The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Quail Hollow vote delayed again

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The Pasco County Commission agreed to a third delay on a vote regarding a proposal to redevelop the land occupied by the Quail Hollow Golf Course.

Commissioners agreed to the delay at the request of representatives of the golf course’s owner, who would like all five commissioners to be present when the vote is taken on the proposal to build houses on the golf course land.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey (File)

Andre Carollo, of Pasco Office Park LLC, wants to close the unprofitable golf course and build up to 400 single-family houses, 30,000 square feet of office/retail and 10,000 square feet of day care.

Commissioners had been scheduled to consider the issue on June 6. Now, they are set to consider it on July 11, at 1:30 p.m., at the Historic Pasco County Courthouse in Dade City.

The absence of Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells was known in advance. He announced in May that he would not be attending the June meeting.

As the June 6 meeting got underway, Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said she would have to leave early for an appointment, and might not be present for the entire meeting.

The proposed project has met stiff resistance from Quail Hollow residents who have expressed concerns about issues such as flooding, water quality and property values. They also worry about increased traffic that the development would generate on roads they already deem as being inadequate.

Opponents have hired an attorney, and a court reporter has been at meetings to document the proceedings.

The golf course owner’s attorney, Barbara Wilhite, has highlighted the owner’s property rights, and has detailed changes to the proposed development to address flooding and traffic concerns.

Published June 14, 2017

A theme park without a roller coaster?

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Check out Dinosaur World

There’s something about dinosaurs that captures the human imagination. Perhaps that’s why, in a time when many theme parks beckon their guests with towering roller coasters and thrill rides, Dinosaur World reels them in with a pair of life-size Tyrannosaurus rex sculptures looming off the north shoulder of Interstate 4, near Plant City.

Visitors to Dinosaur World on the outskirts of Plant City find themselves surrounded by towering dinosaur statues as soon as they set foot in the park. There are more than 200 sculptures on the 20-acre property, according to park staff. (Susan Green)

The T-rexes don’t move or roar, and neither do the 200 or so life-size dinosaur statues inside the park. But, for thousands of dinosaur fans who visit the park each year, they certainly do enthrall.

Myrta Figueroa, of Tampa, is one of the many passing motorists who just couldn’t pass up the chance to peek behind the walls of Dinosaur World. After three years of eyeing the imposing display from the highway, she decided to take her 4-year-old grandson, Ethan Ortiz, who is already a bit of a dinosaur expert, to see the park.

As soon as the pair stepped inside on a sunny spring afternoon, they found themselves surrounded by life-size replicas of prehistoric beasts. Without even glancing at the identification signs in front of each statue, Ethan began rattling off the dinosaur names to his grandmother.

“My favorite dinosaur is the T-rex,” the preschooler declared, uttering a preference that would be echoed over and over by young visitors interviewed at Dinosaur World on the same day. For Ethan, though, it wasn’t a totally unwavering decision.

“I like the T-rex,” he said, then whirled and pointed at one dinosaur replica after another, meat- and plant-eaters alike, “and that one, and that one, and that one, and that one.”

Just as enthusiastic were Isaiah, 11, Elijah, 3, and Noah, 2, who were visiting Dinosaur World with their parents, Aracely and Bobby Chavarria of Dallas, Texas. Aracely said the family was happy to take a break from the Walt Disney World trip that had brought them to Central Florida on vacation.

The T-rex sculptures at Dinosaur World may look fearsome, but they’re actually formed from fiberglass, putty and concrete, according to park staff.

“We actually went to Disney World, and we didn’t like it that much,” she said, noting that the lines were so long at Florida’s best-known theme park that her sons were able to experience only two rides. When the family saw the giant roadside dinosaur statues between Orlando and Tampa, they decided to give Dinosaur World a try.

“They love dinosaurs,” Aracely said of her sons. “They’re having a blast.”

Dinosaur World is the brainchild of Christer Svensson and his family, who had been frequent winter visitors to the area from Sweden before developing the park. In 1997, the Svenssons bought the swampy site where Dinosaur World is located with plans to develop the dinosaur-themed attraction, according to published reports.

Prehistoric dinosaurs never traversed this spot – or any place in Florida, which was underwater when the giant reptiles roamed the earth. But, the lush acreage of ferns and palm trees once teemed with alligators, widely considered living relics of the dinosaur age. The alligators were part of a tourist attraction known as Gator Jungle that previously occupied the property.

Noah Chavarria, 2, of Dallas, Texas, poses for a photo in the mouth of a meticulously sculpted head of a Tyrannosaurus rex, the boy’s favorite dinosaur.

Gator Jungle had been closed for years, but hundreds of alligators still roamed the property until shortly before Dinosaur World opened in late 1998, said Angelica Roque, the park’s assistant manager. Over the years, she said, adjacent land purchases have brought the size of the park to 20 acres, to make room for more and more dinosaur statues crafted from fiberglass, putty and concrete.

