The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Zephyrhills/East Pasco News

Herrera claims Black has ‘lost touch’ with Dade City

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When Scott Black first took his seat on the Dade City Commission, Iraq had not yet invaded Kuwait to ignite the first Gulf War, George Bush (the first one) was still president, and spending more than a dollar for a gallon of gas probably meant it was premium.

Signs supporting both Angelica Herrera and longtime commissioner Scott Black have populated yards and streets around Dade City ahead of next week’s election. (Photo by Michael Hinman)
Signs supporting both Angelica Herrera and longtime commissioner Scott Black have populated yards and streets around Dade City ahead of next week’s election. (Photo by Michael Hinman)

A lot has changed in 24 years, and Angelica Herrera feels Black has not kept up. And that’s why she’s facing off against him next week.

“Mr. Black has had his chance,” she said. “But after (more than) 20 years, he has lost touch with the voters.”

That was most evident, Herrera said, when Black approved physically expanding a sewage plant into a neighboring athletic field in the Mickens-Harper neighborhood.

“This was most insensitive and not necessary, since the city had other options,” she said.

However, if Herrera wants any chance to beat Black, she not only faces a commissioner that has strong name recognition in Dade City, but she may need to overcome some of her eyebrow-raising actions, including walking out of a candidate debate last week.

This, Black said, has hurt Herrera’s position, because she has not “presented anything of consideration relating to either experience or fresh perspective.”

“She has not attended any city commission meetings or public events to make any effort to educate herself on the current issues,” Black said of Herrera. Quoting the late Gov. Lawton Chiles, Black said elected officials can either “grow” or “swell” in their positions, and he chooses to grow.

“It is very important to me that I enjoy and embrace the many challenges that come with the position, and continue to grow with it,” Black said. “As well, someone purporting to be only a fresh infusion of energy is usually not the best option, while a knowledgeable proven force is always better, and should be preferred.”

Dade City’s commission earned some unwanted publicity late last year when Commissioner Jim Shive surprised his colleagues in the middle of a workshop last October, pushing to separate the position of city clerk and city finance — which was then held by longtime city employee Jim Class.

Black spoke out against the move, saying a workshop was not the right forum to bring up such an issue unannounced. But his protests fell on deaf ears, and the move later prompted Class to resign.

“The process of dividing the position of city clerk and finance director was flawed and misguided from the start,” Black said. “It was deceptively billed as ‘progress’ when there was no present need to make the personnel change in a smoothly running department — especially in the first month of the new tightly constrained budget year.”

Herrera, however, remembers all of it differently, and says Black has misrepresented what happened.

“The fact is that numerous city commission meetings document that this matter was discussed publicly,” she said. “It did not just come up at the workshop for the first time as my opponent would like us to believe. It (really) has been overblown.”

Black said his primary regret was not speaking out more loudly, and drawing residents into the conversation.

“I wish that the community could have been more aware and alarmed, and willing to stand up and question this continued gradual abuse of power, and demand better of us,” Black said.

Both Herrera and Black have combined to raise $6,500 in this race, more than any other municipal election in Pasco County this cycle. And it seems both may need every penny.

For other parts in our Experience vs. New Blood story package, click here. 

Published April 2, 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

More than 125 years of Benedictine service began with just four nuns

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Construction crews from Creative Contractors Inc., are busily erecting the future home of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. They are building the new Holy Name Monastery on the south side of State Road 52 near Wichers Road. The project includes a chapel, private living quarters with 20 bedrooms, a library to house archives and spiritual books, and meeting spaces for large and small groups.

The Benedictine Sisters of Florida lived in a three-story, wood-frame hotel building from the time they arrived until a more modern monastery was built in 1960. A team of oxen moved the hotel building on 1911 from San Antonio to the current monastery’s site, west of Saint Leo University. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)
The Benedictine Sisters of Florida lived in a three-story, wood-frame hotel building from the time they arrived until a more modern monastery was built in 1960. A team of oxen moved the hotel building on 1911 from San Antonio to the current monastery’s site, west of Saint Leo University. (B.C. Manion/Staff Photo)

The funds for the new monastery are coming from $3.4 million in proceeds from the sale of the current monastery and land to Saint Leo University, as well as a $500,000 capital campaign. So far, the capital campaign has raised slightly less than $175,000, which includes a $100,000 one-to-one match challenge grant. The sisters must raise $100,000 by June 30 to receive that grant.

