The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco commissioners scrutinize medical marijuana

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Medical marijuana is legal in Florida, but the issue continues to stir controversy.

The first sales of medical marijuana likely will begin in the next months, when the Florida Department of Health sets up its program for delivering the cannabis-based product.

While 28 businesses have applied for one of five permits that will be issued statewide, no Pasco County business is on the list.

And now, the Pasco County Commission is joining other jurisdictions around the state that have either adopted or have drafted moratoriums on growing and dispensing cannabis.

TitleThe county had its first public hearing on Aug. 18 on a proposed ordinance calling for a one-year moratorium.

County officials and Pasco County commissioners made no comment on the on the ordinance.

Commissioners are s
cheduled to have a second public hearing and a vote on Sept. 2.

The first public hearing drew only one speaker during public comment. He came from Pinellas County with some advice for commissioners.

“I would speak to the patients,” said John Chase. “I’m not a marijuana user myself, but I know people whose lives depend on this. I don’t want to see a moratorium.”

Chase said he knows families in Pasco County who need medical marijuana. He expects more people will show up for the final hearing.

Medical marijuana appeared on the 2014 ballot as a constitutional amendment. Supporters fell just short of the necessary 60 percent vote to approve the amendment. Petitioners are seeking signatures to put it on the state’s ballot again in 2016.

And, an appeals judge recently cleared away legal challenges to the state law that allows for dispensing what is known as “Charlotte’s web,” a low-strain of medical marijuana for patients with epilepsy or advanced cancer.

The next step is for the state health department to review the 28 applications filed by the July deadline. Permits are expected in the next three months. The locations will be in five geographic regions around the state.

To date, 23 states and the District of Columbia have legalized medical marijuana in some form while 17 states have rejected such measures. Four states – Oregon, Washington, Colorado and Alaska – have legalized marijuana for recreational use. And Ohio could become the fifth state, and the first in the Midwest, to permit recreational use, if voters approve a constitutional amendment in November.

As Florida’s medical marijuana program gears up, a number of local jurisdictions, like Pasco County, are adopting or drafting their versions of moratoriums. Some are banning dispensaries and treatment centers, at least temporarily, while others are changing zoning laws to restrict their locations.

One requirement of applicants is that they are properly zoned to cultivate, process and dispense cannabis, and also demonstrate an ability to produce high quality product quickly, according to an email from Mara Burger, press secretary for the state’s health department.

The focus is on delivering “safe and effective treatment options,” she writes.

State health officials are taking note of actions such as moratoriums and are “closely monitoring municipal activity across the state to determine any potential impact on patient accessibility or applicant performance.”

Published August 26, 2015

Tampa Premium Outlets to have ‘Key West’ vibe

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Tampa Premium Outlets will have water, water, everywhere.

The mega-outlet mall will have a center court lagoon, five fountains, and buildings and interiors painted in soft pastels, to give shoppers a “Key West” experience.

Special events and celebrities will punctuate an opening weekend slated for Oct. 29 through Nov. 1.

Palm trees and a pastel color palette throughout Tampa Premium Outlets will give shoppers a ‘Key West’ experience. (Artist renderings courtesy of Simon Property Group)
Palm trees and a pastel color palette throughout Tampa Premium Outlets will give shoppers a                              ‘Key West’ experience.
(Artist renderings courtesy of Simon Property Group)

General Manager Stacey Nance gave guests at the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce’s monthly breakfast a peek at the soon-to-open mall, off State Road 56, near Interstate 75.

The breakfast marked the first formal event by Nance who was tapped as general manager in May. She began her career with Simon Property Group 18 years ago, as director of marketing at Muncie Mall, in Muncie, Indiana. She later moved into retail management, overseeing operations at Muncie Mall, Muncie Plaza and Northwood Plaza.

Nance also introduced her staff members, including Office Administrator Kelly Holmes and Operations Manager Dallas Stevens.

“We are very excited to be part of your community for many years to come,” Nance said.

The 441,000-square-foot mall will have 110 outlet shops, though not all will be part of the opening weekend. Among announced tenants are Adidas, Brooks Brothers, Coach, Fossil, Puma and Samsonite.

About 92 percent of the mall will be filled on opening day, Nance said. The extra open space is needed, she said, to allow room for the special events.

Details on the events and the as-yet-unnamed celebrities will be announced later.

A job fair for more than 800 jobs will take place on Aug. 27 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., at Embassy Suites, at 3705 Spectrum Blvd., in Tampa. The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce and Career Central at Pasco Hernando State College are event coordinators.

All of the announced tenants will participate in the job fair, Nance said.

Stacey Nance is the general manager of Tampa Premium Outlets that will open on Oct. 29. (File Photo)
Stacey Nance is the general manager of Tampa Premium Outlets that will open on Oct. 29.
(File Photo)

On opening day, shoppers can try out a valet service. Not all Simon properties have valet parking, but Nance said plans are to see how it is utilized.

Marketing is under way also for outparcels that could bring in more tenants.

“If you all come out and spend lots of money, there will be more development,” Nance said.

She anticipates opportunities for local businesses to bid for contracts including for special events, banners and lighting for the parking lot. Signarama, a Wesley Chapel-based company and a “podium sponsor” of the chamber’s breakfast, was among local businesses that provided items for the outlet mall’s groundbreaking.

