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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Local youth attends Trump’s address to Congress

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Like millions of other Americans, Colin Cagle viewed President Donald Trump’s first speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28.

Unlike most, the 13-year-old Odessa resident, attended Trump’s speech in Washington D.C.

He was the invited guest of U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis.

Colin Cagle, left, was an invited guest of Rep. Gus Bilirakis during President Donald Trump’s first speech to a joint session of Congress on Feb. 28 in Washington D.C. The 13-year old Odessa resident is in seventh grade at Martinez Middle School.
(Courtesy of Sharri and Bill Cagle)

That fact is even more impressive, considering each member of congress was allotted just one extra ticket for Trump’s address.

Cagle, a seventh-grader at Martinez Middle School, was thrilled to receive the rare invitation.

“I was just extremely thankful, and I was in shock. I was so surprised,” Cagle, said.

Bilirakis first became aware of Cagle when his family requested tickets for President Trump’s Inauguration on Jan. 20. (Though Bilirakis’ office was out of tickets, Rep. Dennis Ross was able to pitch in.)

Cagle and Bilirakis have remained in touch, and the congressman became enthralled by the youth’s keen passion for politics.

That was furthered once Bilirakis’ office came across a 6 ½-minute NBC News feature on Cagle’s political interests and ideology.

Cagle, an unabashed Trump supporter, left the address content with the president’s remarks on strengthening the military and unifying the country.

“He put out plans that I know that both Democrats and Republicans can all stand behind,” Cagle said. “Overall, it was very presidential, and it was an amazing experience.”

The teenager’s visit to Washington D.C. also included tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress. “It was really awesome,” he said.

Though Cagle always has had an interest in politics, his curiosity peaked following the Feb. 2016 death of his 75-year-old grandfather, Lyndon Hooper.

During his visit to Washington D.C., 13-year-old Colin Cagle received tours of the U.S. Capitol Building, the Kennedy Center and the Library of Congress.

According to Cagle’s mother, Sharri, the youth’s grandfather was “extremely involved” in politics, assisting with numerous campaigns, including former Republican Congresswoman Katherine Harris.

Following his grandfather’s death, Cagle closely monitored the 2016 presidential race, heavily researching the hot-button issues.

Trump’s position on health care reform and immigration were two of many Cagle agreed with.

“I kind of formed my own opinions, and they happened to match up with President Trump’s,” Cagle explained.

He then put his conservative principles in action.

Prior to the election of the 45th president, Cagle volunteered at Republican call centers in Carrollwood, Brandon and Orlando.

He also attended three of President Trump’s campaign rallies in Tampa, Lakeland and Ocala.

Being such an open Trump supporter has come with some challenges, however.

Cagle’s mother acknowledged her son has received “a lot of backlash.”

Yet, he’s stood firm in his viewpoints.

“I’m proud of him,” she said. “I think that’s important to stand with your convictions, and not waver when you believe in something, and not change who you are depending on who you’re with,” he said.

She added: “I know how ugly politics can be. So, we try to use things as a learning experience for him, and he’s seen the good and the bad.”

Cagle said he hopes one day to make a difference in politics, perhaps as a senator or congressman.

“I’d like to work for a congressman when I’m in college, so that way I can get some hands-on experience,” he said. “I just like how all the congressman and senators are running to make a difference, to help our country be better.”

With plans to start a Young Republicans Club at Martinez Middle, his passion for government and politics doesn’t appear to be waning anytime soon.

“He spends so much time and effort learning the issues at hand, and trying to base his opinion on facts,” his mother said. “We just tell him to be open-minded, listen to both sides, and base your opinion on facts, and try not to engage in ugliness.”

Meanwhile, the young conservative remains pleased with President Trump, less than two months in office.

“Everything he’s said he’s going to do, he’s doing it,” Cagle said. “He’s not really backtracking. Obviously, he’s going to have to make some compromises, which is what he’s saying. But, he’s still sticking to the main principles of what he said he’s going to be doing.”

Published March 8, 2017

New elementary option offers rigor

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Pasco County Schools has expanded its list of educational choices for elementary school children living east of U.S. 41 by adding the Cambridge Programme at San Antonio Elementary School.

The program is an advanced academics program, which means it has a more rigorous curriculum and is taught at a faster pace.

