The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Florida could decide 2016 presidential election

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Predictions as to which Republican candidate will come away with the prize of the national party’s presidential nomination is an impossible task this early in the race. But there is no doubt that Florida will be a pivotal state in a hard-fought 2016 election, according to Susan MacManus, a University of South Florida political scientist.

“There’s not another state in the country that will be this competitive,” she said. “It’s considered a bellwether, a microcosm.”

Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida, offered insights into the 2016 presidential race to members of the Conservative Club of East Pasco. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Susan MacManus, a political scientist at the University of South Florida, offered insights into the 2016 presidential race to members of the Conservative Club of East Pasco.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

MacManus addressed about 30 people at the Conservative Club of East Pasco on June 15 at the group’s monthly meeting in Zephyrhills.

The Interstate 4 corridor will be key to carrying the state, she said.

Gov. Rick Scott had just a 1 percent edge in votes along I-4 in his re-election victory over former Gov. Charlie Christ in 2014. And, past presidential elections were decided by about that same slim margin.

“Almost half of registered voters are between Pinellas County and Daytona Beach,” MacManus said.

Florida mirrors the nation in demographics such as population age and diversity among registered voters, though not among total population.

It is a myth, MacManus joked, that people in Florida are 95 years or older. Also untrue is the perception that all Hispanics in Florida are Cuban, she said.

Along I-4, for instance, Puerto Ricans are the largest Hispanic demographic.

One of the most intensely fought over groups will be the millennials. The generation from about age 18 to age 24 is going to be as influential as the baby boomers were in their day, she said.

“I see a little bit more movement (of millennials) back to the Republicans,” MacManus said. “A lot of that is over fiscal issues.”

To date, 12 candidates have announced among Republicans including former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Donald Trump.

MacManus was dismissive of Trump.

And, her first encounter with Gov. Scott Walker, who has not officially announced as a candidate, was not impressive.

“I was rather disappointed,” she said, though she will give him another chance. “I didn’t think he’d had a lot of sleep.”

Bush’s launch of his campaign, however, was masterfully done, she said. He spoke to a crowd that reflected the diversity in Miami and across the country, dispelling the criticism that Republican crowds are mostly white.

MacManus also noted that the Republican field of candidates is more diverse than Democrats running for president.

Bush’s first speech as a candidate struck an anti-Washington tone, MacManus said. She expects he will tout his economic record in Florida and his education reforms, as well.

The question MacManus is asked most often is who will win Florida’s Republican primary, Bush or Sen. Marco Rubio.

She doesn’t have a crystal ball on that one.

“So much is volatile,” she said.

She does predict that the 2016 presidential race will be the most expensive ever, and Tampa Bay will be in the thick of it.

“This is really going to a happening spot,” MacManus said.

However, local and state candidates may face challenges because national races, including Congressional elections, will compete for donations and media attention. They could be “starved out a bit,” MacManus said.

On the Democratic side, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton is the front-runner for the party’s nomination. But MacManus said, “It is surprising to see the interest in (Sen.) Bernie Sanders…People find him very interesting.”

She also has been surprised that there are women voters who like Sen. Elizabeth Warren “but wouldn’t vote for Hillary Clinton.”

Some of Clinton’s support comes from women voters who believe she got a “raw deal” in 2008 when then-candidate Sen. Barack Obama won the nomination.

But there is another reason.

“She would be the first woman president,” MacManus said. “People love people that can break the mold. That’s why Obama got elected. He broke one of the biggest barriers – race.”

Voter turnout will be crucial for both parties.

“The emphasis, and rightly so, will be to get people to vote,” she said. Though extended and early voting is popular, the trend hasn’t boosted overall turnout, she added. “Both parties have felt the sting of bad turnout.”

With the election about 17 months away, residents should be prepared for campaigns that likely will be fought through social media, scare tactics and negative advertisements, MacManus said.

“That’s kind of sad,” she said.

But on the plus side, Florida and Tampa Bay will be the place for politics.

“Thank God, I don’t live in North Dakota,” MacManus said. “How very dull.”

Published June 24, 2015

Developers could buy Hercules Park; donate land

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The city of Zephyrhills lost its bid to purchase Hercules Park, but there is hope still that a large swath of the park and its aquatic center can become city property.

The Pasco County School Board unanimously voted to begin negotiating the park’s sale with developers from Gh&G Florida LLC. Their bid for $2.3 million topped Zephyrhills’ bid of $1.7 million for the 15.5-acre park.