“Basically, the sky’s the limit,” Nance said.

Published August 26, 2015

Trip to Tokyo offers new perspectives

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Colby Tomasello recently returned from Tokyo, Japan, where he took part in the TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy.

The Land O’ Lakes High student was among a group of eight students and four teachers from the United States who were selected to make the trip.

Colby Tomasello (back row, third from right) joins other participants at the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy in Tokyo. (Photos courtesy of Toshiba)
Colby Tomasello (back row, third from right) joins other participants at the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy in Tokyo.
(Photos courtesy of Toshiba)

He spent a week working in collaborative teams with Japanese students, to tackle challenges that required thinking outside of the box.

He also did some sightseeing and had a chance to see firsthand what life is like on the island nation of Japan.

The pace of activities was busy, said Tomasello, who won an essay competition to receive the expenses-paid trip.

Each day began around 7 a.m., with lights out around 10 p.m., he said.

“We had a lot of work to do,” explained Tomasello, who was still attending Pine View Middle School, when he was selected for the U.S. team.

Besides the challenges he and other students tackled, he also had the chance to ride on one of the world’s fastest elevators, master the technique of eating with chopsticks and check out the way people live in Tokyo.

His biggest surprise was how similar Tokyo is to major U.S. cities.

“The layout was very modern,” he said.

Colby Tomasello, right, receives a congratulatory handshake from Toshiba America Inc. executive R. Steven Tungate for his participation in the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy in Tokyo.

The number of people he encountered who speak English surprised him, and he was impressed by the way Japanese people, in general, treat strangers.

“People are very polite. They’re very respectful. They bow a lot,” Tomasello said.

He also observed that the Japanese lifestyle appears to be more environmentally friendly than the American way of life.

“Only 20 percent of their vehicles are all gasoline,” he said.

At the hotel where he was staying, the beds were smaller than a typical bed in the U.S., and turning on the room’s lights and running the air conditioner required the room key.

During the week, he took part in a contest to build a tower out of straws and tape that would withstand a simulated earthquake.

“We designed future communities. They’re supposed to be smart communities,” Tomasello said.

“We also saw a SMART home designed by Toshiba,” he said, which featured solar panels and other self-sustaining features.

He worked with a team that was made up of Japanese and American students. One Japanese student on his team was fluent in English, and the other wasn’t.

They worked well together, he said. When the student who spoke little English had trouble understanding, the other student translated, Tomasello said.

Bill Nye, a representative for the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy, speaks to this year’s participants at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.
Bill Nye, a representative for the 2015 TOMODACHI Toshiba Science & Technology Leadership Academy, speaks to this year’s participants at the U.S. Embassy in Tokyo.

Tomasello noted that both Japanese students were much more fluent in English than he is in Japanese.

One lesson he learned during his trip had nothing to do specifically with the challenges at hand, he said.

He learned that the American approach to tackling a problem isn’t necessarily the only approach, or always the best approach.

Tomasello’s selection for the essay competition was based on his previous participation in the Toshiba/NSTA ExploraVision program.

Students in grades eight through 11, and high school teachers who are members of the NSTA (National Science Teacher Association), were eligible to apply.

Their Japanese counterparts were selected from high schools that promote strong achievement in science and mathematics, as well as have strong international student exchange programs.

Tomasello isn’t the only member of his family who has fared well in the ExploraVision competitions.

“My sister (Catie) has won four times, and I have won twice,” he said. One of those wins came when he was on a team with his sister.

Published August 26, 2015

 

New Walk celebrates a new church home

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When New Walk Church began offering services in 2006, it was located at the YMCA building in Zephyrhills, and had about 120 regular attenders.

Now, the church has three locations, totaling roughly 2,000 members, and it is planning to host the grand opening for its new Zephyrhills home at an evening service on Aug. 29 and two morning services on Aug. 30.

Lead Pastor Gary Baldus believes that New Walk’s invitation that God desires people to make a spiritual reconnection has led to the church’s growth.
Lead Pastor Gary Baldus believes that New Walk’s invitation that God desires people to make a spiritual reconnection has led to the church’s growth.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)

The new Zephyrhills location is at 35008 State Road 54.

The church also has satellites in Dade City and Holiday.

New Walk aims to reach people who are looking for a spiritual home, according to Lead Pastor Gary Baldus.

“I think there’s a lot of people who have been involved in things in their life, and they’re like, ‘There’s no way God loves me now after what I’ve done,’ ” Baldus said.

New Walk tries to help those people understand that God does love them, he said.

“It’s like ‘Who left the relationship? You or God?’ ”

New Walk wants to “reach people who are far from God, but would like to get close and discover that relationship.

“From the time they get to the parking lot and through our service, we want them to know that God still loves them and wants that relationship with them,” Baldus said.

“We have a vision statement which is ‘Unleashing new purpose in every life through Jesus Christ,’ ” he added.

It’s a place designed to be inviting, for members and visitors, alike.

The church has attracted many families with children, and also many single adults, but there are also some older members, Baldus said.

Those driving by New Walk Church on State Road 54 may have wondered what was being built on that road. Now, they know. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photos)
Those driving by New Walk Church on State Road 54 may have wondered what was being built on that road. Now, they know.

Its services feature contemporary music, with highly skilled musicians, the pastor said.

“It’s very lively. It’s all Jesus-based. It’s pretty much what you would hear on Christian radio,” he said.

