Local News

New charter school to open in Lutz

January 13, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

If all goes smoothly, Sunlake Academy of Math and Science will open for the 2016-2017 school year.

The eight-acre site for the school is on North Dale Mabry Highway, about a half-mile north of Exciting Idlewild Boulevard.

Construction for the 40,000-square-foot, two-story charter will break ground sometime within the next month, and is expected to be completed over the summer.

The charter, which will be tax-funded and tuition-free, is expected to pull students from within a 5-mile radius of the school’s location.

Sunlake Academy will look similar to Valrico Lake Advantage Academy. (Courtesy of Charter School Properties) — Sunlake Academy will look similar to Valrico Lake Advantage Academy.
(Courtesy of Charter School Properties)

Developed by Charter School Properties (CSP), Sunlake Academy will be large enough to eventually accommodate up to 1,150 students, from kindergarten through eighth grade. It will have a focus on STEM curriculum, which stands for science, technology, engineering and math. It also will offer an interdisciplinary approach to learning, in which lessons will emphasize the interrelationships between various subjects.

The school’s features will include a library and media center, science laboratories, computer labs, art rooms and an area for outdoor activities.

In creating the school, Charter School Properties, which also developed Valrico Lake Advantage Academy, is working closely with Charter School Associates, the school’s Education Management Organization.

“We’re pleased to be bringing the local community new educational opportunities with this state-of-the-art building and a proven, high-tech STEM curriculum,” Joseph Rauenhorst, president of Charter School Properties, said in a release. “Partnering with Charter School Associates and other leading charter school operators, we focus on creating stimulating, nurturing environments that maximize each child’s achievement and develop the skills needed to succeed today.”

The company and its site engineer, Chris McNeal, are currently working through the site permitting process with several Hillsborough County agencies and the Florida Department of Transportation.

“We hope to have it wrapped up soon to start with building,” said McNeal, founder of McNeal Engineering, Inc. “Since it’s properly zoned already for the use, there’s no public hearings or anything like that. It’s straight to construction.”

According to Cindy Hughes, Charter School Properties’ director of operations, the local school district approved the charter in November. Since then, getting the charter up and running has been an ongoing process.

“There’s two moving parts,” Hughes said. There’s the construction of the building by the developer who also has to get all approvals running, then the school is required to get all their FEA (Florida Education Association) things handled, hire teachers and do their end of it. Then it all comes together.”

Sunlake Academy was originally proposed to be located on an 8.4-acre piece of land at the southwest corner of Lutz Lake Fern Road and Sunlake Boulevard. However, the piece of property has not yet been sold to the developer.

Hughes said the property is “still an option” for building a charter school in the future.

“We’re still in negotiations, so nothing’s for sure yet,” Hughes said.

Hughes added that if a charter were built there, it would most likely have a different managing operator than CSA, which will run Sunlake Academy.

Last year, several Lutz residents voiced their concerns about building a school at the Sunlake and Lutz Lake Fern Road location. They cited traffic congestion, interference of wetlands and natural habitats, and possible flooding as potential issues that could arise if a school was established there.

“It’s an inappropriate project in scope and size for that proposed location,” said Mike White, founder and president of the Lutz Citizens Coalition. “That’s the type of thing that brings local neighborhoods to their knees. The new location is off of Dale Mabry Highway, so it’s not as impactful to the local area as it would have been.”

White said the citizen’s group is closely monitoring the project at North Dale Mabry Highway, but currently has “no issue” with it and has not been asked to intervene by members of the Lutz community.

“The main thing that we’re looking at right now is access to that project,” White said. “Right now, it’s designed for Dale Mabry primarily, and that’s fine. That’s really what Dale Mabry was built to do. However, if they change it to where they’re coming out on Van Dyke Road or rural two-lane roads, which would dramatically impact our local neighborhood, then we would step in and get involved.

“It’s a large school, but if they were to keep access limited to Dale Mabry, then you know, Dale Mabry can handle it.”