This brochure, available from Pasco County Schools, offers an overview of the Cambridge Programme, a new option at San Antonio Elementary School.
(B.C. Manion)

The district is adding this program, which will help prepare students who are entering the Cambridge Secondary 1 Programme, already offered at Pasco Middle School, and the Cambridge Secondary 2 and Cambridge Advanced programs, already offered at Pasco High School.

The University of Cambridge began the Cambridge Programme more than 150 years ago, with 370 candidates in seven English cities.

Since then, the program has expanded to include more than 8 million candidates in 160 countries.

The program seeks to develop learners who are reflective, confident, engaged, responsible and innovative, according to a PowerPoint presentation shown to interested parents at a meeting on Feb. 23 at Wesley Chapel Elementary School.

Applications for the programs at Pasco Middle and Pasco High are already closed for this year, but the elementary program is accepting applications, said Kimberly Anderson, principal of San Antonio Elementary School.

Anyone interested must complete the application by March 16. A timed writing test will be given at the elementary school on March 17. The times for the test will vary, based on the student’s age.

The program has made provisions to ensure that academically gifted students will work with academically gifted teachers. Gifted certified teachers will work with Cambridge teachers, and gifted teachers will meet monthly with students to monitor their progress toward their goals.

Pasco County Schools will provide transportation to children who will be transferring to San Antonio Elementary, through the use of satellite bus stops. Stop locations haven’t been determined yet.

Cambridge’s mission statement, in part, reads: “We prepare students for life, helping them develop an informed curiosity and a lasting passion for learning. Our programs and qualifications set the global standard for international education.”

A brochure distributed by Pasco County Schools says the Cambridge approach supports schools to develop learners who are:

  • Confident in working with information and ideas – their own and others
  • Responsible for themselves, responsible to and respectful of others
  • Innovative and equipped for new and future challenges
  • Engaged intellectually and socially, ready to make a difference

By adding the program at San Antonio Elementary, students on the east side of U.S. 41 will now have an opportunity to pursue the Cambridge Programme at elementary, middle and high school levels.

Cambridge advanced level courses are considered to be equivalent to the Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate program classes, and Cambridge students can earn up to 45 hours of college credits.

Students receiving an AICE diploma through Cambridge and completing 100 hours of community service qualify for the maximum Florida Academic Scholar tuition scholarship.

Students who do not attend a Pasco County public school or charter school are asked to have the main office at their school send a grade history (transcript) and standardized assessment score history to:

Ms. Kimberly Anderson, principal of San Antonio Elementary School, 32416 Darby Road Dade City, Florida 33525.

The school will send out acceptance notifications in April.

If there are too many qualified candidates, a lottery system will be used.

Deadline for applying is March 16. Applications are available on San Antonio Elementary School’s website, SAES.pasco.k12.fl.us.
Applicants also must complete a timed writing sample on March 17 in the media center at San Antonio Elementary, 32416 Darby Road in Dade City.
The timed writing samples will be done for incoming first-graders at 9:30 a.m., and incoming second- through fifth-graders at 12:30 p.m. The writing sample is not something that requires study or preparation by students.
Extenuating circumstances will be taken into consideration, and alternate writing dates are available by contacting Principal Kimberly Anderson at (352) 524-5300.
While students are completing their writing sample, parents are invited to enjoy complimentary refreshments in the school’s cafeteria.

Published March 8, 2017

Slip away to Safety Harbor, a ‘secret little hideaway’

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When I told a friend at work years ago I lived in Safety Harbor, he said, “Ah, Safety Harbor. It sounds like a place where nothing bad ever happens.”

Safety Harbor, in northern Pinellas County, is home to 17,139 residents, and lots of festivals, including the Seafood Festival, March 10 through March 12.
(Karen Haymon Long)

It sometimes seems that way still. With a crime rate less than half that of Florida’s, this little town on the northwestern edge of Old Tampa Bay is the perfect place to take long walks, picnic in a picturesque park, or pick up a book from one of the Little Free Library boxes scattered around town like whimsical birdhouses.

Locals seem to like that the town has only 17,139 residents, and that they often run into neighbors at Main Street’s 3rd Friday Music Series or at Market on Main every Sunday at the gazebo.

The Safety Harbor Chamber of Commerce even advertises the 4.92-square-mile town as a “secret little hideaway,” – that for years did not have one single cellphone tower.

