Local News

Stage is alive with the sound of (free) music

October 9, 2014 By Michael Murillo

You know what’s fun? Going to a concert.

If it’s an outdoor venue and the weather is nice, nothing’s better than sitting back and listening to some great music.

You know what’s not fun? Paying for it.

Thousands are expected to take advantage of the Florida Orchestra’s Pops in the Park series Oct. 18-19. (Courtesy of Florida Orchestra)

Concerts today are expensive. I mean, really expensive. A ticket where you’re close enough to actually see the musicians could cost $100 or more. That doesn’t count parking, either. Who wants to pay that kind of money to have a good time with friends or family?

Nobody reading this column, I hope. We’re not about spending a lot of money here. So how about an outdoor concert with experienced musicians playing great music for the low, low price of … nothing? That’s music to my ears.

If it also sounds good to you, make sure you catch the Florida Orchestra’s Pops in the Park on Oct. 19 at 7 p.m., at River Tower Park, 401 E. Bird St., in Tampa. It’s absolutely free, and a great way to see one of the state’s best professional symphony orchestras.

This isn’t some skeleton crew showing up to test some instruments. It’s a full 75-person ensemble performing a two-hour concert (with an intermission). That gives them time to play plenty of music, including Dmitri Shostakovich’s “Festival Overture” and Ferde Grofe’s “Mississippi Suite.”

You’ve heard of those, right? No? Me neither. But I looked them up, and they’re pretty famous. And there’s nothing wrong with being exposed to something you’ve never heard before. They’re classics for a reason, right?

But don’t think it’s an entire concert of music you don’t know. You’ll recognize a lot of their selections. They’ll play music from “E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial.” You’ll hear a special armed forces salute. And they’ll finish with Tchaikovsky’s “1812 Overture.”

And yes, you know that one. Even if you don’t know it by name, you’ll recognize it when you hear it. It’s a great closer.

All you have to do is bring a chair and a blanket and get there early enough to pick the spot you like. Coolers are allowed, too, so you can even pack food and drinks and have a picnic.

Bring a good friend, your romantic interest or the entire family. No matter whom you bring, it all costs the same — nothing.

Anyone who goes will think you’re being creative — dare I say, sophisticated? — for thinking of it. After all, they don’t get to see a symphony orchestra for free every day. This is the Florida Orchestra’s special free weekend, so this is really your only chance to see them in this format.

Well, maybe not your only chance. If Sunday is bad for you, they’re doing the same thing the night before. But on Saturday night, it’s at Vinoy Park in St. Petersburg. It’s a longer drive, but if you can’t go Sunday you might want to catch them there. It’s worth it.

Or you can spend a lot of money, including ridiculous service fees, to see some current band at a big theater. And then pay for food and drinks.

That doesn’t sound very good to me. Save your money and see the Florida Orchestra instead.

By the way, I’d advise you to get there at least an hour early. Thousands of people are expected at this event, so plan ahead to get a good space.

For more information, visit FloridaOrchestra.org.

If you have a good idea for On the Cheap (or want to share your experiences going to an event we mentioned), send me an e-mail at .

Published October 8, 2014

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Free seminars about county services aim to educate, motivate

October 9, 2014 By Michael Murillo

With so many different agencies providing services throughout Pasco County, figuring out exactly what each one offers can be confusing.

But the Community Awareness Series at Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch aims to make things easier to understand with free lectures that focus on different service providers.

Sonia Rodriguez, associate dean at Pasco-Hernando State College, put together a series of free seminars providing information about community-based organizations and agencies. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

The six-part series began with a presentation by Pasco County Community Services on Sept. 5, and continued with the Florida Department of Health on Sept. 19.

The next seminar will take place Oct. 10, focusing on the Sunrise Domestic and Sexual Violence Center, followed by the American Cancer Society on Oct. 24. Veterans Services Pasco County and the Coalition for the Homeless of Pasco County will round out the series in November.

The series helps satisfy one of the college’s strategic goals of increasing awareness in the community, PHSC associate dean Sonia Rodriguez said.

“Most institutions are microcosms of their environment, and there are a lot of agencies and information out there that people don’t know about,” she said. “Or they have a situation going on where they don’t know where to seek help or find an avenue in which to help someone else.”

Rodriguez has been with the college for 20 years, and was involved with a similar program on their north campus in Brooksville. Attendees often are people who not only want to learn about the specific services each agency offers, she said, but also find out how they might be able to volunteer time or donate to their cause.

The room is set up to hold 60 people, and it was around half-full for the first presentation. Rodriguez considers that a good start. She believes that more people will attend later events as word gets out, and as certain topics generate more interest. The second presentation attracted around 35 people.

She picked the agencies with members of her staff, choosing the ones she thought would be of interest to the community. As the series progressed in Brooksville, different agencies would ask to be featured, providing more topics and covering a wider variety of services.