The park features a lengthy walking path lined with replicas of dinosaurs, many accompanied by signs detailing where the species’ fossils were discovered. The park also includes a large sand pit where children can dig for fossils and another sandy expanse dubbed the “Boneyard,” where they can dig to expose the skeleton of a dinosaur buried in the sand.

In the Exploration Cave, visitors can listen to tour guides describe the painstaking methods that paleontologists use to uncover and preserve the remnants of dinosaurs that are often millions of years old. In addition, there’s a walkway called “Mammoths, Giants of the Ice Age” that includes several statues and educational information about the prehistoric elephant-like beasts that once inhabited the forests of Florida.

There’s also a museum with exhibits of authentic relics discovered by paleontologists, including oviraptor eggs, a woolly mammoth’s teeth and a triceratops toe.

And, just for fun, there’s a dinosaur-themed playground and a mock mining sluice where guests can try their luck at panning for gemstones.

Families with small children are among the biggest fans of Dinosaur World near Plant City, but the park sees its fair share of adult dinosaur lovers as well, according to park staff.

Families will also find dozens of sheltered picnic tables where they are welcome to bring food and drink from home, and enjoy eating together or just take a break from strolling through the exhibits. Dinosaur World does not offer food for sale, other than what’s available from a few vending machines.

Although toddlers, preschoolers and elementary school students make up a large segment of the Dinosaur World fan base, they’re not the only age group to find something to love about the park.

“We have a lot of little ones that come,” Roque said. “But, we also have a lot of adults. … It depends on their passion for the dinosaurs.”

About 110,000 people visited the Plant City attraction last year, she said, adding that tourists have come from Europe, Canada, South America and Australia, as well as from all over the U.S.

“A lot of them say they were commuting on I-4 and they saw the big dinosaurs,” Roque said. “They come back and check it out.”

The park’s spacious gift shop includes a tribute to the living dinosaur descendants that once inhabited the spot. In one corner, visitors can view a replica of Toyo, a former Gator Jungle resident that died at age 81.

If you go
Where: Dinosaur World, 5145 Harvey Tew Road, Plant City, FL 33565 (Exit 17, off Interstate 4)
When: Open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily
Cost: Adults, $16.95; children 3-12, $11.95; children 2 and younger, free. Tickets that include gem mining cost extra.
Information: (813) 717-9865 or DinosaurWorld.com.

By Susan Green

Published June 14, 2017

Father’s Day – A perfect time to grill

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Sometimes food just needs a little extra something — besides just the usual salt and pepper —before going onto the grill.

Indeed, marinades and rubs can be just the thing to enhance a cut of meat.

With that in mind, here are some recipes for marinades and rubs that may help add some flavor to this Father’s Day cookout.

Marinades
Marinades are a combination of ingredients — herbs, spices and so on — in a liquid base that can add considerable flavor to any cut of meat before grilling.

Add cola to caramelize the outside of the meat to produce a crisp coating. (Betsy Crisp)

Usually the base is an oil or acid, such as citrus/lemon juice, wine, vinegar, and sometimes it is even dairy. Often a sweet ingredient — brown sugar or cola — is added to help caramelize on the outside of the meat to produce a crisp coating.

To marinade, seal the meat in an airtight container or plastic freezer zipper top bag.  Allow the meat to marinate in the refrigerator for at least 30 minutes. But, letting the meat marinate for 2 hours to 4 hours is generally recommended. To allow the spices to permeate the meat even more, you can let it marinate overnight.

So as not to spoil your Father’s Day celebration, there are a few food safety tips worth mentioning:

  • If you plan to use some of the marinade as a dip or basting sauce later, set aside a portion before adding raw meat/poultry.
  • Always marinate in the refrigerator.
  • Do not reuse any of the marinade from the raw meat unless you boil it for several minutes to destroy any bacteria from the raw meat juices.
  • Throw away any leftover marinade that contains raw meat juices.

Rubs
Rubs are a mixture of dry seasonings rubbed onto the food surface before grilling to add flavor.

Meats such as ribs, chops, and roasts are most commonly treated in this manner, but cut potatoes also do nicely.

The best rubs enhance the flavor of the meat without being overbearing. Rubs are usually a blend of strong and mild herbs and spices.

This mixture applied directly on the meat is called a “dry” rub, but when a wet substance is included, it is called a “wet” rub. A little moisture such as oil or honey helps the rub adhere to the meat.

Once coated with the rub, let the meat rest 15 minutes before placing on the grill. For any longer than that, rubbed meats must be held in the refrigerator and can be kept as long as overnight to allow the spices to better permeate the meat and increase flavor.

Marinade recipes
Lemon Juice base: Add oil and herbs to season and tenderize meat. Also add mixture to vegetables before grilling.

Soy Sauce base: Combine Soy sauce with honey, garlic and herbs. This is sometimes called teriyaki marinade and is used on meat or fish.