A fence, with a stop sign, blocks vehicles at the former entrance to Hercules Park. A faded sign lists park rules. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)
A fence, with a stop sign, blocks vehicles at the former entrance to Hercules Park. A faded sign lists park rules.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photos)

But Deputy School Superintendent Ray Gadd said any deal brought back to the school board must stipulate that between 10 acres to 11 acres of the park would be donated to the city of Zephyrhills.

The acreage would include a fitness trail, the children’s playground and the aquatic center.

School board member Allen Altman said he agonized over his vote.

He explained: “We just don’t have the ability to turn down additional money right now.”

The school district is recovering from significant budget cuts resulting from the economic crash in 2008. The lack of funding for capital improvement projects is critical, said school board member Cynthia Armstrong.

“It is our constitutional duty to do fiduciarily what is best for our people, our students, who are also the people in Zephyrhills,” she said.

Other board members echoed those sentiments despite impassioned pleas from Zephyrhills’ Mayor Gene Whitfield and others to accept Zephyrhills’ bid.

“I’m disappointed,” Whitfield said. “We want the park. We’ll do everything we can. We’ll wait to see what they offer and proceed from there.”

Prior to the school board’s vote, Whitfield recounted the park’s history. He described a “handshake” agreement nearly 50 years ago between Hercules Powder Co. and the school district that the park would be used for children and for education but not for commercial use.

At one time Hercules Powder Co. was the largest employer in Zephyrhills. The company processed pine stumps into rosin, turpentine and pine oil on about 80 acres. The property later became sites for the park, Zephyrhills High School and Woodland Elementary School.

Some residents had feared that a gas station would be built on a corner lot at U.S 301 and County Road 54, adjacent to the park. But a $1.7 million bid from Del Lago Ventures Inc., affiliated with Race Trac Petroleum Inc., was rejected.

Belleair Development Group, with a $1.6 million bid, also lost out.

“Something needs to be worked out, because we in Zephyrhills need that (park),” said resident Fern Williams. “I’m not even seeing what your vision is with a gas station on that corner.”

A jungle gym, picnic table and swing set go unused at Hercules Park, which was closed by Pasco County four years ago for lack of funding.
A jungle gym, picnic table and swing set go unused at Hercules Park, which was closed by Pasco County four years ago for lack of funding.

In April, school officials announced plans to put the corner parcel on the market for commercial sale. Zephyrhills’ City Council previously agreed to rezone the site with expectations that the school board would consider leasing the remaining acres to Zephyrhills for $1 a year for 100 years.

City and school officials have somewhat different recollections on what happened next.

Gadd said as far back as 2011, the school board raised the possibility of a lease, but city officials rejected the offer.

Following the recent rezoning of the corner lot, he presented the lease option to the school board but never heard back from Zephyrhills for follow-up. City officials said the lease agreement would have precluded them from applying for grants. Buying the property was the best option, they said.

The city planned to use several funding sources including Community Development Block Grants and the Penny for Pasco program. The bid also included the right to sell about 2 acres, south of the corner lot. City officials said, if they needed the funds from the lot’s sale, it would be developed for a purpose compatible with the park.

The future of the park has been under discussion since Pasco County’s decision to close it nearly four years ago. County officials said the county could no longer afford to operate and maintain the park and its aquatic center.

Under a prior agreement, the park had to be used or returned to the school district.

School officials estimate that Zephyrhills could receive about $50,000 annually in property and gas tax revenues if the deal goes through with Gh&G.

Zephyrhills’ officials dispute those numbers, saying the city will receive very little from gas taxes.

They peg property tax revenues at about $6,000 a year.

Gadd said school officials are in agreement with Zephyrhills on the goal to reopen the park and see the pool again hosting swim meets.

During the long closure, he said the pool has been vandalized and homeless people have been found living in the woods.

Law enforcement has been called there on several occasions.

“To me its sad to see the pool has fallen into disrepair,” Gadd said.

Zephyrhills’ City Manager Steve Spina remains hopeful of a good outcome.

“I understand their position,” he said of the school board’s vote. “I think it’s good if they can work it out, and we get the bulk of the land. It’s a win-win.”

Published June 24, 2015

94-year-old Lutz woman pens her first book

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There was an excitement in the air on a Tuesday afternoon, as people gathered in the reception area in the building on East Chapman Road in Lutz.

People had trekked from such places at Georgia and Texas, Wesley Chapel and South Tampa, Carrollwood and Lutz, to be there.

