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Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

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Preventing broken hearts through better heart health

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As the director of marketing for Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point, Kurt Conover is constantly spreading the word about ways to prevent heart disease and keeping people informed about the medical center’s health care services.

Members of the staff and volunteers at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point gathered for a group photo on National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7. Even “Lucky,” the hospital’s therapy dog, got into the act. (Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)
Members of the staff and volunteers at Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point gathered for a group photo on National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7. Even “Lucky,” the hospital’s therapy dog, got into the act.
(Courtesy of Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point)

But the Land O’ Lakes man knows that despite his efforts, not everyone gets the message — or, even if they do, they don’t always listen.

That’s even true for family members, said Conover, who lost his brother, Gerrit Conover, to a heart attack on Aug. 25, 2011.

Conover said he became aware that his brother — who was being seen by a cardiologist — wasn’t keeping his appointments or filling his prescriptions on a regular basis.

Conover decided to use a gentle approach to get his 59-year-old brother to get back on track. Instead of confronting him, he encouraged Gerrit to swing by to see him, next time he went in to see the doctor.

But that never happened.

Instead, Gerrit, a retired military officer, collapsed and died of a heart attack shortly after returning home from a motorcycle ride with a friend.

In retrospect, Conover said he thinks he should have been more insistent with his brother — should have demanded that he go to see his doctor.

While they were growing up, he and Gerrit always had each other’s back, Conover said.

“We were real tight. My sisters used to always tease because whenever there was a fight taking place, it would always be us two against whoever it was. We’d be like a tag team.”

But when it came to life’s biggest battle, Gerrit didn’t tell his brother about the symptoms he was experiencing.

As it turns out, Gerrit was logging his symptoms, but no one saw the log until after he had died.

Gerrit was a Vietnam veteran and a lieutenant commander in the U.S. Navy. His survivors include daughters, Michelle and Kristen; brothers Wolf, Donald and Kurt; sisters, Mary Anne and Peggy; and other relatives.

He’s one of an estimated 460,000 who suffer a fatal heart attack each year, according to statistics reported by MedicineNet.com.

Most of the deaths from heart attacks are caused by ventricular fibrillation of the heart that occurs before the victim of the heart attack can reach an emergency room, the website adds.

The American Heart Association reports that heart disease is the leading cause of death for men and women in the United States. Every year, one in every four deaths is caused by heart disease, according to the association’s statistics.

The numbers portray an even grimmer situation for women.

Since 1984, more women than men have died each year from heart disease and stroke, according to the American Heart Association. And, fewer women than men survive their first heart attack, the association reports.

Part of the reason for the higher rate of fatalities among women is that the symptoms of heart attack can be different in women than men, and are often misunderstood even by physicians, the association adds.

That’s why it’s so important to become educated, Conover said.

Even though his brother died more than three years ago, the pain of his loss remains fresh, said Conover, who hopes he can transform his loss into something good.

Those who think either they or a loved one are experiencing a heart attack need to call 9-1-1, Conover said.

Time is of the essence, he said. When emergency personnel arrive they can begin communicating a patient’s vital signs to the hospital, and the hospital can begin to assemble its cardiac team, Conover said.

The faster the treatment, the better the chance for saving heart muscle and having better medical outcomes, he explained.

The American Heart Association helps to raise awareness about these important issues by declaring February as American Heart Month.

Regional Medical Center Bayonet Point has arranged a series of Tuesday Tutorials over the course of several Tuesdays, covering various heart health issues.

One recent tutorial, “Intimacy and the Heart,” attracted 115 people, Conover said.

The hospital also celebrated National Wear Red Day on Feb. 7, with scores of employees and volunteers observing the day.

Symptoms of heart attack in men
Chest feel pain feels like “an elephant is sitting on your chest; the squeezing sensation may come and go, or may be constant and intense

  • Rapid or irregular heartbeat
  • Shortness of breath, you feel like you can’t get enough air, even when you’re resting
  • Dizziness, or feeling like you’re going to pass out
  • Breaking out in a cold sweat
  • Stomach discomfort, like indigestion

Remember, each heart attack is different, so your symptoms may not fit the cookie-cutter description.

Source: American Heart Association

Symptoms of heart attack in women
In a multicenter study of 515 women who had a heart attack, published in the journal Circulation, the most frequently reported symptoms did not include chest pain. Instead, women reported unusual fatigue, sleep disturbances and anxiety, with nearly 80 percent reporting at least one symptom for more than a month before the heart attack. Other symptoms more common in women include:

  • Unusual fatigue for several days; or a sudden, severe fatigue
  • Anxiety and sleep disturbances
  • Lightheadedness and/or shortness of breath
  • Indigestion or gas-like pain
  • Upper back or shoulder pain; possibly throat pain
  • Jaw pain or pain that spreads up to the jaw
  • Pressure or pain in the center of the chest that may spread to the arm

Stroke Warning Signs
Spot a stroke F.A.S.T, by looking for these signs:

  • Face drooping: Does one side of the face droop or is it numb? Ask the person to smile.
  • Arm weakness: Is one arm weak or numb? Ask the person to raise both arms. Does one arm drift downward?
  • Speech difficulty: Is speech slurred, are they unable to speak, or are they hard to understand? Ask the person to repeat a simple sentence, like “the sky is blue.” Is the sentence repeated correctly?
  • Time to call 9-1-1: If the person shows any of these symptoms, even if the symptoms go away, call 9-1-1 and get them to the hospital immediately.