The popularity grew until it became a weekly series, and Rodriguez hopes to see the Wiregrass Ranch campus offerings to eventually grow to that level.

While she wants to see as many people take advantage of the Community Awareness Series as possible, Rodriguez said the people who might utilize the services directly might not be the ones actually attending the seminars. While unwanted pregnancy and domestic violence issues exist in the county, for example, those topics are unlikely to draw the individuals involved with them.

“The people who need it the most are the people that you probably can’t get to come to something,” Rodriguez said. Instead, individuals who know someone in need might be the ones in attendance.

The college also encourages its faculty and students to attend, since they might interact with people who need those services. The knowledge they gain from the presentations could help them in assisting others.

Each session lasts 90 minutes, with a 60-minute presentation and a 30-minute question-and-answer session. Each agency decides what kind of seminar to give, and could include a PowerPoint presentation, or different agency members speaking on specific topics.

Feedback has been positive so far, and Rodriguez hopes they’ll continue to be well received by the students and faculty, as well as the community in general.

“Pasco-Hernando State College’s mission is to be a part of this community,” she said. Before we were a state college we were a community college, so community never leaves our mission.”

Each seminar starts at 10 a.m., at the conference center in Building B. The Wiregrass Ranch campus is located at 2727 Mansfield Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

For more information about the Community Awareness Series, visit PHSC.edu.

Published October 8, 2014

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Survey meant to help identify educational priorities

October 9, 2014 By B.C. Manion

The survey form posted on the Pasco County Schools’ website was brief and easy to complete.

It had just three multiple-choice questions.

One asked parents to identify what learning opportunities they think would increase their child’s engagement in the learning process.

A second question asked parents to identify what technology they’d like to see more of in their child’s classroom. The third queried parents on what type of technology their child has access to in their home.

Each question was followed by a list of responses, which parents could check off. And, they also had the option of adding comments.

For instance, district officials wanted to know if students would be more likely to be engaged if they participate in goal-setting and making learning decisions.

Would collaborating with others to solve problems help? How about connecting with global resources to enhance learning?

Parents had the option for each question to check as many boxes as they wanted, and they could add whatever observations they wanted to make, as well.

The survey was offered as part of the school district’s effort to prepare for a digital classroom grant submission, said Vanessa Hilton, director of the office for teaching and learning for Pasco County Schools.

Each of the responses about preparing 21st century learners to compete globally is important, according to research, Hilton said.

“All of those things will lead to building a 21st century learner,” Hilton said. “But what does the community feel is really important now?”

When it comes to technology, the district must use it to prepare students for the work place and life, Hilton said. But, she added, “Do we think (computer) tablets will meet the needs for our kids?” Or, do parents think the district needs to equip students with more sophisticated equipment?

Finally, the district wants to gain a better understanding of the types of technology that students have access to at home.

Published October 8, 2014

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Business Digest 10-08-14

October 9, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Shampoo company signs distribution deal
Sielos All-Natural Hair & Skin Restoration Co., has signed an agreement with Grassroots Development in Port Orange to distribute its products nationally.

Based in Lutz, Sielos has manufactured their hair restoration shampoos, conditioners and scalp cream for nearly 10 years. Sielos has had limited distribution in health food stores, and recently added its organic skin treatment line to stimulate and nurture chronic skin conditions, according to a release.

Grassroots will promote Sielos to health food stores throughout the southeast, with plans to include national distribution within two years. The company also will develop an online presence that will include a shopping cart for online retail sales, and a social media application to create more interactive relationship between Sielos and its customers.

West named health care fellow
Kenneth West, chief operating officer of Medical Center of Trinity, has become a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives, the nation’s leading professional society for health care leaders.

Fellow status represents achievement of the highest standard of professional development, and is bestowed on 7,500 health care executives. Fellows have to fulfill multiple requirements, including passing a comprehensive examination, meeting academic and experiential criteria, earning continuing education credits, and demonstrating professional and community involvement.

Formal recognition will take place in Chicago on March 15.

West has served in his current position at Trinity since February. He received his bachelor’s degree from Louisiana State University, and a master’s degree in health systems administration from Georgetown University.

DelGiorno joins Preferred Properties
Steve DelGiorno has joined Preferred Properties Real Estate at 19909 U.S. 41 in Lutz.

DelGiorno brings “years of experience” in residential and commercial real estate to the office, according to a release.

He can be reached at (813) 948-0354, or at (813) 629-1560.

Jackman wins national hotel award
Brian Jackman has received the Spirit of Hampton Award, a national recognition for his work at Hampton Inn & Suites in Wesley Chapel.

Jackman was honored because of what managers said was his tireless work to resolve hotel issues, and making a number of connections with guests.