Gladys Kuhn, known as Gobby to everyone who knows her, released her debut book at the age of 94. The memoir recounts growing up during the Depression, having a tryout with the Rockettes and Gobby’s many other adventures. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Gladys Kuhn, known as Gobby to everyone who knows her, released her debut book at the age of 94. The memoir recounts growing up during the Depression, having a tryout with the Rockettes and Gobby’s many other adventures.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

They wanted to hear Gladys Kuhn — Gobby, to those who know her — talk about her first book.

It wasn’t a typical setting for a book signing, as this one was at Horizon Bay, a retirement home at 414 Chapman Road East.

And the author making her literary debut was 94 years old.

She didn’t read dramatic passages from her book, which is simply called “Gobby.”

Instead, she shared recollections from a past that is chock full of fun and adventure.

At the front of her 105-page book, Gobby offers this disclaimer: “To whoever reads this book: All the facts, dates, times and details may not be completely accurate. I am getting a little forgetful at 94.”

The book, which is dedicated to her children, tells the story of a woman who remembers when horses delivered the family’s milk, a card in the window let the ice man know how much ice to leave and movies cost a nickel each.

She recalls a time long before television, cellphones and computers.

Gobby grew up in Chicago during the Depression.

“Sometimes the food on the table was pretty skimpy,” she writes. “Mom would make Brown Flour Soup, where she would brown the flour and butter in a fry pan, then slowly add water and onions. I hated it because it had onions in them, and I didn’t like them as a child.”

But she adds, “We always had homemade bread with it to fill the tummy and, sometimes, Mom would put a little sugar and canned milk on the bread if you didn’t like the soup.”

The book recounts her family’s life, as she was growing up — the jobs her father held, the homes they lived in and how they had fun.

She recalls getting a job in an embroidery factory after high school, to help pay for her dancing lessons.

That’s when she met her friend, Ruby Ryan, and the two of them joined a show that was heading to New York.

“We played all of the big theaters,” Gobby’s book recounts. “We interviewed with the Rockettes and got hired, but the war started and my brother was called to service, so my Mother made me come home.”

The book also follows Gobby’s marriage to Bob Kuhn and the family they had together.

It tells tales of her life as a Girl Scout leader and the adventures she shared with her scouts.

And, she recounts the family’s life on the lake in Odessa, and the good times she had while sailing.

Throughout the book, her love of life is evident. In fact, she concludes many portions in her memoir with this simple, declarative sentence: “Life is good.”

During her book chat, Gobby’s eyes lit up as she recalled the happy times that she’s had.

But she also told those gathered that she’s had her dark times, and for a period of time she had wanted to die.

But that was before she met Raymond Paradis, who also lives at Horizon Bay, she says, and when she mentions his name, she becomes joyful again.

Those gathered to celebrate Gobby’s book release were delighted to be there.

“I think it’s pretty remarkable. My mother has always done remarkable things,” said her daughter, Lynda Rix, who lives in Lutz.

Her daughter, Kathi Traywick, of Ellijay, Georgia, helped Gobby organize her book. So did Melissa Horvath, now a graduate student, who was volunteering at Horizon Bay.

Susan Cuellar, of Carrollwood, helped her mom to get started on the book.

“A lot of times, as people age, we lose some of our hobbies,” Cuellar said. “I was looking for a new thing to kind of keep mom busy. Something for her to do. I had an old computer. She was having a hard time writing. I thought she could type.

“And, it turned into a book,” Cuellar said.

Published June 24, 2015

Dade City native is a writing wizard

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Wendell Speer is a prolific note-taker.

Paper and pen are ready at hand.

“You’ll get a million ideas wherever you go. If you don’t write them down, you’ll never remember them all,” he said.

Children at libraries in Poland lined up to get autographed copies of Wendell Speer’s book, ‘Simon Peppercorn, Log in to Magic Space.’ (Courtesy of Wendell Speer)
Children at libraries in Poland lined up to get autographed copies of Wendell Speer’s book, ‘Simon Peppercorn, Log in to Magic Space.’
(Courtesy of Wendell Speer)

Notes on slips of paper, written down in quiet moments on walks in the woods or in the hushed quiet of the local library, laid the trail that led to “Simon Peppercorn, Log in to Magic Space.”

Speer published his fantasy tale of the young wizard apprentice, Simon Peppercorn, more than eight years ago on his own. A Polish publisher translated the story and introduced it to a young reading audience in that country about three years ago.

About 2,000 copies sold in Poland, Speer said.