Safety Harbor will have a sidewalk chalk art festival March 18 and March 19.
(Courtesy of Marcia Biggs)

It doesn’t have as many restaurants, breweries or shops as its more glamorous sister city, Dunedin, but it has plenty of options to please visitors looking for quiet walks, good places to eat and to fly kites.

Some residents are so proud of Safety Harbor, they nicknamed themselves “Harborites,” and, to celebrate the town’s 100th birthday this year, they launched a literary journal and a project to collect video town memories. They’ve also planned 100 centennial events, including those the town usually hosts annually.

The town’s jewel is Philippe Park, a Pinellas County park just 1 ½ miles north of downtown, bordering Old Tampa Bay. It has a boat ramp, picnic shelters and tables, playgrounds, paths along the bay, and plenty of places to launch kayaks and paddleboards.

A canopy of ancient oaks arches over the park’s main road, leading toward a 20-foot temple mound used by the Tocobaga tribe, which left the area in the mid-1700s. The top of the mound offers million-dollar views of the bay and is a popular setting for weddings. On weekends, especially, the park teems with bikers and walkers, many with dogs – on leashes, a park rule requirement. Birdwatchers are likely to see great blue herons, night herons, snowy egrets, osprey and the rarer roseate spoonbills. We once even saw a flock of flamingoes, just south of the park.

Safety Harbor City Marina, near the city’s pier and just south of the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa, is home to mostly sailboats.

We like to leave our car at the park and walk south along a bayside sidewalk to downtown to see manatees from the municipal pier, just south of the Safety Harbor Resort & Spa. Then, we have lunch in town before walking back.

Often, between November and early May, four or five manatees float in the bay right next to the pier. On a recent visit, a Washington State visitor looked amazed to see five manatee faces — bursting from the water for air.

A boy named Colin peered over the pier railing and called out “I love you, manatees’’ repeatedly, while fishermen took time out from cast netting for mullet to watch the manatee show.

Meanwhile, in Veterans Memorial Marina Park, between the pier and the Safety Harbor City Marina, families picnicked under a shelter, enjoying the bay breezes.

Manatees can be spotted from Safety Harbor’s municipal pier, often between November and early May.

The town’s annual seafood festival – this year March 10 through March 12 – in Waterfront Park, across from the marina, attracts visitors from throughout the bay area. Safety Harbor prides itself on its festivals, featuring everything from arts and crafts to a sidewalk chalk art festival March 18 through March 19, a British car show Oct. 21, and a wine festival Nov. 4.

From the marina, it’s an easy walk to Main Street and to the town’s restaurants – from Whistle Stop Grill and Bar, known for fried green tomatoes; to Bar fly, a locals’ favorite, with a popular Taco Tuesday; to the pricier critics’ pick, Parts of Paris, a French bistro serving smoked frogs legs, duck confit and other delicacies.

Tupelo on 4th, a boutique in a converted house in Safety Harbor, sells home décor, jewelry and women’s fashions.

Two pizza restaurants, a barbecue place, a Latin American cantina and Green Springs Bistro, known for tasty bison burgers, are among other options.

The Syd Entel Galleries and Susan Benjamin Glass, at 247 Main St., is worth a visit, with art shows, as well as artwork, glass and jewelry for sale. And, we like Tupelo on 4th, a boutique in a turquoise house with a tin roof that sells home decor, jewelry and women’s fashion.

But mostly, we go downtown to stroll, to manatee watch and to eat lunch. One day, we bought tasty sandwiches at The Sandwich on Main and picnicked in Veteran’s Memorial Marina Park. The sandwich shop’s motto: “We Got It Good” – a sentiment that might well describe Safety Harbor itself.

If you go:
Safety Harbor is in northern Pinellas County, off McMullen Booth Road. Its downtown is roughly south of State Road 580 and north of County Road 611.
Philippe Park is at 2525 Philippe Park Parkway. Hours are daily 7 a.m. to dusk, and closed only the Friday after Thanksgiving and on Christmas.
For events, including those for the city’s centennial, and for dining options, visit CityOfSafetyHarbor.com.
For a map of downtown, see SafetyHarborChamber.com, or stop by the chamber of commerce, at 200 Main St., for free visitors’ guides and attraction brochures.

By Karen Hamon Long

Published March 8, 2017

Home Depot offers jobs in spring hiring spree

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Home Depot is looking to fill 1,350 jobs in an estimated 30 stores across the Tampa Bay region, including in Pasco County.