Tomato base: Use tomato juice or sauce as the acid, and combine with soy sauce, garlic, oil and seasonings. This will tenderize tough meat and even wild game before cooking.

Vinegar base: Add oil with herbs to make a vinaigrette marinade or simply substitute bottled oil and vinegar-based salad dressing (Italian, French, etc.) to flavor meat and vegetables to grill.

Wine Base (usually red): Combine wine with oil, spices and garlic to season and tenderize meats (less tender steaks: sirloin, flank, etc.).

Yogurt base: Yogurt can be used alone or combined with lemon juice and other seasonings (dill) to flavor and tenderize chicken before grilling or baking.

Once you have prepared the marinade you’d like, be sure to follow the directions provided above.

Now, moving on to rubs.

Rub recipes
Barbecue:
2 Tablespoons salt
4 Tablespoons sugar
4 Tablespoons ground black pepper
2 Tablespoons chili powder
4 Tablespoons paprika

Cajun:
3 Tablespoons paprika
½ teaspoon cayenne
1 Tablespoon garlic powder
2 teaspoons dried oregano, crushed
2 teaspoons dried thyme, crushed
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon ground black pepper
½ teaspoon ground cumin
¼ teaspoon nutmeg

Herb: (no salt)
1 teaspoon dried tarragon leaves, crushed
1 teaspoon dried rosemary, crushed
½ teaspoon dried marjoram leaves, crushed
1 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed

Mediterranean: (no salt)
1 Tablespoon dill weed
1 Tablespoon fennel seed
1 teaspoon dried oregano, crushed
1 teaspoon lemon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Pepper-Sage: (no salt)
1 Tablespoon dried parsley flakes
1 Tablespoon seasoned pepper
1 teaspoon rubbed sage
1 teaspoon onion powder

Savory Orange: (no salt, but has sugar)
2 Tablespoons brown sugar
1 Tablespoon grated orange peel
1 Tablespoon dried thyme, crushed
1 teaspoon dry mustard
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Spicy Herb:
1 teaspoon dried marjoram leaves, crushed
1 teaspoon garlic salt
¼ teaspoon ground black pepper
¼ teaspoon ground ginger

Instructions: Simply mix all the seasonings together in a bowl or plastic zip-top storage bag.

To apply a rub, pat the surface of the food dry with a paper towel and rub with the desired amount of seasoning mixture. Once rubbed, either cook immediately (roast, broil, grill or pan fry) or cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate for up to 24 hours to increase the flavor.

Note:  If after trying all these you find a particular favorite, you may want to make it in quantity and keep handy in an air-tight container. These mixes also make great gifts when neatly packaged in a decorative, tightly sealed container and labeled.

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

Published June 14, 2017

They took on the world — and they won

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Wesley Chapel Elementary’s “Catch Us If You Can” team has returned as champions from the Odyssey of the Mind World Finals, which took place at Michigan State University.

Front row, from left, Jake Piller, Rowan Heyman, Justin Acosta, Jason Sherman, Mina Melaika, Isabell Barrios and Sam Cappelluti. Back row, from left, Veronica Acosta, Matt Whaley and Janet Heyman. (Courtesy of  Joelisa Sherman)

The victory thrilled the team’s members — Jake Piller, Sam Cappelluti, Isabell Barrios, Mina Melaika, Rowan Heyman, Jason Sherman and Justin Acosta, and the team’s coaches — Janet Heyman and Veronica Acosta.

Before heading to the international competition, the fourth- and fifth-graders had already demonstrated that they were contenders.

They won first place at the Gulf Coast Regional competition, and wowed the judges so much that they won the “Ranatra Fusca Award” for their exceptional creativity.

They also won first place at the state tournament at the University of Central Florida on April 8.

Still, it was the team’s first appearance on the world stage, so team members were hopeful, but also realistic.

“It was our first time going,” explained Jason Sherman, 10. “Most people on our team — like me and my friend, Jake — we knew we’d be OK if we didn’t win.

“When I was pin trading, I overheard people talking, saying, that they’d been there for over seven straight years, and they hadn’t won anything.

Coaches Veronica Acosta, left, and Janet Heyman pose with the trophy their team won at the Odyssey of the Mind World finals. The team scored 340.62 points, which is 22.55 points higher than the second-place team

“I was OK, knowing this was our first time, and we probably weren’t going to win anything,” he said.

Odyssey of the Mind is a competition that encourages students to use creative approaches to solving problems. The program emphasizes the importance of science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

Ten-year-old Justin Acosta said he thinks the team succeeded because of its experience in working together and continual efforts to improve.

“The first year, we practiced. The second year, we practiced some more,” he said, and the third year, it all came together.

Ten-year-old Jake Piller said winning the competition is a pretty big deal.

“I definitely think it’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened in our school, and in our county,” he said, adding it’s “pretty big for Florida,” too.

Ten-year-old Sam Cappelluti said he was really nervous, as they awaited the results.