The American version is available at Amazon.com and BarnesAndNoble.com. Copies also are available at the Hugh Embry Branch Library in Dade City.

Speer is at work currently on a series of “first-chapter” books including one about a magic pencil box and a young girl who brings it to life. He hopes to find an agent and publisher for his newest creations.

But Speer said he is realistic about his chances.

“I know I’m the underdog,” he said. “I don’t have the contacts. I don’t know people who know people.”

What he does have, Speer said, is a passion for writing that began with a sixth grade classroom assignment and a mystery story. By age 18, he knew that he wanted to write a book.

He followed his heart to the fantasy world and found Simon Peppercorn.

The book follows 12-year-old Simon on his journey into “Magic Space” in quest of adventure and a special crystal with powers to save him from being transformed into a werewolf. His journey begins in a typical small town in the real world, known as “Hardspace.”

Once he enters an alternate realm, Simon learns he is a novice wizard who must confront dragons, werewolves, wicked witches, goblins and trolls.

The target audience is children ages 9 and older. As film, it would be a visual treat and even has theme park potential, Speer said.

Except for the Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling, Speer said there were few other books about wizardry. It seemed a natural to find his own niche with young readers.

“I read all the Harry Potter books,” he said. “I was enthralled by them.”

But Simon Peppercorn is different, said Speer who cites other influences such as the King Arthur tales, Polish folklore and Mark Twain.

“Harry Potter is very much a mystery book,” Speer said. “Simon Peppercorn is an adventure story. It’s like Huck Finn with magic.”

Speer has had his own adventures and a bit of wanderlust.

He grew up in Dade City and graduated from Pasco High School.

A scholarship took him to Florida Atlantic University in Boca Raton, where he earned a degree in mass communications. That wasn’t his first choice as a major.

“I had always had an interest in film,” he said. But the university didn’t have a film program, so he settled for classes in film theory.

He also landed a nine-week film production internship. He helped out when actor Paul Newman taped a public service announcement and again when Newman taped a special segment for a television show honoring actor and director John Huston.

One summer, in the midst of his college studies, Speer took a trip to Europe where he met his future wife. She was a native of Poland and for the next 20 years or so, Speer lived much of the time in his wife’s country.

At the time, Poland was a Communist state under martial law. Later, the Solidarity uprising brought a revolution and the end of Communism.

“The people had a special spirit about them at that time,” he said. “That was truly amazing.”

His son was born in Warsaw in 1984.

Speer learned Polish and got work in film production, largely hired by foreign film companies that chose Poland as a backdrop for their movies.

When his book was published in Poland, Speer appeared on television shows to promote sales. He also visited local Polish libraries.

“I was a big hit with the 10-year-old Polish kids,” he said.

In the early 2000s, Speer returned to Dade City and worked as a substitute teacher, and also for two years as a child protective investigator for the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office.

He works part-time now at a local home improvement store.

In his spare time, Speer keeps dreaming up new stories and maybe imagining more Simon Peppercorn adventures.

“I plan eventually to do a real series,” he said. “There are possibilities for many spin-offs, with many characters. I have the same dreams as every creative person.”

Published June 17, 2015

On The Cheap Fun on Father’s Day

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Mother’s Day is such a special event, we almost forget about that other day the following month. But Father’s Day is just as important, and a great holiday for people who like to do things on the cheap. After all, who was better at pinching pennies when you were growing up than dear old dad?

So, if you can celebrate Father’s Day and save some money at the same, you’ll earn his admiration and respect. You’ll be a chip off the old block. And we’ve found a few bargains this weekend you both might enjoy.

At Dinosaur World, you and dad will come face to face with some prehistoric parents. (Courtesy of Dinosaur World)
At Dinosaur World, you and dad will come face to face with some prehistoric parents.
(Courtesy of Dinosaur World)

First things first: if you read last month’s Mother’s Day article (and you really missed out if you didn’t), you read about a bunch of great places to take mom at a big discount. Lowry Park Zoo, the Museum of Science & Industry, and the Florida Aquarium all had specials where mom got in free with a paid admission. And the deal was good for Saturday and Sunday, so you could spread things across the weekend.

Well, good news: The same deal applies for Father’s Day, too. Pay for an admission, and dad get gets in free this weekend. So whether he likes safari animals, marine life or science and technology, you have dad covered. And you save a lot of money, too. All of those tickets cost more than $20 per person. So if you visit all three, you’ll save around $70 and get a weekend full of fun memories.

