Local News

Have a ‘Joyous Kwanzaa’

December 23, 2015 By Kathy Steele

The holiday season at the end of the year is a time of celebration for many religions around the world.

Christians rejoice in the birth of Christ. Jews reflect on the miracle of Hannukah when a single-day of sacred oil for burning candles at a rededicated temple lasted eight days.

For many African-Americans the season brings one more celebration, known as Kwanzaa.

The holiday’s name is from a Swahili phrase for the “first fruits of harvest.”

Though not specifically religious, Kwanzaa celebrates the roots and culture of the African-American and Pan-American experience.

A typical greeting at this time of year is “have a joyous Kwanzaa.”

“We’re celebrating the best of African culture,” said Imani Asukile, president of the African American Heritage Society of East Pasco County.

From Dec. 26 to Jan. 1, participating families will gather each day in their homes to honor the seven principles of Kwanzaa, known as Nguzo Saba: unity (umoja); self-determination (kujichagulia); collective work and responsibility (ujima); cooperative economics (ujamaa); purpose (nia); creativity (kuumba); and faith (imani).

Schools, libraries and churches also host Kwanzaa events.

Though the celebration is annual, the meaning of Kwanzaa is year-round.

“It’s not something we do,” said Asukile. “It’s a way of life.”

Each day of the week during Kwanzaa, a candle is lit – most often by a child – and one principle is discussed each day. The black candle in the center of the kanara, or candleholder, is the first to be lit in a ceremony reminiscent of the Jewish ritual of lighting eight candles during Hannukah.

“Hopefully, they develop a sense of appreciation of ancestors who laid a foundation on which we stand today,” said Asukile. “And, they can restore what we consider the best pride in our community.”

To start the holiday, the heritage society will host the Brenda Wormack Annual Unity Walk on Dec. 26 at 9 a.m., at the New Bethel African Episcopal Methodist (AME) Church in Lacoochee.

Wormack was vice president of the organization at the time of her death in 2009 from breast cancer. She also was a member of New Bethel AME.

“She was an ardent supporter of youth in the community,” said Asukile.

The heritage society also will host a Kwanzaa event, featuring storyteller Windell Campbell, on Dec. 29 at 2 p.m., at the Hugh Embry Branch Library in Dade City.

Storytelling is an affirmation of the African-American experience, Asukile said, and it creates an understanding of the past and future.

“You have to constantly tell the story,” Asukile said.

Kwanzaa began in the mid-1960s as the first uniquely African-American holiday. Its creator is Maulana Karenga, a professor and chairman of black studies at California State College in Long Beach, California.

According to the Kwanzaa website, the theme for Kwanzaa in 2015 is “Embracing Kwanzaa’s Principles and Practices: Creating and Celebrating the Good.”

For the African-American Heritage Society of East Pasco County, the Kwanzaa celebration is a tradition dating at least to the 1990s.

“I think it was through Kwanzaa that our organization was given birth,” Asukile said. “We have kind of used Kwanzaa to help make our community a better place.”

The organization hosts an annual memorial service to honor more than 20 veterans buried at Indian Pond Cemetery in Dade City. During segregation, the cemetery was the only one where African-Americans could bury their loved ones.

Events also are held during the year to recognize black history and women’s history, particularly individuals from the east Pasco area.

“We are extremely proud of what we have been able to contribute, especially proud of how the community has received the organization,” Asukile said.

For information, contact Imani Asukile at (352) 567-0441.

What: The Brenda Wormack Annual Unity Walk
When: Dec. 26 at 9 a.m.
Where: New Bethel AME Church, 20653 Floyd Road in Lacoochee

What: African American Heritage Society of East Pasco – Kwanzaa celebration, featuring storyteller Windell Campbell
When: Dec. 29 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Where: Hugh Embry Branch Library, 14215 Fourth St., Dade City

All events are free and open to the public.

Published December 23, 2015

More than 70 teams at lacrosse tournament in Wesley Chapel

December 23, 2015 By Kevin Weiss

Wesley Chapel is gearing up for a lacrosse tournament that attracts teams from across the country and provides an economic boost for Pasco County.

The Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions presented by Pasco County is slated for Dec. 29 through Dec. 31.

The tournament, operated by NDP Lacrosse, will showcase 73 elite teams from five youth divisions that will be vying for national titles. The teams are coming from 15 states, as well as one team from Ontario, Canada.

