The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

Corcoran’s Phantom Campaign

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Running a political campaign is not cheap. The recent Congressional race between David Jolly and Alex Sink — where millions of dollars were spent — can easily attest to that.

State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, confers with State Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, last year in Tallahassee. Corcoran so far has spent more money than any other House candidate this election cycle, despite the fact he has yet to draw an opponent. (Courtesy of Meredith Geddings)
State Rep. Richard Corcoran, R-Land O’ Lakes, confers with State Rep. Rob Schenck, R-Spring Hill, last year in Tallahassee. Corcoran so far has spent more money than any other House candidate this election cycle, despite the fact he has yet to draw an opponent.
(Courtesy of Meredith Geddings)

Many candidates, if not most, are faced with a reality where money is just as important as votes. And they will look everywhere to try and fill their coffers.

Locally, State Rep. Richard Corcoran is feeling how expensive it is to defend his seat in Tallahassee. The Land O’ Lakes Republican has raised more than $186,000 for his re-election bid so far, and already has spent just under $119,000 — more than any other House candidate in the state.

Corcoran’s campaign costs $9,100 each month, with thousands of dollars earmarked to printing costs, consulting fees, accounting and advertising.

There is just one small thing to mention about Corcoran’s 13-month campaign so far: The man in line to become House Speaker in late 2015 has been running for re-election … unopposed.

Corcoran is one of 59 incumbents who have yet to draw a challenger for the November elections. Because there’s still time for many of them to attract opposition, these lawmakers have kept fundraising in high gear, pulling in $4.5 million so far.

Yet, these candidates have only spent $1.1 million, or 24 percent, of the money they raised. Corcoran, on the other hand, has already spent 64 percent of his funds. He’s shelled out nearly twice the cash of other local unopposed candidates — Dan Raulerson, Janet Cruz and James Grant — combined.

Why would someone without an opponent need to spend $119,000? Because with or without a challenger, Corcoran sees the campaign as a chance to connect with his constituents.

“If there’s any chance you get where you can communicate with the voters and get their input, we do it,” Corcoran said. “Anytime you get input from the voters, that just makes you much more effective.”

Through the end of February, Corcoran has spent nearly $54,000 in printing and postage fees, $15,400 in advertising and $12,800 in consulting fees. A lot of those funds, however, were geared toward the representative’s tele-town hall, the most recent one featuring Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco.

Corcoran used funds to print mailers and get them into his constituents’ mailboxes, inviting them to call in and get updates on criminal justice issues and other topics affecting lawmakers.

“We had 2,000 people on the phone, and they got to ask whatever question they want,” Corcoran said. “We get great feedback on this, telling us thank you so much for doing this. But honestly, as much as they’re appreciative of us, I’m much more appreciative of them, because they help me be a much better legislator.”

Still, those costs alone are double the annual median income of a Pasco County resident ($43,787, according to the U.S. Census Bureau). It’s also far more than Republican House candidate Danny Burgess, Democratic State Rep. Mark Danish, and former State Rep. Mark Harrison, who combined to spend just a little more than $35,000 in printing, advertising and consulting.

And those three candidates have opposition.

Yet, Corcoran’s spending habits are not as unusual as they seem. Unopposed candidates around the country spend lots of money, especially if they can afford it.

While it might help maintain avenues of communication with voters, it also has much more strategic purposes as well, said Craig Holman, a government affairs lobbyist for Public Citizen’s Congress Watch in Washington, D.C.

“It is designed to intimidate any opposition from entering the race,” he said. “Incumbents are able to raise funds from special interests who have business pending before the official, regardless of whether the official faces any serious election challenge.”

But a candidate spending a lot of money in an unopposed race could be looking to the future as well.

“The incumbent appears to be planning some future candidacy for higher office, and is using this opportunity (to) get his name well publicized across the state of Florida,” Holman said.

Seeking the state senate, a Congressional seat or even the governor’s mansion is not on Corcoran’s mind at all, he said. He has no interest in challenging Wilt Simpson or John Legg for their Senate seats, and Gus Bilirakis will likely occupy his Congressional seat for a long time to come.

Corcoran knows his approach is unusual, but that’s what he likes.

“If you talk to a lot of pundits, they say doing this much communication with the voters this early is not something they recommend,” Corcoran said. “I’m going against the grain.”

And Corcoran knows people are watching him closely. Back in 2010, his primary opponents accused him of using a credit card issued by the Republican Party for lavish spending, including a later-canceled family vacation to Spain. But Corcoran got support from then state Sen. Mike Fasano — now the Pasco County tax collector — who said Corcoran was an aide for then state House Speaker Marco Rubio, and that Corcoran was simply following orders.

Finally, what if someone decides to jump into the race for Corcoran’s seat? Would the lawmaker be ready, even though he’s already spent close to $120,000?

“I have to look, but we still have about $60,000 in the bank, and I could raise more,” he said. “We feel good with having enough money.”

Published March 19, 2014

Bellamy Brothers return to Pasco High for reunion

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The Bellamy Brothers’ 2014 World Tour will take them to places such as Canada, Germany, Switzerland and Australia.