Published January 13, 2016

School renovations under way

January 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Saint Anthony Catholic School, in San Antonio, celebrated a milestone in its history last February, when it dedicated a new classroom building.

Now, it’s in the midst of a $1.7 million renovation of the three-story brick building that formerly housed the school.

The current project, which began in June, involves a complete overhaul.

The top floor will be a cafeteria and a recreation space, said Sister Alice Ottapurackal, the school’s principal.

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.

Work is under way on a $1.7 million renovation project at Saint Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio. The project follows the construction of a new three-story classroom building that was completed last year. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Work is under way on a $1.7 million renovation project at Saint Anthony Catholic School in San Antonio. The project follows the construction of a new three-story classroom building that was completed last year.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Children will be able to have recess and physical education inside, on the top floor, when it is too cold or rainy to go outdoors, Ottapurackal said.

“They are excited about that, and me, too. They need that time to relax and get that physical activity,” she said.

The new construction completed last year has allowed the school to enhance its programs and this renovation will, too, Ottapurackal said.

The school uses technology in each classroom.

The computer lab is intended to allow an entire class to work on projects at the same time, and also will give children an opportunity to bolster their computer skills, Ottapurackal said.

While appreciating the value of technology, the principal said the school focuses on giving students good foundational skills in reading, writing, spelling and mathematics.

The principal believes that children can quickly learn how to use computers. She wants to be sure that the school’s students know how to read, write and communicate and are able to tell if the information they find on the Internet is credible.

The classroom building completed last year allowed the school to enhance its science program, Ottapurackal said.

The renovation under way will provide more space for the music and art programs, she said. Instructional minutes for those programs won’t be increased, but the teacher will have more time to teach because the larger spaces reduce the need for taking out and storing materials before and after each class.

Like many schools, Saint Anthony Catholic School is placing an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics. The principal said it also adds another area of emphasis: religion.

The school has 217 students, in kindergarten through eighth grade.

Ottapurackal hopes it will have between 230 and 235 students next year. It has the capacity to serve 270 students.

While the Diocese of St. Petersburg supported the construction of the new classroom building, the renovation project is being paid for by community donations.

So far, $1.4 million has been raised for the project.

“We wanted to give everyone an opportunity to participate in this project. So, we had fundraising from $50 to $500,000.”

“The community here — people are so generous. It’s their school. It’s been here since 1884,” she said.

Anyone who would like more information about the school, or who would like to help in the fundraising campaign, can email .

Published January 13, 2016

Pasco school growth expected to continue

January 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

Pasco County is expected to add a total of 1,673 students in public and charter schools next year, based on projections compiled by Pasco County Schools.

That’s an increase over last year’s growth, which was 1,517, and brings the figure to nearly 3,200 in two years.

The bulk of the growth is coming in the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

The growth is coming, he said, from “all those new developments springing up along the 54 corridor — Wiregrass. Bexley Ranch. Starkey Ranch.”

“Everything between Trinity and Wesley Chapel, along the 54 corridor,” Williams said.

There’s development in the Sunlake area, and Connerton is building again, too, Williams said.

The school district planner broke down the enrollment growth by grade levels.

“This year, we grew by a little bit under 500 elementary kids. Next year, we’re projecting 555 in the elementary, which is about 73 percent of an elementary school,” Williams said.

“We’re projecting 346 (additional students) for middle, and 709 (more) for high school,” he said.

The district picks up a sizable number of private school and charter school kids at the high school level, Williams noted.

“We have to be cognizant of that when we’re doing our projections. We can’t just take our eighth-grade population and assume that’s what our ninth-grade population is going to be,” he said. The district has to add to that.

This will be the third year in a row that the district has experienced enrollment growth, Williams said.

Growth projected for next year is substantially less than in 2004-2005, when enrollment grew by almost 3,200, he said

But, the expected growth is significantly more than in 2008-2009, when enrollment grew by 280; 2009-2010, when it grew by 327; 2010-2011, when it declined by 252 and, 2011-2012, when it dropped by130.

The district’s projection for this year was for 69,475, but it expects to come in higher — at 69,633, Williams said.

