Local News

Rubber ducks create a splashing success

May 25, 2016 By Kathy Steele

The crowd cheered.

The loudspeaker broadcast a quacking-good tune – “Disco, Disco Duck.”

And, with a quick dumping of about 2,000 rubber ducks into Lake Padgett, the flock of ducks floated off, with a push from a high-pressure fire hose squirted into the water.

The rubber ducks, numbered on their underside, were adopted through donations. The owner of the duck that floated to first-place also won a bonus of $2,500. Some 68 prizes were awarded to the first ducks that floated to the finish line, out of a field of more than 2,000. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — The rubber ducks, numbered on their underside, were adopted through donations. The owner of the duck that floated to first-place also won a bonus of $2,500. Some 68 prizes were awarded to the first ducks that floated to the finish line, out of a field of more than 2,000.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

Prizes went to donors whose ducks were among the first 68 to hit the finish line. But, the true winners were the community organizations that will receive donations from the Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon.

More than 100 people came to the service club’s Duck Derby on May 21. Held for the first time this year, it is intended to become an annual event.

The all-day affair brought out families that shared shady spots on the lawn behind Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que, off Land O’ Lakes Boulevard.

They enjoyed live music and dined from a buffet of Hungry Harry’s barbecue, beans, chicken, and macaroni and cheese.

Ducks could be adopted at prices ranging from $5 for a single duck to $100 for a flock of 25.

The inflatable Rotary International sign is reflected in the sunglasses of Geoff Kranich, a member of the Rotary Club of Trinity. Kranich helped Erin Meyer, president of the Wesley Chapel Rotary, install the inflatable sign at the entrance to the Duck Derby.

Marcey Knight, 16, and Abri Woods, 17, worked at a drink table, taking tickets and handing out cool refreshments.

The Wiregrass Ranch High School students are members of Interact, a school-sponsored club that provides opportunities for community service.

Children bounced in the bouncy house, slid down an inflated slide or played carnival-like games for prizes.

Sales of the rubber ducks, barbecue and drinks went toward community projects, organizations or student scholarships.

“We support a variety of charities every year,” said Erin Meyer, club president.

Local and international projects and groups that receive the club’s donations include Pasco Education Foundation, Everyday Blessings, Farmworkers Self-Help, Habitat for Humanity, Sunrise Women’s Shelter and installation of water filters in third-world countries.

Jimmy Mason, in the foreground, of the Wesley Chapel Rotary goes after an errant rubber duck that jumped the floating lane during the Duck Derby.

In all, 68 prizes were handed out including a $2,500 grand prize to Brian and Isabelle Dunleavy. Other prizes included a fishing trip for five with a charter boat captain, two nights at Saddlebrook Resort, a $250 certificate for automobile repairs from TWA Firestone, a wine basket, pet grooming, and bowling games from Royal Lanes.

Derby sponsors included Fun Services of Land O’ Lakes, Sam’s Club, Cash 4 Gold, The Laker/Lutz News, and Hungry Harry’s Family Bar-B-Que.

The Wesley Chapel Rotary Club Noon hosts fundraising events annually to aid local community organizations or projects. The duck derby is expected to become a yearly tradition.

“Things like this allow us to have fellowship as a club and also to give back to the community,” said Kelly Mothershead, past president of the club.

Mike McDonald, of Trinity, was one of the performers at the Duck Derby held behind Hungry Harry’s Bar Family Bar-B-Que on U.S. 41. Held for the first time in Land O’ Lakes, it is expected to be an annual event.

Events like the duck derby create a presence in the community, said Rebecca Smith, chairwoman of the club’s foundation.

“We kind of touch everybody, and the more the merrier,” Smith said.

The Webelos of Cub Scout Pack No. 149 in Wesley Chapel helped build the duck derby course. They practiced their skills in tying square knots to link together the colorful noodles that marked the course’s boundaries.

“It was fun,” said 6-year-old Andrew Holliday.

His family bought a few ducks the day of the race, and enjoyed a picnic lunch.

“We just wanted to see what it was like,” said Brian Holliday, Andrew’s father.

Brother Connor, 5, sat in a lawn chair, with a plate piled high with his favorite food – mac n’ cheese.

At the shoreline, children waded into the lake, splashing and tossing small pebbles into the water. Or, they wandered over to climb inside the cab of the fire truck parked nearby. Pasco County Fire Rescue provided the hose and water to get the duck derby moving along.

At the derby’s finish line, club members plucked the winning ducks from the water and popped them into plastic bags for identification. Each duck had a number printed on its belly.