That could be a full column right there, but we already covered those places last month. So how about a couple more we didn’t mention earlier that also have specials running for Father’s Day?

For the Jurassic dad
Does dad like dinosaurs? If so, Dinosaur World, 5145 Harvey Tew Road in Plant City, might be the perfect Father’s Day destination.

Think of Dinosaur World as Jurassic Park without all the mayhem and chaos of live dinosaurs attacking the patrons. Instead, there are around 20 acres filled with hundreds of life-size dinosaur models in a garden setting. They’re very detailed, and many of them tower over you, giving visitors an idea of what it would be like to come face to face with a Brontosaurus, Velociraptor or Tyrannosaurus Rex.

If that isn’t cool enough, they have motion-activated animatronic dinosaurs inside (like a Stegosaurus and Pterodactyl), as well as a museum with real dino fossils. There’s even a Florida Fossil section with a display of fossils native to our state.

It’s all definitely entertaining, but education is a big deal at Dinosaur World. With interactive shows and paleontologists on hand to answer questions, there’s a lot see and learn. And if you go on Father’s Day, dad gets in absolutely free, when accompanying someone with a paid admission ($16.95 for adults, $11.95 for children ages 3 to12).

For the museum dad
Suppose dad likes history, but doesn’t want to go back to the Mesozoic era. How about the Henry B. Plant Museum, 401 W. Kennedy Blvd., in Tampa? The national historic landmark was a state-of-the-art hotel in the late 1800s, and while most of it is now the campus of the University of Tampa, a section has been preserved and restored as a museum. Each room is a piece of elegant history, with Moorish Revival (I think that means really fancy) architecture, and some original furnishings. And the self-guided audio tour gives you information and cultural perspective to what you’re seeing. If you want to experience the height of luxury around 125 years ago (it is still pretty luxurious), this is a great place to bring dad on Father’s Day. He gets in free, when accompanying someone with a paid admission ($10 for adults, $5 for children ages 4 to 12).

Remember, these two places are in addition to what we mentioned for Mother’s Day. All you have to do is pick what dad would like most, get ready for a fun weekend and receive endless praise for being so wise with your money. Happy Father’s Day.

For more information about Dinosaur World, call (813) 717-9865 or visit DinosaurWorld.com. For more information about the Henry B. Plant Museum, call (813) 254-1891 or visit PlantMuseum.com.

Published June 17, 2015

Pasco County launches mobile app for citizens

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Cellphones with the “smarts” of cutting edge social media technology are the newest tools to bring residents and public servants together.

See a pothole? Want an illegal dumping site cleaned up? Just want to reserve a pavilion at a county park?

The county has an app for all that, and more.

Residents can download MyPasco, a mobile app with interactive links to government services. (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
Residents can download MyPasco, a mobile app with interactive links to government services.
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

On June 9, Pasco County officially launched MyPasco, a mobile app that’s available free for users of Android, Apple, Blackberry and Windows products.

One feature allows county officials to do surveys to find out residents’ views on specific issues.

“It’s a great way for the community and government to find out what’s on the minds of our citizens,” said Pasco County spokesman Doug Tobin. “This really is a way of doing more with less.”

Pasco County commissioners got a hands-on demonstration at their regular meeting on June 9 in Dade City. Todd Bayley, the county’s chief information officer, showed off the app’s features during the demonstration.

Once the program is downloaded, residents can link to the county’s website, as well as to a menu of interactive links to report problems, ask questions, or find out what’s going on around the county.

For example, alerting the county to a pothole is a quick and easy task, county officials said. The mobile app relies on GPS to pinpoint the location and then allows the phone’s user to upload a photo along with contact information.

Reports also can be made to departments such as code enforcement and animal services.

Want to adopt a pet? You can start the process via your phone.

You can send general inquiries, too.

“Residents can also see how many people are making requests,” Bayley said.

As the mobile app evolves, new functions will be added, including the ability to pay utility bills by phone.

Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano likes the new app.

“What a phenomenal program to bring forward…probably saving a few phone calls to us about fixing a pothole.

“So fantastic,” he said.

Published June 17, 2015

 

Hundreds turn out to remember Laura Hauser

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Trinity Church of Wesley Chapel was packed for a service held to celebrate the life of Laura Hauser, who waged a six-year battle with cancer but succumbed to the disease on June 8.

There were probably 500 people at the service on the evening of June 13, according to Trish Trout, a long-time friend who described the event, via email.

