The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Wells makes history with win, Moore ready for next stage

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The Pasco County Commission has had its share of lopsided victories in the last 30 or so years. But there’s never been one like the District 4 race last week between current commissioner Henry Wilson Jr., and Mike Wells Jr.

Last week’s primary election attracted less than 15 percent of registered voters. But that’s all that was needed to elect one county commissioner, and nominate another one for the November election. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Last week’s primary election attracted less than 15 percent of registered voters. But that’s all that was needed to elect one county commissioner, and nominate another one for the November election.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

More than 36 percentage points separated Wells from Wilson, the largest margin of victory since 2010 when Commissioner Pat Mulieri defeated independent candidate Clay Colson to keep her seat on District 2 by 40 percentage points.

Winners who pick up more than 60 percent of the vote in races typically are incumbents like Mulieri, who captured 61 percent of the vote in 1998, and 62 percent in 2002. But rarely, if ever, is the candidate who hits that milestone the challenger looking to unseat the incumbent.

Wilson won his seat in an upset win over Mike Cox in 2010, surprising nearly everyone with 52 percent of the vote. This time around, with most of the attention on the open seat left by Mulieri’s retirement in District 2, there was a question on whether or not Wilson would even be challenged by anyone else.

That is until early April when Wells, the son of former county commissioner and current county property appraiser Mike Wells Sr., decided it was time to run.

“We need leadership there, and we need it right now,” Wells told The Laker/Lutz News last month ahead of the primary. “We lost Ann Hildebrand on the commission a few years back, and now Ted Schrader says he is retiring in a couple years. Quite frankly, that creates a vacuum that needs to be fixed.”

Wells would take the seat with 68 percent of the vote, the biggest win of any commission candidate over an incumbent since at least 1980. The former Enterprise Rent-A-Car area manager and current real estate agent won every precinct in the county, and never trailed Wilson as the results were tabulated last week.

“When I started this journey very late into the campaign season, I did so because I wanted the opportunity to help as many people in Pasco County as I could,” Wells wrote on his Facebook page after the election. “So I went into the community and met with you. We met, we talked, you talked, and I listened. I’m still holding on to all of our conversations, and all of your stories.”

Because this seat was decided during primary season, Wilson will continue as a commissioner until November. He told The Laker/Lutz News that he will spend that time doing what he has done all along: serving the people of Pasco County, and “looking out for their best interests.”

“As far as my future, right now we are trusting God for what he has planned ahead of myself and my family, and am excited to see where that journey will take us.”

One other commission seat remains up for grabs, and that’s the one being vacated by Mulieri, who is retiring after 20 years. Mike Moore, who raised far more money than his opponents, took a first step toward that seat with a primary win.

“I am humbled by the support our campaign has received from so many people from across Pasco County,” Moore said. “I also deeply appreciate all the volunteers who have worked very hard toward our victory this evening.”

Moore won a little more than 50 percent of the vote in a campaign where he raised more than $100,000, and received support from outside political groups that purchased airtime on local television stations featuring Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

Finishing as the runner-up for the second time in the primary is former state Rep. Ken Littlefield, who earned 28 percent of the vote.

“It was an impressive win by Mike Moore,” Littlefield said. “To prevail in a three-candidate primary with over 50 percent of the vote is a notable feat and deserves congratulations.”

Littlefield will continue to do what he has done the last five years, he said: “Get up early, put a tie on, and go work for Hodges Family Funeral Home.

“I enjoy the work, and at this time, have no plans to run for public office,” he said.

Bob Robertson, a financial analyst who lives in Lake Bernadette in Zephyrhills, left the door slightly more open for a possible future run.

“It was important to me to offer myself without accepting funds from anyone that might compromise me later,” he said. “Hopefully now, life returns to some sense of normal. As to future plans, impossible to know at this point.”

Moore now faces Erika Remsberg, who won the Democratic nomination for the District 2 commission seat without opposition.

Published September 3, 2014

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Construction projects to yield big changes for Pasco students

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Pasco County Schools has taken on an ambitious construction schedule that will result in significant changes for thousands of students across Central and East Pasco County in the next few years.

Projects now underway will result in reopening Quail Hollow Elementary School in Wesley Chapel and Sanders Memorial Elementary School in Land O’ Lakes next year.

Construction crews have a long way to go to get Sanders Memorial Elementary School ready to become a magnet school for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. District officials say the school in Land O’ Lakes will be ready for the upcoming school year. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Construction crews have a long way to go to get Sanders Memorial Elementary School ready to become a magnet school for science, technology, engineering, art and mathematics. District officials say the school in Land O’ Lakes will be ready for the upcoming school year.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

Quail Hollow will have enclosed classrooms, updated building systems and new technology, said John Petrashek, director of construction services for Pasco County Schools. The technology will be the same as any new elementary school in the district.

Quail Hollow also will be larger.

The district is adding eight classrooms there to accommodate 160 additional students, increasing the total capacity to 800.

The additional space at Quail Hollow will result in a boundary change to bring more students there, said Chris Williams, director of planning for Pasco County Schools. Sanders will be a magnet school for science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.

