The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Pasco County Schools expands summer programs

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Pasco County Schools’ $1.3 million summer school program this year will serve 6,580 students. That’s an increase of 1,820 over last summer’s rolls, according to district officials.

This year’s programs also will reach younger children, and will give older students more time to work on recovering course credits.

School board member Steve Luikart applauded the expanded program.

“The need is there,” Luikart said. “We’re doing everything we can to help more kids.”

The district is piloting new programs for kindergarteners and first graders focusing on literacy, and for second graders emphasizing mathematics.

The literacy pilot will serve about 390 students, and the mathematics pilot will serve about 400 children. The students will come from Title 1 schools, which are schools that qualify for federal funding because they have a large percentage of children from poor families.

Another pilot will focus on science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics, otherwise known as STEM. It will serve approximately 45 third- and fourth-grade students from Fox Hollow, Schrader, and Gulf Highlands elementary schools, and will be held at Gulf Highlands.

The district’s summer reading camp will continue to target third graders. About 700 children are expected to receive the additional help. The media centers at each of the summer camp locations will be open to all students on those days.

The district also will be using migrant camps for kindergarten through 12th-graders at eight east Pasco schools, to help close the achievement gap.

The program will serve about 45 students, an increase of 15 from last year.

A program aimed at giving children a chance to learn through a variety of environmental experiences also is being offered to students from Title 1 schools. About 600 students from Title 1 schools will visit Safety Town, Energy Marine Center, Starkey Ranch, caves, and The Florida Aquarium through the Pasco Environmental Adventure Camp Experience.

The district also is providing additional help to middle school students who have not met the requirements to be promoted to the next grade. The district’s course recovery programs have been extended from half-days to full-days to give students more time to master essential content.

The district is providing this opportunity for students to get back on track to up to 100 students per Title 1 school, and up to 50 students at other schools.

Courses also will be available for high school students needing to recover credits, with seniors being given the highest priority for those opportunities.

The district also will offer summer school for exceptional student education programs for students who have individual education plans that call for summer instruction.

The district will serve summer meals at locations where more than 50 percent of the students are eligible for free or reduced-price meals during the regular school year. District staff members will serve breakfast, lunch and a snack to children through age 18.

Transportation also will be provided to summer programs for students who meet the district’s requirements.

Teachers can upgrade their skills in the district’s Secondary Literacy Symposium for sixth- through 12th-grade teachers. Teachers will work in collaborative groups to deepen their learning related to the English Language Arts instructional shifts of the newly adopted Florida Standards.

Other teachers also will have a chance to strengthen their content knowledge of the standards at the 2014 K-8 Mathematics Institute and at the High School Mathematics Institute.

Published June 4, 2014

Business Digest 06-04-14

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Lutz 7-Eleven up for sale
The 7-Eleven store at 23434 State Road 54 in Lutz is one of 75 stations across the country 7-Eleven Inc., is putting up for sale.

Robbie Radant, a vice president with the company, said 7-Eleven is cutting loose stores like the Lutz one not because it’s underperforming, but because it no longer fits with its overall goals.

“There are many nice sites in this package that simply do not fit 7-Eleven’s current business model,” Radant said in a release. “All of these stores have solid merchandise sales, and should provide good opportunities for the right buyers.”

7-Eleven is looking to part ways with 31 stores in Florida, along with 14 in Virginia, six in Massachusetts and Illinois, three in Texas and two in New York, Delaware, New Jersey and Utah. The company is selling single stores in Arizona, Connecticut, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Vermont.

The Lutz site will not include the 7-Eleven branding, but could include a fuel contract with SEI Fuels Inc., a subsidiary of 7-Eleven, the company said.

7-Eleven has brought in NRC Realty & Capital Advisors of Chicago to conduct the sale, which will accept sealed bids from groups looking to buy single or multiple locations. The bid deadline is July 29.
The Lutz 7-Eleven opened in 1987 with a 3,100-square-foot store along State Road 54 when it was still a two-lane road. It includes a 10-year fuel contract.

For information on the sale, visit NRC.com/1408, or call (800) 747-3342, ext. 1408.

Upcoming ribbon cuttings
Treasure Hands by Tisha will host an open house and ribbon cutting at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 342, in Dade City on June 5 from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

RN Cancer Guides will have an open house and ribbon cutting at 26852 Tanic Drive, Suite 101, in Wesley Chapel, June 6 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Both events are hosted through the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce.

