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Want to go to Ren Fest for free? Keep reading.

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It’s time to party like it’s 1399.

When you think of a Renaissance Festival, you might think of jousting, medieval-style costumes, arrows, swords and people eating turkey legs. And guess what? That’s exactly what you’ll find at the Bay Area Renaissance Festival, 11315 N. 46th St.

A sword fight on a giant chessboard? It must be the annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival. (Photos courtesy of Bay Area Renaissance Festival)
A sword fight on a giant chessboard? It must be the annual Bay Area Renaissance Festival.
(Photos courtesy of Bay Area Renaissance Festival)

Now in its 38th year, the festival sits in an area near the Museum of Science and Industry in Tampa that has been converted into a European “village,” complete with all the characters you might find in that era.

And, the people tend to stay in character, too. Don’t ask them about websites and cellphones. They’ll look at you like you’re speaking a foreign language. But, if you want to catch a human chess match or some jesters on a stage, they can point you in the right direction.

There are actually several stages, located throughout the village, with shows running throughout the day. Some are musical, some are muddy, and others are slapstick comedy. There’s usually a performance going on somewhere.

In addition to the aforementioned jousting and human chess, there’s also gypsy dancing, magic, traveling fairies, puppets, games of skill, and activities for younger visitors.

Plus, there are rows and rows of vendors selling items you don’t often come across in the 21st century.

It’s nice to walk around the festival and see all the different shows, games and events happening at the same time.

It’s not fancy, but the people are friendly, and it almost feels like you’re really in a small village from ages past, filled with colorful costumes and plenty of things to do. That includes the visitors, who also dress up in pretty elaborate costumes sometimes. It’s not required, but if you have something that fits in with the time period, you’ll feel right at home.

It’s not exactly like old times, of course.

There are no famines or plagues to worry about, for example. So think of it as a visit to the past, only with plenty of food and drinks. And portable bathrooms, too. There’s something to be said for modern conveniences, right?

Knights will battle it out each weekend at the festival.
Knights will battle it out each weekend at the festival.

Unfortunately, there’s another modern aspect to the Renaissance Festival: At nearly $21 for adults, there’s no sign of 14th century pricing to be found. It’s a fun time, but not a cheap one.

Unless you read this column, that is. Because now you know that this weekend, Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, you can get in absolutely free. All you have to do is donate a little blood and you get a free pass to the festival. That’s worth a few minutes with the leeches, right?

I’m just kidding about the leeches. It’s a normal bloodmobile. But, it’s a great way to save a lot of money and donate to a good cause at the same time.

That’s a good weekend to attend the festival, too.

On Feb. 20 and Feb. 21, the theme is “Highland Fling,” which includes Celtic dancing, a kilt competition and the Highland Games, which are part of a strongman-type contest. That means watching feats of strength and heavy lifting while you enjoy a turkey leg. Hey, those can be heavy, too.

So, if you want to enjoy an annual tradition with plenty of games and entertainment, you can do it for free and help your community at the same time. No matter what century it is — saving money is always a smart move.

The Bay Area Renaissance Festival runs Saturdays and Sundays through March 20. Parking is free. For a complete schedule, visit BayAreaRenFest.com.

By Michael Murillo

Do you know of a fun event or location that might be a good fit for On the Cheap? Email Michael at . Keep it cheap, please.

Published February 17, 2016

New park seeks funding

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A grassroots effort from community members in Carrollwood Village spurred the idea for a new 50-acre park that may see the light of day in the next few years.

The Carrollwood Village Community Park expects to replace the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant once it goes offline, and the land is converted to a green space.

While the green site should be available by the spring of 2017, there’s not a timetable yet for when the park may open, because there’s no funding available for the park’s construction.

A new 50-acre park expects to replace the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant. (Photos courtesy of the Friends of the Northwest Regional Park)
A new 50-acre park expects to replace the Dale Mabry Wastewater Treatment Plant.
(Photos courtesy of the Friends of the Northwest Regional Park)

The county currently has $3.2 million for land acquisition and design of the park, according to Kyla Booher, manager of parks services with the Parks and Recreation Department.

However, about $4 million more would be needed to build the park, not counting administrative equipment or contingency costs.

“It’s a very rough estimate, but it could be upwards of more,” Booher said.

The construction funds would go toward site improvements, park access, infrastructure, lighting, landscape and other costs, the parks services manager added.