He’s also helped guests find alternate hotel accommodations when needed, and has even personally driven some to the airport and other locations when needed.

The hotel is located at 2740 Cypress Ridge Blvd., in Wesley Chapel.

Busy Buddy awarded microloan
The Busy Buddy LLC is the newest recipient of a Pasco Economic Development Council microloan, using the money for business operations, training and marketing.

The company is located at the SmartStart Dade City business incubatory, and is the 15th company to receive the loan.

“We’re a startup in the business of helping other businesses, so it’s nice to get a little help of our own,” said Kellye Dash, owner of Busy Buddy, in a release.

Dash’s company has been a part of the incubator at the Dade City Business Center on U.S. 301 since February, and started as a part-time business for Dash in 2009.

For more information on the microloan program, visit PascoEDC.com. To learn more about Busy Buddy, visit TheBusyBuddy.com.

Promotion for Bartholomew at Gulfside
Larry Bartholomew has been named the director of business technology and physical plant services at Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care.

Bartholomew will have oversight of business technology as well as physical plant services.

Bartholomew started working at Gulfside in 2010 in the informatics department as a clinical trainer. He was promoted to information technology manager in 2012.

He previously worked for two IT consulting firms — Basic Innovations Inc. and Ecompromo Inc. Before that, he spent 10 years as a nurse and in other supervisory roles.

He has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Pennsylvania State University, and a master’s degree from the University of South Florida.

Zephyrhills chamber up for award
The Greater Zephyrhills Chamber of Commerce has been named a finalist for the 2014 Impact Awards by the Tampa Bay Businesses for Culture & the Arts.

The award is based on demonstrated impact in recent years to Tampa Bay’s quality of life through innovative arts programming, outstanding business practices, or neighborhood revitalization, according to a release.

“We are thrilled and grateful for this recognition, and for the opportunity to shine the light on Zephyrhills and the many volunteers and supporters that make the world go ‘round here,” said chamber executive director Vonnie Mikkelsen, in a release.

Pam Marron of the Suncoast Arts Festival, nominated the chamber and its Pigz in Z’Hills BBQ & Blues festival. Both festivals had received a VisitFlorida grant earlier in the summer to promote the Pasco Weekend of the Arts in January.

The Impact Awards were created in 1989 to recognize and honor business support of the arts. Winners will be announced Oct. 23 at The Vinoy Renaissance St. Petersburg Resort & Golf Club.

Dade City chamber hosting awards banquet
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce will have its annual awards banquet and general meeting Oct. 16 beginning at 6 p.m., at the Tampa Bay Golf & Country Club, 10641 Old Tampa Bay Drive in San Antonio.

Cost is $50 per person, or $500 per table of 10.

For information, or to reserve a seat, email .

IHOP honored by Rotary
The Sunrise Rotary Club of Dade City has named IHOP its 2014 Business of the Year.

The restaurant first opened in Dade City in October 2005, and welcomed Amanda White to its staff a year later. By 2009, she was the general manager, and used that opportunity to reach out to the community.

“I truly believe that if you want the community to give to you, you must first give to them,” White said, in a release. “You must be there for your community, and you must be involved.”

IHOP is partners with three local elementary schools, and sponsors student awards. The restaurant also partners with Pasco High School by donating to the football team, cheerleaders and basketball team.

Political Agenda 10-08-14

October 9, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Say cheese
Alyssa Pumo poses with Gov. Rick Scott during a campaign stop at Benedetto’s at Village Lakes Shopping Center in Land O’ Lakes recently. Scott is running against Charlie Crist in the Nov. 4 general election.

Paula O’Neil endorses Mike Moore
Pasco County’s clerk and comptroller has made her choice on who she would like to work with on the Pasco County Commission the next four years.

Paula O’Neil endorsed Mike Moore, the Republican candidate for the seat that will be vacated by the retiring Pat Mulieri.

“Mike Moore is committed to creating a brighter future for Pasco County,” O’Neil said in a release. “Mike is a family man, and an entrepreneur who knows what it takes to grow a business from the ground up in today’s economy. Mike’s experience, combined with his involvement in our community, has prepared him well for the Pasco County Commission.”

Moore faces Democrat Erika Remsberg in November.

Bondi to make statewide campaign address
Informal groups of women will meet statewide Oct. 9 to hear state attorney general Pam Bondi. One of those gatherings will take place at Copperstone Executive Suites, 2632 Land O’ Lakes Blvd., in Land O’ Lakes.

Beginning at 6 p.m., and using webcast technology, Bondi — who is seeking re-election to the state’s highest law-enforcement office — women will have a chance to hear Bondi’s take on issues she says is most important to women in the election cycle.

Those issues include the economy, public safety, health care and education.

Bondi faces a challenge from Democrat George Sheldon in the November election.