The building, which was designed by Klar & Klar Architects, is well under way.

It’s possible that the sisters may move in as early as this summer, said Sister Roberta Bailey, prioress of the Benedictine Sisters of Florida.

The sisters are leaving a massive multi-story structure where they have lived since 1960. That structure has become too large for the sisters and too expensive to operate, maintain and renovate.

The sisters are celebrating their 125th anniversary of living and working in Pasco County.

The original quartet of sisters traveled from Elk County, Pa., to San Antonio, arriving there on Feb. 28, 1889. Another sister joined them a few months later.

“They were called down to be teachers of the children of the German immigrants,” Bailey said.

When they arrived in San Antonio, they lived in a three-story wooden hotel. A team of oxen moved that building in 1911 to the current monastery’s site, west of Saint Leo University.

After arriving, the sisters went straight to work.

By March 11, 1889, the sisters had assumed the administration and staffing of Saint Anthony School. A short time later they began to staff the school in St. Joseph and also opened Holy Name Academy.

The sisters opened St. Benedict’s Preparatory School for young boys in 1920, and that school operated until 1959. Holy Name Academy closed five years later. Both were boarding schools.

After they closed, the sisters directed their energies toward providing services for nearby Saint Leo College.

Over the years, the sisters have had a hand in many organizations.

They have served on boards for such charitable organizations as Sunrise Spouse Abuse Shelter, Saint Leo University Haitian Mission Project, Florida Association for the Education of Young Children, Catholic Charities, Coalition for the Homeless, Hospice, Habitat for Humanity and DayStar Hope Thrift Store and Food Pantry.

They have been town mayors and commissioners. And, they continue to have a hand in a variety of good works.

For instance, they provide a Thanksgiving meal to more than 200 people each year. They also give annual scholarship assistance to a few Saint Leo University students. They open their home to provide lodging and meals for religious women from developing countries who are pursuing their degrees.

The size of the religious community has gone from more than 60 sisters at one point to 13 sisters now, but they continue to play an active role, both in community life and spiritual support.

“We try to respond to what the needs are in the local area. It’s just that right now we’re so few that everyone wears many hats,” Bailey said.

They also call upon the power of prayer to help others in need. Anyone can call with any kind of prayer request, Bailey said, noting the requests often mirror what’s happening in society at large.

A parent might call with a prayer request for a child, or someone who is ill or injured may call in with a request, Bailey said. There are others who are going through a crisis of faith and ask for prayer to help them through it.

Sometimes, it’s a practical request, she said.

“Someone may call in, ‘I have a big test this afternoon, can you pray?’” Bailey said. “We have a book of prayer intentions that sits outside the chapel doors.” Whenever a sister passes by, she looks at the book and says a prayer for the people who have called in their intentions.

Despite their long history in Pasco County, the sisters’ work is not yet done, Bailey said.

“We’ve been here a good long time and we’re here to stay,” Bailey said.

To learn more about the Benedictine Sisters of Florida, visit BenedictineSistersOfFl.org, or call (352) 588-8320.

Published March 5, 2014

Founders’ Day honors pure water city with rich history

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The annual Founders’ Day celebration is March 8. There will be a parade, a 5-kilometer race and a one-mile fun run. And for some folks, that’s all they need to know.