Source: The American Heart Association

Published February 25, 2015

 

Pace picks up for construction in southern Pasco

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Commercial and residential developments are popping up at the Suncoast Parkway interchange and along State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor at an ever-quickening pace.

There’s so much happening that it’s difficult to keep up with what’s under construction, what’s on the drawing board and what’s moving toward final sale.

To help sort things out, the Pasco Economic Development Council Inc., brought developers and brokers together for a meet-and-greet session on Feb. 19 at the Residence Inn at NorthPointe.

“We see the dirt flying,” said John Hagen, president and CEO of the Pasco EDC. “It struck us there’s really a lot of people who don’t know what’s going on here.”

So, in 10-minute bursts of information, representatives for the various developments presented highlights of a half-dozen mixed-use, master-planned and commercial communities.

Wiregrass Ranch, on the eastern end of the State Road 54/State Road 56 corridor is the most advanced of the developments.

But there’s still much more to come, said J.D. Porter, whose family owns Wiregrass Ranch.

The long-delayed Raymond James Financial Campus, off State Road 56, is approaching the permitting stage, Porter said.

About 600,000 square feet of office space is planned with opportunities to expand to 1 million square feet, he said.

“There’s no exact start date, but we feel very comfortable,” Porter said. “It’s a no-brainer. It’s going to get done.”

The first phase probably is about $18 million in roads and utilities, he added.

Future projects include a new park, a charter school, and a convention and performing arts center.

“We’re starting to take our business to the next level,” Porter said.

Meanwhile, close to the Suncoast Parkway, construction has begun on Bexley Boulevard, the entrance to Bexley Ranch, a 5,000-acre master-planned community. That development will be at the northeast quadrant of State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway.

About 1,700 acres will be developed in the development’s first phase, including about 93,000 square feet of retail and 563,00 square feet of offices, said Tom Panaseny, vice president of California-based Newland Communities.

Newland Communities is the same company that developed Fishhawk Ranch and Westchase in Hillsborough County.

The future Tower Road, which will link to Ballantrae subdivision, will be a four-lane divided roadway with a flyover across Suncoast, Panaseny said.

Thousands of homes, a town center, specialty shops, hotel, medical uses and office space are part of the mix, he said. More than 12 miles of internal trails will link with existing trails in the community.

“Everything we do, we try to connect to trail systems,” Panaseny said.

Another development — NorthPointe at Suncoast Crossings at the southeast quadrant of State Road 54 and Suncoast Parkway — is planned to have a mixture of uses, with up to 1 million square feet of offices, research and development, and hospitality.

Two parcels are potential locations for hotel, office or retail, said Steve Oakes, vice president of development for The Hogan Group, based in Lutz.

Developers are keeping options open for how NorthPointe moves forward, said Paul Michael, vice president of Atlanta-based TPA Group. “We’re all in this together…to create a sustainable live, work, play environment which we hope to be a success in Pasco County.”

Asturia, another master-planned community, is off State Road 54, west of the Suncoast Parkway. The 500-acre development has approval for up to 300,000 square feet of commercial, 530,000 square feet of office or light industrial, 550 single-family homes, 200 town homes and 440 apartments.

“You can see piles of dirt and a lot of construction,” said Lane Gardner, managing director for Houston-based-Hines. A groundbreaking was held in December with completion of the first construction phase scheduled for May 2015.

Starkey Ranch is a 2,400-acre master-planned community off State Road 54 with approval for 206,500 square feet of Class A offices, 43,500 medical offices, 300,000 square feet of light industrial, 100,000 square feet of support retail, 220 hotel rooms and small commercial infill parcels.

More than 2,000 residential units are planned including homes in an “adult lifestyle” subdivision near Huckleberry Pond. It will, however, not be age-restricted.

“We are focusing on creating community,” said Matt Call, project director for Wheelock Communities. “We don’t want to be another subdivision. We want a true community.”

A town center with a grocery store as the anchor is planned at Gunn Highway and State Road 54. Other amenities include a business center, light industrial, a hotel, medical office, shops, day care center, coffee shop, church and more than 20 miles of trails.

A welcome center and model homes from Ryland and M/I are nearing completion. A groundbreaking is expected later this year for the Starkey Ranch District Park.

The park is not a tourism destination, Call said. “It’s really for local residents.”

Mitchell West 54, at Little Road and State Road 54, will feature a neighborhood shopping center with a movie theater amid its proposed 800 residential units.

“We think this is an infill location,” said Gary Nelson, senior vice president of Kitson & Partners based in Palm Beach Gardens.