The disco dance tune “Disco, Disco, Duck” kept the festivities bouncing along.

“Wasn’t that adorable?” said Smith, who is already ready to join in the fun next year.

Published May 25, 2016

After professional death, a glimmer of life

May 18, 2016 By Tom Jackson

The abrupt unpleasantness that recently befell The Tampa Tribune is still very much with me. It is sure to linger for quite some time. The newspaper had been my home for nearly a quarter-century, and I had grown attached.

The Tribune was more than a place to work and draw a steady paycheck. It wasn’t a place for punching time clocks. It was a calling, and it was family. I may recover the former; I shall always grieve the latter.

I was a kid reared near the Hillsborough River who left town only as a result of the death of the afternoon paper — the Tampa Times — where I’d cut my journalistic teeth. So, yes, I was on staff when both Tampa papers died. Believe me, that was not the sort of history I set out to make when, just 17, I fell in love with the business at the sight of my first byline, seven stilted paragraphs about a high school basketball game.

I wandered a bit after that first closing: a shade shy of three years in Washington D.C., almost seven on the Left Coast. The Tribune brought me home from far-off Sacramento, where the time zone never quite fit me, and you had to change planes to see family — as even seventh-generation Californians said, quaintly — “back East.”

And back home is where I stuck, most of seven years downtown on the river, a dozen winding miles downstream from my boyhood stomping grounds, then roughly 18 years and a month in Pasco County, watching it grow and change.

Understand this about newspapers, whether they are dailies publishing urgently about the prior day’s events, or weeklies such as this one that reflect, provide context and project what’s ahead: They are woven into the fabric of their communities.

When they perish, as they increasingly do — the dailies, anyway — squeezed by forces beyond their command, it diminishes the localities they once served. That loss is felt, even after the newspaper’s readers have readjusted and moved on, their memories of the old broadsheet dulled by time, and the fast rush of the endless news cycle streaming on their mobiles.

Am I suggesting the demise of a newspaper is somehow more devastating than when an air conditioner manufacturer or a giant cookie factory packs up and heads to Mexico? No. That would require hubris beyond even me.

Carrier and Nabisco gave jobs and life to Indianapolis and the southwest side of Chicago, and it’s hard to imagine anything soon arriving to replace them. While the Tribune also gave jobs and life, and reliably reported the pulse of its coverage areas to the very end, fans of the printed page can turn to reliable substitutes. You have one before you now.

That conceded, I am rooting, hard, for my colleagues who find themselves without jobs, without ready conduits for their skills and talents, without the thrum of deadlines organizing their lives.

As they scramble to resume, in some fashion, careers battered by difficult facts, I am fortunate to have landed here, to have reclaimed the blessing of filling white space with my words, even if it is just one day a week. At least for that one day, I will have the chance to feel normal. Normalcy after a life-shattering upheaval is a welcome blessing.

Some of you know me. After 18 years and a month, I know many of you. But, in this debut column I am not going to presume anything. Instead, I am going to rely on the example set for me some 30 years ago by a friend who inevitably reintroduced himself at nearly every encounter.

Never mind that our wives and daughters were great friends, that we frequently visited each other’s homes and, in fact, that we spent a year teaching Sunday school together. Until the December day we set out bound for Tampa, he’d inevitably greet me with his right hand extended and an introduction on his lips.

In that friendly spirit, hello. I’m Tom Jackson.

I like (in no particular order) cake donuts with chocolate icing (not jelly-filled, no matter what my wife and the heir-apparent think), pulled-pork barbecue, thunderstorms, the Florida Gators, the St. Louis Cardinals, smallish government, low taxes, Paula O’Neil’s glow, Mike Fasano’s fervor, Jack Mariano’s goofy grin, honorary mayor’s races, the Beach Boys, the unflagging sincerity of retiring Toys for Tots leader Bob Loring, golf, Friday night football, the plans for the interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 56, Chris Nocco’s handshake, energetic border disputes, Ted Schrader’s accent (yours, too, Kurt Browning) and the triumph of ordinary folks over life’s daunting challenges.

Yes. Especially triumphs. Especially now.

By Tom Jackson

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

Tampa Bay Express gaining favor in Pasco

May 18, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A project to build express toll lanes on interstate highways, known as the Tampa Bay Express, has picked up an endorsement from the Pasco County Commission.

Commissioners voted 4-1 on May 10 to send a letter to the Hillsborough Metropolitan Planning Organization urging a favorable vote on the project.

