Local News

Center Ice to open in October

June 1, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The walls are up, the ice has been poured, and droves of hockey players soon will visit Pasco County.

A hard-hat tour of the 150,500-square-foot Florida Hospital Center Ice Complex revealed significant progress of the $20 million project, at 3173 Cypress Ridge Road in Wesley Chapel.

Ice was poured on the rinks just a few weeks ago. There will be four full-size rinks, and one mini-rink. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — Ice was poured on the rinks just a few weeks ago. There will be four full-size rinks, and one mini-rink.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

A crowd of more than one hundred Pasco county business leaders and representatives toured the facility recently to learn about its features, and about available programs and sponsorship opportunities.

The facility is set to open “sometime in late October,” with a soft opening expected earlier, officials said.

Described as the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States, the building will house five ice rinks, a multipurpose sports floor, a 2,600-square-foot fitness facility and an indoor sprint tack.

There also will be a full-service family restaurant on the second floor and five party rooms totaling 17,000 square feet. Several corporate events have already been booked.

Florida Hospital also will have an office there, focusing specifically on enhancing sports performance and injury prevention.

“We’ve come a long way on this project (since) when we were looking at just an empty field,” said George Mitchell of Z Mitch, the facility’s developer. “It took a lot of imagination from the beginning.”

An indoor track is one of the more unique features at Florida Hospital Center Ice.

Officials believe the massive facility will attract 1.5 million to 2 million visitors annually, with 40 percent coming from outside Tampa Bay.

Former hockey pro Gordie Zimmermann, a Z Mitch partner, said the colossal edifice is creating a buzz as far north as Toronto and Montreal, two hockey-crazed cities.

“People up there are already talking about this building,” Zimmermann said. “We had some teams up there that are in the junior leagues that actually want to come down here and do training camps and tournaments here.

“It’s going to be great for our community to have the tournaments and programs — like the girls’ Olympic (hockey) team training, world-class figure skaters, USPHL (United States Professional Hockey League) teams here; we’re really looking at a top to bottom programming,” he added.

Zimmermann, who was an integral cog in developing the Ice Sports Forum in Brandon, visited approximately 500 ice rinks throughout North America to conceptualize the Wesley Chapel venue.

Area business leaders and representatives were on hand for a hard-hat tour. They learned about available programs and sponsorship opportunities.

One of the complex’s features that is drawing quite a bit interest from hockey directors in Canada isn’t even ice-related — it’s the indoor sprint track.

Zimmermann said more hockey players and athletes are using sprint tracks for conditioning, but Canada’s bitter cold temperatures make it difficult to train outdoors year-round.

“A lot of those program directors up there were looking at our website, saying, ‘Wow, you’ve got an indoor sport track to train on.’ They thought that was really good; that’s an attraction for them,” Zimmermann said.

Zimmermann already has a hockey and skating department in place.

Kevin Wolter, who spent 30 years within the USA Hockey Coaching Education program, was named as the facility’s general manager. Shari Trotter, the figure skating director at the Ashburn Ice House in Washington D.C., was hired to serve as the facility’s executive figure skating director.

Moreover, two maintenance staff members will be coming aboard in June to begin managing the facility’s refrigeration program.

In total, 20 full-time and 30 part-time employees will be working at the facility, Zimmermann said.

The initial opening was set for October 2015, but it was delayed by the weather and issues with the installation of the refrigeration system.

Florida Hospital Center Ice
Facility overview
The 150,500-square-foot complex will be the largest ice sports facility in the southeastern United States. Here are some details:

One Olympic-size rink (200 feet by 100 feet)
Two North American standard-size rinks (200 feet by 85 feet)
One multipurpose sports floor/ice pad-multipurpose pad conversion
A 2,600-square-foot fitness facility
An indoor sprint track and conditioning area
An onsite athletic trainers and sports performance program
Five corporate/birthday party rooms
A family sport restaurant
Private and public locker rooms
A hockey skills training area
A revolving entrance door to control inside temperature environment

Florida Hospital Center Ice will have numerous programs and uses, including:

Local, regional, national and international hockey tournaments
University and high school teams’ practices and games
Recreational leagues
Hockey development programs
Roller and street hockey
Camps, clinics, multisport training
Figure skating
Public skating, birthday parties
Sled hockey
Indoor sports: box lacrosse, volleyball, basketball
Sports Performance Enhancement and Injury Prevention programs
Corporate events, public meetings

Published June 4, 2016

Local history project heads to national competition

June 1, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Land O’ Lakes High School freshmen Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon weren’t even sure if they could squeeze competing at the local History Fair into their crowded school schedule.

But, the pre-International Baccalaureate students decided to give it a shot, and even pulled an all-nighter to finish their exhibit on time.

The hard work paid off.

They came in first at the district competition and placed second at state.