Booher said the parks department is still in the “very beginning” of the project’s development and environmental management process.

“We are in the planning process. We are looking at surveys right now,” Booher said. “We’re trying to solicit a design consultant for the master planning of the park.”

In September 2015, the parks department had a public meeting, seeking input from the community on the type of amenities they’d value the most at the 50-acre site.

Booher and her staff ranked the citizens comments, and created a top 10 “wish list” of amenities.

Walking trails, a dog park, a splash pad, a picnic area, a botanical garden and a nature center were some of the features most requested by community members.

“I think those are very reasonable requests,” Booher said. “There are much more that they wanted, but it wasn’t the general consensus.

“At this point, it’s going to be have a little bit more of a passive feel, so it may not have as much activity as a recreation site would with programs like dance and art classes.”

Hillsborough County has $3.2 million for the site’s acquisition and design. However, there is no funding for construction of the Carrollwood Village Community Park.
Hillsborough County has $3.2 million for the site’s acquisition and design. However, there is no funding for construction of the Carrollwood Village Community Park.

A more “passive” park is exactly what homeowners in Carrollwood Village want, according to Bill DeMare, co-chairman of Friends of Northwest Regional Park — the group responsible for spearheading the idea for a new park.

“We already have regional parks like Lettuce Lake Park, and we already have recreational parks — like basketball, tennis, indoor facilities, but this is more unique, and something the community can enjoy,” DeMare said.

“For years, we’ve talked about a dog park, a walking trail, and an area where you can just go and sit down and relax. It’ll be very serene.”

DeMare added it’s also important to have some sort of activity in the park, like an “upgraded” children’s playground.

“If we do a playground, it’ll be state of the art,” DeMare explained. It’ll kind of be a destination playground— not swings and slides— where parents and children can utilize ropes, ladders, rock formations and things of that nature.”

Once news spread about the retirement of the wastewater site, the Friends of the Northwest Regional Park collected several thousand individual signatures and received support from over 10,000 Carrollwood homeowners for a new park in the middle of Carrollwood Village.

“We started a grassroots effort to get the community behind the (park) idea, rather than allowing a developer to come in and have more congestion with stores or bars, or condos or apartments,” DeMare said.

The overwhelming support made the project an “easy sell” when presented to the Hillsborough County Commission last March, DeMare noted.

“It’s a lot easier to get approval when the community wants this,” Booher said. “The commissioners have been terrific.”

The community’s backing is one reason why the park services manager believes project will ultimately receive funding for construction.

“In my opinion, this is one of the more active projects that I’ve seen get picked up and get rolling with. There’s a very active group behind it, so who knows what could happen,” said Booher, referring to friends of the parks’ involvement. “I see this being a very high-profile political project that the community really wants, and typically, they find a way.

“It’s very fluid. It could happen at any time,” Booher said.

The next public forum will be held sometime in the spring or summer, Booher said.

Published February 17, 2016

Hunting for treasure in Webster

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If you can’t find the interesting and the unusual at the Webster Westside Flea Market, then you’re just not looking.

From a hog scraper, to a candlestick telephone, to a pair of 1950s roller skates with a key — the little flea market in rural Webster is a find all in itself.

Robert Borton recycles colanders to make table lamps, and sells them on Mondays at the Webster flea market. He’s a winter resident in Zephyrhills, but lives the rest of the year in Maine. (Fred Bellet/Photos)
Robert Borton recycles colanders to make table lamps, and sells them on Mondays at the Webster flea market. He’s a winter resident in Zephyrhills, but lives the rest of the year in Maine.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

In the pre-dawn hours, vendors arrive with their wares loaded in vans, pick-up trucks and car trunks stuffed to the max.

Then, they get to work setting up.

Some spread their trinkets out atop folding tables in the open air. Other arrange their items on rustic tables under covered sheds. Some scatter their goods on a plot of ground that is theirs for a day.

The ritual is the same every Monday, the only day of the week the market is open.

In winter — when the snowbird residents from up north migrate south — as many as 800 vendors stream in each Monday. Things slow down a bit in the summer season when the snowbirds reverse course. But, even then, 400 to 500 vendors unpack their goods at Webster.

With a 5 a.m., start time in winter, flashlights often light the way through rows and rows of vendors.

Bimmie Walters started out with a cardboard box of stuff that went unsold at her yard sale in Tampa. A friend suggested she take the box – probably some pottery knickknacks – and try Webster.