But before that, they’ll stop in Dade City.

The Bellamy Brothers, whose 1976 hit ‘Let Your Love Flow’ is among their chart-topping singles, will perform a concert April 11 to benefit the athletics department at Pasco High School. (Courtesy of Becky Taylor)
The Bellamy Brothers, whose 1976 hit ‘Let Your Love Flow’ is among their chart-topping singles, will perform a concert April 11 to benefit the athletics department at Pasco High School.
(Courtesy of Becky Taylor)

On April 11, the group — who has performed for more than 40 years and has topped both the Billboard Hot 100 and Hot Country Songs charts — will take the stage to benefit Pasco High School as part of the school’s annual Reunion of Decades. Because organizers are expecting a large crowd, the event will be at Pasco High’s W.F. Edwards Stadium.

“We’ve been busy, busy, busy. The Bellamy Brothers are a big draw,” event coordinator Becky Taylor said. “We’re hoping to branch out to the communities in the surrounding areas. Hopefully it won’t be just Pasco alumni. Hopefully it’s going to be the whole community coming together for the Bellamy Brothers.”

Organizers already have received more than $50,000 in sponsorships, Taylor said, and attendance could reach 2,500.

If it seems unusual that a musical duo known around the world would perform a show to benefit a local school, it’s because they’re local products themselves. David and Howard Bellamy both attended Pasco High.

And while it’s not the first benefit show they’ve done for their alma mater, pairing it with the annual reunion event could make it the biggest.

Taylor said her husband Chet came up with the idea to combine the reunion event and the concert. The Taylors, who are friends with the artists, helped get the ball rolling.

Reunions are traditional events for high schools, but Pasco’s Reunion of Decades incorporates several classes into one annual gathering. Each year, the class celebrating its 30th reunion (the Class of 1984 this year) is inducted into the event, which is sponsored by the group celebrating its 40th reunion (Class of 1974). In addition to any separate reunions they might have, all classes 30 years and older also get to take part in the Reunion of Decades each year.

The event will raise money for the athletic department at Pasco High. For Taylor, helping the school is important to her family: She was a cheerleader during her high school days, and her husband played football there. Three of her four children are now students at Pasco High.

While she had praise for the school system, Taylor acknowledges that it’s always an issue to fully fund areas of need.

“The district does the best they can, but we always try to fundraise to do extra,” she said. “There are so many camps that our kids could be attending, referees on the field, it’s just an endless thing. Fundraising is always needed.”

The event also will benefit the Reunion of the Decades scholarship fund, which provides a scholarship in the name of Frances Bellamy, known affectionately as “Ma Bellamy” in the country music community before her passing in 2009. She was an active member of the area’s school system for decades, driving a Pasco County school bus and serving as assistant manager of Pasco High’s cafeteria for 24 years.

Taylor hopes music fans will come out not only to reunite with former classmates or see a top music act, but also to help a community school and the students it serves. “These kids that are graduating from our high schools, they’re going to be in our communities working one day,” Taylor said. “Whether our kids are college-bound or whether they’re going to a vocation-type field, I think it’s important for us to support these high schools.”

The concert will begin at the stadium at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 for general admission seating or $25 for reserved seating.

Reunion tickets are $45, and include a barbecue social and dinner before the concert, as well as reserved seating. Special VIP table reservations also are available.

Tickets can be purchased at Pasco High School at 36850 State Road 52, Dade City Animal Clinic at 13117 U.S. 301, or Olga’s Bakery at 14117 Seventh St.

For information, call (352) 524-5508.

Published March 19, 2014

Superintendent pushes new standards, parent involvement

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As the Pasco County school district shifts to a more rigorous set of educational standards, Superintendent Kurt Browning has been making the rounds to explain the changes to parents.

At a series of community forums, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning explained the Common Core State Standards. The system defines what students should know as they proceed through school so they can graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college and the work force. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
At a series of community forums, Pasco County Schools Superintendent Kurt Browning explained the Common Core State Standards. The system defines what students should know as they proceed through school so they can graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college and the work force.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

During his most recent stop at Wiregrass Ranch High School — the final of 13 community meetings — Browning told parents that the district must change the way teachers teach and students learn. He also called for greater involvement by parents to help prepare students for entering school and to reinforce learning at home.

The district’s current performance must improve, Browning said, especially since the district is ranked 34th out of the state’s 67 districts.

“I’m not the least bit happy with 34,” Browning said.

Society has changed and the district must change, too, to meet its goal of producing students who are ready for college, careers and life, Browning said.

“We’ve got to make a connection between what’s happening in the real world and in the classroom,” Browning said.

Along those lines, the district is shifting to Common Core State Standards and raising the bar on expectations. The standards define what students should know as they proceed through school in order to graduate from high school fully prepared to enter college and the work force.

“We’re embracing a new way of teaching and learning,” said Rayann Mitchell, a senior supervisor in the division of curriculum, assessment and instruction.

The new standards are causing teachers to think differently about the way they teach, Browning said.