Opponents face off in a previous Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions game. (Courtesy of NDP Lacrosse) — Opponents face off in a previous Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions game.
(Courtesy of NDP Lacrosse)

The tournament, which moved to Pasco County in 2008, has been referred to as the “inaugural national championship” for pre-collegiate lacrosse players on club teams.

“This is not your high school team or your local rec team,” said Josh Gross, NDP’s senior director of lacrosse operations. “These are all-star teams that travel from different places around the country. There have been some (other organizations) that have tried to replicate it, but none to the (level of) success that we’ve had.

“We truly get some of the best competition in the world,” said Gross, whose organization’s acronym, NDP, stands for National Development Program.”

The number of teams participating is slightly down from previous years due to rising travel costs, but the event is still expected to bring in a considerable amount of revenue for Wesley Chapel and Pasco County.

“It’s my understanding that it brings approximately a $2.6 million economic impact to our community,” said Hope Allen, president of The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. “That’s from nights in hotels, eating food, and shopping at our malls.”

With the event falling under the umbrella of the holiday season, many of the lacrosse teams and the players’ families remain in the area for several few days before and after the tournament, said Pasco County Tourism Manager Ed Caum.

“They come down after Christmas and stay through Christmas (break), and enjoy what they can do here after the tournament,” he said. “They can go off to Busch Gardens or down to the Florida Aquarium, so it definitely has a good impact to the Tampa Bay region.”

The tournament, which is held at both the Wesley Chapel District Park and Wesley Chapel High School, had 25 teams when it began operating in Pasco County.

Its growth since then has paved the way for the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association (WCAA) to make capital improvements in facilities, said Tom FitzSimons, WCAA president.

FitzSimons said the tournament also has given exposure to a plethora of local lacrosse players that compete in the event.

“A lot of these kids have grown athletically in the program because they had the ability to play not only teams in Florida, but (teams from) all over the country,” FitzSimons said. “It’s helped them as far as progressing to the next level in college. Upwards of 60 kids that have played with us that played in this event have gone on to play in college.”

The NDP’s existing four-year contract with Pasco County ends after this year, but there is mutual interest to see if a new agreement can be reached.

Gross said he’s excited for the event’s future and hopes it can remain in Pasco County.

“Pasco County, the Wesley Chapel Athletic Association, Saddlebrook Resort and other local partners have been tremendous to NDP and to the event for years,” he said. “We have nothing but great things to say about them.”

For Pasco County, Caum noted there is “about a $100,000 investment” in originally bringing and keeping the tournament in the area.

FitzSimons said the event is really about making a “commitment to the community” for Wesley Chapel.

“I understand the financial parts and everything else, but we’d really like to keep it here and support everything we’re doing in Wesley Chapel,” he said. “Not just from a sport program perspective, but all the growth we’ve seen in keeping these businesses hopping all times of the year.

“I know that we get called pretty much annually from businesses wanting to know when the event is, so they can staff up,” he said.

Published December 23, 2015

Saint Anthony choir to perform for Pope Francis

December 23, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Members of the Saint Anthony Choristers are departing Dec. 26 on a pilgrimage to Rome.

The highlight of their trip will be to sing at the World Peace Day Papal Mass on New Year’s Day, said Sandra Lau, the choir director for the group from Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in San Antonio.

The 14 youth singers will be part of 5,000 youth singers from around the world that are taking part in the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores.

Pueri Cantores, which means “little singers” in Latin, was founded in France in 1907.

St. Peter’s Basilica is filled with singers from all over the world during the International Congress of Pueri Cantores on Jan. 1, 2011. It should be a similar scene when a group of singers from Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio take part in the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores. (Courtesy of American Federation Pueri Cantores) — St. Peter’s Basilica is filled with singers from all over the world during the International Congress of Pueri Cantores on Jan. 1, 2011. It should be a similar scene when a group of singers from Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio take part in the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores.
(Courtesy of American Federation Pueri Cantores)

The organization is dedicated to the conviction that singing can be an instrument in worshipping God.

Saint Anthony Choristers is part of the largest delegation of American singers ever to participate in a Pueri Cantores Congress, with almost 2,000 pilgrims expected to travel from the United States to Rome.

Other activities during the week include the “Mass of the Nations,” where the American choirs will celebrate a Mass in English in the Basilica of St. John Lateran, various “Concerts of Hope” at major churches in Rome, featuring an international mix of children’s choirs from among Pueri Cantores’ 37 federations around the world, and a private audience with the Holy Father, at which the “little singers” will sing Christmas carols from their home countries.