The planning organization is scheduled for a June 22 vote on a project that has gained wide support in Pasco as a solution to commuter gridlock.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano voted no. He cited concerns about the increasing reliance on toll roads to generate revenues. He did approve of the potential for rapid bus service included in TBX.

“All the toll roads in the world don’t necessarily help your traffic,” he said.

The Hillsborough MPO’s decision will determine if the project goes forward as a transportation priority.

State highway officials peg the initial construction costs at about $3.3 billion. Some state estimates put the costs at as much as $6 billion.

“This is very, very important for the residents of Pasco County,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore. “We think about quality of life, especially for residents who commute back and forth to Hillsborough County and Pinellas County on a daily basis.”

For some, commuting times can be more than two hours a day, Moore said. “If we save 30 to 45 minutes for them, just think about the increased quality of life, the time they will spend with family and friends, not on the road.”

In recent weeks, the Pasco Economic Development Council and The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce also have come out in favor of the TBX.

The Pasco MPO added its voice to the chorus on May 12 by approving a resolution in favor of TBX.

Outside of Pasco, the TBX has been a divisive issue for months.

Some Tampa city leaders, including Mayor Bob Buckhorn, are strongly in favor. But, community activists in Tampa’s historic neighborhoods of V.M. Ybor, Ybor City, Tampa Heights and Seminole Heights strenuously object.

They say the added express lanes will slice through their streets, wiping out more than 100 businesses and residences.

Opponents have held protest marches and packed public meetings. Yard signs opposing TBX are a common sight.

The Sunshine Citizens is pushing against the project.

Most recently, the civil rights office of the Federal Highway Administration agreed to a preliminary investigation of TBX, based on a complaint that the toll system benefits wealthy commuters and motorists, while harming minorities who live in the affected neighborhoods.

If approved, nearly 50 miles of new toll lanes would be built adjacent to existing non-toll lanes along Interstate 275, Interstate 75 and Interstate 4. The toll lanes would stretch from St. Petersburg to Wesley Chapel, but also along Interstate 4 to Plant City and southward along Interstate 75 toward Manatee County.

Toll fees would vary depending on traffic volume, with most expensive costs likely at rush hours.

A new span of the Howard Frankland Bridge, between Tampa and St. Petersburg, also is part of the overall highway project.

And, the express lanes would open up to rapid bus service.

“I can’t emphasize how important this project is as a cornerstone of the master plan for the seven county region,” said Ramond Chiaramonte, chief executive officer of the Tampa Bay Area Regional Transit Authority (TBARTA). “I think we’re at a critical juncture. This is something that can transform this region within a decade from where we are now to a functioning transit system where we have express transit buses beginning to connect our suburban areas.”

The project could add about 90,000 temporary jobs during construction, said Richard Gehring, Pasco’s strategic policy administrator. While Tampa Bay is one of the largest job generators in the state, he said, “One of the biggest constraints on Tampa Bay is the transportation system.”

Work is underway to the north on about $400 million in highway projects, such as the State Road 52 interchange redesign at I-75, and TBX is a critical complement in efforts to reduce regional traffic congestion, Gehring said.

About 52 percent of Pasco residents commute outside the county daily, with about 66 percent of those motorists heading to jobs in Hillsborough, said James Edwards, director of Pasco County’s MPO.

“This is the first step to say we’re going to give Pasco commuters a choice,” he said.

Plus, Edwards said, “We look forward to reverse trips from Tampa.”

Published May 18, 2016

Lutz Guv’na candidates square off in amusing debate

May 18, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

There were only supposed to be two candidates facing off head-to-head at the annual Lutz Guv’na debate at the Old Lutz School on May 14.

That was until a mystery candidate was revealed prior to the debate: Donald Trump. Or, more accurately, someone dressed in a suit sporting a latex mask in the likeness of the Republican presidential candidate.

Lutz Guv’na hopefuls compete in a makeshift bowling event during the Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School on May 14. (Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos) — Lutz Guv’na hopefuls compete in a makeshift bowling event during the Lutz Guv’na Debate at the Old Lutz School on May 14.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

The entertainment had just begun, as actual Guv’na hopefuls Greg Gilbert and Andre Pamplona answered mostly tongue-in-cheek questions from dozens of Lutz residents, and family members, in the crowd.

They also squared off in a makeshift bowling competition, plus costume and watermelon-eating contests.

In between the fun-filled activities was emcee Paul Vahue of First Baptist Church in Lutz, steering the event along, all while providing several jokes and one-liners to those gathered at the Old Lutz School.