Women who wish to participate locally can call (813) 996-3011.

Starkey to speak at Republican club
Pasco County commissioner Kathryn Starkey will be the guest speaker at the Wesley Chapel Republican Club, Oct. 9 at 7 p.m., at Hyundai of Wesley Chapel, 27000 Wesley Chapel Blvd.

For information, call Mike Moore at (813) 777-6171, or at .

Kenyon new communications acting director
The Pasco County Public Safety Communications department has selected Jody Kenyon as its acting director, replacing Dona Fernandes, who resigned Sept. 25.

Kenyon was the technical support manager in the communications center, and has worked as the acting director in the past.

The center last year consolidated its efforts with the Pasco County Sheriff’s Office and Pasco Fire Rescue, which Fernandes put in charge of the transition beginning in August 2013.

Officials did not provide a status on its search for a permanent director.

Natural gas growing, senator says
Sen. Wilton Simpson says legislation he introduced last year creating a natural gas vehicle incentive has since produced 1,820 jobs and $68 million in wages throughout the state.

“This fuel provides significant budget savings to governmental entities, the business would and our citizens,” the Trilby Republican said, in a release.

Simpson called natural gas a “game changer” for both the state and the country, “not only for motor vehicles, but for the energy sector, commercial businesses, and the manufacturing industry.”

Before his bill, Simpson said there were 18 compressed natural gas stations in Florida. Now there are 61, with another 29 planned — a 238 percent increase over that period.

A CNG station costs an average of $1.5 million, according to a report by the Florida Natural Gas Vehicle Coalition, meaning the investment into CNG station infrastructure has been $91.5 million over the past two years.

Since Jan. 1, Florida has spent $4.7 million in rebates issued under the program. Using methodology employed by the U.S. Bureau of Economic Analysis, that investment has generated a total economic output of $204.5 million.

To read more of the study, visit FuelForJobs.com.

Candidate forum in Dade City
The Greater Dade City and Greater Zephyrhills chambers of commerce are joining forces to host a candidate forum Oct. 20 beginning at 6:30 p.m., at the East Pasco Adventist Academy, 38434 Centennial Road, in Dade City.

The public is invited to submit questions to the moderators for consideration, and will include a variety of candidates up for election on Nov. 4.

Proposed baseball complex could bring in sport’s biggest names

October 2, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Has Gary Sheffield done something the late Hugh Culverhouse never could?

The retired Major League Baseball star is excited about working with James Talton and Blue Marble Strategic in bringing a massive youth baseball complex to Wesley Chapel. But he is looking to bring in other big names too — especially those already associated with youth baseball — like former National Football League and professional baseball star Bo Jackson.

James Talton, the owner of Blue Marble Strategic, talks about his company’s idea to build a youth baseball complex in Wesley Chapel, while partner and retired Major League Baseball star Gary Sheffield listens in. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo) — James Talton, the owner of Blue Marble Strategic, talks about his company’s idea to build a youth baseball complex in Wesley Chapel, while partner and retired Major League Baseball star Gary Sheffield listens in.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

The Culverhouse-owned Tampa Bay Buccaneers drafted Jackson, the 1985 Heisman Trophy winner, in 1986. But after a trip on Culverhouse’s private jet forced him to forfeit the rest of his collegiate baseball career, Jackson vowed he would never play a single down for the Buccaneers, and refused to sign when the team drafted him.

But 28 years later, Jackson could end up in the Tampa Bay area after all, as one of several sports stars participating in Blue Marble’s proposed 20-field complex at Wiregrass Ranch.

“Bo Jackson wants to be involved,” Sheffield told business leaders at a recent economic development event of the Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce. “I just saw him two days ago, and they came down and met with us. All ex-athletes want to do is give back to kids.”

Jackson, who runs his own baseball program in Chicago, was one of several names Sheffield mentioned as interested in participating in some way or another at the $70 million complex, that will be built in part using $11 million in Pasco County tourist tax money. Another one tied to youth sports is former Baltimore Orioles shortstop and third basemen Cal Ripken, whose youth baseball program also has become quite popular in various parts of the country.

“It won’t be a Cal Ripken facility, or a Bo Jackson facility, but we can always integrate all of those things into what we’re doing,” Sheffield said. “What it does is give us the ability to probably have 20 to 30 MLB players that (at) any one time your kid might bump into, and that ups the brand.”

Talton wants to fill Pasco with 20 diamonds — baseball diamonds, that is. Many will have dimensions similar to Major League Baseball, but would include smaller fields as well for younger players. He wants to target teenagers, tapping into an amateur sports camp industry he says is currently worth $7 billion.

“We could make between $18 million and $20 million, and that’s just in the summertime alone,” Talton said. “If we took the 13- or 14-year-olds, and we did nothing else, I could pay down my debt service of $54 million.”