To RSVP, call (813) 206-7373, or email .

Arlington at Northwood sold, renamed
A Chicago-based real estate company has bought its second community in the Tampa Bay area, taking over the former Arlington at Northwood, a 312-unit complex in Wesley Chapel.

BES Northwood Fund IX LLC, a company associated with Sherman Residential, finalized its sale of the high-end apartments May 15 for $36.1 million. That is nearly $10 million more than what the community’s previous owner, Protea Northwood Apartments, purchased the complex for in 2006 soon after it was built.

The new owners have brought in a new name for the complex as well, calling it Enclave at Wiregrass, according to the company’s website.

Enclave is considered a Class A apartment complex, meaning that it was built in the last 20 years or so, and comes with a number of luxury-style amenities.

Sherman, on its website, says it’s looking to buy apartment communities that have at least 150 units, comprehensive amenity packages, and strong locations, among other things.

Sherman already owns the Enclave at Tranquility Lake in Riverview, as well as 13 other communities in Georgia, Illinois, North Carolina, Tennessee and Texas, according to its website.

BES Northwood purchased the property through a $22.5 million loan. It’s located at 1930 Devonwood Drive, just off State Road 56, not far from The Shops at Wiregrass.

This is Pasco County’s largest property sale since August 2012 when Seneca at Cypress Creek was sold for $62.3 million. Units in that Lutz community sold for $138,100 each, while units at the new Enclave sold for $115,700 each.

New team member at tailoring company
Theresa Sparks has joined Sophisticated Tailoring, 18470 U.S. 41 North in Lutz.

Sparks has a bachelor’s degree in fashion design and merchandising from Southern Illinois University-Carbondale, graduating summa cum laude.

For more information on the company, visit SophisticatedTailoring.com, or call (813) 785-3177.

PHSC career camps
Pasco-Hernando State College is offering two academic career-themed summer camps designed for middle and early high school students beginning in June.

The camps will be at the school’s New Port Richey campus, 10230 Ridge Road, and will run four half days from Monday through Thursday.

  • Business and Technology Careers — Participants can create a new business plan, participate in a mock trial from the viewpoint of a paralegal, and expand the virtual world by creating a miniature version of the Internet, among other activities.

Sessions run from June 23-26 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., or July 14-17 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Cost is $90.

  • Health Careers — Participants can take on simulations and other hands-on activities related to the school’s paramedic, nursing, dental and radiography programs. They also can become CPR-certified.

Sessions run from June 16-19 from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., or July 21-24 from 1 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Cost is $100.

Each session is limited to the first 12 students to register.

For information, visit PHSC.edu/summercamp, or call (727) 816-3256.

Women-n-Charge sets up June meeting
Women-n-Charge will meet June 27 at 11:30 a.m. at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa.

Cost is $15 for members up to the Tuesday before the meeting, and $18 for everyone else.

Register at Women-n-Charge.com. For information, call (813) 600-9848, or email .

Political Agenda 06-04-14

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Young endorses Burgess
House District 38 candidate Danny Burgess has won yet another endorsement, this time from House deputy majority leader and whip Dana Young.

Young, R-Tampa, praised the former Zephyrhills mayor as being a “principled conservative, community leader, dedicated husband and new father.”

Burgess faces Minnie Diaz in the Republican primary for the seat currently held by Will Weatherford, R-Wesley Chapel.

Burgess raised $4,225 in April, according to state election records, bringing his total campaign account to just under $45,000. Diaz collected $140 during the same period, bringing her total to $3,000.

Barring anyone else entering the race, the winner of the Republican primary will face Democrat Beverly Ledbetter, who raised $2,473 in April bringing her total for the November election to $8,464.

Fasano officially in tax collector race
How has former state Sen. Mike Fasano done in his new job as Pasco County’s tax collector? He’ll get a chance to find out as he files to seek out his first full term in office.

Fasano finished the needed paperwork May 23, and has yet to draw an opponent. Gov. Rick Scott appointed him to the position in 2013 following the death of longtime tax collector Mike Olson. Amanda Murphy, D-New Port Richey, replaced him in the Senate.

Olson beat Republican challenger Ed Blommel in 2012 after outraising the Republican nearly 2-to-1.