Lau said the group she is leading has been practicing the music it will be singing in Rome for months.

“We started in July, and we’ve been having twice a month, hour-and-a-half rehearsals,” Lau said.

The choir is singing an Argentinian song that we’re learning, because our Pope is from Argentina, Lau said.

The group also will be touring various sites in Rome, Lau said, noting she believes the experience will leave a lifelong impression on the singers making the trip.

Being able to sing for Pope Francis is an honor, she said.

“You saw how excited people were when he came to the United States, in Philadelphia and New York. So many people said, ‘Oh, I just love this Pope. And, they loved seeing him here on our homeland. But, to be in the Vatican where he lives and have kids their age from all over the world coming together is just amazing. It makes you realize how big the Catholic church is, and how far it has spread,” she said.

The music the choirs will be performing, she said, “ties us in with generations past, because we’re singing chant that goes back centuries.”

So, the experience will enable the choir to join voices with choirs from around the world, and they’ll be connected to the past through the music

The group also will be in church during a special time.

Pope Francis has declared a Jubilee of Mercy, which began Dec. 8 and runs through Nov. 20, 2016.

A Jubilee is a special time celebrated by the church to receive pardon and blessing from God, according to the National Catholic Reporter. “Most Jubilees have been focused on calling pilgrims to Rome to receive such pardon — normally by walking through a special holy door at a papal basilica,” according to the national Catholic publication.

“Francis has widely expanded his Jubilee, asking that diocese throughout the world open their own holy door at a cathedral or other church to expand the practice globally,” the National Catholic Reporter explains.

Lau is excited because the choir will be in Rome when the Holy Door is open there.

Lau has been the organist and choir director at St. Anthony of Padua since 1987, and has led children’s choirs nearly the entire time.

The Saint Anthony Choristers became affiliated with Pueri Cantores in 2007, expanding the choir’s opportunities to participate in regional festivals and international choral gatherings.

This is the second time the church has sent members of its youth choir to Rome; the other time was five years ago, Lau said.

Published December 23, 2015

Pasco County water customers get relief

December 23, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Listen to the customer — that’s the lesson learned by Pasco County after unhappy residents repeatedly complained during the past year about exorbitant and sometimes unexplainable water bills.

“It is moving in the right direction,” said Marc Bellas, director of performance development for Pasco County, referring to the county’s efforts to create a more customer-friendly water department.

Bellas appeared before the Pasco County Commission on Dec. 15 to deliver an update on steps being taken to correct deficiencies in the water department billing procedures.

After numerous complaints about water bills by customers, Pasco County Clerk and Comptroller Paula O’Neil ordered an audit by the solicitor general.

One of those complaints came from Louise Gritmon who was floored by a bill she received in July 2014 for more than $3,300.

The county billed Gritmon for 614,000 gallons of water during an 18-day period at a time when Gritmon said her house was vacant.

An analysis of 361 accounts, including the bill to Gritmon, resulted in 60 billing adjustments ranging from just under $2 to more than $3,000 less in Gritmon’s case.

Her bill was lowered to $40, which Gritmon had argued for months was the amount of a normal bill at her house.

Commissioners in November rewrote an ordinance to include language permitting the billing adjustments as a one-time event. Previously, county officials said they had no authority to make adjustments.

Many of the high bills were explainable as leaks or from irrigation of lawns, Bellas said. But, he added: “There were some key errors on our part, and a lot of things going wrong. You’ve got to start with a culture shift.”

That shift, according to Bellas, is meant to move the water department from an office focused on compliance to one focused on customer service and education.

Significant progress has been made, and more is coming, Bellas told commissioners.

The audit found deficiencies in the county’s meter reading and billing process, software glitches, inaccessible meters, inconsistent readings and alerts to potential leaks that weren’t passed on to customers.

To address problems, the county changed a confusing billing format that listed an account number, a customer number and a bill number. How the customer paid a bill could determine which number was used, Bellas said.

A third-party billing system should save the county about $80,000 a year, he said.

Pasco also budgeted for additional staff to boost to 11 the number of full-time customer service representatives. Bellas said that is barely more than a minimum of nine employees needed as “best practice.”

Employees also received more training, with a focus on quicker response times. Progress has been made, Bellas said.