Groundbreaking on the 330-acre site is planned for early 2016 with an opening day expected in 2017. There will be about 980,000 square feet of retail, medical and offices. A hotel and senior living component are possible.

The first development in the project will be the neighborhood center with grocery store, pharmacy, restaurants and some high-end retail, said Matt Buehler, retail specialist director for Kitson & Partners.

Published February 25, 2015

Eagle Scout’s gazebo project benefits church

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Eighteen-year-old Robert Sturm has been a scout most of his life.

He became a Tiger Scout when he was 5 and has been involved in scouting ever since.

He’s also attended First United Methodist Church of Land O’ Lakes since he was quite young, too.

Building a gazebo isn't a one-man project. Eagle Scout Robert Sturm recruited help to get it built for the church. (Courtesy of the Sturm family)
Building a gazebo isn’t a one-man project. Eagle Scout Robert Sturm recruited help to get it built for the church.
(Courtesy of the Sturm family)

In fact, the church formed his first scout packs and troops.

So, when it came time to choose an Eagle Scout project, an important part of qualifying for the highest rank in the Boy Scouts of America, it was pretty easy to decide to combine the two together.

“I’ve been going there my whole life,” Sturm said about the church. “And they support our troop, too, so it’s nice to be able to give back to them.”

With help from around a dozen people, Sturm managed a project to create a gazebo for the church, located at 6209 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

The idea was to create a place where church members and their families can enjoy the comforts of a covered outdoor area.

After a few months of work, the gazebo was finished last summer, and Sturm became an Eagle Scout later that year. His Eagle Court of Honor was held at the church.

Taking the lead on that kind of project takes more than just pointing fingers and sketching out plans.

First, Sturm contacted the church trustees and worked with them on what they’d like to have.

Once they decided on a gazebo structure, there was the issue of money: Building a quality, outside structure that can survive the elements isn’t cheap. Sturm had to raise around $1,300 to make it happen, and traditional fundraising methods weren’t going to raise a lot of money quickly.

So instead, he started buying and selling used items to make a quick profit.

So, he and his friends began hitting up garage sales, looking for good deals.

“After we bought stuff at garage sales pretty cheap, we could turn it around and make money off that.”

A good day of searching could result in some pretty good bargains: A two-dollar investment in a tent turned into $60.

At the end of one garage sale, someone gave him and a friend a T-shirt press for free. His cut of the resulting sale netted $200 toward his project.

After few months of getting up at 7 a.m., to go bargain hunting for tools, video games and whatever else he could find, he had the money necessary to build the gazebo.

Now that the project is finished, when he comes home for a visit from his classes at the University of Central Florida, Sturm can see his and his helpers’ handiwork.

As he looks at the completed gazebo, he’s reminded of the hard work and challenges he faced along the way.

The paving was especially difficult, he recalled, because the gazebo had to have a level and strong foundation.

With its paver-stone floor, tin roof and wooden construction, the gazebo was built to last well into the future.

So, in addition to recalling the challenges, Sturm feels the sense of pride that comes from knowing that he’s created something for his church that enhances the property and helps people enjoy their time there.

The church is happy, too, not only to have something new and useful, but to know it came courtesy of a longtime member.

“I’ve been at the church for 22 years, but on staff for 10. I remember Robbie before he was born,” joked Bob Swan, facilities manager at First UMC of Land O’ Lakes.

The church gets occasional Eagle Scout project requests, and wasn’t surprised that Sturm wanted to give back.

The gazebo is getting good use, Swan added. It serves as a meeting place on Sunday mornings and throughout the week. And, the church is still finding more uses for it as time goes on.

Now that the work is completed, Swan is impressed by the quality of the work.

“I think it went real well. He had a good plan,” Swan said, adding that Sturm had some capable advisors and helpers along the way.

“It came out as it was planned,” Swan said.

Sturm might not have planned to gain experience for college out of the project, but he’s finding the lessons he learned building the gazebo are serving him in higher education, too.

The fundraising experience has proved valuable, as he learns about marketing, the college freshman said. Organizing a group project and getting everyone focused on the same goal also has everyday applications in the world of business, he said.

Beyond those practical benefits of the experience, Sturm said there’s a feeling of satisfaction that comes from creating something worthwhile.

“It feels really good to actually have a finished project and have people be able to go sit in it and use it,” he said.

February 25, 2015

Yes, that really is Hambone Way

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Motorists driving past Hambone Way in Wesley Chapel may do a double take.

Is that road really named Hambone Way?

Indeed, it is.

William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
William ‘Hambone’ Hammond has a street named in his honor in Wesley Chapel, a community the firefighter has served for about 15 years. Hammond accepted the honor with humility, thanking countless people in the crowd for helping him along the way.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The road was christened during a ceremony on Feb. 20 with a moniker that pays tribute to William “Hambone” Hammond, a firefighter who has worked for 15 years at Station 13, in the heart of an area known as Angus Valley.