Parades have been a part of the annual Founders’ Day celebration in Zephyrhills practically from the beginning. It’s a chance to bring the whole community together, celebrating a vision from more than a century ago to provide a relaxing community in Central Florida. (File Photo)
Parades have been a part of the annual Founders’ Day celebration in Zephyrhills practically from the beginning. It’s a chance to bring the whole community together, celebrating a vision from more than a century ago to provide a relaxing community in Central Florida. (File Photo)

And that’s a shame, because Founders’ Day is about more than floats and a race. It’s about history (this is the 104th incarnation of this event, so that should tell you something). It’s about Zephyrhills — not Tampa, not Dade City, and not other areas close to Zephyrhills, although the weekend events will attract people from all over.

Whether you were born here (and a lot of you were) or you moved here (that number is growing all the time, too), you have a stake in this area. Even if you’re one of our seasonal residents, you make this your home. And that means you should dig into its history, because there’s a lot of interesting things to be found.

Before you pack up the family and head out to Founders’ Day and its related events, here are a few things you should know:

• Zephyrhills used to be called Abbott. But that was more than 100 years ago, so no need to worry about updating your address labels or anything.

• Zephyrhills used to be a colony. The Zephyrhills Colony was envisioned as a location for Civil War veterans (on the Union side) to relocate and get involved in farming and manufacturing. In fact, the first newspaper was the Zephyrhills Colonist.

Now, what’s the difference between a small town and a colony? Not too much, but it’s a neat part of history, isn’t it?

• The name was a little unclear in the beginning. Don’t be too hard on your out-of-town family members if they don’t know whether you live in “Zephyrhills” or “Zephyr Hills.” It confused people right from the beginning.

It was called both of those, and occasionally “Zepherhills,” too.

Newspaper articles sometimes referred to the company that purchased the land as the “Zephyr Hills Colony Co.,” and at other times the “Zephyrhills Colony Co.”

• Zephyrhills has always had a rich military history. In addition to attracting Civil War veterans, special land deals were granted to veterans of the Spanish-American War. How’s that for history?

And during World War II, the airport was used as a training base.

Zephyrhills might not have been front and center during wartime, but the military always has been welcomed and honored here. That’s important.

• Zephyrhills celebrates its history. If you’ve lived in several different places during your life, you’ve probably realized that not every city marks its anniversary. Some don’t acknowledge it at all, some have a leader give a short speech, and others slap a plaque on a landmark and are done with it.

But you live in Zephyrhills, there’s a parade. It’s not Mardi Gras, and it’s not even Gasparilla, but it’s a real parade that gets people excited — and it’s ours.

The 5k race is a tradition, too. Even if you don’t run in it (I get tired just driving 5k in my car), it’s a big deal. People go just to show support and cheer.

And really, that’s Founders’ Day in a nutshell. People going to show support and cheer — for the runners, for the city and for its history. It’s a fun time, but it’s more than just your average let’s-have-a-race morning or parade based on fictional history.

It’s Founders’ Day. So enjoy it.

Published March 5, 2014

Man vs. bull this weekend at Great Bull Run

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For some people, nothing could make a weekend more complete than having a herd of bulls stampeding after them.

It takes a lot of courage, and maybe a touch of insanity, to jump into the path of a rampaging bull. But those are exactly the kind of people invited to do just that March 8 in Dade City. (Courtesy of The Great Bull Run)
It takes a lot of courage, and maybe a touch of insanity, to jump into the path of a rampaging bull. But those are exactly the kind of people invited to do just that March 8 in Dade City. (Courtesy of The Great Bull Run)

It’s been a way of life in Pamplona, Spain, for more than a century. And now that experience is coming to Dade City for The Great Bull Run on March 8.

It takes place at Little Everglades Ranch, 17951 Hamilton Road, just off U.S. 301.

The 10-city tour began last August in Virginia with more than 12,000 attendees, and organizer Rob Dickens hopes to make it an annual event here locally. Oh, and by the way, it is dangerous.

“That’s what draws people, the danger,” Dickens said. “If it was as safe as a walk in the park, there would be no reason to do it.”

Dickens said the idea to do a bull run in America came a couple years ago when he and his business partner tried to make the trip to Pamplona to take part in the famous bull run there. But it was impossible to attend — the average cost is around $3,000 a person to make the trip, giving up 10 days of work, all planned at least a year in advance. And that’s if they didn’t get injured.

