Local News

Toys for Tots delivers holiday cheer

November 25, 2015 By Michael Murillo

When a doctor told a mother that her son suffering from a muscular diseases needed a bicycle to keep his muscles moving, she turned to the Toys for Tots for help.

She couldn’t afford a bicycle, so she went to the organization’s toy distribution event a couple of years ago.

“When she got there, she was about the third to the last parent there, and we had one bike left. We handed that bike to her, and she crumbled right there in front of us,” recalled Herb Roshell, captain of the Toys for Tots efforts in Land O’ Lakes and part of Lutz.

“It’s those kinds of experiences that keep us empowered to do this,” he said.

The United States Marine Corps Reserve has been doing this for more than 65 years, creating a national program that distributes toys to needy children during the holidays.

In Roshell’s area alone, the program has distributed to more than 500 children from nearly 400 families last year.

Each child gets two to three toys, plus games for the family and stocking stuffers.

Toys are laid out so parents and guardians can go ‘shopping’ and choose the right toys for their children. They depend on drop-off boxes at local businesses and the Dec. 5 postal service pickup for the bulk of donations. (Photo courtesy of Bob Loring) — Toys are laid out so parents and guardians can go ‘shopping’ and choose the right toys for their children. They depend on drop-off boxes at local businesses and the Dec. 5 postal service pickup for the bulk of donations.
(Photo courtesy of Bob Loring)

To keep up with this year’s demand, the program is back with its familiar toy drop-off boxes in various businesses in the community.

Roshell estimates that around 100 locations will sign up for the boxes, and collect new, unwrapped toys for children of various ages.

The U.S. Postal Service also will collect toys that residents leave out by their mailboxes on Dec. 5.

Toys will be distributed Dec. 19 at the Land O’ Lakes Community Center, 5401 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., beginning at 8 a.m.

Those toys might not seem like much in the big picture, but to a mother struggling to provide for her family or a child who sees their peers with gifts, it means a lot.

“If we didn’t have it, it would really hurt our community a lot,” Roshell said.

His wife, Stephanie, knows that firsthand. As a young single mother, she used Toys for Tots when she moved and found out her job had been eliminated. She now spends her time helping those in need, and recognizes the empowerment of simple kindnesses.

“I was homeless as a teenager and vowed that if I ever came out of my poverty state that I would never, ever forget about the children and the youth that are struggling,” Stephanie said. “I’ve stood in their shoes before, and I know personally how it made me feel, so I want them to feel that same sense of gratification that I felt.”

Parents or guardians who utilize Toys for Tots feel like they’re shopping when the toys are selected.

At the distribution center Dec. 19, they get assistance from “deputized elves” to help pick out just the right gift for their children. The “elves” are volunteers who meet with regional coordinator Bob Loring, and pledge to offer support and encouragement at the event to help parents choose gifts.

Just being able to provide some holiday cheer for their family boosts family bonds, according to the Roshells.

“It bridges that gap in the family, so the child is looking to that parent as still being that hero,” Stephanie said.

For those parents to remain heroes, the Roshells and many others in the Toys for Tots program work hard to make each year a success.

In the Land O’ Lakes area they expect to collect 1,700 to 2,000 items for distribution. And, unless there’s a large need elsewhere or they have a surplus, the toys donated within the community, stay here.

While individuals and businesses are generous with donations, there are specific needs each year that pose a challenge.

Children between 8 and 12, especially boys, usually receive the least donations, Herb Roshell said.

Boys that age like handheld games and girls enjoy makeup kits, and Toys for Tots wants to make sure there are enough to go around.

The postal service pickup is an important method of toy collection, but response has dropped off in recent years.

The postal service doesn’t cover the organization’s postage anymore, so it’s up to them to get the word out about the Dec. 5 collection date.

Helping those in need makes Dec. 19 a special day for families who wouldn’t otherwise have presents for their children.

And, it’s pretty special for the Toys for Tots family, too, since they get to see their efforts pay off with a bounty of gifts going to local homes, making families’ holidays a little brighter.

For people like Stephanie Roshell, who has been on both sides, it’s an important part of the holiday season.

For information about the Toys for Tots program, and to find out how to apply for assistance, contact the Roshells at or call (813) 713-5197.

Published November 25, 2015

Expert says jihadist terrorism is world’s No. 1 threat

November 25, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Jihadist terrorism is the No. 1 challenge facing the world, according to retired U.S. Gen. Barry McCaffrey.