The number of abandoned phone calls dropped from 50 percent in August to 13 percent in November. And, a wait time of 20 minutes decreased to about four minutes.

Bellas also said the customers whose bills were reviewed were asked to rate their service. About 81 percent were satisfied, he said.

That says a lot for how employees are responding to the complaints, Bellas said.

But, Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano said he would like to see more improvements.

“I don’t think there would be any private company that would be happy with those numbers,” he said.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore said he did his own checking on customer service by calling the water department with questions on how to pay his last three water bills. He didn’t identify himself as a commissioner.

“The person that helped me was great,” he said, at least on the first call. “The second person, not so much.”

The first employee who was outgoing and friendly, he said, “Those are the people you want to possibly train the others.”

But, Bellas said he hadn’t heard any “really bad stories” from people. “You want most of your customers to be thrilled with what you’ve done, but you can’t always please everybody that’s coming through.”

Part of the solution is on making it easier for customers to understand their bills, and Bellas said the new bill is easier to read. But, efforts to educate the public also matter, he added.

Some high bills resulted from lawn irrigation, he said, adding that residents are often unaware of how much water their lawns soak up.

Published December 23, 2015

Lighted hummingbirds, butterflies and snowmen — oh, my!

December 23, 2015 By B.C. Manion

If you’re the kind of person who enjoys seasonal decor, you’ll find plenty to like at Holiday Lights in the Gardens at the Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.

The gardens — home year-round to an interesting array of plants and trees — decks out with 750,000 holiday lights and a huge array of seasonal decorations during the event.

Visitors to Holiday Lights in the Gardens at Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo will encounter colorful lights throughout the display, decking out everything from berry bushes to stately palms, to pointy cacti and floral beauties. Here, a set of round colored lights seems to be the perfect addition to this berry bush. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Visitors to Holiday Lights in the Gardens at Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo will encounter colorful lights throughout the display, decking out everything from berry bushes to stately palms, to pointy cacti and floral beauties. Here, a set of round colored lights seems to be the perfect addition to this berry bush.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The display features such things as lighted lollipops, giant snowflakes, ornaments and snowmen, too. There’s also a choo-choo train, gingerbread men and a gingerbread house, as well.

Plenty of the lighted decorations pay homage to Florida’s natural life, including a turtle, a gator, hummingbirds, flamingoes and butterflies.

The lighted figures are placed throughout the garden, adding color and complementing the garden’s natural beauty. For instance, a group of illuminated flamingoes appears to be prowling under some drooping angel trumpets.
The event is the largest fundraiser for the gardens and depends on the help of about 450 volunteers, as well as donations to make the event a success.

Visitors who want their kids to have a chance to tell Santa what they would like will have until Dec. 23.

But, the event continues nightly, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m., until Dec. 31.

An up-to-date schedule of nightly, family friendly entertainment can be found on the Florida Botanical Gardens’ website at FLBG.org, or by calling the Holiday Lights hotline at (727) 582-5800.

If You Go
What: Holiday Lights in the Gardens
Where: Florida Botanical Gardens, 12520 Ulmerton Road in Largo
When: Nightly through Dec. 31, from 5:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.
How much: $4 donation suggested per person, for those 13 and older. Parking is free.
For more information, go to FLBG.org.

These snowmen were a big hit with visitors during a recent evening at Holiday Lights in the Gardens at Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo.

Visitors to Holiday Lights in the Gardens at Florida Botanical Gardens in Largo will find plenty of interesting light displays, as well as natural beauty. On one path, tree branches form a canopy, presenting a multitude of flowering natural ‘ornaments.’

Holiday Lights in the Gardens offers visitors lots of reasons to enjoy the holidays, including creative light displays, refreshments for purchase, holiday music and entertainment.

AMIkids Pasco provides update to school board

December 23, 2015 By B.C. Manion

O.B. Stander, president of AMIkids Pasco, recently updated the Pasco County School Board on changes being made to improve the program.

The changes are in response to the board’s Dec. 1 vote to terminate the organization’s contract effective Jan. 29.

When they took the vote, board members made it clear they would revisit the issue and would reinstate AMIkids Pasco, if the organization could demonstrate substantial improvement in its performance by Jan. 12.

The board’s initial action came at the recommendation of Superintendent Kurt Browning, who informed the board that substantial progress would be needed.

