reviewed applications and made recommendations to the County Commission.

The DRC was made up of county department heads and the county administrator.

The county’s new ordinance also reduces the size of the Planning Commission from an 11-member board to seven voting members.

Six planning commissioners are county appointments, with the seventh member appointed by the Pasco County School District.

While the configuration has changed, five of the county’s appointees were members of the outgoing board. They are: Michael Cox, Jaime Girardi, Charles Grey, Peter Hanzel and Kevin Ryman.

Roberto Saez is the only new face on the board. He formerly was Pasco’s senior construction project manager for Pasco.

Chris Williams, the school district’s planning director, has been approved by the school district to fill the seventh slot. He, too, served on the outgoing board.

The new planning commission will have its inaugural meeting on July 26. It will be the only board making decisions and recommendations to county commissioners on development-related issues.

County commissioners unanimously approved the ordinance and new appointees.

The streamlined approach, which took years to become reality, initially was recommended by a study conducted by The Urban Land Institute in 2008.

Pasco staff members culled through 29 applications for the new planning commission, including seven current members.

They presented county commissioners with a list of 15 applicants, from which six candidates emerged with sufficient votes to make the final cut.

County commissioners also initially approved Dennis Smith – a current planning commission member –  as an alternate in the event that Cox had to decline his appointment.

Cox was waiting to hear if he would be appointed to a state ethics commission, which would make him ineligible to also serve on the planning commission.

The ethics commission appointment didn’t happen, so Cox will serve on the planning commission. And, the appointment of Smith as alternate became moot.

Published July 18, 2018

Five Business Join IERNA’s Neighbors In Need Give-Away

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A local air conditioning company’s idea of giving a free air conditioning system to a deserving family resulted in a group of five local businesses coming together to make a huge difference in one family’s life.

It began last December when IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing launched its newest charity, Neighbor In Need Give-Away, and asked local residents to nominate a person or family who selflessly helped others, while in need of help themselves.

Rhodes family and Neighbors In Need business partners, left to right: Pete Berberich, Carrier Enterprise; Rob Kress, IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing; Charlene Ierna, owner of IERNA’s Heating, Cooling & Plumbing; Jase Rhodes, Cristine Rhodes, Sage Rhodes, Jason Rhodes; Chris Wirt, A-All Animal Control of Tampa Bay; Joshua Rector, Arry’s Roofing Services; and Mario Maffeo, Gulfside Insulation.

Owner Charlene Ierna committed to removing the winner’s old equipment, installing the new A/C unit and taking care of any permitting fees. And, Jeff Hoffman of Florida Carrier Enterprises agreed to help by donating a Bryant Coastal Air Conditioner.

This generous partnership allowed IERNA’S to kick off its Neighbor In Need Give-Away. Nearly 50 nominations were submitted, all with a written summary on why their nominee deserved the free A/C system.

To select the winner, Charlene assembled a panel of six judges to review the entries.

“It was a very difficult decision for our judges,” said Rob Kress, IERNA’S director of marketing and public relations. “Many of the stories of these selfless people moved our judges to tears. We truly wish we could have given every nominee a new A/C system.”

The Winning Family
Judges selected Jason and Cristine Rhodes of Spring Hill as the first winner of the Neighbor In Need contest.

“Jason was overwhelmed and nearly in tears when I called him with the news,” said Kress. “Their central heating and cooling system had stopped working three years ago, and this family of five had endured extreme summer temperatures and sometimes-frigid winter temperatures.”

The Rhodes are known in central Pasco for their work with The Inspire Foundation, a nonprofit music and arts program that uses the arts to help children with autism and other disabilities. Much of the work done by The Inspire Foundation is at no cost.

The Rhodes established their foundation after helping their autistic son become verbal by using music to connect and communicate with him. As professional music instructors, the couple wanted to share what they learned by helping their son with other families.

“The Rhodes family is constantly raising funds to keep their program going, and have forgone their own personal needs to help others,” said Kress.

The Prize Grows
IERNA’s sent its service manager, Rich Register, to the Rhodes home to evaluate its existing air conditioning system and to properly size their new equipment.

During the inspection, Register noted severe damage to the home’s existing ductwork, and saw that animals had gotten into the attic through holes in the roof.

Because of the poor condition of existing ductwork, IERNA’S decided to also donate all materials and installation for a complete new duct system.

But, first the raccoons living in the attic had to be removed. Kress reached out to Chris Wirt, an animal removal expert and owner of A-All Animal Control of Tampa Bay, who agreed to help.

At the Rhodes’ home, Wirt found that critters had entered through a severely damaged roof and soffits. The problem was so severe that it had to be resolved before the new air conditioning system could be installed.

So Kress contacted Matt Housh, owner of Arry’s Roofing Service of Tarpon Springs, who also agreed to help and, upon inspection, found the roof not reparable.

“Arry’s Roofing really stepped up,” said Kress. “A full roof replacement was the only option, and was a huge task. Arry’s team worked for three days at cost for materials only.”

With a new roof in place, Wirt returned to remove critters living in the attic and found that the attic insulation was saturated with animal urine and feces, and needed to be replaced.

So Wirt reached out to Mario Maffeo, owner of Gulfside Insulation, who agreed to donate his services and materials to safely extract and dispose of the contaminated insulation. Once extraction was complete, Wirt sanitized and disinfected the attic space, making it safe for HVAC technicians to do their work.

It took a lot longer than expected, but today the Rhodes family is enjoying the comfort of their new Bryant® Heating & Cooling system in a dry, critter free home, just in time for another sweltering Florida summer.