The school will not have boundaries and it will enroll its students through the district’s School Choice program.

The district does want to reduce crowding at Oakstead and Connerton elementary schools, so students from those schools likely will be given a higher priority for admission to Sanders.

The district has been working for months on the design for High School GGG, which is slated to open in August 2017 on the west side of Old Pasco Road near Overpass Road. The school will have a capacity of 1,900 students.

“It’s going to be built as a high school,” Petrashek said, but it will open serving students beginning in sixth grade.

The new school will affect existing boundaries for Wiregrass Ranch and Wesley Chapel high schools, as well as Weightman and Long middle schools, Williams said.

“We don’t have the money to build the full middle school and the full high school. This will provide us relief,” he said. “Then, as the population continues to grow, and the demand is there, we’ll build a full-blown middle school next door to it.”

“We have it master planned and master designed for both,” Petrashek said.

The site is a couple hundred acres, so it can easily accommodate a high school and a middle school, Williams said. And the district also is planning to add some other district facilities there as well.

Middle School HH, which will eventually be built there, is not yet included on a district timetable because no funding is yet available, Petrashek said. The school is being designed with two large classroom buildings, with one to be used by middle school students, and the other to be used by high school students.

They’ll share the cafeteria and athletic facilities, but there will be separate locker rooms for the younger and older students, Petrashek said.

The school will operate much like a school within a school, with one principal overseeing assistant principals who specialize in high school and middle school students.

The district also is planning to add an elementary school, known as Elementary School B, on land within a new residential development, Bexley Ranch, now beginning to take shape near State Road 54 and the Suncoast Parkway in Land O’ Lakes, Williams said.

“That’s going to be a huge reliever for Oakstead and Odessa elementary,” Williams said.

Unlike other district elementary schools, which have been designed for 762 students, Elementary School B could be built to accommodate nearly 1,000 students, he said, although that approach is still in the discussion phase.

The district is looking at opening that school in 2017.

Elementary W, another school planned to open in August 2016, would be built next to Long Middle not far from which is next to Wiregrass Ranch High, and Pasco-Hernando State College’s Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch. The school aims to reduce crowding at Double Branch and Sand Pine elementary schools, as well as provide some relief for Seven Oaks Elementary School, Williams said.

“Seven Oaks really popped this year,” he said.

The relief for Seven Oaks may involve sending some of those students to Sand Pine or shifting them to Elementary W, Williams said, noting its not yet clear what path officials will take.

“In the future we’ll have a school in the Northwood development,” he said. “That’s south of Seven Oaks. Ultimately, that’s going to provide the relief for Seven Oaks.”

While the district looks ahead to these projects, it also has completed work on a number of improvements in other schools.

The new gym at Stewart Middle School in Zephyrhills was finished at the end of last school year just in time for the eighth-grade graduation exercises, Petrashek said. But students are just now getting full use of the new facility.

“It’s still brand new,” Petrashek said.

The renovation of the weight room and locker rooms at Zephyrhills High School also is now complete, Petrashek said. Crews completed the renovation of the school clinic at Cox Elementary School in Dade City over the summer.

“It was simply outdated. It wasn’t functioning, so we redid that,” Petrashek said.

Now, the district is working on the design for a $5 million construction project at Cox that will add a new cafeteria and improve parking and the drop-off loop, Petrashek said, which could be completed by August 2016.

The district also is at the design stage of a campus renovation project at Pasco Elementary School in Dade City. The project, expected to be completed by August 2016, involves renovating classrooms, which will include infrastructure upgrades, new technology and fire sprinklers.

Portable classrooms will be brought in to enable construction work to be done while the campus is occupied.

Published September 3, 2014

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Program, expectations on the rise at Freedom

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According to the record books, Freedom High School finished with a 3-7 record last year.

But head coach Tom Donohoe doesn’t see it that way.

“The program was 8-8,” said Donohoe, now entering his third season at the helm. “That’s the way we look at it, because we coach varsity and JV. Our goal is to improve as a program.”

Structure and organization are key words at Patriots’ practices under coach Tom Donohoe. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Structure and organization are key words at Patriots’ practices under coach Tom Donohoe.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Including junior varsity records, instead of back-to-back 3-7 campaigns, Freedom improved from 6-10 to 8-8 over the previous year. At least from the coach’s perspective.

Rebuilding from the ground up — the varsity team hasn’t had a winning season since 2009 — means looking at improving all aspects of the Patriots’ football program. Installing discipline, structure and stability at all levels of play is important, Donohoe explained.

Practices are more organized, and the program as a whole has a clear understanding of what they’re trying to do. The same coaches lead both teams, so the transition from junior varsity to varsity should be a smooth one for players as they advance in the system.

While that focus didn’t translate into more wins over the previous season for the Patriots, there were bright spots and areas of improvement. Freedom was involved in a number of close games, including two road losses by a total of 10 points to Strawberry Crest and district foe Steinbrenner.

Freedom plays both of those teams at home this year, and Donohoe is looking forward to seeing year-to-year improvement as they tackle familiar opponents throughout the schedule.