The recent attacks in Paris brought that reality into stark view. More than 130 people died, and more than 350 were wounded, in a coordinated assault at six locations in Paris. It is an act of terrorism being compared to 9/11 in New York in 2001.

Retired U.S. Gen. Barry McCaffrey shakes hands with retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Morgan, following his talk at Saint Leo University. Morgan is a student worker in the Office of Veteran Student Services. (Photos courtesy Jonathan Shoemaker/Saint Leo University) — Retired U.S. Gen. Barry McCaffrey shakes hands with retired U.S. Army Staff Sgt. John Morgan, following his talk at Saint Leo University. Morgan is a student worker in the Office of Veteran Student Services.
(Photos courtesy Jonathan Shoemaker/Saint Leo University)

The Islamic State of Iraq claimed responsibility for the attack.

McCaffrey was clear on one point that has been a lightning rod for opposing views.

“This isn’t a Muslim problem. It’s a jihadist problem,” said McCaffrey, a NBC national security analyst. “I would argue that there is not a conflict between Islam and the West.”

McCaffrey made his remarks to an estimated crowd of 220 at the Student Community Center at Saint Leo University on Nov. 19. The retired four-star general was the first lecturer for the University Speaker Series.

He touched on a wide-ranging list of security issues including ISIS, nuclear proliferation, the future of Cuba post-Fidel Castro, and the tensions between Russia and the United States.

During a question and answer period, audience questions focused on ISIS and how to address its threats.

The U.S. exerts great power in the Middle East financially, politically and militarily, McCaffrey said but defeating ISIS, and terrorism in general, is complicated.

Retired U.S. Gen. Barry McCaffrey poses for a selfie with Saint Leo University student James Campbell.

“It’s much tougher than it looks,” he said. “In the long-term, some of these situations have no solutions. The best strategy becomes containing it, isolating it and waiting it out.”

In reference to the barbarism of ISIS and the recent Paris attacks, McCaffrey said, “There is an element of mankind based on cruelty.”

McCaffrey has served three White House administrations, including Republicans and Democrats. He describes himself as a nonpartisan observer — who has been in and out of war zones, including Iraq and Afghanistan — who gives objective opinions.

After Sept. 11, for instance, he was asked about border security including entry into the U.S. from Mexico and Canada. At the time, the U.S. border patrol numbered less than 4,000 agents.

Saint Leo University William Lennox present retired U.S. Gen. Barry McCaffrey with a Saint Leo hat and a gift. Lennox is a retired lieutenant general.

“It was asinine,” McCaffrey said.

He recommended 45,000, a number he acknowledges he made up by looking at the New York Police Department, which protects 8 million people.

In today’s world, the U.S. needs to maintain air and naval forces that are at least two generations in advance of the technology of other superpowers. But, he said, “We’re not doing that.”

Instead, he said the nation has spent billions on the Iraq and Afghanistan wars that, in his view, “went wrong.”

Still, in many ways, the country has never been safer, in part because its diversity and opportunities for success are strengths, McCaffrey said.

As a result, America assimilates immigrant populations better than Europe, he added.

Published November 25, 2015

Zephyrhills resident causing ‘Sugar Rush’ with cake pops

November 25, 2015 By Michael Murillo

When she was a student at Zephyrhills High School, Cassie Lenz had a cake-decorating project. Over the course of the project, there was a dilemma: What to do with the extra cake?

“I looked online, and I found cake pops,” Lenz said. “It was interesting to find something new.”

People found them more than interesting. They found them delicious. The decorated balls of cake and frosting on a stick were a hit, and she would make them for friends and bring them to parties.

Cassie Lenz shows off just a few of her tasty creations. A high school project eventually led to her business. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo) — Cassie Lenz shows off just a few of her tasty creations. A high school project eventually led to her business.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Now 23, and a student at the University of South Florida, Lenz made 200 cake pops in a variety of flavors for a friend’s wedding earlier this year. They were so popular the bride and groom didn’t even get to try any of them.

Lenz has received a lot of praise for her cake pops. Now, she has a business.

Sugar Rush operates out of the kitchen Lenz shares with her family, though they know not to interfere when she’s working. In just a couple of hours, she can make about 40 cake pops out of a single cake. Adding different styles takes more time, but provides a lot of variety in the desserts: chocolate cake, red velvet cake, marshmallows and funfetti are just some of the cake pop options.