“I sold everything in the box,” Walters said.

That was 35 years ago.

“I fell into it,” she confessed.

Nancy Brennan, of Apopka, admires her old-style, trendy glasses in the mirror. She and husband, Shawn Brennan, were on their first shopping trip to the Webster Westside Flea Market.
Nancy Brennan, of Apopka, admires her old-style, trendy glasses in the mirror. She and husband, Shawn Brennan, were on their first shopping trip to the Webster Westside Flea Market.

And, now she and her husband, Ray Walters, are regulars at their permanent spot under a shed.

Webster can be as much about friendship as it is about sales.

Customers, especially the temporary snowbirds, stop by to get reacquainted.

“They expect to see you here,” she said.

Sometimes, Webster is about the thrill of the hunt.

There are things that one might expect: Picture frames, quilts, vintage clothes and Florida’s traditional pink flamingos.

And, there are less expected finds: A talking Pee-Wee Herman in his original box; a Grand Ole Opry Country Rose Barbie, collector’s edition, also in her box; and, a candlestick phone from 1915.

There are also doorknobs; buttons galore; a two-seater bicycle; a 1948 yearbook for Bowling Green State University; clip-on earrings; a Brownie camera; and, a photographer’s flash pan.

And, that’s just to mention a smattering of the types of items to be found at the Webster Westside Flea Market.

Anthony and Amy Ray hung around on Monday after a motorcycle swap meet at the market site on Sunday.

“It’s something to do,” said Amy Ray, who lives in Edison, New Jersey. “You don’t spend much money. You walk around.”

Good deals on hanging art, sculptures, rare books, toys, furniture, a talking Pee Wee Herman doll and old coins can be found at the Webster flea market.
Good deals on hanging art, sculptures, rare books, toys, furniture, a talking Pee Wee Herman doll and old coins can be found at the Webster flea market.

Her husband searched for lanterns, fishing gear and thermometers.

“I like hunting for stuff and looking for good deals,” he said. And, he added, “I like talking with people.”

The New Jersey residents weren’t alone in finding Webster. Vehicles in the parking lots sport tags from nearby Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties — and from as far away as Ohio, Arkansas, New York and Michigan.

The little market with the big-time reputation got its start in the 1930s as a farmers’ market.  Blue laws prohibited Sunday sales, so farmers came on Mondays.

Over the years, people added arts and crafts, collectibles and antiques.

Webster’s Westside Flea Market officially got its name in the 1960s. There is an East Side Market that is smaller, but it is owned and operated separately.

Alice Cushman and her late husband became owners of Webster’s Westside in 1992.

“We were looking for a good retirement nest,” said Cushman.

The site in total is 80 acres, with Westside claiming about 35 acres. But, there is room to add more vendor locations, Cushman said.

Over the years, she said, “It has grown like an old house.”

On weekends, the site is opened for a car and motorcycle show/swap meet. It is the largest monthly vehicle show in Florida, Cushman said.

A leather auction and a circus also drew crowds to the site on a recent weekend. Both could become annual events.

In Homosassa, Cushman owns Howards Flea Market, which is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

Yolanda Burns, a Pennsylvania native and winter resident of Clermont, checks out an item that caught her eye in Bimmie and Ray Walters’ booth at the Webster Westside Flea Market. 
Yolanda Burns, a Pennsylvania native and winter resident of Clermont, checks out an item that caught her eye in Bimmie and Ray Walters’ booth at the Webster Westside Flea Market.

The growth boom in new housing is changing the makeup of shoppers, with more snowbirds becoming permanent residents, Cushman said.

“We’re benefiting from that,” she added.

Robert Borton owns a home in Zephyrhills, but also spends time in his native Michigan. In his spare time, he made birdhouses as a hobby, and now he gets creative with lamp shades made from colanders.

He is a six-year vendor at Webster.

“It gives me something to do while I’m here,” he said.

Apopka residents Nancy and Shawn Brennan are longtime snowbirds, but had never visited Webster until recently.

“We just never took off on a Monday,” said Nancy Brennan, who glammed before a mirror trying on an old-style pair of sun glasses. “I had friends who talked highly of it. We’re just looking for the interesting and unusual.”

Gail Walker looks for hard-to-find books, especially on the British royal family.

“I’m hooked on the royals,” she said.

Harvey Finkle is an optician on most weekdays, but Webster vendor on Mondays. His mother gave him a taste for antiques and collectibles when she ran estate sales in the mid-1960s.