The “Jobs in Bloom” hiring spree anticipates adding 80,000 jobs at stores and distribution centers nationwide. There are full-time, part-time and spring seasonal jobs available, according to a news release from the Atlanta-based Home Depot.

More than half of Home Depot’s seasonal hires move on to permanent positions, the release said.

The largest number of available jobs, at an estimate of 3,000, is in Chicago. Other targeted cities include Dallas, Philadelphia and Sacramento.

According to the Home Depot website, jobs are available at the Zephyrhills location, at 32715 Eiland Blvd.; and, in New Tampa, at 17601 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. In Hillsborough County, the Carrollwood store at 16121 N. Dale Mabry Highway also has job openings.

Home Depot has retooled its online application process.

Applications take about 15 minutes on any type of electronic device – computer or mobile, the news release states.

“We want everyone to have an easy and convenient experience with The Home Depot, whether they’re shopping with us or applying for a position,” Tim Crow, executive vice president of the company’s human resources department, said in the news release.

To personalize the application process, Home Depot also is highlighting job experiences of current employees in video and photo essays. These are available at the store’s digital content site, “Built from Scratch.”

Other links are available at the online Careers site and #HomeDepotHiring.

Nationwide, jobs are available at nearly 2,000 stores and 75 distribution centers. Jobs include customer service and sales, lot associates, freight and receiving, store support and cashiers. Job availability varies from store to store.

For information, visit Careers.homedepot.com/jobs-in-bloom/.

Published March 8, 2017

Zephyrhills chamber ‘pays it forward’

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The seventh annual Pigz and Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest is over, but its community impact lingers on.

The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce earmarked more than $19,000 in scholarships and donations during its annual “Pay it Forward” dinner on Feb. 23, at the Silverado Golf and Country Club.

Evan McBride, part of a grilling group called Peachy Boys, from Mount Dora, turns some meat on the grill during the seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest on Jan. 21. Revenue from the event allowed The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce to earmark more than $19,000 in donations and scholarships to civic clubs, youth groups and graduating seniors from Zephyrhills High School.
(File)

The post-barbecue banquet celebrates volunteers’ efforts during the Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues Fest, which just wrapped its seventh year on Jan. 21. More than 100 sponsors, participants and volunteers attended the celebration.

Throughout the banquet, the chamber handed out $14,500 in donations to 11 civic clubs and youth groups, from money raised through the barbecue event.

Those donations ranged from $250 to $1,900.

The chamber also announced $5,000 in scholarships to graduating Zephyrhills High School students in May. Among those are a $1,000 performing arts scholarship, a $1,000 culinary arts scholarship and a $1,000 scholarship to a student “who may not have started well, but has made a turnaround in his or her scholastic life.”

Organizations receiving donations were the Pasco County Sheriff’s Posse, Zephyrhills Civil Air Patrol, Zephyrhills Noon Rotary, Zephyrhills Museum of Military History, Zephyrhills/Wesley Chapel Ministerial Association, Relay 4 Life committee, and the Resurrection House Mission.

Several groups from Zephyrhills High School also were rewarded, including Army JRTOC, Interact Club and Drama Club.

Each organization, which contributed the bulk of the festival’s 3,000 volunteer hours, was also presented with various certificates, plaques and other prizes.

The seventh annual Pigz in Z’Hills festival, meanwhile, was its most successful to date, chamber officials say.

Net revenue from the event totaled more than $50,000 — the highest mark yet, according to Melonie Monson, executive director of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce.

Moreover, the economic impact for the city of Zephyrhills from this year’s barbecue fest was estimated at about $500,000, Monson said.

Pigz in Z’Hills, now a mainstay for east Pasco, drew somewhere between 11,000 and 14,000 attendees.

It also featured 54 teams, and more than 140 vendors.
In a release, Monson credits some of the event’s success — both financial and turnout — to the new festival venue, which was completed just prior to the barbecue shindig.

The $70,000-plus venue spans 14 acres, and includes amenities such as a 20-by-40 stage, and 50 spaces equipped with water and electric.
It was constructed via a public-private partnership, with contributions from Florida Hospital Zephyrhills and the City of Zephyrhills. Additionally, John Kinsman, of Martin Electric, and Paul Correia, of Sunstate Aluminum, contributed labor and expertise in electrical, plumbing and construction.