The road bears Hammond’s nickname — the only name that many firefighters and paramedics know him by.

During the formal naming ceremony, Hammond was clearly touched by the gesture.

As he looked out into the crowd, he saw his mother, Betty Hammond, his brother, Mark, and other friends and relatives.

Members of the Greater Wesley Chamber of Commerce were there, too, to do a ribbon cutting.

And, Hammond saw scores of his other ‘family,’ too, the men and women who work for Pasco County Fire Rescue.

As he accepted the honor, he kept calling out names of people in the crowd — and even some that weren’t there — to thank them for the lessons they’ve taught him and the loyalty they’ve shown.

“I don’t feel worthy. You all are more worthy than me,” said Hammond, who is still an active firefighter.

“I do love that my name is up there — my nickname — and it does belong here in the valley,” he said. “I had plenty of opportunities to go to other stations. I’m part of Wesley Chapel, part of Angus Valley. It’s where my heart is.”

Firefighter/paramedic J.J. Martinez, who helped organize the event, said Hammond deserves recognition for his dedicated service.

“When one hears this nickname, you would think of a guy on Harley, riding down the road with a long beard,” Martinez said, during the naming ceremony.

But when employees at Station 13 hear Hambone’s name, “we see a dedicated, hardworking firefighter that will do anything for his fellow firefighters,” Martinez added.

For some people, “Hambone was a firefighter who was there, in their time of need,” Martinez said.

“I came to serve this area six years ago, at Station 13, and I’m reminded every day what being a true firefighter is all about, because of my partner, Hambone,” Martinez added.

“Many times in this job, we lose sight of what is most important and that is the people we help every day,” he said.

Another speaker, Captain David Garofalo, said “when I think of Hambone, one word immediately comes to mind, and that is ‘genuine.’ That man never ceases to amaze me. He takes friendships to a whole new level.”

“This street has been the no-name street for many years, and Hambone has been a part of this community for almost 15 years,” Garofalo said, so it seems fitting to name the street in Hambone’s honor.

“So many times, buildings, statues and streets are named posthumously after someone in their memory. I am glad, that as we name this today, that Hambone will be able to know how much he is appreciated and be a part of this community for many more years to come,” Garofalo said.

Pasco Rescue Fire Chief Scott Cassin congratulated Hammond.

“There couldn’t be a better person to have their name on that sign,” Cassin said.

On the drive over to the ceremony, Cassin said he talking about how streets get their names.

“It’s usually the developer that will put names up, and they name them after their kids. They’ll name them after presidents, or they’ll have some sort of naming convention.

“This is one sign that I know every time we drive by it, we’ll know how that street was named.”

Published February 25, 2015

Browning expects technology problems during state testing

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Pasco Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning has notified the state education commissioner that most district schools are not ready to administer the state’s online tests.

Browning isn’t talking about the district’s students. He’s concerned about the readiness of the district’s technology to deliver the online test.

He voiced those concerns in a Feb. 18 letter to Florida Education Commissioner Pam Stewart.

“After performing a load test last week and assessing our overall readiness, the district is not comfortable in certifying that we can administer FSA (Florida Standards Assessment) without significant technological and logistical problems,” Browning wrote.

The district conducted a test on Feb. 2, between 10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m., of 8,622 student machines at the same time.

During the load test, only eight of the schools tested — representing 11 percent of those tested — reported no problems. Fifty-three schools, representing 73 percent of those tested, reported some issues and 12 schools, 16 percent, could not test because of significant issues. Ten schools that were tested did not report their findings.

Browning informed Stewart, “…if we were required to test today, a majority of our schools would experience a variety of delays and issues.”

Along with the letter, Browning attached a spreadsheet indicating a variety of technological issues encountered during the load test. Such problems included slow question load time, load timeout errors, launch failures, premature boots, error messages and a host of other technical problems.

Browning’s letter also notes that Pasco is the largest Apple device user in the state and because of that, technical difficulties become even more complicated because there are no other comparable districts to help the district with its setup, design and troubleshooting.

“I believe there are too many obstacles hindering our readiness to effectively administer the FSA, but I can assure you that our district will participate,” Browning wrote. “My signature does not certify that we are ready, but instead certifies that we will be participating in the examination.”

While Browning voices concerns about Pasco’s readiness to administer the state’s online test, all sorts of questions are being raised over Florida’s testing requirements and the amount of time teachers and students devote to them.

Gov. Rick Scott has already issued an executive order to eliminate the 11th grade standardized test in English.

Other proposals for change are expected during this year’s legislative session, scheduled to begin on March 3.

Published February 25, 2015

Unlicensed contractors not welcome in Pasco County

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Pasco County is cracking down on unlicensed contractors who leave residents on the hook for shoddy work, or who take the money and run without doing the job.

County officials and the Pasco Sheriff’s Office joined forces in October to launch a pilot program aimed at protecting consumers from unscrupulous contractors.

Licensed contractors also lobbied for tougher actions against competitors who don’t follow the rules, county officials said.