If you can think of a cake, Lenz can turn it into a treat on a stick.

“(For) each one, you have to do something special. That’s pretty fun,” she said.

That means not only hand-making the pops, but also decorating and wrapping them one by one. Some are elaborate and others are simple, but she enjoys catering to different occasions, styles and tastes.

It’s not easy work. Each type of cake pop has a process that ensures it holds its shape and stays on the stick. She might accept some help wrapping the finished product, but she does all of the baking and decorating.

There’s also some trial and error with her creations. Vanilla cake isn’t as popular as other flavors like funfetti and chocolate, but even that ranking can change by season. At a recent church event, she didn’t sell as many of the funfetti as she expected. But, she sold out of pumpkin.

Cassie Lenz makes each cake pop by hand, including the artful decorations many of them carry.

As orders come in, Lenz spends more time on her new business. But, as a college student who already has a job, she has to be smart with her time.

Fortunately, her father, Nils, is a self-employed accountant. That entrepreneurial experience has been a valuable resource for Lenz, and she prepares promotional materials to get the word out about her new business.

Having business experience in the family is a big reason why she’s felt confident enough to take on her own project.

“I think that if nobody in my family did (own a business), then I probably wouldn’t have done it,” she said.

For now, she’s put together business cards, flyers and a Facebook page, which will be used to show off her creations and solicit new orders. She finds time to make her cake pops in between taking courses on information studies in college and working her regular job.

And, while it can be time-consuming, making tasty treats is never boring for Lenz.

“People think it’s so tedious, but I get into it,” she said. “Seeing people’s faces when they see (them), I just get so excited.”

For more information about Sugar Rush, visit Facebook.com/SugarRushbyCassie, or email Lenz at .

Published November 25, 2015

Zephyrhills Woman’s Club turns 100

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

In the beginning, the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills was a group of 15 women, who decided they wanted to form a civic club.

They established the club on Nov. 11, 1915 and voted to join the Florida Federation of Woman’s Clubs, automatically making them part of the General Federation of Woman’s Clubs, a national organization.

Linda Weyer is the current president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills, a club she says that remains committed to its mission of service. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Linda Weyer is the current president of the GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills, a club she says that remains committed to its mission of service.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

On Nov. 15, about 90 people gathered at the Zephyrhills’ woman’s club’s stone building to celebrate a century of service.

Service continues to be the mission of the club, said current club President Linda Weyer.

“The GFWC in and of itself is responsible for a lot of beautification of streets, for public libraries, the National Park system, the Everglades. The Everglades would not be the Everglades National Park without the GFWC,” Weyer said.

“And, in Zephyrhills, we help with all of the local charities, especially relating to children.

“We help Everyday Blessings, the Pregnancy Care Center,” she said. “We’re working with Thomas Promise this year, to make sure the children, that are poor in the schools, get backpacks with food to take home for the weekends,” she added.

“We do help sponsor a second-grade classroom at West Zephyrhills Elementary School. And, every year, we collect school supplies in August and take them over to West Zephyrhills Elementary, and let the liaison distribute them to the children that need them. That way, they don’t get embarrassed,” she said.

This artist’s rendering depicts the home of the GFWC of Zephyrhills, the oldest service club in Zephyrhills, which celebrated its 100th birthday at a celebration on Nov. 15. (Courtesy of GFWC Women's Club of Zephyrhills) — This artist’s rendering depicts the home of the GFWC of Zephyrhills, the oldest service club in Zephyrhills, which celebrated its 100th birthday at a celebration on Nov. 15.
(Courtesy of GFWC Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills)

The club also awards scholarships, and donates time and money to local charities such as Meals on Wheels, Hernando-Pasco Hospice, Support Our Troops, Everyday Blessings, Relay for Life and many others. The club also gives to national and international relief efforts, according to Granger.

Weyer was excited about the club’s centennial celebration.

“It is a very big day. I’m very honored to be the president of this club at this time,” Weyer said, noting she expected people from Tampa, Spring Hill, Brooksville, Ruskin and St. Petersburg to join the celebration.

When the club began, it chose moss gray and pink as the official colors, the Cherokee rose as the club flower, and “America the Beautiful” as the club song, according to a historical account compiled by Gina Granger.

The yearly dues were $1, and early meetings were held in various buildings and members’ homes, according to Granger’s account.

