The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Navigation center gets funds; location upsets residents

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Pasco County commissioners agreed to disperse federal funds for a navigation center that will work with the homeless population to find permanent housing, health care and jobs.

About $250,000 will be used to remodel the former Boys & Girls Club buildings on Youth Lane in Port Richey. Approximately $70,000 will be used to hire a staff member, possibly a program specialist, for the homeless program for adult men and women only.

Commissioners approved the funds at their Aug. 15 meeting in Dade City.

Pasco County officials want to remodel the Boys & Girls Club on Youth Lane in Port Richey for a navigation center to help the homeless population. (File)

Their vote came after a nearly two-hour public comment period where county commissioners heard from supporters and opponents.

It is the location, more than the concept, which is at the heart of the dispute. The county proposes to reopen the two-building campus at the end of Youth Lane, off Little Road. The site is adjacent to Ridge Plaza, which is anchored by Hobby Lobby and a Walmart Neighborhood Supermarket.

Crane’s Roost, a subdivision of about 90 homes, is on the opposite side of Little Road.

Residents say the navigation center will hurt property values, increase crime, and make them less safe.

“Our fears are not unfounded. We do have the right to feel safe in our communities,” said Valerie Schaefer, who has lived in Crane’s Roost about 20 years.

Advocates for the center say Pasco has been too slow in responding to the needs of more than 3,000 homeless people who live on the streets, in vehicles and within about 100 encampments across the county.

The Youth Lane site is located by bus stops, government offices and agencies that can provide needed services.

“A lot of them need help with jobs and help with moving on, on their own,” said Raine Johns, chief executive officer of the Homeless Coalition of Pasco County. “It has to be somewhere in the county. This is the perfect location for it.”

The coalition is slated to operate the center. County commissioners will be asked at a later day to transfer the site’s property deed to the coalition.

The goal is to relocate homeless people, one camp at a time. Adult men and women would temporarily live at a “low-barrier” shelter while case managers work to assess their needs, and find permanent housing.

Families wouldn’t be eligible.

Johns estimates average stays of 90 days or less.

The navigation center is expected to open by mid-2018.

Published August 30, 2017

Benjamin Busch featured artist at Saint Leo writing program  

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Benjamin Busch is a seeker of risk.

That might explain how a newly cap-and-gowned Vassar College graduate, with an arts degree, joined the Marines in 1992.

It was a decision, as Busch describes it, “like no art major at Vassar had made. But, I’ve always had this duality just as a person of the world, and was drawn absolutely to risk. At the same time uncertainty for me, that which I do not know, that which I haven’t experienced is a dangerous pursuit.”

Move forward nearly 25 years.

Benjamin Busch read excerpts from his poems, essays and his Iraq War memoir, ‘Dust to Dust,’ at a special reading at Saint Leo University. (Courtesy of Jo-Ann Johnston/Saint Leo University)

Busch is author of “Dust to Dust: A Memoir,” a highly praised reflection of his two combat tours in the Iraq War. The book, published by Ecco Press in 2012, isn’t a tell-all on the battles of war. Rather, it digs into the meditations on life and self, amid destruction and death.

Busch came to teach during the weeklong summer residency session of Saint Leo University’s Master of Arts in creative writing program, during July. Other visiting artists included singer-songwriter Craig Finn; novelist Ian Stansel; literary and marriage partners, Allison Joseph and Jon Tribble from the University of Southern Illinois; and, Florida State University faculty members, David Kirby and Barbara Hamby.

They gave readings or performances at special evening events. Saint Leo creative writing faculty members, Tom Bligh and Brooke King, and Steve Kistulentz, director of Saint Leo’s graduate program in creative writing, also gave readings.

Saint Leo is known for providing learning opportunities and degree programs for nontraditional students. The university’s creative writing program is unique in offering a special track toward a graduate degree for students interested in war literature written for, or by, veterans.

Busch spoke with several veterans in the creative writing program.

“They haven’t been in the writing life for very long,” he said.

So, Busch talked with them about the “trials and tribulations of wading into that…They have a story to tell.”

But, that is the advice he had for every student in the program who searches for a narrative or needs to send a message to the world. “No matter what your background, there is plenty to harvest from. We’re looking for evidence and trying to put it into order,” he said.

The memoir is Busch’s first published book but, as an artist, he has a broad canvas.

He is an essayist, poet, photographer, illustrator, filmmaker and an actor with credits in “Generation Kill” and “Homicide: Life on the Streets.”

His best-known role was in the HBO serial, “The Wire”, where he played narcotics officer Anthony Colicchio. He landed that role after his first deployment to Iraq. He expected to appear in one episode, but stayed through three seasons as an unbending, law and order cop.

“Colicchio was uncompromising,” Busch said. “That was something I liked about him and didn’t like about him.”

Among his credits is a 40-minute film, “Bright,” which was featured at the Traverse City Film Festival in 2011. He also created traveling exhibits of his photographs from the Iraq War, including “The Art in War.”

And, he has been back to Iraq as a private citizen and chronicled his experiences in Harper’s Magazine. His essays have appeared in The New York Times Magazine, and NPR’s All Things Considered.

