The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Local News

This tour the closest most of us might get to this house

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It’s sometimes too easy to equate luxury with lots and lots of space. Just look at New York Yankees legend Derek Jeter’s nearly 31,000-square-foot home in Tampa.

But the newest home model offered by Arthur Rutenberg demands elegance, but in just 10 percent of the space.

Looking for a home like this? Just be ready to pay out $4,000 a month … just for your mortgage. (Michael Hinman/Staff Photos)
Looking for a home like this? Just be ready to pay out $4,000 a month … just for your mortgage.
(Michael Hinman/Staff Photo)

“We are finally getting back into the upper echelon of the housing market again,” said Lew Friedland, president of Trinity developer Adam Smith Enterprises Inc. “We have really received a lot of interest in people that haven’t been shopping in our market for the last four or five years. It’s been a long time since we’ve had this much activity.”

Friedland unveiled his latest model earlier this year in Trinity’s Champions Club, a 3,200-square foot model large enough to comfortably welcome a family, but not so spacious that it requires a large maintenance team to keep it clean.

But this latest home isn’t exactly open to the average local resident. Getting a house just like this would set you back at the very least $550,000. Houses in Champions Club could top $3 million.

“If you would’ve asked me in 1989 if I would be selling million-dollar homes in Pasco County, I would’ve looked at you kind of funny,” Friedland said. “We have multi-million dollar homes there now, and we feel like they have a good price for a good quality home.”

Want to see more pictures? Check out this week’s print edition of The Laker/Lutz News, or check out our new free e-edition right here.

Published March 26, 2014

Looking for something to do? Check your local library

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Bands from Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties are tuning up to test their musical chops at the Rockus Maximus XVII Battle of the Bands.

Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System. (Photo Courtesy of Pasco County Library System)
Teens and pre-teens search through Legos during Lego Day at the Land O’ Lakes Branch of the Pasco County Library System.
(Photo Courtesy of Pasco County Library System)

The free music festival on March 28 showcases bands vying for cash and other prizes. Besides promoting local music, the family-friendly event offers sideshow acts, including a juggler, martial artists, a dance troupe and other performers.

The event will be at the Rotary Park Pavilion at the Concourse, near the Suncoast Parkway and State Road 52.

It’s an event that drew national recognition for the Pasco County Library System, resulting in the prestigious John Cotton Dana Award for excellence in public relations in 2010.

But the Battle of the Bands is just one of many ways the library system seeks to engage the community.

“The idea here is that we are trying to provide experiences and opportunities for everyone, at every stage and need in their life,” said Paul Stonebridge, teen services manager of the Pasco County Library System. “We’re trying to get people as early as we can get them and keep them forever.”

Do you like to play chess? There’s a club for that. Perhaps you’re an avid reader — there’s a book club for that, too.

There are story times geared to different age groups, and activities such as crafts and family nights. There are free movies, too, geared toward different audiences. Free popcorn and drinks accompany all the events.

Periodically, there are special events, such as an American Heritage Tea Party or a Curious George Reading Day.

Often, the library will offer a class or presentation or activity that’s designed to combine fun and learning, Stonebridge said. For instance, kids recently were invited to learn how to take photographs of themselves, known as “selfies.” While they were at it, they also got some advice on staying safe in cyberspace.

The library recognizes that people of different ages have varying needs and desires. So, it customizes its programming.

The pre-teen crowd has a hard time getting to the library because they lack mobility, Stonebridge said. One way to get them there is to encourage parents to bring them. To help make that happen, the library allows parents to drop pre-teens off for a couple of hours.

While they’re having fun at the library, the parents can run errands, shop for grocery, meet a friend for coffee, or have a bit of time to themselves, Stonebridge said. The library does request, however, that the parent remain in the vicinity, in case something comes up and they need to return to the library before the activity is over.

The library works hard to provide interesting programs for teenagers. One way they accomplish that is by involving teens in the planning.

In exchange for serving on the teen advisory board, teens earn community service hours, have first dibs at other library volunteer opportunities, and get to have a say in the activities the library offers.

“Here’s a chance for people to be listened to, to actually have someone want to hear what they have to say,” Stonebridge said. “We’re trying to hit them with the things they need and want at this point in their lives.”

For instance, the library has an Anime Club, gaming nights, a Robotics Club and other activities.