The day’s silliness was done in an effort for both Gilbert and Pamplona to drum up as much support as they could, hoping to raise as much money as possible for their “campaigns,” which ultimately go to benefitting several nonprofits and local organizations.

Those in attendance quickly discovered where each candidate’s “political” obligations stand: their Lutz businesses — Beef O’ Brady’s and Royal Bowling Lanes, respectively.

Gilbert’s slogan was “Beef it up at Brady’s,” while Pamplona’s was “Raising the education of bowling.”

A watermelon-eating contest was just one of the many entertaining activities during the Lutz Guv’na Debate on May 14. From left, Andre Pamplona, Donald Trump look-alike and Greg Gilbert.

Most of the adulation and amusement came during the question-and-answer format of the debate, where each candidate (and Trump) made countless exorbitant promises and guarantees.

One hot-button issue was how the candidates would prevent unwanted migrants, especially snowbirds, from coming into Lutz.

Gilbert’s solution was to have “all Canadians stopped in Land O’ Lakes.” Pamplona, on the other hand, had a more grandiose idea.

“I will build a huge wall of bowling pins around Lutz,” he said with as much seriousness as the Guv’na hopeful could muster.

Roaring laughter ensued.

The debate didn’t stop there.

The candidates disputed: Who should appear on the nickel: Homer Simpson versus Hillary Clinton. How to spend Lutz citizens’ money wisely: Beef O’ Brady’s versus Royal Bowling Lanes.

But, they agreed on one thing: How to appeal to women voters — with their good looks.

Another key, and laughter-filled, moment came when the candidates were asked, “What song best describes your work ethic?”

Gilbert answered swiftly, “It’s 5 O’ Clock Somewhere,” naming the popular tune by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett.

Pamplona opted to sing — or to attempt to sing — the lyrics to the hit Rihanna song, “Work,” perhaps appealing to the younger “voters.”

The candidates’ performances throughout the afternoon festivities did enough to even impress two former Guv’nas.

“I think they did a fantastic job on their answers,” said Suzin Carr, the only two-time Guv’na. “We’ve got 2 ½ candidates that were really putting themselves out there for the community.”

“They did great,” said Jennifer Rankin, outgoing Guv’na who raised more than $9,200 throughout her 2015 race. “They did very well. I wanted to be up there.”

The annual Guv’na Race fundraiser continues through the Fourth of July weekend, where the winner is announced, and earns the coveted “sash” from Rankin, the prior year’s winner.

The race, which started in 1991, is sponsored by the Lutz Civic Association. It typically raises several thousand dollars for about 20 beneficiaries.

Dignitaries at Saturday’s event included volunteers from Steinbrenner High School, the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club, the GFWC Little Women of Lutz, representatives from the Old Lutz School and the Lutz Civic Association.

For more information on getting involved or participating in Guv’na fundraising events, contact Greg Gilbert at (813) 909-2300 or , or Andre Pamplona at (813) 949-3603 or .

Published May 18, 2016

Developers have ideas for Gowers Corner

May 18, 2016 By Kathy Steele

An iconic crossroads in the Land O’ Lakes area — known as Gowers Corner — soon could be filling up with shops, offices and restaurants.

Pasco County commissioners approved a land use change on April 26 that clears the way for commercial development on about 44 acres at the southwest corner of the intersection.

“I think this is a great project for Land O’ Lakes,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore. “Right now, they don’t have that many amenities in the area.”

State Road 52 and U.S. 41 intersect at a historical crossroads, known as Gowers Corner. Developers are eyeing vacant land at the southwest corner for shops, offices, restaurants and some residential units. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo) — State Road 52 and U.S. 41 intersect at a historical crossroads, known as Gowers Corner. Developers are eyeing vacant land at the southwest corner for shops, offices, restaurants and some residential units.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

Currently, the crossroads is sparsely filled out with a Citgo and a Speedway gas station. Large swaths of wooded land and fields behind complete the mostly rural landscape.

But, change is coming.

Developers plan to submit detailed plans for a project with about 215,000 square feet of commercial and office space. Forty residential units are proposed above retail shops, and an undefined water feature is planned as a centerpiece for the commercial center.

Gowers Corner is a landmark — steeped in the history of pioneer settlers and business owners.

According to local historians, the crossroads and surrounding community, took its name from lumberman William Arthur Gower. He migrated from Georgia to Pasco and became supervisor of a sawmill in Fivay.

Gower at one time owned land at all four corners of the intersection. In the 1930s, he operated the first gasoline station and convenience store in the area.

Today, corporate entities of another lumber family – the Tibbetts – are owners of the property now slated for development.