Several investors are ready to sign on the dotted line to fund the project, Talton said, but only after the county guarantees it will spend $11 million in collected tourist tax money from local hotels to help balance out some of the costs.

The return for the county could be extraordinary, according to Talton’s estimates. That includes the creation of an estimated 8,000 jobs, a $318 million annual economic impact boost to the county, and even $9 million in direct revenue from taxes and other costs, that would go directly back to the county.

“We’re already thinking we can make $53 million in revenue each year, and $16 million in net profit,” Talton said.

The more than 100 acres needed to construct the facility, not far from Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel, would cost about $5 million, Talton said. And it could create Wesley Chapel into a major destination, especially for families looking to spend the money they need to help their kids play better baseball.

The facility could have other benefits as well. Besides possibly expanding to include a small stadium to attract a Major League Baseball team for spring training, the new baseball complex would need plenty of nearby amenities, including hotels and restaurants — providing even more economic opportunities in the area.

“We don’t want this facility sitting out here by itself,” he said. “We don’t want people rushing to Busch Gardens or to Tampa because there is nothing here. We need to see this kind of growth in the immediate area.”

But a grand opening is still some time down the road. Talton has until next week to secure his overall financing, but then he’ll have to work with the county through the land development and permitting stage. If everything stays on schedule, the complex could be open to its first ballplayers in January 2017.

“We can’t predict how big this is going to be,” Sheffield said. “And I think it’s going to be 10 times bigger than what James is putting to paper right now.”

The county has essentially committed $11 million to the project, but Talton says some language in its legal documents need to be cleared up, so that the final amount doesn’t come in below $11 million.

Could the Atlanta Braves someday call Wesley Chapel its home? Click here to find out.

Published October 1, 2014

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Hotels, population growth highlight Starkey town hall

October 2, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Florida is a destination for tourists worldwide, and Pasco County has worked hard to try and get a piece of the billions of dollars that industry creates each year.

Some residents have been concerned the county is not keeping up — not just in providing attractions to bring tourist money here, but also amenities like hotels for those tourists to stay in.

A few dozen residents made it out to Seven Oaks Elementary School last week to find out what the county has been up to when it comes to roads, taxes and more. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo) — A few dozen residents made it out to Seven Oaks Elementary School last week to find out what the county has been up to when it comes to roads, taxes and more.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

County commissioner Kathryn Starkey invited residents to come out to Seven Oaks Elementary School in Wesley Chapel last week, where she joined members of the county’s staff to talk about everything from new recreational development, to roads, to taxes.

One highlighted project was the new 20-field baseball complex planned for the Wiregrass Ranch area, which could bring in thousands of young baseball players and their families each year. One resident attending the meeting was worried where the hotels, motels, and other short-term stay facilities were.

However, while the county can try and encourage hotel growth in the area, it’s still something totally left up to the private market, said Ed Caum, Pasco’s tourism manager.

“There are certain triggers out there to bring in developers, and that is when your current hotel stock is 72 percent full,” he said. Once finding vacancy starts to become a problem — or it’s projected to become a problem — developers feel more confident to build hotels, and will do just that.

And hotels may be needed soon. Based on how much room tax is collected from the county’s hotels, they are having the best year since 2008, Caum said. At the same time, the average room rate has climbed $6, suggesting demand is starting to outpace supply.

“I talked to two developers that are bringing in hotels,” Caum said. “One is 72 rooms, and another one we just talked about is 75 rooms. We will start to see that carrying on.”

Pasco already has a need for some more hotels, especially when tournaments come in. The upcoming Dick’s Sporting Goods Tournament of Champions lacrosse event will see about 55 percent of hotel rooms go to New Tampa, and out of Pasco.

“That’s about a $3.2 million impact to our area,” Caum said.

Tourism is a big component of Pasco’s future, officials said, and while the county’s niche might not be theme parks like Tampa or Orlando, it could come by way of sports. Besides the planned $70 million baseball complex, Wesley Chapel also is set to get a major ice skating facility that could not only provide a local amenity to residents, but draw in hockey players and other ice-dependent athletes from outside the area.

Yet tourism is not the only way the county is going to grow. More and more people are making Pasco home, and that’s evident by a number of major community project still planned — especially along the State Road 54/56 corridor.

“My new indicator for projects is (home) model centers,” said county planning and development director Richard Gehring. “In the last two months, we have permitted and processed 28 model centers. It gives you an idea of how much demand there is out there for new homes.”

Although the west side of Pasco remains the most populated, it’s also built out, so much of the new growth will spread elsewhere in the county — primarily along State Road 54, Gehring said. In fact, population here is expected to rise from the current 130,000 to more than 300,000 in the next two decades, and be Pasco’s new population center.