“Unlicensed contractors in Pasco County now risk felony charges in certain cases, as well as traditional financial penalties,” said Pasco County Commissioner Kathryn Starkey, speaking at a press conference to announce the pilot program. “When (licensed contractors) do things right, it’s not fair to compete with unlicensed contractors who undercut them and deliver an unsafe product.”

The county and sheriff’s office average 20 to 25 complaints a month, said Ainsley Caldwell, the county’s unlicensed contractor project manager.

Previously, a county building inspector would be pulled from regular duties and assigned to investigate complaints, Caldwell said. “Now we have a team that is dedicated full-time.”

That team is made up of Caldwell and a building inspector, code inspector and a detective from the sheriff’s economic crimes unit.

The Pasco county attorney’s office and the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation are assisting, too.

The pilot program, which has been approved to operate this fiscal year, has a $500,000 budget.

Investigations are often complaint-driven, but not always.

“We drive through neighborhoods and do spot checks,” Caldwell said.

Other building and code inspectors pass on information to the team about possible scams and the sheriff’s detective is advised as well, he said.

In many cases, county inspectors issue citations to contractors suspected of doing unlicensed work.

Caldwell said cases are heard by judges who can levy fines, require restitution and, in some cases, impose jail sentences.

The sheriff’s economic crimes unit staged a sting operation in November that led to the arrest of 11 men who were charged with workmen’s compensation fraud and unlicensed construction services. Both are felonies.

Between October and December 2014, there were 13 misdemeanor arrests and 11 felony arrests, said Shawn Rozankowski, a detective with the Pasco sheriff’s office. Since January, there have been 10 misdemeanor and 10 felony arrests, he said.

Besides protecting consumers from shoddy work, the program aims to educate residents about the risks involved in hiring unlicensed contractors.

The education efforts include speaking at neighborhood association meetings and developing an informational brochure.

It may seem cheaper to hire an unlicensed contractor, but it can prove to be very costly, Caldwell said.

“(People) are not aware they are hooking themselves up to significant liability issues,” Caldwell said.

If the unlicensed contractor falls off a ladder, for example, the person who hired him can be sued or be held responsible for medical bills, Caldwell said.

And, if building inspections done at a later date uncover work that was done without permits, the owner could face substantial penalties for “after-the-fact” permits, Caldwell said.

Other costs could result from having to repair work that wasn’t done properly.

There can be other risks as well.

Among the 11 men arrested in the sting operation, seven had prior criminal records including motor vehicle theft, forgery and domestic battery, county officials said.

To verify building permits and licensed contractors, visit the county’s website, PascoCountyFl.net and click on the appropriate links.

To find out more, or to report an unlicensed contractor (reports can be made anonymously), call (727) 847-2411, ext. 2692.

Clues to spot an unlicensed contractor
You are asked to obtain the permit.

  • The contractor tells you a permit is not necessary. Visit the Pasco County website, at PascoCountyFl.net, to verify whether either a permit or inspection is required.
  • The contractor is not willing to put a contract in writing.
  • You are asked for a large down payment before work begins, or you are asked to pay in cash.
  • The contractor cannot provide proof of insurance or a copy of his license. To verify a locally licensed contractor visit PascoCountyFl.net.
  • The contractor does not display a license number in contracts or advertisements or on business cards and business vehicles.
  • The contractor will work only at night and/or weekends.

Published February 25, 2015

Business Digest 04-25-15

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Clubhouse at Estancia opens
The Estancia Club at Estancia at Wiregrass had a ribbon cutting and grand opening on Feb. 11.

The club has a private clubroom, state-of-the-art fitness facility, an aquatic center with a resort style pool, a tower water slide and a lap pool.

The clubhouse is located in a master-planned community in Wesley Chapel at 4000 Estancia Blvd.

Grants for businesswomen
Are you a businesswoman who could use $1,000?

Women-n-Charge is offering two $1,000 grants this spring. The grants can be used towards business-related equipment or services and continuing education. The nonprofit’s mission, in part, is to support and assist professional women in managing their businesses more effectively.

Learn more about the grants at Women-n-Charge.com. Applications are available online and are due April 15.

For information, contact Judy Nicolosi, treasurer of Women-n-Charge, at (813) 600-9848, or email .

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group will meet at Rose’s Café at 38426 Fifth Ave., in Zephyrhills.

Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco is the guest speaker on March 10.

For information, call Nils Lenz at (813) 782-9491, or email him at .

Career Fairs
Rasmussen College will host its Spring Career Fair March 5 from 2:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m., on the college’s Land O’Lakes campus at 18600 Fernview St.

Students, alumni and residents will be able to speak with hiring managers of local companies and learn about resources to aid in job searches.

Rasmussen College also will host a Career Fair March 4 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at its New Port Richey campus at 8661 Citizens Drive.

For information about the Land O’ Lakes event, call (813) 435-3601.

For information about the New Port Richey event, call (727) 942-0069.