Emma White enjoys swimming in a dunk tank during a fundraiser to benefit the Hauser family. Laura Hauser lost her six-year battle against cancer on June 8. (Courtesy of Penny Foote)
Emma White enjoys swimming in a dunk tank during a fundraiser to benefit the Hauser family. Laura Hauser lost her six-year battle against cancer on June 8.
(Courtesy of Penny Foote)

Most of the people at the memorial, deemed a celebration of life, wore blue, which is the color worn as a sign of support in the battle against colon cancer.

“There were tears, there was a lot of laughter. There was so much love and support in the church,” Trout added.

“And, of course, there was a PSA (public service announcement) to get tested for colon cancer. This is exactly what Laura would want,” added Trout, who accompanied Hauser on some of her appointments when she was initially diagnosed.

Penny Foote, another friend of Hauser, also attended the service.

She knew her friend was special but had no idea her sphere of influence had been so broad.

Speaker after speaker told story after story of the positive effect she’d had in their lives, Foote said.

“I don’t even know how one person can change so many lives for the better,” said Foote, who coordinated a fundraiser for the Hauser family on June 13 at Harvester United Methodist Church in Land O’ Lakes.

The benefit raised $3,285.65, and Foote is planning to organize another fundraiser in the future to provide additional help for the family.

Hauser is survived by her husband, Richard; her son, Noah, 14; and her daughter, Tatum, 12.

She was a warrior in her battle with cancer, friends said. She’d undergone more than 70 rounds of chemotherapy and multiple surgeries.

The disease began in her colon but had spread all over her body, including her liver, lungs, spine and brain, said Stephanie Hardy, a family friend for the past four years.

Hauser had been to Seattle for treatment but had returned to Wesley Chapel to attend Noah’s eighth-grade graduation and Tatum’s dance recitals.

She made it to the graduation, but wasn’t able to go to the recitals. She was able to watch one — that was livestreamed — from her bed, Richard Hauser said.

The family had thought that potential treatment in Seattle offered Hauser her best hope and she had planned to return there, but she died at home, under the care of hospice.

Her battle was personal, but she wasn’t alone.

Her fight inspired family, friends, colleagues and strangers to step forward to show their support.

The family also is being helped by a GoFundMe account, established by Pamela Maurer Fay on May 23, which attracted hundreds of donations and sentiments of support.

“You are strong and you are loved. Find strength in the amount of people who wish to help your beautiful family. You are in our prayers,” Rick and Susan Coder wrote, when making their donation.

Hauser worked at Wesley Chapel Elementary School before her illness caused her to leave the job.

While she was working there in 2012, she received the award for School-Related Personnel of the Year for Pasco County Schools. The distinction goes to a noninstructional employee who makes outstanding contributions.

At the time of the award, Hauser’s title was media and technology assistant, but both her colleagues and her boss said her influence was far broader.

She was the campus photographer. She handled lunch duty. She shelved books and checked them out. She had a photography club for kids, put together the school’s yearbook and helped teachers with technical issues.

Principal John Abernathy, described her this way: “Laura is hands-down the most reliable, the most efficient, the most dependable, the most sincere person that I can say that I’ve run across in a really long time.

“In terms of the lives that I would say that Laura has touched – I couldn’t even put a number to it,” he said.

After learning of Hauser’s death, Pasco County Schools tweeted out a message: “Rest in peace, Laura Hauser. A great educator, mom, wife and friend to many. You will be missed.”

Published June 17, 2015

 

Pasco County growth puts strain on budget

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A tentative hike in storm water fees and a proposal to hire five additional K-9 deputies highlight growing demands on Pasco County’s budgets for 2016 and into the future.

At their June 9 meeting, Pasco County commissioners gave the go-ahead for Sheriff Chris Nocco to apply for a federal COPS grant that would pay 75 percent of the costs for five additional K-9 deputies.

The cost to the county for the deputies over three years would be about $757,000 in matching funds.

The application deadline is June 19, with grants announced in October. If awarded, the sheriff’s office expects no additional funding needed from the county’s 2016 fiscal year budget.

“We anticipate being able to absorb (the expense) in its entirety,” said Pasco Major Mel Eakley.

The sheriff’s office has current vacancies as well as funds from the Penny for Pasco program that could be applied in 2016 to cover salaries and equipment, Eakley told commissioners.

“I like the program. I think it’s a good program,” said Pasco County Commissioner Jack Mariano.

By 2019, however, the county’s budget would pick up personnel costs for the five deputies as a yearly recurring expense, fully funded by Pasco County taxpayers. A hike in the millage rate, which determines a homeowner’s property taxes, might be needed.