Writing wasn’t the first career choice for a young artist growing up in upstate New York. His father was writer Frederick Busch, who wrote short stories and novels, including “The Night Inspector.”

“I didn’t think (writing) was my gift,” Busch said. “I was built for pictures, and so I drew.”

At college, he majored in visual arts.

After graduation, he spent four years in the Marines from 1992 to 1996, a relatively peaceful time in world affairs.

But, when a Marine helicopter crashed in North Carolina and killed 12 Marines, Busch made a choice. If he had stayed in the Marines, he would have been their leader.

“It would have been my helicopter,” he said. “I immediately joined the reserves after the funeral.”

He was called back to duty as a commanding officer in 2003 during the “shock and awe” invasion of Iraq and became provisional mayor of several occupied towns. He volunteered for a second tour in 2005, this time with a hope for rebuilding a country.

He wanted to see schools opened, water and sewer systems installed, but Iraq was a place that was “largely a shooting gallery,” he said. “I was left to invent democracy as I understood it. I was looking for native solutions to native problems while being a foreigner.”

It was a task, with no satisfactory outcome, but Busch said, “I thought it was a just mission.”

His memoir falls within a long tradition of writers and songwriters warning youth not to repeat the same mistakes. Sadly, Busch said, “It doesn’t work.”

As an artist and writer, he said, “I’m looking for the right words to build on the conversation.”

If the Iraq War brought loss and a heightened sense of mortality, life away from war was no different.

Busch’s parents died within months of one another in 2006. No child is ready for the death of a parent, Busch said.

That loss, as much as anything, propelled him to write “Dust to Dust.”

“It’s about them and the things you take for granted because they’re always there,” he said. “In the process, I came across myself, who I was, who I’ve always been. I haven’t changed since age 7.”

For information, visit Facebook.com/BenjaminBuschwriter.

Published August 30, 2017

Honoring Pasco County’s local businesses

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The Pasco Economic Development 31st Annual Awards and Trade Show will honor local businesses on Aug. 31 beginning at 5 p.m., at Saddlebrook Resort & Spa, at 5700 Saddlebrook Way in Wesley Chapel.

The late Don Porter, whose family is the developer of Wiregrass Ranch, was known for his visionary approach — seeking to create a place where people could live, work and play. He will be the first recipient of the Pasco Economic Development Council’s Leadership Award. (File)

The event will have a new format, with a shortened awards ceremony, a brief report on Pasco County’s economic development progress, and a trade show.

Instead of a sit-down dinner, there will be a variety of hors d’oeuvres.

Another change this year is the introduction of the Pasco EDC Leadership Award, which celebrates a person in economic development who has had a remarkable impact on Pasco County and the community. The inaugural award goes to the late Don Porter, who is being recognized for his vision in helping to shape the Wiregrass area into a community where people work, live and play.

The other awards being bestowed recognize top companies in Pasco that excel in technology, innovation job creation, growth, capital investment and community development.

This year 24 nominees were singled out for their contributions to the business community.

Nominees received scores based on company growth, leadership in current business issues, and corporate citizenship.

Awards are given in the following categories: small (1-20 employees); medium (21-100 employees); large (101 or more employees); and startup/new within past 24 months.

In alphabetical order, the nominees are:

II-VI Optical Systems

Academy at the Lakes Inc.

Avalon Park West

Complete I.T./Gear Spinners LLC

DPW Legal

Express Employment Professionals

FACTS Engineering LLC

Florida Hospital Center Ice

Habitat for Humanity of East & Central Pasco County Inc.

Hilton Garden Inn Tampa Suncoast Parkway

MagicalButter.com

Morganna’s Alchemy

Morton Plant North Bay Hospital

North Tampa Behavioral Health

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point

R.J. Kielty Plumbing, Heating & Cooling

RP & G Printing

SouthEast Personnel Leasing Inc.

Synergy Ad Specialties Inc.

Tampa Premium Outlets

TRU Simulation + Training Inc.

Viktoria Richards Chocolate

Wiregrass Ranch

For information, visit PascoEDC.com.

Published August 30, 2017

Education is key issue at town hall

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Education was a recurring theme during a recent town hall meeting that featured U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, State Rep. Danny Burgess, and State Sens. Wilton Simpson and Tom Lee.

About 100 residents gathered inside the Pasco Middle School Auditorium on Aug. 22 to voice their thoughts and concerns with their local representatives, via a question-and-answer-style town meeting that lasted more than two hours.

The state’s public education system was among the key topics.

U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis, a Republican representing Florida’s 12th Congressional district, addresses constituents during an Aug. 22 town hall meeting at the Pasco Middle School Auditorium. Other featured speakers were State Rep. Danny Burgess, R-San Antonio; State Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby; and, State Sen. Tom Lee, R-Thonotosassa. (Kevin Weiss)

One speaker, Lisa Mazza, a third-grade teacher at Wesley Chapel Elementary, expressed concern over the recently passed HB 7069 and its charter-friendly measure that allows charter schools statewide to get a proportionate share of school district construction money, through a local property tax.