Much of the new building is designed with children in mind.

The area has been themed out, by Wacky World, a company the church hired to do the décor.

There’s a check-in area, where parents can leave their children while they attend the worship service. That room has a seaside theme, with a model of a giant wave, complete with a surfboard.

“When this is fully running, we have a scent machine,” Baldus said, noting it smells like the coconut oil often used in suntan lotion.

Different rooms within the children’s area are designed to cater to different age groups. There’s a nursery area, a room for toddlers and other spaces for older kids.

The idea is to make church a place where kids want to come, to have fun and to learn about Jesus, Baldus said.

A look at some of the décor, which provides a lively environment for children attending worship services with their parents at New Walk Church.
A look at some of the décor, which provides a lively environment for children attending worship services with their parents at New Walk Church.

There’s also a Hospitality Café, where worshippers can enjoy free doughnuts and coffee, or splurge on cappuccinos or slushies. It’s a place where worshippers can relax and spend time with each other, Baldus said.

The main worship hall can accommodate 850 people, which Baldus expects to be full at the services during the grand opening weekend.

The project cost $3.8 million for construction, not including taxes, fees or furnishings.

The new 39,000-square-foot church building sits on 6.5 acres. The site includes a large retention pond in the back and 300 parking spaces around the building, the pastor said.

Even with 300 spaces, parking could become an issue as the church grows, Baldus said.

A significant amount of space has been devoted to children at New Walk Church. The rooms are designed to cater to different age groups.
A significant amount of space has been devoted to children at New Walk Church. The rooms are designed to cater to different age groups.

“One of the challenges on that is that we reach a lot of single people, which is wonderful, but they don’t bring two or three people,” he said.

The church is affiliated with the General Baptist denomination, but its members come from various backgrounds, and there’s no denominational bent, Baldus said.

When people arrive at New Walk, the primary goal is to make them feel welcome.

“Let’s take the barriers away, so they want to come in and hear what God would want for them in their life. And then we can let God do the changing,” Baldus said.

The message he seeks to deliver is: “God loves you and wants you to come back.”

He thinks that invitation for spiritual reconnection has resonated with many people, leading to New Walk’s growth.

“I think the biggest draw has been that this is a place that people could come into and hear the love of Jesus,” Baldus said.

Published August 26, 2015

Retired CPA becomes published novelist

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The morning after John Chaplick retired from his consulting business, he knew after he’d finished his first cup of coffee that he wasn’t a man who could live without plans.

As he was drinking that cup of coffee, he quickly realized that no one was seeking his advice, he had no meetings to attend and no one was waiting for his reports.

John Chaplick, a retired certified public accountant who lives in Lutz, has penned three novels and is working on No. 4. (Courtesy of John Chaplick)
John Chaplick, a retired certified public accountant who lives in Lutz, has penned three novels and is working on No. 4.
(Courtesy of John Chaplick)

So, he decided to do something he’d promised himself years before that he would do. He decided to write a book.

Of course, he soon learned that it sounded much easier than it was.

It didn’t take long either to discover he had a great deal to learn.

But he was up for the challenges.

And now, the retired certified public accountant has published three novels and is working on his fourth.

His publishers are Cricket Cottage Publishing and Southern Yellow Pines Publishing.

The titles of his novels are “The Rivergrass Legacy,” “Bridge of the Paper Tiger” and “Forbidden Chronicles of a Roman Centurion.”

He’s already about 80 pages into his next novel, “Wolves of Antikythera,” which he expects to be 300-plus pages, because of the research involved.

Chaplick said he does his writing on the computer in his den at home, surrounded by his materials.

He believes that readers want more than an engaging story.

His novels always include a broad underlying premise, such as money laundering in “The Rivergrass Legacy.”

When he writes, he keeps in mind that there’s no such thing as a perfectly righteous hero or completely evil villain.

Obstacles change his characters, as the novel progresses.

His novels always have a twist at the end, too.

He believes that authors must capture the reader’s interest at the outset and use concise writing to keep them reading.

He seeks to do more than merely tell a story.

He uses “atmospherics” — which is a descriptive kind of writing that give readers a sense that they’ve been transported to the place where the story is unfolding and brings the characters in the novel to life.

When it comes to the actual writing, Chaplick has no particular routine.

“I probably write a little bit every day. Sometimes I’ll sit there for four hours. Sometimes I’ll sit there for 10 minutes,” he said.

Essentially, he doesn’t write unless he feels like he has something to say.

“I just don’t write unless I feel like it. If you try to write when you really don’t feel like it, it comes out kind of forced, and I’m not sure what kind of quality you get.”

If he hits a wall, he takes a break for a few days to mull things over.

“I usually find my way around it,” he said. “When I get stuck, it’s usually because the novel says, ‘Hey, I want to go in a different direction.’ ”

Sometimes, he’ll wake up at 2 a.m., with an idea, so he heads to the den and gets to work.

“I get on the computer and punch away.”

Chaplick said he’s always on the lookout for ways to enhance his material.

Occasionally, he’ll see something while he’s driving that will make him think of a scene or an image, and he’ll pull over to jot down some notes.

“Sometimes, a billboard believe it or not, will trigger a thought,” the author said.

He begins every novel with an outline, but doesn’t always stick to it.