Instead of standing at the front of the classroom lecturing, teachers are now pushing for more collaboration between students and self-directed learning, Mitchell said. When parents visit a classroom, they may see different ways of teaching and learning. Instead of being seated in neat rows, students may have their desks pushed together so they can collaborate on projects, divvy research assignments and share what they’ve learned.

Teachers are being challenged in new ways, too. They’re using technology to help deliver lessons, and they’re using a new set of educational standards. The standards aim at helping students develop a deeper understanding of concepts and an ability to use their knowledge to tackle new academic challenges, Mitchell said.

Under Common Core, students will spend more time reading for information and less on literature as they advance through their school years. Elementary students will spend about half of their time on literary texts and the other half reading for information. Secondary students will spend about 30 percent of their time reading literature and the rest reading information.

Students will read a wide range of information and also will dig deep into content, Mitchell said.

“We want them to be able to pick up anything they want to read and to be able to figure it out,” she said.

In mathematics, the shift is toward developing a deeper understanding so that students can use efficient and effective ways to solve problems. Besides communicating their math knowledge through writing, they’ll also be expected to explain it, orally.

Teachers need to help students become self-directed learners, Mitchell said.

School districts cannot use a one-size-fits-all approach to instruction. “Every child learns differently,” Browning said. “There are going to be some kids that just aren’t going to get it.”

The district must address those needs. “We’re about pushing kids, but we’re not about pushing kids along,” he said.

Students may complain to their parents that school is hard, Browning said. But school is supposed to be challenging. It isn’t supposed to be easy. Learning requires work.

There are many ways that parents can help. Parent involvement begins before children enter school, he added, noting some youngsters arrive at school without knowing such basic things as the alphabet, colors, numbers or seasons.

Having nonfiction materials at home for children to read, engaging children in family projects, and helping with homework, are among the ways parents can support their children’s education, Browning said.

Sometimes, children are frustrated by homework because they say they haven’t learned a concept yet in school, one parent noted on a comment card. The district’s policy is that homework is intended to reinforce what’s been learned in school. It’s a way to practice new learning, Mitchell said. If materials are being sent home and the child doesn’t understand, parents should reach out to teachers.

Browning encourages parents to talk with teachers, and if they can’t resolve their issue there, to talk with principals. He invites them to take their issues up the chain of command until they reach him if problems cannot be resolved.

The community forums have been informative, Browning said. For one thing, the district has learned it needs to communicate more with parents. To that end, it will launch a monthly newsletter next school year to keep in touch with parents. The newsletter will be emailed to any parent submitting an email address.

The community meeting also addressed some misconceptions about the Common Core standards. Skeptics have claimed that Common Core are standards that are being pushed on local districts by the federal government, but Browning said that isn’t true.

The National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers collaborated with teachers, researchers, education experts, and members of the higher education and business communities to design and develop the standards.

Local school districts are in charge of the educational materials used to ensure students meet those standards, Browning said.

This year, Florida students will continue taking the Florida Comprehensive Assessment Test, Browning said. Next year, there will be another assessment, though state officials have not yet decided what that will be.

The school district’s goal is to equip students for challenges they’ll encounter beyond high school. So, Browning told parents that when international companies locate in Tampa Bay, “I want your kids to be able to compete for those jobs.”

Sources of help for parents:

• PTA.org

• ParentToolKit.com

• K12Blueprint.com/ccss

• The ‘In Sync’ education link at Pasco.k12.fl.us.

Published March 19, 2014

Land O’ Lakes teen prepares for big summer adventure

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Many teenagers would be content to spend their summer vacation learning how to drive, getting a part-time job or hanging out at the beach. But 16-year-old Amy Deeb has much bigger plans.

Amy Deeb, a sophomore at Sunlake High School, received a scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to study Hindi this summer in Indore, a city in central India. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Amy Deeb, a sophomore at Sunlake High School, received a scholarship from the U.S. Department of State to study Hindi this summer in Indore, a city in central India.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

She’ll jet off to New York on July 5 where she’ll spend three days being prepped before traveling another 7,600 miles to spend the summer in Indore, a city in central India. The Sunlake High School student will be immersed in the sights, sounds, language and culture of the place – and she’ll spend at least 120 hours in class learning Hindi.

Deeb’s travel expenses and classes are being covered through a scholarship provided by the U.S. Department of State’s National Security Language Initiative for Youth program. She’ll stay with a host family and receive a stipend to cover her day-to-day expenses in India.

The program is intended to encourage youths to develop language skills in Arabic, Mandarin, Korean, Persian (Tajiki), Russian, Turkish and Hindi. The initiative is aimed at helping prepare Americans become leaders in a global world, according to the NSLI for Youth website.

While in school, Deeb will focus on reading, writing, speaking and listening, so that by the end of her program, she’ll be familiar with the Devanagari alphabet and will possess and understand Hindi grammar and the different dialects of Hindi, according to the program’s website.

Not only will Deeb learn a new language, but she’ll also learn new sounds and how to make them. She’ll have a chance to explore the context in the language, including Indian crafts, music and dance, as well as yoga and the Bollywood film industry, the program’s website says.