At the same time, Browning said he hopes AMIkids Pasco can turn the program around, so it could continue operating it.

AMIkids Pasco serves 46 students, who come from across Pasco County.

The program serves 25 therapeutic emotional/behavior disability students and 21 students in the Department of Juvenile Justice program at a campus of portables on U.S. 41, north of State Road 52 at 18950 Michigan Lane in Spring Hill.

If AMIkids Pasco makes considerable progress, Browning said he will recommend that the board revoke the termination; otherwise, the district will take over operation of the site on Jan. 29.

Browning said discontinuing the district’s relationship with AMIkids Pasco is not the preferable option for him or for Pasco County Schools.

Stander told board members that retired principal Pat Reedy has been helping AMIkids Pasco in the development of an enhanced action plan.

“We changed the school’s leadership team to strengthen both the educational and behavioral modification expertise,” Stander said.

It also has hired additional staff to make sure that class size ratios and mental health needs of the students are being met.

It also has increased staff compensation to a rate that’s higher than the school district’s rate, to improve retention, Stander said.

AMIkids Pasco also has partnered with the University of South Florida’s Department of Applied Behavior Analysis to participate in a pilot program, Stander said. That program includes having a university faculty member, with a doctorate in behavioral analysis, as well as two graduate students on campus, for a total of about 60 hours a week, Stander said.

Published December 23, 2015

Honoring the memory of Jaret Harshman

December 16, 2015 By B.C. Manion

Members of Wesley Chapel High School’s cross-country teams led a solemn procession around the school’s track on Dec. 11 to honor the memory of Jaret Harshman.

The 15-year-old died from injuries sustained in a Dec. 9 car accident.

Shortly after the accident, his father, Mike Harshman, shared the news of his son’s death on Facebook.

Members of the cross-country teams at Wesley Chapel High School led a solemn procession on Dec. 11 to honor the memory of Jaret Harshman. The 15-year-old was described as a dedicated runner, who was kind to others. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Members of the cross-country teams at Wesley Chapel High School led a solemn procession on Dec. 11 to honor the memory of Jaret Harshman. The 15-year-old was described as a dedicated runner, who was kind to others.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

After first apologizing for the shocking nature of the post, Mike Harshman, of Wesley Chapel, wrote: “This evening on his way to church with friends, our oldest son Jaret was killed in a fatal car accident. He was just shy of his 16th birthday on Dec. 28. Kristi and I are numb and distraught – it seems surreal to us. We love Jaret, and are so proud of him – a terrible hole will be felt in our family forever, and we are still in shock over this. But we take great comfort in our faith, believing he was welcomed home into the arms of Christ.”

In the post, Mike Harshman, who is a preacher, also asked for prayers for the two boys that Jaret was riding with, Ryan and Michael Miller, also of Wesley Chapel.

Michael Miller “was in surgery for hours and appears to have a long recovery from his injuries,” the post says. It also notes that Ryan Miller “will have to deal with the emotions he will face. We love those 2 boys like our own sons, and will continue to embrace them as this will be a difficult road for them as well …”

According to a report from the Florida Highway Patrol, 18-year-old Ryan Miller was driving a 2006 Chevy Aveo north on Culbreath Road, approaching a stop sign at the intersection County Road 572 (Powell Road) around 6:18 p.m., on Dec. 9.

Jaret Harshman, shown as the lead runner here, was a devoted member of the cross-country team at Wesley Chapel High School. He died from injuries sustained in a Dec. 9 car accident. (Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School) — Jaret Harshman, shown as the lead runner here, was a devoted member of the cross-country team at Wesley Chapel High School. He died from injuries sustained in a Dec. 9 car accident.
(Courtesy of Wesley Chapel High School)

Meanwhile, Christopher Reed Russell, 25, of Spring Hill was driving his 2014 Dodge Ram on County Road 572.

Miller failed to stop at the stop sign and traveled into the pathway of Russell’s vehicle, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report. Charges are pending.

During the memorial at the school, members of the cross-country teams carried a paper banner containing hundreds of tributes to Jaret.

The messages were printed in tiny letters, or scrawled in giant cursive. They were written with markers or pens in green, red, black, blue and pink.

The posts expressed sorrow at Jaret’s death, gratitude for having known him and hope for him to have a new life in heaven.

Here’s how Nicole put it: “Jaret, you always brightened up my day and lit the whole room up with your smile. You were one of the best people I ever got to know. Love you J. Harsh.”