In exchange for two lots bought by members in 1925, which the club later deeded to the city, the city gave the club a 99-year lease on a native rock building erected on the site in 1946—a public works project that was part of the Works Progress Administration under U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The clubhouse was built from native rock hauled from a quarry on the Hillsborough River. Club members raised funds by hosting various events to complete and furnish the interior, Granger adds.

The club, which now has 36 members, is always welcoming new members. It meets every first Friday of the month, during the months of September through May. The meetings are at 12:30 p.m., in the clubhouse located at 38545 Fifth Ave. Membership is open to any woman age 18 or older. Current annual dues are $25.

To learn more about the Woman’s Club of Zephyrhills, you can find them on the web at GFWCWomansClubOfZephyrhills.com.

Published November 25, 2015

Cash registers jingle at Tampa Premium Outlets

November 25, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Shopping madness begins at Tampa Premium Outlets in a shop ‘til you drop holiday extravaganza.

The outlet mall, which is experiencing its first holiday season, will open on Thanksgiving at 6 p.m., and will continuously operate through Black Friday, until 10 p.m.

Mall hours the rest of the weekend will be from 8 a.m. until 10 p.m., on Nov. 28 and from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m., on Nov. 29.

While shoppers are expected to flock to the outlet mall — which had a splashy opening at the end of October — local businesses may pick up some spinoff trade.

Local shops are already reporting that their cash registers are ringing up more sales.

Tampa Premium Outlets is having a shop ‘til you drop holiday extravaganza during its first holiday season. The shopping destination opened at the end of October, off State Road 56, west of Interstate 75. (File Photo) — Tampa Premium Outlets is having a shop ‘til you drop holiday extravaganza during its first holiday season. The shopping destination opened at the end of October, off State Road 56, west of Interstate 75.
(File Photo)

“I’ve already seen it,” said Jeremy Quijano, manager of Kona Swim Bike Run, at 27217 State Road 56. The triathlon shop is a short hop from the outlet mall, at the interchange of Interstate 75 and State Road 56.

Quijano said a man came in the shop after dropping off his wife at the outlet mall. He put his focus on buying sports gear not on hours of outlet mall shopping. “I’m going to have some fun,” Quijano said the man told him.

The outlet mall is one half of a retail bookend that could bring more visibility to locally owned and operated shops.

Another customer told Quijano that he was driving past heading from The Shops at Wiregrass to Tampa Premium Outlets when he spotted Kona.

“I never knew you were here,” the customer said.

Before and during the grand opening, Hampton Inn & Suites saw a boost in reservations as the mall’s developer, Simon Property Group, booked rooms for its team members.

People from corporate headquarters are still flying in, said Todd Patrick, the hotel’s general manager.

But, reservations don’t have to come from long-distance travelers. Patrick said a woman from Spring Hill booked a night at the hotel within the past week because she wanted to get an early start on her shopping.

Overall, he said, “It’s hard to gauge. But, there are a few people making reservations to shop.”

That can happen, apparently, even when the drive from home is only 30 minutes.

The shopping season is expected to be strong as it officially kicks off on Black Friday, according to recent surveys by the International Council of Shopping Centers.

Sales should increase about 3.3 percent, according to one survey. Another consumer survey showed customers plan to spend $702 on average for holiday gifts, an increase from $677 in 2014.

“It’s a pretty sizable jump,” said Jesse Tron, spokesman for the council. Consumers are feeling pretty good. “It should produce what should be a very strong season.”

So, cash registers will be jingling at The Shops at Wiregrass and Tampa Premium Outlets. There really is no direct competition between them, but there is the potential for people who come to one venue to drive on over to the other, Tron said.

“The two are different kinds of shopping trips,” he added.

Local malls typically are destinations for area residents who stop by once or twice a week. Outlets malls draw regionally from shoppers who make it a day trip and stay for hours.

But, he said, “(Local) malls are increasingly looking at becoming experience destinations. They may add unique dining and entertainment options. It’s not necessarily about retail. It’s adding the extra layer. Local malls and shopping centers are very invested in their community.”

For more information on holiday shopping hours for Tampa Premium Outlets, visit PremiumOutlets.com/outlet/tampa/about.

Published November 25, 2015

A gift for shoppers: Two malls within 2 miles

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

As Black Friday approaches, shoppers will scour advertisements for deals and map out a strategy to make the most of savings.

And this year, for the first time in Pasco County history, consumers will be able to shop at an outlet mall and a traditional mall within 2 miles of each other.

Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said the shopping mall expects to benefit from the nearby location of Tampa Premium Outlets. The outlet center will bring more people into the area, and some will likely visit his mall, he said. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo) — Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass, said the shopping mall expects to benefit from the nearby location of Tampa Premium Outlets. The outlet center will bring more people into the area, and some will likely visit his mall, he said.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

There was a time when the prospect of having a new mall so nearby would have been a cause for concern, said Greg Lenners, general manager at The Shops at Wiregrass.

But, that was when plans called for a traditional mall on the land where Tampa Premium Outlets opened on Oct. 29.

The landscape of Wesley Chapel has changed dramatically in the seven years since The Shops at Wiregrass opened, Lenners said.

Back then, State Road 56 ended at the mall’s entrance to Dillard’s, and Bruce B. Downs was a two-lane road.

Now, the area is popping.

State Road 56 has been extended to Meadow Pointe Boulevard, with a proposal to make it four lanes all the way to Zephyrhills. Bruce B. Downs is now a six-lane road.

Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel opened 3½ years ago, is undergoing a $78 million expansion, 2 ½ years ahead of schedule.

Plus, Lenners noted, there’s an 85,000-square-foot medical office building going up next door, Pasco-Hernando State College opened its Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch down the street, and there are about 1,000 homes under construction within a 3-mile ring of the mall.

“You’ve got Estancia. You’ve got The Ridge. Seven Oaks has got a lot of development. You’ve got Arbor Woods. Standard Pacific has a couple of developments on Meadow Pointe, as well, and you’ve got all that coming by the mall,” Lenners said.

“All of this is happening in our backyard, everything east of (Interstate) 75,” he said.

The primary customers at The Shops at Wiregrass are between the ages of 25 and 44, Lenners said. The average annual household income ranges from $85,000 to $90,000. And, the mall’s annual performance has improved every year since it opened, Lenners said.

The general manager doesn’t view Tampa Premium Outlets as competition to be feared.

Instead, he said, “it’s a perfect complement to what we have.”

An outlet center typically draws customers from roughly a 50-mile radius, Lenners said, His mall draws from a 10-mile ring.

The retail expert expects Tampa Premium Outlet’s longer reach to bring more people into the area, with some of those people deciding to check out The Shops at Wiregrass, at State Road 56 and Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

“The benefit for us is that customers that wouldn’t have come typically all of the way up here to visit — from Tampa, or some outer-lying areas — now they’ll come to the outlet (mall),” Lenners said.

The Shops at Wiregrass, just 2 miles away from Tampa Premium Outlets, will likely serve customers who want to eat at its restaurants or explore additional shopping options, he said.

The addition of Tampa Premium Outlets has not prompted The Shops at Wiregrass to rethink its game plan or amp up its events, Lenners said.

“We’ve established ourselves as a staple of the community, and that’s because of the events that we do,” he said. For example, this is the eighth holiday season that The Shops at Wiregrass has hosted “Symphony in Lights.”

This year, the show, presented by Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, has been revamped.

But, that’s not because of the new outlet mall, Lenners said.

The old tree wouldn’t work with current technology, and problems cropped up when it rained, Lenners said.

The new tree is 54 feet tall, including the star, and is about 27 feet in diameter.

“The presentation is much more dramatic,” Lenners said. There are four shows a night, with music from the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for two shows and a mix of holiday songs — that were suggested by mall shoppers — for the other two.

In between the sound and light shows, local groups give live performances on a stage in the mall’s center court, in front of the giant Christmas tree.

That’s been a tradition for years.

“Every night, there’s a different group. They’ve got their 45 minutes of fame,” Lenners said.

The mall will continue to have assorted events, including the Suncoast Arts Festival, car shows, fresh markets and charity walks for various causes, Lenners said.

It also continues to consider new possibilities.

“We’re constantly evolving things. We’re massaging. We’re constantly looking at events: What works? What doesn’t? What’s starting to get stale?” Lenners said.

Having the Tampa Premium Outlets and The Shops at Wiregrass in such convenient proximity adds to the Wesley Chapel area’s growing cache, Lenners said.

“We’re turning into a shopping mecca, destination. You can pretty much make a day of it,” Lenners said.

Published November 25, 2015

Commissioner seeks to keep Target open

November 25, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County Commission Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey isn’t ready to concede that Target must close its store in Odessa.