Fasano spent 10 years in the state Senate, and another eight years in the state House, serving as the majority leader there in 2000.

Legg endorses Wilson re-election bid
Pasco County commissioner Henry Wilson Jr. has picked up an endorsement from state Sen. John Legg in his re-election bid.

“Henry is a strong advocate for Pasco’s business and families,” Legg, R-Lutz, said in a release. “He has and will continue to put Pasco’s best interests first.”

Wilson, who at this point is facing a potential open primary in August against newcomer Mike Wells Jr., already has received endorsements from other politicians like Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes; state Sen. Wilton Simpson, R-Trilby; and Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

Swiftmud governing board elects officers
The Southwest Florida Water Management District governing board has elected new officers for the coming year, led by Michael Babb as chair.

Babb, who represents Hillsborough County, is president of Two Rivers Ranch Inc., in Thonotosassa. He was first appointed to the board in June 2011.

Other officers include Randall Maggard as vice chair, Jeffery Adams as secretary and David Dunbar as treasurer.

Maggard, who represents Pasco County, is vice president of Sonny’s Discount Appliances Inc., in Dade City. He was first appointed to the board in October 2011.

Adams, representing Pinellas County, is an attorney and partner with Abbey Adams LLP in St. Petersburg. He was first appointed in April 2010.

Dunbar represents both Hillsborough and Pinellas, and is chairman of Synovus Bank of Florida in Palm Harbor. He was appointed in July 2013.

The new officers serve a one-year term beginning 24 hours before the next governing board meeting, set for June 24.

The board members are unpaid volunteers appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. They set policy for the organization, commonly known as Swiftmud, with its mission to manage the water and related resources of west central Florida, to meet the needs of current and future water users while still protecting the environment.

Wilson endorsed by public safety group
Pasco County Commissioner Henry Wilson’s re-election campaign has received the endorsement of Pasco County Public Safety. That’s a group that includes the West Central Florida Chapter of the Police Benevolent Association, the Fraternal Order of Police Pasco County Sheriff’s Lodge No. 29, and the International Association of Firefighters Pasco County Local 4420.

Wilson is looking to return to his District 4 seat, but has a primary challenge by fellow Republican Mike Wells Jr., in August.

Wilson raised $200 for his campaign in April, bringing his total to $19,245. Wells, in his first month of campaigning, raised $20,700.

If no Democrat enters the race, Wells and Wilson will battle it out in an open primary Aug. 26.

Elections open house
Hillsborough County supervisor of elections Craig Latimer will host an open house June 11 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m., at 12022 Anderson Road in Tampa.

For information, call (813) 744-5900, or visit VoteHillsborough.org.

Another building project, another $250,000 cost overrun

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Cost overruns have added some $250,000 to the construction of the new library. Now, just a block away, Zephyrhills city officials are looking to spend at least that much more on Fire Rescue Station No. 2 where a renovation project has gone awry.

And Zephyrhills City Council members aren’t happy.

Construction has slowed significantly after contractors found the 54-year-old Fire Rescue Station No. 2 next to Zephyrhills City Hall was not built to code, and did not have the proper wall reinforcements. Renovations could cost an additional $250,000. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Construction has slowed significantly after contractors found the 54-year-old Fire Rescue Station No. 2 next to Zephyrhills City Hall was not built to code, and did not have the proper wall reinforcements. Renovations could cost an additional $250,000.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Renovations for the 54-year-old building were expected to cost just over $1 million, but could now reach as high as $1.3 million. All because when workers started demolishing parts of the original fire station, they found a structure much different than they had anticipated. In fact, it was one that seemed never to be built to code, held up mostly by weak walls and a lot of luck.

“To make it more complex, there are three buildings there,” said Leo Arroyo, a principal at Canerday Belfsky Arroyo Architects, who is working on the project. “Those buildings were designed independently, and they lean against each other. We found that most of the exterior walls — north, west and south — did not have any reinforcement. There wasn’t any rebar. Just masonry style on top.”

Much of that construction dates back to when volunteers were recruited to help build and expand the fire station over the decades, city officials said. According to history, the structure on Sixth Avenue and Seventh Street was Fire Rescue Station No. 1, but was renamed in 2000 when the city built a new fire station on Dairy Road.

City council president Charlie Proctor, worried about more backlash from yet another product going well over budget, wanted to know at a recent meeting why the project didn’t stop earlier to address these new issues.