“That’s when we realized, why don’t we just bring it here to the U.S.,” Dickens said. “There must be millions of other Americans like us who want to do this, but probably can’t afford all that.”

The Great Bull Run is a kinder, gentler version of the Spanish one. There are more safety precautions for both the runners and the bulls. There is track fencing runners can easily climb over and slide under if they get into danger, as well as nooks in the fence they can hide. Also, the bulls — which are brought in by a touring rodeo company — don’t have sharpened horns. That means less chance of goring.

The bulls are constantly monitored for their health and safety, and unlike in Pamplona, none of them are heading to the bullfighting ring afterward.

Yet, there are still dangers involved. Since the current tour started, two people have been injured, Dickens said. One had a broken wrist, the other a broken pelvis. However, the injury rate remains much lower than an average high school football game.

Even in Spain, there have been 15 deaths with the bull running, but that’s over a span of 102 years.

Still, the bull run is not just for the adventure seekers. Spectators also are welcome — at a much lower cost — and will be close enough to see the action, but far enough to stay safe.

It’s part of an all-day event that includes music, food, games and beer. The afternoon will feature the Tomato Royale, another Spanish tradition, where 30,000 pounds of tomatoes are trucked in for the sole purpose of participants throwing them at each other.

Tickets to run with the bulls are $65, with six total runs available throughout the late morning and mid-afternoon. For those who would rather throw tomatoes with no bull, the cost is $40.

Just want to watch? Tickets are $10 at the gate, with an additional fee for parking.

“We were looking for major metropolitan areas where we thought people would be interested in something like this, and we found a great venue just between Tampa and Orlando,” Dickens said.

“I’ve run with the bulls several times now at our own events, and the first time you do it, you’re absolutely scared out of your mind,” he said. “But the more you do it, the more you get comfortable with it. But it does take a certain type of person to do it in the first place.”

For more information, visit TheGreatBullRun.com.

Published March 5, 2014

Providing food, clothing, hope is Daystar’s mission

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The workers in this place are downright cheerful. They poke fun at one another, with gentle affection.

They get along so famously that one might think they’d work there for free — and, indeed all of them do, except for Sister Jean Abbott, who oversees Daystar Hope Center of Pasco County Inc.

Volunteer Lorraine Tedder says she grew up with 10 sisters and three brothers. Her family was poor and the nuns at her Catholic school gave them clothing after school. (Photo by B.C. Manion)
Volunteer Lorraine Tedder says she grew up with 10 sisters and three brothers. Her family was poor and the nuns at her Catholic school gave them clothing after school. (Photo by B.C. Manion)

The center provides food and clothing for those in need. It got its start more than 20 years ago as an outreach of St. Rita’s Catholic Church, Abbott said. At the time, Sister Helen Wilxman was teaching religion classes to the young children, and realized the youngsters were too hungry to pay attention to the lessons, Abbott said.

So, Wilxman received permission from the pastor to set up a food pantry. As time went on, the pantry needed more room, so it moved to a new locale, and its volunteers moved along with it.

Just last week, the center celebrated its 20th year of operation as a Florida nonprofit corporation. Over the years, Daystar had a couple of temporary homes before moving to its current location, a humble building at 15512 U.S. 301 in Dade City.

“We’re here five days a week,” Abbott said, adding the store opens at 8 p.m., but they’re there until 1 p.m.

In the back of the building, there’s an office where people needing help register for assistance and receive slips of paper that entitle them to food, clothing and household items, Abbott said.

“If they’re hungry, we don’t care if they’re documented or not,” Abbott said, adding the center will provide food.

In the past, the center occasionally has helped people who needed assistance with rent or utility bills, to pay for prescriptions, or get a car repair, but it can’t do that now, Abbott said.

“Right now, we’re only doing food and items from the thrift shop,” Abbott said. The center is buying so much food, it has to stick with its primary mission.