“I always helped her out as a kid,” he said.

He sells old toys, vinyl records, mostly from the 1960s, and optical equipment from the 1940s. Among his finds were a lens-o-meter and trial lens set.

“I do this for fun,” Finkle said. “I meet a lot of interesting people.”

Shopping at Webster is a 15-year pastime for snowbird resident, Sandy Probst, and an obsession for her husband, Lester. “He will not go anywhere, except to play golf before he comes here,” she said.

What: Webster Westside Flea Market
Where: 516 NW Third St., in Webster
When: On Mondays, from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m., in October through April; and from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m., May through September
Cost: Admission is free.
For more information, call (352) 793-9877 or (800) 832-7396, or visit WebsterWestsideFleaMarket.com.

Published February 17, 2016

Zephyrhills chamber seeks new director

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For the second time in less than six months, the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce is seeking a new executive director to run its day-to-day operations.

Chamber president Tim Linville said the chamber hopes to have someone in place by early March to “get prepared for next year.”

Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce president Tim Linville is heading the five-member search committee to find a new executive director. (Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)
Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce president Tim Linville is heading the five-member search committee to find a new executive director.
(Courtesy of The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce)

The new hire will replace Rod Mayhew, who left the post in January. He began working for the chamber last October, spending just around three months on the job.

According to Linville, the chamber’s selection committee began seeking Mayhew’s replacement three days after the 6th annual Pigz in Z’ Hills BBQ and Blues Festival ended on Jan. 16.

Linville said Mayhew was “looking for other opportunities,” adding that the chamber position “wasn’t a perfect fit for him.”

“He’s a good guy and, whatever he does, I’m sure he’ll be successful,” said Linville, who’s head of the selection committee.

Mayhew could not be reached for comment.

Mayhew was hired to fill the vacancy left by Vonnie Mikkelsen, who held the leadership role for six years before departing in July 2015 to accept a similar chamber position in Springfield, Oregon.

The executive director position pays between “$45,000 to $55,000,” according to the job posting.

The five-member selection committee is currently vetting candidates, and will choose “seven or eight” to do a phone interview, the chamber president said.

The top three candidates will get an in-person interview, with the committee choosing the top two to present to the chamber’s board of directors, which makes the final decision on whom to hire.

According to Linville, the chamber is looking to hire someone that “has past experience with chambers, or has been a director of other organizations.”

Published February 17, 2016

Attendance down for Pigz in Z’ Hills event

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The sixth annual Pigz in Z’ Hills BBQ and Blues Festival, drew a crowd of roughly 7,000.

That’s down about 3,000 from the previous year.

But, proceeds for the Jan. 16 event still met the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce’s projected revenue goals.

Attendance was down for the sixth annual Pigz in Z’ Hills BBQ and Blues Festival, but the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce still met its projected revenue goals for the event. (File Photos)
Attendance was down for the sixth annual Pigz in Z’ Hills BBQ and Blues Festival, but the Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce still met its projected revenue goals for the event.
(File Photos)

One possible explanation for the reduced attendance could have been its simultaneous timing with The Tampa RV SuperShow at the Florida State Fairgrounds.

The RV SuperShow, held from Jan. 13 to Jan. 17, drew more than 62,000 visitors, according to its website.

Droves of people flocked to the RV SuperShow the same day as Pigz in Z’ Hills because of the especially pleasant weather on Jan. 16.

“We had some early morning rains on Friday (Jan. 15) and Sunday (Jan.17) that kept some people away, but on Saturday (Jan.16), you could barely get into the building with the vendor booths from the time the gate opened until the end of the show,” Florida RV Trade Association Marketing Director Dave Kelly said in a report published by The Jacksonville-Times Union.

Pigz in Z’ Hills will face the same competition next year, as it is slated for Jan. 21, while the Tampa RV SuperShow is scheduled Jan. 18 to Jan. 22.

While Pigz in Z’ Hills’ turnout may have been down, Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce president Tim Linville was pleased with the shindig.

“Overall, the event went great,” Linville said. “We had lots of vendors — the same number of vendors that we had last year — and the music was good. The attendees seemed to be happy.”

The chamber reached its revenue goals, and plans to donate $15,000 back to the Zephyrhills community.