The venue is now expected to be used for various events and fundraisers organized by nonprofit organizations.

Published March 8, 2017

Woman’s club offers giant flea market

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Donations are still rolling in for one of the Tampa Bay area’s most popular flea markets.

The annual GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club flea market is scheduled for March 3 and March 4 at the Historic Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 in Lutz.

Events hours are from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., on both days.

The annual GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club flea market is scheduled for March 3 and March 4 at the Historic Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 in Lutz. The hours both days are 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The flea market has been a staple in Lutz for more than 35 years.
(Kevin Weiss)

Club members have been gathering and sorting thousands of donated goods since Feb. 13.

Locals have provided a wide range of items, including household and children’s goods, antiques and collectibles, sports equipment and gardening tools.

Higher-end products, such as silver and crystal, also will be sold at the market.

Clothing items, as usual, are in high supply.

They’ll also be in high demand, said Pat Serio, one of the flea market’s organizers.

“Clothing is so hugely popular, because most items are $1 per piece, with the exception of a few boutique items,” she said.

“People walk out with armfuls,” Serio said.

Many flea market items, Serio said, are in the $1 to $5 range.

Other goods — like children’s toys and crafts — can be had for a quarter.

Shoppers, too, can often find rare “treasures” — like depression-era glasses — at relatively good prices.

“We’re our own best donors. We give the bulk of this stuff, and we solicit all of our friends,” Serio said. “We love donating, and we love shopping.”

The flea market has been a staple in Lutz for more than 35 years, organizers say. It had modest beginnings, with “just a few tables” at the Lutz Train Depot.

In a short time, however, the event outgrew that location.

Now, thousands flock to the Historic Old Lutz School during the two-day run.

It is now the club’s second-largest fundraiser, behind the annual Lutz Arts & Crafts Show each December.

Sales from the flea market go toward the club’s college scholarship fund.

At the end of the event, leftover items will be donated to local organizations, including Goodwill and Salvation Army, local nursing homes, veterans’ charities and local libraries.

Put simply: “Nothing goes to waste,” Serio said.

Besides the woman’s club, groups such as Boy Scout Troop 12 and the University of South Florida’s Sigma Lambda Gamma sorority chapter pitch in to help with the event.

About 80 other volunteers also help, including club members’ husbands and children.

Last year, the flea market was the organization’s primary fundraiser after the arts show was cancelled due to a burgeoning sinkhole in Lake Park.

That led to a budget shortfall — which the organization is still recovering from, Serio said.

Even so, the burden for a banner showing is lesser compared to 2016.

“There isn’t so much stress about how much money we’re going to make to fill the coffers,” Serio said. “But, there’s always stress involved in coordinating, and there’s a lot of chaos involved…”

Still, members find a way to have a fun experience once the flea market commences.

“We all enjoy it,” Serio said.  “We like to think of ourselves as the ‘Chiseler’s North.’”

Karin D’Amico, the club’s president, acknowledged the event takes “a lot of work.” However, the immense community support makes it worthwhile, she said.

“We have carload after carload of people …dropping off stuff,” D’Amico said. “That’s what I think is (special) — the community coming out for us, and you can really feel the support…”

Anyone who wishes to donate items for the flea market still has time. Donations will be accepted until March 1. All donations should be in clean and in working order. Large appliances and sleeper sofas cannot be accepted.

To find out more about making a donation, call (813) 948-4752.

GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club Flea Market
Where: Old Lutz School, 18819 U.S. 41 in Lutz
When: March 3 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and March 4 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For information, call (813) 948-4752.

Published March 1, 2017

Zephyrhills collects feedback from residents

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Hundreds of Zephyrhills residents have voiced their sentiments on key emerging issues and opportunities facing the city — both now and in the future.

Last fall, hundreds of residents provided input on key issues facing the city via surveys and roundtable discussions. The exercise was to gather feedback and input for the Zephyrhills 2030 Comprehensive Plan.
(File)

And, several of their thoughts and ideas — collected via a community-wide survey and a series of roundtable discussions — will be used in crafting an update to the city’s 2030 comprehensive plan.

Planning director Todd Vande berg and Tammy Vrana, an urban planning consultant, presented the findings in a summarized report during the Feb. 13 meeting of the Zephyrhills City Council.