Those meeting income requirements receive food and clothing vouchers, said Abbott, who is affiliated with the Benedictine Sisters of Florida. Those needing clothing can shop at the thrift store, choosing four complete outfits for each family member.

“They can get shoes and they can get jackets,” she said. “They can come back every three months for clothing. It works out well for people with children.”

Some people need household items, too.

“Some are coming out of a shelter and they need dishes and silverware and sheets and all that stuff,” Abbott said.

The thrift store receives donations, and it sells items to the public to help raise money for Daystar’s operations. The charity also receives food from Feeding America Tampa Bay-Suncoast Branch, from the government, and from other sources, which it distributes to those who qualify for assistance.

Before it became Daystar, the building was a furniture store, Abbott said. That’s why it has so much floor space and large delivery doors. After the organization scraped together enough money for a down payment, a couple made a donation to cover the rest of the purchase, Abbott said. Then, volunteers swarmed in, to renovate the building.

That was in 1996.

Donors have been generous in other ways, as well.

“All day long, people are dropping stuff off,” Abbott said. “People have food drives and clothing drives for us, too. We have mobile home parks that do drives for us. Most of the schools do drives for us. Businesses do drives for us, from time to time, depending on how the economy is.”

But the types of people who donate can be surprising sometimes.

“It’s interesting, though, is the most help we get is from the people who have the least because they know what’s it’s like not to have,” Abbott said. “We get a huge amount of food from Pasco Elementary. They do contests in classrooms.”

Some people lug donations in, then do a bit of shopping on the way out.

The volunteers keep things running. Some have been at it for up to 19 years. Helpers like Pat Gessert live in Florida just during the winter. Others have lived in the area for decades.

John Shoppa, who helps out in the food pantry, said he enjoys volunteering.

“This is kind of payback for all of the good things,” he said said.

Lorraine Tedder, who is about to turn 80, has volunteered for 19 years.

“I love it,” Tedder said. “My husband passed away, and I decided there’s no use sitting around home.”

She also recalls being on the receiving end of help when she was young.

“I came from a large family,” she said. “I had 10 sisters and three brothers. We were poor. We used to go to Catholic school and sister would keep us after school and used to give me clothing.”

Volunteer Deborah Smithberger is there every day.

“My husband and I had donated to Daystar, and I was a frequent shopper,” she said. One day, she decided to help out. She’s been doing that for a year.

“It makes you feel like you’re giving back to the community. I never knew what that meant until I started volunteering,” Smithberger said.

Isabel Wirth, who manages the shop, said helping out is rewarding. She recalled how she got involved.

“My husband had passed. I used to go to mass every day,” Wirth said. “Sister Helen would say, ‘Isabel, come one day.’ I came because she wouldn’t get off my back. I said, ‘I’m going to give you one day a week. That was 14 years ago.”

Now, she works five days a week.

It isn’t just people who need food and clothing who find help at Daystar.

Wirth knows this from personal experience. When she was reeling from the loss of her husband, getting involved at Daystar helped her get back on track.

“It was kind of my savior at the time,” Wirth said.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.

Torch arrives in Wesley Chapel for Special Olympics

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The Winter Games in Sochi have ended, but a different set of Olympic athletes are gearing up for opening ceremonies in Wesley Chapel this week.

There are many activities those who participate in Special Olympics can take part in every year, like bowling. Sam Whitacre, left, Stephanie Varnes and Andy Faulk from Wesley Chapel High School are among those students who compete at the lanes. (Photo courtesy of Bridget White)
There are many activities those who participate in Special Olympics can take part in every year, like bowling. Sam Whitacre, left, Stephanie Varnes and Andy Faulk from Wesley Chapel High School are among those students who compete at the lanes. (Photo courtesy of Bridget White)

Special Olympics competitors in a variety of sports are expected to participate in the Pasco County Summer Games on Friday at Wesley Chapel High School. The games are affiliated with Special Olympics Florida, the state’s chapter of Special Olympics Inc., which organizes athletic competitions for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Florida’s counties and regions host local games, with winners advancing to state, national or even international competitions.