Another option would be to layoff the K-9 deputies hired through the grant.

A decision would be based on a “reassessment of what our budget looks like,” said Eakley.

Hiring additional K-9 deputies means the sheriff’s office can provide 24-hour coverage from this unit, he said. Currently, the drug and bomb-sniffing dogs and their handlers are scheduled only on the night shifts, he added.

“We think it’s a great return on our investment,” Eakley said.

Pasco County commissioners also agreed to boost storm water fees by nearly 21 percent from $47 to $57 a year.

That’s not the final word, however.

“It can always come down,” said Chairman Ted Schrader.

Pasco County commissioners had to settle on a maximum rate that will be published in the annual notice sent to area residents from the property appraiser’s office. The deadline for providing the rate is July 15.

The final public hearing on the rate is set for Sept. 2.

In response to a query about the county’s growth driving the need for more services and revenues, Pasco County Administrator Michele Baker said, “That’s a growth curve. Yes, it is.”

The current $47 annual fee per residence was set in 2007 with the anticipation of collecting about $10 million a year. Revenues since have been closer to $12 million but are insufficient for a budget that covers operation and maintenance and capital improvement projects. Reserve funds over the years have all but vanished.

At $57 a year, fees are expected to increase to about $14.7 million a year. The funds would be used for maintenance chores, such as cleaning out ditches and culverts.

Without more revenue, there would be delays in service, Baker said.

“People would be on the waiting list longer,” Baker said. “We get new calls for service every day.”

Published June 17, 2015

Creating the music of angels

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San Antonio choir is invited to sing at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

It’s a Wednesday afternoon and members of the Saint Anthony Choristers pay rapt attention as Sandra Lau, their director, runs through a practice.

They sing portions of several hymns as they prepare for a special Mass, celebrating the sacrament of confirmation, at Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio.

Lau is exacting, but kind.

Members of the Saint Anthony Chorister pose at the front of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio. They will present a public concert on June 28. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Members of the Saint Anthony Chorister pose at the front of Saint Anthony of Padua Church in San Antonio. They will present a public concert on June 28.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She coaxes the singers to think about the meaning of the text and to convey that through their dynamics.

“This basically is a song of rejoicing,” she reminds them during one hymn. “It doesn’t always have to be loud, but it needs to have that sense of energy. That excitement.

“Let’s try again,” she said.

During other songs, she urges them to articulate the words they’re singing and to be mindful of not only the notes, but of their timing and duration.

Although this rehearsal is to prepare for confirmation, the choral group also is preparing to present a public concert of sacred music planned for 3 p.m., at the church, on June 28.

The choir sings in other venues, too, such as Orlando and Washington D.C.

In December, some of them will make a pilgrimage to Vatican City.

They’ll join choirs from all over the world to offer their voices in song at the New Year’s Day Mass celebrated by Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica.

The Mass will conclude the 40th International Congress of Pueri Cantores.

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

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

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

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

While the upcoming trip to Rome is exciting, many choir members said they enjoy the weekly rehearsals, as well as singing at the 10:30 a.m. Mass the first Sunday of the month during the school year and for special occasions such as confirmation, first Communion, Christmas Eve and Easter.

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

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

Many of the singers in the choir have belonged for several years.

“I really like the experience,” said 13-year-old Holly Phelps. “We have a great director, and it helps train your voice, and you get to sing for lots of events.”

Sixteen-year-old Rose Phelps has been with the choir for nine years. “I love singing for church,” she said.

Eighteen-year-old Shanon Teicher said the experience has helped her become more outgoing.

“I joined the choir being super shy,” she said. It was her way of getting more involved with the church, but she said, “It’s so much more than that.”

Emily Balling, 15, has been in the group for more than five years.

“I really love it,” Balling said.

She’s enjoyed singing at music festivals and is excited about the upcoming trip to Rome.

“It just sounds so amazing when you have all of those voices together,” she said.

Tierra Carson, 16, who is thinking about majoring in organ or piano, said the choral singing is all about working together to create a unified effect.

Fifteen-year-old Alexis Rosario said she’s had a passion for music for as long as she can remember.

She’s been playing piano since age 6, and also plays harp and violin.

“I’ve had a great passion for music ever since I was born.

She loves being in the choir because of “all of these harmonies and praising God at the same time.”

She’s excited about the pilgrimage.

“To be able to go to Rome, that’s huge,” Rosario said.