When they found out they had defeated China to win first place, they all screamed, he said.

“It was crazy,” said 11-year-old Isabell Barrios. “We all started crying.”

Barrios thinks the team stepped up its game for the competition.

“In the World performance, I think we did our best. We talked a lot louder and clearer,” Barrios said.

The ‘Catch Us If You Can’ team from Wesley Chapel Elementary School celebrates as it comes out of the spontaneous portion of their competition. During this part of the competition, the team enters alone without coaches and/or parents, and no spectators are allowed. The team excelled, scoring 98.16 percent from a possible 100 percent.

Barrios also noted that team members made sure they had all of their bases covered.

“This year, after we had everything done, we went through a checklist to make sure we had everything,” she said.

Sherman said the team turned it up a notch for the world competition.

“Right before we went on, we were all talking about adding more drama to it,” Sherman said.

Ten-year-old Mina Melaika thinks that the team’s ability to work well together, and to recover quickly when things didn’t go exactly as planned contributed to its victory.

“We all know each other really well,” Melaika added. Besides being teammates, many of them share the same classes.

Ten-year-old Rowan Heyman thinks a strong performance in the spontaneous portion of the competition was an important element in winning. “We worked as a team.”

As the winners were announced, the coaches kept hearing names of other countries and weren’t sure if their team would take home anything beyond the great experience it had at the competition.

So, they were ecstatic when they heard that they had won.

“I was crying,” Janet Heyman said, adding she’s proud of the team’s hard work and perseverance.

Coach Veronica Acosta said the kids have worked so closely together that “they’ve become one family.”

They’ve learned from mistakes, too, she said.

“That’s what Odyssey is about: Failing and picking up the pieces, and moving forward and going onto the next step. Not giving up —because these problems are not easy,” Coach Acosta said.

The coaches also thanked Freda Abercrombie, regional director for Odyssey of the Mind.

Without her, they said, their program wouldn’t exist.

Published June 6, 2017

Artist wins contest with her portrait of unknown soldier

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When Clare Hernandez set about to create her award-winning piece of art, she wasn’t thinking of entering it into a contest.

“I didn’t do it for this competition. I was actually working on it for my brother. I was doing it for a graduation present for him, but then I just decided I was going to enter it into the contest,” said Hernandez, who just won the 2017 Congressional Art Competition sponsored by U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Being one of nine children, Clare Hernandez said she has grown accustomed to working while there’s a fair amount of background noise. In fact, she said, she prefers it. She’s shown here in a schoolroom in her family’s Dade City home. (B.C. Manion)

The winning art was selected by a panel of judges with the Pasco Fine Arts Council, according to a news release from Bilirakis’ office. There were more than 30 entries from high school students across Florida’s 12th congressional district.

Hernandez entered a pencil drawing of an unknown Confederate soldier. It was based on a photograph of an 1860s tin-type that the young woman from Dade City found through an online search.

The portrait combines two of her interests.

“I’m really interested in history; that’s what I want to study in college, particularly U.S. History, particularly war history — like the (U.S.) Civil War, the Revolutionary War,” Hernandez said.

And, she loves art, too — enjoying it since she was around 5 years old.

Hernandez said it took about 15 hours to complete the portrait of the soldier.

Clare Hernandez drew this portrait of an unknown Confederate soldier based on an image of an 1860s tin-type she found while doing a search online.
(Courtesy of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis)

“I tend to be a perfectionist. Even though I feel like something is finished, I’ll come back the next day and I’ll be like, ‘No.’ And, I’ll work on it some more,” she said.

Getting the shading on the Civil War soldier’s coat was particularly challenging, she said.

“I love to do faces and portraits, but I have a harder time with fabrics — in the folds and things like that,” Hernandez said.

The portrait is “pretty much an exact drawing of the photograph. It’s a little awkward in some places because tin-types often are awkward in the way the people in the photos are positioned,” Hernandez said.

“When you look at my drawing, it doesn’t seem to be completely realistic — his form. But, that’s really because that’s what that looks like. It looks awkward,” she said.

She was taught at home through her early years by her mother, Cheryl, who also happens to be an artist. Beginning in her middle school years, Hernandez has increasingly studied more independently, and in recent years she has taken some dual enrollment classes at Pasco-Hernando State College.

Next, she plans to attend the University of Dallas, in Texas.

Hernandez said she feels ready and is excited about what lies ahead.

Clare Hernandez holds a plaque and a blue ribbon, while standing with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis. Hernandez won first place in the 2017 Congressional Art Competition in Bilirakis’ 12th congressional district

She chose the University of Dallas after falling in love with the college during several visits to see her sister, who recently graduated from there.

“It’s a good size. I love the students, and it’s got a really good history program,” Hernandez said.  Plus, “It’s a Catholic school. That’s important to me, too.”

Hernandez plans to pursue a degree in history, with a possible minor in art. She also will be part of the Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (R.O.T.C.) program, which provides a four-year scholarship, and she’ll be entering the U.S. Army when she finishes college.