The 274-page bill, signed into law last month by Gov. Rick Scott, has been controversial, drawing criticisms from many of Florida’s traditional public school leaders and teachers for its various pro-charter measures.

Besides charter construction funding, another measure in the bill that has been divisive is the “Schools of Hope” program.

“Schools of Hope” sets up new rules and new funding to encourage charter schools to move into areas where the nearest traditional public schools have persistent low ratings.

The bill allows such “schools of hope” to open up either in the attendance zone of, or within 5 miles of, a local traditional public school that has earned either an F or D grade from the state for three straight years.

The “hope” schools would be run by charter school operators, certified by the state as having a record of serving students from low-income families, and raising student performances above the county and state averages.

The bill sets aside $140 million that could be used to support and subsidize “schools of hope.”

Burgess acknowledged he wished there was more time to review the bill, but ultimately expressed his holistic support for charters and school choice, suggesting it’s “in the best interest of all the kids.”

He pointed out Florida has more than 100 failing traditional schools, labeling the issue “a state of emergency.”

“This was our ‘Hail Mary’ to the children,” said Burgess, himself a “proud product” of the public education. “It’s a shame that we had to do something, which is why we put in the ‘schools of hope’ provision.”

Wilton Simpson, who also supported the education bill, celebrated the “hope” schools initiative, as a solution to help kindergarten through 12th grade from low socio-economic backgrounds.

“The only way you’re going to break generational poverty…is through the education system,” Simpson said. “…Clearly, the current system that we have has not, and we’ve had to something that’s a little more aggressive…”

Tom Lee added that expansion of school choice is “a healthy thing” that will inject competition into the public education system.

“I think it’s transformative, not so much for the students that left the (public education) system, but for what it’s done in the system to cause it to react, to compete,” said Lee.

“Parents are taking their kids out because they fear — rightfully or not —that their children are going to underperform and underachieve, and not be prepared for a very competitive world they’re entering into.”

Lee also said initiatives like eliminating burdensome testing and developing gifted programs in elementary schools should be implemented to “reinvigorate” and “recharge” public education.

Said Lee: “While we need to make sure we’re creating opportunities and competition to the system, we’re not abandoning the public education system, because it serves a vital purpose in this country for a vast majority of kids who have no other option.”

Gus Bilirakis, meanwhile, offered less overall support for charter schools, saying they “need to be held accountable” and scrutinized just as much as public schools.

An alternative to charter schools, he said, is creating more fundamental schools. Fundamental schools mirror charter schools in their focus on strict discipline, but are free and operate through the school district.

“I think the fundamental schools are terrific; I think we need to expand the fundamental schools,” Bilirakis said.

Besides the divisive charter school provisions, Burgess made mention to some of the education bill’s more popular provisions, including:

  • Mandatory recess for 20 minutes at most public elementary schools
  • Elimination of the state’s algebra 2 end-of-course standardized exam
  • Expansion of the “Best and Brightest” teacher bonus program from $49 million to $233 million
  • Requirement of college students, starting in the 2018-19 school year, to demonstrate “competency” in civic literacy, either by passing a course in the subject or a test

“There are ways you can look at that bill and say, ‘That makes a lot of sense,’” Burgess said.

Another speaker, Beverly Ledbetter, an instructor at Saint Leo University and longtime public school teacher, expressed concern over teacher shortages afflicting Florida and Pasco County.

She stated the county has over 100 teaching positions currently filled by substitutes, and many educators are frustrated with low salaries, increasing work demands and job insecurity.

Bilirakis said the problem simply comes down to compensation.

“We need to incentivize teachers to go into the field and to go into the Title I schools, financially,” Bilirakis said.

“We need to put teachers on a pedestal. There are some countries, in southern Europe, northern Europe, where teaching is considered the top profession. I think that’s so very important.”

He also suggested encouraging more veterans to become educators.

“Who better to teach our children than the veterans?” Bilirakis said.

Lee, however, said wholly fixing teacher shortage is “a very complicated problem.”

He explained: “We struggle in the legislature to try to figure out how to advance teacher pay in the environment we have to operate in, which is the union construct, where we can’t do performance pay outside the collective bargaining, sometimes. From my perspective, we’ve done too much to inhibit the kind of performance we want from our best teachers, at times.”

Elsewhere, the topic of additional public school funding was raised, with a reference to Hillsborough County Public Schools’ current struggles to repair faulty air conditioning units, district-wide.

Simpson presented one idea: spend less on building schools, and allocate more for capital outlay improvements.

He noted there’s a bill under consideration for next year that would modify or ease some of the strict building requirements, such as State Requirements for Educational Facilities (SREF) that cost school districts “millions upon millions of dollars.”

“Does it really take $25 million to build an elementary school and does it take $75 million to build a high school, or does it take some fraction of that? In the public school education system, we are putting our dollars and priorities in the wrong place,” he said.

Published August 30, 2017

Book pays homage to Florida minority political trailblazers

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When Dr. Susan A. MacManus set out a decade ago to write “Florida’s Minority Trailblazers,” she wanted to recognize the men and women who changed the face of Florida’s government.

Her book does just that.

She recounts the personal stories of the first minority men and women elected or appointed to state legislative, executive and judicial offices, and to the U.S. Congress since the 1960s.