Deeb is counting the days before her departure. She knows throwing herself into a new place without extensive background in the language or culture is a somewhat daunting challenge. But she is ready to embrace it.

“Complete immersion,” she said, is a very cool way to learn about another culture and language.

When she applied for the scholarship, Deeb said she had to rank three languages she was interested in studying. Hindi was her No. 1 choice.

“I figured if I’m going to go for it, I may as well pick something that’s so, in my mind, different from what I could ever experience in America,” said Deeb, who has aspirations of becoming a surgeon working in foreign countries.

She has her sights set on work in fetal surgery. “I think it would be interesting to be kind of like a pioneer in fetal surgery,” Deeb said.

She expects to be in class about six hours a day during the week. She’ll spend other time with her host family and on cultural excursions.

Deeb studies American Sign Language, but doesn’t take other language classes. She believes her sign language studies will help her be more observant of others than she might have otherwise been.

But she admits she doesn’t have a clue about speaking Hindi.

“I could be just terrible at Hindi – it’s a definite possibility,” Deeb said, but it won’t be for a lack of effort or enthusiasm. “I’m going to throw myself in there and hope for the best.”

Deeb said she found out about the scholarship program from two of her cousins who live in Tucson, Ariz. Both of them have been selected to study Mandarin, and one of them is currently involved in a yearlong program, Deeb said.

Deeb found out about the program when she was 13 and knew then that she wanted to apply when she turned 16. She’s delighted she was chosen.

“It’s very selective,” Deeb said, noting about 3,500 students apply nationwide for scholarships for all seven languages. About 400 or fewer receive scholarships.

Her application included three essays, biographical information and a copy of her transcript. Finalists also underwent personal interviews, which lasted about 40 minutes.

The main qualities the program requires are enthusiasm and aptitude, Deeb said.

She seems to qualify on both counts. Deeb has a 4.4 GPA on a 4.0 scale, with extra points awarded for rigorous coursework.

And, her enthusiasm is obvious.

“I can’t even imagine in my mind what it’s going to be like to go there. I am so excited,” Deeb said.

For more information about the National Security Language Initiative for Youth program, visit NSLIForYouth.org.

Published March 19, 2014

Gamble Mansion: A remnant of the past

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Families looking for an inexpensive outing, people who enjoy interesting architecture, and history buffs should consider making the trek to the Gamble House Historic State Park in Ellenton.

The park boasts Gamble Mansion, the oldest building in Manatee County.

Gamble Mansion in Ellenton is the only remaining antebellum plantation house in South Florida. The park is open to visitors every day. The mansion is open to visitors, by guided tours only, Thursdays through Mondays. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Gamble Mansion in Ellenton is the only remaining antebellum plantation house in South Florida. The park is open to visitors every day. The mansion is open to visitors, by guided tours only, Thursdays through Mondays.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

It sits on land once part of a thriving sugar plantation. And it’s the place where the secretary of state for the Confederacy is believed to have hid out briefly during his escape from the United States.

Gamble Mansion is considered to be a fine example of antebellum construction, and is the only remaining plantation house remaining in South Florida. It belonged to Maj. Robert Gamble Jr., who arrived in the area from Tallahassee in 1843 after the end of the Second Seminole War, according to documents on display in the museum in the park’s visitor center.

Gamble was attracted by the area’s mild climate, rich soil and easy access to the Manatee River. He also was enticed by free land, offered by Congress through the Armed Occupation Act to encourage settlement of the frontier. Before Gamble set foot on the plantation, its only occupants were wild creatures, oak hammocks and pine flatwoods.

By 1845, Gamble’s plantation was among a dozen cultivating sugarcane and producing sugar for the New Orleans market, according to a historic marker at the park. Sugar and molasses were shipped by schooner and steamboat to Louisiana.

Over time, Gamble amassed holdings of about 3,500 acres, including about 1,500 acres under cultivation. Besides sugar, the plantation produced limes, lemons, olives, oranges, corn and beans, according to a map in the museum, depicting the plantation.

Gamble purchased modern machinery from New Orleans and the slaves working the plantation were brought by boat from the Tallahassee area where his father had a plantation, according to museum documents. By 1855, he owned 155 slaves. They did all of the plantation work, from cooking to clearing fields to rowing across a river to cut wood to use as fuel at the sugar works.

Gamble was a bachelor, but he lived in a mansion, featuring Greek Revival architectural elements, that was built in stages over six years. The two-story structure is made of red brick and tabby brick, which consists of shells, sand and oyster-shell lime.

The 10-room mansion was built to last. Eighteen columns support the roof and upper verandas, and the walls are nearly two-feet thick.

While the building was strong, the plantation’s finances were not. The plantation operated on a complex credit structure, and by 1856, Gamble’s finances had become so strained, he could not weather problems that resulted from declining sugar prices and crop losses, according to museum documents.

Gamble sold the estate for $190,000 in 1856, and returned to Tallahassee.

The mansion’s story, however, was far from over.

One of its most exciting chapters involves the former secretary of state for the Confederacy.