Because her portrait was the winning entry, it will be displayed for a year along with outstanding work by other students around the nation in the U.S. Capitol, often referred to as the Capitol Building.

There will be an awards ceremony, but she won’t be able to attend because she’ll be on a mission trip to Ecuador.

However, she will receive two airline tickets, and she’s hoping she and her mom can make the trip together to view the portrait on display.

Having her work on exhibit in such an important building is an honor, Hernandez said.

And, for those who were wondering — she still plans to give the portrait to her brother.

Indeed, she already has. He just hasn’t seen it yet.

Published June 6, 2017

Retirement ‘bittersweet’ for Zephyrhills police chief

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After 25 years of service, former Zephyrhills Police Chief David Shears is settling into retirement life.

Throughout a respected career, Shears at some point worked every hour of the day, every day of the week and every day of the year.

Now, he gets to relax.

His last day in uniform was May 31.

To Shears, stepping away from law enforcement altogether is “bittersweet.”

David Shears retired as Zephyrhills Police Chief on May 31. He spent 25 years in the department, moving up the ranks from patrol officer to detective, sergeant and captain. (Kevin Weiss)

“You enjoy the job, and enjoy doing the work and everything,” he said, “but, also I think with veteran officers there comes a point it’s time to move on and let the next generation come in.

“For me personally, my goal was to get my 25 years in here at the police department.”

He’ll most cherish memories of his time on patrol.

“The biggest thing I am going to miss is actually being out there working with the community as a cop on the street; that was something I enjoyed,” he said.

Shears, 54, exits the department satisfied, with what he considers a job well done.

“I can walk out with my head up high, feeling good about the agency and everything that we did here,” he said.

Zephyrhills leaders agree.

City Manager Steve Spina shared his appreciation for Shears’ service, during a May 22 city council meeting.

Spina said, “Chief Shears led his department — and the men and women working there — with quiet resolve, moral integrity and high ethical standards. While every department and every organization experiences turbulence and some level of discord, never in his tenure as chief were there any ethical or moral lapses that compromised or embarrassed his coworkers, the city of Zephyrhills or his community.”

Other councilmen expressed similar sentiments.

A portion of Eighth Street—from North Avenue to Henry Drive—has been renamed Chief Shears Way, an honorary designation for the outgoing Zephyrhills Police Chief. The council unanimously approved the measure May 22.

“He has been a leader, and he has taken this city and molded it into a safe, protected city,” Council president Alan Knight said. “He’s really just somebody that I want to tip my hat to.”

“He’s just been a tremendous part of this city,” Councilman Charles Proctor said. “He’s helped transform our police department into the modern police department that it is today; he’s left it in great hands.”

Shears is often described as ‘a cop’s cop.’

A native of Flint, Michigan, Shears relocated to Florida in 1982.

Prior to joining the force, Shears worked in internal security, and then became an electrician.

Law enforcement, however, was his true passion.

“I always wanted to be a police officer,” Shears said. “I was blessed that my parents paid for my academy.”

Shears joined the Zephyrhills Police Department in 1992 as a patrol officer.

He wasn’t the only one in his family to don the badge, either.
His older brother served in the Tampa Police Department, while his younger brother was an officer at the New Smyrna Beach Police Department.

In Zephyrhills, Shears moved up the ranks to detective, sergeant and captain, before being named the city’s ninth police chief in 2008. He replaced former chief Russell Barnes, who resigned after accusations he created a “flex time” policy that allowed employees to receive time off instead of overtime pay for extra hours worked.

Over the years, Shears worked with and trained scores of numerous veteran officers; supervised patrols and actions; oversaw the civilian side of the department; provided for records and evidence, communications and dispatch, volunteer services and operating equipment; and equipping the department.

His first year as acting chief was a “learning experience,” he acknowledged.

“It was a little bit more of a difficult process for myself,” Shears said. “I had to learn the administrative side rather quickly, and also I had to put together a budget, which is very tough on someone that’s never done one before.”

But, the most challenging aspect, he said, “was getting a mindset that you’re responsible for everybody in (the) police department. Decision-making that affects not only the police department, but the community — that was something that you better learn real quick.”

He preserved two key citywide streaks: all of the city’s homicides were solved, and no Zephyrhills police officer was killed in the line of duty.

There were other highlights, too.

In 2015, starting officer wages increased to $43,000.

Training opportunities, such as in-house de-escalation instruction, also ramped up.

Shears also helped modernize the department’s property room, instituting bar coding.

“I believe that we have made this a better agency than it was when I took over,” Shears said. “We have made improvements throughout the years that had really bettered this police department.”

Shears also emphasized high standards in ethics and integrity.

“Transparency has got to be a big thing in this line of work,” he said. “Whether we’ve made a mistake or we’ve done good, it needs to be out there so people understand that you’re doing the right thing, and sometimes the right thing isn’t always the most pleasant.”