The Patriots’ defense also was a bright spot in 2013, providing solid play and keeping the team in many games. Eight starters are returning from last year, which provides stability at what already was a strong point for the team.

Defensive backs and linebackers should be particularly effective this season, Donohoe said.

The defense understands that they’ll be expected to continue their solid play and help the team turn the corner in 2014.

“It’s going to be on us to step up and score points defensively,” said linebacker Lee Carabali.

The team has been hitting the weight room over the summer, and is now stronger as a result. He’s even seen improvement in the offense as the defense faces them in practice.

That improvement would be welcome in 2014. While the defense was doing their part to help the team win last year, the other side of the ball wasn’t as effective.

“Our offense was sputtering,” Donohoe admitted. The Patriots only reached the 20-point mark once all last year, and failed to score 10 points four times.

But Freedom closed the year with two straight wins, including a 33-13 win over Wiregrass Ranch in their home finale.

The team is returning six starters, has talented weapons at skill positions and had strong performances in seven-on-seven competition over the summer, Donohue said. A new offensive coordinator should provide fresh perspectives as well, giving the coach plenty of optimism for the coming season.

“It’s definitely going to be a better year in terms of offensive productivity,” Donohoe said. “No doubt about it.”

The attitude change has made an impact on experienced players like defensive back Aaron Cox.

“A lot of people, since I was a freshman, were playing around and not really disciplined,” Cox said. “But now that we have better coaches, they’ve been working with us and we’ve been working real hard.”

The players have come together and bought into the system, he said.

With so many returning starters, the Patriots are feeling good about improving their fortunes in 2014. But Donohoe also is excited to see how newer players perform.

He expects athletes who played junior varsity to step up and contribute immediately. They should be comfortable with the system and ready to perform, which Donohoe hopes will lead to some better numbers for the varsity squad.

“A lot of these guys played with us for the last couple of years,” he said. “They’re a product of what we’ve been doing, and they know the expectations. It should be their time to shine.

“We feel like we’re finally getting to that point where we should be successful a little bit more in varsity now, too.”

Freedom Patriots
LAST YEAR: 3-7
1-4 in the district
fifth place in Class 7A-District 7

KEY RETURNING PLAYERS
Johnny Rodicio, slot back
Lee Carabali, linebacker

PLAYER TO WATCH
Sayff Saed, wide receiver, quarterback
“He can do a number of different things. He has a lot of talent and can go into a lot of different positions.” — Coach Tom Donohoe

Patriots 2014 Schedule
8/29 — at King
9/5 — Middleton
9/12 — at Wharton
9/19 — at Gaither
9/26 — Strawberry Crest
10/2 — at Sickles
10/17 — Tampa Bay Tech
10/24 — Steinbrenner
10/31 — at Wiregrass Ranch
11/7 — Riverview

Published September 3, 2014

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Business Digest 09-03-14

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Postiglione new COO at Gulfside
Kathleen Postiglione has been appointed the new chief operations officer and senior vice president of business development at Gulfside Hospice & Pasco Palliative Care.

Postiglione will now oversee the clinical operations for Gulfside patients, which services residents of Pasco County.

Postiglione started working at Gulfside in 2004 as the director of nursing. She served as both vice president of operations and chief operations officer before her recent promotion.

Before working at Gulfside, Postiglione was the director of corporate compliance at Good Shepherd Hospice in Lakeland, and spend more than 15 years at AT&T’s Bell Laboratories as a member of the technical staff.

She has a bachelor’s degree in nursing from Holy Family University in Philadelphia, and her MBA with a focus on health care management from American InterContinental University in Illinois.

For information on Gulfside, call (800) 561-4883, or visit GHPPC.org.

Kumquat Festival selling sponsorship packages
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is now accepting reservation packages for the 2015 Kumquat Festival, set to take place Jan. 31.

Packages start at $500, and include logos and links on the KumquatFestival.org website, as well as booth space at the festival. Premier packages, which run from $1,000 to $5,000, include additional features.

The event is expected to draw 45,000 people from Florida, who live here seasonally, and who are visiting.

For information, call John Moors at (352) 567-3769, or email .

Vernon Taylor
Vernon Taylor

Taylor joins Russell Adams Realty
Vernon Taylor has joined Russell Adams Realty Inc., as vice president of real estate services.

Taylor will be focused on company growth, training, legal and ethical compliance, news releases and general brokerage duties, assisting Russell Adams.

Taylor was president of the Greater Tampa Association of Realtors in 2010, and chaired its professional standards committee. He is the District 6 vice president for Florida Realtors, and is on the association’s board of directors.

Taylor has a master’s degree in education, is a licensed real estate school instructor, and teaches ethics among his various training programs.

To reach him, call (813) 949-3600.

Upcoming Rotary Club of Lutz meetings
The Rotary Club of Lutz meets every Tuesday at 7 a.m., at Heritage Harbor Golf & Country Club, 19502 Heritage Harbor Parkway in Lutz.

Cost is $10 and includes a continental breakfast, juice and coffee. Visitors are welcome.