“I find, as I go along — as the characters develop and the plot thickens — sometimes the book drives me,” Chaplick said.

His novels tend to run between 275 and 325 pages.

He despises the use of fill material.

And, he’s not impressed by sequels.

“I think sequels are weaker than the first one. And, they’re playing on their readers’ desire to see a repeat of the first, and it’s usually a disappointment,” he said.

None of his books have been sequels.

Chaplick said he would encourage anyone who is serious about writing a book, to pursue that desire.

But he advised: “Don’t do it unless you’re committed to it long term. It’s a long, long journey.”

He also warned would-be authors about the dangers of being exploited by publishers.

“Every new writer who enters the field is suddenly set adrift on a sea of protocol without a compass, and the navigation is difficult because there are literary sharks waiting at every turn to take advantage of a new writer. There are a lot of predators out there,” he said.

Effective writing requires solid research, which adds depth and dimension to the storytelling, he said.

It’s a good idea to join writing groups to help authors develop and refine their writing skills, Chaplick said. It’s also a good idea to read a lot, to learn techniques from other writers.

Chaplick’s wife, Avis, edits his drafts, his writer groups critique his work, he has several readers who offer advice, and he has an editor, Paula Stahel, too.

It’s important to develop a thick skin, Chaplick said.

Once one of his writing groups was critiquing his work, while there was a visitor from Scotland there, thinking about joining the group.

“Well, he was sitting next to me. As they were taking mine (Chaplick’s writing) apart, with their red ink and criticizing, he kept looking at me. He looked over to see my reaction.

“I sat there because I was used to it.

“They got all through, and the director turned around and said, ‘Well Angus, what do you think? Would you like to join our group?’

“And, in a thick Scottish brogue, (Angus replied)‘No, I wanted to join, but after I seen what ya done to this lad, I don’t think I will.’

“He walked out, and we never saw him again.”

Critiques can be deflating, Chaplick said.

But they’re instructive and can help writers grow, Chaplick said.

“You have to get better and better each time, and the red marks get fewer and fewer,” Chaplick said.

John Chaplick appearances
Lutz author John Chaplick will be taking part in the Tampa Bay Times Festival of Reading on Oct. 24 in St. Petersburg. He also will be giving a book talk at 5:30 p.m., on Oct. 26, at the Lutz Branch Library. He is the author of three books, “The Rivergrass Legacy,” “Bridge of the Paper Tiger” and “Forbidden Chronicles of a Roman Centurion.”

The author is available to give talks to schools, libraries, service clubs and other groups. For more information, email him at , or visit his website at EngagingBooksBlog.com.

Published August 26, 2015

Park expansion signifies big day for Land O’ Lakes

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Passersby on U.S. 41 likely didn’t notice the event taking place under a covered pavilion at the Land O’ Lakes Community Park on Aug. 14.

After all, there were no marching bands or fireworks.

Dignitaries and park supporters gathered for a ribbon cutting to mark the completion of a $2.3 million project to improve Land O’ Lakes Community Park. (Courtesy of Teri Dusek)
Dignitaries and park supporters gathered for a ribbon cutting to mark the completion of a $2.3 million project to improve Land O’ Lakes Community Park.
(Courtesy of Terri Dusek)

But the ribbon cutting for the Land O’ Lakes Community Park project marked a big day in the community’s history.

The $2.3 million park improvement project includes the installation of a Bermuda grass practice field, a Bermuda grass football field and a 300-foot Bermuda grass softball field.

It also includes a concession building with restrooms and a meeting room, a maintenance building, open space, two shelters, new parking lots, a new playground and a remodeled patio area. And, there’s also a four-tenths-of-a-mile walking trail.

“This is an exciting time for Land O’ Lakes. I know the community is going to enjoy this park for years to come,” said Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore, a speaker at the ribbon cutting.

Sandy Graves, of the Heritage Park Foundation, has been a driving force in securing funds for a stage to be built at Land O’ Lakes Community Park. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Sandy Graves, of the Heritage Park Foundation, has been a driving force in securing funds for a stage to be built at Land O’ Lakes Community Park.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“This celebrates progress. Not just the progress of Pasco County, but for Land O’ Lakes and the community that surrounds this park. It’s an effort, in my mind, for the revitalization of this great community,” Moore said.

“This isn’t the end of it,” Moore added. “You look around and you say, ‘Wow, what an amazing facility.’ But this isn’t the end. Thanks to the efforts of the Heritage Park Foundation, Sandy Graves and her team, there’s going to be a bandstand here that’s going to have concerts and other performances. That’s going to be another great thing for this park that the community has needed for so many years.”

The stage, to be constructed next year, is being funded through a $250,000 grant from the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs.

It’s taken a long time to get the funding for the stage, noted Sandy Graves, who has pushed relentlessly for the project.

It took three governors to finally get the state’s support, Graves said. Gov. Jeb Bush and Gov. Charlie Crist rejected the request, but Gov. Rick Scott said yes.

Kurt Conover, a longtime supporter of the project, said it didn’t hurt to have support from members of the local legislative delegation.

Conover thinks the stage will add a new dimension to happenings in Land O’ Lakes.

“I envision it to be a very busy place,” he said.

Graves sees the stage as a way to foster the kind of community life she enjoyed when she was young.