Meanwhile, efforts to make Zephyrhills safer are still needed, Shears said.

Addressing the city’s drug problem is one approach.

“The majority of crimes that are committed—in any community—is generally drug-related,” Shears explained. “I think combating that situation, but also having the backing of our State Attorney’s Office, is something that needs to be looked into and firmed up, because that’s what’s going to deter a lot of crime that is committed here with thefts and all the burglaries and property crimes that are being committed by people addicted to drugs.”

In hindsight, the police chief role was burdensome, at times.
Besides navigating the city’s budget crunches around 2010 and 2011, Shears prepared for countless retirements and defections inside the police department –often to higher-paying agencies.

Around that period, he battled two bouts of colon cancer, and underwent an assortment of surgeries, chemotherapy and radiation.

Dealing with cancer, Shears said, was “very difficult.

“I had to keep a positive mindset that we could handle anything, and that’s the way I looked at it. I’m just thankful that I had a staff to step up.”

He’s been cancer-free since 2012.

With new-found free time — and less stress — Shears plans to take a family vacation, with visits to North Carolina and West Virginia.
House repairs and fishing are on his initial retirement agenda, too.

“I’ve got to learn how to fish again,” Shears said, jokingly.

Zephyrhills police Capt. Derek Brewer is serving as interim chief, until the city fills the position permanently.

Besides losing Shears to retirement, the department is also losing another long-time veteran. Zephyrhills police Capt. Robert McKinney, a member of the department for 15 years, retired, effective June 2. He had been in law enforcement for 25 years.

Published June 6, 2017

Pasco launches new alert system

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Pasco County has launched a new system called Alert Pasco, which allows residents to be notified of emergencies, such as wildfires and hurricanes.

Residents can sign up for the alerts by using the county’s mobile application, MyPasco.

Kevin Guthrie, Pasco County director of emergency services, gave a storm update at a press conference in 2016. (File)

Pasco County officials introduced this new “mass notification tool” at a press conference in New Port Richey on May 31, one day before the start of hurricane season.

“This allows us to put out information in real-time,” said Kevin Guthrie, the county’s director of emergency services.

It is a huge benefit in notifying residents about what is happening and what they need to do, he said.

Alert Pasco can send alerts through phone calls, texts and/or email.

In addition to severe weather alerts, the system can send notifications on flooding, gas leaks and police activity.

Pasco County began testing the service about two months ago.

“This is going to be a regional element that starts moving through all the counties in the (Tampa Bay) region,” said Guthrie.

The hurricane season officially started on June 1 and runs through Nov. 30.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is predicting a busier than usual season with the number of named storms ranging from 11 to 17, including April’s Tropical Storm Arlene.

Five to nine of those storms could become hurricanes; two to four of those could be major hurricanes.

The MyPasco app is designed for Android, Apple and Blackberry mobile devices, and can be downloaded for free from Google Play Store or Apple Store.

The Alert Pasco link can be found on the MyPasco homepage. The county’s website also has information on hurricane evacuation zones, the Pasco County Special Needs Program, and a guide to “plan, prepare, and survive” potential disasters.

For information, also visit PascoEmergencyManagement.com.

Published June 6, 2017

School gets ready for its debut

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As construction work continues at Cypress Creek Middle High, Principal Carin Hetzler-Nettles and her fledgling staff are preparing to set up residency.

Her initial crew of eight people will be looking to take over the building the week of June 12, she said.

Charlie Barthle, the educational facilities inspector, talks about features in the new school that is scheduled to open in August. (Fred Bellet)

The school, set to launch its inaugural year in August, initially will open for students in grades six through 11.

The building will have roughly 114 staff members, and, as of May 31, Hetzler-Nettles had just nine instructional openings left to fill.

But, there’s still a lot to do before the school, off Old Pasco Road, opens. For one thing, the principal wants to give students and parents a chance to get acquainted with the campus.

“We’re in the unique position where everybody kind of needs to be oriented to the school,” she said.

To help people get a feel for the campus, three events dubbed HowlaPalooza have been scheduled.

Howlapalooza draws its name from the school’s mascot, the coyote.

The gathering for seventh- and eighth-graders, and their parents, is scheduled for Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Ninth-graders through 11th- graders and their parents are set to meet the same afternoon, from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

In both cases, parents and students with gather separately for activities in different parts of the campus, and then will join together to tour the school.

Getting the campus ready for its first year is a massive job. A landscaper is shown here stabilizing a new tree at the school.

The tour, Hetzler-Nettles said, “is what everybody is excited about — understandably, so.”

The sixth-grade Howlapalooza is patterned after the ninth-grade orientation that Hetzler-Nettles previously conducted when she was principal at Wesley Chapel High School.

Sixth-graders and parents will arrive at 9 a.m. on Aug. 2.

“We’ll do a Parent University in the morning for the parents, for maybe an hour,” Hetzler-Nettles said.