However, the Tibbetts’ project and future roadway construction are raising concerns among some area residents.

Land O’ Lakes’ resident Theodore DeLong said the county needs to address stormwater drainage before any construction is approved.

During the torrential rains of July and August, canals that drain stormwater into Green Lake overflowed. Several homes in the vicinity of Gowers Corner flooded and septic tanks stopped functioning.

“The project itself, I’m not against,” DeLong said. But he added, “We have been having tremendous problems from the lake because of flooding.”

Residents need answers, and a fix to the problem, he said.

There also are concerns about the impact of a proposed project from the Florida Department of Transportation to realign the intersection and add more lanes to the roadways.

County Commissioner Moore assured DeLong that county and state officials are working on the flooding issue.

“We’re wanting to get with SWIFTMUD (Southwest Water Management District) and looking for a possible resolution,” Moore said.

Published May 18, 2016

Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes gains enrollment

May 18, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The Pasco County School Board has approved an enrollment increase for Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes, a charter school on Sunlake Boulevard, across the street from Sunlake High School and Rushe Middle School.

The school was operating at 728 students, but will be able to increase the enrollment to 800 students for the coming school year.

This photo was taken when the seventh-graders from Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes traveled to Tallahassee to take part in the ‘Rally in Tally’ for charter schools. (Courtesy of Imagine School at Land O' Lakes) — This photo was taken when the seventh-graders from Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes traveled to Tallahassee to take part in the ‘Rally in Tally’ for charter schools.
(Courtesy of Imagine School at Land O’ Lakes)

Principal Aimee Williams said the school requested an increase, because it has been operating with a continuous waiting list of 400 to 600 students.

In its backup materials, the school district staff noted that Imagine is a highly performing charter school.

Williams credits the school’s success to two key factors: “Retention of staff and retention of families.”

More than 30 of its staff members have been there for five years or longer, she said.

There’s not much turnover in students, either.

Next year, the school will be graduating its first crop of eighth-graders who have been at the school since kindergarten.

Imagine opened nine years ago in a business park in Ballantrae and moved in January 2012 to what was then a new school building.

The school’s charter was renewed in 2013 for 15 years, extending the charter to 2028.

The school has a STEAM-certified staff.

It received the 2016 Promising Practice Winner by Character Counts and was 2015 runner-up in the National School of Character competition by Character Counts. It also was 2015 runner-up for National School of the Year by Imagine Schools.

Imagine’s students come primarily from Lutz and Land O’ Lakes, but also from Wesley Chapel, New Port Richey and as far away as Brandon in Hillsborough.

The opening of Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM School and the scheduled opening of a charter school in Lutz next year doesn’t worry Williams.

The principal thinks that families choose to keep their children at Imagine because of the quality of education they receive, and the relationships that have developed between the families and staff.

“We’ve proven our worth, and the families are committed,” Williams said.

Published May 18, 2016

New housing project unveiled in Dade City

May 18, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

Local residents and community leaders gathered for a May 12 grand opening ceremony at Hilltop Landings apartments in Dade City, following 18 months of construction.

The $15 million project serves as a replacement for Dade Oaks, a 38-year-old apartment complex that was built at the bottom of a drainage basin, forcing residents to regularly deal with flooding.

Those residents get first dibs on Hilltop Landings, located about a mile away from Dade Oaks, at 15641 14th St.

Future residents and community leaders gather for the ribbon cutting of Hilltop Landings. (Photos courtesy of J.P. Hervis) — Future residents and community leaders gather for the ribbon cutting of Hilltop Landings.
(Kevin Weiss/Staff Photos)

Designed and constructed by Gorman & Company Inc., the new complex consists of 69 modern, energy-efficient units, serving the needs of low-income families in Pasco County.

Sitting on 13 acres, the development includes a playground, community center and community gardens, all of which are well-lit and monitored with security cameras.

Pasco County pledged $2 million for the project, with the remaining funds coming from the U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, the Florida Housing Finance Corporation, First Housing, Boston Capital and RBC Capital Markets.

“It’s been a long struggle. It does my heart really well to see what we’ve accomplished here,” Pasco County Housing Authority Chairman David Lambert said at the ceremony. “It’s a far cry from three years ago when we came out and we started working on this complex. It took a lot of people…and we set out on a mission to replace or rehab all of our housing stock.”

Lambert was particularly thankful for HUD’s involvement in helping to facilitate the new development, along with its overall partnership with the housing authority.