“Just before Richmond, Va. — the southern capital fell — Judah P. Benjamin, secretary of state of Confederate States of America, fled with President Davis and other Cabinet members,” according to museum documents. “Benjamin escaped the North America mainland by way of Florida, and tradition has it that the Gamble House was his last stop.”

The house has faced its share of challenges, park manager Kevin Kiser said.

“It had been damaged by hurricanes. Some of the people who owned it had used it for manure storage. It was in shambles,” Kiser said.

The neglected mansion was in a state of ruin before it was revived by the Judah P. Benjamin Chapter of the Daughters of the Confederacy, which purchased the property in 1925 and deeded it to the state.

About 75,000 visitors drop by the historic site every year, and it is a popular backdrop for weddings and other special events.

People touring the mansion will see rooms that are mostly outfitted with furniture and tools of the day appropriate to the style of a mid-19th century plantation.

“We don’t really have any records of how they used the rooms,” Kiser said, so the furnishings reflect an interpretation of how the rooms might have been used between the 1840s and 1860s.

The house has never been electrically wired. It does have high ceilings and cross-ventilation to help make life bearable on sweltering summer days.

Besides its antebellum architecture, another unique feature at the mansion is a huge cistern, built to catch rainwater from the roof’s gutters. A cistern was needed to provide drinking and bathing water for the people living there, Kiser said.

After Gamble left, Maj. George Patten bought the land and mansion in 1872 for $3,000. The Pattens abandoned the mansion in 1895 to avoid the high costs of maintenance, and a new home was built on the site for Dudley Patten and his wife. Originally, the house consisted of four rooms, but additions were added in 1904 and 1912.

Today, the house is used as a chapter house for the local Judah P. Benjamin Chapter, and is recognized as the Florida headquarters of the United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Besides its interesting history, the park offers a pleasant respite from daily life, with its picnic areas, park benches and Spanish moss-draped trees.

WHAT: Gamble Plantation Historic State Park
WHERE: 3708 Patten Ave., Ellenton, just off U.S. 301
WHEN: 365 days a year, 8 a.m. until sundown for park; most days except some holidays for the mansion
COST: Free for park admission; Gamble Mansion is $6 for adults, $4 for children 6-12, with younger children free.
Tours last 45 minutes, and are offered several times a day on Thursdays through Mondays.
The visitor center has a museum, open Thursdays through Mondays.
Group tours can be arranged by calling (941) 723-4536.

WHAT: Spring Park Car Show and Swap Meet
WHERE: Gamble Plantation Historic State Park, 3708 Patten Ave., Ellenton
WHEN: March 23, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
COST: Car registration fee is $15 in advance, $20 day of show
INFO: Call (941) 405-3533

Published March 19, 2014

Soaring Sound family earns accolades on, off field

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This week is spring break for Pasco County schools, meaning thousands of students are enjoying some well-deserved time off and maybe even a little time at the beach.

Tonya O’Malley works with some of her percussionists ahead of a pep rally to kick off spring break last week. The band director is in her eighth year in Pasco County, and her fifth at Sunlake High School. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)
Tonya O’Malley works with some of her percussionists ahead of a pep rally to kick off spring break last week. The band director is in her eighth year in Pasco County, and her fifth at Sunlake High School.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

But that’s not so for members of the Sunlake High School Soaring Sound. These band students have spent hours on end in the school’s gymnasium, where there is no air-conditioning when school’s not in session, getting ready to represent Sunlake on the state and national level … once again.

Sunlake’s marching band was a finalist in Class 2A competition last fall — one of the only Pasco schools even competing — and now its color guard is getting ready for a trip to the University of Central Florida near Orlando this weekend to compete at the Southeastern Color Guard Championship. And percussion members have a competition of their own coming up in the next week or so in Daytona Beach.

The Soaring Sound members are first to credit the efforts of director Tonya O’Malley, who’s now in her fifth year at Sunlake. But it’s O’Malley who quickly turns and credits her players.

“It all comes down to our student leaders. This is what has made our program thrive,” O’Malley said. “We have one or two kids in every single section of the band that demands excellence in that section. I can teach them, but it’s these leaders who make sure everyone in their section are there, and all prepared.”

Leaders earn their positions every year, including drum majors like Nonna Stutzman, who started in the band as a flute player, but was approached by O’Malley last year to serve as one of two field leaders for the band. Even as her junior year is drawing to a close, Stutzman already is working hard to earn the privilege of continuing as drum major next year.

“You have to try harder than you did last year,” Stutzman said, adding that her level of involvement has prompted her to think quite seriously about a future in music. “Marching band honestly has made up my whole high school experience. I played the flute for so long, maybe I can even teach it.”

Troy Moeller is one of the younger leaders, a sophomore who serves as the brass captain. During marching season, he plays a euphonium — one step down from a tuba — and right now is part of the percussion group preparing to head to Daytona.

Moeller, however, has other talents as well, including the cello. And he dabbles a bit on saxophone as well.

Moeller doesn’t like to talk about all of that much, but that hasn’t stopped O’Malley from singing his praises.