The sixth-graders will stay until 1 p.m., being guided through such activities as opening lockers, going through the lunch line in the cafeteria, and generally getting a feel for where things are and how things work.

The idea, the principal said, is “get them used to the campus, to kind of erase some of those first-day jitters. It makes it a little less overwhelming.”

Electricians are installing lighting outside the cafeteria, which will have some outdoor dining.

Hetzler-Nettles and staff members already have visited schools that are feeding students to Cypress Creek Middle High, and have been handing out T-shirts and giving updates on the campus’ progress.

Activities are planned during the first week to help orient the students to the campus, she said.

The principal said it’s natural to feel nervous, and she added “anytime you’re stepping into something new, it’s good to be nervous.”

Hetzler-Nettles is excited about the prospects of developing the school’s traditions and opportunities.

“It’s good to work together, and to communicate and create something exciting for kids and the community. We’re really, really jazzed about that,” the principal said.

She said she knows others are excited, too, because she’s seen the school’s T-shirts being worn all over the community.

Cypress Creek Middle High gears up for opening year
Howlapaloozas
Sixth grade: Aug. 2, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Students should wear comfortable clothing and shoes, for outdoor activities and a campus tour. A McDonald’s lunch will be provided. Children who are on medication should address that issue before arriving on campus. Any questions? Email Assistant Principal Meighan Melsheimer at .

Seventh grade and Eighth grade: Aug. 1, 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.: Students and their parents are invited to take part in some activities and tour the campus. Parents will report in the gymnasium, while students report to the cafeteria. After some activities, they will join together to tour the campus.

Ninth grade through 11th grade: Aug. 1, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.: Students and their parents are invited to take part in some activities and tour the campus. Parents will report in the gymnasium, while students report to the cafeteria. After some activities, they will join together to tour the campus.

Registration
Appointments for registration will begin on June 26. Students who have been rezoned to attend the school do not need to register as new students. Those who are registering as new students should check for registration requirements on the school’s website at CCMHS.pasco.k12.fl.us.

Secondary Orientation Day
A secondary orientation day for seventh-graders through 11th-graders is scheduled for Aug. 8, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students will be able to pick up their schedules and pay fees.

Published June 6, 2017

Seminar sheds light on skin cancer

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His skin cancer diagnosis was a wake-up call to be more careful around the Florida sun.

Dr. George Hanak was blindsided when he first was stricken with skin cancer, and he’s not shy about sharing his personal battle with the disease.

“I was shocked when I got the report,” said Hanak, the department chair of neurological sciences at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel.

Pasco-Hernando State College presented a Skin Cancer Awareness Seminar on May 24 at its Porter Campus in Wesley Chapel. (Courtesy of Pasco-Hernando State College)

The associate professor was a featured speaker during the school’s Skin Cancer Awareness Seminar on May 24.

The seminar was part of a series the state college organized to increase public awareness regarding a variety of resources available to community members.

Over two years ago, a standard histology revealed two types of non-melanoma skin cancer — squamous cell carcinoma and basal cell carcinoma — had formed on the tip of Hanak’s nose.

From the naked eye, Hanak couldn’t detect the carcinomas.

It wasn’t apparent, either, that the cancerous cells already penetrated through his dermis — the inner layer of the two main layers of cells that make up the skin.

“I didn’t know. It did not look like (skin cancer),” Hanak said.

Luckily, the department chairman visited a dermatologist before the carcinomas spread further.

Now, he has a clean bill of health — because of Mohs micrographic surgery.

The surgery progressively removes and examines thin layers of cancer-containing skin until only cancer-free tissue remains.

Hanak doesn’t take his good health for granted.

Now, he takes added precautions, beginning with copious amounts of sunscreen—even when just running errands.

He encourages others to do the same.

“I put it on my face every day,” Hanak said. “When I’m going out into the car or to the store, cumulatively, over the time of the day I could be outdoors for 30 minutes or more.

“It’s really important,” he said.

Skin cancer is common nationwide.

According to the American Cancer Society, more than 5.4 million skin cancers are diagnosed each year in the United States — more than all other cancers combined. Non-melanoma skin cancer is the most common of all cancer types.

The American Cancer Society reports that most skin cancers are caused by the sun’s ultraviolet light and radiation, which alter the genetic material of skin cells.

The skin is the body’s largest organ, and also one of the most vital.

However, many don’t treat it that way.

“We, for the most part, take our skin for granted,” Hanak said. “We never think about the skin.”
Regions of the body most susceptible to skin cancer are the face, ears, neck, lip, back of hands, legs, and torso.

Those with freckles and fair skin, or who have a family history of skin cancer should be especially cautious.

Folks on antihistamines also should be careful, too, as they can compromise the skin and increase the potential for skin cancer.

Moles are another risk factor, especially ones that irregularly change in shape, size, or color.

“You never mess with a mole,” Hanak said.