The library also has an on-demand service that provides help with homework and often can arrange for tutoring for students who need more assistance. Sometimes, free tutoring can be provided. At other times, they’ll offer referrals.

The library is geared for people of all ages. For example, it has a teen gaming night and an adult gaming night. Teen gaming nights draw about 200 kids, while adult gaming nights draw about 50 people, Stonebridge said.

The library also hosts senior citizen socials for people 55 and older.

“We’re trying to give people a place they can socialize, make friends, reconnect,” Stonebridge said.

It also offers help for people who are looking for a job, want to start their own business, or need help figuring out forms for government assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps and unemployment benefits.

People who have trouble reading or lack computer experience should not feel intimidated, Stonebridge said.

“Don’t be hindered by your limitations of education or background or experience,” he said. “If you’re scared of computers, you just haven’t used them or you don’t read well, we’re here to help you with that. We don’t penalize people for that. We want to help you.”

These services are free to anyone who has a library card, Stonebridge said. Library cards are issued for free and are available even to people who live in another county, as long as they have a library card where they live and have identification with their picture on it.

And, on top of all of the activities and services, the library also offers books and DVDs for patrons to borrow.

Anyone who wants to learn more is invited to drop by a library, or visit PascoLibraries.org.

Rockus Maximus XVII
WHAT: Battle of the Bands — Bands from Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties compete for prizes. The family-friendly event also features entertainers and sideshow acts
WHEN: March 28 from 6 p.m. to 11:30 p.m.
WHERE: The Rotary Pavilion at the Concourse, 15325 Alric Pottberg Road, Shady Hills (Near State Road 52 and the Suncoast Expressway)
COST: Parking and admission is free.
Concessions for purchase will be available, but those attending are welcome to bring a picnic.

Published March 26, 2014

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County official says cancer gave her a new perspective

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The women sat in a circle, quietly sharing the ways their lives have been affected by three devastating words: “You have cancer.”

Paula O’Neil attends a breast cancer support group at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel to share her personal experiences with breast cancer. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
Paula O’Neil attends a breast cancer support group at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel to share her personal experiences with breast cancer.
(B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

For one, the words were so fresh that she couldn’t quite wrap her mind around her situation. For another, those words have been uttered repeatedly and have caused multiple surgeries.

One member of the group, Paula O’Neil — Pasco County’s clerk of the circuit court and county comptroller — had joined the women to share her story. For O’Neil, like for the others, finding out she had breast cancer was a jolt.

“I was totally shocked. I really felt that I led a healthy life,” O’Neil said.

In the area where the cancer was found, O’Neil had been previously screened with a mammogram and a sonogram and had been fine, she said.

Statistics from the American Cancer Society, estimate that about 1.7 million new cancer cases will be diagnosed in 2014, and nearly 1,600 Americans per day are expected to die from the disease.

When O’Neil heard she had breast cancer, she didn’t believe she would die. She said she’d met so many survivors through her association with the American Cancer Society that she didn’t expect that her disease would be fatal.

“I figured I would make it through,” O’Neil said.

But that didn’t mean the experience was easy.

“I think the hardest time is between the time when you find out and you find out what they’re going to do,” she said. “You don’t how far it spread. You don’t know what’s going to happen to you.”

It’s not easy for the family, either.

“When you first find out you have cancer, you and your family, it’s like, ‘Holy cow, are you kidding me?’ And then, you start accepting it,” she said.

Making O’Neil’s case more complicated is the public nature of her work. As clerk of the circuit court, she has a large staff of 150 people and many responsibilities. Before she informed her staff, O’Neil gathered her executive team around her to share her news. She wanted them to help reassure the staff that she was looking good and expected to be OK.

She said she wanted to be sure she controlled the story, so she notified the press.

“When you’re in an elective position, you have to be careful. You don’t want people to think you’re going to die,” O’Neil said. “I wanted the story from myself. I didn’t want rumors.”

She said her initial concerns were about losing a breast and losing her hair. When she found out she needed a mastectomy, she said she pushed for a double mastectomy to avoid having to go through a similar ordeal later.

She was advised, instead, to have genetic testing done to see if she had a genetically inherited trait that made her at high risk for breast cancer. The result was negative, so she was denied the double mastectomy.

Like most cancer patients, O’Neil did not want to lose her hair. Part of the reason was a concern for her appearance because she’s on television every other week, during Pasco County Commission meetings.