“The first I heard about this was last week,” Proctor said during a May 12 meeting. “I figured something was up. It didn’t look like we were moving too fast on that project.”

However, a lot of the issues didn’t start appearing until major demolition work started, Arroyo said. The first hint of a problem came when the roofing system was dismantled. Still, workers thought walls would at the very least be properly reinforced.

Interim city manager Steve Spina said some 20 change orders to the project had been processed since January, with additional expenses of more than $32,000 already approved, and another $46,000 pending. Those change orders involved replacing the roof on the west side of the building, electrical upgrades and additional demolition.

If the city hadn’t approved those orders quickly, there was a chance the contractor would have walked off the job, incurring extra costs because of the construction delays.

Additional money is sought for redesign costs and structural improvements, costing an estimated $167,000.

The total, $245,000, would put the fire station remodel 23 percent over budget.

“I just gotten some people coming to me today complaining about the library, which I’ve heard about for a year and a half,” Proctor said, citing those cost overruns. “And now they are wanting to know why this is going to cost this much extra. The citizens I’m talking to about this are not happy about this.”

Proctor was more concerned, however, on whether or not the contractor and architect would come back with more cost overruns in the future. Spina said he would need more time to figure out hard costs, and was expected to present that information during a special meeting May 27, after The Laker went to press.

The question now becomes if it would have been cheaper to simply tear down the fire station and build a new one, then refurbish the existing structure. That could have been possible, Zephyrhills planning director Todd Vande Berg said, but then a good chunk of the money used to pay for the project would not have been available.

The city received $750,000 from the federal Community Development Block Grant program, but that money was restricted to existing building renovations, not a new build.

Councilman Ken Burgess felt the city could save some money by delaying some of the aesthetic work until later, and just getting the interior finished.

“We can divert some of the costs that are more cosmetic in nature and get the fire station where it is operational,” he said. “What we need to do is get the building back up to code as best as we can.”

Even with the cost overrun, the city would be able to pay for the changes, Spina said. A lot of the money could come from the Penny for Pasco tax, which has collected $200,000 more than the city had anticipated. He also suggested sharing some of the costs with the city’s sanitation fund, since that department also will be housed in the new building.

Get the latest on what the city council decided from the May 27 meeting from our daily news section at LakerLutzNews.com.

Published May 28, 2014

High school graduations evoke feelings of accomplishment

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It’s that time of year again, when young men and women dress in caps and gowns and march into their futures.

In many ways, it’s a rite of passage that doesn’t change much from year to year.

There’ll be music, speeches, and of course, the reading of the graduates’ names.

Hundreds of diplomas will be conferred at some ceremonies, while others will have fewer than 10. The events will be held in places as varied as W.F. Edwards Stadium to the First Baptist Church sanctuary, and from the Florida State Fairgrounds to the University of South Florida Sun Dome.

Whether it’s Freedom, Steinbrenner, Land O’ Lakes, Sunlake, Pasco, Zephyrhills, Wesley Chapel or Wiregrass Ranch high schools, or Academy at the Lakes, Bishop McLaughlin, Land O’ Lakes Christian or Zephyrhills Christian Academy — these ceremonies have special meaning to the graduates, their families and friends, and their teachers and administrators.

Commencement exercises tend to have a familiar feel, but each class is unique.

The Class of 2014 is filled with members of a generation when Twitter, YouTube, Facebook, Pinterest and Obamacare became household words.

They carry smartphones, which they use to text — not talk — to their friends and to snap selfies in every conceivable place.

This is a crop of students who have repeatedly been forced to prove what they know on standardized tests.

They’ve been witnesses to history: The beginning of a new millennium, the election of the nation’s first African-American president, the legalization of same-sex marriages in some places, and the legal sale of marijuana in others.

They’ve seen increasing conflicts abroad, rising concerns about cybersecurity and the effects that the recession has had on their family’s personal wealth.

But none of this is likely to be on their minds, as they march to the sounds of “Pomp and Circumstance.”

Many graduates have gone far beyond the call of duty, demonstrating their commitment to learning by achieving GPAs well beyond the 4.0 that comes from getting straight As in traditional courses. Those students tackled a more rigorous curriculum, including Advanced Placement and dual enrollment courses that can earn them college credit during high school.

Marc Berson, for instance, from Freedom High, is graduating with an 8.12 GPA.