Improvements at Land O’ Lakes Community Park include a 300-foot softball field. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Improvements at Land O’ Lakes Community Park include a 300-foot softball field.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“So many of you see it as a new park today, but I see good memories,” Graves said, during the ribbon cutting ceremony.

“I remember the brand new park, back in the ’60s. I remember dance events. And coming to the community center for the Miss Land O’ Lakes pageant,” she said. “I remember my brother playing Little League games here.”

She said she’s grateful for the people of Land O’ Lakes who saw a need for a community center and park way back then, and for their support of “a place that added to the quality of life and to the wonder of their children’s memories.”

The quest for a stage at the park has been nearly 20 years in the making, Graves said, during an interview.

She noted that over the years, the Heritage Park Foundation has had all sorts of fundraisers and events to draw attention to their cause.

Foundation members sold turkey legs at the community’s Flapjack Festivals, sold coffee at the opening of the Suncoast Parkway, sold water at a balloon festival at Starkey Park, and sold doughnuts and coffee at the Central Pasco Chamber’s community expos.

They also had events, such as Traditions on the Green and Scarecrows ‘N Stuff, to draw attention to the cause.

Pasco County School Board member Joanne Hurley, a former member of the Heritage Park Foundation, recalled a time when the county was thinking about selling the parkland and relocating the park.

The community rallied against that.

Besides celebrating the park improvements, the ceremony also marked the beginning of a cooperative arrangement between Pasco County and Pasco County Schools, to share facilities.

Both parties have agreed to an arrangement that will allow students from Sanders to use the county’s practice fields, parkland, picnic shelter and walking trail, and visitors to the park to use the school’s basketball courts, parking and covered play area.

“Well, it took a long time,” said Rick Buckman, of the county’s parks and recreation department, but the efforts of many have paid off. “I’m just really excited.”

He thanked a long list of people who have been involved in making the project happen, expressing special gratitude for the patience of the Land O’ Lakes Police Athletic League.

“The LOL Pal Gators — they hung in there. We kept telling you, you were going to get a field. Well, you finally got it,” Buckman said.

The cooperative arrangement between the county and the school district is the first in Pasco County to become operational, Buckman added.

Lonnie Piper, of A-OK Trophies, was among those celebrating the updated park.

“This is just gorgeous, what they’ve done,” Piper said. “I can’t wait for the amphitheater to go in.”

Published August 19, 2015

Big changes in store for Pasco schools

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A lot of change is in store for Pasco County Schools during the 2015-2016 school year.

Students arriving at Sanders Memorial Elementary STEAM Magnet School will find not only a new campus, but a new way of learning, too.

Wiregrass Ranch High School is expecting nearly 2,500 students this year. To reduce crowding, the school will operate on a 10-period day, with some students arriving earlier and leaving earlier, and others arriving later and leaving later. All of the student body will be on campus during three periods a day. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Wiregrass Ranch High School is expecting nearly 2,500 students this year. To reduce crowding, the school will operate on a 10-period day, with some students arriving earlier and leaving earlier, and others arriving later and leaving later. All of the student body will be on campus during three periods a day.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

They’ll be attending classes in the Pasco school district’s first magnet school program, with an emphasis on science, technology, engineering, the arts and mathematics.

Students arriving at Quail Hollow Elementary School, will find a school that’s undergone a massive makeover — replacing the formerly “open” space with traditional classrooms, with doors and windows.

The school’s makeover isn’t entirely complete, but district officials don’t expect the work that’s yet to be done to disrupt the opening of school.

At Pine View Middle, students and staff will be embarking on a quest to become the first school in the district to be designated as a Middle Years Programme by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

It typically takes a candidate school about three years to meet the requirements to receive the designation.

Across the United States, there are 45 private and 538 public MYP programmes, including 65 in Florida and four in the Tampa area, including Carrollwood Day School and Corbett Preparatory School of IDS.

Pasco County Schools are set to begin classes on Aug. 24. (File Photo)
Pasco County Schools are set to begin classes on Aug. 24. (File Photo)

At Wiregrass Ranch High School, the school district is using a 10-period day to cope with soaring enrollment.

The school was built for 1,675 students, and its projected enrollment in 2015-2016 is 2,438.

To alleviate crowding, the district is having students arrive and depart from campus in two shifts.

Sophomores through seniors will begin and end the school day at the same time they do now, 7:25 a.m. and 1:56 p.m., respectively. Freshmen will begin at 10:25 a.m., and end at 4:50 p.m.

All of the school’s students will be on campus for three periods each day, but that is manageable because roughly 500 kids are at lunch at any given time, according to Robyn White, the school’s principal.

Wiregrass Ranch has had four lunch periods each day, but is adding a fifth one because of the anticipated enrollment increase.

Besides changes in facilities and programming at some schools, students also will be greeting new administrators at several Pasco schools.

Jason Petry is leading Sanders Elementary in Land O’ Lakes, and Kara Smucker is the principal at Quail Hollow in Wesley Chapel.

Angie Stone, the new leader at Zephyrhills High, is returning to the place where she began her career in Pasco County Schools.

Students attending Pasco Middle School in Dade City will be greeted by Principal Jeff Wolff, and those arriving at San Antonio Elementary School will be welcomed by Principal Kim Anderson.

In another big change, district employees will be heading into a new school year with a settled contract.

The contract, which has not yet been ratified, calls for an average 3 percent raise for district employees.