Various charities and local youth civic groups—such as the Pasco County Sheriff’s Mounted Posse, the YMCA of East Pasco, the Zephyrhills High School Interact Club and the Zephyrhills Army JROTC— will be beneficiaries.

Donations will be presented at the chamber’s “Pay it Forward” dinner on Saturday, Feb. 25 at the Alice Hall Community Center.

The next Pigz in Z’Hills festival is slated for Jan. 21, 2017. The chamber hopes to find a permanent event location near the Zephyrhills Municipal airport that can provide water, electricity and permanent staging.
The next Pigz in Z’Hills festival is slated for Jan. 21, 2017. The chamber hopes to find a permanent event location near the Zephyrhills Municipal airport that can provide water, electricity and permanent staging.

Linville was concerned that the chamber wouldn’t be able to do the same donations as it did last year, but it expects to be able to.

One reason the chamber met its revenue goals amid spotty attendance was because organizers have learned to better manage expenses from year to year, Linville said.

For example, if an event banner is bought one year, it can be used in subsequent years, Linville added.

In an effort to further reduce expenses and improve efficiency, the chamber hopes to lock down a permanent venue location on another piece of land at the Zephyrhills Municipal Airport.

Ideally, the new location will feature water, electricity and permanent staging, allowing for additional events in Zephyrhills.

“We have a lot of variable expenses that you can eliminate, if you have a fixed venue,” Linville explained. “Instead of having to set up a stage for one day, it can be set up permanently.”

It also will be good for other organizations that want to put on events, because they won’t have to rent a stage or rent generators, he said.

“It’s a lot more efficient that way,” he said.

Linville said the new venue could be up to 20 acres, which is significantly larger than the three acres that are currently used for the Pigz in Z’ Hills festival.

“A new venue…will give us a new and improved layout, which will help with music and vendors, and also the attendees,” he said. “It can be better organized.”

A larger venue may also pave the way for the return of the Celtic Festival and Highland Games to Zephyrhills. The festival’s immense popularity forced it to vacate its venue at Zephyr Park in 2011, with the hopes of finding a more accommodating location.

Published February 17, 2016

Spreading the word about Saint Leo

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William J. Lennox Jr., has been well-versed on the strengths of Saint Leo University for years.

Before assuming his current role on July 1, the retired U.S. Army three-star lieutenant general served on the school’s board of directors for nearly seven years.

But now, as Saint Leo’s president, Lennox is seeing the university from a new vantage point.

“When you’re on the board, you have the 60,000-foot view. And, I’m working my way down to the 6-foot view,” said Lennox, who was superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point for five years.

Saint Leo University President William J. “Bill” Lennox Jr., former superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, said people have asked him how Saint Leo and West Point differ. He responds: ‘The similarities are more striking. The strong mission statement. The focus on teaching and small classes. The value system. The people.’ (Photos courtesy of Saint Leo Unversity)
Saint Leo University President William J. “Bill” Lennox Jr., former superintendent of the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, said people have asked him how Saint Leo and West Point differ. He responds: ‘The similarities are more striking. The strong mission statement. The focus on teaching and small classes. The value system. The people.’
(Photos courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Now, Lennox, who prefers to be called Bill, said he sees firsthand both the strengths of Saint Leo’s people and of its mission. The focus on teaching, the small class size and the university’s clear set of values are key attributes, he added.

“You put that all together, you get quite a package,” Lennox said.

Given his background, the former military leader said: “People have asked me about the difference between West Point and Saint Leo.

“The similarities are more striking (than the differences). The strong mission statement. The focus on teaching and small classes. The value system. The people,” Lennox said.

Unlike West Point, however, Saint Leo’s story is not nearly as widely known.

“I think we’re the best-kept secret around here,” Lennox said.

He’s working to change that.

“We’re going to add a V.P., (vice president) for marketing. That is going to help us both with the targeted marketing, but also with the branding. I think a lot of people think we’re this sleepy little organization,” he said.

“Not many people understand that we’re the third-largest Catholic university,” he added.

With an enrollment of 16,000, the university has about 2,400 students at its campus in Saint Leo, and the rest take classes either online or in person at locations across seven states, in such cities as Atlanta and Savannah, and in the Tidewater area of Virginia, he said.

Saint Leo’s brand is very strong in the military, he noted. “People recognize Saint Leo and want to attend. And, I think that transfers out to the civilian populations in those areas, too.”

But, military cutbacks and security issues pose a challenge.