The national discount chain recently announced the closure of 13 stores across the country for poor sales performance.

The Odessa location, at 16400 State Road 54, is expected to shut its doors on Jan. 30, displacing more than 140 employees.

Target officials say their workers will be offered positions at other stores.

Starkey has been trying to change Target’s mind.

“I let them know they are looking backward not forward,” said Starkey at the Nov. 17 meeting of the Pasco County Commission in Dade City. “We need to have a deeper dealing with Target and show them in person what’s going on in this area.”

There is no word on whether Target will reconsider its decision or send corporate representatives for a tour.

But, Starkey said the closure would be a “black eye” for Pasco County and Target.

“We’d like to move the discount to the next level, and move our Target off the closure list,” she said.

The super center in Odessa opened in 2006, only a couple of years before the economy tanked. Pasco County now is booming with new development, both commercial and residential.

That likely wasn’t a factor in Target’s decision.

Many big box stores are looking to downsize in an era of Internet sales, said Richard Gehring, the county’s strategic policy administrator.

In fact, even as Target plans 13 closings, the company also is building 15 new stores in the next year. Only two are super centers. The others range in size from about 16,000 square feet to 29,000 square feet, according to Target.

At more than 120,000 square feet, the Odessa location, with a garden center and parking area, could be attractive to another business that wants to move quickly into ready-made space, said Gehring.

“It’s a negative. It could also be a positive,” he said. “It’s a major opportunity.”

Published November 25, 2015

Parents oppose proposed Elem W boundaries

November 25, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Scores of parents from the communities of Arbor Woods and Northwood are opposed to proposed school boundaries that would send their children from their Wesley Chapel community over to Denham Oaks Elementary, in Lutz.

About 100 people showed up at a community meeting on Nov. 19 to seek changes to the proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school being built off Mansfield Boulevard.

They told officials they understand that Seven Oaks Elementary needs relief from overcrowding, but they don’t want their children to be sent to a school in a different community.

They raised numerous concerns.

Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Vince Iglio, a parent from Arbor Woods, questioned the school district’s projections regarding future growth, particularly in the area of Denham Oaks Elementary.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

They don’t want to contend with the traffic on State Road 56, particularly near Interstate 75.

They don’t want their children to leave an A-rated school to go to one with a lower grade.

They want their children to have access to the same programs and services that they now enjoy at their current school.

They’re concerned about how the shift will affect which middle school and high school their children will attend.

And, they question the accuracy of the district’s projections.

They want district officials to change the boundaries so children in Arbor Woods and Northwood can attend Sand Pine Elementary, which is closer to where they live.

Elementary School W, now under construction off Mansfield Boulevard, is intended to provide some relief for Seven Oaks and Double Branch elementary schools. It also has some space available to accommodate anticipated growth, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

A boundary committee for Pasco County Schools has recommended a number of shifts that would affect the boundaries of Seven Oaks, Double Branch, Sand Pine and Denham Oaks.

Williams said the committee considers a number of factors when recommending school boundaries.

Those include school capacity, current enrollment and growth projections. The committee also attempts to avoid splitting subdivisions and considers traffic, he said.

Vince Iglio, representing Arbor Woods, said his neighborhood has just 25 students, which would have a negligible impact, if the students were assigned to Sand Pine.

Chris Williams, the director of planning for Pasco County Schools, explains the process used by a boundary committee to make recommendations regarding a school’s boundaries to the Pasco County School Board, which makes the final decision.

But, Williams said, if Arbor Woods were assigned to Sand Pine, the district should also consider other parts of Northwood, which would yield an impact of roughly 200 students.

Iglio questioned the district’s projections for Denham Oaks. He said the school could become overcrowded as early as next year, given the development that’s springing up in the area.

Williams said he expects that all of the schools affected by Elementary W’s boundaries will continue to grow, but some areas are expecting greater growth pressures.

Jennifer Northey, president of the Parent Teacher Association at Denham Oaks, told parents gathered in her school’s cafeteria that she understood why they were fighting the move. She said she’d be doing the same thing if her school’s boundaries were being changed and her family was affected.

She said she came to the meeting to reassure the parents that good things are happening at Denham Oaks.

David Scanga, a district administrator who supervises numerous schools, including Denham Oaks, said he understands parent’s concerns. He told them that Denham Oaks has been making great strides in improving its performance.

Ali Soofi, a resident of Arbor Woods, detailed some of the concerns of the Arbor Woods community in an email to The Laker/Lutz News.