While details are still being finalized, the district’s plan is for district employees to receive their raise in their paychecks beginning Sept. 4, which is the first pay date for teachers.

The contract also calls for no increases in the employee contribution in the single employee health plan. The district is one of the few districts in Florida that offers a fully paid single employee health option.

A new benefit in this year’s contract is a Voluntary Sick Leave Donation program, set to begin in October. This program allows district employees to donate their sick leave to other district employees who are experiencing a documented major medical emergency, illness, accident or injury (or whose spouse, minor child, or dependent child under legal guardianship has a document major medical emergency, illness, accident or injury).

Helpful info
Transportation issues?
Pasco County Schools has set up a special Transportation Call Center during the first week of school.

If you have a problem, call the numbers listed below, on Monday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 10 a.m., and from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

(813) 794-2500; (727) 774-2500; or (352) 524-2500

Want to buy breakfast or lunch?
The current meal prices are:

Reduced price breakfast: 30 cents

Reduced price lunch: 40 cents

Full price breakfast: $1.35 (elementary) and $1.50 (secondary)

Full price lunch: $2.25 (elementary) and $2.60 (secondary)

Want to register?
Students entering a Florida public school for the first time need:

  • Current immunization records
  • Proof of a physical examination, dated and signed by a licensed health professional within the last 12 months
  • Evidence of age, such as a birth certificate
  • Social Security Number, if available
  • Proof of Florida residency, such as a water bill, electric bill, gas bill, or an executed lease agreement
  • A copy of the student’s last report card, if applicable
  • Legal guardianship records, if applicable

Note: Students entering kindergarten for the first time must be 5 years old on or before Sept. 1 to attend kindergarten. Pre-Kindergarten and Head Start/Early Start programs are available to students who will not make the deadline.

Published August 19, 2015

New volunteer teams expand Sheriff’s Office’s reach

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Representatives of the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office are preparing to patrol area waters, respond to natural disasters and investigate crime scenes.

But they aren’t deputies or detectives.

They’re regular citizens taking part in one of the Sheriff’s Office’s three new volunteer programs.

Holly Taylor is one of the new volunteers on the Forensic Services Volunteer Team. The Pasco County Sheriff's Office has three new groups of volunteers, serving different departments. (Photos courtesy of Susan Miller)
Holly Taylor is one of the new volunteers on the Forensic Services Volunteer Team. The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office has three new groups of volunteers, serving different departments.
(Photos courtesy of Susan Miller)

The Volunteer Corps Marine Crime Unit, the Volunteer Agriculture Response Team and the Forensic Services Volunteer Team are accepting applications from students who are studying related courses in college and from anyone else who is interested in taking an active role in helping the county. Volunteers will undergo a background check and fingerprinting, and must be available for a minimum number of hours each month.

“I think this is going to be a great addition. It’s going to be a wonderful opportunity to get people involved and helping out in the community,” said Susan Miller, a forensic shift supervisor at the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Forensic Services department. Volunteers for her department will need to be available for a minimum of 16 hours a month and will be dispatched to crime scenes to assist deputies.

It is a hands-on method of lending support to the Sheriff’s Office, but there are limitations. The marine unit isn’t authorized to pursue or board any vehicles. They use their own craft to patrol neighborhood waterways and report any suspicious activity to the Sheriff’s Office, much like a neighborhood watch program — but this one’s on the water.

The agriculture team will work on mending fences, and corralling and handling livestock and other animals in the event of a disaster situation.

The forensics team will work on property crimes such as auto burglaries. Their job will be to collect information, fingerprints and any related evidence at the scene.

Collecting fingerprints is one of the jobs volunteers like Steve Lovelace learn when they join the Forensic Services Volunteer Team.
Collecting fingerprints is one of the jobs volunteers like Steve Lovelace learn when they join the Forensic Services Volunteer Team.

Forensics team volunteers will receive specific training related to their duties, Miller said. She worked with other supervisors to create a 40-hour course that volunteers will complete. They’ll learn the science and processing procedures regarding fingerprinting, applicable photography information, and how to identify and collect relevant evidence.

Miller also expects them to learn that forensics work is interesting, but not the action-filled, drama seen on popular television shows.

It’s not glamorous work, either, Miller said. “You’re really out there working hard.”

Crimes aren’t neatly solved in an hour, and there’s a lot more paperwork than you’ll find on the television screen, but it still can be an enjoyable experience for those interested in the field, she said.

Volunteers will be dispatched to crime scenes and will help the county with the many auto burglaries that occur on a daily basis. Miller said there were around 1,500 such incidents in Pasco County during the past year.

While it’s a new program, there are some volunteers already taking the course, and a small number in the field for her department, Miller said. She’s pleased with the results so far, and hopes more people take advantage to learn new skills and volunteer for the Sheriff’s Office in a meaningful way.

“It’s going to be great to have the help and to have the added presence in the community,” she said.

For information about the new volunteer groups, call the Pasco Sheriff’s Office Human Resources Department at (727) 844-7791 or (800) 854-2862, ext. 7791.

To download an application, visit PascoSheriff.com/volunteer-opportunities/.

Published August 19, 2015

 

Task forces looking for traffic solutions for State Road 54/56

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A private development plan to build an elevated toll road along the State Road 54 and State Road 56 corridor fell apart more than a year ago. But, the experience left lingering ill feelings because of a lack of public input on the project.