Another friend, Pey, wrote, “I’ve known you for seven years now and I will love you and miss you forever. Doesn’t seem real … You had a heart of gold.”

Mike Harshman thanked everyone who has offered their support, in the aftermath of a Dec. 9 traffic accident that claimed the life of his 15-year-old son, Jaret.

Members of his cross-country team wrote a tribute, too. “I know, we know, that you will be watching us at cross-country meets and cheering us on from up in heaven. Thank you for being an amazing friend, brother to us. We love you so much.” They signed the message: “Love the cross-country team that you will always be a part of.”

Desirae K., added “you were loved by many and had such a kind heart. You will be missed dearly. Rest easy.”

Members of the cross-country team, and the coach, spoke during the memorial, describing Jaret as a devoted runner who inspired others with his dedication to the sport.

Mike Harshman spoke, too, thanking the hundreds gathered at the track, and everyone else who has offered comfort and support in response to Jaret’s death.

Carin Hetzler-Nettles, principal at Wesley Chapel High, characterized Jaret as “an incredible young man who loved school, loved his friends and family, and loved participating in sports here at Wesley Chapel High.”

She also noted: “ He touched many lives with his random acts of kindness and selflessness, and was adored by his Wildcat family. He will be missed greatly and will always be in our hearts.”

Published December 16, 2015

Pasco County is set to go super high-tech

December 16, 2015 By Kathy Steele

Pasco County could soon be zooming through the 21st century’s technology revolution at lightning speeds as the nation’s first smart gigabit community.

More than 7,800 acres in central and eastern Pasco County are slated to become a state-approved special development district, overseen locally and focusing on a land use plan that will embed state-of-the-art technology into future residential and commercial developments.

Pasco County will become a connected-city corridor, providing the nation’s fastest Internet access within a special development district. A 7-acre, man-made swimming pool, known as a crystal lagoon, will be featured in the Epperson Ranch Town Center, which is within the district. (Courtesy of Crystal Lagoon Corp.) — Pasco County will become a connected-city corridor, providing the nation’s fastest Internet access within a special development district. A 7-acre, man-made swimming pool, known as a crystal lagoon, will be featured in the Epperson Ranch Town Center, which is within the district.
(Courtesy of Crystal Lagoon Corp.)

The district is known as a connected-city corridor. Interstate 75, State Road 52, Curley Road and Overpass Road border the district.

The unifying link would be UltraFi, a Bright House fiber-optic cable network with Internet speeds that can download 100 photos lickety-split in 3 seconds, not the more typical snail-pace of 4 minutes plus.

“We think it is more than a place. It is an engine for ideas…and for community engagement,” said Karik Goyani, vice president of operations for Metro Development Group.

And, its applications go beyond entertainment into areas such as health care, education, public safety, remote surgical training, software lending libraries and job creation.

For example, surgical training can be done remotely with 3-D imaging. Biology students can examine live specimens under a microscope that is set up thousands of miles away. Pollen counts specific to a single neighborhood can be available to asthma patients who need to plan their day.

Residents got a peak at the special district at a presentation in September.

Pasco County commissioners got an overview of the district and its potential as an economic driver for the county at a Dec. 8 workshop. A second workshop on Jan. 19 will focus on financial plans for the district.

Metro Development Group and Heidt Design are partnering with the county on this one-of-a-kind visioning plan. State legislators approved the special district as a 10-year-pilot program, but the plan in total will evolve over 50 years.

The pilot portion of development will bypass the usual state reviews, with approvals made locally by county commissioners.

“The buck stops with you,” said Pat Gassaway, president of Heidt Design.

UltraFi currently can be found in three residential neighborhoods built by Metro Development Group including Union Park in Wesley Chapel. Two others – Park Creek and Waterleaf – are in Hillsborough County.

But, Pasco will be the first community in the nation with technology central to site plans from the start, not simply an add-on amenity.

The company currently is developing Park Place, a master-planned community in Wesley Chapel on the former Epperson Ranch property. A 7-acre man-made swimming pool, known as a crystal lagoon, will be the centerpiece.

Metro Development Group plans a mixed-used development with a business incubator, offices and residential.

Mirada is another of the company’s projects on the former Cannon Ranch.

Pasco is uniquely positioned to foster the connected-city corridor concept, according to William Wallace, executive director of US Ignite, a nonprofit under the umbrella of the National Science Foundation and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.