Its projection for next year is 71,306.

The district tries to be cautious in its projections, Williams said.

“We don’t want to overbuild,” he said. On the other hand, “We also don’t want to fall way behind, either.

“We’re trying to be smart about where we’re putting schools,” he said.

“We built W because it was centrally located and allowed us to relieve Double Branch, Seven Oaks, that area,” he said.

With all of the construction activity, there’s no doubt additional schools will be needed, Williams said. The question is how many?

“Everybody is restarting, and they’re all going at once. The question is how sustainable is that? Are they competing for the same customers, or is there enough demand to buy all that they’re going to build? And, I don’t know the answer to that,” Williams said.

Published January 13, 2016

Festival seeks to become signature event

January 13, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is launching a new event aimed at giving people an annual music festival they can enjoy, while area businesses showcase their goods and services.

The festival is a new take on the chamber’s annual business expo that has been held for two decades at the Land O’ Lakes Parks and Recreation Complex.

The event, slated for March 11 and March 12, will be at the Fraternal Order of Police Pasco Lodge 29 property, at 21735 Camp YMCA Road, on Bell Lake, east of Land O’ Lakes Boulevard (U.S. 41) in Land O’ Lakes.

Organizers have lined up Taylor Hicks, winner of season five of American Idol, to be the headliner on March 11, the first night of the Spring Music Festival & Expo.

Hicks’ appearance is deliberately timed to coincide with The Farewell Season of American Idol.

Hicks will perform after Solar Exposure, the opening act. The evening also will feature food trucks and beer/wine sales. No coolers or pets will be allowed.

The second day will spotlight businesses and family fun.

“This is super exciting. I can’t believe the energy and enthusiasm that’s already been generated,” said Elayne Bassinger, president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

“The tickets have been selling (for the concert),” she said, noting that some Taylor Hicks fans will be traveling from out of state to attend the concert.

The second day of the event will combine music, a business showcase and fun activities for kids, said David Gainer, co-chair of the event.

“It’s really going to be more of a festive, community type day,” Gainer said. “We’ll have a kids’ zone. We’re going to have a whole bunch of games and bounce houses and those kinds of things,” Gainer said.

The musical lineup for March 12 includes local bands, including Ashley Smith & Josh Higgins, Bad Rabbit, Stonegrey and Bobby Summers.

The second day also gives businesses a chance to shine and the community a better chance to see what they have to offer, Bassinger said.

It also gives area residents “the opportunity to shop local,” she said.

Bassinger credits Gainer and event co-chair Suzanne Beauchaine, account manager of The Laker/Lutz News, for coming up with the new approach to the chamber’s annual business expo.

Bassinger is excited about the event’s new location.

“It’s a beautiful piece of property back there,” she said.

The new venue also offers organizers more options, Gainer said.

“If we were going to do a festival-type atmosphere and be able to provide certain beverages and foods, we had to have it on a non-county owned property,” Gainer said.

Tim Hennigan, president of the F.O.P. Pasco Lodge 29, said his organization is pleased to be involved in the effort.

“We’re very much a part of this community,” Hennigan said.

The event also gives his organization a chance to raise its profile.

“We want people to know who we are. We’ve always been in the shadows,” Hennigan said.

In addition to benefiting the chamber, the event will help to raise money to pay for a permanent memorial for Pasco County’s fallen law enforcement officers, he said.

Tickets for the March 11 concert are now on sale. The cost is $25 for open lawn seating, and $40 for preferred seating.

Tickets can be purchased online at CentralPascoChamber.com.

Published January 13, 2016

Seeking state road money

January 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

State lawmakers are seeking $8 million in state funds to push along a project, known as the diverging diamond interchange, to fix the daily traffic jams at Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

The trouble spot already is among Pasco County’s 2015 priorities for highway projects. The list is for a five-year plan that is updated annually and also includes the intersection at State Road 54 and U.S. 4, and other projects along State Road 52 and U.S. 301.