As they wrap up their high school academic career, some are planning careers in medicine, finance, pharmacy or aerospace engineering. Others aren’t sure of what path they’ll pursue, and some will wind up in careers that have not even yet been invented.

Some plan to attend exclusive colleges in faraway places, while others will attend classes closer to home at the University of South Florida, Pasco-Hernando State College, Hillsborough Community College, Saint Leo University, Rasmussen College and other local institutions.

For students living in Wesley Chapel, this will be the first graduating class to have the option of remaining in their community to attend college classes. Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, a satellite of PHSC, opened in January.

For now, though, it’s time to savor the moment, for graduates to pose for photographs with friends and families, and to enjoy celebrations, before finding a path to call their own.

Published May 28, 2014

If you want to share the graduation section with family and friends through the Internet, we put together a handy guide that will take you directly to the e-edition related to your graduate. Just click which school you’re looking for below, and we’ll get you where you need to go.
Academy at the Lakes
Bishop McLaughlin High School
Freedom High School
Land O’ Lakes Christian School
Land O’ Lakes High School
Pasco High School
Steinbrenner High School
Sunlake High School
Wesley Chapel High School
Wiregrass Ranch High School
Zephyrhills Christian Academy
Zephyrhills High School

Pet care takes a village, and new app can help

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Laura Vinogradov stumbled upon Lutz six years ago during a statewide search for her dog care business, The Barking Lot.

She wanted a place with a country feel, but still close enough to civilization. But more importantly, Vinogradov wanted somewhere she could call home.

Laura Vinogradov has expanded her pet care service, The Barking Lot, to the cyberverse with a new app she says will simplify the lives of even the most complicated pets. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Laura Vinogradov has expanded her pet care service, The Barking Lot, to the cyberverse with a new app she says will simplify the lives of even the most complicated pets.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Lutz has fit all those requirements perfectly, and Vinogradov is happy with the success of her business, which employs six people literally in her backyard. She’s proud of the fact that she’ll take any breed of dog, thanks to an innovative system that keeps unfamiliar animals separate from each other. And even more, she’s happy that she’s finally focusing on a career doing something she truly loves.

Yet, Vinogradov knew there was much more she could do for animal lovers, since not many can afford the luxury of professionals to care for their pets. And that’s when TaskIt-Pets was born.

“A couple years ago, I was approached to build an app for the pet care industry, and I knew nothing about apps,” Vinogradov said. “It was a very steep learning curve.”

The idea was to build an app that would help a pet owner schedule tasks needed for their dog, cat, or any animal living at the house. It would range from walks to baths to feeding times to giving necessary medication.

And it hit close to home for Vinogradov. One of her dogs suffers from hyperthyroidism, and requires meds twice a day. But even the most dedicated pet lovers are human, and it can be easy to forget a dose from time to time.

“Over time, especially with a very busy life, I and everyone else might have to stop and think, ‘Did I give her medication?’” Vinogradov said. “It got to be one more thing on a very busy plate.”

TaskIt-Pets takes the question out of the equation, she said. While it might not be the first app that offers such help, it is one of the first to do something a step beyond that — network everyone together who might care for a particular pet.

The app links people together, providing real-time scheduling and updates to not only make sure tasks involving pets are done, but that everyone is held accountable. That could be a professional pet caregiver, a family member, or even the neighbor.

“Say you’re a professional pet care giver, and you have dog walkers working for you,” Vinogradov said. “You don’t know who showed up on time and who didn’t, but the app will tell you that. And the app will remind them when it’s time for them to go do it.”

The app launched earlier this month in Apple’s iTunes Store for iPhone and other Apple-based portable devices. It’s expected to be launched for Android and Windows platforms in the coming weeks.

The starting price is $1.99 annually, part of which will go back to Apple, Google and Microsoft for distributing the app in the first place.

Vinogradov feels she has a new product on the market that will prove quite popular. However, she also knows that it competes with about 1 million other apps — and that’s just what Apple offers. There have been a lot of success stories when it comes to apps, however, turning some developers into instant millionaires.

Vinogradov doesn’t know if she’ll ever get that kind of success, but she’ll be happy if something she helped create can improve the lives of animals and their caregivers — something she has been passionate about since she was a young girl.

“My first love is working with the dogs, and working with families with dogs,” Vinogradov said. “I can talk dog all day long. But having that said, this has been a phenomenal experience, and very exciting. I’ve loved this whole process from Day One.”