Hilltop Landings features 69 modern, energy-efficient units. The project had a $15 million price tag. (Courtesy of J.P. Hervis)

“They provide a lot of funding…for some of our most underserved areas,” Lambert said. “We try to transition our folks out of public housing. Home ownership is one of the great American dreams, and HUD is a great provider and a great beacon for us.”

Ellis Henry, director of the state HUD office in Jacksonville, referred to the Hilltop Landings apartments as a “unique” project.

“This is something that’s not going to happen very much with just HUD and the federal funds,” Henry said. “This is a collaboration of many stakeholders, many funding sources, and the state and other entities that provide resources, as well as money to make this happen. That’s the wave of the future, and we’re happy to be a part of it.”

Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader said Hilltop Landings “is just one piece of the puzzle” in continuing to grow the county, noting its ability to provide affordable housing to Dade Oaks residents, as well as other low-income families.

“Dade Oaks was in an area that had some challenging issues with flooding and other issues that makes this such an attractive opportunity and an attractive alternative to where (Dade Oaks residents) once were,” Schrader said. “We’re proud to be able to provide some SHP (Supportive Housing Program) money with the HUD money to construct this fine facility.”

A children’s playground is one of the key amenities to Hilltop Landings. There’s also community gardens and a community center.

Schrader was also quick to mention the increases in the county’s housing prices, saying, “we still need to be cognizant that housing prices are rising, and (it) is becoming more and more of a challenge for the workforce to have a place they can call home.”

Patricia Gray, a resident of Dade Oaks, will soon be moving into Hilltop Landings, and was delighted the new housing is finally ready.

“Me and all the other residents, we never thought this was going to be here,” she said, “but now we have it, and we don’t have to worry about the flooding. We’re going to be safer.”

Once all residents are moved out of Dade Oaks, those buildings will be demolished and the area will be used for stormwater retention.

Pasco County Public Transportation plans to include Hilltop Landings on its bus route.

Hilltop Landings sits on 13 acres. It has a number of amenities, including on-site management, on-site social services, washers and dryers, a playground, a community center, a community garden, and security cameras and lighting. It has one- to four-bedroom apartments and duplexes.

Published May 18, 2016

Wiregrass Elementary is gearing up for first year

May 18, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Between 400 and 500 people turned out for a parent and community night to find out what lies ahead at Wiregrass Elementary, a new school opening in August.

Principal Steven Williams was delighted by the turnout.

“I love it. It’s wonderful to be part of a community that’s engaged,” Williams said.

During the first half hour of the meeting, Williams said he gave some general information about the school and talked about the vision for the school.

Hundreds of parents turned out to learn more about Wiregrass Elementary, a new school set to open in August. (Photos courtesy of Wiregrass Elementary School) — Hundreds of parents turned out to learn more about Wiregrass Elementary, a new school set to open in August.
(Photos courtesy of Wiregrass Elementary School)

After that, parents were invited to make their way around tables in the room, to seek additional information and to offer their thoughts.

Questions that came in during the meeting were answered within 24 hours on the school’s Q&A that’s posted on its website.

Besides parents, others on hand included representatives of the architect who designed the school, the builder who is constructing the school, and the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

The school is expected to open with 400 students, but is anticipating rapid growth, Williams said. There are residential developments nearby, and houses are sprouting up all around.

“We’re planning the school with change in mind and growth in mind,” he said, noting he’s buying furniture and textbooks for more than 400 kids. He knows he’s going to need more and wouldn’t be surprised to see enrollment topping 500 within 12 months of opening.

The principal is also planning for a school that’s going to grow in other directions.

“Do we have a fixed mindset or a growth mindset?” Williams asked.

Construction is ongoing at Wiregrass Elementary School. The new elementary school is slated to open with about 400 students.

The school wants to be a place that fosters growth — and that means for everyone, students, staff and leaders, too, Williams said. “None of us has arrived yet,” he said.

Besides inviting community partnerships, the school wants to create ties with John Long Middle School and Wiregrass Ranch High, Williams said.

For instance, a culinary student at Wiregrass Ranch High might be able to be involved in an elementary cooking club, Williams said.

Many of the questions raised by parents regarding specific issues are answered on the school’s website.

For instance, the school’s technology will include interactive whiteboards, Apple TVs, small group collaboration stations, iPads, MacBook laptops, 3-D computing stations and additional technological devices.

Each staff member will have a laptop, and students will have access to machines on a 4:1 ratio.

But, the school also is developing a “Bring-Your-Own-Device” program that will allow students to bring their own technology.