“The biggest selling point for me on Troy is that he was an amazing player, even as a freshman,” O’Malley said. “I sent out emails to all his teachers looking for some feedback, and what I got was that Troy is an exceptional student who is well beyond his years. The way he behaves in class is impeccable.

“It’s all those types of things I expect of the kids in leadership. They need to be well-rounded individuals, and represent the band well in the community and in the school.”

O’Malley starts the recruiting process early for Soaring Sound, working closely with younger students at Rushe Middle School, and preparing them for the transition.

“All of this can be somewhat intimidating for eighth-grade kids,” O’Malley said. “Our members go frequently and talk to the kids there, and make sure they are comfortable. They let them know the high school band is not big and scary, and they can fit right in.”

Soaring Sound has just under 75 members right now, but the latest success of the band could cause that number to swell. In fact, O’Malley has a list of 60 Rushe students interested in taking part in Soaring Sound next year.

“They’re looking to find their place,” she said.

When those new freshmen arrive, they’ll find a band ready to help them do just that, thanks to people like color guard captain Sara Pickernell.

Pickernell is graduating in May, but she hopes leaving her mark will help encourage others to be strong leaders in Soaring Sound as well.

“My leadership experience is way more off the field than on the field,” Pickernell said. “If the kids are having a hard time, like their boyfriend just broke up with them or they are having trouble in class, I pull them aside and see what I can do to help.”

Published March 19, 2014

It’s time to clean up the Old Lutz School

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The Guv’na wants to see you in school on March 22.

The Old Lutz School, a Lutz staple for more than 80 years, needs volunteers for its spring cleaning March 22. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
The Old Lutz School, a Lutz staple for more than 80 years, needs volunteers for its spring cleaning March 22.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

Suzin Carr holds the honorary title this year. And the school she’s talking about is the Old Lutz School, located at 18819 N. U.S. 41, which is in the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.

And on Saturday from 8 a.m. until 1 p.m., Carr is looking for volunteers who will donate some time to the school’s upkeep.

There’s plenty of work to do.

“That’s our spring cleanup day,” Carr said. “It’s dusting, it’s moving desks, it’s weeding. Any kind of work is available. So if people have an hour, or if they can stay the whole five hours, that’s great. But it’s really something that we do to get the schoolhouse back in shape.”

The Old Lutz School isn’t open very often. In fact, it had been dormant since December until the GFWC Lutz-Land O’ Lakes Woman’s Club had its annual flea market there earlier this month. But Carr would like to see more events there and give people more of an opportunity to experience an important piece of Lutz history.

The Old Lutz School is actually the third school built in Lutz, back around 1929. It featured what were considered “modern” conveniences like indoor plumbing, and a water tower replaced the hand pump found in previous schoolhouses.

It was used as a school for nearly 50 years, and was listed in the National Register in 1996.

Citizens For the Old Lutz School Building is the group officially in charge of its maintenance and upkeep, and relies on area organizations to help with the normal duties required to keep it looking nice. But Carr said she’d like to see residents take part in the cleaning event as well, and help maintain a community treasure. “Typically it’s been the same core group of people who have done it year after year,” she said. “We’re trying to get more people to come out and take an interest, because it’s smack there in the middle of downtown Lutz, and we’d like people to know it’s there.”

Carr had a yoga event there during her run for Guv’na (she’s nearing the end of her time in office) and the Guv’na debate between the new crop of candidates will be there in May.

The spring cleaning is a good way for people who might drive by it regularly or just recognize it as an interesting building to help maintain a symbol of the area’s history, Carr said.

“It represents so many generations of kids and area residents who have gone through that school at one time or another as students,” she said. “It’s the heart of Lutz.”

Cleaning supplies and tools will be provided. Volunteers need only bring something to drink, and any amount of volunteer time is appreciated.

For information, call Carr at (813) 453-5256.

Published March 19, 2014

Political Agenda 03-19-14

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Zephyrhills council race off to fast start
Alan Knight isn’t wasting time with his efforts to unseat Zephyrhills City Councilwoman Jodi Wilkeson.

Both Knight and Wilkeson are neck-and-neck in campaign fundraising for the seat Wilkeson has held since 2008, each pulling in around $2,000.

Knight raised half of that in just a single week in March thanks to a $500 check from the Pasco County Council of Firefighters, and smaller donations from Zephyrhills residents, including former longtime city councilwoman Liz Geiger.

During that same first week in March, Wilkeson raised $675, including $250 from Ryman Construction, and another $250 from Lani Rossman, a retired nonprofit executive living in Nashville, Tenn.

Both candidates received $100 donations from current councilman Charles Proctor.

With just weeks before the April 8 election, Wilkeson has raised $2,075 while Knight is just a short distance behind with $2,000. Through March 7, Wilkeson has more cash on hand with about $1,000, while Knight has just over $700.

Ballots heading to Pasco homes
Vote-by-mail ballots for the April 8 election are on their way to homes for those who live within the city limits of Dade City, St. Leo, Zephyrhills, New Port Richey and Port Richey.