But, with some state money in hand, a project start date for I-75 and State Road 56 might come sooner rather than later. Currently, the Florida Department of Transportation anticipates funding in 2017 for study and design of the interchange.

Traffic stacks up daily, at morning and evening rush hours, as motorists navigate Interstate 75 and State Road 56. (File Photo) — Traffic stacks up daily, at morning and evening rush hours, as motorists navigate Interstate 75 and State Road 56.
(File Photo)

“I think there is reason to hope,” said State Sen. Richard Corcoran. The Land O’ Lakes lawmaker is the designated Speaker of the House when the 2016 legislature convenes Jan. 12.

Sarasota is the first city in Florida to build a diverging diamond interchange. The $74.5 million interchange at I-75 and University Parkway will be operational in 2017.

Another similar project is possible on Interstate 95 in Jacksonville.

In the diverging diamond interchange, multiple lanes of traffic from opposite directions crisscross from one side of the roadway to the other and then switch back, guided by road signs, marked lanes and traffic signals.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but in practice is easy to follow, eases traffic congestion, prevents wrong-way entry onto ramps and reduces crashes, according to engineering experts.

This type of interchange also allows for pedestrian crossings and bicycle lanes.

The expectation is that no additional right of way will be needed at I-75 and State Road 56, which will aid in costs and construction schedules.

Corcoran is meeting with representatives of the state department of transportation to discuss the matter. Federal funds also will be needed.

State Rep. Danny Burgess shares Corcoran’s optimism for the project. A funding request for $8 million has been filed, he said.

“We’re actively working hard to alleviate the current problem,” Burgess said.

Corcoran is familiar with the long lines that form during peak rush hours, because he drives that route almost daily.

The area surrounding the interchange is exploding with new growth, with more and more vehicles passing through I-75 and State Road 56.

Tampa Premium Outlets opened in October. Permits, site plans and wish lists for more commercial and residential growth in the area are multiplying, including the Cypress Creek Town Center. When that is finished, development will span both sides of State Road 56.

“It (the interchange) needs fixing very fast,” Corcoran said. “To the extent that we can play by the same rules as everyone else, it’s certainly going to be a top priority.”

That means making a convincing case that the project is worthy, Corcoran said.

Other states embraced the diverging diamond long before Florida.

Missouri was the first in 2009, and kept on building them, again and again. At nine, the state is home to the most diverging diamonds in the country, according to a list compiled by the Official Website of the DDI.

Utah is close behind, with eight, and North Carolina has seven.

As of Dec. 1, the website documented 64 diverging diamonds in operation around the country.

For information on Sarasota’s diverging diamond interchange, visit SWFLroads.com/i75/university. A YouTube video showing how the concept works also is available online.

Published January 6, 2016

Aspiring artists benefit from arts fest

January 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

The 11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest will feature 125 fine artists and craftsmen in a two-day event aimed at raising money to support arts education in Pasco County.

“Our fine artists — they’re growing,” said Pam Marron, co-director of the arts festival. “We’ve got a good blend coming in from all over the United States.

BK Lyons, who created this piece of chalk art, will be one of the chalk artists featured at the 11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest later this month (Photos courtresy of Suncoast Arts Fest) — BK Lyons, who created this piece of chalk art, will be one of the chalk artists featured at the 11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest later this month
(Photos courtresy of Suncoast Arts Fest)

Besides being a place to enjoy or purchase art, the event also offers a wide array of live entertainment and opportunities to be creative, too, Marron said.

“The entertainment — in addition to having professionals there —we also have youth entertainment from the region,” Marron said.

There will be chalk artists at the festival, there’s an art maker space, where arts and technology meet, and, on Jan. 17 there also will be glass etching, Marron said.

“We’ve got the emerging artists area, where the high school art students are able to display their artwork, and that artwork is juried and a prize given for that, as well,” she said.

There is also a kids’ art garden, designed to appeal to younger artists, she said.

Proceeds from the festival benefit “Arts for Education” grants, which go to supplement arts education programs in public, private and charter schools in Pasco County.