Developing apps isn’t for everyone, Vinogradov said, and it takes the right approach and a little bit of luck to find success.

The first step for someone wanting to step into those waters, however, is to first make sure there is a need for it.

“You have to do your homework,” she said. “Is there an app out there already? Of course, if there is, that doesn’t mean that you can’t develop one. But you have to look at other ways that you can improve on it.”

Vinogradov looked at a number of popular existing apps, researching the developers behind it, before settling on a Florida-based company to design hers.

“You need to find a developer you can work with, and they have to be reputable,” she said.

The idea of scheduling tasks for other people in a real-time environment has become the foundation for two new apps Vinogradov hopes to release in the future. One is focused on family life itself, while another would help address home health care needs of a loved one.

“There’s no telling where this could go,” she said.

To learn more about TaskIt-Pets and other apps, visit TaskItApps.com.

Published May 28, 2014

Graduation makes being a parent worth it

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I’ve been waiting to write this column for four years.

My daughter, Rachel Mathes, graduated from Stetson University earlier this month with a bachelor’s degree. Not only did Rachel graduate in four years, she also started a job in her field two days after she received her diploma.

Publisher Diane Kortus and daughter Rachel Mathes after commencement ceremonies May 10 at Stetson University in Deland. (Courtesy of Vic Anthony)
Publisher Diane Kortus and daughter Rachel Mathes after commencement ceremonies May 10 at Stetson University in Deland.
(Courtesy of Vic Anthony)

Rachel’s major was art, a major I was never that crazy about because I assumed it would be very difficult to translate into a job. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, only 27 percent of college graduates have jobs that match their college major.

But Rachel always believed she would beat the odds and proved she was right when she was hired to head up the art program at a large corporate day care center in Jacksonville.

My feelings about Rachel’s graduation and the beginning of her professional career are a jumble of emotion. I am, of course, tremendously proud of my daughter. And then there’s the feeling of great relief that Rachel is employed in a job she is excited about.

But her job is in Jacksonville, and that means my youngest is living four hours away from my home in Land O’ Lakes. That makes me very sad and my heart heavy, because after 26 years of raising children, I know this chapter of my life is truly over.

My little girl has grown up and no longer needs her mother to help her make decisions and plan her future.

So I guess you can say the apron strings truly have been cut. And with that, so have the financial strings. As a friend pointed out, not only is my daughter graduating, I also am getting a big raise since I will no longer be paying tuition.

Perhaps that is not such a bad trade off.

I share with you the story of Rachel’s graduation in this week’s paper because it is our annual graduation edition. The feelings of pride I have are the same many of you are feeling as your son or daughter graduates from high school and college this spring.

Graduation is testimony to the hard work we parents have keeping our students focused and committed to complete the work necessary to graduate. When our kid didn’t want to do the work, or wanted to drop out when the going got tough, it was our encouragement and confidence in their abilities that kept them going.

Teens and young adults look to us for the confidence they don’t have and our belief that they will succeed. As Rachel told me, dropping out of college was never an option for her because I was always there cheering her on and believing without a doubt that she would graduate.

To celebrate the achievements of our local graduates, and also their parents’ success in funneling their energies to get to graduation, the center section of today’s paper lists the names of every graduating high school senior in our community.

If you live in Land O’ Lakes and Pasco Lutz, today’s Laker has the names of graduating seniors from Sunlake and Land O’ Lakes high schools. The Wesley Chapel edition lists graduates from Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel high schools. Our East Pasco edition has the names of graduates from Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools.

Folks in the east side of the county have the names of graduates from Zephyrhills and Pasco high schools. And if you live in Hillsborough County and receive the Lutz News, your names are graduates from Steinbrenner and Freedom high schools.

In addition to students from these public schools, we also are publishing the names of graduates from four private schools: Academy at the Lakes, Land O’ Lakes Christian, Bishop McLaughlin and Zephyrhills Christian high schools.

Today parents will search the alphabetical listings in our graduation section. And when they see the name of their son or daughter, they will feel proud and good because they know their hard work as parents has paid off.

And like me, they will reflect back on their many years as a parent and remember that despite the challenges and struggles, it was all worth it.