Wesley Chapel will host athletes from Central and East Pasco County. West Pasco athletes will participate in games at River Ridge High School in New Port Richey.

Wesley Chapel High is ready for the games to begin, said Bridget White, a special education teacher and one of the school’s coordinators for the Special Olympics.

“We feel very honored to host this type of event, and we just love that it keeps getting bigger and bigger every year,” she said. The school has hosted the Summer Games for at least the past four years, and it expects around 475 athletes to participate this year.

That’s a big jump from when the Special Olympics first started in Pasco County decades ago, according to county co-director Valerie Lundin. In 1975, the local Special Olympics had just 175 athletes.

Between the two locations for the Summer Games this year, more than 1,100 athletes are expected to participate, and total attendance at Wesley Chapel High alone could top 1,000 when factoring in family, volunteers and other spectators. The high school was chosen to host the games due to its ability to accommodate the crowds and the buses, which bring students in from different schools.

After the opening ceremonies, athletes will start competing in the different sports represented in the Summer Games: track and field, bocce, soccer skills, cycling and tennis. There also will be an Olympic Village, with games and activities for the athletes and their friends to enjoy while they wait to compete.

While event winners will earn ribbons, it’s not necessarily the end of the competition for any of the athletes, regardless of their finish. Each competitor in the county games is allowed to participate in the area games, which includes athletes from Pasco, Pinellas, Citrus, Sumter and Hernando counties. From there, only qualifiers will move on to state competition.

The Special Olympics always has a great turnout of volunteers and supporters to help the event succeed and cheer on the participants, White said. And for the athletes, it’s a chance for them to enjoy the spotlight and showcase their skills.

“It’s an opportunity for our kids with disabilities to have something that’s all about them and that’s catered to them,” she said. “So instead of going to their brothers and sisters’ events all the time, they get to come to their events and they get to be the superstar.”

While the Special Olympics is able to consistently promote awareness and celebrate the skills of their student-athletes, Lundin would like to see the organization attract more adult participants as well. Athletes of any age are welcome.

“I know there are a lot of adults in Pasco County who qualify but are not participating at this time, and we’d love to really focus on that population and getting them more involved,” she said.

The opening ceremonies begin at 11:30 a.m., Friday at the school, located at 30651 Wells Road. The event is free and open to the public, with concessions available. Proceeds benefit Special Olympics.

For more information regarding the Summer Games or to inquire about participation, visit SpecialOlympicsFlorida.org, or call (352) 243-9536.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.

Artificial turf moves big step closer at Wesley Chapel park

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Although the move is controversial, a Tampa company is expected to take on the planned artificial turf expansion project at Wesley Chapel District Park that is expected to cost just under $1.9 million.

Grass would help ease the overcrowding at Wesley Chapel District Park, one Pasco County commissioner says, but artificial turf fields — which could attract tourism dollars — are likely on the way instead. (File photo)
Grass would help ease the overcrowding at Wesley Chapel District Park, one Pasco County commissioner says, but artificial turf fields — which could attract tourism dollars — are likely on the way instead. (File photo)

If accepted by the Pasco County Commission, Mainstay Construction Services will build two artificial turf fields in Wesley Chapel, each spanning 81,000 square feet, and also will construct additional parking areas. The commission was expected to make a final decision at its Feb. 25 meeting, after The Laker/Lutz News went to press.

The artificial fields are intended to help bring some additional tourism dollars to the county by making the Wesley Chapel fields more attractive to regional or even national tournaments, Ed Caum, who works in the county’s office of tourist development, told commissioners last October.

“I cannot market grass fields,” he said at the time. “We have had field problems out there before for overuse.”

Some people who have used Wesley Chapel District Park, located just off Boyette Road, have complained about overcrowding and the need to build more fields. Some have even started traveling farther away to play soccer and other sports in places such as Zephyrhills.