Isabella Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Lauren Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are traveling to College Park, Maryland, to competed in the National History Day competition. Their exhibit, behind them, has been selected to represent the state of Florida in a display at The Smithsonian. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Isabella Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Lauren Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are traveling to College Park, Maryland, to competed in the National History Day competition. Their exhibit, behind them, has been selected to represent the state of Florida in a display at The Smithsonian.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

Soon, they’ll be traveling to College Park, Maryland, to be among more than 3,000 students from around the world competing at the Kenneth E. Behring National History Day Contest. The event is being held June 12 through June 16.

No matter how that turns out, the teenagers already have one claim to fame.

Their exhibit, “Sacagawea: Cultural Exchange Through New Encounters,” has been selected to be part of a special display.

“Every state affiliate gets to choose one project to represent the state. The state affiliate has chosen their project, and their project is going to be featured in The Smithsonian Museum,” said Jennifer O’Connor, coordinator of Pasco County’s History Fair.

Torres, of Wesley Chapel, and Pinero-Colon, of Land O’ Lakes, are the only Pasco County students who have placed at the state competition, and just the top two in the state are selected to go to the national competition, O’Connor said.

Their project examines the role that Sacagawea played in the Lewis & Clark Corps of Discovery Expedition.

“We thought she was kind of the star of the expedition,” Pinero-Colon said.

Historians focus on Lewis and Clark, she said, noting they “don’t really show how much of an asset she was to the expedition. We wanted to show that.

“She basically administered all of the exchanges between the Native Americans they encountered. She made it a lot easier for them to travel,” Pinero-Colon said.

“She was passed around through tribes against her will, so she knew the land very well,” she added.

Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon conducted thorough research to create an exhibit tracing the life of Sacagawea and her contributions to Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery.

Sacagawea’s knowledge of the land and tribal languages made her invaluable, the students said.

“She served as an interpreter,” Pinero-Colon said.

Without Sacagawea, she said, ““We think that they wouldn’t have made it to the Pacific.”

The students tell the story of the Native American woman’s contributions through an elaborate exhibit tracing her life.

“They spent a lot of time looking for primary sources, and pictures and artifacts, that they could use, so that would help them in telling their story,” O’Connor said.

What sets this project apart is the quality of the research the students have done, O’Connor said.

“I think a lot of students will fall short, in that, they spend a lot of time on secondary sources, with the Internet,” O’Connor said.

Torres and Pinero-Colon, on the other hand, found information through the Library of Congress and tracked down researchers who specifically knew about Sacagawea.

“We spent time researching and interviewing professors for it, so we could kind of cross-examine all of the research, for different points of view on it,” Pinero-Colon said.

They wanted to be sure they were thorough, and relied on credible and knowledgeable sources, Torres said.

While they’ve earned the right to compete at the national level, there’s no funding available to cover the costs, so O’Connor and the students will be traveling at their own expense. They estimate that it will cost around $3,000 to cover travel expenses and contest costs.

This is some of the details included in the exhibit created by Isabella Torres and Lauren Pinero-Colon. Their work captured second place in the state history fair.

The students have set up a Go Fund Me account, in hopes of attracting some community support.

O’Connor has been involved with the district’s History Fair for nine years. “It’s always interesting to see what students will come up with,” she said.

“Most of the students learn the process of putting together the History Fair project in middle school.

“At the high school level, if they’re going to do History Fair project, they have to do it on their own. It’s not like there’s class time devoted to this. They have to do it on top of their other classes, staying after school, doing research,” O’Connor said.

The annual theme is broad enough to permit a wide range of projects, O’Connor said.

“The NHD (National History Day) theme provides a focused way to increase students’ historical understanding by developing a lens to read history, an organizational structure that helps students place information in the correct context and finally, the ability to see connections over time,” according to the organization’s website.

Contests are held each spring in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, American Samoa, Guam, and at international schools in Central America, China, Korea and South Asia, the website says.

Students create historical projects in one of five categories: documentary, exhibit, paper, performance or website.

Torres said she and Pinero-Colon wanted to compete because they believed it could help them in their college applications.

Plus, Torres added: “We just wanted to do something different. We don’t really participate in sports. We’re academic people. We wanted to apply knowledge and make something cool out of it.”

As it turns out, they did.

State History Fair winners from Pasco
Forty-six Pasco County Schools students competed at the 2016 Florida National History Day competition in Tallahassee in May.
Lauren Pinero-Colon and Isabella Torres won second place in the Senior Group Exhibit and earned them a right to compete at the national level.
Other Pasco winners were:

Akshaya Venkata, Land O’ Lakes High School: Economic Freedom Award, Senior Individual Website – Comparative Advantage of the Potosi Silver Mines
Jacqueline Cupo, Ariella Meier and Emerson Parks, Pasco Middle School: Third place, Junior Group Documentary – Hurricane Andrew and the Encounter with Florida
Shelton Ried, Paul R. Smith Middle School: Spirit of 45 Award, Junior Individual Documentary – Nazi Invasion of Florida
Pierce Thomas, Paul R. Smith Middle School: Third Place, Junior Individual Performance – Marco Polo and the Silk Road
Hannah Mayer, River Ridge Middle School: Outstanding County Award, Junior Individual Exhibit – Jeff Corwin Gone Wild
Ronak Argawal, Charles S. Rushe Middle School: Mayflower Scholarship, Junior Paper – James Cook

Published June 1, 2016

Good kids abound

June 1, 2016 By Diane Kortus

It’s easy to become jaded when hearing repeated media reports about our troubled youth — from drug addiction to repetitive crimes to disrespect of authority. Some days, one can’t help but wonder if there are any good kids left.