Upcoming speakers include:

• Sept. 9 — Suzanne Demers on chiropractic health

• Sept. 16 — Jessica Spencer on Amendment 2

• Sept. 23 — Dr. Paul Bowman on skin cancer prevention and treatment

• Sept. 30 — Kim Thompson on the secret behind nutrition labels

• Oct. 7 — Maj. Ruth VanDyke, an author discussing her book on women in the military

• Oct. 14 — Diane Kortus, president and owner of The Laker/Lutz News

• Oct. 21 — U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis

• Oct. 28 — Michael Walters on water management

• Nov. 4 — Byron Poore on what successful investing and salsa have in common

For information, call (813) 857-7089.

East Pasco Networking Group
The East Pasco Networking Group has scheduled several speakers for the coming months. The group meets every other week at the Village Inn at 5214 Gall Blvd., in Zephyrhills. Networking begins at 8 a.m., with the meeting starting at 8:30 a.m.

Upcoming speakers include:

• Retired pastor Fred Agnir, who also is an aspiring musician and author, Sept. 9

• George Swatzbaugh of Emerald Home Inspection Service LLC, Sept. 23

• Bob Hatfield from U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’ office, Oct. 14

• Jack Mariano, Pasco County commissioner, Oct. 28

Also, the group will have its early fall mixer Sept. 16.

Catholic Business Networking seeks members
The Catholic Business Networking group is looking for Catholic business owners, employees and supporters interested in joining it for regular meetings every Tuesday from 7:30 a.m. to 9 a.m., at Our Lady of the Rosary Church, 2348 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes.

The group has annual dues of $60, and there is a minimum attendance requirement of two meetings per month.

For information, call (813) 833-4737, or visit CBNTampa.com.

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.

Vendors sought for business expo
The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is looking for vendors for its upcoming Community Business Expo, which will take place Nov. 13 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at Dan Cannon Auditorium, 36722 State Road 52, in Dade City.

Vendor fees begin at $50 for chamber members, with bundle fees available for $150, which includes space at the expo plus a year membership with the chamber. Sponsorship opportunities are available for $500.

For information, call John Moors or Melody Floyd at (352) 567-3769, or email them at , or .

Wesley Chapel chamber heading to Tuscany
The Greater Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce is planning a nine-day trip to Tuscany, Italy.

The trip is planned to begin Oct. 20, and space is limited.

For information, call (813) 994-8534, or email .

‘Dancing With Our Stars’ returns
The Central Pasco Chamber of Commerce will once again host “Dancing With Our Stars,” with a performance scheduled for Oct. 18.

The chamber still has a few dance slots to fill, as well as a need for volunteers to help behind the scenes for the “stars” who will be trained by dance professionals to perform a short routine.

The overall winner will be based on monetary votes, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting arts programs in the community.

To participate, volunteer or even sponsor, visit CentralPascoChamber.com, or call (813) 909-2722.

Political Agenda 09-03-14

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(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

A sign to vote
The primary election might be over, but those running for office in the November election will simply replace many signs like these with their own. The Pasco County Supervisor of Elections office said primary turnout was just under 15 percent last week.

Pasco housing committee to meet
Pasco County’s Affordable Housing Advisory Committee will have its first meeting Sept. 15 beginning at 9 a.m., at the Central Pasco Government Center, 4111 Land O’ Lakes Blvd.

For information, email .

Poll workers needed for November elections
Energetic? Service-oriented? Then the Pasco County supervisor of elections may be looking for you.

Poll workers are needed for the general election Nov. 4. Positions are paid, but potential candidates will need to be able to stand, bend, stoop, lift approximately 30 pounds, and have normal vision and manual and physical dexterity.

Applicants also need to write and read English, have an email address, and be able to work the entire day from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

All positions receive mandatory paid training the month preceding the election.

For information, call (800) 851-8754, or visit PascoVotes.com.

Mobile hours for Ross
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, will host mobile office hours Sept. 9 from 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., at the Lutz Library, 101 W. Lutz Lake Fern Road in Lutz.

Other dates in Lutz include Oct. 14 and Dec. 9.

For more information, call (863) 644-8215, or (813) 752-4790.

Free rides to the polls
Pasco County Public Transportation will do its part to help get out the vote by offering free rides to the polls on election days for the upcoming cycle.

The deal was worked out between PCPT and county elections supervisor Brian Corley, and was approved by the Pasco County Commission last week.

On election day Nov. 4, voters who present their voter information card will ride free to their local polling location. The goal is to encourage and promote participation in the election process, while also introducing public transportation as a viable option for travel throughout the county, said PCPT director Michael Carroll.

In return, Corley’s office will use available media advertising and respective websites to inform potential riders and voters how to access and navigate the transit system.

Demand for gas is dropping, taking prices with it

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In any given day in the United States, drivers pump 369 million gallons of gasoline into their vehicles, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. If cars could travel in space, and get 20 miles per gallon, that would be enough to travel to the moon and back — more than 15,000 times.