The City of Zephyrhills launched a community opinion survey in September to identify the city’s key issues and opportunities across the next 15 years, for the Zephyrhills 2030 Comprehensive Plan.

The survey had more than 700 responses, Vande berg said.

Some of the main themes:

  • The city is rich in assets, and downtown is its greatest asset
  • Downtown has challenges — such as blighted properties
  • The city needs more housing choices
  • Demographics are changing Zephyrhills’ identity — poorer, younger
  • School quality is declining, as is community spirit
  • The city needs to address emerging health trends, including obesity
  • Growth is strong, but happening in places mostly outside the city’s control
  • South of Zephyrhills represents a development opportunity
  • Opportunities for economic development are in place
  • Traffic is growing

The Zephyrhills Comprehensive Plan projects forward 15 years to envision where residents will “live, work, learn, play, socialize, maintain health, and preserve assets for benefits of current and future generations.”

The plan — which should be complete by the end of 2017 — also seeks to address the city’s growth and development priorities and opportunities. Per state law, comprehensive plans must be evaluated every seven years and updated as needed.

Additionally, city consultants and planning department staff conducted interviews of more than 50 people with different backgrounds and interests.

Roundtable discussions were held on a number of issues, including real estate, economic development, culture/leisure, health, education/job training, community quality of life and transportation/mobility.

Approximately 200 ideas were compiled from those exercises, Vande berg said.

A released report summarizes the key points identified from each of those meetings.

“We felt like we…really gathered a lot of data and input from the community to what our issues are, and what we want to identify and address,” Vande berg said.

During roundtable discussions, a questionnaire was distributed asking for “must-haves” in the 2030 comprehensive plan update.

The report shows many stakeholders want the following:

  • More ways for the community to come together via work, play, arts and culture, suitable venues
  • Better communication between the city and its residents
  • Better housing opportunities
  • Better upkeep of the property and an improved public realm
  • Less crime
  • Improved services for homeless people
  • Better quality of education
  • Greater focus on the airport industrial area and corridor
  • Increased attention on south Zephyrhills, and south of downtown

The report also includes what stakeholders think the city “must avoid” in the 2030 plan update:

  • Too much focus on retiree communities, and not enough on youth
  • Too many alcohol events
  • A homeless shelter
  • Unfriendly environments
  • Another high school
  • Low-income housing
  • Becoming a “bedroom community”
  • Growth too quickly
  • Growth without adequate infrastructure, such as traffic
  • Urban sprawl
  • High-speed traffic

Some of the issues involving growth, however, are unavoidable, according to city manager Steve Spina.

“There’s going to be a certain amount of growth,” he said. “There’s going to be a number of those things, whether we want it or not — it’s coming.

“Our role is…to bring it in and control it the way that it meshes with the kind of community that we have right now.”

Council vice president Alan Knight agreed, pointing directly to the city’s growth.

“Some of this is going to be inevitable,” he said. “Some of it’s coming — it’s coming like a freight train.”

The strategy to manage impending growth issues, Vande berg said, is to plan ahead, and still identify and maintain “a sense of place.”

Vande berg said the next task for the planning department is to confirm and prioritize goals for the comprehensive plan, and engage the community again.

The preliminary focus areas are: developing strategies for stabilizing downtown, developing a scope for the master plan of the industrial corridor, and creating a vision for the north and south corridor of U.S. 301.

Those strategies, Vande berg noted, will take a collaborative effort from the city’s planning department, the city council, Pasco County and the state legislature.

Meanwhile, key forthcoming city projects include the extension of State Road 56, the transformation of Zephyr Park and the redevelopment of Gall Boulevard.

To view the complete report, visit tinyurl.com/zfezgx6.

Published March 1, 2017

Revving up for a good time in Land O’ Lakes

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Live music, interesting cars, corn dogs and kids’ activities — those are just a few of the offerings expected at the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival set for March 11.

Stonegrey, which just released its second album, ‘Voice of Reason,’ is among the musical acts on tap for the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival.
(Courtesy of Suzanne Beauchaine)

The festival, presented by the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce, is being held at a new venue this year.

David Gainer, event chairman and president-elect of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce thinks the new location — at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center and Park — will benefit the event because of its high visibility off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

The festival was moved because organizers believed that a new stage, that’s now under construction, would be completed.