There are, of course.

This issue of The Laker/Lutz News is evidence that our communities are full of good kids.

It reaffirms that most teenagers obey the law, work hard, and have dreams and aspirations to make our world a better place.

Today, we publish the names of 3,000-plus high school seniors in the Class of 2016 who are graduating from area high schools. These are the good kids who don’t make the news because they respect their parents and their teachers, and meet all of the requirements to graduate.

There are many, many more of these good kids, than there are of those who go astray.

The newspaper that’s delivered to your home lists the graduates from the two high schools closest to where you live. If you receive the Land O’ Lakes edition of The Laker, your schools are Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes. In Wesley Chapel, they are Wiregrass and Wesley Chapel. And in East Pasco, they are Zephyrhills and Pasco. If you live in Hillsborough County, you receive The Lutz News and your schools are Steinbrenner and Freedom. Private schools pull from various areas, so these graduates are published in all our zones.

You don’t have to be a graduate, or relative of a graduate, to peruse through our pullout graduation section. We want you to look for names of kids you know from your neighborhood, church, recreational activities and friends.

When you find graduates you know, honor them by sending a congratulatory text or email, or better yet, pick up your telephone and give them a call.

This year, several elected officials are recognizing local seniors with advertising in our graduation edition. I find it heartwarming to see these politicians express their belief and confidence in our students, and encourage them to participate in the democratic process.

As publisher of The Laker/Lutz News, I want to thank Pasco County commissioners Jack Mariano, Kathryn Starkey and Mike Moore. I also would like to thank State Rep. Danny Burgess and State Rep. Richard Corcoran, Florida’s incoming Speaker of the House of Representatives. Also, thank you to Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano and Pasco Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley.

I also want to thank the many local businesses and civic groups who support our seniors with advertising in today’s newspaper. Many of these businesses have advertised in our graduation edition for many years, and never hesitate to step up and help with the cost of publishing this section.

The Laker/Lutz News is honored to recognize our graduates — an accomplishment that will forever play an important role in their future.

Published June 1, 2016

Saint Anthony to dedicate renovated school

June 1, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Saint Anthony Catholic School is planning a dedication ceremony for its renovated school building at 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive in San Antonio.

The event is slated for June 3 at 10 a.m., and the ceremony will mark the completion of a project to rejuvenate a three-story brick building originally erected in 1922.

The building in the foreground is the recently completed renovated 1922 building on the Saint Anthony school campus in San Antonio. Portions that could be restored, were restored, and the rest was renovated in the $1.8 million project. (Photos courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School) — The building in the foreground is the recently completed renovated 1922 building on the Saint Anthony school campus in San Antonio. Portions that could be restored, were restored, and the rest was renovated in the $1.8 million project.
(Photos courtesy of Saint Anthony Catholic School)

“We are so excited,” said Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal, noting that Abbott Isaac Camacho of Saint Leo Abbey will bless and dedicate the building.

After the blessing, those attending will be invited to tour the building and to stay for light refreshments.

The $1.8 million project involved restoration where possible, combined with renovation, to prepare the building for use by students today and for future generations.

The project is being paid for by the parish community, and $260,000 is still needed to cover the costs, the principal said.

The renovation involved converting the top floor of the building into a cafeteria and recreation space. The second floor has a media room, a computer lab, an art room and a Spanish classroom.

The ground floor has a music room, two extra classrooms and storage space.

Students began using the renovated building two weeks ago, Ottapurackal said, because she wanted the eighth-graders to have a chance to use it before leaving the school.

The cafeteria, on the building’s top floor, has gleaming wood floors. The floors, which are original to the building, were beneath carpeting that was torn out.

The dedication ceremony is being held on the last day of school because the community was eager to tour the building, she added.

Over the years, thousands of students have been educated in the building at a school whose history dates back to the 1880s.

Saint Anthony’s wants to share its celebration with anyone who would like to attend.

It issued this invitation through a news release: “You are invited to stroll through the halls of history, rekindle fond memories, and perhaps find the calling to make new memories for your children or grandchildren.

“Please join us as this grand hall of learning is dedicated and blessed as it prepares to enter into the next chapter of its story. You may find yourself among the pages.”

The renovation is the second major project completed at the school in recent years.