“I don’t know if I would have done that with a wig. I didn’t want to look sick. It was real important to me not to look sick,” O’Neil said.

She underwent chemotherapy, but she kept most of her hair.

“I did the chemo cold caps to save my hair. I was able to freeze my scalp to save my hair,” she said. “It thinned. It thinned a lot.”

Patients wear a specially designed cap that is cooled to a very low temperature to constrict the blood vessels to prevent them from carrying the harmful drug agents to the scalp, thus preventing the drugs from damaging the hair follicles.

The chemo cold caps are not covered by every insurance plan, but were covered by hers, O’Neil said.

In addition to the chemotherapy treatments, O’Neil also underwent breast reconstruction, which resulted in an infection in her stomach for six months, she said.

As she shared her story, other women in the group opened up. Some talked about how hard it is to tell others they have cancer. Other women talked about how grateful they are being able to share their experiences at the support group, which meets at The Center for Women’s Health at Florida Hospital Wesley Chapel.

The women shared their pain, but also offered each other practical advice.

For those who have trouble sharing their story, there’s a website called CaringBridge.com that allows communications to be shared with whomever they want to keep in the loop, one woman said.

Another said there’s a website geared to helping organize the contribution of meals by others who care. That’s called, TakeThemAMeal.com.

O’Neil told the women she was honored to meet with them.

“We’ve all been through the same things,” she said. “I can tell you this: It’s not a path I would have chosen, but I’m very grateful, grateful for the experience. It gives you a different perspective on life and on how precious it is.”

O’Neil said she’s always believed she would one day work at a cancer camp for kids. Now, when she does, she’ll be able to relate to them on a deeper level.

“I’ll be able to say, ‘I’ve been through chemo, too,’” O’Neil said.

Published March 26, 2014

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Political Agenda 03-26-14

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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.

Moore fundraiser at Primebar
Pasco County Commission candidate Mike Moore will host a fundraising reception March 27 from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at Primebar at The Shops at Wiregrass, 28211 Paseo Drive, Wesley Chapel.

To RSVP, email .

Ross gives money back to Treasury
U.S. Rep. Dennis Ross, R-Lakeland, says he’s returned nearly $88,000 from his 2013 office budget back to the U.S. Treasury.

“I am constantly striving to do more with less while continuing to provide Central Floridians with the best constituent services,” Ross said in a release. “I work for the people, and using their money wisely is of utmost importance.”

Ross so far is facing Democrat Alan Cohn in the November elections, but has already raised more than $548,000 through the end of last year for this election cycle. Cohn, on the other hand, has raised $75,400, according to the Federal Election Commission.

“Ever since I was elected to serve in Congress, I have kept my promise to promote a financially responsible government — both in how I vote as well as how I run my office,” Ross said. “I have worked hard to ensure that every dollar counts, and I have returned more than a quarter million taxpayer dollars to the Treasury throughout the past three years.”

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 03-26-14

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NetFest on April 3
Pasco County Economic Development will host NetFest April 3 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., at Starkey Ranch, 12959 State Road 54 in Odessa.

The 12th annual event is for business and community leaders around Tampa Bay, and includes music and barbecue.

Tickets are $45 each, or $35 for Pasco EDC investors and their guests.

For information, call (888) 607-2726.

Marlene Squires-Swanson
Marlene Squires-Swanson

Visit Florida hires locally
Marlene Squires-Swanson is relocating from Land O’ Lakes to join Visit Florida in Tallahassee as director of advertising.

In her new role, Squires-Swanson will handle both domestic and international paid media, leading the development of television ads and media placement to the state’s official tourism marketing corporation.

Squires-Swanson most recently was director of corporate marketing for Ashley Furniture Homestores, and has worked for Advo Direct Mail, Gannett Co., and Journal Communications, among others.

Visit Florida is a public-private partnership created in 1996, and raised nearly $109 million in private sector matching funds in a recent fiscal year, according to the group’s website. It has about 115 employees, and contracts with others internationally as well, to boost tourism in the state — a $72 billion annual industry.

Ribbon cutting for Apollo Group
A grand opening and ribbon cutting for Apollo Group/Apollo Clinical will take place March 27 beginning at noon at 14141 Fifth St., in Dade City.