“You are going to hear us talk a lot about compact growth and walkable growth,” Gehring said. “There is going to be a lot of discussions about better roads, better transportation, more transit, and walkability.”

Pasco already is struggling with transportation now that nearly 500,000 people reside here. Without appropriate planning, it’s only going to get worse, Gehring said, especially if the county meets its current population projects of 850,000 to 900,000 by 2040.

At the same time, officials want to make sure there are good jobs nearby, and not force residents to travel to neighboring counties to find them.

“That is one of the things that we did on the 54/56 corridor,” Starkey said. “We are incentivizing industry to move into that corridor. We do that by giving a carrot, and those are our mobility fees.”

Starkey and other commissioners have created a model that rewards businesses that build in areas expected to become population centers, by reducing or waiving the fees the county charges to cover costs for roads, water lines and other infrastructure. Much of that infrastructure already exists in areas like the State Road 54/56 corridor, officials said, so such funds won’t be needed as much as they would in, say, the northern part of the county, which is far more rural.

“The engineers in the room will tell you that makes a really big difference for them,” county administrator Michele Baker said.

One of the key ingredients in finding success, however, will come from government leaders, and even residents, taking a broader look at the county, and not just specifically what’s best for their area, said Dennis Esber, the owner of Point to Point Printing in Land O’ Lakes, and a past president of the Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce.

“People forget that we have to worry about the county overall, and not just our area,” he said. “Yes, we want to hear about what’s going on in Land O’ Lakes and Wesley Chapel, but if this whole county doesn’t grow, then nobody is going to grow.”

October 1, 2014

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Big turnout reveals heavy interest in Pasco’s first magnet school

October 2, 2014 By B.C. Manion

More than 200 parents and children turned out to a community meeting to find out more about Pasco County Schools’ plan to open the district’s first magnet school in Land O’ Lakes.

Sanders Memorial Elementary School, scheduled to open next school year, will be known as a STEAM school, which stands for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics.

Construction workers are busy getting the new Sanders Memorial Elementary School built in time for the 2015-16 school year. (Fred Bellett/Photo)

Unlike other district schools, this one won’t have an attendance boundary, Superintendent Kurt Browning said.

Applications for the school will be accepted for students throughout the county, but the district is considering whether to give preferential admission to students living within one mile of the school — students now attending Connerton or Oakstead elementary schools — and those who have siblings that have been accepted. Both Connerton and Oakstead are overcrowded and need relief, Browning explained, so the district may use Sanders to help address that issue.

While Sanders will open next year, the district has not yet decided how it will handle transportation to the school, Browning said. It may continue to send buses through neighborhoods to pick up students in the morning and drop them off in the afternoon. Or, it may establish a hub system, where parents take children to a location where district buses pick up and drop off children.

The district hopes to have the principal for Sanders named by November and to have the teaching staff selected by February or March, Browning said.

Sanders will be different from other schools in many respects. For one thing, the school’s design includes large spaces next to classrooms. They are intended to encourage collaboration between students, between teachers and students, and between classrooms.

Even the school’s furniture will accommodate a greater degree of teamwork. The chairs and desks will move easily to accommodate clusters of learners tackling various tasks.

Sanders also will feature the latest in technology. And, every student will be equipped with an electronic device.

The district hasn’t decided yet whether all of the students will have the same kind of device, or if kindergarten through second-graders will have iPads, and third- through fifth-graders will have laptops.

“We know that this generation of children already has advanced ability in the use of technology,” said Dave Scanga, executive director of the Central Region of Pasco County Schools.

Sanders will infuse technology into every aspect of learning. The school also will give students more opportunities to do environmental observations, as the school takes advantage of a wetlands area to help nurture a deeper understanding of nature.

It’s not clear yet whether Sanders will open with a fifth-grade program, Browning said. The district plans to survey parents of fourth-graders to see if there’s enough interest to open the school with fifth grade, or to wait a year for that grade.

The superintendent said he understands that parents may be reluctant to move their child to Sanders during their final year of elementary school, so the district wants to find out what parents think before making that decision.

Like other public schools, Sanders will have children from diverse economic, ethnic and racial backgrounds. It also will have students with varying degrees of ability.

Sanders will adhere to Florida’s educational standards, Browning said. It also will offer a fee-based childcare program, before and after school.

Sanders is Pasco’s first magnet school, Browning said, but it won’t be its last.

“Parents want choices about the way their kids are educated,” the superintendent said. Schools like Sanders give parents another option.

The district also understands that children who attend Sanders for elementary school will need to transition into a middle school program that meets their needs, and work is under way to address that issue, Browning said.

Sanders will have a capacity of 762 students, and the school district will accept applications throughout December.

The school district funded the redesign of Sanders in 2008, but the project was put on hold because the housing market crashed.