Dr. Susan MacManus, who lives in Land O’ Lakes, is widely known for her expertise regarding Florida politics. (Courtesy of Susan MacManus)

Through personal interviews, MacManus discovered what motivated them to seek political office.

Her book provides a wealth of information about how they ran their campaigns, what kinds of discrimination they encountered, what the experience meant to them and what advice they would offer aspiring politicians.

One of the politicians profiled is Bob Martinez, a former mayor of Tampa, who became Florida’s first Hispanic governor.

MacManus said she decided to write the book because she believes it was important to preserve these stories as part of Florida’s political history.

“It’s very easy to take for granted what we have at present, but it’s also important to know how we got to this point, and who took risks and made sacrifices for the public good,” MacManus said, during a recent interview in her Land O’ Lakes home.

Richard E. Foglesong, author of “Immigrant Prince: Mel Martinez and the American Dream,” wrote that MacManus’ book “Saves a piece of Florida’s political history by narrating the personal stories of the state’s ‘minority trailblazers’ from the Civil Rights Movement to the present day.”

In essence, MacManus said she wanted to write a book that chronicled real stories about real people.

“The whole purpose was to show, through people, the growing diversity of Florida, both racially and ethnically, as well as politically through biographies and in-person accounts,” she said.

In the forward of the book, David R. Colburn, writes “There is perhaps no recent book that reminds readers of the state’s rich political and diverse culture more than “Florida’s Minority Trailblazers,” by Susan MacManus.

“She emphasizes that the story of Florida is more than just about new beginnings, population growth, and economic opportunity; it is also about the struggle for civil rights, equal justice, opportunity for all Floridians, and political background,” Colburn wrote.

The volume will come in handy for historians and journalists, and college professors, too, said MacManus, who is a distinguished professor at the University of South Florida.

This is just one of numerous photographs in ‘Florida’s Minority Trailblazers,’ a book by Susan MacManus, of Land O’ Lakes. (Courtesy of Florida Memory Project (part of the State Archives)

“There were literally no materials that were readily available for teaching that would be able to personalize the changing faces of our elected officials, in state politics, particularly,” she said.

The book looks at factors that forced the South to change laws and processes that discriminated against persons of color, and notes the importance of single-member districts, redistricting and term limits in opening up the political arena to minority candidates.

MacManus said her approach to the book was influenced by the work she did with her mother,

the late Elizabeth Riegler MacManus, on local history books.

She and her mother are co-authors of “Citrus, Sawmills, Critters & Crackers,” and “Going, Going, Almost Gone …” which trace the history of Lutz and Land O’ Lakes.

Those books stemmed from scores of taped interviews that MacManus’ mother conducted with area old-timers who had deep roots in the settlements north of Tampa.

The interviews were supplemented with property records, advertisements, old brochures, photographs, documents and anything else that would help tell the community’s story.

Like her mother, MacManus thought it important to include personal stories, along with hard facts.

Arranging the interviews was a challenge.

“These are very busy, very prominent people,” she said.

Gaining the trust of the potential interview subject was essential, too.

In some cases, MacManus was seeking meetings with people who didn’t know her. So, she turned to people who do, to help her secure those interviews.

“It took time to get to them,” she said. “But, once I got the interviews, they were very gracious.”

As she talked with people from diverse backgrounds, some common themes emerged, MacManus said.

“One of the questions I asked was: ‘What kind of roadblocks did you experience?

“And, every one of them had something they could mention. None of these trailblazers had it easy.

“On the other hand, when I asked, ‘Who helped you along the way?’ Everyone had a cheerleader and some mentors.”

When she asked what sort of advice they would offer future politicians, a common refrain was: “Make sure this is something you and your family want to do. It is very, very demanding and draining to go into public office.”

In her work, MacManus said she tries to encourage students to consider becoming public servants.

But, she said there have been times over the years that she has worried that fewer people would be willing to run for office.

She routinely asks students if they have political ambitions.

“For a long time, I didn’t see but one or two hands out of 50,” she said. Recently, though, she’s been encouraged: “Now, I see 10 or 12.”

Of those who are interested, she said, “I think they think they can be change agents.”

MacManus also has noticed in the data that the number of people with No Party Affiliation is increasing.

She attributes that to a rise in the number of younger people who are alienated by the traditional two-party system.

“It’ll be interesting to see what they do with politics,” MacManus said. “It is a party-dominated political system, and it’s going to be hard to break that.”

To order a copy of the book, call (800) 226-3822 or email .

Published August 30, 2017

Annual photos are like tiny time capsules

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Taking a “first day of school” photo is a tradition many families observe.

After all, it marks an important moment.

Baylor Frisco, a junior at Sunlake High School in Land O’ Lakes, gets ready to drive his little brother Cannon Frisco, an eighth-grader, to Rushe Middle School. Baylor can give Cannon a ride because now they start school around the same time. (Courtesy of Tammy Frisco)

For some kids, like Ryland Green, this year’s photo signifies not only the beginning of a new school year at a new school, but also in a new county.