This computer lab reveals Saint Anthony Catholic School’s desire to give its students opportunities to use modern technology. At the same time, the crucifix on the wall and the message on the bulletin board demonstrate the school’s emphasis on a Catholic education.

Last February, the school celebrated the dedication of a new building that was funded through the St. Petersburg Diocese’s Forward in Faith Capital Campaign.

The school officially opened in 1884, two years after San Antonio was founded as a Catholic colony.

The year before the school opened, a widowed woman named Cecilia Morse moved into the community with her six children. When she inquired about the school, she was told it could wait until there were more settlers. Instead, she began teaching 14 children — including six of her own — in her kitchen.

Saint Anthony Catholic School is the oldest parochial school in the diocese and also is one of the oldest Catholic schools in Florida.

School Dedication
What: Saint Anthony Catholic School is having a blessing and dedication of its renovated 1922 school building. After the blessing, there will be school tours and refreshments.
Where: 12155 Joe Herrmann Drive, San Antonio
When: June 3 at 10 a.m.
Who: All are welcome, but please RSVP by calling (352) 588-3041. The school wants to be sure to have enough refreshments.

Published June 1, 2016

Cross Creek: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ spiritual home

June 1, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings followed an unlikely path from Rochester, New York, to a rustic farmhouse in hardscrabble Florida — and to international fame as the author of “The Yearling.”

Sight unseen, she and her husband, Charles Rawlings, took a risk on a working farm with 1,635 fruit-bearing trees and 150 “good” chickens.

Exterior view of the house where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived, at Cross Creek. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Exterior view of the house where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings lived, at Cross Creek.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

But it was there, in 1928, that Rawlings found her spiritual destination, a sense of place and belonging.

Today, visitors to the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park may feel, as they step through a side gate to the farmhouse, that they are stopping by to visit a friend.

On a wooden sign, Rawlings’ own words say it all, “Here is home.”

A sandy path leads to the farmhouse. Chickens and roosters roam the yard, scratching in the dirt. Shirts and sheets on some days are pegged to a clothesline.

A rustic-looking barn, off to the side, is the gathering point for guided tours of the 19th century farmhouse. Otherwise, visitors are free to roam where they will, to peek through windows into a faded tenant’s house, imagine turning the key to a yellow 1940 Oldsmobile parked beside the house, or stroll in solitude among hammock trees and palmettos on trails that loop from farmhouse to tenant house.

This is the writing table where Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings sat to compose books that were read around the world. One of them, ‘The Yearling’ won her a Pulitzer Prize.

“There’s a feeling people get when they come to the property,” said Rick Mulligan, a tour guide at the park. “It’s what she writes about. It’s peaceful. It’s restorative. It’s Old Florida. It’s essentially the same as when she was here.”

More than 23,000 visitors walk through that gate each year.

Some know scraps and pieces of Rawlings’ life, gleaned from two Hollywood movies based on “The Yearling” and her autobiography, “Cross Creek.”

But for some, the journey is a pilgrimage to the home of a writer they came to know in their childhood through the coming of age story of a young boy and his pet deer.

The state park is bare of commercial trappings. There is no gift shop, no bookstore. The parkland in soul and spirit is the same homestead where Rawlings lived for nearly two decades.

The citrus grove is gone, but fruit trees still thrive. A kitchen garden is planted and harvested by tour guides that work there. Chickens lay eggs in a barn that is a replica of the original one.

As Rick Mulligan guides tours at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park, his admiration for the writer and his knowledge about her life are apparent

Almost all of the furniture in the house is original, kept in storage for many years after her death by her second husband, Norton Baskin.

It was here in the 1930s when Rawlings saw her first stories published, “Cracker Chidlings” and “Jacob’s Ladder.” Her first novel “South Moon Under” — about moonshining — followed in 1933.

Then, in 1938, “The Yearling” came out, and Rawlings won a Pulitzer Prize.

She had struggled in obscurity for years, writing Gothic-inspired stories that didn’t impress editors or readers.

Maxwell Perkins, a renowned editor at Scribner’s, encouraged Rawlings to abandon Gothic and write what she knew – the lives and often hard times of her neighbors who scraped by, living off the land.

“She truly found her inspiration when she came down here,” said Mulligan. “It was a crazy risk. She almost had to give it up.”

The kitchen in Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings’ home was well-stocked, and the author was known for using fresh fruits, vegetables, herbs and eggs in the meals she prepared for her guests.

After the 1929 Depression, Rawlings and her husband divorced, and she struggled to hold onto the farm.

With literary success, financial benefits followed. One of her first large expenditures was a bathroom and indoor plumping. But, an outhouse still stands, just outside a back door.

Daily, she sat at a table on the veranda, typing on a Remington Noiseless typewriter and chain-smoking Lucky Strikes.

She had a reputation for speaking her mind, though Baskin once described her as the shyest person he ever knew.

One thing she would never let pass – the mispronunciation of her maiden name.