County officials now plan to start discussions again on how to deal with a major traffic headache on a corridor with exploding growth from rooftops to shops, especially from Land O’ Lakes to Wesley Chapel. More growth is anticipated from Wesley Chapel to Zephyrhills.

At the same time the county wants to give residents a role in the decision-making.

Motorists navigate the intersection where Wesley Chapel Boulevard meets the State Road 54 and State Road 56 junction. In the background, Tampa Premium Outlets is under construction, nearing the Oct. 29 opening day. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Motorists navigate the intersection where Wesley Chapel Boulevard meets the State Road 54 and State Road 56 junction. In the background, Tampa Premium Outlets is under construction, nearing the Oct. 29 opening day.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

“There was no public engagement, no strong grassroots support,” said James Edwards, the transportation manager for Pasco’s Metropolitan Planning Organization. “We’re going to change that in this particular study.”

Two task forces will discuss options, with each presenting five to six recommendations to the Pasco County Commission.

One group will focus on State Road 54 from U.S. 19, in west Pasco, to U.S. 41 in Land O’ Lakes. Another will look at State Road 54/State Road 56, from U.S. 41 to Bruce B. Downs Boulevard, east of Interstate 75.

In the future, a separate study will consider State Road 56 from Bruce B. Downs to U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills.

Committee members are from the MPO’s Citizens Advisory Committee, local chambers of commerce, community leaders, developers or their representatives, and residents from west and east Pasco.

Their work is scheduled for completion within eight months to nine months.

The kickoff meetings, open to the public, will be on Sept. 24 (East Task Force) and on Sept. 29 (West Task Force) at 5:45 p.m., at Rasmussen College at the Land O’ Lakes campus at 18600 Fernview Street.

Two years ago International Infrastructure Partners LLC proposed building a 33-mile elevated toll road from U.S. 301 in Zephyrhills to U.S. 19 in New Port Richey at an estimated cost to the company of $2.2 billion.

The deal collapsed when company representatives later requested public assistance to build the toll road.

Pasco County commissioners recently approved about $144,000 for consulting services for the task forces from Tampa-based, Tindale Oliver. The funds are from grants to the MPO.

Pasco County Commissioner Mike Moore queried Edwards on the role Tindale Oliver would play.

Edwards said consultants and county staff members are there in supporting, not leadership, roles.

“We want the committees to really drive this process,” he said. “We’re there to provide education and some direction.” Representatives of the Florida Department of Transportation are doing their own study and also monitoring the county’s efforts.

“They’re interested in having some documents to come out of this, giving them some guidance,” Edwards said.

Whatever plan emerges will be done in phases over several years, he added. “Most (work) will be done with federal monies.”

Published August 19, 2015

Did President Calvin Coolidge have lunch in Dade City?

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That’s a local legend, but the facts dispute that claim

Not a single historic marker — among more than 50 posted across Pasco County — refers to it, but there’s a longstanding legend that President Calvin Coolidge had lunch at the Gray Moss Inn in Dade City, during his visit to Florida to dedicate Bok Tower Gardens in Polk County.

Numerous sources document Dade City’s 126-year history.

Edward Bok and his wife, Mary Louise, are shown here with President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace, on Feb. 1, 1929, the day that Coolidge spoke at the dedication ceremony at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales. (Courtesy of Bok Tower Gardens)
Edward Bok and his wife, Mary Louise, are shown here with President Calvin Coolidge and his wife, Grace, on Feb. 1, 1929, the day that Coolidge spoke at the dedication ceremony at Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales.
(Courtesy of Bok Tower Gardens)

Those accounts detail the world’s largest citrus processing plant (formerly Lykes Pasco Packing); Bill Larkin’s patented cattle underpass; and namesake Major Francis Langhorne Dade, who died on Dec. 28, 1835, when he and 100 of his men were ambushed, resulting in the first battle of the Second Seminole War.

But there is no record to substantiate Coolidge’s reputed visit to Dade City.

Here are facts that can be documented about Coolidge’s visit to Central Florida.

On Feb. 1, 1929, some 60 miles from Dade City, Coolidge dedicated Bok Tower Gardens in Lake Wales, Florida.

According to published reports, he had spent the previous evening at a private dinner party hosted by the Godfrey family, close relatives to First Lady Grace Anna Coolidge. The President departed on the morning of the dedication from 335 Ponce de Leon Place in Orlando.

Legend has it that President Calvin Coolidge ate lunch at the Gray Moss Inn in Dade City, but no documentation can be found to verify that claim (Courtesy of Helen Eck Sparkman Collection)
Legend has it that President Calvin Coolidge ate lunch at the Gray Moss Inn in Dade City, but no documentation can be found to verify that claim
(Courtesy of Helen Eck Sparkman Collection)

Known in the press as “Silent Cal,” a Commander-in-Chief of few words, the President told reporters: “(Bok) is dedicating it as a bird sanctuary and putting up these bells to interest the birds in music.”

Large crowds stopped the Presidential Train in Sanford to present gifts of citrus, and in Winter Park to present floral arrangements, according to published accounts.

Approximately 75,000 people came out to hear Coolidge dedicate Bok Tower Gardens, a gift to the American people from Edward Bok, the editor of the Ladies’ Home Journal and a winner of the Pulitzer Prize for his autobiography.