When completed, Sanders — located at 5126 School Road — will be almost entirely new. Just three of the former school’s buildings remain on site. The rest were demolished.

Besides being the district’s first magnet, Sanders also will benefit from an agreement between the school board and Pasco County government officials. The arrangement aims at providing more recreational opportunities for schoolchildren and the community at large, while also broadening learning opportunities and providing a venue to accommodate community gatherings.

The Pasco County Commission has approved spending $2.4 million to improve the Land O’ Lakes Community Center at 5401 U.S. 41. That center is adjacent to the Sanders property. The improvements include the construction of a restroom, concession area and meeting room, a picnic shelter, sports fields, a basketball court, parking, and a trail.

Sandy Graves, president of the Heritage Park Foundation, is pleased with the county’s funding, but said work continues to raise about $200,000 needed to build a stage on the park property, next to the community center, that could be used for large community events.

Graves hopes a major sponsor will step forward to make a sizable donation, which could be matched through community fundraising efforts.

Graves has pushed this project for years, and is confident that eventually the vision will become a reality.

“It will be built,” Graves said.

Published October 1, 2014

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Pasco union leader seeks to unite, engage district workers

October 2, 2014 By B.C. Manion

Kenny Blankenship’s earliest recollections of union activity go back to his childhood, when his dad — a member of the United Steel Workers — would take him to the Tampa Theatre for annual holiday parties.

Kids would leave the theater with bicycles, toys and other presents, Blankenship said.

But he also recalls seeing his dad on the picket line.

Those early images of union life aroused Blankenship’s desire to join a union when he got a chance, and that happened in 1997 when he became a teacher at Land O’ Lakes High School.

Over the years, Blankenship’s involvement in the union grew, and in March, he was elected president of the United School Employees of Pasco.

As its new leader, Blankenship is encouraging Pasco County Schools employees to become more involved in union activities. He also wants to build stronger relationships between the district’s instructional staff and non-instructional employees.

“We want to work to strengthen our organization and the unity between the two units, because we’re not just a teachers’ union,” Blankenship said. “We’re wall-to-wall. We’re bus drivers, instructional assistants, secretaries, food service workers, the maintenance crews, custodians.”

Many people view unions as organizations that protect the weakest link, but that isn’t true, Blankenship said. However, the union does make sure the employees it represents are given due process.

“A lot of people don’t get that,” he said. “The union is there to protect your contractual rights, and to ensure that you get a fair shake.”

And while that’s important, it’s far from everything that a union has to offer for employees, Blankenship added.

The union lobbies to represent employees on important education issues. It negotiates wages and working conditions. It provides support for members needing help with classroom management, curriculum issues and working conditions, Blankenship said.

The union advocates “for the best working conditions possible, because our working conditions are our students’ learning conditions,” Blankenship said.

Along those lines, the union lodged a complaint in March with the Florida Public Employee Relations Commission over teacher planning time. The complaint alleges that teachers are spending so much time in meetings with their professional learning communities that it is usurping time intended for individual planning.

That issue remains unresolved. But in recent negotiations, the district has agreed to increase the protected planning time for teacher’s individual planning activities. That increased time, Blankenship said, “should provide some relief for our teachers.”

Planning time is crucial for teachers to prepare for lessons, Blankenship said. It allows them to secure materials to support lessons that bring learning to life and help students gain understanding.

Blankenship uses the analogy of a football game to help explain the importance of planning.

“How much practice goes into preparing for a Friday night football game?” Blankenship asked. In the same way that coaches prepare for games, teachers must prepare to deliver quality instruction.

While planning their lessons, teachers must consider the unique needs of every student in their classroom, Blankenship said.

“You’ve got to think about, Johnny over here has dyslexia. MaryAnn has auditory processing issues. Somebody else has cognitive issues,” he said. “And then, Jose just moved in from Mexico and can’t speak a lick of English.”

Teachers have to figure out how to reach those kids, while not overlooking students who are lagging behind, or making average progress or even excelling, Blankenship said.

“That’s what goes into planning,” he said.

Blankenship blames policy decisions by the Florida Legislature and budget cuts by Gov. Rick Scott for leaving public schools in a financial lurch.

“Right now, funding is less per student than it was in 2007,” Blankenship said.

Blankenship points to a move to “privatize public education” through charter schools and vouchers, which he said dilutes financial support for public education.

“The fact is that the political climate in Tallahassee is pretty much anti-public schools and anti-union,” Blankenship said.

Funding is so tight that teachers lack adequate supplies, Blankenship said.

“They don’t have the books for kids,” he said. “Last year, my daughter was a senior. I told the governor this: ‘My daughter is a senior at Land O’ Lakes High School and she can’t take a book home to study for her American government class or her economics class because all they’ve got is enough for a class set.’