It is KinNAN (with the emphasis on the second syllable), not Kinnan (with the emphasis on the first).

“She would correct you,” Mulligan said.

Rawlings entertained often at the farmhouse, inviting neighbors and fellow writers including Robert Frost and Zora Neale Hurston.

Perkins and actor Gregory Peck, when he was filming “The Yearling,” also came.

She relied on oil lamps until the house was wired for electricity in 1950.

Besides being an acclaimed writer, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings was an avid reader, as demonstrated by these shelves filled with books at her Cross Creek home.

She suffered two bouts of malaria while at Cross Creek.

The farmhouse, room by room, is left as she lived in it.

When Rawlings died in 1953 at the age of 57, she willed her property to the University of Florida. Today, the state’s park system manages the property.

More than a half-century later, visitors continue to be attracted to the place where Rawlings worked and lived.

They come from everywhere, from Florida, New Hampshire, Arizona, North Carolina and Rawlings’ home state of New York. But, Mulligan said international guests also arrive, including residents of Poland and a professor from China who teaches Rawlings’ work to her students.

“She was a compelling individual,” the tour guide said.

What: Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Historic State Park
Where: 18700 S. County Road 325, Cross Creek, Florida
Hours: Park grounds open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; guided tours of the farmhouse from October through July, Thursday through Sunday, except for Christmas and Thanksgiving. Tours are at 10 a.m.; 11 a.m.; 1 p.m.; 2 p.m.; 3 p.m.; and 4 p.m.
Cost: Parking is $3 per group in one vehicle. Tours are $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 6 to 12. Children 5 and under are admitted free.
For more information, visit FloridaStateParks.org, or call (352) 466-3672.

Published June 1, 2016

Trails master plan under review

June 1, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County is mapping out its greenways, trails and blueways to preserve more of natural, wild Florida, and to give residents more opportunities for outdoor activities.

Increasingly, that brings into conflict choices between public access and private property rights.

Pasco County commissioners grappled with the issue at a May 17 workshop.

Commissioners are searching for answers on how to sort out some unique land use priorities in establishing a master plan for a county trails network.

Allen Howell, Pasco County’s senior planner for bicycles and pedestrians, talks with county commissioners about a proposed trails map for a master-planned system of greenways, trails and blueways. (Courtesy of Richard K. Riley) — Allen Howell, Pasco County’s senior planner for bicycles and pedestrians, talks with county commissioners about a proposed trails map for a master-planned system of greenways, trails and blueways.
(Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

County staff are updating policies and a map that would be adopted as part of long range planning for the trails network. The map includes planned and conceptual trails, as well as existing trails, and already has the approval of the Pasco County Metropolitan Planning Organization.

But words carry meaning, and commissioners didn’t like the language of a proposed ordinance that struck out the word “new” in front of the word “development.”

It set off alarm bells on how existing development projects would be treated as the trails network is knit together.

“You’re not going to require existing developers to go back and upgrade to new standards,” said Pasco County Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey.

“I think it opens up a can of worms,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore.

While there is an increasing interest in recreation and exercise, Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader said, “I’m always concerned about unintended consequences. I just want some clarity on what the real intent is so we don’t have those unintended consequences. I support the idea of providing more recreation and trails.”

Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said county staff is in early stages of drafting the ordinance, which would deal with policy. The regulatory process then would be the next step, she said.

“We haven’t started crafting the language yet,” Baker said.

Starkey said a “hierarchy” of trails should be identified. “We need to clearly define where are the master trails.”

Some of the lines on the map are ideas of where trails might go, and can be moved, she said. “We’re trying to get from (point) A to (point) B. We’re not going to take someone’s property to do it. We need to make sure that’s plugged in there.”

Many gated communities provide trails as amenities for their residents, said Allen Howell, the county’s senior planner for bicycles and pedestrians.

“Not all trails are publicly accessible,” he said.

The county’s trails network will be developed as part of area road projects, Penny for Pasco projects, the Sun Trail projects and private development.

Schrader said the marketplace would likely determine when and how private developers want to participate in the trails network, and when public access would be allowed.

Public comment wasn’t taken at the workshop, but land use attorney Clarke Hobby spoke briefly to commissioners, suggesting “softer” language was needed for the ordinance.

Afterward, Hobby said the county’s intent with the ordinance “isn’t clear.”

He suggested the county adopt its regulations for the trails creation before adopting a new map. “No one is against trails,” he said.

But, he pointed out one trail line on the current, proposed map cuts through private property in northeast Pasco that was bought 25 years ago.

Published June 1, 2016

Zephyrhills fire department remains status quo

June 1, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

The Zephyrhills City Council has decided to continue operating the city’s fire department on its own and not to merge with Pasco County Fire Rescue.

Council members agreed unanimously to keep the status quo, ensuring the department will remain intact and continue to utilize its two fire stations.