“It’s very important to me to have students ‘own’ their own technology,” Williams said, and that means going well beyond the typical uses for communication and entertainment. He wants them to be able to use the devices as resources, to help to elevate their education.

Students who are currently attending kindergarten through fourth grade and who live in the Wiregrass boundaries will be automatically registered. Those who are entering kindergarten or moving into the area must register. Individual appointments can be arranged.

The school will have before and after school care, and there will be clubs, though the types of clubs have not been determined.

Wiregrass will follow the school district’s dress code, so uniforms are not required. However, a line of spirit wear has been developed, and the optional items can be purchased through the school’s PTA.

Wiregrass will have gifted education through an inclusion model, which means the instruction will be embedded in all subjects, rather than delivered in a separate classroom.

“We want our students to be able to walk a learning path that is specific to them,” Williams said, noting the school will subscribe to the philosophy of “student-owned learning.”

There will be intentional outcomes, but different ways to achieve them, the principal explained. The teachers will serve as the guides, working with students as they work toward achieving those outcomes, albeit following different paths.

The school also is planning some special activities, such as the creation of a time capsule, to mark the school’s inaugural year.

For those wishing to reach the school’s staff before the new campus is completed, they can stop by the school’s temporary office at Sand Pine Elementary, 29040 County Line Road in Wesley Chapel, or call (813) 346-0700.

Wiregrass Elementary, 29732 Wiregrass School Road
School starts: Aug. 15
School hours: 9:40 a.m. to 3:50 p.m.
Childcare: (813) 794-2180
Transportation: (813) 794-0450
Additional information: WRES.pasco.k12.fl.us

Published May 18, 2016

Tourism continues to rise in Pasco

May 18, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County’s tourism figures continue to rise, and the prospects are bright for even more growth, according to Ed Caum, the county’s tourism manager.

Ed Caum, tourism manager for Pasco County, likes to remind people that tourists provide an important source of tax revenues in Pasco County and across Florida. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Ed Caum, tourism manager for Pasco County, likes to remind people that tourists provide an important source of tax revenues in Pasco County and across Florida.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Caum has been making the rounds to share the county’s news about another year of positive growth — following record numbers posted last year. He recently shared the county’s tourism story with members of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce during their luncheon meeting at the Heritage Harbor Golf and Country Club.

The county is on track to break its record in tourist tax collections.

It has collected $593,712 in tourist tax collections since October 2015, a 13.5 percent increase over last year, when it set its all-time record.

Caum said the county expects to exceed last year’s total, which exceeded $968,000.

Pasco isn’t known for gigantic theme parks and miles of pristine coastline, but it offers plenty of wide open spaces and lots of “quirky and eclectic attractions,” Caum said.

Just last year, Tampa Premium Outlets, off State Road 54 and Interstate 75, opened a 441,000-square-foot mall, featuring 110 retailers.

Cyclists from across the country made the trek to Pasco County in March to ride in the Gran Fondo Florida racing event. It is one of eight events across the country that are held as part of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series. (FIle Photos) — Cyclists from across the country made the trek to Pasco County in March to ride in the Gran Fondo Florida racing event. It is one of eight events across the country that are held as part of the Gran Fondo National Championship Series.
(File Photo)

Later this year, Florida Hospital Center Ice is set to open off State Road 56, parallel to Interstate 75, and that’s expected to draw scores of regional tournaments, and vie for national tournaments, too.

Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions presented by Pasco County draws competitors from the U.S. and Canada to Wesley Chapel every year. And, Gran Fondo Florida draws cyclists from all over the country to East Pasco’s rolling hills.

There’s an assortment of other events and attractions for people who enjoy a bit of adventure. There’s Tree Hoppers, in Dade City, a zip line course designed for aerial adventurers of all ability levels, and there’s SunWest Park, which is expected to attract worldwide attention for its beach volleyball courts and its wakeboard course.

And, there are fun events, such as the annual Kumquat Festival and the Florida Bug Jam in Dade City.

Besides all that, Pasco County has an international reputation for its nudist resorts, which account for about 20 percent of the county’s tourist tax revenues, Caum said.

Giraffe Ranch, in Dade City, gives visitors a chance to witness the lives of giraffes, living under huge live oaks and in open grasslands. (Courtesy of Pasco County) — Giraffe Ranch, in Dade City, gives visitors a chance to witness the lives of giraffes, living under huge live oaks and in open grasslands.
(Courtesy of Pasco County)

Plus, the county likes to promote its microbreweries and its Farm to Table restaurants, Caum said.

Tourist attractions do more than just offer people a chance to have fun, Caum said.

“Tourism is economic development,” he said.