For others, like Liam Perkins, the first day of school comes with another tradition. When he returns home, there’s a giant cookie awaiting.

Some kids, like Andrew and Aubrey Deneau of Land O’ Lakes, enjoy posing with the family dog.

And, for Betsy Murdock, that old adage rings true: If at first you don’t succeed, try, try again.

She didn’t get a photo of her daughter Kate before the fourth-grader had her first day at Learning Gate Community School in Lutz. So, she took a photo of her daughter after school.

Then, to remedy the situation, she took a photo of Kate on Day 2, in front of the school’s sign.

Whether the kids strike the same pose every year, or do something entirely different — these annual photographs serve as miniature time capsules, tracking the child’s changes, as they switch up fashions and hairstyles, and grow up.

They offer a visual window into the evolution of a child’s life.

Published August 30, 2017

Andrew and Aubrey Deneau had their first day of school on Aug. 14 at Pine View Elementary in Land O’ Lakes. Andrew is a fifth-grader and Aubrey is in kindergarten. Maycie is their Airedale Terrier, who said goodbye to Andrew and Aubrey as they headed off to school.
(Courtesy of Catherine Deneau)
Liam Perkins, a fifth-grader at New River Elementary in Wesley Chapel, celebrates Day 1 by returning home to enjoy his traditional giant cookie. (Courtesy of Amanda Perkins)

Save time and money, with make-ahead meals

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Put those take-out menus back in the drawer!

You can save time and money in your own kitchen by making meals ahead and freezing them. That way, you’ll have them for those “too busy to cook” days.

You can make a delicious meal of enchiladas to enjoy now, and by doubling the recipe, you can freeze a pan of enchiladas to cook and enjoy later. (Betsy Crisp)

When life gets too hectic, pull out of one of your prepared meals.

Not only will your meals be tastier, they’ll also be healthier than those you are tempted to buy on-the-go.

You may have heard stories about how you can make a month of freezer meals in a day — and that’s definitely possible. But, I prefer to simply double up on recipes and expand my inventory of prepared meals as I go.

If you cook a double recipe a few times a week, you can enjoy one now and freeze one for later.

These type of meals are great for people who:

  • Rely on fast food now, but want to change their ways so they can eat healthier with less prep and in less time
  • Are too busy at times to cook a healthy and complete meal on several nights a week
  • Are ill and unable to cook
  • Are cooking for just one or two, and recipes make too many servings

Just about everyone can benefit by planning ahead, preparing your meals and freezing them.

Of course, there are some food items that don’t freeze well.

For instance, frozen lettuce, cucumbers, bean sprouts and raw potatoes turn mushy when they’re thawed.

Hard-boiled eggs become rubbery.

And, egg-based sauces, including mayonnaise, will separate and curdle when they’re thawed.

Many dairy products, such as cream, yogurt, cream cheese, sour cream and cottage cheese, sometimes become watery when thawed, but if used in a baked dish, they will probably be alright.

When you’re getting ready to make some frozen meals, you’ll need to have something to store them in.

So, first decide what storage containers are right for you. Freezer zipper-top bags in quarts and gallon sizes are great and take up less room than containers, but they are single-use. Be sure to squeeze out all extra air, and make sure that they are sealed tight, so that they do not leak.  The aluminum foil pans with covers are also just good for one use and then must be discarded.

Check discount stores for lower prices.

Reusable plastic, glass or metal containers are another option. Some are made stackable for easier storage. The size you pick will depend on if you are cooking for two, four, six or more.

Be sure to label with content, date and cooking instructions, especially if you are sharing with a friend.

For best quality, try to use within 3 months.

All leftovers and casseroles should be cooked until they are reheated to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit on an instant-read/quick-temp meat thermometer. (By the way, no kitchen should be without an instant read/quick-temp meat thermometer, because it is the only accurate way to test for doneness.)

Betsy Crisp is a Professor Emeritus, UF/IFAS Extension – Family & Consumer Sciences.

Recipes
Oven-Baked Chicken Tender Strips (kid-friendly, fast-food competitor)

Ingredients
3 large chicken breasts (approximately 1 pound = 4 servings)

1 cup flour

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon pepper

2 eggs

1 cups Italian-style, whole wheat panko breadcrumbs (regular breadcrumbs will also work)

Instructions
Pre-heat oven to 350°F.

Cut chicken breasts into equal-sized strips.

Into 3 shallow bowls or pie plates:

In one bowl, add flour, salt, and pepper and mix well.

In another bowl beat 2 eggs.

In third bowl add 1 cup Italian-style breadcrumbs

Dip each piece of chicken in flour, then egg and then breadcrumbs.

For freezing: After dipping chicken in flour, eggs and breadcrumbs, place on parchment-covered baking sheet and freeze until frozen solid (takes approximately 3 hours). Transfer to a freezer zipper-top bag and place back in the freezer.

Baking later: Place frozen strips on baking sheet and bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit in oven for 30 minutes to 35 minutes, or until cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit.

For cooking now: Place chicken strips on a greased or parchment-covered baking sheet. Bake for 20 minutes to 25 minutes, or until cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees Fahrenheit. Turn chicken strips halfway through cooking, to ensure even cooking and crispiness.