Women-n-Charge Meet
Women-n-Charge, a women’s networking group, will meet March 6 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:15 p.m., at Pebble Creek Country Club, 10550 Regents Park Drive in Tampa.

The meeting includes lunch and time to network. Suzanne Gray, founder of ReNew Life Wellness Center, will be the featured speaker.

Come share talents, build relationships and share resources with other women in business.

The cost is $15 for members who pay by Tuesday before the meeting, and $18 for guests and members who pay Wednesday and after.

To register, visit Women-n-Charge.com.

For information, contact Judy at (813) 600-9848, or email .

Rotary Club needs bee sponsors
The Rotary Club of Wesley Chapel Noon needs sponsors for the third annual “BEE Part of the Buzz” adult spelling bee.

The spelling bee will be April 10 at 6:30 p.m., at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, 10641 Old Tampa Bay Drive in San Antonio. Teams compete in three rounds with words progressing in spelling difficulty from easy to intermediate to difficult.

Spectators cheer on their favorite teams in a fun event that helps raise funds for the Pasco Education Foundation. Donations range from $1,500 for a Queen Bee sponsorship to $150 for a four-person team.

For information, email Erin Meyer at .

NetFest sponsors needed
The Pasco Economic Development Council is hosting its 13th annual NetFest, which is short for Networking Festival, March 5 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Starkey Ranch on State Road 54 in Odessa.

The council is seeking sponsorships ranging from $500 to $2,000.

The event is a casual night of food, drink and music — and a great chance to network.

For more information, visit PascoEDC.com.

Central Pasco Chamber to host new expo
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce is launching a new event this year called the 2015 Community Fun Day and Business Expo.

The event, open to everyone, will spotlight businesses and service providers in the northern area of Hillsborough and the central area of Pasco counties.

There will be fun and games for kids, live entertainment, door prizes and a food truck rally.

The event’s theme is “Keeping It Local — Moving our Businesses Forward.”

The two-day event, free to the public, will be March 6 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., and March 7 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It will be at the Land O’ Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway in Land O’ Lakes.

Sponsorships and booth spaces are available.

Visit CentralPascoChamber.com for an application.

For more information, call (813) 909-2722, or email .

Business Link available monthly
Business Link, a monthly small business gathering hosted by the San Antonio Citizens Federal Credit Union, meets the second Wednesday of each month beginning at 7:30 a.m.

The meeting is designed to provide a networking and information-sharing platform for the business community.

For locations, details and to reserve a seat, email , or call (352) 588-2732, ext. 1237.

Wesley Chapel networking group
Networking for Your Success meets every Thursday at 8 a.m., at Lexington Oaks Country Club, 2615 Lexington Oaks Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Cost is $5, and annual membership to the group is $79.

Dade City chamber needs volunteers
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is looking for some volunteers to help with the chamber event season.

With winter residents returning to the area, there are a number of activities the chamber needs help to staff. The chamber is looking for people who are friendly and outgoing, who have knowledge of the local area and activities, and are team-oriented.

For information, email .

Jobs on the go
CareerSource Pasco Hernando has reintroduced its Mobile One Stop, a 38-foot bus retrofitted with 13 computer stations. It’s complete with satellite Internet, telecommunications, printing, copying and scanning — everything anyone would need to find a job.

It provides service to more than 100 people every month with stops that include the New River Branch Library in Zephyrhills among others.

For details on where Mobile One Stop will be, visit CareerSourcePascoHernando.com.

 

Improvements planned on State Road 54

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Pastoral scenes of as-yet untouched land in Pasco County still exist amid the office complexes, shopping centers and subdivision rooftops that dot parts of State Road 54.

But the “for sale” and “for lease” signs planted on large open fields in between those developments portend the future story for traffic counts on what is already one of Pasco County’s busiest east-west corridors.

The Florida Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin work this month to widen State Road 54 from four lanes to six lanes from east of the Suncoast Parkway to west of U.S. 41 (also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard). (Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)
The Florida Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin work this month to widen State Road 54 from four lanes to six lanes from east of the Suncoast Parkway to west of U.S. 41 (also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard).
(Kathy Steele/Staff Photo)

State highway officials are ready to unveil a $16 million road project to widen the highway from east of the Suncoast Parkway to west of U.S. 41 from four lanes to six lanes. The widening will bring that section of the roadway into alignment with the existing six-lane divided highway that narrows to four lanes at the Suncoast Parkway.

Survey teams began work Feb. 9. Construction is scheduled to be completed in spring 2016.

Residents can look at the road design at an open house Feb. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Residence Inn at 2101 Northpointe Parkway, off State Road 54, at the Suncoast Parkway interchange and Northpointe Village. No formal presentation is planned. State road department staff will be on hand to answer questions.

The project will cover a 6.7-mile stretch of highway that passes by Long Lake Ranch, a master-planned community that has its first homes on the market.

Other subdivisions along the route are Suncoast Meadows, Suncoast Pointe, Stonegate, Concord Station and Ballantrae. Professional office complexes and the Shoppes at Sunlake Centre are other developments along the heavily traveled corridor.