Over the past decade, the Suncoast Arts Fest has fulfilled more than 85 mini-grants to teachers to impact the education of more than 15,000 students.

During last year’s event, The Shops at Wiregrass drew a record crowd of more than 100,000 people, according to the festival’s website.

Jasleen Rehsi was a first place winner at the 10th annual Suncoast Arts Festival last year. This year’s festival will feature 125 fine artists and craftsmen.

The patrons come from all over, but primarily from the Tampa Bay region, Marron said.

The mall is an excellent venue, Marron said.

In addition to the mall’s convenient layout, there are restaurants, restrooms and parking to accommodate both the artists participating in the show, and the patrons attending it, she said.

The Shops at Wiregrass also collaborates with festival organizers to help promote the event, she said. “They’re a good management company.”

Festival organizers are increasing their promotional efforts, too, Marron said.

“We’ve expanded on our social networking and really tried to ramp up why we do the event, which brings in the students and their families to support the event as well,” Marron said.

11th annual Suncoast Arts Fest
What: Juried show features 125 fine artists and craftsmen and their works. The event also includes live entertainment, chalk artists, interactive activities and glass etching.
When: Jan. 16 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Jan.17 from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Where: The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive (off State Road 56, east of Bruce B. Downs Boulevard).
How much: Parking and admission are free.
For more information, visit SuncoastArtsFest.com.

Published January 6, 2016

Loan for State Road 56 no sure thing

January 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

A state loan to build two additional lanes of an extended State Road 56 is in jeopardy, as state and county officials haggle over details of how to repay the estimated $22 million construction costs.

The road project currently calls for a two-lane extension of State Road 56 from Meadow Pointe Boulevard in Wiregrass Ranch to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

A state loan would allow a four-lane road to be built — which is what residents and city officials in Zephyrhills have sought for years.

Pasco County commissioners will review eight agenda items on Jan. 12 related to the loan application that was made in May to the State Infrastructure Bank. They are facing a deadline on that date to complete an agreement acceptable to the county, the Florida Department of Transportation, area developers, and Cone & Graham, which is contracted to build the first two lanes of the project.

Everything could fall in to place by then, or not.

“Unfortunately, the ball’s in DOT’s corner. They set the deadline,” said Assistant County Attorney David Goldstein. “The deal is going to fall apart, or they are going to have to give us a new deadline.”

Most of the issues with developers and the road contractor are resolved, but state department of transportation requirements on the loan’s repayment are a major sticking point.

Goldstein said the state initially anticipated the county receiving a loan through tax-exempt bonds. But, that places restrictions on how the loan can be repaid, and likely means the county couldn’t pass the burden to private developers through county-collected mobility surcharge fees.

The city of Zephyrhills also agreed to pay up to 10 percent of annual loan repayments, if the county had to dip into its coffers for expenses.

The county had turned to the state bank as a last resort to fund two more lanes on State Road 56.

Unless the state transportation department can shift the county’s request into a loan pool for non-tax exempt bonds, the agreements with developers can’t work, Goldstein said.

The county also has a second concern about potential liability for cost overruns.

Cone & Graham representatives agreed to absorb expenses, if there are cost overruns with building the additional lanes. But, Goldstein said the state transportation department has a caveat. The agency won’t extend that protection in the event the company is fired, and a new contractor hired.

That would leave the county on the hook for unexpected payments.

“We’re hoping FDOT can resolve these two issues, so we can move forward,” Goldstein said.

The idea for the state loan arose after a February town hall meeting in Zephyrhills, where residents and city officials lobbied the department and state lawmakers for help. Many view a four-lane State Road 56 as an economic driver for more commercial and retail development.

Among the largest land tracts along the route is the Two Rivers Ranch, with about 3,500 acres. About half of the 6.7-mile extension would cut through the ranch. Thousands of new homes, shops and industries are anticipated there and within other new developments still on the drawing board including Wyndfields.

One development – Wesley Chapel Lakes in the Meadow Pointe subdivision – is under construction. Based on a prior agreement, the county has received between $300,000 and $400,000 in payments, but might not be able to recoup additional funds, despite the increased costs of road construction.