To be counted, vote-by-mail ballots must be returned to the election office by mail or hand delivery by 7 p.m. on election day. Mail ballots also can be returned to city halls, but cannot be turned in at the polls.

Those who would like to vote in person before election day can visit their city hall.

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

Political landscape around elevated road leaning negative
Two more candidates seeking to replace Pat Mulieri on the Pasco County Commission have spoken out against the elevated toll road.

Ken Littlefield, a former state representative seeking the Republican nomination for the seat, told a debate audience earlier this month that he was waiting to get more information before deciding whether he would support the project proposed along a 33-mile stretch between U.S. 301 and U.S. 19 on the State Road 54/56 corridor.

However, during a town hall meeting hosted by Commissioner Kathryn Starkey last week, Littlefield announced publicly he was against the toll road.

“If there is one thing I detest, it’s an unsolicited call,” Littlefield said. “I will hang up. Ladies and gentlemen, what I think we need to do on this unsolicited bid is hang up.”

The next day, the lone Democrat seeking the seat so far — Erika Remsberg — said in a comment on LakerLutzNews.com that she was against the proposal as well.

“I opposed a state roadway being a system in which those able to pay more have a ‘fast pass’ option like an amusement park,” Remsberg wrote. “This will impact those of us living and running businesses along (State Road) 54 negatively. I do not support this proposal.”

Bob Robertson, who also is seeking the Republican nod, spoke out against the elevated toll road during a debate earlier this month, while his opponent Mike Moore has yet to take a public position.

Littlefield yet to raise any outside money
Former State Rep. Ken Littlefield jumped into the Pasco County Commission race to replace Pat Mulieri long after his two primary opponents, Mike Moore and Bob Robertson, but he has a long way to go if he wants to catch up to their fundraising.

In his first full month running for office, Littlefield has not received a single donation, according to his campaign finance filings. He’s been working with $1,000, but that’s money he loaned his campaign.

Moore added another $1,650 to his coffers, and despite February being his slowest fundraising month yet, the Wesley Chapel entrepreneur has now raised more than $44,000 since last summer.  All but $200 of his donations came from Pasco County.

Robertson pulled in another $600 in February, bringing his total to $10,600. Only one of the donations, for $100, was from someone within his district. The rest came from a water manager in Orlando and an information technologies specialist in Winter Park.

Erika Remberg, the lone Democrat seeking Mulieri’s seat, raised just over $450 over the past few weeks. A little more than $160 was what Remberg herself gave to her campaign, but the rest did come from Pasco County residents.

The Republican primary for the seat is set for Aug. 26, with the general election wrapping up Nov. 4.

Business Digest 03-19-14

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Townhouses coming to Meadow Pointe
Lennar’s Central Florida Division will start construction of 62 townhouses at Meadow Pointe, located off Meadow Pointe Boulevard just north of New Tampa.

The townhouses will range from 1,600 to 1,800 square feet, with two models set to start construction by the end of March.

Each townhouse will come with three bedrooms, two-and-a-half bathrooms, and more. Prices will start above $150,000.

For information, visit LennarTampa.com.

Avalon Park West welcomes new marketing coordinator
Kristin Muslin is the new marketing and event coordinator for Avalon Park West, the community under development on State Road 54 in Wesley Chapel.

Muslin has more than five years experience in marketing and event planning, and previously oversaw marketing for a franchise with several locations in St. Petersburg. She has organized and hosted events, including fundraisers for the American Heart and Stroke Association and Disabled American Veterans.

Muslin also has a career background in promotions for restaurants in Newport News, Va., and Stuttgart, Germany.

New doctor, renovations at Coast Dental
Renovations are now complete at Coast Dental Wesley Chapel, which brings digital X-rays, a refreshed reception area, and patient comfort-oriented treatment rooms to its 5348 Bruce B. Downs Blvd., location.

With the renovations comes a new oral and maxillofacial surgeon, Dr. Melissa Amundson. She joins a team that already includes Dr. Diaa Ghabbour, Dr. Dale Nash and Dr. Mayuri Patel.

For information on Coast Dental, visit CoastDental.com, or call (813) 973-1837.

Lutz sales manager joins GulfShore Bank
Mary Moore of Lutz has joined GulfShore Bank as a treasury sales manager.

The hiring of Moore and mortgage banker Megan Martinez is designed to help the Tampa bank continue its growth, building on the $7 million in growth capital it pulled together last year.

As a treasury management executive for nearly 30 years, Moore now leverages her knowledge and expertise to provide treasury management services to business prospects and current clients at GulfShore. She also uses her skills in educating people about account safety, security and improving cash flow efficiency by participating in new product development, service enhancement and pricing.

GulfShore Bank was chartered in August 2007, and operates two locations in downtown Tampa and on South MacDill Avenue.

For information, visit GulfShoreBank.com.

Diane Smith retires from tax collector’s office
Tax manager Diane Smith ended 30 years working at the Pasco County Tax Collector’s office recently with her retirement.

“Everyone who knows and worked with Diane will agree that the efficiency of the Pasco County Tax Collector’s office owes much to Diane’s contributions over the years,” county tax collector Mike Fasano said in a release.