State highway records for 2013 reveal that daily round-trip vehicle trips — along the segment that will be widened — ranged from 39,500 to 47,000.

In addition to extra lanes, the project includes new sidewalks and more highway lights. Bicycle lanes will remain.

A new traffic signal will be installed at Meadowbrook Drive, east of the parkway by the entrance into Suncoast Meadows and Suncoast Pointe. All existing traffic lights will stay in place.

Alberta Bland, partner and managing director at Flagship Title, welcomes the new traffic signal.

“It’s a dangerous intersection,” said Bland, whose company is in Suncoast Meadows Professional Center.

Motorists stop on an incline at Meadowbrook as they approach on the south side of State Road 54, she said. They also must look west for oncoming traffic zipping along a curve in the state highway.

“I’ve seen near accidents and accidents because of the way the street is shaped,” Bland said. “It’s difficult to see both ways especially at night.”

The traffic signal will improve safety, she said.

But widening the road is a mixed bag, she added.

“If they are going to widen it, (traffic) is going to get worse,” Bland said. “There is enough traffic that they need to do it, but they need to slow everything down.”

During construction, speed limits will be 50 miles per hour. Once the roadwork is completed, the existing limits, which range from 45 mph to 60 mph, will apply, state road officials said.

While traffic during construction won’t be a cakewalk for motorists, road officials said the widening will occur in the median, not in rights-of-way along the road’s shoulder.

“It’s a construction site, of course, but there shouldn’t be too much disruption,” said Kris Carson, a spokeswoman for the state roads department.

Roy Schleman said he sees a considerable amount of bad driving on the roadway, with some motorists speeding or texting.

And, he noted, the intersections at Ballantrae Road and Oakstead Boulevard, where there are existing traffic lights, can be as bad or worse than Meadowbrook.

But, like Bland, he thinks a traffic signal at Meadowbrook is a good idea.

Schleman owns All Insurance Underwriters in the Suncoast Meadows office complex.

“I’m a dad,” he said. “Thinking about moms and kids, I’d rather (the intersection) be safer.”

When deciding where to locate his business nearly five years ago, he rejected New Tampa because of the traffic congestion on Bruce B. Downs Boulevard.

The widening of State Road 54 makes sense in view of the new development that is coming, he said. “I think it’s good to get ahead.”

But he keeps thinking about Bruce B. Downs Boulevard. “I feel we’re going to be like that in some way,” Schleman said.

Want to see the plans?
The Florida Department of Transportation is having an open house to give the public a chance to see the plans for a construction project to widen a section of State Road 54, from east of the Suncoast Parkway to west of U.S. 41 (also known as Land O’ Lakes Boulevard).

The meeting will be Feb. 24 from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., at the Residence Inn, 2101 Northpointe Parkway in Lutz.

Published February 18, 2015

Charter government discussions continue in Pasco County

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Pasco County commissioners spent nearly three hours at a special workshop on Feb. 12 learning about the intricacies of the process for putting a charter-style form of government on the ballot, but they still have more to talk about.

So they decided to take it up again at a Feb. 17 workshop.

Commissioners could decide to vote on an ordinance to establish a charter advisory committee and that action could be decided at the commissioners’ Feb. 24 meeting.

But the debate over the issue of shifting to a charter-style form of government could play out for months, and the earliest that voters are likely to weigh in on the matter would be in a referendum on the 2016 general election ballot.

The idea of adopting an ordinance to appoint an advisory committee emerged during the Feb. 12 workshop.

That approach gives commissioners more control of the charter process than an autonomous charter commission.

The issue is sparking interest.

More than 50 people filled the commission chambers at the Feb. 12 workshop.

Pasco County Clerk & Comptroller Paula S. O’Neil, Pasco County Tax Collector Mike Fasano, Supervisor of Elections Brian Corley and Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning were there, in addition to a number of residents who are interested in the issue.

Ginger Delegal, general counsel for the Florida Association of Counties, provided a primer on charter governments and Kurt Spitzer, a Tallahassee-based private consultant, provided insights on how charter governments operate in various counties across Florida.

Pasco now operates with five county commissioners elected countywide, and an appointed county administrator.

In recent months, State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, has advocated to give Pasco voters the option of changing to a charter style of government which could allow for such things as single-member districts for county commissioners, term limits, an elected county administrator or an elected county mayor.

Twenty of the state’s 67 counties operate with counties, including Hillsborough and Pinellas counties.

Under state law, either a majority of county commissioners or a petition signed by 15 percent of the county’s registered voters can create a charter commission. In Pasco, that would require more than 46,000 signatures.

Proponents of a charter argue that it can make local government more responsive to voters. Opponents worry that a charter government would mean increased taxes and more bureaucracy.

Fasano has voiced strong objections to the charter form of government.

There would be potential, he said, for the county to impose unfunded mandates on cities for certain services such as storm water management.

“We have cities barely getting by now,” Fasano said.

Most speakers during the public comment period were skeptical, too.