A lot goes into the price of a gallon of gasoline, right down to how much fuel consumers are buying versus how much is being produced. Yet, the reason why gas typically gets more expensive the further inland one gets is actually much more simple: How expensive it is to transport the fuel there. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
A lot goes into the price of a gallon of gasoline, right down to how much fuel consumers are buying versus how much is being produced. Yet, the reason why gas typically gets more expensive the further inland one gets is actually much more simple: How expensive it is to transport the fuel there.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

Since 1990, the price of gas has skyrocketed 184 percent, from a national average of $1.24, to today’s $3.52, according to federal data. Yet, consumption remains brisk, even if actual volume is down. That’s thanks to better fuel efficiency, and the advent of hybrids and electric cars.

Labor Day is a busy weekend for gas stations as many families choose to travel by car to small vacation spots away from home. Typically, that kind of demand would push prices higher. But this year might be a little different, AAA spokesman Mark Jenkins says.

“The demand is higher, and you’ll see prices inch up a little bit,” he said. “And if it does, you won’t have to wait long for it to fall right back where it was before.”

Still, gas prices this weekend are expected to be the lowest in four years, and Jenkins believes a gallon of gas could fall below the $3 mark for the first time since the end of 2010.

That might be perfect timing for Pasco County commissioners, who will spend September debating on whether they should increase local gas taxes by a nickel to help pay for much-needed new roads in the county. Their biggest concern is having that extra tax passed on to the customer. But it might be hard to notice in a county where the difference in gas price from one side to the other is nearly 25 cents per gallon.

On Sunday, New Port Richey had one station offering fuel for $3.01, and many others well below $3.10, according to GasBuddy.com. However, by the time a driver reaches Wesley Chapel, the best she might find is $3.14 at a Sam’s Club.

And forget Zephyrhills. The cheapest there was $3.25 at a Marathon station just outside of Wesley Chapel.

Why? It’s all about logistics, Jenkins said.

“There are a lot of variables that goes into how much gas costs, but one of them is quite simply their distance from supply,” he said. “Gas is usually tankered in from the ports, and the further they have to go, the more it might cost in the end.”

If most of central Florida’s fuel is shipped into Tampa’s ports, then places like Lakeland and even Orlando should be sky-high when it comes to gas prices. But it’s not, Jenkins said, because underground pipes sends thousands of gallons of fuel each day across the state from Tampa’s ports directly into the area’s home of Mickey Mouse.

“You also have to consider retail competition,” he said. “If you’re in an area where there are fewer gas stations, your prices are going to be a little higher because there is less competition.”

Looking beyond the pump
Gas is big business nearly anywhere there are cars and roads, but stations themselves aren’t really making a killing when it comes to profits. The U.S. Department of Energy estimates that for every dollar spent in gas, 13 cents go to taxes, 8 cents to distribution and marketing, 14 cents to refining, and 65 cents goes straight back to the companies that supply the gas in the first place.

The typical gas station may tack on a few pennies more for its own profit, but it usually has the smallest impact. Instead, these stations make their money by getting people inside their convenience stores, earning a much higher profit margin from drinks, snacks and tobacco products than they could ever see at the pump.

Wawa, the Pennsylvania-based chain that has opened dozens of locations in the Tampa Bay area over the past year, uses fresh food to get drivers through its doors. One of the longtime area brands it competes with is Atlanta-based RaceTrac, which might not offer made-to-order subs, but is not shy about helping its customers wake up in the morning. The stores offer an expanded coffee bar with six flavors, as well as prepackaged sandwiches and salads, company spokeswoman Ashleigh Collins said.

Collins wouldn’t say how much importance RaceTrac puts on attracting customers inside the store from the pumps, but touts the fact it’s a “one-stop shop” for customers who want to fuel up, stock up, or both.

“For the most part, gas stations are using gas as a conduit to get you inside their convenience stores,” Jenkins said. “Whatever they are offering in their store, that is basically their lifeline. And for the most part, the gasoline they offer is just a means of getting consumers into the door.”

Gas prices have been dropping for nearly two months, but the market’s bottom is quickly approaching, Jenkins said. In just a few weeks, refineries will start switching from its summer blend, and the changeover will wreak enough market havoc to kick up prices.

“We could see prices jump in September, and continue that way through the rest of the fall,” he said. “But this hasn’t really been the typical year, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot more happy people at the pump by the end of the year because of where prices might end up.”

Florida’s price at the pump:
Sept. 2003 – $1.74
April 2004 – $1.85
Jan. 2005 – $1.92
Oct. 2006 – $2.39
Feb. 2007 – $2.24
Nov. 2008 – $2.47
May 2009 – $2.13
April 2010 – $2.88
Sept. 2011 – $3.66
July 2012 – $3.26
March 2013 – $3.88
Aug. 2014 – $3.49
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration

Published August 27, 2014

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System update: Saint Leo unveils cybersecurity masters program

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Providing personal information on the Internet can save time and offer convenience, but it also carries well-known risks.

Hackers, identity thieves and malicious software can jeopardize someone’s financial and personal well-being with just a few clicks of a mouse.