“Leave it (the mole) alone, or have it removed if there are changes happening to it. If there’s a hair inside the mole, you do not pluck that hair. You do that and you’re opening up Pandora’s box,” Hanak warned.

Early detection makes all forms of skin cancer more treatable.

It’s why self-exams and regular checkups to a dermatologist are critical.

“I don’t care if you see anything or not — go to the specialist and have them check you — head to toe,” Hanak said.

Unfortunately, there’s no sure way to entirely prevent skin cancer, he said.

But, there are precautions that can help reduce the risk of both melanoma and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Linda Oakley-Hankins, an associate professor of nursing at PHSC’s West Campus, advised those attending the seminar to follow Cancer.org’s sun exposure catchphrase: “Slip! Slop! Slap! and Wrap!”

The catchphrase is meant to help people remember some of the key steps that can be taken to shield against UVA and UVB ultraviolet (UV) rays.

They can slip on a dark shirt; slop on broad-spectrum sunscreen every two hours; slap on a wide-brimmed hat; and wrap on sunglasses to protect the eyes and skin around them.

Besides skin cancer, overexposure to UV rays can result in sunburns, dark patches, wrinkles, loose skin, premature aging and eye problems.

During the seminar, Oakley-Hankins warned against the use of tanning salons.

She also suggested people — especially Floridians — seek shade between the hours of 10 a.m. and 4 p.m.

“What you do to your skin now,” she said, “will either be a benefit or a non-benefit later on in life.”

Published June 6, 2017

Bay area transportation talk gets a reboot

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State highway officials kicked off a regional discussion on the future of transportation in Tampa Bay with more than 100 people from Hillsborough, Pinellas, Hernando, Polk and Pasco counties.

The initial workshop for what is dubbed, Tampa Bay Next, was at the Bryan Glazer Jewish Community Center in Tampa on May 24.

During the next two years, the Florida Department of Transportation will schedule more workshops, meetings and community outreach events in all areas of the region to get input on how to solve gridlock on the area’s highways.

Jonathon Massie, business illustrator with Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College, drew a cartoon illustration to reflect the consensus of people who attended a workshop on transportation in the Tampa Bay region.
(Kathy Steele)

By late 2019, state transportation officials expect to present the details of a new road project that will replace the controversial Tampa Bay Express, or TBX.

That project called for nearly 90 miles of new toll lanes on Interstate 275 from St. Petersburg to Wesley Chapel, and along Interstate 4 to Plant City and south on Interstate 75 to Manatee County.

The TBX project met with strong resistance from residents of neighborhoods in and around downtown Tampa.

Pasco County’s elected officials and chambers of commerce, however, strongly supported the TBX as a relief to traffic congestion and a potential impetus for future economic growth.

Tampa Bay Next, at least initially, will deal with expectations, not details.

“We’re going to focus on our ideal vision,” said Andrea Henning, executive director of Collaborative Labs at St. Petersburg College. “Tonight is more about listening.”

The company will facilitate community work sessions for the state transportation department in efforts to reach consensus on what Tampa Bay Next will bring to the table.

Six working groups will focus on local issues.

Those groups will cover Pasco/Hernando counties; North and West Hillsborough County; Downtown/East Tampa; Westshore/West Tampa/South Tampa; Pinellas County; and East Hillsborough/ Polk County.

Participants broke out into 20 discussion groups that reported back with broad-stroke views on the area’s future transportation needs, and wants.

Suggestions included:

  • Integrated multi-modal system
  • Connect people to jobs
  • Reliable trip times
  • Complete streets
  • Automated, connected and electric vehicle systems
  • Better bicycle mobility
  • Urban freeway removal
  • Ensuring that communities are not broken apart

One woman put in a plug for her pet peeve: She wants all bus stops to come with shaded cover.

Others spoke about a “sense of urgency” in coming up with answers.

There were also skeptics who don’t trust the state transportation department, in light of the battle over TBX.

“We need to work together,” said Danielle Moran, public involvement manager with HNTB Corporation, which is consulting with the Tampa Bay Next. But, she added, “We know it’s going to take time to build trust.”

She got a round of boos when she brought up toll lanes.

“Express lanes are one of the options on the table,” Moran said. “We’re happy to talk with you about other options.”

A second breakout session focused on four issues: safety, multi-model choices, technology and funding/policy.

Participants later voted electronically for their top priorities in each category, choosing from a list of 10 options.

Priorities included:

  • Designing streets to focus on people’s safety, not vehicles
  • Connecting major regional activity centers
  • Leveraging existing assets and infrastructure
  • Re-prioritizing $6 billion of TBX funds for community priorities

Future workshops will begin to drill down on what local communities envision for transportation.

Moran said there appeared to be at least an early consensus for an integrated, complete transportation system.

“The difficulty is how do we get there,” she said.

For information on Tampa Bay Next including the working groups and community outreach events, visit TampaBayNext.com.

Published June 6, 2017