Published January 6, 2016

Resident crusades for safety wall on I-75

January 6, 2016 By Kathy Steele

Construction dust, giant cranes and truck traffic are an everyday inconvenience near Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club.

Road crews are busy expanding the interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 52 from County Road 54 to Hernando County.

The three-year project is slated for completion in 2017, and is meant to improve traffic flow by widening I-75 from four lanes to six lanes, with three lanes in each direction.

State Road 52 also will be widened to six lanes. There will be frontage roads north and south of State Road 52, west of I-75. Sidewalks and bicycle lanes also will be installed.

John Hart points out a chipped window at his home in Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. He believes that vibrations coming from truck traffic on Interstate 75 cause damage to both his home and his neighbors’ homes. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos) — John Hart points out a chipped window at his home in Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club. He believes that vibrations coming from truck traffic on Interstate 75 cause damage to both his home and his neighbors’ homes.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

But, what John Hart sees and hears from his backyard in Tampa Golf & Country Club he perceives as trouble.

He’s worried about a steady flow of cars and 18-wheelers delivering nonstop noise and rattling the foundation of his home.

And, in a worst-case scenario, he’s concerned about an overturned semitrailer crashing into his backyard.

The retired Rhode Island cop has been on a three-year crusade on behalf of his community to improve conditions.

“We’re looking for a safety wall,” Hart said. “I want to see the wall out there. I want to see people protected.”

State highway officials maintain that a study completed prior to construction did not justify a wall based on noise levels. And the road design, they say, meets national safety standards.

The entrance into the age 55 and older community is off State Road 52, within a few yards of the highway ramps.

Hart wants the sound and safety barrier installed along the approximately two-mile outer boundary of his neighborhood paralleling I-75. Currently, a row of pine trees and a vinyl fence are the only defenses against noise, or worse, an out-of-control vehicle, just 300 feet or so from a row of homes backing up to the interstate.

Hart has repeatedly raised his concerns with the Florida Department of Transportation.

He isn’t a man who gives up, even though Hart acknowledges that some by now — even within his community — probably wish he would concede it’s a lost cause.

Hart points to a recent accident as evidence that a safety wall is needed.

On Dec. 11, north of the interchange project, a dump truck in the southbound lane of I-75 blew a tire. A chain reaction accident occurred, involving another dump truck, a van, a semitrailer and a pickup truck.

Roadwork on the interchange at Interstate 75 and State Road 52 will be completed in 2017. This is one of several projects statewide to improve traffic flow on the highway.

The driver with the blown tire died and another person suffered serious injuries, according to media reports.

The van ended up on the outside shoulder of the highway.

Hart worries that someday a semitrailer could roll across the road into his backyard. “It would take out this house,” he said.

State department of transportation spokesman John McShaffrey said the state agency can’t design roads for unexpected tire blowouts. But, he added, “We don’t compromise (safety).”

Construction projects aimed at improvements for the community can be a tough sell sometimes, he added.

“One thing to keep in mind is that improvements are needed for the greater good and the motoring public,” McShaffrey said. “We have to look at the greater good.”

In this instance, Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club was in early stages of development when the project was designed, with 10 or fewer homes built.

“The interstate was here first,” McShaffrey said, adding that homebuyers knew they would be living next to I-75.

The community could pay for a wall privately, if that is what residents want, McShaffrey said.

The project’s goal is to make driving safer by adding more lanes, and improving access on and off ramps. It is one of a series of interchange projects statewide along I-75.

“These are capacity projects,” said McShaffrey.

On average, about 50,000 vehicles per day travel on I-75, south of State Road 52, according to state transportation data from 2014.

Estimates for 2020 peg traffic along this segment an average of 56,000 a day.

The project has been on the state road department’s radar for more than a decade. It has met with hurdles along the way, including a lawsuit filed by Hillcrest Properties against Pasco County in 2010. A settlement eventually resolved issues related to a right of way purchase, and cleared the way for construction.