March events at Dade City Chamber
March is a busy month for the Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce, with these upcoming events:

• Grand Opening/Ribbon-Cutting: Computers Etc. training division, March 24 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 308, at the Dade City Business Center.

• Grand Opening/Ribbon-Cutting: Apollo Group/Apollo Clinic, March 27 from noon to 2 p.m., at 15000 Citrus Country Drive, Suite 321, at the Dade City Business Center.

• Chamber Mixer: Sponsored by CenterState Bank, 14045 Seventh St., Dade City.

For information, or to RSVP, call Jo Uber at (352) 567-3769, or email .

SmartStart gets new member
Computers Etc., an information technology company providing complete IT management, support and training, has joined the SmartStart Dade City incubator.

As an offsite member, Computers Etc. has around-the-clock access to the facility, which includes free WiFi, parking, co-working space, a post office box, and meeting rooms.

In addition, Computers Etc. will receive one-on-one mentoring and get assistance from SmartStart’s intern from Saint Leo University’s master of business administration program.

The SmartStart Dade City incubator is the first of its kind in Pasco County, giving companies the opportunity to work in a collaborative environment with other small businesses, gain access to technical support, and network with other business leaders and community partners.

SmartStart is located at 15000 Citrus Country Drive in Dade City. For information, visit SmartStartPasco.com.

SmartStart open house
The SmartStart Business Incubator at Dade City Business Center will host an open house April 4 from noon to 3 p.m., at 15000 Citrus Country Drive in Dade City.

Managed by the Pasco Economic Development Council, SmartStart encourages a business environment where companies work collaboratively with other small businesses. That includes round-the-clock access to office space, co-working space, conference rooms, seminars and more.

There are now five companies taking residence at SmartStart, with a second incubator planned for New Port Richey.

For information on SmartStart, visit SmartStartPasco.com. To RSVP, email Krista Covey at .

 

No swimming off-season for Wesley Chapel’s Duncan

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When you’re already a state champion in your freshman year, a swimmer might have trouble pushing herself to new heights and staying focused as she continues her athletic career.

Not Abbey Duncan. Not even in the off-season.

“We’re always training for the next season to do our best,” said the Wesley Chapel High School swimmer, who won the Class 2A state championship for the 200-yard freestyle last November. “I swim nine times a week.”

Not only is she in the pool after school, but she gets up early on Saturdays to swim, and avoids junk food and sodas to stay in shape.

She also competes in different swimming events outside of school competition. Last month, she took part in the Orlando Grand Prix at the YMCA Aquatic Center. Duncan had to qualify to get into the open event, which means it was not categorized by age. In Group C she competed against athletes who were years older, but not necessarily better. Yet, Duncan took first in the 100-meter fly and 100-meter back, and sixth in the 200-meter back.

In Orlando she also got to meet stars in her sport, including Olympic athletes like Ryan Lochte, who has 11 medals in his Olympics career and holds the world record in the 100-, 200- and 400-meter individual medley. While Duncan wouldn’t rule out an Olympic opportunity for herself, it’s not the main focus in her swimming career.

She is, however, already considering her athletic career beyond high school and plans to swim in college. Duncan said that a school’s swimming program would weigh into her decision.

But before the Olympics, or college, or even her sophomore swimming campaign, there’s the daily practice schedule and an emphasis on continuing to get better. Duncan said that repetition is important because being a successful swimmer is about more than speed.

“You have to focus on your technique. You have to be focused on swimming as fast as you can, and you have to be focused equally on your technique,” she said.

And that focus has to come before the actual competition. Thinking about maintaining her form is actually the last thing she wants to do while she’s competing, Duncan said. The practice time is designed to create a comfort level with the different strokes, allowing muscle memory to take over and letting her swim as fast as possible without thinking about it too much in the pool.

Those quick responses, which come from the regular practice routines, give her a slight advantage over a swimmer who has to concentrate on their form and technique during a race. And any advantage in a competition measured in fractions of a second can be the difference between winning and losing.

Travis Ten Brink, one of Duncan’s swimming coaches at Wesley Chapel High, said Duncan has not only succeeded in winning, but she’s made her teammates step up their game when they competed together.

“Especially when it comes to relays, they wanted her to succeed as well,” he said. “It seems to me that it brought up the other swimmers. They wanted to compete at a higher level.”

Duncan also spent time with less-experienced swimmers with their turns, starts and stroke technique to accelerate their improvement, he said.

While Duncan motivated her teammates to do a better job, Ten Brink admitted that her determination had a similar effect on him as well. While he’s an experienced swimmer who swam for Zephyrhills High School in his youth, this is his first year coaching.

Duncan’s ability allowed Ten Brink to spend extra time with other swimmers, giving them more personal attention that helped the team overall.

He’s also well aware that she’s just a freshman, and is looking forward to building a strong team in the years to come around a talented young swimmer.

“I’m absolutely excited. I was just telling some colleagues that I can’t wait for swim season,” he said. “I coach soccer, too, and after soccer was over I was like ‘When does swimming start?’”

Published March 19, 2014