“Some of the posts are becoming very concerned about security. If you don’t have a military ID card, you might not be able to get on. So that cuts some of the civilians out and the young veterans, who may have only served three or four or five years, because they don’t get an ID card,” he said.

These members of the military walk across the campus of Saint Leo University in St. Leo. The university is widely known in military circles, but doesn’t enjoy the same familiarity in other circles, according to William J. “Bill” Lennox Jr., the university’s current president. ‘I think we’re the best-kept secret around here,’ he said. He wants to change that.
These members of the military walk across the campus of Saint Leo University in St. Leo. The university is widely known in military circles, but doesn’t enjoy the same familiarity in other circles, according to William J. “Bill” Lennox Jr., the university’s current president. ‘I think we’re the best-kept secret around here,’ he said. He wants to change that.

To address that issue, “we want to look at maybe a model like we have in Tampa, where we have a presence on MacDill (Air Force Base) and we have (a location in) Channelside,” he said.

The Channelside location has helped raise the university’s profile, he said.

Channelside is also situated in an area that Lennox expects to develop over the long-term.

“So, we’re well-positioned,” he said.

Besides raising awareness about the university’s existing footprint, Lennox wants to increase its responsiveness to student needs.

To that end, the university wants to offer students an opportunity to take classes face-to-face, take classes online, or do both, Lennox said.

“We want them to be able to go back and forth, very freely.

“We want to appeal to the student, and let the student be able to choose,” he said.

He also wants the university to foster stronger ties with corporations, enabling it to work out agreements to teach classes in corporate boardrooms or training rooms.

“Starbucks just signed with Arizona State University,” he said, and he doesn’t see why Saint Leo can’t work out similar arrangements.

“Why can’t we offer that as an advantage of coming to Tampa?” Lennox said.

He believes the university is quite capable of delivering such services.

“We’re pretty agile,” Lennox said.

“I’m tired of people asking me where Saint Leo is. I tell folks the answer is: We are where you want us to be,” he said.

He’s bullish on the university’s prospects, because he’s confident in what it has to offer.

“My take is that if you’ve got a great product and people want it out there, why not expand it? That’s what I’d like to do,” Lennox said.

Published February 10, 2016

Pasco seeks to fill hundreds of teaching jobs

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If you’re looking for a teaching job, Pasco County Schools would love to hear from you.

The district has teacher openings in language arts, math, science, social studies and special education areas. It also needs school psychologists, school social workers, and school counselors.

The district expects to fill more than 400 vacancies for the 2016-2017 school year, including some positions that will be filled immediately, said Christine Pejot, human resources director for Pasco County Schools.

Christine Pejot
Christine Pejot

“We’re really excited because this is the earliest we’ve started recruitment for the following school year in quite awhile,” Pejot said.

The job fair will be on Feb. 25 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., in the gymnasium at Sunlake High School, 3023 Sunlake Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

The district plans to advertise its openings Feb. 19 through Feb. 23, so that will give people a specific idea of what’s out there and available, and what principals are going to be looking for at the fair, Pejot said.

Potential applicants have the opportunity to register early, and some interviews will be conducted during the fair, Pejot said.

“We also expect a lot of students who are in their final internships at the colleges of education, that are looking for an appointment that would begin in August,” she said.

Having the job fair early puts the district in a better position to compete for available candidates, she said.

“Our certification people are going to be on hand in order to vet people in terms of certification,” Pejot said.

Pejot said the district is able to hold the job fair earlier this year than it has in recent years, because it instituted an Intent to Return process very early this year, helping the district to have a better picture of its staffing needs. It also has been able to take a look at how retirements will affect openings.

“It’s just more strategic planning on our part, and knowing that the staffing and recruitment needed to be prioritized and talked about at the same time that we were doing things like budget and allocations this year,” Pejot said.

“We are always looking for employees in the critical shortage areas, like math and secondary science.

“In fact, for those particular areas, you don’t already have to be a teacher. We are looking for people who already hold degrees in those special areas. We also have a district sponsored PDPC program. It stands for Professional Development Certification Program, where folks who hold bachelor’s degrees in those target areas can do a cross walk into teaching.”

“We have a very robust PDPC program,” she said. “It is actually the model for several other programs throughout the state.”

Thirty-six schools are planning to attend, at all levels, including Pasco e-school and adult programs, with schools from throughout the district represented.

The schools will have tables situated throughout Sunlake’s gymnasium, and applicants will be able to head to schools they are interested in.