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

And, two years ago, members of the group took part in the International Congress in Washington D.C.

Lau, who herself fell in love with music when she was attending Saint Anthony Catholic School, is confident that the upcoming experience will leave a lasting impression.

“It is life-changing. It is fantastic,” Lau said.

There will be thousands of children singing together.

“They may be sitting next to somebody from France on this side, Portugal on this side, Germany — it’s just an amazing experience for them.”

Lau hopes the experience will be transformative, too.

“What we’re hoping is that this will help them to fall more deeply in love with the Catholic Church and realize they are a small part of something huge and beautiful,” Lau said.

What: Saint Anthony Choristers will present a public concert of sacred music
When: 3 p.m., June 28
Admission: Free, donations accepted
Where: Saint Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 12144 Joe Hermann Drive, San Antonio

 

Pilgrimage to Vatican City
Who: Saint Anthony Choristers
When: Dec. 26 through Jan. 2
How much: Each pilgrim must raise $3,000 to $4,000 required for flights, lodging, meals, and activities in Italy. If you would like to help, call the church office at (352) 588-3081.

Published June 17, 2015

Rankin hopes a lifetime in Lutz means a Guv’na win

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Jennifer Rankin was supposed to be a Lutz Guv’na candidate in 2014, but something came up.

It was her daughter, Abigail.

“I wanted to do it last year, and I got pregnant. She was born in August,” Rankin explained. “In July, I would have been eight months pregnant at the Fourth of July parade.” Since she would have spent her entire campaign in the latter stages of pregnancy, Rankin decided to wait a year before running for the ceremonial title, awarded to the candidate who raises the most money for local organizations. The current campaign runs through the Fourth of July, and the winner is announced at the annual festivities in Lutz.

Jennifer Rankin is looking to mow down the competition in the race for Lutz Guv'na. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Jennifer Rankin is looking to mow down the competition in the race for Lutz Guv’na.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Following her pregnancy, she spent 10 days in an intensive care unit with life-threatening hemorrhaging. Now that baby and mother are both healthy, and the Lutz Guv’na race has returned, Rankin is going for the winner’s sash with guns blazing. Literally.

One of her big campaign events is a clay pigeon tournament on June 27 at Tampa Bay Sporting Clays, 10514 Ehren Cutoff in Land O’ Lakes. The cost is $130 per person, or $480 per team of four, with prizes for the top teams and shooters.

Rankin is hoping to have 10 teams in place when the tournament starts. If that seems ambitious, that’s the kind of person she is. But she also knows her supporters well, and chose an event she thought would be popular with them.

As a Lutz native who grew up in the family business, Al’s Lawn Care at 18905 N. Dale Mabry Highway, Rankin has a good feel for the area and its residents. She attended Lutz Elementary, and it was in those formative years she decided to be a Lutz Guv’na, even if she didn’t know exactly how it worked. At the time, she thought it was an actual political race instead of a fundraiser.

Now that she knows it’s all about the money, she’s even more determined to be a part of it.

“I think it’s the coolest thing,” Rankin said.

Unfortunately, not everybody knows about the Guv’na’s race. Even longtime residents don’t always understand her latest project, and she has to explain the race and where the money goes.

“It just surprises me how many people live here that don’t know anything about it,” she said.

Most people who run into Rankin learn about it, mostly because she’s always asking them for money. If she wins the title, she’ll direct a portion of the funds to the organization of her choice, and she’s already made that executive decision: The Steinbrenner High School cheer team. Her youngest stepdaughter, Kori, was a member, and Rankin saw how hard the team works with little fanfare.

And they’re working hard for her campaign as well. The team is helping out with her fundraisers, including the clay pigeon tournament.

Rankin is having fun with her candidacy so far. So much fun, in fact, that she said she’ll run again if she doesn’t win. But she’s doing everything she can to make her first campaign a winner, and with the support of husband Adrian, stepdaughters Kori and Klarissa — and Abigail, of course — she’s pulling out all the stops to take the title. That includes making sure everyone knows she’s running, and asking them to dig deep for the cause. And considering where the money goes, she’s not ashamed to have her hand out right up through the holiday weekend.

“I don’t mind asking anybody for any money, because I know it’s going back to where I live,” Rankin said. “Knowing that it’s just going right here, it’s some way, somehow going to better Lutz.”

For more information about Rankin’s events, call Al’s Lawn Care at (813) 949-1384, or visit Rankin’s Facebook page by searching for “Jennifer Silence Rankin” at Facebook.com.

Published June 17, 2015