Zephyrhills city manager Steven Spina presented three options to the Zephyrhills City Council regarding how to proceed with the structure of the city’s fire department. (File Photo) — Zephyrhills city manager Steven Spina presented three options to the Zephyrhills City Council regarding how to proceed with the structure of the city’s fire department.
(File Photo)

The council’s unanimous support for the department drew a standing ovation for its action, from several fire department employees and their families at the council’s May 23 meeting.

The decision came after Zephyrhills City Manager Steven Spina presented three potential scenarios for the fire department going forward:

Option 1: Maintain the status quo and continue to operate as a city fire department with two stations and current personnel. Also, immediately advertise for a fire chief to fill the vacancy.
Option 2: Begin discussions with Pasco County on the concept of consolidating the department with Pasco County Fire Rescue.
Options 3: Consider the option of closing one fire station — likely station 2 — and consolidate fire services into one station to reduce operating and equipment costs.

Spina outlined the pros and cons for each option, figuring it was a prudent time to have a discussion on the topic, especially with the department’s amplified $2.4 million budget and its frequent management turnover. The department has had three fire chiefs in four years, including last month’s resignation of Fire Chief Daniel Spillman.

While the city manager wasn’t looking for an immediate answer from the council, he was given one: they agreed that Option 1 was the top choice.

“I think the citizens that we serve deserve the top quality that they get by having their own fire department and their own police department,” Councilman Charles E. Proctor said. “I can’t see myself voting to eliminate the Zephyrhills Fire Department.”

Kenneth Burgess, the council’s president, concurred: “I feel like it’s insurance—you hope you never have to use it, but you’re glad it’s there.

“I’m a big proponent of the city fire department,” he said.

City council members unanimously agreed to keep operating both of the city’s fire stations, including Fire Rescue Station 2, at 38410 Sixth Ave. (Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills) — City council members unanimously agreed to keep operating both of the city’s fire stations, including Fire Rescue Station 2, at 38410 Sixth Ave.
(Courtesy of City of Zephyrhills)

A 2015 report compiled by the former fire chief shows that 1 percent to 2 percent of Zephyrhills Fire and Rescue calls are fire related, while 76 percent of all calls are medical in nature. Nearly 23 percent of all calls are cancelled within route.

Spina noted there’s duplication in services with the city and Pasco County Fire Rescue, since the county also responds to all medical and fire calls. The county is then responsible for transporting all medical patients to hospital care, which they’re required to do by state law.

As a result, 80 percent or more of all emergency calls are covered by both agencies, the report shows.

Despite the duplication, Zephyrhills Fire Lt. Mike Richards feels it’s crucial for the city to still have its own fully staffed fire department.

Richards addressed the council, acknowledging calls could be handled more efficiently and effectively with the county. But, Richards was quick to comment that his fire rescue team often arrives to the scene at least three minutes faster than the county, which he said is a significant timeframe, especially in emergencies such as a heart attack or stroke.

“A three- to four-minute window on a medical call can make a major difference,” said Richards, noting the city’s sizable middle-to upper-aged population. “Minutes count — and I mean even one (minute) to two minutes.”

Richards said the department’s personnel supports keeping the status quo, and rebuked the idea of merging fire services with the county.

“There is a community connection to having your own services,” he said. “The second you allow an outside agency to (handle services), you’re under contract, and if it doesn’t fit the contract, you pay extra or you start negotiating. You have no control, and it’s a detriment to your community.”

That was the feeling of many people present during the meeting, including Zephyrhills resident Sharon Reisman.

“I’d like to keep things in a small city local,” Reisman said. “I think it gives you more control. I know it would probably save a lot of money when you consolidate with the county, but I think when you have local firefighters and local people protecting their own city, they’re more interested in it; it makes the people feel better.”

While the report also shows that about 80 percent of calls are made in the northern tier of the city, the Zephyrhills fire lieutenant was also against consolidating operations into one fire station, which essentially would eliminate staffing for Zephyrhills Fire Rescue Station 2, located on Sixth Avenue.

“This city’s physical size is long, not super wide. I cannot get to a citizen in the south near as fast,” Richards said.

The meeting concluded with the council directing Dr. Spina to begin the search for a new fire chief.

“Well, Dr. Spina, I think it’s time to hire a fire chief,” Burgess said at meeting’s end.

Published June 1, 2016

From ‘Wallflower,’ the perks of repetitive learning

June 1, 2016 By Tom Jackson

On the topic of what is suitable reading for students of impressionable ages, the recent action attempted by a handful of parents at Pasco Middle School is instructive mostly because it is terribly familiar.

Every couple of years, it seems, certain grownups will flex their preferences in an attempt to assert preemptory authority over what youngsters are either assigned or even allowed to read.

Tom Jackson rgb In 2014, it was a John Long Middle School parent who created a stir when John Green’s popular and well-reviewed “Paper Towns” landed on the mandatory summer reading list.