While the job fair is scheduled for two hours, it could go longer, if organizers sense there’s a need to extend the time.

People who are interested in becoming substitutes can also get more information at a table designated for substitute teachers.

The district’s salaries are competitive and it offers a generous benefits package, Pejot said.

For more information, visit PascoSchools.org, and click on the job fair banner at the top of the page.

To register, visit PascoSchools.org\HR.

Published February 10, 2016

 

Economic recovery slow, but steady

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The national economy is recovering from one of the worst downturns in the nation’s history, but it is a recovery that is just “muddling along,” according to Sean Snaith, director of the Institute of Economic Competitiveness at the University of Central Florida.

“It was the worst recession since the Great Depression,” he said. “The recovery is also historical. It’s historically weak.”

The good news for Florida and for Pasco County is that they are seeing better growth than the nation as a whole.

On the plus side for Pasco, people are moving into the county.

Tim Fredritz, account executive at Dex Imaging Co., expects new business opportunities to emerge in Pasco County. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Tim Fredritz, account executive at Dex Imaging Co., expects new business opportunities to emerge in Pasco County.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

“More people brings more economic activity,” said Snaith, who was a guest speaker at the Annual Economic Forecast Luncheon hosted by the Pasco Economic Development Council on Feb. 5 at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.

“People and employment growth will continue. We see some momentum. There’s a lot of construction activity on the way.”

Florida’s growth is outpacing the nation, he said. Florida’s growth rate is about 4 percent, compared to a national rate of 2 percent.

The state also posted good numbers for job creation in the last quarter of 2015, and that likely will continue.

“That’s our launching pad,” Snaith said. “We still have momentum on our side.”

He is especially bullish on the Interstate 4 corridor, which he described as the “bread basket for growth.”

According to Snaith, the recession ended in 2012. But, Craig Weber, general manager of Crown Community Development,

saw signs of recovery in the Wesley Chapel area of Pasco as early as 2010. Signs continue to be good, he said.

Crown is the developer of Seven Oaks and Watergrass.

“Sales of lots are really strong,” Weber said.

Interstate 75, State Road 56, the widening of State Road 54 and The Shops at Wiregrass led the way.

More development has followed, including Tampa Premium Outlets and Cypress Creek Town Center. “All of this makes it the new center for Tampa Bay growth,” Weber said.

Locally, businesses are benefiting from the area’s growth as well, said Tim Fredritz, account executive at Dex Imaging Co.

The national chain has 25 offices in Florida, including one in Hudson. The company had healthy growth even during the bad economy, Fredritz said. “People always need copiers.”

But, new businesses in Pasco, including Wesley Chapel, mean new opportunities, he said.

There are caution signs, Snaith warned.

Global economies are slowing, notably in China. Brazil could be headed into its worst recession in 100 years. Greece has 25 percent unemployment overall, with youth unemployment at 50 percent.

One in eight Canadians come to Florida each year, but Snaith said the Canadian dollar has fallen in value against U.S. currency.

“That’s going to change behavior and how they spend when they are here,” Snaith said

There also is the potential for a national recession, though not on the scale of the last one.

“Don’t go into your panic room,” Snaith said. “Generally speaking, you’re in a region that’s growing faster than the state and generally faster than the nation. This is a pretty good place to be.”

Published February 10, 2016

 

New cinema coming to Wiregrass Ranch development

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A new cinema and grocery store are in the offing for the next phase of development on the former Wiregrass Ranch.

A preliminary site plan shows a 1,050-seat movie house and a 30,000-square-foot grocery store, according to county records.

Plans also show three, four-story buildings containing about 250 apartments. And, the development also includes shops and restaurants.

Forest City Enterprises, the developers of The Shops at Wiregrass, and NRP Group are partnering on the project on about 34 acres of the former Wiregrass Ranch property in Wesley Chapel, off State Road 56. The new development, located next to The Shops at Wiregrass, will be linked to the mall, with shared access points for motorists and pedestrians.

A dine-in cinema is a possibility, though no tenant announcements have been made.

“We wanted to do something we thought would be complementary to the property next door – The Shops at Wiregrass,” said Abbas Hasan, manager of planning and development for the Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises.

“It really adds to the experience of the area, providing customers with extra options than restaurants and shopping.”

A construction start date is on hold until a permit is received from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. An application was submitted in September.

“That’s kind of driving the entire schedule,” Hasan said.