“All of us knew that eventually we would be rezoned to a different school,” Soofi wrote. “However, none of us realized that we would be moved to a different city.

“Zero part of our rationale has to do with any school ratings,” Soofi added. “We just want to stay in Wesley Chapel, where we spend all our time, money, and worship.”

The Pasco County School Board has the final word on school boundaries, and it is slated to consider the boundaries at public hearings set for Dec. 1 and Dec. 15.

Elementary W boundary hearings
What: Public hearings for proposed boundaries for Elementary W, a new school which will open next school year in Wesley Chapel.
When: Dec. 1 at 9:30 a.m., and Dec. 15 at 6 p.m.
Where: Pasco County Schools district complex, Building No. 3 North, at 7205 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

Published November 25, 2015

Pasco supports fracking moratorium

November 25, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County commissioners approved a resolution seeking a state legislative moratorium on hydraulic fracking, and a study commission to review the pros and cons of the controversial method of drilling for oil and natural gas.

According to the resolution, public hearings also should be held, and the study commission should include representatives from the Florida Association of Counties, environmental groups, concerned citizens, and the oil and gas industries.

But, it took some heavy editing to reach a consensus at the commissioners’ meeting on Nov. 17.

Pat Carver, environmental chairwoman of the Dade City Garden Club, at the podium, asked Pasco County commissioners to support a statewide ban on hydraulic fracking. (Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley) — Pat Carver, environmental chairwoman of the Dade City Garden Club, at the podium, asked Pasco County commissioners to support a statewide ban on hydraulic fracking.
(Photos courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Commissioners deleted several passages on scientific data that troubled Pasco Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey.

“I would like to get two sides of the scientific data,” she said. “I’ve only had one.”

However, she added, “I think we all want a moratorium.”

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore also has mixed feelings on the issue. But, he said, “I think there does need to be a study.”

During fracking, chemically treated high-pressure water is pumped into a drilled pipeline to break apart rock formations to extract oil or natural gas.

Supporters say fracking is a safer extraction method than mining for coal, and provides a cleaner source of fuel. Opponents say fracking leads to water contamination, and increases the risks of sinkholes and earthquakes.

Garden club members had hoped for a more forceful resolution from Pasco’s commissioners, but said they were glad the commissioners brought attention to the issue.

The club members are concerned about State and House bills expected to be voted on during the 2016 legislative session that begins in January.

Pasco County commissioners deliberate over the wording of a resolution on a moratorium for hydraulic fracking.

The bills place control of fracking with the state, leaving local governments with no “opt out” clause.

Such a clause is among the requests in the county’s approved resolution. But, when Starkey inquired if the state legislature could deny home rule, Pasco County Attorney Jeffrey Steinsnyder said, “Yes. They’re the state legislature.”

The bills also require a $1 million study of the risks and hazards of fracking by the state’s Department of Environmental Protection. The study would be due by June 30, 2017. The DEP then could adopt rules for issuing permits for fracking.

“There is no moratorium,” said Pat Carver, environmental chairwoman of the garden club, referring to the proposed state legislation.

The bills aim to write the rules to approve fracking, said Peggy Woods, a garden club member. “Once the horse is out the barn, there’s nothing else we can do,” she said.

Published November 25, 2015

Pasco commissioners elect new leaders

November 25, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The leadership gavel for the Pasco County Commission is now in the hands of newly elected Pasco Chairwoman Kathryn Starkey.

Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is the new chairwoman of the county commission. (Courtesy of Richard K. Riley) — Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey is the new chairwoman of the county commission.
(Courtesy of Richard K. Riley)

Commissioners voted on Nov. 17 to appoint Starkey, who was the commission’s vice chair, to succeed Ted Schrader.

Schrader has pre-filed to run for the property appraiser’s office in 2016.

Pasco County Commissioners also named Mike Moore as the board’s vice chairman.

The largely ceremonial positions typically rotate each year among the five elected commissioners.

Starkey, who represents District 3, said her goal is to run efficient meetings.

She was elected to the commission in 2012 after serving six years on the Pasco County School Board. She replaced retiring Pasco County Commissioner Ann Hildebrand, who served nearly 28 years on the county commission.

Moore, who represents District 2, was elected in 2014. He replaced retiring Pasco County Commissioner Pat Mulieri, who served two decades on the commission.

Published November 25, 2015