“That’s frustrating for teachers. I know that’s frustrating for students,” Blankenship said. “And, it’s frustrating for parents because they want their kids to succeed in the classroom.”

The union leader also thinks there’s too much standardized testing in the schools.

“I think the amount of standardized testing that we’re forced to do is nothing short of emotional and psychological abuse of our students and teachers,” Blankenship said.

On the other hand, there is not enough opportunity for students who are not college-bound, Blankenship added.

“We’re not meeting the needs of those students,” Blankenship said. “Where’s pipe-fitting? Where’s welding?

“When I was in high school. Every school had a shop class, a building trades class, a drafting class – which would be CAD (computer-aided design) now,” he said.

It’s true that employees don’t have to be members for the union to bargain for their wages and working conditions, Blankenship said. To be represented individually by the union, however, an employee must be a member.

Despite difficulties that teachers face, being an educator remains a rewarding career, Blankenship said. That’s because teachers can make a real difference in the lives of their students.

“People like John Benedetto, Al Claggett, Max Ramos and Nancy Browning — those are teachers who inspired thousands, upon thousands of students,” Blankenship said.

In much the same way, the union wants to do what it can to help employees build on their professional strengths, Blankenship said. It also wants to help employees see the value of becoming a member.

“We invest in our clothes. We invest in our vehicles. We invest in our homes,” Blankenship said. “Why wouldn’t we invest in our profession?”

Published October 1, 2014

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Lopez-Cantera pulls no punches against Crist

October 2, 2014 By Michael Hinman

Carlos Lopez-Cantera is Florida’s second-in-command behind Gov. Rick Scott, but there are still pockets of the state he has only heard about.

Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera gives a campaign stump speech to members of the Conservative Club of East Pasco during an appearance Sept. 22. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo) — Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera gives a campaign stump speech to members of the Conservative Club of East Pasco during an appearance Sept. 22.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

That included Zephyrhills, until he finally found his way to the City of Pure Water last week in a campaign stop in front of the Conservative Club of East Pasco. And while he might talk about how the governor has kept is word to the point that “even Democrats can’t deny it,” Lopez-Cantera had almost nothing good to say about who Scott succeeded and is facing again in the November election: Charlie Crist.

“When Gov. Scott took over, we had lost 830,000 jobs, and had an 11.1 percent unemployment rate,” all from the Crist administration, Lopez-Cantera said. “Since then, we have added 640,000 jobs, and the unemployment rate is 6.3 percent.”

Yet while some might point out the entire nation was in an economic crisis during a good part of Crist’s tenure as governor between 2007 and 2011, Lopez-Cantera accused the former governor of continuously abandoning his post when he was needed the most.

“He didn’t even want to be governor when he was governor,” Lopez-Cantera said of Crist. “The first two years, he was chasing the vice presidency and not focusing on the state. The second two years, he was running for a United States Senate seat. And he is the first governor in the history of Florida to not run for re-election. That is how much he cared about being governor.”

Lopez-Cantera was a member of the Florida House representing the Miami area during Crist’s time in the governor’s office, and said he withdrew support of the governor almost from the beginning, despite the two being members of the same political party at the time.

“I have known Charlie for almost 20 years, and I really got to know him when I was a new member of the Florida House,” Lopez-Cantera said. “That’s when I lost faith in him.”

The lieutenant governor said problems started for him when then House Speaker Marco Rubio wanted to pass a much more aggressive property tax bill that would provide larger exemptions on the first $200,000 of a home’s value, and then 15 percent beyond that. Crist, however, “wanted a simple property tax bill, and that is unfortunately what the citizens of Florida got.”

Lopez-Cantera and Rubio, however, would vote for Crist’s version of the bill in a special session, using a property tax exemption method still used today.

All of Scott’s decisions “have not been popular,” either, Lopez-Cantera said. “But they have been the right decisions for the state’s economy.”

If Scott is re-elected, Lopez-Cantera said residents can expect another $1 million in tax cuts, and another $120 million assessed through cellphone usage.

Lopez-Cantera assumed the lieutenant governor’s office in February following the resignation of Jennifer Carroll, Crist’s original running mate in 2010. She resigned last year after she was questioned about her alleged involvement in pushing money toward Internet cafes, which some say are fronts for illegal gambling in the state.

“I talk to the governor all the time about the turnaround here in the state,” Lopez-Cantera said. “I’ve only been here for eight months, but I get to take credit for all his hard work. This is the hardest-working governor that I have ever seen, and I served with three governors.”

Campaign speeches tend to just lightly touch on a number of different issues voters may care about, and Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera had a lot to say in Gov. Rick Scott’s re-election campaign against former governor Charlie Crist. But what’s the full story behind some of Lopez-Cantera’s statements? Go online right now, and reach our fact-check at tinyurl.com/LtGovCheck.

Published October 1, 2014

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