“We thought the stage would be ready this year, but you know how construction goes. It was delayed,” Gainer said. “Ultimately, once the new stage there is completed, that is going to be our new home.”

So, instead of using the new stage, musicians will perform on the park’s football field, Gainer said.

Soul Circus Cowboys will bring their modern rockin’ country sound to the headline act of the second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival, set for March 11.

Festival-goers can bring their own lawn chairs and blankets, or can purchase reserved seating, which is $15 in advance, or $20 at the gate.

The event kicks off with the Al and Ida Silver Memorial Car Show, which is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the top 30 cars.

“We’re expecting to have 40 to 60 cars there, of all kinds, not just classic,” Gainer said.

Meanwhile, the music festival will be on the football field, where people will be able to bring lawn chairs and blankets, to listen to the bands.

The music will begin around 12:30 p.m., with entertainment running through the event’s conclusion, around 8 p.m.

This year’s musical lineup includes:

  • Tim Serdynski
  • The Higgins Brothers
  • City Groove
  • Stonegrey

Shalyah Fearing, a singer from Hudson who will be familiar to fans of the television show, “The Voice,” is expected to perform around 3 p.m., Gainer said.

And, Soul Circus Cowboys, the headline act, will perform around 7 p.m., Gainer added.

Food will be available for purchase, including barbecue meals, corn dogs, hamburgers, sliders, and funnel cakes. Beverages for sale include beer, wine, water and soft drinks.

There also will be plenty for the kids to do, including games, bounce houses and obstacle courses, Gainer said.

The event gives the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce a chance to provide an event that local residents will enjoy, Gainer said.

“It’s a good thing, all around, for the community,” Gainer said.

Second annual Land O’ Lakes Music Festival
Where: 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., Land O’ Lakes
When: March 11, with car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; other festival activities, noon to 8 p.m.
Cost: Free general admission; preferred seating, $15 in advance and $20 at the gate; $10 parking. (Tickets are available at EventBrite.com)
Details: Car show, music festival, business and arts & crafts showcase, children’s activities and food.
For information: Visit CentralPascoChamber.com.

Published March 1, 2017

Stormwater fees could increase to fix flooding

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Pasco County residents could be asked to pay higher stormwater fees in 2018.

A divided Pasco County Commission approved a tentative increase of $38 a year on top of the current $57 stormwater fee, for a total annual payment of $95.

Pasco County Commission Chairman Mike Moore tried to persuade the board to wait until June to take action on the issue.

By then, Moore hopes the county will have good news on its request for state funds to help pay for some of the county’s priority projects.

Moore also wants to see the county explore other options, including special assessment districts.

“I don’t see people lining up for increased fees,” Moore said.

Despite those arguments, the vote was 4 to 1, with Pasco County Commissioner Mike Wells dissenting.

Moore reluctantly voted yes — after he was assured that the increase could be rolled back, or scrapped, if state funds arrive.

Three commissioners – Ron Oakley, Kathryn Starkey and Jack Mariano – argued that the county can’t keep putting off repairs and maintenance of infrastructure that should have been funded years ago.

County staff members estimate there is a backlog of 93 years of service and maintenance to clean and repair culverts.

There also is a list of more than 300 stormwater projects, in total, that are needed to address flooding. The cost for that work is estimated at $300 million.

“We’ve got to step up and make this decision,” Oakley said. “I believe flooding and stormwater issues are countywide. It’s all part of our working together.”

To delay action would be to do the same thing as previous commissions have done, Starkey said.

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said there was some urgency in deciding on a stormwater rate increase. The county’s department heads will begin piecing together the 2018 budget in March.

The Pasco County Property Appraiser’s office also needs to know if there’s a rate increase, in a timely manner for its trim notices to property owners.

Baker, who is retiring in July, also had an opinion on the rate increase.

“I have always been a proponent of funding a fix,” she said.

The additional revenues are expected to generate about $24 million for engineering and design of 10 priority capital projects, and for cleaning, replacing and maintenance of culverts and swales.

Southwest Florida Water Management District, known as Swiftmud, will contribute half of an estimated $38 million construction cost for the capital projects.

The fee increase was among several funding options presented to commissioners by county staff at the Feb. 21 meeting.

They opted to postpone decisions on two choices. One would be to establish a capital utility fund for stormwater projects and collect $77 annually from property owners. The fee collection would begin in 2019. That would be on top of the $95 fee, for a total of $172 a year.