He announced at the workshop that Pasco’s application to join the national Tech Hire Initiative had been approved, and would open up opportunities for the county to apply for $100 million in federal grants.

Pasco is one of about 40 national participants, and the only county in the group.

The Tech Hire program encourages non-traditional opportunities, such as technology boot camps, that offer faster training and new, higher paying jobs for people in the technology industry.

“It takes a leap of faith,” Wallace said. “It seems like you have taken that leap of faith.”

Gassaway went so far as to suggest that Pasco’s reputation as a bedroom community that supplies workers to other counties could change over time.

“Pasco might be the destination for people to come to work,” he said. “That’s amazing.”

Published December 16, 2015

Christmas cheer dispensed here

December 16, 2015 By B.C. Manion

If you want to have yourself a merry ‘little’ Christmas, you may want to bypass Bill and Debbie Tuttle’s place.

They’re not into merry ‘little’ Christmases — they prefer presenting a mega-dose of holiday cheer. And, they deliver it through thousands of artfully arranged decorations.

Beyond the mere size and variety of the décor, there are stories behind scores of items in their display.

Bill Tuttle, from left, holds the family’s dog, Bailee, while posing in front of the family’s Christmas tree with his granddaughter, Kalise Mabingnay, and his wife, Debbie. The trio of elves has been busy decorating just about every square inch of their home for the holidays. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos) — Bill Tuttle, from left, holds the family’s dog, Bailee, while posing in front of the family’s Christmas tree with his granddaughter, Kalise Mabingnay, and his wife, Debbie. The trio of elves has been busy decorating just about every square inch of their home for the holidays.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

And, in a true spirit of Christmas, the couple will open their home to the public on Dec. 18, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., so people can take a peek. The couple’s home is at 2308 Camp Indianhead Road in Land O’ Lakes.

When visitors arrive, they’ll see a lighted display in the front yard, and decorations adorning the house.

But, that’s just a prelude to what lies ahead inside.

Every room in the house is dressed up for the season.

Near the front door, a giant figure of Santa, welcomes those who enter.

There are trees, with various themes, in different rooms of the house.

In the office and crafts room, for instance, there’s a tree with ornaments made from old wooden spools and decorations depicting various crafts.

There’s a Mickey tree and a Minnie tree that Debbie Tuttle made, to complement the animated Disney characters adorning a shelf in the couple’s living room.

There’s also a massive tree illuminated by 5,000 lights and decked out with ornaments depicting moments of the family’s life through the years.

The couple’s zeal for Christmas is on display everywhere.

The sunken tub in the master bath, for instance, is off limits for the holidays because decorations encircle the tub.

Snowmen add to the festive feel at Bill and Debbie Tuttle’s home in Land O’ Lakes.

Even the dog crate, in the couple’s master bedroom, is decked out for the season.

There’s a holiday bedspread that Debbie made, on the couple’s bed.

There’s homage to her late father, too, featuring a miniature John Deere tractor, a small tree decorated with tiny John Deere hats, and a small figure of a fisherman — depicting the things that he loved best.

The dining room features an 11-foot bottle tree that Debbie made this year, using bottles she bought at Dollar Tree stores. “I went to 13 stores in one day,” she said, adding it took 201 bottles to make the tree, and she even picked up some of them in Orlando.

She also made a smaller tabletop tree that’s crafted from bottles of many colors.

In the kitchen, there’s a tree that’s dressed up with miniature gadget ornaments.

There’s also a gingerbread house on one counter, and an oversized ornament, serving as a centerpiece, on a kitchen table.

This 11-foot bottle tree is a new addition to the Tuttles’ holiday décor this year. Debbie Tuttle made the tree using 201 bottles that she bought from Dollar Tree stores. “I went to 13 stores in one day,” she said.

A 6-foot-tall nutcracker stands as a sentry, providing an imposing holiday presence.

There are plenty of snowmen and nativity scenes, Santa clauses, decorated trees and twinkling lights to see in other rooms throughout the house, and in the gathering spaces outdoors.

Holiday music also helps to boost the home’s holiday cheer quotient.

The couple has been opening their home for four years, offering some private tours and a couple of public open houses every holiday season.

More than 400 people turned out for the first open house, the couple said.

Besides giving people a feast for the eyes, they also provide cookies and cider, for those who visit their home.

There is no charge to take the tour, but donations are accepted.