Hart has a file of material he has collected over nearly three years of protests by himself and, at times, hundreds of area residents who attended a public hearing in 2012.

His letters, emails and phone calls seeking relief have gone to U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, Gov. Rick Scott, State Reps. Will Weatherford, John Legg and Danny Burgess. He has reached out to Pasco County Commissioner Ted Schrader, and former State Rep. Jim Norman.

Hart disputes the road department’s sound study.

“We did our own soundings,” he said.

The results showed noise levels in some areas reached 94 decibels, Hart said.

According to data from Purdue University, that equates to a jet taking off, a jackhammer, power mower or motorcycle within 25 feet.

Hart paid thousands of dollars to install double-pane windows that muffle some noises. He also said he repaired a crack in his kitchen ceiling which he attributes to heavy truck traffic.

He also noted a crack in the outer wall of his neighbor’s house, and a chipped window and similar crack on his house’s exterior.

“Every now and then, you can feel vibrations when a truck goes by,” Hart said.

He has hosted tours of Tampa Golf & Country Club for representatives of area lawmakers. He got sympathy but, so far, Hart said nothing has happened.

And, he won’t give up.

“I know what the danger is out there,” he said.

Published January 6, 2016

Pasco-Hernando State College issues first four-year degree

January 6, 2016 By Kevin Weiss

For one former football star, the opportunity to witness palm trees and visit family was simply too great to pass up.

Jamal Roberts recently became the first student to graduate from Pasco-Hernando State College with a bachelor of applied science in supervision and management, taking advantage of one of PHSC’s two four-year programs.

Jamal Roberts converses with other Pasco-Hernando State College graduates after the college’s winter commencement. (Photos courtesy of Jamal Roberts) — Jamal Roberts converses with other Pasco-Hernando State College graduates after the college’s winter commencement.
(Photos courtesy of Jamal Roberts)

“It was an accomplishment,” said Roberts, 21, who graduated in December. “It was a milestone for me, and it was a milestone for the college as well. It’s wonderful.”

While primarily a two-year college, PHSC began offering four-year programs in 2014, starting with the supervision and management program, as well as offering a bachelor of science in nursing. Formerly known as Pasco-Hernando Community College, the institution changed its name to reflect its broader program offerings.

Wasting no time after graduation, the Dade City native has already lined up a job as an administrative assistant at Irvin & Petty, a St. Petersburg-based law firm that primarily focuses on personal injury cases.

“I just want to be able to get dressed up nice for work every day,” Roberts quipped.

While still unsure what career path he wants to follow for the next 30-plus years, Roberts hopes to work for a company that features a positive work environment where fellow co-workers get along.

Former Zephyrhills’ football star Jamal Roberts in action at a Kent State football practice.

“I can have the best (job) or the easiest job duties, but if I’m in a terrible place, then I’m not going to like that job,” he elaborated. “But, if I have hard duties and everyone around me is friendly, and we’re all working together, then that’s going to be somewhere where I can stay.”

Prior to graduating from PHSC, Roberts was a standout athlete at Zephyrhills High School, where he shined as a dual-threat quarterback on the football team, was an All-Conference sprinter on the track team and also lettered in baseball.

Showcasing extraordinary athleticism, Division I football scholarships rolled in from several out-of-state programs, including Ball State, University of Massachusetts and Eastern Michigan. However, Roberts opted to attend Kent State in Ohio in 2012, where he suited up to play defensive back.

“Honestly, it was probably the best time of my life,” said Roberts, who spent three years on the Kent State Golden Flashes football team. “I had so much fun. I met a whole a bunch of people that I can call real friends.”

His most memorable experience at Kent State occurred in 2012, when he was redshirting as a freshman, the Golden Flashes finished 11-3 and earned a berth to the GoDaddy.com Bowl game.

“It was just unbelievable,” Roberts reminisced. “Just the way everybody played together, it was crazy.”

Jamal Roberts (right) is presented with his diploma from Pasco-Hernando State College from Dr. Timothy Beard, the college’s president.