Commissioner Jack Mariano highlighted those problems in October, suggesting the county look to serve local demands first before seeking to attract teams from elsewhere.

“They would rather have five grass fields than two artificial fields,” Mariano said at the time.

When the project was first put to bid last year, only one company — QGS Development Inc., of Lithia — responded, and they priced it $500,000 over budget. County Administrator Michele Baker, however, felt the request the county sent out was too broad, and that re-bidding it would get them closer to their budget.

Six companies responded this time, with QGS staying close to its original $2.2 million bid, higher than everyone else. The lowest bid actually came from JCT Development of Dunedin. However, the company was disqualified after failing to submit necessary final paperwork on bonding.

None of the bids came from Pasco County companies. Bids also came in from companies based in St. Petersburg, Atlantic Beach and St. Augustine.

Work could begin as early as late spring.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.

Why I write this column

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As regular readers of this paper know, I write an occasional column on topics that I hope you will relate to.

There have been columns about my children as they graduate from high school and college, fall in love and marry. Columns about brothers and sisters whose bonds grow stronger the older we get. Columns about dogs, why we love them and how hard it is to say goodbye.

I write these musing not to impart on you my personal history, but because I hope that sharing my stories give you a bridge to reflect on something similar in your life that allow my words to touch your heart.

While I mostly write about matters of the heart, at times I comment on my role as publisher of The Laker/Lutz News. Writing a column gives me a forum to congratulate and recognize my staff when they receive awards for writing and design, to thank employees for years of service, and to boast when our annual audit reports that our readership scores are better than the year before and top industry norms.

A few weeks back, I deviated from these themes and used my column to explain why we did not cover the shooting at Cobb Theatres/Grove 16 & CineBistro in Wesley Chapel — the story everyone was talking about in our community and across the country.

I wrote that it was not our role to regurgitate news that had been covered by other news outlets 24/7. I said there was little we could add to the discussion of what happened and why, that we all felt horrible that this shooting happened in our community, and because it did, it felt especially personal and haunting.

This column must have resonated with readers because I have received more feedback from it than I have any other column. People still stop me weeks later while I’m out to lunch and at chamber of commerce events to tell me how much they agreed with our decision not to add to the chatter.

And we even got some written response. One reader emailed a few days after the column published with this message:

“Put me down for agreeing with you to give limited coverage to the Cobb shooting.  You are entirely correct in stating everything that could be said has already been said.  While I don’t say that we should keep our heads in the sand regarding local ‘problems,’ I prefer to read basically all the good and local events happening in my backyard.”

This past week I received a handwritten note from a reader in Lutz.

“Please know how much it meant to our family that you and your staff elected not to run a story on the horrible tragedy that occurred at the Cobb theater. On behalf of our family, who has also been greatly impacted by this tragedy, we thank you. It is not only the Oulson family that is suffering; many families were impacted by this. I just appreciate the fact that you all let other stories take the place of this incident.”

Just as I try to touch readers’ hearts with my column, you touched my heart that you care so much about how we cover (and apparently don’t cover) the news to reach out to me with personal notes and comments.

It gives me confidence about the direction we take with our news coverage. Some days I wonder if our focus on mostly positive stories about people in our community who do amazing things pursuing their hobbies and helping their neighbors is really what you want to read.

Some days I wonder if we’re disappointing you by not reporting more on fatal traffic accidents and who was arrested over the weekend. But then I write a column like the one on the Cobb shooting, and I only hear positive comments.  And I check out our news rack at the Publix close to my home on Saturday morning and see that the 200 papers we dropped there Wednesday are all gone.

And I feel good and confident that we are doing a lot of things right, and that you value and appreciate what we do.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.

School district uses surveys to gauge progress

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Superintendent Kurt Browning plans to use annual surveys by the Gallup organization to help gauge the progress of Pasco County Schools.

The district’s school board in February heard a review of the Gallup Student Poll and the employee engagement survey findings in February, and according to the Gallup report, the district’s results were in the same ballpark as national findings.

Since the surveys had not been taken before, they will serve as a baseline.