Vyas Krishnan will oversee Saint Leo University’s new cybersecurity masters program, which was 18 months in the making. (Courtesy of Saint Leo University)
Vyas Krishnan will oversee Saint Leo University’s new cybersecurity masters program, which was 18 months in the making.
(Courtesy of Saint Leo University)

Even if you try not to share your information online, companies that have your data and store it on their computers can make you susceptible if they become a target of hackers.

As a result, cybersecurity — the efforts of organizations to thwart attacks on networks and sensitive data — has become an important focal point for information technology professionals.

At Saint Leo University, it’s about to be a masters degree program. And according to Vyas Krishnan, a professor with the department of computer science and information systems as well as the lead academic technologist, it couldn’t come at a better time.

“You hear in the news about so many data breaches, and hackers getting onto corporations’ networks and stealing either customers information or stealing their proprietary information,” Krishnan said. “This problem has been worsening over the past five years.”

Because of increased demand, the industry is seeing a shortage of trained cybersecurity professionals, he said, making the program valuable to prospective students.

Krishnan will oversee the new 36-credit hour program beginning this fall. The first offerings will be on-campus only, with online availability coming early next year.

A combination of five existing courses offered at the university and seven new courses make up the program, which attempts to cover the areas of vulnerability that exist in systems run by corporations or government agencies. And those systems, Krishnan said, are getting more complicated and more vulnerable as time goes on.

“A lot of the complexity of information technology infrastructure has resulted in multiple points of weakness,” he said.

As a result, a professional in that field needs to know the various areas where threats can manifest, how to defend against them, and how to maintain the integrity of the entire system.

Class subjects include database security, risk management, cloud computing security, systems security management, network security, strategic planning, and legal and compliance issues. The latter is important because different business sectors such as health and finance have different requirements, and a skilled cybersecurity professional needs to know the nuances of their particular industry, Krishnan said.

Graduation results in earning a master’s degree, but there’s more to it than that. Industry certifications are an important part of the information technology field, Krishnan said, and the program is designed to help graduates qualify for them.

The new program, which is open to students with some previous information technology education or work experience, was 18 months in the making. The university already is pleased with the initial interest, officials said. Around 20 students will take part when the degree is first offered, which exceeds Saint Leo’s original goals.

The online offering in 2015 will allow them to increase capacity as well.

Krishnan, who has been with the university for five years and played an integral role in getting this program off the ground, also is satisfied with the program’s development and course offerings.

“I feel very good about it,” he said. “I think we’ve done a great job in putting together a very sophisticated, technically advanced, state-of-the-art program.”

Protecting yourself from cyber threats
While no system is 100 percent safe, there are some common sense steps individuals can take to keep themselves better protected from threats, said Vyas Krishnan, who oversees the new cybersecurity masters program at Saint Leo University.

• Make sure your computer has an antivirus program and firewall installed. These tools help identify existing threats and prevent them from getting through to your computer.

• Keep your operating system up to date, and let it update automatically if possible. ‘It’s a complex piece of software, and when it’s initially released in the market, there could be some vulnerabilities that they may not be aware of,’ Krishnan said. Updates allow the company to close potential holes in the system, but they can’t fix the problems if the user doesn’t allow it to be updated.

• Make sure any website where you give personal information is secure. A website where you have to type in personal information should have ‘https://’ instead of ‘http://’ in the address bar. That extra ‘s’ means the information is encrypted and better protected.

• Be careful about responding to emails that look like they’re from companies you know. Legitimate correspondence from a company won’t ask you to provide sensitive information. If it does, it could be a scam designed to look like a real email from a known company.

Published August 27, 2014

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Pasco now welcoming developers with much higher fees

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With a single unanimous vote, the Pasco County Commission has made it much more expensive to develop land in the county, raising some government services fees as much as 400 percent.

But surprisingly, developers are not up in arms. In fact, one of the major builders associations actually encouraged county officials to raise rates — as long as they vastly improve service as well.

New development fees passed by the Pasco County Commission could affect a number of projects in the near future, but will have little impact on some building already underway, like the new Pep Boys location planned on State Road 54 near Catfish Lake Lane. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
New development fees passed by the Pasco County Commission could affect a number of projects in the near future, but will have little impact on some building already underway, like the new Pep Boys location planned on State Road 54 near Catfish Lake Lane.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“The county has agreed with our developers that they don’t like the level of service they’re providing,” said Jennifer Doerfel, executive vice president of the Tampa Bay Builders Association. “When they started drilling down into it, they looked at why are we doing this, and why are we doing that. And it’s all because there is a severe lack of funding.”

Before last week, Pasco was one of the cheapest counties in Florida to develop land and build, at least when it came to government fees. For instance, a preliminary development plan for a non-residential project that once cost $50 an acre would now cost $5,000, plus $150 an acre. That means the cost to review a preliminary development plan of a 100-acre project will go from $5,000 to $20,000.

“We have had an increase in development activity, but we’ve had fees that have not been comparable to what other communities charge,” said Carol Clarke, assistant planning and development administrator for the county. “As we looked at all of this, we realized that if we were going to get our staff the technology and resources they would need to do all the things we need them to do, we would have to raise fees.”