Serve with ranch or blue cheese dressing, honey-mustard or barbecue sauce for dipping.

Beef or Chicken Enchiladas
Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef (or 3 chicken breasts = 1 pound)

1 medium onion diced

3 cups reduced-fat shredded cheddar cheese, divided

10 medium (8-inch) whole wheat tortillas

2 cans (10-ounce) red enchilada sauce

Optional: 1 can (15.5-ounce) black or red beans; jalapenos or green chilies; 1 cup cooked white or yellow rice

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a frying pan, cook ground beef and drain (if using chicken, place 4 raw chicken breasts into a pot of water, and boil and simmer for approximately 20 minutes, or until chicken is able to be shredded).

Mix 1 cup cheese, onion, beef/chicken and 1 can red enchilada sauce in a bowl. (Add optional black beans/peppers/chilies/rice, if desired)

With a large scoop (approx. ½ cup), fill each tortilla with mixture. Roll it up, and place it in large 9-inch-by-13-inch baking dish with seams down. Repeat until all mixture is used.

Pour the second can of enchilada sauce over the top.

Layer 2 cups shredded cheese over sauce.

To freeze for later: Cover with foil, label and freeze. Bake later (after thawing overnight in the refrigerator) at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 30 minutes to 45 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling, and reaches a minimum internal temperature of 65 degrees Fahrenheit on a quick-temp meat thermometer.

To bake now: Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 minutes to 30 minutes, until cheese is melted and bubbling.

Serve with sour cream, salsa, lettuce, beans or rice. Makes 10 servings (1 per person).

Published August 30, 2017

Lending sinkhole victims a hand

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Penny Foote felt the need to help families — after the largest sinkhole in Pasco County history opened July 14 on Ocean Pines Drive in Land O’ Lakes.

“When I saw the two homes go in, my heart hit the floor,” Foote said. “I knew we had to do something and try to pull people together because it could’ve happened to anybody, even me.”

That same day, Foote created the Lake Padgett Families Sinkhole Relief Facebook page.

Debris and water removal of the sinkhole wrapped up on Aug. 13. The next steps for remediating the 260-foot-wide hole will be discussed by the Pasco County Commission at a later date. (Courtesy of Pasco County)

Through the group page, which now totals more than 2,200 members, Foote has coordinated the delivery of donations and supplies to displaced sinkhole families, and adjacent properties on Ocean Pines Drive and Canal Place.

Foote, who has partnered with United Way of Pasco and Pasco County Human Services, has met individually with each of the sinkhole victims, to inquire about various essentials — everything from food and clothing, to baby supplies and furniture.

Then, she posted to the Facebook page, soliciting needed items from group members and local businesses.

“Somebody comes and just brings it,” Foote said.  “The community’s just been donating tons and tons of stuff, and the families have been at my house multiple times getting everything they want.”

Besides donations, Foote also rallied numerous volunteers to assist displaced families in moving belongings from their condemned homes.

Including Land O’ Lakes residents, Footed said people from Tampa, Wesley Chapel and Odessa have all offered assistance, in some form or another.

The widespread community support, is “absolutely incredible,” she noted.

“There have been a lot of people pulling for them,” Foote said. “I’ve never seen anything like it in my life.”

Now, Foote, with the help of Tampa-based realtor Danielle Sullivan, has organized an upcoming fundraiser benefiting families affected by the sinkhole.

The Lake Padgett Estates Sinkhole Family Day Fundraiser will be held Aug. 26, from noon to 5 p.m., at the Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Besides numerous food trucks and local vendors, the event will feature a live band, yard sale, raffle and silent auction, and kid-friendly entertainment, such as a bounce house and face painting.

Foote hopes to raise at least $20,000. All of the proceeds will go to sinkhole victims shortly after the event.

It’s not the only sinkhole fundraiser going on this weekend.

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce has partnered with Skipper’s Smokehouse for a benefit concert on Aug. 27. The show, beginning at 5 p.m., will feature performances by several local acts, including, Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock, Solar Exposure, and 4X.

And, other fundraisers have been held the past several weeks, including events hosted by Plantation Palms Golf & Country Club, Beef O’ Brady’s of Sunlake and In The Loop Brewing.

Foote, who runs a child day care business, lives about 1.5 miles from the actual sinkhole site.

She remains heartbroken by the sinkhole victims’ personal stories in the aftermath of the catastrophic event.

“These families are still struggling today, just like they were on Day 1. It’s still very difficult and very hard for them,” Foote said.

One of those affected is 77-year-old Emily Geldbaugh.

The retiree’s home was one of seven that’s been condemned, meeting the criteria for demolition.

The loss of her house, which she has owned for 14 years, was tough to grasp.

“It was shocking, and of course, sort of painful at the same time,” Geldbaugh said. “I felt pretty sad about it.”

Since the condemnation, Geldbaugh has been staying with her son’s family while she searches for an affordable rental home.
She noted the catastrophic event could have been worse.

“I’m just glad everybody got out, because if it happened earlier I don’t think they would’ve,” she said. “(My house) could’ve fallen in, too, who knows? I’m lucky that it’s still standing.”