Now, the book in contention is Stephen Chbosky’s 1999 novel, “The Perks of Being a Wallflower,” which falls into the same genre: a coming-of-age tale. This one is told from the perspective of a bright, sensitive 15-year-old who, despite his willingness to simply observe from the sidelines, is summoned to experience virtually every cynical, malevolent or simply awkward social situation known to modern America.

Somehow, “Wallflower” became assigned reading for Pasco Middle School seventh-graders taking advanced language arts. That’s “somehow,” because the book got into students’ hands almost totally unvetted.

Pasco Middle’s copies came courtesy of a spend-it-or-lose-it philosophy rampant in taxpayer-supported enterprises. The school had dollars lingering in its materials fund at the end of the last fiscal year and, rather than return them to the cash-strapped district, they were hastily spent on the recommendation of an assistant principal and teacher who’d seen the 2012 movie and had read the publisher’s tout sheet, but not the book itself.

With a box of books that benefited from Hollywood branding just lying around, it was inevitable “Wallflower” would become part of somebody’s curriculum, which it did a few weeks ago.

Luckily, the teacher assigning the book is a long-term member of the faculty who has a reputation for thoroughly reviewing materials assigned students. Oh, wait. The complete opposite of that. The deed was perpetrated by a long-term substitute who also had not read “Wallflower.”

I am confident Pasco’s public school staffers are fans of handing out homework. Is it possible they do none of their own? How do you buy for a middle school population, let alone assign to a passel of 13-year-olds, a book no one has read?

No, forget reading. That could devour an entire weekend. How do you buy or assign a book no one has so much as subjected to an internet search? Within an otherwise glowing description, Wikipedia notes “Wallflower” was banned by some school districts. Some? Further investigation reveals “Wallflower” is a perennial target of angry parents and appalled school board members across the nation.

This does not mean the critics of “Wallflower” are correct, necessarily, or even that Chbosky’s work doesn’t have an appropriate age-group audience. Still, when a cursory search triggers caution flags, it’s a sure sign other education professionals should proceed warily.

Alas, wariness did not prevail at Pasco Middle, which had money to burn and at least one class with late-year time to kill. Small wonder parents staggered by the book’s frank descriptions of suicide, masturbation, drug use and homosexuality were not salved by the methods employed by an administration and faculty they want and need to trust.

Listen, it’s easy enough to rebuke red-faced parents and committees that issue tut-tutting opinions over questionable material as collections of rubes and yahoos. Try to make an argument on behalf of pulling books out of the hands of students or off library shelves without conjuring images of ignorant villagers mobbed up with pitchforks and torches, ready to deliver swift and permanent retribution to some poor, misunderstood innocent. It’s almost impossible.

But what I wrote in June 2014, the last time something like this came up, applies now: Generally speaking, banning books is a bad idea. On the other hand, virtually every rule has an exception, and so it is with this.

When it comes to what goes into a youngster’s mind, parents are the ultimate source authority. You might not approve of what mom and dad choose to withhold or endorse, but you know what? Tough.

If parents oppose exposing the teens under their care to the rough-and-tumble of life you know is out there and, in your wisdom, you think those shielded kids are being ill-served, well, good for you. Also, it’s none of your business.

Meanwhile, it’s on each school at every level, from the classroom teacher to the principal to the superintendent, to be mindful about the individual pace of exposure to the world their parents are willing to endure.

Pasco Middle School failed that fundamental assignment at every turn. Its sadder-but-wiser lesson applies across the region.

Tom Jackson, a resident of New Tampa, is interested in your ideas. To reach him, email .

Published June 1, 2016

Hillsborough libraries offer summer fun

June 1, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Families looking for ways to help occupy their children during the summer may want to check out the events offered through Hillsborough County’s public libraries in north Hillsborough County.

Some events scheduled in coming weeks include puppet shows, art programs and robotics.

Spectators of ‘Wild Florida, Alive!’ can explore the wild side of Florida and learn about animals that make the state so unique. This is just one program being offered for free through the Lutz Branch Library and the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library this month. (Courtesy of Creative Arts Theatre, of the City of Tampa) — Spectators of ‘Wild Florida, Alive!’ can explore the wild side of Florida and learn about animals that make the state so unique. This is just one program being offered for free through the Lutz Branch Library and the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library this month.
(Courtesy of Creative Arts Theatre, of the City of Tampa)

One coming attraction, offered through the Lutz Branch Library, is “Wild Florida, Alive,” a show that will be presented by the Creative Arts Theatre of the City of Tampa Parks and Recreation Department.

The presentation explores the wild side of Florida and helps spectators discover the animals that make the state unique.

It’s an environmental adventure, highlighting Florida’s endangered species through live theater, shadow puppetry, and music.

The program is geared toward those around age 5 and older. It will be offered at the Lutz Community Center, which is next to the library, on June 14 at 11 a.m., and again at 2 p.m. It lasts 30 to 45 minutes.

Meg Heimstead, supervisor for the Creative Arts Theatre and ArtReach, said she enjoys watching children’s reactions to the shows.