While Roberts enjoyed his college experience, the bone-chilling Midwest winters in northeast Ohio started to become unbearable. “It was terrible,” he stated.

The opportunity to move back to the Sunshine State arose when his mother, Pamela, who works at PHSC as a student development assistant, told him the college offered four-year programs.

It became a seamless transition for Roberts, where most of his college credits at Kent State transferred and applied to the new bachelor’s degree program.

“Honestly, I did miss my family,” he said about moving back to Florida. “So, after some thinking and some consideration, and given the opportunity, I thought it’d be best if I was back at home and I finished up (at PHSC).”

While his football-playing career is over, Roberts hasn’t forgotten about the lessons he learned from the sport, which he uses in his everyday life.

“One of the first things I learned about football in high school, one of my coaches said, ‘you wake up and you get better, or you wake up and you get worse,’ and that’s what I stick by with absolutely everything,” he explained. “If you’re not getting better, you’re getting worse and there’s no in between.

“That’s my mentality going towards things in life.”

With the burden of attending classes and studying on the weekends no longer tying up his time, Roberts plans to stay involved with the game he loves by getting into coaching youth football.

“I definitely see coaching as an opportunity for me to get out and teach young kids the game,” he said.

Published January 6, 2016

Lettuce Lake Park offers beauty, bird watching and fun

January 6, 2016 By B.C. Manion

If you’re looking for a place to commune with nature, spend some time exercising, or gather with family and friends — Lettuce Lake Park may be just the spot for you.

A woman is silhouetted in the setting sun as she views the sights from the Lettuce Lake tower. The observation tower has several levels, with lower vantage points for those who don’t want to climb to the top. (Fred Bellet/Photos) — A woman is silhouetted in the setting sun as she views the sights from the Lettuce Lake tower. The observation tower has several levels, with lower vantage points for those who don’t want to climb to the top.
(Fred Bellet/Photos)

The 240-acre park offers wooded picnic areas, a playground, an interpretive center, an observation tower, and a 1.25-mile bicycle and jogging trail, complete with a fitness course, according to the park’s website.

There’s also a 3,500-foot boardwalk, rental canoes and kayaks, and plenty of places to sit back and enjoy nature’s splendor, including the park’s wildlife, its hardwood hammocks and its pine flatwood plant communities.

Lettuce Lake is not actually a lake, the park’s website says. Lettuce Lake is a shallow, finger-like body of water that is connected to the Hillsborough River, which originates in the Green Swamp, roughly 25 miles to the northeast.

More than half of Lettuce Lake Park’s property lies in the natural floodplain of the Hillsborough River and consists of hardwood swamp forest, the park’s website says.

A pair of fishermen stream across Lettuce Lake en route to a connection with the Hillsborough River

The park, at 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., also features an Audubon Resource Center. The center hosts programs aimed at connecting people with nature. The focus of the center’s program is to help visitors better understand the Hillsborough River ecosystem.

Bird watching tours are held a couple of times each month, with times and dates available at the visitor’s desk. For more information, visit TampaAudubon.org.

Lettuce Lake Park
What: A 240-acre Hillsborough County Park, offering places to walk, bicycle, canoe, kayak, picnic and commune with nature.
Where: 6920 E. Fletcher Ave., Tampa
When: Winter, 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.; Spring, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Summer, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fall, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
How much: Entry is $2 per vehicle, up to eight people, and $1 for each additional person.
For more information, call (813) 987-6204.

Published January 6, 2016

They heard there were good fishing spots at Lettuce Lake Park, but Philip Conner, front, and his dad, Fred Conner of Bedford, Virginia, did not have any luck. They plan to return anyway. This was the men’s first visit to the park.

A 5-foot alligator shares a log with a turtle, near the water’s edge at Lettuce Lake Park.

Isabel Magnano, left, and Felisha Dicks, both of Tampa, stroll out along the Lettuce Lake Park boardwalk, while others walk in. The boardwalk winds through the hardwood swamp forest where visitors can see vegetation and wildlife that are indigenous to this area.