The efforts of Foote and others have not been lost on Geldbaugh during this difficult time.

She is “totally amazed” by the community outreach received over the past several weeks.

“There’s a lot of wonderful people out there, and a lot of them came to help me move,” Geldbaugh said. “I mean, there’s been donations and a lot of good is going to come from all that.”

She continued: “(Penny’s) a wonderful lady. I know she can’t do it alone, but she’s been real gracious, and she’s really caring about all these people and their problems, and I think that’s wonderful. You don’t have very many people in the world like that.”

Terence Doohen, another sinkhole victim, expressed similar sentiments.

The 44-year-old also is “floored” by Foote’s efforts and the amount of donations others have provided, specifically mentioning nonperishable food, bottled water and toiletries.

“In my mind, it restores the idea that there is humanity left,” Doohen said. “At the end of the day, when something like this happens, and you see good people doing thoughtful things, it really restores your perspective on humanity once again.”

He added: “It’s eye-opening, and it really is heartwarming to know that people care out there.”

Doohen, along with his wife and 10-year-old son, were displaced over two weeks ago, when the Pasco County Building Inspectors Office red-tagged their lake house property — which they had owned for about two years.

The family is currently staying at a neighbor’s home, until they find a suitable rental.

“It kind of stinks in a way because that was our little house on the lake. When we bought it a couple of years ago, we put a lot of money into it — new kitchen, new windows, everything,” Doohen explained.

Doohen said his family — along with others affected by the sinkhole — will never be able to recover the full value of their house and property.

“Once that hole opened up — even if you’re living within five houses and didn’t have the condemnation letter — the value of your property just got slapped in half,” Doohen said. “At the end of the day, everyone (affected) is going to be worse off; that’s the sad part about it.”

A month later, he still recalls witnessing the sinkhole develop as he got ready for work that Friday morning in mid-July.

“It starts out as a 20-by-20 little puddle, and then all of a sudden it just starts opening up like a big reservoir and starts chasing the house next to it, and then the one on the other side of it,” he said.

“My blood pressure started rising when it started eating at the road,” Doohen said.

Upcoming fundraisers:
Lake Padgett Estates Sinkhole Family Day Fundraiser
Where: Harvester United Methodist Church, 2432 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
When: Aug. 26, noon to 5 p.m.
Cost: Free admission
Details: Food trucks, local vendors, live music, yard sale, raffle and silent auction, kid-friendly activities.
Information: email

Build it Back Sinkhole Relief
Where: Skipper’s Smokehouse, 910 Skipper Road, Tampa
When: Aug. 27, at 5 p.m.
Cost: Admission is $10 in advance, $15 at the door
Details: Benefit concert featuring local bands Stonegrey, Peace of Woodstock, Solar Exposure, and 4X
Information: SkippersSmokehouse.com

Published August 23, 2017

Aviation department takes off at PHSC

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With the addition of its new aviation department, Pasco-Hernando State College is preparing to launch students into an industry flourishing with job opportunities.

The college began offering two associates of science degrees in professional pilot technology and aviation administration for the fall semester, which began Aug. 21 at its East Campus in Dade City.

Shown here is a Federal Aviation Administration-approved Advanced Flight Simulator Laboratory, located on the East Campus of Pasco-Hernando State College. The simulators can be reconfigured to emulate all types of aircraft in any environment or weather condition providing a realistic experience. Pilot flight training also will be based out the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport. (Courtesy of Richard Riley)

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.

The professional pilot technology already has received accreditation approval by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges (SACSCOC); the aviation administration is still awaiting approval.

Those aren’t the only new aviation programs in development, however.

Next fall, PHSC expects to offer associate degree programs in both unmanned vehicle systems and aviation maintenance administration, and a bachelor of applied science, with a concentration in aviation.

Plans are in development for an Airframe and Powerplant (A&P) certificate program, as well, to tie into the aviation maintenance administration degree program.

The state college officially introduced the aviation department during a July 27 open house, which drew a crowd of more than 100 students, faculty and community members.

The department, which consists of six faculty members, is overseen by Mark Aragon and Michael Brunnschweiler. More staff will be added once additional programs are approved.

Aragon is a certified fixed wing pilot and FAA certified unmanned pilot, who spent more than 30 years in the United States Air Force, with multiple tours in Afghanistan and Bosnia. He is an instructor, and is the coordinator for the professional pilot technology and unmanned vehicle systems programs.

Brunnschweiler is a licensed commercial pilot, who spent nine years in the United States Marine Corps and six years as adjunct instructor at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He serves as an instructor, and is the coordinator for the aviation administration and aviation maintenance administration programs.

Aviation students who complete the professional pilot technology program will receive a private pilot license, instrument pilot rating, multi-engine pilot rating and commercial pilot license.

Flight training, in partnership with American Aviation Inc., will be based out of the Brooksville-Tampa Bay Regional Airport.

Pasco-Hernando State College officially introduced the aviation department during a July 27 open house, which drew a crowd of more than 100 students, faculty and community members. The college began offering two associates of science degrees in professional pilot technology and aviation administration for the fall semester, which began Aug. 21 at its East Campus in Dade City.