Another would establish the special assessment districts that Moore, and also Wells, favor.

“When is enough, enough,” Wells asked. “I don’t think it’s fair for everyone to pay for what is really the west side.”

Tropical Storm Hermine in 2016 and torrential summer rains in 2015 caused extensive flooding to Pasco County homes. Much of the damage was in New Port Richey, Port Richey and Elfers, though some areas of central and east Pasco also saw flooding.

Starkey countered that the county’s property tax base suffers whenever properties, wherever their location, are devalued because of flooding damage.

Mariano agreed.

Although commissioners live in different districts, they are elected countywide, Mariano noted.

“You are hurting the rest of the county by not fixing those problems,” Mariano said.

Published March 1, 2017

Strong opinions continue to surface on health care reform

By

It wasn’t an overflow crowd for U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ third listening session, but there were plenty of people with strong opinions on the issue of health care reform.

There were also more people in this crowd who spoke in favor of repealing and replacing the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, than did at the previous session that Bilirakis had in New Port Richey.

Hundreds of people have been showing up to U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ listening sessions on healthcare reform. The sign shown here claims that in Bilirakis’ district alone, there are 43,000 people insured under the Affordable Care Act.
(File)

Opinions at the session, at the Center for the Arts at Wesley Chapel High School, varied widely.

“I beg you to keep something, either the ACA or something like that for pre-existing conditions,” a woman from Land O’ Lakes said. “I will lose my husband, if you don’t keep something.”

But, another woman said Obamacare has not worked.

“I know several friends — they need insurance, and they can’t afford Obamacare. It’s not the Affordable Care Act, period,” she said.

A woman priest told Bilirakis that the current uncertainty about health care is frightening people.

“I have many parishioners, friends and family members, and I just want to tell you that I’ve never seen people so afraid,” she said. “This is real fear, this is not fake fear,” she added.

A Wesley Chapel man asked Bilirakis: “Are you going to keep your campaign promise, to repeal Obamacare?”

Bilirakis responded: “I will vote to repeal Obamacare,” which was greeted by both boos and applause from the crowd.

“I want a replacement,” Bilirakis said.

He also assured the audience that people will not be cut off from their insurance without another option.

“By the way, we will have a transition period … I’m arguing for three years. Some people are saying two years,” Bilirakis said.

A Pinellas County man said he’s with Bilirakis: “This was a change election. We stand behind you, to repeal and replace.”

Another man urged Bilirakis to find a way to make health care more affordable.

After being laid off, the man said he purchased Obamacare, but the premiums were expensive, and the deductible was $6,200.

He told Bilirakis that he stopped paying his premiums so he could afford to see his doctor, then he was billed by the federal government for his “shared responsibility” because he doesn’t have insurance.

Another speaker said the cost of Obamacare has caused a family member’s business to lay off employees and to close a location, reducing the company’s profits and costing employees their jobs.

“I’m in favor of repealing and replacing Obamacare,” the woman said.

One man asked Bilirakis point-blank: “Are you going to make it less expensive?”

Bilirakis responded with one word: “Yes.”

Still others want to see universal health care, so that no one is left out in the cold.

As one Vietnam war veteran put it: “If you can look into yourself and say, ‘Why not universal health care for all people?

“If we can spend $20 trillion to try to kill people, how about a few trillion dollars for wellness of the American people?” he said.

A woman from Quail Hollow assured Bilirakis that she wasn’t a paid activist, and like the vast majority of Americans, she wants to see members of Congress reach across the aisle to solve problems.

Many speakers praised Bilirakis for meeting with his constituents rather than ducking them, as other members of Congress have done.

“You are my constituents,” Bilirakis told the crowd. “I have an obligation to listen to you. The best ideas come from the people.”

One Wesley Chapel woman urged Bilirakis, when he goes back to Washington, to turn to a higher power for guidance on the health care issue.

“Get on your knees and ask God’s help to make the right decision,” she said.

Bilirakis issued a statement following his third listening session, noting that he will continue to seek common ground and constructive exchanges with people from his district.

“But, the Affordable Care Act in its current state is unsustainable, and it’s only going to get worse — costs are going up, while choices and flexibility are dwindling. We need a health care system that is truly patient-focused, and I will use the input from my recent meetings to shape my work on replacement legislation.”

Published March 1, 2017