“It’s such a joyous experience, when a child sees a puppet come to life and that puppet interacts with them,” Heimstead said.

The performers aim to encourage children to read, she said, noting the presentations are based on, or inspired by, literary sources.

Another show being presented through the Lutz Branch Library features dogs and comedy.

“The Tricky Dogs Show” will be presented June 28 from 2 p.m. to 3.p.m.

Like the puppet show, this show, which features a circus-style dog comedy act, will be at the Lutz Community Center, 98 First Ave. N.W.

The Lutz Branch Library, which hosts a number of other special events every month, is at 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Upcoming events at other area libraries are:

At the Jimmie B. Keel Regional Library, 2902 W. Bearss Ave., Tampa:

“Robotix Blox,” June 14 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Kids will use Lego Mindstorms, and those taking part will work together on robot building and coding. Recommended for those ages 8 and older. The program is limited to 20 participants. Those wanting to join in must register no earlier than one hour before the program begins.

“Art Over Summer,” June 21 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This program encourages children between kindergarten and fifth grade to express themselves through art. They’ll be making items to take home.

“Three Wishes on a Magic Fish,” June 22 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

The Bits ‘N Pieces Puppet Theatre will tell a story about a fisherman, a magic fish and three wishes. It is geared for kindergarten through fifth-graders.

“Wild Florida, Alive,” June 25 from 11 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., and 3:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Learn about Florida’s unique wild life through live theater, shadow puppetry and masks. For those age 5 and older.

At the New Tampa Regional Library, 10001 Cross Creek Blvd., in Tampa:

“Lost World Reptiles,” June 16, 11 a.m. to noon

In this program, for kindergarten through fifth-graders, Gino Sassani presents live snakes and reptiles in an educational program about the slithery creatures.

“Books We Love to Sing,” June 30 from 11 a.m. to noon; and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Christine VanHorn will lead an interactive musical experience, bringing classic children’s books and songs to life. For kindergarten through fifth-graders.

For more information, visit HCPLC.org, and click on the Events & Classes tab, and then the By Branch tab.

Published June 1, 2016

Reclaimed water gets go-ahead

June 1, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners have approved a $13 million reclaimed water project, with a 25-year lease agreement.

Construction costs for the project will be shared with the Southwest Florida Water Management District, which is providing about $7 million, including an estimated $5 million for construction.

The goals for the project are to provide the county with up to 5 million gallons of reclaimed water a day, restore natural habitats harmed by well field pumping, and to recharge the Floridan aquifer.

Pasco’s residences and golf courses are among targeted beneficiaries of the reclaimed water project.

The new facility will be built on about 237 acres of the 4G Ranch, a working cattle farm of about 2,905 acres, off State Road 52 in Land O’ Lakes.

The total lease costs are estimated at about $2.3 million for 25 years, but the lease can be extended for three 10-year periods.

Lease payments of about $40,000 will be paid in 2016, according to the agreement between Pasco and landowner, William Ted Phillips Sr.

Phillips is also chairman of Phillips & Jordan, the company hired for the project’s construction phase.

Four commissioners voted to support the project and lease agreement, but Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano dissented. He argued that more should be done to review alternate sites for the project, including at least one property in the Hudson area.

Mariano also said leasing land, as opposed to owning it, might not be the best financial choice long-term.

“We need to look at all the options,” he said.

Construction on a series of manmade wetlands is expected to begin in 2016, with initial testing and start date for the system in 2018.

Reclaimed water for the wetlands will be delivered and treated via a network of pipes, a pumping station and an existing reclaimed water main near the 4G Ranch.

The location of the property, between the Cross Bar well fields and the Cypress Creek well fields, is critical, said Michael Carballa, the county’s utilities engineer director.

“For decades, pumping (of water) has caused degradation to surface waters of natural habitat in these lands and areas,” Carballa said.

In some areas, such as Big Fish Lake near Masaryktown, Tampa Bay Water is paying to drill wells to draw water out of the aquifer to augment surface waters, he said. “Projects like this take a product that we essentially don’t use as much as we should and put it to a better use.”

Some concerns were voiced, however.

Owners of the Barthle Brothers Ranch, adjacent to the reclaimed water project, are worried about how reclaimed water operations could affect their land.

Larry Barthle, a third-generation rancher, said the family supports the project and favors reclaimed water, but has some concerns.

The language in the agreement is too vague in describing protections against negative impacts to surrounding lands, including flooding, Barthle said.

“What does adverse water mean?” Barthle said.

Mike Hancock, from Swiftmud’s Water Resources division, told commissioners that additional monitoring wells could be installed on Barthle’s property or “wherever it’s needed.”

With the county’s increasing growth, Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader said, “This is a model project. I think it’s a win-win for everybody.”

As the county grows, the project might be expanded.

“If the project were successful, we’d like nothing better than to replicate it,” said Carballa.

Published June 1, 2016