The Greater Dade City Chamber of Commerce is hosting the event.

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

Information on health insurance
The Pasco Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is hosting an information session about the health insurance marketplace March 27 at 6 p.m., at 5300 Eagleston Blvd., Wesley Chapel.

For information, call Elena McCullough at (813) 525-3417, or visit PHHChamber.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 .

Wesley Chapel sensei leads karate students to success

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In some athletic leagues everyone earns a medal, ribbon or trophy for participating. In others, awards only are handed out to those who win them.

Sensei Ernesto Fuentes, far right, leads the dojo in some routine moves with his son, Alex, who is a sensei as well. Fuentes’ daughters, Sashi and Alexa, also are leaders in the academy, and accomplished students themselves. (Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)
Sensei Ernesto Fuentes, far right, leads the dojo in some routine moves with his son, Alex, who is a sensei as well. Fuentes’ daughters, Sashi and Alexa, also are leaders in the academy, and accomplished students themselves.
(Michael Murillo/Staff Photo)

So when 34 students from the Keiko Shin Karate Academy competed in the United Traditional Karate Alliance district championships and all 34 came home with medals, one might wonder how they got them.

But make no mistake, those weren’t participation medals. Every student earned at least one award in the competition, showing off their karate skills and bringing home a haul of 60 medals total from the event, held March 1 at the University of South Florida.

Their sensei, Ernesto Fuentes, was very proud of their success, but said that shiny medals aren’t the reason he teaches.

“For me, seeing a medal is not as important as seeing the face of the kid achieving and winning something, the satisfaction of achieving something,” he said.

Child development is ingrained in the dojo — the place where martial arts are taught — because it’s an important issue for Fuentes. In his native Venezuela, he was a successful trial attorney, often dealing with custody cases. He also has a master’s degree in child psychology.

While his academy teaches students of all ages, he takes special pride in seeing the accomplishments of his young students and watching them succeed.

But that success is not limited to the dojo or at a competition. Fuentes’ program stresses that the discipline and respect taught by martial arts should be applied to all parts of a student’s daily schedule.

“Karate and marital arts is a way of life. I talk to my students every day,” Fuentes said. “I say ‘The same way you behave at the academy is the way you behave in school and behave at your house. It’s a 24/7 commitment to be a better person and a good citizen.’“

Parents will often recruit him for guidance to solve a school or home issue, and he makes himself available to advise students when they need it.

And his students respond in ways that sometimes even surprise themselves.

“I wasn’t the best kid. I used to get in trouble a lot,” admits Caleb Embry, 13.

A regular C student, once he started taking karate about a year ago, his grades went up to A’s and B’s. Martial arts also has challenged him to learn new things and compete, and he responded at the district championships with two first-place medals.

He attributes his success to karate and Fuentes’ teachings.

“Karate helped me stay straight,” he said. “It keeps you focused.”

Jose Gomez, 15, also is direct about the impact martial arts has had on him.

“It changed my life, especially in the education area. It made me a better student,” he said. “I’ve been doing better in my life in general. Not only physically, but emotionally.”

Where he used to go home after school and play video games, he’s now focused on karate, competing, and improving himself.

That focus led to a couple of medals at the district competition, but improvement also has been seen in the classroom.

“I was a C student, and when I started doing karate, I became an A student,” Gomez said.

As a result, he received Long Middle School’s Turnaround award for his improvement. He even mentioned the influence that karate has had on him in his speech at the awards banquet.

While Fuentes is soft-spoken, his martial arts resume speaks for itself. He was a national champion for 10 years running in Venezuela, and won an American championship in 1989. He said that seeing his students succeed brings out the same feelings he experienced in his own competitions.

“It’s a little deja vu. Watching them compete, I get the same emotions, nerves, butterflies in my stomach,” he said. “The same things as when I was a competitor. And multiply it by 34.”

While Fuentes challenges his students and drives them to constantly get better, he said the motivation isn’t a one-way street. He feels a strong responsibility to live up to the high standards he sets for everyone in the dojo.

“They force me to learn. I need to be better for them every day,” he said. “I need to study for them every day, because I want them to be challenged every day.”

The dojo is located at 3753 Bruce B. Downs Blvd. For information about Keiko Shin Karate, visit WesleyChapelKarateAcademy.com, or call (813) 994-9253.

Published March 26, 2014

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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