Published May 28, 2014

(Re)discovering Dupree Gardens

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Dupree Lakes is a nice community in Pasco County near Ehren Cutoff. The homes look great and the area is well-maintained. Just driving through, you can see it’s a pleasant residential area.

But it’s not a destination for visitors or anything. Nobody’s going to buy tickets to go see it, and they don’t need a gift shop to accommodate all the people looking for souvenirs. It’s not a tourist attraction, after all.

All that remains of Dupree Gardens is an old ticket booth that served visitors. It still stands on the property of what is now Dupree Lakes, a residential community. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
All that remains of Dupree Gardens is an old ticket booth that served visitors. It still stands on the property of what is now Dupree Lakes, a residential community.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

But almost 75 years ago, it was. A tourist attraction, I mean.

Back then, Dupree Lakes was Dupree Gardens, and there were no homes — just 25 acres of colorful flowers, vines and palm trees.

Trails and fruit trees.

Green grass and bushes.

A gift shop and a tearoom.

It was a popular tourist destination that attracted people from all over the country.

Think of it as being like Sunken Gardens in St. Petersburg, only bigger and better. No offense to Sunken Gardens, of course. I’ve been there, and it’s a nice spot. But by all accounts, Dupree Gardens was a really big deal, especially for its time.

It was actually part of a larger estate owned by J. William Dupree, a Tampa attorney. And by “larger,” I mean 900 acres.

But the section called Dupree Gardens attracted as many as 30,000 visitors during its season from mid-November to the end of April, and had a reputation for being a beautiful place to visit.

It was especially known for its exotic flowers: Violets, poppies, magnolias, azaleas, calendulas and camellias. Now, I’ll be honest. I don’t know much about flowers. Aside from the violet, I had to look up each one to see what they looked like. I even had to double-check how to spell some of them.

But by looking at the old photos, you can tell that it was a special place. No matter what you had going on in your life, it was a unique escape that was visually stimulating, natural and tranquil. Nothing else looked like it.

By the way, it wasn’t just flowers and trees. You could eat in the restaurant (located in the tearoom) or take an electric-powered boat ride across the lake. That was a pretty unique experience for people. Remember, it was the early 1940s.

So what happened to Dupree Gardens? Well, it was the early 1940s. The attraction got off the ground right as World War II was heating up. That also was a pretty big deal, and the restrictions placed on people — gasoline rationing and limited private travel to save resources for the war — made it hard to attract enough visitors.

Dupree Gardens limped along, but the strain of the war took its toll, and eventually, it closed down. The land was sold, the flowers made way for home development, and Dupree Gardens became nothing but a very pleasant memory.

Well, not exactly. The ticket booth is still there. But there are no attractions, no tickets to sell and nobody to sell them to you even if they had some.

On the bright side, there are no long lines. You can walk right up to the booth any time you like, with no waiting. There’s just nothing to buy.

Still, it’s worth a quick trip just to see the original ticket booth and the plaque marking it as one of the Historic Places of Pasco County.

More than seven decades ago, people walked up to that same booth for a chance to see a nationally known attraction right in this neighborhood.

And now, it’s a neighborhood in itself.

Things change. But it’s worth remembering that Dupree Lakes was once Dupree Gardens, and it’s still a unique part of area history.

Published May 28, 2014

On the move: Tigers go from Dade City to Montana

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Two Dade City sisters just moved to Montana.

There’s more to the story, of course. The sisters, Jasmine and Sophie, are 2-year-old Siberian tigers who were born at Dade City’s Wild Things, an ecotourism sanctuary zoo located at 37245 Meridian Ave. And they moved to Montana because they were donated to ZooMontana, a zoo in Billings to rejuvenate their tiger exhibit, which had just lost its only tiger due to cancer.

Jasmine is one of two Siberian tigers that arrived at their new home in Billings, Montana, last week. Dade City’s Wild Things donated them to ZooMontana to bolster their tiger exhibit. (Courtesy of Dade City's Wild Things)
Jasmine is one of two Siberian tigers that arrived at their new home in Billings, Montana, last week. Dade City’s Wild Things donated them to ZooMontana to bolster their tiger exhibit. (Courtesy of Dade City’s Wild Things)

“They weren’t interested in breeding and they didn’t want babies,” said Kathy Stearns, director at Dade City’s Wild Things. ZooMontana “wanted young tigers that would be well-adjusted, and being that our tigers have worked with people, they were very adjusted.”