The county’s development department is constantly set on overdrive, constantly working overtime and using technology that is easily 20 years old, Clarke said.

“We are on a mainframe,” she said. “Do you know anyone who is still working on a mainframe?”

Because of that, the county would take triple the time neighboring counties would to help get development projects moving. And that’s something county commissioner Kathryn Starkey said during a meeting Aug. 19 that could cost developers a fortune.

“When the permits are held up … one of the developers said $64,000 a day is what it’s costing them,” she said. “And one of them had a two-month delay, so add that up. They are willing to pay $15,000” to prevent having those kind of review delays.

The additional fees will allow the county to immediately hire eight new people for development review, which should speed up some of the permit requests that slowed from lack of manpower. Money also will become available to fund the technological upgrades needed to reduce paperwork and time, and allow developers to easily track progress of their requests online.

It also will eliminate the need to use more than $600,000 each year from property tax coffers currently being used to subsidize the county’s development review department.

“What we looked at was how much was the general property taxpayer underwriting the general review process, and was that appropriate,” county administrator Michele Baker said. “We are stuck between a rock and a hard place. They cannot process any faster, and they can’t report any better. So we need a combination of staff and technology.

“The unfortunate circumstance is that we need resources in order to do that, and this is how we’re proposing to help pay for those resources,” she said.

The new fees will bring Pasco more in line with many of its neighboring counties, Clarke said. For instance, a development agreement in Pasco will now cost $10,000. Hillsborough County developers can pay anywhere between $2,500 and $9,800, while in Manatee County, the cost is $15,000, plus advertising. Pinellas County, which is completely built out, charges $1,500.

A preliminary site plan for 100,000 square feet of space on 50 acres will cost $12,500 — higher than both Hillsborough ($3,525) and Pinellas ($7,794), but far cheaper than the $30,000 Manatee charges.

However, not all developers are on board. Craig Weber, a vice president at Crown Community Development involved in such communities as Seven Oaks and WaterGrass, told commissioners during a recent meeting that rates are guaranteed to go up, but service is not guaranteed to improve.

“Here we are with a 400 percent increase,” Weber said. “We are still trying to scratch our way out of a recession and now we’re being hit with this.

“Maybe the fee increase is justified, but there needs to be a corresponding improvement in services and review times in order for it to be competitive.”

The TBBA agrees, and sent a memo to the county late last month to ensure officials are looking to improve response time, so that costly delays in development can be avoided. That means getting back initial comments from an application within 20 days instead of the current 45 days. It also means getting safety inspections done within 24 hours of being requested — and staying focused on only safety.

“I can cite several instances where inspectors are spending an unusual amount of time on an inspection, and comments of concern are focused on items that are not related to site safety,” Doerfel said in the memo. That has required what she has called an “excessive” level of detail.

Commissioner Jack Mariano voted with the rest of the commission to accept the new fees, but said he was a little uneasy about what this might lead to.

“My biggest fear of moving forward with this is that there are more objections out there,” he said. “What I don’t want to do is put us in an uncompetitive situation. I just don’t want to put us in a situation where we get that reputation that we are open for business, and now we have the highest fees.”

See how much Pasco County’s development fees have gone up. Visit tinyurl.com/PascoBuildFees.

Published August 27, 2014

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Enrollment increases at Wiregrass Ranch’s Porter Campus

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Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch began its fall semester this week, with an enrollment topping 2,100.

That’s an increase of nearly 300 students over its initial enrollment in January, when Pasco-Hernando State College opened the satellite campus in Wesley Chapel.

Stan Giannet, the provost at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, is looking forward to the campus’ first full academic year. The campus is a satellite of Pasco-Hernando State College. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Stan Giannet, the provost at Porter Campus at Wiregrass Ranch, is looking forward to the campus’ first full academic year. The campus is a satellite of Pasco-Hernando State College.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

“We continue to exceed the enrollment expectations. We’re very delighted with that,” said Stan Giannet, provost at the campus on Mansfield Boulevard, just south of State Road 56 in Wesley Chapel.

“Compared to the spring term, we added another 70 class sections that were necessary based on the projected enrollment,” Giannet said.

On the first day of the fall semester, Patti Rocco, administrative assistant to Giannet, was excited about the 2014-15 academic year. She loves working on the Wesley Chapel campus, even though it means driving over an hour a day from Weeki Wachee to get there.

“It’s just wonderful. It’s like one big family,” Rocco said, noting she can’t say that’s been her experience in all of the jobs she’s had throughout the years.

The campus is a phenomenal place to work, she said. “It’s warm. It’s wanting to do what’s best for the students.”

So far, the most popular courses are those leading to an associate’s degree, as well as programs in information technology, nursing and human services, Giannet said. Students also are expressing an interest in business courses.

Debuting this fall are the bachelor’s degree program in supervision and management, and the surgical technology and pharmacy technician certification programs.

There are tracks within the management and supervision program that gear people for general management, health care management and public service management, Giannet said. The degree provides coursework to enable people to develop and hone the skills necessary to handle the responsibilities that managers and supervisors face.