Browning said he expects next year’s results to be interesting, because the district will be using the same survey tools. But even this year’s results are helpful, Browning said. They help the district to see, “Where are we doing well? Where are we not doing so well?”

It’s important to have an outside party take an objective look at the district, using statistically valid survey tools, Browning said.

School board member Joanne Hurley agrees. She said the surveys can help the district address areas needing improvement with the goal of helping students perform better academically and be better prepared for life beyond school.

Gallup is an internationally respected company, Browning said. The district’s contract with the company runs through September. The cost of the student and school-based surveys and analyses was $125,000. The district spent $19,000 more on a district office staff survey.

Browning anticipates an extension of the district’s contract with Gallup, but those details have not yet been worked out.

Gallup’s student poll measures indicators of future success, the superintendent said.

“I keep saying that we’re concerned about the success of our kids not only through high school, but after high school,” Browning said.

The Gallup Student Poll is a 20-question survey that measures the hope, engagement, and well-being of students in grades five through 12. Gallup defines hope as ideas and energy for the future; engagement as involvement with and enthusiasm for school; and well-being as how people think about and experience their lives.

The survey company said hope, engagement and well-being can be measured and are linked to student achievement, retention and future employment.

The Gallup Student Poll was conducted online in Pasco County Schools during the school day from Oct. 15 through Oct 31, with 31,740 students completing the survey.

District students’ results showed scores of 52 percent in the hope category; 53 percent in engagement; and 63 percent in well-being.

That compares to average results nationwide of 54 percent for hope; 55 for engagement; and, 66 percent for well-being.

“When you look at district overall results (for students), they look very similar to U.S. overall data,” Tim Hodges, director of research for Gallup, told school board members, according to a district release.

The staff survey measures factors that are critical to creating an environment that serves students, said assistant superintendent Amelia Larson.

The employee engagement survey measured attitudes that correspond with the most successful work places, based on more than four decades of research by Gallup.

The survey measured employee engagement, which Gallup defines as involvement with and enthusiasm for work.

Gallup used a 12-question employee survey to measure employee engagement.

The research company says an employee’s level of engagement links to employee retention, parent engagement, student retention, student achievement and other outcomes.

The employee engagement survey was conducted online in Pasco County Schools, from Nov. 15 through Nov. 22 and also Jan. 13 through Jan. 17 of this year, with 3,896 employees taking part. That represents a 79 percent response rate.

The results show that 26 percent of the school district’s employees are engaged in their jobs, compared to 30 percent of U.S. workers. Fifty-three district employees are not engaged, compared to 52 percent of workers nationally; and 21 percent of district employees are actively disengaged, compared to 18 percent of U.S. workers.

Looking only at district-level staff, 33 percent are engaged; 56 percent are not engaged and 11 percent are disengaged.

During the school board workshop, Hodges told the board, “to look at the rest of the U.S. working population, this is what we tend to see as a starting point.”

“This is a valuable tool for our administration,” Hurley said. “I think there is just a treasure trove of information contained within the Gallup results.”

School board member Steve Luikart agreed that the survey will be useful.

“Any feedback is always good. I do congratulate them on doing that,” he said. “I know it’s going to be used to get the temperature in different areas – how people feel and what people think.”

Teachers are facing huge challenges, Larson said.

“We want to keep track of student engagement,” Larson said. “We really are facing a crisis in education. Now, kids have every type of information available to them 24/7. The kids are not willing to wait (for instruction), so the teachers cannot wait” to deliver it, she said.

The district already has made some leadership changes at places such as Connerton Elementary and Sunlake High schools, which apparently are making a difference, Larson said.

New River Elementary School also is on an upswing, she said.

“That is like a well-oiled machine,” Larson said. “It scored a 65 percent engagement rating. You can really tell when you walk in there.”

Strategies that are being used at schools with high engagement ratings may be shared with schools that do not fare as well, Larson said. There also may be some coaching to help schools perform better, she said.

Published Feb. 26, 2014.