Dade City’s Wild Things does exhibit their own animals, but that’s just a part of their mission. In addition to rescuing and adopting animals, often providing lifetime care, they also breed and supply other zoos when they can meet their needs. In this case, the tigers were deemed to be a good fit, so they arrived in Billings last week.

Determining a good fit is something Stearns takes seriously. She said that before any animals go to another facility, representatives from Dade City’s Wild Things will visit the location to check living arrangements for size and safety. They also get a feel for the receiving location’s philosophy and ability to handle the animals.

And in the case of the tigers, handlers will stay there for a day or two after they arrive to make sure the transition is smooth, the animals are adjusting, and all questions and concerns have been addressed. They also will monitor their progress in the future to make sure the sisters are doing well in their new home.

But even without the tigers, there are still plenty of other animals to care for in Dade City. They have a wide variety of residents living on their 22-acre facility, including bears, alligators and lions. They also house the infamous “Mystery Monkey,” a rhesus macaque who had been on the loose in the Tampa Bay area for more than three years and had gained quasi-celebrity status before being captured in 2012.

Dade City’s Wild Things is open like a regular zoo and has animals on exhibit. Education, however, is paramount, and that becomes evident in their tours.

“One thing that we do a little different is that ours (are) always guided,” Stears said. “We have people that go (with visitors) because we want to educate, we want people to learn about the animals. So instead of a free walk-around, you’re going to have guides that actually go with you and talk to you about the animals.”

Stearns believes the tigers are a good fit for their new home, and will help create an interesting and informative exhibit in Montana. And helping provide that information to zoo-goers around the country is in-line with her organization’s mission of keeping the public educated as well as entertained.

“That’s what we’re all about is education, and getting people to be aware of these animals and their plight in the wild,” Stearns said. “So we want people to be able to see these animals. People can’t afford to go to Africa to see a lion. The whole point of zoos is to educate.”

Dade City’s Wild Things has more than 200 animals on display, surrounded by a botanical garden landscape. Walking tours and tram rides are available, as well as some hands-on encounters.

For more information, call (352) 567-9453, or visit DadeCitysWildThings.com.

Published May 28, 2014

PCPT grows up, but privatization remains on the table

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After 42 years of service, Pasco County Public Transportation has finally graduated to its own department.

Pasco County commissioners last week voted to move PCPT from its division status with the county’s Community Services Department to its own department. Transportation manager Michael Carroll will stay in charge, albeit with a new title.

The public transit department in Pasco County is finally becoming its own department, but could privatization be on its way? (File Photo)
The public transit department in Pasco County is finally becoming its own department, but could privatization be on its way?
(File Photo)

The move was warranted now that PCPT is now a $6.4 million department that employs 72 people, according to county administrator Michele Baker. The transition will not cost the county any money since Carroll’s salary will remain the same.

“I strongly support this,” Commissioner Pat Mulieri said at a meeting last week. “I think Mike has a vision.”

Creating a new department for PCPT could allow the transit service to get out of the shadow of being a service for just the economically disadvantaged and the underserved, Baker said. Carroll’s goals have been focused on increasing ridership, especially among young people who could be convinced to use mass transit instead of adding another car to already congested roads.

The service currently has 16 fixed-route transit buses traversing the county, including two that take passengers to and from Pinellas County, according to PCPT’s website.

Even if ridership increases, public transportation remains a service subsidized by taxpayers, and one commissioner feels it’s time to talk about that.

“This seems like one of the perfect times to talk about moving to privatize,” Commissioner Kathryn Starkey said. “I don’t know if anyone else has ever thought about it, and I’m not suggesting it now. But I am saying this is an opportunity for us to discuss if we ever want to have a discussion on privatization.”

Commissioner Henry Wilson said he would be interested in that discussion as well, although commissioners didn’t set a timetable on when such a conversation would take place.

Privatizing public transportation has become a controversial issue in some parts of the country. Those for it say it helps streamline the service so that costs can be cut without sacrificing quality. Opponents, however, say there are minimal if any cost savings, and a lot of that is lost by problems that arise from lack of government oversight, including higher accident rates and poor vehicle maintenance.

Public transportation privatization has not really reached too much into the Tampa Bay area as of yet, but some school districts like the one in Hillsborough County have explored privatizing school buses in an effort to manage a $60 million transportation budget, according to published reports.

Published May 28, 2014