The surgical technology and pharmacy technician programs will prepare graduates for jobs that are in high demand and that offer good pay, Giannet said.

Figures are not yet available, but Giannet said Porter Campus is attracting students from Hillsborough County, and those numbers appear to be growing. The campus also has a sizable number of students enrolled in its evening programs.

Classes are offered Monday through Thursday from 8 a.m. to 9:40 p.m., and on Friday until 4:30 p.m. Registration for this semester ends Aug. 29, while registration for the spring semester begins in early November.

In addition to debuting new programs this fall, the college also will open a café in its library in September. It will offer salads, sandwiches and other light fare, Giannet said. The college always planned to have a café, it just took some time to go through the process to select a provider.

The campus is situated near many good restaurants in Wesley Chapel, so many students leave campus for meals, Giannet said. However, students carrying a full load do not have time to leave campus, so this café will provide a convenient way for them to grab a quick bite.

The campus continues to seek to create a sense of community among the students, faculty and staff, Giannet said. It also wants to play the role of an intellectual and cultural hub for the community at large.

“We want to be very open and inviting to our community,” he said.

One way that Giannet seeks to foster strong relationships with students is by hosting events such as Pizza with the Provost and Picnic with the Provost, where he has a chance to share campus news, to field questions from students, and to hear feedback about how things are going.

He also has a Provost Success Academy, which focuses on themes aimed at helping students succeed. As part of that academy, the college will host a domestic violence awareness symposium in October.

The overall goal of the campus is to engage students and provide assistance to help students succeed, Giannet said. He thinks students are taking advantage of opportunities available on campus.

“The amount of activity in our library — from the perspective of traffic utilizing library services — is comparable to our largest campus, which is the West Campus in New Port Richey,” Giannet said.

He describes the college’s personnel as being “very student-driven, student-focused, compassionate and caring.

“I think it’s clearly evident,” Giannet said. “We want to provide a meaningful experience for students when they’re on our campus.”

Published August 27, 2014

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Bikers return to remember Sept. 11 terrorist attacks

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In their world, it might be Harley-Davidson vs. Yamaha, Honda vs. Suzuki. But when it comes to honoring those who sacrificed their lives on Sept. 11, 2001 — and giving a little something back to local first responders — there’s nothing that can keep these bikers apart.

Dan Turner, left, and his wife Cheryl address bikers in front of the Pasco County Government Center on U.S. 41 last year, ahead of their ride to honor members of Pasco County’s Fire Rescue as part of the Pasco County Choppers 9/11 Gratitude Ride. (File Photo)
Dan Turner, left, and his wife Cheryl address bikers in front of the Pasco County Government Center on U.S. 41 last year, ahead of their ride to honor members of Pasco County’s Fire Rescue as part of the Pasco County Choppers 9/11 Gratitude Ride.
(File Photo)

September is right around the corner, and with it the 13th anniversary of the terrorist attacks in New York City, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania. Nearly 3,000 people died, including more than 440 first responders who died in the collapse of the World Trade Center alone.

Local Realtor Dan Turner hasn’t forgotten what those brave men and women did that day, and he is making sure no one else does either with his fifth annual 9/11 Gratitude Ride.

Turner recruited more than 350 of his fellow motorcycle riders last year to raise $6,000 for Pasco County Fire Rescue Benevolent Fund, and he is anxious to top that this year.

“A lot of people, I think, have kind of moved on, so I’m glad we are doing it,” Turner said. “There aren’t too many events that go on anymore to remember the people, and I’m glad to see people on this ride who haven’t forgotten.”

Unlike past gratitude rides, this year’s will start and end at the Quail Hollow Golf & Country Club, 6225 Old Pasco Road in Wesley Chapel, beginning at 8 a.m. on Sept. 6. Turner will kick off the events with a brief ceremony at 9:45, and then the hundreds of bikers will head to two fire stations in Dade City and Zephyrhills, to thank the men and women there for their service.

After the ride, the festivities will resume at Quail Hollow beginning a little after noon, featuring a free concert from The Greg Billings Band, as well as food, games, vendors and more.

One of the highlights of this year’s event comes in the gratitude ride’s raffle, Turner said. A guitar is available signed by three popular metal bands of the 1980s — Great White, Winger and Slaughter. The bands, which took part in the recent Hairapalooza event in July, also signed a drumhead that will be auctioned off.

For those who like motorcycles more than rock, a $500 gift card from Harley-Davidson also is among the prizes.

“The most important thing that we want everyone to know is that it’s open to the public,” Turner said. “It doesn’t matter if you ride a bike or not. Come out and help us support our fire departments, and remember 9/11 too.”

For more information on the event, visit Facebook.com/911GratitudeRide.

If you go …
WHAT: 9/11 Gratitude Ride
WHO: Pasco County Choppers
WHERE: Quail Hollow Golf & County Club, 6225 Old Pasco Road, Wesley Chapel
WHEN: Sept. 6, with opening ceremonies at 9:45 a.m., and afternoon events beginning just after noon
COST: Free, open to the public
INFO: Facebook.com/911GratitudeRide

Published August 27, 2014

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