Students, who receive more than 200 flying hours during the entire degree program, also will 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.

“Our program is a little bit different than other programs, because it’s designed to emulate the duties as an airline pilot,” Aragon said. “They include wearing the pilot’s uniform, dispatching the aircraft, crew resource management, and even post-flight duties.”

For aviation administration, capstone projects also will incorporate simulation software, with students learning how to run an airline, purchase and maintain aircraft, schedule flight routes, and handle delays and safety concerns.

Each of those scenarios, Brunnschweiler said, provides “an awesome, awesome learning experience for the students.”

The state college’s new offerings come at an ideal time for an airline industry that’s projected to see a massive worker shortage in the next two decades.

A report released last month 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 between 2017 and 2036.

Meanwhile, 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 recent report by Cowen & Company.

Currently, aviation-related jobs create annual earnings of $446 billion to the United States — almost 6 percent of our Gross National Product, the FAA reports.

During the open house, PHSC president Timothy Beard called the aviation department “a game-changer” for the college, its students, and local employers and partners.

“We have a commitment and an investment in providing new career workforce opportunities, and we believe these programs, along with other programs, will continue to take us to the top of the mountain here at PHSC,” Beard said.

“I am quite confident that our aviation programs provide an ideal learning environment, combined with expert instruction, state-of-the-art equipment, and excellent aviation and industry partners,” he said.

The state college’s aviation initiative began in January of 2016.

That year, the Florida Legislature granted PHSC $2.3 million towards STEM programs.

Stan Giannet, vice president of academic affairs at PHSC, said “a good chunk” of that funding went to the aviation department’s technological and personnel costs.

He noted the next step for the aviation department is to cultivate additional community partnerships and develop an internship program.

Published August 23, 2017

School impact fees set to increase beginning in January

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The Pasco County Commission has unanimously adopted higher school impact fees for new residential construction.

The increases will be phased in over three years, beginning Jan. 1, and will be charged against all new residential construction, except for new age 55-plus communities.

Pasco County school district officials have calculated that the higher fees will generate more than $220.4 million over the next 10 years. Those funds will be used to build one new middle school, one high school, one elementary school and one school for kindergarten through eighth grade.

Pasco County’s school impact fees will increase effective Jan. 1, for new residential construction in the county, except for in residential communities for people age 55-plus. The higher fees are intended to help the school district keep pace with increasing enrollments due to the county’s burgeoning growth. (B.C. Manion)

Hugh Townsend, who served as vice chairman of the Pasco County School Infrastructure Funding Committee, was the lone speaker during the public comment portion of the public hearing.

He offered his wholehearted support for the increased fees.

“I think this is a necessary fee in order to supply the necessary schools for all of the new construction,” Townsend said.

Commission Chairman Mike Moore said “what you’re seeing today is everybody coming together.” He later said the obvious result of the higher fees will be more schools to serve the county’s children.

The fees adopted by commissioners represented a compromise between the recommended rate by a consultant hired by the school district and the rate the building community wanted.

The adopted rate was less than what the school board, parents and other stakeholders wanted, but more than homebuilders and apartment developers wanted.

All five commissioners had committed to the proposed ordinance for the higher fees during a July 11 public hearing. The vote was delayed until Aug. 15 to allow some changes to be made to the final document.

David Goldstein, chief assistant county attorney, told commissioners at the July meeting that by the time the rates reach their final amount in 2020, they will represent 92 percent of what the school district’s consultant had recommended.

At the same meeting, Ray Gadd, deputy superintendent for Pasco County Schools, told commissioners: “We didn’t get everything we wanted, nor did the builders.”

There were other stakeholders who didn’t get everything they wanted, either.

Representatives of the multifamily industry, for instance, failed to persuade commissioners to reduce the proposed fee increases for multifamily dwellings.

Parents also were unable to convince commissioners to adopt the full fees that the school district’s consultant had recommended, and to make them effective this year.

In interviews after the commission’s vote, Pasco County School Board member Colleen Beaudoin and school board vice chairwoman Cynthia Armstrong voiced support for the county commission’s action to raise the fees.

“I’m very excited to move forward with our projects, and I’m very proud of the way everybody worked together,” Beaudoin said.

Armstrong added, “It’s wonderful that all of the partners of the community could come together on this issue because it’s so vital for us to prepare and build the schools that we need for the growth that’s coming to Pasco County.”

Current Rate:
Single-family detached: $4,828
Single-family attached: $1,740
Multifamily: $1,855
Mobile home: $2,843

New rates
Effective Jan. 1, 2018
Single-family detached: $7,128
Single-family attached: $2,869
Multifamily: $4,182
Mobile home: $4,377

Effective Jan. 1, 2019
Single-family detached: $7,728
Single-family attached: $3,111
Multifamily: $4,533
Mobile home: $4,746

Effective Jan. 1, 2020
Single-family detached: $8,328
Single-family attached: $3,353
Multifamily: $4,884
Mobile home: $5,114

Consultant’s recommended rate
Single-family detached: $9,028
Single-family attached: $3,634
Multifamily: $5,295
Mobile home: $5,544

Published August 23, 2017