“We are proud to be a part of such an amazing community of people and local businesses,” said Charlene Ierna. “We’re grateful to Florida Carrier Enterprises, A-Animal Control, Arry’s Roofing Services and Gulfside Insulation for their kindness, generosity and willingness to be part of something that means so much to a family who lives to help others.”

And, most thankful of all is the Rhodes family.

“We are so honored and blessed to have been chosen by Charlene, Rob and the rest of IERNA’S team to receive a new air conditioner,” said Jason Rhodes. “This is a huge relief for us, and we plan on paying this kind deed forward in many ways. Thank you so much.”

Rhodes Nominations
“They work to help children in their community, raise money to buy instruments, provide free in-home music instruction for children with disabilities, and do all of this selflessly. Through hardships that were unavoidable, they have been unable to afford a replacement A/C unit for the past two years. They are proud people and don’t ask anyone for financial help.”

-Donna Israel

“This family (kids included) works very hard running their nonprofit organizations, The Inspire Foundation and Inspire Studios. Many kids and people on the autism spectrum need art, theater and music to express their emotions. This family is a blessing! Always giving their time and effort to others, never asking for a thing themselves in their personal lives.”

-Joan Gunther

Published July 18, 2018

Prepare your kindergartener for success

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Kindergarten is supposed to be fun and educational, and allow children an opportunity to blossom. It is usually the first time the tykes are away from their parents for a significant amount of time.

While most kindergartens don’t exactly have GPA requirements, for a child to succeed there are a few milestones that should be reached before they toddle through the door, according to Alise McGregor, founder of Little Newtons, an early education center in Minnesota and Illinois.

(MetroCreative)

“New parents especially can have a hard time understanding that there are actually things their child should know prior to kindergarten,” McGregor said, in a news release.

Children should know some basics to make kindergarten a better experience, she said.

McGregor recommends these typical things a child should know before entering kindergarten:

  • Basic shapes. The child should have learned basic shapes like the square, circle, rectangle and triangle in preschool. If not, parents should teach them. In kindergarten, they will likely be introduced to the hexagon, star, heart and octagon.
  • The letters of the child’s name. They should at least be able to recognize the letters of their name. In kindergarten, they will learn uppercase letters and begin lowercase letters. They also will begin to learn how to write freehand without tracing.
  • Numbers 1 to 10. Some children will be able to count to 100 by the time they reach kindergarten, but all should at least be able to count to 10. Numbers will be used starting the first day of school.
  • Social skills. The child should be able to follow directions, to be able to be separated from the caregiver, and be able to use a restroom independently. Children who scream and cry when separated disrupt the rest of the class. Teachers simply do not have time to supervise individual students who cannot independently use a restroom.

Getting your child off on the right foot early is important, McGregor says.

By teaching basic skills prior to attending kindergarten, success will come easier.

Published July 18, 2018

Enjoy the summer, but heed these tips

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As the summer temperatures increase, so do the calls to poison control across the state.

More people are outdoors and kids are out of school, which can lead to an increased number of poison exposures, including pool chemical accidents; snake, spider and insect bites, and aquatic stings.

The Florida/USVI Poison Information Center in Jacksonville offers tips to keep Floridians safe this summer.

Pool Chemical Safety:

  • Be sure that you are in a well-ventilated area when using pool chemicals.
  • Follow product instructions carefully.
  • Do not store chemicals where flammable items may mix with them.
  • Never mix pool chemicals because that can create a toxic gas.
  • Always keep pool chemicals stored up and away from children.

Inspect Repellent Usage:

  • Read and follow product instructions carefully, as some repellents are not meant to be applied to the skin.
  • Do not use on a child’s hands, eyes, mouth or cut/irritated ski; spray repellent onto adult’s hands and then apply to child’s face.
  • Consumers also should not use a combination of sunscreen and insect repellent, as sunscreen needs to be reapplied every two hours, and repellent should not be reapplied.
  • DEET should not be used on children younger than 2 months old.
  • Always wash treated skin with soap and water after returning to the indoors.

Snake and Spider Bites:

  • If bitten by a snake, remove jewelry and tight clothes, immobilize the extremity if possible, keep affected area at or below the heart, and wash the area gently.
  • Do not feed the victim, make cuts or place ice on the bitten extremity, or apply a tourniquet.
  • If bitten by a spider, call the poison control center immediately.
  • If believed to have been bitten by one of the six venomous snakes in Florida, call poison control at (800) 222-1222, or 911, if victim cannot be aroused, is convulsing or has stopped breathing. Venomous snakes include the coral snake, cottonmouth/water moccasin, Eastern diamondback rattlesnake, copperhead or canebrake (timber) rattlesnake.

Outdoor Hazards:

  • Jellyfish and other aquatic life can bite and sting. Have a spray bottle with vinegar available at the beach for jellyfish stings. Call poison control for specific treatment advice.
  • Treat all wild mushrooms as poisonous, unless you are absolutely certain they are safe.
  • Initially, apply a baking soda paste to insect stings, including fire ants, bees, wasps and caterpillars. Then call poison control for specific treatment.

Pesticides also should be used according to the product instructions, and properly stored and disposed of according to the label. All pesticides should be kept in their original containers.

Consumers should avoid using produce that require leaving powder or pellets in areas where children or pets have access.

The Poison Help Hotline can be reached at (800) 222-1222 and provides free, confidential medical advice 24 hours a day, seven days a week, all year-round, from toxicology specialists, such as nurses, pharmacists, physicians and poison information providers.

Published July 18, 2018