Attracting people to the area gives them a chance to see what it has to offer.

Many visitors decide to become permanent residents, and some of their companies come with them, Caum said.

That leads to job growth, which helps propel the economy, he said.

Plus, taxes paid by tourists reduce the tax burden for Florida residents, which benefits everyone who lives here, Caum said.

So, when it comes to promoting the county, that’s everybody’s job, the tourism manager said.

He likes to tell a story about overhearing a young waiter being asked by a visitor what there was to do around Pasco County.

The waiter replied: “I’ve lived here forever. There’s nothing to do in Pasco County.”

That, the tourism manager said, is a missed opportunity.

Published May 18, 2016

Pasco County on a path to create wildlife corridors

May 18, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A network of wildlife corridors is closer to reality as landowners concede most of their objections have been resolved.

The ordinance comes nearly 16 years after a lawsuit settlement mandated that Pasco County create the corridors, also known as “critical linkages.”

The linkages function as protected pathways for wildlife as diverse as bears, panthers, salamanders and frogs.

At the first public hearing on May 10, Pasco County commissioners had a presentation from county staff members and took public comment. No vote was held.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore questioned whether a county ordinance to create wildlife corridors did enough to protect property owners’ rights. (Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley) — Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore questioned whether a county ordinance to create wildlife corridors did enough to protect property owners’ rights.
(Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Commissioners are scheduled to have their second public hearing and vote on the issue at their June 21 meeting at 10 a.m., in their chambers in New Port Richey.

“It’s been a long road to get here,” said Matt Armstrong, Pasco’s executive planner for the Long Range Planning Group.

The May 10 hearing was postponed from last year when commissioners asked for meetings and discussion on the issue.

The lawsuit was filed in the late 1990s and settled in 2000. Previous county commissions considered, but never approved, an ordinance.

Under the proposed ordinance, landowners could “willingly” sell their land to the county. Otherwise, the ordinance’s regulations would apply only if a landowner sought to rezone property for land uses of greater density or intensity, and had a corridor within the property’s boundaries.

Matt Armstrong, left, Pasco’s executive director for the Long Range Planning Group, and Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein answered questions at a public hearing on creating wildlife corridors.

Tweaks to the ordinance include a process to negotiate a corridor’s width; potentially rerouting the corridor without filing an expensive rezoning application; allowing a third party appraisal in land sale negotiations and an appeal to the commissioners; and splitting maintenance costs related to the corridors and their easements between the county and landowner.

“I’ve kind of run out of arguments against this ordinance, believe it or not,” said attorney David Smolker. He represents a client who owns about 140 acres that fall within one of seven wildlife corridors.

Mac Davis of the Gulf Coast Conservancy said county staff had listened to landowners and made reasonable changes. Now he said, the ordinance should be “rounding third base and heading for home.”

Determining the width of corridors, however, still gives Smolker and others some pause.

Keith Wiley, the county’s natural resources manager, said, “The staff will have the mechanisms to have the discussion with owners. Every piece along the corridor is different.”

But he added, the science behind how to create viable corridors is sound. “It’s being replicated across the world,” he said.

Minimum width is 500 feet; maximum width is 2,500 feet.

Mac Davis, of the Gulf Coast Conservancy, spoke at a public hearing in support of the county’s plan to create wildlife corridors.

About 7,000 acres is needed to create seven wildlife corridors, but the county already owns some land. Some areas are wetlands that can’t be developed. About 2,500 acres is owned privately and would be regulated through the ordinance, county officials said.

In Central Pasco, corridors would link current and proposed development projects at Starkey Ranch, Crossbar, Connerton and Cypress Creek.

With the spurt of development in Pasco, Janet Howie, of the Nature Coast Florida Native Plant Society, said, “Ecological corridors are even more important to help prevent a total environmental wasteland from happening.”

Some still have concerns, however.

Land use attorney Ethel Hammer told commissioners during public comment that the ordinance would substantially affect property owned by the Bexley family. She plans to meet with county staff to detail their objections.

Landowner Jim McBride said the corridors should be more narrow. He also said there would be problems arising from people seeking access to the corridors.

“Ultimately, I believe the corridors are going to have to be fenced,” he said. “You need to protect wildlife from people.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore shared that concern.

“Wildlife corridors are not people corridors,” he said. “We could have people roaming back and forth.”

It’s difficult to write an ordinance that covers every scenario, but Chief Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein said, “There is nothing in the ordinance requiring us to leave it open to the public. It’s best to deal with those on a case by case basis.”

Published May 18, 2016