The evening of the dedication, Florida Gov. Doyle E. Carlton attended a dinner in honor of the President and First Lady at Bok’s home.

Hours later, Coolidge and his wife headed back overnight to Washington on an Atlantic Coast Railway special.

Despite exhaustive research, it appears there are no records to prove that Coolidge ever set foot in Dade City.

Mittie Roberts Sumner with family members seated on the family porch, around 1908. (Courtesy of Susan Sumner Shelton)
Mittie Roberts Sumner with family members seated on the family porch, around 1908.
(Courtesy of Susan Sumner Shelton)

Julie Bartlett Nelson is the archivist for a collection of Coolidge documents and memorabilia, kept at Forbes Library in Northampton, Massachusetts. She was unable to find any travel logs or newspaper clippings about Dade City or the Gray Moss Inn in her archives.

Eve Bacon, who is now deceased, was a Central Florida historian who owned and edited her own newspaper during the 1950s in Orange County.

She published extensive documentation of Coolidge’s visit, tracking him from the Godfrey home in Orlando, to his departure from Bok’s home for a return trip to the nation’s capital.

That account is included in Bacon’s two-volume book, “Orlando, A Centennial History.” She describes everything from frontier gun battles to Cracker underworld kings to gators and buffaloes on Orange Avenue. But, there’s no mention of Coolidge visiting Dade City.

There are references to Coolidge’s visit in a book compiled for the Pasco County Historical Preservation Committee in 1992, and also a reference by Madonna Wise that was published in 2014.

Yet local newspaper accounts — in the Tampa Morning Tribune and the Dade City Banner — that were published during the period of Coolidge’s trip to Bok Tower do not mention the President making a detour to Dade City.

There also were unconfirmed “tips” that proved interesting.

This photograph is believed to be from the dedication day of Bok Tower Gardens on Feb. 1, 1929. (Courtesy of Bok Tower Gardens)
This photograph is believed to be from the dedication day of Bok Tower Gardens on Feb. 1, 1929.
(Courtesy of Bok Tower Gardens)

One was that the old guest registry of the Gray Moss Inn, purportedly signed by Coolidge, wound up in the hands of Dr. R. D. Sistrunk, who lived next door.

Another was that Coolidge had befriended the Dudley family and secretly made a trip to visit with them as the owners of the Gray Moss Inn.

But those could not be verified.

Interestingly enough, though, there was another link between Dade City and Edward Bok.

LeHeup Hill, south of Dade City, was one of the early sites considered by Bok along Fort King Road. At 240 feet above sea level, the hill named for the family that moved there in 1911, was among the leading candidates.

But negotiations with Bok broke down.

Fred T. Himmelwright proceeded with plans for an observation tower at LeHeup Hill. He spent nearly $8,000 in 1926 to erect his structure, which he opened as a public attraction.

Tourists enjoyed “a comfortable room, all glassed in, for cool or stormy weather,” the Dade City Banner reported. The room was “fitted up with chairs so that visitors may enjoy rest and the glorious scenery at the same time,” according to the newspaper.

And, tourists could purchase orange juice at “5 cents a glass,” the newspaper says.

While the rumor of a Coolidge visit persists, Gordon and Phyllis Gill, who have been managers of the Gray Moss Inn since the 1990s, have found no record of “Silent Cal” visiting there.

Before he died in 1933, Coolidge did return to Florida to spend a month at the Lakeside Inn in Mount Dora.

As it turns out, George W. Bush is the only confirmed President who visited Pasco County during his presidency.

Bush was running for re-election and made a campaign stop in New Port Richey in October 2004. “W” shared the stage at Sims Park with his younger brother, then Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.

By Doug Sanders

Local Sources
June Booth Farmer, now 83, was a little girl when her father worked as a citrus grove planter for Fred T. Himmelwright. She still has memories of Edward Bok ending his negotiations for LeHeup Hill.

  • Jeff Miller has maintained a website for the history of Pasco County at Fivay.org since 2001. He has scanned more than 1,500 articles from the Dade City Banner.
  • Susan Sumner Shelton is one of many descendants of the Sumner family. She is currently a board member of the Pioneer Florida Museum and Village in Dade City.

Coolidge facts
President Calvin “Silent Cal” Coolidge was the first sitting president to:

  • Fly in an airplane
  • Visit Cuba
  • Give a speech broadcast over the radio

 

Gray Moss Inn
The Gray Moss Inn, built in 1905, was initially a five-room cottage for Jefferson Davis “J.D.” Sumner and his family of nine children. One of that family’s descendants was Robert D. Sumner, a former county attorney. The structure, which is located in what is now the historic Church Street District in Dade City, still has its original stucco version of the Mediterranean Revival Style.

 

Bok Tower Gardens facts
Located in Lake Wales, Bok Tower Gardens is deemed one of America’s finest gardens. Its 205-foot Singing Tower, the architectural centerpiece of the gardens, offers daily carillon music concerts. Visitors can meander through spacious grounds of oaks, palms, azaleas, irises and camellias. The gardens and carillon tower are situated on Iron Mountain, which is one of the highest points in Florida at an estimated 295 feet above sea level.

Doug Sanders has a penchant for unearthing interesting stories about local history. His sleuthing skills have been developed through his experiences in newspaper and government work. If you have an idea for a future history column, contact Doug at .

 

Published August 19, 2015