The couple uses the money to provide Christmas for some families in need. This year, they think they’ve received enough donations to provide a Christmas dinner and presents for four families.

This stately Santa Claus offers a warm welcome to visitors to the Land O’ Lakes home of Bill and Debbie Tuttle, who host public open houses a couple of times during the holidays to share the spirit of the season.

Getting ready for the holidays at the Tuttles begins on Oct. 1 and takes considerable work, but the couple enjoys sharing their holiday handiwork.

They also enjoy sharing their enthusiasm with their granddaughter, 9-year-old Kalise Mabingnay, who lives with them and helps provide seasonal cheer.

Making holidays bright is what it’s all about, said Bill Tuttle, who works for Senior Helpers.

“If you can’t be in the spirit after leaving here, then you’re not ever going to be in the spirit,” Bill Tuttle said.

Christmas Open House
What: A Christmas Open House featuring a holiday display including 82 decorated trees, 70 animated characters, and thousands of lights and decoration, indoor and out.
Where: Bill and Debbie Tuttle’s house at 2308 Camp Indianhead Road, Land O’ Lakes.
When: Dec. 18 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.
How much: Admission is free. Donations are accepted to help provide a Christmas dinner and presents to families in need.

Published December 16, 2015

Pasco schools planning more construction projects

December 16, 2015 By B.C. Manion

As Pasco County Schools gears up to open an elementary school in Wesley Chapel next school year, it’s also planning to open a school for students in grades six through 12 in Wesley Chapel and an elementary school in Land O’ Lakes in the fall of 2017.

It’s also planning to open a kindergarten through eighth-grade school in Starkey Ranch, though no opening date has been yet specified, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools.

District officials also are seeking bond money against revenues from Penny for Pasco proceeds so the district can get to work sooner on projects at Land O’ Lakes High School, and Woodland Elementary in Zephyrhills, he said.

Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools, said the district is seeking additional school sites to accommodate increasing enrollments. (File Photo) — Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools, said the district is seeking additional school sites to accommodate increasing enrollments.
(File Photo)

And, those are just a few efforts under way, as the district experiences the most growth it has seen since the housing market flattened during the recession, Williams said.

The Land O’ Lakes High project hasn’t been designed yet, but it will be significant and will involve adding capacity, Williams said.

“We have Connerton and those developments around there, so we definitely want to look to add capacity to Land O’ Lakes (High School),” Williams said. “The biggest issue is going to be: ‘What do we do with all of the kids?’ ”

When Quail Hollow Elementary School was redeveloped, the district could reassign its students to other elementary schools.

“But, that’s a different ballgame when we start talking about Land O’ Lakes High School,” Williams said.

While it’s possible to do construction with students on campus, it’s more complicated and time consuming, Williams said.

A portion of the bond money also would be used for a remodeling at Woodland Elementary, Williams said.

“Woodland is just an older school. It has a really small cafeteria, plus they’re well over capacity,” he said.

The district has to be careful about how much capacity it adds, because it also owns property for an elementary school on the north end of Zephyrhills, Williams said.

In Land O’ Lakes, the district has acquired an elementary school site near the entrance of Tierra del Sol. There’s no timetable yet for building that school, Williams said.

The district also is working to secure another high school site in the State Road 54 corridor, between U.S. 41 and Trinity, he said.

A high school is planned in Bexley Ranch, but an additional high school site is needed in the State Road 54 corridor to accommodate anticipated growth, Williams said.

The high school in Bexley Ranch won’t be accessible for three to five years, because of its location within the development, Williams said.

In addition to the elementary school site planned in Bexley Ranch, the district is looking for an additional elementary school site in the State Road 54 corridor, Williams said.

As the district grows and adds more schools, it will need to draw new boundaries for the schools, a process that tends to arouse controversy.

Superintendent Kurt Browning addressed the issue regarding school boundary shifts in a column he posted on the Pasco County Schools’ website.

“The biggest complaint we get when we have to change school boundaries is from parents who moved into a neighborhood specifically to send their children to the neighborhood school.

“That is why we strongly urge realtors not to use nearby schools as a selling point when they list homes for sale,” Browning writes.

“While we can’t promise parents that the school their home is zoned for when they buy it will continue to be their children’s assigned school, we can promise that it is our mission to provide a world-class education at every Pasco County school,” the superintendent’s column says.

Published December 16, 2015