In the meantime, details such as parking, landscaping, and the design and look of the new development are proceeding.

“All these things take time, so we’re trying to work on these items now,” he said. “Whatever we can move ahead, we will.”

The overall project includes apartments, seven garages, a clubhouse, a dog park, pool and fitness area. About 120,000 square feet is set aside for retail and/or restaurants including the cinema and grocery store.

Published February 10, 2016

Skilled laborers in high demand

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It’s no secret that when the economy tanked, construction companies and related industries were hit hard.

“When everything crashed, we all had to really pare down. Our staff went almost in half,” said Linda Cox, CEO of Cox Fire Protection Inc. “Construction just came to a screeching halt.”

The economy has been picking up, but there’s a shortage of skilled laborers, said Cox, whose company has been involved in numerous northern Hillsborough and Pasco county projects.

Now that construction is moving again, opportunities for work are increasing, Cox said.

Jimmy Roberts, an apprenticeship graduate, is shown here during a statewide competition during the final year of his apprenticeship. (Photos courtesy of Linda Cox)
Jimmy Roberts, an apprenticeship graduate, is shown here during a statewide competition during the final year of his apprenticeship.
(Photos courtesy of Linda Cox)

“Projects that had been put on hold, now have funding again,” she said. And, there are new initiatives, too, across the Tampa Bay region, she said.

“If you ride downtown (Tampa) and look at the tower cranes, that’s just a really good indication of how the industry is going. There’s a lot of really exciting stuff happening in Pasco County, too,” said Cox, whose company does sprinkler systems and alarm systems, primarily in commercial construction projects, including hospitals, schools and other large construction projects.

“We work primarily through general contractors, or directly for owners,” she said.

But now, companies like hers are facing a different problem.

“We’re just not replacing the skilled work force as quickly as people exited it,” Cox said.

After the economy crashed, she said, “a lot of Baby Boomers said, ‘Well, OK, I’m outta here’” and retired.

Others switched to different lines of work and haven’t re-entered the construction force, she said.

Johnny Dover, works on a ladder at a job site. The shortage of skilled laborers is creating issues for companies that are unable to pursue additional work, because they don’t have enough people to complete the work, says Linda Cox, CEO of Cox Fire Protection.
Johnny Dover, works on a ladder at a job site. The shortage of skilled laborers is creating issues for companies that are unable to pursue additional work, because they don’t have enough people to complete the work, says Linda Cox, CEO of Cox Fire Protection.

“Over the summer, we actually had to tell our sales team, don’t bid any more work, because we can’t staff it. We could have sold more work than we had crews to staff – which is a wonderful thing and a terrible thing,” Cox said.

The problem isn’t limited to the Tampa Bay region.

The Construction Labor Market Analyzer offers projected employment needs, by state, in numerous categories through October 2018.

Here are some of the projected needs for Florida:

  • Boilermaker, 15,349
  • Carpenters, floor covering: 17,933
  • Carpenters, scaffold builder: 16,897
  • Concrete finisher: 19,097
  • Electrician: 18,841
  • Plumber: 15,485
  • Roofer: 18,147
  • Pipefitter, sprinkler system: 8,211

To help address the labor shortage, there’s a push on to try to increase apprenticeships, Cox said.

Cox said her husband, Ron, recently has been appointed by Gov. Rick Scott, to sit on the Governor’s Apprenticeship Council.

The Associated Builders and Contractors is very active in the apprenticeship arena, running a large program that involves apprenticeships available in areas such as electrical, plumbing, masonry, heating ventilation and air conditioning, and fire protection, Cox said.

There’s also a need to raise awareness about opportunities available for skilled laborers, she added.

To that end, “The Associated Builders and Contractors is working with local districts to ensure our industry is represented as a valuable career path for students entering the work force,” Steve Cona III, president/CEO of Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida Gulf Coast, said via email.

It’s a message that needs to be reiterated, Cox said.

“In our generation, a lot of kids just sort of followed along in the family footsteps, and construction was just sort of a viable option for a lot of young men,” she said. “And then, the trend really in high school began to be, ‘If you are a bright student, college is the right pathway for you.’”

But, the message that needs to be shared now — with young men and young women — is that college isn’t the only path to a bright future, Cox said.

“There are some other equally lucrative, professional kind of avenues that don’t require four years of college and $100,000 of student debt,” she said.

Published February 10, 2016