“Part of me feels, as a citizen, that I’m being sold a bridge over a river of problems I didn’t know existed,” said Calvin Branche, a planning commission board member.

“What is the agenda?” asked Pat Mulieri, who retired last year after serving two decades on the county commission. “I cannot understand what is driving this because I don’t believe right now it’s the people of Pasco.”

Wesley Chapel resident Steve White said change for the sake of change is risky. So he wondered, “What’s driving this? Is there something the county wants to do that they can’t do today? Is there some benefit that a charter could provide the county that would aid citizens that we’re not getting today?”

Most charter initiatives are petition driven by citizens, said Chairman Ted Schrader.

But in this case, he said Corcoran brought the matter to the county commission “because he believes that it is something (on which) the citizens should have the opportunity to express themselves. But, this board is not pushing the charter form over the non-charter form of government.”

Corcoran, reached by telephone, said he hopes county commissioners agree to establish a charter commission —rather than an advisory committee — that empowers voters to choose their form of government.

The advisory committee, which would enable commissioners to retain control, is not the way to go, Corcoran said.

Corcoran also rejected suggestions that either he, or the legislative delegation have an agenda. He said delegation members just want to make sure that the community “where we grew up in and love, gets better.”

Some people don’t want to give up the status quo, Corcoran said.

“They are afraid to be held accountable by the people,” he said.

Published February 18, 2015

New Wesley Chapel charter uses Montessori method

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When school begins in the fall, a new educational option will be available for parents of children in kindergarten through sixth grade.

Garden Montessori School has been approved as a charter school in Pasco County, meaning that there’s no tuition for children attending the school.

Ella Selover attends the private pre-school that has inspired the creation of Garden Montessori Charter School which will open this fall in Wesley Chapel. Deadline for applications is Feb. 27. (Courtesy of Garden Montessori School)
Lilly Selover attends the private pre-school that has inspired the creation of Garden Montessori Charter School which will open this fall in Wesley Chapel. Deadline for applications is Feb. 27.
(Courtesy of Garden Montessori School)

The new charter has its roots in a private pre-school and kindergarten that has been offering the Montessori approach to education since 2009.

Parents of some of those children were interested in continuing to pursue that type of education in elementary school, and the school sought permission from Pasco County to open a charter elementary school.

“It’s going to continue the Montessori that’s here,” said John Selover, a consultant to the school.

“The genesis of the (charter) school was that a lot of the parents here were very interested in continuing the Montessori method of instruction. Montessori is much more than a method. It’s kind of a culture of its own,” he said.

Darlene Pla-Tschantz, associate education director, said, Montessori focuses on teaching the whole child.

“It’s based on grace and courtesy,” she said.

The children do a lot of hands’ on work, and the work is designed to build on previous work that has been accomplished.

“In terms of the social piece, it is a community involvement,” she said. One of the values of a Montessori education is giving back to the community in which the sits.

“We have permission to open with up to 270 students,” Selover said. It will begin with kindergarten through second grade and will add a grade each year, until its fifth year of operation, when it will reach 540.

One key difference between this school and traditional public schools is that the children will be taught in multi-age classrooms and they have the same teacher for three years.

“We’re meeting the kid where they’re at,” Selover said.

“Everybody knows the child. They have some history with the child. They’re able to really, truly meet them where they’re at,” he said.

Pla-Tschantz explained: “It’s really not teacher-centered. It’s child-centered, with the guidance, of course, from teachers.

Teachers observe children closely and keep good records, to keep tuned into the child’s progress and where they should be, she said.

Teachers look at benchmarks to make sure that children are reaching them and when they’re not, they ask themselves why children aren’t reaching them and they make recommendations on what they can do to make progress.

Besides paying close attention to a child’s progress, there’s also peer teaching.

The school also pays attention to how the children learn.

“Are they visual? Are they tactile? Are they auditory?” Pla-Tschantz said. Or, perhaps like most people, they learn using more than one style.

The school’s charter application was approved for five years.

Applications are being accepted through Feb. 27.

School officials expect more applications to come in than there are slots, so a lottery system will be used to select the students.

Applications are being accepted through Feb. 27.

A site has not yet been acquired, but officials expect that to be done soon.

Initially, the school will use portable classrooms.

Parents can attend a parent meeting on Feb. 18, from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway, to learn more about the school.

Questions parents have asked at previous meetings include such practical considerations as the start and end times of school, whether there is before and after care and what kind of lunch program is available, Selover said.

The school will follow the Pasco County code of student conduct. It also will serve Pasco County school lunches, providing free or reduced-price lunches to those qualify.

It will not provide transportation, but will help parents who want to arrange car pools.

Parent information session
Garden Montessori Charter School is a tuition-free, public kindergarten through sixth grade school slated to open in August, serving the Wesley Chapel area.

There will be a parent information session Feb. 18 from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., at the Land O’ Lakes Branch Library, 2818 Collier Parkway.

General information and enrollment details can be found at GMCSWC.weebly.com.

Published February 18, 2015